Beacon News November 26, 2007

Deborah Whitt reporting

Visiting Rotarians:  Don Milton, Penfield Rotary Club

Guests:

Jim Vollert, guest of Larry Wills

Alan Adams, guest of Larry Wills

Tom Shay – He thanked Rino for staying in touch with him

Birthdays:

Paul Chatfield

Anniversaries:

Jim and Terry Abrams

Bridget and Mark Campbell

Announcements:

·   The Greece club and Wegmans has received “a thumbs” up from the Greece Post Newspaper for the abundant food drive.

·   Area 9 dinner is scheduled for 3/8/08 at Rick’s Prime Rib House.  It will have a night at the races theme.  Gambling on video races will be part of the action that night.

·   Rich Vogelzang has ziti tickets available, 5 ad spots left on the placemat, needs new ads for everyone, wine label contest winner if John Zink.  The minimum expectation of every club member is $250 in ticket/ad sales.  Overall goal is $45,000 in gross sales.  Placemats are $200/ad and includes ten tickets.

·   Club has a Rotary Foundation Challenge for each member to donate $100 a year to R/I Foundation annual Funds Program, the club does a partial match, member may earn credits toward Paul Harris Fellow.  See handout on the table.

·   Liz Richardson has raffle tickets that the Hilton Club is selling at $5 for 1, or a book for $20.  Prize:  Buffalo Bills memorabilia.

·   At the board meeting on 11/14/07, the attendees nominated a partial slate of officers.  Linda Blossom, Andy Gray, and Joe Darweesh terms are ending.  John Zink, Vicki Lati, Kim Putnam, and Bob Dyjak are nominees.

·   Chuck Krause gave a brief tutorial on the LPGA Mall ticket sales.  Keep the car’s doors open, tell people proceeds go to the two camps, display brochures.  There is a $49 ticket deal, and a week long ground pass for $125. See handout on each table for details.  

·   The BOCES Christmas lunch is scheduled for December 12 at Ridgemont.  Volunteers needed.  See Tom Lawson.

 Upcoming events:     

       December 7 - Annual Christmas Party at the Marriott

       December 12 - BOCES II Christmas Party at Ridgemont Country Club

       January 27 - Annual Ziti Dinner

       June 10 - Annual Golf Tournament

Today’s Guest Speakers:  Don Milton, President of the Board of Directors of Camp Haccomo, and Penfield Rotary club member.

2009 Changes to Camp Haccamo, possible new location, and the financial support options discussed.  The  LPGA provides 50% of the camp’s funding.  Ravenwood golf course as the new LPGA location is just a rumor.  There is a site committee that Brad Shea and Dan Hedberg are part of.    The site committee is considering using Sunshine Camp to partner with using some of the  157 acres of vacant land there, and the Penfield YMCA  has 30 acres behind it that may be a possibility.  Other sites are being considered.

 The LPGA tournament’s goal is to have ten majors, and they want to make Rochester one of them.  Wegmans as the sponsor accounts for 60% of the $400,000 that is divided between the two camps.  Conversations are taking place about how Rotary can sustain Camp Haccomo, and have it become self-sufficient to the point where the camp will not be dependent upon other people for financial resources.  One suggestion is a hike for Camp Haccomo in October 2008.  The proposal includes hiking at three of county parks.  The proposed funding source is 1,500 getting ten $5 contributions totaling $50 each kid for a total of $75,000.  Camp Haccomo must be run as a business.  Its 51 years old now.  The sunshine Camp has a $700,000 foundation.  Camp Haccomo has a $9,000 foundation. 

Camp Haccomo needs to find new resources, more direct participation of Rotary members, and more creative ways to raise money.  Currently it has 16 directors, and 16 alternates.  Ask ourselves “How committed are we to having the LPGA games?”  The director of Camp Haccomo needs our input, Camp Haccomo supports 400 disabled children each summer.  Rotary club members dues include $50 per member that goes to the two camps.  Suggestion form Robert Falvey  is to consider donating you required mandatory  minimum distribution from your IRA  for those age  70 ½ or older if you don’t need it.  You can give it to a charity and not pay taxes on it.  Another suggestion is that Rotary members can leave money to the camp as a gift upon death.  Don Riley reminded us all to keep a clear focus about true objective for the camp and the kids.  There must be a clear line with our partnership with Wegmans as to what the camp needs are.  The camp needs approximately $400,000 annually  to operate efficiently and provide the services.

Fining (Mike Perotto): Due to time restraints, only two people fined.

50/50: Ralph Rosati