ROTOSCOPE, MAY 19, 2014

Visiting Rotarians: None

Guests:

• Chris Duquin, Trustee of the Village of Williamsville. He is the owner of Stevens Driving School and signed up as a Sponsor of the Strawberry Festival during the meeting!!!
• Michelle Perkins from Carrie Leed’s office
  
  This week’s speaker was Brian J. Kulpa, Mayor of the Village of Williamsville.  Brian is also an associate with the consulting firm Clark Patterson Lee, and President of the Association of Erie County Governments.  He is past Deputy Mayor and past Trustee for the Village.  Brian is a graduate of SUNY – Buffalo with a Bachelor and Masters in Architecture, and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning.  With his background as an architect/planner he brings to his position as Mayor the required skill sets and focuses for maintaining Williamsville’s rich history while planning for the challenges of the future.  His vision for diverse improvements to the Main Street corridor is not without opposing discussion, but, as an elected leader, he understands the need to balance all views for the common interest and the quality of life in the Village of Williamsville. Brian, his wife Kate and two children enjoy the quality and opportunities of Village life.

Highlights of his presentation included:

• The Village is one square mile
• Getting out of the water business over the next 20 years
• Advantage of being small (and not merging with Amherst) is local control of zoning
• Discussed Street Scape:
  • Curb extensions (bulb outs)
  • H.A.W.K. signals for pedestrian crossings
  • No intention of restricting current traffic on Main Street
• More pocket parks, such as that next to the Library, will be developed
• A Village app for smart phones has been developed
• August 16^th will been the second Village Block Party on Main Street (Cayuga to Mill)
• Received a $2.5MM grant for Picture Main Street
  • Planning/ design this year
  • Construction by fall of 2015
• Discussed Water Mill and Spring Street
  • $800 grant for design
  • Need $2.4MM to complete Street Scape on Spring Street near Mill
  • Village intends to sell Mill to Sweet Jennies after Mill is rehabbed
  • Spring Street will be one-way off Main
  • Early 2015 for construction of enhancements to Spring Street
• S. Long Street/ Park
  • High priority for redeveloping
  • Highly industrial properties in residential areas
  • Sidewalks with no trees

Announcements: 

Youth Exchange: Lee Broad is looking for host families for our Inbound YE Student from Paraguay, Gabriel Yugovich for whom we also need a YE counselor.

Club’s Facebook Page:  Take a look at the Club’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubOfWilliamsville) page that was developed by Gary Skaylo and “Like” our page.

Foundation Annual Meeting:  The Foundation’s Annual Meeting will be held on June 9, 2014. The Annual Report will be presented by Foundation President William Thuman. There will also be an election for Board Members to the Foundation Board.

Strawberry Festival Event: Planning has started for this year’s SF event (June 18^th    5:00 pm to 8:00 pm for guests) at Island Park.  Chairman Kevin Flint is seeking volunteers for the numerous planning activities.  On the day of the event, activities will begin in early morning picking up supplies, shucking strawberries, and setting up the Pavilion and the adjacent park. Clean up after the event will continue for at least 1½-hours after the closing of the event.

To make this event successful, this event, as all of our events, needs sponsors.   See 2014 Strawberry Festival Sponsor Program information sheet previously distributed by email to all members.

Rotary Park & Circle Clean Up: Seven Rotarians spent 3-hours on Saturday May 17th doing the annual cleaning up of Rotary Park & Circle.   A volunteer citizen, who just moved into the area from Georgia, also spent 1½ hours staining the two redwood benches.  The area looks great!!!!    Thank you to all who shared their time and helped to improve the area.

Our next activity at the site will be to spread some #1A stone over the area along the stone wall overlooking Ellicott Creek and in the area where there are stone steps.  With enough members, this should take 1-1½ hours.

Polio Plus – Your Donation Matters: Ed S. sent information from District 7090’s Polio Plus Chair previously by email showing what your donation to Polio Plus provides.  Every $1.00 you contribute becomes $3.00 thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

From the initiative of Lee Broad and Mary Biddle-Widman’s Masada Protocol campaign, the sale of 75 books to date to the some of the District’s Rotary Clubs ($1,653) was matched ($3,305) by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to yield $4,958, which provides 8,263 vaccinations for children.

Club Web Site Advertising: Did you know that advertising on the Club’s web site is $100/year, July 1 to June 30?   That’s approximately $0.27 per day, and is seen by everyone visiting the Club’s web page.  Pro-rata is also available.  Interested?  Ask Vern Anderson for the details and join other Club members who are already using this form of advertising ….helping their business and their Club.

Every Rotarian – Every Year (EREY): Wow!!!!   Did you know that for $0.27 per day, less than $2.00 per week, and $8.33 per month you can be an active participant and be recognized in Rotary International’s (RI) EREY Program?  And you can do this with a simple authorization to RI to charge a credit card account for the recurring period (month / quarter / annual) amount you designate.  This is simple and straightforward.

Your commitment provides grant funds for RI and our District 7090 for projects that are used to fund local and international service projects, scholarships, and vocational training teams.

Please see me or Vern Anderson for an EREY form whereby you can make this commitment for a tax deductible contribution (this is a 501.c.3 charity) as a recurring monthly, quarterly or annual donation using a credit card (www.rotary.org/contribute).  You know the good that Rotary and its members accomplish; please seriously consider your participation in EREY. Our Club number is 4756, District #7090, and your individual member number can be found on the mailing label of the Rotarian magazine, an 8-digit number preceded by “#” just above your name.  I will have each member’s membership number at the Club meetings for your information and ease of reference. Thank You!

Program Schedule: The April 10th issue of the 2013-2014 Speakers’ Schedule and the April 24^th 2014-2015 Schedule were distributed by email to all members.  We have openings for speakers for the 2014-2015 Club year. Doug Littlewood can provide you with the current schedule and available openings.  If you have a potential speaker, it is suggested that two (2) open dates, in order of speaker preferred priority, be confirmed with Doug Littlewood or Vern Anderson, who will confirm the specific date, and “lock” that date for your speaker.  Please keep Doug and Vern updated if changes need to be made.  In our social and business lives we may know of individuals who have an interesting background, career, or story.  Ask them: “Would you share this with my Rotary Club?”

Future speakers: Discussions are taking place for speaking engagements with the following: Mark Thomas (Western Regional Director – NYS Parks); and Maria Lehman (Peace Bridge).