Tuesday, September 20, 2005

                                           

                                          Calendar of Events                                                      

 

Last Week: 9/13   Big Brothers/Big Sisters – Janet Ostrov/Nicki Pezzulo

This Week: 9/20  Town In Bloom Recognition, Serotta Competition Bicycles

Next Week: 9/27  Beefalo – Hal and Joyce Davis – talk and beefalo for dinner!

 

Events Coming Up:     

Cloverpatch: 9/24            Tear down old bridges

Apple Run: 10/22             Fun Run/Walk - BH-BL Junior High School       

Apple Pie Festival: 11/8  Election Day – Senior High School Cafeteria    

 

Invocation: Garry Morrow, Dan Stec or Bob Youmans

Rotary Minute:  Need Volunteers

Greeter:            9/27: Dick O’Rourke     10/4 Fritz Neumann

                       

 Suggestions for future programs may be given to Linda LeTendre

 

News Briefs:
 
President Rey started the meeting with the traditional opening, “Pride in the Past”. He announced that all future meetings will be at the Homestead except for a special occasion when there are more guests than the Homestead can accommodate. Then, the Church Ladies will serve Rotary.
The CHS Welcome Van gift from BH-BL Rotary was acknowledged in a letter from the Director of CHS. The Glenville Club has donated $1,000 and Joe Bruno has been solicited for a grant from the State. Rotary Clubs who participate in this project will be named on the Van. CHS will sell Entertainment Books for BH-BL Rotary. Laura Linder expressed thanks from the 4-H for attendance at the Barbecue and invited all to the Breakfast, Sunday, Sept. 18th.
 The need for help with the New Orleans tragedy was discussed and a Rotarian Club President in Houston, Texas, has set up a central location for funds to be sent by Rotary clubs. Ken Crotty will receive checks payable to BH-BL Rotary or they may be made payable to the organization noted on the BH-BL web site. One check for the relief effort was placed in the Happy Dollars bucket. The Rotary Minute was sacrificed to the need for a longer program time.
 
Guests and/or Rotarians: Dr. Garrison introduced his Granddaughter, Amy Clemons.
Gini Whetten introduced Mali Naksanga, an exchange teacher from Thailand teaching Thai culture in Stevens Elementary school. There were no visiting Rotarians. Happy Dollars Time was opened with “Aloha”, an old Hawaiian greeting, and  many Happy Thoughts were expressed, including, “I’m just happy” I’m happy to be here to contribute” and many others. The bucket was full!!!! 
Remember the sign on the fence “Salesmen are welcome. Dog food is expensive”.
 
 Meeting Presentation – Big Brothers – Big Sisters
Janet Ostrov, Director of Partnership Development and Nicki Pezzulo, Development Officer presented the discussion of the Big Brothers – Big Sisters Organization and goals.  They serve four County areas including Schenectady, Albany, Rensselaer and Saratoga. They
 
 
 
 
are speaking to groups such as our Club to spread the word about the program and
encourage active volunteers to be Mentors to young people from all these areas. The
program matches a child in need of mentoring with a suitable Volunteer Mentor to show
the children another way of life. Most children come from low income , single parent homes and are in need of a relationship that will provide them with friendship and new experiences. The children need help in reaching their potential, to build confidence and
self esteem. They are poised to grow.
 
The two core programs are community based (100 years), with school based and site based with matches made on a geographic basis when possible. There is a partnership relationship with Skidmore College, Union College, Saratoga County and with Dorothy Nolan Elementary School. A similar partnership could be set up in the Burnt Hills – Ballston Lake Schools. Mentors spend time and give friendship to the child as they are motivated and able. Young children treasure the contact with an older person who is taking an interest in them. “Little moments – Big magic” comes with these precious moments of time.
 
The organization carefully conducts complete background checks, references, police records and there is a staff interview with many questions to assure the proper match of Mentor to child. The staff checks both the child and the Volunteer Mentor to assure the goals are being met. It is a hands on process for the Staff of Big Brothers-Big Sisters. There is staff contact throughout the relationship to assure the compatibility of the Child and Mentor.
 
The demographics show that the kids range in age from 6 to 14, and that they are served until age 18. Children older than 14 are not eligible. Mentors are never too old to be a Big Brother or Big Sister. Older folks like the contact with younger people, and it allows them to act “like a kid again”.
 
Three hundred sixty children are presently being Mentored. Approximately 3,000 children are in need of this help. The organization has been active for 100 years, and in the Capital District since 1965. The growth goal is to serve 1,000 children by the year 2007. The an-
nual budget is approximately $1,000,000. The budget covers the staff, services and continuing growth of the program. The need is great for new Mentors in order to allow every child in need of Mentoring to have this opportunity to grow into his/her potential.
 
Two Rotary volunteers were selected to read short stories written by children about their experience in the program. They were touching and expressed the value to the child of the Mentoring experience. Janet told about the experience of a child that started the program as a shy 11 year old who was able to grow, attend college and obtain an Engineering Degree followed by a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He is the President of Big Brothers-Big Sisters Capital District Organization. Posters, articles, and brochures were and are available to use for your business and to spread the word about this fine organization.
                                                                                                             (This week’s reporter – Doug Turpen)
 
Serve with us…the world is waiting.

                                               

                                                WEBSITES:

                BHBL Rotary:  www.bhblrotary.org  District 7190: www.capitalregionrotary.org                                                                                                    District 7190:   www.capitalregionrotary.org

Please communicate corrections, news items, program information and scheduled events to:Dick O’Rourke (372-8287) robrwo@aol.com or Gini Whetten (399-8905) giniwhetten@cs.com