Our guest speaker today was Elvira Lovaglio-Duncan, Director of the Urban League of Westchester County, Inc.'s Urban Seniors Jobs Program (with an office in Amityville, NY), which is backed by the Dept. of Labor. Elvira's program, which has been in existence for around 50 years, helps low-income seniors (ages 55 and older), many who have multiple barriers to employment, eventually find jobs. Through this program, seniors will develop new skill-sets via various training opportunities. The Senior Job Program is funded under Title V of the Older Americans Act. Before they can move into the work force, seniors are trained at faith-based or community-based organizations or government agencies. Through job-related training, participants develop new skills and upgrade existing ones, learn to understand safe work practices and healthful work environments, as well as effective job search skills that will help them develop good work habits. As unemployment offices ceased to exist, people who are barely able to survive on social security often find themselves having to register at the Dept. of Labor's One Stop. If they are unemployed, have an annual household income of less than 125% of the Federal Government's poverty level, and live in Nassau or Suffolk Counties, they can be eligible to take part in this program. People in their 70's and 80's who seek work are often steered towards volunteer jobs. Elvira says she can place people for on-the-job training for up to 48 months. These people can earn up to minimum wages, but if an older person is receiving unemployment insurance, this program may not be for him/her. Elvira sees a great need for these older folks who are willing to work relatively cheaply and are mostly rather reliable. Many old office buildings on LI are turning over, with new businesses poised to open up in them. Many agencies can use these re-trained elders now. The best part of Elvira's work is probably seeing the positive impact on communities and individuals alike through what her agency does.
Elvira brought along as a guest, and we welcomed, her sister Rosemary Seitelman.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: ***NEXT TUESDAY, on Feb. 26th, we will NOT meet at noon, but INSTEAD, will have an EVENING SOCIAL GATHERING hosted by Jennifer Dzvonar, Bass Electric, at the Port Jeff Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce Office, The Train Car, at the corner of Routes 112 and 347 (use Rose St. to reach parking lot) at 5:30-7 PM. See you there! ***THE POT IS NOW AT $732 (with only 12 cards remaining - including 2 Jokers and the Ace of Spades!)*** ***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)***Michael announced that Pat will coordinate a new club project, for which a planning subcommittee will be created. The project entails the cleaning up of the 40-plus acre Chandler Estate property behind the Mt. Sinai Congregational Church and cemetery on North Country Rd. This property is now a Suffolk County Park, but has not been maintained. The property, which has a number of walking trails and a field that ends at the Sound, has become rather overgrown with foliage and debris that makes its use difficult, if not dangerous (think ticks and poison ivy), for park users. 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 join our endeavor. Pat will be checking on logistics and what we can do legally on this county property to make it more useful to the community. 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 2nd Annual Winter Golf Classic was a massive success! Our President announced that 120 golfers registered to participate and that we grossed around $26,000 and netted around $19,000. Michael thanked all club member participants profusely and reminded us that the positive results of this event will really be making a difference in the community and beyond for quite a while. He will schedule a follow-up Golf Committee meeting soon that will decide what/how to do even better next year.Jennifer reported that 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. Kudos and Many Thanks to Pat & Al, who successfully managed to put the new windows into our Harbor Bus Shelter so that it now looks better than ever! Check it out! Bill has set the date for our next STUFF-A-VAN EVENT at Mt. Sinai's King Kullen for Saturday, MARCH 16th. Will you volunteer to help out with this activity? Contact Bill. ARE YOU COMING ON SUNDAY, APRIL 6th ,TO HELP OUT WITH THE SPRING SPRUCE_UP AT CAMP PA-QUA-TUCK? HOPE SO! 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**) Submit before Feb. 28th and take $10 off. 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. Yvette reported that a group of 5 local Hope Children's Fund supporters left for Kenya yesterday, arrived there today, and will visit the HCF-supported orphanage in Meru thru March 2nd. They will be happy to present a report to our club upon their return to LI.
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 Winter Golf Classic 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.
...MICHAEL SCEIFORD, who added a year to his age on February 2nd; SAL FILOSA, who celebrated his birthday on February 7th; ERIKA JURASITS, whose birthday and Valentine's Day coincided on February 14th; AMY LUND, whose birthday will be celebrated on February 23rd; BILL JAEGER, who has a birthday on February 24th; DEB ENGELHARDT, who will celebrate an anniversary on February 25th; and KEVIN MURRAY, who is celebrating 38 years, while KARL JANHSEN celebrates 18 years in Rotary this month.
