Fishkill and Beacon Rotaries Launch Elderact Club
Posted by Edward Covelli
BEACON— It is a club that will help seniors give back to their community. The Elderact Club of Elant at Fishkill held its Initiation Ceremony on a recent morning.
"This is a landmark day. This is only the second Elderact Club in the world," said President of Fishkill Rotary Skip Rottkamp.
The Beacon and Fishkill Rotaries are sponsoring the Elderact Club in Fishkill.
"Today the stars are the residents. We're so happy to honor you today," said Rottkamp.
In the Elderact Club's Constitution, Rottkamp said, number six says to "recognize the dignity and value of all elders to serve society."
The Elderact Club of Wappingers Falls, which was the first one formed, has been giving back to the community with its projects.
Pat Usifer, Activities Director for Elant, told those in attendance of the club members making peanut dog biscuits for the Dutchess County SPCA and residents making hot chocolate packets for soldiers.
"I appreciate all of you giving our seniors the opportunity to give back to our community again," said Usifer.
The President of the Elderact Club Francis Donofrio was presented with the ceremonial bell in which to open and end meetings. Donofrio took the oath from Gwendolyn Davis of the Beacon Rotary.
"I think it's wonderful," Francis Donofrio said about being president of the new club.
He said about being president and leading meetings, "I think it's important."
His wife, Marine Donofrio, said that when she asked her husband how he was going to handle running the new club, he responded jokingly, 'Oh, my staff will take care of that.'
"It is giving him a purpose. It gives him a feeling of 'I'm worth something.' A little power goes a long way with Francis," said Marine Donofrio. She added that her husband would do a good job because he wants "everyone to be proud of him."
"We do things for seniors in Rotary but never before on this scale," said Roger Risko, an Elderact advisor.
The Elderact Club, besides working on joint projects with the Fishkill and Beacon Rotaries, will also work with the Interact Club at John Jay High School and the one that is now forming at Beacon High School.
Beacon City School District Superintendent Fern Aefsky said when the Beacon High School Interact Club gets started one of the projects it would be working on is recording living history interviews with the Elant residents.
Each new member of the Elderact Club received a mug, a name tag and a certificate.
The Beacon and Fishkill Rotaries are sponsoring the Elderact Club in Fishkill.
"Today the stars are the residents. We're so happy to honor you today," said Rottkamp.
In the Elderact Club's Constitution, Rottkamp said, number six says to "recognize the dignity and value of all elders to serve society."
The Elderact Club of Wappingers Falls, which was the first one formed, has been giving back to the community with its projects.
Pat Usifer, Activities Director for Elant, told those in attendance of the club members making peanut dog biscuits for the Dutchess County SPCA and residents making hot chocolate packets for soldiers.
"I appreciate all of you giving our seniors the opportunity to give back to our community again," said Usifer.
The President of the Elderact Club Francis Donofrio was presented with the ceremonial bell in which to open and end meetings. Donofrio took the oath from Gwendolyn Davis of the Beacon Rotary.
"I think it's wonderful," Francis Donofrio said about being president of the new club.
He said about being president and leading meetings, "I think it's important."
His wife, Marine Donofrio, said that when she asked her husband how he was going to handle running the new club, he responded jokingly, 'Oh, my staff will take care of that.'
"It is giving him a purpose. It gives him a feeling of 'I'm worth something.' A little power goes a long way with Francis," said Marine Donofrio. She added that her husband would do a good job because he wants "everyone to be proud of him."
"We do things for seniors in Rotary but never before on this scale," said Roger Risko, an Elderact advisor.
The Elderact Club, besides working on joint projects with the Fishkill and Beacon Rotaries, will also work with the Interact Club at John Jay High School and the one that is now forming at Beacon High School.
Beacon City School District Superintendent Fern Aefsky said when the Beacon High School Interact Club gets started one of the projects it would be working on is recording living history interviews with the Elant residents.
Each new member of the Elderact Club received a mug, a name tag and a certificate.