May 10, 2024The French PaymasterKara Labella, Author
The 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: 21
Visiting Rotarians: None
Guests:Rish Singh, Speakers: Father Tom Furrer, Moe Lavallee
Happy Dollars: 9
Raffle Winner: None.
Fines:None today.
Birthdays
None today.
Happy Dollars
Cal Miller is happy that her daughter Taryn is being inducted into the Avon High School Hall of Fame for her athletic achievements! Brian O’Donnell was looking forward to the Iraqi Family being honored today at the state capitol. Yvonne Gardner has three happy dollars she is thankful Tom and Moe are here, was happy to see Wicked at the Bushnell last night, and is looking forward to the gender reveal of Lauren Gardner’s baby this weekend. Phil Ferrari was happy to have a nice trip seeing his son and daughter in law in San Diego. Sue Budde is thankful for Lauren Gardner helping to cover Deb Stanwood , who was on Zoom as she recovers from shoulder surgery.
Announcements
Dick Kisiel said there were four Rotarians going over to Canton Senior Center to do some painting this weekend. President Luke Violette let the club know that Deb Stanwood had a full shoulder replacement last Friday and Rollie Sterret’s wife Karen had a very bad break in her arm that resulted in surgery on Tuesday (5/7). Sue Budde reminded the club that the President’s Dinner is June 7 and to buy tickets on our club site https://www.rotaryclubofavon-canton.info/installationdinner.html
Luke and Katie’s Baby Shower is happening at FAVARH on Saturday, June 1, from 1:00 to 3:00.
Calendar
May 22 - Rotary Men's Book Club at Steve Horenstein's home
June 1 - Luke and Katie's Baby Shower at FAVARH 1-3
June 7 - President's Dinner at the Golf Club of Avon
June 10 - East Hartford Rotary Golf Tournament at Wethersfield CC
June 18 - Simsbury-Granby Rotary Golf Tournament at Hopmeadow CC
June 18 - Loaves & Fishes
June 24 - Fore Autism Golf Tournament at Torrington CC
June 26 - Seniors' Luncheon at the Canton Community Center
July 8 - Torrington-Winsted Golf Classic at Torrington CC
July 17 - Loaves & Fishes
July 22 - District 7890 Golf Outing at Twin Hills CC in Longmeadow MA
August 21 - Loaves & Fishes - See Bob Cave for additional days
September 9 - Rotary of Avon-Canton Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Golf Club of Avon
Induction of New Members
Avon Canton Rotary Club welcomes our newest member Dami Singh! After induction, Dami thanked the club and looks forward to serving, she shared a wonderful quote from Martin Luther King Jr. ""Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve."
Awards
None this week.
Community and International Service Grants
None this week.
Kateri Medical Services
Tom Furrer
Rev. Tom Furrer, retired from full-time parish ministry at Trinity Episcopal Church in Tariffville in 2016 to devote more time to the work of Kateri Medical services. At the time of his retirement, Kateri Medical Services had two partner clinics. They now have 8 fully functional clinics. The 9th clinic will be completed in 2024. They are making plans for clinic # 10 to be built in 2025.
In 2022 , Fr Tom relocated to his home town in Ravenna Ohio to be nearer to his extended family. In addition to his work with Kateri, he continues to work part -time as an Interim Rector at Christ Episcopal Church in Warren Ohio.
Father Tom shared details of the medical outreach work of Kateri Medical Services in Nigeria over the past 22 years. They now have 8 clinics serving over 28,000 people annually at a cost of $7 per person on average. Kateri began 22 years ago with support from his church to fund one doctor and two nurses for a clinic. It has since expanded to 8 clinics with plans for more, driven by individual donations.
Father Tom expressed gratitude for Rotary donations over 10 years that have funded medicine for free outreach clinics, enabling care for over 6,000 people. Each $3 donation provides medicine for one person.
Father Tom outlined poverty, corruption, lack of jobs, and security issues challenging Nigeria. Over half the population lives on less than $2/day. Kateri Medical Services focuses on underserved rural areas.
After a visiting bishop shared needs in Nigeria, God called Father Tom to help. He visited and was moved to establish a clinic there, founding Kateri Medical Services 22 years ago to meet healthcare needs.
After his presentation, Yvonne Gardner presented Father Tom with a check for $1500!
Special Announcements
None this week.
Mail Bag
None this week.
Photo Credits
Photos by editor
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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