Today’s sunshine was so very much appreciated, after such a soggy week! It seems so good to meeting in person again, and to be truly greeting one another in the old-fashioned way! Twenty-three members and four guests gathered for fellowship and a great presentation! President Bruce welcomed us warmly, and we joined him in saying The Pledge. Jack gave The Blessing, and in keeping with this year’s Rotary Motto, he asked the Good Lord to give us joy in caring. We also felt great joy in singing once again, as Jack led us in the patriotic song, “America.” We welcomed guests, DG Janet Tenreiro and her husband, Kim, along with PDG Dave Hannan. We were glad to have Sharon on board, as well! This noon’s Program would be given by Janet and Dave.
Frank gave us an update on Camp O., which is only a month away. The Wish List is ongoing, and of course, it continues to follow the Covid rules. Tickets for the Raffle are still available. Kitchen help during the Camp Experience is still being sought.
Sherry talked a bit about the Walk of Life. Things are progressing well! The On-Line Auction is in progress, and it is doing well. There will be 10 items for the live silent auction at the Desserts and Songwriters, and 10 additional items will be available on August 7th at the actual Walk of Life. Sherry has urged us to check out the website (click here)!
A link is included in this missive (click here), so that people can sign up to volunteer at the various events leading up to and including, the WOL on August 7th. Mark your calendars! This Thursday, July 22nd, is the Desserts and Songwriters Event at Brew and Brats! A lovely medley of delicious baked goods will be available for purchase coupled with lively music from various artists, including our own Mike Joseph! Also, don’t forget that the Putt for Life and the Fun Run and Walk have been rescheduled for this Saturday, July 24th!
Jack shared that an “Inaugural Harris Cup” will take place May 20th, next year between area Rotary Clubs at Reservoir Creek. What a great way to “swing” into Spring, and to enjoy a good time with fellow Rotarians from our District!
We are so pleased to welcome all the new members we’ve added to the Naples Rotary Club in recent months! Their New Member Materials will be given to them at next week’s Evening Meeting.
Pres. Bruce noted that there will be a Rotary Red Wings Baseball Game slated for the evening of August 7th. Flyers with further details were passed out to the members. Evidently, DG Janet will make the first pitch!
We continue to think of our friend and fellow member Nancy, who is on the mend after a recent fall. The good news is that she is coming along, and that she is answering text messages! Rose had a card for each of us to sign, which will be sent to Nancy.
Pres. Bruce noted that due to Matt’s leaving the area and the Club, Tom will assume the Immediate Past President’s role, thus left vacant by Matt. Tom will resume his term as Director the following year. This leaves an opening for a Director on the Board for one year, and Bruce encouraged members, who had not served on the board yet, to apply and get a feel for what it entails.
Pres. Bruce introduced today’s speaker, DG Janet Tenreiro, who is a source of inspiration, when she keeps in tandem with the Rotary Theme for 2021-2022, “Serve to Change Lives!” Janet, who joined the Canandaigua Rotary Club in 1996, served in roles such as Club President, and Club Secretary. She is no stranger to be involved in service! She has “given back” to the community in various ways such as her involvement with GEVA and the YMCA. She told us that her husband, Kim, has played a major role in her having made these choices.
As Janet took the podium, she talked about the “Movers” and the “Shakers” who work to make things happen. Leaning on the quote, “Service is the rent I pay for the space I occupy on this earth”, she invited each one of us to be “Change Makers.” Rotary for Janet is a gift to be shared, and the Shakers’ message is “share one, bring one.” Give others a chance. Grow more and do more. She sees Naples Rotary doing this! We’re “on it”, yet we can be compelled to do more, and try something new! The Great Lakes Watershed Clean-Up is a perfect example of how this was done!
Though she is not planning any new initiatives, DG Janet hopes to strengthen and support the clubs in District 7120. During Covid 19, it was either “sink or swim”, she told us, and by golly, we kept “afloat!” PDG Linda Kohl had advocated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and it is DG Janet’s goal to maintain these perspectives. She noted that the District Conference 2022 will be close to home in Oswego! She concluded her talk by sharing with us the “ABC’S of Living”, which when followed, would surely have the power to touch a life! Many thanks to DG Janet for providing such meaningful inspiration, and for empowering us to go forth as we begin a new Rotary Year!
It was also a pleasure to welcome PDG Dave Hannan, who was District Governor back in 2019-2020. He spoke about the Polio Plus Campaign, which began in 1985. He was happy to report that we’ve gone the longest time without a case of polio, and that we are very close to its total eradication! The contributions to Polio Plus have been so helpful!
Tom, Jack, and Bruce joined PDG Dave and DG Janet for the presentation of the Platinum Presidential Citation for 2019-2020 to Naples Rotary for “Connecting the World” during a Covid Year. Dave told us that we united people, we took action, and we went to the top!” “Stay on track, follow Janet!” urged Dave.
DG Janet was chosen to draw the winning ticket for the Fifty-Fifty. The jackpot was up to $259! Laurie’s ticket was selected, and Laurie drew the Queen of Diamonds from the pack.
Many Happy Bills filled the basket this noon, as we thoroughly enjoyed the inspiration DG Janet gave us. We were glad to meet her husband, Kim, as well. We enjoyed having PDG Dave visit, and we are humbly appreciative of the Citation given us! Jack and Sharon will celebrate their 47th Anniversary on July 20th! Congratulations! Congratulations to Micah and Leandra on the birth of their son, Sawyer on July 6th! Bruce was glad that Dave had mentioned his Podcast. Speaking of Polio, we learned that two of our fellow members, Robin, and Bruce R., had been afflicted with Polio. Thank goodness they’re with us! It seemed that we were all happy to see that sunshine today!
John F. had the Rotary Moment for us today, and his message aligned well with that of PDG Dave. Though it is one of our greatest goals, Rotary is not alone in the fight against polio. Other organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, CDC and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are working to terminate Polio, and many strides have been taken to eradicate this disease. John urged us to go to the Website to learn more. “Let’s become change makers!” said John!
That wraps things up for this week. The days are going to be busy ones as we prepare for the Walk of Life, which isn’t too far away. We are encouraged to sign up to volunteer at one or more of the various events leading up to the WOL. It will be fun to be together and have fun while we “serve to change lives!”
