Vaughn Young was born and raised in Williamston, Michigan, a small town near Lansing and the “Heart of Industrial Michigan.” He graduated from Michigan State University in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in Math. During his college years Vaughn played the piano with a five-piece jazz group. After graduation he accepted a job with Allen-Bradley, an industrial control manufacturer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Following a two year training program, he was assigned to the Boston office as a sales representative. While living in the town of Lynnfield, north of Boston, Vaughn was active in Republican town politics and served as chairman of the town’s planning board for several years.
In 1974 Vaughn went to work for Hartford Electric Supply Company as Vice President of Sales, and then as president of Hartford Systems Corporation (a subsidiary of HESCO), a design and builder of electrical and electronic control systems. Vaughn retired from HESCO in 1993. In 1994 he joined Phil Worley, when he opened Worley ACE Hardware. He continued to work there when it became Larsen ACE Hardware until retiring for a second time in 2014.
Vaughn has been married to Sue, his college sweetheart for sixty-one years! Vaughn and Sue live in Canton and have two children and three grandchildren - Johanna who teaches the third grade at Cherry Brook Elementary, her husband Bruce Ferrone and two children (Andrew and Charlotte) live in Canton and David, his wife Lynn, and their son Jack live in Torrington. Vaughn is a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Avon and sang in the church choir for many years.
In 2010 Phil Worley, longtime friend and neighbor, introduced Vaughn to Rotary. Unfortunately, due to health issues, Vaughn has recently been unable to attend many meetings or activities. He now follows the worthwhile projects and activities of the Rotary Club of Avon-Canton through emails.
(Club Paul Harris fellows are asked to wear their regalia)
Sergeant-at-Arms Report
May 17, 2019
Members Present:40
Make-Ups:None
Guests (8): Joelle Santiago (daughter of Joanne); Jim Voorhees (son of Tom); Jeff Borges (prospective member); Roy Walton and Bob Nardiallo (VFW); Laurie McKenna (Canton $ for Scholars); Rick Lawrence (speaker) and wife Ellen (seller of crafts to support work in Guatemala).
Visiting Rotarians: None
Happy Dollars: $28
Raffle Winner:Sarah Leathers - $40
Birthdays
Rollie Sterrett
Rollie got his birthday weekend off to a good start when he was carded while buying a beer at the Yard Goats game. (Rollie looks good, but who wants to ride home with that vendor?) Rollie joined Rotary in 1978 and by his reckoning he is the member with the longest continuous membership in the club (Bob Cave was a founding member, but he left for 10 years.). Rollie was president in 1981-82. He reminded the club that the treasury was only $3,500 and selling Christmas trees that only Charlie Brown could love was the big fundraiser for the year - it only lasted for two years! Rollie talked about the secret ballot to decide whether to admit women and would not disclose his vote. (The Supreme Court took it out of the club's hands a few years later.). Rollie made a donation to the Rotary Foundation in honor of his birthday. He achieved Major Donor status (giving $10,000 cumulatively to the foundation) a few years ago. Happy Birthday, Rollie!
Happy Dollars
Craig Buhrendorf was happy that the Yankees are doing so well in spite of injuries. He had been in North Carolina to have his boat delivered. He has already gotten involved in a Rotary club down there and attended an event honoring an exchange student (makes sense for a former Youth Exchange committee member). He was headed back to Charlotte for a Rotary event involving foster kids on a lake. He will make it back to Connecticut for the club's President's Dinner - his last before the move to North Carolina is permanent.
Ann Clark was happy that grandson Ryan was graduating from Holy Cross with honors and granddaughter Shala is on her way to medical school. Ann's late husband Pat ( a past president of the club) would have been 80 on graduation day and would have been so proud!
Bob Cave was happy to be taking his granddaughter to Yellowstone. He elaborated on Rollie's memory of admitting women by saying Avon-Canton was one of the first in our area to admit women. He also reminded members that that the club used to vote on whether to admit prospective members.
Note: It was pointed out that the club is now 42% women. If the incoming officers all proceed through the chairs, the next four presidents will be women. Times have changed - possibly for the better!
Sarah Leathers was happy to see Nancy and Craig Nation. Nancy was one of the first two women in the club. Sarah's sister-in-law is in the military, and she was happy to see the club's support of the VFW. She told about the first crop of produce from the Healing Meals hot house that was made possible by a club donation.
Rick Heath gave a somewhat sad dollar, because it was the last meeting for wife Chris and himself. He is retiring, and they are returning home to Florida. Chris and Rick met in Rotary as presidents of different clubs. He has had a great time being part of Avon-Canton and says the club restored his faith in Rotary.
Linda Pendergast was the 4th woman to join the club. (One of these days we need to get the official list.)She was happy to have Nancy and Craig at Friday's meeting.
Alicia Canning was glad that her daughter Sarah was through radiation, which followed surgery and chermotherapy for breast cancer.
Announcements
Golf - Brochures, packets, and last year's ad book are available at the Sgt-at-Arms table. Don't forget that there will be information about the good the golf tournament does and the ways that members contribute, including selling ads and sponsorships, during the regular meeting on May 31. Newer members are especially encouraged to attend.
Mike Mezheritskiy announced that Amazon Smile is now available to benefit the Club when our members and others make Amazon purchases, by each individual designating the Club as their charitable beneficiary for Amazon Smile. Please consider making the Club your beneficiary!
Don Bonner passed the signup list for the President's Dinner. It will be at 6:00 on Friday, June 7, at Avon Country Club. Cost is $50 per person with a choice of French Breast of Chicken, Asian Glazed Salmon, Filet Mignon, or Wild Mushroom Papperdelle (vegetarian) for the entree. You can email Don or sign up at a meeting if you want to attend.
Tom Voorhees thanked those who helped with Amber Alert and passed around sign-up sheets for upcoming events.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
June 7th: President's Installation Dinner, 6 PM, Golf Club of Avon
June 10th: Canton Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament at the Farmington Woods Golf Club. Contact Gary or Sue Budde for more information or visit the Chamber's website for registration: Canton Chamber Golf Tournament
June 20th: Rotary Governors Installation Dinner, 6:00-9:00at Riverview in Simsbury. Cost is $55.00 per person including an open bar. Invitation says "Black Tie Optional," so put on your duds and dance to a band while honoring Heather Pantano, our incoming president. Check with Rollie Sterrett if interested, so we can arrange to be at one table.
June 21st: Meeting to be held at the new FAVARH Rotary Building
September 9th: Annual Rotary Charity Golf Tournament at the Golf Club of Avon. Please contact Gary Miller if you are interested in working on one of the golf committees.
Induction of New Members
None this week
Club Presentations
None this week
Community and International Service Grants
Canton Dollars for Scholars
Salin Low presented a check to Laurie McKenna who is chair of the Canton Dollars for Scholars (CDFS) committee. The club gives $6,000 each in scholarships to Canton and Avon each year. Laurie talked about the way CDFS has grown, both through stronger solicitation of scholarship funds and through special events which increase the availability of scholarship funds. The amount which CDFS will award this year - approximately $32,000, is double the amount awarded two or three years ago. Rotary helped found CDFS and remains committed to helping Canton students continue their education.
VFW Post 3272
Roy Walton and Bob Nardiello were presented with a check from Rotary of $750 by Rollie Sterrett and Gary Roman. The club makes a contribution to the VFW at this time each year to supplement the poppy drive. That drive raises more than $20,000 each year which is most of the relief fund to help with local efforts to support veterans. In addition to individual assistance, the post helps to support a Veterans' Oasis at Tunxis Community College. We are glad to do what we can to show our appreciation for those who have served our country in the military.
Presentation
Guatemala Water Project
Rick Lawrence
Craig Buhrendorf, chair of the International Service Committee, introduced Rick Lawrence. Actually, he reintroduced Rick, who has come to the club many times to give us an update on his water project in Guatemala. Our club has been a consistent supporter of this project over the years and appreciates his dedication and his continuing contact with us. Rick has done so much in helping provide water to small villages in Guatemala since 2006 that he was given the Service Above Self Award by Rotary International, which is given to only a few people each year.
The following table shows where this project has given assistance each year:
The population of each village that has been helped is small, but the cumulative effect has been over 9,000 people living in remote Mayan villages now having access to clean water. And if the water systems are maintained, generations of residents will also benefit from this work. Aldea, which is mentioned above, has been a local partner in this project. In the past Rotary International (RI) required the involvement of a local club near the project or at the very least a club in the country of the project. However, that isn't always possible, because sometimes the places that need the most help are not able to support a Rotary club. Recently RI approved working with an NGO (nongovernmental organization) in lieu of working with a Rotary club, provided the NGO in question has a good track record of accomplishment in the locale. Lawrence has been working with Aldea, formerly Berhorst Partners for Development for many years with success. Now there is a local which also provide support and oversight.
The following schedule shows the way money from individual clubs can be multiplied with District and Global Grants:
Clubs from nine districts contributed $91,215 that was applied to the Global Grant for the current year's projects. The Rotary Foundation (TRF) matches these donations at 50%, less a small service charge. Seven districts donated $29,000, which was matched 100%. Rotary clubs also gave $29,013 for improved stoves. TRF doesn't match those funds, because stoves don't qualify as part of a water project. However the stoves make the homes much healthier, especially for babies whose lungs are damaged by smoke. The stoves being provided are vented better and use much less wood than previous cooking devices. They can also be used as a table.
It is important to look at the bottom section of the grant analysis. Global Grants require a contribution by the beneficiaries of the project. These Mayan villages can't contribute very much monetarily, so their contribution is primarily for in kind labor. Municipalities do contribute the land needed for the water system. Aldea requires that each household pay for the stoves, which require that they save to accomplish this. Requiring residents to do most of the physical work in building the system also has the dual effects of encouraging residents to value and protect the system, as well as training residents so that they will be able to do repairs as they become necessary.
The benefits of this work include: healthier residents with fewer intestinal and other diseases; less incidence of malnutrition; less time to provide water, which results in more time for school and for making handicrafts. Alicia Canning demonstrated the method of carrying water in very heavy containers when it is not available nearby. Surely the water systems helps women and girls, who generally are the water bearers, have healthier necks and backs!
Each village puts up a plaque acknowledging Rotary's work in providing these water systems. Rick sees that each club which has made a donation is recognized. In the picture he is pointing to the mention of Avon-Canton Rotary.
Without water there is no life! These projects bring life to small villages. It is good that Rotarians around the world are working to bring water and life to the millions who do not have access to clean water.
Mail Bag
None today
Photo Credits
Photographs courtesy of Phil Worley unless otherwise noted.
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?
Vaughn Young was born and raised in Williamston, Michigan, a small town near Lansing and the “Heart of Industrial Michigan.” He graduated from Michigan State University in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in Math. During his college years Vaughn played the piano with a five-piece jazz group. After graduation he accepted a job with Allen-Bradley, an industrial control manufacturer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Following a two year training program, he was assigned to the Boston office as a sales representative. While living in the town of Lynnfield, north of Boston, Vaughn was active in Republican town politics and served as chairman of the town’s planning board for several years.
