William (Wild Willie) Taylor, Southington Rotary Lifetime Member Inductee

I am proud have been asked to induct Bill Taylor as a Lifetime Member of the Rotary Club of Southington.  I feel a bit put out about being passed up for the John Mullett or Tom McKnerney gig, but we are all team players here, and you do what you’re asked to do.

Born and raised in the streets of New York City, Bill early on fell in with ruffians and the like, living the rough and tumble West Side Story, yet taking time to sing streetcorner harmony with one Dion DiMucci in an acapella group which became known as Dion & the Belmonts.  You might be interested to know that it was Bill’s soaring falcetto you heard on the 50’s hit 45 “Why Must I Be A Teenager in Love.” The album jacket shows a tall, skinny kid with a greased-back DA haircut, looking something like a 50’s Kevin Mezzanotte.

After a brief stint doing ‘hard time’ for running numbers for the Mob (he was known as “Willie the Tailor”),  Bill enrolled at Columbia University, you guessed it, just in time for the 1960's student takeover of the University administration building.

He then appeared, Zelig-like, as a guest composer-performer with the Moody Blues, penning “Nights in White Satin” for their ‘Days of Future Past’ LP and then playing bass and being something of a groupie-magnet on their subsequent world-wide tour.

But then Bill decided it was time to focus on his real passion- banking.

Bill joined the Southington Rotary in 1984, garnering a solid 58% approval by the membership.  He immediately made his mark on the Club, teaming with Tom McKnerney to pass legislation that every Club event be an open bar, even breakfast meetings.  He rose through the chairs eventually becoming President in 1990, succeeding a true Rotary legend (whose name escapes me at the moment), using the campaign slogan ‘hey, back off, it’s MY turn!’  Unfortunately, during his term as President, Bill hurt his back and, depending on who you listen to, was out of action, according to legend, for 6 YEARS!  But, regardless, Bill left his mark on our Club:

In addition to serving as President, Bill was the voice of reason as the chair, for over six years, of the sometimes-stormy Gifts & Grants committee.  He also chaired the important Scholarship Committee for two years.  He was a silky-smooth voice of the airwaves on Rotary Radio Days and the deadpan sidekick to yours truly in some truly memorable (some would say truly forgettable) Rotary skits and tributes.

Bill Taylor is what Rotary is meant to be- someone who works hard

I am honored to introduce one of the three new Lifetime Members of the Southington Rotary Club - my fellow Rotarian – and my friend – Bill Taylor.  

John Kennedy, Presenter

Lifetime Member Induction Luncheon at The Orchards - 4/30/03

Lifetime member inductees:

Tom McKnerney presented by Chet Potrepka

Bill Taylor presented by John Kennedy (see above)

John Mullett presented by whom?

Bysiewicz discusses voting reform

By BRIAN FRAGA, New Britain Herald staff writer

SOUTHINGTON -- Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz addressed members of the Southington Rotary Club Wednesday in a speech focusing on her office’s voting reform efforts and business development initiatives.

Bysiewicz explained to the 40 Rotary members assembled in the community room at The Orchards retirement community exactly what her job title entails and how she has gone about fulfilling her responsibilities since being elected secretary of the state in 1998. "Since the Florida (voting) debacle in 2000, people seem to have a better idea of what I do," Bysiewicz said. "I’m like the CEO of a $100-million business that turns a profit for the state of Connecticut."

State corporations and LLC’s have to register with her office and update their business profile and information annually. Bysiewicz was the first secretary of the state to post that information on the Internet and says she plans to also have an online file of business documents such as annual reports and merger papers. "The information is good for people with LLC’s and corporations to see what their competition is doing," Bysiewicz said. "Having the information online also makes you sure your information is accurate and that you know it is there."

Election reform has also been a major focus of Bysiewicz’ term, and she detailed to her audience a particular initiative she is championing that would allow three Connecticut municipalities to test electronic voting machines. According to a federal law signed last year by President George W. Bush, each state must update its voting systems by 2006. Known as the Help America Vote Act, Bysiewicz called it "one of the most important voting rights legislation since the National Voting Rights Act of 1965."

Bysiewicz is proposing three towns use electronic voting machinery for the 2003 municipal elections. She said the technology would give voters the option to confirm their votes on a screen and would print a hard copy of each ballot. Bysiewicz was not concerned whether the elderly could handle the technology. - complete article