Rotary President Michelle Jones called the meeting to order, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and asked President Elect Caitlin O’Reilly to lead us in the Star-Spangled Banner.
The weather was overcast and in the 40s but fall leaf colors continue to brighten our spirits. The Buffalo Bills beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, bringing many happy Rotarians to our meeting.
Misty Allen delivered the invocation.
Caitlin O’Reilly introduced Uma Vejendla as a visitor and welcomed Jan and Heath, our two exchange students.
Joni Blackman announced the November birthday celebrants. Deb Kathman’s birthday was the day of the meeting, and Mike Roberts’ birthday is November 23. As there are only two birthdays in November, both Deb and Mike won the free lunch.
Lisa Goodell announced that the winner of the 50/50 would receive $35. Vince Horrigan won the money.
Sergeant-at-Arms Doug Conroe fined Mike Roberts for appearing in the paper for Toys for Tots. Dan Heitzenrater was recognized for selecting the BPU as the Business Champion of the Year. Winning college football teams were noted, with several alumni paying dollars.
Happy Bucks:
Tory Irgang paid Happy Bucks for past fines. Mike Roberts announced that he got to attend the Ohio State-Penn State game. He said he was celebrating both United Way and Toys for Tots, noting that 5,000 children would be served by the toy program this Christmas. Caitlin announced that exchange student Jan, who earlier in the year suffered an injury, came in first for Southwestern School in the County Cross Country event. Lori Brockelbank announced that her son got married and began a new job with the Federal government. David Troxell reminded us that he and Marissa will speak next week about an international project that our Club helped fund.
Michelle made several announcements:
- Mailings have gone out for the second half of our annual dues.
- Ken Omeruo is kindly chairing the Club Service Committee. Anyone willing to help should contact Ken who was commended for taking on this duty.
- Greg Jones is trying to secure an indoor location for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. About 12-24 people said they would be interested in participating. Anyone interested should contact Greg.
- The Nominating Committee meets at 5 p.m. on Wednesday for a half hour at Moon Brook Country Club.
- Michelle thanked Club Service volunteers today:
- Marion Beckerink, Sign-in
- Lisa Goodell, 50/50
- Chris Anderson, Set Up and Greeter
- Caitlin O’Reilly and Jan Steinmann, Close-Out
- With the recent cut to SNAP funds, it was suggested that people could donate cash to the Salvation Army, the United Way, Feed More New York, St. Susan Center and other local food pantries. Some people brought canned goods that Mike Roberts will take to the Salvation Army for the Club. He mentioned that the Salvation Army could use creamy peanut butter, spaghetti sauce and self-sustainable milk. (Caitlin suggested such milk have pop-top openings) Mike and Tory Irgang all made suggestions about where to give, with an emphasis on donating money instead of food so that the organizations can buy what is needed at Feed More New York. Tory stated that, having met last week with Feed More NY, the organization expects that more soup kitchens and pantries will need additional help right now.
- Jim Smith asked Michelle to ask Andy Goodell to explain the proposition on Tuesday’s ballot. Andy explained that the proposition is to correct a problem that the Committee that ran Lake Placid’s Olympics created when they cleared a cross-country ski trail through that land. The State Constitution states that the Adirondacks are to be “forever wild.” By creating a ski trail, the Committee mistakenly violated the Constitution. The proposition would allow the State to buy 2500 acres to add to the Adirondacks, to replace the 1,039 acres that the cross-country ski trail took. The proposition would legalize what the group did.
Next, Michelle entertained discussions about fundraising. She brought up the idea of Christmas wrapping to earn money, but no one seemed interested. She introduced having a duck race, which is like a raffle using toy ducks. She talked about putting more attention on the successful mini-golf which is good for downtown, and which is fun for the members and people attending. She thought increasing basket raffles for that event would be a good idea and people seemed agreeable.
Diana Meckley mentioned that one of our Literacy Committee members ran into trouble with men harassing her in her car while stopping to stock books at a local laundromat. She said delivering the books can be unsafe and that the Club and the Literacy Committee needs to figure out what to do about it.
Michelle thanked everyone for their contributions of ideas and for the discussion. She closed the meeting a little after 1 p.m.
