Opening and Welcome: Richard Kisiel opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test and Scott Seabury provided the invocation and led the club in “God Bless America”.
Members Present: Dale Baker, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Natalie Donais, Jackie Guzie, Gail Handley, Greg Heineman, Richard Kisiel, Jonathan Kozloski, Louis Lee, Robert Lowell, Clark Mason, Karen Mason, Catherine Morrow, Jack Muska, Paul Pace, Ken Pascoe, Jay Presser, Don Rawling, Charles Roumas, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg, Nancy Viggiano and Tami Zawistowski. Attendance: 73% 24/33
Guests: Sue Lydon-Past President of Suffield Boosters Club
Announcements/Program: President Dick Kisiel opened the meeting with a reading of the thank you note sent by Giancarlo Isotti, a scholarship recipient, which exemplified the thought-provoking impact the Rotary hopes to have on those receiving a scholarship.
Dick asks for feedback on the location of our Rotary meetings. At next week’s meeting a discussion and decision to either hold all our meetings at SCC or continue to meet half the year at SCC and the other half at Season’s will be determined. Dick asks if you are unable to attend next week’s meeting, please send him your comments so that he can include them in the discussion.
Natalie Donais has submitted the application and proposed Dr. Christina Fitch for membership. Please notify a member of the Board if you have any concerns about this membership application. Club members have seven days to consider and file any objections to Gayle Demko.
The Rotary Lobster fest Event is scheduled for October 10. After discussion the location is to continue at Fox Hollow Gun Club and the committee will be seeking volunteers to assist.
SOTG: Ken announced the grilling hut has been repainted and thanked Dale Baker, Clark Mason, Jed Dery and Joe Blake for their assistance.
Program: Sue Lydon of the Suffield Boosters Club presented a history of the Rotary Hut’s use and status in the Suffield High sports community. The following is an summary of this presentation.
Upon completion in 2011, there was no active program for the Hut’s use and it was underutilized. Sue became proactive and pulled together members of the high school’s soccer, football and field hockey sports teams. These groups have now established a working schedule for the Hut’s use and work collaboratively to ensure the Hut is available for each group’s needs. The custodian is given a schedule of events and opens the hut for these dates; Mark Cervione opens the hut for soccer events.
Sue indicates the Hut has served the community, out of town attendees and the athletes well. The out of town attendees count on having food available. Having hot dogs, pretzels, a bag of chips, hot chocolate and water available at the event is vastly appreciated, as is the available bathroom facilities. The athletes also use the Hut when injured or having difficulties. The community and sports organizations share the prospect to fundraise and serve; Sue has ensured Suffield hosts a home game each year to realize the advantage of the fundraising opportunities.
Concerning a kitchen facility addition: Regulatory issues regarding food licensing would become more complicated if a kitchen were added to the facility. Also the current size of the facility would need to be increased to accommodate an added kitchen. Presently any hot food is microwaved prior to serving and this has been sufficient.
What improvements could be made to the Hut? Sue indicates the preparation sink is very small and quite inefficient and the water quality in the Hut a concern. Any water used during food preparation is brought in from the school building. At Dick’s request, Sue will obtain and relay figures from Larry Plano regarding the price of installing an appropriate sink.
Other concerns: The soccer club is well staffed, but field hockey and football groups are having difficulty finding volunteers during events to operate the Hut.
Sue concluded by noting those using the Hut have no problems or complaints; the Hut is well-respected with no break-ins to date and no difficulties to relay. The custodian oversees the use of the Hut and there have been no issues with any relationships or usage. She thanked the Rotary for their initiation and support of this facility.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: None celebrated.
Blue Ticket Winners: Clark Mason had the winning blue ticket, with sides won by Karen Mason and Gail Handley.
Queen of Hearts: Luis Lee had the winning ticket, but did not select the queen. Next week’s drawing $487+.
Adjournment: Dick Kisiel adjourned the meeting and led a closing song.
Program scheduled for our next meeting - August 29: Patrick McMahon will detail the upcoming Discover CT Bicycle Tour Series, an October 2017 event hosted in three CT towns – Suffield, New Haven and Torrington.