Guests tonight: our Speaker, Theresa Bowick from Conkey Cruisers and Norma Holland.

 

Everyone who attended the veterans event at Strathallan last week had a great time.  Hats off to Jill Orologio for putting together a wonderful event for a worth cause.

 

Next week's meeting on December 11th is our Adopt-a-Family Christmas Basket party at Camp Eastman.  We need 5 people to show up at 5pm to help with deliveries.  All others can join at 5:30.  Always a fun time!

 

No weekly meetings on December 25th or January 1st.  Enjoy the HOLIDAYS with family and friends.  

 

On January 22nd, we will be preparing dinner at the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge.  More info to come as we get closer to the date.  Kim Miranda is coordinating.

 

Discussion about a Pat Torre memorial at Camp Eastman.  Planning to install a flag pole in his honor to serve as a permanent memorial in addition to an education program being planned.

 

 

 

 

Theresa Bowick is the Captain-Executor Director of Conkey Cruisers Inc.  Conkey Cruisers is a grass root neighborhood bicycling program, inspired by Theresa Bowick, a Registered Nurse who lives near Conkey Avenue in Rochester. While out running one day she encountered a young boy, who yelled out to her, “Hey Lady, are you on probation?”  It appeared that the young boy thought she was running from the Police. As she continued her run, she stopped to chat with some neighbors, when another man approached the group.  The man pointed at Theresa and said, to the group, “Don’t talk to her she is the Police!” Theresa exclaimed that she was a Nurse, not the Police. However, the man was not convinced. He boldly stated to the group, “She is the Police because nobody exercises in this neighborhood!”  So that was when her calling became obvious.  She committed herself to help her local area become better with health and wellness.  

 

The program has been in existence for 8 years.  Over 100 local residents participate each year in their programs.  There is a summer 4-6 week Bike Program and a Tennis program.  Other meetings held throughout the year to keep in touch with everyone.  They created a bike path - the El Camino Trail and that worked for several years but has fallen lately due to drug dealers, etc. using the path.  So the program now is run along Conkey Avenue for the most part.  In the group's 3rd year all 150 bicycles they had obtained up to then were stolen.  They turned lemons into lemonade as a fund drive soon after yielded over 500 bicycles!  Wonderful program and very worthwhile cause.  

Lots of donations for Theresa Bowick and Conkey Cruisers - tonight's program, Thanksgiving, and Veterans Event at Strathallan.  Kenn Van Dieren has new Rotary pins for Veterans in our club and broke a bone in his foot (but doesn't know how he did it!).  Lee Steinfeldt is happy to have received her first Social Security check.  Bob Spatola looking forward to a trip to Tampa.  Mark Hiscock's grandson is celebrating a birthday.