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Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
Bulletin Editor
Salin Low
Speakers
Dec 29, 2017
Rotary Scholar
Jan 05, 2018
The Outreach Program-Food for the needy
Jan 12, 2018
“Bipartisanship Works-A Success Story”
Jan 19, 2018
New Horizons Village
Jan 26, 2018
Body By Cheryl
Feb 02, 2018
Avon-Canton Animal Control
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Immediate Past President
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Foundation Chair
 
Membership Chair
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Asst Treasurer
 
Presentations & References
Eastern Europe Trip to Vienna and Prague Presentation
Farm to Family Gala at the Marguee - Nov 4th
Avon Village Center Project Presentation
Club Information
Rotary Club of Avon-Canton - Founded 1973
Avon-Canton
Service above Self
We meet Fridays at 7:30 AM
Avon Old Farms Hotel
279 Avon Mountain Rd.
Avon, CT  06001
United States
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map
 
 
 
 
We will meet in the Talcott Room.
Christine Dupont
Seabury - An Active Life Plan Community
A Consumer's Guide to Home and Community-Based Options
 September 29, 2017
 
 
Sergeant-at-Arms Report
 
September 22, 2017
 
Members: 37
 
Make-Ups: none  
Guests: Joe Raycraft and Brenda Sullivan
 
Visiting Rotarians: none  
Happy Dollars: $44.00  
Fines: none  
Raffle Winner: None
 
 
Birthdays
 
Scott Nardozzi
 
 
 
Scott joined Rotary in 2005 - during the reign of Larry Sullivan. He lives 55 miles away from Avon and has an office in Middletown, so he really has to work to get to our meetings. He thinks coming is worth the effort, because he thinks of the club as family. Not only does he get to the meeting; he also wears the coolest socks of anybody in the room. He encouraged members to consider going to FAVARH's gala on November 17, since FAVARH supported out golf outing so well. Happy Birthday, Scott.
 
Happy Dollars
 
Nancy Nation was glad that she had her last chemo treatment. She is in remission for now and plans to enjoy every day.
 
Alicia Canning was having her gall bladder removed, and Scott Nardozzi volunteered to take her to the hospital.
 
Joanne Santiago gave happy dollars for Scott and Nancy's news. She gave extra dollars just for Scott's socks.
 
Bruce Sayward and his wife have celebrated their 27th anniversary and her birthday. They both agree this is the right number, unlike Peter Vignati, whose wife was a bit confused.
 
Rollie Sterrett had another joke about 82 year-old Maurice.
 
Salin Low reported that she will miss the next three meetings traveling to Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico. She also mentioned an article in the Wall Street Journal about young people in Australia who don't know how to mail a letter.
 
 
Ann Clark was interested in a book by Fred and Cheryl Lowman - An Inky Summer. Fred taught for many years at Avon Middle School. The book is illustrated by Don Carsten who also taught at the middle school. A copy of the book is going into the library at Wish School.
 
Paul Mikkelson appreciated all the support he has received over the last few months. He congratulated Phil Ferrari on his retirement and Nancy Nation on her remission. Len Dunstan was also happy for Nancy Nation.
 
Phil Worley was happy to announce his new business walking dogs. He claimed it was lots of fun.
 
Steve Morris said the FAVARH project has now been through the inland wetlands committee and planning & zoning. He expects approvals in the next month.
 
Jolly Lux was happy that little Christine is in school, playing, and dancing. She may not even need a wheelchair soon. She also let us know that Kurt is having gall bladder surgery after a year of difficulty.
 
Announcements
 
Nancy Nation thanked Larry Sullivan for his hard work on the golf tournament. She reminded members to let advertisers know how we did and that we appreciate their support.
 
Larry Sullivan announced that the golf tournament netted approximately $44,000.
 
Robin DiNicola was selling raffle tickets for the Homebuilders Association.
 
Celebrate Avon
 
 
The club was well represented at Celebrate Avon on June 23. We cooked our usual burgers and dogs, along with the Pat Clark Memorial Onions & Peppers. And there was a booth signing kids up for Amber Alert. Thanks to Steve Harris and Tom Voorhees for spearheading both these efforts.
 
Significant Dates
 
October 6th - Our morning meeting will be hosted by the Golf Club of Avon
 
October 20th - Luncheon with the Rotary International President at the CT Convention Center
 
October 27thCanton Chamber of Commerce Stars of the Town 2017 at 41 Bridge Street 6:00 - 10:00 PM. Honorees are FAVARH and Larry & Brenda Sullivan. Tickets are available through the Chamber website.
 
 
Awards
 
No special awards or grants today
Presentation
Leslie Hill
First Selectman of Canton
 
 
Ms. Hill talked about a few things going on in and around Canton and opened the floor for discussion.
 
One of the high points of her talk was about the Mental Health Task Force, which has been working this year. She said that there are already events planned for next year and that she would like other towns to be involved. The Farmington Valley Health District is involved in much of this work and is an obvious vehicle for regionalization. Tops of interest are suicide prevention, the effects of financial stress, and problem gambling. The group is also concerned with the needs of caregivers in situations of physical and mental illness.
 
The state budget's impasse is causing great concern in Canton as in many CT towns. October 1, a date when new financial restrictions may go in place, will not be as tough in Avon or Canton as in other towns, especially small ones. However, we may lost 25% of shared state funds of $2.5 million. We can survive until May or June with no aid, although "it won't be pretty." Canton budgeted for $1.5 million in school aid but not for the push down of teachers' pensions.
 
Canton has $ 6 Million in the general fund. The auditors are happy with the current position of 15% reserves. There was a surplus in the last taxable year due to more billing for EMS services, as well as other services. There is good collaboration between the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Education, and the Board of Finance in addressing these issues. If there are severe cuts in state assistance, there won't be any bloat to cut in the town budget. Town hall employees de-unionized several years ago and several are part time. The schools have already cut some non-certified employees and would have to cut more. Maybe library hours could be cut, although that's not an appealing proposition.
 
One emphasis is the effort to regionalize services. The Farmington Valley health District is one example of this. There can also be regionalizing of purchasing materials, streamlining of the finance departments, and regionalized food service in the schools. The Deparment of Public Works collaborate with other towns in the Farmington Valley and with Bloomfield.
 
Another desire is to grow the grand list by providing incentives to business growth without penalizing the town budget. One restriction to this is that part of Route 44 doesn't have town sewer and water which hampers growth.
 
After Ms. Hill's presentation, there were several suggestions from members on how to do more regionalization, as well as on other topics. The biggest help, at least in terms of being able to set a clear budget, would be for the state to pass a budget. 
Mail Bag
 
Photo Credits
Photographs courtesy of Phil Worley unless otherwise indicated.
 
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?