Newsletter -- September 14, 2011

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF NIANTIC ROTARY CLUB September 14, 2011
UPCOMING SPEAKERS/ EVENTS:
September 14th – business meeting and
Silent Auction
INSIDE THE SHELL:
GUESTS: Kathy Chartier from
Norwich Sunrise; Denny & Nancy Hicks from
New London Rotary; Geraldine Tom, Assistant
Governor for Area 12; Leo Vincent from Groton
Rotary; Rich Griffiths, Edna Gilstad, Jetske
Budding, Bob & Wendy Neilsen,
Fred Cavanaugh, Donald Dishaw, and
Cindy Sturgis
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SILENT AUCTION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
ALL PROCEEDS ADDED TO GOLF PROFITS
RULES: You must bid at least half the value of the prize to win.
BIDDING WILL CLOSE AT 1 P.M.
ALL BIDS MUST BE PAID AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
ITEMS
BLOCK ISLAND FERRY: 2 adult same-day round trip tickets
(value $88) (for use in 2011)
DAD’S RESTAURANT: $50 gift card (for use next season!)
DESIGN ESSENCE: $150 one-hour design consultation
FLANDERS FISH MARKET; $50 gift card
FLANDERS PIZZA: TWO WINNERS: one large one-way pizza
(value estimate $15)
NIANTIC CINEMA: 4 adult movie passes (value estimate $30)
THE SHACK: one free dinner (value estimate: $10)
UNCASVILLE GOLF SIMULATOR:2 hours services (value $30)
SPECIAL NOTE: When you underbid an item, it’s bargain
hunting; when you overbid, it’s PHILANTHROPY.
We were privileged to have as our guest speaker,
President John Adams. With humor and factual stories
he spoke to us about his life. John Adams was the 5th
generation to live in Massachusetts. His father wanted
him to become a clergyman and sold land so John
could go to the local school, Harvard. Instead, John
wanted to pursue a career in law. In a controversial
court case, John Adams defended English soldiers
accused of murder. In this case, it was the first time a
judge ever directed a jury with “beyond a reasonable
doubt.”
He went on to help write the Declaration of
Independence and questioned Jefferson about the
word “Happiness” being used. The answer to his
query was, ”Everyone outside of Massachusetts knows
what happiness is” and the phrase “pursuit of
happiness” stayed. It was an amazing feat of the
colonists in 1776 to begin a completely new type of
government - a road never traveled before in history.
Elected the second president of the US, he ran for
a third term against Thomas Jefferson and was the
subject of pundits who spread gossip of a sex scandal.
He lost the election.
His word of advice was ”if you want your
accomplishments noted, don’t ever come after
George Washington.” No monument was ever erected
in his honor.
Thank you to George Baker for his wonderful
impersonation of President John Adams!