Happy New Year to all! Today we started 2025, with 25 Rotarians and six guests gathering at the Redwood for lunch. Ever-smiling Frank greeted us.

 

President-Elect Jack led the Pledge followed by The Star Spangled Banner. Sherry shared her New Year's Resolution about being good enough!  Frank introduced our guests: exchange student Anna Yang and five of the Finger Lakes Nurse Honor Guard -  Ruth Benjamin, Susie Atkinson, Jan Riley, Judy Reed and Carol Steele.

 

January's birthdays are Craig Smith, Laurie O'Brien, Bill Shepard, Skip Miller and Clyde Yee. Bruce and Sandy McLellen have an anniversary.  All were celebrated in song.

 

Announcements: If anyone would like to lead our songs this year let Jack know * Rotary Lite is on Wednesday, 1/8 at 6 pm. Location is the Memorial Building between the churches where Little Bunch meets. Come join the casual social time! * We will vote on the slate of Officers and Directors for next year at the meeting on 1/13/25, either in person at 6 pm or by email. More info to follow. * Jill told us that twelve students in District 7120 have been approved for the Youth Exchange program for next year. Two are from Naples: Erica Reigelsperger will be going to Austria and Emma Baker will be going to France. They are both very excited! * Jack reported that there are only 3 or 4 students participating in the Rotary vocal contest, one from Naples - Annabella Leach. No participants for the oratorical contest are known to date. 

 

Ruth Benjamin was our speaker, representing Finger Lakes Nurse Honor Guard. The organization got its start in Kansas in 2003, expanding to Michigan thereafter. It provides end of life services for nurses throughout the US. Ruth worked for many years as a nurse for Heritage Christian Services in a position she describes as 24/7. She very much enjoyed her job but found a volunteer calling after she retired. The Finger Lakes area group was started in 2023 and has 40 members currently. Volunteers are RNs, LPNs and Nurse Practitioners. They are affiliated with a National Nurse Honor Guard coalition. They attend funerals, grave sites and hospices to support the families of nurses. They also take on other projects to support communities, such as Wreaths Across America. The nurses came today dressed in the traditional uniform of the 1800s: in white, with nursing caps and navy blue capes with a red lining. They gave us an example service for "Clara Barton" that included readings, presentation of blue and white carnations, a lantern and poems to honor the service of nurses over the years. Three of our retired nurse Rotarians - Rose, Sue and Jo, participated in the ceremony. It was a truly moving tribute to nurses everywhere. 

 

The Ace of Hearts was $35 today. Ticket #6270 was in Alan's hand. He picked the Jack of Clubs.

Happy Bills went out to the inspiring program, to all nurses everywhere, for Christmas celebrations, Laundry Love visits from 4 families, Rose's move to Victor and her joining us today, the Miller/Grove/Gordon/Bristol fun cruise, the 2025 Grape Fest committee forming, Laurie's son Joe getting out of the hospital and Happy New Year!

 

For the Rotary Moment, Sue shared a description of her visits to Rotary meetings in Bangkok and Beijing. Both locations were beautiful, with international attendees and the meetings were quite formal but very welcoming. She sought out groups that spoke English. They sponsored projects to help burn victims and provide cleft palate surgery. Jo was able to send Sue some Naples Rotary banners for them!

 

Jack led us through the Four Way Test and adjourned the gathering.

 

NOTE:

The slate of Officers and Directors for 2025-2026 is:

Vice President: Sherry Brahm-French
Secretary: Cindy Scoda
Treasurer: David Dial
Sergeant at Arms: Nancy Linehan
Director from July 2025 to June 2028: Skip Miller
Director from July 2025 to June 2028: Laurie O’Brien

 

Additional information on Monday's election can be found in a separate email sent 1/8/2025.

 

Reminder: Dues for January to June are due!