February 14, 2024
Reporter: Katie Marks
Wednesday’s meeting:Amy Kremenek, President, Tompkins Cortland Community College
“Update on Our Community College”
COLTIVARE and on Zoom
WELCOME & TRADITIONS
NOTE: you can watch previous meetings by going to our YouTube channel!
Greeted by Rob Covert into a resplendent dining room adorned in red hearts and roses, Rotarians Don Hinman and Siu-ling Chaloemtiarana performed classic love songs as we gathered and filled our plates. This was a very Happy Valentine’s Day meeting full of sharing, song, and (Hershey’s) kisses!
President Geoff Dunn (one of “Les Six”) began our Valentine’s Day meeting at 1:20 PM, as Dale Flinn was under the weather (yet was able to join us on Zoom). Geoff reminded us that if we use a credit/debit card to pay for lunch, please ensure that you give a copy of the receipt to cashier Gary Reinbolt.
Geoff then pointed out a small dish on each table with pieces of paper, and instructed us to print our name on a paper, fold it, and put it back in the dish. Then assign a table chairperson and have that person be in charge until later… intriguing.
We then all stood and recited the Four-Way Test. Only two guests attended the meeting:
- Will Maynard, guest of Millie Clarke-Maynard
- Alice Kops, guest of Richard Kops
There were no visiting Rotarians.
NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTION
Sherrie Negrea introduced new member Ron Van Ormer. After many years spent in higher education, including eleven at Cornell in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, he recently became Managing Director of the Ithaca Voice. Ron lives in Ithaca with his wife, has two children ages 19 and 24, and was a member of the Corning Rotary Club. He looks forward to being a contributing member of the club and getting to know our members. Welcome Ron!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Heidi Goldstein announced that the Rotary Leadership Institute training will be held in Johnson City on March 2
nd. Several members from our club will participate in part 2, but Heidi encourages “newbies” to take part 1. It begins at 8:30 AM with breakfast and class, followed by lunch, another class, and then home. Carpooling is available! Cost is $35, but the club will reimburse you. Register online at
https://www.rlinea.org
Todd Nau reported on the previous week’s work at ReUse: only four volunteers showed up, but they were able to sort $1,341 worth of goods, yielding about $500 for Rotary. ReUse did provide extra hands since there were not many volunteers. We need more help in order to reach our goals! You can sign up on Tuesdays and/or Saturdays (10 AM–1 PM) on ClubRunner.
Incoming President Angela Sullivan just happened to be a Valentine’s Day baby. Pianist Siu-ling Chaloemtiarana led attendees in singing Happy Birthday to Angela on her special day.
No Thought for the Day was presented because February program chair Beverly Baker designed the program to give us MUCH to think about on this day!
LAST WEEK’S PRESENTATION
President Geoff then introduced a VERY special guest. While the Presidential March played, in walked a mustached man in rimmed glasses and tailcoats who began by saying, “I’ve been told I bear a striking resemblance to the handsome and talented Joey Steinhagen, yet I am actually no other than the 26th President of the United States, Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt.”
President Roosevelt graced the club with a short lesson on the history of President’s Month, and how over a century of celebrating both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays separately in February eventually led Congress to create President’s Day in 1971 (to honor all Presidents on the third Monday in February every year). Roosevelt was the President in 1905, the year Rotary was founded. President Roosevelt had us all raise our glasses and toast to all our past Presidents and directed us to the screen in front where the lyrics to “America the Beautiful” were displayed. Led by Don Hinman and Siu-ling, all joined to sing the patriotic song. Roosevelt also acknowledged all living past Presidents of our Rotary Club. Joey Steinhagen is the Founder and Artistic Director of Running to Places Theatre Company.
Millie Clarke-Maynard then came forward to tell us about Black History Month, but instead of talking TO us, she asked her audience to engage WITH her, and began by stating, “Black History is American History.” She shared a great
video about Carter G. Woodson, the Father of Black History. Her second video encouraged us to think about the things we use everyday and get to know who made them, demonstrating that Black History is American History and then showed the
video titled “Black Made That.” Millie finished by saying that while Black History Month is a time to celebrate, it is also a time to look forward and continue to think about and acknowledge the contributions of Black Americans.
Frank Towner then came forward (on Zoom) to talk about heart health and then about the heart itself.
In December 2017, Frank was out hunting and felt a bit breathless. In January, he was again outdoors and felt extremely winded—but he again dismissed it. Then on February 1, 2018, he had a heart attack. At the hospital, he learned that he had a collapsed artery, so two stents were placed in his heart. He’s still living life to the fullest—eating right, exercising, doing the right things and having camaraderie with friends and Rotarians and meeting new friends. In addition to nutrition and exercise, the heart also needs LOVE, which brings us to the last of today’s celebrations.
Valentine’s Day—a day of love and friendship—a day to remember and honor those we love and those who love us. “Love is a Many-Splendored Thing” tells us love is nature’s way of giving us a reason to be living. Very true. And, don’t forget LOVE is also the best good four-letter word! Today, your Rotary family wants you all to know that you are loved. The red heart favor in front of you was originally going to say “You are loved” or at least “Love”—but doesn’t because we thought some of you might want to pass that heart on with a thought of your own. But please do know that you are loved…and are so much appreciated for all you do for our community—especially through Rotary.
Although we didn’t have an official Thought for the Day, today is the perfect day to remember the lesson COVID surely taught us: We need to spend more time with the people we really care about…and doing the things we really enjoy doing!
We want you to have a wonderful, very special day. And we know that you have plans to assure your spouse, significant other, children, good friends, even just acquaintances…and, of course, your animal companions…how much you love and appreciate them.
Our ‘charge for the day’ is not to end the day until you’ve made at least one extra attempt to thank someone out there…perhaps someone you haven’t seen or spoken to in awhile…for being a part of your life. Hey, you might even want to do that before you leave this room today! We Rotarians are used to Sharing the Warmth but…let’s Share the Love! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Frank was wearing a bright red sweater in honor of Heart Awareness Month and Valentine’s Day! President Geoff commented on how good he looked!
HAPPY DOLLARS
Jean McPheeters: thank you to Beverly Baker for today! “You can see Beverly all over today.” She then urged all to give blood—which is where she was headed after the meeting and stressed the great need right now. Jean has donated over four gallons of blood to date. Please visit your local blood bank if you are capable of donating!- Mary Kane: Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone. She thanked Todd Nau and everyone for their insatiable work at Finger Lakes ReUse and urged all to volunteer. She just began a meditation on gratitude, so thanked us all for being the impetus for today’s gratitude.
- Jack Roscoe: the Savage Club had its 10th Valentine’s Concert at the Unitarian Church on Saturday, February 17th.
- Dale Johnson: happy about a serendipitous event while traveling in San Jose, Costa Rica upon meeting a couple whose son and daughter-in-law are host parents of our Rotary exchange student Margaux—so they got to know Margaux’s host grandparents!
Richard Kops: thankful for Beverly Baker today and shared a sweet story of when Alice and he were considering retiring to Ithaca seven years ago. They were outside on their son Greg’s porch. Beverly lives next door and had stepped outside. Richard went to introduce himself and upon discovering he was a Rotarian in California, Beverly told Richard he must be her guest at the Ithaca Rotary Club. It was because of Beverly that Richard chose this club.- Angela Sullivan: very happy today and thank you all for singing to her on her birthday.
- Siu-ling Chaloemtiarana: happy for Beverly Baker as she chose all of the music for this meeting. Beverly also wished us all a Happy Valentine’s Day.
President Geoff then asked Beverly to turn on her camera (Zoom), and there was a collective clap of joy with all sending Valentine's wishes to her!
Before adjourning, President Geoff mentioned that intriguing small dish of names at each table… instructing each table’s chairperson to select a paper from the dish, and if your name was chosen, you were given the red rose on the table (and a little plastic bag) to take home!
In closing, President Geoff rallied members in an old Rotary tradition, encouraging all to join hands and sing “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Siu-ling sat down at the piano for the final time, leading us all in song. So much love and sharing of hearts on this beautiful Valentine’s gathering!
NEW MEMBER APPLICATIONS
Name: Sophia Darling
Business: Tompkins Cortland Community College
Position: Vice President for Finance & Admin/CFO
Sponsor: Amy Kremenek
Name: Nancy Goldberg (transfer)
Business: Learning Foundations
Position: Director/Teacher
Sponsor: Mary Kane
UPCOMING SPEAKERS
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”
03/06 Mike Brown, Rotarian, “Pilots: Looking Down on People Since 1903”
03/13 Larry Baum, Rotarian, “General Aviation and the EHFC”
03/20 South Sudanese Partners; Gertrude Noden, coordinator, “Youth
Empowerment Tailoring Project”
03/27 Matthew Bull, Baden-Powell Council BSA Executive; Stacy Hall, Taughannock
District Executive, “The Boy Scouts of America: Not Just Boys, But Still Scouting
after 114 Years”
THANK YOU ROTARIANS
Newsletter Reporter: Katie Marks
Photographer: Mike Brown
Greeter: Rob Covert
Newsletter Editor: Loralyn Light
Setup/Teardown: Richard Kops, Steve Johnson
Cashier/Kettle Watcher: Gary Reinbolt
Audio/Visual Setup: Bez Thomas, Mike Brown
Recording Archive: Paul Martin; click
hereClub Service Facilitator: June Losurdo
