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Neil Robinson - Holland Land Company History

Becky Robbins introduce our speaker today, Neil Robinson. He spoke to us about the history of the Holland Land Company in the early days of Chautauqua County.

Neil grew up in Lakewood and is a graduate of Southwestern Central High School. He graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in history and from Cleveland Marshall College of Law as an attorney.

Practicing in the Robinson Law Office, Neil is Town Attorney for the Towns of Ellery and Harmony. He is the former Town Attorney for Busti (under the Robbins administration). He was the first assistant district attorney for Chautauqua County for 19 years. He is special counsel to the Lime Lake Sewer District, former counsel for the Findley Lake Sewer District and former chair of the South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District.

In addition, Neil served as an adjunct professor at SUNY Fredonia for six years.

He was a founding member and past President of the Bemus Point Historical Society. His wife Judie is a former Mayor of Bemus Point. Neil and Judie lived for many years in the Bemus/Ellery area but moved to Jamestown several years ago and had an influence on Dale and Becky Robbins moving to Jamestown.

The couple attends Holy Apostles Parish in Jamestown. They are the parents of Scott (a local banker), Lindsay (an attorney in Cleveland) and Matthew, a surveyor here in our area.

Neil Robinson was introduced by Becky Robbins, who shared that Neil was a member of Becky’s and Dale’s wedding party.

When the Puritans came to this country, they had a charter from King James to go as far west as one could imagine. In 1664, the charter of New Amsterdam went as far west as who knows?

After the revolution when colonies became states, both New York and Massachusetts claimed ownership of the land – the Hartford Compromise settled the claim. New York would own the land and Massachusetts would receive the money from the sale. Massachusetts sold all the land west of the Genesee River to Phelps and Gorham who then sold it to Robert Morris (the richest man in the country at that time) for $3 million. No title could be given until a survey was completed which depended on the Indians agreeing – which they did not. The Seneca Nation claimed they owned the land. The syndicate told Morris to settle the claim with the Seneca tribe. The Treaty at Big Tree was finally agreed to with the Indians receiving extraordinarily little compensation ($100,000) in comparison to what they lost (3.3 million acres) to the Holland Land Company. The first land sale was in 1801 and then the company moved the office to Batavia when Genesee Country was founded in 1802.

The Holland Land Company was really the first form of government in western New York.

The Holland Land Company hired Joseph Ellicott as Chief Surveyor. He was very accomplished after surveying all the company’s land in northwestern Pennsylvania. His objective was to lay out the 3.3 million acres of land, arrange boundaries for the Indian Reservations and subdivide all the towns into counties measuring six miles square. The towns were further divided in 64 lots (8 miles by 8 miles). Ellicott developed the standard one-foot ruler and required complete field notebooks describing the land, waters, mill seats, valleys, mines, minerals, etc. His final report included types of trees, potential sites of towns and suitability of soil for raising crops. The report also identified different types of wildlife including snakes, bears, wolves, elk, foxes, deer, minks, otters and other animals.

Ellicott’s son became the surveyor for large tracts of wilderness. Every deed for property west of the Genesee begins with reference to the Holland Land Company. For the next 20 years, Ellicott was the resident in charge of land sales. Several subagents were appointed in various areas. In the southern tier it was William Seward (future Secretary of State under Lincoln.)

It took two years for 150 men to complete the survey – by chains and links 66 ft. long. It turned out to be a fully accurate survey. Ellicott got it done and the HLC hired him as their agent for $11,000, to survey the City of Buffalo, and the Black Creek area. He brought in government, built roads and infrastructure There had been only one road in Chautauqua Co. – the Portage Road, built by the French. People were not interested in buying as there was no way to get products in or out. The area was very dense wilderness. Who did they sell the land to? New England settlers took advantage to buy under land contracts for $1 down and so much per year.
Ellicott wanted landowners to have votes to pressure Albany to set up government to build more infrastructure.

Batavia, Buffalo and Mayville were locations for 3 more offices. The recorded deeds were held in Batavia.

Chautauqua County’s first settlers were William Bemus in 1806 who came from Saratoga with his brother-in-law James Prendergast. Bemus landed at what is now the ferry landing in Bemus and built a sawmill on the lake and a huge home on the Westman Road.

William Peacock laid out Mayville and disgruntled settlers set fire to all records. Little did they know that the Holland Land Company had duplicates.

We could have gone on for hours listening to this wonderful history of western New York. If you want more information, check out www.nyheritage.org. Don’t miss a minute of it – it was enthralling.

Thank You Neil Robinson.

Artone - Michael Calimeri & Antonietta Donisi

JUSTIN HANFT INTRODUCED OUR SPEAKERS MICHAEL CALIMERI/PRESIDENT & OWNER OF ARTONE MANUFACTURING AND ANTONIETTA DONISI/HOSPITALITY SALES ASSISTANT.

Michael Calimeri / President & Owner: Michael oversees all aspects of the company and is directly involved in sales.

After a couple of years at a local community college, Mike started his career on the factory floor when the company was much smaller and is familiar with all aspects of the business. He appreciates being involved in the everyday workings of the company and makes sure that he not only monitors the operations but is also a productive contributor. Mike pays attention to all the customers and all their jobs and helps ensure that projects flow through in a timely and efficient manner.

With such strong experience and industry knowledge he is an important contributor to sales and customer development. Mike looks forward to attending trade shows, sales visits, and forming new relationships. Where necessary Mike will attend meeting with potential new customers in order to answer questions and convey Artone’s philosophy that quality and timeliness drive our business.

Mike is proud of the fact that Artone employ's nearly 100 people. He gets great pleasure from knowing that they not only enjoy coming to work, but are able to support their families by so doing. In his own words, “I make every effort to get it right each day because our people care and do a great job. They deserve to work for a company that gets it right”.

Outside of Artone, Mike enjoys cooking, boating, snowmobiling and various home projects.

Antonietta Donisi / Hospitality Sales Assistant: Antonietta is Artone’s Sales Assistant. She assists both the Corporate Sales Team as well as the expanding team of Independent Sales Representatives located across the country. While her responsibilities are vast, her primary focus is building Artone’s relationship with current and future customers.

Antonietta recently moved back to the Jamestown area from New York City where she graduated (December 2016) from the Fashion Institute of Technology of New York City with a Bachelor of Fashion Business Management and an Associate of Fashion Merchandising Management. She previously worked for Global Brands Group as the Product Development Assistant where she managed the development of a seasonal product for big name brands such as Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein. Since her return to Jamestown, she has used her sales and business skills from her studies to optimize sales in Artone’s sales department. While she is only (2) years into the Hospitality market of business, she continues to learn and develop while mastering her sales skill along the way. In her spare time, she loves to travel, indulge in fine wines, and work on various individual projects of home improvement and clothing design.

Mike reintroduced himself to the Club. He was a member in 1998 and found he had to leave the Club due to travel demands on his schedule.

Artone purchased their 250,000 sq. ft. present headquarters from Bush Industries and are utilizing 190,000 sq. ft. for floor space and some of the remainder for office space.

The company manufactures "case goods" such as headboards, night stands, etc. for hotels primarily. They design and produce the case goods along with mill work such as closets and vanities and then they install all of the finished products. Many of their customers prefer that ARTONE DOES IT ALL. The company work with low and high pressure laminates/formicas or veneers. They incorporate solid wood, quartz, lighting and electrical components into the customer's designs. They have great relationships with the design community and utilize all materials and finally take full responsibility from the design to the finished room.

Artone's top sales are in the boutique, one-of-a kind hotels and casinos. The design is made for that specific place and no other. They bring to life the idea or location and build it once and never again.

Their second sales niche is standing room decor brands such as the Wyndham brand which consists of five or six grades of hotels. The hotel comes to Artone with the design and they turn it into reality.

Calimieri noted the company has one dozen sales representatives throughout the country that provide service and guidance to customers.

Artone began manufacturing component parts for office furniture on Institute Street in 1974. They continued producing desks and filing cabinets through most of the 1980s. Companies then began wanting their own products, built to suit their own specific needs and wants. Artone manufactures and installs almost every case good in the MICROTEL Hotel chain. Then the company began divesting into health care nursing homes, etc. In the 1990s, Artone designed and installed the case goods in DSW shoe stores and is in all 600 stores today. These retail fixtures are co-patented with the shoe company.

For many years, Artone dabbled in different ventures and finally five years ago they focused on one niche. They still service DSW and health care customers, but their focus is on the hotel, entertainment and hospitality industry. New units include special lighting features and high tech plugin facilities for electronics. The designs are more sophisticated, even featuring motion detectors that turn lighting on and off. Obviously business is difficult during the Covid 19 Pandemic because people aren't traveling, but the company is managing to continue to produce though not at previous levels.

Thank you to Mike and Antonietta for a fascinating look at a long-time local business.

Be sure to check out their lovely website at www.artonemfg.com.

Dr. Bert Apthorpe - Superintendent - Jamestown Public Schools

President Cheri introduced Dr. Bret Apthorpe, a member of our Club who is presently on leave of absence due to the heaping number of issues on his plate.

Bret attended Mayville High School and worked on the Sea Lion Project for 10 years. After college he taught Social Studies at Southwestern High School and continued his education eventually earning his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Rochester.

Dr. Apthorpe noted that we are at week eight of the governor's charge to deal with the Covid 19 virus in the public schools. The Governor's mandate while the physical schools are closed included:
1) continue to educate students;
2) feed the students;
3) provide childcare.

All of the High School students have been provided with laptops and Junior High Students have been provided with iPads for distance learning. So while the school buildings are closed, education continues.
Apthorpe noted than none of the teachers were taught how to teach from home and are under great pressure and stress managing the students in their classrooms while many have children of their own who need help with their new learning tasks. He gives great credit to the staff of Jamestown Public Schools.

Seventy percent of Jamestown's school children live below the poverty level. They may not have had access to internet, their parents maay be employed in essential positions and are not in the home to help their children and other parents are also working their own jobs from home, so they are stressed with demands on their time as well.

Feeding the children has been a monumental task as well. Breakfast and lunch packs amounting to over 200,000 meals are prepared every week day by essential worker staff members that work extremely hard for some of the lowest remuneration in the school system. The food is dropped off at convenient places throughout the city for daily pickup and the schools also provide a weekend package of food for the children.

Childcare is provided for children between 3 and 11 of essential worker parents at no cost. The school has also arranged for care of newborns and the very young with partnership agencies if necessary.

Apthorpe noted how blessed we are in this community to have leaders of non-profit agencies working together for the common good with no competition between them other than to solve problems and tasks at hand.

The Superintendent of Schools noted that there will be no graduation ceremony at Chautauqua Institution this June. He has requested the senior class members to submit their best practices ideas for a ceremony by June 1st, Then they will meet with Apthorpe to decide what form graduation with take - his only caveat is that it be safe and meaningful. Even though the students are disappointed now, over time, he hopes they will remember the uniqueness of this time period.

As to the question of reopening the schools, he noted that Chautauqua County is grouped with Erie County (Buffalo area), who cannot consider opening until there are 14 straight days of downward numbers of Covid patients.

How do you reopen the schools?

According to CDC recommendations - social distancing of 6 feet is a must! How do you do this with a five year old child who loves to touch, explore and hug their teacher? The tasks are monumental, especially in the cafeteria and in our old schools. If you are to participate in sports or music - how are you going to do it?

PPE Personal protective Equipment would call for 6,000 masks for students and staff. Should they be disposable or reusable - how many children would forget to bring them back each day? Drinking fountains would need to be banned; children need to be hydrated. Think of all the water bottles!

Would we be able to stagger start times?

Questions were asked of Apthorpe regarding costs, budgets, state aid and assessments of returning students to determine where they stand. The Superintendent indicated that plans are being made for additional summer programs to augment LEAP which is a literacy program. LEAP offers 600 students, 2 meals each day, 2 hours with teachers each day and physical and intellectual activities. This has been underwritten by United Way, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and various organization such as our own Rotary Club. The School system is looking toward a K through 8th grade math and literacy camp as well.

Robert Keem - Athenex

Justin Hanft then introduced our speaker Robert Keem, Vice President of Operations for Athenex Pharma Solutions.

Rob earned a B.S. in Chemistry and a Master's in Analytical Chemistry from Buffalo State College, State University of New York. He began his career as a scientist focused on method development aand quality control testing at various biomedical companies. Rob has almost 30 years of management experience in operations, laboratory, and quality control/assurance departments. For at least 15 of those years, he has acquired knowledge from experiences in operational excellence, quality assurance, quality control and validation. Rob has managed departments and cross-functional teams of up to 100 reports (direct and indirect) in pharma, biotech and medical device companies (e.g. Thermofisher, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Lymphomed, and Athenex). Rob is proficient in the execution of compliance to cGMPs (CFR820/210/211), performing and hosting internal and external audits. Rob has been a team manager at Thermofisher Scientific (formerly Life Technologies) for over 10 years and was the Quality Lead for 6 sites which include Grand Island, NY; Bedford, MA; Logan, Utah; Inchinnan, Scotland; Auckland, New Zealand; and Oslo, Norway. His roles over those 10 years included method development and analysis in R&D, QC manager and Director/Sr. Manager of QA/QC. During his time as leader of operations, he was trained to six sigma methodologies including lean manufacturing, green belt, and root cause analysis. At Thermofisher as the Quality Lead, Rob developed supplier managment risk based programs including raw material qualification, vigorous metrics, robust management reviews and developed new capabilities within the organization and shared these best practices across sites and divisions of the company (e.g. stability program, improved test methodologies).

At his current company, Athenex, he has held roles as Vice President of Quality and currently as Vice President at Athenex Pharma Solutions (a division of Athenex). In his role as VP of Operations, he is leading the operational development of a topical proprietary ointment, the first drug that was initiated and to be commercialized in WNY in decades.

Construction of the Athenex Biotech plant began in the second quarter of 2017 and production is expected to begin in the late spring of 2020.

Athenex's new oncology manufacturing facility will occupy 400,000ft² area. In partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute, the high pharmacy oncology manufacturing facility in Dunkirk, New York, will manufacture sterile high-potency oncology drugs.

The plant will manufacture sterile, high-potency oncology drugs in a specialised and controlled, super-clean environment. Athenex is a speciality oncology drug manufacturing company based in the US, mainly engaged in the development and production of next-generation therapies for cancer diseases. Oncology pharmaceutical products, which are often listed in the FDA’s drug shortage list, will be manufactured for sales worldwide. Athenex is currently working on an oral breast cancer medication to replace the intravenous infusion presently in use.

As mentioned previously, they are also working on a small packet ointment to be utilized for actinic keratosis, a precursor to skin cancer.

Athenex is committed to produce innovative oncology drugs that deliver a life-changing impact on cancer patients. It is currently involved in the development of ten innovative and proprietary products.

The products are fascinating and so this editor does not misquote or misrepresent anything, she suggests that you Google Athenex so that you can read for about the products they are involved in developing and producing.

The new facility is expected to generate 900 jobs in areas such as high-tech manufacturing, product formulation, regulatory and pharmacovigilance. The oncology drug manufacturing facility is the first of its kind to be built in North America in the last 15 years.

Athenex will invest $1.52bn in the project, of which $200m will be invested by the New York state government, through the SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

The state government will contribute to the project as part of the Buffalo Billion Investment Development Plan, to support the regional economic development and create jobs in the western New York region.

The company’s headquarters in North America has a formulation product development center and a pilot plant, which mainly deals with the refinement of oncology drugs before the technology is further transferred to the new manufacturing facility in Dunkirk for large-scale production.

Rob indicated there will be MANY well-paying jobs available in many different categories - another reason for you to investigate their website. I only wish each of you who were not present could have heard and seen this presentation that really encouraged everyone in attendance as to the great future in store for Athenex, Dunkirk and the residents of this county. Rob is working hard with local schools, colleges and work force management firms to find and interest people to apply for these significant jobs.

Thank you to Rob Keem and all involved in Athenex for locating in Chautauqua County.

Click here to view a drone video of the Athenex facility.

Cecil Miller - Update from UPMC Chautauqua

Megan Barone, Director of Development at UPMC Chautauqua introduced our speaker, Cecil Miller, CEO of UPMC Chautauqua.Cecil and his wife Lisa have 3 children and he has worked for UPMC for the past 20+ years.

Cecil started by assuring the membership that the hospital was well-prepared for the worst case scenario of difficulties of the COVID 19 virus. Luckily, that has not occured here in our community. To date, the hospital has seen 28 + cases, with 3 deaths and a 2% positivity test rate.

Mr. Miller is pleased that UPMC is well prepared with Personal Protection Equipment having a plentiful supply of masks and gowns.They do have a supply of rapid tests that return results in 45-60 minutes. This is especially helpful when someone presents themselves with full blown symptoms and the hospital can quickly move the patient into a negative pressure environment and take much more extensive precautions.

The hospital moved quickly at the start of the pandemic and closed the facility to visitors. People entering the hospital are required to have their temperature taken and to wear a facial mask.

Hospital finances have been deeply affected as 80% of all surgeries have been postponed. It has been important for the hospital to be able to perform rapid testing for the virus on patients who may need emergency surgery.

Sue Jones complimented Mr. Miller on the way the hospital has continued to manage patients for blood tests and other testing, making sure only one person at a time is in the phlebotomy room, etc.

Cecil said physician recruitment is continuing and he is anticipating that a medical oncologist is scheduled to arrive in the spring along with two orthopedic surgeons. He attributes that to the association of the hospital with a major medical center UPMC.

The CEO was questioned about people being discouraged from going to the ER with symptoms of COVID 19. Mr. Miller responded how important it is to keep anyone with active symptoms away from the hospital until or unless aggressive intervention is necessary.

Miller said he is pleased that they have been able to provide the proper equipment and protection to the staff who are working so hard to keep everything under control.

He also thanked everyone for their expressions of thanks and kindness during this stressful time.

Nicholas Beach - Exchange Student to Slovakia

Nick has been back from his Exchange year in Slovakia for over one year. Obviously we have had difficulties meshing our schedules for a speaking engagement. He is just completing his Freshman year at Houghton College, where he spent the last semester in London and had to return early because of the Corona Virus.

Nick had three host experiences and seemed to enjoy each one thoroughly for different reasons.

His first family consisted of father Peter, mother Andrea, older brother Bernard, grandmothers who helped him learn the language and a brother Gregoire, who returned early from his Exchange in India due to illness.

Peter was a farmer of sorts and Andrea was involved in financial investments, while Bernard was an entrepreneur.

The family hiked, played hockey,biked and skied (Nick learned to ski there, but not in America). One of his most memorable experiences there was when Peter butchered a pig and made sausage, giving him a perspective on a more traditional lifestyle.

Nick's school (called Decupertina gymnasium) consisted of classes of 7 to 8 students in each grade who had been studying together for six or 7 years and were now at the end of their primary education before going to university. The classmates were very close and participated in rafting, skiing and even visited a nuclear power plant.

Nick fondly remembers partaking of the spas on Piestany's Spa Island that offered a true traditional though medical spa vacation of mud baths provided by physical therapists. He especially enjoyed walking and riding through the beautiful gardens on the island.

Nick's second family consisted of father Eric and mother Tanya and daughter Sonya who was an exchange student to Mexico. Again the family enjoyed hiking and many other outdoor activities such as mountain biking and swimming and skiing over Christmas. He even got to be a gaming texter playing mobile computer games all day for a programming group in the Czech Republic.

Nick's third family consisted of Milos and Fekete who were members of Rotary. They were his last family and provided the opportunity for some unique travel experiences such as St.Catherine's Cathedral, begun in 1488 and a castle that housed the Shroud of Turin.

Other adventures included visiting Croatia and staying with former exchange student Petra's family in Sagreb where Petra's mother was particularly helpful in touring him around the area.

Then Nick departed on his European tour with other exchange students all meeting in Bratislava and headed for Paris, where they saw the Notre Dame Cathedral 2 weeks after the massive fire. They toured the Louvre and Palace of Versaille and then headed to Barcelona where they toured Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia. Then on to Rome and all that it offers to the eye including the Colosseum, then Pompeii and Naples.

Nick was happy to make lots of close friendships and is so grateful to Rotary for the many experiences that have left permanent marks on his personality.

He feels he grew a great deal on his exchange and was operating much more independently by its end. He is not fluent in the difficult language but certainly functional.

This past year he has studied philosophy and theology at Houghton and his first class helped him understand his emotional experiences of his exchange much better. Nick will begin studying physical therapy in his sophomore year.

Vince Horrigan was in Slovakia 25 years ago and commented on how backward and stark it seemed and asked Nick about life there today. Nick responded that the country seems to be doing quite well. They are a large manufacturer of industrial materials; they have revamped their economy; and there is much foreign investment in bratislava.

Randy Sweeney asked what they thought of America and Nick said "the usual', they are not terribly negative, but more economically focused.

Nick commented that he wished he had been better prepared for the emotional confusion and displacement anxieties he experienced early on in his exchange. Cheri responded that the Exchange Program is working hard on developing preparatory classes to help the students deal with separation anxiety, etc. on their first trips away from their families for such an extended time. Unfortunately, next year's out-bound exchange may be cancelled and this year's students USA trip has been cancelled due to the COVID virus.

Bill Andrews - Monofrax CEO

Justin "Noggin" Hanft introduced today's speaker, CEO of The Monofrax Plant in Jamestown.

Bill lives in Marilla, NY with his wife of 33 years, Dixie. They have two children, Derek and Dixie.

Bill has an AAS degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Erie County Community College and a BS degree from St. Bonaventure University.

He has spent his whole career in manufacturing, primarily in turnarounds of areas, divisions and entire companies/sites.

Bill was hired in June 2016 when the new owners, Calista Private Equity, took over Monofrax with an aging infrastructure, just coming off of a 26 week strike. The company had no orders, no budget, no plans and was earmarked for closure.

Established in 1948 by the Carborundum Company to manufacture fused-cast refractories used for glass melting, steel reheating, electrolytic reduction cells fo resmelting light metals, coal gasification, nuclear waste vitrification and black liquor gasification.

It is a four furnace operation with 300,000 square feet, that employs 145 employees.

Establishing itself as a manufacturer of a diverse range of high quality products, Monofrax also entered into a joint-venture and technical licensing of its know-how with other producers of fused-cast refractories in Japan, France and India in the 1960s and 70s.

Since the 1990s, Monofrax has supplied its product to the glass industry worldwide. The company has never been owned by a glass company, making it one of the only fused-cast refractory suppliers that is truly independent of its customer base.

Ownership of the company has changed hands several times, and today things appear to have turned around. The company is expanding globally and is doing well in the export market. It has a new four year labor contract and has aligned itself with Alfred University and other educational facilities to help assure a well trained future work force.

Amy Rohler and Mike Moots and Randy Sweeney all spoke highly of Bill's involvement in the community where he engages people and puts his values and beliefs into practice. He and his employees are active in the community including the United Way, Junior Achievement to name just a few.

Thank you Bill for a wonderful look at the encouraging successful turn-around of a well-known company in our community.

Crisis Response Fund - COVID-19

Tory began by explaining how the Crisis Response Fund was established. A couple weeks ago, Tory and Amy were all on a call with Western New York Funders talking about emergency funding for WNY. Both understood that an Emergency Response Fund was sorely needed specifically for this region too.

The United Ways and Community Foundations of Chautauqua County are working with direct service organizations and government agencies to identify critical needs and resource gaps and the best approach to disseminate emergency funds with the appropriate sense of urgency.

The goal of this initiative is to ensure these funds are flexible enough to be used effectively, while achieving the highest degree of impact, transparency and accountability. Awards will complement the work of government and expand local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently as possible.

Over $835,000 has been raised to date for the Chautauqua County COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund. An amazing number! 13 different local funders contributed seed money of over $700K. Many of these Foundations convened all of their trustees in emergency fashion to help seed the initial amount.

Funders are:

Carnahan-Jackson Foundation
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
Cummins Foundation
Holmberg Foundation
Lenna Foundation
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation
Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr Foundation
United Way of Northern Chautauqua County
United Way of Southern Chautauqua County

The grants are only available to 501c3 organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 or other charitable organizations able to receive a tax-deductible contribution (schools, faith-based organizations and other public entities).

There is a small group of people from the community who are reviewing the applications as they come in. Our very own Vince Horrigan chairs this sub-committee and Kathy Burch is a member of the sub-committee. We have many Rotarians who are involved in this process which is wonderful. Thank you to all Rotarians who have helped in this effort.

Amy shared that there is a level of unprecedented collaboration between funders and local organizations. It’s been amazing! The interesting idea about this fund is you can also become a fundraiser as well. As a family or business, you can become a fundraising team raising money for the Chautauqua County COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund.

There will no more than a seven day turnaround to get funds after an application has been submitted. This truly is a well thought out process to get the funds to the right places at the right time.

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the United Way have been working together in quite unprecedented ways. Applications that have been submitted so far are organizations that are feeling the financial hardships immediately.

This whole initiative is really connecting people. The fund will use local dollars to compliment FEMA funding and the CARES Act funding. The Chautauqua County COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund money will be used to act as a bridge to further funding that will be available from other sources.

For more information about the Chautauqua County COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund, please visit, https://www.uwayscc.org/chautauqua-county-covid-19-response.

Our Community coming together in trying times is a wonderful thing. Thank you Amy and Tory for your leadership!