Happy New Year, 2024, Everyone! A Brand-New Year, a Brand-New Slate, and Continued Moments to Create Hope in the World inspire us, and prompt us to "move ahead"! 

We were warmly greeted by Cindy, as we made our way into The Redwood on this cold and snowy Winter's evening. President Liz's words, "Welcome Everyone to 2024!" bolstered our spirits, as well, as we crowded into the back dining room, filling it quite amply! Liz led us in The Pledge while Jack chose "God Bless America" to lead us in song. In her Invocation, Liz asked The Lord to give us strength and wisdom, and she asked that we be given the courage to continue to serve others. Tonight's Greeter, Cindy, introduced Our Guests, Kyle Inda, and her daughter, Lyra. Kyle is a teacher at NCS, and Lyra will be an Outgoing Rotary Exchange Student to Thailand next Fall! Along with these lovely ladies were 28 Members in attendance, thus, it was a great turnout of attendees tonight! This Evening's Program presented "a new twist", as we had "Member Spotlights"!

After her welcoming words, Liz had a few announcements to share with the Members. *The Coat Drive, in partnership with Ontario County, ends January 9th.The Drop-Off Locations are both schools, both banks, Naples Library and Luigi's. Donating your unwanted Winter Gear can help others stay warm! Please help if you can! * Rotary Lite will be this Wednesday, January 10th, at Brew and Brats. * Liz needs help with the Invocations. Please consider volunteering to sign up to do The Invocation or Words of Wisdom (at a Meeting) during the next few weeks. * The Programs are being spearheaded by Nancy, Karen, and Jill H. We are all set through February, Check Club Runner to make a note of these events. * Rose asked for help in taking down the decorations from Light Up Naples. The date for doing so is January 15th, after the Noon Meeting. * Liz read a note from Julie, (from Miss Julie's School of Beauty), thanking us for our donation of $300. 

Jack talked about the "Rotex Weekend", in which the Exchange Students from all over the area gather and stay (overnight) at Trinity Federated Church. As in the past, Naples Rotarians will help prepare breakfast for them. This will be the weekend of February 10th-11th.

We honored and celebrated the Birthdays and Anniversaries of the Month. Observing January Birthdays are Laurie, Steve J., Bill S., Kristin, Skip, and Clyde. Bruce and Sandy have a January Anniversary. Led by Jack, we sang a hearty round of "Congratulations" to each.

Speaking of Birthdays, a very special one is coming up for Honorary Member, Bill Cooper. Bill will turn 100 on March 7th!! We have been asked to send him a card of "Congratulations", as he reaches this milestone. Unfortunately, Bill is not doing too well, we have been told, and he is currently in hospice care. Surely, it would lift his spirits to hear from us! Bill's home address is Bill Cooper (and Kit Corti) 330 Amity Road Woodbridge, Connecticut 06525. Let's shower Bill with lots of Good Wishes!

Tonight's Program took on a new twist as Pres. Liz initiated "Member Spotlight", and we began, this evening, with Carrie and Bill! Carrie was up first, and she began by telling us that Rotary has always been in her life. Her Grandfather, Bruce, had been an avid Rotarian, as are her Dad, Skip, and Mom, Judy. Even her Grandmother, Marian, was an Honorary Rotarian, thus Rotary has been influential in her life for quite some time! Growing up, when she would have time off from school, she would come to Rotary Meetings, so it is not surprising that Rotary has played a dominant role in her life! In addition, her family has hosted Exchange Students, and she went to Conferences with her folks. Carrie's love for teaching might have begun when she spent time in England, after Graduation, working with children. She graduated from Fredonia, and later began working as a Substitute Teacher, and though she had interviewed in Waterloo, she returned to her Native Naples to teach. Carrie has taught First and Second Grades, and now her role at Naples Elementary is Instructional Specialist. She had met Billy, "along the way", and she related that having him come into her life, including Sons, Charlie and Grady have been her greatest joys!

Billy was next and using Carrie's theme of Rotary Involvement as a springboard, he, too, admitted that there was a Rotary Connection in his family! His Grandfather had been a Member of the Prattsburgh Rotary, and he had been its President from 2010-2011! Having grown up on Tannery Creek Road, Billy is a Naples Native too! Billy trained in Forest Engineering at ESF in Syracuse and spent seven years in Civil Engineering in Geneva. He was then promoted to the DPW and began preparing for his PE Exam. Upon working for the city, he received his Engineering License, and started Grove Engineering. He worked a side job as a bartender at the Naples Hotel and noted that Carrie would often come there! (Now you know "the rest of the story"!) They were married in 2002, and later on, Charlie and Grady came along! Billy enjoys hunting, fishing, and golf, and he loves to see a "Full House" at Rotary Meetings. 

Now that we had enjoyed a "Member Bio" from two "Seasoned Members", we heard from two New Members tonight, the first being Alexis (Corso). She, too, has lived in Naples all her life, and is related to the Woodard Family. Alexis has learned a lot about Rotary from Liz (Yee), who works with her at Joseph's. Having had Carrie as a teacher, Alexis mused that she still thinks of her as "Mrs. Grove"!  She graduated from NCS in 2015 and has worked at Joseph's for 8 years. She considers her fellow workers to be like "family". She met her husband, who is an EMT, during a family emergency, and she welcomed Daughter, Karter in May of 2022. Little Karter had some health issues, but Golisano Children's Hospital had been so helpful. Alexis was so grateful, she started a business, known as "Little Strawberry," to raise awareness. Alexis said that Liz has been "an inspiration" to her. We welcome Alexis, and we know that she will be an inspiration to us!

Next, we enjoyed hearing from New Member, Liz Bailey, who was prompted to join Rotary after the Event at Engine 14 this past Summer. Having learned more about what Naples Rotary is all about, and what it does, gave Liz the impetus to join us! Liz, too, has a connection to Rotary, as her brother, David was a Rotarian, and had started an Interact Club in his high school! Liz hales from North Carolina originally, and her parents were involved in agriculture. She told of how her parents met in Great Britain during the War, and of how her mom was a "War Bride". Liz recalls the "Blizzard of 66" when she lived in Oswego, and how it was on the National News with Walter Cronkite! Though having specialized in Sociology, Liz's last years of employment were in the Field of Health Information. Her family brought her to Naples, and she enjoys taking care of her 16-month-old grandson, now that she is retired! She is a willing worker, as evidenced by her contribution to LUN, and we are glad to have her "on board"!

The Ace of Hearts was up to $79 tonight. Jo brought the basket over to Clyde and he drew Ticket # 0666, which belonged to Sue. She picked the Ten of Diamonds from the pack!

The Happy Bills gravitated around our appreciation of the Four Members' Spotlights. Carrie and Bill have enjoyed having Charlie home from college. David is looking forward to his and Mark's upcoming trip to Denmark and Norway. Brenda enjoyed having her kids home for the Holidays. Karen was rooting for The Bills! Cindy was glad to be back. John was pleased that there had been many Members who had "put their hat in the ring" for the BOD Slots.

Bo and John had tallied the votes, and here are the results. Sergeant-at-Arms is Judy. BOD Officers are Jo and Cindy. Congratulations!

Before wrapping things up this evening, Pres. Liz brought back the "Who Am I?" portion at Meeting's End. We didn't find out who had a Fellow Rotarian as a teacher, nor did we find out who loves wine, but we did learn that Jack wore cowboy boots when he was in Grade School, and Bo has been in six different prisons!

As we completed the evening by reciting The Four-Way Test, it seems that we would all agree that Tonight's Meeting was a wonderful start to the New Year 2024!