Club News March 28 2022

CREATURE COMFORT PET THERAPY DISCUSSION AT MADISON ROTARY
Submitted by Lois Bhatt (lois.bhatt@gmail.com)

On March 31^st, Mary Beth Cooney, Madison resident and the Executive Director of Creature Comfort Pet Therapy (CCPT), will discuss the work of CCPT, which differs from other organizations providing similar services. CCPT works with its partner facilities that include nursing homes, public and private schools, libraries, hospitals, children's services, hospice, mental health centers and veteran programs to structure visits for maximum effectiveness. CCPT embraces a hands-on approach with its therapy teams.

Certified therapy teams are able to choose from a variety of visits, and staff will make visit recommendations based on their interests and the energy level of their therapy animal. CCPT has certified more than four hundred pet therapy teams, and its volunteer teams provide approximately three hundred visits each month.

Ms. Cooney is a seasoned administrator with more than 25 years of experience in non-profit management, event planning, volunteer facilitation, and fundraising. She is certified for pet therapy with Coby, her family’s Shih Tzu.

The Rotary Club of Madison meets each Thursday morning at the Madison YMCA at 111 Kings Road, Madison from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.. Meetings are also accessible by Zoom. Please visit the Rotary website at madisonrotarynj.org for information on accessing the meetings via Zoom, and for any updates to the schedule and other meeting details. Please note that Rotary meetings, speakers, or speaker schedules are potentially subject to change. All are welcome to attend.

ROCKAWAYS ROTARY CLUB TO HOLD CHARITY 5K

Submitted by Ken Nickel (kenubis1@gmail.com)

For more information, please email Ken Nickel (kenubis1@gmail.com).

MORRISTOWN ROTARY CLUB MARCHES IN ST. PATRICKS DAY PARADE

Submitted by Scott Marcum (scott.marum@gmail.com)

MORRISTOWN ROTARY CLUB CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH GAZEBO

Submitted by Scott Marcum (scott.marum@gmail.com)

Morristown Rotary Club will be celebrating its Centennial on May 22, 2022. As part of its celebration, the club has financed the building of a Centennial Gazebo in Morristown’s Lidgerwood Park. The Gazebo is on its way toward completion and dedication on May 22.

The club is selling to the public walkway bricks which can be inscribed in honor or memorial for someone/something. To order brick(s) go to www.morristown rotary.org .

NEWTON ROTARY CLUB QUILT RAFFLE

Submitted by Alice Vigiletti (bestwayprinting@yahoo.com)

Rotary Patchwork Lap Quilt Raffle - Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Newton, NJ

All proceeds to benefit Project Self Sufficiency of Sussex County, NJ

Donation - $10.00 Per Chance

Drawing June 29, 2022 - 1 PM at the Hampton Diner, 36 Hampton House Road, Newton, NJ 07860

Winner need not be present to win. Winner will receive a beautiful original Amish Hand Quilted Rotary Design Patchwork Lap Quilt.

Questions? Contact Denise of the Newton Rotary at 973-383-4704.

WESTFIELD ROTARY ANNOUNCES AWARDS
Submitted by PDG Mike Hart (drmhart@yahoo.com)

Fundraising Chair Tony LaPorta announced awards for the recent Rotary fundraiser called Breakfast with the Bands. The purpose of the fundraiser was to offer college scholarships to Westfield high school seniors and also to help the homeless veterans living at Lyons VA Hospital.

Since the covid shutdown, the club has been unable to run any social events or fundraisers, so the outcome was uncertain. We were not sure if the public would come out to an event. However, we had a good attendance and Tony LaPorta considers this event a “complete success”.

The event was started in 1967 as Pancake Day. The name was changed recently to reflect the aspect that the local high school and middle school bands participate. In addition, some school choruses and a group from the Westfield high school musical Mama Mia! Participated.

Tony expresses his thanks to every Rotarian who participated, especially the chairs: Most of the 50 Rotarians in the club participated in the actual hands- on event. In addition, the Rotary District Governor, Shelby Rhodes, participated with her set of chef knives, cutting up fruit in the kitchen. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, plus high school Interact Service Club members participated. With 100 volunteers to help run the program, it is truly a community event. Over 400 meals were served.

Chairman of the Committee: Tony LaPorta

Bands & Master of Ceremony: Liz Ensslin

Food and Kitchen Operations: Ray Kostyack

Photography: Chung Kun Shih

Placemats: Bill Bonsall

Publicity & 50 - 50 Raffle: Lauren Barr

Rotary Shirts & Desk: Michael Hart

Sponsorships: Blake Width and Warren Rorden

Technology: Brendan Bertsch

Treasurer: Lou DaCosta

Volunteers: Heidi Caponigro

The selection of the award winners was difficult because everyone worked so hard.

The Honorable Mention goes to Warren Rorden for his work on obtaining sponsorships from local businesses. He was given a box of pancake mix as a friendly token. The Winner of the Golden Pancake Award is Ray Kostyack for attending the food deliveries and organizing and managing the kitchen activities. Ray was given a shadow box with plastic pancakes mounted inside.

The Rotary Club of Westfield meets 3 Tuesdays per month at noon on Tuesdays. Some meetings are done virtually by Zoom, and some are in person at local restaurants. Guests are always welcome. For information contact Secretary Dr. D. Michael Hart drmhart@yahoo.com

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