Rochester Rotary Club RotoScoop
Report on the July 29, 2025 Meeting
 
Menu for August 5: Salad bar, chicken marsala, roasted potatoes, penne with marinara, green beans, assorted mini desserts.
ATTENDANCE
It was an all-Rotarian day, with no guests and 40 Rotarians present.  If you weren't there, we hope you'll consider joining our meetings again. You're missed, and you're missing a great time with your fellow Rotarians.
 
INVOCATION
Christine Hage gave today’s invocation.
 
FIFTEENTH HANDSHAKE
This week’s greeter, Linda Eastman, declared Mike Dreon the lucky member to go fine-free!
 
ROTARIAN OF THE WEEK
Jerry Wanket passed the trophy on to Shirley Gofrank because she was the first Rotarian to attend a Rochester Rotary meeting virtually.
 
 
 
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
It was a S-L-O-W week for birthdays—like, crickets slow. Not a single candle to blow out, not even a slice of cake in sight. Tragic.

But don’t worry, we made up for it in the club anniversary department! Ted Roumel is Rotary royalty, celebrating a whopping 57 years (we bow down). Phil McPeek is clocking in at 8 years—respect—and Alan Smith is right behind him with 7 solid years. Now that’s something to toast to! 🥂

HAPPY BUCKS
  • Joyce Joyce cannot stand roundabouts—so naturally, she had to navigate four of them in a row just to meet her son for lunch. That’s not a commute, that’s a test of patience. And guess who decided to have a little fun with that? Yep, Karen Joyce, giving her mom a hard time mid-spin like it was the Indy 500.
  • Meanwhile, Ron Diliddo? Living his best life—he loves roundabouts. Probably dreams about them. We all know a Ron.
  • Jeff Duperon’s daughter is back in town, and she brought her French "sister" with her—bonjour, lots of travel planned and double the fun!
  • Renee Cortright is prepping for her new role as Grandma, coming this December. Somebody start knitting!
  • Bree made her grand return—welcome back, star of the show.
  • And Paul Haig? He’s off to Santa Fe, probably with sunglasses, a hat, and zero intention of answering emails. Living. The. Dream.
 
WHO AM I?
  • I joined Rotary because I was called to join that day. My favorite Rotary memory was the dedication of Rotary Park. I was Mr. or Miss Roseville - I am Paula D'Ambrosio!
  • I joined Rotary at the suggestion of my employer. My favorite memories are with foreign exchange students. I am an avid turkey hunter. I am Gerry Carvey.
 
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • We are looking for a few people to help out with the Rotary Gateway Park Committee.  Please get in touch with Rachel Aviles or Blake McLellan.
  • Please consider joining one of our committees.  There is a sign-up sheet on the table where you pick up your name tags, or contact Rachel Aviles for details.
 
SONG LEADER
Bob Lytle was in a park mood today.  We sang Rotary Gateway Park sung to You’re a Grand Old Flag and Innovation Park sung to Button Up Your Overcoat)
 
SHERIFF'S REPORT
Sheriff Peter Stuhlreyer started with a golf theme to promote the Club's upcoming golf outing. 
  • Mark your calendars for our annual Golf Outing—organized by Peter—coming up on Monday, September 22 at Twin Lakes!
    • Tee time is 10:00 a.m., with award presentations and a meal around 3:00 p.m.
    • Meal-only option available for non-golfers
    • Surprise entertainment and a cash bar
    • No regular Tuesday meeting that week
    • 📌 Cost: $170 per golfer
    • 📌 We need 100 golfers and event sponsors to make it a success!
    • Check your inbox for the flyer and an email from Tom Neveau with all the details, or download the flyer at https://tinyurl.com/358x79nw
    • You can register as a golfer, sponsor, or diner at https://rochesterrotaryclub.org/page/charity-golf-outing
      The planning committee is forming now—the next meeting is August 12 at 11:30 a.m. Join us if you’d like to help make this year’s event the best yet!
  • Continuing with the golf theme, Sheriff Pete took us for a stroll down memory lane to last year’s golf outing—and let’s just say, it was less Country Club Chic and more Fashion Don'ts on the Fairway.
    • Vince Mattina, sweetie, those denim jean shorts? A hard no.
    • Russ Shelton, sleeveless undershirts are not a style, they're a cry for help.
    • Jeff Duperon, Hush Puppies? Are we golfing or heading to Bingo Night?
    • Marty McClure, flannel belongs in a lumberjack competition, not on the links.
  • Then there were the performance penalties:
    • Jay Eastman got dinged because his drives took the scenic route—migratory bird-style—and he still dared to coach his teammates. Bold.
    • Stuart Siegner, that phone of yours doesn’t need to have its own playlist. Silence is golden.
    • Ernie Schaefer, we love you, but it’s time to level up—shots need to make it past the ladies' tee.
    • Roger Roller, your team’s putting game might be fire, but your victory dance is straight out of a forgotten P. Diddy video—maybe time for a remix?
    • And finally, a Hot Tip Fine from Sheriff Pete: your putter grip should be as gentle and secure as Bill Ebinger holding a baby bird.
Thanks to Sheriff Stuhlreyer's creative enforcement, we raised $211 for our scholarship program! Remember, these “fines” are all in good fun and serve a great purpose: building camaraderie and raising funds for our charitable efforts, especially scholarships. Let’s continue living out the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self," with enthusiasm, punctuality, and a healthy dose of Rochester pride and humor!
 
SPEAKER - Rochester Rotary President Rachel Aviles

Why Go to the Rotary International Convention?

It was truly breathtaking—my favorite trip ever!

In Calgary, I had the chance to explore the stunning Calgary Public Library (where I happily spent four hours!), take in the views from the Calgary Tower, and connect with Rotarians from around the world. The energy was electric: over 16,000 people from 140 countries gathered—more Rotarians than Canadian Calgary hockey fans — because they had to repeat the sessions twice, as not everyone could fit in the Calgary hockey arena, if you can believe it!

The speakers were phenomenal.

Rosemarie Truglio, Senior VP of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Street, reminded us not to save our children from every challenge but to nurture their curiosity and let them learn how to be problem solvers.     

Geena Davis, award-winning actress and founder of the Geena Davis Institute, was inspired by her daughter’s TV habits. Her research revealed a gender imbalance in media, and she has since worked to amplify women’s presence in television. A fascinating takeaway: 66% of women working in STEM fields said they were inspired by The X-Files!

Workshops were practical and powerful. We were challenged to be more accountable when it comes to growing membership—be specific and intentional. This is part of the reason I promise to be available to meet one hour before and one hour after events to create meaningful connections.

The House of Friendship was overflowing with incredible ideas:

  • Hippo Water Roller: Transports up to 200 gallons of water (compared to 40 gallons that women and girls would carry on their heads), freeing up time so girls and women can get an education and relieve the burden on women—cost: $150.
  • Outdoor musical instruments might be a nice addition to Gateway Park—an accessible and joyful community project.
  • Days for Girls: Distributes personal hygiene supplies so girls can attend school uninterrupted. Stories were shared of girls who once had to sit on cardboard for an entire week each month.
  • Narcan access: Education around overdose response and the ongoing opioid crisis.
  • Schistosomiasis awareness: This parasite can block the effectiveness of the polio vaccine—another reason vaccines must be delivered with local health education.
  • Interactors’ vaccination campaign: Only $3 per child for protection!
  • Other impactful programs shared included food pantry outreach kits and creative ways to engage with local communities.

And the Fellowships! Whether your interest is whiskey, beekeeping, motorcycles, or travel, there’s a group of Rotarians ready to welcome you. We even met folks from our District 6380!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to attend the Rotary International Convention. It was inspiring, energizing, and a beautiful reminder of the global impact we can have—together.

Speakers
Aug 05, 2025
Grace Centers for Hope
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Upcoming Events
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Aug. 13, 2025
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
 
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