RadioRotary

In this club close-up of the Rotary Club of Red Hook, club representatives tell how Red Hook Rotary exemplifies the autonomous and unique character of an individual Rotary Club while yet maintaining the humanitarian goals of other clubs around the world. Past President Niki Weaver describes her club’s support of Therapy Dogs, a program that helps patients in hospitals as well as students with special needs. Current President David Wright discusses various ways his club supports community needs and Rotary International’s worldwide projects.

Greg Pikor describes Hudson Valley Homes for Heroes, a company that provides discounted real estate to those “who work every day to make our communities better places to live.” “Heroes” include military personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, and other every day heroes. Created in Minnesota after the tragic events of 9/11 as a “Thank you” to the heroes who serve our nation and its communities, Homes for Heroes affiliates with realtors and other real estate personnel to provide substantial rebates and discounts when buying a home. In addition, a not-for-profit foundation is also available to help a Hero in need in the program.

In an on-site interview at the Millbrook Rotary Club, Rotary District 7210’s Past District Governor (2005-06), Doris Obremski (Goshen Rotary), tells how she became a supporter of The Rotary Foundation. Ms. Obremski emphasized the Foundation’s efforts to eradicate polio worldwide, giving specific statistics about the number of lives spared from polio by Millbrook Rotary’s financial contributions alone. As a result of global contributions by Rotarians and others polio is nearly eradicated. Professionally, Ms. Obremski is a marketing expert, fundraiser, and journalist and holds several positions in Rotary District 7210 and Rotary International.

Rotary District 7210’s District Governor Elect (2011-12), Tansukh Dorawala (Poughkeepsie/Arlington Rotary), discusses how Rotary International prepares all 531 District Governors worldwide with the leadership and specific knowledge necessary to change lives. Mr. Dorawala, a chemical engineer by profession, describes his personal reasons for his strong dedication to one of Rotary International’s major efforts: providing clean water and sanitation to developing countries.

Millbrook Rotary President (2010-11) Ellie Savoy discusses her background, her Rotary training, and her personal philosophy of commitment, compassion, understanding, thoughtfulness, ability to plan, attention to details, and flexibility. Together these help Ellie lead her club in its many humanitarian activities. Millbrook Rotarians annually publish a free directory of businesses and services in the immediate area, a vital resource to residents and a boost to businesses. The club’s literacy program provides dictionaries for all third graders and a book of choice to all eighth grade graduates. Millbrook’s international exchange programs include high school students and professional adults. Members embark on road clean-ups four times a year and contribute to food pantries and soup kitchens.

In this heartwarming interview, Peekskill Rotary President and District 7230 Director of Gift of Life Joe Lippolis takes the listener through the steps that saved a 2-year-old’s life. Jostyn Baque, diagnosed in Ecuador as having a congenital heart problem that could not be corrected in his country, would have died within a few years had not Peekskill Rotary and another Rotary club teamed to sponsor Jostyn’s heart operation by a pediatric surgeon in Westchester. Several other groups, including American Airlines workers who generously donated their miles and the Ecuador community in Westchester County, joined to make a difference!

Toronto Rotary International Convention, Part 2 (Aired on July 14 and 15, 2018) Here are four more stories of people putting service before self from the 2018 Toronto Rotary International Convention. Sole 4 Souls not only distributes shoes and other clothing around the world, but also creates sustainable jobs in third-world nations. World Bicycle Relief does not […]

Ambassadorial Scholar Dr. Christine Guedri Giacalone and DGN Dr. William Bassett, Scholarship Committee Chair and District 7210 Governor for 2012-13, discuss the Ambassadorial Scholarship, which promotes international understanding and goodwill through study in country different from the scholar’s own. Dr. Giacolone describes her experiences in Jordan, both as a student learning Arabic and as a professor teaching language. Her professional background teaching language to cadets in West Point for several years, plus her initial study in Arabic here in the United States, prepared her for her work in Jordan.

Red Hook Rotarian Rob Latimer, Executive Vice President of Northern Dutchess Paramedic Emergency Medical Services, discusses his experiences as a paramedic in the Hudson Valley. As a paramedic, Mr. Latimer has had over 2,000 hours of technical medical training. His emotional stories cover delivering babies and saving lives in extraordinary circumstances. Ambulance service continually needs volunteer support, so he encourages others to enter this rewarding profession.

Kingston Sunrise Rotary Co-President Jeanine Lindhorst, Coordinator for Cooking Matters in the Hudson Valley, discusses her organization’s nutritional education program for people on a limited budget. Volunteer culinary and nutrition experts teach Cooking Matters course participants how to select nutritious and low-cost ingredients and how to prepare them in ways that provide the best nourishment.

Two financial experts, both Red Hook Rotarians, discuss today’s economic environment and the effects of recent world turmoil on investing. In this on-site interview at a Red Hook Rotary meeting Glenn Goldstein, Managing Director of Portfolio Management at Focused Wealth Management, and Susan Simon, Registered Life Planner and Vice-President of Third Eye Associates, Ltd., give their opinions about what to consider when investing for retirement and about the changes investors should make in the current market.

Leah Feldman, Project Coordinator of Universal Response to Domestic Violence, and Kathy Graham, Director of Battered Women’s Services of Family Services, Inc., discuss the Family Service agency’s 24/7 free domestic violence crisis intervention program. This program includes a hotline, counseling, advocacy, support groups, childcare, emergency transportation, youth domestic violence prevention education, community outreach, and education. Their agency provides services primarily in Dutchess County, but similar agencies with these services are available in all counties in the Hudson Valley and beyond.

Prominent attorney and Rotarian Charles Goldberger, Esq. (White Plains Rotary) shares his experiences teaching in law schools around the world, including those in Eastern European countries. Mr. Goldberger, who has visited more than 75 countries, discusses the differences in law between America and the developing countries and the progress towards constitutional law that these countries are making.

Rotarian Lenny Nathan (Congers/Valley Cottage Rotary), Chief Executive Officer of HealthSav, explains how easy it is to learn the mechanics needed to help save a life through cardiopulmonary resuscitation, better known as CPR. He describes how methods for performing this life-saving function have been updated by the American Heart Association. He also discusses why more schools should teach CPR to all students and the importance of administering aid in the first four minutes when the heart stops. In the program, station manager Don Verity and the co-hosts also celebrate RadioRotary’s second anniversary on the Hudson Valley Talk Radio Network.

Sal Gambino, Carmel Rotary President, Carmel Rotarian George Knoechel, Food Bank Project Coordinator, and Judy Callahan, Executive Director of Putnam Community Action Program, one of four Food Bank programs supported by the Carmel Rotary project, discuss how Carmel Rotary has in a few years raised about $100,000 worth of food to benefit those in need. Another $50,000 worth of food is expected in 2011. This successful humanitarian Rotary project, which has helped thousands of families, began when the club partnered with the local ShopRite. From there, the club developed publicity for the Food Banks, collection methods, and distribution teams. They helped conduct research into the four Food Banks that the project serves. The details involved in making this Food Bank project a success, from start to finish, can be duplicated anywhere but — we won’t kid you — with much effort. It’s worth it!