Phantom of the Rotary

99 Club Brawl breaks out over new president, ‘Opera,’ Do-Si-Do cookies

Sunday, July 13, 2014

The self-styled Saturday Morning Club (also Saturday Morning Breakfast Group) threw a little reception for Bill Booker, the president of Denver Roller Inc. (the Roller funeral homes company) and the newly installed president of Rotary Club 99, who succeeds Sharon Tallach Vogelpohl. The Booker Inaugural Brawl took place at Mary Beth Ringgold's Copper Grill on June 30. It's not clear whether it will be an annual event.

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola read a proclamation that, among other things, suggests citizens of the capital city follow Booker's lead and give generously to politicians who will ultimately lose. "Booker has uniquely distinguished himself in this regard ... having posted a consistently losing record in all races, with the exception being the mayor's race of yours truly."

The proclamation also suggests Booker will use the power of his office to proclaim the Girl Scouts' Do Si Do cookies the official cookie of Club 99, to be added to the luncheon dessert menu, and supplied by Booker himself.

For these and other visionary acts, Stodola proclaimed this the "Year of the Booker."

Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Joe Thompson then presented Booker with a green Girl Scouts sash three sizes too small.

In a turn no doubt better understood by his close friends, Booker then affixed a Phantom of the Opera mask on the right side of his face and sang a few bars of "Music of the Night."

High Profile on 07/13/2014