Our guest speaker today was Carol Taylor, Founder and Executive Director of Safe Halls Project, a 501c3 organization that promotes school safety. Carol, who worked with the NYC Police Dept. as a Law Enforcement Officer, and who has a BA in Forensic Psychology, now works with fellow-parent volunteers promoting safety and assertiveness in NYC schools. Carol traveled from Queens to talk to us about her organization, which seeks to reshape the school safety conversation. Her nonprofit began with its "Acts of Kindness Project" in P.S. 36. Kids there were given a camera, some training in its use, and were asked to create via their photos "an Act of Kindness" story. The youngsters enjoyed their task, and helped choose photos showing "positive body language" that could positively influence pride and safety. The resulting "school life" photo gallery was displayed in the school cafeteria for all to see and appreciate. The exhibit included images representing regular school days full of acts of kindness, learning, and children being scholarly. Carol's organization offers intermediate and high school students an opportunity to submit responses anonymously to school surveys, answering questions about what concerns them. The organization now makes school presentations throughout south Queens (ie., Rosedale, St. Albans, Springfield Gardens) and provides a "reading for safety" (reading a story about safety) program in Pre-K thru 2nd grade classes. Carol stressed the fact that parents and organization Board members are all volunteers, and their goal is to work within the local schools to create a safer environment. Surveys are used to measure the success of all programs. Carol is constantly seeking additional volunteers who will promote safety in their school community. Interested in learning more about the Safe Halls Project or helping out? Carol can be reached at P.O.Box 454, Valley Stream, NY 11582 or at 516-310-5738.
Paul presided over today's meeting. As it was his birthday, we sang to him in our usual melodious fashion.
We also welcomed as a guest Daniel Harbes, a member of Riverhead Rotary.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: ***NEXT TUESDAY, on March 12th, we will meet again for our regular luncheon at Cafe Spiga, where we'll welcome and honor our newest Comsewogue Most Motivated Student. At this meeting, we will be voting for next year's club officers (E-Votes may be possible, too.) ***This is also an OPEN CUPBOARD COLLECTION DAY! Please donate generously.***CONGRATULATIONS, BILL! With only 12 cards remaining to be drawn, he picked the Ace of Spades and won the pot of $755!!! (Next week, we'll begin again with a new pot and 52 cards, including the Ace of Spades and 2 Jokers. Ya gotta be in it to win it!) ***According to our new Club Bylaws, in order to maintain your membership in the club,YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY 2 ROTARY-RELATED ACTIVITIES PER MONTH,ie., meeting attendance, on-line makeups on the RI website, donating to the Open Cupboard and /or Woodhaven Nursing Home, volunteering for a Stuff-A-Van event or at Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, a Habitat build, attendance at any Committee or Board Meetings, and the like. Please notify Yvette of each make-up at your earliestconvenience via a note to hohlerlj@aol.com or the Make-Up Report Sheet, which will be passed around at each regular meeting for members to report when and how they made up previously missed meetings)***Pat, who is coordinating the new club project that entails the clean up of the 40-plus acre Chandler Estate property behind the Mt. Sinai Congregational Church and cemetery on North Country Rd., will set up a date soon for members to have a "walk thru" of this Suffolk County Park. It has a number of walking trails and a field that ends at the Sound. All have become rather overgrown with foliage and debris that makes it difficult, if not dangerous (think ticks and poison ivy), for park users to enjoy. Pat would like to plan for us to take the lead in cleaning up and turning this park into something akin to Avalon Park in Stony Brook. Perhaps other community groups (ie., boy & girl scouts, the Young Marines, and youth seeking community service credit) will eventually join our endeavor. More soon...Did you know that this year's Rotary District Conference will take place in Saratoga Springs, NY- at the Gideon Putnam Resort- from May 2nd to May 5th? You are invited to register to attend on line. Let Michael know if you're interested in attending. The Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce Coalition is offering a 2019 Small Business Improvement Award Grant. Chamber members are eligible to submit letters of request for the award. Contact Jenn for more info. Bill has set the date for our next STUFF-A-VAN at Mt.Sinai's King Kullen for Saturday, MARCH 16th. This is the only date he could get for our event. Will you volunteer to help out? Contact Bill. On Thursday, March 21st, come see Judi be honored with the highest honor given to civilians by the Boy Scouts of America (Suffolk Chapter): The Silver Beaver Award. The ceremony and Gala will be held at the Stonebridge Country Club in Hauppauge. The club will be purchasing a sponsorship. RSVP to Judi by the end of this week for more info and to assure a great table at this event.ARE YOU COMING ON SUNDAY, APRIL 7th AS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE SPRING SPRUCE-UP AT CAMP PA-QUA-TUCK? HOPE SO! LOOK FOR AN E-MAIL FROM DENNIS ABOUT THIS ACTIVITY. The Port Jeff Sta./Terryville Chamber of Commerce invites YOU to attend its Business 2 Community Trade Show on Thursday, April 11th, from 6-9 PM at The Polish Town Hall (35 Jayne Blvd., Port Jeff Sta.). Reserve your table now: Non-Chamber member- $100; Chamber member- $75; PJST Chamber member- $50. (**Chamber Members will have an early registration discount**) Obtain and mail the completed application (from PJSTChamber@gmail.com) with payment to Port Jeff Sta./Terryville Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 446, PJ Sta., NY 11776. Includes: 8' Table & Chairs. Bring your own table covering. Limited electric available. For more info, call Jenn at 631-821-1313. You are invited to save this date: Monday, June 10th, for the 21st Annual Rocky Point Golf Tournament, to be held at St. Georges Golf & Country Club in East Setauket. Registration & Lunch will take place from 11 AM to 12:45 PM, and the Shotgun Start is at 1 PM. The cost p/p is $300 before April 30th, and $325 p/p after that date. Dinner only: $75.Cocktail Hour with appetizers & hors d'oeuvres will be followed by dinner, including a carving station, and lobster/prime rib dinner. For more info, look at our Club Calendar or contact Larry Kogel (516-380-8035 or email lkogel@optonline.net).
***Please check out our page on Face Book- and Like Us. ***Photos from our 2018 and 2019 Winter Golf Classics are posted there as are photos of the inductions of
our newest members, presentations of honors to special club members, participants at our most recent Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck CleanUp, and other delights.
If you missed today's meeting, kindly inform Yvette about make-ups in a timely fashion.
***The following is a list of donation "assignments" for members' once-a-month donations via the Club to the Open Cupboard: (*If you don't see your name on this list, select an item from it for your donation.)***NOTE: This list will be updated as needed:
Black Beans- Bob H., Pat (& brown rice), Yvette
Baby Wipes- Jim, Tom
Canned Fruit- Dennis
Cereal- Jennifer, Paul, Amanda
Oatmeal- Lisa, Sean
Soap- Kathy, Paul
Canned Chicken- Sharon, Michael B.
Jelly- Debbie, Michael
Shampoo- Saranto, Nancy
Conditioner- Nancy
Toilet Paper- Judi
Diapers- John Perkins
Apple Juice- Bill C.
***Check the list for your name and assigned item. (If you are not listed, you may donate any listed item. Corporate members are encouraged to donate individually. If you would like to be listed with a specific item, contact Debbie and specify your item of choice.)
***Bring contributions to Cafe Spiga on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, or give to another Club member who will be attending.
*** If you would like to be reimbursed, bring receipt(s) to the meeting.
..PAUL VIGLIANTE, whose birthday is today, March 5th; DALE KUHN, who will celebrate his birthday on March 10th; PAT SABO, whose birthday is March 15th; and J. DENNIS BRENNAN, who has a birthday on the 29th of March.
*We sadly note here the passing of former Rotarian JIM VON OISTE, attorney and Korean War veteran, on February 9th at age 88. R.I.P., Jim.
