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Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
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Bulletin Editor
Gary Miller
Speakers
Aug 27, 2021
Opening Canton Schools in 2021-2022
Sep 03, 2021
Sep 10, 2021
Recent Legislative Session
Sep 17, 2021
Sep 24, 2021
Footwear With Care
Oct 01, 2021
Hartford Artisans Weaving Center
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Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Immediate Past President
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Membership
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Foundation Chair
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Interact Chair
 
Club Information
Rotary of Avon-Canton - Founded 1973
Avon-Canton
Service above Self
Fridays at 7:30 AM
Golf Club of Avon
160 Country Club Road
Avon, CT 06001
United States of America
Fax:
(860) 760-6364
In person starting July 9, 2021. Zoom will also be available for those unable to attend in person.
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District Site
VenueMap
Venue Map
 
April 16, 2021
 
Stephanie Griswold
COVID-19 - Things to Know and How to Engage
Communities to Build Vaccine Confidence
 
The meeting will be held on Zoom. 
Watch for an email from the club.
We are now using a recurring ID, etc.
 
Sergeant-at-Arms Report 
 
Members Present: 40 Participants
 
Visiting Rotarians: Rick and Chris Heath (St. Augustine, FL), Paul Mikkelson (Simsbury-Granby); Craig Buhrendorf (North Carolina), and Assistant Governor Dave Tadeschi  
Guests: Speaker: George Pavlakis, and Shanée Hoyt, Inductee
Happy Dollars Moments: More valuable when they are shared
Raffle Winner: No Raffle. No Winners. No Losers.
 
Fines: None today.
 
Birthdays:
Jennifer Gonzales - Unable to attend today
 
Happy Moments
Bill Barnes - Always ready with a joke or story, Bill told us a story of rabbit vs car. It seems a man was driving down the and attempted to avoid a rabbit that hopped in front of his car. Unfortunately the car won. The man was totally dismayed to discover that he had hit and killed the Easter Bunny. While he was sobbing over the limp body, a pretty young woman drove by and saw what had happened. She quickly ran to her car and retrieved a spray can and spray something all over the bunny. To the man's surprise the bunny awoke and hopped away, stopping repeatedly way back at the pair. Upon examining the spray can, the man read the label which said (no pun intended) Hair Spray - restores limp or dead hair.
 
Craig Buhrendorf was happy to have Major League Baseball back with fans in the stands. He also reported the he and Jean have taken up Pickle Ball and he has been running Zoom meetings for his new club.
 
 
Larry Sullivan had a story to tell about a man who missed a visit from his mother-in-law due to an extremely long time away to play 9 holes of golf. The man's excuse was that he had run into an old girlfriend and one thing had led to another. His wife wasn't believing any of his tale and said, "You played 18 holes! Didn't you?!".
 
Kershwin Singh was happy to report that he completed his job search and started a new position this week as the Global Head of Privacy and Compliance for Zoll Medical Corporation.
 
Paul Mikkelson had talked with Phil Ferrari who is at Mt Sinai get rehabilitated from injuries sustained after falling from a ladder at his home. Phil is expecting to return to his home to complete the healing and rehab process on Tuesday. Phil and Beth have had a ramp installed for the wheel chair, but Phil figures he won't be moving around too much until he is healed enough to regain the use of his legs and wrist. 
 
Announcements
 
President Alicia reminded us that the District Conference will be held virtually starting at 6:15 PM on Thursday, April 29th and continuing on Friday and Saturday. To register or review the conference schedule, go to the District 7890 website where you can also sign up for the District Assembly which is Saturday, May 15th.
 
Josh Gillooly gave the TOTV update. Members are encouraged to donate bottles of wine or liquor, with a value of $20 or more. There will be 12 restaurants participating, as well as 4-5 alcohol companies of various sorts. Participants will get their food and go to their tables. VIP sales are limited to 125, so tickets are almost gone, but we need member to buy and sell tickets. Remember that we have all saved about $750 each by not having to pay for breakfasts on Friday. 
 
Upcoming Dates
 
April 29-May 1 - Multi-District Conference held virtually
 
May 15 - District Assembly 9 to Noon online and Tastes of the Valley - Live at Golf Club of Avon at 6 PM
 
June 18 - President's Dinner
 
 
Induction of New Members
 
Shanée Hoyt was inducted by the members using our traditional ceremony. Shanée is the Branch Manager of the Avon office of American Eagle Financial Credit Union. We are happy to have her as a member.
 
Awards
None this week.
 
Community and International Service Grants
None this week.

Presentation
 
Senior Cadet George Pavlakis, USMA
 
Rollie Sterrett introduce our speaker by describing the process he and Salin Low had undertaken to work with Cadet Pavlakis and the US Military Academy to allow the granting of a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship that would enable masters degree study following commissional and graduation. George had originally contacted our club quite some time ago. George needed a scholarship in order for West Point to allow him to study for a Master Degree for two years prior to beginning is service obligation. After much discussion with the Academy and our Rotary District grant officials, a qualifying scholarship was crafted that met the requirements. Since 2nd LT Pavlakis would have his full pay and allowances while studying in Germany, he did not need to $30,000 that is the usual amount of a Global Scholarship. He only needed to cover his tuition which our club was happy to do. Thankfully all the details have been resolved.
 
Cadet Pavlakis is a 2017 graduate of Avon High School. He was the Captain of the football team, an Eagle Scout, and a Boys State Model UN member. He had always been interested in the military. After reading the book, Absolutely American, he was convinced to apply to West Point. He described the steps involved in the three year application process. 
 
George lead us through his four years at West Point and life as a cadet. The four pillars of the academy code--Academics, Military, Physical, and Character--have guided him in his goal to live honorably and lead honorably. These lessons will guide him through his later life.
 
The first six weeks at the academy is spent in Basic Training learning the skills needed for army service and "learning to follow so that you can lead." During Plebe year, cadets get their core academic courses and learn to meet the strict discipline and behavior standards. The Plebes are assigned to an upperclassman and are watched over daily. 
 
Yearling or 2nd year involves being split up into small units to begin leadership training. They attend air assault school and are introduced to team leadership by being assigned a Plebe.
 
COW Summer starts the beginning of year three. George was lucky to participate in the Winant Scholar Program which included study in New York, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. All the cadets are given basic squad leader training. George attended the Combat Marksmanship Course at the International Center in Germany during a semester abroad at the German Federal Armed Forces University in Munich. He was integrated with the German cadets while learning German and European history and culture. The Covid-19 shutdowns impacted the second semester of his Junior year. All cadets were sent home following Spring Break.
 
George was appointed Battalion Command Sgt Major upon return to West Point for Senior Year.  He leads a battalion of 350 cadets. Life has been very restrictive on campus due to Covid. He has been working on his thesis and recently turned in his second draft. He is writing about how the changes in demographics have changed life in the United States.
 
While doing his semester aboard, George decided he wanted to due graduate work in Germany. He needed a qualifying competitive scholarship to begin this work immediately after commissioning. He will attend the Technical University in Munich studying Military Science, Politics and Technology. He also plans on a second program at the University of Regensburg to achieve an MA in European Studies. George will link up with the local Rotary club and plans to stay in touch with our club.
 
George plans to become an Infantry Officer and join the Special Forces (Green Berets) in an international environment. 
 

 

 
Special Announcements
 
None
 
Mail Bag
Thank you cards from Camp Wightman and the Chrysalis Center
 
Photo Credits
Scribe's screen grabs.
 
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?