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Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
Bulletin Editor
Gary Miller
Speakers
Aug 31, 2018
Spirithorse Therapeutic Riding Center of Canton
Sep 07, 2018
#changethescript for our community
Sep 14, 2018
TBD
Sep 21, 2018
Digital Lens Grinding in the Optical Industry
Sep 28, 2018
New Tax Law
Oct 05, 2018
Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Immediate Past President
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Foundation Chair
 
Membership
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Asst Treasurer
 
EarlyRiser Presentations
GLO Fall 2017 Mission Trip
Eastern Europe Trip to Vienna and Prague Presentation
Avon Village Center Project Presentation
Club Information
Rotary of Avon-Canton - Founded 1973
Avon-Canton
Service above Self
We meet Fridays at 7:30 AM
Avon Old Farms Hotel
279 Avon Mountain Rd.
Avon, CT  06001
United States
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map
Melissa Monroe and Michele Voegtle
Rushford Drug Treatment-Substance Use and Treatment Options
Jul 27, 2018
Sergeant-at-Arms Report
July 20, 2018
 
Members Present: 34
 
Make-Ups: None  
Guests: None
Visiting Rotarian: None
Happy Dollars: $ 44
Raffle Winner: Debbie Stanwood
 
Birthdays
 
Paul Nelson celebrated his birthday last Friday. He reflected on being a year older and a year wiser. He likes to think back on his successes and challenges and feels blessed to enjoy another year.
 
Ted Cowles joined the club in 1990 and has enjoyed 28 years working on numerous projects, especially the bike trail shelters in Canton and Avon and the Nature Center addition. He updated us on his grandchildren and presented his Foundation check.
Happy Dollars
 
Salin Low just returned from Iceland where she visited her former high school foreign exchange student. She checked out the Rotary Clubs but they met early in the morning in a land where the sun hardly sets this time of year.
 
Sean Blacker was taking time off to volunteer at the church camp in North Stonington, so he won't be here to take care of us on the next two Fridays.
 
Larry Sullivan was pleased to report that Sean wasn't able to sell golf ads, so he presented Larry with $100 toward the tournament. Larry also pointed out that Ted Cowles was related to royalty since his great grandfather had a connection with Teddy Roosevelt.  
 
Ann Clark was quick to point out that Ted Cowles was also responsible for building the raised beds at the Avon Senior Center which have been a huge hit for vegetables and flowers.
 
Capri Frank had a "moment" to share. She said she has been making a lot of "lemonade" lately and felt a strong need to come to Rotary to be restored.
 
Linda Pendergast just returned from taking two grandchildren on a trip down the California coast from San Francisco to Venice Beach. She returned in time to see her grandson perform in the West Hartford Summer Theater version of Alladdin.
 
Craig Buhrendorf and his wife, Jean, are homeowners for the first time. They have been condo owners but never owned a house. They purchased a house on Lake Norman near Charlotte, North Carolina. They are learning all the joy of ownership with a new roof and other renovations needed. He visited the local Rotary Club which meets in the morning in a local church hall. He pointed out that they have an omelet station. The guest that morning was the area's District Governor.
 
Michelle Hagan has purchased a new home and is moving back to Simsbury. She enjoyed the last Pub Night.
 
Larry Haber saw the recent All-Star game along with his two grandsons. They are totally different in their interests. One came home with a picture of A-Rod and the other with Wolf Blitzer. Larry was leaving for a weekend wedding in Burlington, VT.
 
Bob Cave reported that he has acquired another flip house to renovate.
 
Jolly Lux has just returned from Uganda. Their clinic had 250 people attend GLO-Fest which raised $20,000 to pay for medical staff and other important services.
 
Announcements
 
President Mike Mezhiritskiy said that the Board has approved the Constitution and By-Laws review and update. Copies will be sent to the membership for a full member vote to adopt both revised documents.
 
Salin Low reminded everyone that the Senior Luncheon is on Thursday at noon. Even if you haven't signed up to help, come join us to help and enjoy a hot dog or hamburger.
 
Nancy Nation will be hosting the annual Pencil Box potluck dinner next Tuesday, the 31st. A clipboard circulated to signup.
 
Bruce Sayward reported that the last Rotary Means Business meeting at Rockledge in West Hartford was very good. Our club is hosting the August 15th meeting at Blue Fox Run Golf Course. Attendees are welcome to come early and enjoy a round of golf prior to the 5:30 PM meeting.
 
Tom Voorhees reported that the steps leading to the Thompson Road bike trail shelter were in need of repair. (Editor: the steps have been repaired.)
 
Larry Sullivan reported that we have 90 golfers signed up so far with another 30 expected from FAVARH. Radiology Associates of West Hartford gave taken the golfball logo sponsorship of $2000. Kaman Aerospace and RideShare have provided the sponsorship for the Air Cannon event. 

Calendar of Upcoming Events
 
Thursday, July 26: Senior Citizens Luncheon. 12 Noon. Canton Community Center. Salin Low and Alicia Canning for details.
 
Tuesday, July 31: Pencil Box Assembly. Nancy Nation's House. Potluck. Stay tuned for details.
 
Monday, August 27:  Rotary of Avon-Canton Annual Charity Golf Tournament
 
Saturday, September 29: Celebrate Avon Day. Steve Harris for details
 
Awards and Community/International Service Grants
 
None this week.
Presentation
 
Nan Arnstein
Founder and CEO
Creative Arts for Developing Minds
 
Paul Nelson introduced Nan Arnstein, the Founder and CEO, of Creative Arts for Developing Minds. Paul said that Nan is the Guardian Angel for foster children. Nan has visited our club previously to talk about her organization that gives foster children self-esteem and a sense of well-being in very difficult life situations. A former foster child herself, Nan left the corporate finance world to work full-time with young foster children. 
 
She is a graduate of the foster system herself having aged out of the system without being adopted by a foster family. Using her personal story and experiences, she is able to bond quickly with children in foster care.
 
She says that the Catholic home in Chicago where she was raised had a piano teacher come in to work with the children. Nan learned to play the piano at an early age and plays daily for personal enjoyment and to stay grounded. The combination of music and movement stimulates the brain activating areas that are often diminished during the upheaval of foster care. She wasn't able to find an organization that embodied this philosophy, so she founded CADM to fill the void. 
 
Nan spoke to us about the role that playgrounds play in child development. Her research showed that "sand gardens" started in Germany and were imported to America in the late 1800's starting in Boston. The importance of learning good habits of socialization and sharing is essential. Nan said the CADM classes look just like playing. 
 
Nan distributed an example of an activity she uses in her classes--"Squiggle Art." The children are given a piece of paper with a squiggly line on it. They are asked to create something from the line and talk about their creation with the other children in the class. Nan described one child that connected with this exercise. He had trouble controlling himself but found the art exercise to be very calming. Nan was happy to report that the children is back with his biological family.
 
Nan related a story about a young boy, named Cody, she met eighteen months ago when he was three and a half years old. The boy had been born with a cleft palate but his biological mother had been able to have the condition corrected. The boy received the surgery when he was a year and a half old leading him to be a very shy and reserved boy. When Nan was brought in to work with the boy, he would hide behind a chair in his foster home. Nan would sit on the floor and conduct her class regardless. Eventually the boy learned that Nan would continue visit him event if he didn't participate. After nearly six weeks, the boy finally warmed up to Nan and learned to play. The boy was adopted by his foster family and has moved into a new home.
 
Nan thanked us for inviting her back to speak.
Mail Bag
 
Empty this week.
 
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?