Rotateller Rotary Club of Owego, NY
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 Gary Williams, Editor Carolyn Wright, Guest Editor

“One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others.” Robert Heinlein

In Annette’s absence, Matt Adler, Immediate Past President, led the meeting today.

Visitors and Guests: Our only visitor today was speaker for the day, Don Curtis, director of the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club, also a member of Owego Kiwanis.

Music: Smile. And expertly led by Carl with piano by Carolyn, it sounded pretty good!

Announcements: Exchange students for 2008-2009 will arrive on the 20th and 23rd. Arrival times will be announced soon. Reminder: the Bike Tioga event is August 9 and 10 starting at the Hickories Park.

Future programs: August 12th – District Governor Lana Rouff will make her visit. August 19th – Ed Kang, from North Korea, about Korea. August 26th – to be announced. September 2nd – THE picnic

Fines: Carole quizzed us on some Owego history. We did fairly well with the answers but not well enough. A lot of money was collected.

Happy Dollars: Here are some: Carolyn was happy for the credit given to John Spencer and Rotary in the recent Pennysaver article by Karl Tiemann about the history of the skating rink at Marvin Park. Bernie was happy to report she’d returned from Hawaii. There were two more who made a nice recovery, thus dodging a potential fine, by quickly reporting a happy dollar at the acquisition of new cars. Orv reported the tennis players had a great time in their playoff tournaments against big city teams but will be going no further. Matt thanked Jody and Paul for their good-bye party for Mati, who flew away to Germany on Saturday. Those at Phillips’s house Friday evening had great food, drink and conversation.

Program: Matt introduced our speaker, Don Curtis, Director of the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club. Immediately, Matt surprised him with a check for $500 from Owego Rotary Club for the Boys and Girls Club.

Don Curtis has been at Boys and Girls Club about one and one-half years now. He is an action guy, and an idea guy, who represents the club for kids very well. There are over 1000 regular members, with 138 added in the last year. Some 32,000 people passed through the doors last year.

There have been many areas of growth, from programs to numerous new initiatives at the club. There are plans for improvements and renovations to make the club better and safer and to grow what was already great about the club. There are programs galore, from the recently added day care for some 50 children, on site and at Owego Elementary, to basketball for adult teams down to the peewee level, participating with OFA. They grew the staff from nine to 19. One new staff member is a social director. Now they run day and overnight trips for baseball, fall foliage and the casinos, etc. The money they make is then put back into trips for kids.

There are programs just for teens, and they run many clubs for those who need homework help or get good report cards, whatever the kids need. And there is a possibility they may acquire a van. If it works out, Boys and Girls Club would be able to take activities and fun to other areas of the county.

The people at Tioga County Boys and Girls Club are receptive to ideas and looking for ways to make improvements in the community. They would be happy to partner with any who are looking to do the same. The Boys and Girls Club is in good hands.

This was a really informative and exciting presentation.

50/50: Can you believe it? It was Orv, again. He had the good sense to donate his winnings to the Boys and Girls Club!

Warning: you might want to take a look at that Rotarian magazine for next week! We have to know some answers when the District Governor is visiting.

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