WELCOME & TRADITIONS

President Angela Sullivan called the meeting to order followed by the recitation of the Four-Way Test with Angela’s signature fifth element, “Will it be fun?”  She then introduced our guests from the podium:

• Jason Freitag, speaker from  Ithaca City of Asylum (ICOA)
• Arthur Groys, panelist from ICOA
• Pedro X. Molina, panelist from ICOA
• Kathleen Gemmell, panelist from ICOA
• Rebecca Johnson, guest of Sherrie Negrea

• Sherrie Negrea tells us we can still join in the fun while showcasing the Ithaca Rotary Club in the Ithaca Festival Parade, which is scheduled for May 29^th from 5 to 7:30 PM.  Gather at 5 PM on Cayuga Street (an exact location will be announced).  Wear Rotary shirts, and our club will provide the signs.  A community member will be driving an electric vehicle for any Rotary member who would like to ride in the parade route.  We will be gathering for food and fellowship after the parade at The Strand Cafe (324 E. State St.).  If you would like to ride during the parade or have any other questions, contact Sherrie at sherrie@versatilewriting.com.
• President-elect Mike Katz sent a 5-Question Member Survey to club members requesting feedback on our most recent meeting venue change and any other club operational changes that concern club members.  Mike is looking for Committee Chairs in Community Service, Fund Raising, and Youth Services along with a new club Treasurer.
• Our Rotary Advised Fund (The Rotary Club of Ithaca Fund at the Community Foundation) has reached its goal of $10,000.Club members donated $6,300, and the matching gift of $5,000 was added.This fund supports our community grants, TST BOCES scholarships, TC3 scholarships, Ithaca Youth Bureau’s Rotary Soccer, and the CCE Ithaca Urban Beautification (Rotary Rotary and Rotary Foundation Shelter Box).Additional donations are still being accepted.
• Millie Clarke-Maynard has final applicant packets for the 2025 James L. Gibbs Memorial Scholarship.  Rotarians that signed up for the scholarship committee were asked to see Millie after the meeting.
• Richard Kops advised that our Rotary flags and banners are being stored in Frank Towner’s barn.  We would like to display pictures of these flags and banners on a computer at our meetings.  Does anyone have a laptop computer that they can donate to our club for this purpose?
• Sign up for ReUse Sorting sessions on ClubRunner (our online system tracks service hours) on alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays.  In addition, signup sheets were passed around at the meeting.

Paul Martin introduced guest speaker Jason Freitag, an Associate Professor of History at Ithaca College and on the Advisory Board of the Ithaca City of Asylum (ICOA).

Jason described Ithaca City of Asylum (ICOA) as providing a sanctuary for at-risk writers, journalists, visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, actors, and other creative people, “whose works are censored or suppressed, whose lives are threatened, whose cultures may be vanishing, or whose languages are endangered.”  It is an all-volunteer project of the Center for Transformative Action, a 501©3 nonprofit organization affiliated with Cornell University, and a member of the International Cities of Refuge Network, which promotes and advocates freedom of expression , democratic values, and international solidarity.  In addition to hosting writers and their families, ICOA organizes community events that explore and celebrate free creative expression.

• Paul Martin was happy to be at the meeting after being away for a number of weeks.  He had good news for Youth Exchange announcing we have two inbound exchange students for next Rotary year:  one from Japan to attend Ithaca HS, and the other from Finland who will attend Lansing HS.
• Dale Flinn was happy that our club achieved the goal for the Donor Advised Fund. We are ¾ through our Rotary year, and if you have not yet given to the Rotary Foundation, please do so.  Dale encouraged us to donate to Rotary’s polio eradification program, which we have not yet reached our goal.
• Jeremiah Craig was thrilled to see all the Rotarians that volunteered at Foodnet’s Mac ‘N Cheese Bowl!
• Mary Berens was happy to have ICOA give their wonderful presentation & see Pedro Molina whom she met previously at a gathering at her home.  Recently, she gave a pint of blood, considering it a valuable gift to our community.
• Mike Katz will be away next week to Sacramento, CA.

Jack Roscoe thought that with a political season coming up, we would be inspired by Barbara Alice Mann who is a writer, educator, and activist of Seneca origin.