Avon Rotary Newsletter

Absentees were Callahan, Cameron, H. Cole, Cook, Dickinson, Dougherty, Evans, Feller, French, Gee, Henehan, Huber, Ipolito, Irwin, Johnson, Knapp, Reed, Simone, Steger, Vergo, Wall, Williams, Yencer.

President Hans encourages all who missed a meeting to call another absentee and do a make-up together. For nearby make-up options, check the back of our paper directory or the on-line list of District club meeting times and places. If you do a make-up, please tell Secretary Barbara about it right away, so the correct numbers are reported to the District.
 

We opened our August 3 meeting with a rousing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and a blessing from Pastor Dan Jones. Then Bruce Burritt led us in "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" -- and the corn is nearly "as high as an elephant's eye", as all us locals are enjoying local produce this August.

Our guests this week include Louise Wadsworth and Gregg O'Connell -- more, later -- and John McClurg, enjoying a make-up from his Perry Club. And our faithful and hard-working Interact-er Danielle Mc Bride was with us.

It was great to see Margo Harper and Sue O'Hearn in the balcony seating area.

August birthday boy Bill Shaw was serenaded, but there were no August Rotary membership anniversaries to celebrate. However, wedding anniversary celebrants this month include Carmine Simone, Bob House, Wayne Warriner, BOTH Tom and Laurie Vonglis, Jamie Shoemaker, Bert Croop, Rob Coyne and Tim Dickinson. Thanks to Ed Kime for collecting contributions from these folks.

The fortunate high bidder for the No Fine button this month is Jim Tompsett, paying $ 10 to avoid penalties in August !

Celebrations include:

• Laurie Vonglis, a weekend with Tom at Inlet to celebrate their anniversary
• Jamie Shoemaker, who has offered to match all Corn Fest proceeds as soon as he wins the lottery -- why do we believe this means "never" ?
• Helen Zamboni, having completed a 400 + mile Finger Lakes-area bike ride, and anticipating a bike tour this weekend for M.S. -- and encouraging sponsor/donors for this fundraiser.
• Kirk Vanderbilt, apologizing for claiming there were some "wholes" in the Corn Fest sign-up lists, celebrated being part of the wedding of a former classmate in Ellicottville, and, the other end of the spectrum, celebrating the life of a friend at his funeral. Kevin Tompsett celebrated the same two events.
• Linda Kime celebrated the dinner get-together of exchange student host parents and alternates at the Avondale. Take note: the Red Cross Blood Drive on August 9, 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. Danielle can earn scholarship money by recruiting numbers of donors.
• Bob House celebrated being in Maine for a wedding (not his) and in Ohio fishing with friends (Ginny, too, I suppose).
• And for another noteworthy bit of publicity: Carl Lutz was thanked, in a Penny Saver ad, for his participation in Livingston County Business-Education Alliance Junior Achievement program: this was presented over several weeks to 16 - 19 year olds at the County Jail. For several years, Carl has kicked off this program.

Announcements:

• The Board of Directors meets next Monday, August 9, 7:00 p.m. in the Hurricane Technologies conference room. Any member is welcome to attend. ADG Walt Springer will be bringing District directories.
• The 7120 District Golf Tournament will be on Friday, September 10.
• Dr. Bob Hayes has plenty of 50 / 50 tickets available for the Corn Fest.
• Julie Carney wants Rotarians to help welcome our exchange student from Austria, on August 12, 7:10 p.m. at the airport.
• Kirk reminds us that help is still needed at a number of spots in the Corn Fest, and it's all FUN FUN FUN. He also has tickets for the Lions Club clambake.
• Laurie Vonglis has final sign-up tonight for our August 17 trip to Camp Sam Wood, $10 per. And remember the August 15 day-after picnic at the Coles' house, dish-to-pass, starting at 1:00 (or 2:00 ) (or 5:00) depending on whom you listened to.
• There will be a joint Rotary-Lions meeting at the Avon Inn on September 14, more to follow.
• And input is welcome for the APHS display windows, highlighting our club -- we welcome tee shirts, other Corn Fest memorabilia, and help.

An excellent presentation followed, and thanks to Carl Lutz for arranging it. Louise Wadsworth, owner of the former Pictures and Presents shop in Geneseo, an originator of the Geneseo Summer Festival, and currently the director of the County's Alliance for Business Growth, with Gregg O'Connell, a community developer with many years of experience in Brooklyn areas and currently redeveloping Mt. Morris's Main Street.

Their discussion contained many ideas and examples on downtown-area revitalization. Gregg's commitment to Livingston includes board presences for Bank of Castile, American Rock Salt, Sweeteners Plus, and others. His attention to Mount Morris has involved purchasing of a number of buildings, gutting many, inviting a variety of retail businesses, re-facing many buildings,and targeting a mix of arts, antiques and ethnic foods, emphasizing that any development project must include arts. He discussed the absolute need for a good tax-abatement program. He has concentrated on "buy local, hire local" in his developments. Some important lease agreements included requiring stores be lighted at night, retailers agreeing on one night per week they would all stay open, and periodic updates of window displays. The net result will be cleaner, safer communities. Many thanks for this thoughtful presentation -- lots of discussion with him and Louse followed.

Our closing song was "Who's Sorry Now?" -- but it wasn't Julie Carney, winner of the 50 /50 payout of $30.00.

Th-th-th-that's all for now, folks,

Your club secretary, Barbara Herman