Town Historian to Speak at Westport Rotary Luncheon

Allen Raymond, Westport's official town historian and one of its most prominent civic leaders, will speak at the Westport Rotary Club at noon Jan. 12 at the Inn at Longshore.  He will explain how, "in spite of catastrophes right and left," he's managed to stay alive for 87 years. 

Raymond's civic contributions to Westport have been legion, including serving as the library's president for four years during planning, construction, and opening day.  A lifetime honorary trustee of Earthplace, he served the institution in various capacities, including president and chairman, bringing it out of a financial crisis that almost required it to close.  He was instrumental in the town's purchase of Longshore.  He has been the moderator of RTM, as well as the chairman of the Board of Education.  He was the youngest president in the YMCA's history and has served several times as the Westport chairman of the Repulican Party.  He was president of the Norwalk Symphony twice, as well as a longtime (and current) Board member.  A former co-president of the Westport Historical Society and currently serves on its Board.  He is active in the Green's Farms Congregational Church.  He is on the Board of "Friends of Sherwood Island," as well as on the town-appointed Sherwood Mill Pond Committee.  For 52 years, he has been president of the Compo Cove Park Association.

The luncheon promises to be a lively event, as Raymond, a new member of Rotary making his "introductory talk," recalls his "challenging and sometimes frightening" business and civic careers.

"For instance," he commented, "what would you do if your heard from post offices all over the country that your magazines were undeliverable, because the address labels had fallen off the magazines?"

"Or," he added, "what's next when your printer files for bankruptcy and shuts its doors just as your magazine is going to press?"

 "And it's equally catastrophic," he says, "when a good friend like John Davis Lodge loses an election. In fact, losing an election – and I've lost my share – is never easy." 

Raymond's potentially disastrous catastrophes – or potential catastrophes – during his lifetime have not just been business or politically related. They actually began in 1940, when a serous football head injury almost ended his life.

 "I have a hole in my skull," he said,  "but I'm still here."

Guests are always welcome at Rotary meetings.   There is a fee of $20 per person for lunch.  For  more information about Rotary, contact Rotary Membership Chair Dave Matlow at 203.227.3090, or visit the club's Web site at www.westportrotary.org, or come to a meeting any Tuesday at noon at the Inn at Longshore.

The Westport Rotary Club is an organization of business and professional men and women united in service to their community, vocation and the world.  One of the 33,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide, the Westport Rotary Club is known for philanthropy and for providing hands-on project leadership both locally and internationally.  In the past, Westport Rotary has been able to give to more than 35 not-for-profits up to $50,000 annually, supporting scholarships for Staples students and donating funding for international projects that help bring clean water and improve literacy for the poorest of the poor in the world.  This year Rotary partners with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to continue the club's goal of eradicating polio worldwide.