In 2007-08 East Hampton Rotary Club published a Journal to celebrate 40 years of serving the East End community, during which time it has raised over $500,000 for charitable causes.

If you would like a copy of the 40 page commemorative Journal (shown below),  e.mail the Club for a copy and include your mailing address.

  

Rotary Club of East Hampton

Celebrating 40 Years of Service to the Community

 

Webpage: URL: www.easthamptonrotary.us

Webpage: URL: www.easthamptonrotary.us

The East Hampton Rotary Club celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2007-08. Founded by a group of community-minded businessmen, the Club has been an integral part of the Town of East Hampton since 1967.

The Club published a Journal to commemorate the 40th anniversary and inform our community of the many good works of Rotary, both locally and internationally. If you would like a copy, please e.mail the address above. If you like what you see, come and join us!

Over the years, our Club has supported many worthwhile local projects. In this publication we have attempted to describe Rotary, its good works and its world-wide fellowship.

East Hampton Rotary Club has raised more than $0.5 million for charitable causes over its 40 year life. Thanks to all local residents and businesses who have helped us achieve that wonderful total.

We also wish to thank those who generously supported this project by taking advertisements. We are indeed grateful to them. Profits from this publication will go to Rotary charities.

With 33,000 Rotary Clubs, a Rotarian has a key to almost any door in 200 countries and territories all around the world. Each Club provides services to its own local community, and all the Clubs work together to carry our major projects world-wide.

If you are interested in being a part of Rotary, for more information please e.mail the address above.

The East Hampton Rotary Club

There is nothing secret about a Rotary Club. It aims to represent all aspects of life in a community, using the experience and connections the members bring to improve conditions, facilities and knowledge for people who can benefit from our support. The motto of Rotary International is ‘Service above Self’. Some of the service is ‘hands-on’ and some is by raising funds that can fund needy causes.

The East Hampton Rotary area includes the Village of East Hampton,and Town of East Hampton, including Montauk, Amagansett, Sag Habor, Wainscott and Bridgehampton.

During the Club’s 40th year our membership has increased considerably and we continue to recruit new members. There is a rich diversity - a mix of both older and younger members. Monday evening meetings hear from local speakers about issues of importance to our community.

90% of funds raised by the East Hampton Rotary support local charitable organizations, from The Retreat, Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels, Southampton Hospital, to scholarships for our students. A more complete list of the charities supported by the Rotary may be found on page X. Various fundraisers are held during the year to support these important charities. Our aim is not to tap the pockets of our

Here in the Hamptons we read of the great wealth of our community. We are aware of the many good deeds performed but in many cases these folks are not part of our community. We should make a concerted effort to welcome them and include them as part of the greater East Hampton community.

Rotary, in addition to its local efforts, is very active on a national and international level. Whether it’s a tornado in Kansas, an earthquake in California, a sunami in Asia, or a hurricane on the Gulf Coast, Rotary is there to offer assistance.

Therefore, when you are approached to attend a Rotary event, or meeting, please come and learn more. Rotarians are very welcoming and the organization needs your support in order to continue to do its good work for our community and for others who need our help around the world.

WHAT IS ROTARY?

Rotary is a worldwide international service organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Most Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.

The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was formed on February 23, 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices.

The organization admitted women for the first time (worldwide) in 1989 and claims more than 145,000 women in its ranks today.

The main objective of Rotary is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development.

The Four Way Test

The History

East Hampton Rotary Club

Date Founded: May 1967 - Officers: Gordon Taylor President

Harold Brickmeier - First Vice President

Peter Bistrain - Second Vice President

Malcolm Beaton - Secretary

Charles Osborne - Treasurer

Don Neville - Sgt.-At-Arms

Directors: Joseph Fallon, Gerald Sexton, Guido Santorelli

Original Members: Patrick Bistrian, Jr. Frank Cafiso, Frank Caozzola, Tom Cullen, Donald DeFabio, Rudolph DeSanti, Russell DiGate, Joseph Dragotta, Joseph Fallon, Evan Frankel, Thomas Gaines, Edward Heil, Wendell G. Miller, Wesley D. Miller, Harry L. Mott, Paul L. Peters, Mark G. Richard, R. C. Sage, James Shaw, Aziz Sherif, James E. Taber, Bernard Zeldin, Ray Zerner.

Where Met: Villa D’Or

Who/What did Club support 40 YEARS AGO:

In May 1967 sponsored a Golf Tournament for the Southampton Hospital. The first six years of the Tournament raised $13,682.00 for the Hospital.

40th Anniversary 2007/2008 Officers:

Patricia Gilchrest - President,   Bruce Siska - Vice President

Timothy Sullivan - Secretary

James Matthers - Treasurer

William Gardiner - Immediate Past President

2007/2008 Board of Directors:

Gary DeAmario, Lynn Follenius, Alex Sneddon, Sherry Wolfe.

2007-08 Club Members: Andrew Baris, Kenneth Brown, Conrad Costanzo, Karie Gardiner, Joe Grosso, George Hammer, David Karlin, Sami Krasniqi, Jorge Kusanovic, W. James Matthers, James Moeller, Steve Murray, Karen Norrby, Rob Norrby, Tina Piette, John Pawlukojc, Karol Puglisi, Thomas Schacher, Christine Sephton, Mary Siska, John Spencer. Ralph Wolfe.

When Meet: Every Monday evening (except public holidays) at 5:30 PM for dinner at 6 PM. To see venue details - click on top-of-page heading 'Club Meetings' .

Projects Benefiting from East Hampton Rotary Club Support

Over the years Rotary has supported:

    • The Retreat--Provided startup funds and supports The Retreat annually.Meals on Wheels
    • Food Pantry
    • Southampton Hospital
    • Camp Good Grief – East End Hospice
    • Montauk Community Playhouse
    • Little League Team
    • Coast2Coast Basketball
    • Amaryllis Farm
    • Town of East Hampton Community Council
    • Town of East Hampton Education Foundation
    • Kansas Tornado Fund – 2007
    • East Hampton Historical Society
    • Amagansett Historical Society
    • East Hampton High School Par Course-purchased and installed.
    • Scholarship Awards
    • Apple, Inc.
    • Special Education PTA
    • Rotary Interact Club, based at East Hampton High School
    • East Hampton High School Renaissance Program
    • "Care Packages for Rotary" - sponsored houses for homeless Mexicans residing across the border from California.
    • Installed playground equipment at the East Hampton Day Care facility
    • Apartments at the Accabonac Highway (???)
    • Reshingled the roof of the historic Town School House
    • Girl Scouts

Local Rotary Fundraising Events

Golf Tournament

Since 1967, in May of each year the East Hampton Rotary Club partners with East Hampton Day Care to host a Golf Tournament at the Maidstone Club in East Hampton. This is a popular event and a favorite with golfers.

Over the past five years, the Rotary Club has given $25,000 to the Southampton Hospital, the net proceeds from its share of the tournament.

Since its inception in 1967, the East Hampton Rotary Club has donated between $250,000 and $275,000 to the Hospital.

Memorial Day & Labor Day Antiques Show

Each weekend of Memorial Day (since 1994), and Labor Day (since 1987), the East Hampton Rotary Club has sponsored an Antiques Show and Sale. It takes place at the Historic Miss Amelia’s Cottage, Main Street. Amagansett. Dealers from throughout the Northeast participate in the event that has raised thousands of dollars for the Rotary’s many charities.

Rotary Community Initiatives

Person of the Year AwardThe "Person of the Year" award was initiated in the late 1980’s to honor individuals, and in some cases groups, who epitomize the Rotary creed of "Service Above Self" by performing deeds that benefit the community.

Each individual or group honored is given a plaque and presented a $1,000 gift to be designed to the charity of their choice.

Past honorees include:

Fred Schulz The Retreat

Edna Steck East Hampton Human Services

Sherry Wolfe The Retreat

Peter MacDonald Meals on Wheels

Bruce Collins 350th Anniversary Celebration

Rudy DeSanti East Hampton Catastrophic Fund

Harriet Hellman For East Hampton Pediatric Care Prg.

Davide Buckhout East Hampton Emergency Services

Gary Swander East Hampton Day Care

E.H. Township Ambulance Squads

Tim Field East Hampton Training

Lief Hope Artists & Writers

Dr. George Dempsey

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Camp Good Grief

Sponsored by East End Hospice, Camp Good Grief provides confidential bereavement counseling for one week to children from the ages of five to fifteen who have lost a parent, sibling or grandparent or close friend. East Hampton Rotary donates and prepares a comforting hot lunch each day for the campers and the counselors. In 2007, we served close to two hundred people daily.

Heavy Bags-Food for Food Pantry – Thanksgiving

On the weekend before Thanksgiving, with the cooperation of local supermarkets, when residents are doing their holiday shopping, Rotarians stand outside stores and request donations of food and/or funds for the Food Pantry to help ensure that the needy residents of our community can too celebrate the holiday.

Interact ClubOrganized in May of 1971 and sponsored by the East Hampton Rotary Club, the East Hampton High School Interact Club is a service club for young people of secondary school age. The members work under the guidance of the East Hampton Club on a variety of projects ranging working with EH elementary and middle school students; with UNICEF to create an awareness of world hunger; with AIDS projects including effects of AIDS in Zambia; organizing food drives for EH Food Pantry; and adopting local families at Christmas and providing them with food and gifts.Book Scholarship Award

Each year the East Hampton Rotary Club presents book scholarships to two college bound seniors who have participated in the Interact Club.Picture

Rotary Membership ActivitiesRotarians enjoy close fellowship both locally and worldwide. When East Hampton Rotarians visit a Rotary Club anywhere in the world, they will be warmly welcomed. Indeed as a result of this fellowship, there is a Rotary International friendship exchange program for Rotarians and their families. This program provides participants the opportunity to experience other cultures by staying in the homes of Rotarians in other countries. The program aims to advance international understanding and peace through personal contact across borders while developing interclub relationships for fellowship and service projects.

Locally the East Hampton Rotary Club has a variety of events for its members that help foster a dynamic friendship amongst its members.

Spouses and/or significant others are invited to share in special events such as Valentine Day parties, lobster bakes on the beach, Charter Nights and December holiday parties

Adopt-a-Family and Santa Night Dinner

The Rotary Club of East Hampton has a "hands on" Christmas project that it

proudly embraces. The Club adopts two families in need and meets the

wish list of each member of the family. These lists are requests for very

basic needs, such as blankets, clothing, shoes and food. Rotary fulfils

those wishes and adds many delightful items to make the holiday special.

One year as we were collecting for our two families a call came through

asking for help for four more families. Not wanting to turn anyone away, we

began the task of providing for an additional four families. A very

remarkable thing happened that year. We received a call from a young woman

asking if she could help. She and her children had to give back. Not only

did she roll up her sleeves and get to work, she contacted another familythat we had helped and they too responded. It was a wonderful year!

Charter Night and Paul Harris Fellow Award

Each Fall, East Hampton Rotary celebrates the founding of its charter with a dinner for members and spouses. On most charter nights, the Club makes a contribution of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation, to name a Paul Harris Fellow. The donation, in honor of the founder of Rotary, is used for global purposes Picture

Rotary International Exchange Student Hilary XXXXMary Siska to contact Hilary, the Club’s exchange student from Australia 1978-1979, and ask her to write a message to the club. She had a fabulous year in EH and has kept in touch with us. She went back to Australia, did a degree in law, married her childhood sweetheart, had three children and is now a magistrate in Sydney. Will she will write a congratulatory note to the club - and can we find a photo of her as a student and as the very successful woman she is today.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), is Rotary's training program for young leaders. It emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth. Our local youth in the Town of East Hampton are eligible to participate in this leadership program.

What is Rotary International

Rotary International, of which East Hampton Club is one small part, is a massive worldwide voluntary service organization of 32,000 Clubs in 200 countries and regions. There are 1.2 million members around the world who take on the Rotary promise of ‘Service above Self’. Local business people come together to improve their communities and help solve problems around the world.

In 1985 Rotary had the vision to eradicate Polio worldwide. It has since raised $635 million for the cause and now the virus exists in only five countries, because Rotary has mobilized major organizations like the US Government, the WHO and the UN to help with the challenge. In 1994 the Western Hemisphere was declared to be polio-free. Praising Rotarians for their, "mind-boggling efforts" to "dramatically change millions and millions of lives," honorary Rotarian William Gates Sr. called on Rotarians to "think big" and finish the job of polio eradication.

Rotary runs one of the largest educational scholarship schemes in the world. As a Rotarian in Michigan said to a British guy on a Rotary scholarship ‘When you’re here with Rotary, you have a key to any door'.

And, Rotary is committed to reducing hunger, promoting literacy; providing safe water and advancing world peace. It also encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, something we could use a lot more of these days.

The Rotary Club is an important part of every community, and it can be very proud of the service it renders. Perhaps more so, we should be inspired by men and women who, in so many cultures that prize material wealth and self-indulgence, somehow manage to keep their priorities straight.

RI Links with United Nations and UNICEF

The Sustainability Trust

East Hampton Rotary Club has become a Founding Member of the world-wide Sustainability Trust (formerly The CO2 Offset Trust), one of ten Rotary Clubs from around the world to support this new initiative that encourages Rotarians and the public to donate to a charitable Trust to offset the carbon dioxide created when they travel. Clubs are invited to devise Sustainability projects, either in their own communities or other parts of the world, claiming a grant from the Trust to operate their carbon reduction program. Adverse Climate Change has been closely linked to Carbon Dioxide emissions, so the aim is to encourage Rotarians to seek ways to take CO2 out of the atmosphere by devising programs to plant trees, convert fossil-fuel energy to solar, wind or even human power and educate their communities to understand the options - and the consequences of doing nothing! Everyone can donate to offset their CO2 emissions at www.TheSustainability Trust.org , where East Hampton's name will be seen as a Founding Member.

Group Study Exchange

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program of The Rotary Foundation is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 and in the early years of their professional lives. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

The East Hampton Club hosted a GSE team from Australia.

Youth Study Exchange

The Rotary International Youth Exchange program involves the exchange of young people from one Rotary club or district with others from another country. These young people between the ages of 15 and 19 go abroad for one year to study and live with Rotary host families.

East Hampton Rotary participated in the Youth Exchange program from 1978-1988. The club hosted students from Australia, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Brazil, Korea, and South Africa. The club also sponsored East Hampton High School students to go on the exchange and they spent a year abroad with Rotary families in Australia, Denmark, Brazil and Germany. Students from East Hampton also participated in the summer exchange program.

40th Anniversary Committee

Pat Gilchrest

Karol Puglisi

Joe Grosso

Conrad Costanzo

Lynn Follenius

Sami Krasniqi

Alex Sneddon

Karie & Bill Gardiner

Jim Matthers

Bruce & Mary Siska

Christine Sephton

Rob & Karen Norrby

David Karlin