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