The Greater Newburgh Rotary Club

The Greater Newburgh Rotary Club is one of the oldest continuous clubs in the world. Such distinguished civic leaders as Archie Stewart of Stewart International Airport fame, and Dr. Russell Scobie, known as the father of fluoridation, have been members.

The Greater Newburgh Rotary serves the Cornwall, Cornwall-On-Hudson, New Windsor and Newburgh communities.

The Club has continuously achieved good works since 1917, sponsoring numerous programs on a local level.

Home Page Stories
Rotary Day of Service
Posted by Regina C McGrade on May 17, 2025
 
The Greater Newburgh Rotary recognized the basic need for food in our local communities and dedicated the 2025 Epic Day of Service to a food drive at ShopRite, Vails Gate. The generosity of their patrons was remarkable. 21 Boxes of Food and $500 in cash donations were collected and delivered to The Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley in Montgomery, NY. 
 
 
Lap Blankets Collected For Seniors
Posted by PDG David Green on Nov 29, 2022
 
Rotarians packaged twenty-five lap blankets for the holidays at the November 29, 2022 lunch meeting. Each blanket was individually packed in a festive holiday red bag and tied with ribbon. The Orange County Office of the Aging will collect the bags from the club and deliver them to seniors in the county. 
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NYS Commission for the Blind
Posted by PDG David Green on Sep 20, 2022
 Julie Hovey, Associate Commissioner Speaks of Services Available for Legally Blind Residents
The New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) provides services to individuals who are legally blind or deaf/blind to help them live independent, productive lives by offering vocational counseling, advocacy, rehabilitation training and employment services.  All services are available to New York State residents who are legally blind. Legal blindness is defined as having a visual acuity of 20/20 or less in the better or stronger eye with best correction, or a restrictive field of vision of 20 degrees or less in the better or stronger eye. 
 
 
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Fearless! Hudson Valley
Posted by PDG David Green on Nov 15, 2022
RECLAIMING OUR SAFETY
 
 
Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, Executive Director of Fearless Hudson Valley, Inc (f/k/a Safe Homes of Orange County) spoke to the Newburgh Rotary on the issue of interpersonal violence, human trafficking and sexual abuse in the Hudson Valley. Fearless Hudson Valley! has a mission to "build an informed, just, and accountable society so all people can experience supportive and safe relationships free from abuse, exploitation, and oppression". They do this through education, prevention, advocacy, and providing comprehensive services, including shelter to victims and survivors in Orange and Sullivan Counties.
 
Their services are provided free and confidentially to all adult and child victims and survivors. In 2021 Fearless! provided advocacy services totaling 23,276 to 5,467 adults and children. They also provided 3,833 nights of safety and received 11,123 hotline calls. Additional information for Fearless Hudson Valley! can be found on their website http://fearlesshv.org/   
 
Fearless! has a donation wish list to support survivors of domestic violence and their children. These items include children's items, clothing (new), kitchen supplies (gently used and new), cleaning supplies, hygiene care, non-perishable food, hair products, bed and bath as well as gift cards. Tap "see more" to view the detailed list. 
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Bernice Canales Joins Greater Newburgh Rotary
Posted by PDG David Green on Nov 01, 2022
Lt. Bernice Canales, Salvation Army of Greater Newburgh Inducted into Rotary
 
On November 1, 2022 District Governor Larry Palant inducted Bernice Canales into the Greater Newburgh Rotary. Bernice grew up in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. By age 20 she completed her bachelor's degree in graphic arts. Following graduation she relocated to Bucyrus, Cincinnati, and Columbus Ohio to work in Salvation Army missions. By age 26 she became a pastor with the Salvation Army. In 2022 Bernice received an Associate Degree of Applied Science and was appointed Assistant Corps Officer with the Newburgh chapter of the Salvation Army. 
Greater Newburgh Raises $705 for Alzheimer Walk
Posted by PDG David Green on Oct 27, 2022
Orange Sullivan Alzheimer Walk 
 
Thank you to all contributors. Together our Rotary Club raised $705 for the 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer's. Representing Greater Newburgh Rotary at the walk were PDG Knut Johnsen, Doug Hovey and PDG David Green. 
Mary Lou Carolan Joins Newburgh Rotary
Posted by PDG David Green on Sep 13, 2022
Mary Lou Carolan inducted into Greater Newburgh Rotary by DGE Peter Sullivan, 9-13-2022
Mary Lou Carolan has been with the Newburgh Free Library since September 2018, first as Assistant Director and then Director following the retirement of Chuck Thomas. She has an extensive background in library management. Prior experience includes Director of the Cornwall Public Library, January 2016 to September 2018 and Director of Wallkill Public Library, May 2004 to December 2015. 
Carolan, a native New Yorker was raised on Long Island. She has been involved in non-profit organizations across the country prior to returning back to New York in 2001 where she began volunteering at the Wallkill Public Library. Shortly after, she pursued a master’s degree in library and information science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She also attended the University of Cailfornia, Santa Barbara earning a Bachelor of Arts and Long Island University earning in 2020 a Public Library Administration Advanced Certification. She has also authored a number of library related publications.
 
COAT DRIVE 2022
Posted by PDG David Green on Oct 09, 2022
 
The Greater Newburgh Rotary Club is collecting coats for individuals in the community that will need the warmth of a coat this winter. Gently worn men, woman and children coats can be dropped off at any of the following locations,
 
Verizon Wireless Zone. 367 Windsor Highway, New Windsor, NY
Verizon Wireless Zone, 39 North Plank Road, Newburgh, NY
Verizon Wireless Zone, 125 Hawkins Drive, Montgomery, NY
Independent Living, Inc., 5 Washington Terrace, Newburgh, NY
Calvary Presbyterian Church, 120 South Street, Newburgh, NY
 
2022 Walk to End Alzheimer's 
Posted by PDG David Green on Oct 12, 2022
 
Greater Newburgh Rotary is participating in the Orange/Sullivan Walk to End Alzheimer's on October 22, 2022. The walk will take place at Benedict Farm Park at 1675 Route 17K, Montgomery, NY. The walk begins at 10 AM with an opening ceremony. The club is contributing $250 to the 2022 campaign. Participating in the walk will be Club President Arlette Murrain, PDG Knut Johnsen, PDG David Green, Douglas Hovey, and Donna Rein. Rotary International is a Gold National Team for 2022 walk with a goal of 250,000. Nationally, Rotary has raised in excess of $216,000 towards the campaign at this time. 
 
Contributions supporting the Greater Newburgh Rotary Team can be made at the team page, https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2022/NY-HudsonValleyChapter?team_id=780529&pg=team&fr_id=15753
 
 
Sparrows Nest
Posted by PDG David Green on Sep 13, 2022
Delivering Homemade Meals to Families Facing a Cancer Diagnosis in the Hudson Valley
 
 
 
 Krista Jones, Exec. Dir. & Founder
 
 

The primary mission of Sparrow’s Nest is to cook and deliver two homemade meals once a week to families struggling through a cancer diagnosis in Putnam and parts of Orange, Ulster and Northern Westchester counties.  Parents, guardians or children who live in parts of five Hudson Valley counties and who are actively receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment, or who are recovering from surgery due to their diagnosis qualify for our services. These families must have children 18 years of age or younger living in the home and must live within 35 miles of their Wappingers Falls kitchen. Thanks to the support of their community, qualified recipients are never turned away.

Sparrow’s Nest has fed more than 2,000 people since inception. The charity is about much more than just food. It’s about community rallying around a family to help with some of their basic needs, it’s about giving these families some peace of mind knowing a homemade meal is coming and it’s about showing them that will be supported throughout their sickness, trying to alleviate some of their stress.

For additional information please see the website for Sparrow's Nest https://sparrowsnestcharity.org/

September is Basic Education & Literacy Month
Posted by PDG David Green on Sep 09, 2022
 
Education and Literacy is one of Rotary's 6 areas of focus. More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That's 15 percent of the world's adult population. 
 
American Red Cross
Posted by PDG David Green on Sep 09, 2022
 
John Vale, Executive Director of American Red Cross, Hudson Valley Chapter spoke to the Rotary Club about the many services that the American Red Cross provides to the community as well as across the world in times of need saving lives with access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products and providing support to families in times of emergencies and disasters. 
 
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New Rotary Theme: Imagine Rotary
Posted by PDG David Green on Jul 24, 2022
 

Rotary International President Jennifer Jones wants members to imagine the possibilities in the change they can make to transform the world. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, urges people to dream big and harness their connections and the power of Rotary to turn those dreams into reality. “Imagine, a world that deserves our best where we get up each day knowing that we can make a difference.”

In announcing the theme Jones said, "we all have dreams, acting on them is a choice we make. When an organization like Rotary dreams about big things like ending polio and creating peace, it becomes our responsibility to make them happen". “You don’t imagine yesterday,” Jones said, “you imagine tomorrow.” 

Newburgh Illuminated, June 4, 2022
Posted by PDG David Green on Jun 04, 2022
Rotary Participates in Newburgh Illuminated
 

The Newburgh Illuminated Festival is an event designed to celebrate the diversity and dynamism of the City of Newburgh with a day of music, art, dance, poetry, food, and more. It brings people and families together to shine a light on the City of Newburgh to increase tourism, attract new businesses and have a positive effect on our regional perception.

 The brainchild of Newburgh mayor Judy Kennedy, the family-and pet-friendly event is held each June on Broadway near Liberty and Grand Streets. This year's event was held on June 4, 2022. At the Rotary tent members passed out free bottles of water and information on the Greater Newburgh Rotary Club. 

 
 
Virginia Kasinki, Welcome to Greater Newburgh Rotary
Posted by PDG David Green on Jun 14, 2022
 
 
Virginia Kasinki was inducted into membership of Greater Newburgh Rotary on June 14, 2022. Virginia is the Director of the Newburgh Urban Farm and Food Initiative (NUFFI). The Newburgh Urban Farm and Food Initiative (NUFFI) is an active network of local residents and community organizations who take ownership of their neighborhoods by installing and caring for neighborhood community gardens. 
 
Through the building of community gardens and offering of youth education and employment programs, informative workshops, and volunteer opportunities at the Downing Park Urban Farm, NUFFI empowers residents to take ownership of their own lives, health and community.
 
For additional information on Newburgh Urban Farm and Food Initiative see Who We Are - Newburgh Urban Farm and Food Initiative (NUFFI) .
 
NUFFI, Downing Farm, Newburgh, Urban Farm
 
 
 
Red Tail Flight Academy
Posted by PDG David Green
Glendon Fraser, Director of the Red Tail Flight Academy program spoke to the club on June 14th. The academy is a Tuskegee Airmen inspired pipeline to career possibilities for underrepresented people of color. The mission is to use aviation as an aspirational platform to recruit, develop, expose and place underrepresented talent - with an emphasis on candidates of color in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen.  The RedTail Flight Academy, based at the New York Stewart International Airport, is an all-volunteer program.
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Taryn Farrington Inducted into Rotary
Posted by PDG David Green on May 03, 2022
 
[L-R] Taryn Farrington, Pres. Arlette Murrain,
          AG Deborah Sager   
 
Taryn Farrington was inducted as the newest member of the Greater Newburgh Rotary by Assistant Governor Deborah Sager on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. She was inducted under the corporate membership plan of Rotary International. Taryn is employed as Senior Relationship Manager for M & T Bank at 5075 Route 9W, Newburgh, NY. Taryn will be the primary corporate member with Adam Pitcher, Vice President, Commercial Branch Manager as the alternate corporate member. Welcome to Rotary Taryn and Adam.
 
                                                         
Community Clean-Up Day
Posted by PDG David Green on Apr 23, 2022
Greater Newburgh Rotary members were out to support Community Clean-Up Day in the City of Newburgh on Saturday, April 23, 2022. 
 
 
Pictured from left to right: Lou Chappo, Earl Miller, Mayor Torrance Harvey, Jeannine Miller, Councilman Anthony Grice, Club President Arlette Murrain and Bob McCurdy
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Greater Newburgh Rotary Completes A Successful Food Drive
Posted by PDG David Green on Apr 18, 2022
On Monday, April 18, 2022, six cartons plus one bag of non-perishable food was delivered to two food pantries in our service area. Deliveries were made to the Union Church and the Town of New Windsor Recreation Department. Each location received three cartons of food items collected by Rotarians with support from our business partners Verizon Wireless Zone, Orange Bank and Trust, and M & T Bank for their food pantries. Together, in excess of $600 in non-perishable food items were donated.  
 
 Town of New Windsor Delivery
 
Union Church Delivery
Mayor Torrance Harvey Extended Honorary Membership in Rotary
Posted by PDG David Green on Mar 26, 2022
The membership of the Greater Newburgh Rotary extended an Honorary Membership to Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Club President Arlette Murrain awarded the certificate to Mayor Harvey at the club's regular weekly meeting. President Arlette spoke of the service of Mayor Harvey to the Newburgh community as Mayor and educator with City of Newburgh School District. That commitment of service exemplifies the ideals of Rotary and its motto of "Service Above Self". 
 
                    
 
Mayor Harvey has lived in the City of Newburgh since 1991 and teaches history at Newburgh Free Academy "NFA". He was elected City Councilman at Large in 2015 and served in that position from 2016 to 2018. On April 23, 2018, he was appointed Mayor of the City of Newburgh following the passing of Judy Kennedy. In 2018 he was elected to fill the remaining two-year term of Mayor Kennedy and was re-elected to a four-year term in 2020. 
Rotary - Feeding Hudson Valley
Posted by PDG David Green on Mar 09, 2022
Hunger in the communities of the Hudson Valley remains a serious concern in a significant portion of the service area of our Rotary district. In the Hudson Valley 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 6 children experience hunger. As part of our commitment to Feed the Hudson Valley the Greater Newburgh Rotary has organized a food drive for March and April 2022.  Our supporting partners, Verizon Wireless Zone, M & T Bank and Orange Bank & Trust have collection boxes at the following locations. All food collections will be distributed in the club's service area of the greater Newburgh community.
 
Verizon Wireless Zone
367 Windsor Highway, Suite 100, New Windsor, NY
39 North Plank Road, Newburgh, NY
125 Hawkins Drive, Montgomery, NY
 
M& T Bank
5075 Route 9W, Newburgh, NY
 
Orange Bank & Trust
78 North Plank Road, Newburgh, NY
 
 
 
Greater Newburgh Rotary Supports ShelterBox in Ukraine
Posted by PDG David Green on Mar 09, 2022
The Greater Newburgh Rotary Club supports the work of ShelterBox in Ukraine with a donation of $1,000 for one ShelterBox. ShelterBox is responding to the Ukraine crisis with a team in Poland working to understand the types of emergency shelter and essential aid items needed by the Ukrainian people. Shelter is so much more than just a roof. It’s the foundation for life, families and communities. It is a place to feel safe after days or weeks of fear. It offers protection from harsh weather, privacy, and helps to preserve dignity. It’s a space to heal from trauma.
 
As military activities escalate in Ukraine, over three million people are on the move, desperately trying to flee to safety. According to the United Nations more than two million Ukrainians have already fled the terror of war to neighboring countries. Innocent civilians are being killed, families and lives are being torn apart. 
 

 
District 7210 Rotary Think Differently 
Posted by Earl Miller on Feb 14, 2022
The Rotary Think Differently (DEI) Committee serves as a resource for Rotary District 7210 Clubs and communities; through engendering a culture of acceptance, inclusion, innovation, and forward-thinking to expand Rotary fellowship and service.  
Join us, by working with the Greater Newburgh Rotary Think Differently Committee!
 
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Our Rotary Foundation
Posted by PDG Knut Johnsen on Feb 04, 2022
 
Our mission
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
At the 1917 convention, outgoing Rotary President Arch Klumph proposed setting up an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world.” That one idea, and an initial contribution of $26.50, set in motion a powerful force that has transformed millions of lives around the globe.
Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
 
What impact can one donation have?
  • For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
  • $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
  • $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
 
The Rotary Foundation is organized as a public charity operated exclusively for charitable purposes and governed by a Board of Trustees. The operations of Rotary International, a member organization, are overseen by its Board of Directors.
Our organization, for a number of years, has received the highest rating from Charity Navigator for our tremendous work and administration. 91% of the dollars contributed to our foundation goes toward the project, thanks to our talented members rolling up their sleeves and doing much of the work!!
CLUB PHOTO ALBUM
Home Page News
Home From War-A Hard Won Struggle to Find Peace
Posted on Dec 05, 2022

A ROTARY VOICES PODCAST

An Iraq veteran works through his trauma — and adopts a mission to help others

Zach Skiles thought he was fine.

He completed his time in the Marines at 22 in 2004 after serving in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. His unit was shelled so many times he'd lost count. He was mourning friends lost in combat. But he was home, ready for what was next. "I was just happy to be alive," he says.......

https://open.spotify.com/episode/35FGEvBGjPCWynd82NPzln

Rotary on Stamps
50th Anniversary
Rotary International 
1955
Rotary's Areas of Focus
Rotary Club Advocacies

The Greater Newburgh Rotary supports the following organizations:

  • Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), in which one to two students from Newburgh Free Academy attend the District-wide Rotary Youth Leadership Conference, held at the Mount Saint Mary College every summer, teaching public speaking and management skills and the ethical responsibilities of leadership.
  • Vocational Service, in which disadvantaged youth are given an opportunity to train with an experienced business mentor.
  • The Archie Stewart Rotary Scholarship Fund, in which every year one or more NFA students receive a stipend to study at an accredited college of their choice.
  • Local non-profit organizations assisted by the Newburgh Rotary Club have included the YMCA/YWCA, Exudus, The Salvation Army of Newburgh, Meals on Wheels, The Holden Home, Independent Living, Inc., local chapters of the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and numerous others.
  • International Group Study Exchange, in which business people and professionals spend several weeks as Rotary’s guests in a foreign country as ambassadors of goodwill.