Lisa Barall-Matt was born in Hartford, Connecticut as one of four siblings, having a sister and two brothers. After living in Bloomfield through her high school graduation, she went to Ithaca College. Upon finishing school, Lisa took a computer programming job at Aetna. What was going to be two to five year stint at Aetna turned into a career as an information technologies executive with a run of twenty-two years.
Lisa got restless living the corporate life and decided in 2002 to “retire” from Aetna. She then entered the real estate profession and continues to practice today. Lisa has been with Re/MAX since becoming a realtor and has been its number one agent in Connecticut for six of the last eight years.
Along the way, Lisa was blessed with “two amazing daughters” - Leah, who is a Doctor of Pharmacy and practices in California where she lives with her husband Tom and their two dogs, and Dena, who is a Harvard Law graduate and practicing attorney specializing in Private Equity with Kirkland and Ellis in the Boston area, where she lives with her husband Matt and a golden retriever named Newman.
In 2006 Lisa decided to take a chance on a second marriage and married the “love of her life and best friend” Todd. Together she and Todd raised two more “amazing kids” - Tyler, who is a Clemson graduate with a degree in Biomedical Engineering currently serving as a Naval Officer out of Virginia, and Morgan, who is a Virginia Tech graduate working as an Industrial Designer at Proctor and Gamble in Boston.
One of Lisa’s passions is children. She has been actively involved with fundraising for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which her uncle Simon Konover built at Paul Newman’s request. She is now heavily engaged for the second year with the planning committee for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center annual gala.
This fall Lisa and her husband will be spending two weeks in Germany and Denmark. Lisa’s father, Stanley Barall and her grandfather, David Konover were the two founding members of the Bloomfield Rotary.
Guests (2):Joe DiNicola (son of Robin, home from Clarkson) and Jill Zorn (speaker)
Visiting Rotarians: None
Happy Dollars: $28
Raffle Winner:None
Birthdays
None
Happy Dollars
Salin Low started out with a less than happy dollar to report she had been scammed for $1,000. She felt too foolish to give many details and just said "sh-t" when she realized what had happened. She advised members to be sure it's really their friend if someone asks them for a favor. And even if you do the favor, don't give anyone credit card or checking account information unless it's face to face. That saved her much more than $1,000.
The happy dollar was for running into Maria Coutant Skinner, who was involved in the Drug Take Back Day. Salin had an idea about focusing on the drug disposal bags as Rotary's part in fighting the opioid crisis. She talked about it, and Larry Sullivan encouraged her to tell someone. She told district governor Kate Sims who passed it on to the drug task force. Salin heard nothing else until running into Maria last week, who thanked her for the idea and said it had led to the Take Back effort. Salin thanked Maria for making her day and year, knowing she had helped in some way.
Salin said there were three morals to the story: step up if you have an idea that might help; encourage others to follow through with ideas or plans like Larry Sullivan had; and always remember you can never thank anyone too much for whatever help they give.
Paul Cioffari after a tough tax season and a trip south. He said the changes in the tax code had resulted in changes in his retirement plans. He may hang it up sooner than previously planned. He then shared some really good news His son's wife is expecting and his daughter is expecting twins - all due in mid-October. Really exciting!
Sue Budde was beyond happy to show off a picture of her new grandson - Noah William. She and Bill are looking forward to a chance to meet and hold the newborn!
Gary Hyde told a joke that was a good kickoff to the golf tournament . It involved the Pope, Jack Nicklaus, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Tiger Woods. See Gary to hear the joke or make up your own with those characters.
Joe Raycroft was happy to be back after a busy spring making college visits with his daughter who is a junior in high school. Now they have to complete the admission applications.
Joanne Santiago was happy for the mothers being honored on Mother's Day.
Chuck Joseph gave $4.00 for the four-letter word Salin Low used in telling about being scammed.
Announcements
Mike Mezheritskiy announced that Amazon Smile is now available to benefit the Club when our members and others make Amazon purchases, by each individual designating the Club as their charitable beneficiary for Amazon Smile. Please consider making the Club your beneficiary!
Don Bonner passed the signup list for the President's Dinner. It will be at 6:00 onFriday, June 7, at Avon Country Club. Cost is $50 per person with a choice of French Breast of Chicken, Asian Glazed Salmon, Filet Mignon, or Wild Mushroom Papperdelle (vegetarian) for the entree. You can email Don or sign up at a meeting if you want to attend.
Tom Voorhees announced some upcoming Amber Alert events: Roaring Brook School on May 19; Thompson Brook School on May 29; and Cherry Brook School on May 31. (The scribe never realized how many local schools were named for brooks!). See Tom if you can help with any of these events.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
May 16th: Rotary Night at Hartford Yard Goats, Thursday May 16; Game time 7:05 PM. Tickets $8.00. Contact Paul Mikkelson for details. He may still have a couple of tickets.
May 31: Golf Club Committee Meeting, 1 PM at Seasons Restaurant in the Sun Room. New members are urged to attend to learn about the tournament.
June 7th: President's Installation Dinner, 6 PM, Golf Club of Avon
June 10th: Canton Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament at the Farmington Woods Golf Club. Contact Gary or Sue Budde for more information or visit the Chamber's website for registration: Canton Chamber Golf Tournament
June 20th: Rotary Governors Installation Dinner, 6:00-9:00at Riverview in Simsbury. Cost is $55.00 per person including an open bar. Invitation says "Black Tie Optional," so put on your duds and dance to a band while honoring Heather Pantano, our incoming president. Check with Rollie Sterrett if interested, so we can arrange to be at one table.
June 21st: Meeting to be held at the new FAVARH Rotary Building
September 9th: Annual Rotary Charity Golf Tournament at the Golf Club of Avon. Please contact Gary Miller if you are interested in working on one of the golf committees.
Induction of New Members
None this week
Club Presentations
Joanne Santiago presented Chuck Joseph with his Paul Harris Plus 5 Award. This represents an award from the club and generous donations by Chuck to the Rotary Foundation. It is good for members to give regularly to the foundation, and those gifts add up to recognition and service around the district and around the world. Congratulations, Chuck!
President Michael announced that the club had received the District Service Citation. District Governor Kate Sims said our club had the "secret sauce" for service and for our strong sense of community.
Community and International Service Grants
None this week.
Presentation
Universal Healthcare Foundation
of Connecticut
Jill Zorn
(Reported by Cub Reporter Heather Pantano)
The Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut serves as a catalyst to engage residents and communities in shaping a democratic health system that provides universal access to quality, affordable health care and promotes health in Connecticut. They are a charitable foundation focusing on advocacy, research, and education.
How Are Residents of CT Covered?
Public Insurance - Medicaid and Medicare
Private Insurance - Insured through employer (self-insured, fully-insured, small groups), Buy insurance on your own
Uninsured - Some people have no coverage at all
Connecticut residents struggle to afford health care. 50% of CT adults experienced a problem with health care affordability in the past year. 43% of CT adults delayed or did not get care due to cost, and 24% of CT adults experienced one or more struggles to pay medical bills (contacted by a collection agency, used up all or most of their savings, racked up large amounts of credit card debt, were unable to pay for basic necessities like food, heat, or housing)
This year, your state legislators have a chance to pass a law (HB 7267 sand SB 134) that would offer new choices of quality affordable health care plans for small businesses and nonprofit organizations with under 50 employees and individuals. Another House Bill (HB 7174), will help Connecticut residents afford their medications by using the negotiating power of the state employee health plan.
Photographs courtesy of Phil Worley unless otherwise noted.
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?
