Welcome to the Rotary Club of Mineola-Garden City

 
Do you want to make positive changes in your community? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for service, professional and personal development, and fellowship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a broad-ranged group that shares your desire to give back and build community.
February 10 Rotary Luncheon Meeting at Davenport Press featured Mary Joesten and John Wilton
 
15 of us attended an exceptional Rotary meeting on February 10 that featured Mary Joesten and John Wilton.  Below are more details about their contributions to our community.  Also, club member Randy Colahan won both raffle prizes!
 
THIS WEEK AT ROTARY
published in the Garden City News on February 12, 2026
by Althea Robinson

Community Service Honoree Awarded
 
At the Mineola-Garden City’s lunch meeting last Tuesday, February 10, Mary Joesten, recipient of Rotary’s 2025 Community Service Award received her belated award. This remarkable honoree had been caught by the flu when the awards were presented to co-honorees Joanne Meyer-Jendras and Gary Jendras at Rotar’s Holiday Dinner in December celebrating the Club’s Centennial year and CSA presentations. It was a joy to finally award this dynamic community leader, founder and CEO of Mineola’s Faith Mission Food Bank which feeds more than 300 Mineola residents in need of food and warm clothing at Mineola’s Lutheran Church of Our Savior on the corner of Willis Avenue and Jefferson Street every Saturday morning. Mary Joesten’s Faith Mission Food pantry originated in Jamaica in 1969. Now 57 years later, Faith Mission has evolved into a bustling hospitality center that has helped thousands of those less fortunate within the Mineola community. Mary encouraged donation of perishable food items and used or new clothing – especially coats, she emphasized. New or well cared for used clothing can be dropped off on Thursday mornings between 9 and 11am. For more information, you may reach Mary Joesten at 516-992-5063.

GC Chamber President Reports
 
From time-to-time, Rotary invites John Wilton, decades-long Chamber Board Member,
Past Chairperson of the Professional Retailers Group and long-time President of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce to report to Rotary, as he did last Tuesday, February 10. With so many ups/downs and turnarounds occurring within the business districts, it was good to hear John’s report on the status of business, which he also presents biweekly at meetings of the Village Board of Trustees. Garden City’s business districts are economically healthy, John reported in a lengthy synopsis of the multitude of newly opened businesses which appear to be thriving; longtime businesses which remain but have changed location; the different phases of the composition of the business districts; the emergence of Restaurant Row; and the fact that the Garden City Chamber remains the benchmark Chamber on Long Island and most probably within NY State.  With commercial real estate, his trade, In his volunteer position as Chamber President, John stays in touch with the Nassau Council of Chambers, the Greater New York and the U.S. Chambers of Commerce. “It’s interesting to hear what other Chambers are doing,” John said, reporting that the GC Chamber is the only Chamber that produces events at no cost to attendees. He mentioned events that have sustained through decades, i.e. 70 Easter Car Parades and Village Tree Lightings plus decades of Street Fairs to name a few.  John spoke of the special events planned throughout 2026 such as the return of the Chamber’s long standing Pineapple Ball along with other special events to celebrate the Chamber’s Centennial year – a testament to the resilience and spirit of our business community, he said, citing the Chamber’s mission: The Garden City Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to the cooperate efforts of the business and residential communities to preserve the quality and character of the Garden City business Community.

Upcoming Events
 
February 24: Breakfast Meeting, Carle Place Diner, 151 Old Country Road, Carle Place.
Join for a meeting of camaraderie and to learn more about Rotary.

March 10: Lunch Meeting, Mineola’s Davenport Press: Guest Speaker, Giuseppe Givanniello, Superintendent, Inc. Village of Garden City. Learn about the functions of the Building Department and the enforcement of the Village code and ordinances.
 
Photo caption:  Past Rotary President, and past honoree, Ray Sikorski presents Rotary’s Community Service Award to Mary Joesten as Faith Mission Board Member John Seibert and past honoree, Althea Robinson look on.
 
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THIS WEEK AT ROTARY
published in the Garden City News on February 6, 2026
by Althea Robinson
                                                                                                                                                   
 Faith Mission Founder to Receive
 Community Service Award
 
Temporary illness had kept Mary Joesten, founder & CEO of Mineola’s Faith Mission Food Bank, and a recipient of Rotary’s Community Service Award, from attending Rotary’s Holiday Dinner and Community Service Award presentations on December 17 when she was due to be awarded for community service along with co-honorees Joanne Meyer-Jendras and husband Gary Jendras.  Next Tuesday, February 10, 12:15 at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant - nearly two months later, Mineola-Garden City Rotary will be so delighted to finally present to Mary, her award, so richly deserved by this dynamic community leader.  Founded in 1969 by Mary and her husband Edward Joesten, an ordained deacon, Faith Mission was born out of the Joesten’s concern for those less fortunate.  From its humble beginning as a soup kitchen, Faith Mission has evolved into a bustling hospitality center that has helped thousands of those less fortunate within the Mineola community. “Their mission: “Fill an empty belly and nourish a hungry soul!”  On the corner of Willis Avenue and Jefferson Street, Mineola, the Lutheran Church of Our Savior houses the Faith Mission Food Bank and clothing distribution center).  On any given Thursday morning (collection day), you might see generous donors carrying into the facility boxes and bags of non-perishable food items and articles of clothing (including much needed winter coats and jackets - desperately needed).  Chances are you might find Mary Joesten scurrying about directing and pitching in with the vital and dedicated team of volunteers in order to be ready for the more than 300 local residents in need who line up every Saturday morning to receive donated food items. (Our Rotary Club has held two different food drives to assist Faith Mission.)  “Mary Joesten, is a powerhouse who draws you in and immediately aligns you to her volunteer spirit with the express goal to save lives.  Her concern about the welfare of others while supplying the resources to address food insecurity through Faith Mission are priority one.  Bar none, Mary is a community champion that tips the scales toward that proverbial arc of social justice,” says Diana O’Neill, Club President – all through the generosity, perseverance and diligent work of Mary Joesten, Rotary’s most deserved recipient of Rotary’s 205 Community Service Award.
 
Chamber President to Update Business News …
To Share Plans for 2026 Chamber Centennial
 
From time to time, Rotary is pleased to welcome John Wilton, President of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce to bring us up to date on additions and activities within the Garden City Business Districts.  John is asked to report at bi-weekly meetings of the Village Board of Trustees.  He will also inform Rotarians of upcoming plans to celebrate the chamber’s 100th Anniversary this year.  (Interestingly, Rotary charter member Gerard (Jerry) Hughes was also a charter member of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce one year following Rotary.)
 
THE RAFFLE IS STILL GOING!!!
 
Please continue to support the Mineola-Garden City Rotary with our special Lottery Raffle. Featured at our 2025 Community Service Awards and Holiday Dinner, the First Prize is $100 cash plus the chance to win $10,000 more in scratch off tickets!  Second Prize is a beautiful fur cape donated by Tsontos Furrier in Mineola.  Chances are $20 each or 6 chances for $100. You can purchase raffles at the February 10 luncheon meeting or virtually by sending Venmo to @dianemarmann.  Drawing occurs on February 10 at our Rotary luncheon meeting.
 
To reserve for the February 10 lunch meeting, please email gardencitymineolarotaryclub@gmail.com.  Fee: $40 each person, payable at the door.
 
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Rotary Past President Diane Pacifico Marmann featured in District Newsletter
 
Rotary District 7255 published its January 2026 monthly newsletter featuring Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club's past president Diane Pacifico Marmann!  What a beautiful tribute to her--so well deserved and such a perfect way to showcase her contributions to Rotary in general and to us in particular!  What would we do without her constant support and active influence on our sustainability.  It certainly is rubbing off on our emerging leaders--she already owns the hearts of our longstanding membership.
 
In the newsletter, District Governor Lydia Wells shared:
 
"Dear Rotary District 7255 family,
 
This month we focus on the clubs of Area 8. They are the Rotary Clubs of Huntington, RD7255 Passport Club, Bayville/Center Island, Locust Valley Passport Club and Mineola-Garden City Club. Their Assistant Governor is the very talented Diane Marmann! Diane Pacifico Marmann is a third-generation Rotarian with the Mineola–Garden City Rotary Club. She is a four-time Past President of the Club and currently serves as its Treasurer.
 
In addition to her club leadership, Diane serves as an Assistant Governor and is the District Youth Services Chair. Diane’s Rotary passion is youth service. She has hosted two Rotary Youth Exchange students in her home and has supported many others over the years. She has been an active member of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Adult Committee since 2010 and currently serves as Treasurer of RYLA.
 
Beyond Rotary, Diane is deeply involved in community theater, where she has acted, directed, and stage managed hundreds of productions over the past 25 years. Professionally, she is an attorney in private practice, focusing on estate planning and real estate. Diane is married to her husband, Peter, and is the proud mother of two children, Samantha and Michael. She is also delighted to welcome her grandson, Rhys Xavier Ralston, born December 23, 2025."
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Dr. Stephen Shore featured speaker at January 13, 2026 Rotary Meeting
 
Our 2026 kick-off meeting at Davenport Press in Mineola attracted 22 attendees.  Details below:
THIS WEEK AT ROTARY
by Althea Robinson
as published in the Garden City News on January 9, 2026
 
Rising Up...A Story of Extraordinary Achievement
 
Diagnosed with “Atypical Development and strong autistic tendencies,” nonspeaking until age 4, and “too sick” for outpatient treatment, Stephen Shore was recommended for institutionalization. Nevertheless, and remarkably so, with much support from his parents, teachers, his wife and others, Stephen Shore went on to become full time Associate Clinical Professor of Special Education at Adelphi University and adjunct at several other universities.
 
Please join Mineola-Garden City Rotary at its first lunch meeting of the new year on Tuesday, January 13, 12:15 at Mineola’s Davenport restaurant. Rotary will be very pleased to welcome Dr. Shore to tell Rotarians and guests the best ways to focus on aligning best practice in supporting autistic people toward leading fulfilling and productive lives.
 
In addition to working with children and talking about life on the autism spectrum, Dr. Stephen Shore is an internationally renowned educator, consultant and author on lifespan issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment and self-advocacy.  His most recent book, “College for Students with Disabilities” combines personal stories and research for promoting success in higher education.
 
Dr. Shore is a current board member of Autism Speaks, the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) and The Boston Higashi School. He is president emeritus of the Association of the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity and is advisory board member of the Autism Society.  Dr. Shore also serves on the boards of numerous other autism related organizations. Dr. Shore says he combines personal, practical and academic experiences to promote fulfilling and productive lives for autistic and otherwise neuro-divergent individuals.  He says the rule rather than the exception will be used to charge participants to reframe their thinking away from disorder and deficit towards seeking abilities based on individual strengths.
 
To attend this luncheon meeting (fee: $40 each person payable ate the door), please reserve by emailing mineolagardencityrotarclub@gmail.com.
 
 
Upcoming Lunch Meeting to Address Overall Well-Being
 
If you’d like to start off 2026 with proven tools to relieve physical pain and discomfort, while supporting the body’s ability to heal and reduce stress, Join Rotary on Tuesday, January 27, 12:15pm at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant.  Featured will be guest speaker, Arthur Danziger whose proven methods will help calm the mind, build resilience and boost overall well-being.  To reserve email mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com ( Fee: $40 each person payable at the door).
 
 
THE RAFFLE IS STILL GOING!!!
 
Please continue to support the Mineola-Garden City Rotary with our special Lottery Raffle. Featured at our 2025 Community Service Awards and Holiday Dinner, the First Prize is $100 cash plus the chance to win $10,000 more in scratch off tickets!  Second Prize is a beautiful fur cape donated by Tsontos Furrier in Mineola.  
 
Chances are $20 each or 6 chances for $100. You can purchase raffles at the January 13trh luncheon meeting or virtually by sending Venmo to @dianemarmann.  Drawing occurs on January 27, 2026 at our Rotary luncheon meeting.
  
 
Upcoming Meetings and Events
 
(Please RSVP for our upcoming meetings via email at mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com).
 
January 13, 12:15pm - Davenport Press Restaurant: lunch meeting. (Fee $40pp) 
January 27, 12:15pm - Davenport Press Restaurant: lunch meeting. (Fee $40pp) - RAFFLE DRAWING ON THIS DATE
 
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PHOTO CAPTION:
Dr. Stephen Shore, Associate Clinical Professor of Special Education, Adelphi University, educator and author, will speak on aligning best practice in supporting autistic individuals to lead fulfilling and productive lives on January 13.
 
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Garden City High School Fashion Club conducted holiday food drive to benefit The INN
In conjunction with the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club and organized by Erin McKinstry, Ed.D., Business Education Teacher at Garden City High School, the GCHS Fashion Club conducted its annual community service event this past holiday season.  This year's focus was a food drive which benefitted The Mary Brennan INN, a Hempstead-based soup kitchen/food pantry.  Club members generously donated nonperishable food items and encouraged other members of the Garden City community to contribute to the drive, including the Stock Market Club which also showed their support.  Several boxes were filled with canned beans, vegetables, pasta, rice, and granola bars for those in need.  In total, 67 pounds of food were donated to The INN on December 23, 2025.
 
Members of the Garden City High School Fashion Club pictured from left to right:  Karina Deukmedjian, Isabella Davi (Co-President), Arianna Greci (Co-President), and Sarah Liu (Vice President)
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District Governor presents citation for Rotary Club's 100th anniversary
 
The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club celebrated its 100th Anniversary on December 17, 2025 with a holiday dinner and community service awards event.  As part of the proceedings, Rotary 7255 District Governor Lydia Wells presented a framed citation recognizing this accomplishment. On behalf of the Rotary Club and its members, Diana O'Neill said it was an honor to receive this distinction acknowledging that we stand upon the broad shoulders of the leaders who had the vision to create and sustain an important philanthropic organization. Paraphrasing Emerson, "an institution is the lengthened shadow of who came before."
 
It was the culmination of a year devoted to monthly service projects that addressed community needs of nonprofit organizations around anti-poverty, education, food insecurity, healthcare, homelessness, maternal/childhood issues, veterans and youth.  We also donated a Linden Tree to the Village of Garden City and a Peace Pole to the Village of Mineola with dedication ceremonies that engaged village leadership and attracted media attention.  Bringing added fellowship and professional development opportunities, two meetings a month were held (including new breakfast offerings) and a pool party in the summer featured former District Governor Chuck Pacifico regaling us with poignant Rotary experiences.  We launched a website through Club Runner with enhanced communications for membership attracting 2 new members with 2 others in the hopper. 
 
As stewards of the legacy of leaders who had the vision to create and sustain an important philanthropic organization 100 years ago, we strive to meet today's challenges with grace, compassion and a commitment to excellence. Ten decades of service feels like a rare feat.  It took countless members' heartfelt belief in the mission to make service not just an ideal but a working, actionable focus as they volunteered tirelessly over the years to build community and change lives.
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Rotary Club's 100th Anniversary Holiday Dinner and Awards Celebration held December 17
 
The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club's 100th Anniversary Holiday Dinner and Community Service Award honoring Joanne Meyer-Jendras, Gary Jendras, and Mary Joesten was held December 17, 2025 at the Stewart Manor Country Club.  Registered attendees totaled 89.  All proceeds funded Rotary charitable works including RotaCare, a free primary care medical clinic for the uninsured in Hempstead.
 
Our esteemed honorees were particularly worthy, the venue was decked out, guests were fully sated, joyful entertainment was provided by the Mineola High School Treble Chorus and A Cappella Singers, and coveted prizes were made available. It was a grand celebration of our century of service to the community!
 
Program for the evening:
Welcome – Diana O’Neill & Althea Robinson
Salute to American Flag
Invocation – Rev. Joseph Lobo, The Church of St. Joseph
Masters of Ceremonies – Jim Brady & Gary Fishberg
Moment of silence for Ed Norris, beloved husband of Meg Norris
Special performance by The Mineola High School Treble Chorus with A Cappella Singers
Induction of new club member Jeremy May by District Governor Lydia Wells
Award Presentation to Gary Jendras
Introduced by Mary Beth Welsh
Award Presentation to Joanne-Meyer Jendras
Introduced by Diana O’Neill
Award Presentation to Mary Joesten
Introduced by Matthew Duggan
Presentation by Mineola Mayor Paul Pereira of medal for Mary Joesten
Happy Dollars – Jim Brady and Gary Fishberg
Raffle Drawings – Tina O’Keeffe
 
Raffle gift donators that created 36 raffle baskets:
Aria Salon, Port Washington
Elizabeth Bailey
Beauty di Venere, Floral Park
Beverage Barn, Garden City Park
Laurie Burke
Cards for Less Stationary and Toys
Cultural Arts Playhouse, Syosset & Merrick
Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis
Garden City Chamber of Commerce
Garden City Pizza
Garden City Wine & Spirits
Iavarone Bros., Garden City
K & W Liquor Store, Franklin Square
Key Food Marketplace, Garden City
Look Hair Studio, Syosset
Madison Niche, Garden City
Majestic Image Salon, Williston Park
Diane Marmann
Metromodes Salon & Day Spa, Bellmore
Joanne Meyer-Jendras
Tina O'Keeffe
Dr. & Mrs. Peter O'Neill 
Revel, Garden City
Pantano's Bagels, Garden City Park
Ann Paulson
Pet Club, Garden City
Althea Robinson
Salon Aura, Port Washington
Stow and Behold
Tsontos Furs, Mineola
TCBY, Garden City
The Island, Garden City
 
Ad takers:
Bob & Noreen Bonagura
Jim & Diane Brady
Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty’s Garden City Office
Gloria & Marc Disciullo
Hengstenberg's Florist, Garden City
Ron & Peggy Jendras
Meg Norris, Guide to Garden City
Dr. & Mrs. Peter O'Neill
Blanche Puglisi and the Leadership Team at RotaCare
Ray Sikorski
St. Joseph's Church
Peter, Kathryn, Rob and Pete Tomao
Andrew & Paula Umreiko
 
Happy Dollars Match to Benefit RotaCare and Faith Mission:
Jim Brady
Gary Fishberg
Martin Lord
Diane Marmann
Helmut Schuler
Ray Sikorsky
 
Additional Monetary Donations
Arthur Anderson
Peter Gall
Diana O'Neill
Leo Stimmler
Thompson
 
100th Anniversary Planning Committee:
James Brady
Laurie Burke
Kimberly Carlstrom
Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis
Diane Marmann
Peter Marshall
Joanne Meyer-Jendras
Meg Norris
Tina O'Keeffe
Diana O'Neill
Katherine Perrera
Francesca Renda-Vitale
Althea Robinson
Ray Sikorski
 
This Week at Rotary
as published in the Garden City News on November 7, 2025
by Althea Robinson
 
The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club is excited to announce the culmination of 12 months of services to various local charities demonstrating its theme, “Service Above Self.”  To celebrate its centennial milestone, Rotary will kick off the 2025 Holiday season with its annual Holiday dinner and Community Service Award presentations on Wednesday evening, December 17 at the Stewart Manor Country Club at 6pm.   A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the coveted Community Service Awards to Garden City residents Joanne Meyer-Jendras and Gary Jendras along with Mary Joesten, founder and president of Mineola’s Faith Mission Soup Kitchen. 
 
Joanne Meyer-Jendras will be recognized for her 53 years of dedicated service to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County; for her wide range of service to the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club, including the office of president; for her involvement with RotaCare created by Mineola-Garden City Rotary in 1992; for her 13-year service to the New Ground organization; her service to the Kiwanis Club of Garden City; for service to  N.Y.U. Langone Hospital; for her 45 years of services to Garden City’s Church of St. Joseph; along with her more than 16 awards for community service.  
 
Gary Jendras will be honored for his 13-year services to New Ground; his 13-year service, including the position as president to RotaCare, free health care for those in need and without health insurance.  Gary has also served as Eucharistic Minister for the Church of St. Joseph and homebound parishioners for 33 years.  
 
Mary Joesten and her husband Ed had founded Faith Mission in the town of Jamaica in 1969, with the mission to provide food necessities and gently used or new clothing for individuals in need and their families .For more than 20 years, Faith Mission has operated from the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Mineola.  With her herculean work aided by a team of volunteers, Mary Joesten has grown Faith Mission  service from 50 to 300 individuals in need.  Joanne, Gary and Mary have earned Rotary’s prestigious Community Service Award by living up to Rotary’s principles by the examples they set in their everyday lives within their communities and far beyond. 
 
Please join us for a festive evening of good cheer, fellowship and networking opportunities.  Featured will be a cocktail hour with open bar to begin at 6pm, followed by an elegant dinner of choice In Stewart Manor’s beautiful holiday-decorated ballroom. A special feature will be a performance by Mineola High School’s renowned 30-piece A Cappella and Treble singers.  For tickets at $140pp/tables of 10, $1,260; sponsorships and raffle donations, please scan the QR code or access https://square.link/u/f15DQGXL.
 
THE RAFFLE IS STILL GOING!!!
 
Please continue to support the Mineola-Garden City Rotary with our special Lottery Raffle. Featured at our 2025 Community Service Awards and Holiday Dinner, the First Prize is $100 cash plus the chance to win $10,000 more in scratch off tickets!  Second Prize is a beautiful fur cape donated by Tsontos Furrier in Mineola.  
 
Chances are $20 each or 6 chances for $100. You can purchase raffles at the January 13trh luncheon meeting or virtually by sending Venmo to @dianemarmann.  Drawing occurs on January 27, 2026 at our Rotary luncheon meeting.
  
 
Upcoming Meetings and Events
 
(Please RSVP for our upcoming meetings via email at mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com).
 
January 13, 12:15pm - Davenport Press Restaurant: lunch meeting. (Fee $40pp) 
January 27, 12:15pm - Davenport Press Restaurant: lunch meeting. (Fee $40pp) - RAFFLE DRAWING ON THIS DATE
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Rotary December 9 Breakfast Meeting featured Rotarian visiting from Taipei
 
14 of us attended the December 9 breakfast meeting at the Carle Place Diner and what a treat it was to welcome Nancy Chen Baldwin, Rotary Club of Taipei's Service Projects Coordinator.  She shared a rich history of programming in her region of the world encompassing several countries like India, Japan, Vietnam and Nepal:  accessible water/irrigation system, hygiene products for women, assisting children with disabilities, advocating against sex trafficking, helping homeless people, and advancing educational opportunities for youth.  There are 1020 Rotary Clubs and 36,700 Rotarians in Taiwan.  The Taipei club has 75 members and is hosting an international Rotary convention next June which we are all invited to.  She also brought a flag and a lovely gift to commemorate the visit.
 
Other club business discussed mostly centered on our December 17 100th anniversary event:
  • Joanne Meyer-Jendras reported we are at 78 reservations (which means we have met our minimum head count) with more attendees expected!
  • After hard work pulling invitation copy together, Althea Robinson is now concentrating on the run of show.  Many thanks to Ray for his expertise in printing.
  • Diane Marmann brought the framed scratch off tickets with $100 bill that we will sell tickets for $20.00 each at the event and extend sales beyond into the new year.
  • Tina O'Keeffe is organizing the raffle baskets and thanked members for their donations and reaching out to merchants for prizes noting that Laurie Burke has been particularly successful with her asks.  Althea too!
  • Diana O'Neill is pulling the printed program together with ads and 100th anniversary archival documentation with help from Althea.  Many thanks to Bob and Noreen Bonagura who took a full page ad on the spot! Randy Colahan is securing all the arrangements to print the program.
  • District Governor Lydia Wells will be inducting new member, Jeremy May, at the December 17 celebration.
  • Jim Brady is looking for more club members to match the Happy Dollars proceeds, a portion of which will be donated to RotaCare and Faith Mission.  Diane Marmann agreed to join Jim, Gary Fishberg, Ray Sikorski, and Helmut Schuler as a contributor.
A few other announcements:
  • Althea Robinson's weekly column focuses on the December 6 bell ringing for Salvation Army at Kings led by Bob Schoelle with Randy Colahan's support.  Rotary members were augmented by St. Joseph's Scouts and it was a successful day despite the chilly weather.
  • Diana O'Neill thanked Diane Marmann for representing us at Saturday's District Happenings Meeting in Amityville and for giving a well-received update about our club activities.
  • Joanne Meyer-Jendras is getting ready to prepare the scholarship application and welcomes input.
  • Randy Colahan, last year's Rotary Community Service Award recipient, was honored at Monday's meeting of the Garden City Public Library Trustees which he presided over for over 23 years.
  • Ann Paulson reported that the accessibility issue at Garden City Village headquarters is being worked on so a letter from us advocating for change will not be needed at this time.
Ten decades of service feels like a rare feat.  It took countless members' heartfelt belief in the mission to make service not just an ideal but a working, actionable focus as they volunteered tirelessly over the years up until today to build community and change lives. 
 
I hope you can be part of our 100th anniversary in some way by joining us in person, taking an ad, or donating a raffle item.  The planning committee has laid the groundwork for a very special celebration and welcomes your involvement.  But please know your membership in our Rotary club is prized beyond words can express and that is the ultimate gift of all.
 
Let there be joy, love, and laughter throughout this wonderful time of year!
Diana
 
Diana O'Neill
President 2024-2026
Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club
cell 516-699-7289
 
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Rotary rings Salvation Army bell on December 6 at Kings Food Market
The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club kicked off the holiday spirit with a dozen club members and St. Joseph’s boy scouts to ring the bell for Salvation Army Hempstead Corps at Kings Food Market in Garden City. It was a bit chilly but didn't affect the giving hearts of Kings patrons to help neighbors in need.  Diana O'Neill, Club President, flanked by bell coordinators, Randy Colahan on left, and long time project leader, Bob Schoelle, on right.
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Rotary donates hygiene products to Farmingdale State College at December 5 volunteer fair
 
As part of the December 5, 2025 holiday volunteer fair sponsored by the Long Island Volunteer Center, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club donated hygiene products for a kit building service learning project.  10 high school students participating in the Bridges program from Oceanside and Uniondale created 40 packets (20 men, 20 women) to benefit the Farmingdale State College food pantry.  Included in the packets were shampoo,  conditioner, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, body lotion, razor, comb, cotton balls, Q-tips, and bandaids which were assembled into a reusable zippered toiletry bag.  Food bank coordinator Amanda Cataldo was so grateful for the toiletry kits to serve students in need.  This donation was done in conjunction with our 100th anniversary celebration with monthly service projects dedication to building community.  Farmingdale Rotary Club also participated as a tabler at the event.
 
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Rotary Club supported Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive sponsored by the Alford Family
 
The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club was honored to help feed 252 people across Long Island through the impact of a 30 year-old project founded by the Alford Family.  Their thank you letter warms the heart!
 
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Rotary Peace Pole rededication at Mineola Memorial Park held November 22
 
The rededication of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club's Peace Pole, our 100th anniversary gift to the Village of Mineola, was a heartfelt event. Here is a snapshot of what occurred:
 
  • 27 attendees (10 Rotarians, 5 political leaders, 12 community members)
  • Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena presented proclamations (including one from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman)
  • Mineola Mayor Paul Pereira spoke about the significance of Mineola Memorial Park and why the Peace Pole is reflective of why the servicemen enshrined there bravely battled and gave their lives to achieve peace; Deputy Mayor Janine Sartori and Trustee Donna Solosky were also there in solidarity
  • Singers from Garden City High School sang “It’s a Wonderful World”
  • Clarinetists from Garden City Middle School played “Imagine”
  • Rotary Past President Peter Marshall read a poem dedicated to peace written by Rotary Peace Ambassador Kevin Mann
  • Rotary President Diana O'Neill emceed and read passages from the Peace Pole website about its origins
  • Rotary Public Image guru Althea Robinson shared details about 50th anniversary of Peace Poles on Long Island
  • All assembled laid kindness rocks around the base of the Peace Pole donated by Garden City Public Library Tweens & Teens Department
  • The Rotary bell was struck 10 times for each decade of our 100th anniversary which resonated throughout the grounds
  • Also we said the Pledge of Allegiance in front of Diana O'Neill's father-in-law's flag; Terrence Joseph O'Neill was a navigator in WWII
All in all, it was an amazing event that produced poignant memories! Althea Robinson of course was a magician making things happen with all the behind the scenes efforts! It felt like a moment--we helped create the atmosphere to touch lives and spread peace throughout our part of the world. Our motto, Service Above Self, was actualized today.
 
Photo of Rotarians around the Peace Pole (from left):  Lynne Maimone Koszalka, Tina O'Keeffe, Joanne Meyer-Jendras, Peter Marshall, Meg Norris, Althea Robinson, Randy Colahan, Diana O'Neill, and Laurie Burke.  Missing from photo is Katherine Perrera.
 
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Rotary Breakfast Meeting held November 11 at Carle Place Diner
Nine of us gathered at the Rotary Club Breakfast Meeting held November 11 at Carle Place Diner.  The first snow of the season greeted the day but it was a cozy setting to do club business as follows:
  • Meg Norris announced for Joanne Meyer-Jendras that the results of the recent food drive at Kings Market to benefit The INN exceeded goals with 261 pounds and 315 items collected.  18 volunteers participated.
  • Meg is also compiling the Guide to Garden City and Althea Robinson created the copy about Rotary with messaging and photos.
  • Randy Colahan announced the December 6 Salvation Army bell ringing at Key Food's back door facing the parking lot.  Volunteers are being recruited now to cover one hour shifts.  A smaller bucket was made available to the club at the recent Salvation Army Volunteer Recognition Celebration and could be used at the front door of the store.
  • Althea Robinson announced the November 22 Peace Pole rededication at 10 am at Mineola Memorial Park on the 50th anniversary of Peace Poles on Long Island.  Club members will be placing kindness rocks from the Garden City Public Library Tweens & Teens Department at the base of the pole around the plaque from Rotary recently installed.  
  • Althea is also working on the December 17 100th anniversary invitation and in her  most recent column, This Week at Rotary in the Garden City News, she announced our honorees and brief bios.  She will be preparing additional longer features in future columns.  A meeting at the Stewart Manor Country Club is scheduled for November 19 at 2:30 pm for final event planning and walk-through.
  • Tina O'Keeffe encouraged all Club members to secure donations of raffle prizes to support the December 17 100th anniversary celebration.  Laurie Burke has already begun visiting local merchants to spread the word.
  • Diana O'Neill visited a local bank to secure a sponsorship/ad for the December 17 printed program.
  • Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis recently donated 5 boxes of hair care products worth $800.00 to the club to benefit clients of New Ground's transitional housing program.  Jennifer also gave the invocation at the start of the meeting which centered on veterans and lauded their service.
  • Peter Marshall reinstituted the "Birthday Dollar" for Happy Bucks and we all wished him many more!
Pictured in photo from left in back:  Meg Norris, Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis, Randy Colahan. Tina O'Keefe, Peter Marshall, and Tom O'Keeffe.  From left In front, Althea Robinson and Diana O'Neill.  Laurie Burke volunteered to take the photo.
 
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Rotary sponsors food drive at Kings to benefit The INN on Election Day
On behalf of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club's celebration of its 100th anniversary, we hosted a Food Drive on Election Day to benefit The INN's Hempstead food pantry from 9 am to 2 pm at Kings Market in Garden City.  18 volunteers (including 4 High School students) collected 261 pounds of food donations comprised of 315 items.  It was an important way for Rotary leadership to put a light on food insecurity in the region particularly on a day devoted to civic engagement. Volunteers promoted the drive to Kings Market patrons, weighed food donations, counted the items, and tracked goals with poster thermometers.  Past President Joanne Meyer-Jendras organized the drive and personally delivered the donations to The INN.  The Garden City High School student volunteers were:  Olivia Allsbrook, Isabella Fuentes and Isabella Parlanti.  Giuliana D'Alessandro (also a RYLA leader) represented Carle Place High School.  Rotarians included:  Laurie Burke (and her lab, Moon, or official mascot), Anita Frey, Lynne Maimone Koszalka, Diane Marmann, Peter Marshall, Joanne Meyer-Jendras, Meg Norris, Diana O'Neill, Ann Paulson, and Althea Robinson.  Guest volunteers included:  Mimi Howard and Ilene Russano.
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Rotary District Grant uplifts local nonprofit served by Mineola-Garden City Rotary
 
It has been so heartwarming to support the essential work of Ethical Friends of Children after securing a Rotary District Grant to expand their reach. Here is a thank you with photos on left reflecting impact:
 
"Ethical Friends of Children, a 40-year-old organization, staffed exclusively by  volunteers, that offers  free clothing, furniture, diapers, toys and books and school supplies, for children in need from newborn to teens, thanks the Mineola-Garden City Rotary,  for your generous grant of $3050.  We have made great use of it and our clients are the true beneficiaries. We have bought strollers, fans, diapers, a beautiful new bulletin board, a new vacuum, school supplies and backpacks, and we are better off, thanks to your Rotary’s generosity. The bulletin board is a key aspect for our clients, since many do not speak English - so photos of infant furniture, bouncy seats, and strollers are displayed so they can see and select the items they need.  The strollers, always in demand, left quickly with happy Moms and kids. The diapers, so expensive and always a necessity, are key for us as we are one of the few organizations that offer free diapers to needy families. In the basement, a floor fan has helped us tremendously as we use the space to sort the unsorted clothing, so, especially in the summer, our volunteers are more comfortable as they place the clothing in bins sorting for seasons, sex and sizes for over 1500 children we service each year.  Thanks again for thinking of us, supporting us and so many needy families and their children thank you as well."
 
Appreciatively,
Judy Rosemarin Volunteer
Pat Spencer, Volunteer
Jim Lopresti, Volunteer & Program Director
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Rotary October 28 meeting featured Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly
 
22 of us attended our October 28 luncheon meeting which featured Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly as guest speaker at Mineola’s Davenport restaurant.  Having fought to keep Nassau as the safest community in the country, throughout her career, DA Donnelly has successfully prosecuted violent felonies, complex murder-for-hire cases and narcotics traffickers. She also spearheaded investigations into trademark  counterfeiting outfits, including an investigation that resulted in the largest forfeiture collection in the history of Nassau County.  The message she shared that most strongly resonated with us today was "Life is about service to others."
 
Join Rotary for Breakfast!
 
Please join Rotary for breakfast meetings on both Tuesdays of November 11 and December 9 at the Carle Place Diner. Occasional Rotary breakfasts accommodate members and guests who find it difficult to break away for lunch meetings. All are welcome. Fee: $20 payable at the door. Choice of breakfast. To reserve for either or both dates, visit mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com.
 
Our honorees for the December 17 fundraiser have been confirmed:

Joanne Meyer-Jendras and Gary Jendras
Garden City-based leaders in the nonprofit industry
including RotaCare, New Ground, and Nassau County Girl Scouts

Mary Joesten
Founder, Mineola-based Faith Mission food bank

Reminders about upcoming events:
 
November 4 Food Drive at Kings Market
November 11 Rotary Breakfast Meeting Carle Place Diner
November 16 Rotary Foundation Luncheon VFW Farmingdale
November 22 Peace Pole rededication at Mineola Memorial Park
December 6 Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Key Food
December 9 Rotary Breakfast Meeting at Carle Place Diner
December 17 Holiday Dinner and Community Service Awards Event at Stewart Manor Country Club

Many thanks:
 
...to Althea Robinson who secures such amazing speakers for our meetings that add to our professional development objectives and for being a behind the scenes volunteer supporting programming at every level
...to Ray Sikorski who is now coordinating invitations to the December 17 celebration and will be our emcee extraordinaire 
...to Peter Marshall who selflessly organized a table to support the Gift of Life gala last month
...to Jim Brady and Gary Fishberg for their adept follow-up on outstanding dues by encouraging members to continue their support which sustains our mission and community service objectives
...to Meg Norris for creating an introduction to Rotary brochure that Jim Brady will effectively employ in recruiting new members 
...to Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis for keeping members connected through Good & Wellness outreach
...Randy Colahan for leading our September service project to donate clothing to The INN and to donators for their generosity
...to his sister Laurie Burke (with our mascot golden retriever Moon) and to Joanne Meyer-Jendras who both graciously schlepped car loads of clothing donations from the Garden City Public Library to The Inn
...to generous donators of Halloween costumes to benefit New Ground as our October service project especially Bob Schoelle's granddaughters who took on this drive with great enthusiasm
...to Joanne Meyer-Jendras who is leading our food drive November service project to benefit The INN
...to Bob Schoelle and Randy Colahan for coordinating efforts for the December Salvation Army bell ringing
...to Club Secretary Tina O'Keeffe who is leading our December service project collecting and organizing  raffle/silent auction donations for the December 17 fundraiser (see attached letter to help secure donations)
...to Diane Marmann who is organizing our  raffle lottery tree donations and super bowl raffle donations as well as volunteering her time as our treasurer and Assistant District Governor
...to Jack Warfield who has volunteered to be our official liaison to the Mineola Chamber of Commerce
...to Martin Lord and Helmut Schuler, our stalwart Sergeant-at-Arms, who warmly greet members and guests to our meetings
...to the Garden City Public Library Tweens & Teens Department for kindness rocks that will be placed at the base of the Peace Pole
...to Ann Paulson and Anita Frey who add such lively banter and fairy dust to our gatherings
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Rotary Halloween Costume Drive supported by LIVC Youth Advisory Board
 
Halloween Costume Drive for Children
Served by New Ground Organization
 
As its October service project in celebration of the Rotary Club's 100th anniversary which benefitted New Ground organization which serves veterans and their families in transitional housing, Rotary is holding a Halloween costume collection for youngsters between the ages of 0-17. Please help Rotary bring magic to “trick or treating” this Halloween for children served by New Ground. New Ground provides social work and education services to help families and veterans break the cycle of poverty and homelessness on Long Island.
 
Also, in support of the Rotary Club October service project, the Long Island Volunteer Center's Youth Advisory Board is promoting the drive. New and gently used/washed costumes will be accepted; also costume accessories (wands, wings, witch hats, capes plus unused Halloween face make-up, candy pails or treat bags, etc.).  
 
Donations may be dropped off during regular business hours to The Garden City News office, 821 Franklin Avenue, suite 208; or to the Long Island Volunteer Center, 38 Old Country Road, Suite 203.   First batch of donations were sorted at the Long Island Volunteer Center as part of "Disability Mentoring Day" on October 15 with volunteers from NYS DOE ACCES-VR, Hofstra University, and LIVC.
 
Photo caption: LIVC Youth Advisory Board from left to right:  Emily Bennett, Ali Bennett, Caileigh McDonough, Ciara Hegarty, Lizzy Hagopian, Mary Doherty, Oliver Gibson, and Brae McDonough.
 
 
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October 14 Rotary Luncheon featured Nassau County Clerk, Maureen O'Connell
14 of us gathered at our lunch meeting Tuesday, October 14, at the Davenport Press restaurant, Mineola-Garden City Rotary and were pleased to once again welcome Nassau County Clerk, Maureen O’Connell.  She reported on innumerable services provided by her office.  Ms. O’Connell had been elected countywide to the Office of Nassau County Clerk in November of 2005 and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021. As County Clerk, Ms. O’Connell serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts and is also responsible for maintaining the official index of documents relating to real property ownership in Nassau County. Utilizing enhanced technology to further modernize the office, Maureen O’Connell’s myriad accomplishments continue with expanded initiatives which include the electronic filing of documents for State Supreme Court actions, electronic filing of land records and interfaces with New York State and County agencies creating paperless filings. As County Clerk, Maureen O’Connell has been at the forefront of electronic interfaces with the Clerk’s Office which served as the pilot county for such initiatives. Maureen O’Connell has developed a distinguished record of constituent service and has promoted numerous community-based programs. She has been named one of the 50 Most influential Women in Business by Long Island Business News. Maureen O’Connell reports that the Clerk’s Office is continually working to efficiently streamline operations and improve access to the official records we maintain.  Maureen O’Connell had begun her professional career as a Registered Nurse at North Shore University Hospital upon graduating from Flushing Hospital and Medical Center School of Nursing. She holds a B.S. in Health Care Administration from St. Joseph’s College and earned her Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law, receiving the American Jurisprudence Award in Insurance Law. Ms. O’Connell is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association and serves on the Medical-Legal and Elder Law-Social Services Health Advisory Committees and is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society. Prior to her tenure as Nassau County Clerk, Ms. O’Connell had also served as Trustee and Deputy Mayor of the Incorporated Village of East Williston.
 
Halloween Costume Drive for Children
Served by New Ground Organization
 
As its October service project to benefit the efforts of the New Ground organization,
Rotary is holding a Halloween costume collection for youngsters between the ages of 0-17. Please help Rotary bring magic to “trick or treating” this Halloween for children served by New Ground. New Ground provides social work and education services to help families and veterans break the cycle of poverty and homelessness on Long Island. New and gently used/washed costumes will be accepted; also costume accessories (wands, wings, witch hats, capes plus unused Halloween face make-up, candy pails or treat bags, etc.).  Donations may be dropped off during regular business hours to The Garden City News office, 821 Franklin Avenue, suite 208; or to the Long Island Volunteer Center, 38 Old Country Road, Suite 203. 
 
Upcoming Speakers & Activities
 
 
October 28: Guest Speaker: Anne Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney. Hear why Nassau County has been rated the safest county.
 
October 29:  Salvation Army Volunteer Recognition Dinner, Westbury Manor, 7 pm.
 
November 4:  Food Drive at King's Supermarket to benefit The INN.

November 11, 8am: Breakfast meeting, Carle Place Diner.
 
November 22, 10 am: Rededication of Peace Pole at Mineola Memorial Park.
 
December 6, 9am-4pm, Key Food Market Place: Bell Ringing to assist the Salvation Army.
 
December 9, 8am: Breakfast meeting, Carle Place Diner, 8am. Fee $20pp.
 
December 17, 6:30pm, Stewart Manor Country Club: Holiday Dinner Gala celebrating Rotary’s 100th Anniversary; Community Service Award presentations.
 
(Lunch and Breakfast meetings payable at the door. All lunch meetings at Davenport Press restaurant, Mineola)
 
PHOTO CAPION:
From left, Althea Robinson, Rotary Publicity/Speakers Bureau Chair; Martin Lord and Helmut Schuler, Sergeants at Arms; County Clerk Maureen O’Connell, guest speaker and Diana O’Neill, Club President.
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September 23 Meeting featured John Borroni, Garden City Public Works Superintendent
 
12 of us gathered to hear from Garden City Department of Public Works Superintendent, John Borroni, who shared important information about the wide range of challenges, from maintaining critical infrastructure and delivering essential services to planning for the future needs of the community. According to the Village website, among the key functions of the DPW are: maintaining streets … snow and leaf removal … storm drain maintenance … sanitary sewer system management … garbage and rubbish collection … recycling services plus traffic control system design and installation. Indeed, DPW tasks go far beyond key functions. Superintendent Borroni notes: “Among our current priorities is the restoration of the historic Water Works building constructed in 1876 and listed on both the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. Preserving this landmark not only honors our Village’s history but also creates an opportunity to provide lasting value for generations to come.” John Borroni joined the Village in 2015 as a Civil Engineer. He was promoted to Senior Engineer in 2019 and became Superintendent in February of 2023. Prior to that, John worked for Nassau County as an Engineer and Construction Inspector, designing, inspecting and managing a variety of infrastructure projects. John Borroni holds an Associate’s degree in Civil Engineering from Nassau Community College, a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Farmingdale State University and earned his Professional Engineering license in 2019. With more than 15 years of experience, John says he is committed to advancing infrastructure, ensuring public safety and supporting the needs of the Garden City Community.
 
Althea Robinson announced our upcoming speakers and RotaCare fundraiser:
 
October 14: Guest Speaker: Maureen O’Connell, Nassau County
Clerk. Learn about special services you may not know about provided by the NC Clerk’s office.
 
October 28: Guest Speaker: Anne Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney. Hear why Nassau County has been rated the safest county.
 
(To reserve for all Luncheons held at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant, on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 12:15. (Fee: $40 payable at the door), please email mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com).
 
Special Event - “Music Bingo” to Benefit RotaCare
 
Imagine playing Bingo to Music! You can, and have a barrel of fun competing for prizes (restaurant gift cards). RotaCare will hold its first ”Music Bingo” event on Tuesday, October 7, 630-9:30pm at Revel restaurant, 835 Franklin Avenue, Garden City. Fee: $90 pp which includes dinner, dessert, unlimited wine & beer plus two game cards. There’ll be raffles and door prizes too. RotaCare was founded by Mineola-Garden City Rotary in 1992. It’s signature service, our Club continues to provide annual support. ”Music Bingo” will benefit RotaCare’s efforts to provide free health care for our uninsured neighbors in need. For detailed information about sponsorships, or to reserve, please email RotaCare.Events@gmail.com.
 
Other Announcements
 
Ann Paulson started us off with a special Rosh Hashana invocation and wished everyone "L'Shanah Tovah U'Metukah", meaning "For a good and sweet year".
 
Diane Marmann announced that Rotary District 7255 will be sponsoring a fundraiser at the Cultural Art Playhouse in Syosset on Sunday, September 28 at 3 pm. The show is "Beautiful" and Diane will be playing Carole King's mother. Tickets are $40/pp with $15 of the ticket price donated to the Rotary Foundation.
 
Peter Marshall is looking to fill two seats at our table at the Gift of Life Gala on October 3 at the Garden City Hotel.
 
Diana O'Neill announced that the Salvation Army's Volunteer Recognition Dinner on October 28 at Westbury Manor will be honoring Patrick Curry, President of Kiwanis Club of Garden City.
 
Bob Bonagura brought men's clothing to donate as part of our drive to benefit The INN reaching a new grand total of 58 bags.
 
Diana O'Neill announced that we will be sponsoring a Halloween costume drive to benefit New Ground as part of our calendar of service commemorating our 100th anniversary. It was unanimously decided that today's Happy Bucks could go toward purchase of new costumes. Ann Paulson also gave a generous check donation.
 
In photo from left: John Borroni, Althea Robinson, Diana O'Neill, and former village administrator Bob Schoelle who praised Mr. Borroni for his expertise and leadership.
 
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Rotary sponsors successful clothing and accessories drive to benefit The INN
 
For its monthly service project to celebrate our 100th anniversary year, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club sponsored a clothing drive to benefit The INN which serves hungry and homeless individuals and families at its soup kitchen, food pantry, and clothing/household goods distribution center in Hempstead. 
 
The project was co-sponsored with Kiwanis Club of Garden City and ran September 8 through September 14, 2025.  Donations of men's, women's and children's clothing and accessories were dropped off at the Garden City Public Library and 7 Rotarians volunteered to pick up and deliver the bags directly to The INN's donations drop off site.  Adelphi Circle K International also adopted the project and did a drive to kick-off their academic year. 
 
In all, 55 bags of clothing and accessories were donated with an estimated accumulation of 825 pounds.  Toiletries and adult depends were also secured. 
 
Many thanks to:
  • Rotarians Laurie Burke, Randy Colahan (project coordinator), Diane Marmann, Joanne Meyer-Jendras, Diana O'Neill, Jennifer Poupis-Ferrara, and Althea Robinson who were our volunteer drivers,
  • to Adelphi Circle K International President Hazel Agicha,
  • to the Garden City Public Library who hosted the collection box and helped load the cars,
  • to donation site volunteers at The INN who unloaded our cars, to the Garden City Public Library who hosted the collection box and helped load the cars,
  • to Garden City News Publisher Meg Norris for promoting the drive,
  • and to the residents of Garden City who responded so generously.
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Rotary 7255 District Governor Lydia Wells featured speaker on September 9
 
17 of us gathered on September 9, at the Davenport Press Restaurant in Mineola, to welcome Rotary 7255 District Governor Lydia Wells and hear about her Rotary experiences and why the connections and relationships she's made over the years continue to sustain and inspire her. She said our club has "good bones" which was such an endearing compliment considering we are celebrating our 100th anniversary! DG Wells also inducted our newest member, Laurie Burke (Randy Colahan's sister), who has already volunteered to assist with website enhancements and the clothing drive. Before the general meeting we had a board meeting with DG Wells that helped us think through challenges around fundraising, recruiting new members, programming, and social media presence.  Meg Norris handed out a membership marketing brochure hot off the press and we unveiled a prototype display of archival promotional materials celebrating our 100th anniversaries.
 
Additional announcements
 
Randy Colahan said the clothing drive, a collaboration with Garden City Kiwanis Club, which began yesterday to benefit The INN has garnered donations and that a photo op is scheduled for Friday at the Garden City Public Library at 11:30 am with Adelphi Circle K International which adopted the drive as a service project.
 
Diane Pacifico Marmann announced that Rotary District 7255 will be sponsoring a fundraiser at the Cultural Art Playhouse in Syosset on Sunday, September 28 at 3 pm. The show is "Beautiful" and Diane will be playing Carole King's mother. Tickets are $40/pp with $15 of the ticket price donated to the Rotary Foundation.
 
Peter Marshall recruited a table to support Gift of Life, Inc. gala on October 3 at the Garden City Hotel
 
Jim Brady announced a RotaCare fundraiser on October 7 at Revel with music bingo and dinner for $90/pp.
 
Upcoming Lunch Meetings Davenport Press restaurant
 
September 23: Featuring John Borroni, P.C., Superintendent of Garden City Public Works.

October 14: Featuring Maureen O’Connell, Nassau County Clerk.
 
October 28: Featuring Anne Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney
 
THIS WEEK AT ROTARY as published in the Garden City News
by Althea Robinson

Rotary District Governor Lydia Wells, to Report
 
Next Tuesday, September 9, 12:15 at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant, Mineola-
Garden City Rotary is both pleased and honored to welcome Lydia Wells, Governor, Rotary District 7255, to speak about the 2025-2026 Rotary year, its aims and efforts to “Unite for Good,” Rotary’s current theme.  Traditionally, the District Governor visits each club within the district which encompasses the land mass of Long Island from the Verrazano and Brooklyn Bridges to the lighthouses of Long island’s east end.  Traditionally, the District Governor helps to strengthen existing clubs, to engage, inspire and motivate members and to promote membership growth, a current priority. Before her role as DG, Lydia Wells had served as president of the Greenport Rotary for three terms, having served as club secretary, membership and public image chair. Before her
long, dedicated and active role with Rotary, Lydia had served as guidance counselor for the Greenport school district for 30 years - the high school from which she had graduated. Throughout her professional career and Rotary tenure, Lydia has been a champion of youth empowerment, having served the youth of Greenport in numerous roles throughout the years. Through Rotary, Lydia also was on the inaugural District RYLA (Rotary Youth Service Awards) committee to which she served for 23 years, and as chairperson from 2016-2023. RYLA is one of the many services which Mineola-Garden City supports. Another Rotary service noted by Lydia Wells and supported by our club, is the international Gift of Life project which will celebrate its 50th year golden jubilee year next month. Gift of Life provides life-saving surgery for children around the world who would otherwise not survive. Our Club looks forward to hearing DG Lydia Wells’ account of the many upcoming District and international activities. To attend this or any lunch meeting, listed below, at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant (Lunch of choice, fee $40pp payable at the door), please email mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com.
 
Rotary & Kiwanis Co-sponsor Clothing Drive to Benefit the INN
 
Reminder to bring your gently used clothing (especially, but not limited to men’s) to the
Garden City Library (near circulation desk), September 8-14. Donations will be delivered to the INN by Rotary and Kiwanis volunteers. Especially needed by the INN: jeans Works, sweatshirts …belts … shoes … boots … sneakers and shirts. Library Hours: Sunday 1-5pm; Monday-Thursday, 9:30am 9pm; Friday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm
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August 26 Rotary Meeting Featured Ahmed Ahmed with Tips for Better Balance
THIS WEEK AT ROTARY 
Garden City News Column
by Althea Robinson 
 
Personal Trainer Provides Science-Backed Fall Prevention
& Improved Balance Formulas
 
Last Tuesday, August 26, at its end of August lunch meeting, Rotarians heard exercise and personal trainer, Ahmed Ahmed, CMSS, CPT, reveal science-backed formulas to become Fall-Proof and to improve our balance.  Ahmed is the founder of Lotus Fitness located in the Omni building on Earle Ovington Blvd., Uniondale. He is also a weekly columnist in The Garden City News where he provides a variety of wellness tips. At Tuesday’s Club meeting Ahmed’s emphasis was on falling, the fear of falling and achieving better balance. Ahmed said one of the leading causes of injury and loss of
independence, especially for older adults is falling. Even the fear of falling can keep people from enjoying the activities they love and deplete confidence as well. Ahmed shared easy-to-follow formula to help us feel steady on our feet. There are 3 simple, practical strategies to improve our stability, react faster if we lose our balance, and move with more confidence in our day-to-day life. To improve stamina, foot strength is of paramount importance plus strength of leg muscles and achieving the “battery life” of our feet and legs.  Ahmed distributed forms to attending Rotarians to complete indicating their specific concerns. The forms were followed up with emails containing techniques to address listed concerns. what a bonus for all in attendance! Plus, if you are concerned about falling or achieving better balance, visit Ahmed’s Lotus Fitness at www.lotusfitnessny.com; call for further information at 646-415-2349, and check out Ahmed’s weekly exercise tips and improved health techniques within in his column in The Garden City News.
 
Rotary & Kiwanis Sponsor joint Donation Project To Benefit the INN
 
The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club of Garden City will run a joint donation project to benefit the INN located in Hempstead, NY. These service organizations will collect articles of clothing at the Garden City Library from September 8 through September 14. A donation bin will be located inside the library to the right of the circulation desk. The much-needed items that the INN has requested (especially, but not limited to men’s) include jeans … sweatshirts … belts … shoes … boots … sneakers and shirts. Library hours starting Septembers 7th are: Sunday 1pm to 5pm, Monday to Thursday 9:30am to 9pm and Friday to Saturday 9:30am-5pm. The mission of the INN is to provide a broad variety of essential services to assist those challenged by hunger, homelessness and profound poverty. Rotary and Kiwanis will appreciate your support of this much needed project. Club volunteers will pick up donated items from the library and deliver to the INN by September 14.  For questions, please contact Randy Colahan at randy.colahan@gmail.com.
 
From left: Rotarians Althea Robinson, Randy Colahan, Rotary chair, Rotary/Kiwanis INN
donation project; Meg Norris, PP/Vice President; Diana O’Neill, Club President; Ahmed Ahmed, guest speaker; and Diane Marmann, PP and Asst. District Governor.
 
Other Announcements at the Meeting
 
Althea Robinson announced two upcoming luncheon meetings: September 9 featuring Rotary 7255 District Governor Lydia Wells who will be officially installing new member  Laurie Burke Burke and September 23 featuring John Borroni, P.E., Superintendent, Garden City Public Works.
 
Diane Pacifico Marmann announced that Rotary 7255 District will be sponsoring a fundraiser at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Syosset on Sunday, September 28 at 3 pm. The show is "Beautiful" and Diane will be playing Carole King's mother. Tickets are $40/pp with $15 of the ticket price donated to the Rotary Foundation.
 
Peter Marshall announced that Rotary's Gift of Life annual gala is October 3 at 7 pm at the Garden City Hotel. The event celebrates 50 years of saving children's lives worldwide. He is putting together a table. Tickets are $250/pp. For more information: www.giftoflifeinc.org
 
Tina O'Keeffe announced that her daughter's Girl Scout Silver Project, Stop Senior Scams, has been well received by the community and has educated members of the Garden City Senior Center about types of scams, how to avoid them, and what to do if you get scammed. She brought brochures with great tips to keep seniors safe.
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Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club receives distinction from Rotary International

August 21, 2025

Dear 2024-25 Club President, 

Congratulations! Your club has earned the Club Excellence Award, the most significant award a Rotary club can achieve, for 2024-25. This past year, your club demonstrated a commitment to achieve its goals, which ultimately helps strengthen Rotary and shape our future.  Here is your Club Excellence Award certificate.  I encourage you to display it proudly to celebrate your club’s achievement.  Once again, congratulations on a successful year as club president!

Sincerely,


Stephanie A. Urchick
2024-25 Rotary International President 
Add text here
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August 12 Rotary Meeting featured Monica Kiely's update on "Say No to the Casino"
 
10 of us gathered at our August 12 luncheon meeting to hear from Monica Kiely, a key organizer of the “Say No to the Casino” advocacy group. Ms. Kiely originally addressed Rotary in April 2024. She recapped for us her August 8 article published in the Garden City News:
 
"In June, the Town of Hempstead Board and the Nassau County Legislature delivered a one-two punch to local residents that paves the way for a large gambling operation at the site of the Nassau Coliseum. Both Newsday and Say No to the Casino Leadership have speculated about a “Slots Parlor”, similar to the Resorts World operation at Aqueduct right in the heart of Nassau County. Though LV Sands publicly announced in April that they were withdrawing from the competition for a New York State casino license, they continue to control the property under a 42 year lease, and though that lease has been challenged in court, Sands is fighting to keep control of the property. Nassau County’s elected officials are also using your tax dollars to fight in court to keep the lease with LV Sands. The June one-two punch from the County Legislature and TOH Board demonstrates that elected officials are ignoring resident opposition to a casino, and instead are working with Las Vegas Sands to bring gambling to our County.
 
#1. Acceptance of Seriously Flawed FEIS by Nassau County Legislature
The Nassau County Legislature approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement submitted by Las Vegas Sands earlier this year. Residents and environmental groups criticized the report and studies, which were paid for by The Sands, as biased, flawed, and woefully incomplete. Our County Legislature adopted the FEIS anyway.
 
#2. Town of Hempstead Rezones Property to Allow Gambling
The Town of Hempstead approved “rezoning” of the Hub/Coliseum property. The Town Board created an entirely new resort and entertainment zone. Buried in the fine print is this detail: Gambling is now legal at The Hub. At a series of packed hearings at the Town of Hempstead in late June, residents were overwhelmingly opposed to zoning for gambling. Our Town Board approved it anyway.
 
What can residents do?
Public sentiment could not have been clearer at the hearings leading up to these votes by local officials, and the issue of future development at the Coliseum property is emerging as a critical campaign issue in the November elections. Say No to the Casino will be asking all candidates about their vision for the Nassau Hub and whether they support undoing the controversial rezoning for gambling. Say No to the Casino representatives point out that local elections have never been so important. The bipartisan group urges all residents to ask candidates where they stand on the crucial issue of future development at 72 acre Nassau Hub/Coliseum property. The group feels strongly that “Save Our Suburbs” is a perfect slogan for pushing back against the negative economic, social, and financial impacts of gambling."
 
Additional Club Announcements:
 
Much appreciation was expressed for Diane Marmann's hosting our July 22 pool party and for her father, Chuck Pacifico, who shared Rotary memories that educated attendees about our rich history and inspired us to stay the course.
 
New member, Laurie Burke (on behalf of her brother Randy Colahan), presented the September "Service Week" Project, a clothing drive to benefit The INN in collaboration with the Kiwanis Club of Garden City. Volunteers are needed to do pickups at the Garden City Public Library and deliver donations to The INN.
 
Diana thanked Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis and Laurie Burke for representing our Club at the July service project, a backpack kit building event at the offices of NYS DOE ACCES-Vocational Rehab and recognized Bob Bonagura for making a donation to secure school supplies. The backpacks were donated to The INN and New Ground.  
 
Diana announced the August service project is a collection drive to support Ethical Friends of Children, a recipient of a Rotary District Grant. Children's shoes, strollers and car seats are critically needed.
 
Upcoming meetings:
 
August 26: Lunch meeting, 12:15, Mineola’s Davenport Press Restaurant, featuring Ahmed Ahmed, CMSS,CPT, Lotis Fitness Exercise Trainer/Founder and The Garden City News columnist.
 
September 9: Lunch meeting, Davenport Press, 12:15, guest speaker Lydia Wells, Governor, Rotary District 7255 to report.
 
September 23: Lunch meeting, 12:15, Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant, featuring John Borroni, P.E., Superintendent, Garden City Public Works, guest speaker.
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July 22 Pool Party to celebrate 100th Anniversary
 
THIS WEEK AT ROTARY
as published in the Garden City News
by Althea Robinson

"Shifting Gears…Rotary Holds Pool Party"
 
Shifting gears this week, Mineola-Garden City Rotary diverted from its traditional lunch and occasional breakfast meetings, to a fun filled pool party at past president and ADG Diane Marmann’s home and elegant pool venue.  22 club members and guests enjoyed a fellowship dinner hosted by the Marmanns, plus culinary delights provided by Rotarians and guests. The highlight: a welcoming back to Chuck Pacifico (AKA, “Mr. Rotary”), the Club’s longest member who enthralled Rotarians and guests with decades of Rotary memories which he said were everything to him and had guided his life. 
 
[Photo caption:  Chuck Pacifico (AKA “Mr. Rotary”) enthralls Rotarians and
guests with his account of decades of Rotary memories.]
 
Upcoming Speakers:
 
[To reserve for luncheon meetings for $40/pp, please email:
mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com.]
 
 
August 12: Lunch meeting, 12:15, Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant featuring Monica Kiely, a founder of “Say No to the Casino” group to report on current status.
 
August 26: Lunch meeting, , 12:15, Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant, featuring Ahmed Ahmed, Lotis Fitness Exercise Trainer/Founder and The Garden City News columnist.
 
September 9: Lunch meeting, 12:15, guest speaker Lydia Wells, Governor, Rotary District 7255 to report.
 
September 23: Lunch meeting, 12:15, Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant, featuring John Borroni, P.E., Superintendent, Garden City Public Works, guest speaker.
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July 8 Rotary breakfast meeting featured Ethical Friends of Children
 
11 of us gathered at the Carle Place Diner to share fellowship, hear plans around celebrating our 100th anniversary and learn more about Ethical Friends of Children, the intended beneficiary of a Rotary District Grant that was just awarded to our club.  The project falls under addressing a humanitarian need--basic needs of children who live in poverty.
 
Jim LoPresti, Director of Ethical Friends of Children, explained that the all-volunteer Ethical Friends of Children is a service project of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island.  It is a Garden City-based nonprofit that operates a free thrift shop for children of families referred by social service agencies and other local family support organizations like St. Vincent de Paul.  Donated items like clothing, cribs, baby items, and strollers are made available free of charge each Wednesday.  Annually, 2500 individuals are served who come from all communities across Long Island.  Jim actually gave a very well-received presentation at one of our Club luncheon meetings at Calogaro's a few years back.  The Long Island Volunteer Center is in the same building as the thrift shop so direct observation of the program's leadership, volunteer staff, and ultimate impact on the people served has been readily demonstrated.  Here is a link to their webpage:  https://ehsli.org/social-action/ethical-friends-of-children/.  The address is 38 Old Country Road, Garden City, New York.
 
Upgrades and supplies for the Ethical Friends of Children free thrift shop (like new lighting, a vacuum, a floor fan, dolly, signage, plastic bags to distribution donations, and school supplies) are planned for the thrift shop, the receiving area for donations, and the sorting/storage area for donations.  Rotarians will be actively involved in soliciting in-kind donations, helping organize the process, as well as volunteering to staff the sorting and distribution of donations.  The upgrades to the physical space would allow for greater organization of the thrift shop and the receiving and sorting areas, enhanced donations management, and facilitated interactions with people who are served.  In the current basement area designated for the donations storage/sorting, there is one ceiling blub lighting up the entire section.  Enhancements to the lighting situation is a critical component to facilitating the sorting process along with ensuring a better work environment for volunteers.  School supplies are in demand at the beginning of each semester and throughout the school year.  These donations represent an investment in the education of children served through the thrift shop and certainly make the difference in their ability to learn, grow and thrive.
 
From their brochure:  "We are staffed entirely by volunteers, and we need your help! Our volunteers sort, organize and store donated clothing in clean, usable condition. We organize and store large items such as cribs, car seats and high chairs. We pick up and deliver large items such as cribs if necessary. This is especially important because it is the only way for the most needy to get these items. Our "store" lets families come to pick out things that they need, at no cost to them. We are open with limited hours, and more helpers and drivers would allow us to have more hours of availability.  Donations accepted include:  Bassinettes, cribs and portable cribs, toddler beds, a play yard or playpen; in short, a safe place for the baby to sleep; New crib mattresses; High chairs; Car seats; Infant carriers; Strollers and carriages; Children’s clothing for boys and girls for all ages and sizes; Towels, sheets, and blankets; Toys and books; Diapers; Baby bottles and formula; and cash donations accepted.  Every penny of cash donations is used to buy items for children."
 
August Service Project
 
In conjunction with the Rotary District Grant approved for logistics support for the Ethical Friends of Children's free Thrift Shop, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club is promoting a collection drive for its August service project.  The Thrift Shop currently needs boys and girls shoes (sizes 3 -12), car seats, and strollers.  Items can be new or gently-used and need to be clean and in good condition.  Donations can be dropped off at "The Shed" storage unit which is adjacent to the parking lot and located behind the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, 38 Old Country Road, Garden City.  Please include the name of the donor and a phone number to make arrangements for a receipt.
 
Featured in photo, from left, Randy Colahan, Diana O'Neill, Jim LoPresti, Meg Norris, and Althea Robinson.
 
Additional announcements to share:
 
Diana announced the July service project will be a NYS DOE ACCES-VR service learning initiative to collect school supplies and create backpacks that will benefit veterans in transitional housing supported by New Ground and families in need supported by The INN.  You can order school supplies through a wish list.  Club members are invited to the program next Tuesday, July 15 from 10 am to Noon at the ACCES-VR office on Stewart Avenue in Garden City.  Many thanks to Althea Robinson and Meg Norris for promoting the project, Bob Bonagura for a monetary donation to purchase supplies, and Jennifer Poupis-Ferrara who donated a backpack and back to school items.  Jennifer and new member Laurie Burke volunteered to join me as helpers at the event.
 
July 22 Pool Party - Peter Marshall thanked Meg Norris for creating the attached invitation to Club members for a 100th anniversary pool party celebration at Diane Marmann's home.  Spouses are encouraged to attend.  Diane will provide burgers and hot dogs and asked members to bring appetizers and desserts.  Her dad, Chuck Pacifico (club member and former DG) will be there too!
 
September Service Week (9/8 - 9/14) Rotary project with Kiwanis - project lead Randy Colahan announced that in partnership with The INN, we will be working toward a collection drive of men's clothing and accessories which are in high demand.  He is working on securing a bin at the Garden City Public Library and Joanne Meyer-Jendras may be able to arrange bins at the Garden City High School.  Peter Marshall recommended getting the Scouts involved.
 
Jim Brady announced we have a new member, Laurie Burke (Randy Colahan's sister).  Laurie already signed up for the July service project.
 
Joanne Meyer-Jendras shared meaningful experiences volunteering with Susan Quigley who collects gently used toys for distribution over the holidays to Bronx-based high school youth with children of their own.  In addition to the toys, they also provide a gift for the mom and diapers wrapped in a blanket.  She thinks this may be a good connection for Ethical Friends of Children.
 
Gary Fishberg said RotaCare recently hosted a very well received tour and sit down with Hofstra University Community Relations Department and the Mayor of Hempstead.  
 
Althea Robinson announced she is securing speakers for the August meetings and following up on a suggestion from Meg Norris to invite Tom Murphy, founder of Edge4Vets.  Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis suggested an update from Monica Kiely about "Say No To The Casino."
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Rotary July Service Project to create backpacks to benefit The INN and New Ground
As part of the calendar of service celebrating our 100th anniversary, the July service project was a back-to-school donation drive in partnership with the Long Island Volunteer Center and the New York State Department of Education’s Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCESS-VR) with the donation drive held through July 15, 2025.  The Project was a NYS DOE ACCES-VR service learning initiative to collect school supplies and create backpacks that will benefit families in transitional housing supported by New Ground and families in need supported by the INN.  Many thanks to Althea Robinson, Meg Norris and Diana O'Neill for promoting the project, Bob Bonagura for a monetary donation to purchase supplies, and Jennifer Poupis-Ferrara who donated a backpack and back to school items.  Jennifer also gave a talk at the presentation about Rotary and then she and member Laurie Burke volunteered as helpers for the kit-building event.
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Rotary's June 24 Scholarship Luncheon featured Garden City Mayor Edward Finneran
At the June 24 luncheon meeting of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club, 32 attendees were rapt with attention thanks to our featured luncheon speaker, recently elected and installed Garden City Mayor Edward Finneran.   Mayor Finneran shared his priorities for the village and while commending the current members of the Board of Trustees, acknowledged that much work lies ahead as the board deliberates the Village’s current issues – St. Paul’s, the ball fields, the many facets of Recreation and Beautification, traffic, and infrastructure. “We pledge to look at all issues deliberately and with common sense in efforts to maintain and improve our terrific Village,” he promised.  He also highly praised the Club for our myriad good works and our recent gifts to both Mineola and Garden City villages to celebrate our 100th anniversary.
 
Club members also cheered on three high school scholarship winners.  Led by Joanne Meyer-Jendras, receiving Rotary’s Maureen Clancy Memorial Scholarship was Garden City High School student Donald (DJ) McDonough and from Mineola High School, Aisha Mendez Rosales. In addition, the Althea Robinson Excellence in Business Education Scholarship, co-sponsored by Rotary and the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, was presented to Garden City High School student Julia Rosenblatt by Althea Robinson and John Milton, Chamber President.
 
Another tender moment occurred when Paula Umreiko of the Brookville-Jericho Lions Club presented a certificate of appreciation to Logan Parker for his logistics efforts to support the Crayon Initiative that we co-sponsor with the Lions with a donation box at the Garden City Public Library.
 
We also inducted new member, Jack Warfield, with ADG and club past president/treasurer Diane Marmann securing his acceptance of the Rotary pledge and sponsor Tina O'Keeffe pinning him.  Jack's expertise is in maritime arbitration so we will be learning about that fascinating field at a future meeting.
 
A special treat was welcoming Ken Caplin of the Prescott-Frontier Rotary Club who presented us with his club pennant and took ours that was taped to the podium!  When asked to share an important Rotary experience, he let us know that as a result of a global grant he wrote, a brain stroke diagnostic high end ultrasound equipment was just installed in a health care facility in Cairo, Egypt.  
 
Some additional meeting announcements to share:
 
July 8 meeting – Althea Robinson said we will be gathering for breakfast at the Carle Place Diner at 8 am.  No speaker is planned as we will use it to decompress from a very active first half of the year and prep for the second half!
 
July 22 Pool Party - Peter Marshall shared invitations created by Meg Norris inviting Club members for a 100th anniversary celebration at Diane Marmann's home.  Diane will provide burgers and hot dogs and asked members to bring appetizers and desserts.  Her dad, Chuck Pacifico (club member and former DG) will be there too!  Some lively discussion ensued about who are the members who have been with the club the longest--we will be checking the archives so we can toast their stick-to-itiveness! 
 
Host Family Urgent Need– On behalf of the District, Diane Marmann announced that the Youth Exchange Committee is urgently seeking host families in Nassau or Suffolk Counties for our inbound youth exchange student. Hosting a Rotary youth exchange student is incredibly rewarding, learning about another culture firsthand, offering a young person an opportunity of a lifetime and developing a strong bond that lasts a lifetime. We must secure the first host family immediately and need to know by July 10 for the student to secure his travel visa. We do not want to turn this student away and deny him this wonderful opportunity. Additional host families can be secured afterwards. Ideally two to three families are preferred, and the length of hosting time depends on how many host families there are.  The Youth Exchange Committee provides ongoing support to both host families and students throughout the year.  Diane shared that her experiences hosting youth were life-changing!
 
Diana O'Neill announced that the June service project was accomplished in collaboration with the Garden City Public Library Tweens & Teens Department which allowed us to each place kindness rocks they created around the base of the Peace Pole recently installed at Mineola Memorial Park.  The July service project will support a NYS DOE ACCES-VR service learning initiative to collect school supplies and create backpacks that will benefit veterans in transitional housing supported by New Ground and families in need supported by The INN.
 
September Service Week project with Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and Optimists - project lead Randy Colahan announced that he has made preliminary contact with The INN and we will be working toward a collection drive to support their renovated distribution center.  Details forthcoming!
 
Jim Brady brought a membership application for prospective new member, Laurie Burke (Randy Colahan's sister), so our ranks are growing!  And he reminded us to keep Club member Ann Paulson in our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery!
 
Scholarship winner, Julia Rosenblatt's mother, Courtney Rutt Rosenblatt, Operations Director, Garden City Public Library, brought a water bottle giveaway with additional branded gifts inside for each attendee.  They were created for their summer launch event which attracted over 750 attendees.  It was a great way to remind us to stay hydrated this summer!
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Rotary commemorated 100th anniversary with Peace Pole to Mineola on June 10
On behalf of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club, 16 of us gathered for a truly wonderful Peace Pole dedication yesterday at Mineola Memorial Park in celebration of our 100th anniversary.  Special acknowledgment goes to Althea Robinson for her expert coordination among all parties to make it happen, including engaging Mineola Village leadership, particularly Mayor Paul Pereira. His remarks were so poignant explaining the importance of Memorial Park's tribute to fallen heroes and the need now to promote peace in our hearts and minds during such troubling times.  He paid tribute to our motto "Service Above Self" as indicative of our mission and culture that singularly embodies peace. The kindness rocks from the Garden City Public Library Tweens & Teens Department were a lovely touch so that each of us could choose one to place at the pole's base. Plus Rotary Peace Ambassador Kevin Mann's peace prayer was such a memorable closing to the festivities when we collectively exhorted the refrain "May Peace Prevail on Earth." Many thanks to James Brady, Randy Colahan, Katherine Ferrara, Gary Fishberg, Diane Marmann, Peter Marshall, Joanne Meyer-Jendras, Diana O'Neill, Meg Norris, and Althea Robinson who were on hand to commemorate our 100th anniversary gift to the Village of Mineola. Althea said "it was EPIC!" For more information: https://rotarypeacepoles.world/
 
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Borrowed from "THIS WEEK AT ROTARY"
by Althea Robinson
as published in The Garden City News
 
 
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Mineola-Garden City Rotary will present to the Village of Mineola a “Peace Pole” to be installed at Mineola’s Memorial Park on Tuesday, July 10, 3pm, at 195 Marcellus Road, Mineola (corner of Jackson Street, across from Chaminade High School).  All are invited to attend this special ceremony.

As its gift to the Village of Garden City, Rotary had presented a 10-foot Linden tree on
Arbor Day, April 25 on the grounds of the Garden City library with much fanfare. The Village of Mineola had chosen a Peace Pole as Rotary’s 100th anniversary dedication gift to its Village. 
 
A Peace Pole monument is inscribed with the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight languages chosen by various Rotary clubs. The year 2025 serves as the Peace Pole project’s 50th anniversary with 200,000 Peace Poles planted in various locations in 190 countries around the world. 
 
Mineola-Garden City’s presentation ceremony on June 10 will be attended by Club leadership and members, with Rotary’s 7255 District Governor Beverly James and Rotary’s Peace Ambassador, Kevin Mann, along with Mineola leadership representatives who will graciously host the ceremony.
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Rotary and Garden City Chamber of Commerce award scholarship to Julia Rosenblatt at June 24 Luncheon
From "THIS WEEK AT ROTARY"
by Althea Robinson
as published in The Garden City News
 
The Garden City Chamber of Commerce and Mineola-Garden City Rotary, co-sponsors, have announced that Julia Rosenblatt, a graduating senior at Garden City High School has been awarded the “Althea Robinson Excellence in Business Education Scholarship.”  Selected by the Garden City High School Business Education Department, Julia is the student judged by her business teachers to best excel in the area of business and to exemplify the spirit of the Garden City Business Community. 
 

Having earned high praises by her business teachers, they are  quick to acknowledge Julia’s remarkable strides in six business courses throughout her years at Garden City High School.  They note that she has achieved a 100% in business courses, 98% in courses overall and has obtained a GPA 4.0 unweighted.  Julia’s business courses have included College Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Fashion Marketing, College Business Management, Business Management and College Accounting.

Julia has been a member of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) since her freshman year when she was the only girl student.  Having taken on many leadership roles and encouraging girls to become members of FBLA, she currently serves as president. Once the only female member, Julia takes pride in having sent an all-girls team to the FBLA Spring District Meeting this past January.

Julia has also participated in an introductory investment and finance class through the Teach Me Wall Street organization where she analyzed stock charts and learned to manage a financial portfolio. This, she says, gave her a taste of the finance world and increased her interest in pursuing a career in banking.

Along with her student partner, Julia participated in the Emerging Leader Competition held at St. Joseph’s University last December where they were tasked with reviving the Yes We Can community center, and providing a plan for its long-term stability.  Julia and her partner won first place overall in the finance category.

As Social Chair on the Math Team, Julia managed member recruitment, participated in in county-wide monthly competitions and ran the team Instagram page.  She had also received Garden City High School Faculty-Nominated Awards in Chemistry, World History, Math, English and Spanish.  She served as president of the Economics Club leading the team in Fed & Euro Challenges and was active in research preparation.  She was vice president and founding member of Junior State of America which promotes civic awareness through community service projects.

With her multitude of accomplishments, Julia has still found time to tutor peers, act as Park Attendant and Tennis Camp Instructor, serves as Long Island Science Museum classroom assistant and as teachers assistant for SCOPE Education Services.  She participated in the Softball Team’s 2024 Conference Championships and was varsity caption of the Tennis Team.

Julia will attend Yale University in the fall where she plans to study mathematics and economics.  She assures, “whether I am an actuary or investment banker, I know mathematics and numbers will be a part of my future career.”

Julia Rosenblatt will be the 33nd recipient of the business scholarship, in Althea Robinson’s name since 2012 as requested by the Garden City High School Business Department.

At a special luncheon, hosted by Mineola-Garden City Rotary on June 24, Julia will receive her award co-sponsored by Rotary and the Garden City Chamber of Commerce. She will join Rotary’s student honorees from Garden City and Mineola High Schools who will receive Rotary’s “Maureen Clancy Memorial Scholarship.”

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May 27 Meeting featured American Legion Auxiliary President Jackie Eltringham
 
 
Borrowed from "THIS WEEK AT ROTARY"
by Althea Robinson
as published in The Garden City News
 
On Tuesday, May 27, 12:15, at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant, on the day following Memorial Day 2025, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary was delighted to welcome back Jacqueline Burdi Eltringham, president of the William Bradford Turner American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 265 (ALA).  Jacqueline Eltringham (Jackie as she is fondly known), has served as the president of ALA since 2020. Long dedicated to the ALA, Jackie’s mother had served as a past ALA President and her dad, past Legion Commander.  15 of us were treated today to Jackie's very thought-provoking presentation who spoke about ALA program activities but also eloquently delved into the importance of educating our youth about American history, particularly those events that shaped the course of achieving and preserving our freedoms. It was poignant post-Memorial Day messaging that resonated with all of us.

Rotary frequently welcomes Jackie to join Rotarians with a reminder about the myriad services and endeavors the Auxiliary provides in its efforts to assist needy veterans who have been negatively impacted by their heroism in the Armed Forces, along with their families.  While we often refer to Memorial Day as the time to give tribute to those in the Armed Forces who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice, it is also a good time to consider the origins of the branches of our U.S. Military. In a beautiful piece circulated within the community, Jackie has aptly set forth these origins depicting the history of the Military from its beginnings in December of 1636 to the present.

We are also reminded that while the primary purpose of ALA efforts is  toward assistance to veterans, ALA efforts also support innumerable programs which include school awards, Empire State Scholarships, Children and Youth.
 
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Some additional meeting announcements:
 
  • The dedication of the Linden Tree on Arbor Day, April 25, our 100th anniversary gift to the Village of Garden City, at the Garden City Public Library was very well received. Club members attending the ceremony included:  Jim Brady, Anita Frey, Randy Colahan, Lynne Maimone Koszalki, Peter Marshall, Diana O'Neill, Ann Paulson, and Althea Robinson. 
  • The Peace Pole, our 100th anniversary gift to the Village of Mineola, was delivered to Mayor Pereira’s office and installation/dedication is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10 at 3 pm at Mineola Memorial Park, 195 Marcelus Road, Mineola (corner of Jackson Street across from Chaminade High School). Village leadership, District Governor Beverly James and Rotary Peace Ambassador Kevin Mann are confirmed to attend. All club members are invited. We opted out of hosting a breakfast or luncheon meeting with the hopes that members will instead support this event.
  • Treasurer Diane Marmann disseminated 2025/2026 dues notices to all members. Dues are due July 1.
  • The April service project was our scholarship program led by Joanne Meyer-Jendas. Interviews were done via zoom over a two-day period. One was selected from each village. The scholarships will be given out at our luncheon meeting on June 24. The Garden City Village Mayor, Ed Finneran, is scheduled to speak.
  • The May project was the Rotary Day of Service that benefited General Needs with a dignity duffle kit building project in collaboration with several other clubs organized by the Freeport/Merrick Rotary Club on Saturday, May 17. We were assigned 250 bath towels and washcloths. Club members Lynne Maimone Koszalki, Peter Marshall, Meg Norris, Tina O'Keeffe staffed the table.
  • Diane Marmann explained what the Rotary Foundation May Challenge entails and Diana encouraged member donations that promote essential giving to international humanitarian projects that truly save lives, enhance the quality of life of families, and build communities across the globe.  Diane, a true believer, is a monthly donator and Diana recently gave to the polio fund in memory of her father who passed away last fall and suffered from polio as a child.
  • Because our club this year met all district grant requirements making us eligible, Diana O'Neill submitted a $5000.00 district grant request by the May 15 deadline to assist the all-volunteer Ethical Friends of Children, a Garden City-based outreach project of Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, a nonprofit (on the border with Mineola), which operates a free thrift shop for children of families referred by social service agencies and other local family support organizations. Donated items like clothing, cribs, baby items, and strollers are made available free of charge each Wednesday. Annually, 2500 individuals are served who come from all communities across Long Island. Needed upgrades and supplies (like new lighting, a vacuum, a floor fan, dolly, signage, plastic bags to distribution donations, and school supplies) are planned for the thrift shop, the receiving area for donations, and the sorting/storage area for donations. The Ethical Friends of Children Director, Jim LoPresti, gave a very well-received presentation at one of our Club luncheon meetings a few years back and my office (I am the Executive Director of the Long Island Volunteer Center) is in the same building as the thrift shop so direct observation of the program's leadership, volunteer staff, and ultimate impact on the people served has been readily demonstrated. The upgrades to the physical space would allow for greater organization of the thrift shop and the receiving and sorting areas, enhanced donations management, and facilitated interactions with people who are served.
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Appreciation for RYLA donation and Diane Marmann - volunteer extraordinaire
 
The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club helped underwrite the Spring RYLA conference for Rotary District 7255 held April 2-4, 2025 at the Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp in Riverhead, NY.  Here is an acknowledgment of that with praise for our Treasurer Diane Marmann (also a past president and current Assistant District Governor) who is the master cook for the entire weekend.  
 
RYLA District 7255 is one of the many RYLA or Rotary Youth Leadership Association factions throughout the world. What sets us apart from most other RYLA programs is that RYLA District 7255 is completely student run and operated. RYLA, through a large scope, is a program for youth of high school age that aids in leadership and character development and focuses to foster fundamental growth among the world's youth in order to create better leaders for tomorrow. 
 
RYLA District 7255 is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to cultivate a community of aspiring young leaders across Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens with a commitment to service.  Our district's RYLA aims to explore and expand the leadership potential of the students all across Long Island, Queens, and Brooklyn. We strive to instill lessons of leadership through our week-long and weekend retreats.
 
Through teamwork, our students learn about the importance of working with others. Through interpersonal, development we provide our students access to resources that allow them to step out of their comfort zones. Our trainings provide students with transferable skills that can aid them in their pursuit of employment or higher education. Most importantly, we are proud to work with such bright, and talented students who are the true leaders of tomorrow!
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Epic Day of Service held May 17 to benefit homeless veterans with dignity duffles
"Every veteran deserves more than just our gratitude; they deserve the assurance of a life without hardship. Supporting their essential needs is the least we can do to demonstrate our thanks for their service."  This project is a multi-club effort led by Freeport-Merrick which benefits General Needs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving veterans.  The quote is from their website.  The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club was responsible for securing new bath towels and washcloths and then staffed a table with those items for a kit-building event held May 17 to create 240+ duffle bags that will be distributed free of charge to homeless veterans and veterans in transition housing.  We shared this responsibility with the Floral Park-Bellerose Rotary Club.  Other items that are included in the duffle bags include:  underwear, t-shirts, socks, and toiletries which will be secured by General Needs, Rotary Clubs of Freeport-Merrick, Southern Queens, South Queens, and Hempstead-Uniondale and Ridgewood Savings Bank.  Mineola-Garden City Club President Diana O'Neill shared:  My husband and I have recently participated in a distribution event organized by General Needs for male and female veterans temporarily housed on the grounds of a VA Hospital and the experience was both memorable and life changing.  Being invited to the human condition touches the very depths of what drives genuine compassionate care."  Rotary Club members who volunteered for the kit building event included: Lynne Maimone Koszalka, Peter Marshall, Meg Norris, and Tina O'Keeffe.  Click on the link below for a link to a Long Island Herald article about  the project. 
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May 13 luncheon meeting featured New York Racing Association's Robert Hines
New Belmont Park Underway
NYRA Rep to Report on May 13
 
Borrowed from "THIS WEEK AT ROTARY" by Althea Robinson
as published in The Garden City News
 
On Tuesday, 12:15 at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant, Mineola Garden City Rotary hosted as guest speaker, Robert Hines, New York Racing Association’s Manger of Community Affairs. Robert reported on the current status of Belmont Park in operation since 1905 and the home of the Belmont Stakes. For many years, the Village of Garden City and the Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with NYRA representatives, hosted a major festival on Seventh Street just prior to the Belmont Stakes and while the race will be held in Saratoga this year due to Belmont Park’s construction, a plan is in motion to continue the Belmont Festival – stay tuned! It is also interesting to note that the first organized horse racing in America dating back to 1665, was the New Market Course on the Hempstead Plains alleged to be in the northwest corner of Garden City in the central section. It has often been noted that ‘horse racing started in Garden City.” A graduate of Columbia University, Robert Hines has spent the majority of his  professional life in the sports and entertainment industry including roles with the New York Mets and Major League Soccer. 
 
Other Announcements:
 
During National Volunteer Week, Althea Robinson and Randy Colahan tabled on our behalf at the April 23 Long Island Volunteer Center volunteer fair at the Garden City Public Library which attracted 21 tablers and over 100 attendees.  Diana O'Neill organized the event and brought copies of the volunteer fair directory for members to share with family members or friends looking for a good fit.  Meg Norris promoted it with full page ads in the Garden City News.  
 
In honor of Arbor Day on April 25, club members gathered to gift a Linden Tree to the Village of Garden City on the grounds of the Garden City Public Library as part of our 100th Anniversary celebration. News12 covered the event and interviewed club leaders Diana O'Neill and Althea Robinson as well as the Village Mayor Ed Finneran and Village Arborist Joseph Umana.  Thank you Althea for coordinating this amazing initiative and much appreciation to James Brady, Randy Colahan, Anita Frey, Lynne Maimone Koszalki, Peter Marshall, and Ann Paulson for cheering us on!
 
Diane Marmann represented us at the District Conference in CT from April 25-27 and was a panel presenter about our Rotary Day of Service project in 2024, a native planting initiative at the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island's Celebration Garden supported by club members Anita Frey, Meg Norris, Tina O'Keeffe, Ann Paulson, and Althea Robinson.  Diane announced next year's District Conference will be in Nashville.
 
Two guests from Central Nassau Rotary Club to today's luncheon meeting, Rony Kessler and Margaret Thomas, announced their fundraiser event on May 15 at Plattduetsche Park in Franklin Square to benefit The INN.  They invited our club to consider co-producing a journal for next year's fundraiser.  
 
Many thanks to Anita Frey, Peter Marshall, Lynne Maimone Koszalka, Meg Norris, and Tina O'Keeffe who volunteered to staff our kit building table filled with bath towels and wash cloths purchased by Diana O'Neill that will benefit the General Needs dignity bags for homeless veterans organized by the Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club for the May 17 Rotary Day of Service.  Randy secured a tablecloth with our logo for the event.  T-shirts were ordered for the volunteers.
 
The Salvation Army invited club members to the May 21 benefit concert at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. Tickets are $25.00 each.  Diana O'Neill has tickets if anyone is interested.
 
The next club luncheon meeting will be on May 27 at the Davenport Press at 12:15 pm.  Our featured speaker is Jacqueline Eltringham, American Legion Auxiliary President.  We will also be inducting a new member who filled out his application  provided by James Brady immediately after today's meeting--a hearty welcome to Jack Warfield.
 
Instead of our regular meeting, all members are invited to the Peace Pole installation on June 10 at 3 pm at Mineola Memorial Park (corner of Jackson and Marcellus).  The Mineola Mayor, Paul Pereira, Rotary District Governor Beverly James, and Rotary Peace Ambassador Kevin Mann will be on hand for the dedication.  We are grateful to Diane Marmann for the idea and to Althea Robinson who worked very hard behind the scenes to execute this 100th anniversary gift to the Village of Mineola.
 
Diane Marmann announced the installation dinner for incoming District Governor Lydia Wells on June 18 at The Vineyards in Aquebogue.  We will be taking a journal ad which Meg Norris will create to congratulate (and thank) her on taking on the reins of this high caliber leadership position.  
 
The scholarship committee led by Joanne Meyer-Jendras met last month and selected the winners for the graduating students from Mineola and Garden City High Schools.  The students will receive their scholarships at the June 24 luncheon meeting.  Many thanks to Diane Marmann, Meg Norris, and Diana O'Neill who participated with Joanne on the review panel.
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Rotary celebrated Arbor Day with donated commemorative Linden tree on April 25
Borrowed from "THIS WEEK AT ROTARY"
as published in The Garden City News by Althea Robinson
 
Rotary Celebrates Garden City Arbor Day 2025
With Commemorative 100th Anniversary Tree Donation
 
On Friday, April 25, at 2pm on the grounds of the Garden City Public Library, the
Village of Garden City celebrated Arbor Day 2025 with the planting of a Linden Tree donated by the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club. Rotarians are particularly thrilled about the Arbor Day tree planting of a Linden tree this year because the tree is a donation to the Village in commemoration of the Club’s 100th anniversary.
 
For the 33rd year, Garden City recently earned recognition as “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation which acknowledged the Village for its commitment to the planting, growing and maintenance of trees. The Village continually promotes the importance of trees to the environment and their benefit to our Garden City community. Village Arborist Joe Umana told Rotary representatives that 100 trees would be delivered to the Village this week to be put in the ground for growing this this spring and that the spring-summer planting season in Garden City is “good to go!”
 
The Arbor Day ceremony took place on the west side of the library between two
benches near the library parking lot. Once grown, the Linden tree will provide much
appreciated shade while providing beautiful yellow flowers in the fall – complimenting Rotary’s colors of yellow and blue!
 
On hand were Village trustees, Andy Hill, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation and Parks and Arborist Joe Umana along with Rotarians as Garden City celebrates both Arbor Day and Mineola-Garden City Rotary’s 100 th Anniversary. Rotary extends sincere thanks to arborist Joe Umana for working with Rotarians on the selection of the Linden tree, the planting location and the planning over many months for Arbor Day 2025.
 
[Photo caption:  In center, Rotary Club Public Image Chair Althea Robinson is flanked by members of the Garden City Recreation Department who were instrumental in the planting of the Linden Tree and Village Mayor and Trustees who supported the project.]
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Rotary celebrated National Volunteer Week at the April 23 Volunteer Fair
 
The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club was one of 21 nonprofit organizations that staffed tables at the Volunteer Fair sponsored by the Long Island Volunteer Fair in collaboration with the Garden City Public Library and was so pleased with the outpouring of interest and support from members of the community!  It was heartwarming to see the enthusiasm of all ages coming to find ways to give back--what a perfect theme, National Volunteer Week, and a perfect venue, the local Library, to help others find a good fit to build community. 
 
From the volunteer fair directory:  
Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club
website: mineolagardencityrotaryclub.com
Minimum age to volunteer:  There are different options for joining Rotary depending on age and interests. Rotary Clubs are typically for adults in their professional lives, while Rotaract is for young professionals (18+), Interact is for students aged 12-18 and Rotary Youth Leadership Association is for high school sophomores, juniors, & seniors.
Mission: We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
Volunteer opportunities: Rotary focuses on providing practical help and support to those in need through collection drives for food, clothing, toiletries, dignity/comfort kits, books, and cleaning supplies/household goods; need assistance with administrative needs around website and social media; and need help with fundraising (solicit raffle donations, secure sponsorships and journal ads, logistics at events)
 
[Photo:  Club members Althea Robinson and Randy Colahan shared their Rotary experiences to recruit volunteers to expand programming.]
 
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US Congresswoman Laura Gillen featured speaker at April 22 luncheon meeting
 
Meeting recap notes from Club President Diana O'Neill as posted on social media:   
 
On behalf of Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club, I am ecstatic to report that 23 attendees were treated to a wonderful presentation by US Congresswoman Laura Gillen who shared her priorities and personal outlook for her first congressional term with a marked enthusiasm that was both uplifting and hopeful. We were all struck by her genuine desire to "reach across the aisle" to get work done. She noted she has completely immersed herself in committee and subcommittee assignments which she personally selected since so practical for her constituency--Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Highways Committee, and Subcommittees for Transit, Aviation, Water Resources and Environment, and Science, Space and Technology. She graciously went around the room to say hello to all attendees before she spoke and, with conviction, fielded questions after her talk. We were also so honored that the recently inaugurated Village of Garden City Mayor Ed Finneran attended the luncheon (at Gary Fishberg's invitation) and even participated with a humorous Happy Buck offering. All in all, a memory marker for us thanks to the leadership of our own Althea Robinson!   Please see article below for more details about Congresswoman Gillen.
 
As published in the Garden City News by columnist Althea Robinson: 
 
Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club was honored to host U.S. Congresswoman Laura Gillen as guest speaker at its lunch meeting on Tuesday April 22, 12:15 at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant.  Rotary had hosted Congresswoman Gillen when she had served as Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead in 2017, and we were thrilled to welcome her back to report as she serves her first term in Congress representing the people of New York’s Fourth Congressional District which includes Nassau County’s South Shore.

In Congress, Rep. Gillen serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee which she is expected to address in addition to major efforts to bring costs down.  She also sits on Highways and Transit, Subcommittees on Aviation, on Water Resources and Environment plus the House Science, Space and Technology Committees.  
 
In 2017, Congresswoman Gillen had become the first Democrat to be elected in 112 years. At that time, Congresswoman Gillen took aim at waste and corruption and made the Town government more accessible to taxpayers. As Supervisor, Congresswoman Gillen had led efforts to revitalize the Town’s infrastructure, brought taxes down for residents, took on special interests to recover damages for contaminants in the public water supply and passed critical legislation relating to sexual harassment and veterans’ benefits.

Educationally, Congresswoman Gillen had graduated from Sacred heart Academy and
was a George Baker Scholar at Georgetown University which impacted the direction of her life with its lessons of leadership and community service. She had volunteered on the front lines of the AIDS crisis and in Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying in Kolkata. Upon returning home Congresswoman Gillen attended law school at Georgetown Law
Center and NYU School of Law, later working as a litigator with Cahill Gordon & Reidel, LLP where she represented victims of domestic violence. She later joined the Westerman firm in Nassau County. Congresswoman Laura Gillen is a Baldwin native and lives with her family in Rockville Centre.
 
[Photo from left to right:  Club member Randy Colahan, Village of Garden City Mayor Ed Finneran, The Honorable Laura Gillen, Club President Diana O'Neill, Club Vice President Meg Norris, Club member Gary Fishberg, and Club Public Image Chair Althea Robinson.]
 
Other meeting announcements:
 
James Brady and Gary Fishberg said the RotaCare Caregiver's Ball on April 10 was a resounding success--metrics to be shared soon! 
 
Members of the Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club, DeRosette Harrison, and Kerry Gillick-Goldberg, who attended the luncheon expressed their gratitude to our Club for support of their May 17 Day of Service that will benefit General Needs with dignity duffle bags for homeless veterans. Meg Norris, Peter Marshall, Tina O'Keeffe, Lynne Maimone Koszalka, Ann Paulson, and Anita Frey have volunteered to staff our kit building table filled with bath towels and wash cloths. 
 
Randy Colahan and Meg Norris will assist Althea at the Volunteer Fair which our club is tabling at the Garden City Public Library from 5:00 to 7 pm on April 23. Everyone is welcome "to find a good fit" for any extra time you can squeeze out of your day! Meg was sincerely acknowledged for her full page ads and articles promoting the volunteer fair!  
 
Please make every effort to attend the Arbor Day celebration of our donated Linden Tree at the Garden City Public Library this Friday at 2:00 pm. This gift to the Village of Garden City is in honor of our 100th anniversary and as the quote goes: "Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." Kudos to Althea for her vision, research and execution of this amazing initiative!
 
 
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Recap of April 8 speaker, Kevin Mann, and important save the date announcements
Breaking news!  The Peace Pole has been received at the Mineola Village Offices and the installation is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10 at 3 pm at Mineola Memorial Park, Marcellus and Jackson Streets.  The Peace Pole will be dedicated by District Governor Beverly James and Peace Pole coordinator Kevin Mann along with Club members.  Stay tuned for more details.
 
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10 of us gathered on April 8 at the Carle Place Diner and were treated to a thoughtful and heartfelt presentation by Kevin Mann, Rotary's Peace Ambassador for Rotary District 7255.  Kevin, a 3-term president of the Rocky Point Rotary Club shared photos and examples of Peace Poles as monuments that display the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”  The Peace Pole to be donated by our Club to the Village of Mineola later in the Spring will carry that message in English along with 8 additional languages of the world and is referred to as an affirmation of peace intended to inspire unity among people of all cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds. Rotary District 7255 will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Peace Poles with an island-wide celebration on November 22, 2025. To check out a map of Rotary peace poles on Long Island and for more information, please visit rotarypeacepoles.world.  For more information about Peace Poles, contact Kevin Mann at 631-470-6351 or email kevinmannmail@gmail.com.
 
Diane Marmann spent the weekend at RYLA and thanked our Club for the donation which will help sustain essential work promoting youth especially the upcoming full week program which runs July 12-19.  She is seeking youth nominations.  Here is a link for more information:  https://www.ryladistrict7255.com/.
 
This past Saturday, Althea, Tina and I attended Rotary District 7255 training events around Club management for secretaries and treasurers, membership, public image, and Rotary foundation.  The training was thorough and professional plus it was so helpful to each of us to learn the ins and outs of our leadership positions!  Things are starting to click for me!
 
May peace prevail on earth,
Diana
 
Diana O'Neill
President 2024-2025
Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club
P.O. Box 42
Garden City, NY  11530
 
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Important Announcements:
 
1.  Join Rotary on Tuesday, April 22, 12:15 for its lunch meeting at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant featuring Congresswoman Laura Gillen, former Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead. Congresswoman Gillen is serving her first term as Congresswoman on the House of Representatives where she serves the people of New York State’s Fourth District. Congresswoman Gillen currently serves on the House of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; she sits on sub committees of Highways, Transit, Aviation, on Water Resources and Environment plus the House of Science, Space and Technology. To reserve and enjoy a great lunch of choice in Davenport’s private dining room (fee: $40 payable at the door), email  mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com.
 
2.  Jim Brady announced that RotaCare Caregiver's Ball is Thursday, April 10, at The New Hyde Park Inn at 6:30 pm.  It's not too late to join in the festivities and support our Club's signature project.  While the journal deadline has passed, many thanks to Meg Norris who created a full page congratulatory ad from our Club.  Here is a link for more information:   https://give.rotacareny.org/event/2025-caregivers-ball/e665328.  Our Club's March service project was to support securing and creating raffle baskets for the Caregiver's Ball and a raffle wrap party was hosted by Joanne Meyer-Jendras which yielded a wide array of offerings.  Many thanks to Elena Collahan, Diane Marmann, Ann Paulson, Jennifer Poupis Ferrara, Tina O'Keeffe, Diana O'Neill, and Althea Robinson who volunteered to lend a hand.  
 
3.  Althea Robinson's expertise as Club Public Image extraordinaire has garnered a very special Rotary gathering on Tuesday, April 22, 12:15 for its lunch meeting at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant featuring United States Congresswoman Laura Gillen, former Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead. Congresswoman Gillen is serving her first term at the House of Representatives where she serves the people of New York State’s Fourth District. Congresswoman Gillen currently serves on the House of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; she sits on sub committees of Highways, Transit, Aviation, on Water Resources and Environment plus the House of Science, Space and Technology. To reserve and enjoy a great lunch of choice in Davenport’s private dining room (fee: $40 payable at the door), email mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com.
 
4.  Thanks to Meg Norris, the Garden City News has been publicizing the Long Island Volunteer Center's Volunteer Fair at the Garden City Public Library on Wednesday, April 23 from 5:30 to 7 pm.  Service projects around the Crayon Initiative and Kindness Cards will be conducted.  Much appreciation to Jennifer Ferrara Poupis for bringing a bag full of used crayons to today's breakfast to donate.  18 tablers, including our Club, are already confirmed.  What a perfect theme, National Volunteer Week, and a perfect venue, the Garden City Public Library to help others find a good fit to give back and build community.  Any questions, please call 516-564-5482 or email info@longislandvolunteercenter.org.
 
5.  Also, as Althea has reported, Garden City has once again earned the designation as “Tree City USA” and Rotary will gift to the Village an 8 ft. Linden tree to be planted at the Village Arbor Day celebration this April 25 on property just west of the Garden City Public Library. Historically, for several decades, a new tree has been planted on Village property in celebration of Arbor Day. Given Garden City’s longtime commitment to the planting, care and celebration of trees, Mineola-Garden City Rotary looks forward to having our 100th anniversary commemorative tree celebrated on Arbor Day 2025. Rotary thanks Village arborist Joe Umana for working with Rotary on the tree selection and placement coordination in conjunction with the Board and staff of the library.  
 
6.  Our April service project centers on the Club's scholarship program for graduating students from Mineola and Garden City high schools--stay tuned for more information from Joanne Meyer-Jendras.
 
7.  Our May service project is a collaborative effort with several clubs led by Freeport-Merrick.  We will gather at the Freeport High School Cafeteria on Saturday, May 17, from 9:30 am to Noon to create duffle bag/comfort kits for  veterans served by General Needs.  Our Club has been assigned bath towels and washcloths.   Tables will be set up for each item that is inserted into the duffle bags.  Banners are recommended behind the table to represent each club.  There will be refreshments and a DJ and lots of politicos.  Media will be invited.  Promises to be a fun volunteer activity!  I'll be posting the event on the Day of Service platform.  Peter Marshall is taking the lead on volunteer recruitment.
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RotaCare Caregiver's Ball held April 10 at New Hyde Park Inn
Founded in 1992 by members of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club, RotaCare was created to serve the needs of the uninsured on Long Island.  The mission of RotaCare is to facilitate free health care for the relief of pain and suffering to those who have the most need and the least access to medical care.   For more information about program mission, hours of operation, how to volunteer, plus other details, access https://www.rotacareny.org/.
 
The Caregiver's Ball is an annual signature event celebrating RotaCare supporters, volunteers and corporate donors.   If you could not attend the Ball you can still support its essential work to sustain programming:  https://give.rotacareny.org/event/2025-caregivers-ball/e665328.
 
Exceptional honorees this year were:
 

Francis Faustino, MD,MBA,FAAFP
Chairman, Department of Family Medicine, NYU Langone

Tom Crowley, CPCU, CRM, CIC
Partner, EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants
Immediate Past District Governor, Rotary District 7255 (GEO Long Island)

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THIS WEEK AT ROTARY published in the Garden City News
by Althea Robinson

Reserve Now for
RotaCare’s Annual Caregiver’s Ball
 
Founded in 1992 by the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club, our Club continues to regard RotaCare as its signature project and is a major supporter of this essential service which provides free healthcare for the uninsured and people in need.  This April, RotaCare cordially invites you to attend and join Rotary in support of its annual Caregiver’s Ball to be held on Thursday evening, April 10 at the elegant Inn at New Hyde Park. (Cocktails at 6:30pm, dinner at 730pm.) As in past years, this gala event promises to be a most memorable evening with many luminaries in attendance. A highlight will be the recognition of Dr. Francis Faustino, chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at NHYU Langone, along with Tom Crowley, the eminent immediate past district governor of Rotary District 7255 who also plans to acknowledge Mineola Garden City Rotary upon its 100 th anniversary this year. These remarkable gentlemen will be RotaCare’s honored recipients of its 2025 Community Achievement Award. RotaCare was born through the collaborative efforts of Rotary, local care professionals, area residents and an initial grant from the Grumman Corporation. A “MASH” team had been formed to operate weekly at the Mary Brennan INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) in Hempstead. As RotaCare evolved, more space was needed and in 2009, RotaCare had moved to the Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale where a staff of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, clerical staff and translators volunteered and continue to give selflessly to help uninsured individuals and families receive access to vital health care services. For integral involvement and benefit to the community, RotaCare incorporated as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. In 2022, R0taCare was able to lease a new 2,500 sq. facility in Hempstead which houses modern equipment, specialized on-site testing, all the space and everything needed for 40 volunteers to provide needed excellent care to those in need.  Please join Mineola-Garden City Rotary in support of RotaCare’s gala Caregivers Ball on April 10. Reserve now! Registration, Journal Ads and Raffle prizes can be purchased by visiting:
www.rotacareny.org. Questions: RotaCare.Events@gmail.com.
 
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Below is a letter sent to Club members on March 13:
 
We are thrilled to share some wonderful news—Tom Crowley, immediate past District Governor, and active member of the Hampton Bays Rotary Club, is being honored by RotaCare for his unwavering commitment to service and his dedication to making healthcare accessible for those in need. His heartfelt letter acknowledging this honor is attached.  This is an incredible recognition of the values we, as Rotarians, hold dear--service above self, compassion, and community impact.
 
RotaCare’s mission, “to relieve pain and suffering of those in need” aligns seamlessly with Rotary’s core values. Every day, RotaCare provides life-saving medical care to individuals who have nowhere else to turn. But RotaCare can’t do it alone.
 
As you know, RotaCare is a signature project of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club having been founded and generously supported by Club members over the past 33 years.  While researching the origin story of its creation, it was learned:
 
From Jim Brady*: “RotaCare continues to help people who fall through the cracks—a true stop-gap for the uninsured.  It helps ease the burden on area hospitals which also means less burden on taxpayers.  Back in the early days, I personally mopped the floor at The INN’s soup kitchen on Front Street in Hempstead, when right after lunch, the storefront was converted into a pop-up mash unit with exam tables and portable privacy screens.  Rain or shine, the patients would line up outside and were given a numbered ticket.  We did this on Mondays, after our Club meeting at Edmund’s Showcase.  It was an all-volunteer effort, then and now.”
 
From Gary Fishberg*:  “A doctor from Santa Clara, CA contacted Long Island leaders at the American Heart Association and at Rotary and then came here to introduce the RotaCare model to us.  Early partnerships were formed at The INN, Nursing Sisters of the Sick Poor, Sisters from Mercy Hospital, and local doctors who over the years provided Medical Director services.  Grumman gave us our first grant.  Other money came from high level fundraising and outreach to additional sources for needed space enhancements and equipment.  We’ve operated in a soup kitchen, a school gym locker room, a nursing home, the basement of a church and now in completely renovated, professional, modern, clinical space in a Hempstead office building.  We have joined efforts with NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island Wish Clinic and have occasionally expanded days we are open.  RotaCare is a real source of pride to me.  We have never charged a penny to the thousands of people who have come through our doors.”
 
From Charles Pacifico*:  "My role in the beginning stages was to do the legal work in forming the nonprofit corporation.  Guys like Gary Fishberg and Jim Brady were the hands-on workers.  They deserve a lot of the credit.  The fact that programs like RotaCare and Gift of Life, both organized by Rotary leaders, are still around is something to be extremely proud of, definitely beyond the norm considering the all-volunteer roots."
 
From Althea Robinson:  “It is my great pleasure to write articles that publicize RotaCare events for The Garden City News.  It’s an important story to tell.  The best people are involved—they are a delight to work with.  I look forward to the Caregivers' Ball every year and so glad we have adopted event raffle gifts as our March service project to celebrate our Club’s centennial anniversary.”
 
From Helmut Schuler:  “Maureen Clancy recruited me to Rotary and I was immediately drawn  to RotaCare’s mission especially helping neighbors in need—charity right here at home.  My good friend, Martin Lord and I volunteered to bring patients up from the lobby to the fourth floor clinic at A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility when it was located there.  The individuals were so nice, so humble and so grateful—they made us feel good inside.  It was a joy, not a job.”
 
From Ray Sikorski*:  “I've always been impressed by the caliber of people associated with RotaCare--from the board, to clinical staff, to volunteers and to myriad supporters.  The people served, a soft spot in my heart, makes me want to find ways to ensure its sustainability for another 33 years.  What an honor to provide printing services for special events to help spread the word.  AND as a Rotarian, I couldn't be happier that service above self is mission imperative."
 
To celebrate Tom and support this vital work, we are asking for your help. This is a moment for us to come together for one of our own and support a cause that truly embodies the spirit of service. We hope you’ll join us in making this a special night for Tom and an impactful evening for RotaCare. 
 
You can contribute in one of the following ways:
 
Attend the event – Join us by purchasing a ticket and being part of this special evening!
Place a journal ad – Acknowledge Tom’s contributions and show your Rotary pride in a journal ad!
Purchase a raffle ticket – Can’t attend, this is a win-win way to contribute!
[For more details access:   https://www.rotacareny.org/events/2025caregiversball.]
 
Thank you for all that you do as a treasured member of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club,
 
Diana O’Neill             Meg Norris*                Diane Marmann*      Joanne Meyer-Jendras*           
President                   Vice President            Treasurer/ADD          Scholarship/Service Projects
 
*Past President
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Shannon Boyle, New Ground, featured presenter at March 25 luncheon meeting
 
At today's Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club luncheon meeting, 9 members were treated to an exciting programming update from New Ground's Executive Director Shannon Boyle which resulted in our 100th anniversary calendar of service expanded to include creating school supply backpacks for families of veterans they serve moving into affordable housing units in Patchogue this summer. Rounding out our discussions today were announcements about the upcoming RotaCare April 10 Caregiver's Ball, our anniversary gifts to Mineola (Peace Pole) and Garden City (Linden tree), and upcoming high level speakers. We also heard feedback from the Mineola Chamber of Commerce meeting last week which allowed us to thank them for support of our December 18 dinner as well as a recap of Rotary leadership training this past weekend to help perfect our methods and processes. As one member exclaimed, "we are in a good place."
 
[Pictured at the March 25 lunch meeting, from left, are Diana O'Neill, Club president; Shannon Boyle, New Ground's guest speaker; Althea Robinson, publicity chair and Randy Colahan, 2024 Rotary Community Service Award recipient and board member of the Garden City Public Library, site of Rotary's tree donation to the Village in commemoration of its 100th anniversary.  The planting will take place on Arbor Day, April 25.]
 
 
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THIS WEEK AT ROTARY published in the Garden City News
by Althea Robinson
 
Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness on LI
Topic of New Ground’s Exec. Director
 
Last Tuesday, March 25, Shannon Boyle, LCSW, Executive Director of the New Ground
organization, returned to report to our Club on New Ground’s most current developments in the organization’s mission to provide social work and educational services that work with families and veterans to break the cycle of homelessness on Long Island.  It has been a thrill for Mineola-Garden City to often hear from Shannon Boyle of the incredible evolvement of New Ground’s efforts and successes throughout the course of development since its founding in 1991.
 
We were happy, last Tuesday, to hear Shannon enthusiastically describe Grove, the new
affordable housing facility which will open this June in Patchogue and provide for families of various income levels. At the helm of all programs and services at New Ground since 2013, Shannon shared hers and the New Ground Staff’s excitement at the opening of Grove, the ongoing expansion of New Ground and the opportunity to further carry out its mission to break the cycle of homelessness on Long Island.
 
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THIS WEEK AT ROTARY published in the Garden City News
by Althea Robinson
 
New Ground’s Shannon Boyle, LCSW, To Speak
 
Next Tuesday, March 25, 12:15 at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant, Mineola-Garden City Rotary will be so pleased to welcome back Shannon Boyle, LCSW, Executive Director of New Ground, the charitable organization that provides social work and educational services that work with families and veterans to help break the cycle of homelessness on Long Island.
 
Shannon, who holds her MSW from Boston College has returned to Rotary several times over the years to report the current efforts and achievements of New Ground throughout the years since its founding in 1991.  Rotary supports New Ground having held a successful food drive to help fulfill one of its current needs.  New Ground maintains that the key to break the cycle of homelessness is not only to provide short-time assistance to homeless families and veterans, but also to work at eliminating its root causes so those individuals can become and remain self-supporting. For those who so dearly need assistance, New Ground provides services in finances, education, employment and more, while searching and ultimately securing permanent and stable housing.
           
In addition to obtaining her MSW from Boston College School of Social Work, Shannon Boyle went on to receive a B.A. from Boston College as Sociology Major and Women’s Studies Minor in the Pre-Medicine Program.  She had achieved honors to include Magna Cum Laude, Deans List, Senior Honors Thesis, and has maintained her designation of NY State Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2013 and served as Executive Director of New Ground since then.  Included in Shannon’s functions are to oversee and supervise all programs and services; supervise all staff including Master Level social workers, front office and development; to maintain liaison with the public and Board of Directors; to ensure and develop appropriate budgets, human resource practices, social work services, public relations, fundraising and more. And, knowing Shannon over the years, Rotary can attest to the “more!” 
 
 
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Mark your calendars for upcoming gatherings:  

April 8 – Rotarian Kevin Mann, Peace Pole Coordinator, at a breakfast meeting at the Carle Place Diner at 8 am to plan for 100th anniversary gift to Village of Mineola
 
April 10 - RotaCare Caregiver's Ball at the Inn at New Hyde Park, 6:30 to 10:30 pm (to secure tickets and for more information access https://give.rotacareny.org/event/2025-caregivers-ball/e665328)
 
April 17 - 4 pm zoom meeting of the 100th anniversary committee

April 22 – Congresswoman Laura Gillen, US House of Representatives, guest luncheon speaker at the  club luncheon meeting at Davenport Press at 12:15 pm
 
April 23 - Volunteer Fair at the Garden City Public Library, 5:30 to 7 pm (Rotary Club plus over 20 other community based organizations tabling at event)
 
April 25 - Tree planting in honor of Arbor Day - 100th anniversary gift to Village of Garden City
 
May 13 - Club meeting speaker and location to be determined
 
May 17 - Rotary Day of Service (logistics being arranged) to create comfort kits for veterans organized by General Needs
 
May 27 - Club meeting speaker and location to be determined
 
Save the Date
 
Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club - “Service Above Self.” Help Celebrate 100th Year Anniversary at its Holiday and Community Awards Dinner, December 17, Stewart Manor Country Club.
 
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Garden City News launches new column "The Joy of Giving" by Cecelia Renz
 

Empowering Young Leaders & Serving the Community:

Join the Mineola- Garden City Rotary Club

Would you like to make a difference in our community?  Are you eager to collaborate with people who share a passion for service?  For 100 years, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club has been at the forefront of local and global humanitarian efforts, and now, we invite student volunteers to be part of this legacy.  

As part of the world’s largest organization, 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries, the Rotary Club connects dedicated and talented volunteer leaders to tackle pressing local and global problems.   The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club, unites students, business professionals, and residents who are driven to serve others.  Student volunteers play a crucial role in our mission, contributing fresh ideas, energy, and leadership to projects that impact neighbors locally and internationally.   

Founded in 1905 by Paul P. Harris in Chicago, the Rotary Club began as a space for professionals with diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and form lifelong friendships.  Today, that mission has expanded to address critical issues concerning the environment, health, hunger, homelessness, special needs, and veterans.  The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club is also deeply committed to empowering young leaders and supporting the local community.

Through the Rotary Youth Leadership Program, students gain hands-on experience in leadership and service, preparing them to make a meaningful impact.  The club also partners with the Salvation Army, ringing the bell during the holiday seasons to support those in need.  Additionally, members take part in the Alford family Thanksgiving Program, ensuring homebound seniors and families receive warm meals during the holidays. 

Guided by the motto, “Service Above Self”, Rotarians encourage high ethical standards in all vocations while fostering goodwill and peace.  The Mineola-Garden City Club meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month hosting thought leaders from government, local businesses, professional services, healthcare providers, emergency management, and community-based organizations. These meetings help shape the initiatives and provide invaluable networking opportunities for student volunteers to grow as leaders.  

Join us as we celebrate 100 years of service and shape the next century.  As a student volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, make meaningful connections, and impact our community. For more information on how to get involved, visit https://mineolagardencityrotaryclub.com or email  mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com.

[Cecilia Renz is a current sophomore at Sacred Heart Academy and a member of the Long Island Volunteer Center's Youth Advisory Board.]

 

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March 11 Meeting featured Rotarian Tina O'Keeffe on Peace Corps experiences
 
10 members, and a special guest, were treated to an inspiring talk today by fellow Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club member, Tina O'Keeffe about her experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer. From 2002-2004, she and her husband Tom were assigned to the Economic Development Program in Ukraine. During her tenure at the Lviv Employment Center, Tina helped open the first youth hostel in Lviv where she wrote and published an internet training manual still in existing today, secured grants and founded a youth Leadership Program also still in existence. Tom worked at the Lviv Credit Union, the Ukrainian Catholic University and helped start their Non-Profit Management Program which continues to flourish as part of the UCU Institute of Leadership and Management. Tina and Tom visited dozens of Ukrainian cities learning about their culture and history. They also visited many other countries such as Russia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Spain, the UK and Egypt – a multi-country Peace Corps adventure! She gave us insights to impressive statistics about the Peace Corps (see peacecorps.gov for more information), how to become a volunteer, the orientation/training process when selected, how immersion in the culture and living with a host family enriched her life, and how applying her gifts and work experience helped build community.
 
Message from Tina recapping her presentation emailed to Club members:
 

Dear Members of the Mineola Garden City Rotary Club, 

Thank you to those that attended the luncheon on March 11th where I was able to share some stories about my Peace Corps experience in Ukraine from 2003-05.  

February 23 to March 1, 2025 was Peace Corps Week and returned volunteers are encouraged to share their experiences during that time with their communities.  The theme this year was "Tales of Transformation".  

I believe any service we do, big or small, changes us for the better which is why we are all involved in Rotary.  So I hope in our 100th year we can continue to transform the world around us with the great works we do.  

I am enclosing a link to the presentation.  Members are very welcome to share this public link which includes facts about Peace Corps, Peace Corps in Ukraine and some photos of my experience.  If you have any issues accessing the presentation, please don't hesitate to reach out. 

Warm regards, 

Tina O'Keeffe, RPCV 2003-05 Ukraine

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1M7rwpmR_10wHfzVRig0JNjkdcA5OxB_B/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=114100421746141438594&rtpof=true&sd=true

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February 25 meeting featured Nassau County Legislator John Giuffre
Nine members of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary were pleased to welcome as guest speaker, John J. Giuffre, Nassau County Legislator, who works on behalf of District 8 to draft and approve local laws that affect the county and its residents.  His impressive resume is below.  He was very enthusiastic in his comments relaying some important statistics about the health of Nassau County, continual efforts to achieve a balanced budget without raising taxes, and  the focus on projects not programs.  He reported that Niche just published that Nassau County was the number one best county to live in New York (https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/c/nassau-county-ny/).  He was responsive to questions that concerned the Sands Casino proposal, the increases to the County's legal budget, what constituents express as their biggest concerns, and his personal mission to advocate for and ensure resident safety.  He recounted a heartfelt story about the challenges to secure a light at a high traffic intersection in West Hempstead after a young boy was accidentally killed by a motorist.  Rotarian Randy Colahan thanked him for his support for funding for the Garden City Public Library and Legislator Giuffre also promised to support our drive for the Rotary Day of Service that will benefit veterans in transitional housing by installing a drop off bin in the lobby of the Legislature Building.  A professional photographer was dispatched by the County to cover the meeting so we took a group shot as a memory marker for our 100th anniversary!
 
From Garden City News "This Week at Rotary" by Althea Robinson:
 
Elected to the NC Legislature in January of 2021, professionally, John Giuffre owns and founded Giuffre Law Offices, P.C. in Stewart Manor, NY. He earned his law degree, cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School where he served as an editor of the Journal of International Business Law. John was admitted to the New York Bar in 1988 and is admitted to practice in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania as well as the Federal courts in New York City and Long Island. He is a sustaining member of the Nassau County Bar Association where he serves on the Ethics Committee. John is running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines. John Giuffre is dedicated to the community where he serves on the Zoning Board, teaches Sunday School, and is active in the local business community as a member of the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce, and both the Covert Avenue and New Hyde Park Chambers.  At the height of the Pandemic, Giuffre was busy serving his clients, keeping his law firm going and studying the laws and regulations for the various government relief programs to help small businesses and the self-employed survive. John and his wife Lauren have an adult son and daughter and live in the Village of Stewart Manor. 
 
[Photo from meeting are pictured with guest speaker, NC Legislator John Giuffre, on February 25. Seated from left: Meg Norris, Vice President; Tina O’Keeffe secretary; Diana O’Neill, President and Althea Robinson, Publicity Chair. Standing from left: Randy Colahan, CSA Honoree; Martin Lord, Sergeant at Arms; Diane Marmann, Treasurer/Past President & AG; NC Legislator John Giuffre; Joanne Meyer-Jendras Scholarship/Service Projects Chair and Jim Brady, Membership & Past President.]
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Garden City Public Library News announces crayon collection drive
 

Crayon Initiative

animated graphic of three crayons, one rolling

The Garden City Public Library is participating in the Crayon Initiative by hosting a crayon-collection box at the front counter to collect and recycle crayons, in partnership with Rotary Club and Lions International. The initiative was the creation of Bryan Ware of Danville, California, in 2016. Through volunteers, he is collecting crayon pieces, melting them, and re-manufacturing them into larger, bright, clean, paper-free crayons and sending them free of charge to children in hospitals nationwide. Being larger and three-sided, they are easier for children to grip and won’t roll off the hospital bed trays.

On Long Island, they are being sent to The Children’s Medical Center at NYU Langone Hospital, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, and St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children.

The Crayon Initiative, to date, has collected and kept more than 381,000 pounds of crayons out of landfills and donated more than 863,800 packs of crayons to over 250 hospitals across the U.S. Residents are encouraged to donate today!

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2/11 meeting featured General Needs co-founders Lonnie and Susan Sherman
On Tuesday, February 11, at Mineola’s Davenport Press Restaurant, 8 members of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club welcomed back as guest speakers, Lonnie and Susan Sherman, veteran advocates and co-founders of General Needs, an independent all-volunteer nonprofit organization themed “serving veterans with dignity and care.” 
 
To celebrate Rotary’s 100th anniversary this year, part of its planning is to conduct a service project for each month of 2025. In January we collected an abundant supply of toiletry products to benefit MOMMAS HOUSE which provides housing and support service for young mothers and their families.  For the month of February, Rotary is collecting cleaning products to benefit General Needs which provides support to veterans in transitional housing to independent living.  Once the drive is concluded, we have been invited to their warehouse in East Northport to create the welcome kits.
 
Rotarians brought to yesterday's lunch meeting (and can still bring to the lunch meeting on February 25 or drop off to Meg Norris at the Garden City News, 821 Franklin Avenue, Suite 208 until the end of the month), donations of the following supplies:
  • Utility Bucket (5 gallon) @ Home Depot
  • Sponge Mop
  • Floor Cleaner
  • Broom/Dustpan
  • Toilet bowl brush/holder/cleaner
  • All surface cleaner/cleaning gloves
  • Sponges
  • Dishwashing Liquid
Lonnie and Susan Sherman co-founded General Needs in 2008.  Over the years, General Needs has expanded to support veterans in myriad ways including distribution of coats, boots, work uniforms, pillows, blankets, beds, and welcome kits through collection drives. They instituted a weekly meals program during the pandemic, and created a student volunteer program and a dental program. Their gala is scheduled for Friday, June 20, at 6:30 pm at Leonard's Palazzo in Great Neck honoring Ralph Esposito, Director of Nassau County Veteran's Service Agency, and Arnold Quaranta Jr. of the Ronkonkoma Rotary Club.  General Needs continues to serve as a signature project of Rotary District 7255.  The Shermans are also active members of the Ronkonkoma Rotary Club. 
 
Announcements to share:
  • Many thanks to Althea Robinson who secured Nassau Count Legislator John Giuffre for our luncheon guest speaker on February 25 at the Davenport Press
  • Much appreciation to Diane Marmann who announced the Super Bowl raffle winners:  Janet Pacifico (Diane's stepmother who won the final and is donating $200 back to us), and Bob Bonagura and Jimmy Karakankis (who won 1st and 2nd half prizes). We raised $1,200.00 toward our scholarship program!
  • Our March service project will be a drive for raffle basket gifts to support Joanne Meyer-Jendras who organizes that effort for the RotaCare CareGiver's Ball scheduled for April 10 at the New Hyde Park Inn.  Volunteers will be needed for a raffle wrap party to be announced!
  • Our April service project will be to support our high school scholarship program also coordinated by Joanne.  In addition, there will be a volunteer fair at the Garden City Public Library on April 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in celebration of National Volunteer Week and Rotarians invited to table and to volunteer for set-up/break-down.
  • Our May Rotary Day of Service project will be a collaborative hands-on multi-Rotary Club effort to create comfort kits for Long Island Cares on May 17.  Logistics and project details are forthcoming.
  • There is one reservation available for the Rotary table for the Kiwanis Club of Garden City March 13 St. Patrick's Day luncheon .  
  • The 100th anniversary planning committee meeting is via zoom on Thursday, February 13 at 3 pm.  
Happy Random Acts of Kindness Week,
Diana
 
Diana O'Neill
President 2024-2025
Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club
 
[Left to right in photo:  Past President Peter Marshall (acknowledged by the Shermans as an original volunteer for General Needs), Publicity Chair Althea Robinson, General Needs co-founders Lonnie and Susan Sherman, and President Diana O'Neill.]
 
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January 28 Breakfast Meeting featured speaker, John Wilton
As January winds down, we were pleased to hold our first breakfast meeting of the new year on January 28 at 8 a.m. at the Carle Place Diner, 151 Old Country Road, northeast corner of Old Country and Glen Cove Roads.  12 members attended.
 
Thanks to publicity chair, Althea Robinson, we were equally pleased to welcome as guest speaker John Wilton, President of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce and long time chairman of the Chamber's Merchants Group. John reports bi-weekly at Village Board of Trustees meetings and currently, reported on the more than a few openings, closings plus moving to new locations of long time retail establishments.  With his finger on the pulse of the business community, he shared in-depth details about the health of Village businesses and we all left with great hope about developmental progress and the future of our community!  Plus his enthusiasm for all things Garden City with honest assessments of the way things are kept the discussion lively!  We also explored the difficulties of recruiting members as well as attracting volunteers to support activities which makes sustainability challenging to all service organizations. 
 
Reminding all to mark Rotary's 100th anniversary our Club plans a variety of service projects for each month throughout 2025  culminating  in our grand l00th anniversary celebration set for Wednesday evening, December 17 at the Stewart Manor Country Club.
 
For January, we collected toiletries for MOMMA'S House, a non-profit which provides housing and support for young mothers and their children.  Donations of new or unopened toiletries such as  baby grooming kits and health care items plus lotion and body wash for sensitive skin were collected.
 
For our February project, we will collect cleaning products for Lonnie Sherman's General Needs nonprofit that serves veterans in transitional housing.
 
We also discussed:
  • Super Bowl pool to benefit our scholarship program
  • Support of the Kiwanis Club of Garden City's upcoming St. Patrick's luncheon scheduled for March 13
[From left in photo:  Rotary member Dr. Ben Cohen, guest speaker John Wilton, past president Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis, and publicity chair Althea Robinson.]
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First luncheon meeting of the new year held on January 14 featured arborist
Thirteen members attended the Mineola-Garden City Rotary’s first lunch meeting of 2025 on Tuesday, January 14, at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant and were treated to enthusiastic guest speaker, Joseph Umana, Garden City Village arborist.  The importance of maintaining Garden City’s treelined streets, recognizing the environmental benefits, and working to increase our overall tree canopy is the aim of the new Tree Policy recently unanimously passed by the Village Board of Trustees and Joe will have an integral part in this on-going process.  
 
Joe began working with the Recreation and Parks Department with the task to address the Village tree situation and to work with Andy Hill of the Parks Department along with the in-house Village planting crew. Acknowledged to have a passion for trees, Joe will speak on his first year as Village arborist – issues found and corrected, initiatives, policy and what the future holds for horticulture in Garden City.  Born and raised on Long Island, Joe started his work in the landscaping horticulture field while in high school at Kellenberg Memorial, Uniondale. He attended the University of Delaware where he graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Plant Science and Horticulture with a concentration in Landscaping Design.  After graduating, Joe attended Walt Disney’s professional internship program in Orlando, Florida. After Disney, Joe returned home to Long Island and studied to pass the Certified Nursery Landscape Professional, the ISA Certified Arborist Exam and the Municipal Specialist Arborist Exam. Joe started his career with the Village as arborist in January 2024. 
 
[Above excerpted from Althea Robinson's This Week in Rotary published in the January 3 issue of the Garden City News.]
 
Also discussed at the meeting:
  • Recap of successful December 18 Holiday Dinner and Community Service Awards Celebration
  • Plans to secure a tree to donate to the Village to commemorate our 100th anniversary
  • Superbowl pool
  • Efforts to support RotaCare's Caregiver's Ball on April 10
  • January toiletry drive to benefit MOMMAS House
  • February household goods/cleaning product drive to benefit General Needs
 
In addition, we welcomed two representatives of the Central Nassau Rotary Club who presented their club flag to us.
 
Next meeting will be a breakfast gathering at 8 am at the Carle Place Diner featuring guest speaker John Wilton, President of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce.   
 
[Photo caption:  News12 interviewed Village Arborist Joe Umana at the April 25 Arbor Day dedication of our Rotary Club's 100th anniversary gift, a Linden Tree, on the grounds of the Garden City Public Library.]
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Holiday Dinner/Community Service Award Celebration held December 18
This Spring 2025, The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club is going to be 100 years old!
 
As a prelude to year-long planned activities, we celebrated the launch of this impressive milestone with a holiday-themed Community Service Award Dinner on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at the Stewart Manor Country Club from 6 to 10 pm.  124 guests enjoyed the festivities including 16 Rotarians!
 
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of Rotary's Community Service Award to two exceptional civic-minded individuals who embody the ideals of Rotary's motto, "Service Above Self."  Our honorees were Mineola Mayor Paul Pereira and Garden City Public Library Trustees Chair Randy Colahan who were feted for extraordinary service to both the Mineola and Garden City communities.  
 
The evening began with a cocktail hour that included open bar and featured a special performance by the renowned Garden City High School Chamber Orchestra directed by Andrew Albani.  An elegant buffet dinner followed in the holiday themed ball room.  An array of 32 raffle gift baskets and two silent auction prizes benefited Rotary's myriad services and good works.  And returning to officiate at emcee was our affable Rotarian Ray Sikorski, past president and past Community Service Award recipient.
 
It was such a special event as we came together to spread holiday cheer and experience the true joy of giving back!
 
Please email mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com with any feedback. See the QR code in the digital invitation to the right (or below) to make a donation to help support programming.
 
Many thanks to planning committee members James Brady, Kimberly Carlstrom, Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis, Diane Marmann, Joanne Meyer-Jendras, Meg Norris, Tina O'Keeffe, Diana O'Neill, Katherine Perrera, Althea Robinson and Ray Sikorski.  
 
General Impressions of what worked with input from committee members: 
  • Event was a great success—picture perfect in every way.  
  • Committee operated as a team and were very organized and supportive of each other. 
  • There was a lot of synergy and heart & soul evident with happy feelings throughout. 
  • Great vibe in the room. 
  • Honorees were so special and the individuals who introduced the honorees gave inspiring remarks. 
  • Venue was amazing—food, décor, staff, and servers. 
  • Musicians were wonderful. 
  • Event set a trend for a rebirth of Rotary.
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QR Code to make a donation to support our 100th year anniversary
The December 18 Holiday/Community Service Awards Event has happened but donations are still welcome to help advance our reach and impact!  Use this QR code to make a donation.  Thank you for your support of our 100th anniversary year and a century of service!
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Thank you to ad takers and raffle prize donators for December 18 event
Ads for printed program to celebrate event and honorees:
Adelphi University
Brosnan & Associates, LLP
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty
Garden City Public Library
Hengstenberg's Florist
Incorporated Village of Mineola
Kilburn Road Friends of Randy Colahan
Kiwanis Club of Garden City
Law Office of Diane Pacifico Marmann
Deb & Tom Long
Long Island Volunteer Center
Mary Maguire
Mineola Chamber of Commerce
Dr. & Mrs. Peter O'Neill
Diana & Jack Pascal
Paul LeSueur Legacy Foundation
RotaCare
RTS Print Services
Scott Perrin, The Event Office
Schroder & Strom, LLP
Mary & Francis Tierney
Tsontos Furs of Mineola
Unicorn Graphics
 
Raffle prize donations from local businesses & organizations:
Ambiance Beauty
Ambiance Salon
Angelo & Co.
Bagel Boss East
Beverage Barn
Bileddo's Key Food Marketplace
CheerWare
Cultural Arts Playhouse
Duck Donuts
Garden City Chamber of Commerce
Garden City Pizza
Iavarone Bros.
Robert Mehran, Jr., Esq.
New Ground
Pantano's Bagels
Repeal
Revel
Salon Aqua
Salvation Army
Seventh Street Cafe
Stow and Behold
Taku Sushi/Asian Fusion
Tsontos Furs
 
Raffle prize donations from Rotary Club members:
Arthur Anderson
James Brady
Randy Colahan
Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis
Diane Marmann
Joanne Meyer-Jendras
Tina O'Keeffe
Diana O'Neill
Katherine Perrera
Althea Robinson
 
Cash donations:
Patricia Force
Anita Frey
Kiwanis Club of Garden City
Martin Lord
Ann Paulson
Leo Stimmler
 
Matching Happy Bucks for RotaCare:
Jim Brady
Gary Fishberg
Tom Gelsdorf
Ray Sikorski
Helmut Schuler
 
Other in-kind:
Kimberly Carlstrom, graphics for invitation
Garden City High School Chamber Orchestra, event entertainment
Garden City News, event publicity and underwriting ad commissions
Mineola-Williston Times, event publicity
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, proclamations
Nassau County Legislator John Giuffre, proclamations
Dr. & Mrs. Peter O'Neill, copying, signage, postage
Ray Sikorski, invitations, programs ads, and event emcee
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Annual Bell Ringing for Salvation Army's Hempstead Corps held December 7
Each year during the Holiday Season, it is the tradition of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club to assist with the Hempstead Corps Salvation Army’s Bell Ring project.  This year's event was held Saturday, December 7 at the back entrance to Kings Supermarket in Garden City from 9 am to 4 pm.  Rotary volunteers were assisted by Scouts sponsored by St. Joseph's Church.  Dedicated to doing the most good for men, women and children in need, the Salvation Army of Greater New York serves more than 600,000 New Yorkers each year in over 140 community and social service programs.  The organization also provides Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance in addition to serving food pantries, emergency rent programs and medical expenses for people in need throughout Nassau County.  The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club includes its annual bell ringing to assist the Salvation Army as one of its many service projects and thanks Key Food for allowing the Club to ring the bells outside its store. Long time project chairperson Rotarian Bob Schoelle thanks the many Garden City residents for their on-going support.  He was assisted this year by fellow Rotarian Randy Colahan who is learning the ropes for future events. The new Corps leaders, Major Silvia and Captain Luis Ocasio, were our special guest speakers at our November 19 breakfast meeting at 8 am at the Carle Place Diner to promote the kettle/bell ring program!  
 
Bob expressed his appreciation for the stalwart volunteers ringing the bell who braved the freezing temperature to support Salvation Army (in order of shifts):  Randy Colahan, Bob Schoelle, DJ McDonough, Diana & Pete O'Neill, Jim Brady, Althea Robinson, Diane Marmann, Meg Norris, and Joanne Meyer-Jendras.  Boy Scouts were sprinkled into the mix which was a wonderful draw because who could say no to such youthful philanthropists?  AND playing the accordion from the Salvation Army Greater New York, was our dear friend Stephen Ditmer, who attended our last breakfast meeting held November 19 supporting the Hempstead Corps speakers and was recruited by Althea for a musical interlude! 
 
This is a Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club treasured event that helps a neighboring community organization that strives to "do the most good."  What a great way for us to kick off the season of giving!  Thanks to each Rotarian for stepping up! 
 
In featured photo, from left, Eagle Scout John Sievers, Webelos Arrow of Light William Sievers, Rotarians Bob Schoelle and Randy Colahan, and Long Island Volunteer Center Youth Advisory Board member DJ McDonough (Bob Schoelle's grandson).
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Guide to Garden City included tribute to Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club
DID YOU KNOW THAT ROTARY IS THE
WORLD’S LARGEST SERVICE ORGANIZATION?
 
Rotary is made up of business and professional and community leaders with 34,000 clubs throughout the world.  Incorporated in 1915, today, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club welcomes as members individual businesses, corporations, schools, houses of worship and Garden City residents. Join us! Mineola-Garden City Rotary holds lunch meetings on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 12:15 through the year in a private dining room at Davenport Press Restaurant in Mineola. Occasional breakfast meetings are held at the Carle Place Diner, Carle Place. The Club continues to feature noteworthy speakers from a cross-section of the professions. With its motto, “Service Above Self,” all Rotary clubs focus on various services which impact their respective communities and beyond. Mineola-Garden City Rotary will celebrate its 100th  Anniversary in 2025.  For more information, to join Rotary, or register for an event please contact Diana O’Neill, president, at 516-699-7289 or email mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com.
 
MINEOLA-GARDEN CITY ROTARY CLUB SERVES 
THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND
 
• ROTACARE: Created by the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club in 1992, RotaCare provides free medical care for those In need.
• GIFT OF LIFE: Provides life-saving cardiac surgery for children around the world who would otherwise not survive.
• POLIO: has participated in successful efforts to eradicate Polio throughout the world. 
• SCHOLARSHIPS: Annual scholarships are awarded to a graduating, qualifying senior from both Garden City and Mineola High Schools.
• RYLA: Club supports the Rotary Youth Leadership Program (RYLA), along with the Youth Exchange Program of Rotary District 7255.
• SALVATION ARMY: Rotary volunteers ring the bell each holiday season for contributions towards the Army’s good works.
• GENERAL NEEDS – Helps thousands of Long Island Veterans and their families by
providing basic necessities and beyond.
• NEW GROUND – Supports projects such as food drives, student needs in an effort to break the cycle of homelessness on Long Island.
• FOOD/CLOTHING/SCHOOL SUPPLY/BOOK DRIVES: to benefit New Ground, Faith Mission, The INN and For the Love of Pete’s Pantry, and Book Fairies
• ROTARY FOUNDATION – Supports efforts which provides mini grants to assist Rotary Club projects and supports international charitable and educational programs.
• CAMP PAQUATUCK - Supports this special camp for children with special needs.
• SUPPORTS ANNUAL ALFORD FAMILY THANKSGIVING DAY PROGRAM for
homebound senior citizens and those in need.
• INTERACT: Rotary-sponsored service club for young people, ages 14-18. Object: to develop meaningful service projects and leadership skills.
• AWARDS – “Community Service Award” presented annually to deserving individuals or organizations.
• MASK PROJECT: Distributed 10,000 masks to various charitable organizations during the Covid-19 Pandemic, and distributed signs to support first responders.
 
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Thank you from The Alford's for Rotary donation for Thanksgiving program
It's the kick-off to the giving season and the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club was honored to help feed 240 people across Long Island through the impact of a 29 year-old project founded by the Alford Family.  Their thank you letter warms the heart!  Click on the link below to read a Newsday feature article about Tim Alford with more project details.
 
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Kiwanis Club of Garden City hosted Rotary at November 21 meeting
 
On behalf of Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club, Althea Robinson and Diana O'Neill attended the Kiwanis Club of Garden City general meeting to share information about Rotary and to thank club members for securing a table at our December 18 holiday & community service awards event. From left is current Kiwanis President Patrick Curry, Mineola-Garden City Rotary President Diana O'Neill, Rotary Public Image Althea Robinson and Kiwanis immediate past president Roger Eltringham. It was a very enjoyable gathering filled with laughter and genuine camaraderie for the 17 attendees at the newly renovated Tap Room in Garden City. The agenda included: recap of recent and upcoming Kiwanis service projects, a reflection on Rule 22 of George Washington's Book on Civility, brainstorming around a joint service project scheduled for next September, and a boisterous round of happy dollars. Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs have much in common--sincere desire to serve community and strong streak of patriotism.
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Rotary breakfast meeting held Tuesday November 19 featured Salvation Army

On Tuesday, November 19th, at 8 am, the 3rd breakfast meeting of the season, was held at the Carle Place Diner, 151 Old Country Road Carle Place.  The Mineola-Garden City Rotary were delighted to host as guest speakers, Major Silvia Machado-Ocasio, Commanding Officer along with Luis Ocasio, Captain of the Salvation Army’s Hempstead Corps and Community Center, Nassau County. 

Major Silvia and Captain Luis’ talks were most apropos since members of our Club, assisted by Troop 48 Scouts from St. Joseph’s Church, will be ringing the bells to assist the Army’s efforts on December 7 at the back entrance to Kings Market, and Captain Luis is in charge of all the Red Kettle project activities.  Captain Luis Ocasio and Major Silvia Machado-Ocasio arrived in Hempstead this past June.  Having been an officer for 30 years Major Silvia has served in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, the College for Officer Training (The Salvation Army’s Seminary) and most recently in East Harlem.  Captain Luis has served in upstate New York, the College for Officer Training, two locations here in Long Island and most recently in East Harlem.  Having been in Hempstead for three years as an assistant officer, Captain Luis says that he is now looking forward to reconnecting with that beautiful community.  Major Silvia is looking forward to establishing relationships and partnering with community leaders to serve those in need.  They note that both love people and consider it a privilege to be able to serve others and share the gospel with them.

Dedicated to doing the most good for men, women and children who need it most, the Salvation Army of Greater New York serves more than 600,000 New Yorkers each year with more than 140 community and social service programs.  The Army also provides Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance in addition to serving food pantries, emergency rent programs and medical expenses for people in need throughout Nassau County.

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Mutual assistance to local Rotary Club for holiday projects 
 
The Rotary Club of Williston Park reached out in November for support of their community service projects and the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club enthusiastically responded since one benefited families at the Mineola-based Jackson Avenue School and the other assisted homeless men at The INN.  Their thank you letter speaks volumes about impact! 
 
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Election Day Food Drive held to benefit The INN
On November 5, 2024, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club held a major food drive to benefit the mission of the 41-year-old Mary Brennan INN Soup Kitchen. Over the years, The INN has grown to become the largest private social service agency of its kind on Long Island. Thirteen Rotary volunteers turned out both in front, and at the back entrance of Bileddo’s Key Food Market in the heart of Seventh Street Garden City, to collect non-perishable food items to benefit the efforts of the INN. Three hundred and one food items were collected from generous Garden City shoppers that filled 32 huge bags of food, all weighing 292 pounds.  The Mission of the INN as a not-for-profit volunteer-based organization, is to provide a broad variety of essential services to assist those challenged by hunger, homelessness and profound poverty. Its single principle – that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.  Mineola-Garden City Rotary thanks Rotary volunteers: James Brady, Bob Bonagura, Elena and Randy Colahan, Lynne Maimone Koszalka, Diane Marmann, Peter Marshall, Meg Norris, Tina O’Keefe, Katherine Perrera, Althea Robinson, and especially organizers, Joanne Meyer-Jendras and Diana O’Neill. Rotary is also grateful to the management of Bileddo’s Key Food market for assisting Rotary toward this major effort.
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Meet our signature project - RotaCare
Founded in 1992 by members of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club, RotaCare was created to serve the needs of the uninsured on Long Island.  The mission of RotaCare is to facilitate free health care for the relief of pain and suffering to those who have the most need and the least access to medical care. 
 

Our patients are among the 28 million people in this country without health insurance.  Many are earning a modest living in service jobs such as landscaping or cleaning service that do not provide any benefits.  They cannot afford health insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid or other government programs, so they are left with little or no access to care.  

RotaCare saves lives by providing early intervention and disease management for individuals with chronic conditions.  Many clients would end up in the emergency room with much more serious health problems if RotaCare were not present in the community.  Our patients are able to avoid a trip to the hospital by managing their health; and are therefore able to continue working and caring for their families.  This not only eases the stress on our patients, it also reduces the strain on our local hospitals.

RotaCare is run entirely by a rotating staff of 100 volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, translators and administrative staff.   We care for approximately 800 patients each year with a total of over 2,000 visits to our facility.  

RotaCare also facilitates access to needed prescription medications to our patients. Through the tireless efforts of our volunteers, RotaCare receives donated medications from pharmaceutical companies through our PPIP Program (Prescription Program for Indigent Patients).   Fundraising efforts allow us to purchase additional medications for our patients.

RotaCare is NOT a walk-in facility.

Patients must call 516.539.9834 to schedule an appointment in advance.

RotaCare facilitates primary medical services to our patients.   Additional services are provided through partnerships in the community. RotaCare does not facilitate Pediatric Care or Dental Care. RotaCare helps patients with the following services:

  • Basic Primary Care

  • Diabetes, Hypertension and other chronic disease management

  • Select diagnostic testing

  • Patient education

  • Referrals to specialty care (services based upon practitioner availability)

  • Basic women’s health care (Gynecological Clinic)

  • Assistance with insurance eligibility

  • Social Service referrals

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Home Page Stories
Rotary at the Start of the United Nations

Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.

During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter. 

Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.” 

 

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Notes about prior 2024 meetings
On July 9, 2024, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club celebrated a "changing of the guard" with Meg Norris handing the gavel to Diana O'Neill. Lucky us, Meg will be staying on as Vice President! We also celebrated a scholarship award to the very exceptional Mineola High School Senior, Kirpa Kaur with her proud mother cheering her on! An amazing behind the scenes duo, Althea Robinson and Joanne Meyer-Jendras, who with very little notice created the backdrop for a beautiful tribute to Meg including an engraved crystal bowl and bouquet of flowers in our blue/gold theme. Diana sincerely thanked Meg for her contributions over the past two years and noted that the changing of the guard is "steeped in symbolism, representing the seamless transition of authority and the unwavering dedication of members of an organization to protect the traditions, excellence, and high ideals it represents." It also shows the will of the members that the organization is worthy of carrying on! A highlight of the meeting was an historical perspective on the Beach Boys by John Kordes who gave a fascinating presentation on their lives as musicians and brought a montage of their prolific sound that gave a real lift to the proceedings!  
 
 
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New York State Assemblyman Ed Ra was our October 8 featured speaker

At its lunch meeting on October 8 at The Davenport Press in Mineola, Mineola-Garden City Rotary welcomed back as guest speaker, New York State Assemblyman Ed Ra. The Club is grateful for Assemblyman Ra’s many visits with many informative reports over many years about Albany activities and initiatives.

Assemblyman Ra focused on the items of major concern within the current $39 billion dollar budget.  Ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee, Ed emphasized transparency and accountability in the state budget process – rooting out public corruption and promoting public safety.  Assemblyman Ra focused on new initiatives towards crime including the linchpin issue of assault on retail operations, congestive pricing, along with another hot topic, the fact that MTA operations need a massive overhaul.  He fielded numerous questions from attentive Rotarians and guests. 

A highlight of the meeting was Assemblyman Ra’s presentation of a Citation issued by the New York State Assembly naming Diana O’Neill, President of Mineola-Garden City Rotary as a “Woman of Distinction.”  Assemblyman Ra runs this program annually naming Women of Distinction representing various categories of service. Assemblyman Ra recapped the many constant volunteer services in which Diana O’Neill has involved herself throughout many years within and as executive director of the Long Island Volunteer Center along, with other entities of service.

Another highlight was the attendance at our meeting last Tuesday of Rotarians Tom Gelsdorf and wife Heidi. Tom had served as Rotary District Governor and was a “king pin” of our Club until he and Heidi relocated to Charlottsville, Virginia.

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Enhance environment with native plants at EHSLI Celebration Garden
On Saturday, May 18, 2024, Garden City-based Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, a nonprofit social justice/advocacy group, had 7 volunteers from the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club helping in the Celebration Garden weeding and planting native plants.  A grant from the Rotary Club to purchase the plants from the nonprofit, ReWild Long Island, was secured to support the District's Rotary's Day of Service! 
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Food Drive to support Mineola-based food pantry at Faith Mission
On May 20, 2023, a food drive to benefit Faith Mission, a Mineola-based nonprofit food pantry, engaged 9 volunteers and 75 donators and brought in 385 items (goal was 350) and 381 pounds (goal was 300 pounds) at Kings Supermarket in Garden City.  An all volunteer organization, Faith Mission weekly helps over 350 individuals who are food insecure. This effort was done in conjunction with Rotary's 2023 Day of Service that engaged Rotary Clubs from Connecticut to Massachusetts, Road Island and New Jersey, along with the countries of Bermuda and Brazil, that participated in services performed by their respective Rotary clubs. As the first of this 3-legged project, Rotarians and project supporters collected non-perishable food items behind Kings Food Market in Garden City  on Tuesday, May 16.  The following Thursday, volunteers met at Faith Mission’s headquarters at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Mineola to help sort and package the collected food items. Then as the final leg of this service project, the team of Rotary volunteers and community supporters met at the church to assist in the distribution of non-perishable food items to the more than 350 Mineola residents in need who lined up to gratefully receive the food items.  Mineola-Garden City Rotary continues to be in full support of Faith Mission which so well fills the needs of so many poverty stricken neighbors within the Mineola area.
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Book Drive to support Book Fairies gift of reading programs
37 boxes of adult and youth books were collected by the Mineola-Garden City Rotary and delivered to Freeport-based nonprofit, Book Fairies, on January 24, 2024 to support their work advancing literacy across the region.  In conjunction with founder Amy Zaleski's presentation on the mission and community impact of The Book Fairies, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary sponsored a book drive that began on January 9 and ran through January 19.  New or gently used books were collected at the luncheon meeting at Davenport Press or brought to Meg Norris' office at the Garden City News, 821 Franklin Avenue, Suite 208, during business hours Monday through Friday through January 19.  Literacy is an important life necessity that determines growth, enrichment and success.  Acceptable donations included: all age level books (birth through adult), books published within the past 20 years, textbooks published within the past 10 years, activity books (word searches, coloring books), cookbooks published within the past 10 years, and comic books.  According to Book Fairies guidelines, we cannot accept books with mildew or mothball/cigarette smoke smells, books with ripped, torn, or yellowed pages, encyclopedias, magazines, self-published books, e-readers, DVDs/CDs, or faith based books.  From The Book Fairies Website About Us Page:  "Book Fairies serves individuals in under-resourced communities on Long Island and the five boroughs of New York City that do not have equal access to books.  We collaborate with and distribute our books to educators and nonprofit organizations such as Title 1 schools, homeless shelters, foster care agencies, pediatric offices, after-school programs, and soup kitchens.  Any books that are not useful here are donated to our overseas partners who are building libraries in developing countries such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, Somalia and more.”
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Back to school supply drive to support New Ground
One of our service projects sponsored two summers ago was a school supply drive to support a local nonprofit, New Ground, with a back to school project to benefit children of veterans in their homeless outreach program.  Joanne Meyer-Jendras (on far right) is on the board of directors of New Ground and brought the project to our attention.    
 
Here is a message from their founder Sister Mairead M. Barrett, OSU about the importance of helping unhoused people:  "Living in a shelter with homeless families was a life changing experience for me.  During the mid-to-late 1980s, Long Island NY had an influx of refugees fleeing war-torn Central America, burdened by hopelessness and helplessness. Many parents could barely read and write; struggling mothers needed to learn how to provide healthy food for their babies and families. Three Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk and two from other congregations were committed to creating a house that would be a place of refuge for those among us whose needs were great. A house manager was hired to assist us as we went out to work at full-time jobs to pay rent and assist in supporting the house. Despite our best efforts, the other nuns and I soon realized that we were attempting to put a Band-Aid on a hemorrhage. For five years, I responded to the daily situations that arose with the work of my hands and mind, and the love of my heart and soul. I refer to this time as my immersion period because that is when the philosophy and program design for what would become New Ground was born. I realized that in order to have progressive and successful outcomes for 100% of the persons with whom we engaged we needed to combine the disciplines of education and social work. The importance of trained educators and social workers would allow us to engage our clients while keeping them motivated and inspired to acquire work that would ultimately help them to support themselves and their families. We opened our New Ground doors on January 15, 1991. Today, 25 years later, New Ground’s design includes professional social workers and educators as the primary staff who interact with the families and veterans we serve. The core of New Ground’s philosophy is that we are a “place of freedom” for families and veterans – whether adults, youth or children. Persons who, with our help, can and will walk that road to freedom.  We are the trusting ones who help each individual take advantage of the oasis that is New Ground. We travel as companions as they grow toward freedom and the full capacity to live happy and productive lives. Over time, our clients become educated, professionally developed, and ready to live in a world beyond survival, thus breaking the devastating cycle of homelessness. All of us at New Ground are exceptionally grateful to the wonderful friends, employees and donors who partner with us in sharing their spirit and resources as together we make a significant and lasting difference in the lives of those in need. It is with their help that New Ground began and sustained for a quarter-century and can continue, confident that the future will be one of excitement and hope for the clients who will one day place their trust in us."
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Rotary is...Service Above Self
 
 
With more than 34,000 clubs throughout the world, Rotary is the world’s largest service organization. Its mission is to provide service to others, promote integrity, advance world understanding, enhance personal and professional development, and expand goodwill and peace through fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.  Important elements of  the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club include:
 
  • Membership is open to individuals representing businesses, corporations, schools, houses of worship and Mineola and Garden City residents.
  • Service focus areas have addressed societal issues around environment, health, hunger, homelessness, special needs and veterans while advancing youth leadership and education.  
  • We meet twice a month (every second and fourth Tuesday at luncheon or breakfast gatherings) and host a cadre of thought leaders from government, local businesses, professional services, healthcare providers, emergency management, and community based organizations specializing in myriad societal needs that help inform Club programming objectives.  
  • Our signature project, RotaCare, is an especially important partner that addresses the healthcare needs of the uninsured.  
  • Additional organizations that have been supported through Club philanthropy include: 
Gift of Life (life-saving cardiac surgery for children around the world)
Rotary Youth Leadership Program (RYLA)
Salvation Army Red Kettle project
General Needs to serve veterans
Food/clothing/school supply/book drives to benefit New Ground, Faith Mission, The INN, For the Love of Pete’s Pantry, Book Fairies and East Williston Rotary Club
Alford family Thanksgiving Day project for homebound
Camp Paquatuck. a special needs camp
Rotary Foundation Projects
10,000 mask donations during Pandemic
Scholarships for Mineola and Garden City qualifying high school seniors
Annual awards for community service … plus other needs as they arise.
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