President Caitlin O’Reilly, PhD, called the meeting of the Rotary Club of Jamestown, NY to order at 12:05 and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star-Spangled Banner. Marion Beckerink gave the invocation.

 

President-Elect Zach Agett introduced Visiting Rotarians and Guests that included: Gary and Suvi Timm of Oulu, Finland. Gary is a former Exchange Student to Finland and when his exchange was over, he returned to the United States. He eventually moved back to Finland where he met and married Suvi. Gary is a member of the Merikosken Rotary Club.

 

 

Also visiting were Rotarians Gary and Sandi Chard of the St. Catherine’s Lakeshore Rotary Club. Their classification is retail and Sandi is presently serving as the District Membership Chair and is in the succession line to become District Governor in a few years. Joe McCullor of Forestville was a visitor who is considering becoming a member of Rotary.

 

Caitlin called David Painter to the podium and officially installed him as a director on our Board.

 

 

7/27      Capt. Jake Stahley, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department who will speak to us regarding human trafficking.

 

8/3        Club Business meeting, President’s Initiatives and committee awareness.

 

8/10     Deputy Kris Gustafson – PROJECT LIFESAVER

 

8/31     NO NOON MEETING! Instead, we will have a Club miniature golf social and welcome our new German Exchange student, Max, as well as new members.

 

We were reminded that the RCJCSF Board (Rotary Club of Jamestown Community Service Fund, our 501 c.3) will meet at the Gebbie Foundation office on July 28 at 8:00am and it will also be available by Zoom.

 

The next meeting of the Club’s Board of Directors is scheduled for 8:00 AM August 21 at the Resource Center Offices, 200 Dunham Ave., Celoron.

 

Volunteers are still needed for the Summer Reading Program to read to students at Love, Bush and Lincoln Schools. Please check with Marion Beckerink. She reminded everyone that we have NO need for additional adult book donations, but we do definitely need donations of children and teen appropriate books.

 

John Healy took on the role of Sergeant at Arms and issued fun fines.

 

Happy Bucks included 55^th Anniversary celebrations for Doug and Jane Conroe; Tarp Skunk final game reminder from David Troxell; several who attended the Harry Connick Jr. concert at Chautauqua; and Michelle Jones gave a big thank you to everyone who participated in the Pappy’s Bourbon raffle at our Annual Charity Golf Tournament (WON BY OUR OWN BOURBON AFFICIONADO, John Bauman) and netted $1850 for the Club!; Caitlin attended the Salamanca Indian POWWOW and marveled at the beauty of the Indian clothing and dancing.

 

Visiting Rotarian Sandi Chard addressed the Club regarding her responsibilities as District Membership Chairman and her past responsibilities as District Foundation Chairman.

 

Marion Beckerink informed the Club about her responsibilities as Assistant District Governor acting as liaison between the District and Jamestown, Falconer, Westfield/Mayville and Dunkirk/Fredonia Clubs, helping to make sure these clubs are successful in their goals. Because Rotary is a service club, we should all be trying to meet the needs of our communities. Marion would like to see the five clubs come together and work on a Chautauqua County initiative that will make a difference in our County.

 

The 50/50 winnings of $31 was won by someone and this gray-haired editor cannot for the life of her remember who?

 

Caitlin then apologized regarding our planned program for the day which was cancelled as the violin soloist from Chautauqua had a hand injury and could not perform.

 

Jim Smith, who has arranged the July Chautauqua programs for many years reminded us that each year, our club gives a significant stipend to one of the young performers. We began doing this in 2002 and have awarded more than $20,000 total.

 

Joanna Huang is currently attending the University of Michigan as a Violin Performance major. Her performances include concerts at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Hill Auditorium, and Joanna was featured as a soloist with the Stony Brook University Orchestra at the Staller Center for the Arts.

 

She has participated in programs including the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, where she collaborated with artists such as Joseph Lin of the Juilliard School, John Largess of the Miro Quartet, and Steven Ansell of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

 

Joana’s dedication to musical outreach is reflected in her benefit and community performances in New York City, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Yilan, Taiwan. She is also enthusiastic about teaching and musical leadership, demonstrated through her work with the children’s music ministry at the First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, where she performed on violin and participated in the sanctuary and handbell choirs.

Joanna studies violin with Professor Aaron Berofsky, concertmaster of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, and Joanna is mentored in piano and organ by Dr. Pablo Lavandera, a faculty member at Stony Brook University.

 

We were all sorry to miss her performance but understand her need to be extra careful with any injury to her hands.

 

President Caitlin announced her initiatives for the year and they include focusing on:

Caitlin included a sheet of many Lighthouse Award goals for the membership to consider participating in at varying levels including the Lighthouse Award, the Rotary Award of Excellence, and the District 7090 Governor’s Trophy.

 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:40!