Logo for: Rotary Old Saybrook

OS Rotary Meeting 11/29/17

Pledge: Pres. Sam Fulginiti
Prayer: Rev. Ed Cornell
Brents Card Game Winner: John Giannini

Sergeants Report: Joe Arcari
Raffle Winners: Charlie N, Bill O, Mark, Sam (2 tickets to upcoming First Church Dinner & Caberet this Saturday, courtesy of Rev. Ed)

Happy Bucks: Brent for the money we sent to the Richmond Rotary Club in the Houston area, happy bucks for our guests, the nice weather, sad bucks for former member David Wight who recently passed, great Thanksgiving with family, the Patriots heading toward another super bowl and the Giants not, happy bucks by our guests, Marty was happy for the Torchlight Parade coming up Dec. 9

Meals on Wheels: Pete and Brent

Donna is organizing a special holiday dinner, tentative date Thursday night, Dec. 29.

Marty talked about the upcoming Torchlight Parade and the club's role for 30 years. We make the hot chocolate, pick up the pastries at the various shops, set up and serve the marchers. Volunteers are needed to make the hot chocolate, do the pickups, set up and tear down. A true community service, club activity.


Program:
Ann Faust, Justin Wilkie and Lauren Ashe


Pictured L-R: Justin Wilkie, Ann Faust, Lauren Ashe

Ann started by explaining what her organization does - help ending chronic homlessness and preventing it. There is a significant ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population in our communities. These are people who are working, live above the poverty line but below survival budget. A health care episode for example, could cause them to lose their home because there's no room in their budget to allow for loss of income. This impacts children and their education if their home situation is unstable. There are services available for people who are getting evicted however with budgets as they are, money is not always available. Moving is often an issue since most rents require 2 months securtiy deposit- a difficult if not impossible requirement for most. Access to services: United Way 2-1-1 helps ALICE by connecting people with financial supports, housing resources, quality child care and assistance with basic needs. United Way 2-1-1 is Connecticut's 24/7 access to a range of health and human services. To learn more, go to http://alice.ctunitedway.org.

Lauren Ashe, Executive Director of Hope Partnership, was established in 2004 to meet the need for afordable housing. People are living in hotels and paying weekly without other options. Most of these people are hard working (some with 2 full time jobs), they just don't make enough. Low income housing is available for those who meet the guidelines. In Old Saybrook the medien income is $96K. If you make 60% or less than the medien income you qualify for this housing program. To learn more, go to www.hope-ct.org.

The meeting was concluded with the Rotary 4-way test of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?

2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?

3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDHSIPS?

4. Will it be BENEFICAL to all concerned?

md