President Sue asked all the veterans in the club to lead the Pledge of Allegiance in honor of Veterans Day.
Birthdays:
To our youngest Rotarian Camille who turned 1 on 10/30.
Meeting Summary
The meeting began with welcoming guests and happy dollars before discussing various club activities and donations. Members reported progress on upcoming events and initiatives, including Taste of the Valley and holiday preparations. The presentation followed with the Chief of the Avon Police Department, who discussed public safety concerns and crime trends in the community, particularly focusing on traffic issues, fraud cases, and scam prevention.
Happy Dollars
Rollie Sterrett, III was happy to be sitting next to Lou Daniels who is on his 3rd round of Rotary membership.
Peter Vignati will be attending the Holly Family's retreat weekend. He also noted the upcoming 1st home game for the UConn Women
Lauren Gardner is thankful for a year of motherhood.
Linda Pendergast noted that this morning's first frost brought back memories of Bill Barnes and how he turned her on to the wonders of a spray on defroster.
Robert Yurch has a new hip, which is way he hasn't been with us lately.
Tom Voorhees gave a shout out to Cal Miller-Stevens for her hosting their annual turkey dinner for Veterians.
President Sue along with Bill is off to PA for her niece's wedding.
Dick Kisiel reported that the Taste of the Valley has gotten off to a good start.
Gary Miller who will be the Master of Ceremonies at the Canton Memorial Day Service noted that on Armed Services Day we celebrate those who are serving, on Veterans Day we celebrate those who have served, and on Memorial Day we honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
Announcements & Upcoming Events
President Sue announced that the club raised $2,663.50 for Polio Plus, exceeding our $1,500 goal. There is a separate fund for Hurricane Melissa relief on the Rotary Website, if you want to donate directly.
FAVAR will be holding its annual Christmas Party for clients living in their residential programs which will be held on December 11th. Rotarians are needed as volunteers from 4-8 PM, with a focus on serving from 5:30-6:30 PM. The club also shared wish lists from a 100 clients. We are looking for members to either purchase gifts from this list or make donations by December 5th, with the option to handle shopping for those who prefer not to shop.
The District will be hosting upcoming webinar on November 15th about belonging and inclusion, which is a follow-up to a recent conversation with Kate Sims.
Turkey Trot event on November 19th at ShopRite. We are teaming up with the Lions Club who need help filling some slots. An e-mail will be sent with slots still available for participants.
Induction of New Members
None this week.
Awards
Joanna Santiago presented Brian O'Donnell with a Paul Harris +4.
Community and International Service Grants
The Nancy Nation fund has earned $19,000 in interest and the board has voted to distribute this money as follows: $5,000 each to the Avon and Canton Food Banks, $3,000 to Healing Meals, $3,000 to Gifts of Love, and $3,000 to Food Share.
Speaker
Neil Dryfe
Chief of Police, Avon
Chief Neil Dryfe of the Avon Police Department has an impressive 35 years of law enforcement experience in Connecticut, Chief Dryfe brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our community. He served 21 years with the City of Hartford Police Department and spent 14 years as the Chief of the Cheshire Police Department. Chief Dryfe officially began his role with the Avon Police Department on July 7. Since then, he has been actively introducing himself to many local businesses where he has been a customer in the past. His goal is to ensure a visible presence in the community, and he welcomes the opportunity to engage with all of you—our residents. Chief Dryfe officially began his role with the Avon Police Department on July 7. Since then, he has been actively introducing himself to many local businesses where he has been a customer in the past. His goal is to ensure a visible presence in the community, and he welcomes the opportunity to engage with all of you.
Avon Public Safety Challenges
Neil discussed two main public safety concerns in Avon: traffic issues on residential streets and fraud/identity theft cases. He noted that while high-profile incidents receive media attention, residents are more concerned about speeding and unsafe driving on local streets. Neil also highlighted a significant increase in fraud cases, including unemployment fraud, and warned about online scams targeting elderly residents, particularly those over 65.
AI-Driven Scams Targeting Residents
Neil discussed recent scams targeting residents, including a sophisticated scheme where scammers use AI to impersonate grandchildren in need of bail money, which was successfully executed in Cheshire. He highlighted that banks are now trained to recognize and question suspicious cash withdrawals, but scammers have adapted by providing victims with a script to explain the money. Neil also mentioned other prevalent scams, such as technical support fraud and fake IRS calls, and emphasized that while some electronic transfers can be traced and recovered, cash and precious metals are nearly impossible to retrieve once lost to scammers operating from foreign countries.
Avon Crime and Safety Update
Neil discussed crime trends in Avon, noting that identity theft and fraud were the top criminal complaints, followed by shoplifting, particularly along Route 44. He highlighted traffic concerns as a significant issue, with speeding being a persistent problem despite efforts to enforce speed limits. Neil also explained the transition to the Farmington Regional Dispatch Center, which has improved call handling and response times. He advised residents to be cautious of scams and phishing attempts, emphasizing the importance of not falling victim to such schemes.
Special Announcements
None this week.
Mail Bag
Photo Credits
Photos by Mike Mezheritskiy
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?
