Membership: Stephen Schwock has agreed to join our group! Keep an eye out for his induction day; it's always great to have a new member join us!

 

Boy Scouts:  Doug Decker reviewed the status of the Boy Scout group that we support.  A new Scout Master is coming on board.  All is going well although there are less scouts than usual so number of potential helpers at the Pasta Dinner may be lower than expected.  Two scouts are nearing Eagle Scout status!!   The scouts will have a Trunk & Treat at St. Kateri on October 29th.  

 

Camp Haccamo:  Ray Holla updated us on the status of Camp Haccamo doings.  A very successful Adult Camp with 78 campers just concluded (ages 21+).  A new Business Development person has been hired and is looking into several new sources for funding.  This along with a new Marketing Person has seen improvements in Haccamo external communications.  A new contract is being signed with Sunshine Campus to continue using that venue.  Jeff Reisenberg (Irondequoit Landscape) will make the playhouse accessible to wheelchairs this Sunday Oct-30 at 10:30am.  Please come out to the camp to help if you can.

 

Pasta Dinner:  Sales have been lagging versus last year to this point but thanks to everyone doing their best in a tough economy.  Please get your sales in ASAP so we can have a good estimate of dinners we need to serve.  Decisions will be made to make sure we purchase food accordingly.  Please have all SPONSOR information to Lynn Wozniak BEFORE Friday Oct-28 at 5pm.  This is the cutoff to get sponsorships into the one-page flyer that will be handed out with all the meals.  This is a very HARD cutoff...no exceptions!

 

Dictionary Project:  Meet at Lou DiPrima's house at 10am on Saturday Oct-29 to help place labels into the dictionaries.  Thanks to all that can help out!

 

Next week's meeting is at the Rec Center at Skyview on the Ridge (450 Skyview Centre Parkway Suite 200, Rochester, NY 14622).  Room - Genesee  Room Availability - 5:30 - 8 pm  Meeting start time - 6:30 pm   Speaker - Bob Scheidt, Pasta Dinner

 

 

 

 

 

Meaghan de Chateauveux from Willow Domestic Violence Center was our speaker tonight.  She lives in Irondequoit and has been with Willow for 10 years.  She thanked us for our past support.  Willow's Mission is to prevent domestic violence and ensure every survivor has access to the services and supports needed along the journey to a safe and empowered life.  Their Vision is a community free from domestic violence, where healthy relationships thrive.  All of Willow’s services are free and confidential.   The center started as "Alternatives for Battered Women" in 1978 in a church basement by advocates of stopping domestic abuse.  A hotline was set up to help those being abused and that let to offering support services such a housing.  Their programs include:  Prevention Education & Training (including in local schools), Hotline, Counseling Center, Court assistance, Support groups, pet program and more.  Meaghan sees this abuse occurring everywhere including Irondequoit on a weekly basis among all demographics.  Monroe County court processes over 2000 cases per year.  Willow has staff on hand at the courthouse and at local hospitals to provide assistance.  The center now has 49 beds and is a nice space for families that need housing during this difficult time in their lives.  There is a waiting list that normally is over 100 per night.  When needed, additional housing is made available at hotels.  Beyond physical abuse, there is psychological and financial abuse that takes place.  

 

Willow has a staff of 70.  The average stay in the shelter is 30 days and there are over 8000 calls to the hotline each year.  Most of Willow's funding comes from government grants but they also have community donations and several fundraisers such as galas.  Their budget is $5M per year.  See their site for current wish list.  Willow partners with many organizations including Lifespan for Elder Abuse.  They have school programs that can be a 20 minute Health class to several weeks of ongoing education.  

Multiple contributions towards the Speaker, upcoming successful Pasta Dinner, and foundation.   Thanks to Lou and Louis DiPrima for identifying a potential new meeting venue.  Best of health to Dave Shaheen's brother Ray who is in rehab and recovering from surgery.  Bob Scheidt cut his hand doing tile work but can still play piano at upcoming concert - he also had a flat tire!  Birthday and Anniversary songs for Tom Kosanke.  Kenn Van Dieren will give you an extra 100 Paul Harris points if you donate $100 to the Rotary Foundation!