Executive Director Fairfield University Art Museum
Carey Mack Weber is the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director of the Fairfield University Art Museum. She was integral to the creation of the Museum in 2010 and was named the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director in 2019.
Carey also currently serves as the President of the Connecticut Art Trail, is the CT State Representative for the Association of Academic Art Museums and Galleries, sits on the Advisory Board of the Maguire Museum at St. Joseph’s University, and serves as a board member of the Connecticut League of Museums.
If there is a Westport school cancellation or delay due to the weather, we will not have a meeting in person. Call 203-341-1766 for the school district's snow message if you are not sure.
Come for coffee and breakfast at 7:00am.
The meeting will start at 7:30am.
Meeting Opener: Katie Augustyn
Greeters: Bruce Fritz, Bob Galan
VENMO SUSTAINING MEMBER
($100 annual)
@Joseph-Renzulli-1
The Club Calendar is at the end of this newsletter. Please refer to it to see the meeting schedule, social events and more. It will be updated when speakers and events are added.
The updated Greeters and Openers schedule is also near the end of the newsletter, so please check to see if you are on there!
Friday Meeting - March 13
Cliff Sirlin Founder, Entrepreneur, Venture Partner and Business Educator
Cliff shared how StartUp Westport, a non-profit is building, enriching, and expanding the talent, businesses, and economy of Westport and the state of CT with Tentpole events, Mentorships and Special Interest Groups.
Ken opened the meeting with the poem below.
Dave Press was the lucky raffle winner.
Bruce and Bob are the greeters for March.
Good Morning Sunrise Rotary by Ken Bernhard
We gather with coffee, goodwill and cheer-
to serve our community year after year.
We plan projects, raise funds, and lend a hand,
trying our best to improve this town and this land.
But somewhere between motions, minutes, and dues,
there's something even better we mustn't lose-
The laughter at tables, the friendships we've grown,
the joy of not trying to do good things alone.
Because life moves quickly - faster each year,
so it's good we meet with such excellent people here.
So let's serve with purpose, and lead with heart,
but remember fellowship is the best part.
Enjoy this club, this morning, this crew-
there is no better sunrise than one shared with you.
It is my great pleasure to invite you to a special District 7980 ceremony on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, recognizing the extraordinary service of Past District Governor Winston “Win” Allen, who led our District during the 2000–2001 Rotary year. This recognition is offered in sincere appreciation of Win’s leadership and his trailblazing commitment to inclusion, diversity, and belonging within Rotary. My hope is that we not only celebrate Win but also honor the strong tradition of inclusive leadership carried forward by the Past District Governors who followed, and that our District continues to strengthen together.
In his honor, District 7980 has established the Winston “Win” Allen Award for Belonging and Diversity, which will recognize individuals who exemplify Rotary’s values through sustained efforts to foster belonging, advance diversity, and strengthen inclusive leadership within their clubs and communities. The presentation will be delivered by Rotary International Trustee Martha P. Helman, with the certificate signed and authorized by Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo.
The ceremony will take place during the Westport Rotary Club lunch meeting:
The WSR Hands-on-Committee invites you to attend a special meeting immediately following our meeting Friday, March 20th to discuss what community service projects we should consider for the this year’s Epic Day of Service, Saturday, May 16th.
We’re open to discuss whether or not we should plan any of the following, some of which we did during the ’25 Epic Day of Service, and/or consider new ones of impact and benefit to our community.
Big Y Food Drive in support of the Gillespie Center Food Pantr
Beautify Westport - remove trash along the entrance/exit ramps at I-95 Exit 17 or any other location that Westport Parks & Rec. may recommen
Rotarians Answer the Call - helping an individual or family in Westport identified by Westport Dept. of Human Services - in the clean-up of their yard
We look forward to having you join us,
Rob Hauck and Bruce Fritz
Hands-on-Committee Co-Chairs
GUESTS LAST MEETING:
Cliff Sirlin, Speaker
Marie-Laurie Kuge, Dev Director Quick Center, Fairfield University
Lauren Candela-Katz, Norwalk Rotary Club
Nancy Violette, guest of Steve Violette
David Keeton, guest of Katie Augustyn
Rick Chernok
GILLESPIE CENTER COOKING / SERVING SCHEDULE
One of our club’s ongoing and rewarding commitments to community service is our commitment to serving dinner meals on the first Saturday of each month at the Gillespie Center here in Westport.
We are back to serving meals at the newly renovated Gillespie Center. We have the option to drop off prepared meals at 4:30 PM or to bring meals to serve in person at 4:40 PM (allow extra time if the meals need to be reheated). Meal service should include a main dish, side dish, vegetable, and dessert (no nuts or shellfish please). The number of meals to provide, currently 25, will be confirmed to you to in advance when it is your turn to serve.
If you choose to drop off prepared meals at 4:30 PM you have the option to prepare homemade meals, purchase prepared meals at the store/restaurant of your choice, or you can contact Fresh Market on the Post Road in Westport where you can purchase prepared meals (protein, two sides and cookies for $7 - $10 per meal). If you choose the Fresh Market option call Tory at 203 227-2910 on the Monday prior to your meal service to place your order. You can pay for the meals when you pick them up.
If you are unable to work on your assigned Saturday you will be responsible to call other Rotarians on the list to switch dates.
Meal Servers Schedule April 4, 2026 Joe Renzulli Joe Scordato May 2, 2026 Steven Chin Matt Mandell June 6, 2026 Mark Mathias Paul Keblish July 4, 2926 BBQ
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Join Date
Anil Nair
May 1, 2009
17 years
Ron Holtz
May 1, 1991
35 years
Mark Mathias
May 3, 2003
23 years
Paris Looney
May 3, 2019
7 years
Liz Wong
May 4, 2012
14 years
MEETING OPENERS SCHEDULE
March 6 Senturia
13 Bernhard
20 Augustyn
27 Klein
April 10 Mullen
17 Renzulli
May 1 Fairborne
8 Mullen
15 Pllominski, S.
22 Galan
June 5 Wong D.
12 Robinson
19 Mandell
July 10 Masumian
17 Kumar
24 Hauck
GREETERS SCHEDULE
March Fritz; Galan
April Mandell; Violette
May Monroy-Smith; Zielinski
June Wetmore; Summers
2026
March
6: Gavin MacMahon, FassForward
13: Cliff Sirlin, Buy Build Fund
20: Carey Mack Weber, Fairfield University Art Museum
27: Jessica Branson, Positive Directions
April
3: NO MEETING - GOOD FRIDAY/PASSOVER
10: Horizons Academy
17: Samantha Sarelli, Ms. Globe USA 2005, social activist
