Upcoming Events for Grand Island Rotarians & Friends
Event
January Morning Mtg
January Evening Mtg
Date
Jan. 13, 7:15 AM, Zoom
Jan. 27, 7:15 PM, Zoom
Plac
Zoom, Sherry sends code
Zoom, Sherry sends code
Morning Meeting on 7:15 AM Jan 13 (by Zoom)
Meet Our Newest Member
Be ready for interesting words on Wed. Jan 13 AM from our newest Member, Lieutenant Bassey Archibong, Corps Officer/Pastor of Tonawanda Salvation Army. As you should know, he replaced Major Celestin Nkounkou last summer. Lt. Bassey and his wife Lt. Ginikachukwu Onwuka Archibong are originally from Nigeria - attend this Zoom meeting for the real details, and hear some of his hopes for improving life in the Tonawanda and Grand Island area. As always, President Sherry will send you the ‘browser code’ for attending this morning meeting.
And While we are Thinking about Them -
Salvation Army of Tonawanda
Despite the pandemic, orange restrictions and all that - a big vote of thanks to our Members and friends who helped the Salvation Army RED KETTLE program at Grand Island Tops this past Holiday Season. President Sherry, Dick Earne, Jerry Barlow and particularly Lucas & Patrick Kruse from Rotaract and Interact who also worked sessions there. A stressful Holiday Season this year, Salvation Army needing more support than ever - all those folks came thru with extra service.
No Meat Raffle in March: those Continuing Pandemic Restrictions!
Dismaying, but uncertainties and possible risks (financial and otherwise) make hosting a Meat Raffle in two months unwise. We will keep the plans available - surely we return to 'normal' in the future, but when? ?
Let's Think about Grand Island Rotary: 2021/22
Common sense & tradition call for our Club to select Officers for the July 2021 / 22 year early (about now), to give those Officers time to prepare. Your Board had a good session last week, but questions remain, Before you sit back and say – let them sort it out – them is all of us. In a small club like G I Rotary, we must all examine our thoughts and commitment to Rotary. Because of health issues, Sherry Miller will not consider being a 'classic' President again, she must have 'full-time' support for organizing meetings and service projects. Think about your role in our Club: how can you as a Club Member ensure a successful year? We are seeking anyone who would like to join the board as a Director. Plus:
Volunteer to participate in a POD then follow up with program ideas and meeting activities.
Volunteer to set up and run the Zoom call for a meeting.
Volunteer to be the chair or team member for Highway Clean-ups, Undie Sunday, Shred-It or Bell Ringing. If you have a service project you want to champion it can be proposed to the board.
But Even Before Next Year: Undie Sunday is Coming!
Here is the best example of our current (and future) problem:
We cannot just sit back and let President Sherry try to organize and handle everything about Undie Sunday, a classic February project - we have run it for years; there are good plans and procedures available - please don't just sit back and assume President will handle it - talk to Sherry about taking some part of this very important project!
The High School Interact Club, under new Advisor, Kari Nowak, and Rotary Contact, Mike Billoni, collected hats, gloves, toiletries for the homeless or disadvantaged, during the Holiday Season, with drop-off sites at Island Dispatch office and Dollar General store for Community Mission, Niagara Falls. After Interact students loaded her car, President Sherry delivered the much needed supplies to Niagara Falls; we are sure to see more efforts by Interact, hopefully when Grand Island High School achieves 'regular' operation.
Neighbors Foundation Completed
Major Effort despite
Pandemic Surge during Holiday Season
A wrap-up of Neighbors Foundation activities as that Covid dominated year of 2020 ended: You remember Grand Island Rotary started the Foundation back in the 1970's, and realized that it would be best for Foundation's future that it have a range of workers, Directors from the entire Grand Island community. 2020 was a difficult year, requiring as little face-to-face contact as possible, particularly as the Covid surge hit in Holiday Season, when traditionally the Foundation provides extra help. This year we deliberately collected minimal food, concentrated on giving out Tops gift cards (to over 50 families) to let them get food, even turkeys, on their own. There were also Target gift cards for kids & teens and Say Cheese dinner certificates as a little something extra. Very expensive financially, but all the Island came thru - Foundation had their best ‘Share Your Happiness’ fund drive in years. More individuals gave, several large donations helped particularly, organizations and local corporations gave, including several good sets of gift cards themselves. The Foundation still needs help refilling their treasury, consider sending check to Neighbors Foundation at P. O. Box 155 Grand Island NY, or donating on-line thru their web site http://www.gineighbors.org
Grand Island Rotary Club Officers and Directors for 2020 - 21
Volume 3 | Issue 6 (1/13/2021)
