November 2, 2022
Reporter: John Vineyard
Wednesday’s meeting:
Visitors Day
Features Zoom interview with a Rotaractor in Ukraine
St. Catherine of Siena and on Zoom
Join the Zoom meeting
WELCOME & TRADITIONS
NOTE: you can watch previous meetings by going to our YouTube channel! And note that this newsletter was revised due to some omissions!
The meeting was called to order by President Mary Kane. She led the club through the Four-Way Test, thinking about it in relation to all areas of life and our relationships. She thanked Harlin McEwen for the setup for the meeting.
President Mary introduced her guest, Emma Terwilliger from Concept Systems Inc. There were no visiting Rotarians.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Jack Roscoe offered three thoughts appropriate at the height of the political season:
- “When you find yourself in the majority, pause and reflect.” ~ Mark Twain
- “It’s not what politicians don’t know that bothers me, but what they do know that just ain’t so.” ~ Will Rogers
- “A man who knows nothing but thinks he knows everything is ideally suited to a political career.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Geoff Dunn read the club birthdays for the month of November, as well as the anniversaries of club members, with their years of membership. Loralyn Light led the assembled group in a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Mary described some of the events related to next week’s Visitors Day on November 9th. There are presently 34 invitees slated to attend. She asked club members to host our visitors. The food will be catered with members being charged $11 each; guests will not be charged. She asked for volunteers to help with setup. The meeting will feature a Zoom session with a person in Kiev, Ukraine.
Frost Travis announced that the 25th annual Pride of Ownership Awards is seeking nominations for this year’s program. A joint project of the Ithaca Rotary Club and the City of Ithaca, the program recognizes owners of properties within the City of Ithaca who have developed projects or taken care of their properties in ways that enhance the physical appearance of city neighborhoods and commercial areas. Nominations must be received at the City Clerk’s Office, 108 East Green Street, no later than 4:30 PM on Wednesday, November 16th or emailed to Frost at ftravis@travishyde.com.
President Mary reminded the club that November is Rotary Foundation month. A large number of people are due Paul Harris Fellow recognitions, and these will be given out over the next couple of months, possibly into January.
FOUNDATION MINUTE
Jean McPheeters made presentations to two Rotarians who had reached new levels with the Rotary Foundation.
She called Cal Walker up front to present him with his Paul Harris Fellow + 1 pin and asked him why he supported the Foundation. Cal said that Rotary is an incredibly important organization—that he didn’t realize some 21 years ago when he was the speaker at our club. Fred Antil was President at the time; when Cal had finished his presentation, Fred remarked, “You’re doing a lot of things in the community—why aren’t you a member of Rotary?” Cal said that it just wasn’t on his radar! Being a member of this club and reading The Rotarian magazine has made him appreciate the tremendous work that the organization does. We need to help people know and understand the reach of the Rotary Foundation!
Jean then presented Mary Berens membership in the Paul Harris Society (PHS in this case does not stand for Pittsford High School!), which recognizes Rotary members and friends of the Rotary Foundation who contribute $1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or approved global grants. The honor includes new jewelry that hangs below the PHF pin. Mary spoke about how pleased she was to have been able to contribute to the Foundation at this level. We do wonderful things locally, but with the Rotary Foundation, we do amazing things internationally!
LAST WEEK’S PRESENTATION
Jean McPheeters introduced Dominick Recckio, Tompkins County’s Director of Communications; he has been in the position for two and a half years.
Dominick described the structure of the county government, with its 30+ departments, 14 legislators (soon to be 16), budget of $200 million, 750 employees, and 40+ advisory boards. He described how to look for information on the county’s web site and how to subscribe to various newsletters offered.
Dominick took questions from the audience:
- What is your biggest challenge? The large list of activities with a limited budget. How to get the word out creatively using the resources available.
- How many legislators are there and what if there’s a tie vote? There will be 16 legislators. The increase in seats was designed to make the population of each seat more nearly equal, and to make the district boundaries line up more closely with the city’s wards. A tie vote is seldom a problem; in the case of a tie vote, the motion fails.
- What is the largest public relations challenge? Will there be another clinic? The COVID vaccine. And, yes, there will be another clinic for the new booster.
HAPPY DOLLARS
President Mary led the collection of Happy Dollars to be directed to Ukrainian relief. Contributions were made by Juliet Gibbs, Nate Lyman, Dave Martin, Bob Langhans, Harlan McEwen, Loralyn Light, Kati Torello, Cal Walker, Larry Robinson, Jo-Ellen Hedlund, Perri LoPinto, Brian Wilbur, Jean McPheeters, Linda Pasto, Jack Roscoe, John Vineyard, Dale Flinn, Christie Thornton, Todd Nau, Gary Reinbolt, Suzy Koontz, Mary Berens, and Richard Sholtys. The contributions totaled $460.
THANK YOU ROTARIANS
Newsletter Reporter: John Vineyard
Greeter: Bill Highland
Newsletter Editor: Loralyn Light
Set-up/Tear-down: Harlin McEwen, Ron Provus, Gary Reinbolt, Dave Martin
Set-up Zoom: Bez Thomas
Recording Archive: Paul Martin; click here
Club Service Facilitator: June Losurdo