Home Page | Rotary Club of Grand Island

Welcome to Grand Island Rotary!

Service Above Self

Grand Island Rotary is following a 'Flexible Meeting' Concept, aiming for 2 meetings per month. Please see the Calendar attached to this Web Site for Club meeting schedule and venues.

Holiday Inn Express or Buffalo Launch Club
Grand Island, NY 14072
United States

President

Secretary

Treasurer

Past President

Director

Director

Director

Director

History of Grand Island Rotary - 60 Years of Service

Sequence of G I Rotary Presidents thru the Years

Paul Harris Donors through Grand Island Rotary

We Showed Rotarians at Work (in the Rain)

Posted by Sherry Miller on Dec 11, 2018

Showing Rotarians Work and Brave the Weather!

Grand Island Rotary tried something new this year – G I Chamber had Light Up Boulevard parade as Holiday Season started (Dec. 1). Surprising number of spectators watched us march, including 3 Interactors, with Rotarians at Work banner, lighted truck with reindeer followed in gloom. Yes, it was drizzling, but not bitter cold, got good comments on our hardiness! We have learned a lesson: next year we need a Hot Air Balloon Burner to really Light up the Boulevard, and our marchers!

Light Up the Boulevard for Holidays

Posted by Sherry Miller on Nov 14, 2018

Helping Light Up the Boulevard

Grand Island Rotary will help the GI Chamber of Commerce and other Island organizations bring in a well lit Holiday Season on Saturday, Dec. 1, 5 PM, after that unique Rudolph’s Run. Our truck with hundreds of lights – some modern LED’s, some old strings ‘almost antiques’, brings light to Grand Island Boulevard, then leads Rotary & Interact walkers plus everyone to the Town Holiday Tree Lighting in Town Center near Rotary Gazebo. Santa will be in Town Hall for kids, eats & treats in Town Center, lots to do. Maybe you will need gloves, ear muffs, scarfs; even so, come enjoy warm community spirit.

Support Rotary Foundation and its Projects

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Nov 01, 2018

Rotary is dedicated to six areas of focus to build a better world (Promoting peace, Fighting disease, Providing clean water and hygiene, Saving mothers and children, Supporting Education, and Building local economies). To support these efforts and end polio forever, over 1 million Rotarians have provided untold hours of effort and over Three Billion dollars through the Rotary Foundation in the past 100+ years. Steady, yearly, contributions keep this tremendous effort going. Having every Rotarian giving ($25 or $100 or more!) and working (local, District or International projects) will insure this tremendous Tradition of Service continues into the future. The number and scope of projects supported might overwhelm the mind – except that when we do it, one check at a time, one hour of service at a time – we can look back and see tremendous accomplishment!

Ukraine Educators see STEM in Action in WNY

Posted by Faye Teluk on Oct 30, 2018

Five Ukraine teachers, educators, were shown several aspects of educating youth and young adults in STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, medicine by Grand Island Rotary last month. Part of the Open World exchange program – U.S. Congress sponsored, having brought more than 26,000 current and future leaders from post-Soviet era countries to US to see our free enterprise and democratic processes in action. Science wings of schools in Alden, Lancaster and Grand Island, technology training of young adults at the Northland Industry center and at Cannon Design on Grand Island, plus aspects of WNY life (and the Falls!). Meetings and dinners with Buffalo Medical Corridor and Grand Island Rotary Clubs. A busy week for Ukrainians, an interesting and informative week for G I Rotarians also.

Adopt-A-Hiway in Rain!

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Oct 28, 2018

Thank goodness for TOUGH GI High School Students and Advisor Mandy Myers. Yes, our Fall Beaver Isle Pkwy clean up had a 'bit of rain'. But 10 students and 7 Rotarians showed TRUE GRIT and got the job done, even extending onto the ramps near bridge. It is sometimes difficult, and please don't touch the road kill, but we thank all who braved the cool, damp, and allowed all to be more proud of our highways. Pray for good weather in May when we are back.

GI Rotary Welcomes Ukrainian Study Group

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Oct 11, 2018

Five Ukraine teachers, educators, will be here in Western NY as guests of the US Congress and of Grand Island Rotary from Oct 12 – 20. Rotarians will show them several aspects of educating our youth and young adults in STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, medicine. Science wings of schools, technology training centers, plus several unique aspects of WNY life. How do you start such a tour? Dinner at the Dnipro Ukrainian Center on Genesee St. of course! Remember the Dnipro River flows thru Kyiv on its way thru the heart of Ukraine on its way to the Black Sea.

Rotary Action - Beyond Fund Raising

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Sep 26, 2018

Rotary Action: Fund Raising and So Much More

For 30 years, 1988 – 2018, Rotary Clubs like Grand Island have worked under Rotary International and governments, foundations to ERADICATE POLIO. Polio, long gone from North America, still produced millions of disabled folks a year, 30 years ago. Money ($700 Million from Rotary just since 2010) and Rotary volunteers helped the dramatic reduction such that now less than 20 wild Polio cases per year, and in only 3 countries. As the Eradicate Polio goal nears, here is an example of Actions Rotarians around the world take beyond ‘just’ raising $’s. Improving organization and record keeping, key to successful Polio vaccination and other health care improvement, Pakistan Rotarians are giving cell phones to local health workers so that vaccination teams can be sent rapidly to critical areas and results logged in, called back promptly. Rotary efforts include thoughtful Action, in addition to their massive money raising.

Taste of Grand Island Offerings!

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Sep 08, 2018

Rotary will be there at Taste of Grand Island, Saturday, Sep 22, near the Rotary Gazebo in Town Center, Whitehaven Rd. Get raffle tickets on the Big Lottery Tree, one sure to give you exciting chances for a variety of Lottery winnings, plus taste the empenadas that are a hit at Tonawanda Canal Fest (from the Salvation Army booth there) – we will also have unique Grand Island scene coasters. All as Rotary raises funds to support High School scholarships, Miracle League field upkeep, and so much more.

Annual Donation to Miracle League

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Aug 11, 2018

G I Rotary will make their annual donation to help with upkeep of the Miracle League field on Grand Island, on Sunday, Aug. 19, 1:45 PM as another game is about to start. The Miracle League field, Tee-ball size, with a special rubberized surface to eliminate injury if a player stumbles or falls, allows wheelchair bound or other challenged youth, to have the thrill of participating in ball games. Next to the ball field is a unique handicapped-accessible playground, also with rubberized, safe, surface. Rotary is proud to have helped with financing, construction, and maintenance of both facilities – come out Sunday afternoon, Aug. 19, and see, maybe participate in, the joy that is brought to challenged kids.

Picnic Meeting to Honor Students

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Jul 27, 2018

An excellent picnic meeting of Grand Island Rotary last evening (7/25) at the home of John & Linda Harbison. A chance to honor seniors from this year at Grand Island High School. Maria Schnettler and Elizabeth Kretevski received $1000 scholarships to help their further education, while they and 7 others – Sara Wolcott, Arthur Meaney, Abigail Czerwonka, Jenna Tavano, Megan Shickluna, Yusaf Mojawalla and Megan Staley, all received Student Recognition Awards in honor of their service in the local and nearby communities. Those awards, plus induction of new Rotary member, Faye Teluk, made for a full evening, but we still had time to eat (of course, we always do)! The combination of students, 13 Rotarians, several parents and other friends produced a full evening of fellowship.

New Rotary Year - New Venue

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Jul 19, 2018

Well, I didn't have my Iphone camera handy at the 7/18 breakfast meeting of GI Rotary at Grand Island's new Holiday Inn Express. So there is no photo of Director Brian Graham explaining results of Member survey we had just completed (almost 100% response!) showing both our successes and where we can get better. As we document future events and activities here, you will see results of that survey. Then we had a tour of this new venue – here’s where my forgetting Iphone camera means I have to show you stock photos of some features. Good meeting room for us (next to buffet!), rooms taking advantage of its park-like setting, good exercise room, unfortunately no stock photo available of the unique handicapped accessible pool! Looking good for future meetings here!

Wonderful End to Great Rotary Year

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Jun 21, 2018

Wonderful End to a Great Rotary Year
Grand Island Rotarians journeyed down to Derby on cliffs overlooking Lake Erie (actually the ‘new’ boutique SunCliff) to enjoy dinner and celebrate a successful year! Past Member Dr. Dave Johnson has a new career turning a palatial 1920’s site into a new venue. Members and their spouses enjoyed the view, a special tour, plus excellent food, as they gave special Paul Harris recognition to Directors Chris Learman & Hank Kammerer, plus special thanks to outgoing President Mike Heigel. John Harbison was singled out for his recent award from the GI Lions Club, and Dick Earne, as Incoming President, got great support for his plans in 2018 / 19. From the photo, you might think Dave Johnson is expounding on a great vintage of chardonnay; no, he is explaining about sanding, painting, and dealing with Planning Boards as SunCliff becomes a reality!

Ending Rotary Year with Style

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Jun 12, 2018

Great Event to end Rotary Year
President Mike Heigel has worked with Past Member (and Past President) Dave Johnson, to arrange a President’s Dinner night we will remember for some time. A new dinner & conference venue on cliffs overlooking Lake Erie – SunCliff in Derby! What a grand way to celebrate a turn-around year for Grand Island Rotary. Before a note-worthy dinner, a tour of this newly refurbished venue with its wonderful setting as the sun sets into Lake Erie. Wednesday, June 20, we are all looking forward to it!

Document Destruction: Shred-It! June 9

SHRED-IT is Here! – Saturday, June 9

Safe, reliable, document destruction done while you wait, or just as safe - after you drop off your boxes of those old financial or tax papers. Saturday, June 9 at the Key Bank end of the Tops Parking lot, Grand Island. Only $10 per box to give you peace of mind and free up some file cabinet or storage space! Grand Island Rotary offers this activity to raise funds, particularly for its support of the Miracle League Field at Veterans Park, providing accessible sports and playground for challenged youth. The SHRED-IT activity is sponsored by Christine A. Learman, CPA, PC.

Wardinski Sausage Business from Inside

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on May 24, 2018

No Recipe for Polish Sausage – Instead Fascinating Business Background

Skip Wardinski, 3^rdGeneration President of Wardinski Meats provided a great evening for G I Rotarians at the Launch Club on May 23^rdas Club President Mike Heigel knew Skip from business contacts. Thus from Skip - little hints about what makes their sausage and hot dogs so delicious, but more importantly, an overview of challenges in his industry. The influx of national ‘cut-rate’ items, the need to source high quality meats, staffing an operation with real workers, useful yet economical employee benefits (give-away price for dogs slightly undersize!). A delightful evening showing the advantage of Rotarians having contacts thru-out the business world.

With Help! We got Parkway Cleaned Up!

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on May 19, 2018

Great Help to get Beaver Isle Pkwy Cleaned Up for Spring!
Yes, the weatherman threw us a curve (rain exactly in the 8 – 10 AM cleanup time, sun after!), but with the help of 10 GI Hi School students, Beaver Island Parkway got a Spring Clean-Up by Grand Island Rotary and their helpers. We’ve said it before: it takes cooperation and Partnering for a small service Club to accomplish good works. So Rotarian Chair, Sherry Miller, arranged High School students (who wanted community-service time anyway) to help our Spring Parkway cleanup. They were not deterred by rain – they smiled, tho maybe unhappy with the conditions. We thank them for their help – we couldn’t have done it without them!

Beaver Isle Pkwy Cleanup

Posted by Sherry Miller

Our Semi-Annual Cleanup of Beaver Isle Pkwy is here, May 19. Join us 8 AM in the front parking lot of Kaegebein School at Love Rd and the Parkway. A quick cup of coffee, then fan out for an hour or two to bag up the trash and scraps along that beautiful roadway toward Beaver Island park. Several High School students will join us for this project to beautify an important entrance to Grand Island's most scenic park. Sure, it's a bit of effort, but in a good cause, and some walking along the grassy berms of the roadway will probably do us some good!

International service brought Home!

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Apr 28, 2018

International service came home to WNY at the GI Rotary, Apr. 25, meeting at the Launch Club. Current UB student, Matthew Falcone, (and member of the Rotary-guided Rotaract Service Club at UB) journeyed to Tanzania in 2015, saw the critical need for purifying water there – GI Rotarians had seen the same need 10 yrs ago in Ethiopia, as girls were forced to scoop water from a cattle field for their families. We financed a well then; a big help, but expensive and needing constant maintenance. Now a grad student in Civil & Environmental Engineering at UB, Matt Falcone is working on a reliable, long term solution – a parabolic solar trough device using plentiful, strong, sun light of tropics to sterilize water without expensive chemicals that need constant replacement. His work needs trials on-site in Tanzania to refine the device, but is real progress. We in Grand Island Rotary saw the benefit of Rotarians working with service minded, students from Rotaract groups who have those new, bright ideas that will truly help the world. You can learn more about Matt Falcone’s effort to return to Tanzania at the University at Buffalo Crowdfunding Tanzania project.

A Nature Trail thru Us!

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Mar 19, 2018

Interesting program coming to GI Rotary at their Mar. 28 dinner at the Launch Club. A nature trail along the Niagara River from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario sure sounds like a great idea. Would Grand Island be involved? Well, we are the STAR of the Niagara River region, aren’t we? Why wouldn’t we be involved! Greg Stevens and Gerald Kelly will described the Niagara Greenway’s plans and hopes for this project. Grand Island should / must be involved!

Meat Raffle - A Partnering Success

Posted by Michael W. Heigel on Mar 07, 2018

Waving Dollar Bills at Rotarians makes for Success!

(But only when we organize and use Partnering.) Grand Island Rotary’s Meat Raffle to support Growing Readers, was a great success. GI Rotary is now a small group, yet we had a full house at the K of C Hall, bidding for excellent meat packages, waving Dollars at our Runners! That’s because we were PARTNERING with a G I School committee dedicated to buying ‘Read-to-Me’ books local pediatricians will give to new parents, encouraging them to read to their toddlers. The combined forces brought out both attendees and workers. We in Rotary thank all who came / bought / ate (and will eat) supporting Growing Readers, and we see that PARTNERING between Rotarians and School committee made the project successful.

So Close to Eradicating Polio

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Feb 23, 2018

Great article on Rotary’s role in ERADICATING POLIO from the world in the Toronto Sun of Feb. 16, 2018. Here’s the highlights: In 1979 there were still 400,000 cases in world. Public health groups had cleared the developed world – BUT! Rotary International stepped up, started 3^rd World vaccinations with help from Bill Gates Foundation so that by 2017 ONLY 22 cases in entire world, even Nigeria almost clear. Only Afghanistan & Pakistan are left – Rotary volunteers are now surveying bus stops and border stations to vaccinate every youth among travelers and refugees in those countries. An example – Ramish Ferris, polio in Pakistan 40 years ago, now a Canadian citizen and Rotarian, shown back in Pakistan giving vaccination drops to child in a camp in Pakistan. Rotarians can change the World!

Search on ‘Toronto Star polio article’ to see details.

Undie Sunday All Week Long

Posted by Dick Earne on Feb 01, 2018

Grand Island Rotary is encouraging Grand Islanders to buy and donate packages of underwear, socks, etc for homeless men at Buffalo City Mission, and women & children at the batter women's shelter, Cornerstone Manor. Hampers will be placed at churches, schools, Tops, Town Hall and G I Library to receive those contributions. Men at City Mission, women and children at their shelter, all are in need of new underwear, socks, etc, particularly in this winter season. Please help us help them.

Meat Raffle: Fun and School Success!

Posted by Michael W. Heigel on Jan 08, 2018

Meat Raffle for Fun and School Success!

On Saturday, Mar. 3, Grand Island Rotary will host a Meat Raffle, primarily to support Growing Readers, a G I school program to develop literacy among Grand Island youth. While patrons are having a fun evening: wildly bidding and taking chances of excellent meat packages, they will also be supporting a program to buy ‘Read-to-Me’ books and have local pediatricians give them to new parents, encouraging them to read to their toddlers and youth. The program has been shown to really make youth interested in reading themselves, giving a proper start toward school. A FUN time, great EATING after, and a worthy LITERACY project gets support! Tickets are $10, giving you beer/wine/pop – bring a cooler and some $1 bills to the K of C Hall, Whitehaven Rd. Grand Island; when you leave you will have great eating awaiting you, and you will know you have helped Growing Readers become good students. Call (716) 773-6020 or Email: Meatraffle2018@gmail.com for tickets or information.

Encouraging Kindness in Youth

Posted by Henry G. Kammerer on Dec 13, 2017

Holiday Concert showed more than talent – students thinking KINDNESS! G I Rotary combined their December meeting with Kaegebein School Holiday Concert, preceded by dinner in cafeteria. Tables were decorated with KINDNESS CHAINS where Early Act members and other students had made a link after they performed a Random Act of Kindness at Home or School. School teachers and administrators are finding that the negative: Don’t Bully does not work nearly as well as the Positive: Try Random Acts of Kindness! A great chance for Grand Island Rotarians to see what really works well in developing kindness and service in youth, while minimizing awful instances of bullying.

Success as an Entrepeneur

During the Oct. 25 meeting of G. I. Rotary at the Buffalo Launch Club, Mike Ludwig described his progression from a 'Dry Wall Installer' to a successful Entrepreneur. Mike, along with his wife and with financial advice from Christine Learman CPA, created and grew Island Pet Lodge to the leading pet care facility on the Island. Features such as 'Doggie Day Care', television set playing animal shows for their guests, suites to allow doggie pairs to stay together while boarding, supervised and cushioned outdoor play yard, all left the non-pet-owners at the Rotary Meeting shaking their heads in disbelief. However it did show everyone what it takes to have a successful pet boarding operation in this age. These 'Vocation Successes' stories are part of the Rotary mission to help develop vocational service, along with community and youth service, among its Members and the larger Community. The photo shows Rotary Member John Harbison, Rotary President Mike Heigel, with speaker Mike Ludwig and Rotary Director and advisor to Island Pet Lodge, Christine Learman. Then a photo from Island Pet Lodge showing pure enjoyment during a stay there.

Welcome to Grand Island Rotary!

Service Above Self

Grand Island Rotary is following a 'Flexible Meeting' Concept, aiming for 2 meetings per month. Please see the Calendar attached to this Web Site for Club meeting schedule and venues.

Holiday Inn Express or Buffalo Launch Club
Grand Island, NY 14072
United States

District Site

Venue Map

Grand Island Rotary History

Medical Clinic in Haiti

Grand Island Rotary Club Mission Statement:

Welcome to Grand Island Rotary!

Service Above Self

Grand Island Rotary Club Mission Statement:

Welcome to Grand Island Rotary!

Service Above Self