By Kristy Synnott
Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
From big races to small lemonade stands, Stafford is a quirky town with an appreciation for the past and a shared optimism for the future. Before joining Rotary, I never really thought about the fact that our neighbors and fellow citizens were the people who made community-building events like annual parades, celebrations, and festivals possible. It has been said, “If you want a task done quickly, ask a busy person to do it.” Busy is my norm as a mother, wife, member of a giant family, and full-time employee. Despite being wrapped up in my daily life, I wanted to be part of the behind-the-scenes changemakers, which is why I joined the Rotary Club of Stafford.
Rotary in Stafford traditionally consisted of networking within the business community to address the needs of Stafford. It has evolved beyond the business community and now consists primarily of your average Stafford resident. This means You Belong Here - We Need You - Your Community Needs You.
Yes, we are all busy people, but do you have ideas on how your neighborhood can be improved? If so, Rotary may be for you. Even sharing an hour a month can make a difference. We need your diverse and innovative ideas to make Rotary bigger and better able to respond to the needs of the community!
We are currently working on the Stafford Self-Guided Historical Tour, the 2nd Annual Bosco Fowler Road Race, volunteering for Farm Day and Apple Fest, and we recently expanded into Stafford High School, establishing an Interact club. We also have ongoing projects like celebrating the Rotary Student of the Month, volunteering for Flo’s Kitchen, participating in Stafford Community Wide Clean-Up Day, and delivering fruit baskets to the elderly during the holidays.
Congratulations go out to our newly elected officers: President, Laura Lybarger, Vice President, Brian Goepfrich, Treasurer, AnnMarie Morse, and Secretary, Kristy Synnott.
How can you get involved with Rotary and our Stafford community? The club welcomes participation at any level. Meetings are held at the West Stafford Fire Department on Route 190 in Stafford, Connecticut, every first and third Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., and all are welcome to attend. Questions? Email the club at staffordrotaryct@gmail.com, visit their website at https://staffordctrotary.org/, or check out the Rotary Club of Stafford Facebook page for more information.