Bill Calderara Installed As President Of Newtown Rotary

The Rotary Club of Newtown recently held its annual Pass the Gavel celebration where the club’s members, spouses, and guests enjoyed a delightful evening at The Inn at Newtown to celebrate the successes of the previous year and to install the new officers and directors of the club for the coming year. On hand to perform the installation ceremony was Rotary Past District Governor Rick Benson, assisted by past president Alan Clavette who presented the ceremonial gavel to new president Bill Calderara.

Mr Calderara’s cabinet includes the following officers: Carrie Swan, president-elect; Pat Caruso, vice president; Duane Giannini, secretary; Joe Tarshis, treasurer; and Mike Snyder, sergeant-at-arms. The directors are Mary Griffin, membership; Mike Toll, club administration; Larry Gardner, public relations; Brian Amey, Rotary Foundation; Christopher Hoeffel­, director at large; and Alan Clavette, past president.

Mr Clavette also presented Presidential Citations for exceptional individual accomplishments over the previous year. Recipients of the Presidential Citation were Jim Gulalo, Brian Amey, Larry Gardner, Joe Hemingway, and Christopher Hoeffel. He also recognized club members celebrating significant anniversaries as members of the club as follows: Joe Tarshis, five years; Dan Honan and Jim MacNaughton, 20 years; and Bill Watts, 25 years.

Following an introduction by Abe Gordon, past Rotary International vice president, that described Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self,” the club’s Frank Miles Award, which recognizes the club member whose actions during the past year best exemplify that motto, was presented to Mr Tarshis by previous award winners Jim Gulalo, Brian Amey, Mike Snyder, and Nelson “Skip” Roberts.

Being named a Paul Harris Fellow is considered by all Rotarians to be a high honor. Rotary District Governor-elect Julie Reppenhagen was on hand to recognize three Rotarians with this award: Earl Smith, Jr, Mike Toll, and Alan Clavette.

Additionally, on occasion, the Rotary Club of Newtown will recognize with this award other members of the Newtown community who are not Rotarians. These individuals are recognized for the contributions that they make to the Newtown community and because they live the ideals of Rotary, i.e. “Service Above Self.” The Rotary Club of Newtown was pleased to declare Jim Juliano a Paul Harris Fellow for his outstanding efforts in completing the kitchen upgrades to the Alexandria Room at Edmond Town Hall. This was a major project for Newtown Rotary with the club supplying significant funding for the kitchen upgrades. However, the project’s successful completion was due to Mr Juliano’s willingness to devote extra time and professional expertise to ensure that the project was completed in time for the Rotary Club’s annual Pancake Day last December.

The Rotary Club of Newtown meets every Monday evening at 6 pm at The Inn at Newtown. Anyone interested in learning more about the club should contact President Bill Calderara at 426-4440, extension 3259, or visit the club’s website,NewtownCTRotary.org.