As this year’s current leader let me guide you through some of our club’s efforts. As a medium size club of 37 members (4 Honoraries) we are committed to the ideals of Rotary International. But it is also ‘TRUE’ that we support our local community and it residents. We believe wholeheartedly that ‘IT IS FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED’ as well as ‘BENEFICIAL’ to purchase a second police dog for the Willimantic Police force with the funds that we raise during my tenure. See our website http://www.willik9news.com/.

Our Rotary Foundation also issues grants to local community needs with funds that were realized from our perennial Harley-Davidson Motor Bike Raffle (September). And throughout the Rotary year we provide ‘GOODWILL’ and “BETTER FRIENDSHIPS’ with a picnic for Student Youth Exchange students in mid-September.

Willimantic Rotary recently provided monies for the Windham Youth Football & Cheerleading’s new scoreboard, as well as bleachers for the local soccer association. Our club may be small in numbers but we are mighty in spirit & energy. We have a WORDS 4 THIRDS (free dictionaries for 3rd graders) PROJECT during American Education Week. We also provide Warm Clothing ($100 a kid) by taking needy area children to purchase clothing items at WAL-MART after Thanksgiving. And we help local seniors in their Higher Education quest with scholarships (June).

All in all, we are ROTARIANS and we enjoy SERVICE ABOVE SELF. But we also enjoy sharing and laughing with each other at our Tuesday (noon til 1) luncheon meeting So anytime you are in the area, please feel welcome to join us…

John Walker (President 2008-2009)

Latest News

Rotary Grant Application

The trustees of the foundation want to acknowledge and reward organizations outside of Rotary that can further promote our philosophy of “service above self” as applied to vocational, community, and international service.

Download Application

Willimantic Rotary looking for area students who desire a scholarship

Deadline - April 15th, 2009

ELIGIBILITY: Any Windham area – Coventry, Lyman Memorial, E O Smith, Parish Hill, Windham High and Windham Tech – senior who meets the specified criteria for scholarship and service and is planning on a four-year post-secondary education may apply.

Download App - Page 1

Download App - Page 2

Motorcycle Raffle Winner

Hi, the Oct 11, 2008 drawing was won buy none other than our own John Brubacker. 2nd Prize was wpon by Michael Brennan, of Willimantic Ct and #rd Prize was won buy John Ferris of Hingham Ma.

Gates Foundation and Rotary International combine to commit $200 Million to eradicate Polio

Rotary International has announced a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will inject a much needed US$200 million into the global effort to eradicate polio. The Rotary Foundation received a $100 million Gates Foundation challenge grant, which Rotary will raise funds to match, dollar for dollar, over three years.

Read more at the Rotary Website

A Visit from Peton R. Patterson

We were honored to be visited by Peyton R. Patterson, Chairperson, President and Chief Financial Officer of NewAlliance Bank, headquarted in New Haven, CT. She spoke of the current financial situation, including sub prime loans and how they affect all of us.

Words For Thirds

During the week of Novermber 12th several Rotarians, led by Club President Tony Rash, did their annual Words for Thirds trek to area grammar schools. The project provides each third grader with her or her own dictionary. Durign the presentation, the children are asked to look up their first word, ROTARY, and their second, VOLUNTEER.

Many children write Thank You letters as a result of their receipt of the treasured book, many using words that they looked up and learned the definitions of to write the letter.

District Governor Visit!

Richard Borden, our District 7890 governor, came by to visit and have a little lunch with us. Darth Vader, er Tony Rash proudly displays this year's message "Rotary Shares". See this picture and more in the photo gallery!

Rotary Announces Funding Project for Zee II ! Funding at $10,000!+

Rotarian Chief Of Police Lisa Maruzo-Bolouc estimates $14,000 will be needed. Rotarian Peter Rich promptly wrote a check for $1,000 to kick off the campaign. Every Rotarian Present contributed cash to the "Happy Days Pot".

See the new website, scheduled to be launched June 18th.

http://www.willik9news.com/

WILLIMANTIC ROTARY BROKE NEW FUNDRAISING GROUND TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY

ONLINE AUCTION RAISED $2,900 ON FIRST TRY!!! NEXT YEAR WILL BE EVEN BETTER GO-FOR IT !!!!!

LIVE AUCTION NETTED $3,600 !! GREAT JOB!!!

Water For Life Project

Update: We sent out over 300 phones to PaceButler yesterday. We're waiting to hear the results (they have to check and inventory the phones), but even if we get $3.00 per phone, it's close to $1,000.00 raised for this great cause!!

Help Us Make A Difference

Donate your old, used cell phones for a good cause! We are currently collecting cell phones to help raise up to $6,400 to provide water filtration systems to homes in Haiti.
Drop off you phone at one of the following locations:
WILI The Wireless Zone The Eastbrook Mall Willimantic Public Library J&S Electronics Stop & Shop Big Y Home Selling Team
To make a monetary donation, contact Ray Pittman at 860-450-0119 or Carol Williams at 465-5000, extension 55250.

Willimantic Rotary proudly announces their future presidents for the next three years

Drawing from real strength of community spirit and Rotarian pride, Tony Rash '07-08, Brian McCarthy'08-09, and John Walker'09-10 have agreed to serve Rotary and the community in which theywork and live.

WE SALUTE YOU !!!

President - Rose Fowler

Rotary Club of Willimantic, Connecticut

P.O.Box 104, Willimantic, Ct. 06226