Club Meeting
VFW Hall, 12:00 Noon
Happy April Birthday: David Plotkin (6), Sheila Brown (10), Alan Poirier (13), Marty Drobiarz (26)
Rotarians Celebrating their OS Rotary Anniversaries: Mary Polchaninoff (2024), Barbara Krucko (2024)
Meeting Greeter: Jan Perruccio
AGENDA
- Pledge of Allegiance, Prayer, 4 Way Test - Jan Perruccio
- Happy bucks, raffle, cards - Mary and Marty P
- Speaker: Special Olympics - Information to support request from Outreach to support athletes who have made it to the National Games (See below for information)
- Initial Report of the Wine and Beer Committee Chairs – (Marty and Peter)
- Day of Service – Joan Winters
- Shredding Event - John Aforismo
- Brief Committee Reports: 1 minute or less each, if you need it.
- Other News that is true, fair to all concerned, builds good will and better friendship and is beneficial to all concerned.
UPCOMING CLUB MEETING DATES/TOP
- April 22, 12:00 noon - Suzi Lee Schell, the Development Coordinator from the Waterford Country School - VFW
- April 29, Evening Club Social - location Coastline Brewery, 339 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook
- May 6, - 7:30 a.m. – Financial Advisors Adam Bouley and Donna Judge of Judge and Associates Wealth Management (Janney Montgomery Scott), Estuary
- May 13, noon - The Kate, Brett and Amy
- May 20 - 7:00 a.m. Student of the Month, Business and DECA Presentation
- May 27 - no meeting
OTHER NEWS
Don’t forget to sign up for the Club Social on April 29, Student of the Month on May 20. Remember to consider keeping the morning of April 25 free for the Shredding Event and May 16 to help with the Day of Service Campaign
OTHER DATES
April 15 - Centennial Committee Meeting 1:30 at John A.’s
April 25 – Shredding Event
April 25 - 4-Way Speech Contest Finals, Stratford High School, 245 King Street, 10 am
April 29 – Club Social at Coastline Brewery 339 Boston Post Road, Westbrook
May 4: 8:00 a.m. - Board of Directors
May 16 - Day of Service
June 22, 23 or 24 - Induction of Officers and Awards
PROGRAM:
Liza Nolan, Special Olympics, request for funding received on our website:
Every four years, Special Olympics hosts USA Games, a premier national sports competition at a select city in the United States. This event showcases the athletic talents of thousands of individuals with intellectual disabilities from all 50 states, serving as a national stage for athletes who have typically excelled at local and state-level competitions.
This year, 39 Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) athletes and Unified Sports partners are currently training and preparing for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. These competitors will represent the 33 towns and cities where they reside and the entire state as members of Team Connecticut which also includes 19 Special Olympics coaches and volunteers.
These athletes and Unified Sports partners will compete in 5 sports: Unified Basketball and Softball, Bowling, Swimming, and Track & Field.
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will take place from June 20-26, 2026 at the University of Minnesota and National Sports Center, both located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
SOCT has a Youth Leadership team comprised of 1 athlete, 1 Unified partner, and 2 mentors who will represent Connecticut at the national level. These four individuals bring energy, vision, and a commitment to inclusion that reflect the core values of Special Olympics. Together, this Youth Leadership team will:
• Serve as ambassadors for Team CT, carrying our state’s inclusive spirit to the national stage.
• Facilitate athlete-centric programming, peer-mentoring, and leadership workshops around the Games.
• Capture and share stories - of athletes, of inclusion, of triumph - helping our community see the broader impact of sport.
• Return home with new skills, new networks, and a new sense of what leadership and inclusion truly look like.
These 4 teammates all hail from Old Lyme:
Andrea DeBernardo (Athlete): https://www.soct.
Lauren Belval (Unified Partner): https://www.soct.
Christine Corah (Mentor): https://www.soct.
Eilis Welch (Mentor): https://www.soct.
SOCT is asking for $2,500 from the Old Saybrook Rotary Club to support this team’s travel expenses to USA Games. All funds received will directly support the Leadership Team and the Rotary Club would be listed as a sponsor on all marketing collateral, our website, annual report, social media posts, etc.
We would also love the opportunity to visit with Club members at an upcoming meeting to talk about the team’s experiences and involvement in USA Games.
Please let me know if you are willing to provide a grant/donation and schedule an appearance from the team. You can meet the entire team online by following this link: https://www.soct.org/
Very much looking forward to hearing back from you!
Best,
Liza Nolan
