Club Meeting 03-24-22

Posted by Tom O'Brien on Mar 24, 2022
Next Club Meeting: March 31, 2022. We're now meeting in-person at the First Presbyterian Church in Corning [details on our home page]. Please use this Zoom link if you cannot attend in person.
 
Zoom recording from the 3-24-22 meeting.
 
President Jeff Ugoretz called the meeting to order at 12:15 pm, following “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Four-Way Test. Ernie Danforth gave the invocation, urging members to use their best efforts to help make the world  a better place, including by stopping the violence against Ukraine.
 
Club Service:
  • Invocation: Ernie Danforth
  • Photos: Rick Davis
  • COGS: Tom O'Brien
  • Presiding: Jeff Ugoretz
Guests: Jeff Ugoretz introduced Loren Penman, who was the program presenter for the meeting. Francis LaLomia was introduced as a non-guest.
 
Announcements:
  • Ray Defendorf reported that plans for the Club’s Ukrainian Potato Pancake and Kielbasa supper are now in place.
    • The supper will be at the American Legion on Park Avenue in Corning on Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
    • The menu will be potato pancakes and kielbasa, and all proceeds will go to the Rotary Fund for Ukrainian Refugees. Ray and Buddy Cutler explained details for the supper.
    • There will be a need for volunteers starting at 3:00 pm. Specific volunteer jobs include cooks, hostess/waiters, runners, cleanup and cashiers. Buddy said 15 to 20 volunteers will be needed starting at 3:00, but the more the merrier. Andy Rochester has posted a sign-up sheet on the Club’s website, and volunteers are asked to sign up to indicate their availability and volunteer preferences. Sign up here!
    • The ticket purchase price is $15 for adults and $5 for those under 12 years old. Carry-out service will be available. Places to pre-purchase dinner tickets and other details are on the Club’s web side. Pre-purchase dinner tickets here.
  • Wendy Winnett asked members to support the Club’s Pints for Polio fun-raiser, which is scheduled to take place on Market Street in Corning on March 30, 2022 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. See Ernie Danforth for details on how, where and when you can support this fun raiser. All proceeds will go to the Corning Rotary Plus program to fight polio. Details of the event can be found here [volunteer and event tickets].
  • Wendy Winnett urged members to read an article in the Rotary Magazine about a Rotarian named Mykola Stebljanko who is trapped in Ukraine  by the invading Russian army. The article tells of the hardships of living in a besieged country, and how one Rotarian deals with it.
  • Jeff Ugoretz notified Rotary Board members that there will be a special Board meeting on Monday, March28, 2022 to approve the District’s simplified grant proposal. The meeting will take place on ZOOM at 6:30 pm.
  • Bill Boland presented a Proclamation by Phil Palmisano and Tom O’Hara recognizing Corning Rotary’s 100th Anniversary and all the good works that Rotary has produced during that time.
     
Reminders: 
  • John Brown said that he'd be attending the Centennial for Penn Yan Rotary on April 8th. Here are the details. Let John know if you're going... 
  • John Brown: the Rotary District Training Assembly will be held at Honeoye Central School on April 9, 2022. Each Club can have up to 6 members attend for free. Details here. Contact Wendy for more details and carpooling info. 
  • Jim Webb: RYLA and Scholarship applications have been sent out to the High Schools. Deadline is April 8th. Scholarships are available; the form is on our website.
  • Less Rosenbloom reminded us regarding the Paul Harris program. The PH committee is actively seeking candidates from club members. Here's the info and form. The deadline is May 31st.
Program: Jeff Ugoretz introduced Loren Penman to speak on the recent completion of an Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park in New York. Loren explained the special problems of  people who suffer from autism and how such a path can be of help for them. Loren and a number of other concerned parents raised over $3.5 million and  constructed a mile-long path designed to be therapeutic for autism- affected persons. The full story of this project can be found on our home page. The presentation can be viewed here.
 
Meeting adjourned.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Tom O'Brien