Club Meeting- January 3, 2017

 

Opening and Welcome:  President Jackie Guzie opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Luis Lee gave the invocation. Jackie then led the singing of “God Bless America”.

 

Members Present: Dale Baker, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Frank DiGennaro, Natalie Donais, Jackie Guzie, Greg Heineman, Luis Lee, Clark Mason, Karen Mason, Don Miner, Jack Muska, Paul Pace, Ken Pascoe, Charles Roumas, Gordon Stagg, Nancy Viggiano and Ed Walsh. (18/37….49%).

 

Guests: Dr. Augusto Asinas-Visiting Rotarian from West Springfield Club; Ben Gee- guest of Don Miner; Ben Frost- prospective member sponsored by Jackie Guzie; and two senior executives/speakers from Johnson Memorial Medical Center, Inc.–Stuart E Rosenberg (Chairman and President) and Phil Tartsinis (Vice Chairman and Director).

 

 

Jackie Guzie had the membership formally thank Karen and Clark Mason in person for their origination and execution of a very successful Sand and Salt bucket program for Suffield senior citizens. The club looks forward to making this community service event an annual tradition.

 

Ken Pascoe and Greg Heineman wanted to remind all members that raffle ticket sales for the Zero Turn Lawn Mower are still active until the drawing in mid-April. They asked members to please get more tickets out to the public for sale. The club wishes to continue to build on its receipts to date, and there are 90+ sales opportunity days left.

 

Program: The club welcomed Stu Rosenberg, President of Johnson Memorial Medical Center (JMMC), as its main speaker, with Phil Tartsinis, Vice Chair, joining in for Q&A. Their goal was to convey who Trinity Health New England is (the regional health ministry JMMC is now a part of), and also on a local level the many positive improvements made at JMMC available to our community. All members were provided a leave behind of the presentation.

 

Trinity Health is a $16 billion national Catholic health system based in Livonia, Michigan, operating regional health ministries in 22 states. It employs 97,000 staff including 5300 doctors. Trinity Health New England is a regional ministry under this umbrella which now includes five local names familiar to us:  JMMC (Stafford Springs), Mercy Medical Center (Springfield MA), Saint Mary’s Hospital (Waterbury), Mt. Sinai Rehab Hospital (Hartford) and Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center (Hartford).

 

Specifically at JMMC, Trinity has invested millions recently to better serve our local area, and will continue this year. JMMC has had multiple new certifications, and solid readmission/ returning patient rates. Our member Don Miner mentioned on behalf of Suffield EMT and Police, that JMMC is Suffield’s primary care delivery facility, and he has found their Emergency Department to be caring and expeditious. Members with specific questions regarding JMMC or Trinity Health New England will be directed to Stu or Phil for answers/information. The club was pleased to have this update on local medical services.  

 

Blue Ticket Winners: Greg Heineman had the winning blue ticket, with sides won by Clark Mason and Charles Roumas.

 

Queen of Hearts:  Jackie Guzie had the winning ticket, but her proxy (she had to depart early) did not select the Queen of Hearts. Next week’s drawing $170+.

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries: None

 

Adjournment: Ken Pascoe adjourned the meeting at 710 pm.

 

Minutes recorded by Charles Roumas, Secretary on January 3, 2017.