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Pay Dues, Fines or Happy Bucks!
Bulletin Editor
Sharon Hamilton
(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)
Speakers
May 26, 2025
No Noon Meeting
Memorial Day Observed
Jun 02, 2025
Heath Bounday
Exchange Student from Tasmania
Jun 09, 2025
Marissa and Dave Troxell
International Projects
Jun 16, 2025
Caitlin O'Reilly, Licensed Music Therapist
Music Therapy
Jun 23, 2025
Joni Blackman, Executive Director
Fenton History Center
Jun 30, 2025
No Noon Meeting
Annual Recognition Dinner
Jun 30, 2025
Annual Recognition Dinner
No Noon Meeting
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 – May 19, 2025
 
Today’s Chairwoman:  President Marion Beckerink led the Club in the Pledge of Allegiance and, along with Caitlin O’Reilly, the singing of the National Anthem.
 
The INVOCATION was given by Heath Bounday. His invocation included the reading of a poem emphasizing the importance of supporting the next generation of youth.
 
Michelle Jones, President Elect, welcomed visitors Michael Dobbins and Heath Bounday.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 
Ruth Lundin thanked the ten Rotarians, as well as the JHS students who helped with Downtown Jamestown this past weekend.  She also thanked those who watered plants along North Main Street.  Ruth also stated that the garden at Love School is planted and volunteers are needed to water the plants.  Ruth is requesting a two-week commitment to water and weed.  Sign-ups were circulated.
 
Ruth also announced the continuing need for a replacement secretary for the club to begin in July. Please contact her of your interest.
 
President Marion, on behalf of Emily Cama, Social Chair, that the Annual Celebration Dinner will be held at the Harbor Hotel in Celoron on June 30th. 
 
President Marion also encouraged Rotarians to sign up for the One District, One Book Read at Bush School. Sign-ups were circulated.
 
Cheri Krull is seeking two host families for incoming youth students, especially the need for one in the Southwestern School District beginning in August. Rotary is a reciprocal exchange program; in order to send students, we must host students.
 
President Marion also announced the need for Golf donations.
 
50-50 WINNER:  Brandon Odell, as 50-50 volunteer, asked our speaker of the day to draw the winning ticket.  Sue Jones was the happy recipient of $30.00.
 
FINES & HAPPY BUCKS:
 
Michelle Jones announced that her love for both the Buffalo Bills and Hallmark has given her the privilege of being one of thousands to be a part of the audience
 
John Bauman gave a happy buck for the upcoming marriage of his daughter and the purchase of a new car.
 
Sharon Hamilton proudly gave a happy buck in honor of her granddaughter, Annika, who graduated for St. Bonaventure on Sunday, summa cum laude after having completed her BA in three years.
 
Branden Odell announced that the bar area at the DoubleTree has been newly renovated and there is a new menu as well as new music. He invited people to have a look at the changes.
 
Stories
Nick Weith - Food Access Manager for Jamestown Public Market 

Caitlin O’Reilly introduced our speaker, Nick Weith.  Nick is originally from Arlington, Texas and moved to WNY in 2016 as part of America Corps Member teaching in Buffalo Public Schools.  He completed a Business and Culinary Arts degree in Denver, Colorado at Johnson & Wales University.  Nick taught in Buffalo for three years in special education, working with the Career and Tech Education-Horticulture Program.  He then worked for Forestville Central Schools as a nutrition educator and Farm to School Coordination, eventually as the cafeteria manager working to bring locally grown and scratch cooked meals to the district.  After a move to Ohio following the pandemic, Nick returned to the WNY area as Food Access Manager for Jamestown Public Market at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.  For eighteen months Nick, as Manager of the Jamestown Public Market has enjoyed learning and assessing the many programs included under the “Jamestown Farmers Market.”  Changes are on the horizon.

The mission statement for the Farmers’ Market is “to provide affordable access to fresh food grown by local farmers.”  There are many programs offered. There are two primary focuses: (1) food access & people who want local access and (2) supporting the local agriculture economy.  It is very important to support local farmers.  The flagship program is the Saturday Farmers Market at St. Lukes, also throughout the winter. Saturdays are a day of bringing people together around fresh and prepared food.  They have recently moved to a 25-week season.  (Dennis Webster was an original member of Jamestown Farmers Market in the in 1960s.)  There are themed weeks throughout summer and fall, partnering with local agencies, ie Lucy Fest,  RTPI, etc.   This year there will be musicians. Nick expressed the need for volunteers on Saturday mornings to set up tables and chairs to enable people to sit and enjoy their food together. One of the big advantages of the Market is their ability to process SNAP vouchers which is a cumbersome process; this helps the farmers.  The Market also offers matching funds for the snap vouchers, up to $50.

They also have a Mobile Market; they purchase food from the market and travel to six sites a week.  They travel to food deserts and work with organizations and, also, accept SNAP vouchers. Their goal is to serve high need areas and individuals. This year they are adding meat, eggs and bread to the Mobile Market. 

There is also a CSA Program (Community Support of Agriculture) which allows people to purchase a supply of farmers freshest food, ie food box of vegetables, bread, meat, mushrooms, etc. It is paid for at the beginning of the season which allows farmers to get through the summer. There are still boxes available, along with recipes.   There is also a community garden at the corner of 6th and Lakeview. 

Nick was an excellent speaker and offered many details and opportunities for volunteering.  Jamestown Farmers Market is an excellent resource and there is more information online if you are interested in hearing Nick’s entire presentation, which I recommend.
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