February 15, 2023
Reporter: Kelly Buck
Wednesday’s meeting:“Business of the Club”
Arden Podpora, former CU Rotaract President
“Climate-change Policymaking in Sharm El Sheikh”
COLTIVARE and on Zoom
WELCOME & TRADITIONS
NOTE: you can watch previous meetings by going to our YouTube
channel!
President Mary opened the meeting by thanking Mike Brown and Bez Thomas for their work on our on-going technology battles and figuring out how to get our meetings set up on Zoom. She then led the Four-Way Test.
President Mary then recognized guests and visiting Rotarians:
- Alice Kops, guest and wife of Richard Kops
- Eric Machan Howd, Ithaca College, guest of Paul Martin
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Gary Reinbolt gave the Thought for the Day, which was a quote from Mark Twain:
“We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it—and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove lid again—and that is well; but she will never sit down on a cold one anymore either.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our next meeting on February 22nd will be held at Coltivare. Rotarians are asked to please shift their usual eating plans and make it worth Coltivare’s while by buying the $15 lunch they put out for us that day; they are accommodating us in a last-minute pinch!
Richard Kops introduced our newest club member—his son Greg. Greg is their firstborn, and Richard describes him as being sensitive, kind, and empathetic—qualities we seek in Rotarians for sure! Greg shared a little about himself in a slideshow: his fiancée Simina lives in Romania, so he visits and works there every few months. He has four children and a dog. Greg came to Ithaca in 1998 as a Cornell student and stayed; his parents retired here to be nearby. He has good memories of Rotary when his father was in the Concord, CA club. Greg is a computer consultant and musician. Welcome, Greg!
Jeremiah Craig advised the group that he will be attending the Rotary Leadership Institute on March 4th and plans to learn as much as possible. President Mary urged others to go as well; it’s not too late to sign up, and the club pays the tuition!
The Concert for Ukraine is this Sunday, February 19th. PLEASE GO! Our club needs help running it. President Mary asked all members to “show up, help out, and give money.”
Brad Carruth passed around a sign-up sheet. We desperately need people to help with setup and teardown of our meetings, especially as he will be away soon.
Mary-Lynn Cummings and Bob Gravani announced that the Spring Highway cleanup will be held on Saturday, April 22nd (Earth Day) from 9 to 11 AM; meet at the Tops parking lot. Please consider helping out. Bob noted that Zero Waste Ithaca has put our club logo on all their materials, too.
FOUNDATION MINUTE
Steve Johnson gave a brief roast of our latest Paul Harris Fellow +3—Brad Carruth. Brad joined our club in 2015 and was sponsored by the late Barlow Ware. Brad shared some good memories of his life and his time at Rotary. Thanks and well done, Brad!
LAST WEEK’S PRESENTATION
Richard Kops introduced our speaker: Gina Tinker-Williams of the Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC).
Gina and her team understand that conflict happens, and it’s their mission to help people talk it out and work it out. Conflict is normal! The CDRC uses volunteers for mediators, conflict counselors, and board members. They begin with 35 hours of orientation, and then move to 6-9 months of mentored training and observation.
CDRC provides mediation services utilizing these well-trained volunteers who act as a neutral third party. These voluntary conversations usually help people reach the point of understanding, cooperation, and awareness so they can resolve their issues.
CDRC serves people in Tompkins, Schuyler, and Chemung Counties. They have five full-time staff and about 30 volunteer mediators. They took a hit during Covid, and they wish to add more. CDRC reports to and is certified by the court system.
HAPPY DOLLARS
Happy Dollars were offered in support of our Community Grants program:
- Mary Kane: $25 for all the work accomplished thus far on this coming Sunday’s Concert for Ukraine
Dale Flinn: $20, he has sponsored a team for the Ithaca Adult Hockey Association (for Rotary), and he normally gives the current President a jersey—but they ran short. Instead, Dale presented a hoodie to President Mary (complete with “1” and “Kane” on the back).- Linda Pasto: $25, her son and granddaughter are going to Guatemala on a mission trip; she’s excited and a little nervous.
- Richard Kops: $100, he’s starting a Paul Harris Fellowship in honor of his son Greg, who became a member of our club
- Perri LoPinto: $27, one dollar for every year she was fortunate enough to know and work with Dave Dunlop, a former club member who passed away last week.
Newsletter Reporter: Kelly Buck
Photographer: Mike Brown
Greeter: Tiffany Bloss
Newsletter Editor: Loralyn Light
Set-up/Tear-Down: Dave Martin, Steve Johnson, Harlin McEwen, Brad Carruth, Gary Reinbolt
Set-up Zoom: Bez Thomas
Recording Archive: Paul Martin; click
hereClub Service Facilitator: June Losurdo
“CONCERT FOR UKRAINE” PHOTOS
