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She Has Arrived!
Our first exchange student in over a decade has arrived. Gabi Garay, pictured on the left with Youth Exchange Chair, Peter Aziz, joins us from Paraguay! Welcome to the United States Gabi!
Stories
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changing of the guardLynn Cossette stepped into the exalted office of President of the Litchfield-Morris Rotary at the June 24, 2022 Club Meeting  |
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Copy of October is Polio Awareness Month |
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Copy of Rotarians in Action!Longtime Rotarian, Ileana Santore, is awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award for her dedication to Rotary!  6-9-21 Braving the flames at the Community Cookout!  |
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October is Polio Awareness Month |
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Rotarians in Action!Longtime Rotarian, Ileana Santore, is awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award for her dedication to Rotary! 6-9-21 Braving the flames at the Community Cookout! |
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Spring Food Drive!
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February 21, 2019 Meeting
Guests Speakers: Erin Kennedy from the Plymouth Food bank, Rick Wood and John Stamos from the Bethlehem food bank, and Christina Neri from the Thomaston Community Pantry speak at the February 21st meeting of the Rotary Club of Litchfield-Morris to tell us about what they do and ho
 w our donations have benefited their respective operations. |
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Another Amazing Speaker - Joan Lownds
Litchfield-Morris Rotary Speaker announcement: Oct. 4, Joan Lownds: New Kennedy Book "Dogs of Camelot" Reveals Never Before Published Photos and Stories will be speaking at our meeting. The meeting starts at 12:00 in the Senior Lounge located in the Peirce Dining Hall at The Forman School! Join us for lunch and this exciting speaker: Before that tragic day on November 22, 1963, the Kennedy years were filled with hope and promise. As the White House gardener put it, they were also filled with children and dogs. The Dogs of Camelot illuminates the inside story of the Kennedys’ lifelong love of dogs and the unparalleled canine corps they brought to the White House, with as many as nine dogs before JFK was killed. The American public only saw glimpses of the many Kennedy pets because of the zealous way Jackie Kennedy guarded her family’s privacy. Through cooperation with the Kennedy Library, we have obtained access to rare and previously unpublished photos and stories that present a fascinating new angle about the Kennedys that is deeply revealing about their character and compassion. Because the Kennedy pets were so intertwined with their lives, they were inextricably linked to the history of the Kennedy presidency. For example, JFK called for Charlie, his beloved Welsh terrier, before making a decision on the Cuban Missile Crisis. Also, Jacqueline Kennedy so thoroughly charmed Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev at the height of the Cold War, that he sent the Kennedys a puppy named Pushinka, who was the daughter of Strelka, the Soviet space dog. (one of the first creatures sent into space) This was an act of true diplomacy at a time of extreme tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Pushinka and Charlie had a bit of a Cold War romance and produced a litter of puppies, who also lived at the White House. These are just two examples of the many fascinating stories in the book. Our foreword was written by Clint Hill, the Kennedys' Secret Service agent. I wrote this book with Dr. Margaret Reed, a nationally acclaimed animal training professional. I have attached the book jacket, and will also send you an email with some of our stunning rare and previously unpublished photos. We have been getting a lot of publicity for the book, including local Connecticut TV appearances on the ABC affiliate's "Good Morning Connecticut," and an appearance on the CBS affiliate's "Better Connecticut." Fortunately, we also received a favorable review from Publisher's Weekly. (link below) Parade.com also featured a story about the book. We are doing major upcoming events at the JFK Hyannis Museum and the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston. Joan Keyes Lownds Early Praise…. “You don't need to be a dog lover or a history aficionado to enjoy The Dogs of Camelot: Stories of the Kennedy Canines. But be warned. Reading this charming, well-researched, and fascinating book by Dr. Margaret Reed and Joan Lownds might transform you into both.” – Mary Sharnick, author of Orla’s Canvas “An interesting treasury of anecdotal stories that will captivate the reader.” – Nancy Tuckerman, former Kennedy White House social secretary “The Dogs of Camelot is a miraculous book, providing an unlikely yet endearing portrait of an almost mythic family whose humanity might be best shown through their profound connections with their beloved animals.” – Tommy Hays, author of The Pleasure Was Mine “The authors' appreciation for the boundless enthusiasm and unselfish love that dogs ---no matter their personality or pedigree ---can provide to a family --- no matter its station in life ---is captured in this historic compilation of tender stories of the several animals that befriended John Kennedy and his family during his presidency and of the deep affection the pets were given in return” – Senator Paul G. Kirk, (MA – Ret.) About the Authors: Dr. Margaret Reed, a nationally acclaimed animal training professional, met President Kennedy and his dogs when she was a little girl on vacation in Hyannis Port. After her moving and unforgettable encounter with them, Dr. Reed found her calling. She also sits on the board of the Kennedy Library. Joan Lownds is the author of Man Overboard: Inside the Honeymoon Cruise Murder. She has been an award-winning writer and reporter for several Connecticut newspapers and magazines, including The Waterbury Republican-American, The New Haven Advocate, The Wilton Bulletin, Wilton Magazine and Fairfield Magazine. |
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Thurs 03/15/18 speakers........Top Investigators at Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods To Present on Louis the Coin Case at Rotary STATEMENT Louis "The Coin" Colavecchio, who agreed to speak to the Litchfield-Morris Rotary earlier this year, has cancelled his appearance scheduled March 15 at Forman School. Colavecchio requested a substantial fee for his appearance last week, however, the volunteer service organization does not pay for speaker appearances. Colavecchio, 76, also noted he is in poor health. Presenting in place of Colavecchio are retired State Police Det. Sgt. Jerry Longo, now senior investigator at Mohegan Sun; and Jeff DeClerck, senior investigator at Foxwoods. Longo, who arrested Colavecchio for making counterfeit slot machine tokens, wrote an introduction for Louis The Coin's memoir, "You Thought It Was More." Longo and DeClerck were among many investigators and law enforcement agencies who worked on the case, including the U.S. Secret Service. - Andy Thibault, Speaker Committee Chair, Litchfield-Morris Rotary. ABOUT JERRY LONGO & JEFF DeCLERCK Retired Detective Sergeant Jerry Longo oversees the Connecticut State Police Museum and Educational Center as chairman. He is the president of the Connecticut State Police Academy Alumni Association, a director of the Connecticut State Police Academy Educational Foundation, and is the intelligence officer for an international group. Sergeant Longo teaches history at the Connecticut State Police Academy. He is currently a senior investigator with the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Commission at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Jeff DeClerck, senior investigator, Gaming Commission, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, is a member of the New London County Detective’s Association, the Rhode Island Detective’s Association, Connecticut Gang Investigator’s Association -- having served on the Board of Directors for 3 years -- and is a board member for the International Organization of Asian Crime Investigators and Specialists, the host of the annual International Conference on Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism. Through these memberships, Jeff has established an extensive intelligence network that includes casino industry investigators, as well as law enforcement personnel at the local, state federal and international level to aid in the identification and investigation of activity occurring at Foxwoods Resort and Casino. Jeff is the recipient of the 2002 United States Attorney’s Award for his role in the investigation of a multi-state counterfeit check cashing scheme which was a joint effort with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, West Hartford CT Police Department, Fairfield CT Police Department and the New Jersey State Police Division of Gaming Enforcement. -- 2002 Connecticut Law Tribune Column on Louis The Coin The Other Side Of The Coin March 11, 2002 Louis Colavecchio is not your average jeweler. The North Providence, R.I. entrepreneur brought his talents to Connecticut several years ago. He had already hit Las Vegas. The casinos will never be the same. Colavecchio can duplicate or create almost anything made out of precious metals or stones. All he needs is a sample. Foxwoods had been booming for about five years when Colavecchio set his sights on Connecticut; Mohegan Sun had just opened. Colavecchio never talked about his friends -- at least to police. But one of the important numbers in his personal phone directory was for Louis “Baby Shanks” Manocchio, the reputed Mafia boss of Rhode Island. Manocchio lives in Providence’s Federal Hill Neighborhood, where he once operated the Café Verdi restaurant. He was convicted of a mob hit in 1968, but that was overturned by the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Manocchio's only other brush with the law came three years ago when he gave his mother a dishwasher and a refrigerator stolen from Connecticut. Before Colavecchio could move on the casinos, he needed to do some homework. He also needed some serious equipment. Colavecchio's expert analysis revealed he needed the following: precious metals including copper, zinc and nickel; a 150-ton press from Italy; and laser-cutting tools to cut, shape and create dies to stamp out the coins. The coins were tokens, to be used in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Connecticut. When state police brought a sample of Colevecchio’s product to Foxwoods, the experts did not believe it was counterfeit. Some called it a masterpiece. State police advised the casino to keep track of inventory; the token counts were bound to be off because of the surplus. Meanwhile, the inventories at Atlantic City casinos were multiplying like rabbits. “We know that he hit Vegas hard,” an investigator told me. “But since many of the directors of security there were former FBI agents, they denied it. The problem did not exist. It never happened.” Evidence mounted. A surveillance team comprised of detectives from Las Vegas, New Jersey and Connecticut waited for Colavecchio to hit New Jersey or Connecticut again. He chose New Jersey. This time he used only $100 tokens. It was easy. There were fewer machines to watch. Colavecchio was arrested in Atlantic City in late December 1996. The pinch did not make the papers for about a week. In his car, Colavecchio had 750 pounds of counterfeit tokens, a fake police ID, a handgun, maps of casinos and various casino documents. The FBI, Secret Service, three state police agencies and Providence police took inventory at Colavecchio’s Providence operation. The government had to rent two storage facilities to store all the loot that was seized. Everyone took their turn arresting Colavecchio. He hired a former Rhode Island attorney general as his lawyer. Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun acknowledged finding a total of at least $50,000 in fake tokens. Investigators borrowed microscopes from local high schools to inspect mounds of tokens. It took them weeks just to determine that Colavecchio hit one Mohegan Sun jackpot for $2,000. Colavecchio ended up in a conference room and getting VIP treatment at Mohegan Sun. His lawyer had worked out a deal. Colavecchio showed law enforcement how he did the job, and promised to help the casino tribes and the state ward off any future raids. They say he was a hero in Providence as well. Colavecchio served a short sentence and did not “rat out” any of his friends. |
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The World's Greatest Counterfeiter
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Rotary Social.JPG) |
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Thought for the Week - Words to Ponder
WORDS TO PONDER
Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true. ~Robert Brault~
Compassion is language the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark Twain~
Kindness is in our power even when fondness is not. ~Henry James~
Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you, not because they are nice but because you are.
Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up. Those who loved you will remember. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.
Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.
Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it.
Love your enemies - it will confuse them greatly. Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how. ~Henry James~
By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach. ~Winston Churchill
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Chasing the Dragon - Opioid Epidemic Informational Event -Save the Date |
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Rotary Club of Litchfield-Morris and Litchfield Lions Charity Golf TournamentTournament information, sponsorship and golfer registration forms! Hope to see everyone there! Click on the link below to download the form.  Golfer Registration form:.JPG) |
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Mark Your Calendars!04/20/17 Club Meeting - Mickie will be covering ClubRunner 04/28/17-04/30/17 Rotary Multidistrict Conference in Providence Rhode Island 04/29/17 Earth Day - Rob Vanwyck Committee Chair 05/04/17 Club Meeting 05/10/17 District 7890 Training Assembly 7:30 am - 1:45 pm, Holiday Inn, Enfield CT 05/18/17 NO Club meeting 05/19/17 Annual Golf Tournament 05/30/17 Blood Drive @ Litchfield Community Center - Ted Murphy Committee Chair |
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Earth Day 2017
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Save the date! Golf is coming! |
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Patriotism ProjectUpdate: A big THANK YOU to Bob Kluge and Chuck Conn who spearheaded our Patriotism Project!! Due to everyone's hard work, we were able to present the Litchfield Ambulance Association and the Morris Volunteer Fire Department with checks for $1,000 each to use towards much needed equipment!!!!
Great job everyone!
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Rotary Golf Tournament.JPG) |
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Quote of the Week - Who Said It?
We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.
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Security and Integrity of Your Data
ClubRunner secures all your private information using the latest security technologies. Hosted in a world class data centre with redundant power, Internet backbones and 24/7 security and monitoring, you can rest assured that your club data is safe and protected. Your members' contact information is secured behind unique logins and passwords. Access to information is also restricted, for example, a member can only view the list of members, but can modify his or her own personal information.
Data on the server is protected by TCP/IP filtering, firewall and anti-virus software that protect against any unauthorized intrusion. Backups of data are made daily and stored off-site. |
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Integrated eBulletin for Easier Communication
ClubRunner makes it easy to publish your weekly Club eBulletin, and send to all members and friends of the club, by incorporating home page stories and events with the push of a button.
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Welcome to our new website! |
