All the Best of this Holiday Season to you and yours! From everyone at Rotary International and especially from our Rotary District 7090 leadership team.
Congratulations on committing to lead your club next Rotary year. As our Rotary Clubs nominate and vote on who is the next year’s Club President, what a wonderful time to celebrate what your incoming club president will bring to your club.
One of Rotary’s greatest strengths is the annual changeover of leaders around the globe. Just think about it for a moment…over 34,000 clubs, right now are selecting next year’s key leadership persons. However, it is not just the clubs, 535 districts are nominating a District Governor Nominee Designate – 2 years out – training, lots of training, the 34 Zones and, of course, even our Rotary International President role is being named
Rotarians are busy people. We’ve enjoyed successes in our lives. Many of us joined Rotary because it is time to give back to your community. Fortunately, we join with a broad kit of life skill tools, some of the best being time-management, the ability to delegate and how to develop your vision into measurable goals and, perhaps the most vital, how to fire up your club to work together and stay engaged. All of these skills are transferable to the all-volunteer world of Rotary. Thank heavens!
This Rotary year, with 5 months just completed, has seen continued decline in the number of Wild Poliovirus type 1 in the calendar year over year figures, however we must continue the fight through the development of new methods to meet the evolving threats. This war is not over!
Congratulations to D7090 Rotarians (left to right): Naseem Sherwani (Hamilton), Steven Cotten (Lockport), Gentiana Collaku (Hamilton), Wendy Hickey (Waterdown), Jeff Fancher (Buffalo), Andrea Scibetta (BNMC), Ralph Winslade (Fonthill), Julie Coy (Lockport), Paul Allen (Fonthill). A former graduate, DG Marlee Diehl, was in attendance also (in photo on right). Absent from photo - graduates Marta Stiteler (Hamilton AM) and Jane Blums (Hamilton AM).
On November 26, the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville held it's first Pace Against Polio, a 5K charity fun run/walk held in Westfield, New York. This race, which was the first of the club's PolioPlus Challenge events, raised over $1,500 US for PolioPlus.
Pictured (left to right):Adele Harrington, Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville "Pace Against Polio" event chair, and top race finishers with their award certificates Katie Almeter, Jason Almeter, Noreen See and Matthew Damcott.
While TV ads promote the latest toys and electronics of the holiday season, 195 families met volunteer shoppers at Sears in the McKinley Mall to purchase new, warm, winter clothing for their children. Parents, grandparents and foster parents came from Hamburg, Blasdell, Lake View, Angola, Eden, North Collins, Evans, Derby and Brant. When they left Sears, their youngsters had items like jackets, coats, boots, pajamas and sweaters to get them through another cold, western New York winter. Over 450 children have been assisted through this year’s Warm the Children program.
Warm the Children was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities. Pictured (left to right): Hamburg Rotary President, Barbara Stanley, Rotarian, Earl Knauss, Warm the Children coordinator, Elizabeth Angelbeck and Joseph Ferrino, a McDonald’s Operator and member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Grant Review Committee.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg was among co-sponsors of the Erie County Opiate Resource Fair held at the Town of Hamburg Senior Community Center on Nov. 15. The town Department of Youth, Recreation and Senior Services hosted the event.
Members of Rotary helping out are pictured with Acting District Attorney Michael Flaherty, (fourth from right) and Barbara Burns, public affairs officer with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District, (third from right) and Erie County Legislator Lynne Dixon, (second from right). From left also are Rotarians: Jack Flint, Jerold Bastedo, Lisa Avery, Chi Chi Hoeslcher (spouse), Earl Knauss, Liz Angelbeck, Rotary President Barb Stanley, Dale Stanley and Tim Hoelscher.
The Rotary Club of Lewiston, NY & Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON was pleased to induct Marjorie Louise Maggard, who prefers to be called Louise, into Rotary on December 14, 2016. Her classification is Historical Preservationist. The club is especially excited that her sponsor, John Cich, has brought two new members in to the Club within the last two years.
Pictured are (L to R): Club President John Hopkins, new Rotarian Louise, and sponsor extraordinaire Rotarian John Cich.
On Monday, December 5, Lockport's Interact Club volunteered along with Rotarian Maria Biano, center - to serve at the Salvation Army's turkey dinner. Interact students (left to right): Jacqueline Lesser, Hannah McWilliams, Claire Hildreth, Hanna Sobieraski, Alyssa Edbauer, Hannah Smith and Julia Larose. Rotarians purchased and cooked enough turkeys to serve 120 visitors for this annual event.
The Rotary Club of Buffalo welcomed new member Andrew Kelley at a recent meeting. Andrew is a financial advisor with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and graduated from UB with a degree in Economics. He likes volleyball, movies, and sports. He coached a major midget hockey team in Amherst, a JV volleyball team at Williamsville South High School and ran a roller hockey program in Amherst also. He loves working with young, underprivileged kids and wants to be involved in development in the downtown area.
Between Nov 25th and Dec 11th the Rotary Club of Grimsby presented their 17th Annual Fund Raiser “Fantasy of Trees” at the Grimsby Museum, the site for over 40 beautifully decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, outdoor planters for raffle; as well as a huge array of gift items for the silent auction.
The Rotary Club of Amherst recently celebrated the Centennial of The Rotary Foundation by providing and distributing 100 turkeys, turkey breasts, and chicken roasters for complete holiday dinners for 148 families in the town of Amherst through the Town Square Food Pantry that is located on North Forest Road next to the Weinberg Campus.
Rotarians are great, and when working together, they particularly accomplish great things. But, there is nothing like youngsters to attract donations to the Salvation Army Kettle. Grand Island Rotarians did their best, but Interact and Early Act members from Grand Island schools really made the difference, as the club collected over $1400 for Salvation Army during last weekend’s sessions at its local Tops Market.
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore was presented with two awards at the District 7090 Foundation Dinner on November 4th at Salvatore's Italian Gardens Restaurant. For it's support of The Rotary Foundation during 2015-2016, the club was recognized for 1) supporting Polio Plus with a donation of over $1500 US and for 2) 100% Giving Club with all of the club's members giving to the foundation with an average equal to or exceeding $100 US per member.
Pictured (left to right) are Rotarians Gary Chard, Sandi Chard, and Eric Jones.
December is the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore annual fundraiser Season's Cheer to Literacy, which supports its literacy program in five St. Catharines' schools with four English and two French speaking programs. To date, the club has purchased $50,000 of leveled reading books. Students from Grades 1 to 4 read to Brock University and Niagara College students, then read to their families at home and the process repeats from October until May.
Here are two fabulous photos of the Buffalo State Rotaract Club sponsored by Amherst South Rotary. One photo is volunteering a meal for Ronald McDonald House and the other is a joint project with Habitat for Humanity (with Amherst South Rotary). The club's advisor, Rotarian Carol DeNysschen, who sent in the photos, reports that the Rotaract Club has had a very successful and rewarding year! Please continue to read the Buffalo State Rotaract Club report:
On the night of December 10, Justin Bester, president of Brantford Rotary Sunrise and Sherry Kerr, president of Brantford Rotary, spent a cold night outside in support of Push for Change and Why Not City Missions.
New inductions, transfers, returning from inactive status, Olean Rotary is on a roll!
On December 6, the Olean Rotary Club celebrated the induction of two men into the active ranks of the club. Rick Esposito, right, was previously a member and returns to the club from our inactive rolls eager to serve with fellow Rotarians. Rin Wada, left, is new to the club, but not new to Rotary. Rin is the Interact Advisor at Olean High School.
On Wednesday, December 7, the newly chartered St. Catharines Collegiate Secondary School Interact Club celebrated the induction of its 17 Interactors with a reception hosted by the students' culinary department!
The Niagara on the Lake Rotary Club welcomed almost 3000 visitors to their annual holiday house tour in early December. Visitors came from as far as Texas to help celebrate their 18th tour. Six beautiful homes were decorated in the holiday traditions by local decorators, supported by local museums, restaurants and a few wineries. Elementary school students supplied a welcome cup of hot apple cider to those waiting in line.
The NOTL Rotary has raised over $700,000 over the 18 years of this event.
The Rotary Club of Ancaster AM held its Paul Harris Recognition Dinner on Thursday, November 24 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club, welcoming over 60 guests and recognizing 8 individuals as Paul Harris Fellows.
Pictured (left to right): Ian Barrie, Kathryn Smith, Lee Woods, Stefano Cuilini, District Governor Marlee Diehl, DGE Reg Madison, (keynote speaker), Paul Robinson, Tracy McMurter, Scott Ferguson, Alan Zucker.
Habitat for Humanity Niagara, through the incredible support of the Rotary Clubs of Welland and Fonthill, held a brief ceremony to recognize the generosity of the Clubs’ financial donation allowing Habitat Niagara to purchase a brand new trailer. The trailer was unveiled at Habitat Niagara’s ReStore where local delegates, Rotarians and Habitat supporters were present to see the newly branded piece of equipment.
The donation that the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise made this year to The Heartland Forest Nature Experience was used to develop a new children's open play area. Heartland Forest’s mission is to inspire and enrich the lives of people of all abilities through inclusive program offerings and hands on exploration.
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This Rotary year, with 5 months just completed, has seen continued decline in the number of Wild Poliovirus type 1 in the calendar year over year figures, however we must continue the fight through the development of new methods to meet the evolving threats. This war is not over! 
Congratulations to D7090 Rotarians (left to right): Naseem Sherwani (Hamilton), Steven Cotten (Lockport), Gentiana Collaku (Hamilton), Wendy Hickey (Waterdown), Jeff Fancher (Buffalo), Andrea Scibetta (BNMC), Ralph Winslade (Fonthill), Julie Coy (Lockport), Paul Allen (Fonthill). A former graduate, DG Marlee Diehl, was in attendance also (in photo on right). Absent from photo - graduates Marta Stiteler (Hamilton AM) and Jane Blums (Hamilton AM). 
The VTT members have been selected which now completes the team along with our Team Leader, Tom O’Neill. The 3 Team Members are:
The Rotary Club of Hamburg was among co-sponsors of the Erie County Opiate Resource Fair held at the Town of Hamburg Senior Community Center on Nov. 15. The town Department of Youth, Recreation and Senior Services hosted the event. 
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