Mike Cheshire, Michelle Hamilton, Mary Lou Wadsworth (all from Farmington Rotary Club leadership)
Happy Dollars
Fines
Raffle
Birthdays
Larry Haber and Sergeant -at-Arms Heather Pantano
Larry Haber shared with us that he has been a Rotarian since 1979, after a misguided, but short(2 year) stint with Kiwanis prior. Seeing the error of his ways he became a Rotarian and never looked back! Larry is a graduate of the University of Florida and the University of Tennessee and holds a PhD (Public High-school Diploma?) in clinical psychology. He's been a Connecticut resident since 2001 and practices his profession at the Institute for Living. Regarding his time in Rotary, Larry says he's had "a heck of a lot of fun!"
Lisa Barall-Matt
Lisa Barall-Matt announced her own recent birthday, and shared with us her recent celebration of both her daughter's and mother's birthdays.
Rotary-in-the-News
On August 23rd,Crain's Connecticutfeatured a story entitled: "Rotary clubs team up for Conn.’s biggest stop-hunger event." The Rotary International based project will take place in one of our neighboring districts, centered in New London County. About 10 Rotary International clubs in New London County are banding together for a day of packaging 100,000 meals in the largest Connecticut event ever handled by EndHungerNE, a regional relief organization. Learn more about this story at: http://connecticut.crains.com/article/rotary-clubs-team-conn%E2%80%99s-biggest-stop-hunger-event?utm_source=natlnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=hartford&utm_campaign=Connecticut_20160824_0809
Happy Dollars
Phil Ferrari was happy to recognize Nancy Nation and her husband for their hospitality in hosting the pencil box dinner.
Gary Hyde was happy to announce he will shortly be traveling to Annapolis, Maryland to visit his grandchildren. He is also thankful that his golf game is finally in remission.
Nancy Nation was happy to thank all participating Rotarians, as well as her husband and daughter for a very successful pencil-box dinner. 550 pencil boxes were presented to the Wish School!
Gary Miller was happy to announce that his daughter in Baton Rouge suffered only 2" of flooding in her house. Many neighbors were not as fortunate.
Larry Sullivan praised the Golf Committee for their recent energetic meeting and noted he is happy to see they are renewed with "vim and vigor." He also demonstrated his command of higher mathematics by noting the difference between a 5 dollar bill and and two happy dollars should be a three dollar refund. Thank you for five happy dollars Larry! $$$$$
Announcements
Golf
Nancy Nation announced that this is our final week to achieve our golf tournament goals. We have signed up 112 golfers; however, we still need 27 more. Not only that, but we also still need to raise $30,000 more in advertising commitments to reach the "55 and Fun" goal we set for ourselves. Nancy will match, from her own "ad bank" all ads we bring in during the coming week. The standings of our baseball teams and the total amounts raised as of 8/18 are : Red Sox $9870.00, Yard Goats $6070.00, Yankees $6000.00, Mets $5870.00 and still in the dog house, the New Britain Bees, $5060.00. Bzzzz.
Larry Sullivan, announced the need for more volunteers for golf kitchen crew and also the need for more raffle items. He praised Heather for the great job she has done with the raffle
Heather Pantano announced she seeks 6 volunteers to assist her with the raffle and silent auction. She also indicated her primary need now is raffle items, as opposed to silent auction items. These should be somewhat more valuable items, typically valued at higher dollar amounts, so as to encourage competitive bidding among participants. She went on to thank the club for our support for and confidence in her leadership, despite her status as a relatively new Rotarian.
Don Bonner asked Rotarians to redouble their efforts to seek tournament book advertisements. He recommended scouring local publications for businesses that routinely advertise in print media and approach them about an ad. We need another 50 ads, and the ads we can get "may be right in front of us."
Avon Day
Avon Day will be September 24th, and 12 Rotarians are needed to assist. As Canton's Sam Collins Day will not be held this year, this is our only chance to do our grill cook imitations.
Baseball
Don't forget: The Rotary Club of Avon-Canton "Baseball Challenge" 55 and Fun continues! Please work to support your team!
Rotary Foundation
Rotarians are reminded to make their voluntary Rotary Foundation pledge this year, traditionally done around the time of one's birthday however, the earlier in the Rotary year the better.
Club Day Presentations
Rotarians were treated to two special presentations this Club Day.
International Philanthropy Initiative Announced
Area 9 Assistant Governor Hap Leabman (photo courtesy of internet)
First,Hap Leabman, Assistant District Governor for Area #9 of District, #7890, speaking on behalf of District Governor Frank Wargo, announced a new initiative regarding the international work of Rotary. Governor Wargo believes that every Rotarian should experience our international philanthropy in some fashion and he challenges us to put an international project together at the Club level. Each Club in the District is encouraged to raise $1500.00 towards this project, a sum which will subsequently be matched at a similar level, or exceeded, by Rotary International. We hope to raise approximately $8000.00 from the clubs in Area 9. He is requesting that every Club in the Area identify a representative to serve on a committee to pursue this project. Meetings are expected to be conducted by conference call and Mr. Leabman will facilitate those calls. Our own Craig Buhrendorf immediately volunteered to serve on this committee.
Farmington Rotarians Honor Jolly Lux
Michelle Hamilton, Mike Cheshire, Mary Lou Wadsworth and Jolly Lux
Following this, and with some mystery, our three guests from among the Farmington Rotary Club's leadership rose to make their presentation. Farmington Club past-presidents MikeCheshire and Michelle Hamilton, along with Farmington Rotarian Mary Lou Wadsworth surprisedour own Jolly Lux with a Paul Harris Fellowship award for her work in Uganda. Jolly had previously communicated the nature of that work to Farmington Rotarians during a recent presentation about her foundation, Guiding Light. Jolly was presented with a Paul Harris Fellow medallion, a framed certificate and also a check for $500.00 to Guiding Light on behalf of a particular child, Christina, that she had talked about during her Farmington presentation. As we know, Jolly is the founder and leader of Guiding Light, a health care charity which operates in Uganda. It serves the needs of many HIV/AIDS orphans, and all others in need of health care in that country.
In her comments given in acceptance of the award and donation, Jolly related that Christina suffers from spina bifida, is unable to speak, and endures an unsafe living situation, and that Guiding Light has been trying to finance her admission to a special school that can properly provide for her care and keep her safe. Jolly indicated that with this check, she can make that happen, and would get on the telephone immediately after we adjourn to set that plan in motion. She communicated an emotional thank you to Rotary and all Rotarians by saying: "You are the ones that have lifted me up. This check means Christina's life can be changed today." There was no one present left unmoved, nor a dry eye in that meeting room.
Mike Cheshire, Mary Lou Wadsworth and Jolly Lux
Presidential Citations
President Don Bonner recognized Rotarian Diana Boorjian for completion of 5 years of Rotary membership. We are all very thankful that Diana has recovered fully from a recent, brief illness.
Mail Bag
President Don Bonner read aloud a thank you letter from the Seniors Job Bank for our $1000.00 donation in recognition of their 50-year anniversary.
Special Announcements
September 6th: Membership Committee co-chair Phil Worley reminded Rotarians of our upcoming Rotary Pub Night, to be held Tuesday, September 6, 4:30 - 7 pm, more or less, at the Seasons Restaurant pub, Avon Old Farms Hotel. Seasons Manager Sarah Clark is welcoming us back to Avon Old Farms Hotel for September's Rotary Pub Night by providing us these great Happy Hour prices: $3 draft beers, $5 house wines and $5 call cocktails. A table of free appetizers will also be provided. Phil said to be sure to bring your friends, spouses, partners, significant others, prospective new Rotarians, etc. Rotary Pub Night is all about networking, getting to know each other better and, usually, a lot of laughs. He hopes to see us all there.
September 9th: Rotary District 7890's District Governor Frank Wargo and Asst. District Governor Hap Leabman will be joining us and speaking with us on September 9th.
Photo Credits
Photographs courtesy of Phil Worley, unless otherwise indicated.
Editors Notes
Submission Deadline: Members are kindly encouraged to submit all materials for each week's Early Riser no later than Tuesday at 12 noon, the week of publication.
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