Pasta Dinner Update:  tickets with value of over $40,000 have been distributed out to members - more than ever....sell them all - but if not call Bob Scheidt so he can re-distribute any you cannot sell....tickets sales so far going very well.

 

President Lynn passed out new bookmarks with the ABC's of Life - printed by Dan Dwyer.  Thanks Dan!  

 

Shop With A Cop program is being planned.   Irondequoit Police Department is working with Target to secure a grant for this year's program.

 

Next week (October 20), we will again be at Lucca's (425 Merchants Rd, Rochester, NY 14609).   Good reviews for the first week.  Any comments - good or bad, please touch base with Jason Miller.

 

Our October 27th meeting speaker will be Charlsey Bickett of Mary's Place Outreach that supports refugees.  Kim Miranda is collecting toiletries to donate to Mary's Place.  Please donate the following if able:  Shampoo, soap, deodorant, and menstrual pads (not tampons).

Dan Dwyer introduced Ron Dougherty, Co-founder, Managing Director, & Head Judge for RAISE A GLASS FOUNDATION (RAGF).  Dan was asked out "for a drink" which led to his involvement in Raise a Glass.   He was asked to help provide volunteers from Rotary to help with RAGF's mission: 

 

The Raise A Glass FoundationTM is a registered NY 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to help save and improve the lives of adults and children around the world. We accomplish our mission by collecting and donating to deserving charities a valuable asset – thousands of award-winning bottles of wine, beer and spirits – which they use in their fundraising galas, dinners, auctions and other events.  It would be very difficult if not impossible for a single charity to solicit such a collection of award-winning bottles from producers around the world. We remove that barrier by hosting truly international competitions – with entries and professional judges from over 25 countries. At the end of the competitions, all of the unopened bottles (thousands!) are categorized and donated to deserving charities for their fundraising events.    (Source: https://www.raiseaglassfoundation.com/)

 

RAGF grew from a focus on wines to now sponsor INTERNATIONAL events for Wines, Spirits, Beer, and Cider.  Ron thinks they will stop there.  Over $1.25 million has been raised for charities so far by RAGF.  A primary charity is InterVol but Camp Haccamo and several local Rotary clubs including Irondequoit have also received donations arising from RAGF wine, beer, and spirits sales.  Our ROC CITY UnCorked Auction last year using RAGF wines & Spirits raised over $25,000.  

 

Volunteers are critical to make this a success and that's where Rotary volunteers come in.  The competitions require volunteers and our club and other local clubs have been instrumental in making the competitions work.  See our very own Kenn Van Dieren pouring at a wine competition (must have been tough to pour and not sample...)

 

President Lynn presented Ron with a check for $100 (part of the profits we made from RAGF beers donated this year - another $365 is going to Camp Haccamo).

Many contributions for tonight's speaker and the new meeting venue - and Jason Miller for making arrangements for trying out Lucca.  Debbie Renna-Hynes & Norb Rappl are celebrating birthdays.  Jessica Franco celebrated her Italian heritage on Columbus Day.  Kim Miranda hoping for the best with her final medical procedure coming up soon.  Dave Shaheen happy about raise in Social Security.  Kenn Van Dieren and Doug Decker celebrating anniversaries.  Lee Steinfeldt treats contractors with a shot of moonshine after each workday and wonders why the kitchen work is taking so long... Andrew & Marianna Beigel completed a fund-raising walk for infant death (having personally suffered from this loss).