Guests: Steve Hornstein, Prospective Member; Caroline (Cal) Miller-Stevens, Prospective Member; Cory and Max Gabel;
Speaker: Mary-Jane Foster
Visiting Rotarians: Dave Tadeschi, Asst Governor, ; Prasad Menon, District Foundation Chair
Happy Dollars: $213
Raffle winner: Gary Hyde
Fines:None.
Birthdays: None.
Happy Dollars:
Gary Miller was surprised to be at the November 19 meeting, because khe was supposed to be in NY State seeing grandkids until Covid intervened. He was headed to Tampa after the meeting.
Lisa Barall-Matt had been in Florida to see her mother. She was joined by her sister and brother for a full-fledged family reunion. Son Tyler is in the navy and is now chief of staff for the admiral of the North Atlantic Fleet.
Phil Ferrari reported that Craig Nation is back home at Anthology in Simsbury, which Phil thinks might be in his future. Craig was in the hospital to deal with heart issues.
Peter Vignati was happy to announce that his son is engaged. The couple was having trouble finding a venue, but now they are set to be married in July 2022.
Rollie Sterrett. Was happy about the November 12 meeting honoring the veterans and for a chance to introduce his grandson at the meeting. They went to Colgate for the weekend, so Rollie could convince his grandson that he should go. They saw two hockey games – one win and one loss – and they partook of age-appropriate beverages.
Yvonne Gardner was happy to have a cousin from Holland visiting.
Joanne Santiago gave thanks for the Avon-Canton Rotary and the support they have given her.
Prasad Menon was happy to be at the meeting.
Dave Tedeschi was happy to be involved with such a good club.
Announcements:
ADG Dave Tedeschi announced that there would be products and merchandise on the District web page as a way of extending the 100th Anniversary celebration for the District. There will be shirts, plaques, and a holiday ornament in two colors. The website will be fully live in December.
Dave also encouraged our members to help with a project of the Newington-Rocky Hill club to collect pajamas for kids and others, newborns to adults. The effort was begun by a9-year old boy, Oliver Koenig-Paquin of Glastonbury, who began collecting pajamas to be donated when he was three. Last year 3,500 pairs of pajamas were donated. The Newington-Rocky Hill club wants to help Oliver reach this year’s goal of 6,500 pairs of pajamas. You can learn more on Facebook at Oliver’s Pajama Project or by going to the website for the project -https://givebutter.com/OliversPajamaProject where donations may be made.
Salin Low reminded members that we are ringing the Salvation Army bell in front of Walmart on Saturday, December 18. She also announced that the wreaths ordered from the New Britain-Berlin club will be delivered to our meeting at Tower Ridge on December 3. Payment should be either cash or checks.
Sue Budde announced that Dan Keller of Dish ‘n’ Dat is planning to serve 350 meals on Christmas (250 were served in 2020), as well as providing toys and gifts to those who are there. He needs helpers to guide attendees through the restaurant. You can contact Sue or the restaurant to offer help, cash donations, or toys.
Awards
Lisa Barall-Matt was presented her Paul Harris Fellow plus 4 recognition, which represents $4,000 in support of the Rotary Foundation. Prasad Menon, District Foundation Chair, accompanied Club Foundation Chair Joanne Santiago in present the award. Prasad spoke the incredible achievement of reducing polio to a very few cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2021. He predicts that Rotary will receive the Nobel Peace Prize when Rotary is declared eradicated. Congratulations to Lisa for her support of the Foundation!
Community and International Service Grants
Gary Roman, Chair of the Community Service Committee, presented a $1,000 check to Cory Gabel and his son Max for their Gabel Basket Brigade. The project provides Thanksgiving dinners for many in the Greater Hartford area. In years past many individuals and groups came together to assemble the baskets. In the pandemic the assembling event isn't possible, but families in need are provided with turkeys and gift cards through a number of agencies. Our club has contributed to this project for a number of years.
PRESENTATION
Interval House
working to end domestic violence
Mary-Jane Foster
Prasad Menon, former director of Interval House in Hartford, introduced Mary-Jane Foster, who has ben the CEO and President of Interval House since January, 2017. Ms. Foster served nine years on the Board of Directors of The Center for Women and Families. She was also certified in Domestic Violence, volunteered as a Court Advocate for victims and served as the Mayor’s Commission Against Violence in the Home. She was also the co-founder and former co-owner and CEO of the Bridgeport Bluefish Professional Baseball Club and Westchester Baseball, LLC. She also ran for mayor of Bridgeport. She has now been president of Interval House for five years.
In 1977 three young women established Interval House in the basement of a church in Hartford. It is now Connecticut’s largest agency dealing with domestic violence. It offers free and confidential services, as well as a safe house in the Greater Hartford area and a satellite office in Manchester. The need is huge since one in four women and one in seven men are victims of domestic violence. Twenty percent of Interval House’s clients were men in 2020.
One of Interval House’s primary services is a 24-hour hotline. The hotline was especially busy during the Covid pandemic. There were approximately 6,000 calls from staff to clients and other agencies and 5,000 calls in from clients in 2020. It is for current or former clients who have an emergency or have a need to talk. Some of those who call are uneasy about their relationship and may not be sure they are being abused. Some friends and family of abuse victims calling for guidance on how to help. Other agencies also call about services and programs.
The safe house is the largest in the area. It faces challenges because none of the residents really want to be there. An important aspect is getting any children of clients back into school. If they are out of school for more than five days, the client can be held liable for neglect. In custody and other legal matters clients are provided trained advocates to help them navigate the various courts and charges against them.
Ms. Foster said that we can spread the word about Interval House and let people know there is a free 365-day a year, 24-hours a day resource to help victims of domestic abuse. She is happy to speak to groups of all sizes about what they can do. Talking about Interval House can help victims’ friends help those they believe are victims. It may also be a way to reach out to perpetrators and help them to manage their anger. They may benefit by a call to the hotline and be able to de-escalate their anger rather than striking out.
We appreciated hearing about Interval House, although it is tough to hear of the prevalence of domestic abuse around us.
Special Announcements: None this week.
Mail Bag: None this week.
Photo Credits: Mike Mezheritskiy [Unless otherwise indicated]
Technology Credits: Mike Mezheritskiy [Unless otherwise indicated]
Editor's Notes
Submission Deadline: Members are kindly encouraged to submit all materials directly to the week's designated editor for inclusion in that week's Early Riser, and to do so as early as possible. Please note that some editions may be published and distributed as early as the Saturday following the most recent meeting, and therefore further contributions will not. be included in that 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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