Logo for: Rotary Old Saybrook

OS Rotary Meeting 3/20/19

Pledge: Brian DeBlasiis
Prayer:  Rev. Ed Cornell
Song:    No Bill – No Song
Cards:   Joan Michaud

Sergeant’s Report: Pete Zucco

Happy Bucks: Many for the first day of Spring, Several for our guests, Marty is happy to have Charlie back to take the minutes of this meeting.

Raffle: John Giannini

Guests: Kathlene Gerrity and her daughter

Announcements/Business:
Outreach Committee Meeting following this meeting.

Brian announced the committee system will soon be streamlined and modified to match our needs. The current budget procedure will also be modified.

Gary updated the progress on the member directory. Please complete the member information form and return it to Gary ASAP.

Marty and John Donnelly presented information about the Incubators for Ghana Project. We will be receiving a matching District Grant for this project. Rev. Ed made a motion to fund the project (our share is $2,500.). Brent seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.

After discussing the request from OSHS students for funds to help defray the cost of the environmental study trip to Honduras, Brian made a motion to donate $4,800 for this year’s trip and $4,000 towards the next trip. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Program: Kathlene Gerrity, Executive Director, Connecticut Burns Care Foundation

Kathlene gave a power point presentation about the history and the mission of the Foundation. The Children’s Burn Camp was highlighted.

                The Connecticut Burns Care Foundation was conceived by the visions of Dr. Andrew J. Panettieri, Chief of Surgery at Bridgeport Hospital and Bridgeport Firefighter Arthur C. Luf in 1978. The Foundation’s Mission is to:

                Provide financial aid to existing burn care units.
                Promote the education of public and professional personnel for burn care treatment.
                Promote burn prevention.
                Provide financial aid for research on burn care.

The Arthur C. Luf Children’s Burn Camp is a safe, natural outdoor environment for kids ages 8 to 18 from around the world who have survived life-altering burn injuries. The Camp’s objectives are:

                To build each child’s self-esteem and self-confidence.
                To enrich the lives of child burn survivors.
                To provide the child burn survivors with memories that will sustain and inspire them.

The Camp became a reality in 1991. Located in Union, Connecticut, it is set on 176 acres with its own pond for swimming and boating. The Burn Camp is the only one of its kind in the entire Northeast. All children attend free of charge. All expenses for lodging, meals, arts/crafts, activities and programs are paid for by the Foundation. All camp counselors serve on a volunteer basis. Active and retired firefighters from fire departments along the east coast, medical personnel trained in treating burns, burn survivors, and caring individuals make up the team of counselors for the children. Campers come from throughout New England, New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C., Maryland, Florida, Puerto Rico and several other countries. The Foundation has an annual budget of $400,000 and relies on several major fundraisers throughout the year. (Antique Car Show, Golf Tournament, Comedy Night) For more information visit their website: ctburnsfoundation.org.

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