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Tomorrow’s meeting:
Diane Cohen, Finger Lakes ReUse
Join the Zoom Meeting January 13, 2021
Newsletter Reporter: Reporter | Photos: Photos | Editor: Ted Schiele It’s been quite a week, President Geoff Dunn acknowledged as he opened the meeting last week, with lots of uncertainty and anguish. Geoff urged everyone to take a deep breath; there is hope, he said. One shining example of “hope” is the vaccination process underway at the Mall. Geoff reported that he had toured the Cayuga Health System clinic, set-up in the old Sears store space, and said it was going smoothly. He is grateful, he said, for the efforts that everyone is putting in, and urged all Rotarians to get their shot as soon as they are able. [Editor’s note: the slow pace of vaccine distribution has generated enough frustration to last the rest of the year, so be forewarned. (Note that I am not using “be patient!”) The Health Department’s vaccine web page is here, and we’re doing our best to keep it up-to-date.]  President Geoff asked Diane Cohen, Gary Ferguson, Chris Roscoe, and Doug Schmidt to lead us in the Four-Way Test.
Mike Brown gave the Thought for The Day. Mike quoted from a couple of authors — quotes that lately have been rattling around in his head. The first was from the Wee Free Men, by Terry Pratchett. The second was from a post by law professor Eugene Volokh in the Volokh Conspiracy blog: Queen Caroline, the wife of King George IV, was put on trial (in effect) before Parliament in 1820, on charges of adultery. One of her lawyers cited the Bible passage that ends with Jesus saying, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” This may have been inapt, since the defense was arguing that Caroline was factually innocent, whereas Jesus's was that we should forgive even the guilty (since none of us is without sin). But in any event, this led an unknown wag to write,
Most Gracious Queen, we thee implore
To go away and sin no more
Or if that effort be too great
To go away at any rate. Guests were introduced; there were no visiting Rotarians. Previously on “Rotary 14850 …” At the first meeting of the month (the one before last week’s), only the list of January birthdays was available, and the reading of Club Anniversaries was postponed until last week. And so, January Club Anniversaries were presented. Bob Gravani rounded out the list with 42 years of Rotary Services Above Self!
President Geoff reported that fellow Rotarian Mike Katz is seeking volunteers to help with Edible Arrangement deliveries over Valentine’s Day weekend: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 14. Masks and other safety protocols will be followed. As with his previous requests for volunteers (last Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day) Mike will donate $15 per delivery to our Club (it adds up fast). Please email Mike at ithacafruit@gmail.com if you can help out one or all three days. Mike sent details to me and that information is at the end of the newsletter. Note: Products are tightly wrapped, so snitching a chocolate covered strawberry here and there isn’t really possible!  Juliet Gibbs reported that nearly half of the 300 Dozen Dinner Draw (DDD) tickets have been sold, with (now) just 3 weeks left to reach 100%. All Rotarians are asked to share the messaging on social media and within their networks.
 At the meeting a presentation was given by one of the beneficiaries of this year’s DDD raffle: Family & Children’s Services. Three F&CS staff were on the Zoom call including friend of the Club Mike Ellis. Mike explained “KINECT,” the program that will receive funding from DDD. KINECT, Kinship Resources for Caregivers, provides supportive and educational services to promote safety and well being for children living with other relatives or family members.
 Maricelis Acevedo gave a presentation on Clean Water for Costa Rica, a Global Grant Project funded by Rotary International. Our Club has leveraged a $31,525 match from the Rotary Foundation for this important project. This is great Rotary work, here and abroad. Maricelis acknowledged the hard work and financial contributions made by Kathie and Brian Modisher, and by Kent Akins, who was there on the Zoom. Kent described the scope of this huge project — from laying miles of pipe by hand, to digging wells, to installing water pumps and windmills. Fresh water changes the whole dynamic of peoples’ lives in areas that had previously been without it. George Gull jumped in saying, “Every organization needs a Kent as a volunteer.” This is great Rotary work, admired and appreciated by all on the Zoom.
John Finn introduced today’s speakers, Miranda Phillips and Nancy Jacobson, co-leaders of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Finger Lakes Chapter. Together, they spoke on “A National Climate Policy with Bipartisan Support.”  The speakers were excited because a bill that has great potential to be passed and implemented is already before Congress. The Carbon Fee and Dividend Act may be just what our world needs. Earth has about 12 years to cut our global emissions in half before we pass the point of no return. One solution is a “carbon price.”
The basic premise is that a carbon use fee or tax is assigned to the use of fossil fuels. The fees start small but grow quickly and exponentially. These fees are passed along to the public where, history has shown, price drives decisions: when prices go up, consumption goes down. This is what we want — people unwilling to pay the taxes, so they seek out other options, and our dependence on oil, coal, and gas drops.  A unique feature of this bill, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, is that 100% of net revenue from the fee is returned to households as a monthly dividend. Miranda and Nancy said that by the tenth year of the program the annual dividend paid out to a family of four could be $4,410, helping to offset their own carbon costs. Financially, the average household in Tompkins County comes out ahead. The bill also creates new clean energy jobs, and NYSERDA can help with solar installation costs.
Nancy and Miranda emphasized that we need to advocate for this bill to get it through in Congress. Locally, Congressman Tom Reed has said publicly that he is seriously considering carbon fee and dividend, but he needs to know we have his back! The pair asked us to please consider sending a “virtual postcard” with your name, reasons why you support this act, and a photo to ny23@citizensclimatelobby.org, or complete the endorsement form at energyinnovationact.org/endorse. Learn more at the Act’s website, energyinnovationact.org. Get a lot more details by opening up the presentation slides here (opens a PDF).
Visiting Rotarians: None
Workers:
• Thought for the Day, Mike Brown
• Introductions, Rotary hosts introduced their guests
Zoom Manager:
Bulletin Reporter:
Photographer: Mike Brown
Bulletin Editor: Ted Schiele
Club Service Facilitators, Beverly Baker & June Losurdo
Sunshine Chair, Kellyann O’Mara
January 13, 2021
PROGRAM
Join the Zoom Meeting
- Valentines Day is Sunday February 14, 2021
- Volunteer deliveries Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of that week.
- Masks required, no drivers will be allowed into the store.
- All deliveries are Contactless Delivery — just knock and leave.
- Mike will donate $15 per completed delivery. 70 deliveries could raise over $1000.
From Mike’s email:
I'm trying not to hire strangers so Rotary volunteers would be appreciated if members are willing and able. I don't have shifts, but if people tell me when they can be available, we can work with that. Even a couple of hours at a time. My needs are: - Thursday 11-3
- Friday 10-3
- Saturday 10-4
- Sunday 10-4
It's fun to be delivering happiness and smiles in the form of fruit and chocolate!!
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