2024-2025 ANNUAL RECOGNITION DINNER

ROTARY CLUB OF JAMESTOWN, NY

JUNE 30, 2025

CELORON HARBOR HOTEL, CELORON, NY

President Marion Beckerink called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance; Caitlin O’Reilly led the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner and the gave the Invocation.

After the wonderful dinner prepared by the staff of the Harbor Hotel and organized by our own Emily Cama, President Marion gave the following remarks:

“It is with deep gratitude and a full heart that I stand before you today to reflect on our incredible journey together over the past year. Serving as President of the Rotary Club of Jamestown has been one of the greatest honors of my life – and one of the most humbling.

Our club was involved in over 23 projects and events in service to our community. Each of these efforts represents not just hours of planning and hands-on work, but also the shared purpose and determination that define what it means to be a Rotarian.

From local cleanup initiatives to revitalize our public spaces, to family service drives that made over 20 no-sew blankets to uplift spirits for Heritage nursing home residents and uplifted spirits, we showed up – and we showed what service above self truly looks like. We didn’t just talk about change. We became the engine of change.

Some of the moments I’ll never forget including –“ 

Marion went on to describe her pride in our Fall into Service event with the Jamestown Young Professionals and the Youth Exchange Weekend, where students sat at the knee of Dan Overcash to learn the ways of a lifetime of service.

She went on to thank her Board, committee chairs, and every Rotarian who said yes!  She went on to say, “As I pass the torch to President Michelle, I do so with excitement for what lies ahead and pride in what we have built together. The seeds we planted this year will continue to grow – and I know that under Michelle’s leadership, they will blossom even further.

Let’s continue to dream boldly, serve generously, and lead with kindness.

Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for walking beside me. And thank you for being the heart of what it means to be a Rotarian.”

Jody Osgood’s guest Julie Walker was the winner of $55 in the 50/50 drawing.

President-Elect Michelle Jones had the privilege of inducting new member Michael Dobbins. Michael sought out Ruth Lundin and Patricia Graves at the wonderful gathering of many clubs in the area at the Reg Lenna Civic Center. It was there that he felt Rotary was where he belonged among the many clubs at the exposition – to our good fortune!

Michael is a retired Child Support Officer from San Diego County after 22 years of service. He was born and raised in Jamestown where he attended JHS and JCC. He attended Fredonia and then received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Phoenix University. He was formerly employed by Falconer Glass Industries and moved to San Diego in 1989. He married David Riemer and is now widowed. After retiring from the County of San Diego, he returned to Jamestown for family reasons. Michael serves on the PFLAG Executive Board of the Juneteenth Committee.

San Diego’s loss is Jamestown’s gain. Welcome Michael!

President-Elect Michelle then presented a small token of appreciation to Paulette Klein who has resigned from our Club as she has taken up residency in Ohio and Florida. Paulette has greatly contributed to the ideas of our Club on the Literacy Committee, the Invocation Committee and by leading the efforts to present our Club at the annual Christmas parade. Thank You Paulette.

Foundation Chairman Joni Blackman was called to the podium to present a Paul Harris Fellow to our long-time fellow Rotarian Mike Roberts. Mike is President/Owner of Allied Alarm Services and was President of our Club in 2000-2001. There are not many organizations in this community that Mike has not served including United Way, Moon Brook Country Club, the Italian American Golf Tournament, and the Toys for Tots to name just a few. His largess has been felt by this club for many years with his donation of office space at his business to house our records and memorabilia.

Mike chose to honor the Love of His Life – his wife Karen with a Paul Harris Fellow as well citing her participation at his side in almost everything he is involved in while carrying out the heavy duties of wife, mother and grandmother. The couple are devoted members of the Bemus Point Methodist Church and support their every effort as well. It was fabulous to see these two wonderful people honored as Paul Harris Fellows.

Joni explained that Marion has been a strong and consistent supporter of the Rotary Foundation, she donates every month through the ROTARY DIRECT program. She has attained enough recognition points to be recognized with a second Paul Harris Fellow and has chosen to transfer this recognition to a member of the Club and, as President, she has chosen to designate another member of the Club as a recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow by transfer of recognition points the Club has accumulated.

Marion then presented Sue and Greg Jones each with a Paul Harris Fellow Award – Sue with her fifth and Greg with his sixth citing special appreciation for the many ways in which their lives exemplify the humanitarian and educational objectives of the Rotary Foundation.

Greg was designated to receive the recognition from Marion Beckerink based upon his 50 years of exemplary service as both a Past President, Rotary Foundation Chair and 30 years of service to the Club as Sergeant at Arms. He is now going to serve as Chair of our Red Kettle Campaign.

Sue was designated to receive this award from Marion due to her 25 years of service as Club President, past Chair of the Vision and Communications Committees as well as membership on the Foundation Committee, Invocation and Auction Committees. As Club Historian, she has been an Ad Hoc member of the Board of Directors for many years and is slated to become Club Secretary this year.

They both expressed their surprise and delight with these awards.

Marion then stated that “one of the gifts of being in a leadership position is the fact that one is given a good runway leading up to the presidency. Starting as Vice President you chair the Vision Committee, take classes on leadership and join the board of RCJCSF. As President-Elect you begin your year-long President=Elect training, chair the RCJCSF Board and welcome visiting Rotarians and guests at each meeting. That is a very basic description of what’s expected, but each year is another opportunity for deep immersion into Rotary.

Unfortunately, with the loss of Kirk Young to Wyoming, our Club was left with an enormous hole in our Board of Directors. We were very privileged to have the talent of Michelle Jones who took a deep breath and jumped into the role of President -Elect.

Marion presented Michelle Jones with the Service Above Self Award. 

This was no small task as Michelle is Vice President and Area Manager of Northwest Bank and took on hours of President-Elect training, Chaired the RCJCSF Board and Vision Committee without the benefit of serving on those committees or the Board in the past. Michelle originally joined Rotary in 2009, but career responsibilities no longer allowed her to be in the Jamestown area, but in 2013 she returned to the fold and has hit the ground running ever since.”

Michelle has served on the Fundraising Committee, the Youth Services Committee, the Social Committee, the Nominating Committee, past Chair of the Vision Committee and Chair of the RCJCSF as well as a member of the Rotary Board of Directors. She is a two-time recipient of Paul Harris Awards and she and her family have hosted foreign exchange students in the past as well.

Michelle received her bachelor’s degree from Houghton College and her master’s degree from St. Bonaventure University. She is currently vice president and area manager of Northwest Bank. She is married to Matthew Jones, and they are the parents of two adult daughters and a granddaughter.

In addition to all her new responsibilities as President-Elect, she raised over $3,000 as Team Captain for the YWCA’s Coldest Night of the Year, brought a NW Team to our mini golf fundraiser and participated in Hands on Jamestown/Extend the Welcome project.

Michelle brings energy, enthusiasm and joy wherever she goes! She is a very deserving recipient of the 2025 Service Above Self Award.

Marion then installed Michelle as President of the Rotary Club of Jamestown for 2025-2026.

Michelle then installed the 2025-2026 Officers and Directors.

We were delighted then to welcome Michael Harrington, District 7090 Assistant Governor.

His remarks were: 

Tonight is the last event I will be addressing Rotarians as your Assistant Governor. Effective July1, I was elected to serve a one-year term as an At-Large Director on the District 7090 Board of Directors, and I was appointed to a three-year term as the District Rotary Foundation Chair or DRFC. As DRFC, I will lead a Foundation Committee of twenty-seven (27) members plus additional voting members from the District Leadership chain.

The Foundation Committee is composed of multiple subcommittees. The Fundraising subcommittee is focused on the Annual Fund, Paul Harris Society and the Endowment, including the Best of Friends Heritage Endowment Fund. This subcommittee will be led by PDG Dave Alexander who spoke with you just a few weeks ago.

Other subcommittees are Polio Plus, which is being augmented by the newly instituted Polio Plus Society initiative this year, followed by Stewardship, District and Global Grants, Peace Fellowship, International Service Committee, Vocational Training Team, Ontario Cluster Fund and District Scholarships.

While I may not be interacting with you as Assistant Governor, I and my Team will have ample opportunity to meet with you over the next three years.

The Rotary Club of Jamestown is a real gem tucked away in southern Chautauqua County. PDG Dave Alexander was truly impressed by your Club and routinely talked about how he felt your Club could be a force to bring together non-profits and other agencies, much in the same manner as at the recent District Conference. I have always been impressed with how your Club has been able to attract a diverse membership across the spectrum of Jamestown area businesses, non-profits and individuals and from a good age cross-section. Your Club promotes well, has good service projects, very good speakers and healthy weekly meetings. As far as your Club is concerned, I can wrap it up in one word……..Congratulations.

And then there is Marion Beckerink. I knew quite a bit about Marion, but I recently saw her complete resume. Impressive!!! Over my short tenure as Assistant Governor, my interaction with Marion has always been comfortable and met with immediate and complete responses. I knew I could always count on Marion to provide me with updates on your Club’s activities and on opinions regarding any questions posed. Michelle, you have big shoes to fill, but I know you will do a great job as well.

But there is more great news!!! I could not be more pleased to share that Marion has accepted the position of Area-16 Assistant Governor.  Marion is certain to be an excellent leader for Area-16 Rotary Clubs and contributor to the District Council.  I have the utmost confidence in Marion’s judgment and calm, yet considered, contributions to the needs of Area-16 Clubs and deliberations of the District Council.  In my humble opinion, District 7090 has just received a true gift in the form of Marion Beckerink, a true Rotarian that has stepped up to offer her services and support on a larger platform than her home Rotary Club........that is Service Above Self!!!”

BRAVO MARION!

To continue, Michelle presented Marion with her Past President’s Pin and a special gift for both her and her husband Ron, with great thanks for all of her contributions to our Club and to Rotary in general.

Finally, Sue Jones made a special personal presentation to Michelle – a silver bracelet with a Rotary emblem charm, a charm with her initials and the year of her presidency and a charm of the numerical symbol 4. You see Michelle is the fourth member of the Jones family to be president of the Rotary Club of Jamestown, NY. Stanford F. Jones, Greg’s father and Michelle’s grandfather-in-law was president in 1940-41; Dr. Gregory L. Jones, Michelle’s father-in-law, was president in 2001-2002; Susan K. Jones, Michelle’s mother-in-law, was president in 2011-12, and now Michelle L. Jones is president for 2024-25. Sue ended by saying, “May the 4^th be with you.”

THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AND EVERYONE ENJOYED A TRULY DELICIOUS CAKE!