|
Tomorrow’s meeting:
Gertrude Noden, 50 Days for Girls Rotary supported kits to the UNIFAT School in Gulu, Uganda January 15, 2019
Newsletter Reporter: Gail Lyman | Photos: Mike Brown | Editor: Ted Schiele Note: The Feb. 5th meeting will be at the Ithaca Country Club.
It was 60 degrees on January 11, and my wife and I spent a good part of the day cleaning up our (her) gardens. This past Saturday, one week later, we got 4-plus inches of snow on the back of some good, solid cold air, and the temp went into the single digits. The change makes for good conversation, but I’m not sure it’s that unusual; we get something “unusual” every year.
All that said, the people impacted by sea level rise don’t give a fig about our weather. They are watching the Earth’s climate, where 2019 was the second hottest year on record. And as Rotarians, we are watching too, knowing that while our values also make good conversation, our values and integrity is how Rotary Connects the World.
 President Frank Towner opened last week’s meeting with his verging-on-signature double shot: the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the Four-Way Test. The Thought for The Day was given by Steve Sedlock, who read some quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - “Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
- “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”
- “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”
- “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”
 Rotarians introduced their guests, and President Frank introduced the coupon prize for the day: an Art Page-a-Day Gallery calendar for 2020, and a guest pass to the YMCA. The winning number was held by Joe Cassaniti.
Every year on the first or second Saturday in March, the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is held at the Owego Treadway Conference Center. And every year (going back at least my 8 years), Heidi Goldstein has been in charge of getting members of our Club signed up to go.
And so it happened at last week’s meeting! (I mean, does the sun rise in the east, or what!?) Heidi announced that RLI 2020 will be Saturday, March 7, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It’s a full day, but you won’t notice; you’ll be too engaged. Usually there are a few carpooling options. Please see Heidi if you are interested, or want to know more. And, if you don’t ask Heidi, there is a good chance she will ask you. She knows who should be going.
 The Dozen Dinner Draw (DDD) ticket sales are lagging. Dennis Gray reported that only 102 tickets had been sold as of that day. He also said there is still a need for prize sponsors. All funds from ticket sales go to the target programs selected by our International Services Committee. This year it’s Hurricane Dorian relief on the Bahamas, and Clean Water for Costa Rica 2.0, the project that Nancy Potter and George Gull have been working with the past few years.
Please keep spreading the word, and help sell tickets. Tickets are $50 each, and the raffle grand prize is one dozen $100 gift certificates to top Finger Lakes area restaurants. Tickets are available at The Pack ’n Ship Store on The Commons, or visit RotaryDozenDinnerDraw.org.
The raffle drawing will be held at our regular Wednesday meeting on Feb. 12. Click here for an “All About DDD 2020” cheat sheet.
 In Happy Dollars, Linda Pasto’s granddaughter is selling Girl Scout Cookies, and Linda asked Rotarians to consider buying cookies, and then donate them to a food pantry. [It’s a Hat Trick! Good for the Girl Scouts, good for our neighbors, good for your waistline!] Joe Giordano loves the Martin Luther King quote in Steve’s Thought, “Only in darkness can you see the stars.” Stacy McNeil reported that the Salvation Army's 24-hour Red Kettle Challenge earned over $13,000 in donations, with total 2019 Red Kettle donations topping $86,000! And Brett Bossard announced Cinemapolis’ 2020 “And the Winner Is” Awards Night Party is Sunday, February 9th. Polish your cufflinks, guys!
And finally, if you thought the most important number at a Rotary meeting is the one on your prize coupon, just wait till you get to Week Five! (Flash trivia: who remembers the Gang of Five?) The Jan. 29 meeting will be all seats by number; draw a number, get a seat! It’s a Club Service Day.
Do you know someone who would host an exchange student? The Youth Exchange Committee is always looking for good host families. Please let Marshall McCormick (marshall@fingerlakeswm.com) or Linda Brisson (ithacarotaryYEO@gmail.com) know if you have any suggestions.
 Trina VanAtta introduced Yolanda Richardson, Ithaca Youth Bureau Recreation Program Coordinator. Yolanda had come to report on the IYB Rotary Soccer 2019 Fall season.
 The results: 394 participants ages 4 to 14 years, spanning 36 teams across 7 divisions. Our Ithaca Rotary sponsorship allowed for the purchase of several domes & practice cones, and new corner flags to replace bent or broke ones. In addition, our funds supported part-time referee jobs for youth ages 14-18, and provided $1,141.60 in soccer scholarships to families.
Ithaca Club Rotarians may provide additional help by following and “Liking” IYB on social media (Facebook, Twitter & lnstagram), making promotional posts on social media, and providing hands-on /on-site help by greeting families, and distributing jerseys and handouts on initiation day.
The IYB is supporting Ithaca's Green New Deal by making more condensed brochures and encouraging online program registration.
Our sponsorship has been a tradition for over 20 years, and is acknowledged through the display of our Rotary Club on jerseys and recognition through the IYB website Sponsor Page, iybrec.org/sponsors.
Ambassadors: None
Visiting Rotarians: None
Students: None
Workers:
• Greeter, Richard Kops
• Kettle, Christin Greven
• Thought for the Day, Steve Sedlock
• Introductions, Rotary hosts introduced their guests
Set-Up: Dale Flinn, Joe Giordano, Steve Johnson, Dave Martin, Harlin McEwen, Ron Provus, Jason Sidle, & Brad Carruth
Bulletin Reporter: Gail T Lyman
Photographer: Mike Brown
Bulletin Editor: Ted Schiele
Club Service Facilitators, Beverly Baker & June Losurdo
Sunshine Chair, Kellyann O’Mara
January 22, 2020
Coltivare, S. Cayuga at Clinton St., Downtown Ithaca
Gertrude Noden, 50 Days for Girls Rotary supported kits to the UNIFAT School in Gulu, Uganda
|
