Shelton Day October 2022 

The skies might have been a bit dreary and windy, but Shelton Day proceeded as planned – minus the hot air balloon rides due to the high winds. Always a multi-faceted popular event, The Derby-Shelton Rotary produced the 38th annual Shelton Day on October 2nd with Rotarian Joe Shapiro chairing the event for the Club.

Travel to many Rotary Clubs around the country and you will see them involved in many local traditions at their meetings – and that is the case at the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club as well. Each week towards the end of the business part of the meeting a Rotarian will roam the tables collecting dollar bills from the members who get to say a few words for their buck. In many clubs this is referred to as “Happy Dollars”. Not the case at the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club where it is called “Conscious Money” – or maybe that should be “Conscience”! At a recent meeting, Club Historian Troy Adcox enlightened all members on the origin of this Derby-Shelton traditions when he passed out the attached pamphlet with the history of the traditions. Thank you Troy! 

Click on the image to read the full story.

Rotarian Diane Stroman has added another award to her lengthy list of accomplishments. Just a month ago, the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce presented her with their most prestigious award – The Platinum Award. And on on Monday, November 20, The Derby Historical Society presented her with the Dr. John I. Howe Award at their 27th Annual Appeal Thanksgiving Reception held at the La Sala Banquet Hall in Derby. The award is presented annually to a businessman or woman, individual, group, firm corporation or industry whose presence has consistently benefited one or more communities in the Valley region in the spirit of of its namesake. The benefit is either through activism, perseverance, and/or philanthropy to the extend that the Derby Historical Society recognizes that they will be remembered in an historical context by future generations. 

Diane served as President of the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club back in 2010-2011. You can read more about her accomplishments for this article from her 2007 Flynn Award from the Valley United Way. Diane will certainly be remembered by future generations for her many, many accomplishments throughout the Valley.

Dr. Howe was and inventor and industrialist who called Derby his home. He is most famous for his invention of a machine to produce low cost pins. Howe’s machine is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington. His home on Caroline Street in Derby is now owned by the Historical Society. Dr. Howe is a member of the Derby Hall of Fame.