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Russell Hampton
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Arnie Goldman
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May 07, 2021
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May 14, 2021
Second Inning
May 21, 2021
Noah Webster House
May 28, 2021
Jun 04, 2021
Jun 11, 2021
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Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Immediate Past President
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Foundation Chair
 
Membership
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Board Member-at-Large
 
Asst Treasurer
 
Interact Chair
 
Club Information
Rotary of Avon-Canton - Founded 1973
Avon-Canton
Service above Self
Fridays at 7:30 AM
via Zoom
Avon, CT 06001
United States of America
DistrictSiteIcon
District Site
VenueMap
Venue Map
 
February 19, 2021
Building An Enclosure For Healing Meals: A Troop 274 Eagle Project
Mr. Rohan Badrinath, Eagle Scout Candidate
 
The meeting will be held on Zoom. 
Watch for an email from the Club.
We are now using a recurring ID, etc.
 
 
 
Sergeant-at-Arms Report 
 
Participants: 45
 
Visiting Rotarians: Mark Glass, district governor; Dave Tedeschi, assistant district governor, Eileen Rau, past district governor;
Michael McGovern, Newington Club Rotarian
 
Guests: Sarah Mitchell
Happy Dollars Moments: More valuable when they are shared
Raffle Winner: No Raffle. No Winners. No Losers.
 
Fines: None today.
 
Birthdays:
 
Kurt Lux, celebrated his birthday on 2/9/21. Kurt noted he has advocated for the disabled for 37 years now, including in Washington DC, where he was on January 6th. He reported he had a dramatic day while there, and was grateful that all those he supports remained safe, while continuing to perform their duties faithfully during the recent unrest.
 
Luke Violette, with a birthday this day, on 2/12/21, characterized himself as a "lucky guy", being able to share his birthday with his Rotary family. He remains impressed that from our ordinary backyards in Canton and Avon, and as Rotarians, we can positively impact the world. Happy Birthday "Lucky Luke!"
 
 
Impromptu, Ex-Agenda, Extemporaneous, Sergeant-at-Arms Report Presentations:
 
Dave Tedeschi of Newington Rotary spoke regarding human trafficking. One can learn more at: https://www.ecpatusa.org/endit. Dave further requested that members draw a red letter "X" on their hands on February 25th, make an image of their hand, and then share that image on social media platforms, while also including the following, so called "hashmark" references: #endit, #enditmovement, #endslaverynow. These references allow others to search on the Worldwide Web and find all related posts and links. Dave stated that sharing images of the red "X" on so many hands will help to mobilize the public against this tragic injustice and create a global awareness of the issue.
 
 
Sara Mitchell, of the Chrysalis Center in Hartford, was thankful to accept a grant of $700.00 from the Community Service Committee. Their "Community Empty Bowls" event will be held March 24th at 7 PM, and will be virtual this year. They ask that participants purchase soup and bowls from them in advance, to subsequently enjoy at home. They serve 1500-2000 people in Connecticut including about 100 families in Greater Hartford, and use their hydroponic garden to grow some of the provided food. They also support programs directed towards housing, employment, post incarceration re-entry and mental health.
 
 
 
Happy Moments
 
Salin Low was happy to learn she was eligible for Covid vaccination and already has an appointment for her first vaccine.
 
Gary Roman and his wife Angie have received, or will soon receive, their first Covid vaccines, thanks to Walmart.
 
Eileen Rau will receive her first vaccination shortly, and also announced that the Global Grants application program is now available, and that presentations in request of receiving a grant can be made on 2/25/21 at 7 pm and again on 3/30/21 at 7 pm.
 
Dale Bronson noted that 2/6/21 was the 8th anniversary of his transplant, which was received in 20015. Dale had been told he would die in 2007, yet he lives on and is really really happy about that, and grateful!
 
Gary Miller was pleased that the Ski Sundown trails are in excellent condition.
 
Alicia Canning was pleased to have spoken with Linda Pendergast who is doing well, other than during the days immediately after her chemotherapy treatments. Linda wished everyone well!.
 
Announcements
 
February 15, 2021 - Rotary Pub Night
 
February 16, 2021 - Board meeting
 
February 23, 2021 - TOTV Committee meeting
 
February 25, 2021 - Rotary Global Grants presentation session (Details at "Eileen Rau", Happy Dollars section, above)
 
March 30, 2021 - Rotary Global Grants presentation session (Details at "Eileen Rau", Happy Dollars section, above)
 
May 15, 2021 - Taste of the Valley Event
 
June 18, 2021 - President's Installation Dinner (at the Golf Club of Avon)
 
Induction of New Members
None today.
 
Awards
None this week.
 
Community and International Service Grants
 
A Community Service grant of $700 was recently presented to the Chrysalis Center, which serves many of Connecticut's disabled and disadvantaged people. The funds will support their March 24th annual "Empty Bowls" dinner event. See more details above, within the Sergeant-at-Arms report.
PRESENTATION
 
Polio Plus
Michael McGovern
 
 
 
Tom Voorhees introduced Mike McGovern, describing his long involvement with Rotary and in Rotary Leadership.
 
Mike has been a Rotarian since 1986, as a member of the Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth in Maine, and has served as a District Governor, a Zone Director and in 2007-2008, as the Rotary International vice president. He has also been vice chairman and trustee of the Rotary Foundation, among other service to Rotary.
 
 
Mike noted that Rotary has been involved in polio eradication for over 40 years. He likened today's Covid pandemic to an earlier era in which society confronted infectious poliomyelitis, more commonly known as "polio", and pursued the development and distribution of its vaccine. He noted that many of us were born during the 1950s, when a spike in polio generally, and paralytic polio in particular, was prominent. That earlier epidemic had profound effects on society of that time.
 
 
Due to widespread use of the polio vaccine, there are 19 million people walking today who would otherwise have been paralyzed due to the disease. There have been 3 billion vaccinated worldwide since 1998.
 
 
 
Today, outside of Pakistan and Afghansitan, it's been 4 years since a case occurred, and that was in Nigeria, a nation with deep public health challenges. Rotary has played an outsized role in this accomplishment.
 
 
 
 
 
Though incredible progress has been made, now is not the time to pull back from the effort, especially as eradication appears to be possible in the near future.
 
 
Mike went on to describe Rotary's various efforts, successes and challenges and the good we have done in the polio eradication effort. He emphasized how important social mobilization is in the effort, and his belief that we will be able to eradicate polio soon.
 
 
He reminded today's meeting participants that every Rotarian should be proud of Rotary's role, as so many of our members and our Clubs have contributed so much to this history making effort over the years. We've helped to save 19 million people, who are today able to walk, largely due to our efforts.
 
 
Attention was brought to a recent Wall Street Journal article on Polio eradication which can be found at:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-deals-blow-to-polio-eradication-effort-11612888012
 
Learn even more at: https://rotary.org/en/our-causes/ending-polio
 
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Special Announcements
None this week.
 
Mail Bag
None this week.
 
Photo Credits
Scribe's screen grabs.
 
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?