Bob Cave whose birthday is actually today said he was celebrating a "Big One" 45. After the laughter ended, he indicated that he was celebrating his 45th year in Rotary and the 45 year of our club. He therefore made his birthday dollar 45 dollars to honor the 45 fun years he has had in Rotary. He talked about the history of our club which was originally just the Avon Club and that we were among the first of the local Rotary Clubs to admit women when that became possible. That he is proud of how much good we do over the years having given hundreds of thousands of dollars. The involvement of members of the club beyond Rotary such as helping him when he started the senior job bank. He also noted how he does a lot of business with club members as he knows and trusts them.
Happy Dollars
With the snow and freezing cold, the club was not very happy this morning until Tom Voorhees, said that he was in FL in mid December when we had that little bit of snow and that our esteemed President Don was available for clearing driveways when your not around. Even though President Don is in need of some training, Tom was appreciative.
Announcements
The Calendar (See Below) has been announcing an incorrect date and location for the upcoming Rotary Means Business Networking event.
Craig Buhrendorf announced that the International Committee would have a meeting next Friday, January 12, after the regular meeting. Craig also wanted it noted that the International Committee is an independent committee, has its own budget of $12,500, and is not a splinter group of Community Service as this editor had previously stated.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Thursday, January 11th: Rotary-Means-Business networking event at Rizzutto's in West Hartford.
Wednesday, January 10th, 5:30 - 7:30: Rotary Means Business Networking Event at J Timothy's Taverne in Plainville
Tuesday, January 9th: Saybrook Fish House
Saturday, February 24: Taste of the Valley, at Farmington Gardens.
Awards and Community Service Grants
None this week!
Main Presentation
Elena DeGraw
Elena DeGraw, an Avon resident who has done extensive volunteer work on hunger in the valley as well as in the Hartford Area stepped in, at the last minute, for Noora Brown who was supposed to talk about the Farmington Valley American Muslim Center (FVAMC) and its outreach program Food for the Needy. She started out by thanking the Rotary Club for its recent generous donation to help provide toys and needed items to 218 displaced Puerto Rican families. The Muslim Center does more for hunger than any other organization in the valley and anti-hunger is one of their main efforts. They have the Food Share truck every other Tuesday to provide food for those who qualify. She spoke about the upcoming event with End Hunger New England to pack food, a project we have helped with in the past, as the most efficient way she has ever seen. According the their web site: One out of four or five children in our country is hungry (38,000 in Hartford County alone). FVAMC is proud to partner with Outreach Inc. – Kids Care in their mission to feed them all. Outreach Inc. organizes food packaging events and then distributes the meals to regional food banks, local food shelves and Mobile FoodShare.
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, they held their inaugural food packing event (2015 MLK Food Packing Event) on Saturday January 17th, 2015, with over 35,000 meals packed by over 200 volunteers from 25 faith and civic groups. They are looking for both volunteers and financial help for this years event which will be on Saturday, January 13. She noted that $25 dollars provides 100 meals. Sometime this may be the only meal of the day.
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Special Announcements
President Don reminded folks about the upcoming Taste of the Valley and how the changes at our new location (Farmington Garden) will allow many improvements in an already great event and allow us to have an even larger VIP hour.
Mail Bag
No mail today.
Photo Credits
Photographs courtesy of Phil Worley unless otherwise indicated.
Editors 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?
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