Phil Ferrari grew up in Agawam, Massachusetts and has lived in Hartford, New Britain and Wallingford in Connecticut, before settling in Avon in 1996. Phil graduated from Western New England University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts and served six years in the United States Air Force Reserves.
After an eleven year stint as a CPA for KPMG in Hartford, Phil worked for Superior Electric Company in Bristol, Connecticut until it was sold in 1988. From there he went on to become Chief Financial Officer for the Reflexite Corporation in Avon until its sale in 2011. Phil finished his career at Virginia Industries in Rocky Hill before retiring in 2017.
As an Avon-Canton Rotarian for twenty-one years, Phil is proud to have served a two year term as Golf Tournament Chair. He has also served as Club Program Chair. Phil is currently a member of the Financial Review and Advisory Committee. In addition to Rotary, Phil coached and served on the board of Avon Little League. He also served on the board of the Avon United Fund.
Phil has four children and four grandchildren. In his spare time he enjoys spending time at his lake house in the Berkshires, playing golf, traveling, woodworking and socializing with friends.
Watkinson School-project
with the Good Samaritan Hospital
in La Romana Dominican Republic
Sergeant-at-Arms Report
March 29, 2019
Members Present:36
Make-Ups:None
Guests: Our speaker - Rev. Tom Furrer
Visiting Rotarians: Dr. Jennifer Diederich - President of Rotary Club of Farmington
Happy Dollars: $30
Raffle Winner: Rollie Sterrett - $20
Birthdays
None today
Happy Dollars
Salin Low made a contribution to The Rotary Foundation in honor of her 24th anniversary of joining Rotary. She was also headed up to Albany, NY, to watch the UCONN women play in the tournament. Salin also had a commemorative plate with her that her brother had acquired from their father. The plate was commissioned by a club in Australia for the 75th anniversary of the founding of Rotary by Paul Harris. Salin also had a joke about the size of the balls used in various sports of choice by different professions. I'm sure she would be happy to repeat it privately.
Linda Pendergast thanked Gary Miller for helping her with technical support to set up a Square reader for an upcoming PEO event.
Natasha Haims said that yesterday was the 37th wedding anniversary with her late husband. She reported that the "dating game" was going well.
Larry Haber had just returned from a visit to Branson, Missouri, which he said is the "G-rated" version of Las Vegas.
Our guest, Jennifer Diederich, was visiting from the Farmington Rotary Club and announced their upcoming Dine 'n Dance event on April 13th at Farmington Gardens. Visit their website for tickets and further information: Dine 'n Dance.
Don Bonner said the baseball season was off to a great start with a loss by the Red Sox and a Yankees win.
Phil Ferrari was heading off to the Bahamas for a week of sailing - something new.
Josh Gillooly was pleased that TOTV planning was going well. Thanks to Colleen Grasso they had lots of baskets for the silent auction in addition to the memorabilia that would be on offer. He was hoping that ticket sales were better.
Gary Miller pointed out the brochures for the June 10th Canton Chamber Golf Tournament on each table. Our club usually has one or more foursomes in the event. He also announced our own Annual Charity Golf Tournament on September 9th at the Golf Club of Avon.
Announcements
Rotary Foundation chair, Joanne Santiago, seeks nominees for our annual Community Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Please contact Joanne or any of the Rotary Foundation Committee members with your suggestions. We typically honor 2-3 citizens each from Avon and from Canton.
Gary Miller is seeks a few members to purchase or renew their Rotary website ads, at the excellent price of $100/yr. This funding supports our use of ClubRunner software and our website subscription. The ads cycle every few seconds at the upper left-hand corner of the website and are a good way to promote member businesses. Contact Gary if interested.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
May 3rd & 4th: The Rotary District 7890 District Conferencewill be held May 3rd to 4th at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel in Danvers, MA. Five districts including 7890 will be represented. The event starts with the Rotary Foundation luncheon on Friday. For a full schedule and registration information follow this link: District Conference Registration
May 16th: Rotary Night at Hartford Yard Goats, Thursday May 16; Game time 7:05 PM. Contact Paul Mikkelson for details.
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
September 9th: Annual 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 today
Community and International Service Grants
No awards today
Presentation
Reverend Tom Furrer
Kateri Medical Services Update
Rollie Sterrett introduced Father Tom Furrer who was speaking to us for the third time. Father Tom retired from Trinity Church in Simsbury to focus full time on Kateri Medical Services in 2002. He is currently working part time at Trinity in Wethersfield.
Father Tom stated that Kateri was started in 2002 to provide simple medical care to the poor in Nigeria, half of whom live on less than one dollar a day. The clinics that have been founded each have one doctor and two nurses. During the year, the charge at the clinics is $2 for an adult and $1 for a child. Five clinics are operating 24/7 supplemented by the intense medical missions each summer. The missions provide free medical care and medicine serving about 1700 people each week funded by about $5000 or $2.94 per person.
The Kateri mission is hoping to grow to ten clinics. The clinics strive to provide an example of how to treat people regardless of the religious or political views. In a country that is torn by strife, the clinics have been very successful. The newest clinic is located near the Graceland school that Elaine Chagnon has spoken about during her visits to our club.
Father Tom should a brief video made during his last mission trip. Visit Kateri Medical Services website to learn more and watch other videos about recent missions trips.
Kateri is hoping to have 5 outreach missions this year to help over 7000 people. The missions will be twice per year in the spring and fall. Father Tom was asked whether medical conditions have improved over the years. He said that they are able to keep medical statistics, but everyone agrees that infant mortality and other treatable illnesses have dropped since they started in 2002.
Mail Bag
None today
Photo Credits
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?
Our guest, Jennifer Diederich, was visiting from the Farmington Rotary Club and 
Josh Gillooly was pleased that TOTV planning was going well. Thanks to Colleen Grasso they had lots of baskets for the silent auction in addition to the memorabilia that would be on offer. He was hoping that ticket sales were better.
Rollie Sterrett introduced Father Tom Furrer who was speaking to us for the third time. Father Tom retired from Trinity Church in Simsbury to focus full time on Kateri Medical Services in 2002. He is currently working part time at Trinity in Wethersfield..JPG)
Father Tom stated that Kateri was started in 2002 to provide simple medical care to the poor in Nigeria, half of whom live on less than one dollar a day. The clinics that have been founded each have one doctor and two nurses. During the year, the charge at the clinics is $2 for an adult and $1 for a child. Five clinics are operating 24/7 supplemented by the intense medical missions each summer. The missions provide free medical care and medicine serving about 1700 people each week funded by about $5000 or $2.94 per person.
