Today was an OPEN CUPBOARD COLLECTION DAY. Thank you, donors, for your generous contributions, and Dennis, for delivering the goods to their destination!
Our speaker, Ashly Carabetta, who holds a Masters degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, came a distance (from Westchester) to enlighten us about Coastal Steward, a non-profit agency established in 2005 that is committed to protecting local marine resources with the aid of community volunteers (like herself) through restoration projects and educational programs. Coastal Steward promotes 3 main programs: shellfish restoration; beach cleanup; and marine education- currently geared to 7th-12th graders, but beginning to work with children in the primary grades, as well. Ashly pointed out that these programs are needed due the growing influx of marine debris and, especially, plastic pollution ruining our precious waterways. What's more, we need to concern ourselves with climate change, which is threatening to diminish our coastal areas; and we need to continue to draw tourists to our beaches and waters- so important to our economy. Therefore, we need to promote stewardship. For the past 28 years, we have depended on volunteers to perform periodic beach cleanups. Now, Coastal Steward is promoting its goal of collecting data- a critical part of each cleanup, and is finding that 80% of debris collected is plastic materials. Through publication of the data, Coastal Steward helps to inform public policy, hopefully causing a growing demand for change, such as the proposed banning of use of plastic shopping bags. Coastal Steward emphasizes education and outreach programs for the greater good of coastal communities- for instance, in NY, beach cleanups count for students needing to fulfill their requirement for community service for National Honor Society membership or towards graduation. Coastal Steward connects mainly with students and teaches them how to safeguard waterways, promotes "adopt-a-beach" programs, and teaches shellfish restoration (ie., planting and maintaining oyster beds in local harbors). Ashly announced that on April 23rd, Coastal Steward will celebrate Earth Day at Cedar Beach, 10 AM-4 PM, beginning with a kick-off event, followed by a beach cleanup, and including tours of the Environmental Stewardship Center and the Shellfish Hatchery. You are invited to participate. You are also encouraged to inquire about becoming a Coastal Steward board member. For more information, contact www.coastalsteward.org, or Ashly via her email (acecarabetta@gmail.com) or phone (914-589-7489).
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS:There's now $569 in the pot waiting to be won- and the Ace of Spades is still waiting to be picked out (but a Joker remains, as well). It could be YOU who wins the pot. Next opportunity: our 4/18 luncheon at Cafe Spiga, when we will welcome as speaker Alexander Weidenbaum, 1LT, MSNYARNG, who will inform us about Disaster Preparation. Ready to be a volunteer at a Habitat build? Please save this date: Friday, June 9th. Club members, family members, & friends are invited to participate. More TBA.. Oh no! Ed will be leaving us soon- retiring to Florida. Join us on Monday, May 8th , 5:30-7:30 PM, at Cafe Spiga to celebrate with him. If you haven't yet sent Sharon your personal info to be used in our Membership Directory, please do so a.s.a.p. so that she and Nancy can complete and distribute this useful document. It's time to start thinking about and planning for our Annual Raffle Ticket Sales Event- hopefully to begin this month. Each individual ticket will still cost $40, but we can also sell 3 for $100, 7 for $200, and 15 for $400. ***SAVE THIS DATE: *SEPTEMBER 14th = OUR ANNUAL PAST PRESIDENTS DINNER & RAFFLE DRAWING (& 80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLUB's FOUNDING).This auspicious event will take place at Savino's Hideaway, corner of North Country & Pipe Stave Hollow Roads in Mt. Sinai. More info will be forthcoming soon. Kings Park is sponsoring an "End Hunger in Kings Park" event on April 19th at Kings Park HS from 2:30-4:30 PM. The cost of participation is $40 per volunteer. This feel-good activity involves creating food packages for people in need. Thousands of these food packages can be put together in a very short period of time due to positive team work. If you plan to attend attend The Gift of Life Dinner Dance on May 10th, 6:30-10:30 PM, at The Timber Pointe Mansion (398 Great River Rd.) in Great River (at a cost of $100 per person in advance, or $110 at the door), please note that our club has already bought a table (at a cost of $50 per member, with the club matching that amount). If you wish to start another table, contact Ed a.s.a.p. Reservations are due now. On May 17th, the District will hold its Centennial Celebration at Whitby Castle in Rye, NY. [Did you know that collectively Rotary has spent $1 Billion on humanitarian causes worldwide?!] More soon...Let's not forget that we will have our Annual Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck Spring Clean Up on May 21st, and will be joined by neighboring Rotary and Interact Clubs as well as, perhaps, by a contingent of youth from Comsewogue HS. Our chores will include painting and preparing picnic tables and mattresses for summer use. Please let Dennis know if you can volunteer at this event. We've been invited to the installation of incoming DG Wendy Walsh (Seatuck Cove) at the Rock Hill Country Club on 6/3. The cost? $75 p/p. Michael announced a tentative possibility for us to join Rocky Point Rotary for a New Officer Installation Dinner on Tuesday, June 20th- at Savino's Hideaway. The new DG has offered to attend and perform the inductions. The cost will be $40-$50 p/p including tax & tip. Spouses/significant others are welcome. More soon... Sal spoke to us about his recent visit with Linda Gavin to the Woodhaven Center of Care in PJ Station. The Center is encouraging visitors to attend small events there and interact with the residents. The next scheduled visit will be April 20th. Sal suggests that club members can attend on a rotating basis. He also suggested that we arrange a pen pal project with the residents. Another possible future club project: performing small chores on a periodic basis for Sunshine, the after school program for needy children (on Boyle Rd. in PJ Station)- such as replacing back yard fencing.
***Please check out our page on Face Book- and Like Us.
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:
Betts, Judi: Toilet Paper
Bossert, Ken: Shampoo/Conditioner
Brennan, Dennis: Canned Fruit
Brennan, Sharon: Spaghetti Sauce
Berner, Cynthia: Rice
Curry, Bill: Apple Juice
Dinunzio, Ed: Diapers
Engelhardt, Debbie: Juice Boxes
Gautam, Archana: Baby Wipes
Hanson, Susan: Baby Formula
Hohler, Yvette: Beans
Jaeger, Bill: Canned Vegetables
Janhsen, Karl: Milk (Dry or Boxed)
Jurasits, Erika: Cereal (Hot or Cold)
Kopcienski, Al Cereal (Hot or Cold)
Lund, Amy: Canned Chicken
Murray, Kevin: Tuna
Rhatigan, Jim: Diapers
Sabo, Pat: Beans
Sceiford, Michael: Grape Juice Boxes
Vigliante, Paul: Milk (Dry or Boxed)
***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 the Heritage Diner 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.
...WAYNE SHATTES, whose birthday was April 1st; KEVIN MURRAY, who will celebrate his birthday on April 12th; DICK NOLAN, who has a birthday on April 25th; BILL CURRY, who celebrated his anniversary on April 5th; YVETTE HOHLER, whose anniversary will be celebrated on April 15th; DENNIS BRENNAN, who will be celebrating his anniversary on April 22nd and his 16th year in Rotary; and DALE KUHN, who this month celebrates his 35th year as a Rotarian!
