Bristol Rotary Club COG, December 31, 2024 (Dec. 31, 2024)

Happy New Year!

As we enter 2025, you are wished a year filled with good health, success, and memorable moments. This club has done an amazing job in 2024. We have a club filled with passionate, dedicated, hard-working members making a difference in Bristol and beyond.

John eloquently summarized our 2024 accomplishments while the club watched a photo slideshow of our year. We welcomed Grace + Samara two of our BCHS Interactors - Grace announced her recent acceptance to Harvard.

Click Me!

Remembering our 39th President, Jimmy Carter

President Carter lived a life of service, love, and kindness to humanity. He was an inspiration to many. He was the oldest of all US presidents, dying at 100.

President Carter

President Cassidy sums up 2024

https://youtu.be/hfOJ1jszuSU?si=UBw7V_dd2GV0Pu16

January - Started on a sour note when Farmer’s Market was taken away, but Judi Ann moved us forward.

We were still there every week as Tom, our Man of Steel did double duty from June - October

We were everywhere this year - holding 52 meetings and another 50 events and programs. Tom alone did over 70!

First of 6 Meals for Homeless at Zion Church

Multiple speakers throughout the year. Rotary Dignitaries, Safire Maher, Trinity School, Kindcare, Holly & Rachel Leone

178-9 UCONN Basketball games

Les Wolverines won the National Championship first of 4 the club is tied in with for the year, plus multiple Olympians.

February - All in for JOLT to support Mary & BARC

March - Member event at Spare time. Big win as Heather signed up on the spot!! Spare Time hosted. Andrea was promoted to residential loan officer, and Blaise went on a cruise -the first of 3. He & Terry are now our Cruise Directors

April - UCONN!!, Boys & Girls Club GALA, Prudence Crandall Celebration of Life

May , BARC Gala, Harvest Pack - 15,000 meals, Flower Sale = $620, Barnes Nature Trail clean up and Spring fair.

June, Interact Breakfast, Scholarship Dinner with Honor Guard - $300K. Rotary first - Tom sells ornaments at Bristol Blues opening day, Men & Boys Fund Breakfast, Dave picked the Ace of Clubs On of 18 wins., Dale won the other time.

July, Bristol Blues All-Star game, End Polio Night at Yard Goats

Gave out tens of thousands in Min Grants at Bristol Bazaar

August, West End Association festival - Iron Man Tom manned the booth; We’re running a Road Race!

September, Boys & Girls Club Road race, Mum Festival

October, BBK Event - well attended, $50K for BARC!!

55th Mum-A-Thon - 100% participation. - Amazing!!

November, Presidents Night Lee Sinkwich - Paul Harris Award Winner, Les joined us! Liberty Bank - $37,000 donation, Cindy has a Vacation home!!

December, Tom - Ornament update SOLD OUT? Gingerbread Competition, Mary is a Grandma!!, Salvation Army, Thank you for last last-second volunteers!!, Dale saves the day. Rotary Incorp 12/28/73 - Happy 51st, UCONN won a bowl game, Little Library Dedication - Eagle Scout Safire Maher,

Blaise has agreed to be the VP and our next President!!

Friends, family, and a handful of Rotarians gathered together in support of Safires Little Free Library. Safire was a guest speaker in late August, she got right to work building the large library, diaper, and food distribution box, and reading bench. She hand-painted sponsors on the side and adorned the sides and bench with storybook characters, The Bristol Early Childhood Alliance brought reading buddies to go along with the books. This library replaced the library we built and erected 10 years ago.

Happy / Sad Bucks

Norm. Happy New Year (also told a story - ask Norm about it!)

Ken, Happy healthy New Year, happy Norms story is done,

Dave, Interact attendees, NC cheer love me, my 26 yr old is moving out, working for Ever Wonder Studios

Heather, hope everyone had a nice holiday, Happy New Year, happy Interact could attend

Blaise, Interact welcome, hope everyone has a healthy 2025

Mary, nephew home from the NICU, completed 49 towns this year, Happy New Year and new grandson is here, so cute

Claudette, Happy New Year, hope everyone can relax

Judi, Lee + Claudette ate well coordinated, good year past and present, supported the community, gingerbread house headed to Maine, and mice ate the gingerbread house

John, thank you for the successful first six months, UConn won 1st bowl game, this weekend, hope Pen and ND could win and play against each other, Aaron Judge having a baby, mom is a superfan and excited, Gleyber Torres signs with Tigers, Happy New Year, happy to have Grace and Samara with us, admire your dedication

Laura, happy to have girls home for the holidays, great job Safire and happy New Year to all