NEW Rotary Talks Accomplishments, New Officers

News from the Northeast Westchester Rotary:

The Northeast Westchester (NEW) Rotary held its annual meeting at the Pinnacle Restaurant in Heritage Hills.

At the busy meeting, Pat Ploss talked about Rotary’s mission to eradicate polio and about its worldwide peace initiatives. Incoming President Stan Herz Pearlman described last year’s NEW Rotary club accomplishments which included:

· installing two public service announcement screens at the Somers Library

· donating $2,000 to the Westchester Exceptional Children’s School in North Salem

· donating $250 to the Somers High School STAT Club

· donating $1,800 to the Somers food pantry

· organizing the annual coat and sweater drive

· running a Christmas tree sale fundraiser

· assisting in the Somers road cleanup during Earth Week

· publishing the 10th edition of On My Mind, a collection of poems and short stories written by high school students

· donating $1,850 to Shelter Box to assist earthquake victims in Nepal

· awarding scholarships to three local high school seniors

As the Rotary is an international organization, John Katzenstein described the world-wide projects in Tamara Honduras, Haiti, and South Africa.

Somers Rotary founder Barry Singer explained the origin of the Northeast Westchester Rotary and the evolution of the merger with the Katonah Rotary.

Steve Ucko presented one of the three Rotary scholarships to Courtney Ineson, Somers High School senior.

Karl Milde explained the history and significance of the Paul Harris award. Kathi Casella presented this year’s Paul Harris award to Linda Zinn, director of the Westchester Exceptional Children’s School in North Salem.

Finally, outgoing president, Dick Atkins was presented a certificate of thanks and new officers were installed by district governor Marilyn Masiero:

• • Stan Herz Pearlman - President
  • Kathi Casella – President Elect
  • Steve Ucko – Vice President
  • John Katzenstin – Secretary
  • Crystal Keets – Treasurer

New members are always welcome. Meetings are normally held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday evenings at 6:30 at the Pinnacle Restaurant at Heritage Hills. For more information about NEW Rotary and scheduled events and speakers, see www.newrotaryclub.org, call (914) 669-9021, (914) 210-4379 or email mail@newrotaryclub.org.

Photo #1: Somers High School senior, Courtney Ineson receives Rotary scholarship

Photo #2: Linda Zinn, executive director of the Westchester Exceptional Children’s School in North Salem receives the Paul Harris Award

Photo #3: Rotary District 7230 Governor Marilyn Masiero speaks to attendees and installs new officers Stan Herz Pearlman, Kathi Casella, Steve Ucko, Crystal Keets, and John Katzenstein