Club Meeting Minutes Jan 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

 

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.

 

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.”

 

 

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

 

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.

 

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.”