Torrington Rotary Club member Cathy Coyle wore a Torrington High School cheerleader outfit, borrowed from the Warner Theatre's costume shop, Tuesday to help kick off planning for the Rotary's 22nd annual Golf Tournament.

Coyle attempted to lead the club in cheers, and even did some semi-acrobatic cheer moves.

This is not the first humorous stunt to be used to generate excitement about the golf tournament, which is the club's one major annual fundraiser. In the past, tournament co-founder John Logan, a Torrington attorney, has even dressed up as Paul McCartney and played guitar.

The fundraising goal for this year's tournament is $50,000. Proceeds support scholarships for local high school students and support for numerous local nonprofit organizations.

The Torrington Rotary Club will have some special visitors at its weekly meeting Tuesday.
Students from the Torringford School have been raising money to assist with relief efforts in Haiti.
They are donating the money to Rotary International, which operates a hospital in the country.

Yesterday we reported that the Torrington Rotary Club had raised $3,000 to support relief efforts in Haiti, including sending two "Shelter Boxes" to the earthquake-devastated nation.

Well, at today's Rotary Club meeting, it was announced that someone had stepped forward with a check for another $1,000.

And at last night's Litchfield County Board of Realtors and local Home Builders Association annual legislative night, the Connecticut Home Builders Association donated $250 toward then national Home Builders Association's Haiti Relief Fund.

Dan Hincks and Jack Forcette, from Infinity Hall (www.infinityhall.com) in Norfolk, will speak at the Torrington Rotary Club meeting Tuesday afternoon.

The story of Infinity is remarkable, just for the sheer volume of nationally known and extremely talented rock, folk, blues and jazz musicians that they have been booking on a weekly basis since opening last year.

Another aspect to the story is that Infinity Hall seems to have simply expanded the region's reputation as an arts and entertainment center, rather than compete with or cannibalize the success of the Warner Theatre.

Warner Theatre Director James Patrick is an active Torrington Rotarian.

At its regular lunch meeting last week, The Rotary Club of Torrington raised $2,000, for two "shelter boxes" to be sent to Haiti to assist in earthquake relief efforts.

An additional $500 was raised to support the Albert Schweitzer hospital in Haiti, which is run by Rotary International, and another $500 was raised from the community to support the hospital in the week following the meeting.

When the Torrington Rotary Club gathers for its weekly lunch meeting tomorrow, it will be collecting money from members with the hope of raising at least $1,000 for the purchase of a "Shelter Box" that will be sent to Haiti.

Shelter Boxes include a heavy-duty 10-person tent, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, thermal blankets, water purification tablets, water carriers, a shovel, rope, mosquito netting, ponchos, tools, a cooking stove and even a children's activity set.

Any money raised above the amount that covers the Shelter Box will be donated to a hospital that Rotary International operates in Haiti.

For more information, visit www.torringtonrotary.org.