As Governor, 2013-2014 has been an exciting and interesting year for me and our District. The Future Vision plan was implemented. That meant changes and whenever there are changes, there is some resistance and a lot of learning.
I am pleased to report that the transition went well. District 7890 gave $48,000 in District Grants. There were 2 District Scholarships, for a total of $10.000. The demand for Global Grants has increased. 6 have been approved and they totaled $46,000. They in turn, were matched by Rotary International dollar for dollar. District 7890’s Rotary Clubs have donated substantial amounts to the Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus.
Our District membership appears to have stabilized and a number of Clubs are growing rapidly. I feel that this year went off very well and none of our great projects would have happened if not for our District Committees, Club Presidents and our fellow Rotarians. So, I wish to take this opportunity to thank all our District Rotarians for a job well done. We truly lived up to our Rotary Motto of “Service above Self”
Can you believe another Rotary year is almost over and June heralds many club President and board installations. To those of you who have held leadership roles in your Club and are now handing over the baton, I appreciate your hard work in fulfilling President Ron Burton’s theme, “Engage Rotary and Change lives.”
RI President-elect, Gary C.K. Huang chose “Light Up Rotary” as his theme for 2014-15. President Elect Huang was inspired by the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius who said: "It is better to light a single candle, than to sit and curse the darkness."
Governor Elect, Michael Roy is getting ready to take the reins of District 7890 and as of the beginning of July, he and all our incoming Club Presidents will be hard at work in preparing another fruitful year of fellowship and good deeds.
I shall miss the club visits and warm reception given to me and my wife, Linda. At the same time I shall welcome a little time to recoup and enjoy my new Rotary life as a Past District Governor.
Regards,
Mike Barnett
District Governor 2013-2014
The Rotary Club of BLOOMFIELD and the Bloomfield Rotary Foundation presented a check for $1554 to non-profit Operation Fuel. The Operation Fuel program has provided emergency energy assistance throughout Connecticut to lower income working families, the elderly and disabled individuals who are not eligible for assistance from government-funded programs.
Young people in and around Bristol are the big winners in the BRISTOL Rotary Club's small grants program. The club recently distributed checks totaling more than $15,00 to nine organizations serving children and youth. Receipients were The McCabe-Water Little League, Reach Out and Read program, Bristol Emergency Shelter (St Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol,) Shepard Meadows, The Parent and Child Center at Bristol Hospital, Bristol Girl's Little League Softball Program, a youth program at Bristol Historical Society, Imagine Nation Children's Museum's Pinwheel Pass Program and Kids in the Middle.
Pictured in the photo are recipients of the 2014 BRISTOL Rotary Club's small community grants program. l to r - Rotarian Les Kish, Chair of the Golf Committee, Tom Dickau-Bristol Historical Society, Rotarian Doreen Stickney-Imagine Nation Children's Museum, Ali Feigen-Kids in the Middle program, Phil Lysiak-St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol, Rotarian Laura Watson-Reach Out and Read, Kimberly Carmelich-Parent and Child Center at Bristol Hospital, Rotarian Dale Clift and Ellen Zoppo-McCabe-Waters Little League and the Bristol Girl's Little League Softball Program.
Rotarian Rick Lawrence of the MANCHESTER Rotary Club was presented the highest award conferred on an individual by Rotary International. The "Service Above Self" award was presented for Rick's seven years or raising funds to construct sustainable clean water and sanitation projects for the indigenous Mayans in the northern highlands in Guatemala in addition to significant contributions to other volunteer causes in his lifetime.
The award named after Rotary's motto was presented by District 7890 Governor Mike Barnett and Rotary International President's Representative David Roper at the recent District Conference held in Portsmouth, NH. This award recognizes up to 150 Rotarians each year from the 1.2 million Rotarians throughout the world who demonstrate their commitment to helping others by volunteering their time and talents. CONGRATULATIONS RICK!!!!
Rick receiving award from Governor Mike and David Roper
Rick and his wife Ellen at one of the villages in Guatemala
The NORTHAMPTON Rotary Club recently completed a District Matching Grant project with the Sarajevo Bosnia Rotary Club from District 1910. Sarajevo Rotarians and Interactors removed about eight truckloads of trash from a stretch of the Miljacka River (one of Bosnia's most important rivers) which runs through downtown Sarajevo and carried out pruning and landscaping on the riverbanks. The cost of the project was approximately $3800USD. NORTHAMPTON and Governor Elect Mike Roy received many thank you notes after the project was finished.
The SPRINGFIELD Rotary Club's Service Fund recently awarded a $2,000 grant to St. Michael's Academy. The grant will allow the school to purchase more interactive technology for the students such as a Mimeo Teach System, along with a projector and a laptop for each classroom K-8. The systems are all portable and will be shared among the teachers within each grade level until enough funding is obtained to outfit all 21 classrooms. This project is scheduled over a 5 year period.
Pictured l to r - Mary Anne Herron, Co-Chair of the Service Fund, Jay Leib, President of the SPRINGFIELD Club and Phyllis Lund, Advancement Director for St. Michael's Academy.
The Rotary Club of area hosted the 78th Annual Pet Parade on May 17th where more than 1,500 people attended. Among those joining the spectators were Governor Mike and Linda Barnett and Assistant Governor Rob Belden.
WEST HARTFORD Rotary Club recently held its ninth annual "Jazz Brunch" at the Hartford Club in Hartford. Proceeds from the event will go to support the Gifts of Music program and numerous other local charities. Gifts of Music is a non-profit organization which provides musical instruments and lessons for talented and gifted public school students who cannot afford them. This year's featured artist was "Javon Jackson & Friends" and Master Chef Chris Kube prepared a gourment brunch titled "A Taste of Brazil."
Broad Brook - June 14, 2014 at Rolling Meadow Country Club, Ellington, CT. Cost is $100 per player and includes green fees, cart and BBQ Dinner. For more information contact Bobbi Mazurek at 860 623-3149 or Bobbirnbsn@aol.com.
Windsor-Windsor Locks - June 16, 2014 at Oak Ridge Golf Club, Feeding Hills, MA. Cost is $125 per golfer and includes green fees, cart, lunch and buffet dinner. For more information contact Pat Sidley at 860 687-1927 or psidley@sbcglobal.net.
Suffield presents their 23rd Annual Glenn T. Packard Golf Tournament on August 8, 2014 at Oak Ridge Golf Course, Feeding Hills, MA Cost is $150 per golfer and includes greens fees full hot breakfast buffet at 7:30 followed by a shot gun start at 8:30AM, lunch with an open bar and gifts to all players. For more information contact Paul Pace at 860 305-1524 - Psquared7@aol.com or Ken Pascoe at 860 729-6163 - ken@bcp-cpas.com.
We apologize for the May 2014 District 7890 Newsletter not being distributed. The stories, new members and anniversaries are included in this one, June 2014. Please note the missing newsletter was because of circumstances beyond the control of our editor, PDG Karen Andrews.
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