Events

 Rotarians are needed (in collaboration with the Falconer Rotary Club)  to work with Falconer High School students seeking to improve their performance during real interviews for employment. Please attend the HR training provided by the Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union on Friday, March 21 to learn the latest human resources limitations. If you attended this training in the past, you do not need attend again. We also encourage you to review the attached hand out to view best practices for interviewing in today's business world.  PLEASE REPLY BY 3/19/2025.

This week we are pleased to welcome Heather Kinal, Coordinator of Join CHQ,Chautauqua Connection Collective. Kinal will discuss her interest in creating the Connection Collective and the positive impact that getting involved with social clubs and community organizations has on our health and well-being,

We are pleased to announce that our speaker for Monday, April 14, 2025 will be Patrick Smeraldo, Owner of Collaborative Childrens Solutions (CCS). Smeraldo has brought various community events to life over the past few years, and will discuss his plans for CCS to continue as the lead organizer for major city events.

We are pleased to welcome Zac Hnatyszyn, Vice President of Culture Care Senior Living as our Rotary Club speaker on Monday, April 21, 2025. Culture Care Senior Living is made up locally of Tanglewood Manor, Frewsburg Rest Home, Memory Garden and Comfort .Named Best of the Best in Chautauqua County in 2023 and 2024, Zac will share his vision and plans for quality senior living in Chautauqua County.

<p>Join us to welcome Rotarians Sue and Greg Jones to discuss their work &nbsp;on the ground in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to bring water filters to Mexican residents living in mounteous regions in the area. This project was funded in part by the Rotary Club of Jamestown in 2024 and 2025. Do not miss this opportunity to learn about the impact of this remarkable project.</p>

Don't bowl alone! Come for a fun night of bowling, food and camaraderie with your fellow Rotarians on Monday, May 5 at 5:30pm.  The cost is $9.00 per person at the door to bowl at Jamestown Bowling Company at 850 Foote Avenue. Bring friends and family to bowl, eat, enter to win a 50/50 raffle or grab a beverage and cheer on your Rotary friends.

The event will count toward a make up if you have missed a meeting and would like to improve your attendance for the year. Please register in advance so we have a good head count, but feel free to call me on my cell at 720 581-1433 if you have questions. Hope to see you on the 5th!  Emily

It's that time of year again! Time for Rotary Readers at Bush Elementary School. We need volunteers to read Charlie & The Chocolate Factory to eager elementary school students. Your choice of reading dates begins May 12 through May 30. Please CLICK  One District One Book  to sign up for a date(s) that works for you. Thank you for your Service Above Self. 

Join us to welcome Momina DiBlasio, Manager of the New Neighbors Coalition an immigrant support ministry connected to Journey's End refugee relocation services. Momina will discuss her work in the Jamestown community to settle legal community members who have been forced to leave their native homes due to violence and instabiity.  

We have a great service project coming up the next two weeks! The Rotary Club of Jamestown has a team for Hands on Neighborhoods on May 17. We will be cleaning along North Main Street, from the Welcome to Jamestown sign to Love School as part of our “Extend the Welcome” effort along North Main.

We will be signing people in starting at 9:30 in the parking lot at Love School, 8^th and North Main Streets, with instructions and assignments at 10 am for the Cleanup and then working to plant a raised bed garden at Love School starting at 11.  Please let me know that you plan to participate in our Rotary’s team by registering HERE. 

This is a part of the official Hands on Neighborhoods clean up that is being held throughout Jamestown, so we also need you to sign a waiver and receive the official instructions how to safely participate.  You can either do this in advance by using THIS LINK, or you can fill out a form Saturday morning. Anyone under 18 must have a waiver signed by their parent/guardian.  

The Hands on Neighborhoods is organized by the Chautauqua County Land Bank and they will include a map, and guidelines and instructions; these will keep the effort organized and our volunteers safe. The Parks and Rec Dept. will be making rounds to pick up filled garbage bags; the designated drop-off areas for filled garbage bags is in the terrace, or grassy area between the curb and sidewalk. When your assignment is complete, you will return any borrowed tools back to us or to the registration area at Tracy Plaza where there will also be refreshments.

Safety Measures – CHQ Land Bank endeavors to create a safe and welcoming environment for these events. Disposable masks and gloves will be provided and are encouraged to be used. The T-Shirts are intentionally bright colored to make volunteers visible to drivers, etc. We ask that everyone team up, and that no one enter private yards/properties. We are only cleaning the streets and areas between the street and sidewalk. Or readily identifiable garbage along the lawn edge of the sidewalks. Please do not enter private property.  Any sharp objects (hypodermic needles, knives, broken glass, etc.) should be called in to the registration area; the phone number is printed on your information form, and a designated committee member or police officer will collect those objects. Do not attempt to pick up or dispose of these items. Police Officers will be assigned to the event and will be cruising the neighborhood. If you need anything, feel free to flag one down.

Please let us know in advance if you will be participating, so we can make sure we have enough tools and t-shirts!

We will also be passing out flyers along North Main and prepping the raised garden bed on May 10 from 10-11:30. Please respond directly to this e-mail if you can assist with this.

Yours in Rotary,

Ruth Lundin
Hands on Jamestown Chair 
ruthlundin722@outlook.com
716-763-1239 home
716-397-6778 cell 

Join us to welcome Nick Weith, Food Access Manager & Market Director of the Jamestown Public Market as our speaker. The program provides local farmers with ongoing and increased opportunity to connect with the Jamestown and Chautauqua County community. Nick will discuss how the Market is growing Jamestown’s food system and to help us understand why buying local produce in-season, when we can, how to preserve it, and how to get food access into everyone’s understanding to help the local economy.

Join us to learn about our 2025 Youth Exchange student Heath Bounday from Tasmania, Australia. Heath will discuss his background, expectations and experiences since arriving in Jamestown this past winter. 

Join us to welcome David and Marissa Troxell to discuss an upcoming Jamestown Rotary Club project involving the Macatabo Early Childhood Development Center in the Philippines. The project will be in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Welland in Ontario. Since David joined our Club in 2011, he and Marissa have shephered numerous international projects to increase the impact of our Club around the world. 

Join members of our Rotary Club with Jamestown High School students and administrators to dedicate the Peace Pole gifted to JHS through a grant from RCJCSF. The JHS students have prepared a program that expresses their desire to foster a more peaceful community. Below is the program the students have organized and planned:

1. 1:30pm Opening/Welcome Acknowledgment (2 min)

2. Student Poem/ 2 Speeches (3-4 mins)

3. Rotary Gift Presentation (2 mins) 

4. JHS Student Dedication Speech (1 mins)

5. Moment of Silence / Meditation (1 min)

6. JHS Song of Tribute (3 min)

7. Ribbon Activity (3 min) *Tie a ribbon around pole to be part of the efforts

8.  Call and Response (1 min)

9. Closing of Thanks: (1 min)

10. Group Picture

We are pleased the students have embraced the Peace Pole as their source of  inspiraction and guidance. I hope we can be instrumental in keeping them inspired in the future. If you can attend the cermeony we look forward to your presence.

Yours in Rotary

Marion

Join us on Monday, June 16, 2025 to hear from our speaker Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund. Mayor Ecklund will discuss her perspectives on the benefits of civic engagement.

You are invited to our Annual Rotary President's Dinner to reflect on our past fiscal year, acknowledge extraordinary Rotarians, thank our outgoing President Marion Beckerink for her service and welcome incoming President Michelle Jones and our newly appointed Board of Directors.

Cocktails and appetizers will be served at 5:00 pm, followed by dinner at 5:30pm.

See you there!

The Chadakoin Valley Project—a partnership of residents and local organizations—is committed to honoring and celebrating the legacy of Black residents in Jamestown, NY. One of the key objectives is the creation of a virtual museum that will highlight the presence, accomplishments, and contributions of this often under-recognized community. The materials scanned will directly support and inform this work.

As we continue this important work, we’re seeking volunteers to help scan the many photographs and documents shared by the community. Scanning can be done at your own pace.

 If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Rick, Scanning Lab Manager at the Fenton History Center, at 716-489-6301. He asks that you call at least a day in advance so he can prepare for your visit.

Thank you so much for your time, your interest, and your support. We truly hope you'll consider volunteering with us to help preserve this vital part of Jamestown's history. 

With gratitude,

Patricia Graves

A fun evening of Music and Connections - Free Event - Basket Raffle and 50/50 - Food and Drink available for purchase.