Rochester Rotary Club 2021

Weekly Speakers

Masters Tournament Raffle

Medical Mission in Guatemala

fOur Club meets weekly at the Rochester Community House, 816 Ludlow Ave, Rochester, MI. Weekly meetings start at noon and conclude by 1:30. If you can't attend in person, you may join us online. All Zoom meetings are recorded and posted online for viewing later. Please join us on Tuesdays at noon by clicking here to join us online! The passcode is 317669.

Welcome to the Rochester Rotary Club!

Our Newest Paul Harris Major Donor

Paul Harris Fellows

On April 5, 2022, Jerry Carvey became our newest Paul Harris Major Donor! Jerry has been an active member of our club since March of 1977. He served as club president in the 1985 - 86 Rotary year.

The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute or have contributions made in their name of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation.

Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.

Many notable figures have been named Paul Harris Fellows, including Mother Teresa, U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk.

However, the majority of Paul Harris Fellows are Rotarians. Over 50% of Rochester Rotarians are Fellows. Our current members have purchased a total of 226 Paul Harris awards! Currently, eight members are considered “major donors,” giving over $10,000 each. One member is an “Arch Clump” donor, having donated over $250,000!

Internationally, the number of Paul Harris Fellows reached the 1 million mark in 2006.

We extend congratulations to Jerry on reaching his major donor status!

Masters Tournament Winner Announced

On March 15^th, the Rochester Rotary held its drawing for a trip f.or two to the Masters Tournament in August, Georgia. Two hundred fifty-two tickets were sold, and $835 was raised as part of the live auction. Almost $10,000 was raised, which helps support organizations like Neighborhood House, Casa Colibri, Dutton Farm, scouting, college scholarships, and leadership training for young people.

This year’s winner was Bob Carabelli! Coincidently, Bob’s friend Tim Crawford won the raffle\ in 2018 and took Bob as his guest. “Fair is fair, so Bob will be taking me this year!” joked Crawford. Lars Nordberg was the raffle winner last year and he too will be attending the tournament this year

Rotary President David Eardley said, “This is the fourth year that Rotary has raffled off a trip for two to the Masters. The trip includes a round trip, charter flight to Agusta, tickets to the Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, hotel accommodations, and meals.”

The Rochester Rotary Club consists of about 100 individuals living or working in Rochester, Rochester Hills, or Oakland Township. The Club meets for lunch every Tuesday at the Rochester Community House.

The Club’s website (www.rochesterortarycub.org) provides more details on club activities.

$3,000 Grant made for Youth Self Care Kits

Rochester Rotary Announces $3,000 Partnership with RAYA

Works with Teen Council to address Mental Health Challenges

Recently, the Rochester Rotary Charities voted unanimously to provide a $3,000 grant to the Rochester Area Youth Assistance (RAYA) Self Care Kit Initiative. This program, organized by the RAYA Youth Council, is focused on addressing the mental and emotional well-being of their students in middle school and high school.

“One of Rotary’s main focuses is youth. We felt that this was a vital way to help local youth cope with the added pressures caused by the pandemic,” states Rochester Rotary Charities President Ron Diliddo.

2021 Annual Christmas Party

Last night we held our annual Holiday Party in the Conservatory of the Royal Park Hotel. It was so good to see so many Rotarians and their spouses.

Goodwill and Community Spirit

Rochester, MI - Life in Michigan, the United States, and the world is filled with competition and conflict; however, we see hope and caring come together in cooperative service to those in need during the holiday season. The holiday spirit is particularly apparent in a recent poinsettia plant sale conducted by the Rochester Rotary.

For over three decades, the Rochester Rotary has conducted an annual poinsettia sale. Over 100 Rotarians sell the plants, which will decorate public and private spaces around southeastern Michigan.

“What impressed me this year was the degree of collaboration the poinsettia sale created among our members and other community groups,” said Rotary President David Eardley. “Of particular note is the project to deliver poinsettias to over 300 Meals on Wheels participants.” The plants were grown by Bordines Nursery, sold by the Rotary Club, paid for by Michael and Christine Nicholson, delivered to the OPC by Dillman & Upton and Frank Rewold & Sons, and distributed through the OPC Meals on Wheels program. “This wonderful project has brought such joy to seniors in our service area,” said OPC Director Renee Cortright. “It is just another example of how people in Rochester can pull together to serve others.”

“This year, we sold over 1,550 plants,” said Blake McLellan, the project manager for Rotary. “These plants add to the festive feeling in Rochester and raise money to support many community service projects.”

The poinsettia plant symbolizes goodwill and community spirit. What a perfect project and gift to gift to exemplify the spirit of the season!

And Then There Was Light!

The Rochester Rotary Club, and the Accra-Spintex Rotary Club, completed a solar power project in the Alokpassta Chips Compound in Nkwanta South District, Ghana. One-quarter of the world’s population does not have electricity, including this community.

The lack of electricity impedes business, education, health care and leads to unsafe travel after sunset. Due to the lack of lighting, residents leaving their homes to go to the toilet after dark have even been bitten by poisonous snakes!

The small town has a hospital that serves about 150,000 – 165,000 people. Patients often travel up to 10 hours to reach the hospital. Unfortunately, the hospital lacked electricity. They weren’t able to stock anti-venin vaccinations, let alone many other medicines.

With funds raised by former Rotarian Rhonda Panczyk, the Rochester Rotary’s $15,000 donation brought electricity via solar power to the community. People can travel after sunset as the area is now lit. The hospital can stock medicines that require refrigeration. Families can read at night with the gift of light.

Under the supervision of the Accra-Spintex Rotary Club, the project was completed in October of 2021. “The first baby born in the community after the project was completed was named Kwame Solar!” said Ronald Diliddo, President of the Rochester Rotary Charities, which is the philanthropic arm of the Club.

“This is just one example of how Rotarians serve the people of the world,” said Rochester Rotary President David Eardley. “The Club also supports a rural medical clinic in Guatemala, as well as many local charities such as Neighborhood House and Dutton Farm.”

Grants Totaling Over $100,000/Year

Local & Regional Charities

Neighborhood House
Rochester Community Schools Foundation
Rochester Area Youth Assistance
Dutton Farms
Dynamic Kids - Rochester Hills
Grace Center for Hope
Habitat for Humanity
Haven
Know Resolve
Older Person's Commission (OPC)
Paint Creek Center for The Arts
Community House
Rotary Gateway Park
Rochester Christmas Parade

Youth Programs

Eight, 4-year College Scholarships
Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening (RYLA)
International Youth Exchange Program
Job Shadowing
Boy Scouts
Girl Scouts
Oakland University Rotaract Graduate Scholarship

International

Casa Colibri Medical Mission – Guatemala
“Play For Peace" Project – Nigeria, Africa
Polio Plus (Global Polio Eradication, established in 1988)
Rotary Club of Accra-Spintex-Accra Ghana, Africa (school)
Shelter Box

Annual Hands-On Service Projects

Local & Regional Charities

Assistance League - assistance with “Operation School Bell”
Neighborhood House
- Packed school supplies for “Back-to-School” event
- Sort Christmas presents for Christmas Party
- Rotary Christmas Party (with presents & Santa Claus for needy kids)
- Load trucks to “Stamp Out” hunger
Older Person's Commission (OPC): Act of Kindness & Meals on Wheels
Polio Plus (October Polio Awareness Month
Rotary Club of Accra-Spintex-Accra Ghana, Africa (school)
Rochester Christmas Parade: Float - with Interact involvement
Grace Center for Hope
Literacy Program: Greater Rochester Area
Salvation Army - Bell Ringing at Lagniappe in Rochester
Rotary Gateway Park operations (a peaceful area we built for our community)

Youth Programs

5 Local Area High School Interact Clubs (ACE, Adams, Rochester, Stoney Creek, and Avondale High Schools) (a collaboration with Rochester Communities Schools)
Scholarship Recipient Recognition Luncheon
Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening (RYLA)
International Youth Exchange Program
Job Shadowing
Grace Center for Hope
Oakland University Rotaract Club (a collaboration with Oakland University)

International

Polio Plus (Polio Eradication Globally: created in 1988 to eradicate polio globally) add web link
Casa Colibri Medical Mission – Guatemala
“Hands-On” Clint Support & Literacy Project Teaching Teachers English

Social Activities

Club Christmas Party – Members and spouses celebrate the years accomplishments
Club Golf Outing (social event and fundraiser)
Presidents Transition Dinner - Members and spouses congratulate the immediate past President for a job well done and welcome the incoming Club President.
Rotary Gateway Park picnic –
Rochester Christmas Parade – Rotarians and youth affiliates celebrate the Christmas season together

Leadership Activities

Monthly Club Board Meetings
Regular Rochester Rotary Charities, Inc., Board Meetings
Committee Meetings
Fundraising Project Team Meetings
Past President’s Dinner – Leadership feedback regarding Club initiatives
President’s Appreciation Dinner – Club President expresses appreciation to Board Members for their support during his term

Click HERE to see a typical list of Rochester Area Affiliate High School and College Clubs Accomplishments

The Rotary Gateway Park is a hidden gem in downtown Rochester. Built by the Rochester Rotary Club in 1997, the park features beautiful flower beds, a cascading water feature, and benches to sit and enjoy a few quiet moments. The Rochester Rotary Club continues upgrade and enhance the park through the volunteer efforts of club members and funding from the purchase of memorial bricks.

Learn More About our Park