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The meeting started right on time with a slightly taller Host this week, David Stover as our travelling President is off on another fun adventure. Despite his misgivings about being President even for a day, David did a wonderful job in leading the club. He began by thanking the greeter, PP Gordon Fell, having PP Michael Newman lead the pledge, giving Jim Crane the podium to lead the members and guests in prayer for peace for Ukraine, allowing PP Ed Gauld to wear a large green hat looking like a leprechaun while leading singing of “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” and, thanking PPx2 Moi, for writing the Windmill.
President for a Day David then introduced guests Ethan Kim (who is applying for membership) and, Kathy Gauld (PP Ed’s better half) and their daughter Trina Torgeleson visiting from Seattle. He then shared a picture of PP Mark & (his better half) Lynn Rogo with dignitaries from a Rotary in Japan where flags were traded. PP Mark told us over 600 Rotarians attend the meeting each week, which is very organized and, they provide translation devices to anyone from anywhere can participate. Amazing.....
David then introduced PP Tom Barron who told us March is the Irish month and a cultural holiday in Ireland where alcohol is used to celebrate (he then produced a bottle of beer from the podium) toasted and talked about a Thomas Cahill book, “How the Irish Saved Civilization”. It has been on the New York Time’s Best Seller list for two years and details how the Irish played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting classical and religious knowledge to Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. PP Tom then got around to introducing the speaker of the day (second time addressing this group) Gubnit Ni Dhuinn (AKA Denise) as a 100% Irish Lass with degrees from Trinity College and Oxford University speaking on the wit and wisdom of James Joyce. Apparently, this was a requested topic by none other than PP John O'Keeffe.
Gubnit began by wishing 100,000 blessings on the audience explaining it is an Irish greeting or welcome. She then proceeded to give quite a bit of background information on James Joyce so we could better understand his genius mindset when he wrote some of his most memorable novels and poetry.
Apparently, James was the eldest child and scholar in the house. He grew up in a normal household until his father lost his job. He was then sent off to boarding school where he was embraced by the Jesuits who encouraged him and taught him things that contradicted the catholic teachings, he learned earlier. James Joyce was a risk taker who was also very creative.
James Joyce had a love/hate relationship with Ireland that eventually caused him to leave for good in 1904. He was an artist who countered the norm, so he felt stifled by the social, religious and political atmosphere of Dublin, particularly the strong influences of the Catholic Church. He believed he could not fully pursue his artistic vision within the constraints of Irish society at the time. He needed a more cosmopolitan environment that was more embracing of his belief and lifestyle. When he left Ireland, he did so with his muse, Nora Barnacle, a woman who never became his wife but lived with him up until the last 10 years of his life. They had two children together Lucia & Giorgio although James was not what one would refer to as a present father in the lives of his children.
Gubnit then began discussion of one of her favorites James books, “Ulysses” which is 18 chapters long as James made it dense on purpose because he wanted readers to be adventurous and find what they wanted out of each different chapter. When reading the book people have said it feels as if each chapter is its own book and unrelated to any other chapter. It is confusing to many but, Gupnit feels if you take your time, you will find a rhythm and the theatrical in each chapter making it well worth your spending time on.
James Joyce was born in 1882 in Ireland and died in 1941 in Switzerland. Once leaving Ireland he spent his years traveling through Europe with Nora. He was known as a genius with a large ego, a rule breaker who thumbed his nose at society but yet very basic man in his approach especially to his writings.
It was a wonderful presentation even if the microphone worked only part of the time. Thank you Gubnit.
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