After a lovely late fall day, Naples Rotarians numbered 24 strong tonight, plus our two wonderful exchange students, Uryu and Anna! Frank greeted all with his big smile!

 

President Karen started the gathering with the bell and the Pledge. Jack led us in God Bless America followed by a Thanksgiving invocation with a bit of humor.

 

Announcements: Rush-Henrietta Rotary has an online auction going on. * David has Light Up Naples posters ready for distribution at Artizanns. The brochure with the schedule for that event on December 14th, will be ready next week. * Skip is taking reservations for our holiday dinner coming up on December 9th at Engine 14. * Naples Council of Churches concert at St. Januarius is on Sunday, December 8th at 2 pm. Cookie donations are appreciated. 

 

Our speaker tonight was Kristin Smith, giving her Member Spotlight. Kristin grew up on the shore of Keuka Lake in Penn Yan with a sister and brother. Her parents were both teachers. She has always loved being on the water. She attended Penn Yan schools except for sixth grade at Dundee where her dad taught. She was a three sport athlete, although soccer was her fav. She was able to travel to play in England and Netherlands.  In high school, she joined Interact and was active in a "Natural Helpers" group where she found a talent for helping her peers. This inspired her career path which took her to Oswego and a psychology major. Her choice of college was chosen for the lakeside location, however she quickly learned that it was way too cold to go in the water there! Instead she played rugby and joined a sorority. Another adventure was her summer in Alaska, gutting fish and extracting roe for a Japanese company. Arriving home after the summer, her family made her discard all her clothing and luggage as it was permeated with the smell of fish! 

She realized she needed grad school to find a job in psychology. After, she worked in several settings - group homes for elderly, inpatient recreational therapy, looking to find joy in every day. A wedding of mutual friends from Penn Yan 10 years after high school  brought her to re-meet Craig, who she knew from school but never dated. She had a dream the night before the wedding of meeting and passing him walking on a road. They spent the reception talking and the rest is history!

After several other positions with Yates County Child Protective, she sought an internship in school counseling. This led to a program at Brockport and positions as a school counselor in Canandaigua high school. This year is her first at NCS, counseling grades 7-9. She is happy to be here in a smaller district where she can really get to know the students and make a difference for them.

One of her blessings is her son Parker. He was born a premie at 30 weeks and 2.5 lbs. He was able to go home from the NICU at 3.5 lbs. and has grown to a healthy 6'2" teenager. Parker is currently a Rotary Exchange Student in Sweden! He became interested after attending RYLA and getting active in Interact. 

Kristin's passions are anything in the water - skiing and wind surfing, gardening, nature, photography and learning stained glass art with Ed Joseph. She was inspired to join Rotary by involvement with Interact, Parker's RYLA experience and Ed Joseph's devotion to service. Comments for Kristin included her re-meeting Craig seemed like a Hallmark movie (or perhaps a horror film), validation of the Lake Ontario/ Oswego cold, and her favorite travels to Costa Rica and Jackson Hole where she could swim in Jenny Lake. She was encouraged to do more stained glass to fill the void of Ed Joseph's passing. 

 

The Ace of Hearts was up to $42. Jack had #6159 and selected the King of Clubs. Carrie's Rotary Moment was the Exchange Student outbound interviews that she, Jill and Marty did last weekend.  There were 15 applicants, 2 from Naples. She and Jill were asked to speak about the enthusiasm and participation of Naples Rotary. Carrie was inspired by the connections that happened among the students that day - it was evidence of the power and Magic of Rotary. 

Many Happy Bills went to Kristin's program, the youth exchange program, Charlie home for Thanksgiving, Uryu and Anna here, Rose closing on her new home, the Magic of Rotary, David's hope that he and Mark can have a quiet weekend and wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

 

Karen led the Four Way Test and we adjourned.