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09/09/2015 08:00 AMConnecticut native and North Haven Rotary Publicity Co-Chair Kathy Simione is knee deep in preparations for North Haven’s 14th annual Day of Wine & Roses on Sunday, Sept. 27, with ticket sales well underway.
Preparations for the event, as well as her dual Quinnipiac University positions as associate professor of accounting and director of The Center for Women in Business, is keeping Kathy busy, but she says she’s happy to be back with her students after a recent sabbatical and summer vacation.
Kathy is also happy to be a part of the upcoming popular Day of Wine and Roses event, which has become a staple in town with an ever-growing crowd seeking amazing homegrown wine, great food and entertainment, a silent auction, and more.
In fact, Rotary President Rick Bassett is currently projecting 50 different winemakers to participate in the annual event.
Kathy joined the Rotary last year, after repeated suggestions from Bassett and a close friend and was “pinned on the actual Day of Wine and Roses,” last year, coming up on her one-year anniversary.
Having worked full-time at Quinnipiac for more than 27 years, Kathy looks back on the past year saying, “I was always really active at Quinnipiac University doing service, but I was at a point in my life where I wanted to extend my service beyond Quinnipiac, to the greater community.”
In recent years, Kathy and her husband Bob have become empty nesters after her two adult sons, Rob and Michael, left the nest, and the timing to join the Rotary became ideal.
Kathy admits her service has been incredibly rewarding.
“One of the things that struck me at everything I went to for the Rotary was that they do such terrific work. It’s just amazing the people that are impacted by what they do, and the community that they serve, and what they are able to give back.”
Kathy says, “To be a part of it feels really good and not only that, they have so much fun doing it, so it’s a win-win situation.
“You are helping the community, making a difference in people’s lives, and at the same time you’re having a really fun time doing it, so joining the Rotary was an easy decision,” Kathy says.
Kathy recently became publicity co-chair for the Rotary and says, “The Day of Wine and Roses is the Rotary’s biggest annual fundraiser,” with many great causes being helped by this great event, that drew more than 500 visitors last year.
Some of those causes include a handicap accessible playground at Canna Park, the Eli Whitney Museum in memory of Jack Viele, Animal Haven, the North Haven Senior Center, Camp Rising Sun and Fellowship House, North Haven Education Foundation, Looking Forward program at the Yale-New Haven Smilow Cancer Center, Warm Coat Project, the North Haven Library’s Career Corner, and more, like helping two local kids with serious illnesses.
For more information about The Day of Wine and Roses or to purchase tickets, visit www.nhrotary.org. For those wishing to participate as a winemaker, call Luigi at 203-239-1900.
To nominate a Person of the Week, contact Jaki Lauper at j.lauper@Zip06.com.