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.
Rotarily Yours – June 23, 2025
President Marion Beckerink opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Star-Spangled Banner, led by Caítlín O'Reilly.
Becky Robbins then gave this week’s invocation, which included the recitation of An Irish Prayer, originally provided by Tim Creedon from a Rotary Club in Arizona.
President-elect Michelle Jones then recognized the visiting guests: Misti Allen (District Executive of Scouting America and guest of Becky Robbins) and Michael Dobbins.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Emily Cama reminded members about the President's Dinner, happening June 30 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron. As of Monday, 48 members were registered for the event. As a reminder, Cocktail hour for the event starts at 5 p.m., and the dinner will start at 5:30 p.m.
Cheri Krull gave an update on Jan, the Rotary Exchange Student from Switzerland. Jan's visa status has been on hold due to the current pause on visa interview appointments in Switzerland. There are some countries that were starting to schedule appointments, but Switzerland was not on the list. However, it was recently learned that visa appointments should soon be available again in that country and Jan is confident that he will soon receive an appointment for the interview. If he isn't allowed an interview with the US within 4 weeks, the Rotary Club in Switzerland will reassign him to another country. Cheri will keep us posted on Jan's status. Meanwhile, she also reminded members the club is still seeking host families in the Southwestern School District.
Cheri also gave an update on Heath, our exchange student from Australia, who is still on a trip visiting various stops along the east coast. He is greatly enjoying all his visits.
Michelle Jones, who serves on the Golf fundraising committee, announced that there are still a few signups remaining for the golf fundraiser at Moonbrook Country Club on July 14. She also indicated that additional items for raffle prizes are needed.
Marion Beckerink once again noted club resignations - which included Courtney Curatorlo, Noah Goodling, Stacey Hannon, Randy Kerman, Mike Moots, Stacey Rasmussen, Mary Schiller, and Kirk Young.
50/50
Jody Osgood sold the winning 50/50 ticket to Sue Jones. She won $43 and gave it to the Golf committee to assist with acquiring items for the raffle prizes.
FINES/HAPPY BUCKS
Sergeant-at-arms Doug Conroe fined Jody Osgood for having his picture in the paper and also fined Dan Heitzenrater for the CHQ Chamber being ranked 7th in Buffalo Business First's list of top business advisory groups in Western New York, ranked by number of members. Doug also provided some Independence Day Trivia questions, asking: Which state had both the longest and shortest 4th of July parade? (California); Where was the first Independence Day celebration held, under president Thomas Jefferson? (the White House); and where is the longest continuous 4th of July parade held? (Bristol, RI).
For Happy Bucks announcements, Deb Kathman expressed appreciation for the Jamestown High School commencement speaker, Aaron Leeper, who shared his thanks for having positive role models through his involvement with the JHS football program.
Becky Robbins announced the BPU hot dog sale was a success with more than $1200 being raised for St. Susan's Soup Kitchen.
Ruth Lundin was happy to attend the 100 member club lunch.
Wally Wollenzien was thankful that his home in Pine Valley, UT was still standing after a wildfire destroyed 14 other homes in the area, and he is hoping that it will still remain standing over the next week, as the fire is still 0% contained.
Jennifer Lundmark announced the Cummins annual recycling day is this coming weekend.
Michael Dobbins was happy to be involved in a very successful Juneteenth celebration for the city, with seven scholarships of $1200 each being provided to local students.
Lori Brokelbank provided several happy bucks for major accomplishments with her family, including her son graduating from the Citadel, magna cum laude. She also noted her future daughter in law was hired as a broadcaster in Savanah Georgia. She also noted her family is now at the halfway point for her other son to return home. And she shared information about several tree diapers being donated to the club to help keep the plants in the Rotary Garden at Love School watered - valued at $250.
Joni Blackman announced the Busti Historical Society will be hosting its first Hands on History day camp for elementary school students the first and third week of June.
Kayla was the hostess for our lunch meetings the year Marion was president. Recently, she was promoted to sales coordinator/banquet captain. Little Paisley was born three months premature, but is doing well now!
Becky Robbins introduced the day's guest speaker, Joni Blackman. Joni Blackman has been the Director of the Fenton History Center since October 2024. However, she was the former Director from 2004-2017. In between, she managed the Chautauqua Blind Association, served as Operations Manager at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, and for a short time worked with Harrington Architect. Although her education and background are in natural sciences, finances, and computers, she has had over 40 years working and serving in the non-profit world.
40 years of learning in the real world has provided many of the needed skills to manage a small local history museum. Joni has served as an officer and director for a number of local non-profit Boards over the past 30 years. She has attended many professional development seminars, Annual Meetings and workshops by the American Association of Museums, the Western N.Y. Library Resources Council, and regional agencies.
Joni shared some general details about the Fenton History Center and Fenton Mansion. She explained the Fenton involves a tight group of supporters, with over 400 members. She said the annual budget is approximately $250,000 and includes a staff that includes one full time worker (her position) and three part time workers, along with more than 90 volunteers.
The home of the history center is the Fenton Mansion, built in 1863 by former New York Governor and U.S. Senator Reuben Fenton, a native of Chautauqua County who became a prominent lumberman and businessman in Jamestown before entering politics. It is 12,000 square-feet and contains 25 rooms, 19 of which are used as exhibit space. The History Center also has a second building, the Fenton Research Center, which is actually older than the mansion and was built in 1846. The research center houses all of the documents, books, and research material that is crucial in helping to preserve our local history. There is also an off-site storage location for much larger items, including everything from pieces of furniture, pianos, soap box derby cars, and more. Joni indicated the Fenton is actually looking for a third building to display items, including the Trolley Car that's been restored by Bob Johnston.
The Fenton has numerous exhibits on display, including the most recent exhibit focusing on Jamestown's early history. It is called "From the Rapids" and the name is specific to the time period when the Chadakoin River was simply known as The Rapids, due to the river having many rapids as the water was discharged from the Chautauqua Lake outlet. This period is when James Prendergast first came here to establish sawmills for his lumber enterprise. Joni provided a brief history of the Prendergast family and how it initially came through the area from eastern New York State, on their way to Tennessee. However, the Tennessee political climate didn't sit well with the family, and they eventually returned to the Chautauqua Region. This is when James Prendergast, as the story goes, had a team of horses go lose, and he went out searching for them. As he looked for them, he came upon the Rapids and determined to use the water power to establish his lumber business. The new exhibit features several key items, including a silver ladle that was made from the melted Silver that was found following the Prendergast house fire of 1812. It also contains linen sheets that were made by James' wife in 1816. Another new exhibit focuses on the the 1945 tornado that struck Jamestown and, more specifically, Brooklyn Square and Harrison Street, causing over $50 million in damages.
Besides exhibits, the Fenton also offers extensive programs and lectures, recurring genealogy workshops, a veterans finding veterans program, and the popular "Saints and Sinners" Cemetery tours in the fall. Joni also noted the Fenton is collaborating with several other history groups to hold a Chautauqua County History Expo near the end of August.
Following the presentation, Marion Beckerink offered some final remarks for her final meeting as Club President. Marion thanked all members for their support and assistance this past year, saying it has been a true honor to serve and lead the club. She noted the club has made a true impact on the Jamestown community, through 23 different projects. After expressing her thanks and gratitude, those in attendance gave Marion a standing ovation. The meeting was then adjourned.
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