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2019–2020
President: Geoff Dunn
President-Elect: Catrina VanAtta
Vice President: Mary Kane
Treasurer: Jay O'Leary • Secretary: Joanne Lamoureux 

Stories
News 2021-06-02

Tomorrow’s meeting:
Steve Selin, Owner, South Hill Cider

Join the Zoom Meeting

June 2, 2021

WELCOME & TRADITIONS

President Geoff Dunn opened with a “welcome back back from your Memorial Day weekend travels,” adding that he hoped all who went away had remained safe and in good health. [Ed. note: for those of us who did not venture out, what’s it like out there?]

In his countdown, Prez Geoff listed 18 days until the official start of summer, 28 days until the end of the Rotary year (and his term), 40 days to the All Star Game in Denver, 50 days to the start of the Tokyo Olympics (I guess that puts Geoff in the camp of “yes they will go on”), one day closer to the end of the pandemic, and one day closer to holding an in-person meeting. 

The Four-Way Test was recited by Tim Emerson, Loretta Fiacco, Jack Rosso, and Linda Brisson.

One hundred and six years ago, on June 1, 1915, our Ithaca Rotary Club was chartered with 123 members! Congratulations to every member of today’s Club! And let’s honor all those who came before us: the first 123, the legendary members, the women who brought down the gender wall, the Paul Harris Fellows, the officers and committee chairs, the steady volunteers, and everyone who kept the river flowing, whether as a member for one year, five years, or fifty.

The Thought for The Day came from James Brown. Since he received so much solace from listening to music over this last year (as did many of us), James wanted to share some quotes from fellow St. Louisan, Miles Davis.

  • “Music is an addiction.”
  • “It's not the note you play that's the wrong note — it's the note you play afterword that makes it right or wrong.”
  • “Some day I'm gonna call me up on the phone, so when I answer, I can tell myself to shut up.”

Guests at the meeting included soon-to-be-new-member, Tess Fraser from Challenge/Mozaic, and David Letterman (trying to pass himself off as Roger Sibley).
 



ANNOUNCEMENTS

A small group of Rotarians met last week with Jason Sidle to discuss the logistics of returning to Coltivare soon, and is preparing a recommendation for future hybrid meetings. Stay tuned!

Digital Literacy & Solar Power for UNIFAT Primary School Update
Gertrude Noden gave an update on one of the beneficiaries of our Dozen Dinner Draw (DDD) funds: Digital Literacy and Solar Power for UNIFAT Primary School in Gulu, Uganda. The solar installation will take place this summer. Our $5,000 DDD funds, a 2020 Rotary District international grant, and a $7,000.00 generous supplemental donation has provided the estimated costs ($15,000) to accomplish the solar installation.

Gertrude provided a breakdown of costs for completing the renovated Digital Learning Center at the primary school:

  • Room renovation: $4,000
  • Computers purchased: $5,500
  • Solar installation (est.): $15,000
  • Security: $500

Gertrude showed a handful of photos and a timeline in 5 slides. You can see them here.

Soap for Hope Drive
The 2021 Catholic Charities “Soap for Hope” drive is under way. Once again, Jean McPheeters is assisting the drive collection for our Rotary club. Collection of personal items such as deodorant, toothpaste, razors, shampoo and conditioner and diapers (sizes 3 or 4 would be most helpful) are needed. Jean is gathering 6 buckets that may be placed at our workplaces. Would your business be able to “post a bucket?” For our own convenience, Jean will be outside Coltivare today, Wednesday, June 9, from 10:00–11:30.

And then there were Happy Dollars!
George Gull donated to the Rotary Foundation in memory of his Mom (94 years old) and 5 days of healing at CMC. Mary Berens loved her coast-to-coast travels during the month of May. Kate Finn attended the annual American College of Nurse-Midwifes conference and won an award! Larry Robinson announced Ivy Stevens-Gupta’s opening art reception that took place last Friday.

Heidi Goldstein was grateful to have — count ’em! five (5) happy, loving and taller grandchildren. Loralyn Light announced the Cayuga Vocal Ensemble’s performance last Saturday at the CRS Barn on N. Triphammer Rd. Larry Thayer enjoyed his grandson’s college graduation party at Aurora’s Fargo Bar & Grill.

Gail Lyman participated in interviews for TST-BOCES Outstanding Student of the Year & looks forward to having our club meet the winner! And … Prez Geoff gave happy dollars in honor of George Gull’s recovery, and seeing Roger Sibley (or, at least David Letterman dressed up as Roger Sibley) at our Zoom meeting!
 



LAST WEEK’S PROGRAM

Aly Evans introduced Randy Lacey who is co-owner with wife, Diane Gerhart, of Hopshire Farm Brewery. Randy’s presentation was titled, “Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Industry: A Bright Future for the Region.”

The New York State farm brewing law, which went into effect on January 1, 2013, has been the cornerstone of Randy’s family-owned farm brewery, and the entire craft brewing landscape that has flourished across New York. Under the law, a farm brewery license requires that the brewery make its beer from locally grown farm products according to a schedule requiring that 90% of the hops and other ingredients are grown in NYS by January 1, 2024. With this license, Randy's brewery may serve beer by the glass, giving him the highest economic return for his brewery.

In addition, the license allows his brewery to open as many as 5 satellite branches, and each location may sell their products and other NYS labeled beer, wine and spirits by the bottle. Also they may have tasting rooms, retail shops, restaurants, and sell at farmers markets.

Randy highlighted the partnerships Hopshire has formed with other local farms and food vendors. The brewery sells cheese from local creameries, including Lively Run in Interlaken, which makes a Shire Ale cheese. The cider he sells is made in collaboration with Hollenbecks Cider Mill in Virgil. The brewery's Beehive Ale is made from honey produced at Howlands Honey. Two of the brewery's specialty beers use grain from Good Life Farm. And after the brewing is done, the spent grain goes to a local farm that raises Angus beef that is then sold at Hopshire.

Randy ticked off some of the activities at Hopshire since the brewery’s spring opening. Friday night concerts have promoted and supported local musicians. Sunday morning Yoga classes are being given. The Luna food truck has provided food for the brewery’s Sunday brunches and main events. And, his building is being used for not-for-profit fund raisers.

Life is starting to return to normal at the Hopshire Farm Brewery Randy said, emphasizing that this is quite a relief for his family-owned business as none of the federal assistance worked for his brewery during this past year.

Find Hopshire Farm Brewery online at hopshire.com.

 



THANK YOU ROTARIANS

Visiting Rotarians: None
Students: None

Workers:
  • Thought for the Day, James Brown
  • Introductions, Rotary hosts introduced their guests
Zoom Manager: Angela Sullivan

Bulletin Reporter: Gail T. Lyman
Photographer: Mike Brown
Bulletin Editor: Ted Schiele

Club Service Facilitators, Beverly Baker & June Losurdo
Sunshine Chair, Kellyann O’Mara

 



COMING THIS WEEK

June 9, 2021
Steve Selin, Owner, South Hill Cider

Join the Zoom Meeting
 



 

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