WELCOME & TRADITIONS

• Angela announced that three of our upcoming Rotary meetings will be held on TUESDAYS, so mark these in your calendars:  Tuesday, May 6^th; Tuesday, June 10^th; and Tuesday, June 17^th.
• The next Rotary Board of Directors meeting is May 19^th.
• Bob Gravani reminded us of the Spring Highway Cleanup scheduled for Saturday, April 19^th to coincide with Earth Day weekend.  As usual, meet at the Tops Triphammer parking lot at 8:45 AM and then head out to Route 13 for about two hours.  Wear sturdy shoes and bring gloves and water.  Hard hats, colorful vests, and bags are provided.  If interested, let Bob know directly (rbg2@cornell.edu) or sign up on ClubRunner!
• Aly Evans announced that Foodnet/Meals on Wheels is having its signature fundraiser, the Mac ‘N Cheese Bowl, on May 7^th at the Ithaca Farmers Market.  Please come out to support this event to help with feeding our seniors.  Tickets are available at their office, on line, and at the event.
• Heidi Goldstein is looking for a co-chair for the Rotary Harvest, our late summer nutrition project that is “low lift but high reward.”  Please contact Heidi if you are interested!
• Don’t forget to sign up on ClubRunner for sorting sessions at the Triphammer MegaCenter on alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays: 

• Jeremiah Craig and Linda Pasto reported on the 2025 CNY Rotary District “Conference of Champions.”  They enjoyed the breakout sessions, with Jeremiah particularly enjoying “AI & Rotary” and “Global Grants.”  Linda Brisson was moved by the Parade of Flags that included our youth exchange students.  All of the exchange students had a fabulous time!  Also, there was a memorial service honoring three Ithaca Rotarians:  Steve Johnson, Don Hinman, and Jim Showacre.
• If you are a Rotarian in the Wild and have not yet claimed your “swag,” see President Angela.

Tina Nilsen-Hodges introduced Dr. Ingrid Zabel who is the Climate Change Education Manager at the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI).  In her role as an educator, Dr. Zabel admits she strives to make climate change science accessible to the public via exhibits at the Museum of the Earth and the Cayuga Nature Center, online content, teacher resources, and education programs for youth and adults.  She first began working on climate change research at the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State University by using radar to study the Greenland ice sheet and later surveillance radar at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory.

Data is showing that our average spring temperatures are sloping upward by 2.5 degrees from 1965 to 2024.  As reported by the Cayuga Nature Center, tracking of the sugar maple trees on site show new leaf buddings are trending earlier each spring.  Our region’s summer average temperatures are also trending upward, with projections starting at a baseline of 9 days of average temperatures over 90 degrees from 1981 to 2010, 24 to 42 days with temperatures over 90 degrees by 2050, and 35 to 70 days with temperatures over 90 degrees by 2080.  As the result, Tompkins County has established designated “cooling stations” located at the public library, areas on the Cornell University and Ithaca College campuses, and at PRI.

• Jean McPheeters: recently returned from a 3.5 week road trip to North Carolina and was happy to give an update on former Rotarian Laurie Linn who is living in New Bern.  Infamous for wearing black all the time, Laurie is now wearing colors!
• Dale Flinn: is a proud dad returning from CNY Rotary District’s Conference of Champions.  His daughter, President Lizzy, put on an amazing conference—with the help of her awesome team.
• Jack Roscoe: acknowledged that our guest speaker’s father, Roald Hoffman, was his Chemistry Professor at Cornell, which convinced Jack that English (not Chemistry) was the correct major for him!
• Nancy Potter: attended our great District Conference where she particularly enjoyed the subcommittee on international peace.  She recommended an upcoming webinar on May 7^th—“Positive Peace in a Polarized World.”
• President Angela: extended a special thank you to Bez Thomas for setting up everything for our meeting and testing his skills as a cinematographer.  She also extended a greeting to our Zoomers.
• Linda Brisson: expressed gratitude for all those that drove our exchange students to the District Conference, including Linda & Ed Pasto, Nancy Potter & George Gull, Jeremiah Craig, and Dale Flinn.

Nancy Goldberg, who recently celebrated her 90^th birthday, told us what she shared with her energetic grandchildren on how she stays invigorated with a positive attitude.  She shared these lifetime reaffirming goals:

• Avoid complaining
• Get enough sleep
• Set priorities
• Have a routine
• Focus on your strengths
• Practice gratitude

1. Serve the tea: to serve others rather than expect to be served.  Such a quiet gesture of hospitality starts a cycle of goodwill and increases shared empathy.
2. Show your teeth: smile authentically; smiles are a contagion that will spread warmth and foster meaningful connection.
3. Change places: putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.  Choosing to focus compassionately on others’ troubles brings out the best in others.
4. Think, don’t just feel: a safeguard against the intrusion of negative thoughts or worry, which are erased by the intentional devotion to reason.
5. Let it go: there is power and liberation in not reacting to the bad behavior of others.