PHYLLIS BATOR / Special to the Eagle

Officer Martiles escorts candidate Mary Stought out of the meeting as she is 'arrested' for disorderly conduct.

PHYLLIS BATOR / Special to the Eagle

The token male on Stought's cabinet is Ed Crane, webmaster. It was a surprise to him as well.

PHYLLIS BATOR / Special to the Eagle

If elected president, Jerry Stought will become the first "Laddie."

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More All

• Halloween contest — send your photo!
• Bookworm: Life’s random acts
• Facts and life realities of a mysterious disease

Share and Enjoy [?]

While approximately 150 members of the Marco Men’s Club were socializing before their meeting on their annual Joke Day, 11 past presidents’ wives were in a back room at Mackle Park readying for the joke of the year.

What the men didn’t know was that the joke was going to be on them. The idea for the spoof, a takeoff on a woman running for president, was supervised and organized by Darol Traeger, wife of immediate past president, Tom Traeger.

It began with the opening of the meeting which was suddenly interrupted by bugler, David Metzler playing “Hail to the Chief.” Mary (Mrs. Jerry) Stought, candidate for president of the Men’s Club and her cabinet — all dressed in red, white and blue — strolled down the center aisle and stood in a line up front. The men were confused, amazed, dismayed, and just didn’t know what was happening, but soon started laughing and applauding.

Darol Traeger addressed the audience from the podium as the campaign manager for the first lady president of the Marco Men’s Club, Mary Stought. The men loudly applauded.

“This lady is so well qualified to be your next president that we are in awe of her stature and intelligence… which by the way, Jerry Stought lacks.” The men responded with more applause and laughter.

“Gentlemen, let’s keep it down! This is not a Marco Island Council meeting,” Darol said.

She asked the men questions she said they needed not answer.

“Who decides which event you will attend? Who makes out the checks for the event? Most important, who decides who you’re going to sit with?”

The men were hooting and enjoying the spoof. Darol suggested the men vote for her candidate and if they didn’t, they should throw away their prescriptions for Viagra and Cialis.

Candidate Stought asked her husband to approach the podium. She said, “Gentlemen, when Jerry was president, I was his First Lady. If I’m elected, Jerry will be our first ‘Laddie’ and will be in charge of interviewing interns.” A straw hat with Laddie written across the headband was put on his head, and he pulled out a cigar. The men loved it.

Mary went on to say that if Hillary can follow in her husband’s footsteps, she knew she could follow in Jerry’s. As she introduced each cabinet member, they carried placards that read ‘Mary Stought’ on one side and a picture of their responsibility on the other. They turned their placards for all to see as they strolled up the aisle and around to the front. Each woman got a glowing round of applause.

Some of Stought’s funnier comments about her cabinet’s duties were: “Adele Boose would be Club treasurer. She currently holds the record for most credit cards at all fashionable shops in Southwest Florida. She knows how to spend!

“Sue Marks would continue to be cruise director with the help of her husband, Bob. Who do you think has been picking your destinations, gentlemen?

“In order for us to maintain our beauty and youthful good looks, Jean Wright will be in charge of the 50-50 drawings. Proceeds will provide funds for facials and other beauty treatments.”

Other cabinet members included Bonnie Bozzo, Mary Ann Cassidy, Kris Gaffney, Helga Godfrey, Pam Molander, Diana Wetjen, one token male, Ed Crane as webmaster, and as Stought put it, “the brains behind her campaign, Darol Traeger, her super campaign manager and advisor.”

Stought suggested different names for the Club and went on with her platform. She said she knew how to use a gavel, and added, “Just ask Jerry.”

Her motto was ‘Make Love, Not War.’ When her speech ended, she said, “I approve this message” at which point Lt. Mike Pena came forth to arrest the women for disorderly conduct (with permission from Chief Roger Reinke). Officer W. Martiles escorted Stought out of the meeting with her hands behind her as Metzler played “Taps” and Lt. Pena ‘arrested’ the cabinet members.

Lt. Pena said, “Chief Reinke asked for volunteers for this, and I’m always good for a prank, so I volunteered.”

Mary Stought later said she had so much fun that she was ready to do it again. “I’m grateful to the people at Mackle Park and the police officers for their help in pulling the spoof off. I didn’t do it alone. Each of the women contributed to make this the success it was,” Darol said.

All attending agreed it was one of the best jokes ever of the Annual MMC Joke Day meeting.