This Friday

Hi Everyone,

I hope you who celebrate Christmas had an excellent time with family and friends.

Last week we had our annual Holiday Party, and although the turnout was light this year, we did have a great time. The Risko’s provided us with great music to listen too. Eric sang a beautiful holiday song and Anne played nice background music!

This Friday, December 28^th, we will not have a formal meeting, but those who would like we can meet informally for lunch at the Briars. You can order off the menu and please remember our budget is $15 per meal which includes tax and tip.

I also want to wish each of you a very Happy New Year in 2019.

Mark J.
“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”
― Oprah Winfrey

This Friday

Hi All,

Happy Holidays to everyone! I hope you are having a great time celebrating with family and friends.

This past Friday, Chris DiSisto, from Ivy Rehab at Club Fit, was our guest speaker. I was not present, but I heard that his talk was helpful to all and prompted many good questions. My own experience with Chris and his staff, as a patient, was top notch, and I highly recommend them if you ever need such services. 

This Friday Julie Schwietert Collazo will be sharing about her immigration work. Here is a short bio: Julie Schwietert Collazo is a former social worker and creative arts therapist, turned writer-editor-translator, who holds a BA in English and Women's Studies from Emory, an MSW from NYU, and who has completed doctoral work in Spanish at Centro de Estudios Avanzados in Puerto Rico. She is the co-founder of Immigrant Families Together, which to-date has bonded out 58 family members from immigration detention since June 25, 2018.

Due to my work schedule, I will not be there tomorrow. Rachel, our President Elect, will once again lead the meeting. Thank you, Rachel!

Mark J.

This Friday

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to get this out early due to my travels from tomorrow and not sure if I will have access to the internet.

Last week Mike Sommer, the co-founder of The Cookstove Project, gave an inspiring presentation and update on the work being done in Uganda and Nepal. He recently visited Uganda, so his sharing was fresh with new information, photos and a short video. CSP is now employing 25 there, that is helping to expand the work to more homes. In total, 11,500 stove have been built over the last 5 years and the benefits to the families in both countries is life changing. Rotary has been an important partner in making this possible.

This week Chris DiSisto, the director of Ivy Rehab at Club Fit, will be our guest speaker. I have been a patient there and my personal experience with Chris and his staff has been excellent. Also Chris was generous and recently purchased an $100 ad in our journal. Knowing Chris, this should be an excellent talk on the good work they do. I hope for a big turnout this Friday.

Also there is plan to have Holliday Party on Dec. 21^st. We will be sharing more details soon. If you have any ideas please feel free to speak up.

Mark J.
“The master of the garden is the one who waters it, trims the branches, plants the seeds, and pulls the weeds.” 
― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration
Speakers List
Dec. 14^th Julie Callazo – About her work in reuniting refuge children

Dec. 21^st Christmas Party
Dec. 28^th ?
Jan. 4^th ?
Jan. 11^th Todd from Hudson Link

This Friday

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and have fully recovered from over-eating and too much rest!

Our last Friday meeting, two weeks ago, was planned as a joint meeting, but due to inclement weather we cancelled and will reschedule. There were a few of us there, which was a good for a more intimate discussion.

This Friday, Mike Sommer, co-founder of The Cookstove Project, will share about his recent trip to Uganda and the progress and results from working there for over 5 years. Also, Rebecca, Mike’s wife and co-founder, went to Nepal recently to spend time with our staff there, so hopefully Mike will have time to share about her experience as well.

I look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow. Please invite a friend to come.

Mark J.
“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” 
― Robert A. Heinlein

Dec. 7^th Christopher DiSisto – Director of Ivy Rehab (Club Fit)
Dec. 14^th Julie Callazo – About her work in reuniting refuge children

Dec. 21^st Christmas Party?
Dec. 28^th ?
Jan. 4^th ?
Jan. 11^th Todd from Hudson Link

Happy Thanksgiving week!

 
Happy Thanksgiving Week!

As you probably already know, we will not have a meeting this Friday. I want to wish each  of you a wonderful time with your family and friends!

See you on Nov. 30^th.

Mark J.

Joint meeting

Hi Everyone,

Happy first snow day! Luckily this will be a quick shot with little accumulation! New Yorkers chuckle at these amounts!

Last week Rachel’s good friend, Terry Casey, who is the CEO of Volunteers of America came and shared about the services they offer. The good folk working with this organization deal with some of the most difficult situations arising in people’s lives. You could tell that Terry is passionate about this work, and her leadership is what moves others to engage as well. Thank God for people like her.

Tomorrow will be our first joint meeting in a while, with Elmsford and Ossining Rotary Clubs. Our speaker will be the famous and entertaining Amir Asadi. He will be speaking on making connections through Rotary. Despite the wet roads, please make special effort to come and welcome our guests and let them feel the warm embrace of our club.

See you tomorrow!

Mark J.