( – promoted by Sue Prent)

State Committee members occasionally get odd pieces of snail mail. The one I got recently from the Poultney (southwest of Rutland) Rotary Club qualifies.

It was an invitation to the club’s “Governor James H. Douglas Roast & Toast Gala Dinner.”

Well, turns out they didn’t mean it literally. To help “roast & toast” the governor as a farewell gesture, the Rotarians want their expected 250 guests to pay $75 per plate (grossing almost $19k for the event).

But don’t worry, nothing raucous will happen at this shindig, the Rotarians promise:

The event will be a fun and tasteful affair, bringing friends and colleagues together to celebrate Governor Jim Douglas’ many years of public service.

Begs the question why someone who hates government and wants to shrink it drastically has spent his entire adult life taking a government paycheck. I wonder if he’ll collect his per diem for that day. I also wonder which of those categories — “friends” or “colleagues” —  a Democratic State Committee member would likely fall into.

Of course, if you can’t attend the October 9th affair, you can buy an ad in the commemorative book that will be published:

We hope that you will attend this event honoring the Governor and his wife Dorothy; we promise to make this an enjoyable occasion for all. There will be a commemorative book distributed at dinner, and space is available to place an ad for all to see, be it a promotion for your business or parting words for our Governor. Enclosed you will find a sell-sheet explaining the details. [emphasis added]

A full page ad to tell the world what you’d like to say to the Governor costs $200. A quarter-page ad costs half that.

Rotary is an international business-oriented service club founded in 1905 for men; it began admitting  women only in 1987, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in support of a California chapter which had allowed women in. Its two mottos are: “Service above self” and “They profit most who serve best,” the latter motto changed to its current gender-neutral language only 6 years ago. A quick search using the Rotary International’s “club locator” tool turned up no results for the Poultney club; a search for a website for the Poultney Rotary Club likewise found nothing.

Rotary clubs are described as “a non-partisan, non-sectarian and secular organization […] open to business and professional leaders of all ages (18 and upwards) and economic status.” They have admirable projects, like eradicating polio and awarding scholarships. Maybe inviting Democratic State Committee members to this event is its best expression of its nonpartisanship.

I dunno, but it was a headscratcher as to why I would want to spend money I don’t have to “celebrate” a governor I’ve been working to defeat since 2002.

And, btw, there was no mention of any ribbons for Gov. Scissorhands to sever for old times’ sake. Perhaps the program committee should look into that.