October is Vocational Services Month
Posted by Ralph Montesanto
on Oct 12, 2008
As Barb and I continue to visit the Rotary clubs throughout the District we are impressed by the great work they are doing. I prepare for the meetings by doing my homework and finding out as much as I can about each club. Then, when I meet with the Board I get to hear first hand what the club is doing. As I listen, there is an emotional part of what members have to say and it really is quite special. It is something most Rotary clubs do not get to share with other clubs; but, I have the opportunity to live vicariously through the great work all clubs are doing. Let me tell you about some of my recent visits and the non-fundraising sweat equity work that the clubs do in their local communities. You will notice that most of the clubs I have identified are in New York. That is because, I spent most of the last month visiting there.
Members of The Tonawandas are painting the chapel at the Salvation Army building.
Hamburg Rotarians take two winter months and personally deliver food as part of Meals on Wheels.
Grand Island members, including one of its newest members constructed a wheelchair ramp for a woman on Grand Island.
The Lancaster-Depew folk, cook and serve the Breakfast of Champions to honour high performing students at the local middle school.
The Delhi Rotarians volunteer to assist the town with September Harvest Days, a major community event.
Members of the Buffalo club work and play with handicapped children during Sunshine Day at Cradle Beach.
The Buffalo Sunrise club coordinated the Youth Exchange weekend in Buffalo.
Members of the Port Colborne club worked on a Habitat for Humanity house.
A house was made wheelchair accessible by members of the Westfield-Mayville club.
West Seneca Rotarians like to read to children and then listen to them read.
The Williamsville club cleans and refreshes Rotary Park in town.
The South Shore of Blasdell/Lackawanna club visits a Senior Citizens Home and runs a Bingo for them.
The Niagara County Central club cooks and serves a breakfast for over 300 seniors.
Members of The Tonawandas are painting the chapel at the Salvation Army building.
Hamburg Rotarians take two winter months and personally deliver food as part of Meals on Wheels.
Grand Island members, including one of its newest members constructed a wheelchair ramp for a woman on Grand Island.
The Lancaster-Depew folk, cook and serve the Breakfast of Champions to honour high performing students at the local middle school.
The Delhi Rotarians volunteer to assist the town with September Harvest Days, a major community event.
Members of the Buffalo club work and play with handicapped children during Sunshine Day at Cradle Beach.
The Buffalo Sunrise club coordinated the Youth Exchange weekend in Buffalo.
Members of the Port Colborne club worked on a Habitat for Humanity house.
A house was made wheelchair accessible by members of the Westfield-Mayville club.
West Seneca Rotarians like to read to children and then listen to them read.
The Williamsville club cleans and refreshes Rotary Park in town.
The South Shore of Blasdell/Lackawanna club visits a Senior Citizens Home and runs a Bingo for them.
The Niagara County Central club cooks and serves a breakfast for over 300 seniors.
As Barb and I continue to visit the Rotary clubs throughout the District we are impressed by the great work they are doing. I prepare for the meetings by doing my homework and finding out as much as I can about each club. Then, when I meet with the Board I get to hear first hand what the club is doing. As I listen, there is an emotional part of what members have to say and it really is quite special. It is something most Rotary clubs do not get to share with other clubs; but, I have the opportunity to live vicariously through the great work all clubs are doing. Let me tell you about some of my recent visits and the non-fundraising sweat equity work that the clubs do in their local communities. You will notice that most of the clubs I have identified are in New York. That is because, I spent most of the last month visiting there.
Members of The Tonawandas are painting the chapel at the Salvation Army building.
Hamburg Rotarians take two winter months and personally deliver food as part of Meals on Wheels.
Grand Island members, including one of its newest members constructed a wheelchair ramp for a woman on Grand Island.
The Lancaster-Depew folk, cook and serve the Breakfast of Champions to honour high performing students at the local middle school.
The Delhi Rotarians volunteer to assist the town with September Harvest Days, a major community event.
Members of the Buffalo club work and play with handicapped children during Sunshine Day at Cradle Beach.
The Buffalo Sunrise club coordinated the Youth Exchange weekend in Buffalo.
Members of the Port Colborne club worked on a Habitat for Humanity house.
A house was made wheelchair accessible by members of the Westfield-Mayville club.
West Seneca Rotarians like to read to children and then listen to them read.
The Williamsville club cleans and refreshes Rotary Park in town.
The South Shore of Blasdell/Lackawanna club visits a Senior Citizens Home and runs a Bingo for them.
The Niagara County Central club cooks and serves a breakfast for over 300 seniors.
These are all hands on, get to know the community type of service. There is an intimacy with the people helped that is lasting and memorable, which brings me to the theme of this month. October is Vocational Services Month.
It is a time to focus on the vocational skills of Rotarians and how Rotarians can use their skills to solve problems in the local and international communities. It is a time to do some soul searching. Do you as Rotarians promote high ethical standards? Do you treat employers, employees, associates, competitors and the public fairly?
Here are some things you can do to promote Vocational Services Month. They do not have to happen this month, but you can start thinking of them now.
In your own club, make sure the Rotarians who are long-time members have an opportunity to do a mini classification talk. Remember, new members have not heard the classification speeches of the old guard.
Work with schools to promote Career Days.
Present a Vocational Services Awards to non-Rotarians in the community and invite their families and peers to the celebration.
Print the Declaration of Rotarians in Business and the Professions and share it with each club member.
There are a couple of other things I want to address. The first is the District Conference. This will be my last effort at getting as many District Rotarians and partners as possible to attend the conference. It is in Hamilton, Ontario from October 17 to 19 and the theme is On the Waterfront: A Clear Commitment. To date, there are around 650 registrants. Are you one of them? If you cannot attend the entire three days, then select the parts that fit your schedule. Go to rotary7090.org and find the conference link. Once there, select and pay for what you want to do. This is a great way to move along that continuum of Rotary Experience we are all part of.
I also want to welcome the Group Study Exchange team from District 4840, Paraguay and Misiones Argentina. To team leader Carlos Fernandez and team members Cinthia Romero Apodaca, Frances Galeano Penayo, Geraldo Alonson Schwarz and Federico Monte Domencq, I am so pleased that you arrived safely in District 7090 and I wish you a fabulous experience in New York and Ontario.
Please put in your date-book the annual Rotary Foundation Dinner on November 14 at Salvatores in Buffalo. Past Rotary International President Frank Devlin is the guest speaker. Information about the dinner can be found on the District website, rotary7090.org.
Also, the 83rd Eastern Cities Dinner is schedule for October 29 in Rochester, NY. President D. K. Lee is the guest speaker. You can register online at rochesterrotary.org if you want to attend.
As I close, I want to reiterate how great it is to visit each club and meet with all the Rotarians in the District. Thank you for your warm welcomes and thank you for sharing with Barb and me the great work you do to Make Dreams Real.
Members of The Tonawandas are painting the chapel at the Salvation Army building.
Hamburg Rotarians take two winter months and personally deliver food as part of Meals on Wheels.
Grand Island members, including one of its newest members constructed a wheelchair ramp for a woman on Grand Island.
The Lancaster-Depew folk, cook and serve the Breakfast of Champions to honour high performing students at the local middle school.
The Delhi Rotarians volunteer to assist the town with September Harvest Days, a major community event.
Members of the Buffalo club work and play with handicapped children during Sunshine Day at Cradle Beach.
The Buffalo Sunrise club coordinated the Youth Exchange weekend in Buffalo.
Members of the Port Colborne club worked on a Habitat for Humanity house.
A house was made wheelchair accessible by members of the Westfield-Mayville club.
West Seneca Rotarians like to read to children and then listen to them read.
The Williamsville club cleans and refreshes Rotary Park in town.
The South Shore of Blasdell/Lackawanna club visits a Senior Citizens Home and runs a Bingo for them.
The Niagara County Central club cooks and serves a breakfast for over 300 seniors.
These are all hands on, get to know the community type of service. There is an intimacy with the people helped that is lasting and memorable, which brings me to the theme of this month. October is Vocational Services Month.
It is a time to focus on the vocational skills of Rotarians and how Rotarians can use their skills to solve problems in the local and international communities. It is a time to do some soul searching. Do you as Rotarians promote high ethical standards? Do you treat employers, employees, associates, competitors and the public fairly?
Here are some things you can do to promote Vocational Services Month. They do not have to happen this month, but you can start thinking of them now.
In your own club, make sure the Rotarians who are long-time members have an opportunity to do a mini classification talk. Remember, new members have not heard the classification speeches of the old guard.
Work with schools to promote Career Days.
Present a Vocational Services Awards to non-Rotarians in the community and invite their families and peers to the celebration.
Print the Declaration of Rotarians in Business and the Professions and share it with each club member.
There are a couple of other things I want to address. The first is the District Conference. This will be my last effort at getting as many District Rotarians and partners as possible to attend the conference. It is in Hamilton, Ontario from October 17 to 19 and the theme is On the Waterfront: A Clear Commitment. To date, there are around 650 registrants. Are you one of them? If you cannot attend the entire three days, then select the parts that fit your schedule. Go to rotary7090.org and find the conference link. Once there, select and pay for what you want to do. This is a great way to move along that continuum of Rotary Experience we are all part of.
I also want to welcome the Group Study Exchange team from District 4840, Paraguay and Misiones Argentina. To team leader Carlos Fernandez and team members Cinthia Romero Apodaca, Frances Galeano Penayo, Geraldo Alonson Schwarz and Federico Monte Domencq, I am so pleased that you arrived safely in District 7090 and I wish you a fabulous experience in New York and Ontario.
Please put in your date-book the annual Rotary Foundation Dinner on November 14 at Salvatores in Buffalo. Past Rotary International President Frank Devlin is the guest speaker. Information about the dinner can be found on the District website, rotary7090.org.
Also, the 83rd Eastern Cities Dinner is schedule for October 29 in Rochester, NY. President D. K. Lee is the guest speaker. You can register online at rochesterrotary.org if you want to attend.
As I close, I want to reiterate how great it is to visit each club and meet with all the Rotarians in the District. Thank you for your warm welcomes and thank you for sharing with Barb and me the great work you do to Make Dreams Real.