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.

Program:  Dr. Emily Darling of the University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute was our speaker today. She presented information on what services they provide.

• There are six providers at the Geneva location.
• Routine Vision Care
• Urgent Care Services
• Medical and Surgical Specialty Services
• Contact Lenses and Glasses
• Second Opinions
• Physicians specialties include cataract care, glaucoma screening, macular degeneration screening and pediatric care.

Program:  Our Own Dave Cook gave an interesting presentation on his trip to Morocco.

Program:  Rob Sollenne is a board member of Geneva Community Projects and has been for 14 years. He spoke about many projects they are and have been involved in over the years.

• They raised $65,000 for the pressure treated playground by the lake which has been replaced by new more acceptable material. They partnered with HWS to build the new park.
• They also did the Seneca Lake Whale Watch which ended in 2007.
• Partnered with the City of Geneva to build the new gazebo by the lake. A launch party is planned for July 19^th, there will be big flower pots surrounding it.
• They put on the Rose Soiree at Pulteney Park and donated proceeds to many groups in Geneva.
•  Some of the other things they have worked on are FLX Excursion which is Riesling focused, chairs on the boardwalk, Geneva Music Festival, the mural on Castle St., the Butterfly Garden on Castle St. Pulteney Park fountain (They got it up and running again after it was not functioning).
• They want to keep improving the “pocket parks” throughout Geneva. (Washington St., Brook St., Gulvin, Richards) They will also be having “Meet your Parks” events where there will be free ice cream to encourage folks to visit the parks.
• Coordinated the Eclipse Run and have worked with Jake Longwell to establish a radio station (WGCC 104.1 FM) with the antenna at Seneca Lake Yacht Club that went live in April 2026.
• They are looking for local businesses to advertise for $100/month.

They will also be doing “Meet the Streets” where there will be pop-up music events. They will also be doing Geneva Sounds @ Cracker Factory. They are doing so many wonderful things for the residents of Geneva.

Ethan Fogg introduced Anne Bateman, Executive Officer of Lochland School, as
our presenter today. Highlights of her presentation include:

• Lochland’s Mission is to create opportunities for individuals with intellectual and
  developmental disabilities to celebrate independence and encourage success.
• Six state-certified and supervised individual Residential Alternatives and one
  supported living apartment (a new residence on Norwood Avenue will house
  younger adults)
• Community Habilitation Service focuses on pre-employment skills and
  community integration activities and support. This service is largely provided in
  community settings and through volunteer placements, supported in a ratio of
  one staff for every four participants.
• There are currently 24 residents; 33 day program participants and 70 staff
  members. The oldest resident is in their 70’s; youngest in their 20’s.
• Lochland was founded in 1933 as a private school under the auspices of Mrs.
  Florence Stewart. She served as Lochland’s Executive Director for over fifty
  years until her death in 1983.

Stewart House was built in the mid 1800’s and is also noted in the New York
State Register of Historic Places as a meeting place for the Geneva area’s
suffragettes and as a possible stopping point on the Underground Railroad.

PROGRAM

• Rotarian Ethan Fogg led a brainstorming discussion about what’s good and what needs improving both in terms of Geneva Rotary, and about regional and national programs.
• Came out of conversations at the Board level about how to make weekly meetings more appealing, make being a part of Rotary something that more people would want to do.
• What do we do well?  What can we do better?
• There were two-sided sheets at each table and members worked together to put down their thoughts to answer these questions.