Visiting Rotarians: Craig Buhrendorf (Honorary Member), Rick and Chris Heath, and Marcel Schmidt Lt Governor District 7890
Guests: Jenny Gonzales and Frank Campanelli (Prospective Members), Lisa and Gary Gray, Mark Milewski (Speaker)
Happy Dollars: $30
Raffle Winner: No Winner
Fines
None this week
Birthdays
None this week
Condolences
Sadly, we have lost two members of our Rotary family this week. Kathy Worley, wife of Phil Worley, passed away on November 5th. Rotarian Nancy Nation, wife of Craig Nation, passed away on November 8th.
A Memorial Service for Kathy Worley will take place at the Canton Center Congregational Church on Saturday, November 16th at 2:00pm. Further details may be found at: Kathleen Worley obituary.
Calling hours for Nancy Nation will be held on Wednesday, November 13th from 4:00 - 7:00pm at Carmon Funeral Home in Avon, CT. A Memorial Service for Nancy will be on Thursday, November 14th at 11:00am at the West Avon Congregational Church. Further details may be found at: Nancy Nation obituary.
Happy Dollars & Announcements
Thank you to Sean Blacker for honoring Veterans Day with the flag displays on the breakfast tables.
Rick Heath was happy that Ohio State was #1.
Gary Miller was looking forward to the Dartmouth-Princeton football game at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. Both teams were undefeated.
Scott Nardozzi reported that Capri Brighenti's mother, Sandi, has been in the hospital.
Craig Buhrendorf voted in Avon for the last time. He was pleased that Jolly Lux had received a $5000 grant for GLO and was wearing his new "Honorary Member" name badge.
Paul Mikkelson had been in England for a cycling event and bought a new bicycle. He had also been to Texas for the wedding of his brother's son. He was happy to report that his daughter was pregnant. Unfortunately the baby has Cystic Fibrosis.
Ann Clark was happy that her "one dear Republican friend" Craig would not be voting in Avon any longer.
Jolly Lux was at the Foundation Dinner the previous night and congratulated Gary Miller and Salin Low for being recognized as Major Donors. She is leaving for Uganda on Tuesday to work with the women in her village on the newly funded business projects.
Peter Vignati was very happy to report that the results of his brain scan were clear. He also noted that the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall was just celebrated. He and Suzanne were in Berlin on their honeymoon 30 years ago but knew nothing of the event that was happening at that time.
Hank Frey passed around the sign up sheet for Bell Ringing at Walmart on November 29th and December 1st.
Phil Worley announced the memorial service for his wife, Kathy Worley, and invited members to attend.
Sue Budde announced the date of the annual Rotary Christmas Party hosted by Miller Foods as December 17th.
President Heather Pantano announced that Happy Dollars will be going toward the annual Turkey Trot food collection.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
November 12th: Next Taste of the Valley Committee Meeting at, hopefully, the new and improved Dish and Dat Restaurant.
November 13 - Pub Night - Cancelled
November 22nd: FAVARH Annual Gala featuring Shake-A-Tail-Feather tribute to Motown
December 7: Breakfast with Santa at the Canton Community Center at 8:00am - See Dee Boorjian for details
December 17: Annual Miller Foods Rotary Christmas Party - See Sue Budde to sign up
March 28th: Tastes of the Valley 2020 at Farmington Gardens.
Induction of New Members
None Today
Paul Harris Awards
None today
Awards
None this week
Community and International Service Grants
Lisa Gray, and her husband, Gary, joined with us today to receive a check for $500 toward A Promise for Jordan. Lisa, Executive Director of the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce, is a previous speaker to our club regarding the opioid addiction prevention program she and her husband started after their son, Jordan, lost his life to addiction. Lisa told us that a special event is being held at the Simsbury High School on November 18th from 1:30-4:30pm to highlight a collection of posters that is touring New England. The posters which depict victims of addiction will be displayed on the HS athletic field along with food trucks, music and other activities to focus on addiction awareness.
The poster advertising the event can be viewed or download here.
Presentation
Mark Milewski
Live Adenturously
Bob Cole introduced our speaker, Mark Milewski, who lives in Manchester and is an Associate Professor of Business Administration at Tunxis Community College. Mark is an Appalachian Trail through-hiker and has climbed all of the 7 highest summits on each continent--a feat completed by only 160 climbers.He has summited Washington's 14,410 ft. (4392m) Mt Ranier, all 48 of New Hampshire's 4,000-foot (1220m) peaks and New York’s 46 Adirondack High Peaks.
Mark grew up hiking with his parents. He received his Eagle Scout Award fromTroop 25in Manchester, CT at the age of 17 and has volunteered as a leader with the Boy Scouts of America for over 30 years. He currently serves as Scoutmaster. He proudly carried his Troop 25 Boy Scout neckerchief to the top of each of the Seven Summits.
In April and May of 2016, Mark took on his greatest achievement--summiting Mt. Everest. He described the stages of the 60-day expedition which started when he landed in Katmandu, Nepal. A short flight to Lukla followed by a ten-day trek put him at Base Camp--elevation 17,000 ft. His trek to the summit started on Day 42 after numerous practice climbs from Base Camp to Camps 1, 2 and 3 and back down again. The up and down treks help acclimate him to the altitude by building up the hemoglobin in this blood and building up his lung power and stamina. Mark's trip was led by a very experience climber who had submitted 7 times and a Sherpa who submitted over 20 times.
The trip to the summit started with a trek to Camp 1 at 19,000 ft, then Camp 2 at 21,000 ft, followed by Camp 3 at 24,000 ft. All the upper climbs were done on oxygen. Mark said the base price of the trip was $65,000, but each stage additional services could be purchased, such as, a high rate oxygen flow for $8300. The journey to Camp 4 at 26,000 ft was in the "death zone," where even on 100% oxygen your body begins to die. From Camp 4 the trek is only 3,000 ft to the top. It took 8 hours to climb from Camp 4 to the summit but only 3 hours to climb all the way back down to Camp 2. Mark only spent 20 minutes on the summit taking pictures and resting for the descent.
Rather than walk back to Lukla, Mark opted for an additional $2500 to fly in a helicopter all the back to Katmandu.
Mark states eight principles that it takes to achieve his goals. 1) Apprenticeship, 2) Grit, 3) Goal Oriented, 4) Be in the moment, 5) Organization skills, 6) Teamwork, 7) Time and money, and 8) Commitment to Excellence.
For more information on Mark, his achievements, and his presentations go to www.MarkMilewski.com.
Special Announcements
Ann Clark announced that she has been in touch with Dale Bronson who is undergoing treatment for a reoccurrence of cancer. Please keep him in our thoughts and prayers.
Mail Bag
None this week.
Photo Credits
Today's photographs courtesy of Mike Mehzeritskiy.
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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Thank you to Sean Blacker for honoring Veterans Day with the flag displays on the breakfast tables.
