Guests: Scott Nardozzie introduced his partner David Coleman
Happy Dollars: $60
Raffle Winner: None
Fines
None.
Birthdays
Jolly Lux Jan 2 – Not Here
Paul Mikkelsen noted that the town of Simsbury was going to be 350 years old this year, but he wasn’t present at the beginning. It will be a great year this year and he wished everybody a Happy New Year.
Bob Cave puts in a happy dollar for every year that he has been a Rotarian. This year he added $46. He noted that the club started with 25 members and then went down to 13. We were also one of the first clubs to accept women members. He noted all the good work that the club does and that the networking at the club, which he recommends, means that his banker, real estate person, accountant, and financial planner he gets to see here every week.
Happy Dollars
Salin Low noted the passing of former member Wayne Carver by saying that she knew people were talking about him when she walked up to a group and heard the word character. She also always got a kick out of the fact that Wayne, who was Chief Medical Examiner for many years, had the name Dr. Carver.
Gary Miller is back from Louisiana. This will be his last trip down there as his daughter will be moving back up to this area. He also noted that he wished we were meeting later as this is about the time he is finally getting up and putting on his bathrobe normally.
Jim Gordon, on behalf of the Salvation Army, thanked the club for its support during the holiday season. The Army is very close to setting a record of $232,000 raised during this holiday season.
Joanna Santiago noted that Wayne’s obituary requested donations to the Sandy Hook Promise, and she is asking the club to consider making a donation in his honor. She mentioned how he was always will to step in when a speaker no showed. Don Bonner shared the time a speaker didn’t show up and Wayne got up and gave a talk on Toxic Shock Syndrome. Don said he was one of the most brilliant men that he has ever known, and he shared other stories.
Announcements
Community Service Committee is seeking applications for Community Services Grants.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
January 14, 2020: Taste of the Valley Committee Meeting at Dish & Dat 5 PM.
January 15, 2020: Rotary Pub Night at First and Last Tavern 4 - 6 PM
March 28, 2020: Tastes of the Valleyat Farmington Gardens.
Induction of New Members
None Today
Awards
None this week.
Community and International Service Grants
None this week.
Presentation
Terry Schmitt
Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding
Bob Cave introduced his friend Terry Schmitt who has had a multifaceted career. He has been a minister in Manchester as Senior Minister for Center Congregational Church, UCC and is now Executive Director of the Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding (CCIU). Terry received his BA degree from Brown University and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Yale. Bob also wanted us to know that Terry is a "flipper" of houses and is now renovating a house in West Hartford.
The CCIU was founded in 1994, for the purpose of organizing a program and worship service in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. The Committee continued to exist thereafter because the participants at that event enthusiastically endorsed the idea of ongoing dialogue and cooperation in providing an effective voice in public life on issues of interreligious concern. The mission of CCIU can be summarized in a powerful but simple statement:
"When we understand each other more....
....we hurt each other less."
More formally, their mission statement is to promote public awareness, understanding about, and respect for, Connecticut's religious pluralism through an array of programs and initiatives. CCIU's principal focus is on educating youth and adults about the world's religions, the values they share in common, and their differences, and how they have contributed to our respective world views and identities.
The organization promotes their mission through a series of events that are designed to get people learning about each other's faiths and talking to each other. For example, one of their programs is called: "Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors". This program tries to answer such questions as, Who are our Muslim neighbors ? What do they believe ? How do extremist actions worldwide affect them ? Why don’t we hear moderate Muslims speak out against extremism? Why do some girls & women wear Muslim dress, and others do not ? What does the Qur’an really say about people of other religions ?
Other events include a luncheon discussion titled "To Love your Neighbor, Know your Neighbor". In an interactive part of the meeting, each table participated in a discussion on our own religious upbringing. CCIU also sponsors an annual film festival in which the films are all produced outside of Hollywood, and feature issues that are not well explored in a typical American context. Each film also highlights the complex situations that arise with faith questions of faith. These films provide opportunities for patrons to explore cultures and religions other than the ones with which they might be familiar, as well as the opportunity to ask questions and deepen their understanding once the film is over.
Special Announcements
Dale Bronson wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and he hopes to be well enough to return to the club next week.
Mail Bag
None today.
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?
