September 29, 2023Club ForumMeeting will be held at FAVARThe meeting will be held both in person and via Zoom.
Watch for an email from the Club for Zoom access and
please note we use a recurring ID for your convenience.
Sergeant-at-Arms Report -
Rotarians Present: 28
Visiting Rotarians: None
Guests: Amanda Chickos (Prospective Member)
Happy Dollars: $26
Raffle Winner: No Winner
Birthdays:Salin Low (9/20) shared some of the old pictures that she is compiling into a slideshow for the 50th anniversary. In addition she made a contribution to the VFW fund in support of the Afghan refuge family in honor of her birthday.
Hank Frey (9/22)
Michelle Traub (9/23)
Happy Dollars
Linda Pendergast wanted to brag about her daughter Laurel who has been working in healthcare industry primarily in senior living. About 4 years ago she took a job with a start up company called Third Eye where she has just been promoted to COO.
Gary Miller – noted that our guest this working is from Edward Jones. Gary dog sits for friends and this morning another Edward Jones professional showed up to drop off his dog. He also stopped by Dr. Arnies office to make an appointment for a couple of kittens that will be adopting from a friend who is moving to a place that doesn't allow pets. It has been a long time that he has had no borrowed animals in his home.
Robin DiNicola reported that her son has made the Maris hockey team and they are excited to and see him play, although he called to say he had Strep throat and may not be able to play, meaning the trip is now iffy.
Peter Vignati, went to the Big E for the first time in years, loved the state exhibits. He and his wife also went to an event at Wigwam park last night which included a steak and lobster dinner.
Ann Clark told the tale of her mother coming to America 100 years ago with Ann's grandfather, who was hired by the Fish and Game Commission to build the Burlington Fish Hatchery. The hatchery wlll be celebrating it's 100th anniversary and Ann will be representing the family. She also noted that her uncle built the Berlin Hatchery.
Dick Kissel just got back from a fabulous 16 day Viking tour and river cruise from Paris to Prague and will be going next week going to CO to play golf with granddaughter.
Joanne Santiago is happy its Friday and to wanted to say hi to the stranger in our midst, Rauf Majidian
Bob Cave, President Luke, and Larry Haber all announced that they will be taking trips to France over the next two weeks.
Announcements
None this week.
Calendar
October 6, 2023 - Dick Kissel and Brian O'Donnell are organizing a Mens book Club, which will meet monthly at BeanZ on Friday's after the Rotary Meeting. Organizational meeting will be on Oct 6.
October 11, 19,2023 Cal Miller and her husband Sam will be hosting the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce at their house. All Avon/Canton Rotarians are members of the chamber. More details will be in President Luke's weekly update.
October 19, 2023 - Club's 50th Anniversary Dinner
November 5, 2023 - Foundation Brunch
Induction of New Members
None this week.
Awards
None this week
Community and International Service Grants
None this week
Torrington Area Families for Autism Inc.
Cristina Augliera and Liz Chickos
Christina Augliera is the founder and current Director of TAFA. Christina graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 2011 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. Her First job placement after completing college was with an agency servicing autistic students within a public school setting. It was in this placement that Christina learned the principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and grew her passion for working with students identified with autism spectrum disorders. Her passion was further ignited when her younger son, Connor, was diagnosed with autism. Soon after his diagnosis, learning effective methods of intervention and creating opportunities for children and families impacted by autism became a personal mission and TAFA was born. Professionally, Christina has worked with a variety of individuals encompassing a wide range of intellectual, physical and psychiatric needs, with a primary focus on those impacted by autism, in a multitude of different service delivery settings. Christina is the proud mother of two children: Cayden and Connor who mean everything to her. She spends her time advocating for autism and hanging out with her husband, Adam, their children and their 2 cats, Cutie and Fargo :) Christina resides in Torrington, Connecticut.
Liz Chickos is the proud mom of two children. Her daughter Ally is 14 an 11-year-old son named Owen. Owen has many intellectual, physical and medical challenges that have opened her world to being an advocate and voice for him as he navigates through his life. Liz is a finance professional that has worked in the Aerospace industry for 20 years. She joined the TAFA Board as a finance focal looking to help develop long term goals for employment and housing for our adult children down the road. Most recently she has been elected President and in this role she is excited to be collaborating with an amazing team of driven advocates who all share the same vision and intentions. Liz feels fortunate to have made strong connections with Christina through the adaptive sports programs that she founded as well as a special needs support group they have attended together. With the opening of Common-Unity Center in 2023, TAFA is excited to be expanding and she is honored to lead this great team.
Joanne introduced Christina Aguilera and Liz Chieke, who represented the church's Engineering Family for Autism (TAFA). Christina founded TAFA after her son Connor was diagnosed with autism, and Liz joined as a finance professional to help develop long-term goals for employment and housing for adult children with autism.
Liz and Christine met at a support group for parents of children with autism and bonded over their shared challenges. They started advocating for their children's support and created programs based on direct feedback from the support group.
Liz and Christine discussed their organization's successful programs and events that catered to the needs of children with disabilities and their families. They also shared their future goals of inclusive employment and residential communities, as well as the importance of collaboration and support from other nonprofits.
Liz discussed various partnerships and events, including collaborations with the Center for Dance Arts and Kids Play, hosting a Friendsgiving event at the brewery, and the sponsorship of drumming for kids by the Charlotte Hunger for Hospital. She also mentioned the expansion of their organization to include more families from the Farmington Valley area and the success of their summer program and adaptive sports activities.
Christina discussed various events and programs organized by their organization, including holiday parties, a golf tournament, sensory-friendly trick-or-treat, summer programs, sports, and an adaptive drumming program. They also mentioned their collaboration plans with another organization focused on education and their efforts to empower typical youth to be advocates for individuals with disabilities.
Christina mentioned that there was a paper circulating asking for contact information and encouraged the participants to sign up for further information from TAPA. He expressed gratitude to the attendees for their powerful message and highlighted their collaboration with 15 nonprofits in the past year.
Special Announcements
None this week.
Mail Bag
None this week.
Photo Credits
Larry Haber
Technology Credits
Zoom platform management expertise by Mike 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?
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