Program:

Kathy Fuchs introduced Nelson Ronsvalle, a commercial pilot who is currently a resident of the Finger Lakes (East Lake Road, Varick)

Nelson had an extensive career in public education, having served in the NYS Education Department as Bureau Chief, and was a grant writer and project administrator in Saratoga County. His aviation adventure began in 1990 at Rochester Airport via a Discovery Flight. He later earned a Commercial Pilot’s License and Flight Instructor Certificates from the FAA in 2006.

At one time, Nelson commuted to and from work by plane! He now flies for about 100 hours per year.  He went on with many of his personal flying stories and experiences with enthusiasm!

Program

Garey Adamson introduced our own Susie Flick, as today’s speaker.  Susie’s presentation highlighted programs and events at the Geneva Public Library, “Connecting People and Enriching Lives”

Susie is a generational Genevan through both her father (Flick) and her mother (Bennett). She graduated from Geneva High School in 1994, went to FLCC, and received her degree in forestry. That field didn’t really work out, so she went back to school and got her BA in Cultural Studies from Empire State College in 2004.

Having just entered her 28^th year at the Geneva Public Library, Susie started as a library page throughout high school and continued as a clerk while going to college.  She continued to work through the ranks until the library transitioned from a free library to a public library. Much to her chagrin, Susie has “trained” seventeen directors during her tenure, and the newest director will be starting there soon!

Some of the programs and events include:

• Various book clubs
• Arts and crafts programs (need to register)
• Wellness programs
• Computer programming
• Musical events
• Meeting space available for free!
• Trunk or Treat (this Saturday in the Library parking lot)

Susie displayed many of the craft projects which were so creative. All you have to do is register for any of the activities that are available. One pet project of Susie’s is the food pantry and Terrace vegetable garden which she started this year.  (This might be a project for which Rotary can help.

In closing, Susie shared that she loves her job and considers her clients as “family”. Many kudos were shared from our members.

Program:

Kathy Fuchs introduced Arlene Eddington, Geneva Breathes. Arlene has been a  retired teacher for five years, and currently teaches wellness classes. She is married to Gordie Eddington and is a grandmother.

• Leads mindfulness classes offered free across the community
• During Covid took a walk with friend and felt heaviness of Covid, the struggles of it all – how can we address it?
• We are all riding our waves of life – celebrating the happy times but sometimes needing to take a breath and be grateful.  Some have anxiety, stress, mental health issues, and how can we help? Geneva Breathes was born.
• Mindfulness sessions – Not just in Geneva
• Mindfulness is being present.
• Think of a crying baby and trying to soothe them – what would you do? Rub their back (power of touch), sing (power of music), rock (motion) – can help to self soothe, swaying calms the nervous system
• Self talk – part of mindfulness and soothing
• One idea: Journaling – just a minute or two
• Easy when you wake up: place hands on your chest and say “I’m alive.” Gratitude.

Arlene led us through a series of mindfulness exercises to music.

PROGRAM

Topic: GENEVA CENTER OF CONCERN (Geneva Rotary Community Grant awardee)

Speaker: Cheryl Toor, in her 24^th year as Director – where she oversees all aspects of the organization, including the food pantry as well as special projects. Cheryl got the job after seeing an ad in the FL Times, after a career at Applied Graphic Technologies in Rochester.

• The Center staff consists of a store manager and part-time handy man – plus 50+ volunteers.
• It started in 1971 as a church outreach at Christmas time.  It has NEVER received government funding.  The Thrift Store funds the food pantry.
• Recently, the food pantry was remodeled and today looks similar to a small grocery store.  Clients walk through and choose the foods they want or need.
• Annual projects:  Operation Merry Christmas – full “North Pole Store” in the basement with toys, clothing, etc.  Clients shop with a personal shopper and choose the gifts to bring home for themselves and their loved ones.
• Geneva focused and based, but don’t turn away people in need from other places.  
• They stock an Emergency Pantry, that provides 3 meals/person in the household for 3 days, including meats.
• They get food donations from individuals, Wegmans and work with Food Link.  Can always use items not covered by food stamps – cleaning and paper supplies.
• The Baptist church does a monthly donation for diapers and formula – “Full Tummies and Dry Bottoms.”

Center of Concern by the numbers (as of 3^rd week of Sept.):

3904 client visits

9443 individuals served

85,987 meals provided so far

250 adults, 425 children regularly assisted

16,500 – $11,000 in student scholarships provided, $5000 in gift certificated provided for the annual Back to School Scholarships

Program:

Eileen Halling introduced Jane and Jim Gerling and Ruth Benedict to highlight a Geneva Rotary grant for Geneva 2030/Geneva Reads. They explained some history and gave an outline of $mart Thinking, “…a program that combines child savings accounts and financial literacy education for the children in the Geneva City School District.” With this program, $100 will be held in a fund for each child in kindergarten and $50 will be added each year until the child graduates from high school.  Financial education will be provided at every (grade)level. This program is necessary since “despite our best efforts, poverty continues to be the over arching issue” in Geneva. The poverty rate in Geneva is 2x higher than the rest of Ontario County.

Program

Rich and Sally Kasulke and Victoria Mesko presented Dominican Republic Medical Trip 2026. 

• The mission started in 1998-1999 and Rich was invited to join the group in 2000.  The team members include physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, PA’s, PT’s, OT’s, interpreters and non-medical personnel.
• Supplies were transported to the clinic in suitcases which they would leave behind after their visit. 
• The clinic was equipped with a full pharmacy and medical supplies. 
• Several areas included patient intake area, AKA the PIT!, vital signs station and waiting area.
• Many various illnesses are addressed including respiratory, infections, accident injuries
• Sally shared a photo of a patient suffering from a birth defect and unable to use his left leg. They provided him with a walker.
• Will do some home visits and provide a 3—month supply of meds if needed.
• It has become increasingly difficult to work with the government
• They were able to treat 700-950 patients in five days!!!!!

Program

Linda Equinozzi introduced Michalis Kalampoukas, owner of Aszu Wines and Spirits on Seneca Street, Geneva, just up the street from the Smith Opera House.

Michalis is from Greece, by way of New York City. He has extensive training in the culinary arts and wines of the world. He has an Advanced Sommelier and is studying for a Master Sommelier. Prior to opening his store, he worked at FLX Table in Geneva and took many classes in the culinary arts in NYC where he worked in high-end restaurants.

In his store, he hand selects every item and has impressive knowledge of wines from many countries. He offers in-store spirit and wine tastings as well as classes. His store recently marked its one-year anniversary by toasting with Pol Roger, Winston Churchill’s favorite champagne.

Today, we sampled two of his selections: Tokaj-Hetszolo, a 2022 dry white Hungarian wine and Chateau Roquefort, a 2019 Bordeaux, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Michalis lives in Geneva with his wife and children.

His website is aszuwines.com. He invites us to visit his shop soon!

Program:

Del Parrotta and Anne Alaimo from the City of Geneva Fire Department were the speakers today. Del has served in the FD and emergency services for 19 years and was appointed Fire Chief in 2022. Prior to this position he served in several operational and leadership roles. He now leads both career and volunteer members in all three fire companies.  Anne has been involved in the City of Geneva’s Recreation Department and Fire Department for 20 years. She joined the Fire Department in 2006 as Administrative Aide. She is one of the first points of contact for the public and plays a significant role behind the scenes.

They shared with us some tips on safety, including Home Fire Prevention, Medical Emergency Basics, Business Fire Prevention, and General Safety. They also shared helpful information on Lithium-ion Battery Safety. These batteries are a major cause of many fires. Phones, laptops, power tools, scooters, power banks, toys etc. Key information is on charging your items on a hard surface. Be sure to use the correct charger. Replace old batteries with batteries that have been UL tested for safety. Look for damage or swelling in the battery. Use and store them safely, know the warning signs and never throw them in the trash as they can ignite the truck or processing facilities.

Today was the Annual Rotary Picnic at the Seneca Yacht Club.

We inducted the newest member of the Geneva Rotary Club: Jared Pierce.

We presented Geneva Rotarian Tamara Carter with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award.

PROGRAM

Kathy Fuchs introduced our speaker, Kim Chinquee. Kim grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, served in the medical field in the Air Force (Desert Storm) and is often referred to as the “queen” of “flash fiction” (750 words or less!). She is the author of eleven books and has published widely in journals and anthologies including The Nation, Ploughshares, NOON, StoryQuarterly, Denver Quarterly, Fiction, Stoey, Notre Dame Review, Conjunctions, and others. She is the recipient of three Pushcart Prizes and serves as Senior Editor of New World Writing Quarterly and prose editor of Midwest Review. She’s a competitive triathlete, a Certified USA Triathlon official, World Triathlon Official, and IRONMAN Referee.  She is an associate professor of journalism at Buffalo State University. Kim lives with her three dogs in Western New York.

Kim shared her experiences in the military and her career. 

• Participated in Musselman (first race was in Geneva!)
• Bought one of Kathy Fuchs’ puppies!
• After serving in the military went to school on the GI Bill and got her degree in creative writing.
• Kim read several excerpts from one of her books, which everyone enjoyed.

PROGRAM

Kathy Fuchs introduced:

Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity:

Rick Smith, Housing Coordinator for Ontario and Wayne Counties, and Michelle Archibald, Fundraising Manager

Rochester’s Habitat was formed in 1964,  merged with Ontario and Wayne’s orgs in 2023

Theme:  “Homes, Communities and Hope”

Habitat has built 32 homes in Ontario County, and in a new program completed repairs on 25 additional homes.

The Home Repair program aims to help homeowners with repairs to make their homes safer and preserve the structure so they can remain in them. There are 20 additional homes in Ontario County in the queue for upcoming repair projects.

Greater Rochester Habitat is also a HUD-certified housing counselor.  Coming up:  8-Hour Homebuying Class, open to all, on Sept. 28 @ the Bozzuto Center.

Habitat best known for its new homebuyer program.  Prospective homeowners must meet certain requirements –have an income (level determined by location) and be able to take on a $1500 down payment and 30 year low interest mortgage (capped at 30% of household income.) They also have to be willing to put in 200+ hours of sweat equity into the building of their future home.

Once house is done, owner is charged with maintaining it.  Habitat offers guidance but there is no formal follow up.  If they have to leave the home, there are some buy back rules, but most stay.

In Geneva, Habitat has 2 houses in progress – on Katherine and Jackson streets.

Upcoming – 9 NEW HOMES!  3 bed, 1.5 bath modular houses to be built on Crystal St, just off E. North St. Applications for the houses open on Sept. 1.  Applicants must show $50,000 household income to qualify, and applicants can come from surrounding towns as well as from Geneva.  Habitat is non-profit and relies on grants, donations and volunteers to sustain its programming.  Ways to help:  organizations and businesses can sponsor a house, donate, host fundraising events.  Or, groups can volunteer to help build.  Great team bonding activity!

Program:

Kathy Fuchs introduced our speaker, Bob Brennan, whose program featured a video tour of his 31 years of tour-guiding adventures. He has taught tour-guiding courses in New York City and led tours to destinations including Mount Washington, South Dakota, Yellowstone, Salt Lake City, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. He will also offer day tours from 41 Lakefront in Geneva. Bob shared several books of interest and artifacts he has collected along the way.

Contact info:  Bob Brennan, NE Custom Tours
http://necustomtours.com
Email: Robertbrennan13@gmail.com
Phone 315-759-9913

PROGRAM

Kathy Fuchs introduced our speakers, Charlie and Lisa Rouse. Theygave a fascinating presentation on Birds in Our Lives.  Charlie, a life-long Genevan, and Lisa have traveled all 50 states and the world. They met at a bird club twenty years ago.  Some highlights:

• Birding (not “bird watching”) is not just a hobby – it’s a passion. What’s your passion? Golf, fishing, gardening, collecting, pickleball??!!
• Started with backyard bird feeders. Keep track and check – saw 166 bird species in Geneva!
• Basic tools:  a good pair of binoculars, Bird Book, Field guide
• Charlie handed out a checklist of birds from the Eaton Birding Society which covers Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates Counties.
• Charlie and Lisa shared some gorgeous photos of birds and wildlife seen in their many travels. 
• Merlin Bird ID app. by Cornell – identify birds and their song

Where to go birding:

Montezuma Wildlife Center
Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca (best in the World!)
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania (Hawk migration)
Derby Hill – Oswego
Johnson Road right here in Geneva for owls!

PROGRAM

Katie Flowers – Director, HWS Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL)

Heather Mills – Geneva 2030

Leah Sulecki – new Assistant Director of CCESL

Katie talked about the many ways HWS and its students engage with the Geneva community, from tutoring to Days of Service to working on community-based projects in partnership with local agencies and businesses – what HWS refers to as “Co-educators.”  HWS emphasizes the importance of community service. Some students sharing that interest live in the Civic Engagement House. 

Heather talked about Geneva 2030, a special and ongoing effort that brings together social service providers, agencies and others to work together to ensure that all Geneva kids are 1) kindergarten and school ready; 2) are successful in school when they get there; 3) are college and/or career-ready and 4) that these efforts are community led — from “cradle to career.”

Program:

Augustus Schoen-Rene, a Geneva, New York based digital creator, author and independent 2028 U.S. Presidential candidate, presented a summary of his travel to all 50 + 1 Capitals tour “Around the Country in 60 Days.” If you were not at tonight’s meeting, you can check out his political objectives directly on the A is for Augustus and American Website and track his platform updates on the Augustus Schoen-Rene Facebook Page. His presentation was enlightening, as well as entertaining and serious.

Program

Our Chief of Police, Ron Eveland was our speaker today. He comes from a long line of Police officers in his family. He shared that the biggest issue facing Geneva Police is recruitment and retention of officers. 35 of the Police in Geneva have less than 4 years’ experience. The biggest problems Geneva faces currently drugs, crime and mental health. There is some gun violence but is typically associated with drugs. Sadly bail reform puts these criminals back on the street. In 2024 they were investigating 250 drug related issues and in 2025 that number increased to 450. Unfortunately, Police have gotten a bad rap from other areas in the country and that flows over into the residents of Geneva. He is trying to change that here by engaging the community.

Program

Program Chair, Kathy Fuchs introduced our own Dick Austin and Mike Rusinko who presented the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence that was originally started by the late Fred Toole and Paul Kirsch. 

HAPPY 250^TH BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!

Program:  the long-awaited travel program presented by Rich Kasulke and Dave Cook:  their October 2025 trip with RCF (Reunite Cultures Fund) to France, Germany, and Switzerland. The group included between 18 and 21 travelers, many Rotarians, and (they) enjoyed some amazing hospitality as well as visiting many historic and beautiful sites.  One highlight was to visit CERN where Timothy Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989.

Ethan introduced our Speaker, Bill Martin and his dog Chip from the Ontario Co. Humane Society (Happy Tails)

• Bill noted that the shelter focuses on domestic animals and currently has 62 animals in their care. 
• Goals are to address animal cruelty, many of which came from hoarding cases. 
• 334 adoptions to date.
• Currently there are 40 kennels but plan to expand to 70 kennels
• Funding comes from Ontario Co.
• 65 volunteers
• Background on Chip:  He was abandoned as a pup and lost his front leg in a fight with a coyote. He serves as “ambassador” at the Shelter and is now best friends with Bill. (We all fell in love with Chip who was such a good boy during the presentation!)
• The shelter takes donations of food, litter, blankets, etc.  Kathy Fuchs suggested that maybe as a club we can volunteer to help out at the shelter, cleaning kennels, etc.  Details will be discussed when this can be done.

Program: Bob McFadden shared some history, the impact and future vision of the student loan/scholarship programs.

• It was established in 1923 and is one of our club’s oldest service programs operating continuously for 103 years.
• Originally created to provide interest-free loans to local students. In the early 1980’s, a $70,000 gift was given from the Estate of Judge Nathan Laphman. In the 1990’s Michael Michaels donated $10,000.
• There have been 696 loans awarded and $784,000 distributed. In addition, 100 students have been recognized for Service Above Self with $72,000 awarded to outstanding student leaders.
• The loan program is phasing out and being replaced by the scholarship program. Currently the outstanding loan balance is $177,000. The investment portfolio has $488,000. Total assets dedicated to loans/scholarships is $665,000.