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Biking for a cause
May 26, 2021
Chris Spear is an avid cyclist, who has biked over 100,000 miles in 18 countries and 26 states. When forced to work, he teaches engineers how to design and verify computer chips, and is the author of the best selling nerd book, SystemVerilog for Verification. He has been the president of the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley for 1 1/4 years. |
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Starting from Failure
Jun. 09, 2021
Sara Mark, Starting from Failure.
Sara Marks is a librarian at UMass Lowell. She has two masters degrees, has earned the title of Distinguished Toastmaster twice, and has published two novels, three short story collections, and three novelettes. Her third novel and fourth novelette come out this fall. She is a certified project manager and teaches workshops about writing, bullet journaling, and public speaking. She also failed out of college and had to return home in shame after four years at her first university. Today she’ll be talking about how that failure shaped her life and why she wouldn’t be the success she is today if she hadn’t been through the experience. You’ll understand why failure is a better teacher than success can ever be.
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Community Service
Sep. 08, 2021
Jim Barrett A Hartford police officer organized a bicycle giveaway for the needy. The bikes will help 100 people get to jobs and travel around the city. Bio: I served 21 years as an Army Combat Veteran served 3 tours of duty overseas in Iraq / Bosnia. I trained soldiers in Germany to fight in the Middle East. I served 7 years in the Connecticut Department of Corrections as a Correction Officer and with inmates that been identified with Gang affiliation (Security Risk Group). I also served 5 years in the Tactical Operations Unit with the Connecticut Emergency Response Team. I’m looking forward to the upcoming meeting with all the members .
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Refugee Resettlement in CT
Sep. 22, 2021
For the past 15 years, Chris George has been the Executive Director of IRIS, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Connecticut's largest refugee resettlement agency. Based in New Haven but working with community groups all over the state, IRIS has welcomed more than 1,300 refugees to Connecticut in just the last three years. Chris has spent most of his professional life living in, or working on, the Middle East. He spent a total of 12 years in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Chris was Executive Director of Human Rights Watch – Middle East for two years. He worked nine years with Save the Children (mostly in the Middle East) and three years with American Friends Service Committee. Chris began his international career in 1977 as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Muscat, Oman. He speaks Arabic. IRIS is a statewide non-profit, based in New Haven, providing services to immigrants and refugees as they seek to restart their lives in the safety and peace of Connecticut. Over the years, our organization has presented at hundreds of libraries, schools, faith communities, corporations, and civic organizations that are interested in learning more about the refugee crisis, immigration, or the noble tradition of welcoming persecuted people from around the world.
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Literacy Project
Oct. 27, 2021
The following was provided by the guest speaker: I am currently the Supervisor for Teacher Evaluation & Professional Learning for EHPS. I have been with the district for two years. In that time I have been asked to lead the Office of Equity, Partnerships & Achievement. This office encompasses our work with families, university partners, community partners while supporting an assets-based approach to equitable access for all east Hartford Public School students. Before coming to East Hartford as an administrator, I worked as an English teacher in grades 6-12 for 25 years in Waterbury, Bristol, and West Hartford. In 2018 I received West Hartford Teacher of the Year for my work with middle school ELA.
Our project is The One Book, One School experience. All grades 3-5 students in East Hartford Elementary Schools will take part in a shared reading experience that highlights the adventures of Cleo Edison Oliver, an ambitious young child in search of fame and fortune. The book honors the many definitions of family, the value of friendship and the lessons learned when determining why something should be created and shared with the world. Students will gain insight into financial literacy, becoming an entrepreneur, and values closely aligned with those of the Rotarians. |