Middletown Rotary Club

July 1st is the beginning of a new year in the Middletown Rotary Club as well as within all 33,000 estimated Rotary service clubs in 200 countries. Rotary consists of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, business and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world. The Middletown Rotary Club, established in 1925, welcomes Eric Rodko as the Club’s President for 2018-19 and thanks co-presidents Kevin Wilhelm and Cheryl Duey for their leadership and dedication in 2017-18.

L-R: Kevin Wilhelm & Cheryl Duey 2017-2018 Co-Presidents

Rotary International President Barry Rassin, a member of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, unveiled the 2018-19 presidential theme, Be the Inspiration. “I want you to inspire in your clubs, your Rotarians, that desire for something greater- the drive to do more, to be more, to create something that will live beyond each of us,” Rassin stated.

Middletown Rotary President intends to do just that. “The Rotary Club of Middletown strives to inspire others in everything that we do. We strive to stay relevant for people of all ages in our community by celebrating our 93 year club history while focusing on new ideas and projects that continue Rotary’s mission to impact the lives of those in need, locally and globally. One of my goals for the year is to simply make what we do well now, not just better, but lasting for the future benefit of our Club,” said Rodko.

The Club’s projects for the coming year include, but are not be limited to: the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project; Amber Alert; Warm the Children; The Wilfredo Nieves Dictionary for Students, Family Literacy Program; Tools of the Trade; Polio Eradication; and hosting – in partnership with the East Hampton Rotary Club – an International exchange high school student from Bolivia.

Middletown Rotary’s emphasis and efforts in supporting local youth will also continue this year through the high school Student of the Month Awards; local Community Service Awards; “Service Above Self” scholarships to civically active high school seniors; engaging our Rotary Interact clubs at Mercy High School and Independent Day School; and providing “Tools of the Trade” to high school seniors from Vinal Tech.

The Club’s leadership includes the following Officers, Secretary Pat Tucker; Treasurer, Helene Vartelas; Asst. Secretary & Treasurer, Dan Litwin; Lisa Santangelo, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Past Co-Presidents, Cheryl Duey & Kevin Wilhelm. Board of Directors is Celeste Cremin-Endes, Carmela Gagnon, Steve Lovelace, Howard Reid, Fred Machowitz, and Joseph Marino.

Middletown Rotary’s success is based on the dedication of its members. Each year the club recognizes length of service: Welles Guilmartin & Bill Howard, 45 years; Dave Kelsey, 40 years; Ed Brymer, Cheryl Duey, Mario Mazzotta, Kevin Wilhelm & Jim Misenti, 20 years; Ken Vaughan, 15 years; and Laura Falt, 10 years.

The Middletown Rotary club meets every Tuesday at 12:15 at First & Last Restaurant for lunch and guest presentations. For more information on Middletown Rotary, feel free to visit www.middletownrotary.org<http://www.middletownrotary.org>, or learn more about Rotary on Facebook!

Members of the Rotary Club of Middletown are business, social, and civic leaders who make a positive difference in their community and in the world through humanitarian service, education, high ethics, and goodwill. The club maintains its membership from those who live and/or work in Middletown as well as the surrounding towns of Cromwell, Portland, Durham, and Middlefield.

Eric S. Rodko, LMSW

Executive Director, The Community Follows the Patriot ®

President Elect – Middletown Rotary Club