Stories

UPDATE: Looks like there will be some unpleasant weather on Saturday so we are rescheduling our RT 13 cleanup to Sunday 10/18.

 

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The Ithaca Rotary Club is once again bringing Rotarians and community volunteers together for its fall Route 13 cleanup on Saturday, October 17 at 9:00 AM.

International Service Grants Call for Projects

Due date: Monday, September 30

Inspired by similar initiatives around the country to support restaurant owners and their staffs, the Rotary Club of Ithaca has launched its own version of a “Socially Connected – Safely Distanced” Supper Club. On Friday evening, Rotarians placed orders to go from Coltivare, a farm-to-table bistro that – like most other restaurants – has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Prior to mid-March, it also hosted the service club’s weekly luncheon meetings and has played a key role in some of Rotary’s largest fundraisers, including the Dozen Dinner Draw (DDD) to benefit hurricane relief efforts and international safe water projects.  Jason Sidle, Ithaca Rotarian and general manager of Coltivare, said he was ‘over the top’ in his appreciation for the club’s willingness to put “Tastes of Gorges” together to support local restaurants in need.  Dozens of restaurants have supported Rotary’s Dozen Dinner Draw fundraiser since 2018. A full list can be found at www.Rotarydozendinnerdraw.org.

Recent Supper Club Restaurants: • South Hill Cider • Aug 1 • • Boat Yard Grill • Aug 7 • • Mahogany Grill • Aug 14 • • Maxies Supper Club • Aug 21 • • New Delhi Diamonds Restaurant • Aug 28 •

GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING Ithaca’s 7th annual Rotary Rally! sponsored by The Maguire Family of Dealerships & State Farm of Ithaca When: Sunday, August 9, 2020; Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. Registration closes and all cars on the road by 2:00. Where: Starting Line:  Triad Foundation parking lot, 15 Ascot Place (off Craft Road), Ithaca Donation: $25 per adult; $10 children age 12–18; free 11 and younger All proceeds from registration fees benefit the Ithaca Rotary James L. Gibbs Memorial Scholarship at Ithaca High School. Registration: Click here for the online registration form

 

     

Community Grants Program
2020 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The Rotary Club of Ithaca announces that applications are now being accepted for its Community Grants program, which is intended to promote the quality of life in Tompkins County. Our intention is to fund several smaller grants in full. Small non-profit organizations are especially encouraged to apply. 2019 grant recipients are not eligible this year so we may support an increasing variety of worthy agencies.

All grant applications must be for projects within Tompkins County. Applicants must be classified as a nonprofit charitable organization under section 501(c)3 of the IRS code or have a fiscal sponsor. Maximum grant award is $1,000. One request per organization, please. We invite proposals for special projects or one-time needs that are not usually supported by your general funding sources. We do not make grants which will be used as part of a larger campaign, nor are funds to be re-granted (no scholarship programs). Grants are not usually made for operating budgets, endowments, or programs needing ongoing support. Funds are to be expended by May 1 of the following year, without expectation of further support.
 

 

Let’s admit that the impact of COVID 19 caught us a bit by surprise.  That at first we thought we might be able to manage to function as a service club with simple adaptations.  Then reality struck, and we went in to social isolation.  We only cancelled two weekly meetings, though! We started meeting on ZOOM at the beginning of April.  By mid April, we had a Pandemic Response ad hoc committee in place, tasked with creating initiatives in response to the consequences of living in a world wracked by virus.  This is what amounts to a quarterly review of what we’ve done in these past three months.

46th Annual Pancake Day
Election Day, Tues. Nov. 5, 2019

7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Coltivare, 235 S. Cayuga St., Downtown Ithaca
Adults: $9.00 -- Children under 12, Free
Proceeds benefit the International Student Exchange Program

In memory of David Flinn

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PANCAKE DAY has become an Ithaca Election Day tradition where friends and neighbors gather to eat, speculate on election returns, and generally have a good time. The traditional meal will include blueberry and plain pancakes, fruit, and yogurt, along with scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, corned beef hash, coffee, tea and orange juice. Cooked and served on site by Rotarians, Rotary Youth Exchange students and local elected officials, your meal will be hot and delicious!

The Ithaca Rotary Club is gratefully partnering with TC-3 and Coltivare for Pancake Day 2019, and is being held this year in memory of Dave Flinn and his long-time commitment and dedication to Rotary.

Proceeds from Pancake Day are used to fund Ithaca Rotary’s International Student Exchange Program. Please help sustain this important cultural immersion opportunity to promote international understanding and good will.

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Little Apple Fall Follies Back for TENTH Year!

Community Grants Program
2019 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The Rotary Club of Ithaca announces that applications are now being accepted for its Community Grants program, which is intended to promote the quality of life in Tompkins County. Our intention is to fund several smaller grants in full. Small non-profit organizations are especially encouraged to apply. 2018 grant recipients are not eligible this year so we may support an increasing variety of worthy agencies.

All grant applications must be for projects within Tompkins County. Applicants must be classified as a nonprofit charitable organization under section 501(c)3 of the IRS code or have a fiscal sponsor. Maximum grant award is $1,000. One request per organization, please. We invite proposals for special projects or one-time needs that are not usually supported by your general funding sources. We do not make grants which will be used as part of a larger campaign, nor are funds to be re-granted (no scholarship programs). Grants are not usually made for operating budgets, endowments, or programs needing ongoing support. Funds are to be expended by May 1 of the following year, without expectation of further support.

Proposals are limited to three pages. Please submit one copy on the organization’s letterhead by Friday, August 2, 2019. Do not include annual reports, newsletters, etc. All materials must be easily scannable for committee review and received in one file. Include the following information in this order:

1. Legal name of the organization and Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
2. Name, address, email, and telephone number of the grant contact person.
3. Brief description of the organization’s mission.
4. Dollar amount requested.
5. One sentence description of the grant need/request.
6. Concise needs statement describing the project and its significance to the community.
7. Simple project budget.
8. Names of the governing body/board and officers (may be extra page attachment)

Deadline for submission is August 2, 2019. Requests received after that date will not be considered. Awardees will be invited to a check presentation at a Rotary lunch award ceremony in October. A one-page final report is required upon completion of the project but no later than May 1, 2020.

Please submit your application by midnight on August 2 to:

• By e-mail: (preferred)
  Jessica.Fleisher@gmail.com
• By mail:
  Jessica Gosa, Community Grants co-chair
  Ithaca Rotary Club
  PO Box 306, Ithaca, NY 14851

Click here to download a PDF of these instructions.

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2019 Ithaca Rotary Community Fireworks set for July 3

Please support the fireworks here!

Ithaca’s Cayuga Lake waterfront is the setting for the 2019 Ithaca Rotary Community Fireworks show the night of July 3. Photo by Adam Baker.
 

THE Ithaca Rotary Community Fireworks show is set for July 3, 2019, with a rain date of July 5. The festivities take place from 6:00–10:30 p.m.

Fireworks will be visible from Ithaca’s Stewart Park and Cass Park as well as from other locations around Ithaca and the southern part of Cayuga Lake.

Please support the fireworks here!

2nd Annual Dozen Dinner Draw Fundraiser Will Support AguaClara Clean Water Projects

For the second year in a row, the Rotary Club of Ithaca is partnering with local restaurants, theaters, and spas to raise $10,000 for international relief work with the Dozen Dinner Draw (DDD). In 2018, this successful fundraiser supported disaster recovery in Puerto Rico. This year the recipient will be AguaClara, a Cornell-based program bringing clean water to remote communities worldwide.

Ticket holders in the DDD are entered in a drawing that features a dozen dinners valued at $100 each as the grand prize. Four other gift certificate prize packages valued from $150 to $500 are also available, for a total of five prizes. Only 200 tickets are being sold until February 14 at $50 each, and are available online at www.rotarydozendinnerdraw.org and in person at The Pack 'N Ship Store, 101 East State Street, The Commons, Ithaca.

The Dozen Dinner Draw, initiated by the Ithaca Rotary Club’s International Service Committee, is modeled on a similar raffle organized by a Rotary Club in the Toronto area. When Dennis Gray, a former member of that club, relocated to the Ithaca area, he was impressed with the variety of fine dining establishments in Tompkins County and thought the raffle would be a great fit for the community.

“The purpose of this is to raise funds for international service projects so that we can have a more significant impact on what our Club does on the international stage with Rotary,” Dennis said.

The participating prize partners are featured at www.rotarydozendinnerdraw.org.

The winners of the Dozen Dinner Draw raffle will be selected at a gala Valentine’s Day gourmet dinner that will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, at the Country Club of Ithaca, 89 Pleasant Grove Road, Ithaca. All are invited to this Dozen Dinner Draw event; raffle ticket holders need not be present to win.

PHOTO: The DDD planning team, l-r back row, Walt Cottrell, Maricelis Acevedo, Dennis Gray, Ray Brisson; front row Linda Brisson, Jessica Gosa.

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About AguaClara

The recipient of the 2019 DDD funds will be Cornell University’s AguaClara Program and AguaClara Reach (aguaclara.cornell.edu/).

AguaClara technologies are the only 100% non-electric municipal-scale water treatment solutions that are sustainable in underserved communities globally. They are built and can be repaired, locally in the targeted communities. They use locally available materials such as cement, PVC pipe, and sand.

Designs are modular, making it easy to remove parts for maintenance or repair. Operation and maintenance are simple enough to be carried out by a local operator. Water is safe: it meets World Health Organization standards for drinking water quality. Operation and maintenance are affordable, even where people earn less than $2 per day.

Rotary Club of Ithaca Seeks Nominations for Workmanship Award
2018 Pride of Workmanship nominations due Friday, October 12

NOMINATIONS are now being accepted for Ithaca Rotary’s 21st annual Pride of Workmanship Award, through which Tompkins County community members recognize employees in their organization whose outstanding work performance is “above and beyond the call of duty,” and is instrumental in the achievement of the organization’s performance goals. The public may also nominate an individual at a local company who consistently provides good, meaningful service.

A panel of Ithaca Rotarians will select the award winners based on the information provided, the employee’s initiative and consistency, and how he/she embodies the spirit of the business/ organization. Preference may be given to those who have not been recognized by Rotary for their workmanship in the past.

The following information should be submitted by 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 12:

1. Full name of nominated employee.
2. Employee’s job title or position.
3. Employer.
4. Address.
5. Phone.
6. Email address.
7. Name of nominator and contact information.
8. Nominator’s job title or position.
9. Brief description of how this person embodies the spirit of the organization, exhibits leadership and initiative, shows consistency, has longevity, and if he/she has been recognized previously by Rotary for his/her workmanship. How does this employee exemplify “Pride of Workmanship?”
10. Organization’s mission statement or a brief summary of its goals.

Nominations must be received no later than Friday, October 15, 2018.
Completed forms may be emailed to Kati Flynn, katitorello@gmail.com, mailed to Joanne Lamoureux at Pack ‘n Ship, 101 E. State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850; or faxed to Joanne at 607-256-0277. Address questions about the Pride of Workmanship awards to katitorello@gmail.com,Kati Flynn via email.

The 2018 winners will receive a plaque commemorating their award and, along with their nominators, will be hosted at a special Rotary luncheon award ceremony to be held in October at Coltivare, 235 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca.

Mary Berens Inducted as New President
She leads the Rotary Club of Ithaca, July 2018 through June 2019

Currently the Director of Alumni Affairs, emeritus, at Cornell University, Mary Berens graduated from Cornell and returned to her hometown near Rochester, N.Y., where she worked as a travel agent for 2 years before joining the Public Affairs staff at Cornell. Her 32-year career at Cornell included a variety of fundraising, alumni relations, and volunteer and staff management assignments. An Ithaca resident since 1982, Mary is married to Paul Feeny and they have 2 children, Richard and Sarah, ages 47 and 46.

Over the past 35 years, Mary has been a volunteer on several local boards including the Hangar Theatre and Alpha House Foundation, and has served as an officer on the boards of Catholic Charities Tompkins Tioga, Chi Chapter Delta Gamma, The Community Foundation of Tompkins County, and the Rotary Club of Ithaca.

“In addition to getting to know and building a network of a diverse group of community members, being a Rotarian offers many opportunities to develop and implement solutions for a myriad of programs and projects that make a difference in the lives of individuals as well as entire communities,” Mary said. “Collaboration with local partners — both domestic and international, some longstanding, some recently inaugurated — is the hallmark of how Rotarians get things done. I am energized by the opportunities on the agenda for our Rotary Club this year, and in the years to come.”

Elected club officers assisting President Mary in 2018-19 are:
  • President-Elect: Frank Towner
  • Vice President: Geoff Dunn
  • Treasurer: Jay O’Leary
  • Secretary: Joanne Lamoureaux

The Rotary Club of Ithaca, chartered in 1915, has 170 members. It is a member of Rotary International, and shares the motto Service Above Self. There are 1.2 million Rotarians and 35,000+ clubs, in more than 190 countries around the world.

Community Grants Program
2018 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The Rotary Club of Ithaca announces that applications are now being accepted for its Community Grants program, which is intended to promote the quality of life in Tompkins County. Our intention is to fund several smaller grants in full. Small non-profit organizations are especially encouraged to apply. 2017 grant recipients are not eligible this year so we may support an increasing variety of worthy agencies.

All grant applications must be for projects within Tompkins County. Maximum grant award is $1,000. One request per organization, please. We invite proposals for special projects or one-time needs that are not usually supported by your general funding sources. We do not make grants which will be used as part of a larger campaign, nor are funds to be re-granted (no scholarship programs). Grants are not usually made for operating budgets, endowments, or programs needing ongoing support. Funds are to be expended by May 1 of the following year, without expectation of further support.

Proposals are limited to three pages. Please submit one copy on the organization’s letterhead by Friday, August 3, 2018. Do not include annual reports, newsletters, etc. All materials must be easily scannable for committee review and received in one file. Include the following information in this order:

1. Legal name of the organization.
2. Name, address, email, and telephone number of the grant contact person.
3. Brief description of the organization’s mission.
4. Dollar amount requested.
5. One sentence description of the grant need/request.
6. Concise needs statement describing the project and its significance to the community.
7. Simple project budget.
8. Names of the governing body/board and officers (may be extra page attachment)

Deadline for submission is August 3, 2018. Requests received after that date will not be considered. Awardees will be invited to a check presentation at a Rotary lunch award ceremony on October 10. A one-page final report is required upon completion of the project but no later than May 1, 2019.

Please submit your application by midnight on August 3 to:

• By e-mail: (preferred)
  kdbskier@gmail.com
• By mail:
  Kelly Buck
  Ithaca Rotary Club
  PO Box 306, Ithaca, NY 14851

Click here to download a PDF of these instructions.

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GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING
Ithaca’s 5th annual Rotary Rally!

When: Sunday, August 12, 2017; Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. Registration closes and all cars on the road at 2:00.
Where: Homewood Suites, Triphammer Mall
 (36 Cinema Drive, Ithaca)
Donation: $20 per adult; $10 children age 12–18; free 11 and younger
All proceeds benefit Ithaca Rotary Club programs
Registration: Click here for the online registration form

Read on for more details!

April Speakers Focus on Public Health

The first week of April is National Public Health Week, and April is Public Health month for Ithaca Rotary programming. Gen Meredith kicked it off with a presentation — “Building the Healthiest Generation in One Generation” — that spoke directly to some of Rotary’s core values: a call to promote, protect, and work toward optimum health for all people.

Currently the Associate Director of Cornell’s brand new Masters of Public Health Program, for a dozen years before coming to Cornell Gen Meredith worked globally to help build capacity of the public health workforce, leading international development projects in Africa, the Caribbean, and local and state public health programs in the U.S. The MPH program she helped design for Cornell focuses on engaged learning, applied practice, and community-centered courses and community-based action.

Public health is defined by the CDC Foundation as the “science of protecting and improving the health of families and communities through detection and control of infectious disease, research for disease and injury prevention, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.” An initiative of the American Public Health Association has been through Nation Public Health Week to recognize a variety of themes aimed at improving the health of our nation and the world. This year’s theme is, “Healthy Nation 2030: Changing our Future Together.”

Sixty percent of our health outcomes are determined by our social environment and behavioral factors, so-called Social Determinants of Health, such as childhood experiences, housing, education, social support, family environment, employment, community, and access to health care. Public health measures work to unite communities to engage in collective change by tackling the causes of poor health and disease risk among individuals and within communities. Working collaboratively to build healthier communities builds a healthier nation.

There is a new era in public health very similar to Rotary’s mission statement: “Where neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem solvers” share ideas, join leaders, and “take action to create lasting change.” At the start of her presentation, Gen asked for a show of hands by those who considered their work to be in public health. She asked again at the end of her talk, and the scattering of hand at the beginning had grown considerably by the end. Download a PDF of Gen’s slides here.
 

Annual City of Ithaca Pride of Ownership Launches Twentieth Year Nominations Due Friday, November 3

Nominations must be received at the City Clerk’s Office, 108 East Green Street, no later than 4:30 pm on Friday, November 3. Click here for a nomination form.

Ithaca’s Twentieth Annual Pride of Ownership Awards program, recognizing owners of properties within the city of Ithaca who have developed projects or taken care of their properties in ways that enhance the physical appearance of city neighborhoods and commercial areas, is seeking nominations for this year’s awards. The program is a joint project of the Ithaca Rotary Club and the City of Ithaca.

Founded by former Common Council member Susan Blumenthal, who felt that developers and property owners should receive recognition for work that went above and beyond the requirements of the project, the awards are focused on projects that are thoughtful, unexpected, and lift the aesthetic experience of their setting and surroundings.

Do you own property in the city? Have you made improvements lately? Nominate yourself, a neighbor, or be nominated by others. Projects may range from major structural work to small but significant improvements. Commercial projects, owner-occupied housing, rental housing, and institutional facilities (education, religious, government) are eligible. Awards focus on how properties appear from the street and public right-of-way, improve their local surroundings, and thereby improve quality of life for the city as a whole.

Nominations must be received at the City Clerk’s Office, 108 East Green Street, no later than 4:30 pm on Friday, November 3. For more information or an application, contact a member of the 2017 Committee:

Susan Blumenthal at 272-3931 or susanb@twcny.rr.com; John Barradas at 277-2755 or jb@barradasandpartners.com; Frost Travis at 273-1654 or ftravis@travishyde.com; Margaret Hobbie, 220-5334 or mhobbie@verizon.net; Brett Bossard 351-1554 or brett@cinemapolis.org or Scott Whitham, 379-9175 or whitham@whithamdesign.com.

Additional forms are also available on the internet: Go to www.cityofithaca.org and click on “Announcements.” Or Click Here for an application.

Rotary Club of Ithaca Seeks Award Nominations
Pride of Workmanship nominations extended to Sept. 25

NOMINATIONS are now being accepted for Ithaca Rotary’s 20th annual Pride of Workmanship Award, through which Tompkins County community members recognize employees in their organization whose outstanding work performance is “above and beyond the call of duty,” and is instrumental in the achievement of the organization’s performance goals. The public may also nominate an individual at a local company who consistently provides good, meaningful service.

A panel of Ithaca Rotarians will select the award winners based on the information provided, the employee’s initiative and consistency, and how he/she embodies the spirit of the business/ organization. Preference may be given to those who have not been recognized by Rotary for their workmanship in the past.

The following information should be submitted by 5:00pm Monday, September 18:

1. Full name of nominated employee.
2. Employee’s job title or position.
3. Employer.
4. Address.
5. Phone.
6. Email address.
7. Name of nominator and contact information.
8. Nominator’s job title or position.
9. Brief description of how this person embodies the spirit of the organization, exhibits leadership and initiative, shows consistency, has longevity, and if he/she has been recognized previously by Rotary for his/her workmanship. How does this employee exemplify “Pride of Workmanship?”
10. Organization’s mission statement or a brief summary of its goals.

Nominations must be received no later than Monday, September 18, 2017.
Completed forms may be emailed to Kati Torello, katitorello@gmail.com, mailed to Joanne Lamoureux at Pack ‘n Ship, 101 E. State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850; or faxed to Joanne at 607-256-0277.

The 2017 winners will receive a plaque commemorating their award and, along with their nominators, will be hosted at a special Rotary luncheon award ceremony to be held at Coltivare in October.

Address questions about Rotary’s Pride of Workmanship Award to Joan Schnaper via email at jschnaper@twcny.rr.com.

Rotary Club of Ithaca Inducts New President
June Losurdo of Cornell is service club’s leader thru June 2018

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to welcome its new president for the 2017-2018 year. June Losurdo, director of development at Cornell Engineering, stepped into the leadership role on July 1. Losurdo observed her 15th year in Rotary this year.

Losurdo grew up in King Ferry, New York and graduated from Michigan State University. She is married to Frank Losurdo and they live in Ithaca, NY. Their son John is a junior at Michigan State University.

June has over 25 years of experience in alumni affairs and development with career highlights including Radcliffe College, The University of Chicago, and the American Cancer Society. She moved back to central New York in 2000 as the Community Executive for the American Cancer Society, and soon joined the Ithaca Rotary Club. Since then, she has been active in her community, serving for 13 years on the board of the Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) for Lansing Central Schools; as a 7-year board member for the Corporate Development Committee for Lansing Central Schools; and as a 6-year board member of a national organization, Engineering Development Forum.

“It is an honor to be the leader of the Ithaca Rotary Club. The experiences of the members are vital to the club’s health, and networking with community leaders has always been a highlight of our club,” said June. “I look forward to the year and making my mark on this club as it celebrates its 103 year.”

Elected club officers assisting President June in 2017-18 are:

• President-Elect: Mary Berens
• Vice President: Frank Towner
• Treasurer: Bill Hawley
• Secretary: Joanne Lamoureux

The Rotary Club of Ithaca has more than 175 members. Throughout its history, the club has supported many community needs through hands-on projects, and raises funds for community grants, scholarships, youth programs, and the Rotary Student Exchange Program.
  

Ithaca Rotary Club Names Rotarian of the Year 2016-17
Scott Russell recognized for 25 years of service to Rotary Club

At its June 28 meeting, long-time Ithaca Rotary member Scott Russell was named Rotarian of the Year for 2016-17. The award is given every June in honor of an active club member who exemplifies the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

Scott (at left in the photo) was chosen for the honor by outgoing Rotary president Dale Johnson (at right in the photo), who said he selected Scott because “Scott celebrated 25 years as a Rotarian on July 1. He was club secretary for many years, having taken over on an unscheduled basis when the then-secretary was unable to continue.”

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Rotary International President-elect Sam F. Owori dies

Rotary International President-elect Sam F. Owori died unexpectedly on 13 July due to complications from surgery. Sam was a member of the Rotary Club Kampala, Uganda, for 38 years. Sam's term as Rotary’s 108th president would have begun on 1 July 2018. “Sam was a special person in so many ways, and his unexpected death is a huge loss to Rotary, his community, and the world,” Rotary International President Ian Riseley said. “We are establishing details on plans to celebrate his life as they become available.”

Memorial contributions in honor of Sam will be directed to the Sam F. Owori Memorial to Polio. This fund has been established to honor his commitment to Rotary’s polio eradication efforts. Sam was a member of both the Africa Regional PolioPlus Committee and the International PolioPlus Committee. You can make online contributions to the fund here. [Source: Rotary International]

Rotary Club of Ithaca Introduces New Members
Three professionals join local service club

Ithaca, New York – The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce three individuals who have recently joined the service club.

Ithaca Rotary welcomes:

Dennis Gray is a native of Canada, raised in Toronto, Ontario. He earned a degree in commerce from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto. He and his wife Maricelis, another new Ithaca Rotary Club member, moved to Spencer, NY in April 2016 when Maricelis took a position at Cornell University. Dennis is now founder and CEO of Backyard Brands, Inc. and has been a long-time Rotarian. He has spent significant time and effort working on Rotary International water and sanitation projects in Kenya and Uganda.

Ryan Harriott is a program manager at the Women’s Opportunity Center in Ithaca. She is interested in leadership and community development, and is involved in local youth events and food pantries, and has raised money for Haitian orphanages. Ryan holds an associate’s degree from TC-3, a B.S. in human and community services from SUNY Empire, and is currently enrolled in the MPA program at Capella University. Ryan lives in Groton with her family.

Rusdi Sumner is originally from Trumansburg, NY. Her alma mater is SUNY Cortland, where she studied business economics and communications. After a stint at A.G. Edwards in Syracuse, she returned to Ithaca in 2001 to sell real estate at Audrey Edelman & Associates. Subsequently, Rusdi owned and operated Avalon Homes for ten years, and is now an associate wealth advisor at Tompkins Financial Advisors. Rusdi has served as board treasurer for Better Housing of Tompkins County, and has been on the board of Habitat for Humanity.

Community Grants Program
2017 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The Rotary Club of Ithaca announces that applications are now being accepted for its Community Grants program, which is intended to promote the quality of life in Tompkins County. Our intention is to fund several smaller grants in full. Small non-profit organizations are especially encouraged to apply. Maximum grant award is $1,000. One request per organization, please.

We invite your proposals for special projects or for needs that are not usually supported by your general funding sources. Grants are not usually made for operating budgets or endowments. All grant applications must be for projects within Tompkins County. Grants are to be expended within one year of the date of the grant, without expectation of further support.

Proposals are limited to three pages. Please submit one copy on the organization’s letterhead by Friday, August 11, 2017. (Continued)

Rotary Hosts Election Day Pancake Meal
43rd annual event raises money for International Exchange Student Program

Ithaca Rotary’s 43rd annual Election Day Pancake Day is this Tuesday, November 8, from 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., at Coltivare, 235 South Cayuga St. (across from the Hotel Ithaca), downtown Ithaca. Tickets are $9 for adults — kids under age 12 free — and may be purchased at the door or from Ithaca Rotarians. Cayuga Radio Group will be broadcasting live during the morning, and many of the candidates on the local ballot traditionally come to eat and greet voters.

The traditional meal includes blueberry and plain pancakes, corned beef hash, fruit, and yogurt, along with scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, coffee, tea and orange juice. Cooked and served on site by Rotarians and Rotary Youth Exchange students, your meal will be hot and delicious!

The Ithaca Rotary Club is gratefully partnering with TC-3 and Coltivare for Pancake Day 2016, which is held in honor of Beverly Baker (pictured right) this year. Discounted parking is available in the Cayuga Street lot; patrons should have their parking ticket validated at the breakfast.

Proceeds from this special event are used to fund Ithaca Rotary’s International Student Exchange Program. Please help us sustain this important cultural immersion opportunity to promote international understanding and good will.

Three RYLA Students Speak to Ithaca Rotarians

Rotary Youth Leadership Academy 2016: The Ithaca High School students spoke about their experience at the annual event held at SUNY Oneonta during Ithaca Rotary's regular weekly meeting, November 2, 2016:

(Left to Right) Fiona Okumu, Rotarian and youth advisor Richard Kiley, Khiry Brown, and Rebekah Barrett.

Rotary Awards 3 for their Pride of Workmanship

PRIDE OF WORKMANSHIP 2016 awardees, with Vocational Service Committee chair, Joan Schnaper (far left):

(Left to Right) Hope Mosier, a rehabilitation counselor at Lakeview Mental Health, nominated by Rotarian Dan Weed.
Jack Mitchell, building superintendent of the Dewitt Mall, nominated by Alison Van Dyke and building tenants.
Jennifer Bickham, the cook at Coddington Road Community Center, nominated by Heather Mount.

Thank You From Rotary & Savage Clubs for Laff Support
Fundraiser event raises money for community grants, youth arts programs

The Ithaca High School Men’s Chorus hamming it up in full voice on the Kulp Auditorium stage, at the 2016 LAFF performance.

THE ITHACA Rotary Club, the Savage Club of Ithaca, and the ICSD Department of Fine and Performing Arts gratefully thank and acknowledge all of the individuals, performers, and 46 sponsoring businesses and organizations who made the 7th annual Little Apple Fall Follies (LAFF) event on October 1 a big success. Proceeds from the event benefit community grants and youth arts projects.

Special thanks to the following sponsors:

Rotary Club of Ithaca Announces 2016 Grant Awardees
Community grants program funds seven worthy local causes

The Ithaca Rotary Club is pleased to announce the awardees for its 2016 round of community grants. Seven grant requests were funded at a total of $5,900. Funds for these grants are raised through Rotary’s annual Little Apple Fall Follies (LAFF) event held this past Saturday during Ithaca Apple Festival Week.


The 2016 grant recipients are:

• Center for Transformative Action - $1,000
  ~ construction of a compost toilet for the Youth Farm Project
• Community Arts Partnership - $550
  ~ sound system for the annual Spring Writes Festival and a new open mic initiative
• Ellis Hollow Community Center - $1,000
  ~ materials and labor to repair a garage on the property for adequate storage space
• Finger Lakes ReUse - $1,000
  ~ signage for delivery trucks
• First Unitarian Society of Ithaca - $850
  ~ purchase seventeen infant car seats for the Babies First program
• Newfield Central School District - $500
  ~ materials for Sources of Strength, a national suicide prevention program
• Newfield Community Park - $1,000
  ~ surveying costs for the initial phase of a new community park

Ithaca Rotary’s community grants are intended to promote the quality of life in Tompkins County and the greater Ithaca area. These grants support organizations in the community that have special projects or needs which are not funded by general funding sources. Grants are usually awarded within the range of $200 to $1,000. The annual grants process is led by Club Service Chair Angela Sullivan.

Contributions to Rotary’s Community Grants program are gratefully accepted at any time. Donation checks may be made payable to Ithaca Rotary Club and mailed to P.O. Box 306, Ithaca, NY 14851. Please note “Community grants” on the memo line.

You’ve Heard About Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship, Now You Can Learn All About It!

Rotary Youth Exchange provides thousands of young people with the opportunity to meet people from other countries and to experience their cultures, thus promoting international understanding and peace.

The Ithaca Rotary Club still needs host families for our Rotary Exchange Students. Learn all about the program at this dedicated web site for District 7170: Rotary-Youth-Exchange.com!

2015-2016 Presidents’ Summary

THE ITHACA Rotary Club’s Leadership Team (aka the Gang of Five) is proud of our accomplishments over the past year. This unique solution to the unanticipated departure of the President Elect turned out to be both fun and productive. The Gang of Five began meeting in July of 2014, and took office in July of 2015. We were consensus driven, with each of us bringing different leadership skills and styles to the office of President. The G5 met once a month for two years, as well as attended monthly Rotary Board Meetings.

GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING
Ithaca’s 4th annual Rotary Rally!

When: Sunday, July 23, 2017; Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. Registration closes and all cars on the road at 2:00.
Where: Ithaca College; CHS/ Smiddy Building Lobby
 (first right after entering campus off Rt. 96B; watch for signs.)
Donation: $20 per adult; $10 children age 12–18; free 11 and younger
All proceeds benefit Ithaca Rotary Club programs
Registration: Click here for the online registration form

Rotary Club of Ithaca Announces 2015 Grant Awardees
Community grants program funds nine worthy local causes

 
Ithaca, New York – The Ithaca Rotary Club is pleased to announce the awardees for its 2015 round of community grants. Nine grant requests were funded at a total of $5,310. The agencies were honored at a check presentation during Rotary’s lunch meeting on Wednesday, October 7. Funds for these grants are raised through Rotary’s annual Little Apple Fall Follies (LAFF) event held during Ithaca Apple Festival Week.

Pride of Workmanship nominations sought; due September 28

 
Nominations are now being accepted for Ithaca Rotary’s 18th annual Pride of Workmanship Award. The Rotary Club of Ithaca invites Tompkins County community members to recognize employees whose outstanding work performance in their organization is “above and beyond the call of duty” and is instrumental in the achievement of the organization’s performance goals. The public may also nominate an individual at a local company who consistently provides good, meaningful service.

A panel of Ithaca Rotarians will select the award winners based on the information provided, the employee’s initiative and consistency, and how he/she embodies the spirit of the business/ organization. Preference may be given to those who have not been recognized by Rotary for their workmanship in the past.
 

Rotary Harvest Gathers Food for Tompkins Families
Ithaca Rotary Club collaborates with Farmers Market, School District to bring fresh food to local tables

Ithaca, New York – The Rotary Club of Ithaca is engaging in its 9th annual Rotary Harvest food collection during three weekends this summer. On Saturdays, August 22, August 29, and September 5, volunteers from the Ithaca Rotary Club will gather at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market to gather donated produce and other fresh foods to supplement selected families’ meals.

Ithaca Rotarian Heidi Goldstein conceived of the idea in 2007 when she had a booth at the Farmer’s Market. “Children are my passion and I wanted to do something that would directly affect their lives,” says Heidi. “This is very personal for me. This food distribution has a direct impact on our local children.”

Now in its 9th year, Rotary Harvest has served 46 families, including 160 children. The collaborative effort between the Ithaca Rotary Club, the Ithaca Farmer’s Market, and the Ithaca City School District provides fresh fruits and vegetables and other staples to families who participate in the pre-K meal program. For three weeks in late summer every year, the school meal program is unavailable, so Rotary Harvest helps bridge that gap.

This year, six families with 21 children will receive fresh food through Rotary Harvest. Five or six Rotarians will meet at the Farmer’s Market each Saturday morning, fill a wagon with fresh produce donated by vendors, and then shop at a local grocery store for meat, cereal, peanut butter, and other necessities. The volunteers then deliver the goods to the recipients’ homes.

Email questions about Rotary Harvest to Heidi Goldstein at hjorganics@aol.com.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Applications are now being accepted for Ithaca Rotary’s Community Grants program, which are intended to promote the quality of life in Tompkins County. Our intention is to fund several smaller grants in full. Grants are awarded in the $200–$1,000 range. Small non-profit organizations are especially encouraged to apply. One request per organization, please. Click here to download a PDF with instructions for applying. Application deadline is Friday, August 15, 2015.

New Members Round Out Centennial Year
Five professionals join local service club

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce five individuals who have recently joined the service club. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

Ithaca Rotary welcomes:

Mohamed Abdelrehim grew up in Alexandria, Egypt and graduated from the International School of Hospitality Management in Massachusetts as part of the Waterford Hotel Group Rising Star Leadership Program. He joined the hotel industry after a career in the restaurant business; he started his own catering company in Connecticut, Pharaoh’s Food Service LLC, in 2005. Mohamed is now the general manager of Homewood Suites in Ithaca.

Born and raised in Colorado, Leslie Danks Burke received dual bachelor’s degrees in history and international affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder, followed by a law degree from the University of Chicago. After working in Washington, DC, Costa Rica, and New York City, Leslie and her husband relocated to Tompkins County in 2004. Leslie is now an attorney and Of Counsel with the law firm of Pinnisi and Anderson in Ithaca. She serves on the Agriculture and Infrastructure subgroups of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council, and on the boards of Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes, the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation, and the Tompkins-Cortland Community College Foundation.

Bob Case is a native of Union Springs, NY and moved to Ithaca in 2008. He has been with M&T Bank since 2011, now serving as a commercial loan officer on The Commons. Bob earned a B.S. in organizational management and a master’s in business from Keuka College. He is active in the community, serving as vice president for the 2014-15 United Way campaign, and leading M&T Bank’s internal United Way employee campaign for three years. He lives in Lansing with his family.

Suzanne Cerquone hails from Rochester, NY. She received a communications degree from Syracuse University and a master’s in international marketing from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She worked in the music industry in New York City and Philadelphia for many years, and then returned to Ithaca in 2007 to be closer to family. She was employed at Alternatives Federal Credit Union for seven years, and recently took a position as director of community relations at Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services. Suzanne enjoys volunteering at the SPCA of Tompkins County.

Born in Cleveland, Jon Soza graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in communications and earned a Minister’s certificate with Global University of Assemblies of God. He has served as a youth pastor and as senior pastor in churches in Ohio and Tennessee, and has worked in homeless and addiction recovery shelters in Cleveland, Nashville, and Jackson, Mississippi. Jon joined the Salvation Army in 2003, and has been in charge of the Ithaca Salvation Army since last August. Jon was named Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year in North Eastern Ohio in 2000, and his work is featured in a YouTube film called “Frontline Ministry Spotlight: Throne of Grace.”

Rotary Club of Ithaca Introduces New Members
Five professionals join local service club

“The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals,” said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. “Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

Ithaca Rotary welcomes:

​Keoki Hansen was born in Redwood City, Calif. but lived most of her life in Chittenango, NY. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Castleton State College, and an M.A. in cognitive psychology from Boston College. She is a financial planner with Hansen’s Advisory Services, which recently opened a new office in Ithaca. There, she focuses on sustainable, responsible, and impactful investing. Prior to entering the finance industry, Keoki was the director of research and evaluation at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for 15 years, and a program evaluator at Cornell. Keoki lives on DeRuyter Lake with her two daughters.

Philadelphia native Kevin Morrin came to Ithaca 21 years ago as a student at Ithaca College. He earned a dual degree in international business and German, and has remained in Ithaca ever since. He is now a commercial insurance broker with Tompkins Insurance Agencies. Previously, Kevin was the membership and PR director at the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, and spent ten years as VP of sales and marketing at Greek Peak. Kevin is also the principle and owner of Kensington Camber Advertising and Design. He is active in the community by volunteering with the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, Big Brothers, AIDS Ride for Life and the Binghamton Spiedie Fest.

Margaret Snow is a lifelong resident of the Ithaca area and is currently self-employed as an archetypal consultant with an office at the Integrative Medicine Center downtown. She graduated from TC3 with an associate’s degree in business administration, and is a NYS licensed real estate instructor. She is also a certified Reiki master/teacher and life coach. In the community, Margaret has served as a volunteer for Hospicare of Tompkins County for the past ten years, and also sits on committees at the Foundation of Light and the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce. In the summer months, she races with the Ithaca Dragon Boat Club and is an avid cyclist.

Jennifer Tavares is the president of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce. Previously, she served as the director of economic development for Chenango County. Originally from Norwich, NY, Jennifer graduated from SUNY Potsdam, earning a double major in writing and communications with minors in studio art and women’s studies. She has previously served on the Chenango County Planning Board, the board of the United Way of Chenango County, and as chair of the Agriculture Development Council. She recently joined the Tompkins County Area Development Board, and looks forward to serving on the Tompkins County Workforce Investment Board.

Daniel Weed of Norwalk, Conn. graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.S. in astrophysics and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering, business administration, and international affairs. Trained as a nuclear power and surface warfare officer, Dan has traveled to more than 60 countries for his work. He has commanded ships and naval bases, and overseen Cornell’s Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit. He currently works as the Lakeview Health Services Horizon program manager, and volunteers for Cornell Companions’ pet therapy program and Women Swimmin’.

Rotarians Pack Books for the World

A big thank you to club members Joe Giordano, Kellyann O'Mara, EmilyParker, Dave Flaccus and Betty Falcão for packing 38 cartons of books at the Books for the World Project on April 30. Joining us were Rotarians from the Dryden Rotary Club (who also contributed six boxes of books), and Mike Levy from the Cornell Fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi. Efficient and — fungreat job!

Our next Books for the World event will be at the Friends of the Library Booksale on Wednesday, May 20 from 9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m., where we will be packing 34 cartons of books. These two events will result in three more pallets of books (24 cartons per pallet), which will be on their way to developing countries.

If you are available to help on May 20, please let us know. Another e-mail reminder will be sent closer to the date, and sign up sheets will be available at the lunch meetings.

Again, thanks to everybody who has helped with the Books for the World project. By the end of May, our club will have shipped an estimated 64,000 books!

Janet and Edward

The Newfield High School Interact Club collected and packed 1900 books as part of the Ithaca Rotary Club's Books for the World project. Book categories included children's books, adult books, textbooks, and reference books. The books will be sent to Rotarian operated warehouses in port cities along the African coast where they are distributed freely to schools and libraries. Brenda Barnstead, the Interact faculty advisor, is a Rotarian from the Horseheads Rotary Club.
Thanks, Interactors!

ITHACA ROTARY MOVES WEEKLY MEETING LOCATION
Service club to meet downtown at Coltivare beginning March 25

Ithaca, New York – The Rotary Club of Ithaca has announced that it will begin meeting at a different location the end of March. Because the majority of Ithaca Rotarians work and/or live in or near downtown, the club will begin meeting permanently at Coltivare, 235 S. Cayuga Street across from the Hotel Ithaca, on Wednesday, March 25.

Club Welcomes 4 New Members

By Kelly Buck

David Dunlop hails from Roselle Park, NJ. After receiving his degree from Cornell’s ILR School, Dave worked in the university’s development office his entire career, retiring in 1997. He is widely recognized as an expert in fundraising and development, consulting for a number of colleges and such national organizations as the United Way of America, the American Heart Association, and the Easter Seals Society. Dave was the first recipient of the Fisher Award for Professional Achievement, given by CASE for exceptional achievement, leadership, and innovative management. He continues to volunteer for Cornell in his retirement.

A native of Bayshore, NY, Geoff Dunn arrived in Ithaca in 1992. He is the communication and administrative coordinator for the Tompkins County Solid Waste Division. Geoff joined the County in December 2012 after a 30-year career in broadcast journalism, both in radio and television, working in Oswego, Syracuse, Albany and Ithaca. Geoff currently serves on the boards of the Human Services Coalition and the Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund, and is a member of the TCAT Citizens Advisory Committee. He earned a B.A. in communication studies from SUNY-Oswego with a minor in political science.

Stephen Johnson recently retired as an administrator from Cornell after 42 years. At the university, he was associated with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Program, community and state relations, and federal advocacy. An alumnus of Penn State, Steve also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He has served on the board of Tompkins County Area Development and Excell Partners. Since his retirement, Steve has volunteered with the Tompkins County Long Term Care Ombudsman Program.

Allen MacNeill was born and raised in Homer, NY. He is a graduate of Cornell, where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He has taught biology at Cornell for 37 years. He is also a long-time member of the Ithaca Ballet, was a volunteer firefighter for the Varna Fire Department for 20 years, and is the author of several textbooks. Allen is a classical fencer and an avid outdoorsman, and in the early 1990s, performed off-Broadway in a one-man show entitled “An Evening with Charles Darwin.”

Cornell President David Skorton spoke before a joint meeting of service clubs from throughout Tompkins County and the Southern Tier on November 19, 2014, hosted by the Rotary Club of Ithaca. Other represented organizations included Ithaca Lions, Ithaca Kiwanis, Binghamton Noon Rotary, Ithaca Sunrise Rotary, Owego Rotary, Trumansburg Rotary and Dryden Rotary. Over 100 attended the annual joint service clubs breakfast, which was punctuated by Skorton’s departure from Cornell at the end of this academic year to take the job of Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C. Skorton became Cornell’s President in 2008.

With infectious diseases at the top of the headlines, hand washing is still the most important step for protecting personal health. The Ithaca Rotary Club has been in the forefront of hand washing education for a number of years, and 2014 is no exception.

Ithaca Rotary hand washing activities  
Ithaca Times article on hand washing 
Ithaca Journal article on hand washing

At our October 1 meeting, John Vineyard told the story of the Four-Way Test. John found that it was derived from a code of ethics written out by Chicago businessman (and Chicago Rotary President), Herbert Taylor (1893–1978). In the throes of the Great Depression, Taylor’s company, Club Aluminum Products, was on the verge of bankruptcy. In his drive to save the business for him and his 250 employees, he laid down a set of principles by which to operate, and which we now recite as the Four-Way Test. 

(October 1, 2014) — Quipping that he had failed to snag Bill Gates for an appearance at our meeting, Gary Stewart introduced our own home grown maverick of public service, Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature, Mike Lane. A practicing attorney, Mike has served multiple terms on the legislature, multiple terms as Mayor of Dryden, and a number of other elected offices. Mike assured us that he harbored no bad feelings for being a second choice to Mr. Gates (who, we understood, would have called in had Siri not dialed the Lion’s Club instead).
 

OUR CLUB is in dire need of volunteers from the community to serve as host families for our incoming Rotary Youth Exchange students.  Without the guarantee of host families for this year and in the future, our club's Youth Exchange program is in very real danger of being eliminated. This would put an end to a long history of Ithaca City School District students having the opportunity to not only learn from exposure to other cultures, but also to introduce our very unique Ithaca sensibilities to places all over the world.

The commitment for being a host family is approximately 3.5 months. You would not house the student for the entire school year. Contact Mike Billing or Jo Ellen Hedlund if you're interested in hosting, know a family who is, or would like more information on helping our Youth Exchange team.

The new edition of the District 7170 Newsletter included the announcement that our own Dave Martin is District Rotarian of the Month for August, describing him as “the club’s go-to man for many initiatives.” Congratulations Dave!

 

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Registration begins 1:00pm - Ithaca YMCA, 50 Graham Road (off Triphammer Rd), Ithaca

First cars leave at 1:15; all cars on course by 2:00

$20 per adult; $10 children 12 – 18; free 11 and younger

DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM HERE

Two new professionals join local service club

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce two new members who have recently joined the service club. These community members bring professional experience from the business sector and volunteer in Tompkins County. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.

 “The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals,” said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. “Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

Four new professionals join local service club

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce four new members who have recently joined the service club. These community members bring professional experience from the business sector and volunteer in Tompkins County. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.

“The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals,” said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. “Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

   

A Rotary 2nd Orientation Meeting will be held at Country Club of Ithaca next week, Wednesday, February 19, 2014, at 10:45 a.m., hosted by the membership orientation committee.

This is a follow-up meeting for members who have joined Rotary in the past 18 months. The purpose of the meeting is to get feedback from our newer members on how we can improve our communication process, starting with an orientation and continuing throughout the year.

So, if you are new to Rotary since July 2012 (or so), please join us! We'd really like to know how we doing, and give an update on what our Rotary is doing through the end of the year.

458 Tompkins families receive donations of warm winter clothing 

The Ithaca Rotary Club wrapped up its 21^st annual Share the Warmth campaign in mid-December. Donations of new or gently used winter clothing were gratefully collected, sorted, and distributed across the area by volunteers from a number of partner organizations: Ithaca Rotary Club, Trumansburg Rotary Club, Cornell University, Ithaca College, TC-3, Ecology House Recycling, Finger Lakes Re-Use, and the Samaritan Center of Catholic Charities.

Ithaca Rotary is pleased to announce that 458 Tompkins County households – 844 adults and 572 children – were the happy recipients of donations made to Share the Warmth. More than 4,450 items were picked up, collected, and sorted by volunteers for distribution through the Samaritan Center of Catholic Charities. The donated clothing was then distributed by Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga free of charge to individuals who need such items for the winter months. 

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce three new members who have recently joined the service club. These community members bring professional experience from the business sector and volunteer in Tompkins County. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.

“The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals,” said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. “Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

 

Three new professionals join local service club

 

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce three new members who have recently joined the service club. These community members bring professional experience from the business sector and volunteer in Tompkins County. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.

 

“The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals,” said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. “Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

    

On October 30, the Rotary Club of Ithaca presented its 16^th annual Pride of Workmanship awards to three deserving individuals. The award recognizes area employees whose outstanding work performance in their organization is “above and beyond the call of duty” and is instrumental in the achievement of the organization’s performance goals.

During a recent Books for the World event at Boynton Middle School, Rotarians and volunteers packed over 6,000 books, destined for children in countries where books are a prized possession.

The Ithaca Rotary Club has now sent 39,000 books to participating countries through the Books for the World project.

Larry Robinson of Cornell is service club’s leader thru July 2014

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to welcome its new president for the 2013-2014 year. Lawrence W. Robinson, professor of operations management at the Johnson School at Cornell University, stepped into the leadership role on July 1. Robinson has been an Ithaca Rotarian for 15 years.

Three awards go to local high school graduating seniors

As part of its mission to provide “Service Above Self,” the Rotary Club of Ithaca recently made three scholarship awards to local graduating high school seniors:

 

Rotarian Joe Cassaniti selects children's books at the Friends of the Library booksale, as part of the Ithaca Rotary Club's Books for the World project. Over 1100 books were purchased on Saturday, May 18, all of which will be shipped to English speaking countries such as South Africa where books are in high demand.

The Ithaca Rotary Club continues to collect used books for shipment to countries where they are in high demand.  The Books for the World project is a hands-on international project, where Rotarians and community partners select, pack and arrange for shipment of K-12 surplus textbooks and used books suitable for public libraries.

Since the fall of 2010, our club has collected over 26,000 books, which, when packed, taped, labeled and stacked, is the equivalent of one shipping container of books. With the help of other community organizations for funding, physical labor and loading dock facilities, our club has taken the lead in District 7170, with the most books collected of any Rotary Club in the upstate New York region.

   

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce three new members who have recently joined the service club. These community members bring professional experience from the business sector and volunteer in Tompkins County. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce four new members who have recently joined the service club. These community members bring professional experience from the business sector and volunteer in Tompkins County. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.

“The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals,” said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. “Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

655 Tompkins families receive donations of warm winter clothing

The Ithaca Rotary Club wrapped up its 20^th annual Share the Warmth campaign in mid-December. Donations of new or gently used winter clothing were gratefully collected, sorted, and distributed across the area by volunteers from a number of partner organizations: Ithaca Rotary Club, Trumansburg Rotary Club, Cornell University, Ithaca College, TC-3, Ecology House Recycling, Finger Lakes Re-Use, and the Samaritan Center of Catholic Charities.

 

Two new professionals join local service club

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce two new members who have joined the service club during the last quarter. These community members bring professional experience from the business sector and volunteer in Tompkins County. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.

“The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals,” said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. “Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

Club raises funds, participates in “This Close” ad campaign

The Ithaca Rotary Club is a strong advocate for Rotary International’s polio eradication initiative. We are now “this close” to erasing polio from the earth. In recognition and support of this important global endeavor, Ithaca Rotary is actively taking part in Rotary International’s “This Close” ad campaign, and we invite the public to join us.

The 20^th annual Share the Warmth campaign kicked off on November 10, with over a dozen collection sites around Ithaca and Tompkins County. Donations of new or gently used winter clothing were collected, sorted, and distributed across the area by volunteers from a number of partner organizations: Ithaca Rotary Club, Trumansburg Rotary Club, Cornell University, Ithaca College, TC-3, Ecology House Recycling, Finger Lakes Re-Use, and the Samaritan Center of Catholic Charities.

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce four new members who have joined the service club during the last quarter. These community members bring professional experience from the business sector and volunteer in Tompkins County. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.

“The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals,” said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. “Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

Collection of warm winter clothing underway; ends December 10

The 20^th annual Share the Warmth campaign kicks off on November 10, with over a dozen collection sites around Ithaca and Tompkins County. Donations of new or gently used winter clothing will be gratefully collected, sorted, and distributed across the area by volunteers from a number of partner organizations: Ithaca Rotary Club, Trumansburg Rotary Club, Cornell University, Ithaca College, TC-3, Ecology House Recycling, Finger Lakes Re-Use, and the Samaritan Center of Catholic Charities.

City of Ithaca and Ithaca Rotary Club partner on 15^th annual award

Ithaca’s 15th Annual Pride of Ownership program is seeking nominations for this year’s awards. The program recognizes owners of properties within the city of Ithaca who have developed projects or taken care of their properties in ways that enhance the physical appearance of city neighborhoods and commercial areas. Nominations are due Friday, November 2; forms are available at www.cityofithaca.org. The program is a joint project of the Ithaca Rotary Club and the City of Ithaca.

Three Pride of Workmanship awardees honored October 24

On October 24, the Rotary Club of Ithaca presented its 15^th annual Pride of Workmanship awards to three deserving individuals. The award recognizes area employees whose outstanding work performance in their organization is “above and beyond the call of duty” and is instrumental in the achievement of the organization’s performance goals.

Rotary’s Pride of Workmanship Committee chair Grace Dalton of First Niagara Bank announced the 2012 winners:

Thanks to Ithaca Rotary Club members Rob Sharkey, Jim Johnston, Jim Fogel Edward Kokkelenberg and Dale Johnson for helping pack 48 cartons of surplus textbooks on October 12. With the help of Cornell University fraternity brothers from Alpha Sigma Phi, Aaron Schiller, Ian Fabbioli, Tiss Doci and Mike Hoyt, we were done in record time. A big thanks to Brian Sgrecci of 4 Seasons Landscaping who stacked and wrapped two pallets (24 cartons each) and transported them to Agway for temporary storage until they can be picked up sent to school children in South Africa. Our total number of books collected, packed and shipped, since we started two years ago, is over 23,000!

Four new professionals join local service club

     

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to introduce four new members who have joined the service club during the last quarter. These community members bring professional experience from the business sector and volunteer in Tompkins County. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.

The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals,” said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. “Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

39^th annual event raises money for International Exchange Student Program

The Ithaca Rotary Club's 39^th annual Pancake Day will be held on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6 from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm. For the first time, this year’s event will be held at the VFW Building, located on 423 West State Street in Ithaca. Tickets are $8 for adults – kids under age 12 eat free! – and may be purchased at the door or from Ithaca Rotarians.

Community grants program funds five worthy local causes

 The Ithaca Rotary Club is pleased to announce the awardees for its 2012 round of community grants. The five grantee organizations will be honored at a check presentation during Rotary’s lunch meeting on Wednesday, September 19 and recognized on stage at the Little Apple Fall Follies event on September 28 at the State Theatre. The public is invited to attend.

Ithaca Rotary Club collaborates with Farmers Market, School District to bring fresh food to local tables

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is engaging in its 6^th annual Rotary Harvest food collection during three weekends this summer. On Saturdays, August 18, August 25, and September 1, volunteers from the Ithaca Rotary Club will meet at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market to gather donated produce and other fresh foods to supplement selected families’ meals.

Fundraiser features 20+ stage acts at State Theatre

The Rotary Club of Ithaca and the Savage Club are pleased to announce their collaboration on a fall fundraising event. The third annual “Little Apple” Fall Follies (LAFF) will be held at the State Theatre of Ithaca on Friday, September 28 at 7:30 pm. The two-hour performance features more than 20 stage acts, ranging from local singing groups and instrumental numbers to rock and jazz bands. Tickets are $12 and are available now at the State Theatre box office (27-STATE), Ticket Center Ithaca (273-4497), Ithaca Wegmans, and online at IthacaEvents.com. All proceeds benefit the Rotary and Savage Club community grant programs.


BUY TICKETS ONLINE

Pride of Workmanship nominations due September 14
Nominations are now being accepted for Ithaca Rotary’s 15^th annual Pride of Workmanship Award. The Rotary Club of Ithaca invites Ithaca community members to recognize employees whose outstanding work performance in their organization is “above and beyond the call of duty” and is instrumental in the achievement of the organization’s performance goals.

“My participation in Rotary has provided me with opportunities to be a part of work that is beyond my normal circle of activity,” said Brown. “The Ithaca Rotary Club, along with all the Rotary Clubs in the area, makes real and often unseen contributions to life in Tompkins County. I am grateful and happy to have this chance to help keep the wheels turning and Rotary moving forward.

Ithaca Rotary Club members Bettsie Park and Bill Hawley were recently named Rotarians of Month by Rotary District 7170 Governor Robert Ross in recognition of their joint service as Club Secretary and Treasurer. At the end of June 2012, Secretary Bettsie Park completed seven years of service; while club Treasurer, Bill Hawley completed five years of service. Their successors have been elected and both Bill and Bettsie are in the process of training their replacements.

Ithaca Rotarians joined Cornell students on January 27, 2012 for the latest work on Ithaca Rotary's Books for the World Project. 

Ithaca’s Fourteenth Annual Pride of Ownership Awards program, recognizing owners of properties within the City of Ithaca who have developed projects or taken care of their properties in ways that enhance the physical appearance of city neighborhoods and commercial areas, announces the seven winners of this year’s awards.  The awardees were be honored at a Rotary Luncheon at noon on December 7th, and again that evening at the City of Ithaca Common Council meeting at City Hall at 6pm.

The program is a joint project of the Ithaca Rotary Club and the City of Ithaca. The committee consists of John Barradas, Susan Blumenthal, Brett Bossard, Margaret Hobbie, Frost Travis and chair Scott Whitham.

The Triad Foundation awarded the Ithaca Rotary Club a $1,000 grant to advance the cause of literacy through the Books for The World project.

In the past year more than 11,000 children’s books, elementary and secondary textbooks, and medical textbooks have been collected, packed and shipped by local Rotarians to schools and libraries in South Africa. There, Rotarians unpack, sort and distribute these books for free. The shipping container is then transformed into either a schoolroom or library.

 

Ithaca’s Fourteenth Annual Pride of Ownership Awards program, recognizing owners of properties within the city of Ithaca who have developed projects or taken care of their properties in ways that enhance the physical appearance of city neighborhoods and commercial areas, is seeking nominations for this year’s awards.  The program is a joint project of the Ithaca Rotary Club and the City of Ithaca.

The Rotary Club of Ithaca invites Ithaca community members to recognize an employee whose outstanding work performance in your organization is "above and beyond the call of duty" and is instrumental in the achievement of your own performance goals. Nominations are now being accepted for the Pride of Workmanship Award.

A panel of Ithaca Rotarians will select the award winners. The winners will receive a plaque honoring their selection and, along with their nominators, will be hosted at a special luncheon award ceremony on Wednesday. October 26, 2011.

The Ithaca Rotary Club took the lead in organizing an emergency relief effort aiding flooded communities in the Catskills. With the help of Derek Osborne, President of the newly organized eTompkins Rotary Club, a centralized collection area was set up at the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department. Osborne, who is the undersheriff for Tompkins County, also obtained a trailer for loading supplies donated by area Rotarians as well as non-Rotarians.

With a club membership of 185, the Ithaca Rotary Club has many active, dedicated members. The work of the club is extensive, including signature events like the Share the Warmth clothing drive, Election Day Pancake Breakfast, Highway Clean-up, Rotary Harvest, and the Books for the World book donation program.

It is the privilege of the President of the Club to name the Rotarian of the Year, recognizing a person who has offered exceptional service to club.  With deep appreciation for his dedication to the Ithaca Rotary Club, The Rotarian of the Year for the year 2010-2011 is Ron Provus. 

 

At the Friends of the Library booksale on Sunday, May 22, the club purchased 1384 books, and packed them in 32 cartons in one hour!

Local Ithaca Rotarians Janet Steiner and Edward Kokkelenberg became part of the world-wide effort to eradicate polio when they helped immunize children in India in February 2011. Being part of humanitarian mission was both humbling and inspiring, they reported.

Cornell President David Skorton made his annual address to Ithaca's service organizations at a special event coordinated by Ithaca Rotary. See the full story from the Ithaca Journal here.

Your Ithaca Rotary is now on Facebook.

 

At the December 1, 2010 meeting of the Ithaca Rotary Club, the following officers for 2010-2011 were formally elected by the membership.

Secretary:           Bettsie  Park
Treasurer:           Bill  Hawley
Past President: Joanne  Lamoureux
President:           Nancy  Potter
President-Elect: James  Brown
Vice-President,
and incoming President for the year 2013-2014: Larry Robinson

At the December 1st meeting, Frost Travis presented the awards for the annual City of Ithaca/Rotary Club Pride of Ownership Awards. The program was born as a partnership between the city and the Rotary club in 1997, thanks to Susan Blumenthal, then the chair of the City’s Planning Committee. The awards are for properties within the city limits and honor improvements and projects that can be seen from the street. 

Ithaca Rotarians are sending 1500 children’s books, medical textbooks, dictionaries and other literacy materials to fellow Rotary clubs in Southern Africa. As part of the Books for the World project, the Ithaca Rotary club joined Rotarians around the world who are collecting, shipping and distributing books to impoverished schools and libraries.

An annual tradition continues on November 6th, as Rotary's Share the Warmth campaign kicks off for another year of collecting blankets, coats, and other cold weather accessories for those who need them most.

The Ithaca Rotary Club's 37^th Annual Rotary Pancake Day is November 2nd, 7am to 7pm Election Day.  Held at the Women's Community Building, located on the corner of Cayuga and Seneca Streets in Ithaca, Pancake Day has become an Ithaca tradition where friends and neighbors gather to eat, speculate on election turnouts, and generally have a good time!

The Ithaca Rotary Club received the 2010 Annual Rotary District Club Service award for its efforts to collect, organize and preserve its history. Club President Janet Steiner said that she hoped that the award would stimulate other Rotary Clubs to recognize the importance of maintaining their history and take active steps to ensure that their archives are well-organized and that historical records are collected on an ongoing basis.

After answering the callfor volunteers at a Tompkins County Immunization H1N1 clinic, Joe Casanniti, began to realize the importance of handwashing.

The Rotary Club of Ithaca invites Ithaca community members to recognize an employee whose outstanding work performance in your organization is "above and beyond the call of duty" and is instrumental in the achievement of your own performance goals. Nominations are now being accepted for the Pride of Workmanship Award.

On June 30th, 2010, the Ithaca Rotary Club officially welcomed our new club president, Joanne Lamoureux. The Pass the Gavel program included remarks and presentations from members and past presidents.

ITHACA ROTARY CLUB DONATES LINENS AND DIAPERS TO SAMARITAN CENTER

A recent grant of $1,000 allowed the Ithaca Rotary Club to purchase new blankets, towels and diapers to supplement donated items available to low-income families at the Samaritan Center. The grant was obtained from the Rotary District 7170 Foundation and was matched in part by local club funds.

The Rotary Club of Ithaca announces that applications are now being accepted for "Community Grants", which are intended to promote the quality of life in our community.

We invite your applications in support of organizations in the community that have needs which are not funded by general funding sources, or for special projects.  Historically, grants have been awarded within the range of $200 to $1,000.

The Ithaca Rotary Club continues to support humanitarian relief efforts in hurricane devastated Haiti. Club members contributed $2,000 on February 3 in response to an appeal from Club President Janet.

In a recent on-line survey of Ithaca Rotary Club members, more than 93% of respondents said that they were either somewhat or very satisfied with their participation in club activities and projects. With one exception, the 72 members who answered the survey said that they felt welcomed in our club, and were, for the most part, satisfied with the costs associated with being a Rotarian (dues, lunch costs, voluntary contributions). 

Noticing a distinct trend of women Rotarians wearing wearing black and white jackets, President Janet thought it might be fun if everyone wore them on the same day. Choosing her library retirement date of September 30 as an appropriate day to have some fun, she announced her plan to the club. And what were the men to do? They were invited to compose limericks which started with the lines "There once were some women Rotarians, whose jackets were quite authoritarian."

President Janet Steiner wanted to share her love of books and reading with her fellow Rotarians. At the same time, she realized that the club's budget for scholarships hadn't grown in several years. So she devised a weekly book raffle which raises scholarship funds and also introduces club members to books they may not have been aware of.

Akos Hodossy and Pia Carmona are the latest students from Rotary's Youth Exchange Program to temporarily call Ithaca home.

Some 50 Rotary Club of Ithaca members (more than a quarter of the club!), their families and friends pitched in to make the 2009 Share the Warmth clothing drive the most bountiful ever.

At the October 28th meeting, Sarah Ellsworth honored the four winners of this year's Pride of Workmanship Awards.

At the July 8th meeting, President Janet spoke about her year coming up and the state of the Ithaca Rotary club now, including introducing the current Board of Directors and talking about continuing initiatives.

At the June 24th meeting, Joanne Lamoreaux introduced a program on women in Rotary,noting that this c lub has three women in the current line of succession to be President of this club.  It seemed like a good time to explain the history of women in Rotary and in our club.

Bill Cadwallader - a Cornell Vet School graduate and former District Governor spoke at the June 3 meeting about Rotary's efforts to reduce Child and Maternal mortality.

Peggy Haine visited Ithaca Rotary on April 15 and repeated a presentation she made for Women's History month. She focused on the Women's Movement of the 1970s in Ithaca.

 

She regaled the meeting with tales of the Wild Women of Ithaca. They were community leaders, politicians, entertainers, and business women who made firsts throughout the town and followed the George Bernard Shaw quote, "Life is about creating yourself,"... and they did!

The text of her presentation follows:

Speakers from the Multicultural Resource Center spoke at the March 18th meeting of Ithaca Rotary.  MRC is a community organization in Tompkins County that facilitates discussions and actions related to diversity and equity in our communities.

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Tompkins Cortland Community College President Carl Haynes spoke at the February 25th meeting of the Ithaca Rotary club.

Ithaca College's 8th President, Tom Rochon, spoke at the March 4th meeting of Ithaca Rotary.

Ithaca Rotary is once again offering Community Grants to Tompkins County non-profit organizations. Meant to improve the quality of life of our region, the Community Grants are funded by profits earned from Ithaca Rotary's annual Rose Sale.

Trust Company's Steve Romaine and Greg Hartz Add Local Perspective

Need Wheels?  Hitch Up With Ithaca Car Share.

Check Presented from Center Ithaca Merchants

Dong Kurn Lee asks Rotarians to

'Make Dreams Real' for world's children

Peace is Possible...

Read more!

Meeting Notes of the Communtiy Service Meeting June 4, 2008

Rotary's fast response during the Myanmar, China crisis!

Two informative articles on the situation.

Did you know that on April 19th Paul Harris would have turned 140! Join Rotary in celebrating his life and share this story!

Who has benefitted?

Project Amigo:

Scholarship support for Mayra, 4th grader...

New Grants Policy Passed by Club Board at February Meeting

President Elect Richard Spingarn offered a second intro. to Club Runner and reminded us how to log-in and what we can find at our club's new website. It is easy as ABC...

Here are your first steps:

Of the things we think, say or do...

Rotary is fellowship and fellowship is happy members serving where needed and supporting Rotary's ideals and Four Way test...

"Make Dreams Real"

Dear Rotarians,

On January 31, 2008 at 12:15 pm we are having Bev Small, RN from Boston Children's Hospital speak at the Oneonta Rotary Club 84 Chestnut Street Oneonta.

Of the things we think, say or do...