It is with great sadness that we inform our D7090 Family of Rotary of the recent death of Governor Scott Marcin’s beloved Wife, Amy Trawinski-Marcin.
She passed at home, surrounded by her loving family.
We all send our most Sincere Sympathy, Care & Concern, to Governor Scott, their adult twin children, Aniela & Lukas, and extended family, as they grieve.
Hello District 7090. Happy Dyngus Day to all who celebrate this wonderful Polish tradition. I hope this April Fool’s Day finds everyone healthy and inspired for a busy month in Rotary.
First of all, make sure you ask your Club's President Elect how the in-person training on membership went. Thanks to Aaron Carlson, our Learning Chair, and our DG Chain of David Alexander, Michele Starwalt-Woods and Anne Bermingham, we learned so many creative ideas around membership to be brought back to all the clubs. It is my hope that some of those ideas will help clubs attract and retain new members, helping our District reach its goal of 2,000 members. We are sooooo close! Remember, we have such a great story to tell about Rotary. Make sure you share with those around you, especially those who may be potential Rotarians.
This month we will continue the new Rotary D7090 Tradition of the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup on April 20th. This day provides Rotarians across our District and all the Districts around the Great Lakes, to do their part to clean up our shores and tributaries of our most important local natural resource. As you know, the Environment is one of Rotary's Seven Areas of Focus, and maybe the one that provides us with the greatest opportunity in the future to make those lasting impacts. This again is also an opportunity to collaborate with other civic groups and our friends of Rotary, to show them what it is that we do as Rotarians. Many thanks to Frank Adamson for starting this event, and DGE David Alexander for picking up the flag and moving our efforts forward.
Finally, as if you needed any reminding, there is a District Conference coming up on April 26th and 27th. You can register for either or both days of the conference at www.rotary7090.org. If you attend, not only will get a chance to catch up with old and new Rotary friends in fellowship, but there will be a celebration of the Rotary Foundation on Friday at a very "Hip" place called Duende in Silo City, Buffalo, and then on Saturday, there will a full day of Rotary learning and interactive community service projects, basket raffles and even some fun activities to do. There will be something for everyone, and you are sure to leave inspired with a smile on your face.
All clubs in District 7090 are part of the Great Lakes Watershed.
Many are finding a few hours in April to gather at a meaningful place and pick up trash left behind by others.
All the tools you need to review for a successful cleanup can be found on the District 7090 website by clicking HERE.
New for this year: a handy two-page guide that shows you how to organize a cleanup in 22 days!
The other tool that will be ready on the GLWC page by mid-April is an online form that your club GLWC rep can fill out. This will allow us to easily add up the amount of trash all clubs have removed from our environment. Talk about impact!
Take this as an opportunity to have a larger conversation about other environmental activities your club can undertake. The environment is a growing concern and it can be a new way to attract people to your club and causes.
This is an exciting time for Rotarians going to the Singapore convention as they prepare for an adventure.
It’s also time to start thinking about the CALGARY CONVENTION, June 23 to 27, 2025.
In-person registration will include:
Admission to the convention’s opening and closing ceremonies and general sessions, where you’ll hear from inspiring and entertaining speakers, including top leaders in our organization.
Informative breakout sessions to help you build your communication, leadership, and project management skills.
Opportunities to network and exchange ideas while browsing the project and fellowship booths in the House of Friendship.
Entertainment provided by local artists and musicians in the House of Friendship and at the general sessions.
Transportation between your hotel and the convention venue if you booked your hotel through Rotary’s official housing partner.
This is a perfect time as well to book your accommodations. They are expecting 25,000 Rotarians to the city. Time to find your lost cousin who moved to Calgary!
Also not too early to look at some of the Preconvention Rotary- and host-ticketed events.
Our District and Volunteering - A Concept for a Fall Conference
Service Above Self best conveys the philosophy of unselfish volunteer service. We all have relationships with partner organizations in our community. Whether it is working together, providing a donation, hosting a talk, a Rotarian sitting on an agency board, or Rotarians showing up somewhere to help out, there are many avenues of volunteering. A fun club exercise would be to make a list of all the groups, agencies, and organizations your club has a relationship with. Some members may also be Rotarians!
Next, sometime over the coming months, have a conversation with these groups. What issues are on their radar? Where do they get their information? Are they concerned and inspired by current and future volunteers? Are there organizations in your community that you would like to have a relationship with? What if all the clubs in the District came together for a day, together with these partners, to discuss volunteering in our community? And what if at the end of the day, we all were able to find a clearer sense of purpose and focus? That is the concept of a District conference this October. One day. Listen and learn. Make new friends. Share ideas. Grow Rotary.
If you are intrigued about this conference concept and would like to help shape what could very well be a large meeting of the minds, please reach out to DGE Dave Alexander at 905-329-6026.
Did you know that, for every dollar you contribute to The Rotary Foundation (TRF), you get a "Foundation Recognition Point (FRP)"? That's in addition to the points you accumulate towards your own designation as a Paul Harris Fellow. These FRPs can be used to award a Paul Harris pin to a person you think is deserving of the recognition.
One way to donate is through "Rotary Direct", Rotary’s recurring giving program. You can donate using a credit card or a debit card that is associated with a personal checking account. Arrange monthly, quarterly or annual gifts. You decide the amount, method, and timing.
From now until May 31st, if you sign up for Rotary Direct, a district Rotarian will transfer a number of Recognition Points to you, equal to your cumulative annual donation.
Standard Offer: Sign up for Rotary Direct by May 31, 2024, by submitting the Rotary Direct formor by signing into My Rotary at www.rotary.org and clicking on “DONATE”. Select “Annual Fund – Share” as the recipient of your gift. Scroll down to DONATE, then click “recurring”.
If you already are using Rotary Direct for regular giving to The Rotary Foundation, we will offer you 100 points for increasing the size of your gift by $100 per year. Please let us know that you have completed this, or if you need help please let us know.
Bonus Offer: If you sign up for Rotary Direct at the Paul Harris Society level of $85 a month by May 31, 2024, we will give you 250 Paul Harris Recognition Points.
We will manage the transfer of points to your TRF account at the end of the promotion. That's all there is to it!
The annual sale of chocolate hearts has already begun in Canada, with great success. The sale of the hearts will begin on the U.S. side of the border at the district conference on April 27th. There will be a table in the Friendship House where dark, milk, and orange chocolate hearts will be available. The hearts are from Platter’s chocolates, a well-known chocolatier in the U.S. They will cost $10 each.
We are again asking that all Rotary clubs in our district consider becoming annual donors to the only project the district has. A club donation can be anywhere from $100 or more. At present, we are fortunate to have one club donating $1000 and one club donating $500. The other donations this year range from $100 to $250. Remember that supporting this project counts as international service for a club. The key point: “Gift of Life” giving can save a child’s life. Perhaps you know of a child who has benefitted from surgery for a congenital heart defect, who has gone on to live a most productive life. That is what is wished for all children. Unfortunately, over 100 children in every country we serve are on a waiting list every day for surgical help. Selling chocolate hearts helps a great deal but we cannot sell enough hearts to help even one child, so we must also depend on donations from clubs. This charity has received the highest ranking possible from Charity Navigator.
A presentation about “Gift of Life will” be held at the conference; we hope that many of you will attend and hopefully be inspired to participate. Hearts will be sold in Canada for Mother’s Day but will not be sold in the U.S. at that time.
There will be a District Friendship Exchange with District 5520 - New Mexico.
We will host them from Aug 10 to 24 and travel there Oct 19 to Nov 2. The dates are reasonably firm, so check your calendar.
District 5520 includes: Historic Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, the White Sands National Park and that "West Texas town of El Paso".
So, saddle up the stove, Mother. We're riding the range tonight.
For those not familiar with Rotary Friendship Exchange, the concept is that a group of between 6 and 10 (Rotarians and, if relevant, mates) are spoiled rotten by our Rotarians this summer, when they visit. Then, our guests do their best to get even when our group invades in October.
We will need Rotarians who are willing and able to host and travel, as well as those who are only able to host.
If this sounds like fun, then contact John Crossingham atxngham@cogeco.net
Please indicate whether you are signing up for both hosting and travelling, or just hosting.
LAST CALL!!!! DISTRICT 7090 SCHOLARSHIP - Due Date April 12th
The Rotary Foundation Scholarship Committee of District 7090 will be awarding three scholarships to deserving high school graduating students: Two - $1000.00 USD awards One - $1,500.00 USD award for a student with a median family income of less than $37,000 USD/year or $50,337.39 CDN/year. Criteria:
Applicant must be within the boundaries of District 7090 at application and in final year of high school education with a commitment for full time, post-secondary (college, university, community college) education.
A resume of community service and/or volunteer activities completed, plus a 100-word paragraph about the impact these experiences have had on you.
An essay of 750 words describing: why you chose your career/education path, and what community service/volunteer activities you plan to participate in.
Optional: letter of reference from any community member (not a family member).
For a full description, including the Rotary’s conflict of interest policy, and to download the application, CLICK HERE.
Timeline: Application deadline is April 12, 2024 with awarded scholarship no later than June 28, 2024.
** We encourage each club to each out to their local high school(s) to announce this opportunity**
Completed applications will be accepted by email only and submitted by the local Rotary Club.
At our recent Rotary club meeting we had the pleasure of meeting inbound Rotary Exchange student, Joaquin Caparroz from Brazil.
He shared with us his experiences so far in Chautauqua County. He explained that it is always hot in Brazil and is enjoying the change of seasons. He enjoys skiing, soccer and snowboarding.
High on his favorite American foods are: chicken wings with blue cheese dressing, pumpkin pie ice cream, and ice cream sandwiches. Joachin’s grandfather is a Rotary club past president and his mother was a Rotary Exchange Student in Albion, NY.
His future plans are to study business. Joachim is sponsored by the Jamestown Rotary Club and was accompanied by Rotarian Cheri Krull.
Buffalo Rotarian Jerry Kelly has been instrumental in the creation of the Canisius University Rotaract Club. They held their first Rotaract event March 2nd at Buffalo Rotary’s section of the Niagara Greenway Trail between Lakefront Blvd and Erie St. Niagara Greenway Executive Director Greg Stevens and Jerry Kelly organized the event that included a cleanup phase, with landscape specialist Jim Jones of the Tonawanda Rotary, tree specialist Glen Gentzke of the Kenmore Rotary, and environmental Professor Erin Robinson (club advisor).
Rotary International got back to Jerry Kelly a little over a week ago on our club application and indicated that we should expect approval for the Rotaract club coming soon.
All in all, it was a great launch for our Canisius University Rotaract Club.
The Rotary Club of Jamestown, NY is excited for the return of its annual auction. The Rotary Treasure Trove Auction will take place at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown, NY on Saturday, May 18 beginning with a cash bar and snacks at 5:00 PM while people browse and bid on the SILENT auction items and preview the live auction items. Food Stations open at 6:15 PM with opportunities to also participate in the 50/50 drawing and the Heads and Tails Game. The live Auction of approximately 50 items begins at 7:30 under the direction of Ben and Chuck Ludwig.
The great change in the Treasure Trove Auction is that there is a website (HERE) that will be open for bidding on items beginning May 1. All bidders MUST register before they can place a bid, and that can be accomplished on the website as well. Bidders will sign up and provide all pertinent information, so not only can they bid but “check out” at the end of the evening’s festivities. The prior registration ensures that it will go much smoother than ever before.The website https://jnyrotary.afrogs.org/will open for perusal on April 1 and bidding will begin May 1. Online bidding will stop at 6:00 pm May 18 with live bidding beginning at the Moon Brook Treasure Trove auction location at 7:30.
Kenmore Rotary turns 100 in April 2024! Help Us Celebrate a Century of Service.
Be a Part of Our Legacy - Join us for the Gala on April 10th or Make a Donation
We invite you to be a part of our historic 100-year celebration by making a $100 donation in honor of our 100 years of service. Your support will help us continue our mission of "Service Above Self" and will enable us to do even more for our community.
Why $100?
- Each dollar symbolizes a year of service.
- Your donation is an investment in the next century of service and community impact.
- Together, we can make a significant difference, just as we have for the past 100 years.
Donate by Check: Made out to: Kenmore Rotary Charities, Inc. (Please indicate "100 for 100" in the memo section)
Mail to: Rotary Club of Kenmore, 3411 Delaware Ave, Suite 206, Kenmore, NY 14217
OR Visit our website at kenmorerotary.organd click the "100 for 100" button at the top right.
On Saturday, April 13, there will be an exciting fundraiser at Suncliff on the Lake, 6892 Lake Shore Road, in Derby, NY (14047). Starting at 2:00, there will be live music by the band equinox, dancing, free tacos and a cash bar. Beautiful items hand-crafted by Nepali women will be available for purchase. (See examples here). There will be a silent auction of enticing basket items, a 50/50 $ draw, a “Gift Card Grab” and a “Wine Wall”.
WHY ARE WE RAISING MONEY?
In Nepal, up to 15% of the people don’t have toilets, leading to open-air defecation (OAD).
This is in large part due to financial constraints and a lack of education about the health hazards of OAD.
This has devastating health consequences: contaminated drinking water, transmission of diseases by flies and other insects, and intestinal worm infections.
This is especially dangerous for newborns and children under the age of five, resulting in high mortality rates.
The Rotary Club of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus is preparing a Global Grant to provide materials for about 240 families in Nepal to prepare and install latrines.We have a Rotary host partner in Kathmandu, Nepal. Himalayan Health Care (HHC), a non-profit NGO, will be assisting on the project. (See “Hearts in the Himalayas,” highlighting the work that HHC has accomplished in rural Nepal.)
Members of our club, co-hosting the opening social, are hoping to greet you in person at Duende at Silo City, 85 Silo City Row, Buffalo, NY , on Friday Evening April 26, from 6-9 p.m. to celebrate the 2024 District Conference.
Please register soon on the 7090 website, as space is limited! BSRC has focused on several local enterprises in our City of Good Neighbors. Our program of fascinating speakers has recently included: - Director Marika Woods-Frankenstein of the Hostel Buffalo, who presented on the only local hostel in WNY. Our members enjoy learning about and visiting these local treasures.
- Board member Elizabeth Bozer, daughter former Erie County Legislator, Joan Bozer, who pioneered the effort to bring the Solar-Powered Buffalo Heritage Carousel, one of only five in the world to Buffalo where it is currently residing in its restored beauty at Canalside.
- Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, General Manager of Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market, a co-op boasting of 1800 members serving the gardening needs of city and county dwellers, providing education as well as landscaping advice.
June 22-23: The Dragons are coming back to Norfolk in June ... and we in the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise are now seeking help from the community to make the 2024 event even more successful than was the case in 2023.
Last year, we raised $26,000, we supported the Cancer Support & Resource Program with a $6,500 donation and we made additional donations to 11 other local community charities. We benefitted from the support of 6 corporate sponsors, we hosted 23 teams (500 participants, including local community teams competitive teams from across Ontario) and we entertained 2,000 enthusiastic spectators many who shopped local while in Waterford for the day.
Given this exposure,
- we are seeking teams to participate with us. We expect that most of the dragons from last year will return but are also looking for additional proposals. If you are interested and can put together a team, we’d love to hear from you; and
- we are seeking sponsors to help us. Your corporate sponsorship of $5,000 will ensure another successful fundraising event that benefits so many in Norfolk County. In addition, your business and your contribution will be advertised on the Invasion of the Dragons website and our Facebook page, on signage throughout the park at the event and by MC/DJ announcements throughout the event day.
Note the event poster at the 'Read more ...' tab below. Are you interested in helping us? For further information send us your interest/query to rotarydragonboatsnorfolk@gmail.com. We will respond to every expression of interest.
Members and friends of the Rotary Club of Brantford-Sunrise proudly showed their pink in support of kindness and anti-bullying on Pink Shirt Day.
The Club was also pleased to induct their two newest members – Maybelline Massey and Dolly Sharma – and present a Paul Harris Fellowship to Stacey Bester, in recognition of all she does to support and give back to her community.
PHOTOS:
Top: Rotary Members and Friends showing their support on Pink Shirt Day
Bottom: New members Dolly Sharma and Maybelline Massey were inducted by Club President, Andrea Berestovenko, assisted by Membership Chair and Past President, Jason Cherry.
Every third Monday in February, the residents of Ontario, Canada, celebrate a provincial-mandated holiday known as ‘Family Day.’ For the past fifteen years since the Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club funded, built and opened the outdoor ice rink known as the ‘Dundas Rotary Skating Rink’ in our community’s Dundas Driving Park. Our Club has co-hosted “Inside/Outside Dundas” with the Dundas Museum & Archives. Our Club offers outside events such as a figure-skating demo, free hot chocolate, food trucks, Shoot2Score – a hockey-themed game for all ages and gift bag draws. Perfect winter weather attracted over 750 attendees to our ‘Outside’ event while almost 600 visited the ‘Inside’ events…a perfect example of a joint endeavor.
PHOTO: Jan Southall, Kathy Starodub and Brenda Blancher greet visitors at the Rotary Rink
The Dunkirk-Fredonia Rotary Club welcomed Dr. Michael Dunham, Astronomer and Professor of Physics at SUNY Fredonia, to our March 7th lunch meeting to speak about the upcoming eclipse. Dr. Dunham gave a riveting explanation of the eclipse, when the moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and sun, casting its shadow and turning daylight to total darkness. Dr. Dunham provided us with his opinion about the likelihood of an overcast day based on historical weather patterns (not good, about an 80 percent chance of clouds), and shared the full schedule of activities being planned at the SUNY Fredonia campus on April 8th, which will include Food Trucks, a DJ, live bands and the featured event: the viewing of the eclipse starting at 2:03:50. Totality will occur at 3:17:28 pm and last until 3:21:15. Lunch was served, and eclipse glasses were provided to all the meeting attendees.
Recently, the Rotary Club of Ellicottville presented a check to the Great Valley Food Pantry. Half of the funds were raised by Brenda Smith at Finnerty’s Restaurant in Ellicottville through customer donations (love those donation jars!) and the other half was raised by Rotary membership at a recent meeting.
<--Pictured are: Judy Brown and Tom Opsahl of the Ellicottville Rotary, and Becky Kreszynski, Margo Pearl, Elaine Prey and Rick Israelson, volunteers at the Food Pantry.
Ellicottville Rotary Club members Anne Rothrock, Treasurer, and John Weismantel, President, are seen here presenting a check for $560 to Ellicottville Central School Class of 2028 advisor, Lori Antholzner (center) to assist in the costs for an upcoming spring student field trip to Washington D.C.
Ellicottville Rotary Board Member, Carol Fisher, was on hand to welcome Corey and Jennifer Hogan, proud owners of Ellicottville Bake Shop (EBS) into the Ellicottville business community.
Rotarians serve as an example for community members and businesses to link arms and support new and existing business in the area.
We further applaud them for endeavoring to obtain their supplies on a local level.
Welcome to the Hogans and to their talented, friendly and amazing staff.
PHoto: Welcoming Ellicottville Bake Shop owners at their ribbon cutting on March 25, 2024.
Left to right: Brian McFadden, President Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, Owners Corey Hogan and Jennifer Hogan, Rotary Board Member, Carol Fisher and Ellicottville Mayor, John Burrell.
On March 9, members of the Ellicottville Rotary gathered for some social time at Finnerty’s Restaurant and then hit the streets of Ellicottville to help manage the crowds during the Ellicottville Mardi Gras Parade. Who says working can’t be fun? Rotary membership gives every member an extended family and opens doors for more opportunities for community involvement with the Rotarian spirit guiding the way. Pictured left to right are Rotarians Nerissa Coppin, Tom Swarthout, Michelle and Tom Opsahl, visitor and “Grand Queen” attendant, Kathy Shorey, Rotarian and Mardi Gras Parade “Grand Queen”, Carol Fisher, Anne and Dave Rothrock. Missing from photo but present at the event were Secretary Mary Fox, and President John Weismantel.
Rotary Club of Fonthill To Celebrate Earth Day 2024 with April 20 Cleanup and Tree Planting.
The Rotary Club of Fonthill is proud to enhance its 2023 Earth Day tradition by launching the Pelham Tree Planting Initiative! This year, alongside our April 20 Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup (GLWC), conducted in collaboration with the Town of Pelham and other community partners, the club will enrich Pelham's green canopy with 400 new trees, thanks to community partnerships and a Rotary grant.
"As part of our dedication to fostering a vibrant community and nurturing a sustainable environment, the Rotary Club of Fonthill has secured funding for these native trees: 300 earmarked for Pelham residents and the remaining to create a new 'Rotary Forest' adjacent to Pelham Cares, at the headwaters of Twelve Mile Creek,” noted Sharon Pfeifer, Rotary Club member and one of the lead coordinators of the initiative.
This tree giveaway will complement the Rotary District 7090 Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup, now a collaborative effort spanning more than 16 Rotary Districts across the Great Lakes Watershed. Rotary clubs, alongside various community groups and individuals, join hands annually for the cleanup efforts. Originating in April 2020, the initiative was spearheaded by Fonthill Rotarian and former District Governor Frank Adamson. Order your tree here: Saturday April 20 Earth Day Activities
PHOTO: Left to Right: John Langendoen, Sharon Pfeifer, Frank Adamson
The Rotary Club of Hamburg hosted a group of speakers from Future in Our Hands – USA associated with Canisius University. The organization raises funds to support projects to improve the lives and health of residents of Kenya, Africa. Future in Our Hands-USA is part of an international network founded in Norway in 1974. They work through in-person visits and with African partnerships to determine the needs of a community and fund specific projects to meet those needs. They build wells for safe water, support agricultural projects, sponsor students for attendance in high school, college and training programs and fund access to hygiene products in schools, boosting female attendance. For more information, visit www.FutureInOurHandsUSA.org. The organization was invited to share information about their activities by Club President Tim Straube, pictured at far right and Rotarian Wendy Hvisdak, far left. Others from left are: Professor Mary Owusu, director of the IMC; Mary Ellen Dye, board member of Future in Our Hands and Mychal Liriano and Anji Hvisdak, Canisius University marketing communications students.
Hamilton AM Club members were treated to a very inspirational talk at their March 20 morning meeting by Renee, Weselaar, Executive Director of St. Matthew’s House (SMH), Hamilton.
Under her leadership, St. Matthew’s House on Barton Street, in the heart of the city, is focused on providing food security, childcare and senior’s support programs to Hamilton’s most vulnerable citizens. She is working with her Board of Directors to drive positive change both inside and outside the agency, building an EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) lens in all the work the organization does. Current plans include building fifteen units of deeply affordable housing for Black and Indigenous older adults at SMH’s location on Barton.
St. Matthew’s historically started with provision of childcare and a food bank and these continue to be key programs reflecting strong, community need.
PHOTO: Renee Weselaar, Executive Director, St. Matthew’s House, Hamilton ON
It's becoming a habit - Hamilton AM Rotary volunteers helping out at St. Patrick's Church, Hamilton's Friday BBQ for the Hamilton hungry. Organized by club member Elizabeth Ward and promoted by Past-President Irene Stayshyn (this is her church!), 8 of us dressed for the outdoors, helped prepare lunch and then served it in the church courtyard on Friday, March 8.
The De Mazenod Door program provides meals 365 days a year - but Friday is always popular as it features a hot dog, cheeseburger a drink and "goodie bag” for all comers. And on this particular day, over 400 individuals were served, a tremendous tribute to St. Patrick's Church and its amazing member volunteers.
Other community organizations can join in this much needed program, and we guarantee the experience will be very uplifting and valuable to the community.
Pictured left to right: Mac Lashley, Club President, Ingrid Nekola, Hamilton Community Rotaract, Hamilton AM Club members Elizabeth Ward, Simon Boucher, Jayne Eastwood, Mark Ewer, and his son Paul Ewer (absent from picture is Irene Stayshyn)
Members & family enjoyed a wonderful evening preparing dinner for residents of Mark Preece House. It was Taco Tuesday!
The Mark Preece Family House is located close to the Hamilton Health Sciences’ General Hospital, a prime focus site for Critical Care, Trauma Services, Burn Unit and a full range of Cardiac Surgery and Services. More than 37% of inpatients who are cared for at Hamilton General come from outside of Hamilton and more than 225 patients are air-lifted to the hospital each year. Patients’ families can stay near their bedside in an affordable and comfortable space.
Rotary member Doug McDonald and his wife Anna organized the event, including shopping and pre-preparation. The residents were truly grateful.
District 7090 Governor Scott Marcin visited the Rotary Club of Jamestown recently and addressed the Club regarding its many successes and the road ahead for all Rotarians. Among many other projects, the Jamestown Rotary has been busy in Jamestown and abroad erecting a new welcome sign to the city of Jamestown, promoting literacy through its Bibs and Books at UPMC Hospital, rehabilitating and distributing more than 1,000 bicycles for children in Cambodia, and distributing water filters in the rural towns of Jalisco, Mexico.
Marcin had the privilege of inducting two new members into the Jamestown Club while he was visiting:
Patricia Graves (sponsored by Marion Beckerink)
Jason Sample (sponsored by Mark Olson)
PHOTO: Left to right: Mike Harrington, Rotary Assistant District Governor and President of the Westfield/Mayville Club; Michele Starwalt-Woods, District 7090 Governor-Elect; Ruth Lundin, Jamestown Rotary Club President; Marion Beckerink, Jamestown Rotary Club President-Elect and Patricia’s sponsor; new Jamestown club member Patricia Grave; Mark Olson, sponsor of new member Jason Sample; New Member, Jason Sample; and Rotary District 7090 President Scott Marcin.
PHOTO (left): Sue (collecting registration) and Greg ( handing out filters) Jones, members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown teamed with 11 other Rotary Clubs in America, Canada, and Mexico to support Rotary’s Area of Focus, “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene”, by providing poor rural communities in Jalisco, Mexico with a long-term solution of sustainable equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water as well as improving community hygiene knowledge, behavior and practices that help prevent the spread of disease in these rural communities.
On January 19, approximately 20 Rotarians from the United States, Canada and Mexico and their partners drove two and a half hours south into the mountains to Campo Acosta for a well-organized and attended distribution of Sawyer International Bucket Systems (costing $50 each) donated by the Rotary Clubs represented. The low cost, long-lasting, gravity fed water filtration system is used where centralized community clean water solutions are less effective, or unavailable. It can filter up to 170 gallons of water per day for 10+ years with only routine filter back flow maintenance, resulting in a long-term solution to clean water that community members are able to support on their own.
175 filters were distributed to the Mexicans in approximately two and a half hours and the volunteers were treated to wonderful smiles and handshakes before returning to Puerto Vallarta. It was a remarkable success. Distributions of additional water filters occurred in February and March as well.
Sue and Greg Jones (susanjones369@gmail.com), representing the Rotary Club of Jamestown, NY, presented its $1,500 donation and participated in the program.
The Rotary Club of Jamestown, NY welcomed member David Troxell and his wife Marissa home after their winter in Thailand and were delighted to hear the results of a recent project. The Jamestown Club partnered with the Rotary Club of Sentosa, Singapore to sponsor a joint international Bicycle Project in the rural areas of the province of Siem Reap in Cambodia. It is common in that part of the world for students to walk between 3 and 10 kilometers to attend school due to the lack of transportation.
Each bicycle cost $60.00 US and the sponsor’s name was printed on a weatherproof signboard securely attached to the front of the basket. Jamestown Club members contributed to the bicycles which were refurbished with new handles, baskets, brakes, and seats and were painted blue and gold – the colors of Rotary International.
All the bicycles were shipped from Singapore to Siem Reap and were presented to the students at the State Teachers College in that city with the Cambodian Secretary of Education and the President of the College in attendance. The students had no idea they would be receiving bicycles.
President Abe Jacobs of the Rotary Club of Singapore said, “I am DEEPLY HONORED that the Jamestown Rotary Club was willing to come and join our Bike-to-School project in Siem Reap in 2024. On behalf of my club, Thank you very much.”
PHOTO: David and Marissa Troxell with a plaque with the donor’s name that was attached to each bike.
An old custom in Rotary is to exchange Club banners whenever visiting another Rotary Club.
Last Month Lewiston/NOTL members John and Anne Hopkins exchanged banners with friends that they hadn't yet met in the Rotary Club of Reggio de Calabria Nord in Italy.
One of the joys of Rotary is that, wherever you go in the world, you have friends in town.
In cooperation with the City of Lockport, the Rotary Club of Lockport is enabling construction of a new picnic pavilion adjacent to the comfort station located on Market Street near the Adam Street Lift Bridge crossing the Erie Canal. The addition of this 20’ x 40’ Open Air Pavilion is the Club’s signature contribution to creating an attractive new amenity for long-term use by both local residents and visitors.
One element of the Rotary Pavilion on the Erie Canal fundraising effort is the sale of engraved, personalized paver bricks to be embedded adjacent to the two walkways leading to the new pavilion. One walkway will be lined with 4-inch by 8-inch bricks commemorating each of the 105 Club Presidents elected since the Club’s inception in 1919. These bricks are available for $100; 8-inch by 8-inch bricks (ideally suited for purchase by organizations or businesses) are available for $225. All brick purchases are tax-deductible. Bricks may be ordered online at: https://www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/lockportrotary. Additional pavilion project information and brick order information can be found on the Club’s web page, www.lockportrotary.com, and Facebook page. Other, pavilion-related questions can be sent to lockport.pavilion@gmail.com. The Club is also accepting other tax-deductible donations to support other park improvements. All checks should be made payable to “Lockport NY Rotary Foundation” and can be mailed to P.O. Box 1199, Lockport, NY 14049.
PHOTO: Representation of the completed 20’ x 40’ Rotary Pavilion on the Erie Canal.
The Rotary Club of Niagara Falls and the Sunrise Club hosted a wonderful evening to celebrate and recognize this years’ Paul Harris Recipients. The winners recognized by the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls were Rotarian Dalt Lindsay, Mayor Jim Diodati and Joanne McRae. The Sunrise club awarded Diane Kon, Judy Todd, and Dan Giancola. These award winners have shown an outstanding contribution to the Community.
- Dalt Lindsay has volunteer genes built into him and joined Rotary International in 1974 - which is 50 years of service just with Rotary!
- Jim Diodati is the Mayor of Niagara Falls and has a long history of volunteering.
- Joanne McRae has been the owner and chef extraordinaire of Gabriele’s Catering for over 30 years.
- Diane Kon has been an active member of the Rotary community for years.
- Judy Todd has been a dedicated volunteer with the Dinner program at Niagara Falls community Outreach.
- Dan Giancola is a former professional football player who had a successful career from 1999 to 2009. Dan is actively involved in various philanthropic endeavors.
The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise is thrilled to announce that they have been successful in receiving a US$77,000 = CA$103,000 grant for their project, “Prevention of Retinopathy in Premature Babies,” from Rotary International. The project is part of the Club’s long affiliation with Operation Eyesight in India and will fund the purchase of a vehicle and the specialized equipment needed to diagnose and treat retinopathy in newborn babies. The club has raised over CA$60,000 for Operation Eyesight over the last few years and the rest is provided by Rotary District and Rotary International funds.
Rotary project leader Jim Dawson commented that; "premature babies must be diagnosed and treated within two weeks of birth, so the vehicle will allow specialists to travel to four hospitals in the Moradabad, India area” (why India, you ask? Our logic is HERE.)
An article about a family in India that was able to benefit from this preventative work is given at this link. This same story is shown at the 'Read more ...' tab, in a pictorial story-board format.
Norfolk Sunrise Supporting Mental Health Programs at CAMHS
Recognizing the Rotary International focus of mental health and wellness, our Club has scheduled a number of specialist speakers in to inform us about related issues in our community and has further contributed to mental health causes that are seen to be helpful.
Recently, the Community Service Committee made a donation to one of the key mental health leaders in our area; CAMHS-Wellness & Recovery. With this donation (one of several that we have made over the years), they have been able to purchase a new stove for their lunch program. As a result, each week The Wellness & Recovery Centre is able to host a free lunch from 12-1pm on Fridays for individuals in the community living with mental illness and/or addiction. The meals are hosted/served at their location at 50 Orchard Ave in Simcoe.
As an aside, CAMHS wants the public to know that in the event anyone; anyone at all, might benefit from this program; they are warmly invited to just drop-in.
PHOTO: Norfolk Sunrise Community Service Chair Scott Williams delivers the donation to CAMHS Wellness & Recovery Centre Program Assistants, Trisha Schotsch & Trish Hyde.
Without the right tools, becoming a good writer, active reader and critical thinker can be difficult. But more than 300 third graders in six area schools are getting some help in developing comprehension and communication skills that will serve them the rest of their lives by receiving their own personal dictionaries through an Olean Rotary Club program.
The dictionaries provided through this fund include maps, weights and measures, the United States Constitution, and a list of the U.S. Presidents, along with other data.
"We are reaching out in our community with a very positive program targeting literacy at the third-grade level," said Paula Bernstein, Olean Rotary Club president. "The children enjoy having their own book and the schools and teachers also appreciate what we do for the kids."
Working with the Cattaraugus Community Foundation, the Olean Rotary Club's Dictionary Project is part of a national effort to provide all students with a dictionary.
"It’s a real pleasure to be able to visit the third graders,” said Doug Price, Rotarian, and project coordinator. “They are so excited to receive their own dictionary. It is also very inspiring to see the work our dedicated teachers are doing every day in the classrooms of our local schools. We Rotarians are happy to be able to contribute our time for this worthwhile project and we hope to be able to continue this into the future as well.”
PHOTO: East View students; Center Doug Price, Theresa Shaffer, Tom Buttafarro, Risa Michienzi, and Joe Higgins.
The "Rotary E-Club of Social Innovators", or “RESI,” as they have come to be known, are a true global E Club with members from every continent but Antarctica.
RESI was chartered in 2017, by Rotary Peace Fellowship Evaluator and Past Chair of multiple Rotary Action Groups Gordon Crann, charter President-Elect Howard Weinstein, the 2011 Global Social Entrepreneur of the Year from Brazil, and charter Secretary Catherine Bonifant, a Rotarian Peacebuilder from Australia. The name Social Innovators was chosen to be broad enough to encompass its membership of environmentalists, peacebuilders, and social entrepreneurs.
In June 2018, RESI’s membership reached a peak of about sixty from every continent except for Antarctica. That same year RESI delivered a presentation at the Toronto RI Convention honouring the legacy of Past RI President Luis Giay’s Urban Peace Initiative with RESI Charter President Gordon Crann as Moderator, and Past RI President Luis Giay (from Argentina) as well as RESI Charter Member & a co-founder of Toronto’s PACT Urban Peace Initiative David Lockett as presenters.
RESI meetings are held online mid week and mid day EST meaning some of their dedicated members are joining in during the middle of the night! Meetings are always engaging, bringing fascinating stories from around the world highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of social entrepreneurs everywhere. More information at https://rotary7090.org/clubinfo/resi
For details on joining RESI please contact President Lisa Farano lisafarano1@gmail.com
The Niagara Nutrition Partners (a local charity based in St. Catharines) provides many different services to ensure children across Niagara do not suffer from food insecurity and poor nutrition.
One such program is the apple program which sees locally grown apples delivered each month to schools throughout Niagara.
When the Niagara Nutrition Partners were looking for a way to deliver these apples to the schools, the Rotary Club of St. Catharines stepped in and offered to help in the delivery.
Each month, members of the Rotary Club of St. Catharines show up at the Niagara Nutrition Partners depot, pick up boxes of apples, and deliver to schools in St. Catharines, Thorold and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Rotary truly believes "An Apple a Day keeps the Doctor Away!"
Rotary Club Grant Supports International Brock Marine Biodiversity Research
Congratulations to Past President Rick Evans and club Treasurer Lezlie Murch, for being so instrumental in facilitating the awarding of a Global Grant Scholarship.
This intra-district Global Grant is a first for both our club, Rotary St. Catharines, and District 7090.
Norievill España (Norie) is the recipient of the grant/scholarship. She is a PhD student at Brock University, studying Sustainability Science. She will explore advance marine biodiversity conservation initiatives in the Philippines; which will include underwater research and community engagement. Also, she is a marine biologist and certified diver. Additionally, she is one of 28 graduate students worldwide to receive an environmental focused grant this year from RI.
España will examine different options to coral reef conservation that will be more effective and equitable. She will be assessing coral diversity and other indicators. Coral reefs are one of the Earth’s most diverse living areas on the planet. Originally from the Philippines, España will undertake her fieldwork in a selected protected area within the Philippine archipelago. The Philippines has been recognized as one of, if not the leading, centre for marine biodiversity. España expounded, “Coral reefs are home to over a quarter of life in the ocean and support the food security, livelihoods and cultural heritage of more than 500 million people worldwide. Yet, coral reefs are one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth.”
The Waterdown club’s Membership committee has been busy!
Our club welcomed new Rotarian Diandra Camilleri with an induction ceremony during our Feb. 26 meeting. The financial services specialist was thrilled to receive her pin, name tag and, of course, some Rotary swag.
The committee also organized a social night for members, who enjoyed dinner at the local Indian Hut restaurant. Another social is planned in April!
Waterdown Rotary Club Diandra induction - Membership co-chair Sue Collins (left) presents new member Diandra Camilleri with her name tag, shirt and hat as Nick Brown and Rick Ludwig look on.
Waterdown Rotary social at Indian Hut - Waterdown Rotarians enjoyed fellowship and a delicious dinner at a local Indian restaurant during the club’s March 4 social night.
As an avid sports fan, President Stephanie Urchick is well-positioned to light the lamp, clear the bases, and split the uprights. Whatever the sports metaphor, she’s destined to keep Rotary in the winner’s circle
Second woman takes office as president of Rotary InternationalOne-year term will prioritize adapting to changing times and advancing peaceEVANSTON, Ill., USA – 25
The Rotary Club of Milwaukee revitalized its city’s riverfront with a contribution from a local landowner — a strategy that could work in other communities.
he newly formed Rotary Club of Beirut Pax Potentia, Lebanon, which focuses on peacebuilding, has its origins in a project funded by a Rotary Foundation global grant
It is with great sadness that we inform our D7090 Family of Rotary of the recent death of Governor Scott Marcin’s beloved Wife, Amy Trawinski-Marcin.
All clubs in District 7090 are part of the Great Lakes Watershed.
Did you know that, for every dollar you contribute to The Rotary Foundation (TRF), you get a "Foundation Recognition Point (FRP)"? That's in addition to the points you accumulate towards your own designation as a Paul Harris Fellow. These FRPs can be used to award a Paul Harris pin to a person you think is deserving of the recognition.
There will be a District Friendship Exchange with District 5520 - New Mexico.
At our recent Rotary club meeting we had the pleasure of meeting inbound Rotary Exchange student, Joaquin Caparroz from Brazil.
Buffalo Rotarian Jerry Kelly has been instrumental in the creation of the Canisius University Rotaract Club. They held their first Rotaract event March 2nd at Buffalo Rotary’s section of the Niagara Greenway Trail between Lakefront Blvd and Erie St. Niagara Greenway Executive Director Greg Stevens and Jerry Kelly organized the event that included a cleanup phase, with landscape specialist Jim Jones of the Tonawanda Rotary, tree specialist Glen Gentzke of the Kenmore Rotary, and environmental Professor Erin Robinson (club advisor).
The Rotary Club of Jamestown, NY is excited for the return of its annual auction. The Rotary Treasure Trove Auction will take place at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown, NY on Saturday, May 18 beginning with a cash bar and snacks at 5:00 PM while people browse and bid on the SILENT auction items and preview the live auction items. Food Stations open at 6:15 PM with opportunities to also participate in the 50/50 drawing and the Heads and Tails Game. The live Auction of approximately 50 items begins at 7:30 under the direction of Ben and Chuck Ludwig.
The Rotary Club of Kenmore presents a "Shred It" Fundraiser:
On Saturday, April 13, there will be an exciting fundraiser at Suncliff on the Lake, 6892 Lake Shore Road, in Derby, NY (14047). Starting at 2:00, there will be live music by the band equinox, dancing, free tacos and a cash bar. Beautiful items hand-crafted by Nepali women will be available for purchase. (
Brantford-Sunrise 4th Annual Auction: April 18th @ 8:00 a.m. to April 28th, 2024 @ 8:00 p.m
Members of our club, co-hosting the opening social, are hoping to greet you in person at Duende at Silo City, 85 Silo City Row, Buffalo, NY , on Friday Evening April 26, from 6-9 p.m. to celebrate the 2024 District Conference.
PHOTOS:
We are seeking baskets to use for a robust basket raffle on the April 26th social. 
SAVE THE DATE: Paul Harris Celebration Evening
June 22-23: The Dragons are coming back to Norfolk in June ... and we in the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise are now seeking help from the community to make the 2024 event even more successful than was the case in 2023. 
Members and friends of the Rotary Club of Brantford-Sunrise proudly showed their pink in support of kindness and anti-bullying on Pink Shirt Day.
Every third Monday in February, the residents of Ontario, Canada, celebrate a provincial-mandated holiday known as ‘Family Day.’ For the past fifteen years since the Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club funded, built and opened the outdoor ice rink known as the ‘Dundas Rotary Skating Rink’ in our community’s Dundas Driving Park. Our Club has co-hosted “Inside/Outside Dundas” with the Dundas Museum & Archives. Our Club offers outside events such as a figure-skating demo, free hot chocolate, food trucks, Shoot2Score – a hockey-themed game for all ages and gift bag draws. Perfect winter weather attracted over 750 attendees to our ‘Outside’ event while almost 600 visited the ‘Inside’ events…a perfect example of a joint endeavor.
The Dunkirk-Fredonia Rotary Club welcomed Dr. Michael Dunham, Astronomer and Professor of Physics at SUNY Fredonia, to our March 7th lunch meeting to speak about the upcoming eclipse. Dr. Dunham gave a riveting explanation of the eclipse, when the moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and sun, casting its shadow and turning daylight to total darkness. Dr. Dunham provided us with his opinion about the likelihood of an overcast day based on historical weather patterns (not good, about an 80 percent chance of clouds), and shared the full schedule of activities being planned at the SUNY Fredonia campus on April 8th, which will include Food Trucks, a DJ, live bands and the featured event: the viewing of the eclipse starting at 2:03:50. Totality will occur at 3:17:28 pm and last until 3:21:15. Lunch was served, and eclipse glasses were provided to all the meeting attendees.
Recently, the Rotary Club of Ellicottville presented a check to the Great Valley Food Pantry. Half of the funds were raised by Brenda Smith at Finnerty’s Restaurant in Ellicottville through customer donations (love those donation jars!) and the other half was raised by Rotary membership at a recent meeting.
Ellicottville Rotary Board Member, Carol Fisher, was on hand to welcome Corey and Jennifer Hogan, proud owners of Ellicottville Bake Shop (EBS) into the Ellicottville business community.
On March 9, members of the Ellicottville Rotary gathered for some social time at Finnerty’s Restaurant and then hit the streets of Ellicottville to help manage the crowds during the Ellicottville Mardi Gras Parade. Who says working can’t be fun? Rotary membership gives every member an extended family and opens doors for more opportunities for community involvement with the Rotarian spirit guiding the way. Pictured left to right are Rotarians Nerissa Coppin, Tom Swarthout, Michelle and Tom Opsahl, visitor and “Grand Queen” attendant, Kathy Shorey, Rotarian and Mardi Gras Parade “Grand Queen”, Carol Fisher, Anne and Dave Rothrock. Missing from photo but present at the event were Secretary Mary Fox, and President John Weismantel.
Rotary Club of Fonthill To Celebrate Earth Day 2024 with April 20 Cleanup and Tree Planting.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg hosted a group of speakers from Future in Our Hands – USA associated with Canisius University. The organization raises funds to support projects to improve the lives and health of residents of Kenya, Africa. Future in Our Hands-USA is part of an international network founded in Norway in 1974. They work through in-person visits and with African partnerships to determine the needs of a community and fund specific projects to meet those needs. They build wells for safe water, support agricultural projects, sponsor students for attendance in high school, college and training programs and fund access to hygiene products in schools, boosting female attendance. For more information, visit www.FutureInOurHandsUSA.org. The organization was invited to share information about their activities by Club President Tim Straube, pictured at far right and Rotarian Wendy Hvisdak, far left. Others from left are: Professor Mary Owusu, director of the IMC; Mary Ellen Dye, board member of Future in Our Hands and Mychal Liriano and Anji Hvisdak, Canisius University marketing communications students.
St. Matthew’s House – We rise by lifting others!
It's becoming a habit - Hamilton AM Rotary volunteers helping out at St. Patrick's Church, Hamilton's Friday BBQ for the Hamilton hungry. Organized by club member Elizabeth Ward and promoted by Past-President Irene Stayshyn (this is her church!), 8 of us dressed for the outdoors, helped prepare lunch and then served it in the church courtyard on Friday, March 8.
Members & family enjoyed a wonderful evening preparing dinner for residents of Mark Preece House. It was Taco Tuesday!
District 7090 Governor Scott Marcin visited the Rotary Club of Jamestown recently and addressed the Club regarding its many successes and the road ahead for all Rotarians. Among many other projects, the Jamestown Rotary has been busy in Jamestown and abroad erecting a new welcome sign to the city of Jamestown, promoting literacy through its Bibs and Books at UPMC Hospital, rehabilitating and distributing more than 1,000 bicycles for children in Cambodia, and distributing water filters in the rural towns of Jalisco, Mexico.
PHOTO (left): Sue (collecting registration) and Greg ( handing out filters) Jones, members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown teamed with 11 other Rotary Clubs in America, Canada, and Mexico to support Rotary’s Area of Focus, “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene”, by providing poor rural communities in Jalisco, Mexico with a long-term solution of sustainable equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water as well as improving community hygiene knowledge, behavior and practices that help prevent the spread of disease in these rural communities.
The Rotary Club of Jamestown, NY welcomed member David Troxell and his wife Marissa home after their winter in Thailand and were delighted to hear the results of a recent project. The Jamestown Club partnered with the Rotary Club of Sentosa, Singapore to sponsor a joint international Bicycle Project in the rural areas of the province of Siem Reap in Cambodia. It is common in that part of the world for students to walk between 3 and 10 kilometers to attend school due to the lack of transportation.
An old custom in Rotary is to exchange Club banners whenever visiting another Rotary Club.
In cooperation with the City of Lockport, the Rotary Club of Lockport is enabling construction of a new picnic pavilion adjacent to the comfort station located on Market Street near the Adam Street Lift Bridge crossing the Erie Canal. The addition of this 20’ x 40’ Open Air Pavilion is the Club’s signature contribution to creating an attractive new amenity for long-term use by both local residents and visitors. 
The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise is thrilled to announce that they have been successful in receiving a US$77,000 = CA$103,000 grant for their project, “Prevention of Retinopathy in Premature Babies,” from Rotary International. The project is part of the Club’s long affiliation with Operation Eyesight in India and will fund the purchase of a vehicle and the specialized equipment needed to diagnose and treat retinopathy in newborn babies. The club has raised over CA$60,000 for Operation Eyesight over the last few years and the rest is provided by Rotary District and Rotary International funds. 
Recognizing the Rotary International focus of mental health and wellness, our Club has scheduled a number of specialist speakers in to inform us about related issues in our community and has further contributed to mental health causes that are seen to be helpful.
Without the right tools, becoming a good writer, active reader and critical thinker can be difficult. But more than 300 third graders in six area schools are getting some help in developing comprehension and communication skills that will serve them the rest of their lives by receiving their own personal dictionaries through an Olean Rotary Club program.
The "Rotary E-Club of Social Innovators", or “RESI,” as they have come to be known, are a true global E Club with members from every continent but Antarctica.
The Niagara Nutrition Partners (a local charity based in St. Catharines) provides many different services to ensure children across Niagara do not suffer from food insecurity and poor nutrition.
The Waterdown club’s Membership committee has been busy!
Waterdown Rotary social at Indian Hut - Waterdown Rotarians enjoyed fellowship and a delicious dinner at a local Indian restaurant during the club’s March 4 social night. 
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