On a beautiful summer day, the Putnam Rotary Club held their weekly meeting at Rotary Park. Lunch was provided by Renee's Catering.
Club President, Doug Porter, organized the meeting as a social meeting for the Club. Rotarian, Karen Osbrey, presented a short history of Rotary Park. The Park was created after hurricane of 1955 with the help from contributions for Rotary Clubs across United States.
The Club continues to support the Park with the help of a Club committee, "Gardeners in the Park". The Club also contributed money to the Town of Putnam for an irrigations system and a new lawn for the Park.
Although it was mostly a social meeting, when Rotarians get together business always gets done. On Tuesday, the Club pledged $1,700 to the Town's "Brick for a Veteran Campaign". The money will be used to honor 17 Rotarians that have served in the United States Armed Services. A brick with their name on it will be placed in Veteran Park.
PUTNAM — Aug. 11 was a great day for a fun run thanks to NOW (Northeastern Opportunity for Wellness). The race started at the Putnam Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center and ended at the Locks for Loves arch on the Putnam River Trail. Executive director of NOW and a Rotarian, Tayler Sazhin, said there were more than 40 participants with ages ranging from 2 to 11. She thanked Putnam Rotary Interact members Whitney Pynn and Shyla Beckett for their help with the race. The Putnam Rotary Interact Club is a Rotary-sponsored regional community service organization for ages 12 - 18. The club meets the second and fourth Tuesday at the Putnam Public Library. For more information contact Rotarian Roberta Rocchetti 860-933-8603 or robertarocchetti4@gmail.com. Helping, Putnam Rotary Interact members Whitney Pynn, left, and Shyla Beckett helped with a NOW kids race.
PUTNAM --- Working already. The Putnam Rotary Interact Club is collecting backpacks and school supplies for TEEG at Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center. The last day to drop off new backpacks and school supplies at the Hale YMCA is Aug. 13.
If you live near TEEG (15 Thatcher Rd., N. Grosvenordale), you can drop the school supplies directly to TEEG. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Interact Club's first meeting of the school year will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Putnam Public Library. The club meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the library, September through May.
PUTNAM — To say that today’s youth in the Quiet Corner are bursting with energy and promise would be an understatement. The Putnam Rotary Club takes part in the Rotary district’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program. Sophomores attend a special program at Springfield College and develop leadership qualities and good citizenship. They learn in teams and each team selects one student to take part in the World Affairs Seminar in 2025 in Wisconsin. The Putnam Rotary Club sent five students in June and three of those students were elected to attend the World Affairs Seminar. Rotarian Jay Wade, who leads the program for the club, said having three students from one club go to the Worlds has never happened before. “It just shows the caliber of the students here,” he said. Attending the Worlds are: Anthony Beaudreault and Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain, both from Woodstock Academy, and Ava Tucker from Tourtellotte Memorial High School. Madison Thomas from Putnam High School and Caitlyn L’Heureux from Tourtellotte rounded out the five attendees of RYLA’s Springfield program. Beaudreault, D’Alleva-Bochain and Thomas described their experiences in Springfield at a recent Rotary meeting. On the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club side, the new co-presidents spoke to the Rotary Club and described the year they have planned. Sofia Thurber and June Ferraro summarized the very busy year they have planned: “We aim to raise awareness for children with disabilities, special needs, and childhood cancer. We’ll collaborate with St. Jude’s and Boston Children’s Hospital to organize events, providing outdoor activities for those able to leave the hospital and kits for those who cannot. During holidays, we’ll create cards for the kids. Additionally, we’ll volunteer at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and raise funds for Make-A-Wish through walking events and school fund-raisers. We’ll wear specific colors to raise awareness and participate in the Special Olympics in March, as well as support Camp Quinebaug by joining the turkey dip. We will also be continuing our journey with TEEG.”
captions: Top: Interact co-presidents, Sofia Thurber, left, and June Ferraro. Above, from left: Rotary President Doug Porter Anthony Beaudreault, Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain, both from Woodstock Academy (and both are going to the World Affairs Seminar), and Madison Thomas from Putnam High and Rotarian Jay Wade. Not pictured. Ava Tucker, Tourtellotte (going to World Affairs Seminar) and Caitlyn L’Heureux from Tourtellotte. Courtesy photo.
Putnam Rotary Club Honors 3 With Rotary’s Highest Award
New officers begin the club’s 102nd year of ‘Service Above Self’
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club began its 102nd year of Service Above Self June 25 with the award of three prestigious Paul Harris Fellows and a welcome to its new officers.
All three of the newest Paul Harris Fellows were chosen for their remarkable service to the community.
Rotarian Shawn McNerney is a longtime chair of the Ronald P. Coderre Rotary Golf Tournament which is the primary source of charitable funds raised by the club, said Rotarian Marc Archambault, who nominated McNerney. “His commitment to the club and determination to put on an annual golf tournament that is a model for others and appreciated by all who participate, is unwavering. In this, he exemplifies the Rotary motto of Service Above Self.” He added that McNerney has guided the committee with a steady hand and it has raised more than $400,000 in the last 12 years.
Emily Morrison, director of development for United Services Inc., also won a Paul Harris Fellow award. Husband and Rotarian Andrew Morrison nominated her and said: “I nominated Emily for the Paul Harris Fellow Award because she embodies the Rotary ideal of 'Service Above Self' in every aspect of her life. From her professional work raising millions for community health initiatives to her personal commitment as a volunteer and leader in local non-profit organizations, Emily’s diligent service has positively impacted many people in our community. I am grateful to the Putnam Rotary Club for recognizing her many contributions to the Quiet Corner with the esteemed Paul Harris Fellow.”
The third Paul Harris Fellow awarded June 25 went to John Rauh. Rotarian Ronald P. Coderre, who nominated Rauh, said the award honors “People who exhibit the qualities of compassion, kindness and benevolence and who are generous and philanthropic in nature. People who espouse Rotary’s motto of – ‘Service above Self.’ Our recipient is a person who not only possesses these qualities but lives by the motto every day. Quiet, hardworking and unassuming, he’s like the cream in the old-fashioned milk bottles (for those of you who can remember) --- he has a knack of rising to the top.” Rauh serves northeastern Connecticut in a multitude of ways, most recently as campaign general chairman of the Roseland Park/Golf Course Legacy Campaign “150 Years and Beyond.”
Group photo, from left: President Douglas Porter, Immediate Past President Amanda Kelly, Board of Directors members Crystal Simonson, Pam Brown and Jennifer Brytowski; Treasurer Fred Chmura and Secretary Martha Paquette. Linda Lemmon photo.
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.
US Congressman Joe Courtney visited the Putnam Rotary Club on June 18 and spoke about legislation important to eastern Connecticut --- from child care to submarines and more. Pictured: Courtney and Putnam Rotary Club President Amanda Kelly.
PUTNAM --- As is tradition, the Putnam Rotary Club recently honored the valedictorians and salutatorians from its five-town service area.
In receiving their plaques, each student told the club members a little about themselves, where they were headed and what they intend to major in.
From left: Rotarian Kristen Willis, Valedictorian-Salutatorian Committee chair; Amanda Kelly, club president; Pomfret School valedictorian Delia Bousquet; The Woodstock Academy salutatorian Sean Gasperini; Woodstock Academy valedictorian Kayleigh Murray; Tourtellotte Memorial High School salutatorian Kaylee Beck; Tourtellotte valedictorian Eric Levesque; Putnam High School valedictorian Savannah Loiselle; Putnam High salutatorian Lily Goyette.
(Not pictured: Pomfret School salutatorian Simiao Li, Marianapolis salutatorian Violete Torres and valedictorian Bridget MacDonough; Putnam Science Academy salutatorian Christian Chu and valedictorian Tyler Hansen).
Co-presidents of the Putnam Rotary Club's Interact Club, lightsabers in hand, were just a few of the Interact members who were helping at the June 1-2 Relay for Life. The Interact Club raises money throughout the year for Relay and has for many years. In front of them are the tie-dyed socks they sell each year.
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.
The Event was sponsored by a grant from The Last Green Valley. Despite "a couple raindrops," the Putnam Rotary Club took part in Rotary’s Day of Service by working on the garden beds in Rotary Park. They were joined by Interact Club members from local high schools and accomplished weeding, trimming, installing border stones, spreading pea stone and mulch, planting perennials and evergreens and more. The Day of Service was organized by Rotarian Karen Osbrey who is third from the right in the group photo.
POMFRET --- The playground at the Pomfret Community School rings with children’s laughter --- and now it will ring with music. Some members of the Putnam Rotary Club last week installed two musical instruments at the playground area used by students and the public. No one told the students the instruments were going to be installed. Principal Susan Imschweiler said, “The instruments were a big hit today at recess!” The instruments installed after school last Friday included a Metallaphone (similar to a xylophone) and a trio of Bongo Drums. The Music Garden at Pomfret Community School was funded through a Rotary Foundation District 7890 grant of $2,375 plus $1,200 from the Putnam Rotary Club. The concrete work was donated by J.B. Concrete Products. District Grant Committee Chair Karen Osbrey said there are 350 children enrolled in Pomfret Community School but the playground serves as a public playground during non-school hours. The Putnam Rotary Club has five service towns: Putnam, Woodstock, Eastford, Thompson and Pomfret. A larger musical instrument installation is already delighting people on the River Trail in Putnam. Osbrey said the club hopes to install instruments in all five of its service towns. She added that Thompson is building a playground and so a Rotary touch of music for that playground is likely the next one on the list. Helping Osbrey install the instruments were Rotarians Doug Porter and Wayne “Woody” Durst. captions:
"Testers" The Putnam Rotary Club installed some musical instruments at the Pomfret Community School and these kids, at the playground after hours, gave them a try. "The Installation Crew" From left: Matt Stachura from J.B. Concrete Products, Rotarian Woody Durst, John Barnes from J.B. Concrete Products, Rotarian Doug Porter and Rotarian and District Grant Committee Chair Karen Osbrey.
Donuts Will Bring Solar Energy PUTNAM — The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club April 6 held its first ever Krispy Kreme fund-raiser. They raised $1,760 --- and more donations are still coming in. Interact Club Advisor Roberta Rocchetti said the Interact Club’s goal is to raise enough money to buy a Solar Suitcase kit (a small portable generator) to give the gift of power in a developing country’s clinic or school. Once the $3,000 cost is raised the club members will put it together and have it tested. Once it is approved, it will be sent to a clinic or school in a developing country. Interact members were set up in front of WINY Radio, the Citgo in Pomfret, the Citgo in Putnam by Walmart and Runnings. Interact participants were; Sofia Thurber, Serena Smith, June Ferraro, Paige Perry, Gabriell Cerasiello, Amelia Haynes, Logan Casteen, Jordyn Butler and Eric Levesque. Rotaract members, Matt Gardiner and Nick Megas,helped. Rocchetti also thanked Rotarians and adult volunteers: Wayne and Dottie Durst, Jennifer Brytowski, Joseph Adiletta, Jonathan and Keri Tremblay, Mike and Roberta Rocchetti, Maureen Bender and Adrienne Casteen. captions: Amelia Haynes, left, and Maureen Bender from left: Jordyn Butler, Joseph Adiletta, Eric Levesque Rotaract members: Nick Megas, left, Matt Gardiner From left: Paige Perry, Gabriell Cerasiello
NE CT --- Cars lined up and when they were done, Daily Bread Food Pantry was the proud recipient of a truck filled with food and a cash box filled with thousands in monetary donations.
The traditional Good Friday Food Drive, held in the WINY Radio parking lot, is a joint effort among the Putnam Rotary Club and its Interact Club, the Putnam Lions Club and its Leos Club and the Putnam Elks Lodge #574.
Doria Daviau, a Putnam Lions advisor for the Leo Club, said at the end the truck was filled and more than $4,500 in donations were received. Daviau has been a volunteer at the food drive for more than 10 years.
The wind was cold and raw and definitely not helpful --- it tried to steal the volunteers’ tent. Despite the windy challenges, the volunteers were collecting with smiles on their faces.
The rain didn't stop the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club from waving and encouraging cars to stop by and make a donation. Kira Greene, left, and Jacqueline Dearborn had fun despite the cold wet weather.
The volunteers said: “We had an excellent day. Great volunteers and great people donating.”
Local girls and boys topped off their high school basketball careers at the Ray Brousseau All Star Senior High School Shootout at Putnam High School March 14. The games have been sponsored and run by the Putnam Rotary Club for more than 30 years. In a closely contested extremely exciting girls’ contest the Woodstock Building Associate Green team edged the WINY Radio Yellow team 43-41 on a Kylie Damble basket with less than two seconds remaining on the clock. In the boys' game, the Centreville Bank Blue team ran away from the Archambault Insurance Red team for an easy 101-67 victory.
Last-Second Basket Highlights Girls’ Game After trailing 32-25 following three quarters of play, the WBA Green team coached by John Murdock of Ellis Tech used some last-quarter heroics to walk off with a 43-41 victory thanks to Damble’s basket with less than two seconds to play. WBA Green placed three girls in double digits in pulling off the win. Damble, of Ellis Tech, had 13 points; Tara Hefferan from Tourtellotte had 14; and Alyssa Czmyr of Windham Tech added 10 for the winners. Lily Goyette of Putnam High School had 15 points and Kaelyn Pearl of Parish Hill dropped in 13 for the WINY Yellow squad. Melodie Anderson of Putnam High School was selected as the MVP of the Yellow squad and Jordyn Butler of Tourtellotte, who had numerous key rebounds for the winning team, captured MVP honors.
Winning Centreville Team Cracks the Century Mark Led by Camden Nassen and Josh Carlson, who tallied 31 and 30 points respectively, Centreville Blue rolled to an easy 101-67 win over the Archambault Red team. Jake Patterson of Tourtellotte contributed 21 points to the win, while Jacob Mailloux had 12 and Koby Rock seven. The Archambault Red team was led by Hunter Larson with 26, Carter Tossetti with 19 and Deonte Snow with 15. Tosetti was selected as the MVP of the Red Squad and Nassen captured MVP laurels for the winning Blue team. Jeff Belanger of E.O. Smith High School coached the Red team and Shawn Deary of Putnam High School was the winning Blue coach.
PUTNAM — “With you guys involved, it feels like it will really get done this time,” TEEG Executive Director Anne Miller told the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club. The Interact Club decided last year to make the vandalized garden at TEEG its main project. Interact members had already raised some money for garden supplies. Last week they presented Miller with a $1,000 check from a Rotary district grant they had been awarded. Roberta Rocchetti, Interact advisor, said she was proud of the club members and this is the first Rotary district grant she’s aware of that the Putnam Interact Club has received. The grant is earmarked for the fence around the garden. Miller said vandals had wrecked the fence, broken the fence gate and trampled the garden. Varmints have been “enjoying” the plantings ever since. Miller said the total is $9,800 and $8,800 is still needed. Miller noted the importance of the garden — on many levels. Many of the TEEG programs incorporate that garden. It brings people in to work and to pick, “to have that experience,” she said. The garden grows herbs, plus tomatoes, peppers, squash, peas, etc. In addition rows of flowers such as zinnias and sunflowers are planted to be picked and sold. In addition to Interact Miller said schools in the area are really coming together. “We have some really determined individuals,” Miller said. “It’s time to start meeting to make a plan — get the garden back on its feet.”
PUTNAM — Putnam Rotary Club President Amanda Kelly praised the Interact Club members’ fund-raising efforts for the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign. They pulled in a record amount of money — and spent a record number of hours in the cold doing it.
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.
PUTNAM --- In the “spirit” of The Christmas Carol, the Putnam Rotary Club raised money for three non-profits.
At the club’s holiday gathering and at the next meeting, three trays appeared.
The tray with a picture of the book’s “Ghost of Christmas Past” was a place for Rotarians to donate to The Aspinock Historical Society.
The “Ghost of Christmas Present” tray was for donations to IHSP/Daily Bread.
The “Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be” tray was the place for donations for the club’s Interact Club. Interactors are on a mission this year to help restore the Community Garden at TEEG --- for its future.
Rotarians are generous all year long so the quick fund-raiser did well.
The Ghost of Christmas Past raised $40 for Aspinock Historical Society. The Ghost of Christmas Present raised $70 for IHSP/Daily Bread and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be raised $200 for the Interact Club’s efforts toward the future of the TEEG garden.
Rotarian John Miller receives the check for $40 from the Ghost of Christmas Past fund-raiser from Putnam Rotary Club President Amanda Kelly. Elaine Turner, right, who was the speaker at the club’s Jan. 9 meeting, happens to be a member of the Aspinock Historical Society so Miller asked her to step up, too.
Rotarian Karen Osbrey, left, in blue, receives a check for $70 from the Ghost of Christmas Present fund-raiser from club President Amanda Kelly.
Rotarian and Interact Club Advisor Roberta Rocchetti, left, receives $200 from the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be fund-raiser from club President Amanda Kelly.
3 Cheers for Interact. Beat Last Year’s Fund-raising Record
PUTNAM --- “Three cheers for Putnam Rotary's Interact Club and friends who manned the Salvation Army kettles for five weekends in a row!”
Interact Club advisor Roberta Rocchetti was thrilled with the fifth and final day of Salvation Army bell ringing.
More than $1,800 was collected and the grand total was more than $14,000.
“It was another wonderful day,” she said.
The Dec. 23 collection helped the club break last year’s record of $13,000.
“We couldn't have achieved this goal without the support of our local students,” she added.
Help came from Putnam High School: Jay Patel, Keivon Robinson and Delta Wagner. The Woodstock Academy: Maya Rodriguez, Ben Cross, Ela Gadoury, Grace Pokorny, Celine Leffingwell, Madison Williams, Arthur Soucy, Lillian Beausoleil and Sophia Milardo. Tourtellotte Memorial High School: Alexis Phav, Gia Dipasquale, Anna Bell, Jadon Dakai, Adrian Rivera, Grace Akana and Colby Ormerod. Rotarians: Doug Porter, Pam Brown, Amanda Kelly, Michael Rocchetti.
The Interact Club is a regional club for ages 12 - 18 and meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Putnam Library. For more information contact Roberta Rocchetti -860-933-8603 or robertarocchetti4@gmail.com
caption: Helper Michael Rocchetti mans a Salvation Army Kettle
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.
Bruce Hay, left, and Fred Ruhlemann, both of the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse, flank Putnam Rotary Club President Amanda Kelly. Coffeehouse President Ruhlemann talked about the origins of the Coffeehouse, a coffeehouse that is so well respected that other veteran groups come here for advice on how a strong, vibrant veterans coffeehouse is created/run. Hay described the coffeehouse's Food Share fights food insecurity.
The Putnam Rotary Club's Interact Club spread the good word about the club's good works at the recent Great Pumpkin Festival. And a little rain didn't stop them. From left: Melanie Noonan, June Ferraro, Sofia Thurber --- all students at Tourtellotte Memorial High School --- and advisor Roberta Rocchetti. One of the club's goals this year is to help TEEG restore its garden.
Oct. 23 the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club members were busy assisting children with their Halloween costume selection at TEEG. Advisor Roberta Rocchetti thanked Caitlin and Eoin Mercer, Julia Lewis, Paige Perry and Gabriell Cerasiello.
Pictured: Caitlin Mercer, left, and Julia Lewis.
Clothing Collection
Putnam Rotary Club Interact Club members are now collecting warm clothing for TEEG.
Members have collection bins at their schools: Putnam High School, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Woodstock Academy and Marianapolis.
Collections are on until Nov. 3. Advisor Roberta Rocchetti said the club members will go through the clothes to make sure they are gently used then bring them to TEEG.
For more information about the Putnam Rotary Interact Club contact Roberta Rocchetti 860-933-8603 or robertarocchetti4@gmail.com.
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club was pleasantly surprised by a visit from Rotarian Barry Shead.
Representing the Putnam Masonic Lodge 46, he presented Interact Club President Jordyn Butler with a check for $300 to show support of the club. The Putnam Lodge Masons wanted to thank Interactors for their help with parking cars during the Woodstock Fair.
The Interact Club has committed this year to help TEEG with restarting its community garden and will use the funds to purchase the supplies that are needed.
For more information about the Interact Club contact Roberta Rocchetti 860-933-8603 or robertarocchetti4@gmail.com
Two Putnam Interact members Kaelyn Tremblay, left, and Abigail Converse, center, described their attendance at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. They learned about diversity, problem solving and building leadership skills. At right is Putnam Rotary Club President Amanda Kelly.
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.
Putnam Rotary Officers and Board
From left: Past President Missy Meyers, Directors Kristen Willis and Woody Durst; Secretary Martha Paquette; Treasurer Fred Chmura; Vice President Kathy Kirk and President Amanda Kelly.
The club’s new officers were inducted and include: Amanda Kelly, president; Elizabeth Williams, president-elect; Kathy Kirk, vice president; Fred Chmura, treasurer; Martha Paquette, secretary; Missy Meyers, past president. Sergeants-at-arms include: Jonathan Sturdevant, Jonathan Tremblay, and Barry Shead. Directors include the officers and: Durst, Kristen Willis, Jennifer Ricci and Pam Brown.
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.
Honored The Putnam Rotary Club last week honored valedictorians and salutatorians from local schools.
From left: James D'Alleva-Bochain (val), Woodstock Academy; Paige Owens (sal), Woodstock Academy; Felicia Fongemie (sal) Marianapolis; Hanna LeClaire (sal) Tourtellotte and Alishia Thompson (sal), Putnam High. Missy Meyers, club president, and Rotarian Kristen Willis. Not pictured: Abbie O'Brien (val), Marianapolis; Sungwoo "Aiden" Choi (1st in class) and Miles Burrello, (2nd in class), Pomfret School; Guinevere Weiker (val) Putnam High; Rafael Machado (val) and Hailey Johnson (sal), Putnam Science; Alex Nachtigall (val), Tourtellotte.
Special Honors In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Putnam Rotary Club's founding, the club recently bestowed the John F. Reardon Youth Community Service Award on five high school students --- one from each of the club's five-town service areas.
The one-time award, named after the founder of the Putnam Rotary Club, went to students: Maya Gerum, 2nd from left, Pomfret School, entering Northeastern University/environmental sciences; Lennon Favreau, center, Woodstock Academy, entering Wesleyan University; and Emily St. Martin, right, Putnam High School, entering Endicott College/nursing. Not present were winners Aubrey Rumrill of Eastford, Woodstock Academy, entering University of Maine/biology and Jordyn Butler of Thompson, entering her senior year at Tourtellotte Memorial High School. Far right is club president Missy Meyers. Far left is Rande Chmura who conceived the idea of the award and chaired the committee which chose the five recipients.
Putnam Rotary Club hosted a virtual visit by Chad Bissonnette of Roots of Development, and Louino Robillard of Rasin Development. They are leading the water access project on La Gonave island in Haiti, which our club partially funded this past year. Photos shown were part of their presentation on the progress made by this local Haitian community. So inspiring to have even a small role in such a worthwhile project!!
Putnam Rotary to Honor Students with Youth Service Award
Nominations Open April 1 to May 15
In celebration of its 100th year, the Putnam Rotary Club will be honoring five local high school students with the Robert P. Reardon Youth Service Award.
This one-time award is named after the club’s first president. The club will award $200 each to one student from each of the club’s town service areas: Eastford, Pomfret, Putnam, Thompson and Woodstock.
Club President Missy Meyers said: “The Putnam Rotary Club is very excited for this opportunity to recognize the exceptional youth in our area, who voluntarily commit their time and energy to community service. The motto for Rotary is Service Above Self, and we can’t wait to see the nominations for the Reardon Youth Awards, to see the inspiring stories of how local high school students prioritize the same values.”
To be eligible for this award, the student must be in grades 9 through 12, live in one of the club’s five service towns and show that they exemplify Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self.” Community service as a volunteer is the keystone of this award and the student’s daily conduct should incorporate the values of Rotary, as highlighted in Rotary’s “4-Way Test” of service:
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?
Students can be nominated by faculty, teachers, fellow students, friends or neighbors.
The deadline is May 15. The awards will be presented at the Putnam Rotary Club Gala on June 3. For information or questions contact Rande Chmura at rchmura20@gmail.com.
One-Time Award will Honor Club's First Presidentl's First President
All Stars Shoot Lights Out at Rotary -Brousseau Game
Playing in front of a sparse crowd of family, friends, fellow students and Putnam Rotary Club members, the high school senior basketball boys and girls put on an offensive barrage never witnessed in the history of the Putnam Rotary Club Ray Brousseau Memorial Senior All Star game.
Due to a low turnout of female players the teams were combined with men and women on both squads. A combined total of 214 points was scored. with the winning Green team coached by Donte Adams and Denzel Washington of The Woodstock Academy edging the Blue squad coached by Neil Bernier and Lee Blanchette of Tourtellotte Memorial High School. The final score was 108-106 in a game that went down to the wire for the evenly matched teams.
The contest was close throughout with the Blue team on top 57-53 at halftime. The game winning basket by the Green squad was scored by Putnam’s Alonzo Henries on a tip in with less than two seconds on the clock. The winners were paced by team Most Valuable Player Mikey Monroe of Parish Hill who finished with 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists on the night. Henries totaled 13 points for the winners. Hailey Johnson of Putnam Science Academy was the women’s MVP for the winners
The losing Blue team was led by hot shooting Brody Belanger of Windham Tech, who poured in 49 points with an amazing demonstration of three-point bombs, explosive dunks and slashing moves to the hoop. He was selected as the Blue team MVP. Putnam Clipper Emily St. Martin was the women’s MVP for the Blue squad.
Dylan Johnson of Tourtellotte Memorial High School and Carter Tosetti of Woodstock each walked away $50 richer thanks to CorePlus Credit Union, which sponsored the halftime shootout. The duo of Johnson and Tosetti made shots from the foul line, top of the key and half court to earn the $50 reward.
The game was a total community effort with the referees from Board #35 donating their services. The refs were led by Bill Monaco. Working with him were Matt Phillips, former UConn woman’s player Shannon Saunders and David Coderre. The scoring and time keeping were done by Fred Hutchins and Maurice “Moe” Coderre, who also led those in attendance by performing the National Anthem.
Sponsors of the game included The Woodstock Academy, CorePlus Credit Union, Centreville Bank, WINY Radio, Benpe Consulting and Archambault Insurance Associates. Game participation mementos, presented to all players, and the MVP Awards were sponsored by the Byrnes Agency of Dayville and Norwich.
Rotarian Jonathan Tremblay was the chairperson of the organizing committee. Working with Tremblay were H. Douglas Porter, Dick Loomis, Ron Coderre, Jon Sturdevant, Club President Missy Meyers, Deb Hoft, John Miller, Woody Durst and Richard Naumann.
“The Putnam Rotary Club is pleased to sponsor this annual game featuring the senior boys and girls all stars. It’s part of our commitment to the young people of our communities. We’re looking forward to next year. Congratulations to these players for putting on one heck of a show for those in attendance,” said chairman Tremblay.
Captions: MVPs Brody Belanger of Windham Tech (blue) and Mikey Monroe of Parish Hill with Jonathan Tremblay, chair of the Rotary basketball committee.
MVPs Putnam Clipper Emily St. Martin (blue) and Hailey Johnson of Putnam Science Academy stand with Jonathan Tremblay, chair of the Rotary basketball committee.
The Quiet Corner? Maybe. But Debbie White of the Salvation Army wondered out loud, perhaps it should be “Philanthropic Corner.” From every corner of the Quiet Corner, food, money, toys and more comes pouring out of residents to help those less fortunate. Bell ringing -- 25 years later
Nov. 19 White helped kick off the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club 25th anniversary of bell ringing for the Salvation Army. Interact Club co-advisor Roberta Rocchetti said in 25 years the Interact Club has raised $233,200. Local high school students will be ringing the bells from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 25 and 26 and Dec. 3, 10, and 17 at Putnam Supermarket, Walmart, Price Chopper and Stop and Shop in Putnam.
Photos: Emily St. Martin, president of the Putnam Interact Club
From left: Captain Joshua Jones and Debbie White of the Salvation Army, Interact Co- Advisor Roberta Rocchetti; Emily St. Martin, Caitlin Mercer and Eoin Mercer of the Interact Club; Missy Meyers, president of the Putnam Rotary Club.
J. Scott Pempek, left, past president of the Putnam Rotary Club, recently received a Rotary District Citation for the club’s performance in 2021-2022. He is congratulated by Assistant District Governor Vin Marinaro. The Putnam Rotary Club is one of 15 out of 45 clubs in the district to receive the honor. The Rotary Citation is the highest award a club can receive from Rotary International. Courtesy photo.
Oct. 16 found the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club members helping at the TEEG Fall Festival. Club members helped with the book distribution table, costume distribution and at the Halloween candy giveaway table. President Emily St. Martin called the festival a success and thanked Caitlin and Eoin Mercer, Jordyn Butler, Eric Levesque, Talia and Kaelyn Tremblay, Maeve and Callum Lusignan and Jacqueline Dearborn. The club is now working on its "Ornament for Shut-ins" project and they look forward to celebrating 25 years of bell ringing for the Salvation Army. The Kickoff celebration for the bell ringing will be at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 17 in front of the Municipal Complex Building in Putnam. The public is welcome. From left: Eric Levesque, Jordyn Butler, Emily St. Martin, Eoin Mercer and Caitlin Mercer. Courtesy photo.
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.
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club will kick off its 25th year as organizers for the Putnam Salvation Army Office kettle campaign at 10:30 p.m. Nov. 19 in front of the Putnam Municipal Building. The guest speaker will be Debbie White, Salvation Army Service Extension Coordinator. The public is welcome.
Since 1997 when the Interact club was chartered, students from local schools stood by the red kettles and rang the bell for the local Salvation Army. The original organizers and advisors to the Interact Club were Pam Brown, Barbara Schreier, Paul Desautels, Bill McCloud and Dena Baskin. At that time there were kettles located at Kmart, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper, Walmart and Putnam Supermarket. A friendly competition between schools began with Putnam High School, Putnam Middle School, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Woodstock Academy, Marianapolis, Killingly High School, St. Mary’s School, St. Joseph’s School, Ashford School and Putnam Science Academy. Rotarian Karen Osbrey, an Interact advisor, designed the Ring-a-Ling Trophy award for the student with the most bell ringing hours. This trophy has been passed down from winner to winner over the years. The most recent winner was Abby Smith from The Woodstock Academy.
From December 1997 to December 2021 the Interact Club has helped raise more than $233,200 for Putnam’s Salvation Army Office. Kathi Peterson, Community Service coordinator of the Putnam office, said the money is used for the needy in northeastern Connecticut for utilities, rent and fuel oil. Recently there have been other groups to assist the Interact Club in this endeavor, including Boy Scout Troop 21 and 25, Creation Church, the Leos Club, the Quinebaug Valley Rotaract Club, TEEG and the Ashford Social Services.
Look for the kettles at the Putnam Stop & Shop, Putnam Price Chopper, Putnam Walmart and Putnam Supermarket. A tap payment device is on the sign for easy donations. Club advisor Roberta Rocchetti said, “The Interact Club is excited to celebrate 25 years of bell ringing and looks forward to another successful year.
The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club helped TEEG in a very big way by volunteering with the backpack distribution at Pomfret Community School, Woodstock Middle School and the TEEG facility in Thompson.
Families were able to come to these locations and fill their backpacks with school supplies. The Interact Club also made a donation of nine Scientific calculators, some composition books, folders, paper and pens, according to Interact Advisor Roberta Rocchetti.
Chelsea French, TEEG program director, said many families were helped and she thanked the Interact volunteers: Emily St. Martin (Putnam High School) and Mikayla Walford from Putnam, Abigail Morin, Jeff Phongsa, Talia and Kaelyn Tremblay, Jackie Dearborn, Kira Greene and Abby Smith (Woodstock Academy); Jordyn Butler, Eric Levesque, Melanie Noonan and Kaylee Beck (Tourtellotte Memorial High School).
The Putnam Rotary Interact Club is a regional club for students ages 12 - 18 and meets from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday from September through May at the Putnam Library. Rocchetti said “It is a great way to help our community and earn community service hours at the same time. Our volunteer activities help TEEG, Daily Bread, the local Salvation Army, Day Kimball Hospital, the Alzheimer's association and Relay For Life, to name a few. Sept. 13 is the date of our first meeting.”
Congressman Joe Courtney visited the Putnam Rotary Club meeting today! He spoke at length about the recent legislation being passed to support veterans (the PACT Act), the production of semi-conductors and other innovations (the CHIPS & Science Act) and the environment, manufacturing and access to healthcare (the Inflation Reduction Act). Rotarians appreciated the opportunity to ask questions about Congressional activity and discuss the future needs of northeastern CT.
Two Putnam Rotarians received Paul Harris Plus pins recognizing their level of support to the Rotary Foundation. Marc Archambault, left, received the Paul Harris Plus 3 pin and Roberta Rocchetti, center, received the Paul Harris Plus 1 pin. The pins were presented by Missy Meyers, Putnam Rotary Club president, right.
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.
Putnam Rotary Club Bestows Paul Harris Fellow Award on Jason Verraneault
“It is said that when asked to help out, Jason just can’t say no. I would say, it’s not that he can’t, it’s more that he just doesn’t want to. It’s not in his nature.”
These were the words written about Jason Verraneault, the Putnam Rotary Club’s most recent Paul Harris Fellow honoree. He received the award at the Putnam Rotary Club’s July 12 meeting from Missy Meyers, the club’s recently installed president.
In her nomination of Verraneault for The Rotary Foundation’s highest award, Meyers, recounted only part of a list of Verraneault’s involvement in the community --- from Little League to Daily Bread to schools and beyond. Meyers said “Jason’s volunteerism is spread across our entire region.”
She added: “Jason also extends himself to many local Board of Director groups, and currently serves on the board for Northeast Placement Services and Quiet Corner Cares. As the owner of NorthStar Home Loans LLC, he is very active in promoting local business and is the vice president of the Killingly Business Association and on the Executive Committee of the Putnam Business Association. In addition to all of these ongoing commitments, Jason also responded during the COVID pandemic and became very engaged for an extended time in the Food Distribution Drives hosted by the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse and Town of Putnam.
“Jason is clearly a very busy guy, but he always makes time to give of himself to his community. He puts the virtues of volunteerism front and center, and models this ethic to his children and employees, often getting all of them to join him in whatever the latest task is to support our region. His altruism and enthusiasm are infectious.”
The Putnam Rotary Club’s Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club gave away multiple student scholarships to local students from NE CT who are going on to pursue a higher education.
The club also honored a number of community members and businesses for their continuous support of the QVR Rotaract Club’s mission.
Special Recognitions: Rotaract Rockstar: Adam Rondeau; Rotaract Alumni Award: Maria Thomas; Community Partnership Award: Byrnes Agency.
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club recently bestowed its highest honor, a Paul Harris Fellow Award, on Monique Wolanin.
Wolanin, a 15-year veteran as director of Institutional Advancement at Quinebaug Valley Community College, has “raised funds so that the residents of northeastern Connecticut are provided the opportunity to attend QVCC regardless of income. In doing this, Monique has provided a tremendous service to this community and has truly exemplified the Rotary motto of Service Above Self,” said Rotarian Marc Archambault, who nominated her for the award.
He added: “She has been remarkably effective at her work, leading the Foundation as it has grown from an organization with $1.5 million in assets to one with $6 million. The number and amount of scholarships and institutional support for residents on northeastern Connecticut has grown six-fold in that time. Monique has developed innovative friend-raising and fund-raising ideas like the Visions in Leadership program, QVCC Spelling Bee, Donuts for Donations, QVCC Golf Tournament, and her ultimate brainchild, the Tackle the Trail Race which has grown not only in distance, but in popularity and participation. Monique does all of this with one goal in mind – Transforming lives for the people of northeastern Connecticut.”
Archambault said Wolanin “has a tremendous work ethic. She is intelligent, she is an enthusiastic leader, she is feisty and she has unmatched grit and determination.” He added Wolanin has “been the face of QVCC in the community.”
“She has done all this while confronting head-on a very scary health situation. She has done it with grit and determination, and with remarkable passion and enthusiasm. Her love for our community is evident and her drive to change lives is truly a part of who she is.”
June 28 the Putnam Rotary Club held its 99th Induction ceremony.
Outgoing President J. Scott Pempek was honored, while the gavel was officially passed to incoming President Missy Meyers. Meyers shared her plans for the upcoming year including more community outreach and volunteerism, targeted efforts around housing insecurity and plans for the club’s 100th Anniversary.
This year’s Paul Harris Fellow was also presented to Monique Wolanin, director of Institutional Advancement at QVCC. A Paul Harris Fellow can be awarded to those who regularly exhibit extraordinary contributions to their respective club, community and/or fellow citizens. She was selected for her commitment to raise funds so that all residents of northeastern Connecticut are provided the opportunity to attend QVCC regardless of income, to support educational excellence, technological advancement, and professional development at the College and to serve as the regional advisory council.
The Rotary Club of Putnam hosted Probate Judge Leah Schad and Chief Clerk Mary Ann Champney at an outreach program about the services provided by the Northeast Probate Court at their weekly meeting on June 7. Judge Schad presented information about the probate process and the services provided by the court to the local community.
Judge Schad explained that the probate court helps families who have lost a loved one settle their estates, appoints conservators when a family member is no longer able to care for themselves, and appoints guardians to protect the intellectually disabled and handles matters involving children in need. The Northeast Probate District covers the towns of Ashford, Brooklyn, Eastford, Pomfret, Putnam, Thompson and Woodstock.
Judge Schad described the origins of the probate outreach program to the Rotary members. Prior to COVID, clerks at the court were able to sit down with residents and give personal assistance to people going through a difficult time. Judge Schad and Chief Clerk Champney now travel to area senior centers, town halls, libraries and community groups to bring that service back to people struggling with life events who need the help of the probate court.
The next outreach program is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. June 21 at the Thompson Public Library. If you are a member of a group that would like to schedule an event, please contact Judge Leah Schad or Chief Clerk Mary Ann Champney at 860-928-4844.
caption: Probate Judge Leah Schad and Putnam Rotary Club President following the judge's program at the June 7 club meeting.
Interact Club blows fund-raising record out of the water
The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club raised a record breaking $10,008 for this year's Northeastern CT Relay For Life through daffodil sales, donations and sponsorships.
Interact advisor Roberta Rocchetti said last year they raised $3,500.
June 4 the Interact members and friends sold a total 33 pairs of their famous tie-dyed socks for a total of $102. In attendance were Sierra Girard (QMC), Lucas Cornell (Ellis Tech), Emily St. Martin, Amayah Chavez (PHS), Mikayla Walford (Putnam), Christine Denaker, Adisyn Makara (Dayville), Leo Rocchetti (Stafford Springs), Roberta Rocchetti (advisor).
And Rotaract Helps, Too
Meanwhile the Putnam Rotary Club’s Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club manned the Relay For Life Raffle Tent and sold more than $600 in tickets. Helping at the tent were: Tayler Shea, Andrew Arpin, Haylee Olsen, Shannon Fagan and Woody and Dottie Durst from the Putnam Rotary Club.
Captions:
Putnam Rotary Club's Interact Club sold their tie-dyed socks to raise money at the Relay For Life. From left: Leo Rocchetti, advisor Roberta Rocchetti and Christine Denakes and (front) Adisyn Makara.
The Putnam Rotary Club's Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club ran the basket raffle fund-raiser table at the Relay For Life June 4. There were so many baskets they didn't all fit on two large tables.
Putnam Rotary Club President J. Scott Pempek, left, awarded Rotarian Fred Chmura a Paul Harris Plus 2 pin in recognition of his level of donations to the Rotary Foundation.
Besides the Putnam Rotary Club’s Scholarship Fund, winners of the Putnam Rotary Club’s Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament on May 27 include:
First Place: 54 Paul Archer Dave Langevin, Tim Whitecross, Bruce Barrett
Second Place: 58 Dr. Jeff Simpson, Dr. Jack Mooney, Joe Malardo, Brian Litke
Third Place: 58 Brendan Meehan, Michael Meehan, Jared Meehan, Courtney Ravenelle
Closest to Pin:
Hole 7: Tim Whitecross
Hole 11: Jim St Jean
Winners of the Ace in the Hole Awards were: Center: Rotarians Jeffrey Rawson and Marc Archambault, flanked by Putnam Rotary President J. Scott Pempek on the left, and tournament namesake Ronald P. Coderre.
Jon Phillips of Our Companions Animal Rescue in Ashford, left, gave the Putnam Rotary Club an overview of the organization’s mission, helping cats and dogs that need a little extra behavioral help before they can be adopted. The organization has small home-like settings for the dogs and cats that help with this mission. They appreciate volunteers in various capacities. Money donations are also appreciated as they are funded entirely by private donations, not government money. The group’s website is: ourcompanions.org. At right is Putnam Rotary Club President Scott Pempek. Our Companions Animal Rescue is part of the Putnam Rotary Club’s volunteer website that, in collaboration with the Killingly-Brooklyn and Plainfield Rotary Clubs, connects organizations needing volunteers with people interested in volunteering their time. https://www.volunteernect.org/
Kids at Rotary fishing derby have a great time PUTNAM — More than 50 kids came to the banks of the Quinebaug River and had a blast at the 48th annual Putnam Rotary Club Noe Poulin Fishing Derby. When you added the cheerleaders (parents) there were more than 100 people at the event. After registration, the kids lined the banks of the Quinebaug and started fishing. Awards in three age categories were made and then they were treated to lunch. This year everyone was encouraged to release their fish after they were measured Awards went to: Largest Fish – 13 – 15 years old – Trevor Bouchard – 13” yellow perch Largest Fish – 10 -12 years old – Hailey Rourke – 6 ½” bullhead Largest Fish – 6 – 9 years old – Jenna Taylor – 29” carp Largest Fish – 0 – 5 year olds – Savanna Burke – 22” carp Most Fish caught – Bryce Plouffle – several sunfish Smallest fish (4” sunfish) – Willow Les Chandler. The most unique catch - snapping turtle – Izik Alfredo Santigo. The carp that took off with one of the fishing poles didn’t hang around for his “prize.” J. Scott Pempek, the Putnam Rotary Club president said: “It was a great event! I’m not sure who enjoyed it more, the kids fishing or the many Rotary volunteers watching the reactions of the kids when they got a bite and were reeling the ‘big one’ in.” Major sponsor: WIN Waste Innovations which provided the seven major prizes, gift cards to local merchants and 10 additional gift cards as raffle prizes. In addition: Runnings provided several additional gift cards; Rotarians Fred and Rande Chmura donated and cooked the food for the event; Marcy Dawley from Chase Graphics donated the photo shoot frame. Jenn Brytowski of Chase Graphics helped with the event flyers and with an updated banner for the event; Town of Putnam – use of the bandstand and sound system – closing of Bridge Street. Mayor of Putnam – Barney Seney and Selectman Scott Pempek (also president of the Putnam Rotary Club) opened up the event. More than a dozen Rotarians were also there to help that day.
caption: Jenna Taylor watches Rotarian Marc Allard measure the German carp she caught at the Putnam Rotary Club Noe Poulin Fishing Derby at Rotary Park May 14. Family friend Wayne Burke is holding the fish.
Doug Porter, left, received a special Paul Harris Plus Six award May 10 based on his level of contributions to Rotary International. At right is Putnam Rotary Club President J. Scott Pempek.
The Putnam Rotary Club Interact Club got busy recently putting together toiletry kits for the homeless with all the donated items they collected at the Rotary Day of Service. Club advisor Roberta Rocchetti thanked Karen and Gary Osbrey for providing the workspace for club members. The toiletry kits will go to TEEG, Daily Bread and the local shelters to assist the homeless. Amayah Chavez, Emily St. Martin and Mikayla Walford put together the kits in record time.
At an upcoming Interact meeting club members will be matching and bagging their tie-dyed socks to sell at the club’s Relay For Life table June 4 at Roseland Park.
For more information about the Interact Club call Rocchetti at 860-933-8603.
POMFRET --- For the last 6 months, the Putnam Rotary Club has been working with the Pomfret Public Library to enhance the library’s collection of teen books. After meeting with Pomfret librarians to assess their needs and priorities, the club applied for a Rotary Foundation District 7890 Grant, and began planning. A survey was conducted and a Teen Advisory Group was established.
Rotarians and Interact members met with the newly formed advisory group to learn first-hand which authors and book genres interested the teens most. More than 300 new titles were purchased, along with a subscription to the Junior Library Guild which will allow the teen and library staff to choose six new titles each month for one year. Special bookplates were placed inside each book.
The librarians also compiled a “Wish List” of age appropriate board games and club members donated and presented the games at the April Teen Advisory meeting. Project chairperson, Karen Osbrey said, “As soon as fellow Rotarian Marc Archambault approached me with this idea, as an avid reader myself, I was totally on board. Marc and I are thrilled to see all the new titles on the shelves.” Between Rotary Foundation District Grant funding, the local contribution from the Putnam Rotary Club and games donated by club members, a little over $4,500 was spent on this worthwhile project.
The library welcomes input from teens, parents, and educators regarding the teen collection and future programming. For more information, inquire at the Pomfret Library, at 449 Pomfret Street in Pomfret, CT or visit www.pomfretlibrary.org.
Rotary District 7890 Governor Joanne Alfieri, center, brought the Putnam Rotary Club a banner for the Rotary Day of Service on Saturday, April 9. At left is Putnam Rotary Club President J. Scott Pempek and on the right is Rotarian Karen Osbrey, Day of Service committee co-chair.
The club will be collecting items and donations for the homeless from 9 a.m. to noon April 9 at WINY Radio.
Donations will go to IHSP (Daily Bread), TEEG and the No Freeze Shelter in Danielson. The top priority is monetary donations for emergency housing (make checks out to the Putnam Rotary Club).
Also needed: Toiletries such as shampoo, soap, body wash, toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorant, razors and shaving cream; towels and wash cloths; manual can openers and flashlights. Also gift cards to local coffee shops, fast food restaurants and laundromats in Putnam, Thompson or Danielson.
All the clubs in two Rotary districts will be having a Day of Service. The Putnam club intends to make it an annual club event. In addition, the club’s Interact Club will be helping out at the Day of Service and they will also be gathering gently used clothing and linen for the Interact Club’s Relay For Life fund-raising efforts.
PUTNAM --- J. Scott Pempek, president of the Putnam Rotary Club, displays the large check representing the money raised by the Putnam club for the Rotary Disaster Relief Fund. Behind him are the club members who donated so generously.
Pempek said the effort started after he was involved in a Zoom meeting with the Rotary Club of Avon-Canton. The Zoom presentation was a live feed from Kiev, Ukraine.
“That was the impetus to do something,” Pempek said.
Putnam Rotarians “stepped up" with donations and Pempek said the Putnam Rotary Club board voted to match the donations up to $1,000. While the check says $2,000, Pempek said the club actually raised more than that.
And the club’s Interact Club held a carwash and raised a separate $847 toward helping the refugees. Pempek said the Rotary Disaster Relief Fund will work through Rotary International. Almost 100 percent of the funds raised will go toward refugee relief for Ukrainians.
March 8 the Putnam Rotary Club welcomed its newest member, Wayne "Woody" Durst, left. Club President J. Scott Pempek, right, joked that he'd been holding Durst's badge, pin and plaque for quite a while --- waiting for the club to meet in person. Zoomland is not conducive to a new member installation. Kinda hard to pin someone on a computer screen.
A Presentation featured Dot Burnworth, owner of Sawmill Potter; Emida Roller, local artist; and Matt Conway, Executive Director for Rise Up for Arts
They presented on the MLK mural that will be created and displayed in Putnam on the side of the YMCA. During the presentation, they asked for community members to take the survey that will guide the design of the mural. The hope is that this mural represents civil rights and diversity to Northeastern CT.
Please click on this link to view the entire report:
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club conquered the brutal cold and raised more than $11,000 for the local Salvation Army. And they celebrated with pizza and awards.
Jan. 22 trophies and awards were given out to the top individual bell-ringer and top schools in raising $11,050 for the Salvation Army in the club’s annual bell-ringing campaign.
Rotary President J. Scott Pempek commended the Interactors “Thank you for the work you’ve done. My part was a brief 20 minutes on ‘Kettle Days,’” setting up the kettles and waiting for the Interact members and their friends to come ring the bells. “I got cold in those 20 minutes,” he said. ”Then I thought to myself “Wait, how did you guys stand out there in that cold for way longer than 20 minutes. Week after week?’ The cold was brutal and there you all were, ringing the bells to raise money.”
Abby Smith of The Woodstock Academy rang the bells for nine hours, and she was awarded the individual trophy. The 26-year-old trophy goes home with the winner and is brought back the next year to be awarded to the next top bell ringer. Tied for second on the individual race were Elizabeth Lovrien, Zack White and Curtis Desabre, all of The Woodstock Academy, with eight hours each.
In a blowout, The Woodstock Academy took the award for the school with the most volunteer hours with 182 hours. In second was Tourtellotte Memorial High School with 27 and Putnam High, with 31 hours, took third.
Schools taking part included: EO Smith, Killingly High, Plainfield High, Putnam High, Quinebaug Middle College, Tourtellotte and The Woodstock Academy.
Kathleen A. Orfitelli, Salvation Army Service Extension director, also commended the students and thanked them sincerely. “There is not another town that supports the Salvation Army like you do.” The 145 bell ringers, she said, raised $11,050 and she said Putnam had not broken the $10,000 ceiling since 2014. She said: “Over the past years, young people have raised $228,160 under the guidance of the Rotary Club to support the needs of others; clearly exemplifying the Rotary motto: ‘Service Above Self.’”
“Because of your efforts,” she said, “you have helped to strengthen your community and will definitely make an impact in the lives of hundreds of people who struggle with day-to-day hardships.”
Bell Ringers Lauded
Members of the Putnam Rotary stand with Interact Club members who celebrated their successful annual Salvation Army Kettle bell ringing fund-raiser campaign. Group photo: at left are Rotarian advisors Woody Durst and Roberta Rocchetti. In the center is Putnam Rotary Club President J. Scott Pempek.
Pempek congratulates the top individual bell ringer, Abby Smith.
The Holiday Committee is pleased to invite you to our Holiday event this year on Tuesday, December 21st, starting at 12 noon, on the heated Patio of the Crossings Restaurant. The cost is $25 per person and includes the following buffet offerings: Pulled Pork Sliders,Mac and Cheese, Homemade Chips, Cole Slaw, Chili, Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Pub Mini Pizzas, and Brownies, AND Special Rotary Cookies from Sugarz
Musical Entertainment provided bv PHS Music Department
Left to right, Music Teacher Skye Shogren, Thomas Manin, James Lazarou, Kaylee Goding, Jackie Gomez, Railey Anctil, Cheyanne Debold, Adam Tomkins, Melanie Garcia.
Please click on this link to view the performance:
… Brings a record-breaking season of bell ringing for the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club.
Dec. 18 was the last day for bell ringing for the Putnam Salvation Army office and true community spirit was abundant, according to Interact Club Advisor Roberta Rocchetti.
Including a $500 donation from the Putnam Rotary Club and a $1,000 donation from the Newell D. Hale Foundation, the hard-working Interact Club and friends raised a total of $10,850.45, Rocchetti said.
That shatters last year’s record by $1,100. Dec. 18 was the last of three Saturdays that Interactors, Rotarians and friends and volunteers rang bells at the Salvation Army kettles. And it wasn’t easy. Through raw rain and winds they stood at their posts, ringing away. They rang at: Putnam Price Chopper, Putnam Supermarket, Putnam Stop & Shop and the Putnam Walmart,
Dec. 18 Boy Scout Troop 21 took part. Additional helpers included: from Killingly High --- Lola Ward, Carley Dimartino, Payton Keefe, Ayvril Brystowski; from Putnam High --- Cody Keene, Jordan Travisano; from Tourtellotte --- Tara Hafernan, Neveihah Richardson, Noel Racicot, Patricia Peterson, Juliana Rodriguez, Sophia Tomany; from Woodstock Academy --- Zachary White, Elizabeth Lovrien, Silas Strandson, Evan Pimental, Milo Dlugosz, Nathan Droulin, Abby Morse. Jade Demond, Julia Scandalito, Jillian Marcotte, Scarlett Pierce, Dylan Mayo, Lily Pierce. Rotarians and volunteers helping with set up and bell ringing included: Leo Rocchetti, Mike and Roberta Rocchetti, Rotary Club President J. Scott Pempek, Dick Loomis, Charlie Puffer and Doug Porter.
Pomfret, CT – The Putnam Rotary Club has always been an advocate for education and literacy and this year is no different. Under the guidance of Rotary President Scott Pempek (2021-2022) and through a grant from Rotary District 7890, the Putnam Rotary Club is partnering with the Pomfret Public Library to enhance the library’s collection of teen book titles. Besides $4500 in monetary support, the club and library will hold a Teen Focus Group to give local students the opportunity to choose their desired book titles. Members of the Putnam Rotary Regional Interact Club will also participate in the focus group. Reading is not a technical skill that is learned once and only in grammar school but a developmental process that continues throughout a reader’s life. Through this grant and partnership, the Putnam Rotary Club hopes to encourage young people to embrace a lifetime of reading and learning by exposing them to various forms of writing, subjects and authors. Rotarians (and avid readers themselves) Karen Osbrey and Marc Archambault are excited to work on this worthwhile project and look forward to book delivery day in early spring 2022.
“This partnership with Putnam Rotary Club comes at an excellent time!” says Laurie Bell, director of Pomfret Public Library. “We plan to add on to the Pomfret Public Library soon and will be making upgrades to our Teen section. Thanks to this grant, our collection will now be as up-to-date as our space!” The library welcomes input from teens, parents, and educators regarding the teen collection, space, and future programming. More information about the Teen Focus Group and how you can take part is available at pomfretlibrary.org.
Not rain, wind or even crutches will stops volunteers from ringing. The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club raised $2,022.90 in its second weekend of bell ringing for the Salvation Army. The grand total, so far, is $7,870, according to Interact Club Advisor Roberta Rocchetti. Dec. 18 will be the last time Interact Club members and friends will be swinging their bells at the kettles at local stores.
Club members sent a special thank you to Sophia, an eighth grader from Thompson who came on crutches and was out in the rain for three hours.
The club also thanked: Dawn Rivers, Leo Rocchetti, Tara Earley and Haylee Olson (Rotaract) and student volunteers: From Killingly High - Anjolina Oriz, Casey Beauregard; From Tourtellotte - Tara Haffernan, Neveihah Richardson, Julian Rodriguez, Sophia, Hunter Cleveland, Morgan Lapalme, Alex Starr; From Woodstock Academy - Ryan Hanlon, Abby Smith, Julia Scandalito, Morgan Bonin, Lelia Macinnon, Ava Coutu, Amber Ahearn, Hadley Grether, Diego Rodriguez, Maya Rodriguez. The club also thanked Rotarians Joseph Adiletta, Doug Porter, Roberta and Mike Rocchetti for assisting with set up.
The Putnam Rotary Club’s Holiday Giving Committee collected from fellow Rotarians and friends, games for children who might not have much of a holiday.
And in a couple short weeks, the committee collected record-breaking 70-plus games, according to Committee Chair Rachael Johnston.
Dec. 7 the club invited TEEG and the Putnam Family Resource Center to pick up huge stacks of games so they can give them to Santa in time for the holiday. Johnston thanked the rest of the committee and fellow Rotarians for their help.
J. Scott Pempek, president of the club, said “It’s always a heartwarming feeling when we can brighten the lives of others.”
The games span all age groups. The Holiday Giving project has been collecting games or blankets and more for a few years. It’s a great replacement for the club’s longtime Yankee Swap
Chelsea French, TEEG’s Community Program manager, said some 247 families are being helped. TEEG’s Winter Wonderland on Dec. 18 will be filled with everything from toys to pajamas to personal hygiene items for those in need --- from kids to families to senior citizens.
Shannon Haney, parent educator at the Putnam Family Resource Center in Putnam, said so far 95 Putnam families have signed up “but we always have last-minute signups.” The center, too, helps Putnam families with as many needs as possible, not just toys.
French and Haney were joined at the Rotary meeting by Liz Perry, program assistant at TEEG. Good thing because their vehicles were packed with games when they left.
Just a Tiny Sample
The Putnam Rotary Club collected more than 70 games in a couple short weeks. Dec. 7 TEEG and the Putnam Family Resource Center came to collect them for the kids they serve. From left: Liz Perry, TEEG program assistant; Rachael Johnston, chair of the club’s Holiday Giving Committee; Chelsea French, TEEG’s Community Program manager; Putnam Rotary Club President J. Scott Pempek; Rotarian and committee member, Rande Chmura and Shannon Haney, parent educator for the Putnam Family Resource Center.
The Putnam Rotary Interact Club’s Salvation Army kettles were filled with generous donations totaling $1,600 and counting the weekend of Dec. 4.
Thanks went out to volunteers Dawn Rivers, Roberta, Mike and Leo Rocchetti.
Student bell ringers included: From Woodstock Academy - Abby Smith, Curtis Desabre, Ella Favreau, Natalie Romano, Alexadra and Alyssa Thompson, Owen Tracy, Ethan Craig, Ella Musumeci, Magnolia Hart, Paige Owens, Lennon Favreau, Dylan Mayo, Lily Pierce & Scarlet Pierce; from Quinebaug Middle College - CJ Orthmann, Rheilley Vegiard, Marylynn Whitfield; from Killingly High - Avi Miller, Elizabeth Marcoux.
The club also thanked Rotarians who helped set up: Missy Meyers, Pam Brown,Charlie Puffer and Mike Rocchetti.
For more information about the Putnam Rotary Interact Club contact Roberta Rocchetti 860-933-8603.
The Putnam Rotary Club Nov. 30 donated $500 to the Salvation Army, kick starting the club’s Interact Club in its annual Salvation Army Kettle Campaign. An anonymous Rotarian donated $100. Both are part of the more than $4,000 the Interact Club and friends collected their first weekend manning the kettles --- a record.
The bell ringing fund-raiser campaign continues from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 4, 11 and 18 at Putnam Stop & Shop, Putnam Walmart, Putnam Supermarket and Price Chopper.
Roberta Rocchetti receives the symbolic check from Putnam Rotary Club President J. Scott Pempek.
PUTNAM --- The Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club’s 9th annual Trivia Night tip toed through the decades, had fun, but more importantly raised $7,500 recently.
The funds go toward five $1,000 scholarships, according to Rotaract President Elle Goslin.
The highly competitive, yet fun-filled event also provides donations to local nonprofits.
The event had 15 teams ranging from 5-8 members, raffle baskets donated by local businesses and residents, and decade-themed trivia.
Goslin said, “We are blown away by the success of this event since it was the first one back in person since 2019. We want to thank all of our sponsors, Tayler Shea and Shannon Fagan (Trivia Night co-chairs), our entire QVR Rotaract club, and our fantastic trivia teams; without them, this event would have never happened. We cannot wait until next year's 10th Annual Trivia Night!”
Winners included:
1st place: The Decade Destroyers (Deanne Fagan, Shawn Fagan, Karen Hayes, Steve Hayes, Tina Chahanovich, and Steve Chahanovich)
2nd place: Swamp Yankees – the Putnam Rotary Club (from left: Scott Pempek, Fred Chmura, Rande Chmura, Jake Dykeman, Elizabeth Williams, Joelle Guillot and Steve Adams).
3rd place: Members Only (James Newman, Chris Viens, Kim Newman, Jessica Gervais, Brent Bussey, Danny Perez, Lauren Perez.
Costume Contest Winner: Byrnes Broads
Sponsors included: bankHometown, Archambault Insurance Associates, Byrnes Agency, Rawson Materials, Jewett City Savings Bank, Gerardi Insurance, Linemaster Switch Corp., JB Concrete, and Chace Building Supply.
Peter “Pete” Trama didn’t know what the Merchant Marines was but he did know that he didn’t want to get drafted into WWII.
In honor of Veterans Day, Trama, 96, gave razor-sharp details of his experiences in the Merchant Marines during WWII and later in the Army draftee in the Korean conflict at the Nov. 9 Putnam Rotary Club meeting.
“At 17 I didn’t know what I was getting into. I didn’t even know what it (the Merchant Marines) was,” he said.
The Merchant Marines at the time was a branch of the military. They spent their time at sea delivering fuel, military vehicles and more
After joining he found himself in Oyster Bay, N.Y., training. His most vivid memory of training was the tall tower over water. At first sight, he wondered what the tower was for. He’d soon learn: “We had to jump off the tower --- practice for jumping off the ships.” The Merchant Marines were the most vulnerable of all the branches of service during the war. The German U2 boats always went after them. All they could do was steer in a zig zag pattern to try to stay safe. “So many men were lost. So many ships (370),” he said.
The Merchant Marines had to continually keep their numbers up, he said. “They were losing men left and right.”
There were no jobs after the war so he said he stayed in the Merchant Marines eight years. In that time he took 73 sea trips total. Each trip was from 60 to 90 days. “Let me tell you,” he said, “that ocean is BIG.”
During the war he saw the world making deliveries from to Australia, the Marshall Islands, Korea and many more places. He went through the Panama Canal 18 times and through the Suez Canal four times.
And he was seasick for eight years. That’s right; he was seasick the whole time he was in the Merchant Marines.
Those were different times at home. He remembers being sandwiched in with other veterans on a train headed toward home. “I had a club sandwich,” he said. When he went to take a bite, as inconspicuously as possible, all eyes riveted to him and his sandwich.
He got off in Putnam --- off a very late train --- and walked home and dropped into bed. In the morning his sister was surprised to see he was home. “Doors weren’t locked back then.”
After the Merchant Marines, at age 27, he was drafted into the Army during the Korean conflict. “If I’d been 28, I couldn’t have been drafted,” he said. He was sent to Germany as some thought the Soviet Union might try to invade Germany.
Following that, he returned to Putnam and ran Tony’s Package Store and, according to Rotarian and veteran Ronald P. Coderre, was/is a good community servant, doing much for Putnam.
Veterans Program
The Putnam Rotary Club Nov. 9 heard from WWII and Korean conflict veteran Peter “Pete” Trama (third from right). Guests and Rotarians who are veterans included, from left: Guest Mike Rocchetti, Rotarian Jay Wade, Trama, Rotarian Peter Benoit, and Rotarian Ron Coderre.
Nov. 9 members of the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club got together to create beautiful glittery ornaments for the elderly shut-ins in Putnam. Advisor Roberta Rocchetti had contacted Karen Osbrey from Daily Bread, also a Rotarian, and both were excited about the students' idea to make the ornaments for senior citizens. Daily Bread asked for 75 ornaments to give to the senior citizens.
The Interact Club is getting ready to ring the bells at the kettles to raise money for the local Salvation Army office, Daily Bread and TEEG. Look for the Interact Club members and some of their fellow students Nov. 26, Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11 and 18 at local stores.
Pictured are, top row, from left: Kaelyn Tremblay, Talia Tremblay, Emily St. Martin. Sitting: Nevaeh Ivory, Madison Briquier, Suzette Lefevre. Missing from photo, Amayah Chavez.
The Interact Club’s next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Murphy Park classroom building.
For more information about the Putnam Rotary Interact Club contact Roberta Rocchetti at 860-933-8603.
The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club helped the Quinebaug Middle College students and parents who in turn helped TEEG with its Halloween Festival Oct. 23. Interact Advisor Roberta Rocchetti thanked them and said: “We had fun handing out candy and helping children with arts and crafts and games. Thank you Zoie Castillo, Ashlee Goss, Vanessa Mercado, Vincent Moore and Rene Lajuenesse, Meadow Bulan and Justice Henderson and Suzette Lefevre.” From left: Zoie Castillo, Ashley Goss, Justice Henderson and Meadow Bulan. Courtesy photo.
Students from Quinebaug Middle College assisted TEEG in costume distribution Oct. 18. For the last few years Walmart has donated costumes to TEEG for their costume distribution. This year at least a dozen families came looking for Halloween costumes. Roberta Rocchetti, the Putnam Rotary’s Interact Club advisor, thanked Suzette Lefevre for recruiting some of her students to assist TEEG. Rocchetti thanked Vincent Moore, Icarus Saffir, Milana Perez, Ashlee Goss, Zoie Castillo, Brianna Fulton and Suzette Lefevre. For more information about the youth group, the Interact Club, contact Rocchetti at 860-933-8603 or email: robertarocchetti4@gmail.com. Top row, from left: Suzette Lefevre, Icarus Saffir, Milana Perez, Brianna Fulton. Front: Ashlee Goss, Zoie Castillo, Vincent Moore. Courtesy photo.
No Ordinary Lunch Meeting Putnam Rotary Club member Roberta Rocchetti was surprised Oct 12 when she was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow at the club's lunch meeting. The award comes after her $1,000 donation to Rotary International. Club president J. Scott Pempek received a Paul Harris Plus. He donated another $1,000 when he became President. Every $1,000 donation earns a new Paul Harris pin with a stone on it. Shown: Club President Scott Pempek and Roberta Rocchetti.
The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club helped during the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Putnam. The walk began at Rotary Park and traveled along the river to the newly renovated Henry Breault pedestrian bridge. The walkers crossed the bridge, turned around and went back the same way for a total of 1.5 miles. The Interact Club, with the assistance of some friends, manned the bridge to ensure everyone stayed on the right route. Taking part was: Sierra Girard, Lucas Cornell, Aysaiah Chavez, Enrico Ong, Jacob and Evan Mailloux.
Putnam Rotary Club member Richard Loomis, left, hands club President J. Scott Pempek a check for $770.50. The money came from the sale of tickets for the area’s wildly popular fund-raiser, Pluck-a-Duck. The Putnam Business Association’s fund-raiser saw more than 5,000 numbered little yellow rubber ducks “sold.” Donated prizes were awarded to the ducks’ “owners” as they were plucked out of the water. Several local non-profits, including the Putnam Rotary Club, earned half their duck sales back. Pempek said traditionally the club puts the “duck money” toward next year’s scholarship program. Courtesy photo.
Sept. 12 was a glorious day for the DKH cancer survivor picnic at Roseland Park and the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club and the Putnam Lions' Leos Club were on hand to help. They helped with parking, wheelchair assistance, check in and drawings. Interact Advisor Roberta Rocchetti thanked Leo volunteers Brooke Mayo, Sophia Scandalito, Julia Scandalito, Emma Martineau and Mia Cosentino and advisor Mary Ann Pezanko. Rocchetti, who was there helping, also thanked Interact volunteers Suzie and Quinn Lefevre, Sierra Girard, Lucas Cornell, and Mike Rocchetti. Shown are Interact members helping: Quinn Lefevre, Lucas Cornell and Sierra Girard. Courtesy photo LL
PUTNAM --- It was a full house, full coffers and full hearts at the 2021 Putnam Rotary Club Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament. One of the Putnam Rotary Club’s largest fund-raisers of the year, significantly more than $30,000 was raised, according to golf committee Chairman Shawn McNerney.
McNerney was awarded the Ace in the Hole award for all his work.
The tournament, founded around 1985, has been a stalwart fund-raiser for scholarships for the Putnam Rotary Club.
3rd – 41.5 – Brandon Carita, Eric Carita, Gary Rudman, Eric Livingston
2nd – 41 – Jim Zahansky, Raul Olivia, Reilly Decker, Dan Shaughnessy
1st – 39.75 – Ralph Fiegel, Dan Gregoire, Melanie Hopkins, Marie Beauchemin
Gross Division
3rd – 61 – Jeff Rawson, Earl Rosebrooks, Bruce MacLeod, Jimmy Logsden
2nd – 59 – Jay Long, Ed Morissette, AJ Siekierski, Bryan Hitchcock
1st – 59 (Matching Cards – Better Back 9) Michael Meehan, Jared Meehan, Brendan Meehan, Loni Wright.
captions: Golfers stand ready to go. Carts on the move. Tournament Chairman Shawn McNerney, center, being awarded the Ace in the Hole Award by Ronald P. Coderre, right, while Rotary Club President J. Scott Pempek looks on. Courtesy photos.
You can find the Putnam Rotary Club’s Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club everywhere. They volunteer at the PAWS shelter for cats in need and they volunteer at the Daily Bread Food Pantry in Putnam.
The Daily Bread Food Pantry is an all-volunteer 501c3 non-profit through Interfaith Human Services of Putnam. The food pantry serves local residents and families with various groceries and household necessities.
Members often take part in events of the Putnam Rotary Club and the club’s Interact events.
Shown is veteran Rotaract Club member Emily Barnes at her last day as a member of Rotaract, serving at Daily Bread.
A 25 YEAR TRADITION --- INTERACT HELPS RELAY FOR LIFE --- FROM THE BEGINNING!
It was a hot day Aug. 7 for Relay For Life of Northeastern CT at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds, but members of the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club were busy --- filling luminaria bags with sand and a candle and distributing them all around the track for the luminaria ceremony later in the evening. This year the Interact members raised $3,500 for the American Cancer Society. The Interact club was given an award at the opening ceremony for their team support for the last 25 years.
The Relay For Life thanked the Interact Club and members Sierra Girard, Talia, Kaelyn and Jonathan Tremblay, Marcy Dawley, Shannon Fagan from the Putnam Rotary Club’s Rotaract Club, and advisor Roberta Rocchetti for all their help for 25 years.
Caption:
At Relay: Sierra Girard and Talia and Kaelyn Tremblay at the Relay For Life. Courtesy photo.
The Putnam Rotary Club June 22 inducted its new officers and Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 year. J. Scott Pempek, seated, is the new club president. Backing him up are officers: President-Elect Missy Meyers, Vice President Amanda Kelly, Treasurer Fred Chmura, Secretary Elizabeth Williams and four Sergeants at Arms: Stephen Adams, Paul Pikora, Deborah Hoft and John Miller. The 2021-2022 Board of Directors includes: Immediate Past President Kristen Willis, Stephen Adams, Barry Shead, Kathy Kirk and Crystal Simonson.
It might not look like a tree, but the plaque, presented by incoming Putnam Rotary Club President J. Scott Pempek to outgoing President Kristen Willis, represents a cherry tree to be planted in her honor in Putnam’s Rotary Park. His President’s Award honors Willis’s leadership in an almost impossibly challenging COVID-19 year.
In her remarks Willis thanked club members who did anything but sit back in a pandemic, raising money and serving the community. “We answered the call,” she said with pride, raising and then giving $38,000-plus to more than 35 non-profit groups. The club also awarded $34,000 in scholarships. “There is no challenge too great for this club,” she said. Pempek said his goals this year are to build new membership, get more involved and work on the 100th anniversary coming in Rotary year following his.
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club recently bestowed Rotary’s highest honor on seven local people.
The Paul Harris, named for the founder of the Rotary Club, recognizes the behind-the-scenes service of Rotarians and community members.
Bill and Terri Pearsall received the award for their selfless work to help feed the community. They work tirelessly at Daily Bread in Putnam, according to Rotarian Karen Osbrey, who nominated them. The couple is instrumental in the Thanksgiving Baskets that help more than 300 families. They also chair the Empty Bowls fund-raiser and they started the free Thanksgiving dinner for those who would not have a Thanksgiving otherwise. It started at their home more than 30 years ago and when the need grew, the dinner moved to the Congregational Church of Putnam. Along the way they have been members of many organizations including Aspinock and the Arts Council. Bill Pearsall is Putnam’s town historian.
Kristen Willis, immediate past president of the club, received a Paul Harris. Rotarian nominator Marc Archambault called Willis a “fearless leader” who didn’t let a pandemic stop the club’s good works. “Every week was a challenge and every week she rose to the challenge,” Archambault said. And the community’s needs were met.
Ben Williams, better known as “Big Ben,” was awarded a Paul Harris. More than 4,000 acres of open space has been preserved for future generations under his leadership, said Sarah Heminway, director of the Connecticut Audubon of Pomfret Center, who has worked with Williams for many years. He is a proud Marine, she said and a lifelong educator. She added he’s instrumental in the creation of the new Audubon center. Williams, in thanking the Rotary, said he was honored. “What we have here is so rare and so precious and the community ‘gets it’,” he said. He vowed to continue to be a “cheerleader for the natural world.”
Emily Barnes, who serves her community through the Putnam Rotary Club’s Rotaract Club, as a volunteer “market master” for the Putnam Saturday Farmers’ Market, and in many other roles, received a Paul Harris. Rotarian Delpha Very, who nominated Barnes for the award, called her thoughtful and honest. “You always see the real Emily.” She spends nearly every weekend in service to her community, she said, as a Rotaract member, the farmers’ market master and more. Barnes also takes care of the calendar at Daily Bread --- no small feat.
Rotarian Pam Brown, who nominated Tom Pandolfi for his Paul Harris, recounted Pandolfi’s service in Vietnam as a Green Beret and his service to veterans, whether it's guardsmen or reservists or veterans. He was instrumental in the success of the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse. That organization serves all northeastern Connecticut towns. The group’s meetings are now held every week and 40 to 70 veterans take part each week. Pandolfi helps veterans navigate complex issues that plaque veterans and was the spark that grew into the Foodshare program that has fed thousands of northeastern people for the last 15 months. Brown said, “He is an example of the Rotary motto ‘Service Above Self.’”
Rotarian Rachael Johnston was chosen to describe the contributions of the next Paul Harris winner, her husband Shawn Johnston. She recounted his involvement in the community from an early age including coaching and, at 11, his first foray into politics, licking envelopes for a candidate for state rep. Little did he know, she joked, that he would be a state rep later in life, serving his constituents with independence and integrity for 16 years. Service is a core part of him. After retiring from Eversource after 33 years, he turned right around and joined nonprofits in service to the community.
Former President Kristen Willis and current President Scott Pempek present a check to the Hale YMCA for $400 to sponsor campers at the Y’s camp Cutler!
The Putnam Rotary Club June 1 inducted its newest member, Jennifer Ricci. From left: Putnam Rotary Club President Kristen Willis, Ricci, and induction committee members Gary Osbrey and Jeffrey Rawson.
Elaine Sistare, Town Administrator for the Town of Putnam
Elaine said she was going to report on the status of the new Municipal Complex at 207 School Street. By the end of this week 100% of the brickwork will be complete. She explained that new ball fields were being constructed adjacent to the Middle and Elementary schools to replace the ones on the new Municipal Building Site. The parcel where the new building is located, consists of 7 acres, 2 of which has been persevered as open area or not to be developed per the DEEP. The main entrance and the only exit to the complex is on School Street opposite of Walnut Street and where the former Aspinok Historical Society Building stood. At present the site will have 160 parking spaces and additional spaces in the future. There is also an additional entrance on Providence Street. The Main Building consists of 2-stories with a 1-story addition to the rear, which will house the Library. The ground level will house the Library, 3 community rooms, a kitchen for Meals on wheels, the Town Clerk, WPCA, Assessor and Revenue Departments. Meals on Wheels will serve meals 5 days a week and is expected to make 40 to 50 meals per day. The new Library will be over 60% larger than the current Library and some of the furniture will be reused with some modifications. The second floor will be occupied by the Mayor’s Office, Town Administrators. Office, Recreation Department, Building Department, and Zoning. In addition, there will be a 4th Community room along with rooms for the Historical Society and the Town Hall Copy Room. They anticipate that the 4th Community room will be used for the monthly Board and Commission meetings as well as for other public meetings. The expected move in date is August 19, 2021. The overall cost of the project was estimated at $19.9 million. Costs, to date, are at $19.4 million and therefore under budget. Rotarian Karen Osbrey, who is also the Building Chairperson, added that there will be a Gallery and expects this new building to be used for many events.
ROTARY FOOD DRIVE RAISES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND POUNDS OF FOOD.
PUTNAM --- As far as northeastern Connecticut goes, please mark us down for “plays/works well with others.”
The Putnam Rotary Club’s annual Good Friday Food Drive was a resounding success. Volunteers from the Putnam Rotary Club, the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club, the Putnam Rotary Club’s Rotaract Club, the Putnam Lions Club, the Putnam Lions Club Leos Club and the Putnam Lodge of Elks all stood fast in some chilly windswept weather to collect nonperishables and donations to benefit Daily Bread.
A steady stream of cars filled almost two vans with food and the money box with checks and cash totaling $6,093, according to Karen Osbrey, Rotarian and head of the Interfaith Human Services of Putnam.
In addition to the nonperishables, Rotary Club Interact advisor Roberta Rocchetti said a local bakery dropped off bread and a local farm dropped off eggs.
Osbrey said 1,320 pounds of food were donated. There was no drive in 2020. This year’s drive raised less money but saw more food donated.
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club is off to a great start in its Relay For Life Team fund-raising campaign.
They kicked off with an American Cancer Society Daffodil Sale and sold more than $1,830 worth of flowers.
The daffodils and tulips were sold in bunches of 10 or pots of mini daffodils. The club members sold 81 bunches of daffodils, 38 bunches of tulips and 30 pots of mini daffodils. The daffodils will be delivered around March 22.
Interact Gets Ready
In this photo from last year’s Relay For Life, some of the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club members took part. From left: Roberta Rocchetti, advisor; Brayden Cutler, president (Tourtellotte); Emma Braithwaite, PHS; Layla and Amayah Chavez, PHS.
Interact Club members enjoying their pizza party, al fresco.
Brayden Cutler, right, and Putnam Rotary President Kristen Willis with the trophy.
The day was a bit on the "cool" side but that did nothing to dampen the excitement of the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club Annual Bell Ringing Pizza Party held in the Farmers’ Market pavilion in Putnam.
Interact President Brayden Cutler thanked all who took part.
Despite COVID, the club raised $9,774.86 for the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign, beating last year’s total of $8,727 by more than $1,000.
Some 115 volunteers and 11 Interact Club members made it happen. Schools represented include: The Woodstock Academy, Killingly High School, Putnam High School, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Plainfield High School, Ashford School and UConn.
Boy Scout Troops 21 and 25 also took part.
Salvation Army Director, Kathleen Orfitelli, thanked everyone for the Kettle Campaign success and said, "Because of your efforts, the Salvation Army will be able to assist 20 families locally."
Putnam Rotary President Kristen Willis thanked the volunteers and announced the winners of the bell ringing competition.
School with most hours: Woodstock Academy won the “Most Hours” prize with 74 hours, followed by Killingly High School with 73 and Putnam High School with 69 hours.
Award-winning students: third-place, Sophia Griffin (KHS), 8 hours; second-place, Kaylee Goding (PHS), 9 hours; and the trophy winner: Brayden Cutler and Katie Lamontagne, 9.5 hours.
The Putnam Interact Club has been organizing the bell-ringing effort since 1997.
For more information about the Interact club and their next
Nov. 10, in a Veterans Day program, Putnam Rotary Club members were mesmerized by the tales of Victor E. Lippiello, 100 --- from the bad timing in his Army time being extended because the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor to the lessons gin taught him when he was stationed on Fishers Island to the heart-stopping memory of parachuting behind enemy lines in the Philippines.. Lippiello is a treasure of northeastern Connecticut. Left to right Rotarian and veteran Pete Benoit; Putnam Rotary Club President Kristen Willis; Victor E. Lippiello, 100-year-old WWII veteran; Ronald P. Coderre, MC, Rotarian and American Legion District 4 commander; veteran Mike Rocchetti (husband of Rotarian Roberta Rocchetti); and Rotarian and veteran Jay Wade.
Richard Loomis, president of the Putnam Business Association, gives Kris Willis, president of the Putnam Rotary Club, a check for $970. The funds came from the PBA's Pluck-a-Duck fund-raiser.
The Putnam Rotary Interact Club worked hard at the recent Relay For Life at the Killingly Intermediate School. The students helped set up tents, handed out fliers and gave directions to incoming cars. They also lit the luminaries at the end of the evening. The Interact Team raised $1,285 for the American Cancer Society. Here members of the club welcome survivors and supporters to Relay For Life. The president of the Interact Club is Brayden Cutler. From left: Rotary Club advisor Roberta Rocchetti, Interact President Brayden Cutler, Tourtellotte Memorial High School; Emma Braithwaite, Putnam High School; Layla Chavez, Putnam High School; and Amayah Chavez, Putnam High School. (missing from photo, Marcy Dawley) Courtesy photo.
Congratulations on receiving ShelterBox HERO recognition for Rotary Year 2019-2020.
Your support is very much appreciated. Attached you will find a pdf of your certificate and several digital images to use on your club website and social media outlets.
1.6 million people have been sheltered since 2000, we could not have reached them without clubs like yours. COVID 19 has not stopped our efforts, your help has provided aid to over 87,000 people so far in 2020.
Pictured are Dick Loomis on the left and Kristen Willis, the club president, at Pomfret Community School.
To help local schools keep the learning environment safe, the membership of the Putnam Rotary Club put together, “sKOOL AID Supply Drive: A Community Drive for School Cleaning Supplies“ for local public schools.
Kristen Willis, club president, notes the importance of the project, particularly as it relates to the needs of our community in challenging times. “Putnam Rotary’s focus is on serving our local community each and every day in whatever way possible, be it through service, advocacy, or monetary support. Right now, it is our local school systems that need our help,” said Willis.
Rotarian Pam Brown raised the idea to club members after hearing first-hand about what was going to be needed in the classrooms to open schools and keep them running. “This drive is a show of support for our teachers in the classroom, providing them with supplies that will help them keep their classrooms sanitized during the course of the school day,” said Brown.
The collection drive will be spread over two days.
Hand sanitizer (ethanol alcohol only – no methanol alcohol accepted), Clorox or Lysol wipes, mild soap or antibacterial dish soap and paper towels will be collected from 6 to 9 a.m. Sept. 25 in front of WINY Radio and from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 26 in front of several local schools.
Putnam Rotarians will be collecting for public school districts in front of: Putnam Middle School, Woodstock Elementary, the Pomfret Community School and the Thompson Middle School.
In addition to the items, cash donations and checks will be welcomed. Checks should be payable to the school system of choice: Putnam Public Schools, Woodstock Public Schools, Pomfret Community School and Thompson Public Schools. Memo notation on check: sKOOL AID. At the end of the drive, all supplies, cash and checks will be handed over immediately to school personnel.
Willis said, “Thanks to Pam and a committee of fellow Rotarians, I think we’ve come up with a great way to assist with just one of the many challenges that the coronavirus pandemic has presented and one that will have an immediate impact on our children and our teachers.”
The Putnam Rotary Interact Club has three events coming up.
The Interact Club will be set up at the Relay for Life at the Killingly Intermediate School Sept 19 to wave to the survivors and to assist where needed.
At 4 p.m. Sept. 26 the club is planning a hike at the Air Line trail near East Thompson Road and New Road, about 3 miles north of its junction with Rt. 193. The hike will go to the Tri-State marker. Students ages 12 to 18 are welcome to join. Please wear sneakers or boots and bring water and a mask.
The club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Riverside Park Gazebo. Students ages 12 to 18 from the northeast region are welcome to attend. Members are from Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Putnam High School, The Woodstock Academy and QVMC.
For more information about the Putnam Rotary Interact Club call Roberta at 860-933-8603 or email robertarocchetti4@gmail.com
Taking a Break Two golfers take a break during the Putnam Rotary Club Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Richard Naumann.
PUTNAM — The Putnam Rotary Club’s annual Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament was a success, according to Golf Tournament Chairman Shawn McNerney. Despite the changes COVID-19 brought about, McNerney said he believes the tournament, one of the club’s biggest fund-raisers, still did well. Three teams tied for the best overall score at 57.After applying the USGA Tiebreaker rules, the order of the top three: 1st Northeast Flooring & Kitchens team — John Darigan, Bob Darigan, Jason Gerum and Mark Jurski 2nd. BenPe Consulting team — Mike Meehan, Brendon Meehan, Daryn Trudeau and John Trudeau. 3rd. Bucknam, Masseur & Associates team — Steve Bucknam, Don Wilson, Walter Greer and Dave Curry. The top three net scores (applying handicaps): 1st. The team from Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Management— Steve Bibek, Bob Tetreault, Fran Bernier and Chet Kijek. 2nd. The team from Charter Oak Federal Credit Union — Brian Orenstein, Guy Henry, John Dolan and Greg Shelter. 3rd. The team from Rawson Materials — Earl Rosebrooks, Jimmy Logsdon, Bruce MacLeod and Sean Bennett. Closest to the pin on hole #7 — Chet Kijek. Closest to the pin on hole #11 — Dave Coderre. Finally Brendon Meehan won the poker game with an amazing hand of 5 Aces
Thank you all for your help in making the Golf Tournament as success again this year.
COVID caused a few changes and made everything else more difficult, but it was a beautiful day and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
It will probably be a couple weeks before we know exactly where we stand financially, but I’m certain it was successful from that standpoint as well.
Three teams tied for the best overall score at 57.After applying the USGA Tiebreaker rules, the order of the top three was:
1st Northeast Flooring & Kitchens team comprised of John Darigan, Bob Darigan, Jason Gerum and Mark Jurski
2nd. BenPe Consulting team with Mike Meehan, Brendon Meehan, Daryn Trudeau and John Trudeau.
3rd. Bucknam, Masseur & Associates team with Steve Bucknam, Don Wilson, Walter Greer and Dave Curry.
The top three net scores ( applying handicaps) were:
1st. The team from Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Management comprised of Steve Bibek, Bob Tetreault, Fran Bernier and Chet Kijek.
2nd. The team from Charter Oak Federal Credit Union comprised of Brian Orenstein, Guy Henry, John Dolan and Greg Shelter.
3rd. The team from Rawson Materials consisting of Earl Rosebrooks, Jimmy Logsdon, Bruce MacLeod and Sean Bennett.
Closest to the pin on hole #7 was won by Chet Kijek.
Closest to the pin on hole #11 was won by Dave Coderre.
Finally Brendon Meehan won the poker game with an amazing hand of 5 Aces.
Because we were not able to have a gathering after the event the prizes have not been awarded. If any of you solicited any of the winners and would like to personally deliver the prizes, please let me know. Otherwise, I will reach out to the winners.
Thanks again to the Committee members and to everyone else who helped make the Tournament a success.
Back to School The Putnam Rotary Interact Club had fun assisting TEEG in its back-to-school supply distribution Aug. 19 and 20. Volunteers helped with the set-up of grade appropriate stations, and helped children with the selection and filling of backpacks. Volunteers: Brayden Cutler, Katie Lamontagne, Makayla Tackson from Tourtellotte Memorial High School; Abby and Emily St. Martin from Putnam High School; Talia and Kaelyn Tremblay The Woodstock Academy, and Putnam Rotarians Roberta Rocchetti and Kathy Kirk. The Interact Club’s first meeting for the year will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Riverside Gazebo, N. Grosvenordale. Bring a lawn chair and wear a mask. For more info call: Roberta Rocchetti at 860-933-8603. Left to right are: Advisor Roberta Rocchetti, Emily St. Martin, Interact President, Brayden Cutler, Katie Lamontagne and Abby St. Martin. Courtesy photo.
Interact Club assisting TEEG "back-to-school- supply distribution
Meet Emily Barnes, the new market master of the Putnam Saturday Farmers' Market. She's a member of the Putnam Rotary Club's Rotaract Club (immediate past president) and is looking forward to helping the market "grow."
The Putnam Rotary Club recently awarded scholarships to eight local seniors. All the scholarships are $4,000 each.
The Putnam High School scholarship winners included:
--- Zoe Hetrick won the Ray & Vi Brousseau Scholarship. She plans to major in physical therapy at the University of Rhode Island.
--- Justin St. Martin also won a Ray & Vi Brousseau Scholarship. He will be attending Landmark College and will major in computer science.
The Tourtellotte Memorial High School winner is:
--- Robert Gatzke. He was awarded the John O’Brien Scholarship. He plans to attend the University of Massachusetts and will major in political science.
Five students from Woodstock Academy won scholarships including:
--- Grayson Walley who will attend UConn, majoring in mechanical engineering.
--- Emma Redfield won a Ray & Vi Brousseau Scholarship. She will major in the STEM field at UConn.
--- David May also was awarded a Ray & Vi Brousseau Scholarship. He plans to attend Northeastern University and will major in mechanical engineering.
--- Tessa Houlihan won the Ray Brousseau Scholarship. She’s heading for UConn where she will major in mechanical engineering.
--- Emma Durand was awarded the A. Leon Archambault Scholarship. She will major in nursing at Fairfield University.
The Putnam Rotary Club recently honored the valedictorians and salutatorians from schools within its service area.
Each of them received a plaque acknowledging their accomplishments.
Honored were:
Marianapolis: Valedictorian Brendan Phaneuf from Danielson. He will be attending Providence College in the fall. Salutatorian Elizabeth Schoemer is from Oxford, Mass. She will be attending Trinity College and plans on majoring in engineering.
Pomfret School: Valedictorian Bao “Tintin” Nguyen. He recently graduated as a two-year senior. He was a member of the Outdoor Adventure Group, the Recreational Tennis Team, and the Math Team and took part in the Pomfret STEM Exploration Certificate Program (investigating Modern Cosmology and Black Holes through independent studies, learning Data Science programming on analyzing astronomical datasets, and initiating an observatory automation project). He wants to pursue astrophysics as a vocation, not just a subject or a future job. He will attend the University of Arizona and plans a double major, physics and astronomy in the next four years --- his next steps towards unveiling the mysteries of the cosmos.
Pomfret School:
Salutatorian Eva Steinitz of Arlington, Mass., graduated after two years. She coxed for the varsity four for the men's crew team and managed the varsity volleyball and women's basketball teams. She was secretary of VOICE, the diversity organization; and was president of Hillel, the Jewish organization. She was also a QUEST leader in the Social Justice & Diversity pillar, creating and facilitating programming around those topics for juniors and seniors. She’s going to the University of Richmond to study studio art and psychology and continue coxing crew.
Putnam High:
Co-valedictorians: Molly McKeon is going to UConn and plans to major in accounting; Ellie Morissette is going to UConn and plans to major in mathematics.
Tourtellotte:
Valedictorian Jesse Trottier said he enjoyed learning new things since a young age, and this school system facilitated my curiosity. He said somewhere along the way he found his passion was math and science. He will attend UConn and major in biomedical engineering.
Salutatorian is Nima Sherpa.
The Woodstock Academy:
Valedictorian is Nathan Craig. He was a captain of the varsity soccer team, ran track, participated in math team, robotics club, Earthsave, and was also a member of five different honor societies. He also volunteered at Daily Bread food bank in Putnam and at Day Kimball Hospital. He plans to attend Brown University to study physics.
Salutatorian is Caitlyn Sroczenski and she took part in the Science Bowl club, the Writing Centaur, tennis, and a number of honor societies. She said she is an avid reader, coffee enthusiast, and dog-lover. On the weekends (and some weekdays) you’ll find me at JC Penney, folding clothes and running the cash register. She is going to UConn as a nursing major, and hopes to get a masters and advanced practitioner license after that.
John Richard and Kayla Engh, EMTs with the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association in South Woodstock, are all smiles after receiving PPE funding from the Putnam Rotary Club. Courtesy photo.
Call it a “rapid-response” fund-raiser. “Rapid response” --- much like the beneficiaries of the Putnam Rotary Club’s latest fund-raiser.
First responder ambulance/EMT crews received $1,400 total from the Putnam Rotary Club to spend on Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) that they might need. In less than two weeks, an idea was conceived, carried out and the checks went out.
One Putnam Rotarian who works with local emergency personnel heard about different needs in different ambulance corps. Some needed masks; others needed face shields; still others needed gloves. Instead of giving crews the items, the club thought that giving the funds instead would allow the crews to get exactly what they needed.
The icing on the cake was word that “First responders are first in line ordering from Amazon.”
Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann, in a Zoom meeting with his club and follow-up email, asked Rotarians send checks to the Rotary Club’s treasurer. Another Rotarian compiled a list of crews in need in the club’s area of service.
Within days, club members had contributed $700. Naumann said the club added another $700 from the District and the checks were mailed to the crews.
The following first responders received funds: Pomfret Fire District, Putnam EMS, East Putnam Fire Dept., Muddy Brook Fire Dept. in Woodstock, Bungay Fire Brigade in Woodstock, Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association, Eastford Independent Fire Company, No.1, and the Community Fire Company in N. Grosvenordale.
$250 goes to #322, won by Ben Shead, sold by Barry Shead
$250 goes to #530, won by Roberta Rocchetti, sold by Roberta
$500 goes to #110, won by David Lee, sold by Jen Brytowski
$500 goes to #602, won by Elizabeth Zachow, sold by Elizabeth Williams
$500 goes to #2, won by Steve Adams, sold by Steve Adams
Deuces Wild
$20 goes to Rande Chmura, Bob Halloran and Kathy Naumann
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Week 4
$50, #414, winner is Jack Adiletta, sold by Joe Adiletta $50, #269, winner is Tim Campbell, sold by Rick Place $100, #331, winner is Jay Wade, sold by Jay Wade $100, #551, winner is Lynn Baxter Bourque, sold by Crystal Simonson $200, #461, winner is Maria Halloran, sold by Bob Halloran Just one Deuces Wild this week and that goes to Brad Favreau.
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week #3 Week of March 31, 2020 $50 #497 Kevin Belanger sold by John Miller $50 #317 Marie Fournier sold by Bob Fournier $100 #307 Adam Mleko sold by Pam Brown $100 #187 Rande Chmura sold by Rande Chmura $200 #413 Colby Cummings sold by Joe Adiletta
No Deuces Wild this week.
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Week #2 March 24th, 2020
Today’s winners are!
$50 goes to #243, Betti Kuszaj, sold by Betti
$50 goes to #260, Chris Benoit, sold by Peter
$100 goes to #334, Lorna Wade, sold by Jay
$100 goes to #635, Eric Gould, sold by Eric
$200 goes to #122, Bob Fournier, sold by Bob
Deuces Wild!!!!
$20 goes to John Miller, Jonathan Tremblay, and Marc Archambault.
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WEEK#1 March 17th, 2020
$50 for Elizabeth Zachow #602 Sold by Elizabeth Williams
$50 for Jack Byrnes #618 Sold by Jay Byrnes
$100 for Everett Shepard #422 Sold by RPC
$100 for Jonathan Tremblay #589 Sold by Jonathan Tremblay
$200 for Pam Brown #671 Sold by Pam Brown
Deuces Wild!!!
$20 to Jeff Rawson
$20 to Jonathan Tremblay
2/20 Drawing Week #1 & #2 & #3 & #4 & #5
The COVID-19 coronavirus is affecting every aspect of our lives in real time, and this puts Rotarians in an unfamiliar place. As People of Action, we are most comfortable when we are fully engaged in the world – moving freely, meeting openly, and offering helping hands. These are very difficult times for people who, like us, are at our best when we are learning, growing, and serving—together.
We are also leaders in our communities, and these times call for leadership. In many ways, this also is our time. We have proven abilities to reach out and collaborate to offer immediate help to people in need at a rapid pace. These are precisely the skills needed all over the world today. The global effort against COVID-19 depends on actions taken in every country. Rotary has the unique ability to help improve those efforts in every community and every country.
Using all the technology we have at our disposal, we as Rotarians can continue to reach out and collaborate on big projects with Rotary clubs, Rotaractors, and Interactors. There are a number of examples where Rotary clubs are helping health authorities communicate best practices or provide needed equipment or support that have been shared with our leaders around the world.
As Rotary’s president and president-elect, we have been thinking of these issues very seriously in regard to upcoming Rotary events. As you may be aware, we have made the difficult decision to cancel two Rotary Presidential Conferences honoring our relationship with the United Nations- one in Paris, another in Rome. In the near term, we recommend that Rotary districts and clubs cancel or postpone meetings or events following the advice of national and local health officials.
The Putnam Rotary Club Feb. 25 shot a short video of its membership wishing the New Orleans Rotary Club a Happy Mardi Gras. The New Orleans club will be sending Mardi Gras wishes back to the Putnam Rotary Club.
Feb. 25 the Putnam Rotary Club learned about the creative --- and sometimes dangerous process --- of creating wooden bowls from Dan Merlo of Eastford. He described the serendipity of finding amazing logs, trunks and burls, the drying process, turning on a lathe (and it had better be completely balanced!), his discovery of using resins to fill gaps beautifully and more. Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann is on the left.
Rescued Wood is a business inspired by my love of the natural beauty of wood.
Turning and creating bowls, cutting boards, tables, rolling pins, etc.
... double the fun! The Putnam Rotary Club swung between Uganda and eagles at its Feb. 18 meeting. Kristin Barlow, left, international program director of ChildVoice, described ChildVoice's efforts to help young people in Uganda and elsewhere heal from the horrors of war. Bill Reid, center, chief ranger at The Last Green Valley, spoke about the success of this past January's annual survey of eagles in the northeastern corner of Connecticut and beyond. Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann is at right.
Woodstock Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Eric Young thanked the Putnam Rotary Club for its donation of funding for a device that helps locate firefighters inside burning buildings by tracking their Scott Air Paks. Young also gave Rotarians a view into the challenges of a mostly volunteer fire company and described the teamwork among all the fire departments in town. Young, left, is pictured with Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann.
The Putnam Rotary Club, Jan. 14, inducted its newest member, Kathy Kirk. She is pictured with Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann. Courtesy photo.
The Australian wildfires continue to wreak havoc with more than two dozen people dead along with hundreds of thousands of animals. Parts of the country have been leveled with at least 12 million acres of land impacted by the fires.
The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia estimates approximately half a billion animals have been killed and the fires could change the country forever, according to NBC News.
Officials expect the fires to continue for months.
The Putnam Rotary Club took up a collection to support Rotary Internationals efforts to help the people of Australia and the affected animals.
TJ Billiard, right, of the Pomfret Eastford Little League and the Griffin Youth Hockey League, dropped by the Putnam Rotary Club Jan. 14 and presented Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann, left, with a plaque of appreciation for the donations from the club. He stressed how many young athletes benefited from the club's donation and let club members know they are appreciated!
The Putnam Rotary Interact Club is ringing the bells at the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign which runs through Dec. 21 locally. Left to right: Interact member Layla Chavez of Putnam High and Putnam High freshman Jacob Tremblay. Photo by Roberta Rocchetti.
PUTNAM — Each year the Putnam Rotary Interact Club puts the pedal to the metal and raises thousands and thousands of dollars for the Salvation Army. All the money raised stays in the northeast corner of Connecticut.
The 2019 Salvation Army Kettle campaign started Nov. 29 and runs through Dec. 21 on Fridays and Saturdays, Interact members, students and volunteers throughout the neighboring towns are ringing the bells at the Putnam Walmart, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper and Putnam Supermarket.
Helping on the first weekend were: Alexia and Ryanne Bourbeau Woodstock Academy (WA), Jordan Rukstela of Killingly High (KHS), Abe Antonelli of KHS, Kaileigh Martineau of KHS, Jacob Tremblay of Putnam High (PHS), Becky Dibenedetto of KHS, Jenelle Charron of KHS, Abby Driscol of KHS, Sarah Roberts of KHS, Abby Card of KHS, Jordan Dreibholz of KHS, Emma Redfield of WA, Tessa Houlihan of WA, Bryn Kusnarowis of WA, Brayden Cutler of Tourtellotte Memorial High School (TMHS), Leah Cutler of Thompson, Emma Durand of WA, Rachel Lambert of WA, Gina, Anna and Henry Burnham of Ashford Community School (ACS), Lynn Fontaine of ACS, Jason and Journey Horn of ACS, Melissa and Sophia McDonough of ACS, Sierra Girard of Quinebaug Valley Middle College, Quinn Lefevre of WA, Suzie Lefevre, Layla Chavez of PHS, Stella Du of WA, Daisy Li of WA, Christine and Colin Denaker of Dayville, Jocelyn Mayotte of WA, Aleya Wesler of WA, Brooke Nagle of WA, and Lily Brin of WA.
The Putnam Rotary Club Nov. 19 inducted new members under its recently approved corporate memberships, the Arc of Eastern Connecticut and The Woodstock Academy. Left to right: Barry Shead from Arc; Brad Favreau from the academy; Judy Daviau from Arc; Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann; Crystal Simonson from Arc; John Rigney from the academy; and Kathleen Stauffer from Arc.
David Lavoie, owner of Honor Movers, spoke at the Nov. 5 meeting of the Putnam Rotary Club. After careers in the U.S. Army and the Connecticut State Police, he decided he wanted to continue serving the community with a local family-owned veteran moving company --- and Honor Movers was born. Honor stands for Helping Our Neighbors Overcome Relocation.
Lavoie described the challenges of opening a small business and the continuing challenges of a booming business. Lavoie is on the left and Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann is on the right.
The Putnam Rotary Club invites you to a very special Rotary meeting and speaker program on Tuesday, October 29th at 12 noon at the Inn At Woodstock Hill.
Polio survivor, Nick Marshall will be our guest speaker.
Our district of 60 Rotary Clubs is located in the northeastern part of the United States with about half of our clubs situated in the northern Connecticut and the remainder in western Massachusetts.
The two major market areas in the district are those surrounding Hartford, capital of Connecticut, and Springfield, the third largest city in Massachusetts. Both of these market areas are strong in manufacturing and finance. Hartford is home to Pratt and Whitney Jet Engines, Travelers and Aetna Insurance while the Springfield market area is known for its paper products and is the home office to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Much of the countryside outside of Hartford and Springfield is somewhat rural where dairy and other farms can be found, along with a large tourist industry.
The Connecticut River flows through the Springfield and Hartford market areas. The river and its tributaries have in the past been a source of power for industry (to a limited extent they still are) and currently are used to help grow corn and shade tobacco and provide a site for recreational activities. The western part of the district is mountainous (Mt. Greylock, the highest is 3487 feet) and contains many lakes, rivers and streams. Boating, fishing, skiing (downhill and cross country), golf, summer theater and Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony, help to make this area a place for all seasons to be enjoyed by tourists from all over the United States.
There are a large number of private and public educational colleges and universities in the district. Museums of all types too - Springfield, for example, is home of the Basketball Hall of Fame, New Britain has a very famous museum of Native American Indian Art and Williamstown, in the most northwestern part of the district, has, in its Clark Museum, one of the finest collections of Impressionist Art in the United States.
We enjoy living and working in this environment and welcome all those who would like to visit.
Assisting Members of the Interact Club parked cars and helped where needed at the recent Day Kimball Hospital Cancer Survivor Picnic. Brayden Cutler enjoyed his job, driving the golf cart to and from the parking lot with people and equipment. Kristen Willis, director of Development for DKH, thanked the Interact Club. Left to right are: Roberta Rocchetti, advisor; Brayden Cutler, Rachel Lambert, Linda St. Laurent, Emma Redfield, Tessa Houlihan. Missing from photo Maeve Lusignan, Reegan Reynolds, Talia and Kaelyn Tremblay and Marcy Dawley, advisor. Courtesy photo.
With a simple passing of the basket at our meeting today, the Putnam Rotary Club raised $500 to send to the Bahamas Rotary Club to help in their relief efforts
SATURDAY MORNING VOLUNTEERS AT ROTARY PARK. Thank you to the work crew from the Putnam Connecticut Rotary Club and the Putnam Arts Council organized by Karen Osbrey who had her crew spreading 20 yards of pea stone at the Bird in the Hand sculpture at 7:00 am on Saturday morning. We appreciate your efforts to make Rotary Park look beautiful. Thank you to local businesses, M. Provost Trucking & Landscape Products and Rawson Materials for donating rocks and pea stone.
The Putnam Rotary Club Sept. 24 visited the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association to receive thanks from firefighters for the donation of a Scott Pak Tracker.
Eric Young, the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association’s fire chief, said the crew has had the Scott Pak Tracker for about two months and has been trained on it; however, they haven’t had to use it yet.
The tracker is tied into sensors on the Scott Air Paks on each firefighter. When the tracker detects that the firefighter hasn’t moved for a certain amount of time, it alerts. Firefighters then know who might be in trouble and where that firefighter is in the building.
The tracker, and a donation of a self-contained breathing apparatus mask to the Bungay Fire Department in West Woodstock were both part of a $6,000 effort to help local emergency crews.
Rotary District 7890 funded $1,500 of the $6,000 price tag and the Putnam Rotary Club covered the rest, according to Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann.
The Club enjoyed its weekly meeting at the Audubon facility located in Pomfret, where Director, Sarah Hemminway updated us on the current programs and events.
The Putnam Rotary Club is planning a second round of tree planting. Last year Rotarians taking part included: left to right: Paul Pikora, , Jeff Rawson, past president John Miller, Jay Sinha and Rick Place. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM — The Putnam Rotary Club recently completed its first Tree Planting Project and is planning a second one for the 2019-2020 year.
The club purchased saplings and offered them to towns that the Putnam Rotary Club covers: Woodstock, Putnam, Pomfret and Thompson. Richard Naumann, the Putnam Rotary Club’s current president, spearheaded the effort. He said the club spent $420 for 2-foot tall saplings. The funds were taken out of the club’s surplus fund.
Recently the club membership approved spending up to $500 this year to get more trees for the surrounding area.
In Woodstock the plantings are at the Woodstock Common (in front of the Woodstock Academy), 2 Chinquapin Oaks, 1 American Elm; Palmer Arboretum, 2 Chinquapin Oaks, 1 American Elm, 2 American Chestnuts; Plaine Hill Road 5 Chinquapin Oaks, 4 American Elm, 4 American Chestnuts.
In Thompson the plantings are at Riverside Drive, just north of Thompson Housing Authority and include 7 Chinquapin Oaks, 6 American Elm, 5 American Chestnuts.
In Putnam the plantings will be planted along the Putnam River Walk and include 7 Chinquapin Oaks, 6 American Elm, 5 American Chestnuts.
In Pomfret Center the plantings are at the Pomfret Audubon Society on Day Road and include 7 Chinquapin Oaks, 6 American Elm, 5 American Chestnuts.
This year the town of Eastford will be added to the list, he said.
Naumann said that the original idea came from the Rotary Club’s world president.
He added that these particular trees were chosen because they are native to the area and the trees replace those affected by blights.
All trees have been named in honor of both past and present and as more trees are planted, more former Rotarians’ names will be added.. Name plates will be placed on the trees after they mature.
Some of the past and present Rotarians of the Putnam Club include:
Stephen Adams, Joseph Adiletta, Leon Archambault, Marc Archambault, Keith Aubin, Jayne Battye, Maurice Beaulac, Lawrence and Arlene Bellerose, Peter Benoit, Raymond Brousseau, Pamela Brown, Jennifer Brytowski, Elizabeth Buzalski, James Byrnes, Frederick Chmura, Rande Chmura, Ronald Coderre, Gerard Cotnoir, Marcy Dawley, Paul Dery, Henry Doughty, Joyce Duff, Cynthia Dunne, Cheryl Fogg, Robert Fournier, Richard and Suzanne Franklin, Eric Gould, Robert Halloran, Deborah Hoft, Rachael Johnston, Amanda Kelly, Nelson G. King, Russell King Donald King, Betti Kuszaj, Brendan Larkin, Renee Lasko, Linda Lemmon, Richard Loomis, Shawn McNerney, Melissa Meyers, Anne Miller, John Miller, Albert B. Morgan, Andrew Morrison, Latham Morse, Kathy Naumann, Richard Naumann, John O’Brien, Gary W. Osbrey, Karen Osbrey, Leonard Partridge, Dana Peloso, Scott Pempek, Joseph Pempek, Paul Pikora, Richard Place, Douglas Porter, Charles Puffer, Jeffrey Rawson, Roberta Rocchetti, Christopher Sandford, Malcolm Schumann, Jay Sinha, Jonathan Sturdevant, Jonathan Tremblay, Christopher Vaillencourt, Gerry Vaillant, Douglas Valentine, Delpha Very, Joseph Wade, Elizabeth Williams, Kristen Willis, Audrey Witkowski.
Lindsey Worster, left, of Tourtellotte Memorial High School, and Julia Schad of The Woodstock Academy, pose with Putnam Rotary Club President Richard Naumann after they described their experience at the International Youth Peace Initiative of Rotary International, District 6270 June 22-28. The seminars covered aspects of social media --- the good and the bad and its potential for sparking good works. The Putnam Rotary Club sent three local students to the seminar held in Wisconsin. Robert Gatkze (pictured below) shared his experiences with our Rotary Club.
Mrs. Younhee Shin will be presenting Korean Spirit & Culture.
Dear Rotarian My name is Younhee Shin and I am a program coordinator in KSCPP. Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project (KSCPP) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to raising awareness of Korean history and culture. In appreciation for the United States’ support for Korea during the Korean War and in the years that followed, since 2009, KSCPP has held 1,700 presentations about the history and culture of Korea including 350 different rotary clubs throughout the country and in Europe. At the meetings, we presented film about the history of Korea from ancient to modern times: KOREAN SPIRIT AND CULTURE PROMOTION PROJECT Cordially Invites the Members of the Club to: The Hidden Treasure of Korean Art and Modern Korea Once known as the Land of the Morning Calm, Korea now possesses the 10th to 12th largest economy in the world and is becoming more and more important in the world's economy, culture and politics. Two documentary films about Korea will be shown. The first film illustrates the cultural achievements of Korea's past, and the second film shows Korea's industrial achievements since the Korean War. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. We are always looking for new opportunities to give programs and talks. Kind Regards, Younhee Shin KSCPP - Program Coordinator Cell: (917) 838-4689www.kscpp.net *KSCPP is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to educating Korea's unique history and culture.
Many of the programs Access provides are delivered directly to customers who walk through our doors looking for assistance. With offices in Willimantic and Danielson, our Family Advocates are on hand to help customers find what they need to make ends meet and take steps towards greater financial stability.
In addition, Access makes a difference in the community by providing programs for customers that are referred through DCF and the CT Judicial System. These include our programs to foster positive at-risk youth development and our supportive housing programs. Like all our services, referral programs help those in need achieve stability and success.
Success Stories
ACCESS TO FOOD AND HOUSING
Results That Matter
Because of the help and hope we provided:
365 nights of housing and 47,382 meals were provided to those living in our group homes and emergency shelter
23,592 women, infants, & children are healthier because they redeemed $1,512,430 worth of healthy food vouchers
68 income-eligible seniors lived in 59 safe, high quality, affordable one-bedroom apartments
642 low-income children are healthier because of 244,481 nutritious meals and snacks provided through their licensed home childcare providers
6,332 households were able to stay warm last year. Value of Energy Assistance provided was $4,520,686
3,903 adults and 1,550 children didn’t go hungry because they received supplemental food equivalent to 65,436 meals; of these 2,593 customers received their meals from our mobile food pantry
41 families and 12 individuals who were chronically homeless were able to find and maintain permanent housing
We are endlessly grateful for the assistance you continue to offer to our Jeannette HORBAITA Center.. It is such a comfort for us to have this money, because it is a huge support for our mission with these young girls who are getting ready to take their own future in hand. The money you gave us ($2000.00) was welcomed and was used to buy some computers. These young women like to work with computers, and it also open them up to the modern world.
Below we are attaching a few photos of some of the activities at our center:
We thank you again. May God bless you!
Please click on this link to view the entire report:
Muriel Pepper, manager of the Inn at Woodstock Hill (shown with club President John Miller) and Putnam Police Officer Dana Peloso were recently welcomed to the Putnam Rotary Club family. Peloso stands with his sponsor Jeff Rawson, left, and club President John Miller, right. Courtesy photos.
The Putnam Rotary Club spent part of its recent meeting learning about Abraham Lincoln. Bill Juzwic, a funeral director at Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes & Crematory, spoke to Rotarians. The funeral home presented a week-long display of a replica of Lincoln’s casket and other items from that time. Putnam Rotarian Robert Fournier Jr. owns Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes & Crematory. Photo courtesy of Valentine Iamartino.
A TEDx Talk is a showcase for speakers presenting great, well-formed ideas in under 18 minutes.
Putnam Rotarian and banker Emily Petrik (standing with Putnam Rotary President John Miller) Jan. 29 presented her TED talk on a program she designed called "A Penny Saved". It's a financial literacy program that teaches people with intellectural and developmental disabilities how to manage their finances --- including how to write a check, go to the bank, use the ATM machine, etc.She said these are all skills that are needed to become independent adults and the program has shown great success so far. Courtesy photo
Martin Podskoch Author, Historian and CT resident recognized for his extensive work documenting the history of the Catskills, the Adirondack fire towers, and the Civilian Conservation Corps camps. His first travel guide, "The Adirondack 102 Club: Your Passport & Guide to the North Country" has become the best-selling travel book in the Adirondacks. Podskoch will soon be releasing a second travel guide book called "The Connecticut 169 Club: Your Passport and Guide to Exploring CT."
Christopher Ferace, 51, began his career in law enforcement in 1991 as a patrol officer in Plainfield. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Roger Williams College and a graduate certificate in criminal justice education from University of Virginia.
Officials touted Ferace’s educational background, noting the newly appointed chief holds numerous professional certifications which include attending the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police.
He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
“I still believe that policing is a noble profession, or I wouldn’t have taken this job or signed on to this commitment,” Ferace said during the ceremony. “There is no other period in modern history where policing is so scrutinized, and never so dangerous.”
Ferace said selfless service when another is in crisis continues to motivate him. He said his expectations for the department are simple.
“I expect nothing more than what the public expects,” he said to a standing ovation. “Do this job with integrity, accountability, compassion, courage, pride and professionalism. If we follow these values combined with the community policing philosophy, we as an agency will continue to be successful. I take great pride in wearing the Putnam Police patch on my sleeve.”
Our ongoing dialogue with cancer survivors through our surveys and research led us to discover that a top concern among survivors was the difficulty of returning to physical activity after treatment. In response, LIVESTRONG partnered with the YMCA of the USA in 2007 to create LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, a 12-week physical activity program designed to get survivors back on their feet.
Who benefits from LIVESTRONG at the YMCA?
Survivors participate in free or low cost customized exercise regimens catered to their individual needs from certified fitness instructors. The instructors are trained in cancer survivorship, post-rehabilitation exercise and supportive cancer care. Survivors and often their families receive a membership at the YMCA for the duration of the program.
Future direction
We recently worked with researchers from Yale University and Dana Farber Cancer Institute to conduct a research study on the impact of the program on participants’ cancer-related outcomes. We found that participants experienced significant increases in physical activity, overall quality of life and fitness performance as well as decreases in cancer-related fatigue. By the end of 2018, we will offer the program in 19-25 new YMCA associations.
Ce mot pour vous dire un grand merci pour votre aide apportée au Centre Jeanette HORBAITA, nous avions bien reçu l’argent envoyé pour notre centre et cela a été un grand appui cette année pour la formation de ces jeunes filles. De tout cœur, nous vous disons grand merci, que le Seigneur vous rende cela au centuple.
Un petit mot pour vous présenter le centre :
Nous sommes un Centre de formation de jeunes filles qui prend en charge les filles désœuvrées, orphelines et indigentes dans les domaines de la formation en alphabétisation, couture, broderie, cuisine, agriculture et produit dérivés, économie sociale et familiale, secrétariat bureautique, secrétariat comptable, graphisme de production. Cette structure de formation professionnelle privée a pour but de :
-développer chez la jeune fille, l’esprit d’entreprise,
-de lutter contre le chômage et la déperdition scolaire de la jeune fille, d’autonomisation de cette dernière,
- de favoriser le dialogue, la tolérance, le partage.
-En un mot, aider la jeune fille à apporter sa contribution matérielle dans les familles et en économie familiale.
L’objectif de la formation dispensée au Centre Jeannette HORBAITA est d’aider la jeune fille en peine.
Au cours de cette année scolaire, notre entre a enregistré 85 jeunes filles inscrites dont 17 abandon en cours d’année.
A la fin de l’année, nous avons obtenu un taux de réussite générale de 85%.
Comme difficultés rencontrées, nous notons le manque de paiement des frais scolaires par certaines filles, le départ en mariage avant la fin de la formation, l’ignorance des filles de leur situation d’indigence, le manque de subvention par l’Etat.
Nous vous envoyons ci-dessous quelques photos des activités dans notre centre :
left to right: Kristin Willis, Secretary; John Miller, President; Kathy Naumann, Vice President; Racheal Johnson, Board Member; Paul Pikora, Board Member; Jeffrey Rawson, Board Member; Roberta Rocchetti, Board Member; Richard Naumann, President Elect; Fred Chmura, Treasurer
To see our Paul Harris recipient please click: Read more
President Rick Place, Valedictorian Woodstock Academy Griffin Edwards, Salutatorian Woodstock Academy Nora Guszkowski, Salutatorian Putnam High Doria Daviau, Valedictorian Putnam High Lauren Carita. Not pictured Val-Sal Chair Jay Byrnes.
2018 Scholarship Receipients presented by President Rick Place and Scholarship Chairman Scott Pempek.
From left to right: President Rick Place, Haley Armstrong, Maeve Stevenson, Anna Murphy, Doria Daviau, Eden Law, Tyler Fitts, Julia Bibeault, Natalie Ionkin, Brianna Long, Jenna Kochinskas, Cassandra Gallant, Maegan Roy, Shannon Gauthier, Morgan Graham, Scholarship Chairman Scott Pempek. Not in picture Kiara Monahan.
Honored Eric Whittenburg of ERW, Inc. holds the Ace in the Hole Award. ERW has been a major sponsor of the Putnam Rotary Club’s Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament for the last 10 years. He is a generous and unassuming person who cares deeply for his community and supports a number of local organizations. Photo courtesy of Doug Porter.
PUTNAM -The Putnam Rotary Club's Ronald P. Coderre golf tourna-ment saw lots of winners AND a hole in one.
Paul Sas had a Hole-in-One on #9. Gross Score: 1st place -Archie Drobiak, Rob Rovito, Paul Sas and Jeff Bums of the Brynes Insurance Agency Team with a score of 55 2nd place -George Amenabar, Jeff Childs, Steve Keller and Scott Gendreau of Northeast Flooring & Kitchens Team with a 57 3rd place -Dan Gilbert, Doug Wood-ward and Chris Brook of the Inn at Woodstock Hill team also with a 57
Net Score:
1st Brandon Carita, Eric Livingston, Gary Rudman and Daryl Stevens of the Pacon Team
The Rawson golf team.
2nd Greg Kalafus, Steve Kinross, Nicole Fredericks and Bill Miller of the Securitas Security Services team 3rd Brian Orenstein, Guy Henry, John Dolan and Greg Shelter of the Charter Oak FCU team
Closest to the Pin: #7 - 7 feet, S inches, Chris Brock and #15 - 9-4 Paul Sas
Welcome to Rotary Service Connections, a Rotary blog to help our members and supporters plan effective and inspired service projects. We offer resources, best practices, success stories and lessons learned to keep you informed and introduce you to new ideas.
As members of the Rotary family, we are 1.2 million neighbors, friends, and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting changes in our communities and around the world. Our diverse occupations, cultures, and backgrounds give us a unique perspective. Our shared passion for service drives us to take on the world’s most challenging problems.
In February 2004, our district hosted our first project fair in Quito. Since then, 12 fairs have been organized in beautiful cities across Ecuador: Guayaquil, Cuenca, and Manta. Every fair highlights District 4400’s club service projects for international visitors to build friendships, partnerships, and facilitate connections to bring projects to life.
Over the years, we’ve welcomed Rotarians from the United States, Canada and Europe to the fairs. We’ve built lifelong friendships and a huge number of projects have been successfully carried out with the support of our international visitors. As a result, our district has been able to implement larger scale projects with support from our international friends and global grants.
When a fair is organized, we not only plan the related events but also offer our guests attractive social activities and opportunities to tour our very diverse country, including the Galapagos Islands, the Sierra highlands, the Amazonian jungle, rainforests, and the coast.
Many fair attendees return year after year to revisit old friends, build new partnerships, and visit the projects they have sponsored and their impact on the local community. Sometimes, international visitors are not able to commit to supporting one project during the fair. But as visitors go back to their home clubs and districts, present about the initiatives they learned about and saw first-hand during their time in Ecuador, they inspire their fellow clubs to reach out and build partnerships with our exhibitors in need of support. Throughout the year, we are pleased to receive requests from districts and clubs asking for backgrounds on projects still seeking support. That is when many of these projects that were not sponsored have a second chance and are successfully carried out with wonderful international partners.
This was the case of a new born intensive care unit at a hospital in Quevedo. We had visited this project with the Rotary Club of Quevedo and it was presented at the fair, but the club did not find an international partner. Some months later we received an email from the Rotary Club of Alpharetta in the United States asking for a projects still seeking support. They eventually partnered on the hospital project, and it is already completed and benefiting the community. This is the magic of Rotary!
When you or a loved one needs in-home care services, it’s comforting to know that you can find everything you need right here, from Day Kimball Healthcare At Home. We offer a wide range of compassionate and personalized in-home care services. And we expertly integrate them with the care delivered by our primary care doctors and specialists, so the patient’s entire care team remains informed about his or her condition.
All of our in-home services are available throughout northeast Connecticut, including to patients in long-term care facilities, making us the only resource you need for the services that will help you live with medical conditions that are best served by in-home care. Contact any of our in-home care divisions for a care coordination assessment.
Day Kimball Healthcare At Home's Services Include:
Our skilled providers visit individuals at home to deliver medical and specialized home care services. We monitor and manage health conditions, manage and supervise medications, and provide nutritional counseling, IV therapy, physical therapy and more. We are a Medicare-certified home care agency, accredited by The Joint Commission, and our team is on call 24/7.
Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time.
Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens. Exchanges for students 15 to 19 years old are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.
What are the benefits?
Exchange students unlock their true potential to:
Develop lifelong leadership skills
Learn a new language and culture
Build lasting friendships with young people from around the world
Become a global citizen
How long do exchanges last?
Long-term exchanges last a full academic year, and students attend local schools and live with multiple host families.
Short-term exchanges last from several days to three months and are often structured as camps, tours, or homestays that take place when school is not in session.
What are the costs?
Room and board are provided, as well as any school fees. Each program varies, but students are usually responsible for:
Round-trip airfare
Travel insurance
Travel documents (such as passports and visas)
Spending money and any additional travel or tours
How can I apply?
Candidates are 15-19 years old and are leaders in their schools and communities. Contact your local Rotary club to see what exchange opportunities are available and what the application process involves.
Hosting an exchange student can be incredibly rewarding for your family, bringing an international experience directly into your home. Host families provide room and board and share their lives with exchange students, involving them in family, community, and cultural activities. All host families are screened and trained.
LiR at QVCC provides the means to meet the wide range of interests for mature adults who want to pursue new topics or to revisit interests from the past. Our classes and short courses are designed to stimulate the mind and provide a quality social environment in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.
LiR is an independent, self-governing membership organization under the auspices of Quinebaug Valley Community College. Formed in 1995 with 120 original charter members, membership has grown steadily and now stands at over 400 individuals. Courses and programs are held in the fall, winter, and spring.
Membership and Fees Membership is open to all. Yearly membership fees cover the period from September 1 through August 31.
Membership is a prerequisite for enrolling in an LiR course or taking part in any other group activities. A nominal fee is charged for multi-session courses and field trips. Each semester there may also be free courses, seminars, and socials.
The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the Town. As such the Mayor is directly responsible for administration of all appointed Town departments, boards, agencies, and offices. The Mayor insures that all laws and ordinances governing the town are faithfully carried out. The Mayor prepares and submits to the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance the annual budget and keeps the Selectmen fully aware of the financial condition of the Town. We welcome input, suggestions, and even complaints from the community.
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation's leading voice on mental health. Today, we are an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.
We educate. Offered in thousands of communities across the United States through NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates, our education programs ensure hundreds of thousands of families, individuals and educators get the support and information they need.
We advocate. NAMI shapes national public policy for people with mental illness and their families and provides volunteer leaders with the tools, resources and skills necessary to save mental health in all states.
We listen. Our toll-free NAMI HelpLine allows us to respond personally to hundreds of thousands of requests each year, providing free referral, information and support—a much-needed lifeline for many.
We lead. Public awareness events and activities, including Mental Illness Awareness Week and NAMIWalks, successfully fight stigma and encourage understanding. NAMI works with reporters on a daily basis to make sure our country understands how important mental health is.
Peter is an investment advisor and Certified Portfolio Manager with UBS Financial in Portland, Maine and a member of Yarmouth Rotary, Currently Training Advisor for the New England Multi-District President-Elect Training Seminar (2017-19), he was District Governor (7780) 2001-02, and has also served as District Foundation Chair (7 years), District rep to Council on Legislation (2x), Rotary Leadership Institute Regional Vice-Chair, a three-time club president, recipient of The Rotary Foundation Meritorious Service Award, and a Foundation major donor. He resides in Yarmouth, Maine with his wife Carolyn, who is also a Past District Governor (2013-14).
The Eastern Connecticut Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center
Supporting students and businesses from the Quiet Corner all the way to the shoreline, the new QVCC 10,00 sqft. AMTC provides hands-on learning opportunities for students and also a location for area manufacturers with customized training needs. The Center includes a machine lab, mechatronics and metrology labs, classroom, conference space and offices.
Steve LaPointe, right, spoke to the Putnam Rotary Club Jan 16, about the QVCC Advanced Manufacturing Center. He is the center's director. Putnam Rotary Club president Rick Place is on the left.
United Services is one of Connecticut’s most comprehensive private, non-profit behavioral health centers, providing mental and behavioral health education, prevention, treatment and social services to the children, adults, families and communities of Northeastern Connecticut since 1964.
Through all of life's challenges... We're here to help
To unite the citizens of Putnam in a partnership to create and foster a safe, drug free environment for the entire community.
For the past several years, the Putnam PRIDE has worked to make our town a safe, friendly, drug-free community. The PRIDE draws its membership from all sectors of society, including healthcare professionals, employees of the school system, town officials, concerned parents, and prevention professionals. It is the intent of the PRIDE to minimize the effects of drugs and alcohol on all community members young and old, and to raise awareness within the community that substance abuse can affect anyone. In order to achieve these objectives, the PRIDE has targeted a number of substances and related issues, including underage drinking, proper prescription drug disposal, and paraphernalia sales at convenience stores. Past accomplishments include awareness campaigns, data collection, and assessment of community substance-abuse needs.
Rick Place, Putnam Rotary Club president, welcomes the club's newest member, Cheryl Fogg. She works at New England Placement Services (NEPS) in Woodstock.
Kathi Peterson, center, program coordinator of the Interfaith Human Services of Putnam, thanked the Putnam Rotary Club Dec. 19 for the club's donation of hats, gloves, blankets and more to the group. Peterson stands with Rotarians Lara Luppi and Paul Pikora and a couple of the many blankets that were donated. Each Christmas the Rotary Club collects the "warmth makers" and donates it to the IHSP.
Interfaith Human Services of Putnam Receives Warm Donations
Spreading Holiday Cheer! Rotarians have been collecting games, blankets and hats, mittens and scarves over the past few weeks to donate to TEEG and The Family Resource Center for kids and families in need this Christmas. Pictured from left to right, President Rick Place, Gift Giving Committee member Paul Pikora, Family Resource CenterShannon Haney, Gift Giving Committee Chair Rachael Johnston and Elizabeth Zachow. sitting in front Jennifer Strong from TEEG
Our own Steve Adams and Andy Rzeznikiewicz will give us all you ever wanted to know about :
The Wyndham Land Trust
is working hard to protect land in the Quiet Corner of Northeast Connecticut. The land trust was incorporated in April 1975, and the first parcel was protected in 1977. Today we have acquired over 50 parcels in ten towns totaling 2271 acres. In addition almost 700 acres are protected through conservation easements or restrictions held by the land trust.
Birds sing and breed in the grassland meadows, swamps, and woods that we protect. Amphibians breed in our vernal pools, and wildflowers and native plants flourish on protected trust land. Land has been acquired through generous donations from people that wanted to leave a legacy of open space for future generations. Land has also been acquired through hours and hours of hard work from volunteers that believe in the mission of the land trust and believe in protecting this corner of the planet we call home. We invite you to join the land trust and share our goal of protecting land in Wyndham County. Our work is urgent.
This web site provides information about joining the land trust and about donating land and money. The web site also gives an inventory of the land trust preserves. If a preserve has good access, we provide information about trails and a detailed map of the property. We invite you and your family to visit our preserves and discover the joy of exploring the variety of habitat in all four seasons.
We welcome any questions or comments you have about the work of the land trust. You can reach us at info@wyndhamlandtrust.org.
Putnam Rotary Club Secretary Kathy Naumann received a coveted Paul Harris Award in recognition of her contributions to the Rotary International Foundation. Club president Rick Place presented the award.
This weekend Putnam Rotarians Paul Pikora, Elizabeth Zachow, and Kathy Naumann represented the Putnam Club well when they attended the Rotary Leadership Institute this past Saturday. Special Congratulation to Kathy who reached graduate level after completing her third class. Another special shout out to Paul who attended his third graduate class. Are you interested in learning more about the Rotary Leadership Institute? Ask one of these three about their experience. Keep an eye out for future classes to take advantage of.
Central Baptist Church of Westerly 16 Elm Street, Westerly, RI 02891 Phone: (401) -596-4929
Dr. Clayton (Cal) Lord grew up in Colchester, Connecticut and graduated from UCONN with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree in Sociology and a minor in Human Development and Family Relations. He went on to receive his Master of Divinity Degree from Andover Newton Theological School in 1984 and went back to Andover Newton and received his Doctor of Ministry in 1996.
Pastor Cal was called to serve the Cross Mills Baptist Church in Charlestown, Rhode Island in September 1983 and served there for two years. In 1985 he was ordained by the First Baptist Church of Lebanon, Connecticut and shortly afterwards he was called to serve as the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Norwich, Connecticut. He planned to stay for about five years but he fell in love with the people and the community and he stayed. In October of 2008 he became the longest standing pastor of that church. In his time in Norwich he served in various capacities within the American Baptist family and in the wider community. His resume includes service as the President of the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut, Senator to the National Minister's Council and President of the Norwich Rotary Club.
In 2003 his "Weekly Pastoral Epistles" became a regular feature in the Norwich Bulletin as part of the "Spirit Page" on Fridays. Today he is published in as many as 18 different newspapers each week. In 2007 he published his second book, a collection of sermons entitled, God is Rock Solid, through CSS Publishing.
On Monday, March 7, 2011 Pastor Cal began his service with us and we hope he will enjoy a long and fruitful tenure as the pastor of the Central Baptist Church of Westerly, Rhode Island.
Since his arrival in Westerly, Pastor Cal has already gotten involved and is becoming an active leader in the community. He is an member, and Past President of the Westerly Rotary Club, a member of the Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Clergy Association. He is the chair of the National Day of Prayer celebration co-chair of the Community Easter Sunrise Service in town.
We have enjoyed outdoor worship services, mini dramas in worship, and a renewed sense of community on Sunday mornings. We are delighted to have him serving with us. Come visit us any Sunday and meet him and you will see why.
At the present time Pastor Cal lives in Norwich. He and his wife, Lori, have been married thirty plus years and have three lovely daughters, Rebecca, Sarah and Rachel. They currently share their home with Anna,
The Community Foundation is here to bring people together to work towards a healthy, thriving, sustainable Eastern Connecticut. We do this by putting philanthropy into action to address the needs, rights and interests of our region, while fulfilling the passions of our donors.
The late Connie Pike sits with children at Old Lyme Children's Center.
We are a family of hundreds of funds created by those generous people to serve their charitable goals. We also help people create charitable legacies. We provide guidance, investment vehicles, and other expertise to make giving an easy and joyful experience. Together, the funds entrusted to us provide between $4 million and $5 million each year in grants and scholarships in Eastern Connecticut and beyond.
Lillian Rhodes
Director of Development
Lillian Rhodes is Director of Development for the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut. Prior to joining CFECT, Lilli spent 15 years as the Director of Community Relations at Natchaug Hospital. Previously, Lilli served as the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s first Communications Officer.
A Foundation of Caring
We are one of 800-plus community foundations across the nation: tax-exempt, nonprofit, public charities devoted to improving the quality of life in the communities they serve. Individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits create permanent funds that promote the well-being of their region. Community foundations invest and administer these funds, which annually make distributions in the form of grants and scholarships. Community Foundation FAQs
Founded in 1983, The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut serves as the hub for meaningful philanthropy for 42 communities in the eastern third of our state. We make Eastern Connecticut better by:
Helping people who want to help meet the region's needs establish powerful, sustainable charitable funds
Using these funds to issue annual charitable grants to nonprofits — and scholarships to students
Strengthening local nonprofits and helping them fulfill their important missions
Serving as a neutral meeting ground where community leaders and stakeholders can convene to listen, learn and work together on effective solutions to community challenges
We are uniquely positioned to serve as a trusted philanthropic leader due to our in-depth knowledge of the region's needs; our more than 30 years of hands-on experience and our longstanding relationships with the nonprofit agencies, civic officials and other experts working on the front lines of our communities every day. Our strategic priorities, which reflect the interests of our donors, currently include empowering youth, promoting basic needs and rights, preserving the environment and advancing animal welfare.
Our foundation operates in full compliance with the rigorous financial standards set by the nationally recognized Council on Foundations, assuring that we meet the highest philanthropic standards for financial integrity and accountability.
After a seven-month national search, the Board of Directors of Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) have announced that Anne Diamond, J.D., C.N.M.T., has been selected as the next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the integrated hospital and healthcare system, which is the major provider of healthcare and largest employer in Northeast Connecticut. Diamond, who is currently the CEO of UConn Health’s John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington, CT, will assume her new role at DKH at the end of August. Her selection was made by a subcommittee of the DKH Board of Directors that included physicians, administrators and other members, with input from senior management, department directors, medical staff leadership and medical staff.
Diamond brings to DKH more than 30 years of healthcare experience across a multitude of roles. In her most recent role as CEO of John Dempsey Hospital for the past four years, Diamond has focused on improving the hospital’s quality of care, operations and financial performance, with positive results.
The hospital realized a positive net margin for the past two years and is on track for another positive year. During Diamond’s tenure as CEO the hospital has also been recognized by the American Hospital Association as an organization improving quality at a faster rate than other hospitals nationally and by the CT Hospital Association’s John D. Thompson Award for Excellence in hospital administration for the use of data in improving quality and clinical processes. Anne has also led UConn’s John Dempsey Hospital to three “A” scores for patient safety from Leapfrog and raised Consumer Reports scores to among the top in the state and nation.
“My time at John Dempsey Hospital has been immensely rewarding. I’m proud of all that has been accomplished by the team here over the last four years as CEO
The Blue Team 
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ROTARY FOOD DRIVE RAISES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND POUNDS OF FOOD.
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