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2022–2023
President: Mary Kane
President-Elect: "Les Six"
Vice President: Angela Sullivan
Treasurer: Kati Flynn
Secretary: Joanne Lamoureux 

Stories
News 2023-05-10
May 10, 2023
Reporter:  Gail Lyman


Wednesday’s meeting:
Dr. William Shang, Lab Director
Cornell Health
“Age-Related Muscle Loss:  the Kingpin of Chronic Disease”
 
COLTIVARE and on Zoom
Join the Zoom meeting


WELCOME & TRADITIONS

Mary Kane; photo Mike BrownPresident Mary Kane opened the meeting by leading us in the Four-Way Test.
 
She then introduced our guests:
  • Suzanne Smith Jablonski from the Downtown Ithaca Local Development Corp., guest of Gary Ferguson
  • Patricia Baxter, guest of Heidi Goldstein
  • Howard Reid, guest of Nancy Potter
 
President Mary acknowledged the powerful class of 2022 and 2023 by having the new members and their mentors (Sherrie Negrea, Aly Evans, Linda Pasto and Heidi Goldstein) wave.
 


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Aly Evans; photo Mike BrownIn her Thought for the Day, Aly Evans expressed a special blending of gratitude, community, and Rotary.  For the concept of community, Aly defined it as “a feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common interests and goals.”  Confirming what Confucius stated, “Virtue is never left to stand alone.  He who has it will have neighbors” and reinforced by the words of John F. Kennedy who said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”
 
Expressing her own personal gratitude for the outpouring of support from Rotary and the community-at-large to Footnet/Meals on Wheels on an ongoing basis, but especially for the recent and very successful 10th Annual Mac ‘N Cheese Bowl.  With over 1300 attendees, 722 votes cast for 23 competitors, and 30 information/vendors, the Mac ‘N Cheese Bowl displayed that the “Rotary friends volunteered, provided support (throughout the event), and were present.”  This show of support defines community.
 


ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • President Mary announced, for Jean McPheeters, that May was our Linen Closet collection and Soap for Hope month.  Bring your donated items to any of our May Rotary meetings and place them in the bins near the sign-in tables.  For the Soap for Hope drive, items include bar or dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper and facial tissue, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, shaving supplies, toothbrushes and toothpaste, moisturizing lotion, diapers (all sizes), hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies.  For the Linen Closet, bring gently used or brand new blankets, sheets, and towels.
  • Using phone call role play, Frank Towner showed how to invite a friend or co-worker to our 2nd Visitors Day on Wednesday, May 24th  from noon to 1:15 PM at Coltivare.  Please register yourself and your guest at this link by 5 PM on May 17th.  The program will be Olexiy Gusev, past president of the Lviv International Rotary Club, who will give an update on the school bomb shelter that our club has funded in Ukraine.
  • Mike Katz; photo Mike BrownPresident Mary then had each table discuss the guests that we were inviting to our 2nd Visitors Day.  A guest sheet was at each table to provide the names of our potential visitors.
  • Mike Katz is looking for monthly program chairs that coordinate the speakers for 3-5 meetings of any given month.   With some exaggeration, Mike emphasized that in this position “you are the gatekeeper, the goalie, the referee, the coach, the producer, the director, and the unsung hero behind every successful speaker.”  If interested contact Mike Katz at ithacafruit@gmail.com.
  • President Mary acknowledged those Rotarians that attended this past weekend’s District Conference in Clayton:  Heidi Goldstein & husband Jack, Linda & Ray Brisson, Kim Pugliese, Linda Pasto, and Angela Sullivan.
  • Mary Berens reminded us to support the Youth Exchange Program by attending the Ithaca Rotary Club’s Youth Exchange Dinner:  Thursday, May 11th from 5:30 to 8 PM at the Savage Club Hall.


LAST WEEK’S PRESENTATION

“Cornell University Local Economy Snapshot”
Susan Riley introduced our guest speaker, Kate Supron, who is the Campus-Community Liaison for Cornell University’s Office of Community Relations.  Kate works at the same office with two Rotarians—Susan Riley, Deputy Director of Community Relations, and Gary Stewart, the Associate Vice President of Community Relations and the host of the award-winning weekly radio show “All Things Equal.”
 
Kate Supron; photo Mike BrownAs a liaison between Cornell University and the at-large Ithaca community, Kate works with local governments, school districts, businesses, non-profits, and community groups, such as the Collegetown Neighborhood Council.  In addition, she meets with county residents in small informal outreach group settings that provide residents an opportunity to talk with a Cornell representative about community-campus topics.  Susan ascribes to the fact that these community connections lead to a timely sharing of information between Cornell and the broader community, a “nuts and bolts” approach to detailing Cornell’s operations and a daily focus on improving student services that work in partnership or in collaboration with the community.
 
Along with being a community liaison, Kate also gathers data and produces Cornell’s annual and widely circulated Local Economic Snapshot that offers a glimpse of Cornell University’s role in the Tompkins County economy.  The 2021 Snapshot numbers “were shockingly low and seriously impacted the community,” she stated; however, she is relieved to see the 2022 economic numbers rebounding.
 
Kate also clarified the misconception that Cornell does not pay taxes.  In 2022, the University was the 3rd highest taxpayer in Tompkins County, according to Cornell’s Local Economic Snapshot.  “We do pay property taxes, just not on properties that have an educational purpose,” Kate explained.  She proceeded to state that such taxes include East Hill Plaza and the Cornell Business & Technology Park.
 
Additionally, Kate reinforced the necessity of the snapshot:  “Outside of Cornell, we present (the snapshot) to the Chamber of Commerce and to local businesses.  We share it with nonprofits, our municipal partners, and throughout our county.  Cornell is one of the few universities that produces such data on an annual basis.”
 
To learn how to coordinate with this office, visit this website.
 


HAPPY DOLLARS

Happy Dollars were offered in support of our Community Grants program:
  • Mike Katz will enjoy scheduling recipients of our Community Grants to come and talk to our club
  • Nancy Potter; photo Mike BrownSarah Segal was happy to support Community Grants but shared sadness for her daughter-in-law losing her mother
  • Kelly Buck supports Community Grants and is thrilled to go to the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly completed Open Access Detox and Stabilization Center on Triphammer Rd.
  • Nancy Potter reports that George Gull is recovery well after surgery for his 2nd new knee
  • JoEllen Hedlund is happy to be back
  • Larry Robinson reminisced about the times he delivered jokes while he was our President by giving these humorous quips of how rock stars update their song titles to reflect their increasing age: …. Willie Nelson – “On the commode again”, Village People – “Got a letter from AARP,” and Helen Reddy – “I am woman hear me snore”
  • Larry Robinson; photo Mike BrownLoralyn Light announced that her birthday was today (the date of the meeting), but that she wasn’t nearly as old as Richard Kops!
  • Loretta Goss announced that the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers 2023 Spring Concert was slated for May 12th at IC’s Ford Hall.
  • Jean McPheeters; photo Mike BrownJean McPheeters spoke about seeing an Indigo Bunting for the first time this year, a rare treat and how it reminded her of past Rotarian Noel Desch who loved those birds.  She took a pen from her purse, which was from Noel’s funeral.  Written on it was a reminder that Jean said we all should remember, “every day is a gift.”
 
Immediately following Happy Dollars, Mary Kane led us in singing “Happy Birthday” to our birthday girl, but Loralyn was nowhere to be found!  As we were finishing singing without the recipient near, Loralyn arrived back from a trip to the loo and our great surprise.  We repeated our birthday song to her, this time in person!
 


THANK YOU ROTARIANS

Newsletter Reporter:  Gail Lyman
Photographer:  Mike Brown
Greeter:  Jeremiah Craig
Newsletter Editor:  Loralyn Light
 
Setup/Teardown:  Brad Carruth, Steve Johnson, Harlin McEwen, Dave Martin
Audio/Visual Setup:  Bez Thomas, Mike Brown
Recording Archive:  Paul Martin; click here
Club Service Facilitator:  June Losurdo
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