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 - October 20, 2025
President Michelle Jones opened this week’s meeting with a call to order.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, followed by the Star-Spangled Banner, led by Caitlin O’Reilly.
A moment of silence was observed in memory of Jon Saff, a Paul Harris Fellow and devoted member of the Rotary Club of Jamestown since 1987. Jon was fondly remembered as one of the members who sat at the “Table of Love” during the days when meetings were held at the Robert H. Jackson Center.
The Invocation for the day was offered by Tory Irgang.
There were no guests this week, but our Youth Exchange student, Jan Steinmann, was recognized and warmly welcomed.
Announcements
Website Sponsorships
Renewals began on October 1, and new sponsorships are available for $150 per year. Interested members should contact Chris Anderson for details.
Club Service Volunteers
Volunteers are needed for weekly service roles such as 50/50, Greeter, and Meeting Setup/Cleanup. Please contact President Michelle Jones to sign up.
Vision Committee Meeting
Scheduled for October 21 at noon. Members with ideas or suggestions are encouraged to attend or contact Vice President Zack Agett.
Voter Registration Volunteers
Assistance is needed on October 22 at JCC. Contact Ruth Lundin for more information.
Highway Cleanup Vince Horrigan invited members to join the Highway Cleanup on Saturday, October 25 at 8:30 a.m. Reach out to Vince with any questions.
Technical Improvements
President Michelle Jones thanked the DoubleTree Hotel for upgrading the meeting room wiring to ensure smoother operation of audiovisual equipment.
Youth Exchange Program Cheri Maytum-Krull announced that preliminary applications are now open for next year’s Youth Exchange students. Host families are also needed. Please contact Cheri if interested.
Memorial Donations Mike Roberts recommended that donations in memory of Lindsay Jones, daughter of Sue and Greg Jones, be made to the club under the RCJCSF. Greg and Sue will determine which project the funds will support.
Fundraising Committee
President Michelle Jones emphasized the need to form a Fundraising Committee to coordinate the club’s fundraising initiatives. Members with ideas or interest in serving should reach out.
Attendance Reminder
Members are encouraged to review their attendance on ClubRunner and report any discrepancies or make-up meetings to Secretary Sue Jones.
Membership Orientation Zones 28 and 32 are offering a membership orientation for all Rotarians. Members are encouraged to watch for the email announcement and take advantage of this valuable resource.
Halloween Festival
The Literacy Committee will lead the club’s participation in the City of Jamestown’s Halloween Festival on Saturday, October 25, from 5–7 p.m.
Volunteers are needed starting at 4 p.m. to help distribute books and candy. Donations of candy are appreciated. Please contact Patricia Graves to volunteer or contribute.
This week’s 50/50 was coordinated by Dewey Jones.
The winner of $45 was Jan Steinmann, our Youth Exchange student from Switzerland.
Doug Conroe, the club’s long-serving Sergeant-at-Arms, led the Fines and Happy Bucks session with his usual good humor.
Our speaker was Mark Olson, President and Founder of Axiom Office Imaging in Jamestown, NY.
Mark has lived most of his life in Jamestown. A Jamestown High School graduate, he served as both Class President and Student Council President. After some time in Southern California, he returned to Jamestown and founded Axiom Copy Products in 1980—now the area’s only locally owned and operated copier and document solutions company.
Mark is married to Megan Dwyer, and together they have four grown children and five grandchildren. He has served the community extensively, including as President and Trustee of the Fenton History Center, board member of The Resource Center, and participant in numerous local volunteer initiatives.
A Rotarian since 1986, Mark hosted an Australian exchange student the same year his oldest son was born—now 38 years old. His family’s involvement has made them truly a Rotary family.
Mark enjoys traveling, gardening, and magnet fishing. A lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, he was a season ticket holder for 40 years and remains a loyal supporter.
Presentation: The Oil Industry in Southwest Pennsylvania
Drawing from personal experiences and research, Mark delivered an engaging presentation on the early oil industry in Southwest Pennsylvania, focusing on two notable boomtowns—Pithole, PA and Balltown, PA.
The oil industry in the region began in the mid-19th century after Edwin L. Drake’s 1859 oil strike in Titusville, sparking the world’s first commercial oil boom. The quiet farmlands of Pennsylvania rapidly transformed into the center of a new global energy era.
Pithole, PA, established in 1865, became one of the most dramatic boomtowns in U.S. history. Within months of oil discovery by Isaiah Frazier and John Grandin, its population exploded to over 15,000 residents, complete with hotels, theaters, newspapers, and a stock exchange. However, by 1868, the wells had dried up and the town was abandoned—a lasting reminder of the volatility of resource-based economies. Today, Pithole is preserved as a National Historic Site, symbolizing both the promise and impermanence of early industrial opportunity.
Nearby Balltown, PA, in Venango County, played a quieter yet crucial role. It was home to independent drillers and early refiners experimenting with crude extraction and pipeline systems—innovations that became the foundation of modern oil exploration and refining.
Together, these towns and the oil fields of Southwest Pennsylvania mark the birthplace of the American oil industry, shaping global energy markets and pioneering technologies that transformed transportation, manufacturing, and modern civilization.
Mark concluded his talk by encouraging members to explore these historic sites and connect with him for further discussion.
