Welcome to another issue of our monthly Membership Bulletin!
Read on to learn more about our new, twice monthly VIRTUAL CLUB MEETINGS, our crowd-funded COMMUNITY CARES outreach project for local front line health care heroes and restauranteurs, and new opportunities for SERVICE and FELLOWSHIP!
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President's Message Spring 2020
Bob Rodner
As we enter spring, I am chilled by the pall cast over our lives by Covid-19. I anticipated a sense of satisfaction knowing that another year of “service above self” had been accomplished by our Club only to be humbled by the impact of this global scourge. So much planned, yet so much lost opportunity; meetings cancelled, fund raising curtailed and events rescheduled or postponed indefinitely.
Certainly, each of us has the responsibility for our own health and safety and that of our dear ones. However, from the prospective of a Rotarian, it is important that we assess the needs of our community and determine what we can offer as an organization dedicated to providing service and goodwill.
For the foreseeable future our club business and interactions will take place in cyberspace. The success of this format may well have long lasting implications and benefit once the “all-clear” is given. The ensuing global economic debacle will undoubtedly be impactful on our financial resources for the next several years. Therefore, for us to remain relevant as a meaningful service organization during this time of crisis, we must determine where we can be most helpful with more limited resources.
To this end we have been providing meals and snacks to many of our front-line health care staff and first responders as a way of saying thank you and boosting morale. From this we will transition to meeting hunger head on supporting local food banks and community pantries. We are using existing club funds which are being off-set by private donations and Go Fund Me campaigns. Our network of supporters has been quite responsive to this approach and our focus.
The year ahead will be challenging for all of us, both personally and as an organization. As the weather warms and the flowers bloom, drive by the Rotary Music Garden and Rotary Pavilion in Charter Oak Park and remind yourself what we are capable of and what we have accomplished. Then set your sights on the role Manchester Rotary shall play in the coming year. Let us use the determination, energy and enthusiasm that has brought us this far to remain relevant and impactful as we attempt to recover and heal.
Best wishes and be safe.
Bob Rodner
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MANCHESTER ROTARY COMMUNITY CARES PROJECT
Since early April 2020, Manchester Rotary Club has provided over 400 meals and snacks for ECHN's front line healthcare workforce and Manchester firefighters. The food has been purchased with funds from our club's treasury, community donations, and proceeds from our recent gofundmecampaign. Our goal has been to thank, support and recognize the courage and sacrifice of our local health care workers and first responders, and to generate business for our participating locally owned restaurants.
Pictured below (left to right): Hot meat and pasta supper from A Villa Louisa is received by MMH staff, Don Genovesi delivers Mulberry Street Pizza to Manchester Fire Department, Great Harvest Bakery delivers hot breakfast sandwiches to departing third shift staff at RGH)
Visit manchesterctrotary.org for more photos.
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LAST WEEK'S SPEAKER:
Rotarian Rick Lawrence presented his annual report on the Guatemala Water and Sanitation Project on May 5
Do you have some news or information that might interest to fellow Rotarians?
If so, please email Cathy Fogel at rotarymanchesterct@gmail.com by the third Monday of each month for inclusion in the monthly bulletin.
Our monthly Bulletin goes out to more than xx local leaders every week and is a wonderful way to spread your message. *All submissions are subject to approval.*
