Stories

At Rotary, we have no tolerance for racism. Promoting respect, celebrating diversity, demanding ethical leadership, and working tirelessly to advance peace are central tenets of our work.

We have more work to do to create more just, open and welcoming communities for all people.

We know there are no easy fixes and that challenging conversations and work lie before all of us. Rotary’s strength has long been our ability and commitment to bringing people together. We will tap into that strength now as we stand with those who are working for peace and justice. 

Rotary will do our part to listen, learn and take action to ensure that we continue to contribute to making positive change.

For the 2017-2018 school year, Rochester Rotary is assisting two local students to study abroad for a full school year, as well as coordinating a short term exchange during the summer.

This year, Rochester Rotary helped locate a host family for Eva Meisl of Austria and encourages students and families to consider if they are interested in either a short term or long term exchange in 2018.

Rochester Rotary provides humanitarian service and encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, announces the club’s Good Deeds Committee is seeking local opportunities to help community members and organizations with short-term projects.

Rotarians are charged to live by the motto of Service Above Self and the Good Deeds Committee  is just one way the Rochester Rotary Club fulfills this requirement. “The Good Deed Doers find it fulfilling to help neighbors and community organizations complete tasks and projects that they might otherwise not be able to complete.”

Part of a long-term commitment to Rotary’s mission, the Good Deeds Committee looks for small projects that  a group of five to 10 volunteers can complete in around four hours for local community members or organizations. Past projects have included the construction of a handicap ramp to a private residence, spring yard cleanup and window washing for a senior citizen, painting an apartment for an individual with disabilities and serving meals at Grace Centers of Hope.

Local community members and organizations interested in help from the Good Deeds Committee can learn more or to enlist the help of the committee by contacting the club secretary at jeff@whitbey.com.

Rochester Rotary is helping change lives globally through repeat mission trips to Nuevo Edén, Guatemala. Rochester Rotary President and local pediatrician, Jay Eastman, M.D., his wife, Rochester Rotarian Linda Eastman, and Rochester Rotarian Dr. Bill Ebinger, led the efforts for the vision mission trips, with the most recent trip taking place Jan. 18 – 24, 2014.

Through the support of other Rotary Clubs in District 6380 and private donations, Rochester Rotary has sent the Eastmans, Ebinger and other Rochester Rotarians on annual medical mission trips to Guatemala to treat the general population of Nuevo Edén since 2007. During the annual trips, patients that need follow-up care are identified and, through collaborative efforts with other physicians and medical practitioners, the majority of whom are Rotarians, follow-up trips are made to provide the additional care needed. It was on the annual trip in Nov. 2012 that the medical team noted the dire need for a variety of vision treatments.

Rochester Rotary is helping change lives globally through repeat mission trips to Nuevo Edén, Guatemala. Rochester Rotary President and local pediatrician, Jay Eastman, M.D., and his wife, Linda Eastman, are leading efforts for the trips.

Through the support of other Rotary Clubs in District 6380 and private donations, Rochester Rotary has sent the Eastmans and other Rochester Rotarians on annual medical mission trips to Guatemala to treat the general population of Nuevo Edén since 2007. During the annual trips, patients that need follow-up care are identified and, through collaborative efforts with other physicians and medical practitioners, the majority of whom are Rotarians, follow-up trips are made to provide the additional care needed.

Rochester Rotary, a member club of Rotary International, a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service and encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, invites students ages 14-18 to join Interact, Rotary International’s service club for youth. Sponsored by the Rochester Rotary club, which provides support and guidance, Interact is currently offered at Rochester High School and Stoney Creek High School under the guidance of faculty advisors Kelly Messing-Mirabito and Laurene Kaschalk respectively, with plans to start a club at Adams High School.

With more than 200,000 Interactors in approximately 109 countries and geographical areas, Interact allows participants to meet youth from around the world, develop leadership skills and help make the world a better place. Interact clubs carry out two community service projects each year, including one that furthers international understanding and goodwill. Currently, Interactors nationwide are donating relief supplies to victims of natural disasters, organizing fundraisers to purchase books for needy schools and volunteering their time and energy in the community through a variety of projects.

“Today’s youth are the leaders of tomorrow. Interact provides teen leaders and those who aspire to leadership the opportunity to learn and understand the value of individual responsibility, hard work and personal integrity while enhancing and demonstrating leadership skills and promoting goodwill,” said Wayne Hodges, a Rochester Rotary Club member and liaison for Rochester Interact students. “As a club, we look forward to working with our community’s young people to learn and grow together while helping make the world a better place.” 

BYLAWS OF ROCHESTER ROTARY CHARITIES, INC.

ARTICLE 1

NAME

1.1 Name and Organization. This organization, named in its articles of incorporation as "Rochester Rotary Charities, Inc." (hereafter designated in these bylaws as "the Foundation"), is a Michigan nonprofit corporation with a perpetual corporate term.

ARTICLE 2

PURPOSE AND BASIC POLICIES

2.1 Purposes. The purpose for which the Foundation is formed are those set forth in its articles of incorporation, as from time to time amended, to receive, administer, and disburse funds for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, all for the public welfare. No part of the net earnings of the Foundation shall inure to the benefit of any member, director, officer or the Foundation, or any private individual (except reasonable compensation may be paid for service rendered to or for the Foundation affecting one or more of its purposes), and no member, director, officer of the Foundation or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporate assets on the dissolution of the Foundation. No substantial part of the activities of the foundation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Foundation shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) in a political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

2.2 Basic Policies. The following are the basic policies of the Foundation

a) The Foundation shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan.

b) The name of the Foundation or the names of any members in their official capacity shall not be used in any connection with a commercial concern or with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to promotion of objects of the Foundation.

ARTICLE 3

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

3.1 Power and composition. The control and management of the affairs of the Foundation shall be vested in a board of directors, which shall consist of seven members. The directors shall consist of the Assistant Treasurer of the Rochester Rotary Club plus six directors at large, elected from the membership of the Rochester Rotary Club.

3.2 Election and Term of Office of Directors at Large. The six directors at large shall be elected by a vote of the board of directors of the Rochester Rotary Club. Two directors at large shall be initially elected for one year term; two directors at large shall be initially elected for a two year term and two directors at large shall be initially elected for a three year term. Subsequent elections shall be for three year terms and these directors shall hold office until their successors are elected. No director at large may serve more than three consecutive fiscal years and, after serving three consecutive fiscal years, at least two fiscal years shall elapse before one may again be elected a director at large. Notwithstanding anything contained herein or otherwise to the contrary, after appointment of the initial board of directors, thereafter, the directors shall be elected and vacancies filled by a vote of the membership at the annual meeting or a special meeting.

3.3 Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring on the board of directors other than that filled by the Assistant Treasurer of the Rochester Rotary Club may be filled by the affirmative vote of the remaining directors, whether or not such remaining directors would constitute a quorum of the board. The term of office of each person so elected shall continue until the expiration of the term of the director who caused the vacancy. Should such vacancy be created by the death, incapacity, or resignation of the Assistant Treasurer of the Rochester Rotary Club then such vacancy shall be filled by the board of directors of the Rochester Rotary Club.

3.4 Meetings.

a) Annual and Regular Meetings. The annual meeting of the board of directors shall be held in the month of July on such date as may be determined by the President. Other regular meetings of the board of directors may be held at such times and places as a majority of the directors shall agree upon in writing. Any business may be transacted at the annual meeting and at any regular meeting of the board of directors and no notice of such meetings shall be required.

b) Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board of directors shall be held at such time as called by the president, or by the secretary, or by any three members of the board. The person(s) calling such a meeting shall give written notice of the time, place and purposes of such meeting to each director at his or her residence or usual place of business, at least three days, if mailed, or at least one day, if personally delivered or faxed, before the day on which such meeting is to be held. Business transacted at a special meeting need not be confined to the purposes set forth in the notice of such meeting unless such notice specifically states that it will be thus confined.

c) Place of Meetings. Any and all meetings of the board of directors shall be held in the Ste of Michigan.

d) Quorum and Manner of Acting. At all meetings of the board of directors, the presence of a majority of the directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of the directors present at any meeting may, without notice, adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present. Except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statues, the articles of incorporation, or these bylaws, the acts of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the acts of the board.

e) Action by Consent. Unless otherwise provided by the articles of incorporation, action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to authorization voted at a meeting of the board or a committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if, before or after the action, all members of the board or of the committee consent thereto in writing. The written consents shall be filled with the minutes of the proceedings of the board or committee. The consent has the same effect as a vote of the board or committee for all purposes.

f) Meetings by Conference Telephone. Any director who participates in a board of directors by conference telephone (or similar communications equipment), so that all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, shall be deemed present in person at such meeting.

3.5 Compensation. There shall be no compensation for services of the directors to the Foundation as directors.

The charitable arm of the Rochester Rotary Club is the Rochester Rotary Charities, Inc., a separately organized 501(c) organization.

Charities Board : 2017 -2018

President: Rhonda Panczyk

President Elect : Alan McLellan

Past President: Jay Eastman

Treasurer: Rev. David Eardey

Alan McLellan 

Eric Whipple

Al Jones

Kelly Dean

So what organizations receive money from the Rochester Rotary Charities? 

Casa Colibri - a medical facility in Guatemala

Rainbow Connection

Rochester Symphony

1775 th  Military Police company

Area high schools senior class activities

Habitat for Humanity

Dutton Farm for the mentally and physically handicapped

Grace Center of Hope

Clinton River Watershed

Several collage scholarships for high school students

Michigan's State Facts

Did you know that:

• The name Michigan is derived from the Indian words "Michi-gama" meaning large lake.
• The State Nickname is the "Great Lake State." Others include "Wolverine State" or "Water Winter Wonderland."
• The State motto is "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice."
  (If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.)
• Michigan was admitted to the Union in 1837, the 26th state.
• The state bird is the robin
• The state mammal is the white tailed deer.
• The state reptile is the painted turtle.
• The state flower is the apple blossomThe state tree is the white pine
• Michigan includes:
• 57,022 sq. mi. of land area (16,439 sq. mi. in the U.P.) making it the 11^th largest state in the union
• 1,194 sq. mi. of inland waters
• 38,575 sq. mi. of Great Lake water area
• 3,126 miles of Great Lakes shoreline (more fresh water coastline than any other state)
• The population is 9,883,640 (2010 Census) making it the 8^th largest state based on population.
• The largest city is Detroit followed by Grand Rapids then Warren.
• Michigan has about 150 lighthouses, more than any other state in the union.
• The highest point in the state is Mount Arvon, elevation 1979 feet located NW of Marquette in the Huron Mountains range
• Michigan is the only state that touches four of the five Great Lakes.
• 40 of Michigan's 83 counties touch at least one of the Great Lakes.
• Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes and more than 36,000 miles of streams.
• You are never more than six miles from one of them.
• Anywhere in Michigan, you are within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes.
• Detroit Metro Airport is the 10^th busiest in the nation and the 24 busiest in the world