The Newly Elected
President
Gayle Demko
Her vision is to make the group visible and responsive to the needs of the Suffield community while creating a diverse, hard-working and fun group.
President-Elect and Vice President
Scott Seabury
Treasurer
Jack Muska
Assistant Treasurer
Jonathan Kozloski
Secretary
Natalie Donais
Assistant Secretary
Donald Rawling
Helping the Community:
The Suffield Rotary Foundation is donating $20,000 towards the development of the playground at Sunrise Park.
The Club will distribute free opioid pill disposal bags at the Suffield Rotary booth at Suffield on the Green
Fun but Serious Stuff
Kudos to Jon Kozloski for overseeing the successful Glenn Packard golf tournament in August. The money raised from the tournament will benefit student athletes and the Suffield community.
Thinking About our History
In a recent meeting, members reminisced about the Club’s history. The Suffield Rotary Club began on July 1, 1949 with 39 chartered members. That was a time when only one professional from each industry was admitted to the Club. If members missed two of the weekly meetings, they would get a warning. Even if members were away from Suffield, they were still expected to attend a Rotary Club meeting in the town they were in. Rotary International voted to admit women into Rotary Clubs worldwide in 1989. In 1998 Christine Hoffacker became the first female elected president of Suffield Rotary. Today, Suffield Rotary welcomes all qualified candidates regardless of race, sex, age, gender or “tribe.” Luis Lee, a Seneca tribesman and longstanding member of Suffield Rotary, frequently offered the weekly invocation in his native tongue. Sadly, he will be moving out of Suffield to be closer to family.
To date the following totals have been donated to assist our fellow townspeople in a spirit of ongoing and sustaining support:
College Scholarships for Suffield High School seniors: $350,000
Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association: $30,000
Suffield Emergency Aid Association: $25,000
Rotary Packard Foundation for Youth Sports Activities: $300,000 for
- Rotary Hut at Suffield High
- Basketball score board at Suffield High
- Install basketball score board at Middle School
- Little League batting cage,
- Lights at Suffield High playing fields
- Outdoor scoreboards, bleachers and benches in fields throughout town
- Athletic field defibrillators
Other Town and Local Charities and Events:
- $60,000 for Spaulding School playscape
- Mapleton Hall renovation/improvement
- improvements at Babb’s Beach and Sunrise Park
- Suffield High Interact Program
In recent years, the Suffield Rotary has also extended its focus to international efforts including the Guatemala Clean Water and Sanitation Project and The Amputee Care Clinic in Peru.