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Bulletin Editor
Salin Low
Speakers
Mar 17, 2023
Trip to South Africa
Mar 24, 2023
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CT Brain Tumor Alliance
Apr 07, 2023
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The Underground of NE
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Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Immediate Past President
 
Membership
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Rotary Foundation
 
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
All meetings are hybrid both in-person and Zoom available
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District Site
VenueMap
Venue Map
 
October 28, 2022
Club Day
Note: The meeting will be held at FAVARH
There will not be a Zoom.
Sergeant-at-Arms Report
Rotarians Present: 23 in person; 6 via Zoom
 
Visiting Rotarians:  None
 
Guests:  Nancy Scheetz (Farmington Valley VNA), Fr. Taylor Albright (Speaker)
Happy Dollars: $67
 
Raffle Winner: No Winner
 
Birthdays: None today.
 
 
Happy Dollars
 
Ann Clark was happy that Luke Violette was getting married on Sunday. She sent love to Luke and his bride.
 
Gary Miller was glad that 800 square feet of deck at the Veterans’ Base Camp had been completed. The effort required 50 pounds of deck screw. Gary’s son-in-law had a gold colored screw, referred to as the ”golden spike.” He expects that Rotarians will go back in 2023 to complete the deck, which is only half completed.
 
Lisa Barall-Matt was glad to see Linda Pendergast. She was headed to Florida to see her mom and sister. She and husband Todd celebrated their 16th anniversary and went for a lovely drive.
 
Sue Budde and husband Bill will celebrate their 20th anniversary this week. It was a second marriage for both. Sue was surprised it lasted, since her first marriage only lasted for five years.
 
Peter Vignati and wife Susanne have been going through a kitchen renovation, which he says can certainly test a marriage. They now have water and a dishwasher and hope the job is complete by Thanksgiving Kitchen renovation; water; dishwasher. Hope it’s done by Thanksgiving.
 
Rauf Majidian’s wife has been in rehearsals for several weeks for the play Tick, Tick, Boom! Performances are starting, and he hopes to get things back to normal.
 
Bob Cave had played in a foursome donated by Rollie Sterrett. By his scoring system he had a zero – no lost balls.
 
Nancy Scheetz said it is hard to run a health care agency. The people involved have to find small ways to be happy.
 
Luke Violette gave 23 happy dollars to celebrate his upcoming marriage on the 23rd. He has been in the club for three years and is happy to be a part of it.
 
Salin Low was happy to be at the meeting, since she had had a wreck the day before. A lady on a side street in West Hartford pulled onto Albany Avenue because she thought Salin should be turning right. Salin wasn’t hurt, but her car was headed back to the Sullivan Auto Body Shop. Thank heavens one of their “employees,” Larry Sullivan, was able to pick her up at the crash site. Taking her home was convenient since he lives right down the road. The biggest challenge was finding a rental car. She was getting a car the next day in Torrington. She reminded people to take the garage door remote any time they are separated from their cars.
 
An unhappy note: Lisa Wright had been admitted to the hospital the night before the meeting. There was no word on her condition. We hope she is on the mend.
 
Announcements
None.
 
Calendar
 
District Foundation Luncheon - Noon on November 6th - Artisan Restaurant in the Delamar Hotel at Blue Back Square in West Hartford. Sign up via the District website and let Foundation Chair Joanne Santiago know that you are planning to attend.
 
 
Induction of New Members
None this week.
Awards
None this week.
 
Community and International Service Grants
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gary Miller, on behalf of the Community Service Committee, presented a check for $500 to Nancy Scheetz of the Farmington Valley VNA. Nancy said that our donation helps with things not covered by medicare or other insurance. This makes giving flu shots at home possible. It also makes skilled assessments of a patient's condition possible. The funds will be used for both Canton and Avon.
 
 
 
Presentation
Fr. Taylor Albright
Responding to Secular Challenges
In Church and in Rotary
 
 
Rollie Sterret once again introducd Fr. Albright. His previous presentation was to talk about the challenges the church faces, which are some of the same challenges Rotary faces. This makes sense because they are parallel organizations in many ways. Both organizations were founded by leaders who realized that service for others is more important than our own enjoyment. In both groups participation is more than checking a box. Effort is expected. So how come everybody doesn't want to join these worthy groups?
 
Both groups are experiencing declining membership and attendance. They are also less and less central to our society. If this were the last week of Rotary or the church, who would notice? The organizations and individuals that both groups help would notice, but not a lot of other people would be aware of our absence.
 
Rotary is not just a fun gathering. It’s more. What is the more?
 
In the past we would have applied classical marketing concepts to overcome declining attendance - "If you run an ad or get an article in the newspaper they will come." But those techniques don't seem to work the way they did in the past. The culture has changed, and membership is often perceived differently than in the past.
 
If we are going to attract new members, we have to know what membership in Rotary means.
 
What makes Rotary special?
What makes you get up and come to Rotary?
What is the essence that attracts?
Why target group won’t come? Do we ask those people why they find Rotary unappealing?
What is it that you need to know to attract new members? What do we need to know? What are the questions?
 
Father Albright asked us to gather in groups of five and consider the following questions:
 
  1. How has Rotary shaped your life?
  2. How has Rotary shaped family’s life?
  3. Summary of first two. Why so important?
 
Answers from the groups
 
  1. Service - We have learned the value of service in changing lives - others and our own.
  2. Family: They see the service we do. Helps them to see you do good with and for other people. They’re part of it even if they don’t participate. Service creates Social Capital.
  3. Important: Fellowship, Family, & Friends. Relationships. Service shaping us; community involvement. One member said he grew up in Kiwanis Church. Opportunity to give back and to see good. Vocation. Helps us to become a certain kind of person. A serving person for life.
 
Fr. Albright said it is important for us to know why Rotary is important to us, why we are willing to make it a priority in our lives. It is also important to think about the questions prospective members have in considering membership and to be ready to answer the questions. We should think about the kind of person we are asking someone to become if that person becomes part of Rotary. We should realize that there are still no guaranties that people we invite to Rotary will become members or that they will find Rotary fulfilling. However, going through these processes will help to reinforce the value of Rotary in our lives and to think about its value to the world we try to make better.

Special Announcements

None this week.
 
Mail Bag
None this week.
 
Photo Credits
Screen Shots 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?