banner
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile
Bulletin Editor
Larry Haber
Getting to Know our Members
Getting to Know Jennifer Gonzalez
Jenny Gonzalez was born in 1970 in the small country town of Perry, Florida, where her parents grew up. They moved to Tallahassee when she was four and she grew up with her brother Jon who is seven years older.
 
Both of Jenny’s parents were hard workers. Her mom was in business administration first in the medical field, then thirty plus years at an environmental law firm until her retirement two years ago. Her dad was a proud Vietnam veteran who had a 32-year career with the Postal Service. He retired early and enjoyed a life of leisure until he was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away three years ago. He was always working on cars, boats, and home improvement projects. In retirement he enjoyed spending time on my cousins’ farm in Alabama bailing hay, feeding cows, hunting, and fishing. His family misses him dearly.
Jenny met her husband in high school through friends they had in common, dated briefly during her junior year, and stayed in touch. When Larry graduated from the University of Florida out of the school of journalism, he moved back to Tallahassee to work. He looked Jenny up, and they decided to get married a month after dating. Jenny had been working at Holland and Knight Law firm as a file clerk and runner until they married a year later in December 1994. This past December they celebrated their 25th Wedding anniversary.
 
Jenny and Larry moved to Storrs, Connecticut once Larry was accepted to UCONN’s MBA program in 1995. Jenny worked in retail until he graduated, then spent a year matriculating into the CT college system at MCTC. She then applied and was accepted into the BFA program at UCONN. She was able to go to school full-time and completed a Specialized Concentration in Photography, Sculpture, and Ceramics. Larry and Jenny both graduated in 2000. He completed his law degree from UCONN, and she received her BFA.
 
She worked a few years after graduation as a Manager of the Non-Profit Women’s Exchange in West Hartford Center and went on to work for Capital Properties, first as a leasing agent for a residential property in Rocky Hill, later transferring to a West Hartford property as assistant property manager. She also began her Master’s program at CCSU. An artist at heart, she finished an MS in Art Education in 2007 with a concentration in Ceramics. She felt lucky to have studied with the best professor in her concentration and with one of the most talented students, who is still a good friend. She has had three art shows: a thesis show at Art Space in Hartford, a group show at Art Space with a painter, furniture maker, ceramicist and photographer, and another at the Farmington Library with three other ceramic artists.
 
Jenny started flying as a contract flight attendant for a small charter company out of Bridgeport and did sub-contracted flights for Netjets and Starflite International while she was finishing her Master’s program. In 2009 she secured a full time position with Travelers Aviation. She and her husband never thought that they would both end up working in the insurance industry, especially with Jenny in such a non-traditional role.
 
Larry and Jenny are very proud that their achievements have come about through their own efforts. They don’t have any children, but they are the happy to be aunt and uncle of seven nephews and one niece that they visit on trips to Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. They have two spoiled miniature dachshunds, Daisy and Oscar, who bring great joy to their home life. Their first fur-baby child was a Bassett hound named Marlee who was part of their family for the first 16 years of their marriage.
 
Jenny and Larry have been lifelong Thoroughbred horse racing enthusiasts and have a small stake in a NY breeding partnership and a couple of race horses with friends. Through their small interest they own perhaps a few horse hairs at most. This passion and their need to find a meaningful way to spend free time brought them to Shepard Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center. Jenny is on the fundraising committee and acting as Gala Chairperson, and Larry is VP on the Board. They still enjoy mucking stalls and feeding horses on the weekends as well as giving tours and acting as volunteer mentors.
 
Jenny is happy that Heather Pantano invited her to join Rotary. From the very first meeting she felt like she was home. She looks forward to getting to know all the members and working together to raise money and do good things for the community and beyond. 
 
Read more...
Speakers
Jun 12, 2020
Being a Rotary Scholar
Jun 19, 2020
For All Ages
Jun 26, 2020
Canton Historian
Jul 03, 2020
Jul 10, 2020
President's Installation Dinner
Jul 24, 2020
Mediators Beyond Borders
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Immediate Past President
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Foundation Chair
 
Membership
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Asst Treasurer
 
Interact Chair
 
EarlyRiser Presentations
A Promise to Jordan
The Annotated Guide to Ending Polio
Club Information
Rotary of Avon-Canton - Founded 1973
Avon-Canton
Service above Self
We meet Fridays at 7:30 AM
Avon Old Farms Hotel
279 Avon Mountain Rd.
Avon, CT  06001
United States of America
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map
hip
 
 
March 13, 2020
Chip Jaiszewski
The Power of Positivity: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities…”
 
 
Sergeant-at-Arms Report
 
Members Present: 32
 
Visiting Rotarians: 0  
Guests:
 
Singh Kershwin, a prospective member.
 
 
Happy Dollars: $31.00
Raffle Winner: No winner.
 
Fines
None.
 
Birthdays
 
While no birthdays were announced by our Sgt-At-Arms, we discovered a few during happy dollars.
Happy Dollars
 
Joanne Santiago will be going to Colorado for school, but  she also shared with us that she will be turning 71 (Editor’s comment:  an age she neither looks nor acts ;-}.)
.
Lisa Barall-Matt had $5 happy dollars having just returned from Florida, where the love of her life, Larry, (not Sullivan) had retired.  We were supposedly there for 3 months till he said, what I am going to do with my life, I need to work.  So, he found a job that is very different form the corporate executive jobs he has held in the past.  He will be the Operations Manager for West Hartford’s Public Works Department.
 
Salin Low announced that she was going to FL for a long weekend.  Although the weather here has been good.  She is just looking for a different view from in front of her window.
 
Paul Mikkelson said that it was great to be back as he has been absent for six weeks.  He talked about the birth of his first grandson, Tommy Lockwood to his daughter Lizzy and her husband Mark.  They had the baby on Jan 22.  The baby was born with Cystic Fibrosis.  It has been quite the battle.  When he was 2 days old, they had to remove a foot of intestine in a 5-hour operation.  A week later the had to remove some of his liver in a 3-hour operation.  A doctor with southern accent came in from Arkansas and turned out to be an Angel   He is now doing really well.  Lizzy is super upbeat.  Special thanks to Larry, Phil, and Colleen as well as many others for being there for him.  The people contact was important and meant so much to him and his family. 
 
Larry Sullivan gave a happy dollar in honor of Paul and Tommy.  He also gave $5 happy dollars to announce the opening of the family’s new Honda Dealership in Torrington.  It was also noted by the club, that Larry always goes to FL to avoid celebrating his birthday with the club.  We marked his birthday with our usual magnificent rendition of the Happy Birthday song.
 
 
Announcements
 
Ann Clark is looking for volunteers for Tastes of the Valley.
 
The club was reminded Rotarians of the upcoming service project in collaboration with Roaring Brook Nature Center on April 4 and 5, weather permitting. Rotarians and girl scouts will pair and build an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant trail at the Roaring Brook Nature Center.  See the information below from the Club Forum.
 
Heather Pantano also reminded all of the club night at the Hartford Wolf Pack, scheduled for the evening of April 4th. Details can be found in the email that was shared. Interested members will share dinner ahead of the game at the Coliseum Club.
 
Calendar of Upcoming Events
 
3/28: Tastes of the Valley tickets available now. $50.00/regular ticket. $75.00/VIP ticket, which includes the VIP function 90 minutes ahead of the main event.
4/4 & 4/5 Roaring Brook Nature Center Service Project 
5/29: President's Installation Dinner.  Details to follow.
6/??: Rotary Pub Night will be held at President Heather's new home
9/14: 37th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Golf Club of Avon
 
Induction of New Members
 
None this week.

Awards
None this week.
 
Community and International Service Grants
None this week
 
Club Forum
 
Rotary Service Project at and with Roaring Brook Nature Center
Katelyn Stryeski discussed the history of making the Roaring Brook Nature Center Handicapped Accessible and the long partnership with our Rotary Club on helping them with various projects
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taste of the Valley
Taste of the Valley is coming up quickly.  This is our second biggest Fund and Fun raiser of the year and needs all of our support.  A couple of asks:  Please bring in bottles of wine in $15 -20 range for our wine grab bag.  And most importantly SELL SELL tickets both regular and VIP Tickets:
 
As of 3/5, we have the following commitments for the taste

Sponsors

  • Farmington Valley Dermatology (Event)
  • Shop Rite (Event)
  • ENE Realty Associates (Platinum)
  • Sullivan Automotive (Gold)
  • Collinsville Bank (Gold)
  • Avon Chiropractic (Silver)
  • Carmon Funeral Home
  • GYL Financial Synergies (Silver)
  • Livefit Physical Therapy (Table)
  • Jules Poirier Co. (Table)
  • Milestone Asset Management (Table)
  • Susan & Steven Mitchell - US Horse Welfare & Rescue Org (Table) 
  • Norcom Mortgage and Insurance (Table)                .

Restaurants

  • Abigail’s (VIP Only?)
  • Golf Club of Avon (VIP Only?)
  • Bento Sushi
  • Shop Rite
  • Dish 'N Dat
  • Toro Loco
  • Crown & Hammer
  • Wood 'N Tap
  • Farmington Gardens
  • Season's
  • Pomona Pete's
  • Sweet Beet
  • Beanz

Liquor

  • M & R
  • Full Moonshine
  • Back East Brewing
  • Lost Acres Vineyard
  • Brewery Legitimus
  • Buckshee Bourbon
 

Special Announcements
None this week.
 
Mail Bag
None this week.
 
Photo Credits 
Photographs courtesy of Phil Worley and Mike Mezheritskiy.
 
Editor's Notes
Submission Deadline: Members are kindly encouraged to submit all materials for each week's Early Riser as early as possible. Please note that some editions may be published and distributed as early as the Saturday following our meetings, and during those weeks further contributions to the Early Riser will be included in the subsequent week's edition.
“The FOUR-WAY TEST of the things we think, say or do”:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all Concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?