Early Riser Newsletter (May 19, 2017)

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

Jun 30, 2017

Ben Savelkoul

The American Military Cemetery at Margraten: The Dutch People Remember & Honor American Sacrifice

Jul 07, 2017

Representative Derek Slap

State Legislature

Jul 14, 2017

Lisa Hatton

Interact

Jul 21, 2017

Susan Pribyson, Executive Director

Farms to Family, Gifts of Love

Jul 28, 2017

Sandy Bali

"The Healthcare Challenge - A Pharmacist's Perspective"

Aug 04, 2017

Mark Danaher

Retirement Options Coach

View entire list

President

Don Bonner

Immediate Past President

Gary Miller

Treasurer

Gary Hyde

Secretary

Michael Mezheritskiy

Sergeant-at-Arms

Heather Pantano

Rotary Foundation Chair

Joanne Santiago

Board Member-at-Large

Craig Buhrendorf

Board Member-at-Large

Robin DiNicola

Asst Treasurer

Paul Cioffari

Rotary Club 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

District Site

Venue Map

May 19

Club Day

Brief Committee Reports

Sergeant-at-Arms Report

May 12, 2017
Members	40
Make-Ups	0
Guests	Alicia Canning - Prospective Member; Joanne Beers - Avon Dollars for Scholars
Visiting Rotarians	none
Happy Dollars	$ 27
Fines	none
Raffle	Sabrina Waqar - $20

Birthdays

Michelle Hagan

Michelle joined Rotary in 1999. She was very active and was club president in the past. She has not been as active in the last few years due to her bank's recent merger. She helps with the golf tournament by contacting golfers who have played in prior years. Happy Birthday, Michelle!

Happy Dollars

Thor Cheyne earned brownie points by wishing all mothers a Happy Morther's Day. He and his wife were headed to Philadelphia to spend the weekend with two of their four kids.

Phil Ferrari decided to take a page out of Craig Buhrendorf's travel journal and make a trip to the Galapagos islands. He will be gone for the next two weeks.

Rollie Sterrett made a donation to End Polio Now. See below.

Devra Sisitsky was happy about the successful event on behalf of Makerspace CT. 250 people attended the evening. They may have made more noise than money, and they will spread the word about Makerspace.

President Don was happy about his middle daughter's wedding which took place over the prior weekend.

Paul Mikkelson was happy about the $625 he raised for the FAVARH initiative by riding to the District Conference in Providence, RI. He was good to share with us some information about his recent diagnosis of bladder cancer. The cancer has spread to the bladder wall. Although surgeons are ready to remove the bladder, Paul wants to explore other options including radiation and chemotherapy which would fit Paul's activity level and general health. He appreciates our notes and emails and was assured of our continued prayers.

District Assembly, etc.

A group from Avon-Canton attended the recent District Assembly, an opportunity to learn more about activities in our district and ways we can do our work better.

Jolly Lux had a display about Guiding Light Orphans at District Assembly. The following week she and Kurt made a presentation at Canton Center UCC church.

Announcements

Tom Voorhees was looking for help for two Amber Alert sessions at Thompson Brook School on May 23 and 24.

Gary Miller reminded members that the district wants us to donate $26.50 per member to End Polio Now. Checks can be made out to The Rotary Foundation. In addition Happy Dollars for May will help in this effort. The club will be making up the difference.

Gary Miller also promised a sign-up sheet for the upcoming President's Dinner on Friday, June 16, at Farmington Woods. The price will be $45, the same as in 2016, and the entrees will be about the same.

Awards, Donations, etc.

Avon Dollars for Scholars

Joanne Beers received the check for the Avon Dollars for Scholars. She reminded us that former member Don Studley was instrumental in Rotary's involvement in the establishment of Dollars for Scholars in Avon.

Presentation

Wheeler Clinic Foster Care

Chris Popilowski

Chris Popilowski told us about the foster care program at Wheeler Clinic. This was one of the first programs at the clinic. Their goal is to make a positive change in people's lives - children, families, and foster families. There are 4,000 children in foster care in CT at any one time. The children have been removed from their homes as a result of some bad situation in the home. While in the past some of these children could be placed in group homes, those homes are being closed, and the current philosophy is that they are not truly homes.

Children in foster care managed by Wheeler:

Chris's work is to find people who are willing to be foster parents. They may be heads of families, but they might also be individual adults. Sometimes he has been tell him that this is not the right time. He understands that and keeps in contact with them until it might be a better time. Foster care families are screened very carefully to be sure they can deal with a child who may have behavior problems stemming from abuse or neglect. They also receive a great deal of training and can get 24 hour/day support for problems. Some people provide respite care for a few days to give a break to full-time foster families.

The only absolute requirement is for the foster child to have her own room and for the family to have stable income. The state provides a great deal of financial assistance for out of pocket expenses and sometimes for lost income resulting from giving foster care. Foster care may last until 18 or 21 years old. Sometimes foster care leads to adoption, and sometimes reunification with the birth family is possible.

Chris continues to look for individuals and families who are interested in exploring the possibility of offering foster care.

Special Announcements

Mail Bag

None this week.

Photo Credits

Club meeting photographs courtesy of Phil Worley, except the photos taken at District Assembly.

Editors Notes

Submission Deadline: Members are kindly encouraged to submit all materials for each week's Early Riser as quickly 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?