May 17, 2019 / Volume 28, No. 42




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Rotary International District: 7980
District Governor: Larry Gardner
Club President: Eileen Flug


May 17, 2019
Westport Inn



Opener: John Krubski

Program:  Linda Bruce - Reflections and Pictures from Southeast Asia

Greeters: Harmer, Hawley, Nathanson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
GREAT DUCK RACE 5K RUN SET FOR JUNE 1

Westport, May 3, 2019

Staples High School's up and coming Interact Rotary Club has teamed up with the Westport Sunrise Rotary on its eleventh annual Great Duck Race to finally bring back the Great Duck Race 5K Run and help raise money for a meaningful cause.

Every penny raised during this 5K race will go directly towards Rotary's non-profit organization End Polio Now. This organization works to eradicate polio, helping to reduce cases by over 99% and continuing to push towards their goal of complete elimination of the disease that causes paralysis. Although polio cases are on the decline, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention warns that if children aren't vaccinated, within a decade there is a risk of polio resurgence that could paralyze 200,000 kids each year. Therefore, with events like this one we can move closer towards our goal of permanently exterminating the disease that causes so much suffering.

This anticipated event not only calls upon running enthusiasts, but also people who want to make a difference. It will take place on June 1st at 8:30 AM, starting and ending at the Imperial Avenue Parking Lot in Westport. Race registration is at Active.com
The race is being organized by Staples Junior Federica Nagar, "I am filled with both honor and excitement. I cannot wait to see everyone's hard work come together for such an inspiring cause, and I hope you'll all be there to witness it with me!"

Following the run, come join the fun at Westport Sunrise Rotary's annual Great Duck Race, starting at 11 AM (duck race time is 3pm). Donations and tickets are available at westportsunriserotary.org.

END  
CONTACT: Federica Nagar
203-970-7477
 
WSR member Linda Bruce will speak to Westport Sunrise Rotary at our 7:30AM breakfast on May 17, 2019.

Reflections and Pictures from Southeast Asia.

Linda will share stories of her March adventures in Singapore, Bali, and Cambodia - A cultural and spiritual exploration.
 
Linda is a chaplain at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT.  Previously, she was a chaplain at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY where she specialized in palliative and trauma care.  At Westchester, she facilitated interdisciplinary team meetings , guided family meetings, prepared and presented seminars for medical residents, and provided emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and caregivers.  

This fall, Linda will teach a course in comparative religions at the Westport Senior Center.  Linda serves on the board of the Westport Weston Health District and is a member of the Westport Community Emergency Response Team.

Linda earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Purdue University,  a Master of Business Administration in Health Care Administration and Finance from the University of Chicago and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.  Linda and her husband Iain have lived in Westport for 30 years. 




LAST WEEK'S GUESTS:



PLEASE WRITE GUEST NAMES AND AFFILIATIONS REALLY CLEARLY.  LEGIBILITY COUNTS.  THANKS.

SUMMARY OF FIRST WEEK OF CHARITABLE GIVING 
(Roy Fuchs)

Helen awarded checks to the first group of our Charitable Giving recipients on Friday morning. Mark took pictures, I am adding captions. Helen will send you the list of recipients.
 
Helen noted that we had 50 applications, and that we gave away a record amount of money that we raised from the Duck Race and the Wine Tasting.
 
Westport Human Services Campership - Patti Haberstroh said 140 Westport families qualify for camp scholarships. 70 percent are headed by single mothers. Our funding will provide a few additional camperships at Camp Compo, and fund another at Mahakeno. Our program does not receive any town funding, and so depends totally upon private funding such as ours.
 
A Better Chance - Michael Wolfe, VP of Fundraising - Provides educational opportunities for students of color from around the country in one of the best school systems in the state. We house seven or eight boys each year, and provide them with academic support and life coaching. Every one graduates and goes on to college. We will use the money for additional academic support, and for repairs to our home.
 
Burroughs Community Center, Bridgeport - Michael Quan, Executive Director. "Burroughs creates opportunities for community members to help themselves." Your money will help support our tax preparation program. This year volunteer preparers assisted 856 low income and elderly residents whose average income was $22,000. The result was refunds totaling $1.4 million that was put back into the community.
 
Caroline House, Bridgeport - Cyndie LaMastra, Grants and Business Manager. We provide mother and child literacy programs. We teach life skills to mothers, most of whom are immigrants, and help their children, particularly pre-schoolers, enter school knowing their letters, numbers, colors and shapes, and we help them improve their motor skills.
 
Child Advocates of Connecticut, Westport - Stacey Sobel, Executive Director. We recently changed our name to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). We help abused and neglected children, many of whom do not live with their immediate families. Many of these children have been impacted by the opiod crisis. "You are really making a difference... (ours) is as grass roots as it gets."
 
Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, Bridgeport - Claudia Connor, President and CEO. CIRI is a statewide organization that settles refugees and immigrants. We just celebrated our centennial. CIRI runs a summer academy for recent refugees and immigrants, 52 percent of whom are under 18. This program helps people gain familiarity with American schools, it helps them learn English and it helps their social and emotional growth. This funding will help provide breakfasts and lunches for 50 children attending our summer academy.
 
Connecticut Burns Care Foundation, Milford - Kathleen Gerrity, Executive Director. We run a summer camp for children from eight to 18 who have suffered life altering burns. One example is an eight year old who lost his family in a home fire. The funding will pay a portion of the operating costs for the camp.
 
Earthplace, Westport - Tony McDowell, Executive Director, Sophie Pollman, Director of Marketing and Development. Earthplace is a place to help children learn about nature, the environment and ecology. Ms. Pollman said "camp should be accessible to all," and this funding will help do that, primarily for children who live in low or moderate income single parent homes.
 
Groundwork Bridgeport - Christina Smith, Executive Director and Tanner Burgdorf, Program Coordinator. Ms. Smith said our organization works to improve the environmental, economic, and social conditions of the city and provides opportunities for city teens to learn and engage with their community. Your support will help more young people participate in our programs.

Nick's Notes:


Even though I may be as American as apple pie, it's my accent that gives me away and I keep getting questions about Brexit. Brexit? Exit? Who the devil knows?

However, my neighbour (UK spelling)  lent me this hilarious book on the subject. THE BLUFFER'S GUIDE TO BREXIT.  By Boris Starling. and I take delight in quoting from it. Here goes:

Sir Humphrey Appleby:  Minister.  Britain has had the same foreign policy objective for at last the last four hundred years: to create a disunited Europe. In that cause we have fought with the Dutch, against the Spanish, with the Germans against the French, with the French and Italians against the Germans and with the French against the Germans and the Italians. Divide and rule, you see. Why should we change now when it's worked so well?

Jim Hacker: That's all ancient history, surely?

Sir Humphrey: (Ed. Cutting his humorous, long winded reply a bit short, in essence he say's) Now we're inside we can make a complete pig's breakfast of the whole thing: set the Germans agains the French, the French against the Italians against the Dutch ...The Foreign Office is terribly pleased: It's just like old times.
 
Hacker: But surely we are all committed to the European ideal?

Humphrey: ( chuckles ) Really Minister.

More from this scintillating book next week. 

______________________________________________

You are very lucky if you have in your elderly years a partner with whom to discuss the trivial choices one encounters in life. What shall we eat? Wanna go to the movies?  Shall we go to Madagascar or Rochester for our vacation? 
On Sunday  I asked one of my friends if she'd like to come into NYC with me to see the Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition? 'Where in New York?' she asked. When I told her it was in the East Village (should that be capitalized?),  she declined because her cousin's friend knew someone who had been mugged there. 'What about the Winogrand or Frida at the Brooklyn Museum' I asked. Brooklyn? Isn't that where Kennedy airport is? No thanks. My cousin's friend got stuck on route 678 for hours once. I didn't correct her geography and decided I'd go alone. But to which one? Basquiat? Winogrand or Frida? Can't make up me mind.

SONO 14/20  Living in East Norwalk (that is capitalized) is sort of like living in the east village. Funky. Artistic. Untidy. Bet you didn't know that there is a place here that holds whisky, gin and vodka tastings on weekends.  For $20.00 I think it is, you can  taste about five  samples. Not mug fulls mind you, just a taste,  while being attended to by the beautiful Merrily Mellick and a handsome fellow called Blake and others. As I get befuddled even on a teaspoon of whisky I hope the 'others' forgive me. Why 14/20 you may ask. You'll have to go there and find out for yourself. After 14/20 I accompanied a lovely lady to a bar and listened to the band Blame it on the Dog where I bought a t shirt. And all within walking distance of my  condo.



lots of pictures
thank you very much mark mathias
































happy_birthday_candles.jpg



May Birthdays




Ralph Krueger - May 10
Michael Mombello - May 11
Jo Fuchs Luscombe - May 18
Helen Garten - May 20
Jane Ross - May 24



JOIN ROTARY AND CHANGE THE WORLD
(VIDEO)

JOIN ROTARY AND CHANGE THE WORLD

(sourced by Dennis Wong)


IDENTIFYING PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS FOR OUR CLUB

Think of your contacts, acquaintances, friends and family members who might qualify for membership in the Club.  It's not necessary to know whether they are ready to join Rotary.  

Professional Contacts:
Consider your supervisor, current and former colleagues, acquaintances from professional associations and people you have done business with recently.  

Service Contacts:
Consider neighbors, community leaders and acquaintances who have volunteered with you on Rotary or non-Rotary events or service projects.

Community Contacts:
For example:
Medical Professionals, Real Estate Agents, Financial Managers/Planners, Religious Leaders, Lawyers, Business Consultants, Accountants, Veterinarians, Non-Profit Professionals, School Administrators, Social Workers

Have a name?

Send it in with some contact info.
jbcohen27@gmail.com

On the first Saturday of each month, two Rotarian's are assigned to deliver and serve meals to the homeless at the Gillespie Center. Please contact 
Bruce Paul
bruce.a.paul@gmail.com 



June 1, 2019: unknown, TBD


The Crier includes the
"Club Calendar", where the upcoming Club events are listed. Please submit event information to: jbcohen27@gmail.com
Sunrise Rotary Club members serve as greeters and deliver the openers at the Club meetings on a rotating basis. If a member is unavailable on the assigned date, it is essential that he or she find a replacement and submit the name to:
jbcohen27@gmail.com

Greeters
 
2019
           
April                  Soboslai; Watson; Bruce
May                   Hawley; Nathanson; Harmer
June                  Freedman; Galan; Augustyn
July                   Hauck; Palmer; Lavielle
Aug                   Fuchs; Nair; Violette
Sept                  Cohen; Block; Garten
Oct                    Zielinski; Jaffe; Flug




Meeting Openers
 

April             5     Ellison
                  12     Harmer
                  19      Nair
                  26     Block
 
May             3      Ross
                  10      Berger
                  17     Krubski
                  24     Zielinski
                  31    Hawley


Programs:

May 17 - Linda Bruce - Reflections and Pictures from Southeast Asia


Westport Sunrise Rotary Club Board Meetings
Usually the first Monday of the month 5:30-7PM in Town Hall Room 201.  All are welcome.  
Rotary's commitment to Service Above Self has been channeled through the Avenues of Service,  which form the foundation of club activity. Club Service (Fun,  Fellowship and Fundraising)  Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the smooth functioning of Rotary clubs.

Vocational Service (Four-WayTest)
Vocational Service involves club members serving others through their professions and aspiring to high ethical standards. Rotarians, as business leaders, share skills and expertise through their vocations, and they inspire others in the process.

Community  Service  (Charitable Giving and Hands-On)  Community Service is the opportunity Rotary clubs have to implement club projects and activities that improve life in the local community.

International Service (International Projects and PolioEradication)
International Service encompasses efforts to expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the world and to promote world understanding and peace. It includes everything from contributing to Polio Plus to helping Rotary Youth Exchange students adjust to their host countries.

New Generations Service ( Rising Young Voices)
New Generations Service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities such as RYLA Rotaract and Interact club service projects, and creating international understanding with Rotary Youth Exchange. 




President: Eileen Lavigne Flug
Past President: Ron Holtz 
President Elect: Karen Kleine 
Secretary: Yvonne Senturia 
Treasurer and Sunrise Rotary Foundation President: Jeff Cohen
Membership Chair: June Getraer
Program Chair: Ralph Krueger
Hands On Co-Chair: Bruce Paul
Hands On Co-Chair: Rob Hauck
Charitable Giving Chair: Helen Garten
Youth Services: Justin Phillips
Youth Services : Pat Riemersma
International Chair : Rick Jaffe
Rotary International Foundation Chair: Joe Renzulli
Member at Large: Mark Soboslai
Member at Large: Liz Wong





  
Editor/ Photographer Jeff Cohen
Reporter/Photographer Roy Fuchs
Columnist Nick Clarke


 


The Westport Sunrise Rotary Club meets 7:30 AM every Friday Morning at 
The Westport Inn
1595 Post Road East.

 Meetings are open to all Rotarians and their guests.
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