Activities February--March 2013

 

Sat. Feb. 2—Midwinter Conference

Sun. Feb 10—Valentine Dinner with wives

Wed. Feb. 20—Board of Directors Meeting

Wed. Feb. 27 -- Regular Meeting

Wed. March 13—Regular Meeting

Wed. March 20—Board of Directors Meeting

Wed. March 27—Regular Meeting with children and grandchildren

 

President’s Message

        The Newtown Lions Club has long been a strong supporter of the various organizations and functions that have made this community in which we reside the great place that it is. For the many people that we have been able to touch with our service and generosity, we are all very proud of our accomplishments.  This will never change.

 

            We have just experienced the darkest day, December 14th, 2012, that has ever occurred in our community. This horrific event has forever changed the face of this community. We are now mentioned in the same sentences as Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora and Tucson. Although we can’t change this, our service to the community as Lions has now taken on another challenge; to make the lives of those who are deeply affected by this act on this dark day more comfortable.

 

            The Newtown Lions Club has been defined as the club that runs the Great Pootatuck Duck Race, the Pumpkin Race and the Mustang raffle. As we go forward in what will be a long term period of healing, I would like the Newtown Lions Club to also be known as the organization that stepped up to assist the families, teachers and first responders of this tragedy. The strong commitment of our members to the formation of the Sandy Hook Emergence Committee,  SHEF, makes me proud to be a member of this great organization. We are a reflection of how the Newtown community  reacted as a whole.  And this will never change.

 

 Yours in Lionism,

 

   Ray

 

 It Happened to Lion Ed Miklesewski.

          I would like to share a personal experience with my closest friends about drinking and driving.  As you well know, some of us have been known to have had brushes with the authorities on our way home from an occasional social session over the years.

          A couple of nights ago, we were out for an evening with friends and had a couple of cocktails and some rather nice wine.  Knowing full well I may have been slightly over the limit, I did something I've never done before ~ I took a cab home. Sure enough, I passed a police road block but, since it was a cab, they waved it past.

          I arrived home safely without incident, which was a real surprise; as I have never driven a cab before and am not sure where I got it or what to do with it now that it's in my garage.

 

Doings of the Pride

  Dr.  Joe Young recently helped out at   the Danbury Health Fair for the Homeless.  Seems this is a regular thing for Dr. Joe as he has done this every year for four years. .  . ..Boy are the Lions ever leaving Newtown in droves. . . . Florida sunshine is the chief attraction for many.  Some opt for two weeks, others for two months or longer.  Out in the sun are  , the Larins, the Arneths, the Evagashs,  the Brunos, the Micklesewskis, the Landgrebes, the Jableskis, the Hostetlers,  the Sturdevants and  the Mounts. There may be others. Unfortunately, there won’t be as much golf playing for Paul  Arneth as he envisioned as the first day down there he fell and broke bones in his foot.  Fortunately, he is on the mend now. . .

 .In January,  Bob Schmidt and his wife, Josie, celebrated their 45th anniversary with a cruise to the Caribbean and Florida.  .  Bob said it was a great pleasure. Aside from all the good food there was outstanding music and musician Bob really gravitated to that. On the large ship there was also a good size ice rink and ice shows every night.  He and Josie especially enjoyed visiting the Kennedy Center on Cape Canaveral.   . . .  Hawaii bound for three weeks were the Schweikerts and the Jacobs families. Andrea Jacobs has just retired from her teaching job so this trip was a celebratory one.   The two couples visited Oahu, Maui and Kona, and enjoyed basking in the tropical paradise.  Walt came back with a deep tan. Walt and Alan also did some bicycling. As good Americans do, they also visited the Arizona.   Now Alan and his wife  are extending their vacation by spending a month in Palm Desert.  While there they plan to visit the Joshua Tree monument and learn more about the San Andres Fault.  Also of interest will be the Palm Springs tramway.  At the bottom the daytime temperature is in the 70s while the top may be in the 30s or 40s with snow in sight.  . . . And, as if visiting Hawaii were not enough for the Fillians not many moons ago, they are now off to San Antonio to visit sights like the Alamo and soak up some sun. . .

 .  Peter McNulty is relishing his avocation as a disk jockey.  He spins the music as host of a program which is broadcast several times a week.  It can be found  on a web site Pure Jazz Radio.com.  Only don’t be surprised when you don’t find his name anywhere.  He has a special D.J. name: Ray Parker..  .

 

 

\What I Like  Or Liked Best About My Career

Wayland Johnson---The question concerning the best memories of my airline career was very thought provoking. Then, I realized that the best memories centered on the individuals I had the privilege of working with. My early days on the international flights were in the 1970s on the B-707. During those trips, I flew with a number of World War II veteran aviators. They allowed me to operate under their tutelage using wonderful, gentle guidance to help me develop into a real world airline Captain. Their generosity in sharing their experiences, stories, and professionalism were wonderful days for me and, I hope, were not too terrible for them. Without a doubt, those days are absolutely the best memories I have of my career.

Ken Hostetler--- During my career in real estate, I was able to help many families find a suitable home. I especially enjoyed helping people who were moving here from other parts of the country or the world. Usually, the transferees had never visited this area, so were amazed at all of the trees, the winding roads, the beautiful stone walls and the historic houses. They were often moving from parts of the country which were less expensive, so were sometimes disappointed in the house which they would eventually select. In most cases, the buyers would like the area so well that they would be happy after living here for a few months. It was always interesting to get an understanding of the type of home or neighborhood that they were interested in and then attempt to find it.

              One time a Pepsi transferee was looking for a newer home. After a few days of not finding the right property, I decided to show them an antique home which had been totally renovated including the bathrooms and the kitchen, but it retained lots of character with old beams and hardwood floors. They loved it. It was always rewarding to have a closing with happy buyers and then to get a thank you letter from them.

,

Jason Hsu---What I love best about what I do is to help nice people manage their investment risks, preserve and grow their wealth, transfer and give their wealth intelligently with love.

 

Ryan Henry---I have been thinking for a while about what I like best about being a lawyer. Although I often enjoy the work required of being a lawyer, that it not what I like best. Unfortunately, when a client comes to see me, it is usually due to an unfortunate situation. For example, a client may have been seriously injured in a car accident or at work, they have been arrested, or are going through a divorce or custody matter. What I like best I experience infrequently. It is the feeling you get when you win a tough case (that everyone thinks you will lose) and your client deserves to win. When you win a case like that it makes you feel that there is justice in the world.

 

 On the other hand, when you win a case that you are supposed to win, you are just doing your job. When you win a tough case, the client knows that he/she was the underdog and they truly appreciate what you have done for them. The sense of true appreciation from a client makes me want to go to work everyday.

 

 Bob Schmidt---What I enjoy about being a counselor is when I am able to help a client to see what is blocking him/her from achieving the happiness or success they are looking for. Empowering a person to take appropriate risks and make changes is exciting. Similar to what a sports fan feels when his team is scoring that touchdown or hitting that homerun.

               What I enjoy about being a musician is bringing back the great memories for an audience that only a song can do. I enjoy seeing people dance, sing along or tap their fingers because then I know that they are experiencing the music and the feelings that go with it. There is also a great deal of satisfaction in arranging a musical piece and executing it perfectly. It's like taking a jig saw puzzle and putting the pieces together to form a beautiful picture.

               The common piece of both my professions is connecting with people and helping them to experience something positive. As a counselor I don't just tell the client what to do, I engage them and involve them in finding solutions. As a musician I don't just play at the audience, I engage them and allow them to discover the joy or tenderness of a song.

 

Roger Capobianco---Entering the teaching profession was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.  I have many positive experiences such as

1.      Teaching a subject I enjoy

2.  Students informing me that they enjoy my class

            3.  Doing many activities in the classroom

                        a.  Debates

                        b.  Mock trials

                        c. College bowl reviews

            4.  Having my former students contact me after 50 years

5.  A student who is now a newscaster in California mention on his program that I had an impact on his life.

 

More History Lessons

    In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.'

*******************************************************


             As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October) Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term 'big wig.. 'Today we often use the term Big Wig because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.
********************************************************


     Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and dignified woman, as in 'straight laced' wore a tightly tied lace.
********************************************************
     Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the 'Ace of Spades..' To avoid paying the
tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with a full deck
.'
********************************************************
    
Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TVs or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars.  They were told to 'go sip some ale and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term 'gossip.'
**********************************************************

     At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She
had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,' hence the phrase 'minding your 'P's and
Q's'.
**********************************************************

                                                Focus on Our Wives

 

              With a laugh Marie Sturdevant tells people that she sleeps in Brookfield but lives in Newtown.  Truer words have never been spoken.  Marie, wife of new member Dick,  mother of Leslie and Michael and doting grandmother of Cassandra, Camaan, Cullan, Samantha, Ethan, Madeline and Holden, is the most active person the editor has known.  Bursting with friendliness and good cheer, Marie has been part of so many groups and chaired many.  At one time she was chairman of the Newtown Republican Town Committee.  She also had a stint as president of the Newtown Scholarship Association as well as being Newtown Salvation Army chairman.  A good committee person, Marie is an active member of Newtown Women’s Club.    A great church worker, Marie is currently a deacon, a member of the stewardship committee and the chair of the committee of a group writing a history of the Congregational Church from 1965 to the present day. She has done all this while, somehow or other,  working at least part time.   Years ago the Jaycees honored people who were great community servants with the title of outstanding young man or woman (young because you had to be 35 or less). If the Jaycees were still in existence I would bend their ear to create a new category that of Mrs. Newtown.  If ever anyone would deserve this it would be Marie Sturdevant. 

 

Bedtime Conversation

 

            A Lion from  Phoenix, Arizona and his wife were sitting quietly in bed and both were reading.  Suddenly the wife says, “What would you do if I died?  Would you get married again?”

Her husband responded, “Definitely not ! “  The wife then questioned “Why not?  Don’t you like being married?”

            The husband replied, “Of course I do.”  She pushed on “Then why wouldn’t you remarry?”  Her husband then says, “Okay, okay, I’d get married again.” With a hurt look the wife said, “You would?

The husband now groans and she asks the next questions, “Would you live in our house?  The Lion responded “Sure, it’s a great house.”  She pursued, “Would you sleep with her in our bed?”  to which he replied “Where else would we sleep?”

“Would  you give her my jewelry?” she next asked.  “No, I’m sure she’d want her own,” he responded.

It was getting late but she had another question.  “Would you taker her golfing with  you.”  He answered by saying “Yes, those are always good times.” 

Her last questions was “Would she use my clubs?: to which he replied, “No, she’s left handed.” 

            SILENCE

New Lion in the Pride

           

            If anybody should work for the Newtown Chamber of Commerce is should be Jim Guattery.  Only a Newtown resident since September, Jim said he couldn’t be happier.  In fact he stated  “it would take a stick of dynamite to get me out of here.”  Could anyone who loves our town ask for a better comment?  Since 1977, Jim has been married to Kathleen and they have two children,  Caitlin, 23 and Michael, 31.

 

 Our new member  has spent much of his career around airports doing a variety of jobs.  For seven years he has been employed at the Oxford Airport and is now the manager of the private flight department.  When not busy with family matters or work, Jim likes to swing a club or go with a buddy and do some sports fishing.  He and another friend own a road rally car so he enjoys his time tinkering with the cars and watching the races.  He said he always has liked anything mechanical that moves.  I bet Jim will be a natural for the car committee.  Welcome to the pride, Jim.  .

                                   

  And Finally, Something You Won’t Read in Aesop

 

             Little bird was flying south for the winter.  It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.  While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.

As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was.  The dung was actually thawing him out!  He lay there all warm and happy and soon began to sing for joy.

A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate.  Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird  under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

                                                Morals of the Story

1        Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.

2        Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.

3        And when you’re in deep shit, it’s best to keep your mouth shut!