TO: RE: WESTPORT ROTARY CLUB COMMUNITY GIVING LUNCHEON Paul Harris Fellow NEWSLETTER for May 15 th, 2018 Meeting, Branson Hall at the Christ & Holy Trinity Church WELCOME DESK: Thank you, Tony McDowell, Goldie James, Alex Horton & Lois Schine for working the Welcome Desk. Thank you Tony for your notes. INVOCATION: by Rev. John Morehouse. Wise words worthy of the day: To paraphrase Patricia Ryan Madison, he encouraged us to Say yes to everything, accept all offers. go along with the plan, and support someone else s dream. He continued, cultivate all the ways you can imagine to express affirmation. When the answer is yes, you enter a new world, a world of action, possibility, and adventure. He added, try substituting yes and for yes but this will get the ball rolling. John finished the invocation with a quote from Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (known to many as Rebbe): If you see what needs to be repaired and how to repair it, then you have found a piece of the world that God has left for you to complete. But if you only see what is wrong and what is ugly in the world, then it is you yourself that needs repair. Wise words indeed! NOTE: Menachem Mendel Schneerson (April 18, 1902 OS June 12, 1994 / AM 11 Nissan 5662 3 Tammuz 5754), known to many as the Rebbe, [2][3] was a Russian Empire-born American Orthodox Jewish rabbi, and the last rebbe of the Lubavitcher Hasidic dynasty. He is considered one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century. May 21, LobsterFest meeting at Earth Place 5:00 p.m. May 22: Regular Meeting, by-laws vote, preliminary viewing of new Facebook page and NicaPhoto trip May 28: Memorial Day parade We need you. We still need a volunteer to wear the lobster outfit! May 29: Board Meeting May 31: Social at Sandra Urist s house, 15 Plunkett Place, at 5:30 June 5: Regular meeting celebration of Lee Greenberg s 100th
PRESIDENT S MESSAGE: Straight from Susie Basler May 15th was such a banner day! a day to feel proud -- to feel proud of all the money we were able to give to so many worthy agencies. It was so good to have all the new organizations, especially those in Bridgeport. Likewise, it is a privilege to be able to recognize and honor people in our community whose lives reflect our motto, "service beyond self." The stories of police and fire persons were inspiring how great that their colleagues came to celebrate them. Also very moving were the Community Service/Paul Harris bios. Finally, the Paul Harris awards speak to our club members commitment to the work that International Rotary does in the world. Tony Riggio, how terrific that you won first place out of more than 1100 entries in Rotary s photo contest so we could celebrate you, too! Congratulations. PRESIDENT S SPECIAL Hospitality and generosity marked the day! Thank you, Beth, for the First County Bank lunch sponsorship Irwin Lebish for playing the piano. Sandra Urist and her committee (Molly Alger, Leslie Wolf, Viveka Kjellgren, Gillian Anderson, and Irwin Lebish) for all their hard work researching agencies and for helping to coordinate the day -- the flowers, the awards, and the booklet. Rick Benson, your participation, as always, is invaluable. SHOUT Thank you to everyone who came, supported, and helped make this a special day. And most importantly, Thank You to All the Westport Rotary members, the secret to our club s success. The Program began with 34 charitable organizations represented, plus 22 guests, a full house of Westport Rotary members, and four visiting Rotarians. Quite the crowd! Irwin Lebish serenaded the assembly with classical piano adding an elegant touch to a beautiful room set by the Charitable Giving Committee and volunteers. 2
Public Safety Award Westport Fire Department Firefighter Christopher Swartz and Firefighter Todd Hall Firefighter Christopher Swartz, and Firefighter Todd Hill, were both recognized for their dramatic rescue in the freezing Saugatuck reiver on February 19 th, 2018. Working together from different directions they saved a life the epitome of public safety and tribute to the skill and training of all those work to keep us safe. Public Safety Award Westport Police Department Sergeant Sereniti Dobson and Corporal Kevin Smith Corporal Kevin Smith started undercover work in the police department at the age of 18. Sergeant Sereniti Dobson (shaking hands with Chief Foti Koskinas) who helped start the juvenile review board and works on some of the toughest sex crime cases. 3
Community Service Awards Lee Papageorge (PH), Jimmy Izzo, Dan Woog, Charles and Patty Haberstroh, & Lois Schine. Each recipient received their own colorful and touching introductions, with stories of accomplishment largely overshadowed by examples of community service that made us proud to know and honor them. Some are Rotarians, today, but all have demonstrated the core Rotarian belief of service above self and are worthy Westport citizen honorees for 2018. Paul Harris Fellow Awards Steve Lewine, Westport Foundation Chair, assisted by Rick Benson, District foundation Chair, and Future District Governor Ron Webb, honored the Westport Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow Awardees: Mark Agnew, Rick Benson, Sam Carpenter, Richard Epstein, Irwin Lebish, SteveLewine, Marty Resnick, Lyla Steenbergen, and Jeff Weiser. 4
2018 Community Grant Awards The highlight of the luncheon for members and guests was the award of $65,000 in grants earned from the club s successful Lobsterfest in 2017. Sandra Urist, Chair of the 2017 Lobsterfest and chair of the 2018 Charitable Giving Committee was gracious in her praise of her hard-working committees and the incredible 34 organizations worthy of our grants and gratitude for what they do for the greater Westport community. Too numerous to name, these organizations are the arms and legs of our community service and received well deserved recognition. (For a list of the recipients, please see list below). Your Scribe for the Day, Edited by you Bulletin Editor Tony McDowell, 203-557-4401 Beth Brucker, 203-858-7622 lt.mcdowell@earthplace.org ebrucker@firstcountybank.com 5
BIG THANK YOU TO OUR LOBSTERFEST SPONSORS WHO MADE THIS COMMUNITY GIVING HAPPEN! 6
PHOTOS FROM BETH BRUCKER & DAVE MATLOW: In Photo: The Westport Fire Dept. Table LtoR Firefighter Todd Hill, Lt. John Piper, Lt. Michael Grasso, Firefighter Vincent DelVechio, Jennifer Petrosinelli, Chief Robert Yost & Deputy Chief Michael Kronick. 7
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