March 8, 2023
Reporter: Gail Lyman
Wednesday’s meeting:
Brandi Remington, BOCES
“Student Survey Results”
COLTIVARE and on Zoom
Join the Zoom meeting
WELCOME & TRADITIONS
NOTE: you can watch previous meetings by going to our YouTube channel!
President Mary opened the meeting by acknowledging new tech upgrades: new computer and mics, remote keyboard, and a camera previously donated by Dale Flinn. This new setup has been achieved through the hard work of Bez Thomas and Mike Brown.Our guests included:
- Caleb R. Thomas and Audra Linsner from Ithaca Murals, our speakers
- Margaret Kops Kuveke, Cornell University student and grand-daughter of Richard Kops
- Lisa Krueger-Gavin, from Foodnet, guest of Aly Evans
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Switching her role from being a facilitator for signing up Greeters and Thought for the Day speakers, June Losurdo gave her own personal message as a tribute to the inspirational women who have been positive forces in her life, appropriately given on National Women’s Day.
Starting with the positive role models of her mother and older sisters, June described how Mary Tyler Moore presented “an independent, hardworking, goal-centered career woman” during her youth, followed by admired female college professors and workplace colleagues, and ending with her Rotary sponsor Peg Hendrix and friend and “hero,” fellow Rotarian Joanne Lamoureux.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lisa Krueger-Gavin, case manager at Foodnet, seeks volunteers for the 10th annual Mac ‘n Cheese Bowl on May 3rd from 4:30 to 7 PM at the Ithaca Farmers Market. Proceeds go to Foodnet/Meals on Wheels. Contact event planner Lyn Bullock at Foodnet.MacNCheeseBowl@gmail.com- The virtual Global Grants Seminar is Saturday, April 1st. Register here.
- Bob Gravani announced the Spring Highway Cleanup on Saturday, April 22nd from 9 to 11 AM. Meet at the Tops on Triphammer Rd. Registration and questions: Mary-Lynn Cummings at mlcummings101@gmail.com or 607-227-5790. Jean McPheeters is working to get sign-ups online.
- The six club Rotarians that attended the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) will share what they learned at the last meeting of the month.
- Meeting programs, board meetings, and committee meetings will be listed in the agenda.
- NOTE: the next club meeting on March 15th will be held at COLTIVARE.
NEW MEMBER MOMENT
Frank Towner introduced new member Ravi Walsh, who has been a spiritual life coach for 35 years, a Reiki Master Healer for 25 years, and is the Director and Founder of HeartPath Healing and Coaching in Ithaca.
Ravi acknowledged the auspicious timing of this introduction because this was the first day he is wearing his official nametag. He stated that he was introduced to Rotary through his son’s Rotary exchange experience in Mexico. Ravi spoke about going to visit his son after a month into his son’s exchange experience. He described his son as feeling lonely, homesick, and disconnected with his Mexican family until they discussed how his son could apply Rotary’s Four-Way Test to his exchange experience. His son learned to think outside his own self-interests and more towards what he could give to his Mexican family. This change of philosophical direction totally transformed his son’s exchange experience.Ravi wanted to a part of Rotary because it is an organization that helps to make the local and international communities better. He looks forward to networking and connecting with other Rotarians.
President Mary gave thanks to our membership program.
LAST WEEK’S PRESENTATION
George Ferrari introduced Caleb R. Thomas, cofounder of Ithaca Murals who is passionate about art being a tool for “building strong social movements, relationships within a diverse community, and communities that care about justice.” For 13 years Caleb has coordinated the many murals under the jurisdiction of Ithaca Murals. When he founded the organization, there were only 15 murals in the Ithaca area, but now the number of murals has snowballed to around 400 murals. He hopes to add another 100 this year and complete murals at every Ithaca City School District location.
Caleb started his presentation with a question to his audience: “What are your favorite Ithaca Murals?” The murals we viewed included the intricate detail of the eagle in Press Bay Alley, mini-murals at the Sciencenter, the Underground Railroad mural (beneath the Aurora St. overpass), Black-eyed Susan mural (N. Aurora St.), “Maternidad” Latino mural, the 4 Firefighter mural (facing the Commons at 136 W. State St.), and Ms. Harmony Malone mural (along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail).Evident from our group’s conversation, Ithaca’s murals have become an important part of Ithaca’s culture. The murals include themes of social justice and environmental causes, as well as scenes celebrating local history, art, and music. Their vibrant accents and bold colors personify the eclectic voices of our city’s diverse community. They have been painted on public and private structures, as well as on the many electrical boxes located throughout the city. Caleb emphasized that although some of the murals have been painted by internationally accomplished artists, many of the murals are painted by local community members, with Ithaca Murals prioritizing leadership given to “people of color, under-employed, and working class people; people with jail experience, women, LGBTQ+ community members, youth, and anyone passionate about justice.” As Caleb further ascribed, “each mural is a cultural cityscape that helps to build stronger relationships within the community.”
Ithaca Murals is a 501c3 fiscally-sponsored project of the Center for Transformative Action, with funding coming primarily from community donations. Ithaca Murals’ website states that “100% of donations go to artist stipends and materials.” An Ithaca Mural Coloring Book, created by Caleb R. Thomas and Shira Evergreen that includes drawings of 200+ murals, graffiti, and street art in the Ithaca area, is on sale to raise funds for next year’s murals.
If interested in a downloadable Walking Mural Tour Map and/or more information about Ithaca Murals, visit https://ithacamurals.com.
HAPPY DOLLARS
Happy Dollars were offered in support of our Community Grants program:
- Jack Roscoe: $20, for Judith Heumann, the mother of the Disability Rights Movement who passed away recently, in honor of National Women’s Day
- Jeremiah Craig: for a fantastic Rotary Leadership Institute experience
- Dale Flinn: our Ithaca Rotary ice hockey team is seated in 1st place going into the championships for the Ithaca Adult Hockey Association.
- Greg Kops: acknowledged his daughter Margaret Kops Kuveke who will graduate from Cornell University (French/Psychology) in May, and was accepted into a master’s program in Forensic Psychology.
Loretta Goss: $5, her granddaughter Emma was on the winning team at the NYS Cheerleading Championship held in Binghamton this past weekend!- Mary Berens: a big check for the Community Foundation, she reflected on her 17 days in Spain (and her Spanish came back!)
- Joanne Lamoureux: $20, thanks to Caleb and his work with Ithaca Murals and thanks to June Losurdo for acknowledging Joanne as her “hero”
- Aly Evans: asked us to remember the Mac ‘n Cheese Bowl
- Lisa Krueger-Gavin: our guest also acknowledged the Mac ‘n Cheese Bowl
- George Gull: $20, he and Nancy returned from a six-week Rotary grant trip to Costa Rica where they worked every day to bring clean water to schools and homes (ask to see George’s photos)
- June Losurdo: $10, in honor of all the women she mentioned in her Thought for the Day on this National Women’s Day
THANK YOU ROTARIANS
Newsletter Reporter: Gail Lyman
Photographer: Mike Brown
Greeter: Christie Thornton
Newsletter Editor: Loralyn Light
Set-up/Tear-Down: Dave Martin (Supervisor), Juliet Gibbs, Larry Robinson, Jack Roscoe, Todd Nau, Gary Reinbolt
Audio/Visual Setup: Bez Thomas, Mike Brown
Recording Archive: Paul Martin; click here
Club Service Facilitator: June Losurdo