April 27, 2022
Reporter: Gail Lyman
Wednesday’s meeting:
TST BOCES
“All About Career & Technical Education at TST BOCES—Current and Future”
Meeting on Zoom only
WELCOME & TRADITIONS
President Catrina opened the meeting with the Four-Way Test recited in unison.
Richard Kops introduced his son Greg Kops.
Visiting Rotarian Dewey Neild from the Rotary Club of Ithaca Sunrise stepped to the microphone and introduced himself.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Bob Gravani acknowledged the large turnout of 28 workers resulting in 39 bags of trash from our Rt. 13 Highway Clean Up on April 23rd. Volunteers came from the Rotary Clubs of Ithaca and Sunrise, Cornell Rotaractors, and Zero Waste Ithaca.
- Ray Brisson reported that our Rotary Board has approved the reallocation of $1300 from the budgeted Books for the World to Ukraine Relief through the Rotary Foundation Disaster Relief Fund. Club members can also donate additional funds by going to the Rotary International website, if made by April 30th.
- Juliet Gibbs presented items (Golf Gift Certificate from Dale Johnson, original painting from Heidi Goldstein, games from Mary Berens, and silk & chocolates from Juliet Gibbs) to be auctioned off to support Ukraine relief efforts. Look for Juliet’s e-mail and submit bids to Julietgibbs@comcast.net by Monday, May 2nd.
- Mary Kane reported that 60-plus survey responses were “thoughtful, constructive, and productive.” From the survey results, she will be forming two teams: “Voice of Rotary” and “Rotary All-Tech Squad” that will meet the week of May 9th.
- Aly Evans reminded us of the Mac ’n Cheese Bowl on May 4th, 4:30–7:00 PM, at the Ithaca Farmers Market.
- President Catrina stated that beginning next week Rotary meetings will be held on Zoom ONLY until further notice. Our Rotary board recommended that we take a hiatus and “err on the side of caution.”
- The speaker for our May 11th meeting will be Ithaca Fire Chief Tom Parsons who will present “The State of the Ithaca Fire Department 2022.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Gary Reinbolt gave us his perspective of growing old by sharing a quote from Martha Beck:“Since our society equates happiness with youth, we often assume that sorrow, quiet desperation, and hopelessness go hand in hand with getting older. They don’t. Emotional pain or numbness are symptoms of living the wrong life, not a long life.”
Gary concludes with his own words: “Life is what you make it.”
GET TO KNOW A FELLOW ROTARIAN
Heidi Goldstein and her husband, Jack were born in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Freetown, NY in 1992 to start a fully certified organic farm, selling their produce at the Ithaca Farmers Market. After selling the farm in 2010, Heidi devoted herself full time to volunteering in the community as ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce, board member of Running to Places Theatre Company, and the Rotary Club of Ithaca. As a Rotarian since 1998, she has been club President, founded and chaired our Rotary Harvest, served as the Assistant Governor for District 7170, attended five RI conferences, and is a Paul Harris Fellow +2.In 1985 she joined a puppetry program for disabled learners and has since created two different characters—Grannie Annie and Anna Banana—both used for entertainment and storytelling at community events.
Her most coveted community acknowledgement was when she was awarded the 2019 Laura Holmberg Award that is given to “unsung heroes in the community who have made an impact through their volunteer work.”
Whether it involves children or adults, food, puppetry, or one of the clown characters, Heidi is always pleased to assist her community in any fashion. She lives by the motto, “Bring humor, love, and peace to everyone.”
LAST WEEK’S PRESENTATION
Harlin McEwen introduced Harmony Ayers-Friedlander, the Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health Services and the Director of Community Services for Tompkins County.Just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tompkins County’s Departments of Mental Health and Public Health started the merging process with the intention of creating a shared department with a single vision and holistic approach to services. A ‘no wrong door’ policy has been adopted where “no client should be turned away from treatment,” but rather guided to the most appropriate facilities to address the client’s needs.
In the administration of mental health services, Harmony cited challenges including work force shortages, the increased need for services due to COVID, and housing shortages.
In answer to groundbreaking NYS legislation, Harmony spoke how Tompkins County is in the process of setting up an 811 hotline that will respond to people experiencing mental health and substance abuse emergencies. Users will be able to call or text 988 when experiencing a mental health crisis, and line operators will work in tandem with 911 to ensure that the proper party responds to the crisis, regardless of the number dialed by the caller.
THANK YOU ROTARIANS
Newsletter Reporter: Gail Lyman
Photographer: Mike Brown
Newsletter Editor: Loralyn Light
Greeter: Aly Evans
Set-Up Crew: Joe Giordano, Harlin McEwen, Dave Martin, Brad Carruth
Set-Up Zoom: Brett Bossard
Recording Archive: Paul Martin
Club Service Facilitator: June Losurdo