«The Vista«

January 13, 2009       Vol. 38, No. 25      District 7170

Ithaca Cayuga Rotary Club

Chartered November 1, 1971     

Meets Tuesday Noon, Kendal at Ithaca

www.ithacarotary.org/cayuga    www.rotarydistrict7170.org

Editor: H. Murphy

Opening: The meeting was called to order by President Chuck Brodhead. Doug Armstrong led the singing of God Bless America in a most harmonious rendition thanks to some musical visitors. Following the pledge Bill McGuire gave as the Thought for the Day, a pithy quote from Robert Frost.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests were introduced by Everett Morse including PDG Gene Erickson from the Ithaca Club and from the Rotary Club of Edina, Minnesota, Terry Stevens. Our speaker's trio was Steve Griffin, Carolyn Arnold, and Carol Ackley.

Reminders: Treasurer Ed Siemon is still collecting dues for Jan,-June 2009. If not yet paid, please send your $75,00 check to Ed at 119 Simsbury Dr., Ithaca, NY payable to Ithaca-Cayuga Rotary.

Ed also has on hand a fresh supply of Claxton fruitcakes for $7.00. Calendars with the Dewey Neild waterfall photos are available from AnnMarie. The Polio Plus pot is on hand at all meetings ready for any loose change we may have. Let’s fill it up by the end of this Rotary year.

Coming Event: The Dryden Rotary Club will be holding a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater at the Veterans' Memorial Building on Route 13 as you enter Dryden from the west on Valentines Day, Feb. 14.

Service Projects for Rotary this year are aimed at reducing child mortality through reducing hunger, improving health and literacy, plus providing sources of clean water. The District Governor wants to hear about each club's efforts in these areas.

Happy Birthday Joe Quigley was sung belatedly to the -birthday boy.

Next Week: Board Meeting at 11:00 a.m. preceding our regular meeting in the Blue Heron Room at Kendal.

50/50 was conducted by Chuck with the birthday boy Joe Quigley holding the winning ticket. Joe donated his winnings to the Club treasury. Thanks Joe.

Happy/Sad $$. Doug was happy to see many new faces attending today, but sad with the winter weather. Jim Shreve was sad for having missed a number of meetings, but happy that his teams are now winning (No mention of the Syracuse football team, however.) Bill McGuire was happy for Jim's happiness. Our visiting Rotarian from Minn. was happy to be visiting his grandchildren. Chuck was happy for the comparatively “mild” weather the past few days.

Joe Quigley was looking forward to three months in the Florida sunshine. Gene Erickson was happy not to be in his hometown in ND where the temperature was minus 30. Jim Lorbeer was happy for cold weather here which meant it was warm and sunny in the California citrus groves. Ed Siemon was happy to be working with Habitat for Humanity on a house in Lansing. He would welcome names of possible residents for the house when completed. AnnMarie was happy the Veaners have designated their Lansing Community Service Award fund to the Lansing Habitat for Humanity build.

Program. Our three speakers from Foodnet were; Steve Griffin, Executive Director; Carolyn Arnold, Assistant Director, Nutritionist; and Carol Ackley, Nutrition Outreach Director. Steve indicated that one in nine seniors in the U.S. are at risk of hunger with the most in this group in the 60 to 64 age bracket. Sad to say hunger in seniors is increasing. Foodnet's goal is to provide good nutrition with prepared food to mostly seniors but also a younger group who may be disabled or recovering from a hospital stay.

Those eligible for home delivery are age 60+ and home­bound. Also those who may have had an accident, are frail, or in a recovery stage. There are three congregate meal sites: the Groton Senior Center, Titus Towers, and Woodsedge in Lansing. Participants contribute $3.00 per meal. 400 of the 500 meals prepared each day are home delivered around the midday. In 2008, 208,620 meals were served to about 1000 different individuals.

The drivers have to hurry along their assigned routes in order to make timely deliveries. Carol, the Outreach Director, goes to the homes of applicants and helps them with filling out forms and to also assess other needs they may have. Meals are all prepared in Foodnet's kitchen on. N. Triphammer Rd. and are now distributed in paperboard trays, which are microwavable, a recent improvement for clients. A newly added service is delivering pet food as many seniors have companion animals. Carol also helps with applications for food stamps or the Food Benefit Card.

Funding comes from both Federal and state government, the city's block grant program, United Way, charitable donations, and from the participants. The goal is help seniors live well and age well, a most valuable asset to the community.

Responsibilities	Greeter	Thought for the Day	Introductions
January 20	Ed Moy	Art Muka	Hank Murphy
January 27	Joe Quigley	Ed Siemon	Bob Thurston
February 3	AnnMarie Hautaniemi	Jim Lorbeer	Bill McGuire

The Rotary Four Way Test of all the things we think, say, or do

Is it the truth?

Is it fair to all concerned?

Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

Will it be beneficial to all concerned?