Though its arrival is yet a few weeks away, Spring was sure giving us a taste of what's to come with the warm temperatures and the dazzling sun. How could one not have just a bit of joy on this glorious day in the beginning of March? Added to that joy this noon was the warm and friendly smile of Cindy greeting us as we arrived at The Redwood.

We all rose from our seats to recite The Pledge with President Liz as she opened this Noon's Meeting. Jack chose "God Bless America" to lead us in song, and for The Invocation, Liz asked that we always try to show fairness and support to others. There were 20 of us in attendance today, with Jo joining us online. Today's Guests included Kaitlynn McCumisky, and Tom Pawluk.

There were several announcements that preceded today's Program. * Skip said that the Great Grape Race will be held on May 4th, beginning at 1 PM. * District Golf Tournament: Jack said that sign-ups are progressing slowly. He asked that if we knew of any Rotarians going to the District Conference, to encourage them to sign up for this event. (It truly is a great deal of fun!) * Liz talked about the "Bowl-A-Thon" slated for March 24th. The cost is $35. Liz would like to get a nice contingency from Naples. So far, She, Clyde, Rose, and Sue have signed up. * The Club Calendar has been updated. Go to Club Runner to get the details. * Karen will be attending the P.E.T.S. Training from March 15th-17th. * Rotary Lite is next Wednesday, March 13th. It will be at the V.F.W. * The District Assembly is April 13th at Canandaigua Academy. * The District Conference, in Saratoga Springs, will be April 26th-28th. 

The first speaker was Tom Pawluk, who announced with chagrin that there probably won't be a (Margery Pawluk) Golf Tournament this year. Tom has been the Chaiman of this event, and he will be speaking with the U. of R. and Sands to determine what will happen. Tom thanked the Naples Rotary Club for all its support, noting that the "end-of-the-year supplement" was so helpful.

Today's Program Presenter was Kaitlynn McCumisky, from the Ontario County Department of Sustainability and Solid Waste Management. Kaitlynn was well-prepared and knowledgeable, and she was here today to share updated information with us regarding recycling in Ontario County. A focus on Solid Waste Management, including a ten-year plan, had been established in 2019. In 2021, a Strategic Plan was implemented, and a Mission Statement was developed. A study was conducted in Ontario County having revealed that a great percentage of solid waste is recyclable! Though it will mean increased costs, recycling will become easier due to "single stream recycling" in which the sorting is done for you and made easier.

Adhering to the mantra of "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle", Kaitlynn shared some of the new regulations regarding the disposal of plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, and electronics. "Rules change. When in doubt, throw it out!" she added.

Kaitlynn also broached on the topic of Organics, noting that backyard compost heaps can do much to alleviate solid waste disposal. A 2 to 1 ratio of grounds to greens can be beneficial in controlling pests and odors.

In 2024, there is a Calendar for Collection, and these "Collection Events" will do much to improve the environment. We were prompted to check their website for further information. Kaitlynn ended her talk by saying that Ontario County is doing great!

It was Alan's Ticket #2032 that was chosen for the Ace of Hearts this noon. Alan drew the Jack of Clubs.

The Happy Bills were many, as we appreciated the excellent presentation by Kaitlynn. Jack noted that she was a NCS Grad, in fact! Rose was pleased about the recent Women's Weekend held here in Naples. Nancy is looking forward to the Trout Derby. Laurie was delighted to have son, Jeff home for a visit recently. Judy has enjoyed the sunshine. Pat appreciated the great job Cindy did as "Stand-In Secretary" while she was away.

With the Meeting nearly coming to a close, Liz decided to pull a couple of "Who Am I?" strips of paper from the jar. We learned that Judy likes the color red a lot! We have yet to find out who had a Naples Rotarian for a teacher...the mystery remains!

The Meeting concluded as we joined Pres. Liz in reciting The Four-Way Test. 

I just had to share this quote from Charles Dickens that Sharon had shared with me a while ago. "It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is Summer in the light, and Winter in the shade."