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PAUL HARRIS FELLOWS DINNER DANCE2009 Celebrating the Tuskegee Airmen The Paul Harris Dinner Dance at Maestro’s was a resounding success judging by the buzz of emails the following day. President Taylor Eskew welcomed Bronx Rotarians, family and friends after a lively cocktail hour. After the Pledge of Allegiance led by Edward Hicks, Bronx Opera’s Leslie Swanson led us all in the National Anthem. Ms. Swanson’s father was a Tuskegee Airman and so it was doubly special that she sang a meaningful piece as a tribute to them all. Rev. William Kalaidjian gave the invocation and praised all the members whose hard work resulted in such a special evening. It was a pleasure to have PDG Bob Cucinell on hand to do the honors in recognizing PP Salvatore Mastrocola for his strong leadership of the Club in 2007-08, a tenure highlighted by the addition of 8 new members to the Club. Mr. Cucinell presented Sal with his second Paul Harris Fellow. Mr. Cucinell also presented the Paul Harris Fellow medals and pins to Marguerite Chadwick-Juner, Barry Fitzgerald, David Michel, CLP, PP Jim Romeo (4th Paul Harris), Ralph Scottino, Cheryl Simmons-Oliver (3rd Paul Harris), Mary Springman and Luis Torres. Lane Wallace, a columnist and editor for FLYING magazine was the Master of Ceremonies. She did an outstanding job of moving the program along, but shone in her introduction of Lt. Col. Floyd J. Carter, Tuskegee Airman. She fleshed out the historical background of the Tuskegee Airmen in general and also related some colorful anecdotes about Lt. Col. Carter in particular. It was enlightening for those of us who only knew a few superficial facts about the Tuskegee Airmen. Lt. Col. Carter then came to the fore and described the hardships he and his fellow army airforce candidates of color went through. He told us of how several of the instructors wanted them to fail and of how he kept his temper, eventually triumphing and graduating as a bombardier/navigator. He was then reassigned to Tuskegee, Alabama, and graduated as a pilot in the first class of Student Officer Pilots. After his active service in WWII he was an Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander at Mitchell Airforce Base. His successful career in the military continued with distinction until he retired in 1974. Between and during active duty tours he was employed by the NYPD and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Always challenging himself, he is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. Impressive credentials for anyone, but especially for a person who was constantly being told at the beginning that he and his peers were incapable of learning the art of flying merely because of the color of their skin. Lt. Col. Carter was presented with his Paul Harris Fellow medal and pin by PDG Bob Cucinell. He was also presented with a special gift of a limited edition silkscreen depicting historically accurate WWII aircraft of the type flown by Lt. Col. Carter and by the Germans flying over Berlin. Nancy Wallace then did the presentation of plaques and boxes inscribed with the RI logo to Bronx Rotary Members with Long and Faithful Service. They were Peter J. Sinnott III, John Mauk Hilliard, Rev. Andrew Pane, Dr. Arthur Wolstein and Bob Bonowitz. The 50/50 raffle was a sizeable $343 which was won by PDG Gilda Chirafisi. She instantly announced that she was donating it to the Gift of Life program. Dancing and socializing followed with Taylor leading the group in the Electric Slide. Ed Hicks cut a swath on the dance floor and a memorable time was had by all.
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Lt. Col. Floyd J. Carter posed with PP Edward Hicks
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