Impact from Putnam Across the Globe
 
After months of fund-raising, soliciting donations and sponsorships, the Putnam Rotary Interact Club raised $3,000 to purchase the Solar Suitcase Kit and June 18, with a little bit of teamwork, they put the kit together.
 
Once WE Share Solar OK’s the club members’ assembly work, it will send it to a school house in a developing country that has no electricity.
 
Brownie sundaes helped keep all the helpers cool.
 
Jordyn Butler, past Interact co-president, said:" Overall I thought the solar suitcase was a great project to be a part of. From fund-raising to actually putting the suitcase together, every step of the process encouraged teamwork and community connectedness which allowed us to hone some valuable skills."
 
Eric Levesque, past co-president, said, "The solar suitcase was surprisingly very simple to put together. The instructions were clear and easy to understand, allowing for a quick and satisfying product. While $3,000 may have been an intimidating figure, with a couple of fund-raisers, and sponsors, we were able to reach the mark comfortably. I highly recommend the project to anyone willing to take it on. "
 
Butler and Levesque brought the idea back last year from the Rotary Youth World Affairs Seminar they attended. They had both attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program and were voted, by their peers, to attend the World Affairs Seminar.
 
New Interact co-president, Sofia Thurber said: "I would highly encourage the initiative of constructing a solar suitcase as an innovative science project within the educational curriculum. Embarking on such a project would not only cultivate creative and critical thinking among students but also serve as a pioneering addition to the academic system. This endeavor extends beyond mere educational value; it equips students with the skills to create a practical device that can make a significant impact in regions beyond the United States."
 
June Ferraro, new co-president, said:" I would definitely recommend schools to raise money for a solar suitcase. It would be interactive and fun for students to build in a science class. It can help students learn new things and maybe help them be more interested in volunteering or raising funds. The solar suitcase allows people that are less fortunate to have the ability to power schools, hospitals, and much more. Overall it was fun and went towards a great cause".
 
Roberta Rocchetti and Woody Durst, Interact Club advisors, said they were so impressed with the students' approach to the project. They immediately formed groups and went to work putting the suitcase together. One group worked on the suitcase assembly, allowing a light to be attached, a phone or laptop to be charged and the solar panel to be attached to recharge the battery. The other group assembled a switching box which allowed more lights to be attached to the solar suitcase.  The students completed the project in less than 2 hours.
 
"I feel we all learned a lot about the uses of solar electricity, especially in developing countries. I am so happy the Interact Club chose this as their Interaction project for the year" said Rocchetti.

For more information about the solar suitcase go to We Share Solar | Hands-On STEM Education | Global Impact.
 
For more information about how you can join the Interact club contact robertarocchetti4@gmail.com or txt 860-933-8603.

#1 Switch Assembly

 

 

Putnam Rotary Club Golf Tournament Raises $30,000+

PUTNAM --- The weather couldn’t have been more perfect --- for fun and fund-raising.

The Putnam Rotary Club’s annual Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament raised more than $30,000 for scholarships and more.

Co-chair Shawn McNerney said 32 teams took part.

The winners were:

First place: The RE/MAX Bell Park Realty Team - Brendan Meehan, Jared Meehan, Mike Meehan and Courtney Ravenelle

Second place: The Inn at Woodstock Hill – Doug Woodward, Jeff Ives, Chris Brock and Dan Gilbert

Third place: Weiss, Hale and Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors – Doug May, Chris Katralis, Herb Hermann and Eric Whittenberg

“Middle of The Pack” award: Charter Oak Federal Credit Union – Brian Orenstein, Guy Henry, Greg Shetler and John Dolan

Closest to the Pin #7:  John Dolan at 7 feet, 7 inches

Closest to the Pin #11: Harold Sparrow at 4 feet, 9 inches

Poker Contest: Steve Bordua

Jonathan Tremblay is the co-chair.

Interact Club starting new --- probably just as busy --- new year
 
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Interact Club inducted three new officers May 28, kicking off a new year full of service.
Amanda Kelly, the Putnam Rotary Club president, inducted June Ferraro and Sofia Thurber as Interact co-presidents.
Interact Advisor Roberta Rocchetti inducted Kaelyn Tremblay as the new Interact historian and archivist.
Jordyn Butler and Eric Levesque, outgoing co-presidents and seniors from Tourtellotte Memorial High School, gave an overview of all the Interact Club’s achievements from the past year. It was a year full of hard work.
Levesque said the club secured a $1,000 District Rotary grant to help with fencing around the TEEG Community Garden. They also worked hard on revitalizing the garden that had fallen victim to vandals and varmints.
The club also raised $3,000 to purchase a solar suitcase to power a small school in a developing country. Butler talked about the Rotary World Seminar that she attended last June and how we can do little things like repurpose our clothing and avoid wasteful shopping on fad fashions that end up in the landfill.
Sofia Thurber and June Ferraro, juniors from Tourtellotte, spoke about their upcoming year as co-presidents and their focus on children with needs. They would like the Interact Club to get involved with the Special Olympics, Camp Quinebaug, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and other organizations that address children's needs.
Rocchetti gave gifts and certificates to Interactors including, from Woodstock Academy: Ava Hovestadt, Emma Kerr, Kira Greene, Jacqueline Dearborn, Kaelyn and Talia Tremblay, Logan Casteen and Amelia Haynes; Putnam High: Gabriell Cerasiello and Paige Perry; Tourtellotte: Eoin and Caitlin Mercer, Melanie Noonan, Serena Smith, June Ferraro, Sofia Thurber, Jordyn Butler and Eric Levesque.
The Interact Club is a regional Rotary-sponsored youth group for ages 12 -18, they meet at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday at the Putnam Public Library from September through May. For more information email: robertarocchetti4@gmail.com.

 

In its 26th year, according to Interact Club advisor Roberta Rocchetti, the club members and volunteers raised $15,283.

Kelly said “We appreciate the hours you volunteers spent in the cold, bell ringing.” She added, “Those hours and hours added up.” She also thanked the advisors and volunteers who helped.

The Salvation Army, recipient of the club’s Kettle Campaign efforts, uses all the funds raised in the local area. Debbie White, director of Social Ministries for Connecticut and Rhode Island, told the volunteers in a letter, on behalf of the Salvation Army “you have our heartfelt gratitude for your dedicated service as a volunteer.”

 
She added, “Thank you for choosing to be a beacon of hope and change.”
The school which spent the highest number of hours on “kettle duty” was Woodstock Academy with 166 hours. In second was Putnam High School with 152 and coming in third was 93 hours for Tourtellotte Memorial High School.
In the individual category there was a tie for first with Paige Perry and Gabriell Cerasiello of Putnam High working together for five weekends and racking up 32 hours. In second was Kaylee Borders with 15 hours and in third was Delta Wagner with 12 hours.

Interact Club members include: Paige Perry, Gabriell Cerasiello, Kasyn Robillard, Delta Wagner, Danny Boriboun, Maggie Kimball, Maddie Jezierski, Kira Greene, Phoebe Griffin, Hunter Larson, Taylor Lamothe, Madie McMahon, Ava Simoes, Greysen Dery, Kiley Elliott, Elizabeth Ladzinski, Amelia Haynes, Logan Casteen, Austin Crim (UConn), Lillian Conway, Caitlin Mercer, Eoin Merce, Vivianna Hill, Jordyn Butler, Eric Levesque, Patricia Peterson, Cade Jones, Jared Nielsen, Emma Kerr, Eden Lusignan, Gianna DiCola-Keddy, Noel Racicot, Ella Carota, Zahara Moore, Ava Hovestadt, Cooper Sweeney, Joshua Tackson, Talia Tremblay, Kaelyn Tremblay, Serena Smith, Livi Gerum, Keivon Robison, Abby Houle, Sofia Thurber, June Ferraro, Kaylee Beck, Jin Blair, Kaylee Borders, Jackie Dearborn, Avery Thienel, Adam Rumrill, Sara Macri, Angelica Oliveira, Evan Shaughnessy, Julius Lang, Leo Rocchetti, Delaney Anderson, Danny Pynn, Jay Patel, Ryan Rivera, Tyler Shead, Mikayla Bessette, Ava Golden, Bella DiGregorio, Julia Coyle, Grace Pokorn, Maya Rodrigues, Mackenzie Lewis, Angel Sherpa, Noah Russell, Ben Cross, Ela Gadoury, Alexis Phav, Gia DisPasquale, Celine Leffingwell, Adrian Rivera, Grace Akana, Ethan Latandrice, Romeo Devil, Hudson Smith, Adric Devil, Cody Keene, Madison Williams, Arthur Soucy, Lillian Beausoleil, Sophia Milardo, Anna Bell, Jadon Dakal, Colby Ormerod.

Also, Patty Gaffney, Marysia Cournoyer, Adam Rumrill, Maryann and Calvin Heath, Woody and Dottie Durst, Garry Brown, Claudia Ursin, Donna Drasch, Leo, Mike and Roberta Rocchetti, Dick Loomis, Kelly Alves, Harper Smith, Hudson Smith, Paul Pikora, Fred Chmura, Jonathan and Keri Tremblay, Doug Porter, Barry Shead, Pam Brown, Amanda Kelly, Shannon Fagan, Matthew Gardiner, Hailey Messier, Tom and Jacob Russel and Richard and Kathy Naumann.

captions:

Interact Club members, volunteers, advisors.

From left: Putnam Rotary Club President Amanda Kelly, Amelia Haynes accepting the top school award for Woodstock Academy, and Interact  Advisor Roberta Rocchetti.

From left: Putnam Rotary President Amanda Kelly, Paige Perry and Gabriell Cerasiello (2 top individual winners - tied) and Interact Advisor Roberta Rocchetti.

First week of Putnam Rotary Club Interact Club Bell Ringing Nets $3,000+

Salvation Army Kettle Campaign continues from 9 to 5 every Sat. including Dec. 23

PUTNAM --- Once again the Putnam Rotary Club Interact Club organized the Putnam Salvation Army Kettle Campaign for its 26th year, beginning on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25. 

The campaign will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday coming up, including Dec. 23, at Putnam Supermarket, Price Chopper, Walmart and Stop & Shop.

"This year we had a new device attached to our kettle stand that allows people to tap (their credit card for) a $5, $10 or $20 donation," said Roberta Rocchetti, Interact advisor.  “Hopefully this will help those that want to make a donation but do not carry cash."

The total for the first weekend was over $3,000.

Rocchetti praised Putnam High School students Paige Perry and Gabriell Cerasiello who rang for eight hours. She thanked the bell ringers and volunteers --- from PHS: Kaysn Robillard, Madeleine Kimball, Delta Wagner and Danny Boriboun; from Tourtellotte Memorial High School: Jordyn Butler, Eric Levesque, Patricia Peterson, Noel Racicot Caitlin and Eoin Mercer and Vivianna Hill; from The Woodstock Academy: Greysen Dery, Kiley Elliott, Elizabeth Ladzinski, Kira Greene, Phoebe Griffin, Maddie Jezierski, Hunter Larson, Taylor Lamothe, Madie McMahon, Ava Simoes, Lillian Conway, Amelia Haynes, Logan Casteen, Cade Jones, Jared Nielsen, Emma Kerr, Gianna Dicola-Keddy and Eden Lusignan.

Boy Scout Troop 21 volunteers included: Ethan Latandrice, Adric Devil, Romeo Devil, Cody Keene, Advisor Patty Gaffney and  Marysia Cournoyer with Adam Rumrill, Maryann and Calvin Heath (Putnam). UConn volunteer: Austin Crim.

Ashford volunteers included: Claudia Ursin, Donna Drasch. Rotaract volunteers included: Shannon Fagan, Hailey Messier. From American Legion Post 13: Garry Brown, Mike Rocchetti. 

Putnam Rotarian volunteers included: Woody Durst and Dottie Durst, Roberta Rocchetti, Richard and Kathy Naumann, Joseph Adiletta, Paul Pikora, Barry Shead and Marc Archambault.

PUTNAM — What is this “no” you speak of?

For the Putnam Rotary Club — for the last 100 years — the answer has always been “yes.” Yes to seemingly impossible projects. Yes to always doing more for communities … and worldwide.

Right from the beginning, when the Putnam Rotary Club was founded in 1923, led by John Reardon, the Putnam club has been driven, according to Rotarian Joe Adiletta. At the club’s recent awards ceremony and induction of officers, Adiletta gave a brief synopsis of the club’s 100 years of service. From local projects, to helping out nationally to lending a hand worldwide, the answer was always yes.

In this 100th year it was always “yes” and projects tumbled into the “done” column.

The club received a citation in honor of its 100th anniversary from Governor Ned Lamont.

And even the Paul Harris Fellowship Awards, Rotary’s highest, echoed the resounding “yes”. Jeff Bousquet, of Bousquet’s Appliances, was always there, always saying yes, according to Rotarian Gary Osbrey who nominated him for the award.  He embraces and gives back to the community, “all without fanfare,” Osbrey said.

“Woody” Durst also received a Paul Harris award. Rotarian Doug Porter, who nominated Durst, said although Durst is a relatively new member he’s always there, serving. He’s heavily involved in Rotary projects and always says “yes.”

New president Amanda Kelly spoke about her goals for the coming year, in line with Rotary International’s theme this year, “Creating Hope in the World”. She gave each club member a stone engraved with the word “hope.” Important for her year, she said, is diversity and inclusion.

captions: Honors

Putnam Rotarian Woody Durst, second from right with light shirt, won a Paul Harris Fellowship award. From left: Nominator Rotarian Doug Porter; Paul Pikora, chair of the Paul Harris Committee; Durst; and Rotarian and MC Joe Adiletta. 

Jeff Bousquet also was awarded a Paul Harris. He stands next to Rotarian Gary Osbrey who nominated him.

 

The MC, Joe Adiletta served as MC and also spoke about what the club has accomplished in the last 100 years. The club was founded in 1923.

 

 

 The Blue Team 

 

Costumes Collected

The Putnam Rotary Interact Club is collecting new kids Halloween costumes for TEEG's Halloween costume distribution in October. New costumes sizes 2t-5t or kids 6-16 can be dropped off at the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center off Kennedy Drive until Sept 27.   For more information about the Interact Club contact Roberta Rocchetti 860-933-8603 or robertarocchetti4@gmail.com. 

 

caption:

Interact President Emily St. Martin holds a poster about the club's collection of Halloween costumes. Courtesy photo.

Recognition

Missy Meyers, Putnam Rotary Club president, July 12 presented J. Scott Pempek, past president, with a Paul Harris Plus 3 pin in recognition of his level of donations to the Rotary Foundation.