WE WILL BE MEETING AT THE TOWER RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB
May 20, 2016
Club Day
President Gary Miller
Sergeant-at-Arms Report
May 6, 2016
Members
39
Make-Ups
--
Guests
Dr. Arnold Goldman and Elizabeth Horan (Both to be inducted soon).
Visiting Rotarians
District Governor Kyong Wilsonm
Happy Dollars
$26
Fines
--
Raffle
No Winner
Birthdays
No Club members celebrated a birthday at the May 13 meeting. However ... boxing great Joe Louis was born May 13, 1914. Dubbed "The Brown Bomber" by sportswriters, Louis was boxing's World Champion from 1937 to 1949, a staggeringly long reign in the world of pugilism.
Louis, who retired in 1951 after being knocked out by Rocky Marciano, was very quotable. Of his finances, he said "I don't like money, actually, but it quiets my nerves." Of being a celebrity, Louis asserted "if you gotta tell them who you are, you ain't nobody."
Happy Dollars
Bill Barnes - greeted District Governor Kyong Wilson. He has known Kyong for many years because of his ties to Bristol. As it was Friday The 13th, Bill reviewed the meaning of the word TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA. He also told a funny story about the English Navy and an Irish Lighthouse.
Rollie Sterrett - reported that his wife Karen's knee replacement surgery was successful.
Phil Ferrari - detailed that his son graduated from college last week.
Devra Sisitsky - has "survived the flu."
Devra also outlined that:
* her daughter and son-in-law are moving out.
* her organization, Veterans Making America, has now partnered with the Department of Labor to create a 16 week program.
* her son just got a new job.
District Governor Kyong Wilson - apologized for her "surprise visit."
Dale Bronson - related that his transplant doctor wants to transition him from Prednisone to a new drug that is just as effective without Prednisone's notorious side effects. Dale also shared a cute story about his grandson Levi.
Joanne Santiago - commended Avon Old Farms for changing up the breakfast menu.
Don Bonner - explained that he talked with hotel management about breakfast , and "they listened." Don shared that his son-in-law just received his doctorate from the Hartt School of Music.
Steve Harris - is relieved that his mother has moved into a new rehab facility that should work out better for everybody.
Lisa Barall-Matt - explained that her daughter in California had a bad fall and ended up with a triple break in her ankle.
Larry Sullivan - thanked Nancy Nation for putting the golf tournament booklets together. Nancy was passing the booklets out before the meeting started, so Larry asserted that this is the "kick-off for the tournament."
Assistant District Governor Hap Leabman - shared that his brother got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a recent Red Sox game. Hap will be travelling to London next week for his niece's wedding.
Gary Hyde - had a "wonderful" trip to Maryland.
Announcements
Dominican Republic Basketball Project
(A recent Rotary Meeting in The Domincan Republic)
Sarah Bonner is a Youth, Family, and Community Development Volunteer in the Peace Corps, August '14 - October '16. Her father Don Bonner is set to become Club President on July 1st.
Sarah's assigned community is Hato Viejo, Dominican Republic. She is seen here making a presentation to the Rotary Club of San Juan de la Managua.
Sarah has been seeking donations to build/restore a basketball court for the youth of Hato Viejo. Funding commitments have come from Rotary and "Courts For Kids." Just announced Wednesday morning (5/18), the Rotary Club of Avon-Canton Board of Directors has pledged $3,000.
In June, Student Volunteers will be traveling to Hato Viejo, a very small town located in the province of Elias Piña, to help with the basketball project. Hato Viejo is on the border of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Elias Piña has been recorded as the poorest province within the Dominican Republic.
The new/restored basketball court will provide a healthful gathering place for Hato Viejo's young people.
To read an expanded version of this article, be sure to read the May 2016 District 7890 Newsletter. It will be published this week.
Veteran's Recognition Day This Friday
Our Friday, May 20, meeting has been designated by President Gary as VETERANS' RECOGNITION DAY which will be highlighted by the presentation of the Club's $1500 grant to the Avon VFW Post 3272. This will mark the kickoff of the Post's annual fundraising Buddy Poppy Drive, an 11 day event from May 19 – 29. Last year's Buddy Poppy Drive raised over $20,000 to support 25 local and state veterans' charities. The check will be presented to Post Cmdr. Lee Wilson, an Army veteran of the first Gulf War.
Pres. Gary, a retired U.S. Navy pilot, asks that Rotarians who served in the armed forces (active duty, reserve status, National Guard, etc.) wear their uniforms (if they still fit!) to include VFW and American Legion uniforms. Rotary veterans will be asked to stand and mention your branch of service, dates of service, rank, and military specialty.
Buy Me Some Peanuts and Crackerjacks...
To bring a little more fun to selling golf ads, sponsorships, tee signs and registrations, Paul Mikkelson is dividing Club members up according to their baseball affiliations. The Yankees? The Red Sox? The Mets? Which "team" will bring in the most money for the golf tournament? Stay tuned for updates!! Meanwhile, get out there and start selling!!
Golf Ads
Nancy Nation asked members to please be sure that ad cards are filled out completely. Incomplete cards necessitate a lot of extra phone calls and needless running around. Nancy shared that the goal for this year's tournament is to clear $55,000.
Change In Venue
Gary Miller reminds all that the May 20 meeting will be at Tower Ridge Country Club.
Amber Alert Sessions
Tom Voorhees has added four new sessions to the Amber Alert schedule. Dates have been added to accommodate the Roaring Brook School, The Thompson Brook School, The Cherrybrook School and Rentschler Field. Club volunteers will be needed. See Tom for details.
Tour de Valley
Here is a photo from the Paul Mikkelson "Tour de Valley" Rotary Bike Ride last Saturday, May 14th. It shows (R to L) Rotarians Craig Buhrendorf, Paul Mikkelson and Bill Barnes along with Rotary friends David and Sheila Diamond. Sheila is Executive Director of the Senior Job Bank which the Club has financially supported.
End Polio Now
We Now Accept The Chip
Mike Mezheritskiy, our Sergeant-at-Arms, reminds all Club members that we accept the new chip cards as payment for meetings, merchandize and all events. Of course, we still will happily take cash or checks.
Rotary Pub Night
(Recent Pub Night)
Be sure to bring your friends, spouses, partners, significant others, etc. to the next Pub Night on June 7th. The location will be announced soon. RPN is held on the first Tuesday of each month.
Rotary Pub Night is all about networking, getting to know each other better and, usually, having a lot of laughs. We hope to see you all there.
Sincerely,
Josh Gillooly & Phil Worley
Membership Committee Co-Chairs
President's Dinner
Salin Low has detailed that the President's Dinner will be held June 17 at Farmington Woods. The cost will be $45 per person. A sign-up sheet will be circulated. Assistant District Governor Hap Leabman will be at the dinner.
Ending Polio By The Numbers
Special Recognition
District Governor Kyong Wilson honored Dale Bronson for his layout work and editing on the monthly District Newsletter, July 2015 through June 2016. Dale received a Paul Harris Pin and a certificate naming him a Paul Harris Fellow "in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world."
Guatemala Water Project
(Left to Rght - Manchester Rotarian Rick Lawrence and Craig Buhrendorf, Chair of the Avon-Canton Rotary International Committee)
Rick Lawrence, a member of the Manchester (CT) Rotary Club, explained that four villages in Guatemala will gain potable water this year thanks to the Guatemala Water Project that he began in 2006 and continues to head up. The villages are: Patzaj, San Lucas, La Trompeta and Panatzan. Filtration systems and holding tanks will be installed. Homes will gain some degree of basic, indoor plumbing.
That first year of the project, Rotary Clubs contributed $24,000. The 2015-16 project has brought in $27,995 in contributions from Rotary Clubs in Districts 7890, 7950, 6990 and 7040, $20,000 in District Grants, $47,995 from a Global Grant and nearly $68,000 in matching grants from the Rotary Foundation.
In addition to the Avon-Canton Club, donations have come in from District 7890 Clubs in Bloomfield, Broad Brook, Danielson, East Hartford, East Windsor, Enfield, Farmington, Kensington-Berlin, Manchester, Newington, New Britain-Berlin, Plainfield, Rockville, Salisbury, Southington, Torrington, Watertown, Wethersfield/Rocky Hill, Willimantic and Windsor/Windsor Locks, along with Massachusetts’ clubs in Holyoke, Ludlow, Palmer, Southwick, Tri-Town, West Springfield and Wilbraham/Hampden.
Rick asserted that potable water must be a high priority as over 30,000 people around the world die each day from water-related issues. 2.5 billion people have no sanitation facilities at all.
When possible, the project also brings stoves, ventilation systems, books and sports equipment to the villages.
The Guatemala Water Project partners with ALDEA (formerly Behrhorst Partners for Development).
Rick was honored with a District Service Above Self Award at the recent District 7890 Annual Conference.
In The Mail
A certificate of appreciation was received from ALDEA, the group that teams with Rotary to bring safe water to the villages of Guatemala. Signed by Patricia O'Connor, ALDEA Board President, the certificate says, in part, "thank you for your extraordinary commitment to improving health and well-being in the Department of Chimaltenango." ALDEA has been "strengthening Mayan Communities since 1967."
Photo Credits
All Photos from the Meeting by Phil Worley
Joe Louis Photo courtesy biography.com
Dominican Republic Rotary Meeting courtesy Don Bonner
Bike Ride Photo courtesy Bill Barnes
End Polio/New Britain Bees Graphic courtesy District 7890
Pub Night Photo courtesy lordsofthedrink.com
Polio By The Numbers courtesy Rotary International
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