Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Rotarians and guests shared in singing "Oh, Beautiful", with the invocation given by
Robin DiNicola. Breakfast followed.
Sergeant-at-Arms Report
Members Present:38
Make-Ups:None
Guests:
Mike Mezheritskiy introduced prospective member Fav Prajapati.
Bob Cave introduced his nephew, Pat Conway, who is engaged in what he calls his "50 in 50 at 60" campaign in which at 60 years old, he has the goal of bicycling at least 50 miles within each of the 50 states. Pat has already ridden through 41 states. Follow his travels at: https://livetodaygonetomorrow.com/
Sue Budde introduced prospective member Jeff Borges.
Jim Macintosh introduced guest Deborah Korner.
Robin DiNicola introduced guest and speaker Kathy DiCocco.
Happy Dollars: $33.00
Raffle Winner: None
Birthdays
Robin DiNicola is grateful to be a member and proud to be a Rotarian. She started in Rotary while still working as a banker and thanked Peter Vignati for helping her become a financial advisor. She loves the group and the friendships she's made.
Paul Cioffari will have his birthday on July 14th, and presented checks for his dues, for the Rotary Foundation and for an advertisement for our golf tournament booklet. It has been an exciting year for him as he went from 0 to 3 grandchildren, and both daughters are now about to have twins. On August 12th he gets a new hip and then he'll be ready for running around with his grandchildren. He thanks for everyone being so happy and welcoming every Friday!
Nancy Nation will have her birthday on July 17th. For 32 years she's been a member, and was among the first women to join. She looks forward to the golf tournament every year. She noted that having cancer is like having a job in that it takes planning and work to stay ahead, and she encouraged Rotarians to treat our golf event like a job as well, by not waiting until the last minute to make it a success. Nancy also noted she'd bought two benches for Wish School from the charity that presented to us a few weeks ago, which will be called "buddy benches."
Rotarians in attendance all sang Happy Birthday for our birthday celebrants!
Happy Dollars
Gary Roman noted he was happy for his most recent July 4th birthday, noted at our last Rotary meeting along with that of Bill Barnes.Gary characterized some of his friends, including Bill Barnes, as untruthful when discussing retirement with him. Gary's big brother from college told him he'd retire at 65, but Gary finds himself still working. He was also told he'd have a pension, but those days are gone and there's no pension. He was also told that by the time of his retirement he'd be able to vacation in Cuba, which for a time was true, and that a US president would walk in North Korea, which was also true. The BIG truth, however, was in the value and joy he's had in joining Rotary and having 19 years of fun and friendship, both with us and in Windsor.
Paul Mikkelson expressed his happiness for Nancy's bravery during her ongoing fight against her cancer, for the mention in the New Horizons Village Strawberry Festival booklet which thanked Rotary for its support and for gift certificates generously donated to our Golf Tournament by Walmart and Speedy Car Wash. Further, Deitz Energy has agreed to be driving range sponsors.
Bob Cave was happy to tell Gary not to feel too bad about his non-retirement, as that when he tried to retire it didn't work. Bob also thanked Nancy for the bench idea.
Rollie Sterrett, was happy to see Nancy Nation here, and informed Rotarians that the Duncaster Annual Report featured imagery of artist Ted Cowles, building a sleigh.
Larry Sullivan, asked for change and then was happy. Many (golf tournament) ads are coming in, and he encouraged us to keep them coming! Larry noted that Wish School is next to the site of the Hartford Circus Fire, and that young, future Rotarian Phil Worley was there with his Dad, and escaped the fire which claimed 168 people. [Ed Note: I'm very grateful to God for Phil!]
Sean Blacker had his "soul restored" through his recent volunteer work and was also honored that the West Avon Congregational Church replaced a cherished plate that was destroyed after inexplicably falling off a wall. Finally, Sean noted that his mother and brother were also at the Hartford Circus Fire, and both escaped, but their whereabouts were not immediately known. Thereafter his family had an emotionally stressful search which was thankfully rewarded by finding them alive in the chaos thereafter. Many hugs were exchanged.
Craig Buhrendorf first learned about the Hartford Circus Fire here at Rotary. He's moving south for good in November, after his home's floors are refinished. Meanwhile, he's between two Rotary clubs. Very soon he will be going to the Bronx for the annual Buhrendorf family trip to see the NY Yankees with his 87-year-old Dad, who is also a lifelong fan of the Bronx Bombers.
Michelle Traub noted this was her first time at Rotary without her CHS students. Two of her foreign students are involved in Rotary associated activities, one from each of the Netherlands and France. Another student participated in the Rotary Young World Affairs Conference held in Wisconsin and yet another participates in RYLA.
President Heather Pantano was happy to report the Club received multiple thank you letters. [Ed Note: For details, see "Mail Bag" feature below.]
Calendar of Upcoming Events & Announcements
July 16th: Rotary pub night, at Lime Grill, Avon.
August 14th: Pencil box assembly, at Nancy Nation's house.
September 9th: Annual Rotary Charity Golf Tournament, at the Golf Club of Avon.
Induction of New Members
None this week.
Community and International Service Grants
None this week.
Presentation
The Hope Foundation
Kathy DiCocco
Robin DiNicola introduced Kathy DiCocco, co-director with her husband of the HOPE Foundation. Kathy is trained as an accountant and has worked as an accounting educator. Her late son FrankDiCocco was a football coach, teacher and writer and started this foundation after realizing the need for character development among the young, particularly among young men. Frank wrote ten books, particularly directed at character development among young men without fathers in their lives. He mailed his books all over the country to others who used his character development program. "The Real Man Program" as described in his most popular book, is known both nationally and internationally, and despite its title, is also directed towards young women.
Football character development clinics are run by numerous, independent football coaches who work closely with the foundation, by speaking to groups and representing them in distant locales. Nike and Glazier sponsor their work, which is big in the American South and Southwest. They continuously seek teachers and coaches to participate in the program. The "Real Man Program" textbook includes 10 ready-to-present lesson plans with each divided into 4 "downs", as in football.
Rotarians asked several questions of Mrs. DiCocco:
Q: What are the criteria for scholarships? A: If a coach has taught the course for 1 year, he/she can apply for a scholarship for a single student. Coaches and students also evaluate the program. Occasionally she offers a scholarship directly and is surprised when some coaches indicate they do not have a suitable candidate to offer it to. "This in itself proves the program is needed", said Mrs. DiCocco.
Q: How much is a scholarship worth? A: It can be $1000.00 - $2500.00. Sometimes a larger grant is given for an entire team. Grants can be used for uniforms or team travel and as a reward for having taught character.
Q: Does the program's contents vary by age group? A: The program is the same for kids at all ages however obviously it is tailored to age group. Coaches and teachers can use their discretion.
Q: How many children benefit? A: It is believed to be in the thousands. Her son used to write a "character thought" to share each week and she has resumed doing so every Friday night. These "character thoughts" reach at least ten thousand households by email each week. One coach in Lubbock Texas has a wide reach, as he communicates with colleagues in Brazil and elsewhere abroad. The Hope Foundation video on their website includes a former NFL player describing the program, and that also attracts attention far and wide.
Q: Why are coaches resistant to adopting the program in CT, despite the demonstrated need? A: Unknown. The acronym "REAL" stands for (R) "respect all people" , (E) "especially women", (A) "always do the right thing" and (L) "live a life that matters." The northeast seems to have less willingness to accept this advice.
Robin DiNicola thanked Kathy for the emails that include the "character thoughts" and asked about the involvement of Avon Old Farms School (AOF) . Kathy's son Frank graduated from AOF and was also a coach there for time. The Hope Foundation has an endowment at AOF and Stillman School, where her son also taught. Both schools teach the Hope Foundation's character development programming.
For more information: www.HOPEfoundation.us
On August 28th, their 6th annual Cigar and Bourbon Tasting fundraiser to benefit the Coach Frank D. B. DiCocco Memorial Scholarship Fund, with food and music. It will be held at Aria Banquet Hall in Waterbury, CT. Ticket price ($75.00) includes buffet, cigars, beer and wine. For more information go to www.hopefoundation.us or call (203) 206-4801
Mail Bag
A June 20th letter from Canton High School student Collin Cleaves thanked the Club for its Dollars for Scholars $1000.00 scholarship intended to further his vocational/technical college education, post high school.
A July 1st letter from New Horizons, Inc executive director Carol A. Fitzgerald, thanked our Club for our $1000.00 donation towards their June 20th Strawberry Festival and Concert.
An undated letter from Elaine Chagnon with African Education Partnership was received by Craig Buhrendorf thanking the Club for our support for well construction in Nigeria
An undated letter was received from Canton High School student Michael Cavanaugh thanking the Club for its Dollars for Scholars scholarship intended to further his college education in aerospace engineering.
An undated letter was received from Canton High School student Tori Steigman thanking the Club for its Dollars for Scholars scholarship towards a college education.
Concluding Formalities
Four Way Test and Raffle Drawing
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?
