It's Groundhog Day and unsurprisingly, we have six more weeks of winter to chill through! We were warm in spirit though as we gathered at the Redwood this afternoon. There were 21 Rotarians present, including two who will be inducted next week, and four guests.

 

President Jack started us off with the Pledge and we sang America the Beautiful on this sunny day. Jack shared a quote about how winter is bleak and dark but for the people with the groundhog in Punxsutawney PA, it becomes a celebration of a long and lustrous winter.

 

Our guests today were our friend Rose Hogan from Victor-Farmington Rotary, our exchange students Romane and Hikaru and our speaker Captain Jeremiah Eisley from Canandaigua Salvation Army who is a Canandaigua Rotarian.

 

Announcements: Dues are due! * Vintage Vines and Valentines is this Sat, 2/7/26.* Arbor Hill needs volunteers to pour at Artizanns. * Vow renewal led by Jack is at 4pm at the Naples Hotel. * Naples Historical Society has a chocolate cake contest. Drop off cakes by 10:30am, judging will be done and cake slices will be sold at 1:15pm. * BVT has fun activities too. * Rose announced a V-F Rotary fundraiser for Victor's Valentown Museum on Valentine's Day. It happens at Acquilano Wine Cellars, Main St. Cdga. from 3-5pm. * February is Rotary Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month. * Birthdays this month are John, Bruce M., Bill G., Bo and Brenda.

 

Jeremiah and his wife are officers in the Canandaigua Salvation Army. They met during training and have two children. They have served communities in Ohio, NH, Dresden Germany, Rochester and now Canandaigua. Most people are familiar with the Red Kettle campaign near Christmas but there are many more facets of the Salvation Army. It was founded in 1865 and is present in 134 countries. It was started by William and Catherine Booth as an evangelical group. It continues as a religious group but works to meet the needs of all people without discrimination. They provide food, rent and utility funds for anyone in need. They try to intervene before people get evicted, providing case management, budget workshops, referrals and coordination with city and county agencies. There has been a Canandaigua presence since 1885. Eighty-one percent of funds go to service efforts. 12% goes to administration and 7% for fundraising. Officers receive living allowances and view their work as a calling. One of the goals is to help the hidden homeless in our area - those who couch with friends, live in their car or camp out in the summertime. They strive to give a "hands up", asking people to own their problems and take steps to solve the situation. Salvation Army works with other groups, like Family Promise, to help as many as they possibly can.

 

The Ace of Hearts was $30 today. John had ticket #9379 but choose the Queen of Spades. 

Happy Bills were given for our great club, a successful bylaws committee meeting, looking forward to next Monday when we induct six new members! Many bills went to Jeremiah for an inspiring and informative presentation. The Millers were happy to have their Grove grandsons home and include Hikaru in weekend events, and to celebrate grandson Blake on a winning cheer team in Prattsburgh. Naples Open Cupboard has benefitted from Salvation Army's contributions here. Naples High School Musical, The Addams Family, is happening the first week of March at the new auditorium.

A weekend Rotary Moment was shared by John - seeing Alan and his wife at the great A Cappella concert at Cobblestone Arts Center.

 

We recited the Four Way Test and Jack adjourned at 1:01pm.