It was an excellent meeting today, with seventeen people participating. PDG Marc Glass rang the bell at 12:00pm to start the meeting. President Sue led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. This week’s invocation was given by Anwar Hossain, who recited the last lines of a poem written by Matthew Coyle:

“To each and all a good New Year

    With Harmony Prevailing:

May selfishness soon disappear,

    And peace come homeward sailing.

And may life be one golden dream,

    Hate’s edifice demolished:

And justice ever reign supreme,

   With tyranny abolished.

”

 

          GUEST SPEAKER

This week’s guest speaker was Brittney Cavaliere. Brittney is the program manager of the Connecticut Foodshare Institute for Hunger Research and Solutions. In her role, Brittney is responsible for overseeing many of the day-to-day operations of the Institute, managing various projects, and conducting research to promote long-term food security, health, and well-being.

Brittney talked about food insecurity and how it is rooted in poverty and systemic injustices. As Brittney said, “It takes more than food to end hunger.”  Brittney talked about ways food banks and pantries across the country are working to not only meet the need of people experiencing food insecurity but addressing the root causes of hunger at the individual level to make sure there is not a need tomorrow.

In America, forty-six million people experience food insecurity. In Connecticut alone, 426,000 people experience food insecurity, including 1 in 6 children. Food insecurity leads to poor health, underemployment, and poor academic performance, among other things.

 

Brittney talked about the 3 C’s:  choice, culture, connection. Clients can choose nutritious food; the culture of the pantry is welcoming; and the food pantry can lead to connections to other services. Towards the end of her presentation, Brittney plugged the book by Katie S. Martin, titled “Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries.”

To see today’s meeting and Brittney’s presentation, please go to the link of the recording

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/9xMD0nC8R7drcSVkvt2_Vrno6YDY34QRrisg_b8dsz4Yvl8io9n5LY3ACfkxyh85.Wu7iIV-IQw76mFQQ Passcode: p#i=L.0t

 

If you want to assist in fighting food insecurity in East Hartford, please go to the following link:

 

There were no caring moments in today’s meeting.

The district governor will be on our next Zoom meeting

 

The Rotary District Conference will be held from April 29 to May 2 at the Southbridge Hotel and Convention Center in Southbridge, Massachusetts. This will be just for our district, and we will be celebrating our District’s 100^th Anniversary.

 

You can register by going to district’s website https://www.rotarydistrict7890.org  On the right side of the homepage, look for upcoming events and click on District Conference. The registration fee is $175 per person until February 1. On February 2, the price will increase to $200 per person. Registration closes entirely on March 29.

 

Hotel rooms must also be purchased by March 29 to obtain the special rate of $119/night. Hotel rooms at Southbridge Hotel must be purchased separately. Call 508-765-8000 and ask for Rotary District 7890 Room Block. There will be entertainment and meals served. If the conference is cancelled, you will get your money back.

 

Marc rang the bell to end the meeting at 12:53 p.m. I hope all of you have a great 3-day weekend!

 

JASON PRIMUS