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Pictured L-R: Katie Geise, Brooke Almquist and Cheri Krull

After self-teaching herself Japanese, JHS student Brooke Almquist was well on her way towards her dream of visiting Japan. A dream that was fulfilled through the Rotary Youth Exchange program, to which Brooke was extremely grateful for.

Brooke spoke to our club this day, after being introduced by Youth Exchange leader Cheri Krull.

Going through a series of amazing pictures, Brooke led everyone on a journey through her time in Japan. One of them showed Kanazawa Castle, a large, partially-restored castle in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Brooke said that Kanazawa was a very quirky city. One of those quirks was having very narrow streets, which led to an adventure as she traveled with her host mom.

Kanazawa also produces 99% of Japan's high-quality gold leaf. One of the pictures Brooke showed was of ice cream actually covered in gold leaf that she and a friend bought. Amazing!

Some other things Brooke mentioned was that the Japanese people don't like to grow-up fast like Americans do. They embrace their childhood more. Case in point was that her bedroom was decorated with colorful cartoon characters which she showed a picture of.

Brooke was able to visit many wonderful locations during her time in Japan. She also attended school, which began with her having to speak in front of her classmates on her very first day. While some aspects of school in Japan were more stringent than in the U.S., Brooke did say some things at JHS were more stringent than in Japan.

She also visited several other Rotary clubs in her area in Japan, but said that they were mainly made up of businessmen that wore fancy suits.

In conclusion, Brooke thanked us and Rotary for the opportunity to go to Japan. Cheri also noted that she was very proud of Brooke for going as Brooke was very shy when she first met her, and that she took a big step going out into such a busy part of the world.

2018 Rotary Christmas Party

Jamestown High School A’Cappella Choir

Posted by Sue Jones on Dec 03, 2018

President Katie welcomed the many members, vising Rotarians and guests and introduced Norman Lydell, Conductor of the Jamestown High School A’Cappella Choir who is performing their 94^th concert series.

Mr. Lydell introduced the choir’s accompanist Brian Bogey, who preceded Mr. Lydell as its director. The choir will perform its annual Vespers concert at First Lutheran Church on December 9 and 16 at 4PM.

A’Cappella was started in 1924 by Miss Ebba Goranson and their Vespers performances have become a precious local holiday tradition. Additionally, The Rotary Club of Jamestown purchased the hand held electric candles the A’Cappella choir carried in 1959!

The choir performed Kyrie Eleison – normally a processional, but today, for the sake of time was performed with the choir standing in place on the risers. Other numbers performed included: Carol Noel, All is Well, Winter’s Night, Jesu Bambino, Little Innocent Lamb and several others. The concert ended with the traditional recessional to Silent Night.

A wonderful way to welcome in the Christmas holiday.

The 94^th A’Cappella Choir

A great Christmas luncheon crowd

Brian Bogey, former choir director and present accompanist and Norm Lydell, A’Cappella choir director

President Katie presents a check to A’Cappella Director Norm Lydell

Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History - Twan Leenders

Posted by Chris Anderson on Nov 26, 2018

Pictured (L to R) - President Katie Geise, Twan Leenders (RTPI), and Joni Blackman (RTPI and Rotary!)

Our very own Joni Blackman announced our speaker for today, Mr. Twan Leenders, President, Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Joni is also the Chief Operations Officer for RTPI.

Twan is a biologist from The Netherlands interested in animal ecology and conservation management. For more than twenty years his work with birds, mammals, plants and especially tropical amphibians and reptiles has taken him to various places on the planet, including Costa Rica and Panama.

As a former researcher at Yale University’s Peabody Museum and other institutions he participated in many international expeditions that helped gather data to better understand and protect biologically important areas and their unique species and habitats.

As President of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, he now applies his experience to our region and develops new conservation research and education initiatives that aim to spark increased interest in the area’s exceptional natural assets while providing economic incentives to promote good environmental stewardship.

Twan explained the life and contributions of Roger Tory Peterson. Roger was born and raised in Jamestown and is the inventor of the modern day field guide and word-renowned naturalist. Roger Tory Peterson brought the study of nature and natural history to the people. People were able to learn about nature in their own backyard.

Roger’s impact is worldwide. He was a very modest man as well. Born, raised and inspired in Jamestown, Roger’s whole career was inspired by resources in Jamestown which allowed him to become the influential naturalist we all know. This is a significant contribution to the natural world from a person who is a native son to our area.

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute exists to honor Roger Tory Peterson and his legacy by focusing on art and education and conservation. RTPI is the official steward of Roger Tory Peterson’s legacy. RTPI exists to preserve Roger’s legacy and continue the important work that he started.

As the steward of Roger Tory Peterson's legacy, RTPI connects people with nature through Art, Education and Conservation.

Twan also explained how Jamestown is full of threatened bird species such as the Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swifts and Purple Martins. They are some of the fastest declining birds in the country and the planet. All three live in Jamestown.

To learn more about the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, please visit their web site at www.rtpi.org.

Gateway Lofts Project

Posted by Chris Anderson on Nov 19, 2018

Pictured (l to r): President Katie Geise, Jacqueline Chiarot Phelps, and Matt Mazgaj

Amy Rohler announced our two guests today to explain to new Gateway Lofts Project in Jamestown.

Matt Mazgaj – attorney at Phillips Lytle. Representing Community Helping Hands for the Gateway Lofts project. One of Matt’s important jobs is working to get proper permits secured from the city to make this project a reality.

Jacqueline Chiarot Phelps – Executive Director at the Jamestown YWCA and former representative for Congressman Tom Reed. Jacqueline’s roll in the project deals with transitional housing for women and children.

Matt explained that there is a housing problem in Chautauqua County. The problem includes financial and social costs and an uptick in needed services is being seen in the community.

The Gateway Lofts project is a multi-family housing complex, providing residents on-site services and support by community service organizations and non-profits, located at 31 Water Street (former Chautauqua Hardware Building), Jamestown NY. The project will utilize the 100,000+ square footage of undeveloped space at the Gateway Center.

The focus of Gateway Lofts is on the people it will assist. It is in close proximity to wrap around services like Mental Health Association, Community Helping Hands, St. Susan's, etc. The proximity of these agencies to the Gateway Lofts provide the best possible foundation to reduce poverty, address homelessness, overcome mental health and substance abuse barriers for individuals and families.

The Gateway Lofts will be a 4 floor project.

4th Floor – Non-violent offender rehabilitation program for Chautauqua County residents (25 units) – Men and Women – STEL operates and provides programming. 24/7 staffing.

3rd Floor – Permanent, supportive housing for homeless single parents and children (16 units) – YWCA of Jamestown provides the programming. 24/7 staffing.

2nd Floor – Affordable housing for the income-eligible (38 units), mostly 2 and 3 bedrooms.

1st Floor – Upgrade and rehab to non-profit space, including upgrades to parking lot, roof, flooring, HVAC, lighting, playground space for residents, and green space along the river.

The Gateway Lofts project will empower single families with children to transition out of generational poverty. The project will also provide services to people who need a hand up!

Benefits of the Gateway Lofts Project:

Meets a need for housing
Cost-effective
Neighborhood revitalization
Access to wrap-around care

Benefits to city of Jamestown:

Investment of nearly $31M into the City
Not an expense of the City or County
City will be paid property taxes
Remediate a brownfield
Extend the Riverwalk
First responder savings

The $31 million dollar price tag will be almost fully funded with various tax credits, community investment funds, supportive housing programs and Senator Cathy Young.

National Comedy Center

Posted by Sue Jones on Nov 09, 2018

The Rotary Club of Jamestown held a very special meeting Monday evening at the National Comedy Center amid flashing lights and laughter, to tour the completed Center and share with their members the special area “Comedy as a Tool for Social Progress” named by the Club with their recent $20,000 donation. Coincidentally, it was one year ago that the Club announced their naming donation to the Center!

The evening was highlighted by the surprise presentation of Community Paul Harris Fellow Awards to Tom Benson, Chairman of the Board of the National Comedy Center and to Journey Gunderson, the Executive Director of the NCC and the Lucy Desi Center.

Past Community Paul Harris Fellows include: Daniel Bratton, George and Jane Campbell, David Carnahan, Stan Lundine, Roger Tory Peterson, Gary Lynn, and Dennis Webster to name a few.

Greg Jones, Foundation Chairman of the local club announced the recipient of the 255th Paul Harris Fellow in the usual secretive manner by telling the group the recipient is a lifelong resident of Jamestown and a graduate of Jamestown High School. To help fund college costs at Jamestown Community College, this person got up in the middle of the night to start work at 4AM loading UPS trucks in Falconer before attending class.

In 2002, this person joined many area residents in shaving their heads to raise funds in support of Tom Buttafaro’s Youth Basketball Program at the YMCA. At that point, Jones revealed the recipient to be Tom Benson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Comedy Center.

It is for his dedication, work and leadership in bringing the Comedy Center to life in Jamestown, NY, that the Club honored Benson with his Paul Harris Fellow.

Tom Benson is a 1975 graduate of Jamestown Community College and received its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1992. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 1977and became a Certified Public Accountant in New York State in 1979, a Certified Forensic Financial Analyst (CFFA) in 2005, a Certified Valuation Analyst (CFA) in 2006 and a Certified Merger and Acquisition Professional (CMAP) in 2009.

Tom has seventeen years of extensive and varied public accounting experience including twelve as a partner with Buffamante, Whipple, Buttafaro, PC from 1982 through 1994. He founded the Vineyard Group, LLC in 2004, after gaining ten years of valuable hands-on experience in key operating positions with manufacturing firms both domestic and international. However, his favorite job of all time was being coach of the Little Hoopers at the YMCA.

Tom’s single greatest achievement remains persuading Sue to say yes to his marriage proposal. They have three wonderful daughters and sons-in-law, two grandsons and twins – a grandson and granddaughter due in January.

The evening’s second surprise Community Service Paul Harris Fellow was awarded to Journey Gunderson, the Executive Director of the NCC and the Lucy Desi Center. Again Foundation Chairman Jones gave hints of the award recipient without naming her. He referred to first meeting the recipient when she was sitting in his exam chair (Jones is a retired optometrist) and he asked her that age old question, “Which is better one or two?” Her immediate answer was correct, “neither - they are both the same”. Based on that rapid, correct answer he knew this young lady would end up doing something special in life. Interestingly when asked by her parents, Bob and Wendy, what she wanted to be when she grew up her answer was “either a doctor or a cat”. Fortunately for the Jamestown community she became neither a doctor nor a cat, but rather became the Executive Director of the Lucy Desi Center for Comedy, and the National Comedy Center.

Ms. Gunderson, who is a graduate of Bemus Point Central School, continued her education at Ithaca College where she obtained her degree in communications and sports media, magna cum laude. At Ithaca College she was on the volleyball team, named a NCAA tournament participant student athlete and was on the Ithaca athletic advisory council. Somewhere along this path she also placed second in the regional surfing contest of Montauk Long Island. Over a five year plus time frame, Journey held several management positions at the Women’s Sports Foundation before returning home. Journey is married to Jason Michael Toczydlowski and they are the proud parents of two boys Oscar and August.

To become a reality and a success the National Comedy Center needed its Tom Benson but it equally needed its Journey Gunderson. Journey is the face of the NCC and the Lucy Desi Center, and is equally comfortable meeting with big name entertainers such as Dan Aykroyd and gaining his support for the Center well as meeting with comics and their agents enticing them to come to Jamestown and perform at our annual celebration of comedy.

The Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award represents a $1,000 contribution in each of the recipient’s names to the Rotary Foundation to assist Rotarians all over the world carry out their goals in their six areas of service. When a person is recognized, they are presented a Certificate signed by the Rotary International President and the Chairman of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation, a lapel pin and a medallion.

There are over 1,300,000 Rotarians worldwide in over 33,000 clubs. The 100 members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding next May. The Club sponsors local community projects as well as international projects and welcomes 2 foreign exchange students to live in the area each year while sponsoring 2 students to travel and study abroad each year.

Rotarians the world over work hard every day to fulfill their foundation’s six avenues of service which are:

The foundations six areas of service are:

•             Peace and conflict prevention/resolution.
•             Disease prevention and treatment.
•             Water and sanitation.
•             Maternal and child health.
•             Basic education and literacy.
•             Economic and community development.

Jones spoke to the success of one of those programs specifically.

In 1988, members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown reached into their wallets and pulled out in today’s dollars over $117,000 to support the new Rotary International program to eliminate polio in the world. It was called Polio Plus and at that time it was just Rotary against Polio.

After 30 years of bold action, historic achievements, and sometimes discouraging setbacks, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) have nearly brought polio to an end. The other partners of the GPEI are the World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The results have been monumental. Thirty years ago, the paralyzing disease affected 350,000 children in one year. Because of massive vaccination campaigns around the world, cases have dropped more than 99.9 percent, to only 20 reported so far this year. Polio, which was endemic in 125 countries in 1988, now remains so in just three: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. More than 2.5 billion children have been vaccinated, and more than $14 billion has been invested in the fight to eradicate the disease worldwide. Rotary has also committed to raising an additional $50 million a year over a three-year period for eradication activities. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match up to that amount 2-to-1, which could bring the total as high as $450 million.