June 2, 2023Canton Dollars for Scholars RecipientsThanks to Kevin CaseNote: Meeting will be held in the main ballroom (banquet room)
Sergeant-at-Arms Report -
Rotarians Present: 37 (11 virtual)
Visiting Rotarians: None
Guests: Loren Clarke (Prospective Member), John Carmon, Joanne Beers, Craig Nation, Doug Nation, Liz & Jon Zieky, Mardelle Peña, John Pavlakis, Jack Cuyler, Shinand Hiryu, Rohan Badrinath
Raffle Winner: No winner
Birthdays: Rollie Sterrett
Because of the busy schedule for the meeting, Rollie was discouraged from giving his usual fulsome description of his many years in Rotary. Suffice it to say he's been a member of Avon-Canton Rotary 45 years, longer continuously than anybody else. He gave $80 to recognize his 80th birthday. 80 looks very good on him! Happy birthday, Rollie!
Happy Dollars
Due to the busy schedule, Happy Dollars were kept to a minimum. Donations were for the benefit of Beanz, which is raising money for a new kitchen. We were hoping to top the $500 mark for members' contributions, and the club would match for a total of $1,000.
One happiness not to be missed was that it was the nine-month anniversary for President Chris's kidney transplant. As tough as it has been, Chris is happy about the possibility of longer life that the transplant has made possible.
Announcements
See the calendar below for information about the President's dinner on June 9.
Calendar
June 2, 2023 - Canton Scholarship Students
June 9, 2023 - No Regular Meeting - President's Dinner - Visit our website to pay for you and your guests. Cost is $60 per person.
September 11, 2023 - Annual Charity Golf Tournament
October 19, 2023 - Club's 50th Anniversary Dinner
Induction of New Members
None this week.
Nancy Nation Legacy Gift
$200,000
Nancy Nation was one of the first two women in Avon-Canton Rotary. She changed the club with her commitment of service to the community, both Avon and the greater community including Hartford. She challenged members to give service to all in need through involvement in various projects and also in fundraising to be able to offer support to various other organizations.
Nancy wanted the club to continue to thrive and to continue to help others to succeed. She wanted to provide an endowment for the club's future endeavors. Her husband Craig decided that this is the time to fund that endowment. He checked with their children (Doug, Liz, and Amy) about his intentions, since in effect he's giving away part of their inheritance. They supported this gift, because they recognized how important Rotary's work was to Nancy. They couldn't pass a business without Nancy's considering whether she should solicit a donation to the Rotary golf tournament. They also missed her at times, because she was so concerned about taking care of others in need. When Nancy decided to retire from her work at West Avon Congregational Church, she told your scribe and others that she knew it was time to give pay more attention to her family.
Craig Nation waited almost four years to make this gift to the club, and now he feels it is the time. He has a disease related to muscular distrophy. It was manageable for awhile, but now it is making it harder for him to get around. We are glad that he and several members of the family were able to be present to present the check to the club. We are so grateful for his family's generosity and look to them to guide us in the best ways to invest the money in the sort of efforts which continue Nancy's life of service above self.
Awards
None this week
Community and International Service Grants
None this week
Avon Dollars for Scholars
Mardelle Peña spoke about the history of Dollars for Scholars, which was started through the efforts of Avon-Canton Rotarians in 1975. ADFS has awarded approximately $2,000,000 to 2,000 students over the years. This year there are 80 scholarships being awarded to 67 students. The board is made up of volunteers from businesses and various organizations in Avon. Students who receive awards have succeeded academically, as well as taking part in civic service and many school activities, such as sports or the arts. There is a growing interest in STEM, which supports technological fields.
President Chris announced that the board, after much consideration about the best way to honor Nancy Nation, approved the Nancy Nation Scholarship to be presented annually to a student who exemplifies Nancy's caring for people in need and her service to her community. This scholarship will continue Nancy's legacy through the young people who receive it.
Four of the students who will receive scholarships from Rotary were introduced. Jack Pavlakis (younger brother of George, who has received assistance from our club to study for a master's degree in Munich) plans to study finance at UCONN. He is an Eagle Scout and created a garden area with benches at the senior center in Avon. He thanked the club for the scholarship and knows his parents appreciate the help as well. Jack Cuyler plans to study business and journalism at Penn State. He helped arrange a mentoring program for students in Hartford. Shinand Hiryu wants to study biology at UCONN Avery Point. He took part in holiday events for kids in New York. Rohan Badrinath plans to attend Ohio State and study business. He thanked the club for this scholarship as well as the grant we gave him in the past for his Eagle Scout project. He builta large, netted enclosure to protect blueberry and raspberry bushes which provide fruit used in the Healing Meals menu. These are all the sort of young persons who exemplify service above self and who will be able to strengthen the community as adults.
Special Announcements
None this week.
Mail Bag
None this week.
Photo Credits
Gary Miller
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?
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