RadioRotary

Victoria Marsella (“Tori”), vice-president of the MARC Foundation, visited Radio Rotary to tell about the Foundation’s programs for providing financial support to efforts to prevent drug and alcohol misuse and to support recovery from addiction. The MARC Foundation originated as a support for MARC residential treatment houses, which are now a part of Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA). While continuing support for the houses, the Foundation has expanded its mission and now helps fund many local organizations and individuals dealing with drug or alcohol misuse. For example, the Foundation offers transition financial help for persons who have completed their treatment and are returning to normal life. With MHA, the Foundation has built a Drug Overdose Memorial on the Dutchess Rail Trail, a place that offers several ways to remember victims of drug misuse. Each year on International Drug Overdose Awareness Day (August 31) the Foundation invites organizations and individuals to participate in a candlelight vigil at the Memorial.The Foundation raises money for support from annual events such as a golf outing and a bowling tournament. Learn more MARC foundation: https://www.marc-foundation.org/ Mental Health America of Dutchess Country (MHA): https://mhadutchess.org/ International Drug Overdose Awareness Day: https://www.dea.gov/ioad - :~:text=August 31 is recognized as, end overdose and related harms. Hope on a Mission: https://www.hopeonamission.org/ Council on Addiction Prevention and Education (CAPE): https://capedc.org/ CATEGORIES Addiction Recovery Education Events Financial Aid Service Organizations WORDS TO LIST: Drug overdose, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug misuse --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Radio Rotary interview Todd Bowen, president of Wappingers Rotary and, at 21, the youngest club president ever in District 7210. Bowen, originally from Pine Plains, got his start in Rotary when his family moved to Wappingers Falls, putting Bowen into Roy C. Ketcham High School, where he joined one other male student and 28 young women in the school’s Interact Club, a Rotary-sponsored service organization Bowen was recruited to be Interact’s secretary, which led in the following years for him to become president of the club (twice). He spearheaded the group’s raising $1,000 to finance a ShelterBox. By the end of his second year leading the club, it had grown to 140 members. While attending Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, Bowen joined Wappingers Rotary in 2018 Today he works at the charitable organization Habitat for Humanity while maintaining important roles in the club’s Housing Support project, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), and trying to start a Rotary Satellite club. Bowen is also active at the District Level, currently as Executive Secretary of District 7210. Learn more Rotary Club of Wappingers Falls: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/2259 Habitat for Humanity of Dutchess County:https://habitatdutchess.org/ Rotary Interact: https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/interact-clubs ShelterBox USA: https://www.shelterboxusa.org/ Rotary Satellite Clubs: //clubrunner.blob.core.windows.net/00000050026/en-ca/files/sitepage/membership/satellite-club-guide/Guide-to-Satelite-Clubs.pdf CATEGORIES Housing Assistance Rotary Club Projects Youth WORDS TO LIST: District 7210, Rotary Club of Wappingers Falls, Rotary Officers, Satellite Clubs --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

New Paltz Rotarians Robert Rich and Pascal Guirma, along with Pacal’s brother Vlctor, return to RadioRotary to report on the progress of Friends of Guirgho in improving the school and other facilities in the Burkina Faso village of Guirgho, a rural settlement about 60 km from the capital of Burkina Faso. Burkino Faso (formerly Upper Volta), the ancestral home of the Guirma brothers, is a landlocked nation in West Africa. When France controlled this part of West Africa. French Jesuits started a boarding school, but few natives would attend. Finally the Emperor had his second son, known as Bila Victor, sent to the school, signaling it was safe to attend. One of Bila Victor’s sons, Frédéric Guirma, educated at the school, became the first ambassador from Upper Volta to the United States and later the ambassador to the United Nations. Two of his sons, Victor and Pascal, remained connected to the ancestral village of Guirgho. Visiting the village they saw the need for a better school and for other modern improvements. Rotarians from New Paltz pitched in to help . The Friends replaced ancient desks with modern ones and added latrines to the school. One of their most complicated projects was bringing computers to the school, since there was no electricity until they introduced solar power. Learn more Friends of Guirgho: mailto:https://www.friendsofguirgho.org/ New Paltz Rotary Club: mailto:https://www.newpaltzrotary.org/ Burkina Faso: mailto:https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso Ambassador Frédéric Guirma: mailto:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frédéric_Guirma CATEGORIES International Programs Rotary Club Projects --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA) provides many services to the residents of Dutchess County, ranging from the Mobile Crisis Center, sober supported housing, and care management. One of the most wide-reaching group of programs are for veterans. Alyssa Carrion, the Director of Veterans Programs is the guest of Radio Rotary, who describes the several programs MHA offers to vets. Vet2Vet provides emotional support and assistance in obtaining benefits. Another program deals with housing, employment, and reintegration. The Veterans Employment Training and Transitions Program mainly helps veterans with obtaining employment. Because so many veterans suffer from Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), MHA provides suicide prevention along with programs of different forms of therapy. MHA programs also link to other veterans’ services. All MHA programs for veterans are free. Learn more: MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/ Vet To Vets United: https://www.vetstovetsunited.org/ New York State Veterans’ Services; https://veterans.ny.gov/ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: https://www.va.gov/ CATEGORIES Housing Assistance Mental Health Support Groups Veterans --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Radio Rotary interviews the District 7210 Governor (DG); for Rotary year 2023-24,  Walden Rotarian Peter Sullivan. In addition to the 58 regular Rotary clubs that DG Sullivan shepherds (including the international eClub and the service-oriented Passport club), District 7210 is home to three satellite clubs, small groups sponsored by a Rotary club that plan to grow into regular clubs,  and two Rotaract clubs.  DG Sullivan discusses how the District focuses on different causes throughout the year, warm clothing in the fall, food security in the winter, and a special Day of Service, when all clubs conduct service projects on the same day, in the spring.   Learn more: Rotary District 7210: https://rotarydistrict7210.org/ District 7210 Mental Health Initiative: https://rotarydistrict7210.org/page/wellness-initiative Walden Rotary Club: https://rotarydistrict7210.org/clubinfo/walden Walden Rotary’s satellite club: https://rotarydistrict7210.org/stories/satellite-club-established-in-ellenville-rondout-valley Rhinebeck Rotary’s satellite club: https://rotarydistrict7210.org/stories/rhinebeck-rotary-grows-with-addition-of-satellite-club Greenville Rotary’s satellite club: https://rotarydistrict7210.org/stories/greenville-satellite-club-meeting-10-27-at-6-30-p.m. Rotary.org Clubfinder: https://my.rotary.org/en/club-search   CATEGORIES      Hudson Valley Rotary District 7210 Rotary International     WORDS TO LINK: Rotary District 7210, Rotary International, Service Organizations --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

RadioRotary interviews Branka Bryan, Executive Director of Grace Smith House, a shelter in Dutchess Country for women (and some men) confronted with domestic violence. Grace Smith House started in 1981 and now serves over 2,500 victims each year. In October-- Domestic Violence Awareness Month-- a project designed to dramatize the effects of domestic violence once again is in local galleries in Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck. The Grace Smith House Clothesline Project is a powerful visual display of t-shirts created by survivors of domestic violence, or their loved ones. Each shirt is decorated to represent a particular victim's experience. The t-shirts are on display at local art galleries. The Purple Ribbon Project in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is for students and staff at Bard College and Dutchess Community College to tie a purple ribbon onto a tree branch. Each ribbon represents support for survivors of domestic violence. Along with the ribbons, lawn signs showcase domestic violence statistics and Grace Smith House resources Learn more Grace Smith House: mailto:https://www.gracesmithhouse.org/ Domestic Violence Services, Dutchess County: mailto:https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/Community-Family-Services/Domestic-Violence.htm National Domestic Violence Awareness Month: https://nationaltoday.com/national-domestic-violence-awareness-month/ CATEGORIES Domestic Violence Support Groups Women WORDS: Domestic Violence, Shelters --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Mathew Swerdloff and his wife Elise Gold created the Maya Gold Foundation in honor of their daughter Maya who committed suicide at the age of 15, but the Foundation is involved with more than suicide prevention. After a trip to India, Maya became involved in efforts to stop human trafficking in Nepal. Today the Foundation has developed a close relation with groups in Nepal. The program also features Hannah Stillhouse, now a college student who has both gone with one of the groups of 16 teenagers the Foundation takes to work in Nepal, but back in the U.S. has led one of the Foundation’s Youth Action Teams who work to help teenagers improve mental health. Learn more: Maya Gold Foundation: http://www.mayagoldfoundation.org/ Youth Action Teams: https://www.mayagoldfoundation.org/who-we-are/youth-action-team Teen Mental Health First Aid: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/population-focused-modules/teens/ CATEGORIES Education Human Trafficking International Programs Mental Health Support Groups Youth --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

In an exclusive interview, direct from Scotland, Rotary International President Gordon R. McInally chats with RadioRotary about his plans for the coming year. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Millbrook Rotarian Courtney Tsahalis, Director of the Millbrook Library, visits Radio Rotary to talk about how the modern library is much more than books to lend. Although this refers to such services as Internet access, audio and video resources, books online, and even physical objects to lend, in the case of Millbrook Library there are community services beyond those. In partnership with Millbrook Rotary, the library houses a community refrigerator where those in need of perishable foods can take from what is available. The library also houses frequent programs of all kinds including regular music events as well as children’s story times and more. Learn more Millbrook Library: https://millbrooklibrary.org/ Millbrook Library on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MillbrookLibrary/ Mid-Hudson Library System: https://midhudson.org/ CATEGORIES Arts & Letters Education Rotary Club Projects WORDS: Libraries, Millbrook, Community Refrigerators, --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Radio Rotary welcomes Lily Schaub and Jill Rodriquez, who describe the In Flight program that aids persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In Flight, Inc. empowers their clients to support a meaningful quality of life, which can range from developing basic skills to living in a group home (or independently) or to finding satisfying employment. In Flight achieves its mission through residential services for adults and one-on-one skill-building, including for children living at home. The I-Sail program provides training that can lead to employment opportunities. Clients and supporters come together in August for the Cornhole for a Cause fundraiser, which includes music, food trucks, raffles, and other entertainment. Learn more: In Flight: https://www.inflightinc.org/ COM-HAB: https://www.inflightinc.org/community-habilitation/ I-SAIL: https://www.inflightinc.org/isail-flights-success-academy-independent-living/ Hudson Valley Service Providers: https://www.hvspllc.org/ New York State Office of Developmental Disabilities: https://opwdd.ny.gov/ Developmental Disabilities: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/facts.html CATEGORIES Developmentally Disabled Events Service Organizations Vocational --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Rotarian Christopher Parkinson (Bow, NH, Rotary Club, Past District Governor District 7870, 2007-08) joins Radio Rotary to describe the 7870 District’s 22-year involvement with improving conditions in Honduras, one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere. The project began when a major hurricane destroyed much of Honduras in 1999.  The mission from District 7870 that year revealed the serious problems that faced that Central American nation and led to more than 30 subsequent missions to build schools, improve sanitation and water sources, and provide medical assistance.   Learn more: Amigos de Honduras  (Friends of Honduras): https://rotary7870.org/page/amigos-de-honduras-district-mission Pure Water for the World: https://www.purewaterfortheworld.org/ Rotary District 7870: https://rotary7870.org/ Rotary Club of Bow, NH: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/1612   CATEGORIES Disaster Relief Health Humanitarian Service International Programs   WORDS TO LIST:  Honduras, Clean water, Sanitation, Rotary projects --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Radio Rotary welcomes Rotarian Paul Ramunni (and one of his more than 500 accordions) to the program. A few years ago, Mr. Ramunni learned of the connection between musical instruments, especially accordions and concertinas (smaller instruments sometimes called “squeezeboxes”), to the Holocaust. Concentration camp prisoners who played instruments were often used in propaganda bands.  He began to collect historic accordions, having learned to play the accordion as a youth. His collection is now displayed in the old railway station in North Canaan, Connecticut, at the New England Accordion Connection and Museum, which also sells instruments and related items.  Mr. Ramunni has many wonderful stories of how accordion music in the museum has had a profound effect on some visitors, many recounted in his book Accordion Stories from the Heart. On the show, he also plays a lovely rendition of “Arrrivederci Roma.”   Learn more: New England Accordion Connection & Museum: https://newenglandaccordionconnectionandmuseumcompany.com/ Accordion Stories from the Heart: https://www.amazon.com/Accordion-Stories-Heart-collection-extraordinary/dp/0976176610 CMTQ Guide to Accordion Museum: https://www.ctmq.org/new-england-accordion-museum/ The Accordion in History: https://www.earlymusicamerica.org/web-articles/according-the-accordion-its-historical-due/   CATEGORIES Arts & Letters Museums     WORDS TO LIST:  Accordions, Specialty Museums, Connecticut Attractions --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Michelle Martinetti, the founder and CEO of River Valley Arts Center in Wappingers Falls, visits Radio Rotary to tell about the multiple studio spaces for arts and community programs that constitute the Arts Center. Renters and community organizations provide classes and workshops in music, performing arts, visual arts, yoga, kintsugi, photography, culinary arts, language arts, robotics, STEM, and more that are based in the single building that previously was the education building for the United Methodist Church. A commercial kitchen is also available. In the works is also a remake of the church’s former sanctuary into a hall with a stage that will become an event space. Learn more: River Valley Arts Center: https://rivervalleyartscenter.com/ CATEGORIES Arts & Letters Business Assistance Education Events WORDS TO LIST: meeting rooms, event spaces --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Radio Rotary welcomes Ruthanne Becker, Senior Vice President of the Mental  Health Association of Westchester, to discuss the Coordinated Behavioral Health Services (CBHS), a partnership of nine not-for-profit agencies that provide behavioral health and developmental disability services throughout seven counties in the lower Hudson Valley, helping more than 60,000 individuals annually. The mission of CBHS is to support its members’ efforts to provide effective behavioral health services to the Medicaid, Medicare, and uninsured population. The telephone number (845) 615-9312 will reach trained counselors who can direct a person with mental health issues to the agency that will provide help.   Learn more: Coordinated Behavioral Health Services: https://www.cbhsinc.org/ Mental Health Association of Westchester: https://www.mhawestchester.org/   CATEGORIES Addiction Recovery Housing Assistance Mental Health Service Organizartions   WORDS TO LIST:  Coordinated Behavioral Health Center, Mental Health, Addiction, Mental Health Association of Westchester --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Our guest was Past District Governor Tony Marmo. May 2023 was a big month for Rotary District 7210. First were a series of Membership meetings on May 15-18.  Each night there was a free dinner at a restaurant in the eight-county, free not only for a person interested in learning more about Rotary but also free for the Rotarian bringing that person to the dinner. Each dinner was held in a restaurant located in a different part of the District-- Diamond Mills in Saugerties, Shadows on the Hudson in Poughkeepsie, Growler and Gill in Nanuet, and Clemson Brothers Brewery in New Paltz. The goal in increasing the number of members in the 55 clubs in the district. Then on May 20, more then 500 Rotary clubs in 5 states will participate in the Day of Service, community activities such as blood drives (Kingston)m starting a community refrigerator (Millbrook), or community clean-up (Red Hook). Most clubs will also join with other community organization for the Day of Service.   Learn more: Rotary District 7210: https://rotarydistrict7210.org/ Rotary Day of Service 2023: https://rotarydayofservice.org/ Diana Edwards, Regional Membership Chair: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-edwards-8803a345/ Kingston (NY) Rotary Club: https://www.kingstonnyrotary.org/   CATEGORIES Events Rotary District 7210 Rotary Membership   WORDS TO LIST:  Rotary International; Rotary District 7210; Rotary Membership --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Live from Locavore in Red Hook, this Radio Rotary show features the annual Apple Blossom Day, the Mother’s Day weekend street festival that starts the spring-summer season in Red Hook and Tivoli with hundreds of food and craft vendors and live music by local bands. President-Elect Adriane Monterre, chair of Apple Blossom Day 2023,describes the array of entertainers, food trucks, community organizations, and vendors as well as the new-this-year Student Talent Show. The event and parking are both free. Some of the booths also contribute to CLYNK, described on the program by current Red Hook Rotary President Jennifer van Voorhis. CLYNK collects bottles that return a deposit and funnels the savings to Red Hook Rotary, which uses the income to help support community projects. The program also features Red Hook’s long participation in Rotary’s International Youth Exchange and scholarships funded by the Red Hook Rotary Education Foundation.   Learn more: Red Hook Rotary Club: http://www.redhookrotaryclub.org/ Red Hook Rotary on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedHookRotaryClub/ District 7210 Youth Exchange (YEX): https://rotarydistrict7210.org/sitepage/youth-exchange-district-7210-long-term/welcome Rotary Youth Exchanges: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/youth-exchanges CLYNK: https://www.clynk.com/ Red Hook Rotary Education Foundation: https://www.redhookeducationfoundation.com/   CATEGORIES Education Events International Exchanges Rotary Club Close-ups Rotary District 7210 Youth --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

For this program, Community Educator Dora Celestino, for CAPE (the Council on Addiction Prevention & Education in Dutchess County) returns to Radio Rotary along with Preventiin Coordinator MaryAlice Kovatch, for the Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Council of Orange County, join Radio Rotary to talk about a new program, Team Teen, also known as Teen Intervene. The purpose of the program is to delay the start of addiction or to reduce the use of the addicting substance. Teens at risk are identified and provided help along with their families through guided conversations with trained therapists. All forms of addiction are considered, with vaping and marijuana use currently on the rise.   Learn More: CAPE (Council on Addiction Prevention & Education: https://capedc.org/ Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Council of Orange County: http://www.adacinfo.com/ Team Teen (Teen Intervene): http://www.adacinfo.com/programs-services/teen-intervene/   CATEGORIES Addiction Recovery Education Mental Health Service Organizations   Words for Search: Addiction Prevention and Recovery --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Radio Rotary interviews Brett Bernardini, a former Rotarian and now the Executive Director of the The Stissing Center, a place for arts located in a restored 1915 building, the largest structure in Pine Plains, New York.  Although Pine Plains is set amid the farm country of Dutchess County, the Stissing Center and some high-class restaurants and other businesses are making it one of the cultural attractions of the rural county. The main hall, upstairs, has been revived into a beautiful, rustic-chic performance space with an accessible glass entryway, flexible floor plans, and rebuilt proscenium stage. The lower level, The Cellar at The Center, isan intimate second performance and gathering space. Performances include play-readings at Local Produce (local playwrights), chamber music, jazz, and dance.   Learn More: The Stissing Center: https://www.thestissingcenter.org/ Local Produce: https://www.thestissingcenter.org/local-produce   CATEGORIES Arts & Letters Events   Words for Search: Pine Plains, Chamber Music, Jazz, Dance, Play Readings --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Radio Rotary is visited by El Dorado Hills, CA, Rotarian Bill Tobin, Rotary Relations Manager for ShelterBox USA, ShelterBox started with Rotarians from the Helston-Lizard club in the United Kingdom. In 2000, these Rotarians observed the many disasters reported in the news and developed the idea of providing a basic tool kit to help family’s recover. The idea, promoted by Rotarians around the world, grew into the nonprofit that is often the first to arrive at a natural disaster or war scene. Because it was recognized that shelter from the elements was a priority, tents were provided.  Originally a large storage box, weight kept to 100 pounds so it could be carried by an individual, was packed with tools, water purifiers, lighting, blankets, and other necessities. Recently solar power has become part of the toolkit. Tent (and supplies) in a box became ShelterBox. Today there are many specialized versions of the ShelterBox, adjusted to the needs of the specific disaster victims.   Learn More: ShelterBox USA: https://www.shelterboxusa.org/ ShelterBox Disaster Relief https://shelterbox.org/ Yosemite Adventure Trek: https://www.shelterboxusa.org/adventurers-trek-yosemite/ El Dorado Hills Rotary: https://www.edhrotary.org/ Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard: https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1608   CATEGORIES Disaster Relief International Programs   Words for Search: ShelterBox, disaster relief --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support

Fishkill Rotarian Vicki Kessler joins co-hosts Jonah Triebwasser and Sara Claitor- O’Conner to present the Rotary Day of Service, an idea developed by Robert Friend of the Madison (CT) Rotary Club, who previously had created the Million Mask Project for Rotary Clubs to donate face masks during the covid epidemic. On one day each year (May 20 in 2023) all the Rotary clubs that are participating will perform an act of community service. Participants this year include Rotarians from more than 500 Rotary clubs and 14,000 Rotarians across 5 states and 3 countries, from Connecticut to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York in the United States, plus the countries of Bermuda and Brazil—Bermuda because it is joins part of New York State in Rotary District 7230, and Brazil as one of the countries with members in the Eclub of District 7210. Learn More: Rotary 2023 Date of Service: https://rotarydayofservice.org/ Rotary District 7210: https://rotarydistrict7210.org/ Fishkill Rotary: https://www.fishkillrotary.org/ Robert Friend: https://rotarynepets.org/page/robert-friend-2024 CATEGORIES Events Rotary Club Projects Words for Search: Rotary, Day of Service --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radiorotary/support