May is Youth Services month. Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service. Through RYLA, Rotary Youth Exchange and Interact we can help shape the future our young leaders. Endicott Rotary will be sending two Union Endicott High Schools student to RYLA at SUNY Oneonta.
I want to personally thank everyone who attended the 100th anniversary dinner celebration. The committee worked very hard to make March 31 a very special night, not only for our club, but the Endicott community. I hope the next 100 years will be as great as the last 100 years.
Binghamton University will once be a great opportunity for the club. We have taken on the concession stand at the new baseball complex and will be looking for club members to volunteer. BU is the club's largest source of fundraising.
Our club will once again be participating in the historic tree planting program. This program was started by our immediate past president Bill Campbell, with plans to continue for years to come. Three more trees will be planted, one at George F Johnson and two at TJ Watson Elementary Schools. The trees, one George Washington Sycamore, one Franklin Roosevelt Oak and one Edgar Alan Poe Hackberry.
April was pretty uneventful for the Endicott Rotary Foundation. There were no grant requests to review. Foundation members are working with long-time Club members to revise the Foundation's guidelines for grant-making. The Rotary year is quickly coming to an end, so we plan to wrap up that work before the end of June.
As Rotary Foundation President, I plan to attend a Rotary Foundation Reception at Brewery Ommegang on May 11 from 5-7 PM in Cooperstown.
Thanks to the hard work of many Club members during the 2021-22 Basketball season, the Foundation was able to add more than $23K to its coffers. And because Endicott Rotary has such a great working relationship with Binghamton University and Sodexho, we were asked to work at upcoming baseball games, providing additional funds to our Foundation.
Endicott Rotary had the pleasure of presenting two Paul Harris Fellow Awards!
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions
Gay Canough and Rick Materese received their awards at our Rotary Club meeting on April 27th.
Binghamton University has once again asked for The Endicott Rotary's help running the concession stand. This time we will be hitting homeruns at the new Baseball Park.
If you are interested in volunteering for the baseball games, please email Tom J and Brian. We have 10 games to fill.
The Dick's Sporting Goods Open will be played at Endicott's En-Joie Golf Course from August 15-21, 2022. Endicott Rotary will once again volunteer in the main concession tent under the direction of Tom Latini. The response from our club has truly been overwhelming. In record time every time slot has been filled, a true testament to our club's dedication and comradery. ~ Thank you! ~
There are opportunities to volunteer in other areas of the open, Dave Baker is looking for Marshalls. ~ Service Above Self ~
I currently attend Owego Free Academy and I am seeking the rank of Eagle Scout. To achieve this distinguished rank, I must sponsor a project. The project I chose will be collecting old American flags for retirement. I will have different locations set up during the month of May to collect these flags, one being Endicott Rotary and one being the Owego VFW. I will be conducting a retirement ceremony at Hickories Park in Owego which will take place around flag day, (June 14th.) I will also be offering 25-50 replacement flags to veterans at the ceremony.
In order to fund my project, I am having can and bottle drives on weekends at the Church of Christ in Endwell. This past Monday, I passed my Boy Scout Troop's board of review. I am now awaiting to appear before the Boy Scout District Council for final approval.
