Guests: Rick Passarelli (Speaker); Serge Karpov (Speaker); Laird Mortimer; Paul Koekman (son of former member Roly); Sam Debrah; Lauren Iraeta and Alex Pryer (Jimmy Ssekawaabe's guests).
Visiting Rotarians: Art Schaller (New Britain); Bob Zanlungo (Glastonbury)
Happy Dollars: $24
Raffle Winner: Jolly Lux (Donated to Salvation Army)
Birthdays
Craig Buhrendorf
Craig was six decades plus one on November 25th. He has been in the club since 1997 and loves being part of Rotary. He is a past president and is currently the club biographer and serves as chairman of the International and Finance Committees. We appreciate his service.
Les Zinner
Les, whose birthday was November 27th, hasn't been in the club as long as Craig (he joined in 2005), but he is older (he didn't mention an exact number). One clue is that he is now exempt for club attendance under the Rotary rule of 85 (age + years in Rotary). Bring in Rotary is the first time Les has been in such an organization, and he is proud to be part of Rotary. He takes care of getting the Rotary shirts for members and backs up Phil Worley taking pictures at meetings. We are glad to have him as part of the club.
Happy Birthday to both Rotarians!
Happy Dollars
Gary Miller once again celebrated Thanksgiving Cajun style in Louisiana with his daughter. He claimed it was catered by Cracker Barrel. There were untold delicacies of the locale.
Bob Cave was happy about someone being in compliance with something, but the scribe was still imagining Cajun delicacies.
Joanne Santiago was happy about her cruise to Havana. She had a great tour guide whom she recommends to anyone making the trip.
Jolly Lux was happy that the club was able to raise so much money to help the Farmington Valley by ringing the Salvation Army bell on the day after Thanksgiving.
Salin Low was happy that Hank Frey rang the bell with her on the first shift of the day as well as ringing it another two hours with his wife on the last shift of the day. Talk about Service above Self!! She was also happy that one of her alma maters, the University of Oklahoma, was playing Texas for the second time this season. When they played in October, OU scored 48 points - and lost! Salin will be wearing the appropriate red and white to watch the rematch (Editor's note: OU won 39-27 and goes to the playoffs - against Alabama!)
Art Schaller was happy for the support our club gives the New Britain club by buying wreaths.
Alicia Canning was happy that the chemo seems to be working for her daughter Sarah. The tumor has shrunk.
Bill Barnes was happy to remind us of the upcoming concerts of the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra - on December 8 at 3:00 at Eno Memorial Hall in Simsbury and on December 15 at 3:00 at Porter Memorial Hall (First Church of Christ, Congregational) in Farmington. This is the annual Family Holiday Pops Concert which should appeal to all and get folks into the joy of the season.
Steve Morris was happy about the progress on the construction of the future Rotary Building on the FAVARH campus:
Announcements
Dee Boorjian announced Breakfast with Santa this Saturday (December 8) at theCanton Community Center from 8:00 to 11:00 AM. She asked for volunteers to help with the event.
Don Bonner announced that the club will match members' donations to the Salvation Army up to $2,250. Give a copy of the check or a statement of your donation to Don, Paul Mikkelson or Gary Roman. This will help many people in our area.
The annual Holiday Dinner at Miller Foods (thanks to Capri Frank and to Cal Miller-Stevens who hosts us) will be on Tueday, December 11, at 6:00 p.m. Club members may bring a spouse or other "plus one." There will be a signup at this week's meeting, or you can contact President Michael at michael.milestoneamg.com@clubrunner.com. This is a high point of the season and a fun time for members to relax and visit without am agenda.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Bell Ringing on December 22 - Hank Frey is looking for a few more ringers for the Saturday before Christmas. There will be a signup on Friday. When we ring on the weekend, 90% of the money stays in the Farmington Valley. And it's a good time to visit with another Rotarian.
Induction of New Members
None today.
Awards and Community/International Service Grants
None today.
Presentation
Kairo Prison Ministry
Rick Passarelli & Serge Karpow
Rollie Sterrett introduced our speakers, Rick Passarelli, is was himself incarcerated for six years, and Serge Karpow, who has been head head of the state Kairos organization for 20 years.
Rick talked about his experiences with Kairos. He went to prison in 1988 at the age of 20. He could have been sentenced to 17 years but got a lighter sentence of nine years - six in prison and three on parole. Kairos had such a profound effect on him that he has been part of that program for the 24 years since he was released. He is especially concerned with the effect Kairos can have on young men, most of whom are in prison as the result of violent crimes. Many of them have never had a positive relationship with an older man. Their early examples are too often fathers who are abusive or who abandon them. And the young black men may only know white people as cops or judges. The Kairos program, which includes both prayer groups and weekend retreats to give prisoners the assurance that they are loved and to help them learn to support one another by sharing and prayer. After all, St. Paul wrote most of his letters from prison, so these prisoners deserve to be respected as human beings, something which could be new in their lives.
Rick now has his real estate license and has started a motivational speaking company. He's come a long way from those years in prison.
Serge Karpow reminded us that Kairos is a part of prison reform. Kairos operates in seven prisons in Connecticut, in 35 states, and in a number of countries. There is also a program for women whose family members are incarcerated. This gives them support in very difficult times. Connecticut is on the forefront of prison reform, wich recognizes that prisoners need to develop marketable skills which incarcerated to avoid recidivism. in 2000 there were 20,000 prisoners in Connecticut; today there are 13,000. This decline is due to the reduction in recidivism. Helping the prisoners is also supporting the community at large, because 95% of those in prison will be back in the community. It is better for all if the former prisoner is able to be productive and involved in the greater society.
These two speakers gave us a great deal to think about. Thanks.
Mail Bag
None today.
Photo Credits
Photographs courtesy of Phil Worley unless otherwise indicated.
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?
