Minutes, minutes, minutes! If we didn't have brave volunteers like the folks who take minutes, you'd never know what happened unless you showed up! So show up and have a great time with the rest of us!
Welcome to Suffield!
The 2022 Suffield on the Green was a major success! Natalie Donais has more on the story in the attached PDF.
SUFFIELD ROTARY CLUB MINUTES
TUESDAY, April 4, 2023
THREE FIGS
TUESDAY, April 4, 2023
THREE FIGS
Great food, faces we haven't seen for a while, and... somebody got the QUEEN OF HEARTS!
Who was it? You'll have to read more to find out!
Registration and Sponsorship is underway for the Glenn T. Packard Memorial Golf Tournament. Prior teams have been sent the forms through an email. If you are a new team or sponsor, See the forms attached.
Tonight, the Rotary Club of Suffield awarded two gentlemen who know the meaning of Service Above Self. Chris Nikolas of West Suffield and Paul Muska of Suffield. We were joined by past recipients as well as our District Governor and Assistant District Governor.
Rotary Club of Suffield Meeting: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 Father Ted Hall Sacred Heart 5:30-6:30
Opening and Welcome: Scott Seabury opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Introduction of guests
Members Present 08/11: Dale Baker, Frank DiGennaro, Natalie Donais, Noreen Harnett, Jack Muska, Paul Muska, Ken Pascoe, Jay Presser, Scott Seabury, Clark and Karen Mason-(Facetime)
Guests: Christina Fitch-prospective member, Pam Lupoli-AG, Student of month- Ben Begley-Sept., Gerry and Michelle Begley-parents, Laila Lawson-Oct., Joanna and Lourdes Lawson-Mom and sister.
Announcements:
· Congrats to Jackie Guzie who joins Cheryl Demko Morello in their “CT 40 under 40” recognition.
· Our Sunrise Park Playscape project was selected as the “Park of the Year”. There will be a luncheon at Mohegan Sun on November 24th (Jack and Gayle to attend?)
· Treasurer Report-Jack gave us an update on our financials. Dues was due in July. $180. If you haven’t sent it in please do so.
· District Food Packaging Project- Pam Lupoli AG-shared that the clubs are waiting until after the holidays to see where we are with regards to logistics for this project. Scott shared that our club’s preferences and said they are leaning toward collecting our $500. Donation and having it packaged and then clubs involved would distribute the food packets.
· Rotary Million Mask Challenge-700 masks were delivered to our community and delivered to Suffield Community Aid, school nurses and Suffield Ambulance. Scott shared a thank-you from Janet Frechette and SCA.
· Rotary Salt and Sand Project- Ken Pascoe shared that he has 10-12 calls so far. He may call past recepients due to Covid to see if they are still interested. Ken has a team assembled and they will be delivering buckets on December 5, 2020. There will be another AD/ Announcement in the November Observer.
· Students of the Month-introduced by Noreen Harnett
· September- Ben Begley- volunteers at Food Bank, runs Coats for Kids, VP of Best Buddies, plays hockey and golf. Plans to attend college to obtain a degree in secondary education and eventually become a school principal.
· October-Laila Lawson-Led 2nd Baptist Church mission trip to Dominican, Wing Man Program at SMS, Best Buddies, organized a fundraisier for animal victims of the Australian Wildfires. Plans to major in io/Chem-PreMed next year and would like to focus on Womens Health and OB/GYN.
· Frank shared that Suffield Social Services usually do turkeys for the Holiday Baskets but will most likely be looking for GIFT CARDS vs turkeys this year.
· Scott visited with Gordon and Ann Stagg-Gordon sends his best and really missed Everyone!
· Ken shared that Gail Handley had moved to an assisted living apartment in Windsor
· Jack shared that he has a new grand daughter #11
· Scott shared that his daughter Chelsea is expecting a boy and is due in February
· Ken Pascoe offered to provide pizza for our next meeting.
· Jay Presser will work on setting up Zoom so members can participate virtually-see log in info below.
Minutes - SUFFIELD ROTARY MEETING
October 6, 2020
Bruce Park Pavilion – 5:30 PM
Members Present:
Gayle Demko, Scott Seabury, Dale Baker, Jack Muska, Paul Muska, Natalie Donais, Tom Sullivan, Jay Presser, Christina Fitch (guest)
OPENING AND WELCOME: Scott led:
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Rotary Four-Way Test
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congrats to Gayle Demko and our Club for earning the Rotary Citation for 2019-20 – the most significant award a Rotary club can achieve for meeting the goals of our club.
Jay and Gayle have prepared an excellent article for the Observer entitled: “Suffield Rotary Helps Bring Electricity in Suffield and Water in Guatemala” based on our $4100 donation including our District Grant to Mapleton Hall, and Rick Lawrence’s presentation at our last meeting on the completion of recent water projects in Guatemala. Thanks Jay & Gayle!
REPORTS:
FIELD OF FLAGS INSTALLATION:
They will begin installing the Field of Flags this Friday. If you are not on the volunteer list and would like to help with the flag installation, join them after lunch on the Middle Green.
DISTRICT FOOD PACKAGING PROJECT: We were informed that due to the coronavirus pandemic, and rules about social gathering, and social distancing, the ability to run packaging programs has been greatly limited. They are packaging at their warehouse in Pembroke, Mass. So, at our last meeting, we discussed the 4 options presented to us.
After discussion, our first choice was Option 1 if we could find a local facility to do the packaging. If so, we could have about 10 volunteers from our club.
Our second choice was Option 4 where we would provide $500 for them to produce the food packages and deliver to the recipient organization on their own timetable.
Scott spoke with our Assistant Lt. Governor, Pam Lupoli, yesterday, and she said that, based on the input for other clubs, they are leaning towards this option, the details of which are being worked out. So, stay tuned!
ROTARY MILLION MASK CHALLENGE:
Yesterday, at two events in East Hartford and Springfield, a total of 150,000 Covid masks were distributed to the Rotary clubs in our district. The free masks are surgical masks approved by the FDA. The masks remove 99.9% of particulates. You can wear them more than once, but they are not washable. Nancy Viggiano and Scott attended the Springfield event, and they picked up 700 masks.
Scott will deliver 150 masks to Suffield Community Aid. Natalie will deliver masks to the school nurses, and Paul will deliver masks to the Suffield Ambulance.
OLD OR UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Ken Pascoe is looking for volunteers for our 5th Annual Rotary Sand & Salt Program for Seniors. The delivery date is expected to be December 5, 2020.
NEXT MEETING DATES:
We will be meeting again in two weeks on October 20 and November 3rd from 5:30-6:30 at the spacious Father Ted Hall at Sacred Heart Church. Thank you Jack Muska. We will have to check back for the rest of November and December as the Community Aid uses the hall for the Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets.
The September and October Students of the Month will be honored.
CLOSING:
We adjourned at 6:15.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott Seabury
Suffield Rotary Minutes – April 14, 2020 Virtual Meeting
Opening and Welcome: Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Cheryl Armata, Ginny Bromage, Gayle Demko, Noreen Harnett, Jackie Hemmond, Dick Kiesel, Jay Presser, Scott Seabury and Tami Zawistowski (10/34 = 3.4%)
Guests: Pam Lupoli, Area Governor
Announcements:
District has accepted the final report for the Playscape Project and will be providing the $1800 reimbursement to Suffield Rotary following the closing date of May 1. Eileen Rau has asked we check the PO Box for the check as some clubs are not checking their PO box on a regular basis.
Project Discussions:
Golf Tournament: Jon Kozloski has asked Oak Ridge if an August tournament will be possible. If so, we will be hustling to get all together in June & July!
Wine Tasting & Paul Harris: We may need to find a new location for these events as we look towards rescheduling..
Restaurant funding for First Responders: Five locations agreed to participate in the Rotary-funded First Responder Appreciation Project: Zanto’s, Francesco’s, Nutrition Shack and Suffield Pizza will run a tally at the cash register and Highland Park offered gift certificates as a tally system would not be successful at their location. Each locale was given $250 for the initial run of the project and will advise us when they run out of funds. Gift bags with certificates, menus and coupons were distributed to the Fire Chief, Police Chief and SVAA.
Tami Z is currently working with Masks for Heroes CT and is delivering masks to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, first responders and frontline workers through much of North Central CT. She will let us know if she needs any assistance.
Gail Handley is recuperating at Suffield House, Room 211. Gail so appreciated all the cards sent to Hartford Hospital, and she currently has good days and bad ones. Another card would be most welcome; make it a funny one!!!
PROGRAM: Scott “Alex Trebek” Seabury had a great game of Jeopardy which we all enjoyed!!
Next Zoom meeting: Tuesday, May 5 @ 7 pm.
It was wonderful ‘seeing’ everyone that was able to log in; this confinement has curtailed much of our programming and project plans, but not our wonderful spirit of community support and respect. Gratitude is the doorway to love.
Use Smile.Amazon for your ordering and our Foundation account will receive funding from Amazon
Club Meeting: February 25, 2020
Opening and Welcome: Vice President Scott Seabury opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Scott also provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Dale Baker, Jed Dery, Frank DiGennaro, Natalie Donais, Jon Kozloski, Don Miner, Paul Muska, Ken Pascoe, Jay Presser, Don Rawling, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg and Cat Thomas (13/36 = 36%)
Guests: Theresa Lombardo, guest of Cat Thomas, from Bonita Springs, Florida
Announcements:
Vice President Scott Seabury welcomed members and our guest to tonight’s meeting.
District Webinar: Gayle Demko and Scott Seabury attended the Rotary District Webinar which provided an overview of the grant making process. Attendance is required for the club to apply for district grants.
Golf Tournament: Jon Kozloski invited members to participate in next week’s Golf Committee meeting, which will take place immediately before the regular meeting at Suffield by the River. The committee will discuss helping out with various tasks. The annual Glenn Packard Golf Tournament will take place at Oak Ridge Golf Course on Friday, August 14. Please reach out to Jon if you can help out.
Wine Tasting: The second annual Wine Tasting event will take place at Suffield by the River on Friday, April 24. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. with event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be $35 for singles and $60 for couples. The event will benefit Rotary International and humanitarian causes. The planning committee is looking for raffle prices. Please contact Ginny Bromage if you can help out.
Community Cleanup: Jon Kozloski reported that there will be a community cleanup event in the spring. The proposed date is April 25, but this may change moving forward. The cleanup event will focus on picking up trash at the Town Green, Sunrise Park and Bruce Park. The event is being sponsored by Suffield Chamber of Commerce. Stay tuned for more information.
Knights of Columbus: Suffield Knights of Columbus are hosting their 16th annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 6 at Suffield Country Club (341 North Main Street). Registration from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Shotgun Start 12:00 p.m. They are looking for participants: $150 entry fee per golfer. Contact Craig Tini for more information: 860-888-6697.
Program:
Tonight’s meeting was a social meeting. Members enjoyed speaking with each other about current affairs and upcoming events over the delicious meal. Special thanks to our guest for joining us tonight.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Don Rawling with side winners Cat Thomas and Frank DiGennaro.
Queen of Hearts: Scott Seabury had the winning ticket and did not pick the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at $12.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: None were celebrated in the last week.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: March 3
Club Meeting: February 18, 2020
Opening and Welcome: President Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Vice President Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Dale Baker, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Frank DiGennaro, Natalie Donais, Noreen Harnett, Greg Heineman, Jackie Hemond, Heidi Huhn-Partain, Dick Kisiel, Jon Kozloski, Paul Muska, Roger Pratt, Jay Presser, Renae Ransdell, Don Rawling, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg and Nancy Viggiano (19/36 = 53%)
Guests: Our speaker, Superintendent of Suffield Schools Timothy Van Tasel
Announcements:
President Gayle Demko welcomed members and our guest to tonight’s meeting.
Wine Tasting: The second annual Wine Tasting event will take place at Suffield by the River on Friday, April 24. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. with event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be $35 for singles and $60 for couples. The event will benefit Rotary International and humanitarian causes. The planning committee is looking for raffle prices. Please contact Ginny Bromage if you have any thoughts.
Golf Tournament: Jon Kozloski invited members to participate in next week’s Golf Committee meeting, which will take place immediately before the regular meeting at Suffield by the River. The committee will discuss and disburse tasks. A draft save the date will be shared with Jay Presser. The Anedot online payment link will be set up for golfers to register and pay online. The annual Glenn Packard Golf Tournament will take place at Oak Ridge Golf Course on Friday, August 14.
Board Change: Gayle Demko thanked Ken Pascoe for his long service on Suffield Rotary’s Board of Directors. Ken will be stepping down as a board member, and Paul Muska has agreed to join the board.
Polio Eradication: In January 2020, Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation renewed their longstanding partnership to end polio, announcing a joint commitment of up to $450 million to support the global polio eradication effort.
Program:
Scott Seabury introduced our speaker, Superintendent of Suffield Schools Timothy Van Tasel.
Superintendent Van Tasel began his new role in Suffield on July 1, 2019. He moved to Suffield schools after serving as superintendent in Hebron, Connecticut. Tim thanked Suffield Rotary for supporting the school system and its students, especially through the Interact Club and monthly recognition of students. Tim believes it is important to find opportunities for students to connect with the world around them.
Tim grew up in Somers, his mother worked at Suffield House for years and his brother was a Suffield police officer. Tim began his career as a teacher in West Hartford, earned an administrative certificate at UConn and became principal at Enfield Middle School. Then, he served as assistant superintendent in East Hampton and superintendent in Hebron and Suffield. Tim values forming relationships with families, teachers, students and the community. Tim is impressed with what is happening in our schools.
He has prioritized “visioning” sessions with Board of Education to take a strategic view and work together on crafting our goals and policies. This year, they are proposing a 2.71% increase to the school budget, which will decrease now due to updated financial figures. The budget includes vision and initiatives to support our students, including STEM programs and students who may be looking toward college or a career after graduation.
Members discussed various items with the Superintendent, including the importance of international trips, foreign exchange programs, projecting student enrollment numbers and diversity in the classroom. Suffield schools has 2,600 students 10 years ago and 2,200 currently. There has been a decrease in staff in line with the decrease in students, however, several costs have increased dramatically, particularly for special education programs. Budgeting for student enrollment figures and special education programs can be especially difficult. Tim believes our school district is in a great place – with great teachers, great parents and students – and he looks forward to returning to speak with Rotary again soon.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Noreen Harnett with side winners Gordon Stagg and Gayle Demko.
Queen of Hearts: Don Rawling had the winning ticket and pulled the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot was $2,176. Proceeds were split 50-50 with the club. Queen of Hearts begins again next week. Congratulations Don!
Birthdays and Anniversaries: Jackie Guzie’s birthday was February 14, and Greg DeSantis’ birthday was February 18.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: February 25
Club Meeting: February 11, 2020
Opening and Welcome: President Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Vice President Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club singing of “Day by Day.”
Members Present: Dale Baker, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Frank DiGennaro, Natalie Donais, Noreen Harnett, Greg Heineman, Heidi Huhn-Partain, Dick Kisiel, Jon Kozloski, Don Miner, Jack Muska, Paul Muska, Ken Pascoe, Jay Presser, Don Rawling, Scott Seabury and Gordon Stagg (18/36 = 50%)
Guests: Student of the Month Nora Shanks, her parents Steve and Kate Shanks and sister Amelia, and Suffield High School Principal Jim Blaine
Announcements:
President Gayle Demko welcomed members and guests to tonight’s meeting.
Cornhole Tournament: Frank DiGennaro reported that the Knights of Columbus had a great time at the Cornhole Tournament with Suffield Rotary. They would like to consider additional opportunities to meet up for social events and/or work on projects together. The trophy is proudly displayed in Father Ted Hall.
Pre-PETS: Scott Seabury attended Pre-PETS (President Elect Training Seminar) in Rocky Hill.
Wine Tasting: Our second annual Wine Tasting event will take place at Suffield by the River (7 Canal Road) on Friday, April 24. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. with event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be $35 for singles and $60 for couples. The event will benefit Rotary International and humanitarian causes. The planning committee is looking for raffle prices. If you would like to donate a prize, please share with Ginny Bromage.
Sunrise Park: Jack Muska reported the benches arrived on Thursday, February 6. The grand opening will take place on Saturday, April 25. More information will be provided when timing is determined.
District Funding: Gayle Demko and Scott Seabury will participate in the webinar regarding Rotary district funding, which will allow our club to be eligible for grants.
Queen of Hearts: There are only a few cards left!
Knights of Columbus: Suffield Knights of Columbus are hosting their 16th annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 6 at Suffield Country Club (341 North Main Street). Registration from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Shotgun Start 12:00 p.m. $150 entry fee per golfer. Contact Craig Tini for more information: 860-888-6697.
Program:
Gayle Demko introduced our Student of the Month Nora Shanks and Suffield High School Principal Jim Blaine.
Principal Jim Blaine thanked Suffield Rotary for recognizing exceptional students and Noreen Harnett for regularly introducing the Students of the Month over the past several years. Nora Shanks is a humble, kind, hardworking student with strengths in both academics and sports. Nora is committed to Interact Club and active on field hockey and lacrosse teams.
Nora Shanks provided additional overview of her high school career. Nora is currently President of the Interact Club, a huge part of her high school life and which she joined as a freshman. Nora enjoys volunteering and community service. Nora also attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and highly recommends RYLA as a transformative event. Nora also serves as Captain of Field Hockey, worked on the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy fundraiser and works as camp counselor for Suffield Parks and Recreation. Regarding future plans, Nora has heard back from seven colleges and will be making a decision soon. Nora intends on studying biology and biotechnology, possibly attending Medical School or Dental School in the future. In her spare time, Nora enjoys reading books.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Don Rawling with side winners Noreen Harnett and Heidi Huhn-Partain.
Queen of Hearts: Greg Heineman had the winning ticket and did not pull the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at $2,070.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: None in the last week.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “God Bless America.”
Next week’s meeting: February 18 with Superintendent Timothy Van Tasel
Club Meeting: January 21, 2020
Opening and Welcome: President Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Vice President Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Cheryl Armata, Dale Baker, Gayle Demko, Frank DiGennaro, Greg Heineman, Heidi Huhn-Partain, Don Miner, Jack Muska, Paul Muska, Ken Pascoe, Roger Pratt, Jay Presser, Don Rawling, Renae Ransdell, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg and Tami Zawistowski (17/36 = 47%)
Guests: Ron Horn and students David Fitzgerald and Tyler Nardi of Aces High Robotics
Announcements:
President Gayle Demko welcomed members and guests to tonight’s meeting.
Cornhole Tournament: Our tournament will take place at Sacred Heart Church’s Father Ted Hall (446 Mountain Road) on Tuesday, January 28 at 6:00 p.m. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. We will have pizza and desserts provided, but please Bring Your Own Beverage (BYOB) and wear your Rotary shirts.
Enfield Rotary: There will be a wine tasting fundraiser for Enfield Rotary at Asnuntuck Community College on February 6 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunrise Park Playscape: Thanks to Jack Muska for completing the forms relating to Rotary Foundation.
350th Anniversary: Gayle Demko proposed a poker night or another fun event to celebrate Suffield’s 350th Anniversary. If you have any thoughts, let us know.
Town Referendum: Members discussed an upcoming referendum to decide whether to move the Town Garage that will take place on Tuesday, January 28 and encouraged members to learn more about the proposal to make an informed decision.
Addiction in the Workplace: Don Miner reported on the upcoming Addiction in the Workplace event. The event will take place at the American School for the Deaf in West Harford on Monday, February 3 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The forum is designed for human resources personnel, but members are encouraged to attend if they are interested.
Member News: Heidi Huhn-Partain invited members to the BrightStar Care Grand Opening at their new location at 66 North Main Street in Suffield on Thursday, January 23 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Program:
Ron Horn and students David Fitzgerald and Tyler Nardi gave a presentation about their experience with Aces High Robotics team based in Suffield and Windsor Locks. The team meets at Windsor Locks High School and competes in tournaments around the region. Each season, the team receives information about the upcoming year’s competition. The team needs to design a robot to accomplish various tasks to win the game. The team draws up plans, builds parts, assembles and programs the robot. It is rewarding to see the students working together to accomplish their goals. Many students who join the team have no experience and gain skills over time. It’s great to see students progress throughout the season.
The team has won state championships three years in row. They have also placed in the top five teams in national competitions. Registration costs $5,000 per year, and the team can compete in two locations. This does not include travel or lodging expenses. New England Championships cost an additional $4,000. In 1999, the team won world championships. This would cost an additional $5,000. That year, the team received a gold banner. Now, the team gets blue banners and medals for participating/winning tournaments. The team’s robots look good, they are powder coated and use rivets, which are lighter than bolts. The lighter the better, which allows the robot to perform well without being over weight.
Ron Horn has served as team advisor for over 20 years. The team is 25 years old. The team uses machinery at Windsor Locks High School, including a CNC lathe and milling machine. In the wood shop, there is a new router, funded by the Zak Foundation.
In the past, there was an event called the Suffield Shakedown, where teams from around New England would come to Suffield to practice and compete in the preseason. Over time, it became too expensive for teams to travel and the event has not been held for several years.
There are a few fundraiser events that the team hosts, including a pasta dinner in the fall and a pancake breakfast too. Annual budget is about $21,000 before travel costs and not including fixing/updating items. Zak Foundation has funded capital items, such as $25,000 of the $36,000 router. Historically, sponsors have included Collins, Kaman, TW Metals (raw materials), BAE Systems, Windsor Federal, System One.
Members asked about the funding situation. The team is adequately funded this year. Members were interested in working together to raise funds in the future if the team is underfunded. Ron Horn was asked about his involvement over the past two decades, and he remarked on the team’s ability to provide students with an introduction to science and technology that positively changes their lives forever.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Cheryl Armata with side winners Ken Pascoe and Roger Pratt.
Queen of Hearts: Don Miner had the winning ticket (via Gordon Stagg) and did not pull the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at $1,832.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: Bob Lowell’s birthday was January 18, and Natalie Donais’ birthday was January 19.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: January 28, meet at Sacred Heart Church for Cornhole Tournament
Club Meeting: February 4, 2020
Opening and Welcome: President Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Vice President Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Cheryl Armata, Dale Baker, Ginny Bromage, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Frank DiGennaro, Natalie Donais, Noreen Harnett, Greg Heineman, Jackie Hemond, Dick Kisiel, Don Miner, Jack Muska, Paul Muska, Roger Pratt, Don Rawling, Renae Ransdell, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg and Nancy Viggiano (20/36 = 56%)
Guests: None
Announcements:
President Gayle Demko welcomed members to tonight’s meeting.
Cornhole Tournament: Members gave positive reviews of the Cornhole Tournament. Members thought the event was fun, and it was a great opportunity to meet the Knights of Columbus and their spouses. It was also good to change the rules to reduce the score from 21 points to 11 points to save time. The overall cost to the Club was less than $200, a good value for the fun event with lots of food. Special thanks to Tom Sullivan to taking photos and for compiling a photo book for all to enjoy.
Polio Fund: The Club will be forwarding a $500 contribution to Rotary International’s Polio Fund. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be matching these contributions $2 for every $1 contributed.
Wine Tasting: Our second annual Wine Tasting event will take place at Suffield by the River (7 Canal Road) on Friday, April 24. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. with event beginning at 7:30 p.m. The price will be $35 for single and $60 for couples. If Last year’s event was sold out and a great success. The venue was good and the same vendors will be participating. A buffet dinner is planned. The planning committee is looking for raffle prizes. you can ask local businesses for support or have a gift to donate, please share with Ginny Bromage or Nancy Viggiano.
Sunrise Park: Jack Muska reported that the grand opening will take place on Saturday, April 25. More information will be provided when timing is determined.
Queen of Hearts: Note that there are only a few cards left!
Suffield by the River: Note that there is a new guest sign-in procedure. Please stop by the front desk to sign-in and wear the guest sticker while attending our meeting.
Program:
Gayle Demko introduced our program for the evening: an introduction of our new members and a meet-and-greet challenge.
Noreen Harnett has been a teacher at Suffield High School for 15 years, teaching French and Spanish. Noreen enjoys educating Suffield students and introducing Students of the Month at our meetings. Noreen lives in Granby and is originally from New Milford by way of Cape Cod. Noreen graduated from Canterbury School and Smith College. Noreen also has three master’s degrees. Noreen’s hobbies include attending sports games, international travel and reading. Members thanked Noreen for her introduction.
Cheryl Armata is recently retired after a 32 year career at MassMutual where she served as a lawyer in their real estate division. Cheryl graduated from Western New England College. Cheryl is very proud of her family, including two sons and nephew. Her sons were previously awarded Student of the Month recognition by Suffield Rotary. Cheryl enjoys keeping active with tennis and volunteering. Members thanked Cheryl for her introduction.
A meet-and-greet challenge was organized, encouraging members to circulate and ask each other questions to fill out a matrix. Cheryl Armata and Jackie Hemond won the challenge, and they were awarded local gift certificates.
Blue Ticket Winners: No blue ticket winner, and Noreen Harnett was the only side winner.
Queen of Hearts: Don Miner had the winning ticket and did not pull the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at $1,958.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: Honorary Member Luis Lee’s birthday was January 27.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: February 11 with Student of the Month
Club Meeting: January 14, 2020
Opening and Welcome: President Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Vice President Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Cheryl Armata, Ginny Bromage, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Natalie Donais, Noreen Harnett, Greg Heineman, Jackie Hemond, Dick Kisiel, Jon Kozloski, Don Miner, Jack Muska, Ken Pascoe, Jay Presser, Renae Ransdell, Don Rawling, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg, Tom Sullivan and Nancy Viggiano (20/36 = 56%)
Guests: Joseph Puia, our Student of the Month, and his parents, Dino and Denise Puia.
Announcements:
President Gayle Demko welcomed members and guests to tonight’s meeting.
Holiday Tree Gala: Our participation in the Holiday Tree Gala (donation of a decorated tree) resulted in a funds raised for the Suffield 350th Anniversary Celebration. Special thanks to Natalie Donais for helping to organize our contribution to the gala event.
Packard Tournament: Jon Kozloski reported that that we are on track and registration forms will be sent out in February. The golf tournament will take place at Oak Ridge Golf Club on Friday, August 14.
Cornhole Tournament: The Cornhole Tournament will take place at Sacred Heart Church’s Father Ted Hall (446 Mountain Road) on Tuesday, January 28 at 6:00 p.m. Members can show up at 5:30 p.m. to register and get ready, however the event will likely get started at 6:00 p.m. There is a need for additional cornhole boards and bags. Please contact Jon Kozloski or Greg Heineman if you could contribute a cornhole set for the evening.
New Member: Cheryl Armata was inducted by Renae Ransdell and provided with membership information. Congratulations and welcome to new member Cheryl Armata!
Scholar-Sip Fundraiser: The second annual wine tasting Scholar-Sip Fundraiser is scheduled to take place at Suffield by the River on Friday, April 24.
Addiction in the Workplace: Don Miner reported on a regional task force that was established last year to combat opioid addiction including members of Rotary Club and Lions Club. A forum has been scheduled to discuss Addiction in the Workplace at the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford on Monday, February 3 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The forum is intended for human resources personnel, but members are encouraged to attend if they are interested or invite contacts in human resources departments. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Member News: At last week’s meeting, Heidi Huhn-Partain announced that BrightStar Care will be hosting a Grand Opening at their new location at 66 North Main Street in Suffield on Thursday, January 23 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Program:
Noreen Harnett introduced our January Student of the Month, Joseph Puia and his parents Dino and Denise Puia. Noreen Harnett serves as the senior class advisor and has had an opportunity to get to know Joseph as a great student who is always volunteering and active on athletic teams. Joseph started his own business, called Puia Paints, where he paints sneakers to match various themes. Joseph also undertakes a lot of volunteer work, including at the Windsor Locks Road Race, Fire Department Carnival and Warming Center. Joseph also serves as Captain of Suffield High School’s Football team. Joseph is also a member of the National Honor Society. He will likely attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he will likely join the football team and study mechanical engineering.
His father, Dino Puia, was involved for many years with youth football in Suffield and thanked Suffield Rotary for supporting the food hut at the High School’s athletic fields. When asked what the food hut might need for improvement, Dino remarked that a three-bay sink would be very helpful for handling and preparing food and for cleaning up. Members thanked Dino for his commentary and wished Joseph well in his future endeavors.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Dick Kisiel with side winners Gayle Demko and Tom Sullivan.
Queen of Hearts: Jay Presser had the winning ticket and did not pull the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at $1,740.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: There were no birthdays during the past week.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: January 21 with Ron Horn and Suffield Robotics
Club Meeting: January 7, 2020
Opening and Welcome: President Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Vice President Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Dale Baker, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Frank DiGennaro, Noreen Harnett, Greg Heineman, Jackie Hemond, Heidi Huhn-Partain, Dick Kisiel, Bob Lowell, Jack Muska, Paul Muska, Ken Pascoe, Roger Pratt, Jay Presser, Renae Ransdell, Don Rawling, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg and Nancy Viggiano (20/35 = 57%)
Guests: Cheryl Armata, guest of Gayle Demko.
Announcements:
Gayle Demko welcomed members and guest to tonight’s meeting.
Member News: Heidi Huhn-Partain was excited to share the news that her business has officially moved into its new office in Suffield after spending over 10 years in Windsor Locks. The new location is the Webster Bank building at 66 North Main Street. There will be a grand opening and ribbon cutting on January 23 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM. All are welcome to attend.
Member News: The movie “A Promise to Astrid” which depicts actor Dean Cain as Scott Seabury is now available on Amazon Prime streaming service.
Bell Ringing: Suffield Rotary’s participation in the bell ringing for Salvation Army and Suffield Community Aid was very successful with approximately $1,357 raised over two days. Members were grateful for the community’s generosity.
Holiday Tree Gala: Suffield Rotary’s participation in the Holiday Tree Gala (donation of a decorated tree) resulted in a purchased tree that supports the Suffield 350th Anniversary Celebration.
New Member: Noreen Harnett was inducted by Renae Ransdell and provided with membership information. Congratulations and welcome to new member Noreen Harnett!
Enfield Rotary: Enfield Rotary’s annual wine tasting fundraiser will be held on Thursday, February 6.
Cornhole Tournament: On Tuesday, January 28, Suffield Rotary and Knights of Columbus will compete in a cornhole tournament at Sacred Heart Church’s Father Ted Hall (446 Mountain Road) starting at 5:30PM. There are 26 members from Rotary and ~14 from Knights of Columbus. We are anticipating ~10 teams playing. Rotary will backfill Knights of Columbus to have even teams. The event will be “bring your own beverage.” Rotary will supply soda and water and ice. There should be cups at the hall. Knights of Columbus will pick up pizza at Suffield Pizza and bring it around 6:00PM. Both clubs will split the cost of the pizza. Four Rotarians have volunteered to bring a dessert. We plan to have 10 cornhole boards. If you have a cornhole set that you could provide, please email Jon Kozloski so we will know when we reach 10 cornhole boards. Attached are the corn hole rules and scoring procedure.
Program:
Dick Kisiel provided a presentation on Rotary Foundation initiatives. Suffield Rotary has a goal of raising $2,000 in contributions from members to support Rotary Foundation. What happens to these funds? The foundation is 100 years old with a mission of supporting health and polio initiatives. In 2018, the foundation provided approximately $95 million in grants. These grants were primarily focused on disease prevention, followed by water sanitation, literacy, economic development, mother and child and peace initiatives.
The foundation is comprised of three primary funds – the Polio Plus Fund, the Annual Fund and the Endowment Fund. A portion of the Annual Fund returns to clubs around the country, including in Connecticut. The interest on the Annual Fund contributions funds administrative costs. The efficiency ratio is 92% (goes to grants), much higher than other non-profit organizations. After a three year period of remaining in the fund, contributions are returned to clubs as grants – global or district. For example, the South Windsor Rotary Club used Mother and Child funds to start a shelter in Russia for abused women.
A relatively new initiative is the Endowment Fund. Rotarians can leave money for this fund in their will. The goal is to reach $1 billion. It is a self-sustaining fund. Right now, the fund has $350 million with much more pledged over time to reach the $1 billion goal.
Bob Lowell also provided an update on another Rotary initiative, referred to as the Shelter Box program. These boxes are given out by Rotary to distressed communities following a natural disaster. It takes $1,000 to support a family or group of 10. After the Haiti earthquake, Suffield Rotary set a goal to raise $1,000 for a shelter box to support affected communities – and enough funds were raised for two shelter boxes. The boxes are still $1,000 and there are more disasters around the world. Essentially, the box contains any living supplies necessary to support a family after a disaster, such as sleeping bags, tents, tarps, pots, pans and more. Bob would like to see Suffield Rotary have a goal of donating one shelter box every year. Members were supportive of the proposal. The shelter boxes are also trackable, so we could see where the shelter box is ultimately sent.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Paul Muska with side winners Dick Kisiel and Nancy Viggiano.
Queen of Hearts: Ken Pascoe had the winning ticket and did not pull the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at $1,600.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: Ralph Fletcher’s birthday was January 8.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: January 14 with Student of the Month
Club Meeting: December 3, 2019
Opening and Welcome: President Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Vice President Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Dale Baker, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Greg DeSantis, Frank DiGennaro, Jack Muska, Ken Pascoe, Don Rawling, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg and Cat Thomas (11/34 = 32%)
Guests: Anna Blakely, our December Student of the Month, and her parents John and Christine Blakely and teacher Kelly Blais and Cheryl Armata, guest of Gayle Demko.
Announcements:
Gayle Demko welcomed members and guests to tonight’s meeting.
Gayle Demko invited Liz Sansom of Suffield by the River to the front of the room to receive a special thank you from members for the generous offering of pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving.
Sand and Salt: Ken Pascoe reported that there were about 30 seniors signed up to receive sand and salt. We have the five gallon buckets and three pickup trucks ready to volunteer on Saturday, December 7. Clark and Karen Mason will deliver to West Suffield locations. Ken Pascoe and Don Miner will deliver to central and eastern Suffield locations. If you would like to help out, stop by the Town Garage at 9:00AM.
Holiday Party: Gayle Demko remarked that our Holiday Party will be held at Crestview Country Club (281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam) on Tuesday, December 10 starting at 5:30PM.
Holiday Tree Gala: Gayle Demko reported that Suffield Rotary is contributing a decorated tree to the Holiday Tree Gala in the barn at Phelps-Hatheway House. There is free admission to the barn to see the decorated trees from 1:00PM to 4:00PM on Saturday, December 7, Sunday, December 8, Wednesday, December 11, Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15. Trees will be sold to support the Suffield 350th Anniversary Celebration.
Bell Ringing: Suffield Rotary is scheduled to ring the bell for Salvation Army and Suffield Community Aid on Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 at Dunkin Donuts and Highland Park Market. There are several openings that need to be filled. A signup sheet was passed around.
Cornhole Tournament: On Tuesday, January 28, Suffield Rotary and Knights of Columbus will compete in a cornhole tournament at Sacred Heart Church’s Father Ted Hall. There are about 20 members signed up to play. The event will be “bring your own beverage.” There will be pizza, water, soda and coffee provided. Several Rotarians have volunteered to bring desserts. Please let Jon Kozloski or Greg Heineman know if you have any questions.
Sunrise Park: Jack Muska provided an update on the new playground at Sunrise Park. More than half of the fence has been installed with more scheduled for next week. However, the snow may delay final installation. Photos were passed around showing the playscape installed, and it looked great.
Foundation Donations: Tuesday, December 3 is Giving Tuesday. An email was sent from Suffield Rotary Foundation soliciting donations. Please make a contribution in any amount if you can, as foundation funds generate interest/dividend returns which help support grants in our area.
Program:
Gayle Demko introduced our December Student of the Month, Anna Blakely, her parents John and Christine Blakely and teacher Kelly Blais. John Blakely works for Snap-On Tools and is proud of his daughters, Anna, Grace and Nora. Christine Blakeley grew up in Enfield, her father owned Caronna’s Market and she at the U.S. Postal Service facility at Bradley International Airport. Teacher Kelly Blais noted that she was once Student of the Month when she was a student at Suffield High School several years ago. She noted that Anna Blakely is an excellent student, always prepared, a great friend and active in many organizations and school activities.
Anna Blakely is a senior at Suffield High School, working to start a Suffield enterprise website, where they can sell thermoplast water bottles to raise some funds. Anna is a member of the Interact Club. Anna currently works at the Saunders Marina at Congamond. Anna applied to Westfield State University for business. She likes Westfield because it is local and has a good campus. Anna attended a girl’s manufacturing workshop at Sacred Heart University and is interested in manufacturing industry.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Greg DeSantis with side winners Dale Baker and Jack Muska.
Queen of Hearts: Ken Pascoe had the winning ticket and did not pull the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at ~$1,481.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: Birthdays for Gordon Stagg (12/13), Jackie Hemond (12/14), Clark Mason (12/14), Don Miner (12/14) and Paul Muska (12/14) were celebrated.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: Our Holiday Party will be at Crestview Country Club on December 10, and our next meeting will be December 17 at Suffield by the River.
Club Meeting: November 26, 2019
Opening and Welcome: President Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Vice President Scott Seabury provided the Thanksgiving invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Dale Baker, Ginny Bromage, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Greg DeSantis, Frank DiGennaro, Greg Heineman, Jackie Hemond, Dick Kisiel, Jon Kozloski, Don Miner, Jack Muska, Roger Pratt, Jay Presser, Don Rawling, Renae Ransdell, Scott Seabury, Tom Sullivan and Nancy Viggiano (19/34 = 56%)
Guests: Michael Slade, of Naples Beach Real Estate, guest of Greg Heineman.
Announcements:
Gayle Demko welcomed members and our guest to tonight’s meeting.
Holiday Party: Our Holiday Party will be held at Crestview Country Club (281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam) on December 10. The cost will be $50 per person. The next meeting will be the last opportunity to sign up (December 3). If you would like to attend, please contact Ginny Bromage and/or Jack Muska.
Cornhole Tournament: Greg DeSantis provided an update on the cornhole tournament. On January 28, Suffield Rotary and Knights of Columbus will compete in a cornhole tournament at Sacred Heart Church’s Father Ted Hall. Jon Kozloski and Greg Heineman volunteered to organize the event. There will be teams of two. Bring your own beverages. If you have a cornhole set to use during the tournament, please let the organizers know. A signup sheet was passed around.
Bell Ringing: Nancy Viggiano provided an update on bell ringing. Suffield Rotary is scheduled to ring the bell for Salvation Army and Suffield Community Aid on Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 at Dunkin Donuts and Highland Park Market. A signup sheet was passed around.
Sunrise Park: Jack Muska provided an update on the new playground at Sunrise Park. The playground is coming together. The fence is back on schedule for installation on November 29.
Turkey Donation: Frank DiGennaro provided an update on the annual turkey donation. Some years, the donation is made for Thanksgiving. This year, the donation is requested for Christmas. Suffield Rotary traditionally orders turkeys for delivery to Suffield Community Aid. Frank made a motion to purchase 35 turkeys this year and add the turkey donation to the annual budget moving forward. Greg Heineman inquired about turkey needs at Crossroads Food Pantry at West Suffield UCC. It was noted that Crossroads is affiliated with Foodshare, and they had enough turkeys. Members voted to approve the turkey donation.
Throw Blanket: Gayle Demko provided an update on the throw blanket fundraiser. A previous throw blanket, which included images of key Suffield landmarks, was a popular item that Suffield Rotary was able to sell and raise funds over several years. It was proposed to recreate the throw blanket, as time has passed, and to celebrate Suffield’s upcoming 350th anniversary. The original blanket and a new test blanket were compared. Members preferred the original blanket. It was determined that we would seek a new vendor to more closely match the original blanket.
Cancer Heroes: Jay Presser provided an update on the Celebrating Cancer Heroes event, sponsored by Survivor Journeys, which featured Heidi Huhn-Partain as one of the award recipients. The evening was a great opportunity to recognize and celebrate six award recipients. An event pamphlet was passed around.
Program:
Scott Seabury introduced our program for the evening, which is Trivia Night, Thanksgiving Edition. There were 15 questions. Club members enjoyed working through the questions and finding out the correct answers.
Special thanks to Suffield by the River for the generous offering of pumpkin pies for each member.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Jack Muska with side winners Ginny Bromage and Tom Sullivan.
Queen of Hearts: Don Miner had the winning ticket and did not pull the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at $1,450.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: None.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: December 3 at Suffield by the River
Club Meeting: November 19, 2019
Opening and Welcome: President Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Vice President Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Dale Baker, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Greg DeSantis, Frank DiGennaro, Natalie Donais, Greg Heineman, Jackie Hemond, Heidi Huhn-Partain, Dick Kisiel, Don Miner, Jack Muska, Paul Muska, Ken Pascoe, Jay Presser, Don Rawling, Renae Ransdell, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg and Nancy Viggiano (20/34 = 59%)
Guests: Cheryl Armata, guest of Gayle Demko.
Announcements:
Gayle Demko welcomed members and our guest to tonight’s meeting.
Holiday Party: Reminder that our Holiday Party will be held at Crestview Country Club (281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam) on December 10. The cost will be $50 per person. We will need to reach a minimum of 30 members and guests. Please respond to Ginny Bromage and/or Jack Muska at your earliest convenience.
Sunrise Park: Jack Muska provided an update on the new playground at Sunrise Park. The playground is coming together. The slides are running late and are scheduled to be installed next week. The fencing is delayed and will likely have to wait until the spring.
Poinsettia Sale: Pam Lupoli invited members to participate in the 2019 Holiday Poinsettia Sale, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Windsor and Windsor Locks. Learn more at the following website: https://secure.anedot.com/wwlrotary/2019poin.
Cornhole Tournament: On Tuesday, January 28, Suffield Rotary and Knights of Columbus will be competing in a cornhole tournament at Sacred Heart Church’s Father Ted Hall. A signup sheet was passed around for members who would like to watch or play in the tournament.
Bell Ringing: Suffield Rotary is scheduled to ring the bell for Salvation Army and Suffield Community Aid on Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 at Dunkin Donuts and Highland Park Market.
Program:
Gayle Demko introduced our speaker for the evening, Scott Seabury.
Scott shared a moving story from earlier in his career, when he served as rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Hadley, Massachusetts. In the 1990s, Scott was helping to prepare a new group of teenagers for Confirmation. One of the group members was Alex, the son of Liz Kennan, who was the President of Mount Holyoke College. At this time, Rev. Robert Denig was the seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts. Rev. Denig presided over the Confirmation, and there was someone special in attendance who was impressed with Alex and Rev. Denig.
Simultaneously, the church was in the middle of a capital campaign. The church was hoping to raise $35,000 but was currently stalled. A donation of $500 or $1,000 would have been greatly appreciated. After the Confirmation, Liz informed Scott that an anonymous individual was interested in donating between $1 million and $3 million for the construction of a new church.
Scott informed the bishop about the donation, and shortly thereafter, informed the parish directors too. The vestry members took some time to process the information, pray about the gift and recognize the blood, sweat and tears that went into building the existing church.
Luckily, the donor was patient. There were also two stipulations. As part of the gift, the church would have to retain and refurbish Lawrence House (an historic house that served as the foundation for the parish) and install a new organ. A series of neighborhood meetings were held, and the vestry members voted affirmatively to accept the gift.
In late 1994, Scott arrived at Mount Holyoke College to pick up the $3 million check. He would have to deliver the check to the Trustees of the Diocese. Of course, when he got into his trusty Plymouth van, it wouldn’t start! It could only happen to a priest who was ordained on April Fool’s Day.
A building committee was organized. Graham Gund was chosen to be the architect. Gund is a well-known architect, who designed buildings for Westminster School of Simsbury, Boston Ballet and Young Israel of Brookline synagogue. Austin Organs of Harford was chosen for the new organ.
There was a final ceremony where the building was secularized and demolished. The new church was successfully completed in 1998. The project exceeded budget by about 1%. In the first year after construction, the church hosted its largest Christmas mass in about 15 years. Now, the church is 22 years old. The donor remains anonymous to this day.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Jay Presser with side winners Gayle Demko and Ken Pascoe.
Queen of Hearts: Renae Ransdell had the winning ticket and did not pull the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at $1,370.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: None.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: November 26 at Suffield by the River
Club Meeting: November 12, 2019
Opening and Welcome: President Gayle Demko opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Vice President Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Dale Baker, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Greg DeSantis, Natalie Donais, Greg Heineman, Dick Kisiel, Jon Kozloski, Don Miner, Jack Muska, Paul Muska, Ken Pascoe, Roger Pratt, Jay Presser, Don Rawling, Renae Ransdell, Scott Seabury and Tom Sullivan (18/34 = 53%)
Guests: Student of the Month Eiren Klesczewski, her parents Rob and Maura Klesczewski and teacher Noreen Harnett were guests at tonight’s meeting.
Announcements:
Gayle Demko welcomed members and guests to tonight’s meeting.
Sand and Salt: Ken Pascoe provided an update on the Sand & Salt Program for Seniors. Pre-registration is required by Friday, November 22. Currently, there are 18 households signed up, and we expect to reach 30 households by the end of registration. Delivery date is expected to be Saturday, December 7. Three pickup trucks and six volunteers will be required, with two volunteers per truck. Volunteers should meet at the Highway Garage (42 Ffyler Place) by 9:00AM to fill buckets and then drive around town to deliver the sand and salt with expected end time of 12:00PM. Please let Ken Pascoe know if you are available.
Holiday Party: Reminder that our Holiday Party will be held at Crestview Country Club (281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam) on December 10. The cost will be $50 per person. Currently, there are about 20 members and guests signed up, and we will need to reach a minimum of 30 members and guests. Please respond to Ginny Bromage and/or Jack Muska at your earliest convenience.
Survivor Journeys: Jay Presser reminded club members about the 2019 Cancer Survivor Heroes event sponsored by Survivor Journeys. Club member Heidi Huhn-Partain will be recognized as one of the 2019 award recipients. The ceremony will honor the heroes who have inspired their community and others as they persevered through the challenges of their diagnosis with a brave and determined spirit. A ceremony will be held at Monticello (732 Hall Hill Road, Somers) on Thursday, November 21. Please let Jay Presser know if you would like to attend. Learn more: https://www.survivorjourneys.org/hero
Smile Amazon: With the holiday season coming up, Gayle Demko shared mini relaxation exercises and notified club members about the Smile Amazon program. By identifying Suffield Rotary through Smile Amazon, the Club will receive 0.5% of each purchase as a donation from Amazon.
Election: Gayle Demko remarked on a point of pride that four Suffield Rotary members were elected in the recent town election: Joe Blake, Ginny Bromage, Ken Pascoe and Don Rawling.
Missing Person: Don Miner provided an update on the search for a missing Suffield resident. Ondine Frohberg has been missing for several weeks after leaving the Olive Garden in Enfield. Several searches have been organized, including 14 dog teams searching 850 acres, a civilian search in Enfield and the Fire Department in the Connecticut River. It was noted that Enfield Police have been working tirelessly but unfortunately the missing person has not been found yet. Club members thanked Don Miner and Ken Pascoe, who participated in the civilian search for their efforts.
Program:
Student of the Month: Eiren Klesczewski is our Student of the Month for November 2019. Teacher Noreen Harnett introduced Eiren and provided comments on behalf of the nominating teacher. Eiren is a student-athlete who has played soccer and tennis for four years. Eiren also serves on the Wildcat Advisory Group, a group of students who lead freshman orientation. Looking forward, Eiren plans on attending a four-year college where she will focus on accounting and finance. Club members asked several questions and shared well wishes for the rest of senior year and beyond.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Dale Baker with side winners Renae Ransdell and Paul Muska.
Queen of Hearts: Renae Ransdell had the winning ticket and did not pull the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at $1,280.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: Tami Zawistowski’s birthday was November 14.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: November 19 at Suffield by the River
Club Meeting: October 28, 2019
Opening and Welcome: Vice President Scott Seabury opened meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Scott Seabury also provided the invocation and led the club singing of “God Bless America.”
Members Present: Dale Baker, Jed Dery, Greg DeSantis, Jackie Guzie, Gail Handley, Heidi Huhn-Partain, Dick Kisiel, Don Miner, Jack Muska, Paul Muska, Ken Pascoe, Jay Presser, Don Rawling, Renae Ransdell, Scott Seabury and Tom Sullivan (16/34 = 47%)
Guests: None
Announcements:
Scott Seabury welcomed members to the meeting and made the following announcements.
Drug Brochure: Scott Seabury thanked Dick Kisiel, Dan Kehoe, Natalie Donais, Don Miner and the whole team for spearheading the drug brochure project and organizing its distribution to Suffield residents. The brochure will also be available at various locations, including the police station, schools and drug stores. Special thanks to the Suffield Observer for including the brochure in the next edition.
Survivor Journeys: Scott Seabury congratulated Heidi Huhn-Partain for being named a 2019 Cancer Survivor Hero by Survivor Journeys. Jay Presser currently serves on the Board of Directors at Survivor Journeys and provided additional information about the six heroes and an upcoming ceremony. The heroes have inspired their community and others as they persevered through the challenges of their diagnosis with a brave and determined spirit. Many of the heroes have volunteered in the community or inspired others to volunteer. A ceremony honoring the heroes will be held at Monticello (732 Hall Hill Road, Somers) on Thursday, November 21. Jay Presser invited club members to attend the ceremony. Let him know directly if you are interested in attending with Suffield Rotary. If you would like more information or would like to forward to anyone else who may be interested in attending the ceremony, please visit the following website: https://www.survivorjourneys.org/hero
Meeting Location: Starting Tuesday, November 5, we will be meeting on a one-month trial basis at Suffield by the River (7 Canal Road). The dinner location will take place in a different room with a longer walk than the usual room. Dinner will consist of the same buffer with a dedicated server. Sign in time will start at 5:30PM. Dinner will take place at 6:15PM. During the one-month trial period, club members will be offered two free drinks.
Holiday Party: Our Holiday Party will be held at Crestview Country Club (281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam) on December 10. The cost is expected to be $50 per person, which will include food, tax and gratuity. With entertainment (a DJ), the cost would increase by $10 per person. A motion was made and seconded for Rotary to cover the cost of the DJ for fellowship purposes. The club approved the expenditure. A minimum of 30 attendees will be required. There were 34 attendees last year. Stay tuned for additional information.
Rotary Pins: Scott Seabury has a few Rotary pins to anyone who needs one. Let him know if you would like one.
Ken Pascoe spoke with Karen Mason to discuss the upcoming salt/sand project. Club members agreed that we look forward to seeing Karen & Clark Mason soon and appreciate all of their hard work.
Program:
Scott Seabury introduced our program for the evening, which is Trivia, Part II. There were 20 questions, and teams were comprised of two club members each. Club members enjoyed working through the questions and finding out the correct answers. Jay Presser and Don Miner came in first place with 13 points. The second place team was Jack Muska and Heidi Huhn-Partain with 12 points. The first place team won a gift card to Dunkin Donuts. Congratulations to the winners.
Blue Ticket Winners: Blue ticket winner was Greg DeSantis with side winners Scott Seabury and Paul Muska.
Queen of Hearts: Ken Pascoe had the winning ticket and did not pull the Queen of Hearts. Total winning pot now stands at $1,130.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: No birthdays were celebrated this evening.
Adjournment: Scott Seabury closed the meeting with a group signing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Next week’s meeting: November 5 at Suffield by the River
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Suffield, CT 06078
United States of America