TODAY’S CHAIRPERSON:
President, Michelle Jones, welcomed the membership and led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance. The singing of the National Anthem was led by Caitlin O’Reilly, President-Elect.
INVOCATION GIVEN BY: Caitlin O’Reilly, President-Elect.
GUESTS & VISITORS: President-Elect Caitlin O’Reilly introduced the guests today – Fran Lapinski and Anna Irgang.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
President Michelle Jones gave thanks to all those volunteers who are helping with today’s meeting. She made several announcements regarding upcoming events:
*Earth Day, JCC Speech Sponsorship on 4/22; Michelle will get us the time
*Love School Wildflower Garden Bench Dedication at 2:30 on 4/22
*Rotary Youth Exchange Weekend 4/24-4/26, host families still needed; also on Saturday night all Rotarians at Camp Onyahsa are invited to bring a dish to pass and enjoy dinner and socialization with the exchange students – 22 of them.
*Highway Clean-up, May 2nd-up 8:30 Park n Ride – an easy way to serve Rotary and the community
*The Duck Race is scheduled in July at Moon Brook during the golf tournament. This is a Rotary Fundraiser and an opportunity for non-golfing Rotarians to engage during the golf tournament.
* Sue Jones -Rotary is updating a new version of Club Runner. Please check your page to make sure everything is there and correct in order that we can make sure everything transfers.
50-50 DRAWING:
Dewey Jones, the 50-50 person of the day, presented $23 to Anna Irgang, the lucky winner.
SERGEANT AT ARMS:
FINES were levied by Andy Goodell and he had done his homework. Fines were paid by:
- Vince Horrigan complemented by County Executive for the upcoming final completion of the sewer line around the lake in which Vince was an important player.
- Tory Irgang for having two outstanding children, one a gymnast and one in honor society
- Jason Sample for playing a sergeant Biloxi Blues, a play at JCC
- Mike Bird -Rolly Kidder’s article highlighting local athletics and the Post Journal for continuing to print a local newspaper when so many communities have discontinued doing so. Mike was not in attendance, but will get fined later.
- Toronto Blue Jays 50 strikeouts on their 50th anniversary – a coworker of Andy’s
Son was in the paper – I hope Andy paid this fine.
- Two Gingers restaurant – attended by Andy & Lisa; Dave and Lisa Painter, owners were not there but they the Goodells had a great meal.
- Ruth Lundin fined for the relaunching of the Audubon photography club.
- UPMC Foundation received funds from Cummins - Tim Edborg, Board Member, paid for Kristin.
- Filling the Gap, Sassy Bags – Blingo fundraiser -Lisa Goodell won a purse
- Rock your Sox fundraising; Lisa Goodell assisted
- Joni Blackman -Fenton’s Vision 2030 is raising money for another building.
HAPPY BUCKS
- Michelle Jones had her granddaughter for the Easter weekend and had a great time.
- Jason Sample had 3 Happy Bucks – (1) CC Historical Society had a well-attended lecture re the Grange Movement by Pamela Brown. (2) Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth released a 5-year impact report. Go online to CHQ impact.com to learn about the great things the partnership has done (3) Murals- next one to be in Bemus Point in Fall of 2026; there are 23 different murals in Chautauqua County.
Ken Omero –gave kudos to one of his daughters.
Shannon Rinow -hosted Easter at her house for the first time.
Sue Jones – recommends all to try Archie’s Diner the new restaurant at the Airport, excellent food.
BIRTHDAYS:
Joni Blackman, Foundation Chair, announced there are lots of PHF winners that have not been recognized. Plans for distribution will be announced once the plan is developed.
Joni Blackman honored those with April Birthdays. They were Sally Martinez, 4/4/26, she is a 4x PHF recipient; Lisa Goodell 4/24/26, she is a 4 x PHF recipient; Sharon Hamilton 4/25/26, she is 3x PHF recipient; Joelle Washer 4/27/26, she is a PHF. The group sung to Spring Flowers. Lisa Goodell was the recipient of the free lunch.
Michelle reminded Rotarians why we have Club Service meetings. It’s a time to network, have the Birthday table, meet with committees and for the audience to hear from committees, or to do PHF presentations.
Today we heard from DEI Chair, Ruth Lundin. The DEI Statement for Rotary International was adopted in 2019 and strengthened in 2021. Ruth distributed Jamestown’s DEI Code of Conduct which was adopted by our club April 22, 2022, stressing the core values of followship, integrity, diversity, service and leadership. Our club has initiated several projects in the name of DEI, ie Wild Flower Garden at Love School, Hands on Jamestown on North Main Street, voter registration tables, CHQ Book Reads, the Welcome Sign on North Main at the entrance to Jamestown, and more. Patricia Graves as begun a huge project documenting the history of Jamestown’s North Side.
Ruth then shared a locally produced video, available on YouTube, a snapshot that describes Rotary’s history and reasons that people should get involved. The Jamestown noon Rotary has initiated such organizations as United Way, The Boys (and Girls) Club and Moon Brook County Club. In 1987 a Supreme Court order proclaiming women must be permitted to join Rotary. Jane Cleaver was Jamestown’s first female member and later became the first woman President of our club. Jamestown Rotary is a leader in our community. Watch the YouTube video for full details. Thank you to Ruth for her leadership of our DEI Committee.
President Michelle closed our meeting with a reminder of the four-way test and remembering “Rotary Unites for Good.”
