Category Archives: Club Visits

Norwich Rotary launches the first Rotary Community Corps (RCC) in New England

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The Norwich Rotary Community Corps (RCC) received their Charter last night making them the very first RCC in D7980 and in New England.

About 50 attendees gathered at the Holiday Inn in Norwich last night to recognize the official launch of the Norwich Rotary Community Corps by the Norwich Rotary Club.

Rotary Community Corps is a group of non-Rotarians who share our commitment to service. RCC members plan and carry out projects in their communities and support local Rotary club projects.  RCCs empower community members to initiate and implement their own service projects and facilitate collaboration between Rotarians and non-Rotarians in their community development endeavors.

There are more than 7,500 corps in over 80 countries. RCC was adopted by Rotary International in 1988

The Rotary Community Corps is for people who want to do something in their community, but are unable for some reason to make the commitment to Rotary membership.

Congratulations to the Norwich Connecticut Rotary Club for sponsoring the very first RCC in our District and in New England.

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East Hampton Rotary – Hot BBQ on a Cold Winter Night

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The East Hampton Rotary Club held their 4th Annual BBQ Dinner at  Belltown Tire (Owen Flannery’s Shop) in East Hampton. Proceeds of the event benefitted  the Anthony and Winifred Flannery Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The event was a glimmering light of suburb fellowship on an otherwise gloomy cold winter night that had Rotarians, family members and friends enjoying each other’s company while dining on steak, chicken, potatoes, beans, salads, rolls and dessert and washing it all down with beer, wine, water, soda and other assorted spirits.

Red McKinney did an excellent job presenting Paul Harris Fellows to Owen Flannery and Steve Greco. According to Red; Steve received the 60th Paul Harris Fellow in the East Hampton Rotary Club.

President Kevin Kuhr missed the festivities last night as he is on the ‘injured reserve’ list while at home recovering from a recent eye operation.

Western wear was encouraged as the Sergeant at Arms was off duty for the night and fines were off the table. There were also some generous raffle prizes that donated by Belltown Tire.

This group of Rotarians knows how to throw it down.

The Deep River Rotary Club celebrates Valentines Day in Grand Style

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We joined our friends from the Deep River Rotary Club to celebrate Valentines Day with decedent hors d’ouvres, chilled champagne with strawberries, and yes..lots of Chocolate! This special night took place in one of the shoreline’s beautiful historic homes in Old Lyme.

PDG Brian Amey’s Governor Project Raises $20,000 for St. Martin de Porres Academy

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Immediate Past District Governor (iPDG) Brian Amey presented a check to the President of the  St. Martin de Porres Interact Club  today for $4,000 during a meeting with the Orange Rotary Club.

iPDG Brian and many people worked very hard to raise $20,000 in funds to help break the cycle of poverty by providing life changing opportunities for the young people helped by St. Martin de Porres Academy (SMPA). Financial support for Brian’s DG Project came in; the form of direct donations to the project, as proceeds from the raffle tickets and from the ‘Quilt Friends of the Governor’ auction.

The mission of SMPA is to break the cycle of poverty through education by addressing educational disparity by increasing quality education opportunities for at risk children from Connecticut’s lowest income families, thus making them competitive for admission to college and universities.

The Academy’s school model is based upon small class size, an 10-hour extended school day, an 11-month extended school year, 90 minutes of reading per day, 2 meals a day, compulsory instrumental music, and mandatory parental commitment. Students are in school approximately 850 more hours per year than their public school peers and their attendance is 97%.

Six Rotary Clubs gather in Old Saybrook tonight to support local and international causes

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About 50 Rotarians from the Old Saybrook, Essex, Chester, Deep River, Mystic and  The Stoningtons Rotary Clubs met in Old Saybrook tonight to support the Estuary Council of Seniors. The Estuary is the meeting place of the Old Saybrook Rotary Club.

Estuary Board & Old Saybrook Rotary PresidentGerri Lewis introduced Paul Doyle, Executive Director Tri Club (Rotary Clubs of Essex, Deep River, and Chester) International Chairman Jeff Mehler presented the 2014 Projects & Goals and recognized the International Sponsors.

The international committee has sponsored humanitarian initiatives from Africa to the Caribbean and South America. The Nomad Foundation, supported by the Tri-Club Committee, provides everything from wells and clean water to maternal health care and solar technology in the landlocked West African country of Niger.

ShelterBox, another of the organizations that has received aid from the local Rotary, furnishes disaster victims throughout the world with large plastic containers with the basic physical necessities of life, from a sturdy tent to a cook stove and water purifying equipment.

Simply Smiles works to improve the lives of impoverished children in southern Mexico. At the moment, the local clubs are planning a mission trip to Mexico this summer to participate in the work of Simply Smiles.

The international committee has also involved itself in a number of programs that link the local communities to Haiti, which the United Nations Human Development Index has identified as the poorest country in the western hemisphere. The local international committee is a supporter of Sister Cities Essex Haiti (SCEH), which is working to build a library in the Haitian village of Deschapelles. The Tri-Club Committee has pledged to provide 1,000 books in Kreyol, the French-based vernacular that is the most commonly spoken language in the country for the library. (text in blue: source: the day 02/20/2012)

Amy Riggio speaks to Wilton Rotary on Builders Beyond Borders (B3)

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Amy Schroeder-Riggio, Executive Director, from Builders Beyond Borders (B3) was the speaker at the Wilton Rotary Club this past Friday. Amy presented an excellent program on the important projects which B3 does and how it impacts the lives of young people.

B3 gives high school students opportunities to experience local and global community service through building projects in the U.S. and abroad.  They sponsor programs in Peru, Honduras, Brazil, Guatemala, Ecuador, Cuba, Tobago, Chile, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica Nicaragua and Guyana.  Over 350 students from 25 area high schools are on teams which are sent with leaders to work on projects during school vacations.  B3 works closely with other social service agencies and Rotary clubs abroad.  Students need to fundraise 80% of the costs, B3 contributes 20%.  Many projects are for improving water supply, sanitation, better living conditions and constructing schools in developing countries.  Locally, they have established 40 community gardens.  10 students from Wilton High are involved.

If that last name  Riggio sounds familiar, and it should, it is worth pointing out that Amy is married to Westport Rotary President Tony Riggio who last March was written up in the Rotarian Magazine for his involvement in a B3 water project in Latin America <click here to read that story>.