Rotary Meeting of 6-20-2013 “Welcome Home Tom”, by Gary Wilson, Bulletin Editor.

Ode to Thomas

“The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on”(Omar Khahim)… and so it goes.  Tom did a great job, and now it’s time to pass the Bataan.  “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” (Dickens).  There were no “worst of times” that anyone could see.  Tom kept those to himself.  That’s what leaders do.  They stand in front of the group whether they are happy or not.  They always show good cheer and deportment.  That’s a President at his best, that was Tom.  You always found the pony in “there”.

Tom knew when to cross the line, and when to let it alone.  Tom mastered the skill of a President with no currency to motivate others -- other than “thank you’s” and “atta-boys”.  Phone calls, but no flowers.  At least I didn’t get any.  But I got some atta boys, and I am grateful.

Tom ran the club and ran the meetings.  Melissa once said you don’t run the El Segundo Rotary Club, you kind of nudge it along.  It’s like a river that you need to keep from over flowing, but it must flow. She is right about that. Tom set the example, he set the pace. 

Now it’s time to rest.  It’s a hard job, but he made it look easy.

I would like to say his hair is a little grayer, but that doesn’t work in this case.  It’s time to go home to his family and friends and just be “Tom”.  No more Supreme Commander.  Go home now, have some beers and some good old fashioned Tennessee Jack Daniels and stay up late and surf the net and talk to your imaginary friend Elden.   He will still call you Supreme Commander.  He likes you.  You can frolic with him.

You don’t have to run the meeting on Thursday.  You can make fun of the President now.

Don’t answer those emails, just forward them on to Len.  It’s his time to shine.  Come back to the masses and get another job with the club.  Past President is a good one, but not as good as “Bulletin Editor”, or “Doing the Roster” like a past mayor in the club has been doing.  Selling Raffle tickets is a good one and always needed.  Lots of people do “little” jobs in the club, and that’s what makes our club so special.  Everyone has a job.  Sometimes it’s formal and has a title, and sometimes it is important, but has no title.  If everyone did a little, no one has to do a lot.  The best job is the good deed you do when no one is watching, but...God.  All Rotarians have that job, every day.

“All God’s Children have a place in the Choir, some sing lower and some sing higher, and some just clap their hands.”  Tommy Makem

Welcome Home Tom.  See you all Saturday Night 

Below:  Tom with the Big Boys