June 5,2021 At the District Conference this past May, Corning Rotary was awarded Third Place in the category of successful fundraisers and service projects held during this past pandemic year. Below is the information from our application:
FILLING THE NEED
Corning Rotary did not do just one major project during the pandemic shut down. Instead we focused on finding the needs, big or small, in our community and then stepped up to help fill those needs. We worked this project all Rotary year long.
When we first went into lockdown in March, 2020, Rotarians volunteered to deliver meals for Meals on Wheels volunteers who were no longer able to deliver due to high-risk concerns. Rotarians continue to do this to this very day.
We started our Virtual Beer Tastings when the local micro-breweries were shuttered to anything other than take-out. Our first Virtual Beer Tasting was held in May. The second one was held in July and the third one at the end of August.
We prepared and served 55 meals through the Salvation Army Shepherd’s Table at the end of August.
Rotary Reads, our signature literacy project, continued this year for two elementary schools in Corning. We sponsored 2nd graders at Winfield School - students were given a book each month and then a fun pack for summer. At Severn School, all the students in K-2nd grade received a book each month and a fun pack for summer. This involved financial support of $5,300. Usually Rotarians go into the school to read each book to the classes and then hand out the new books to the students. We were unable to do this in person due to COVID concerns.
Three Rotarians have participated in video conferencing or recordings to continue our in-class reading program for elementary students at Winfield and Severn. One Rotarian who reads to two kindergarten classes has done her readings via zoom recordings. Since the school year began she has recorded 78 books and will record another 21 by the end of the school year.
We spread mulch and performed fall cleanup throughout the Community Garden at the Corning Food Pantry.
Several Rotarians packed 440 Thanksgiving bags at the Corning Food Pantry for distribution to needy families in the area in time for the holiday.
Instead of our in-person Rotary Reads day in March, 20 Video Recordings were made and provided to both Winfield and Severn Elementary Schools.
The club held the Regional Scripps Spelling Bee via the Scripps online testing program. The winner will be sent to the National Scripps Spelling Bee.
Rotarians rebuilt the “high tunnel” protection that was damaged in the winter at the Corning Food Pantry Community Garden.
The club donated $4,000 to the Corning-Painted Post School District to help cover meals for students participating in the summer meal program.
The club donated $5,500 to the school district to provide Hot Spots to students in areas without the necessary internet service to attend school virtually.
The club made an international donation of $3,000 to Soroti, Uganda the horticultural and farming program.
The club donated $3,000 to House with Heart orphanage in Nepal for operational support
Club donated $1,600 to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign
Club donated $2,000 to the Corning Food Pantry in December
Scholarships will be given to four students this year in the amount of $1,000 each.
RYLA – two students have been selected to attend RYLA this year.
The club donated $1,600 to Corning Meals on Wheels for the purchase of new thermal bags for meal delivery and also kitchen equipment.
The club donated $2,000 for individual STEM kits for the summer virtual camp program.
June 4, 2021. The Graduation Party for the second and third grade classes at Severn and Winfield Elementary Schools who have completed Corning Rotary Club’s Literacy Program is underway. The celebration this year is different than what has been done in prior years because of Covid regulations. Corning Rotary bought the IMAX film Born to Be Wild, Born to Be Free, a documentary about the conservation of endangered species, which will be shown to the classes by their teachers. After seeing the film, the students will receive their Rotary Reads goodie bags.
The goodie bags were delivered to the schools on June 8th by Pauline Emery. Included in the bags are the books 10 Things You Can Do to Protect Animals, stuffed monkeys, pencils, monkey pencil grabber erasers, jungle-themed note pads and safari pith helmets. The bags were assembled by Rotarians Ray Defendorf, Dale Wexell and Jan Harvey.
This year’s party includes both the current graduating second graders and the third graders who graduated last year who did not receive a graduation party due to the school pandemic lockdown. A total of 140 students from both classes graduated.
Picnic catered by Bill Spaulding and Corning Catering
Menu to include sausage and peppers, pulled pork and chicken, various summer salads, cookies and brownies
Held at McKinney Park Picnic Pavilion
Families Invited!
Register NOW here: $15/adult, $8/children 12 and under
More to come -- watch your e-mail!
Community Service Opportunities:
[new/signup] June 23rd, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.: here's a chance to help the Science and Discovery Center assemble the STEM kits from the components that our club donated to them. Here's the signup. Hope to see you there!!
Today's Program:
Stu Sammis led a discussion of all the community service activities the club has participated in this past year -- in spite of the COVID lockdown.
Jan Harvey shared that our club had received Third Place at last month's District Conference for the work we had done. From The Grapevine, "We (the district powers-to-be) recognized clubs that had successful fundraisers and service projects during this challenging year. The top 3 finalists chosen by a judging committee were #1 the Perry Rotary Club’s “Give the Gift of Rotary”, #2 the Naples Rotary Club: “The walk of life” # 3 the Corning Rotary Club: “Filling the need.” (see story)
Pauline Emery gave a wrap up to the literacy committees efforts this past year, culminating in year-end celebrations for our "graduating cohorts from both this year and last. Stu updated all the efforts for the community gardens and Ray Deffendorf not only wrapped up the activities of the International Committee but also gave us a heads-up on a Social Event to be held in November (details to come). Bill Boland updated the status of the Cherry Blossom Trail centennial project.
Club Service:
Invocation: Jon Carpenter
Cogs: Jan Harvey
Photos: Richard Perry
50/50: Paul Tick was the winner of the $5 prize for the day; but he missed the big prize. So close -- the winning card is the 4 of hearts. Paul pulled the 6 of hearts. So close and yet so far.
Elementary Schools who have completed Corning Rotary Club’s Literacy Program is underway. The celebration this year is different than what has been done in prior years because of Covid regulations. Corning Rotary bought the IMAX film Born to Be Wild, Born to Be Free, a documentary about the conservation of endangered species, which will be shown to the classes by their teachers. After seeing the film, the students will receive their Rotary Reads goodie bags.
Harvey.
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Jan Harvey s
hared that our club had received Third Place at last month's District Conference for the work we had done. From The Grapevine, "We (the district powers-to-be) recognized clubs that had successful fundraisers and service projects during this challenging year. The top 3 finalists chosen by a judging committee were #1 the Perry Rotary Club’s “Give the Gift of Rotary”, #2 the Naples Rotary Club: “The walk of life” # 3 the Corning Rotary Club: “Filling the need.” 
