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Pay Dues, Fines or Happy Bucks!
Bulletin Editor
Jason Sample
(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)
Speakers
Jun 23, 2025
Joni Blackman, Executive Director
Fenton History Center
Jun 30, 2025
Annual Recognition Dinner
No Noon Meeting
Jun 30, 2025 5:00 PM
No Noon Meeting
Annual Recognition Dinner
View entire list
 
 
Make Up Opportunities 
 
AM CLUB — Meets at 7:30 am on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month on Zoom or in person at Northwest Arena
 
FALCONER — Meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 AM at the Falconer Fire Department Exempt Hall located at 1 Coleson Drive Falconer NY, 14733.
 
WESTFIELD / MAYVILLE — Currently meeting on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 5pm via ZOOM. Contact Janese Berkhouse at 716-397-8801 for Zoom details.
 
FREDONIA/DUNKIRK —
Meet Thursdays at 12:00 PM - Zoom Teleconference Meetings - Effective until further notice - Fredonia, NY 14063
 
 
 
Committee meetings or social events can also be used as make-ups.
 
 
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Rotarily Yours – June 16, 2025
 
President Marion Beckerink opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Star-Spangled Banner, led by Caítlín O'Reilly. 
 
Wally Wollenzien then gave this week’s invocation, which included the recitation of a poem called "Me and Jim" as part of his call to remember and honor the service men and women who've laid down their lives.  

President-elect Michelle Jones then recognized the visiting guests: Misti Allen (District Executive of Scouting America and guest of Becky Robbins), Joe Calimeri (assistant to Jamestown Mayor Kimberly Ecklund, guest speaker), Michael Dobbins, and Joan Schill (sister and guest of Vince Horrigan).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Michelle Jones - on behalf of Emily Cama - also reminded members about the President's Dinner, happening June 30 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron. Cocktails at 5 p.m., and the dinner will start at 5:30 p.m.

Marion Beckerink - on behalf of Cheri Krull - also reminded members the club is still seeking host families for incoming youth students, especially the need for one in the Southwestern School District.

Max Eimiller announced that the signups for the annual Golf Tournament is filling up fast, but there is room for three to four more teams. He also noted that the tournament is still in need of donations and sponsors. The golf tournament is Monday, July 14 at Moonbrook Country Club, with a shotgun start at 11:30. It is the club's biggest fundraiser of the year.

Sue Jones provided a recap of the recent Peace Pole Ceremony, which took place Friday, June 13 with students from Jamestown High School. She said the theme was "Justice for All," with students from Mrs. Betsy Rowe-Baehr's class participating by reciting an original poem, and read statements they had each written, focusing on peace, justice, and equality for all.
 
 


Sue also provided an update on former Rotarian Courtney Curatolo, who is returning to Florida and has received an offer to work for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. She welcomes us to visit any time.

Caítlín O'Reilly announced that Michael Dobbins is up for new membership. She indicated the membership committee is recommending he join the club, and if any member has any objections or concerns, they should contact her prior to next Monday's meeting. He will be inducted at the President’s Dinner. She also indicated that the WCA Foundation is now an organizational member, with Emily Cama being the primary representative, while both Kristin Melville and Megan Barone are alternates.


Joni Blackman reminded members that the club is still short of its $8,000 goal for the Foundation, with just a couple weeks remaining until the end of the fiscal year. As of Monday, the club has raised a total of $6,222. Joni asks that anyone who has not made a donation for their birthday to please do so quickly in the coming weeks.
 
Marion Beckerink also reminded members that the six-month dues for the new fiscal year should be paid soon, if they have not already been paid. The initial dues fee is $100, with the final installment yet to be determined by Rotary International. 

And Marion noted club resignations - which included Mike Moots, Stacey Rasmussen, Rita Freeborough, and Stacey Hannon - who was on hand and thanked members for supporting her during her illness. Marion noted that Stacey Hannon was also welcome to come to any future lunch meetings as a guest of the club.

50/50


Kathy Burch sold the winning 50/50 ticket to Rhonda Johnson. Her ticket was pulled by guest Speaker Mayor Ecklund. She won $38 and gave it back to the club.

FINES/HAPPY BUCKS


Sergeant-at-arms Doug Conroe fined Deb Kathman after her granddaughter was listed as one of the top academic graduates at Jamestown High School. He also collected fines from David Troxell and Sally Martinez. Doug also asked a trivia question: Who was US President when the first Father’s Day was celebrated? Max Eimiller was correct with the answer, Richard Nixon.

For Happy Bucks announcements, Jason Sample was grateful for a successful Give Big CHQ fundraiser, with dozens of local organizations benefitting from the nearly $400,000 that was raised (final total was $375,088). Jason also reminded members of CHQ Trails Day, happening at various locations across the county on Saturday, June 21.

Wally Wollenzien announced that one of his 22 grandchildren was going to get married in Hawaii, and he will be happy to attend.

Becky Robbins announced that the BPU would again be holding its annual hot dog fundraiser sale on Friday, June 20, with proceeds to benefit St. Susan's Soup Kitchen.

Randy Sweeney expressed his appreciation for the city of Jamestown Grounds Crew at Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. Park - who help to main the field for the Jamestown Tarp Skunks, noting that it is regarded as the top field in the Tarp Skunk's entire division.

Max Eimiller announced Tom Tantillo and Nick Bell were the winners of the annual Italian - American Charity Golf tournament. He noted that Tom's son was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, so it was a very special Father’s Day weekend for the family.

Michael Dobbins announced that the city's annual Juneteenth celebration is happening this weekend and encouraged members to attend.

Vince Horrigan acknowledged his sister, Joan, in attendance. He also noted that it was her late husband, Lloyd Schill, who gave him the idea of establishing a local rotary club foundation, based on the foundation that was formed by Lloyd's rotary club in Northeast Ohio.

Michelle Jones announced she had a great time at the Zonta Club's Roper Romp event this past weekend. She also apologized for not making it to the Peace Pole event last Friday.

And Ruth Lundin announced she had a wonderful time at Southern Tier Brewing Company for the Father's Day festivities that took place, which included her son-in-law performing and a family reunion with several family members coming in from out of town.

Heath enjoyed seeing the Tarp Skunks with Marissa and David Troxell. And it looks like he enjoys hot dogs too!
Stories
Jamestown Mayor Kimberly Ecklund
Becky Robbins introduced the week's guest speaker, Jamestown Mayor Kimberly Ecklund. Mayor Ecklund is a lifelong resident of Jamestown and brings decades of experience and dedication to her role as the city’s chief executive. A graduate of Jamestown Public Schools, she earned her associate degree from Jamestown Community College in 1987 and a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Fredonia in 1989. Mayor Ecklund served as a City Council Member At-Large from 2004 to 2023. During her time on the Council, she was a member of the Finance Committee; the Jamestown Local Development Corporation (JLDC); the Parks, Recreation & Conservation Commission; and the Riverfront Management Council. She also contributed to the Mayor’s Task Force on Efficiency and Cost Reduction and participated in numerous ad-hoc committees. In addition, she led the City’s Neighborhood Watch Coalition and served on the board of the Jamestown Boys & Girls Club.

Beyond elected service, Mayor Ecklund currently serves as President and Public Relations Director of the Jamestown Babe Ruth World Series Board of Directors. She is a planning member of the Annual Buddy Walk, which promotes awareness and inclusion for individuals with Down syndrome. She is a proud supporter of veterans and actively backs initiatives that uplift and honor their service. Kim is a member of Holy Apostles Parish and lives in Jamestown with her husband, Keith.

Mayor Ecklund started by explaining why and how she got involved with politics. She said her father encouraged her to be involved in her community, so she started by getting involved with Neighborhood Watch. She also was involved with working with Sue Jones at the Board of Public Utilities to get residents more involved with the city's recycling program. Other community efforts included the Boys & Girls Club Board, as well as the Babe Ruth World Series. She indicated that her first involvement with BRWS was as a princess, which today is known as a diamond girl. She also noted that this year is the 20th installment of the BRWS in Jamestown and for the first time, an international team from Australia will be coming to Jamestown to participate.

Ecklund said she decided to run for Mayor in 2023, after being encouraged to run by her husband. She said she ran because she wanted to advocate for the community. She said she didn't want to make any promises during the campaign, other than pledging to do her best and to help get the city's financial house in order. She said it was ultimately about giving back to her community, and being mayor was the best way to do it.

Since being sworn in as mayor in January 2024, Ecklund said she wanted to know about all businesses in the city and made an effort to visit and tour as many as possible. She said she has not yet been able to visit all 690 businesses but added that she's been to 90% of them during the past year-and-a-half. She also wants to focus on workforce investment, helping to prepare and train the workers of tomorrow today, many of which attend Jamestown Public Schools. She said that is why she was a long-time mentor at Chautauqua Striders, and why she supports the activities of Collaborative Children's Solutions.

Mayor Ecklund fielded several questions on a variety of topics, including homelessness, Chadakoin River development efforts, the Cherry Street Parking Garage, the rise in property value in the city, problems and challenges involving too many deer in the city, and the challenges that come with housing demolitions, noting that the cost has more than tripled, going from $8,000-10,000 just a few years ago, to an average of $30,000 per structure today.
 
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