Rotary Club of Port Jefferson (May 11, 2021)

News of the Meeting of May 11th

Posted by Yvette Hohler on May 11, 2021

Mike Burghardt hosted today's meeting from Cafe Spiga and was joined by 4 other members there, while 4 of us attended the meeting via Zoom (thank you, Tara, for lending Mike your laptop!). Our guests, including Comsewogue's Most Motivated Student, were unable to join us this afternoon, but will visit in the near future.

Jen announced that on Saturday, 5/15, the Terryville/Port Jeff Station Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring The Great Brookhaven Cleanup, beginning at the Chamber's Train Car on the corner of Rtes. 112 and 347. This event will take place from 9AM-noon and will include snacks for participants. (Youth who join in can receive community service credit, too.)

Your RAFFLE TICKETS are ready for pick up- 25 per bundle (unless you'd like to start with more, in which case, you should let Jen know). Please contact Jen a.s.a.p. in order to obtain yours. The Raffle Drawing will take place on August 3rd.

Cindy thanked Rebecca and Sal for their help in preparing youngsters for future RYLA participation. Cindy is on the committee that will perform Zoom interviews of future senior leaders- with 31 current high school juniors on Sunday from 9 AM-3 PM. Rebecca praised RYLA for its commitment to building youth leadership skills and especially appreciated the rewarding experience of team building during the most recent RYLA weekend.

Rebecca invites you to attend the 6/12 Centennial Beach (near the yacht club) Ribbon Cutting at 10 AM, when the new beach trash basket station will be unveiled. Baskets will be handed out so that a beach cleanup can ensue. Music and other enjoyable accompanying event enhancements are expected.

Another Invitation: Please plan to join neighbors and other friends at the 5/22 Garden Build Blitz at the new Beach St. Community Garden from 10 AM thru 6 PM. You can help build the 16 raised-bed gardens, plus the 4 double high beds for elderly/differently-abled gardeners, as well as the surrounding fences that will prevent wildlife from feeding on the expected new vegetation. Youth are especially welcome and will receive community service credit for their participation. There will be a lottery for use of the garden's beds. Go to portjeff.com/community garden for more info and applications, which are due by 6/4. The B.I.D. is one of the garden's financial supporters.

Mike S. reported that our 2021 Golf Outing will take place on Sunday, Sept. 12th, beginning at 10 AM. More info will be shared soon...

Dennis noted that Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck is undergoing renovations and another fundraising party is being planned (perhaps a BBQ). This summer the camp will be on a daytime program, which looks like it should attract the hoped-for number of campers to be successful.

Jen announced that The Social Brain & the Terryville/Port Jeff Sta. Chamber of Commerce will hold a joint event on 6/19 from 10 AM to 2 PM: A Bicycle & Helmet Safety Day. These organizations are currently collecting new bicycle helmets.

Yvette invited members to make a special donation to the Hope Children's Fund (HCF) Vehicle Purchase Project. The Jerusha Mwiraria Hope Children's Home in Meru, Kenya is hoping that the monies collected will enable them to purchase their 1st new vehicle, a 16-seat Toyota van that can be used for safe transportation of the Home's youngsters and staff to places they need to be (ie., schools, medical clinic/hospital, shopping, the Home's farm, etc.). So far, through various fundraising means like GoFundMe, all but $6,000 has been collected. HCF hopes to reach the purchase price goal by 6/30. If you would like to help, you can donate via Pay Pal on the HCF website (hopechildrensfund.org) or by sending a check to HCF, P.O.Box 387, Setauket, NY 11733, noting in the memo section: vehicle fund.

While there was no Sergeant's Report today, Mike managed to collect many Happy Dollars. Among the things we celebrate: all mothers; the better weather that allowed more flowers to bloom; the news that Covid rates have gone down considerably at Mather Hospital; The John T. Mather Hospital's Heart Catheterization Lab opens tomorrow; Dennis & Kathleen celebrated their anniversary; and Mike Burghardt is celebrating a birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIKE !

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

OUR NEXT MEETING: Tues., May 18th, will again be a hybrid meeting. However, members are urged to attend in person at Cafe Spiga, if they are able to do so. On this occasion, we will be meeting with and honoring Port Jeff Middle School's Most Motivated Student of the Month.

It's time to pick up your Raffle Tickets! Contact Jen, and then sell, sell, sell!

***You are invited to attend the 23rd Annual Middle Island-Rocky Point Rotary Golf Tournament at St. George's Golf & Country Club (134 Lower Sheep Pasture Rd., East Setauket) on Monday, June 21st , with a Shotgun Start at 1 PM Sharp. Registration and Lunch: 11AM- 12:45 PM. Rain or Shine. This outing benefits Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, Gift of Life, and other Rotary Service Projects. Costs: Donation $300/golfer; Donation $200/Hole Sponsor; Dinner Only: $85. Golfers will be entitled to: the Greens Fees & Golf Cart; Free Range Balls; Cocktail Hour after Golf; Appetizers & Hors D'Oeuvres; Seafood Station; Carving Bar; and a Lobster Dinner. Contests: Hi & Low Gross; Low Net; Longest Drive; Nearest to Pin; Most Honest Golfer (Men & Women); Hole-in-One Contest. Limited to 90 golfers. Reservations on a 1st come, 1st serve basis. (Payment must be received to reserve a spot.) Scramble Format. Special raffles, Auctions, and 50/50 to be held. Please make checks payable to "Rocky Point Middle Island Rotary". For additional information, call Larry Kogel at 516-380-8035. or email lkogel@optonline.net. For your convenience, you can register and pay on line: GolfRotary.eventbrite.com (a transaction fee is assessed.)

SAVE THE DATE: You are invited to attend the 4th Annual (2021 version) "Passion for Education Gala" to benefit the Hope Children's Fund, Ltd., on Saturday, JULY 24th, 6 PM-11 PM, at The Inn & Spa at East Wind in Wading River. Join the celebrants for an evening of live music by X-Session, a cocktail hour, a plated dinner, raffles, and silent auction- all supporting the education of the children of the Jerusha Mwiraria Hope Children's Home in Meru, Kenya. (Every ticket at a cost of $199 p/p pays for a trimester of secondary school for a youngster living at the Home.) Please R.S.V.P.: HCFgala@gmail.com or Hope Children's Fund, P.O.Box 1345, East Northport, NY 11731 or hopechildrensfund.org .

You are invited to become a member of the Port Jeff Village Community Garden Committee, which has already begun meeting and is in its planning stages for the village's 1st such project to be achieved on village parkland in lower Port. The garden on Beach St. is expected to elevate the sense of place for residents and visitors, and is being supported by the local business community. The garden will provide a space for residents to grow their own local produce. The Community Garden Committee, which already includes some of our club members- Sal and Rebecca- is seeking other members with experience related to gardening, who have an interest in community outreach, nutrition, and food security, who can attend 2-3 online meetings per month (approx. 1 hour each) and occasional on-site meetings, who can perform independent tasks/research/outreach between meetings (approx. 2 hours per week), and who are able to commit at least 1 year on the committee. Interested? Contact trustee-kassay@portjeff.com.

Rebecca invites us to get acquainted with HOMETOWNHOPEPORTJEFFERSON.ORG. Hometown Hope provides resources and support in times of need to all residents of the Village by promoting a movement of spreading kindness. It "strives to uplift through wellness, resilience, and compassionate understanding in our community." Among the services/goods it will provide: meal boxes; home deliveries; and the like for those suffering illness, loss, etc., as well as help for healthcare practitioners during the pandemic. You can also sponsor a family.

Want to volunteer? Contact hometownhopepj@gmail.com .

***If you have ideas or items to be discussed at our next meeting, let Rob know. And if you'd like to join one of the club's special committees, let him know this, as well. The more, the merrier!***

*** Watch for Rob's invitation to our next meeting and plan to join us!***

MEANWHILE, STAY SAFE AND WELL!