The meeting was called to order by President Ruth Lundin who led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star-Spangled Banner.

The invocation was given by Rita Freeborough.

Marion Beckerink, President-Elect, introduced Ismail Adedoyin who will be our speaker today.

Joni Blackman introduced the March birthday celebrants:

Dr. Bob Anderson, 3/23; Doug Conroe, 3/10; Dudley Ericson, 3/10; Cheri Krull, 3/23; Pat Kinney, 3/28; and Gail Donus, 3/31. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARCH SHAMROCKS!

The Rotary 7090 District Conference will be held April 26 and 27 in the Amherst area.

Friday night is $25 and from 6-9 and Saturday is $50 from 9-4. Much more information is to follow, and we may be trying to arrange a carpool or bus transportation to travel to Buffalo.

Thanks to all the Rotarians who helped to prepare for our meeting today – Lisa, Kathy, Doug, and Sue.

Don’t forget the Book Club meeting immediately after today’s meeting – Apples: Skin to Core.

NO MEETING NEXT WEEK OR THE MONDAY AFTER – but we will have a social get-together at Shawbuck’s on Wednesday, April 10 from 5-7. Drinks, snacks, or dinner of your choice on you!

Kathy Burch announced the 50/50 was $37.00 and won by Sally Martinez.

Cheri Krull announced that Junior RYLA registration closes in mid-April. This is for 15–18-year-olds. Please tell interested young people to contact Cheri for more information for this great conference May 3-May 5.

Sergeant at Arms Doug Conroe said Sally paid $5 because she was happy to be there. Joni paid for a past Blind Association grant received from Lakeshore Bank. Many people paid for basketball results from the March Madness games. Becky Robbins paid for the birth of her third grandson, William James Robbins. Marion asked everyone who knows young adult ages 24-30 to contact her about exploring the legal systems in other countries.

President Ruth’s goals for her year were to strengthen membership, so there will be a survey coming in April asking about your commitments, such as community service, leadership development, encouraging engagement and student and youth mentoring.

Ismail Adedoyin, the JCC student we sponsored for the RYLA program spoke to us about his experience. The attendees had two computer conference sessions and spent a weekend in Derby, NY networking and teambuilding looking at the world as a collective one. The discussion included immigrants’ contributions to society or community.

Kirk Young, Vice President of JCC told us about the high school youth leadership conference coming up at JCC on May 3 for 250-300 students. The guest speaker is Jeff Griffin, a paralyzed para-Olympian. There will be 6 break-out sessions focusing on leadership. Students who participated last year have requested more time be given for the students to react with others from other schools, so they share ideas.

Our VISION Committee has recommended we underwrite this conference in the amount of $1500.

Vince Horrigan reminded everyone to check out the Auction (May 18) preparations at https://jnyrotary.afrogs.org/ or simply log into our website at jamestownnyrotary.org. Anyone who wishes to bid on items must register and submit their credit card information. There are currently 33 items, but we need more. We would like to have everything listed on-line by April 1 with on-line bidding starting May 1 and continuing until May 18 at 6pm. Live bidding will begin at the Moon Brook Auction at 7:30.

The 50-50 and Heads and Tails game will go on from 5-7:30 along with the SILENT AUCTION. We also need Silent Auction items such as dinner certificates, tickets, memberships, etc., that can be combined to make baskets for the bidders to purchase.

We need to know who’s coming – sponsors who have purchased tables must register their guests as soon as possible so we know how many actual tickets are available for others to purchase.

Any questions…call Vince Horrigan.

President Ruth thanked Michelle Jones and Northwest Bank for their donation of keychains to be given to the parents of newborns when they receive their Bibs and Books.

President Ruth then explained that dues will be increasing when the May 1 invoices are sent to either $183 per year or $193 if you use a credit card. That amount will be reduced to $180 and $190 according to what the district decides.

Dues are due June 1 and if they are not paid by June 30, your membership will be terminated. Remember you can choose to pay half in June and half in December, but you must inform the Treasurer.

See you all on April 10 at Sawbuck’s from 5 to 7 PM or April 15 at our next regular meeting.

HAPPY EASTER!!!