Club Meeting November 24, 2015

 

Opening and Welcome: Interim President Frank DiGennaro opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Scott Seabury gave the invocation and led everyone in singing "God Bless America." 

 

Members Present: Dale Baker, Joe Blake, Beth Cannone, Peter Das,  Jed Dery, Frank DiGennaro, Greg DeSantis, Guy Fortunato, Dick Kisiel, Luis Lee, Jack Muska,  Paul Pace, Ken Pascoe, Ray Perleoni, Jay Presser, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg, Tom Sullivan, and Nancy Viggiano.  

47.5% attendance rate.

 

Guest: Interim Police Chief, Anthony Riello

 

Announcements: Frank welcomed Chief Riello.  Nancy Viggiano announced that the Christmas Party will be held on December 8 at Oakridge Country Club at 6:00 p.m.  Meal choices include prime rib, chicken François, stuffed shrimp, and Vegan.  The meal cost is $25/person.  Club member guests are invited.   Frank announced that club member Peter Macris is in Bay State Medical Center in Springfield, and Gail Handley is recuperating very and will be able spend Thanksgiving with family.

 

Salvation bell ringers needed for Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of Dunkin Donuts and/or the new CVS. Jay will send out a sign-up sheet.  Club members will also be able to sign-up at the next meeting.  The number of volunteers will affect the length of time for each shift. 

 

Frank announced that Paul Pace is still collecting club member contributions to support of one volunteer from Asnuntuck Community College to continue the work of Britney Gengle in Haiti.  $2000 needed to support the volunteer.  So far, club members have contributed $700 and Paul said he would make-up any difference.   Checks should be make out to Asnuntuck Community College and given to Paul by December 1.   See information below regarding the “Be like Brit” fundraising effort.

Ken Pascoe announced that he is organizing a committee to consider an additional fund raising effort.  He will communicate with club members on the date, time, and location of the meeting.

Frank announced that the guest speaker was unable to come to the meeting and will be rescheduled.

The Board will hold a meeting on December 1 at 4:30 p.m.  Frank will send out a reminder to Board members.

Recognition Program:  Luis Lee led the induction ceremony to welcome two new Club Members, Beth Cannone and Guy Fortunato.  Both new members are educators.  Guy is a Suffield High School teacher. Beth, who is resident of Suffield, is a special education specialist working in West Hartford.

 

Luis Lee received a pin to recognize his effort to improve members by bringing five new members.

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries:  Dick Kisiel announced that Ray and Kathryn will be celebrating their 9^th anniversary on November 25.

 

Blue Ticket Winners:  Jay Presser, with sides won by Jack Muska and Nancy Viggiano.

 

Queen of Hearts: Guy Fortunato had the winning ticket by did not draw the lucky queen and win the $133 jackpot.

 

Adjournment:  Frank adjourned the meeting with the singing of “America.”

 

 

Britney Gengle was a beautiful, fearless, and compassionate 19 year old when she decided to travel with her college, Lynn University, to the country of Haiti. Upon arrival, Britney was overwhelmed by the devastating poverty visible everywhere, but the love she received from the children she met, despite their conditions, inspired her to send the following text to her mother:

"They love us so much and everyone is so happy. They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself." ~

Shortly after sending the text, a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. The impact killed an estimated 300,000 people, including Britney. Her family could not let her die in vain so in loving memory they started the Be Like Brit Foundation, Inc. Over the course of two years, a 19,000 sq. ft earthquake proof orphanage was built in Grand Goave, Haiti — the town where Brit was supposed to travel to the day after the earthquake.