|
October 4, 2017 I’ve always figured that the door in the middle of the Country Club banquet room has something to do with dividing the room in two lengthwise, podium-to-buffet tables. Well, last week’s meeting did nothing to confirm my inner man ’splaining of that set-up, even though the room was cut in half; hallway-to-windows (the phantom doorway had vanished). The result was S.R.O. (standing room only). Extra chairs and table settings were handed over heads, those who had finished eating offered their seats to stranded diners, and eventually everyone found a perch.
 None of that seemed to faze anyone on the business end of the meeting, and President June Losurdo opened the meeting with the Four-Way Test. For her Thought for The Day, Carol Travis read a poem written by an 85 year old friend of hers who lives in a rural area of Maine. The author’s name is Ruth Guillard, and the poem, “Training According to Mama,” is from Curving Back, one of her many small books.
Brad Carruth introduced guests, and in lieu of the usual reading of the new month’s birthdays, June asked those with an October birthday to stand, give their date, and receive a fresh-baked cookie. Rotary Chorus members led the Club in singing Happy Birthday.
Our Club’s Grilled Cheese (and tomato soup) Extravaganza will once again pop up for Wizarding Weekend, October 28 and 29. Joanne Lamoureux is heading up logistics, and made the announcement. Quite a number of volunteers are needed over the two day event, and there is a handy-dandy online sign-up available, where you can see exactly where there are open slots, where there is the most need, and then sign up right there and then. Here is how you get there: Click here to open the Rotary event page, then click the “Online Registration” button on the left side of the page. That should take you to the volunteer registration page.
 A few weeks ago we got an update from member Dave Dunham about the Salvation Army’s hurricane appeal, and this week member James Brown, who holds a day job as president of the United Way of Tompkins County, filled us in on where his organization is with hurricane response. James reported that the United Way worldwide has raised $59 million for recovery and relief efforts for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. It has also collected $650,000 to help earthquake victims in Mexico. The United Way of Tompkins County is raising money locally to help with hurricane relief, and has sent two semi-trucks full of classroom desks and supplies to Houston. Anyone who wants to donate money or requested supplies should visit the United Way website for more information.
 Remember those (2) eclipse photos that Bill Hawley won in the red ticket drawing? Well, George Gull offered to give both photos to any club member who makes a donation to the Rotary Foundation. George also announced that he and his wife, Nancy Potter, will be spending the next nine weeks in Costa Rica drilling water wells as part of a Rotary project. This is the couple’s third year on the project.
New Member
 Kathy Nivison introduced the newest member of the Rotary Club, Jodi Lee Denman. Jody is a business operations executive who has worked with small- to mid-size software and manufacturing companies as well as academic institutions. Since leaving her position at CBORD, Jody is reconnecting and networking in the community, volunteering her time, and embracing her passion for photography and Pilates.
A lifelong resident of Ithaca, Jodi has been a member of the Ithaca College Business Advisory Council since 2014, and enjoys mentoring students on campus. She has a BS in business management with a concentration in human resources from Ithaca College.
Jodi has two daughters — Emma, who graduated from the University of Vermont in May, and Ainslie, who just started her freshman year at UVM. Jodi enjoys taking road trips to visit her girls in Burlington, as well as experiencing everything that Ithaca has to offer, including outdoor activities, sports venues, the music scene and her favorite restaurants.
Paul Harris Fellow
 Jean McPheeters, who has been part of Rotary since 1990, was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow Plus-4. Jean, who has her own consulting business, has been a champion and founder of the Rotary Linen Closet, which she expanded to include diapers. After accepting the award, presented by Mary Berens, Jean said, “I just really think Rotary Foundation is a wonderful thing in my life. Although I travel, I don’t get to do good works in the world. So I’m thankful to Rotary Foundation for giving me this opportunity.”
And speaking of doing good through philanthropy, National Philanthropy Day is an opportunity to recognize the great contributions that those who are active in the philanthropic community have made to our lives, our communities, and our world. This year, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Finger Lakes Chapter will be honoring the lives and philanthropy of:
Mary Berens, Philanthropist of the Year; Mary Grainger, Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year; CFCU, Corporate Philanthropist of the Year; Bob Riter, Outstanding Professional Achievement in Non-Profit Leadership
With two of our Rotarians being honored we are hoping to fill a Rotary table at the luncheon. The date is Nov. 17, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Emerson Suites at I.C. To register, please click here for the e-invite from the AFP site.
Name: Kelsey Rossbach
Classification: Human Services
Employer: United Way
Position/Title: Director, Community Impact
Sponsor: James Brown
Name: Jessica Gosa
Classification: Human Services
Employer: Foodnet, Meals on Wheels
Position/Title: Executive Director
Sponsor: Heidi Goldstein
Name: Renee Mann
Classification: TBD
Employer: Property Management
Position/Title: Self employed
Sponsor: Sherrie Negrea
Please send your comments regarding applicant(s) to New Member Flow Coordinator Joanne Lamoureux, within 10 days of receiving this bulletin.
 Running to Places was founded by Joey Steinhagen in 2007 as a way to bring together the many talented young people in Tompkins County so they could create theatre, develop life skills, and have life-changing experiences with people they would otherwise never have had the chance to meet.
This year, 130 kids in grades 6 to 12 auditioned for a role in the upcoming season, which will include five shows. In keeping with the mission of the theater company, everyone who auditioned was given a role.
“One of the philosophies of Running to Places is we take everybody,” said Steinhagen. “We don’t cut anybody so they will all have a place in the season.”
 Students who join the theater company not only learn how to put on a show, but gain a range of life skills in the process. These skills include working under pressure, taking directions, improvising when things aren’t going well, and working as a diverse team. “These are valuable skills people can offer when they’re in the room, and theater people have got them,” Steinhagen said.
Last year, Steinhagen started a new theater program at Beverly J. Martin Elementary School to raise money for the school trip to New York City. The children produced the show, The Lion King, rehearsing every day for four months. They also beat their fundraising goal by $1,000.
Steinhagen says he plans to work with the school again this year and produce another show. “We’re going to continue onto the future, bringing kids to theater and theater to kids, for at least another ten years,” he said. For more information about Running to Places, please visit its website.
Ambassadors: None
Visiting Rotarians: None
Students: None
Workers:
• Greeter, Dale Baker
• Kettle, Harlin McEwen
• Thought for the Day, Carol Travis
• Introductions, Brad Carruth
Set-Up: Joe Giordano, Ron Provus, Rich Higgins, Steve Johnson & Brad Carruth.
Bulletin Reporter: Sherrie Negrea
Photographer: Mike Brown
Bulletin Editor: Ted Schiele
Club Service Facilitators, Beverly Baker & Joanne Lamoureux
Sunshine Chair, Kellyann O’Mara
Club Service Facilitator Emeritus, Dave Barr
October 11, 2017
Coltivare, S. Cayuga at Clinton St., Downtown Ithaca
Community Grants Awards presentations.
|
