Groton Rotary Club Installs New Officers

Groton, CT – Richard Kent, Jr. will serve as president of the Groton Rotary Club for the 2018-19 Rotary year.  He succeeds Gary Weale.

Rotary District 7980 Governor Larry Gardner was present to swear in all Club officers, board members and foundation members.  The event was held at a special dinner meeting held at the Shennecossett Yacht Club.

Other installed officers are: Frank Winkler, president-elect; Michael Whitehouse, vice president; Jackie Massett, secretary; and Lea Doran, treasurer.

At large members of the Board of Directors are:  John Silsby, Greg Thevenet, John Scott, R.B. Kent, Lian Obrey, Bill Anhalt, and Paul McGuirk.  All club officers also serve as Board members.  They are, Kent, Jr., Winkler, Whitehouse, Doran, Massett, and Weale, as past president.

Installed members of the Groton Rotary Foundation Board are Lee Vincent, chair; Bo Bohannon, Dave Brown and Ralph Alezi.

The Groton Rotary Club meets from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. each Tuesday of the month at the Octagon Restaurant in the Mystic Marriott Hotel on Route 117 in Groton.

The Groton Rotary Club raises funds throughout the year to help finance grants to local non-profit organizations and to fund scholar awards to students at Fitch Senior High School, the Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School and the Marine Science Magnet High School in Groton.

 Grants to local non-profit organizations during the past year, including:

• A $10,000grant to the Groton Little League to help fund new lights at Calvin Burrows Field;
• A grant of $1,200 for an AED defibrillator at the Groton Congregational Church;   -a $750 grant to the Bill Memorial Library a children’s learning system;
• A $750 grant to Sea-Legs program for safety and enjoyment of boating; and
• A $500 grant to the Fitch High School Falcon Robotics Club to a buy a kit to extend the high school robotics program to middle and elementary students.

The Groton Rotary Club also sponsors two dinners each year at the Groton Senior Center and clean-ups on Thomas Road at Birch Plain Creek.

The Groton Rotary Club is a community organization dedicated to the theme, “Service Above Self”, and welcomes new members. Persons interested in joining the club should visit the Club’s web site at grotonrotary.org or contact a local Rotarian.  A list of Rotary Club members is on the web site.  You may also contact Club President Richard Kent, Jr. by e-mailing him at richkent88@gmail.com.