Chinnici heads Rotary AM chapter

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Chinnici said once he assumed his managerial job at TD Bank, he knew he wanted to be involved in the community, and found Rotary to be the perfect fit.  He acknowledged, however, that this has been a large commitment.

“I’m looking forward to a great year, to building on what the past presidents have started and to growing the club and leaving it better than I found it,” said Chinnici, a charter member of the two-year old club.

“Joe C. is a great guy and very committed to Rotary,” commented former President Nickie Lisella. “He has been involved and active since he first joined our club about a year and a half ago.  He has a high profile in the Allendale Community; many people know him through TD.  I think he’ll do a fine job,” she added.  Lisella was the club’s first president while also serving as president of the Allendale Chamber of Commerce.

Chinnici said one of the major challenges now ill be to retain and increase membership, which is down to 19 members, and hopes to draw on his experiences in taking TD’s branch from an underperforming to a high performing branch and applying it to Rotary.

“We need more active members, people who are community minded and humanitarian.  They just don’t know yet that they are ready,” he said.

Chinnici said he wants to build on the projects started by past presidents, including Lisella’s Million Dollar Dinner, which a club member hosts quarterly and the member donations benefit a cause.  Other initiatives Lisella started have included identifying needy families in the community and donating VISA gift cards to them to help with groceries or gas, and starting a tradition in the club of making the 1^st Wednesday of each month “Center for Food Action” Wednesday.

Chinnici hopes to organize a community-wide food drive for Center for Food Action in the summer, when the need is the greatest.  Other plans include expanding Rotary’s dictionary program to the area’s private and parochial schools, working with Dive Heart program and achieving 01c3 status to help with donations.

The incoming president, who is single and seems to possess limitless energy, is a veteran of the US Army’s Operation Enduring Freedom and active in a number of area non-profit organizations.  In his spare time he plays poker and enjoys movies and biking.

“Because we are new, we are still forming what we are and looking to do.  We want to become more active in the community, and maintain our scholarship program,” he said.  He added that he also hopes to partner with Bergen Highlands Rotary, a lunchtime group.

The Allendale/Saddle River Rotary Club meets on Wednesday mornings at 8am at Savini Restaurant, 168 W Crescent Ave in Allendale.  Anyone interested in joining the fledgling organization is welcome to stop by.