Burlington Reporter

Alamance County issued the following announcement on Dec. 22.

President Dick O’Donnell presided.  Sam Powell led the prayer and pledge of allegiance to our flag. Dick wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

Guests: Romanie from Trinidad and Tobago, Kirk Tucker, who will join the club on January 1, Shane Stadler, a friend of Trip’s with Provincial Strategies, and Savannah Berston with Western Alamance H.S. Interact.

This day in history: The Mummy with Boris Karloff in 1932.

Membership Spotlight: Savannah Berston, Interact President at Western H.S.

Born in Minnesota.  Moved here at age 7. Big, close family – five siblings. She is the oldest. Her Interact has about 60 members. She just completed a Christmas Cheer project. Plays volleyball and is part of several other clubs. Also takes courses at ACC. If you cannot find her, she is probably at school. She works as a hostess at the Cutting Board and belongs to Trinity Worship Center. Hobbies: sleeping, shopping, and playing volleyball. Wants to major in business and ministry.

Program: Dave Raymond – The Power of Fun

Raymond

Trip Durham had the program today. He shared that his friend Dave Raymond’s Dad Tubby was the football coach at Delaware St. for fifty years and was his hero. His Dad encouraged him to get involved with the Philly organization. The Delaware connections helped him.

Dave Raymond was the original Philly Phanatic, the first such mascot in the 1970s-80s. The way the Phanatic started in 1976 originated with his boss, Bill Giles, who came up with the idea. Dave volunteered. There was no planning. Dave was told to just go have G-rated fun. The lack of direction was a gift. Dave understood the Philly fan because he was one of then. He knew all the cartoon figures and the Three Stooges and drew from their routines. One of Dave’s passions was to get to know the players. Running on to the field was important. Whenever Dave fell down accidentally, it was a big hit; so, he added that to the resume. The costume was created by the people who designed the muppets. It weighed about 45 lbs. Dave learned to be unique, authentic, and fearless.

Being spontaneous in pre-game activities was a hit, such as marching along with bands, worked great. In 1983, the LA organization asked him to come a game at there place. He traveled with the team, but got loud “boos” by the LA fans when he went on the field. Dave weaved in and out of  band without interfering with their act. The band director, who thought he was a nut job, chased him all over the field, much to the delight of the fans. Two LA policemen blocked the exit. The police officers grabbed the band director instead of the Phanatic. The band ended up receiving a standing ovation.

Later Tommy Lasorda, manager of the team and a transplanted Philadelphian, verbally thrashed the Phanatic. Once when he was in a particularly cranky mood, he beat up the Phanatic in a much- publicized event. It was nothing personal, and Dave continues to be friendly with Tommy.

Dave retired in 1994 as the Phanatic. In 2000, Dave contacted Trip, as Elon was in the process of adopting their new mascot. 

He said that we need to be able to “re-boot” when what we are doing is no longer working. Where do we want to go? What can work in the new environment? Dave did this in the beginning of Covid. The Power of Fun talks about a four-step process to build happiness in our lives. It is a result of studying positive psychology.

He asked us not to ask people how they are doing, which sets them up to think negatively. Instead, ask them to tell you something good in their lives.

Conclusion

Dick closed the meeting by leading us in reciting the Four Way Test.

Original source: https://alamancerotary.org/december-22-2020-zoom-meeting-dave-raymond-the-power-of-fun/