January 24, 2024
Reporter: Paul Martin
Wednesday’s meeting:Lizzy Martin, CNY Rotary President 2024–25
“Implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Ithaca Rotary Club”
COLTIVARE and on Zoom
WELCOME & TRADITIONS
NOTE: you can watch previous meetings by going to our YouTube channel!
“Les Six” President Heidi Goldstein called the meeting to order, followed immediately by the Four-Way Test.
The day’s guests were our speakers:
- Stacy Cangelosi, Interim Executive Director, Alcohol & Drug Council of Tompkins County
- Nancy Thompson, Community Quilting Center
- Wendy Marvel, Mechanical FlipBook
- Mark Arnon, Mechanical FlipBook
Jeremiah Craig distributed raffle tickets for a raffle to be held at the end of the meeting.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Cal Walker brought us the Thought for the Day, which is a reminder of our interconnectedness with others. Mack Travis shared it with Cal years ago:
“It is not at first with our own hands that we pick the acorns and apples from the commonwealth of nature to nourish our own bodies. It is the hands of other people that supply the needs of our bodies, both in our infancy and beyond.
“For each of us lives in and through an immense movement of the hands of other people. The hands of other people lift us from the womb. The hands of other people grow the food we eat, weave the clothes we wear, and build the shelters we inhabit. The hands of other people give pleasure to our bodies during moments of passion and aid and comfort in times of affliction and distress.
“It is in and through the hands of other people that the commonwealth of nature is appropriated and accommodated to the needs and pleasures of our separate individual lives, and, at the end, it is the hands of other people that lower us into the earth.”
Excerpted from James Stockinger in his critique of Locke, and quoted in the book The Good Society by Robert Bellah
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Heidi extended thanks to those who donated hats for Beverly J. Martin Elementary School.
The Ithaca Rotary Club is a member of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce. This means that any member can attend Chamber events, such as Business after Hours.
Paul Martin announced that the Youth Exchange team is looking for a host family for a student in the Ithaca City School District this spring. If you or someone you know would consider hosting a student, you can contact Paul directly.
Scott Riesenberger, the new Executive Chef and Director of Operations at Coltivare, shared with us that he is excited to help rebuild the business in our community. More to come next week!
LAST WEEK’S PROGRAM #1
President Heidi introduced Brigid Hubberman, who shared with us the work of “40 Quilts for 40 Beds”—a collaborative effort between the Community Quiltmaking Center and the Alcohol & Drug Council of Tompkins County.
The project isn’t just about quilts. It is about love, care, connectedness, and community. Addiction is a public health crisis that is affecting many people, families, and communities. In 2022, before the pandemic and before the new Open Access Detox & Stabilization Center, 249 community members had to leave the area to seek treatment. The new Center, founded by Angela Sullivan, provides local care. “40 Quilts for 40 Beds” was born in collaboration with Diane Cohen of Finger Lakes ReUse and the hard work and loving dedication of the Community Quiltmaking Center. ReUse provided space, and 40 organizing members and many others came together to show the clients of the Open Access Center love, compassion, and support.
Stacy Cangelosi then shared how clients are inspired by the fact that whenever their family and friends have given up on them, to know that people have invested the time and energy to provide comfort is meaningful.
Brigid told several stories and displayed beautiful quilts that the project created. Several are dedicated to those who were treated and/or suffering from addiction, and now over 60 have been made.
While the quilts cannot be given to the clients to keep, they are considering a plan to make pillowcases that clients could keep. Quilts are still being made, and everyone is welcome to join. Quiltmaking hours are 1-4 PM on Sundays at the ReUse MegaCenter in the Triphammer Marketplace.
LAST WEEK’S PROGRAM #2
President Heidi introduced Wendy Marvel and Mark Arnon, the artist duo of Mechanical Flipbook, a local creative company working out of the Ithaca Generator—a community of inventors, crafters, designers, engineers, and artists located at 233 Cherry St.
The artist duo creates both artistic pieces and products called FlipbooKit and Flip-O-Scope that allow kids of all ages to record a video, print provided labels, and then create a custom mini-movie machine.
The business began with a Kickstarter ask for $8,000, but ended up with $140,000! It is an extension of their artwork that they have been doing for years, including hats, Momentoscopes, and museum installations—working out of Los Angeles. But they had roots in Watkins Glen and actually did some of their first work there. Six years ago, they moved their studio and production to Ithaca.
Wendy and Mark work out of the Ithaca Generator where there are lots of media including metal, wood, leather, fabric, silk screening, electronics, ceramics, and lots more. All are welcome to join at “Share What You Made” sessions on Tuesdays at 7 PM. Memberships to use the space are available for $45 a month; the non-profit is looking for donations to support scholarships.
Wendy and Mark generously donated 3 flipboxes and supplies for the raffle, which were won by guest Nancy Thompson, Gail Lyman, and Cal Walker. The winners were instructed to bring them back to share once they are constructed!
HAPPY DOLLARS
- Angela Sullivan: thankful and happy for “40 Quilts for 40 Beds” and what it has done for the center that she helped start
Harlin McEwen: happy about what the Alcohol & Drug Council has done; he lost a grandson due to a fentanyl overdose and has made a donation to create the Chief Harlin McEwen Technology Room at the Center- Diane Cohen: happy for the spirit of collaboration and transforming unused materials into something beautiful
- Dale Flinn: in memory of Tom Collins, a long-time member of the Moravia Rotary Club, who died last week. He is also happy when he sees flags from all countries at large Rotary events—200+ nations, including those that are involved in conflict; Rotary ties them all together in making peace.
- Todd Nau: happy for the three people that worked Tuesday at ReUse; looking for more help next Tuesday (Jan 30th), 10 AM to 1 PM.
Kelly Buck: happy for skiing in British Columbia, and then at Stowe with Bob Gravani and others in February- Nate Lyman: Gail won the flipbook so he is happy that he has something to do this weekend, but sad that the Bills lost
- Mary Berens: happy for her daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law celebrating six years of sobriety; he speaks to medical students at BU and shares that over 500 people helped him, including medical professionals, employers, neighbors, and more.
Jen Harris: happy for the life of a recently passed grandfather; sad because he is no longer here- Loretta Goss: happy to be heading to Florida next week for the month of February
President Heidi thanked everyone who helped make the meeting possible, and for all who attended on this less-than-beautiful day!
NEW MEMBER APPLICATION
Name: Sarah Mirabile
Business: ReUse MegaCenter
Position: Location Manager
Sponsor: Diane Cohen, Gertrude Noden
UPCOMING SPEAKERS
01/31 Lizzy Martin, CNY Rotary President 2024–25, “Implementing Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion in the Ithaca Rotary Club”
02/07 Martha E. Pollack, Cornell University President, “Update from the Hill”
02/14 Celebrating: Presidents’ Day (nationally & locally), Heart Month, and
Valentine’s Day
02/21 Amy Kremenek, TC3 President, “Update on Our Community College”
02/28 LaJerne Terry Cornish, Ithaca College President, “Leading Through a Time
of Change”
THANK YOU ROTARIANS
Newsletter Reporter: Paul Martin
Photographer: Sherrie Negrea
Greeter: Larry Thayer
Newsletter Editor: Loralyn Light
Setup/Teardown: Steve Johnson, Sarah Segal
Cashier/Kettle Watcher: Gary Reinbolt
Audio/Visual Setup: Bez Thomas
Recording Archive: Paul Martin; click
hereClub Service Facilitator: June Losurdo
