Warwick Valley Bowls for a Cause (Aired March 7 & 8, 2020)

Warwick Valley, NY, has a very strong Rotary Club; like other Rotaries in District 7210 (the Mid- Hudson), it has found a creative way to raise money for good causes, locally or internationally. In this show, two Warwick Rotarians—retired Lt. Col. Edward Lynch and Dr. David Dempster—describe “Bowling for a Cause,” a fun fundraiser that they produce along with the Warwick Valley High School Interact Club. A small fee paid by each bowler provides all the necessities of the sport and also food and drink during the event. The Interact Club chose four causes to support, all dealing with suicide prevention or prevention and recovery from alcoholism or drug abuse. Suicide has been major problem for veterans, so two of the groups supported by the event are the American Legion and VFW. NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) has especially effective suicide-prevention programs, while ADAC, the alcoholism and drug abuse council of Orange County, is central to those issues in the county and in nearby Rockland County. “Bowling for a Cause” raises most of its money from community sponsors—a law firm, bank, insurance agent, real estate firm, and restaurant. It is interesting to know that neither Col. Lynch nor Dr. Dempster thought they would be eligible for Rotary because they incorrectly believed that Rotary was only for businessmen. As Rotarians they are glad to have a chance to improve their community.

Learn more
Warwick Valley Rotary Club: https://www.warwickvalleyrotary.org/
American Legion of Warwick on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Warwickpost214/
VFW of Warwick on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarwickValleyVFWPost4662/
NAMI in Orange County, NY: http://www.namiorangeny.org/
ADAC (The Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Council of Orange County): http://www.adacinfo.com/

Did you like this? Share it:
March 17, 2020 · Posted in Addiction Recovery, Events, Mental Health, Rotary Club Projects  

Literacy Connection Holds Spelling Bee (Aired February 29 and March 1, 2020)

RadioRotary interviews Literacy Connections Coordinator for Southern and Rural Dutchess County Marian Thompson and Book Bodies Coordinator Katherine Stikkers about the annual Spelling Bee. For 29 years the organization has raised money from sponsors of two-person teams who compete for the glory of best spellers. The money is used to help Literacy Connections in its principal effort, which is to teach adults how to read, as well as in its other efforts such as the Book Buddies program—adults reading to elementary-school students. The reading program uses a state approved tutoring program with trained volunteer to help adults gain reading skills and to tutor immigrants who have poor or no English. Although the program works all year long, the highlight of the year comes with the Spelling Bee, which in recent years has been at Marist College. Most teams are sponsored, often by Rotary Clubs, and can consist of high-school students or adults, but any two-person team can enter. The words are chosen from a dictionary and vary in difficulty. After a first round for points, the high-scorers compete until every team but one has been eliminated by misspelling a word (second chances are available). An audience is present just to enjoy the competition.

Learn more
Literary Connections of the Hudson Valley: http://www.literacyconnections.org/
29th Annual Spelling Bee: http://www.literacyconnections.org/spelling-bee/
National Spelling Bee: http://spellingbee.com/
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: https://www.mtishows.com/the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee

Did you like this? Share it:
March 17, 2020 · Posted in Arts & Letters, Education, Events, Literacy, Volunteers  

New Autos at Poughkeepsie Show (Aired February 22 and 23, 2020)

Poughkeepsie South Rotary Club president Cristina Boryk and vice-president Mike Mullaney
join the cohosts at RadioRotary to tell mostly about the Hudson Valley Auto Show, now it its 10th year, and also about another event sponsored by their club in conjunction with Wappingers Rotary, A Cup of the Valley, a coffee and tea show now in its third year. The Auto Show is much like the new-model auto show in New York City, except that this array of new cars from eleven local dealers is at the Nesheiwat Convention Center (formerly mid-Hudson Civic Center) in downtown Poughkeepsie and is free. In addition to the new cars on display, there is entertainment for the whole family, including face-painting and balloon animals for children to enjoy while their parents contemplate about 60 or the latest Cadillacs, Toyotas, Hondas, Fords, Nissans, and so forth. A Cup of the Valley, a few weeks later, is at the Marriott Pavilion of the Culinary Institute of America, focuses on varieties of imported coffees and teas but also has various sweet treats to enjoy. There is an entrance fee that covers the food, music, and fun, including a Japanese Tea Ceremony and tea-leaf reading. Proceeds from both events are used to support community charities such as the Miles of Hope for breast cancer, the Poughkeepsie Children’s Home, Rebuilding America, and local parks.

Learn more
Hudson Valley Auto Show: https://dutchesstourism.com/event-view/24564/
Cup of the Valley Coffee and Tea Show: https://acupofthevalley.com/
Poughkeepsie South Rotary Club: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/50045/clubinfo/poughkeepsie-south
Poughkeepsie South Rotary Club on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/poughkeepsiesouth.rotaryclub/
Wappingers Rotary Club: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/2259

Did you like this? Share it:
March 17, 2020 · Posted in Events, Nutrition, Rotary Club Projects