January 18, 2023
Reporter: Kelly Buck
Wednesday’s meeting:Club Business
St. Catherine of Siena and on Zoom
WELCOME & TRADITIONS
NOTE: you can watch previous meetings by going to our YouTube
channel!
President Mary Kane opened the meeting with the Four-Way Test.
President Mary then recognized guests:
- Steph Barley, Cayuga Health, guest of Steve Savage
- Bert Scholl, Cancer Resource Center, guest of Kim Pugliese
- Rebekah Sweet, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, guest of Nancy Potter
- David Kraskow, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra and Cayuga Health
- Melissa Tourtellotte, Cayuga Health, guest of Steve Savage
There were no visiting Rotarians.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Gary Stewart gave the Thought for the Day in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. MLK spoke on the Cornell campus twice and touched on the need for courage, engagement, and compassion. One of Gary’s favorite MLK quotes is:
“Keep feeling the need for being important. Keep feeling the need for being first. But I want you to be the first in love. I want you to be the first in moral excellence. I want you to be the first in generosity.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The club’s board meeting will take place this evening (January 18th). All are welcome to attend.
Today is Sherrie Negrea’s birthday; the club sang a quick song for her. Sherrie then shared the latest updates on the Ukraine fundraising project. Members have been very generous and raised the $2,500 needed to help first school in Lviv. Now we’re onto a second school that needs upgrades to keep students safe during the war. Our club is also offering a “Music for Ukraine” concert on February 19th at the First Unitarian Church (4 PM). Donations are and will be happily accepted for bomb shelters in Lviv. Volunteers are also needed; please sign up to help at the concert.
Linda Brisson shared updates from the Youth Exchange Program. The program has made it through the many challenges presented during COVID. This year, we sponsored two outbound students and welcomed two inbound students. Linda was happy to report that next year that number has jumped to six outbound—two from Ithaca High and four from Lansing. We’ll also be welcoming three new youth to Ithaca. Paul Martin is now the co-chair of our YEP. There are many opportunities big and small to serve in this capacity. Paul will be sending out a brief survey to measure interest; please take a moment this week to reply.
Geoff Dunn thanked the nominating committee, and then read the official slate of officers for 2023–24:
- President: “Les Six” (Mary Berens, Geoff Dunn, Dale Flinn, Heidi Goldstein, George Gull, and Dale Johnson
- President-Elect: Angela Sullivan
- Vice-President: Mike Katz
- Secretary: Juliet Gibbs
- Treasurer: Kati Flynn
- Past President: Mary Kane
Seeing no nominations from the floor, the vote was taken, and the proposed slate was approved unanimously.
FOUNDATION MINUTE
Steve Johnson presented James Brown with his first Paul Harris Fellow pin. James made brief remarks, recalling when he moved from attending meetings to actually becoming a Rotarian. Congratulations, James!
Frank Towner introduced this week’s speaker, Herb Alexander who is the new Chief Diversity Officer for Cayuga Health System. He began his duties in September 2021, and comes from Robert Wesleyan University in Rochester.
Herb explained that work on expanding diversity, inclusion, equity, and access (DEI) is never done—it is an ongoing process in perpetuity. But prior to continuing, he read an acknowledgement that Cayuga Health System has adopted to recognize that the land upon which the hospital stands was taken by force from the first inhabitants of this area. This dispossession is important to honor.
What is diversity? It centers on valuing different cultures, perspectives, backgrounds, and systems of belief. Herb shared a slide of people at a ballgame, showing Equality vs. Equity:
It easily shows how we must provide the appropriate resources and supports so ALL people can succeed. What works for one may not work for others.
Cayuga Health System is working to be much more inclusive. They have created a Wall of Flags, representing the various countries from which their employees hail. They are prioritizing diversity among the leadership, and have focused on the theme “Building a House of DEI,” making DEI everyone’s job. Herb stated that 80% of health happens outside of health facilities. We must make access available to all.
HAPPY DOLLARS
Donations designated for Community Grants:
- Nancy Potter: $20, Paul Martin is going to Costa Rica with George and her to work on bringing clean water to 85 homes, and for James Brown’s PHF
- Sarah Segal: $30, for her husband who is in Cuba right now on a humanitarian trip, and for today’s presentation
- Angela Sullivan: $3 + $2, for the Alcohol & Drug Council’s large project that is moving forward rapidly now
- Geoff Dunn: $5, for the upward trend of the club, and Go Giants!
- Larry Thayer: $20, for his 5th great-grandchild
Linda Brisson: $10, the Brissons made a connection with the Auburn Rotary Club, securing a $500 grant for the King Ferry food pantry (where they volunteer)- Melissa Tourtellotte: $20, thank you all for welcoming Cayuga Health to your last three meetings; it’s been a great opportunity for us to hear what’s important to you and for us to be able to share what we’re working on
THANK YOU ROTARIANS
Newsletter Reporter: Kelly Buck
Photographer: Mike Brown
Greeter: Aly Evans
Newsletter Editor: Loralyn Light
Set-up/Tear-Down: Dave Martin, Steve Johnson, Harlin McEwen, Gary Reinbolt
Set-up Zoom: Bez Thomas
Recording Archive: Paul Martin; click
hereClub Service Facilitator: June Losurdo
