Rotateller Rotary Club of Owego, NY
Tuesday, January 08, 2008 Gary Williams, Editor

To devote a portion of one's leisure to doing something for someone else is one of the highest forms of recreation. Gerald B. Fitzgerald

GUEST:

Fred brought Jack Sullivan with him to the meeting. It was good to have both of them with us!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Mike Wold and Dave Saddlemire

MUSIC:

Carl led us in “R-O-T-A-R-Y”

FINES:

Orv got us on some more Rotary information. The last question about polio does remind me of Three Cups of Tea. When you have more of an idea of what it is like in these places, we can understand how difficult it is to accomplish goals such as the eradication of polio.

POINSETTIAS:

Thanks go to many people. Certainly to Judy for a wonderful job. She mentioned those who sold and those who transported and those who sorted. A real club effort to sell slightly more than the 825 we contracted for. April Swaney, who is no longer a member, did a nice job of helping us. Bill held the record again this year.

SUNSHINE:

Steve updated us on Mike Slavetskas and we are all hoping for the best for him. Al Sunderwirth is working on getting a better knee so he can both work and pedal more effectively and comfortably.

EVERGREEN CLEAN-UP:

Orv read a letter from Rich Watkins thanking the members of our Club for our assistance in helping to clean-up the leaves in Evergreen Cemetery this fall.

MEMBERSHIP:

There will be another luncheon for prospective members in February.

BASKETBALL:

We have been invited to a Binghamton University basketball game on Saturday, February 23. More information to come!

STUDENT EXCHANGE:

We have great students this year (but I suggest that you not bet heavily on their chosen teams).

PROGRAM:

Steve introduced Nelson Torres who lives in Chenango Forks and has been a State Trooper for 21 years. This was another of Steve’s excellent programs. Nelson is a real person, a good speaker, and an excellent example of the quality of the State Troopers. Nelson was not “born on third base” but has scored many runs in his life after starting out in a project in Brooklyn (hence his first name) and not speaking English until he was 5 years old. He was the first in his family to get a high school diploma, although he had to get a GED from NJ after accepting a family obligation and going into the armed services. His bilingual skills took him into undercover narcotics work.

The NY Troopers were not formed until 1917 when a need was expressed in the Fredonia area when police services were not being provided. It was established as a quasi-military organization. Their uniforms are 50% black and 50% white. They are designed to not display the individual, but the trooper. The respect is designed to come with the uniform. Nelson told us some more about his personal history and family and also the challenges and opportunities of being a State Trooper in NY.

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