Renewed, refreshed, and rejuvenated, President Bruce was back with us after a relaxing vacation last week which, we understand, was in a spot without cell phone service, therefore rendering him a chance to “really unwind!” As he asked us to join him in saying The Pledge, he exclaimed how good it was to be back, and he thanked PP John for filling in last week. Sherry gave The Invocation, asking The Lord to soften our hearts, and to inspire us, as Rotarians, to continue to serve others. When asked, Jack gladly led us in singing “God Bless America.” There were 22 Members at this Evening’s Meeting, and we welcomed guests, Tom Pawluk, Jennifer Emmons, Sharon, and Betsy’s friend Ray.

Before tonight’s Program, there were a few announcements and updates:

• Laurie, Shanna, and Patrice met over the weekend to select this year’s “Santa Books” for Naples Rotary to give to the students in Grades 1-6. The books have been ordered from “Book Depot”, which we have used for the past several years. We have found them to be very reliable. Typically, it takes just a few days for the books to arrive! Budding Readers has generously offered to donate books for our youngest readers, the UPK and Kindergarten kids.

• Skip noted that the dictionaries and thesauruses have also been ordered.

• Sherry announced that the “Light Up Naples” Organizational Meeting would take place after this evening’s meeting. Volunteers and creative ideas are most welcome!

• Tom said that the October Board Meeting will take place next Monday, 10/18, before the Noon Meeting. The Board will be sharing new ideas for next year’s Grape Fest and discussing “new ways to tweak it”. (Any member may attend board meetings, but cannot vote.)

• Jack mentioned that Frank has two available tickets to the Camp O. Dinner that he and Kathleen are unable to use.

The Walk of Life Committee was asked to approach the podium for a special presentation and recognition. Those individuals were Jodi, Tom, Mike, Sherry, Laurie, and Karen, along with our guests, Tom Pawluk (representing the Margery Pawluk Cancer Fund), and Jennifer Emmons (representing Hospeace House). Jodi said that she was honored to have worked with this group. Tom P. thanked Naples Rotary on behalf of the Sands Cancer Unit. Jennifer said that Rotary puts everyone in front of themselves. Their appreciation flowed like a waterfall, as generous checks were presented to them from the Walk of Life. Tom H. simply said, “It was a team effort!”

Our emotions were aroused by tonight’s moving Program, presented by our own Cindy Scoda. Entitled “Attica, A Personal Tragedy,” Cindy poignantly shared her memories of that dark day 50 years ago, from a completely different angle…a personal one. She thanked Sharon for the encouragement as she began her talk and referring to this little community as “My Attica”, she recalled when this little hamlet was traumatized by the Attica Prison Riot back in September of 1971. It was very personal for Cindy since her dad was one of the Prison Guards who was held as a hostage during the uprising.

Attica, a little rural community near Batavia, Cindy told us, is comprised of dairy farms among the hills, and corn fields on the flat lands. Victorian homes, several churches, car dealerships, stores, ice cream stands, two schools, Westinghouse, train tracks, Tonowanda Creek… they all are features of a typical rural village, and the place Cindy called home. Then there was The Prison that Cindy recalls “looking like a castle”, with its 30-foot-high concrete walls. She felt growing up in a prison town seemed normal, and she and her friends would even play a Summer game of tag that they nicknamed “Jailbreak”.

Yet, when the prison whistle blew, they knew that signaled danger. In the Fall of 1971, Cindy was at college in Fredonia. Times were troublesome during this era, for the Viet Nam War was going on. Typically, her dad would say that he had had a “hard day at the office” upon returning home, but on September 9, 1971, that changed completely when an uprising occurred among the inmates who were disgruntled. Her dad was among those who were held hostage. Cindy tried to call home unsuccessfully to see if her dad was okay, but all she would get was the busy signal. She hoped that the riot would end, and that her dad would be fine, but it wasn’t until after the weekend that she learned he was in hospital, but he would be okay.

Cindy explicitly told us about the tensions and anxiety that were high during those days following the riot, even after negotiations were made. “Days and weeks after the riot, Attica was never the same,” said Cindy. She has a great deal of admiration for her dad whom she claims has a “sense of survival skills”. A therapeutic group called the Forgotten Victims of Attica was later formed to help the families of the hostages. “Comfort was found in one another,” Cindy added. The Five Point Plan For Justice was also incorporated. There is a monument in front of the prison dedicated to those who gave their lives that day. There were eleven.

Cindy concluded her program by recommending a good read, “The Prison Guard’s Daughter - My Journey Through the Ashes of Attica,” by Deanne Quinn Miller. Our sincere thanks to you, Cindy, for presenting such a powerful and poignant program this evening! Thanks too, for sharing a part of yourself with us! “We know Cindy’s story,” said Pres. Bruce.

Our emotions were triggered this evening by not only our appreciation for Cindy in her sharing a part of her past with us, but we are mourning the loss of a Dear Friend and Fellow Rotarian, Joyce Doran, who recently passed. Many Happy Bills were given for these two main reasons. We also have appreciated the Walk of Life, and all that it embodies. Skip, Judy, Carrie, and Billy were very proud of Charlie and Grady for their great golf accomplishments, and Grady seems to be quite the outdoorsman and hunter! Sharon shared her memories of the Attica Prison Riot. Tom talked about the challenges life sometimes brings. Pres. Bruce enjoyed his “cabin time”. (Welcome home!)

Fifty-Fifty: The Kitty was up to $31, and Jodi drew Ticket #738, which was Tom’s. Tom drew the Queen of Hearts.

Win-Win: Billy shared a Win-Win that took us down Memory Lane. For many years, Joyce oversaw the Trout Derby. Did any of us happen to know what the record was for the largest rainbow trout in New York State? The answer: 31.3 pounds! Also, what was the world record? The answer: 43 plus pounds! Billy added that not only did the contest entrants come to fish, but they equally enjoyed talking to Joyce!

Rotary Moment: Rose told us about when her friend, Craig Hohm, came to visit. (If you’ll remember, he was our Program Presenter last week). Craig wanted to know what Rotary was, and Rose was pleased and proud to tell him all about it!

Here are the details pertaining to Joyce’s Service(s). A Graveside Memorial Service will be held this Thursday, 10/14, 3:00 PM, at Rose Ridge Cemetery. It will be led by Karl Warrington. The location is 8346 West Hollow Road in Naples. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, 10/23, from 3PM-8PM at the Bristol Valley Theatre/ Naples Fire Hall.

Hope everyone is enjoying this spectacular Fall weather we’ve been having lately! Just as our hills and valleys are slowly filling with a splendid array of colors, so too, is our Naples Rotary made up of many unique and special members!