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Bulletin Editor
Gary Miller
Speakers
Sep 30, 2022
Membership
Oct 07, 2022
Africa Trip
Oct 14, 2022
Town of Avon Updates
Oct 21, 2022
Oct 28, 2022
Nov 04, 2022
Medicare
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Immediate Past President
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Rotary Foundation
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Interact Chair
 
Club Information
Rotary of Avon-Canton - Founded 1973
Avon-Canton
Service above Self
Fridays at 7:30 AM
Golf Club of Avon
160 Country Club Road
Avon, CT 06001
United States of America
Fax:
(860) 760-6364
All meetings are hybrid both in-person and Zoom available
DistrictSiteIcon
District Site
VenueMap
Venue Map
 
August 12, 2022
Donna Swanson
FOCUS Center for Autism
 
The meeting will be held both in person and via Zoom. 
Watch for an email from the Club for Zoom access and
please note we use a recurring ID for your convenience.
 
Sergeant-at-Arms Report - 
 
 
Rotarians Present: 27 (includes 4 Zoomers)
 
Visiting Rotarians:  Michael Sherber
 
Guests: Jenny Kohl (Speaker)
Happy Dollars: 13
 
Raffle Winner: No Winner
 
Fines: None today.
 
 
 
Birthdays
 
Greg Demanche (8/05) has been a member for 19 years. He came in disguise this morning rather than his usual sartorial suit and trench coat. Greg said he's a better person for being a member of this club.  
 
President Chris Lamadrid revealed it was her birthday as well during Mike Sherber's  membership ceremony.
 
Happy Dollars

Sue Budde was very happy to report that she survived the zip-line ride from the top of Foxwoods on her birthday and also felt amazingly well after having two wisdom teeth removed. We agree that she didn't have the usual chunky chipmunk look often exhibited afterwards.
 
Phil Ferrari is heading to Switzerland to meet friends from Florida and join them on a Rhine River cruise. The water level of the river is quite low, so their cruise may be adjusted slightly. He was advised to go with the flow.
 
Peter Vignati and Suzanne had a great day as their son, Andrew's, wedding at a farm in Whatley, MA. They also had a great trip to Hamburg, Germany, to celebrate the birthday of Suzanne's mother. While there that took a boat tour of the harbor in Hamburg passing by a huge yacht that reportedly belonged on of Putin's oligarchs and currently impounded.
 
Cherie Morris just had the best four days spent at Camp No Limits in Wales, Maine. The camp is one of nine camps around the country for older kids with missing limbs. She said she never laughed so hard and was continually amazed at how comfortable the campers and staff were with each other seeming to show no limits with their abilities.
 
Greg Demanche attended a performance of the new show Anne of Green Gables currently as the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam. He highly recommended the show.
 
Arnie Goldman had gratitude for eight lovely days in downtown Philadelphia at the American Veterinarian Medical Association of which he has been the Treasurer for a number of years. He is now running for a position on their Board. Arnie also passed along greetings from Craig Nation whom he saw that Anthology in Simsbury while paying a visit to Phil Worley.
 
Gary Miller was back from an 18-day trip to England. They arrived on the hottest day ever recorded in the UK -- 104 F.  The express train from track 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station to York took all day due to the high heats effect on the railroad tracks, power outages and labor issues. The rest of the trip was fabulous. His daughter, Betsy, did an amazing job driving the transit van they rented to get to their old home in Somerset. The van was about one and a half times wider than typical country hedgerow lined lanes. Gary had a small 1972 Mini which fit much better.
 
President Chris Lamadrid was so pleased with the outpouring of kindness and affection that followed her announcement that she needed to find a kidney donor. She hopes that by sharing her search a donor will be found soon. 
 
Announcements
 
Phil Ferrari reminded us all that the good we are able to do in the community has a lot to do with the money we raise.  This year we gave 27K in local support and another 20K to support international projects.  We need everyone to pitch in.  We are short on auction items and need items for the goodie bag that we hand out to golfers. The tournament is less than 6 weeks away.
 
Joanne Santiago reminded everyone about contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Donations can be made by check to the Foundation via the club or online directly through the Rotary International website on an annual or monthly basis.
 
Cherie Morris asked everyone to consider donating items for the golf tournament silent auction and door prizes. Please contact her with any questions and deliver any items to her.
 
Starting in August, the last meeting of every month will be held at FAVARH.  These will be Club Days so that we can do a better job of getting to know each other and reestablish why we are Rotarians.
 
 
Calendar
 
 
Induction of New Members
 
President Chris Lamadrid introduced Mike Sherber who rejoined our club this morning after a time with the Stamford Club. He recently moved back to Avon now that he is working remotely for a company in Texas. Chris was please that two former club Presidents have returned. At the conclusion of the membership ceremony, Mike said it was good to be back.
 
Awards
None this week.
 
Community and International Service Grants
None this week.
 
Presentation
Jenny Kohl, MSW
 
Sue Budde introduced Jenny, who is originally from Waterford, CT. She joined The Diaper Bank team in July 2021 as the Community Outreach Coordinator where she oversees volunteer operations. Having interned as a graduate student at The Diaper Bank, she is passionate about the organization's mission. She holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from the UCONN School of Social Work with a concentration in community organizing. She believes in the power of bringing people together to create positive change.
 
The Diaper Bank of CT is a 501c3 with a 17 year history that distributes baby and adult products, period supplies, and has also become involved in the current baby formula shortage. They operate out of a huge warehouse in North Haven which can handle their usual 1.5 million diaper inventory.  They do volume purchasing and repackaging for distribution through their many partners around the state. Due to their purchasing power, the average price of a diaper is only about 13 cents. Many of their partners are concentrated in the larger cities in CT.
 
In 2021 they had 103 distribution partners and served nearly 8000 people.  They received funding through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in addition to their normal sources. Their impact in CT is huge with the delivery of 3.2 million infant and toddler diapers; 146,000 period supplies; 38,000 incontinence supplies, and over 71,000 wipes.
 
1 in 3 families struggle to provide clean diapers for their babies. The monthly cost per child is about $150. The ability to provide an adequate supply of diapers ties into the medical health of the child and the mental health of the parent. Child daycare opportunities are also limited by the ability to supply the amount of diapers needed for enrollment -- usually a month's worth. Families can not use WIC or SNAP/Food Stamps for diapers.
 
The Diaper Bank distributes period supplies. 1 in 5 women miss school, work and other life events due to a lack of supplies. They also provide incontinence products for adults. About 7% of seniors are at or below the poverty line in CT.
 
A Corporate Partners Program allows business to bring service events to their employees. The bank can also be supported by volunteers at the warehouse to repackage supplies for distribution, diaper drives and other fundraising events. Over the years over 28 million diapers have been distributed. 
 
 
 

Special Announcements

None this week.
 
Mail Bag
None this week.
 
Photo Credits
Screen Shots by editor
 
Technology Credits
Zoom platform management expertise by 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?