Rotarians host get-acquainted event

A crowd of members and guests filled Victoria Hall Wednesday night for the cinq-a-sept despite the stormy weather. Guests included adherents who cannot make the commitment to join the club, former speakers and associates of members who want to know more about joining Westmount’s only service club.

The wine and beer flowed, the wraps and sandwiches disappeared off the platters and the edible fruit arrangements were picked over, mostly for the chocolate strawberries and the pineapple flowers.

The great hall had the ambience of an haute party with Walls of Music providing lively background music and conscientious servers making sure no one’s glass remained empty for long. Participants moved from standing to sitting at the tables and enjoyed laughter and friendship with familiar and new acquaintances. Seasoned traveller and Rotary past-president Don MacKinnon caught memories of the evening going around the room telling people to smile and snapping photos. The cinq-a-sept evolved into a cinq a quand when participants didn’t want to leave they were having such a good time.

Kudos to the organizing committee chaired by newer member Cynthia Campbell who conscripted husband Jerry Hionis to do most of the schlepping. Again this year members of the committee committed to making the evening a fun event they were successful.

There were no speeches. Just fun. At one point president Ted Sancton managed to get everyone’s attention to thank the guests for coming and welcomed them to the second annual get-to-know-the-Rotary-Club soiree. Sancton had also put together a continuous run silent PowerPoint presentation about Rotary.

One of the reasons for the evening meeting of the club that otherwise meets every Wednesday at lunch in the same room, was to remind the community there are many ways to be involved in Rotary without committing to membership and the weekly meetings. Non members participate in the annual signature garage sale by donating furniture and other garage sale items, participating in pickups throughout the year or by spending part of the week before the sale setting up or spending the day working at the event.

For more information about becoming a member, getting involved in the work of the Rotary Club of Westmount or to arrange pick up of household items for the annual auction and garage sale that will take place at the Westmount arena June 1 and 2, go to www.rotarywestmount.org or phone 935-3344.