Program for next week (September 29nd): Fifth Thursday Social Meeting!! 5 pm - 7 pm at Three Birds Restaurant, Market Street. $15 will cover hors d'oeuvres and fellowship. Cash bar.
The Club convened for its usual Thursday noon meeting in the basement of the First Pres Church in Corning, and on Zoom. Recording of the entire meeting can be found here; recording of just the presentation: here.
In-person members present included: Stu Sammis, Andy Rochester, Dr. Bob Bole, John Brown, Rick Davis, Dave Anderson, Paul Tick, John Wahlig, Dale Wexell, Gil Sweet, Les Rosenbloom, Cathy Buck, and Ray Defendorf.
Rotarians dialing in via Zoom included Stacy Ward, Dick Perry, Ted Goldwyn, Ernie Danforth, Jen Batzing, Paula Smith, Jon Carpenter, Bill Boland, and Jan Harvey.
President Stu Sammis asked us to sing "America (My Country, Tis of Thee)," which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the Rotary Four-Way Test. Jon Carpenter gave the invocation.
Club Service:
Jon Carpenter gave the invocation.
Dick Perry captured the photos.
Ted Goldwyn carved runes into a stone tablet (i.e., served as your humble COGS writer).
Guests and Visiting Rotarians:
None.
Announcements:
- President Stu provided the latest update on Sam Sanfratello, who is in Corning Hospital with heart failure and pneumonia. No visitors are allowed at this time. Please send your prayers and thoughts to Sam and his family.
- In-person Meetings: John Brown reminded us that we will test in-person meetings at The Center at 400 Park Avenue in South Corning on two Thursdays in October: the 6th and 20th. Lunch will be served starting at 11:45, and the meeting will start at 12:10, with a virtual option via Zoom. To make this work financially for members and the Club, we will need to have roughly 30 members attend each week. Meals will cost $15 pp (or $16 pp by credit card), and will include a hot entree, salad, and coffee/tea/milk. The Club will continue to meet in the Pres Church basement on alternating weeks. Thank you to the search committee for your efforts!
- More in-person Meetings: Also, thanks to John Wahlig and Dale Wexell, the Radisson has come around, now offering our Club a $15 luncheon meeting with no room charge. Lunch meetings at the Radisson will tentatively be piloted in November, December and January. As with the meetings at the Center, we will need a sufficient number of Rotarians to attend each week to make this a sustainable solution. We would like to have 30-35 attend each meeting.
- Stacy Ward shared that since September is one of the rare months with a fifth Thursday, we will be hosting a special after-work social meeting on September 29, from 5 - 7 pm at the Three Birds restaurant on Market Street. This event is a joint effort among the Programs, Membership and Community Engagement committees. Stacy is hoping to encourage members who aren't able to make lunch meetings regularly to attend. Cost is $15, and will include appetizers and a cash bar. Please bring a guest or potential Rotarian with you!
- Stu shared that the Wineglass Marathon is coming up on October 2nd. Rotarians can volunteer to help set up the course through town at 0-Dark-30. To volunteer, sign up here.
- Bill Boland gave an update on the December 10 Holiday Evening with Rotary. The latest news is that the production team has designed a simple set with the Holiday Dating Game logo. The Corning Building Company has sponsored the materials, and Brian Donnelly will build the set.
- We still need committee chairs!
- Don't forget to respond to the one-question Club survey which was emailed to all members last week. We need YOUR input on how to handle Club meetings going forward!
Good News Bucks:
- Stu announced that Barb went to the oncologist this week, and has been declared cancer free for 7 years. Barb doesn't need to go back to the doc for another year. Congrats on that major milestone!
- John Brown's son came to visit.
- Paul Tick is having two books published on Amazon: one older book, and a new work of historical fiction. Paul will donate $10 for each Rotarian who purchases one online.
- Gil Sweet's oldest grand-daughter is at Duquesne and doing well!
Today's Program:
Paula Smith introduced Hank Jonas, board member of Corning Civic Music for the past 20 years and Gil Sweet, who has served for 15 years on the board of Civic Music, and is currently on the customer service committee. The video of the presentation can be found at: full meeting / just the presentation.
Visit Corning Civic Music's website for more information on this year's concert schedule and to purchase season tickets.
