I have incredible news to share with you.   As I mentioned during your club visit, the video that you played at our Spring conference about “The Butterfly Effect” was very inspiring to me.  Such a small act of kindness can go a long way…and that is what Rotary is all about…one act of kindness after another...Here is the video as a reminder - The Butterfly Effect.

 

The Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club recently celebrated Rotary Foundation month with its Annual Paul Harris dinner.

 

One recipient was Alycia Moore, a former member of the club who has moved away, but who was a wonderful asset to the club, especially in the area of youth services.  Julian D’Angela, who chaired the Ancaster Film Fest for a decade was honoured. This organization presents 11 or 12 screenings per year and averages about 700 attendees; “profits” are donated to a variety of local charities, food banks, and the Out of the Cold program. Aldo Lombardi, owner of the Canadian Tire Store in Dundas was honoured for his contributions to orphanages in Arica in northern Chile.  Jennifer Montesanto received an award for her training work with the Lions Foundation of Canada guide dog program. 

The eradication of polio is not only a priority for the Albion Rotary Club, but it is also very personal for Albion Rotary member, Don Bishop.  In the photo, Bishop, a dentist, speaks about Rotary’s efforts to defeat polio during a recent meeting at Tillman’s Village Inn. 

 

Bishop shared his family’s difficult experiences with the disease.  When he was a child, his family was exposed to the poliovirus, resulting in two of his family members contracting the disease. Bishop's mother was severely afflicted with the disease, causing her to be completely paralyzed from the neck down and confined to an iron lung. 

November 5^th was the Rotary Club of Buffalo's annual Service Above Self Day, when Buffalo  Rotarians do “hands-on” work for agencies that serve the community.  You could find Buffalo Rotarians at the Salvation Army, Buffalo City Mission, Foodbank, Goodwill, and Ronald McDonald House, sorting clothes, books, or food, cleaning, raking leaves, and anything else that needed to be done.  Even three of the club's exchange students pitched in.  Seen sorting clothes are two Buffalo Rotary exchange students, Benedikt Honeder from Austria and Mikkel Toft from  Denmark.

DG Kevin Crosby visited the Rotary Club of Hamburg on Sept. 29.  He is shown center, with A.J. Block, Assistant Governor, left, and Hamburg Club President Maria Guizzotti, right, who presented our District Governor with a check in his name to the Rotary Foundation.

 

The Rotary Club of Olean's 2015 Veteran’s Day Pasta Dinner was a HUGE success!  The move to the Allegany Legion provided more space inside and out than ever.  The parking lot was FULL FULL FULL!  More than 450 people were served in 3 hours!  Vets ate free.  Olean Interactors, Allegany-Limestone Interactors, and St. Bonaventure Rotaractors gave exceptional help!  The club thanks all its sponsors who made it a BIG night.  International service projects will be funded through this exceptional fund raising event.  A special thanks to executive chef, Carl Vahl!  The sauce and meatballs were AMAZING!

On November 18, 2015, the Lewiston/Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Club inducted Carol Jacobs.   With the addition of Carol, club membership increased by 10% and the percentage of women in the club doubled.  Her sponsor kicks off his Rotary career by bringing in a new member before he has even been in Rotary for a full year.

 

Pictured (L to R): President Ron Danielewicz, new member Carol Jacobs, and Carol's sponsor, John Cich.

President Amy Thompson is pictured with Ken Hansen.  Hansen was presented both the Rotary Club of West Seneca Hero Award and a Paul Harris Fellow recognition.

 

Ken and Kim Hansen founded the Amanda Hansen Foundation shortly after the tragic death of their daughter, Amanda. She was at a sleep-over at a friend’s house, in the lower level family room. There were no carbon monoxide (CO) detectors; Amanda’s death was caused by accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. They felt compelled to found and continue working on the foundation.

Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese, an obstetrician with more than 20 years of experience and the founder of Save the Mothers, an international organization founded in 2004 that promotes maternal health in the developing world, spoke to the Rotary Club of Jamestown during its Nov. 23 meeting.  Earlier this year, the Rotary Club of Jamestown donated $2,500 toward the purchase of a surgical kit for the organization.

The Clarence Rotary Club celebrated their 55^th year charter anniversary on Thursday, November 5^th at Gertie’s Restaurant in Clarence Center, NY.  With this celebration, the club held its annual awards, recognizing individuals for their great achievements as members of the club.  Paul Justinger was awarded Rotarian of the Year, for his incredible work with club membership and commitment to their annual fundraisers.  Peter Wolfe was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award, for his 32 year membership to the club, and for his personal fundraising of an estimated $40,000 for the club’s annual Porsche Raffle.  Peter Wolfe and Vincent Amigone were also recognized as Paul Harris Fellows for their contributions and achievements for the Rotary International Foundation. 

 

Pictured from Left to Right:  Paul Justinger, Vince Amigone, Peter Wolfe, and Club President, Chrissy Casilio-Bluhm.

The Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore bestowed the Paul Harris Fellow on Cathy Asplin at a recent meeting of the club. 

 

Pictured is Cathy with her family including son, Phil, and husband, Jon, both Rotarians and members of  the club.   Jon is a past president. 

 

Cathy spent over 30 years supporting all the club's Rotary projects and is most deserving of the recognition.  Cathy has recently passed away.   

 

- Condolences to her family - and Rotary family - from the District.