UPCOMING  

EVENTS & NEWS 

View From The Corner Booth

Good day to all,

Recently I attended a Cony basketball game and Deputy Attorney General Bill Stokes, who is also mayor of  Augusta, handed me a copy of something I wrote back in 2002 that ended up being printed in the Kennebec Journal. It was my acceptance speech for the honor of being chosen the 2002 Citizen of the Year by Le Club Calumet.

For those of you who have not heard of Le Club Calumet, it is a civic organization in Augusta that has been in existence since 1922 that promotes Franco-American heritage as well as the French language by means of music, literature, and education.

Due to the length of the article, I had to edit it for print in this newsletter. I thought it was worth sharing with all of you, so here it is.    

"I feel special pride in being singled out for being more than a roofer, more than a successful business person, more than an effective fundraiser for the United Way. Being chosen for an Outstanding Citizen Award by Le Club Calumet is a special honor that places me in the company of people whom I have respected and looked up to for years. That is very humbling.

 I hope I will always be able to touch people's lives in good ways. I hope I can encourage others to do the same. Awards aren't really necessary for the wonderful satisfaction of serving.

I want to read something that a friend sent me some time ago.  

It is a quiz:

1. Name the last five Heisman Trophy winners.

2. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

3. Name any ten people that have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.

4. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and best actress.

5. Name the last decade's World Series winners.

How did you do? The point is, none of us remembers the headlines of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields, but the applause dies and achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. Here is another quiz:

1. List a few teachers who aided you through school.

2. Name three friends who helped you though a difficult time.

3. Name five people who taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

6. Name a half dozen heroes whose stories inspired you.

Easier? The message: the people who made a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They are the ones who care about you.

Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life. You all have made a difference in mine."  

This past week I turned 58 and I wanted to show you a picture of the cake that was given to me by the Dine-ah staff. It was made by Sherri and frosted by her sister Linda, only because Sherri was in Ohio at the time. On my birthday I had lunch with my daughter Leslie, before she flew back to India, and my wife Teresa at Dimillo's Floating Restaurant in Portland.  Also 15 members of my team at G & E Roofing joined me the next day for lunch at the Dine-ah and presented me with a tub of goodies to be used at this weekends Super Bowl party being hosted at my camp. I also had dinner at home with my in-laws Sandra and Everett Barnard and they presented me with DVD's  of my sons home basketball games filmed by Channel 7. I have watched one game and it was absolutely awesome! I would like to thank all of you plus my many Facebook friends who helped make my birthday one of the best ever.      

Trivia night continues to grow with 44 participants this past Wednesday night. Everyone I spoke to had a great time and now that we are in the front dining room we even have room for more participants so please feel free to join us. We start at 6:30 and it's all wrapped up by 8:30 pm. If for no other reason, come in to listen to Jon James emcee the night. He is very entertaining and makes the night fun for all. Thanks Jon!  

With Valentines Day being on Tuesday this year we will be running Valentine's specials on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday preceding Valentines Day and also on  Tuesday February 14. Please join us and we will have more details in next week's newsletter.   

GO PATS!