Susan Filan is a former prosecutor and MSNBC Senior Legal Analyst turned transformational speaker and life strategist.
Over a career spanning more than three decades, she prosecuted cold-case homicides and handled complex criminal and family law matters involving significant personal and legal stakes.
Today, Susan helps people transform crisis into clarity and soul-searching into purpose. Blending legal grit, neuroscience, and spiritual insight, she is a Keynote Speaker and Life Strategist who inspires and guides high achievers to break free from limiting beliefs, reawaken their deepest dreams, and create lives of joy, success, and fulfillment.
Known as The Wake-Up Call Speaker & Coach and The Architect of Reinvention, she combines logic, pragmatism, and intuition - with laser-sharp clarity, x-ray vision, and a gift for seeing what others cannot. Her work guides others to reinvent from the inside out and live with purpose, meaning, and impact.
Susan aspires to host her own talk show – “To Your Health: Conversations About Healing” bridging science, intellect, and spirit – to help people heal.
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 - December 19
Rachel Precious, Owner of Precious Oysters
Rachel Precious gave us a very informative and interesting talk - Oysters 101. And we even got to sample some of her oysters after her presentation!
Rob and Dennis were willing assistants for the oyster sampling! Rachel also gave us a very helpful demo of how to properly shuck an oyster!
Tim Wetmore, our Opener for Dec. 19, came decked out for Christmas, as usual!
Yvonne was our raffle winner and she got back an attic prize she had given to Mark!
Ken's jokes are always much appreciated and enjoyed!
Kick off the new year with inspiration, great ideas, and a few “aha!” moments at our District Assembly on January 24, 2026, from 7:45 AM to 1:30 PM at the Albert Schweitzer Institute at Quinnipiac University.
This annual gathering brings together club leaders, new members, and anyone excited to make good things happen. Come ready to learn, connect, swap bright ideas, and leave feeling energized for the year ahead. Networking, teamwork, and plenty of Rotary spirit included—no extra charge for the smiles.
There will be a session specifially for newer members, given by the District Governor Nominee, Julia Kushigian-Secor.
Flags of Peace and Kindness
Photographer Mike Hibbard says, “Rectangles of colored fabric printed with symbols, mantras and prayers that are spread by the wind to benefit all living beings by promoting peace, happiness and good fortune. Let's all be kinder and more respectful to one another in 2026!”
GUESTS LAST MEETING:
Rachel Precious, Speaker
David Keeton, guest of Katie Augustyn/Club
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 February 7, 2026 Joe Watson Mazie Zdanowicz March 7, 2926 Rachelle Norzelus Yvonne Senturia April 4, 2026 Joe Renzulli Mark Mathias May 2, 2026 Steven Chin Matt Mandell June 6, 2026 Joe Scordato 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
January 9 Violette
16 Nair
23 Sarelli
February 6 Press
13 Fritz
20 Watson
March 6 Senturia
13 Bernhard
20 Renzulli
27 Klein
April 10 Summers
17 Augustyn
GREETERS SCHEDULE
January Jaffe; Appleby
February Masumian; Jean-Baptiste
March Fritz; Zdanowicz
April Mandell; Violette
May Monroy-Smith; Zielinski
June Wetmore; Summers
2026
January
2: NO MEETING
9: Susan Filan, Motivational Speaker
16: Carla Bercerra Sabrera, Yale Rotaract Club
23: Netta Levy, Lifecare Concierge
30: NO MEETING
February
6: Lexi Shereshewsky, The Azraq Education Fund
1: Laurence A. Caso, The Klein Memorial Auditorium, Bridgeport
20: Ceci Maher, State Senator
27: NO MEETING
March
6: Gavin MacMahon, FassForward 13: Ckiff Sirlin, Buy Build Fund 20: Bill Harmer, Westport Library Common Ground 27: Sharon Walker Epps, Rowan Center
April
3: NO MEETING - GOOD FRIDAY/PASSOVER
10: Horizons Academy
17: Samantha Sarelli, Ms. Globe USA 2005, social activist
