Early Riser Newsletter (Feb 07, 2020)

Salin Low
(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)

Jun 12, 2020

Rev. Steve Klots

Being a Rotary Scholar

Jun 19, 2020

Deb Bibbins, Founder of For All Ages

For All Ages

Jun 26, 2020

Kathy Taylor

Canton Historian

Jul 03, 2020

No Meeting

Jul 10, 2020

No Morning Meeting

President's Installation Dinner

Jul 24, 2020

Courtney Bournes

Mediators Beyond Borders

View entire list

President

Heather Pantano

President Elect

Alicia Canning

Immediate Past President

Michael Mezheritskiy

Treasurer

Gary Hyde

Secretary

Chris Lamadrid

Sergeant-at-Arms

Katelyn Kaplan

Foundation Chair

Joanne Santiago

Membership

Jim Gordon

Board Member-at-Large

Dale Bronson

Board Member-at-Large

Sue Budde

Asst Treasurer

Paul Cioffari

Interact Chair

Alicia Canning

Rotary of Avon-Canton - Founded 1973

Service above Self

We meet Fridays at 7:30 AM

Avon Old Farms Hotel

279 Avon Mountain Rd.
Avon, CT 06001
United States of America

District Site

Venue Map

February 7, 2020

Dr. Joelle Santiago

Chiropractic care with alternatives

for pain and opioid relief

Sergeant-at-Arms Report
Members Present: 32
Visiting Rotarians: None
Guests: Bruce Donald (speaker), Leonard Diana (Learning about the club), Jay Kaplan (Roaring Brook Nature Center), Jayden Kaplan (Katelyn's son), Rina Pane (Focus on Canton), Alex Letterman (Canton Interact), Sue and Steve Mitchell (Prospective Members).
Happy Dollars: $9.00
Raffle Winner: Sue Mitchell

Fines

None.

Birthdays

No one who came to the meeting.

Happy Dollars

Sgt-at-Arms Katelyn Kaplan had the cutest assistant ever, son Jayden!

Ann Clark was happy that the FAVARH Gala held in November netted $102K. Scott Nardozzi says he has already book two tables for Rotary for next year's event.

Larry Haber missed the previous week's meeting, because he was in San Antonio. His hotel room was between the River Walk and the Alamo and had views of both. He was also impressed that his Apple watch detected his fall when he tripped on a curb. The challenge is stopping the alarm which sends a 911 call.

Alicia Canning appreciated the members' praers. Her daughter Sarah had received a clean PET scan - no cancer.

Alex Letterman, president of the Interact Club at Canton High School, was excited about his new Apple musical release. He will be performing at open mic night on Feb. 12 at the Maple Tree Cafe in Simsbury. The event will benefit Jolly Lux's GLOJ,

Jolly Lux appreciates the support of the Interact group. She is also glad that they are committed to the UN goals for sustainable living by 2030. Jolly is also pleased that there is an event at West Avon Congregational Church on February 9. She also spoke to students at Canton Intermediate School and credited the 9-11 year-olds for asking good questions.

Josh Gillooly was happy about Norcom's fundraiser on Thursday Feb 6 from 6-9 pm at the North House. The proceeds are to benefit Norcom's foundation - Norcom Cares, which benefits people in their market area, roughly Florida to Maine. Last year they made $15k and hope to do better this year.

Natasha Haims was happy that Leonard Diana was at the meeting.

Announcements

Josh Gillooly reminded members that flyers for TOTV are available to be posted in officers, various businesses, or other places which would attract attendees. Restaurants and beverage vendors have been lined up. Now it is up to members to sell tickets. The goal is to sell 300+ tickets and to net $20k.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

2/7: GLO fundraiser at Avon Congregational Church

2/9: GLO fundraiser brunch at West Avon Congregational Church, right after services

2/12: Interact open mic event at the Mapletree Cafe.

2/19: Rotary Pub Night

3/28: Tastes of the Valley tickets available now. $50.00 / regular ticket. $75.00 / VIP ticket, which includes the VIP function 90 minutes ahead of the main event.

9/14: 37th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Golf Club of Avon

Induction of New Members

None Today

Awards

Joanne Santiago Presented Gary Hyde with his Paul Harris plus 3 pin, the result of continual contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Members are reminded that some of their contributions return to our district and to our club is we are approved for some project. Joanne had trouble getting the pin on Gary, even though she claimed to know bodies well!

Community and International Service Grants

President Heather presented a check for $750 to Alex Letterman for the benefit of the Canton Interact Club. The funds will be used to provide transportation to events. This will help the group, because most of the members do not have driver's licenses and are limited in getting to many activities.

Gary Roman presented a check for $1,000 to Rina Pane who was representing Focus on Canton. They depend on the generosity of individuals and groups like Rotary to provide funds which backstop the assistance provided by the Department of Social Services. They help with needs when other groups are not able to do so.

Special Presentation

Groundhog Day

Don Bonner read a proclamation honoring Groundhog Day for the third year. Jay Kaplan of Roaring Brook Nature Center provided the "groundhog" and fed her a banana. It's clear that Jayden is quite taken with the groundhog and wants to pet it. Even though we got a jump on the actual day, there will still be six more weeks of winter.

Presentation

East Coast Greenway

Bruce Donald

Bruce Donald, who is now Tri-state Coordinator for the East Coast Greenways organization, has been to our club many times. His work now involves trails in New York and New Jersey, as well as Connecticut. Since your scribe only rides stationary bikes, she could not appreciate all the details of Bruce's presentation. However, there was some visual assistance:

This map shows trails that have been in progress and their current state of completion. The goal is to have a pathway that connects several trails from the south end of the state to the north.

This chart lists the connectors and trails which are necessary to achieve the goal of a way to bike from south to north (or back again) through the entire state of Connecticut. In addition to having these connectors, it is important to have signage which makes it clear how riders will get from one trail to another.

This map shows the number of towns which have received funding to create or improve trails. Obviously a great deal of the state is committed to providing bike trails in their town. Progress has been made to make bonding much easier to obtain for these trails.

One interesting concern is trying to make it easier for those in urban areas to have access to trails. Most of the work to date has been in suburban and rural areas. However, the concern for equity for urban residents brings a new emphasis to the development of trails. in the future.

Special Announcements

Josh Gillooly announced that each Rotarian was handed 4 tickets to Tastes of the Valley to sell at $50.00 a piece. If anyone is interested in VIP tickets or a sponsorship please him or Colleen Grasso. Vendors are also needed.

Mail Bag

None

Photo Credits

Photographs courtesy of Phil Worley & Michael Mezheritskiy.

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?