Welcome to our Club!
The Liberty Rotary Club had a fantastic time bringing our games to downtown Liberty for the Cinco de Mayo Festival on May 3rd! Our club members teamed up with Liberty Interact and other students from Liberty High School to help create a fun-filled day for kids of all ages. Aside from a couple of brief rain showers, the weather was beautiful, and the atmosphere was even better. The day was filled with festive Mariachi music, amazing dancers, delicious food, and great company. A big thank-you to Liberty Rising and everyone else who helped organize this wonderful community celebration!
Yesterday, the Liberty Rotary Club proudly participated in the Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Unity Walk. Our team showed incredible spirit by walking in three locations: New York City, Hurleyville, NY, and New Orleans.
Through our collective efforts, we raised important funds to support the ongoing search for better treatments, and ultimately, a cure, for this devastating disease. We are honored to be part of this crucial cause and grateful to all the donors and participants that supported our team.
Please join us and/or consider making a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Parkinson’s Unity Walk - Team Liberty Rotary Club.
To join our team contact Bill Silver at : billsilver51@gmail.com
To make a donation please use the following link: "https://give.michaeljfox.org/event/2025-parkinsons-unity-walk/e636861 ''.
Then choose Liberty Rotary Club when asked "Would you like to credit to a specific fundraiser or team."
Thank you!
Thank you to all that supported our raffle.
This year's performance of “From the Heart” on Sunday, April 6th, was truly something special. The show featured the phenomenal Joanna Gass and the Search and Rescue Orchestra, joined by an all-star lineup of special guests: Cris Spinner, Brad Rutledge, Beth and Scott Bierko, and Gary Siegel. Every performer brought their A-game, delivering unforgettable performances that had the crowd singing, clapping, and dancing along to a wide array of musical genres.
With delicious food from A Single Bite and refreshing drinks crafted by Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, the afternoon was made even more memorable.
All proceeds from the event went to benefit two incredible causes: the 98.3 WSUL Heart-A-Thon and Thunder 102’s Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon. The performance was presented in honor of Arthur Gass Jr., who was taken from this world far too soon.
A tremendous thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and supported the event—and an especially big thanks to the performers, who generously shared their amazing talents to support these meaningful causes.
With delicious food from A Single Bite and refreshing drinks crafted by Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, the afternoon was made even more memorable.
All proceeds from the event went to benefit two incredible causes: the 98.3 WSUL Heart-A-Thon and Thunder 102’s Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon. The performance was presented in honor of Arthur Gass Jr., who was taken from this world far too soon.
A tremendous thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and supported the event—and an especially big thanks to the performers, who generously shared their amazing talents to support these meaningful causes.
The Liberty Rotary Club’s Team ALStars had an amazing experience participating in the Scranton Half-Marathon! We ran and walked in honor of Air Force Veteran John W. McCormack, a Jeffersonville native who was diagnosed with Bulbar ALS. John is the brother of one of our dedicated members, making this cause especially close to our hearts.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we raised over $3,500 for ALS TDI. We’re hopeful that these donations will contribute to advancing treatment options, and ultimately lead to a cure for this devastating disease.
The Liberty Rotary Club hosted a heartwarming and festive St. Pawtrick's Day Party to benefit Catskill Animal Rescue(CARe), drawing an enthusiastic crowd of animal lovers and supporters. The event was extremely well attended, with guests embracing the lively atmosphere filled with camaraderie, good cheer, and a shared passion for helping animals in need. The true stars of the day were our four-legged guests, who charmed attendees with their adorable and endearing qualities.
This year’s event proved to be an overwhelming success, raising significantly more funds than the previous year to support CARe’s mission. Our generous sponsors and attendees gave from the heart and we sincerely thank you all. The Liberty Rotary Club is proud to have sponsored this event to support CARe, as they continue to provide a clean, safe and healthy atmosphere for pets looking for their forever homes.
Thank you to all the volunteers who made this event possible and to Bridge and Tunnel Brewery for providing the venue for such an important event.
The Liberty Rotary Club and Liberty High School Interact had a fantastic time bringing our games to the All Things Liberty Winter Festival! Held at Liberty High School, the event offered a wide array of activities, promoted literacy, had an assortment of vendors, and delicious food. All of this provided a fun and entertaining day for the whole family. Thanks to the Liberty Central Schools staff and everyone that helped create such a memorable day.
A huge congratulations to everyone who played a role in making the 2025 98.3 WSUL Heart-A-Thon a tremendous success! Thanks to your dedication, the event raised over $80,000 to support the prevention, education, and treatment of heart disease, right here in Sullivan County. Your hard work and commitment have led to an incredible fundraising achievement—one that has the potential to save lives.
The Liberty Rotary Club is proud to have had so many members actively involved in the planning, execution, and fundraising for this important event. From distributing and selling heart cards to making financial contributions and assisting on the day of the event, our club was honored to support WSUL in its mission to promote heart health in our region.
The 4:00 hour featured the Rotary Clubs of Sullivan County, and was dedicated to the memory of our dearly departed fellow Rotarian -Tony Sinacore. Discussion focused on the impact of Rotary and how the Heart-A-Thon's donations have assisted in heart-healing for our members and loved ones. Special thanks to Shirley Sinacore for being at the Heart-A-Thon during this hour that honored her late husband. Tony is one of many Rotarians that received cardiac care in our region. We are hopeful that Tony's memory will inspire all of us to be kind, cherish those dear to us, and continue his legacy of service.
Thank you to everyone that made this year’s Heart-A-Thon have such meaningful impact!
Mark your calendar for the 2nd Annual Liberty Rotary Club - St. Pawtrick’s Day Party to benefit Catskill Animal Rescue (CARe). Don your festive green garb to this event that will leave you feline good, on Saturday, March 8th, at Bridge and Tunnel Brewery from 2-5. It promises to be a howling good time to benefit our four-legged friends.
Sponsorship forms are available meow at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KSDFJVwt2KHtJI4IewCT6NGTIMQOYEr2/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100751881828513537907&rtpof=true&sd=true
A $20 donation gets you admission to the pawty, a hamburger or hot dog, a dessert item, and a beverage from the bar. While there, meet some canine companions, get your picture taken with friends or your well-behaved dog(the best dressed dog wins a prize), and enjoy a day of festivity, with opportunities for raffles and a 50/50. All proceeds benefit CARe.
Dog-gone it, you don’t want to miss the fun!
The Liberty Rotary Club is immensely proud of Liberty Rotarian Judy Siegel for receiving the Karen Minogue Award for Distinguished Service. This prestigious award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional volunteer support for the Community Foundation and is named in tribute to the organization’s past President & CEO. Judy’s dedication to making a meaningful impact both locally and globally is truly inspiring. We congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition and express our profound appreciation for her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others.
Mother Nature has spoken! Due to numerous factors, the From The Heart event is cancelled. The performers hope to reschedule for a later date. Stay tuned for more information!
The Liberty NY Rotary Club has launched a fundraising campaign to support victims of the devastating wildfires currently ravaging Los Angeles, California. In collaboration with local Rotary Clubs in the affected areas, our Club is working to assess the urgent needs of those impacted by this disaster and provide immediate relief.
Disaster relief has been a cornerstone of the Liberty NY Rotary Club's mission for many years. From New York to Texas, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Haiti, our Club has mobilized resources, partnered with other Rotary Clubs, and worked alongside community organizations, businesses, and individuals to support those in crisis. Through these efforts, we have built a strong network of response teams with organizations such as VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters), FEMA, Operation Endeavor, and the PC-12 Tango Whiskey Squadron.
From January 26th to February 1st, 2025, the Liberty NY Rotary Club (LNYRC) Disaster Preparedness and Relief Team made a significant impact on disaster readiness in Puerto Rico, a region that has historically faced devastating hurricanes and earthquakes. The team, consisting of Irving Kaplan, Dan Parkhurst, Gary Siegel, and Gary Silver, traveled to the island with the mission to enhance resilience and preparedness in the face of future natural disasters.
The team’s efforts included participation in the three-day Puerto Rico VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) Conference, where they connected with key organizations such as FEMA and VOAD. These vital meetings focused on fostering collaboration, cooperation, coordination, and communication, which are essential for improving disaster preparedness across Puerto Rico.
“Puerto Rico's challenges are immense, particularly with a fragile power grid that often leaves communities vulnerable during and after disasters. Our team is committed to making sure the island’s Rotary clubs and communities are better equipped to respond and recover when the next disaster strikes,” said Irving Kaplan, Member of the LNYRC Disaster Preparedness Team.
In collaboration with Rotary District 7000 leadership, the Liberty Rotary team developed a comprehensive Disaster Preparedness Plan, which lays the groundwork for strengthening local disaster response efforts. The team identified and met with six pilot Rotary clubs across Puerto Rico, located in San Juan, Mayagüez, Yauco, Manatí, Guayama, and Quebradillas. These clubs were selected as the first to implement disaster preparedness strategies, with a goal to spark broader engagement from their members and local stakeholders.
“The response from the pilot clubs was incredibly positive. Some clubs were already in the process of forming their disaster preparedness committees, while others have made tremendous strides by reaching out to community stakeholders to establish priorities and goals for the next six months,” said Dan Parkhurst, a member of the team. “Our goal is to ensure that Rotary clubs across the island are ready—not if, but when—disaster strikes.”
The Liberty NY Rotary team’s visit was met with overwhelming gratitude, and the work of the team was formally recognized. During their trip, each of the LNYRC team members were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by Rotary District 7000 Governor, Marco Bilen-Thillet, in acknowledgment of their invaluable service and collaboration with local Rotary clubs in Puerto Rico.
“The efforts of the Liberty Rotary team have not only helped prepare Puerto Rico for future challenges but also provided a spark of hope and urgency for ongoing community involvement in disaster preparedness,” said D7000 Governor Belen-Thillet. “This partnership will go a long way in ensuring the island's resilience for years to come.”
As the Liberty NY Rotary Club Disaster Preparedness and Relief Team continues to work alongside Puerto Rico’s Rotary District 7000, the lasting impact of their mission will strengthen the island’s ability to survive, recover, and rebuild after disasters.
Numerous Liberty Rotarians joined Team Strike Out ALZ in the Sue Bunce Memorial Polar Bear Plunge. Their team successfully raised significant funds to support the fight against Alzheimer's. Thank you to these courageous individuals who braved the icy waters to help raise awareness, and hopefully bring about a cure, for this devastating disease!
You can still make a donation at: https://act.alz.org/.../ActiveE.../NY-HudsonValleyChapter...
Our Annual Winter Raffle is SOLD OUT!
Thanks to all who donated for a chance to win!
Thanks to all who donated for a chance to win!
If you missed out, you can still donate!
Liberty NY Rotary Club Foundation Fund
Liberty Rotary Club Scholarship Fund
Thanks for your continued support of our
Local, Regional, National and International
Rotary Programs!
Liberty Rotary Club Scholarship Fund
Thanks for your continued support of our
Local, Regional, National and International
Rotary Programs!
Liberty Interact students assisted a project benefitting seniors residing in numerous residences throughout our area, by wrapping gifts, writing donor tags, and organizing deliveries to each nursing home. This initiative supported 297 seniors who received gift bags to brighten their holidays.
Additionally, Liberty Rotary Club volunteers prepared special holiday gifts for 130 seniors who receive Meals on Wheels. They wrapped cozy socks paired with a heartfelt poem. This thoughtful gesture was sponsored by the Liberty Rotary Club. The gifts were delivered to the Sullivan County Nutrition Site on December 23rd, where they were distributed to each senior by the Nutrition Site team.
These initiatives were spearheaded by Jannetta MacArthur and a host of volunteers, to assure our seniors have someone to remember them this holiday season.
Thank you to the many hands that played a part in making this event happen.
Liberty Rotary Club held its annual holiday party on Thursday! Not only did we have a wonderful party, but our club also presented a check for $7,200 to "A Single Bite", which was raised through this year's Dave Thomson Spirit, Beer and Wine Tasting.
Proceeds of over $600 from the holiday party plus $150 contributed by the club support polio eradication.
Happy Holidays to All!
The Liberty Rotary Club and A Single Bite enjoyed a fantastic evening at the 12th Annual Dave Thomson Spirit, Beer, and Wine Tasting held last night. The event was filled with fun and camaraderie, and it successfully raised significant funds to support the Liberty Rotary Club Scholarship Fund and A Single Bite’s initiatives. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the event sponsors, food and beverage donors, attendees, and everyone who contributed to making this night a success. Special thanks to Foster Supply Company that let us use their venue and contributed food and staffing to make this event possible.
The event raised $19,451, of which $12,151 will go to support scholarships. The other $7,150 will be given to "A Single Bite" to assist them in their mission to provide healthy meals to those most in need.
Take a look at our video slideshow featuring the Liberty Rotary Club Choir: I Saw Her Standing There
Below, please find all the generous sponsors that donated to this event that supports these two incredibly worthy causes.
Click on the "read more" button to see photos of the event.
Please consider making a donation to help those that have recently been impacted by hurricanes. Your contributions will help rebuild lives. Please donate at: https://cfosny.org/our-funds/project-funds/liberty-new-york-rotary-club-foundation-fund/
The Liberty Rotary Club held our 55th Annual Spaghetti Supper on October 29th at the Liberty High School Cafeteria. Our team worked seamlessly to ensure our many guests enjoyed a delicious meal in a warm and welcoming setting.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us to share a meal and support this cherished tradition. Particular appreciation goes to the food services staff at Liberty High School who prepared a delicious meal and allowed us to assist in serving our guests. A special thank you to the Liberty High School Interact Club for their invaluable assistance during the event, and to the cast of this year’s musical, Cinderella, who brought a delightful touch of royalty and fun to the evening.
Proceeds from the supper will be evenly shared between Liberty High School Interact and Liberty Rotary Club, helping to fund a variety of programs and initiatives that serve our community.
The Thalmann family hosted a fantastic event on Sunday, 10/14, with "Stepping Easy with Ellen," a lively line dancing party benefiting The Daniel Thalmann Scholarship Fund. It was a joyful day filled with fun for everyone who attended this event held at Bridge and Tunnel Brewery. The food was plentiful and delicious, the craft beers were a hit, and the atmosphere was full of celebration. It was heartwarming to see so many gather in honor of Danny Thalmann’s legacy of service. His daughters, family, and friends did an outstanding job organizing the experience dedicated to ensuring educational opportunities for young people.
The Liberty Rotary Club was honored to be one of the sponsors of the event and contribute some of the food. Many of our members attended to show their support for this meaningful cause.
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved fellow Rotarian, Tony(Anthony) Sinacore, who left us on October 5th, 2024 after a life of service and friendship. Tony was a valued member of the Liberty Rotary Club and always embodied the Rotary spirit of "Service Above Self." His kindness, dedication, and unwavering commitment to making the world a better place touched the lives of so many, both within the club and beyond.
Tony first joined Liberty Rotary Club in 2007. He is a Paul Harris Fellow +4 and is noted for his kindness and generosity. His soft-spoken and warm demeanor made him well like and loved by all of us that knew him. It is hard to imagine our club without his wisdom, compassion and friendship.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife Shirley, his family, and all those who loved him. Tony will be greatly missed, but his legacy of service, leadership, and kindness will remain in our hearts forever.
Rest in Peace Tony!
The Liberty Rotary Club was delighted to add some extra fun to SALT’s (Sullivan Allies Leading Together) Community Unity Day. It was a beautiful day, perfect for local organizations to share their resources and connect with neighbors. The Liberty Rotary Club entertained both youth and adults with carnival-style games, while the Monticello Rotary Club served up some delicious food. A heartfelt thank you to SALT for organizing such a positive, community-building event, and to all the volunteers who contributed their time to make it a success.
The Liberty Rotary Club is proud to support the Sullivan 180 Healthiest Fire Department Challenge, dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of our county’s firefighters. Recognizing the invaluable contributions firefighters make to our community, we are thrilled to assist those who dedicate their lives to ensuring our safety as they strive for healthier lifestyles. Pictured here are Liberty and Monticello Rotarians presenting a check to the Kauneonga Lake Fire Department in honor of their commitment to pursuing good health. Together, we celebrate their success!
What happens when you mix the Liberty Rotary Club with amazing neighbors, great music, and delicious food? You get an unforgettable party! A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the Dance for Special Olympics yesterday. Extra thanks to all that worked to make this event possible. It was a fantastic time for a great cause!
The Liberty Rotary Club is thrilled to welcome our newest member, Rebecca Skoda! Rebecca has already made significant contributions through her service with our club, and we’re eager to see what we can achieve together moving forward. A warm welcome to you, Rebecca! In the photo, you can see Rebecca Skoda with her sponsor, Barbi Neumann Marty, and Jack Strassman, our Assistant District Governor.
Liberty Rotary Club held its second of three annual "Dollar and Coin Drops" yesterday. (The next one will be near the winter holidays.) As has been true in the past, the community gave generously to support the assistance we provide and the work that we do. Thanks so much to all who stopped to drop some money into our buckets! Extra special thanks to all those that volunteered to assist at this fundraiser.
Liberty Rotary Club was delighted to host our neighboring clubs at our annual Region 5 meeting and barbecue. Multiple clubs were represented, sharing fellowship and reporting all the great things our clubs our accomplishing to make our region and our world a better place to live.
The guest speaker for the evening was Stuart Hirsch, who discussed his role in transporting, by helicopter, those in need of medical assistance to facilities best able to help them through Airborne Emergency Medical Services and Medevac with the Air Methods LifeNet of New York HELO and PC-12 teams. Their lifesaving aeromedical assets provide residents of Sullivan, Ulster and Orange Counties with a specialized and highly trained crew of expert pilots and advanced clinicians who stabilize and transport traumatically injured and the critically ill from the scenes of accidents and outlying hospitals to Trauma Centers and academic centers of excellence. By utilizing air resources, they help to connect the rural Catskill and Hudson Valley communities with the highest level of emergency care and transport so that they have the best possibility of survivability. They also perform longer range aeromedical transports to national centers of medical care, such as the Cleveland and Mayo Clinics, for consultation and treatment. We thank Stuart for speaking and more importantly for the essential live-saving work that he performs with his group.
Thank you to everyone that attended the meeting on August 7th. We hope you enjoyed your time and Stuart's talk as much as we did.
Special thanks to everyone at Liberty Rotary Club that planned, set-up, cooked, served, organized and cleaned up at the event.
Team Liberty Rotary Club was delighted to participate in this year's Monticello Rotary "Monster Walk and Run". Our collective efforts allowed us to submit over $2,300 in support of the event and the Sullivan County Veteran's Coalition.
Two members of Team Liberty Rotary, Beth and Hope, were top finishers in their age category. Congratulations on a very strong run.
Thank you to everyone that supported this great event and made contributions to assist our veterans.
Liberty Rotary Club gave from the heart and partnered with other Sullivan County Rotary Clubs to gather pints for our August 3rd blood drive. A special promotion gave a certificate to all donors for a free pint of beer at Resorts World Catskills. Saving lives and free beer, it doesn't get much better than that. Thanks to everyone that came out to donate. Special thanks to Resorts World Catskills for allowing us to hold the event on their property and for sponsoring the "Pint for a Pint" promotion.Our next blood drive will be on October 5th in Liberty.
Each year Liberty Rotary Club initiates and participates in a plethora of programs and activities to improve the world. Through our efforts, we raise substantial funds and assure they reach those than can use them best to improve lives locally and beyond. Thank you to all that made this past year so very successful. To watch the video slideshow, click on the image below.
It's time for Liberty Rotary Club's Summer Raffle. Initiatives like this allow our club to raise the funds to accomplish all the good things we do. Tickets cost $5 each or get three for $10. First prize is $500 cash, second prize is $250 cash and third prize is $100 cash. The drawing will be held on September 18th.
See any Liberty Rotarian to get in it to win it!
Thanks to Liberty Rising and The Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce for including Liberty Rotary Club as part of this year's 4th of July Parade. It is wonderful to be part of a close knit community like Liberty, NY and to be part of something so positive. The village was brimming with energy and activity as the parade progressed. We appreciate all those that came out to participate in the parade and those that came down to watch, sample the foods, and patronize the vendors.
Congratulations to Liberty Rotary Club’s own Jack Strassman, who last night was chosen as a District 7210 Rotarian of the Year!
Jack has dedicated his life to “service above self”. His long list of contributions to serving our club and district include: Liberty Rotary Club President four times, Liberty Rotary Club Treasurer one time, Sargent at Arms two times and a plethora of committee chairmanships and memberships. At the District level, Jack has been an Assistant Governor for Region 5 for the past 4 years and serves on the Membership Committee and Innovative Clubs subcommittee.
What is most impressive about Jack is that he does an astounding amount of work, while removing ego from the equation. He is a wonderful man doing incredible work and seeks nothing in return, but the satisfaction of a job well done and the goal of improving lives. Through his actions, Rotary is able to make the world a better place.
We are fortunate to have men like Jack Strassman in this world!
Jack has dedicated his life to “service above self”. His long list of contributions to serving our club and district include: Liberty Rotary Club President four times, Liberty Rotary Club Treasurer one time, Sargent at Arms two times and a plethora of committee chairmanships and memberships. At the District level, Jack has been an Assistant Governor for Region 5 for the past 4 years and serves on the Membership Committee and Innovative Clubs subcommittee.
What is most impressive about Jack is that he does an astounding amount of work, while removing ego from the equation. He is a wonderful man doing incredible work and seeks nothing in return, but the satisfaction of a job well done and the goal of improving lives. Through his actions, Rotary is able to make the world a better place.
We are fortunate to have men like Jack Strassman in this world!
The Liberty Rotary Club returned to its summer home at Hanofee Park on 6/26/24 for a triple celebration.
The evening started with the recognition of our scholarship recipients and the sponsors that made these awards possible. The majority of graduates that earned these honors were able to join us for this event. We were delighted to hear about their future plans and all the incredible plans they are making to be successful adults.
At this same meeting, our club honored members of the club that had reached milestone years of membership, a tradition started last year. Members are honored that reach 5 year increments in their service to the club.(5 years, 10 years, 15 years...)
As long as we were celebrating, it was a great time recognize the outgoing board members and the new board for 2024-25. The board governs the club and judiciously chooses the projects and charities that we support. Thanks so much to everyone that served last year and to those that have stepped forward to lead us for the forthcoming Rotary year.
Sponsors of this year's scholarships include the following:
Liberty Rotary Club could not accomplish all the good work we do without the generosity of our community. Yesterday was the first of three coin drops we hold each year. Thanks to the many people that stopped and dropped dollars and coins into our buckets, we raised over $1,150 to support our many service initiatives. Thank you to all that stopped, and to our volunteers, who endured some high temperatures to make the collection possible.
The guest speakers at our June 19th meeting were Megan Hobby and Danielle D'Agata. They came to speak about the forthcoming Dylan Dainack Memorial 5k in Liberty, to be held on September 21, 2024.
Liberty Rotary Club is delighted to be one of the race sponsors.
Dylan was a beloved community member and a Fallsburg police officer. The event is being held in memory of Dylan, and to help end the stigma of drug addiction. Proceeds from the event will benefit "Hope Not Handcuffs", a program designed to help those experiencing problems with addiction to get the help they need.
Liberty Rotary Club is delighted to be one of the race sponsors.
Dylan was a beloved community member and a Fallsburg police officer. The event is being held in memory of Dylan, and to help end the stigma of drug addiction. Proceeds from the event will benefit "Hope Not Handcuffs", a program designed to help those experiencing problems with addiction to get the help they need.
To register for the event, please go to: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Liberty/DylanDainackMemorial5k
In recognition of all those that have given their lives for the safety and security of our country, Liberty Rotary Club participated in this year's Liberty Memorial Day Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony. We honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice, so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.
Liberty and Monticello Rotary Clubs enjoyed a fabulous night out at the Forestburgh Playhouse Tavern, featuring the incomparable talents of Somerville! The food was excellent, the company outstanding and the music was sizzling hot. Thanks to the generosity of Forestburgh Playhouse, a portion of the proceeds was shared with each of the two participating clubs. As a result, not only did we have a fantastic evening, but each club took home a check for $500. Thank you to our hosts The Forestburgh Playhouse and the band Somerville for giving us such a memorable evening.
Liberty Rotary Club was proud to assist Thunder 102/104.5 in their Country Cares for St Jude Kids Radiothon. Our group has participated by selling Boot Cards, distributing Boot Cards to local businesses, acting as celebrity bartenders, making direct donations, and serving on the Radiothon committee. The event raised $147,135. With the help of many Rotarians and Rotary friends, the boot card donations that were collected this year totaled $12,546. Thanks to all who volunteered. Special thanks to The Boys and Girls Club kids who collected $1,277. All donations go to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help BOOT CANCER!
Liberty Rotary has been serving meals at The Interfaith Food Pantry for many years. One issue that makes it a bit challenging is that we never know how many guests will actually arrive. The May 15th Dinner had a small attendance comparative to the others we have done this year. However, no matter how many arrive, no person in this county should ever go without a healthy meal. Thank you to all the Rotarians prepared and served our guests.
Liberty Rotary Club had a wonderful time providing games to the amazing Cinco de Mayo Celebration on May 4th in downtown Liberty. The dancers were outstanding, the food exceptional, and the atmosphere jubilant! We were delighted to be part of something so special, that brought the community together. We also got to wish one of our favorite Rotary couples a Happy Anniversary as Mr. Terry and Mrs. Terry celebrated 28 years together.
Thanks to all that made this event possible. Additional thanks to all the Rotarians that came out to provide activities for our local youth.
Liberty Rotary Club was very proud to participate in this year's Michael J. Fox Unity Walk to Eradicate Parkinson's. Although the main event was held in New York City, the club took a three-pronged approach with representatives at walks in New York City, Hurleyville, NY and New Orleans.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of so many, our club has raised over $5,900 to help eliminate this terrible disease.
We are very happy with the success of this event, and hope that one day a cure will be found, so that this walk will no longer be necessary.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation is proud to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the Parkinson’s Unity Walk in Central Park on April 27, 2024.
Every year, thousands gather in New York City’s Central Park for an event that is more than just a walk.
100% of the funds raised go directly to Parkinson’s research and public policy priorities. Last year, this community raised over $975,000 for Parkinson’s research and policy with an additional $1 million dollar-for-dollar match from Connie and Steve Ballmer. All of this culminated in the largest amount ever fundraised at the Parkinson’s Unity Walk in a single year: nearly $2 million!
The Liberty Rotary is excited to announce that we will be participating in the Parkinson’s Unity Walk. Not only will members participate in the Unity Walk in Central Park, but members will also participate virtually by walking on the Hurleyville Rail Trail on April 27th at 10:30am.
Let’s unite and raise awareness in supporting Parkinson’s disease research. You can support this cause by participating in a $10 Raffle. The contents of the basket are valued at $275. Please contact a Liberty Rotarian or Venmo @Alyssa-Thalmann.
The Liberty Rotary Club was delighted to join the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce Community Clean-Up Day on April 20th. We dedicated our efforts to tidying up various areas within the Village of Liberty, significantly reducing litter along the roadsides. A heartfelt thank you to all who volunteered their time to support environmental efforts and enhance the village's aesthetics.
The Liberty Rotary Club decided to switch gears for an evening and indulge in the culinary delights prepared by The Catskill Hospitality Institute at SUNY Sullivan. Led by Master Chef Fay, the talented students showcased their skills with exquisite appetizers, a sumptuous main course, and an array of desserts that were both delectable and visually stunning.
Also, part of our evening was our guest speaker Courtney Mish, the Development Manager for the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Courtney spoke of the impact ALS has on so many and the current lack of significant treatments or a cure. She further explained how her organization has a team of dedicated scientists working day and night to beat this dreaded neurological disease.
We want to extend our sincere gratitude to The Catskill Hospitality Institute at SUNY Sullivan and to Courtney for making our evening with the Liberty Rotary Club so unforgettable and meaningful. The cuisine surpassed our expectations, and the students showcased remarkable talent and professionalism. Courtney's dedication to battling ALS was truly inspiring. Additionally, our members thoroughly enjoyed the chance to bond over a fantastic meal and each other's company.
Liberty Rotary Club is honored and delighted to be chosen for the Jeff Bank Community Service Award of $1,000 as a result of our fundraising efforts for this year's W.S.U.L. Heart-A-Thon. Thank you to Jeff Bank for their commitment to our community and to everyone that made this year's Heart-A-Thon a great success!
Liberty Rotarians are pawssionate about animals. On March 10th, Liberty Rotary Club hosted a St. Pawtrick's Day pawty to benefit Catskill Animal Rescue. The event was very well attended and raised the impressive sum of over $4,400, which is no small amount of kibble. Imagine the pawsibilities of all the good that can be done with that much money assisting our four legged friends.
Thank you so much to all those that worked to make this event a success, including our generous sponsors, Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, all those that assisted from Liberty Rotary Club, and our guests. Also thanks to all our canine friends that came out to make the event really special. Right meow we're all feeling great about such a pawsitive experience!
Check out the pictures from this pawsome event:
No matter how strong your commitment to a cause, one might question if you were willing to throw yourself into frigid waters to support it. However, Team "Strike Out Alz" is so committed to eradicating Alzheimer's and assuring assistance to those afflicted with this dreaded disease, that they jumped into wintry waters not once, but two times to raise funds. The end product of their fundraising efforts produced the incredible sum of over $16,000 to help in this quest to Strike Out Alzheimer's. Thank you to everyone that was crazy enough to make these jumps and to all that made contributions. Liberty Rotary Club members that were on the team included Terry Grafmuller, Beth Bernitt, Hope Blecher, Jonathan Gavin(Representing Meg Gavin), Theresa Grafmuller, Jaime Schmeiser, Alyssa Thalmann and Jessica Thalmann Osterhout. Non-Rotarian members of the team included: Susan Bunce, Lance Castillo, Marcia Fink, Carmin Ribaudo, Erika Ribaudo, and Robert Schwartz.
Congratulations to all those at Liberty Central Schools that created and hosted the "All Things Liberty Winter Festival". Hundreds of community members came out to participate in games, karaoke, craft activities and other interesting pursuits. Additionally, there were vendors of food and unique items for sale. Liberty Rotary Club brought along some games to add to the fun, at which people young and old could show their skills at traditional carnival games like ring toss, football throwing, bean bag hurling, and the ever popular toilet tissue toss. Liberty Rotary Club was proud to be there and support this wonderful event. Thanks to all our volunteers and our awesome community kids, who were well behaved, polite and a very fun group with whom to spend the day.
The 46th annual W.S.U.L. Heart-A-Thon was once again an incredible success, which over the years has raised over three million dollars. The community gave extremely generously to support a healthier Sullivan County.
The majority of our members participated in raising funds for this event. Fundraising efforts included assisting in distribution and collection of heart cards throughout the area, selling hearts at Resorts World Catskills, participation in the "From the Heart" performance, purchasing meals on Hearty Meal Thursday, seeking direct contributions, and so much more. Members of our club that served on the Heart-A-Thon Committee include Gary Siegel, Judy Siegel, Joanna Gass, Paul Ciliberto and our almost member, Monticello Rotarian Les Kristt.
Thank you to everyone that made this event so successful and for your tireless efforts!
Organizations associated with this event include: Garnet Health Catskills, Sullivan 180, A Single Bite, STEAMFund.org and Bold Gold Media. All of these groups are committed to bringing heart health to our region.
The February 5th "From The Heart" performance was a great success, with featured artist and fellow Rotarian Joanna Gass, along with Monticello Rotarian Chris Spinner, both backed by the Search & Rescue Orchestra. Comics Jesse Gambino and Keith Prince entertained the crowd and the food provided by Foster Supply Hospitality was outstanding. The event raised an outstanding $2,180 for the Heart-a-Thon! Thank you to all the volunteers, the performers who donated their time, and all those that came out to support this event.
A number of Liberty Rotarians took the plunge to raise funds to fight Alzheimer's on January 20th. Frigid temperatures did not stop this dedicated (and a bit looney) group from jumping into White Lake on a day that never made it out of the mid teens in temperature. Team Strike Out Alz donned their bowling pin and bowling ball outfits to make a splash in bringing attention to the painful impact that Alzheimer's makes on so many. Through their efforts, thousands of dollars has been raised to Strike Out Alzheimer's. Thank you to these amazing and chilly individuals for this exceptional fundraiser.
Liberty Rotary purchased the 3rd and final gift for Sullivan County Office of the Aging Meals on Wheels Seniors who are home bound. The gift they received for this round was LED flashlights, with an inspiring poem. We are hopeful that this simple gift will assure many seniors that they are in our thoughts at this busy time of year.
Seniors are often forgotten and many have few visitors. In 2023 we were able to reach out to 167 seniors in Sullivan County and brighten their lives by delivering 3 gifts throughout the year.
Our club was very fortunate to receive a $4000 grant from the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan to fund this project. We thank the foundation and all those that worked to make this project possible for our seniors.
Liberty Rotary Club has been serving meals at the Interfaith Food Pantry for many years. Through this effort, we provide a quality meal, in a warm and inviting atmosphere, to those that would like to attend. Our club does four to five dinners per year. Other organizations in the area fill in the rest of the calendar. The dinner on December 20th was very well attended and the chicken parmigiana, baked ziti, salad, dessert and gift/snack bags all seemed appreciated. The event seemed to be brimming with holiday cheer. Thanks to all that assisted in the preparation and serving of this important community service.
On December 16th, Liberty Rotary Club held one of its triannual Dollar and Coin Drops in Liberty, NY. The weather was outstanding and the mood merry as a large number of our club members came out to extend our buckets to the community in the hopes that they would offer their dollars and coins. As usual, our neighbors gave strong support of the work we do. The event raised about $1,300 to assist us in our mission of doing good and making positive change in the world. Thanks to everyone that came out and dropped money in our containers and to all that assisted in the collection.
Liberty Rotary Club is delighted to welcome our two newest members, Bethany Foxworth and Jodie Jackson, who were inducted on Wednesday, 12/6/23. Barbi Neumann Marty presided over their induction. Judy Siegel was the sponsor of these two exceptional additions to the group. Shown in the first photo, from left to right, are Barbi, Bethany, Judy and Jodie. We all look forward to working with Bethany and Jodie to make our world better!
Liberty Rotary Club could not be prouder of our member, Barbi Neumann-Marty, who this week received the SYDA Foundation Community Service Award 2023.
Barbi is a long term member of our club and involved in a great many committees and initiatives. She has also served as a member of the club board for many years. She has dedicated her life to giving all she can to improve the circumstances of others. Barbi is a great person and a great Rotarian.
She is the senior unit director of the Town of Wallkill Boys and Girls Club, which serves North Orange and Sullivan counties. She is also a community-based provider for the Children’s Home and a member of the board of CARE.
Barbi was honored at a ceremony held at the Sullivan County Government Center on November 15. She gave a heartwarming speech about family, community and the power of putting "service above self".
Barbi Neumann-Marty is exceptionally worthy of this recognition. Her dedication to the community and her endless contribution of time to help so many is incredible.
Congratulations to Barbi for this honor, of which you are so deserving.
Shown below are the Rotarians there were able to be present for Barbi's Award Ceremony.
We can't thank our sponsors enough for their incredible generosity in supporting the Dave Thomson Spirit, Beer and Wine Tasting. Your assistance will allow us to offer a great many scholarships and for "A Single Bite" to serve meals to a tremendous number of community members.
This year's Liberty Rotary Club Coat Drive and Distribution was even more successful than one could have imagined. A large crowd arrived early at our October 28th distribution event, which featured about 500 coats to choose from and hundreds of children's outfits. Liberty Rotarians assisted the patrons and helped them find the sizes and styles that suited them best. Coats moved out rapidly and virtually everyone that attended was able to get outerwear to assure their families would be able to keep warm this winter. By the end of the event only 5 coats remained. Most of the children's outfits had been claimed as well.
Thank you so very much to all those that donated and collected coats to make this event possible. Additional thanks to all the Rotarians that donated, collected, organized, set-up and assisted customers at this exceptionally important and rewarding event. Thanks to your exceptional efforts, a tremendous number of our community members are going to be kept warm this winter.
Our club participated in the 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Montgomery, NY. Team Liberty Rotary raised $1319 to support this worthy cause. Thank you to everyone that contributed to this fundraising effort and to those that joined in the event. A little rain did not dampen the spirits of Team Rotary, who completed the walk and placed the symbolic pinwheel flowers in the “Garden of Hope”
Shown below are our team members flanked by members of other participating Rotary Clubs. Also shown are the "Garden of Hope" and the opening ceremony.
It is wonderful that we can blend supporting good causes with fellowship.
On Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 the Liberty Rotary Club hosted a Community Dinner at the Interfaith Food Pantry. Attendance was good and our club had numerous members there to prepare the food and serve it to those that needed a good hot meal.
Our club has been participating in this important community service for many, many years and will host three more dinners this year. (Other local organizations take turns creating these weekly dinners.)
Shown below are two of our members serving up the very cheesy meal of beef or vegetarian enchiladas. Note the great care and teamwork these committed professionals put into plating the entree, as presentation is so very important for delivering tasty food. The meal also featured a green salad, rice with beans and chocolate cake.
Thanks to The Interfaith Food Pantry for keeping this important service going. Additional thanks to everyone that showed up to prepare and serve our neighbors.
The Dave Thomson Spirit, Beer and Wine Tasting on Friday, November 3rd was an awesome event. The Arnold House proved to be an ideal location for the event, facilitating great efficiency and comfort to allow for our guests to eat, drink and be merry. Thank you to the committee that put the event together, all those that obtained sponsors and guests, everyone that made donations, those that cooked, our servers, and everyone that worked to make this evening a great win for our scholarship fund and “A Single Bite”. Additional thanks to all the purveyors of food and drink that offered a wide array of tastings to suit anyone’s palate. Extreme thanks to Foster Supply Company for donating their location, staff and hospitality to make this event possible.
Liberty Rotary Club is honored to be recognized as a Friend of the Town of Wallkill Boys and Girls Club.
We greatly value the friendship we share with The Boys and Girls Club because they offer safe spaces for the children in our community to learn essential life lessons, and to become more successful students, better citizens, healthier human beings and finer stewards of our planet. Furthermore, they assure these young people have a network of caring adults to help them get through the difficult and complex challenges of growing up in a world that is filled with tremendous obstacles.
As Rotarians, we try to live our professional and personal lives in accordance with the Four-Way Test. The first question is “Is It the Truth”. The Boys and Girls Club promotes honesty and integrity. Second, “Is It Fair to All Concerned”. Your organization promotes fair play and equality, inside the club and the wider community. Third, “Will it Build Good Will and Better Friendships”. The Boys and Girls Club is all about relationships to make the passage from childhood to adulthood a more positive and enjoyable experience. And fourth, “Will it Be Beneficial to All Concerned”. The Boys and Girls Club is dedicated to providing equity, inclusion and supports to everyone associated with their organization and others in need.
For all these reasons, and more, we are proud to be partners with and good friends of The Town of Wallkill Boys and Girls Club. It is our goal to maintain this relationship well into the future.
We greatly value the friendship we share with The Boys and Girls Club because they offer safe spaces for the children in our community to learn essential life lessons, and to become more successful students, better citizens, healthier human beings and finer stewards of our planet. Furthermore, they assure these young people have a network of caring adults to help them get through the difficult and complex challenges of growing up in a world that is filled with tremendous obstacles.
As Rotarians, we try to live our professional and personal lives in accordance with the Four-Way Test. The first question is “Is It the Truth”. The Boys and Girls Club promotes honesty and integrity. Second, “Is It Fair to All Concerned”. Your organization promotes fair play and equality, inside the club and the wider community. Third, “Will it Build Good Will and Better Friendships”. The Boys and Girls Club is all about relationships to make the passage from childhood to adulthood a more positive and enjoyable experience. And fourth, “Will it Be Beneficial to All Concerned”. The Boys and Girls Club is dedicated to providing equity, inclusion and supports to everyone associated with their organization and others in need.
For all these reasons, and more, we are proud to be partners with and good friends of The Town of Wallkill Boys and Girls Club. It is our goal to maintain this relationship well into the future.
Liberty Rotary Club had a number of guest speakers at our meeting on 9/27/23.
Our first speakers were members of the local scout troop for girls. Sophia Ferguson and Elaina-Louise Ramirez told us of the hard work they have put in to learn skills and earn merit badges. They also spoke of how much they enjoyed the experience of being a scout. Elaina recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout! Her Eagle Scout Project made improvements to building access at Hanofee Park in Liberty. These improvements make facilities accessible to everyone, including those who may be physically challenged.
Our second set of speakers included Sullivan County’s Poet Laureate - Dr. Sharon Kennedy-Nolle and her Ambassador – Mykenzi. Dr. Kennedy-Nolle spoke of how she shares her passion for poetry with our youth and the myriad of benefits people receive from the experience. Her desire to share this art form and encourage young people to find their voice through poetry is impressive. Mykenzi shared a poem that she wrote, which was quite powerful and delivered with great conviction.
Our final speaker was Theresa Sareo. Theresa is a singer-songwriter who has overcome much trauma in her life. She was visiting our area to present a program called Alive Again. Through the program, she offers students the opportunity to express their own ideas regarding compassion, empathy, kindness, respect and their aspirations in life in reference to disabilities and acceptance. Programs were to be held at Liberty Schools and RJK Middle School in Monticello.
All of our guests delivered powerful messages about the amazing things our youth can accomplish. Their desire to help teens discover their untapped potential was truly inspiring. We thank them for the work that they do and for sharing their stories with our club.
The September 8th Dance to Benefit The Special Olympics was one awesome party! Sponsored by the Liberty Rotary Club, guests from New Hope Community and The Arc Greater Hudson Valley joined many members of our club and community people to dance the night away and enjoy each other's company. Justice Mazzotti of Prestige productions volunteered his time and played a great mix of music to keep the crowd dancing and singing along.
Thank you to everyone that planned and worked at the event. Special thanks to all our neighbors that joined the party to make it such a memorable evening!
Our community has once again shown its support of the good work Liberty Rotary Club does. At our coin drop held on 9/2/23 passers-by dropped over $1,100 into our buckets to allow us to continue helping our community. Thank you to all the generous donors and to the Rotarians that came out on this beautiful Labor Day weekend Saturday to do your part.
Liberty Rotary Club was honored to have District 7210 Governor Peter Sullivan be our guest speaker at our 8/23/23 meeting. He commended our club for setting and reaching multiple goals in the quest to do good for others. He also encouraged our club to embrace this year's initiative to raise awareness of mental health needs, to eliminate the stigma associated with needing assistance with emotional health, and to work to improve access to mental health services. We are always delighted to have Peter visit our club and appreciate his incredible dedication to assisting Rotary clubs throughout the district "Create Hope in the World".
Liberty Rotary Club was delighted to host the August 16th Region 5 Meeting and Barbecue. It was great to meet with our neighboring clubs and find out all the great work being done throughout our Region to perform "service above self".
We also had a great presentation by Gregg Korner about Rotary's efforts locally and across the country to combat Alzheimer's Disease and our role in the forthcoming Walk Against Alzheimer's.
Thanks to all that attended, those that ran the meeting, and all those that prepared and served our meal.
A number of Liberty Rotarians participated in this year's Monticello Rotary Monster Walk and Run. Our club was a $500 sponsor of the event and also raised about $600 in additional funds to support our veterans. We thank Monticello Rotary Club for hosting a great event that does so much good for the people in our community. Thanks to all the Liberty Rotary Club members that came out to be part of the fun on a beautiful day.
This year's Liberty Rotary Club scholarship recipients joined our club on 7/5 for a celebration of their accomplishments. These impressive 2023 Liberty High School graduates have big plans and exciting goals, and we are delighted to be able to assist them in achieving these aspirations. During the meeting, students were presented with their checks and given the opportunity to share a bit about themselves and their course of study, including the colleges they will attend.
The Scholarship Committee did an outstanding job identifying Liberty High's best and brightest and we thank them for their time and efforts.
Below are a number of pictures of our recipients that attended the event as well as some photos of members and guests that were in attendance of this ceremony.
Liberty Rotary Club was proud to present scholarships to a number of students who graduated this year from Liberty High School and Sullivan County BOCES. These impressive young people show tremendous promise and their futures look very bright! We wish them the very best in their forthcoming endeavors. Thank you to the Liberty Rotary Scholarship Committee for the time they spent reading applications, evaluating the merits of all the students that applied and choosing the finest candidates to receive these awards.
We were also fortunate to send two impressive students, who finished their sophomore year, to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, which is a leadership development program. This multi-day experience helps students develop the confidence and interactive skills to become our future leaders. Thanks to the RYLA Committee for selecting our best and brightest to attend.
Below, please find a listing of each scholarship recipient and the generous donors that helped make these scholarships possible.
Liberty Rotarians were proud to represent our club at this year's Liberty July 4th Parade. The weather stayed good just long enough to march in honor of our great country. Thanks to those that organized the event for including us in this Independence Day celebration! Additional appreciation to those that represented our club in the march and all those community members that came out to see the parade and support the Liberty merchants.
On Saturday, July 1 our club held a dollar and coin drive to support many causes and initiatives. In true Sullivan County style, passers-by gave generously by clearing out the change in their console or offering dollars from their wallets. The event raised $1,300 for charity. Thank you to all that worked at that event and to the many people that helped fill our buckets.
This year’s Rotary District 7210 End of the Year Celebration was an exciting evening for Liberty Rotary Club.
Gary Siegel was inducted into the Rotary District 7210 Hall of Fame. Those who know Gary are aware that his commitment to all things Rotary is exceptional, and that he has dedicated countless hours to improving the lives of our neighbors near and far. We are so very proud to have Gary as a member of our club and for all the amazing work that he does. His entry into the Hall of Fame is extremely well deserved. We offer him our sincere appreciation and congratulations!
Additionally, Jack Strassman was sworn in for another year as the District 7210 – Region 5 Assistant District Governor. Jack also exemplifies an incredible commitment to our club and “service above self”. His tireless efforts make a huge difference in the ability of the clubs of Region 5 to accomplish their lofty goals.
Our club also received a “Grow Rotary” certificate. Our Membership Committee, chaired by Judy Siegel, has been dedicated to assuring they bring in the finest people to make Liberty Rotary Club an exceptional group of individuals that can make big things happen. Thank you to the committee and all those members that have joined our ranks to do good in the world.
On June 28th, the Liberty Rotary Club held its Member Longevity Celebration and induction of the incoming executive board for the 2023-24 Rotary year.
The evening, with a 1960's theme, featured many important moments. Highlights are listed below:
1. Dedication of the newly renovated kitchen in the Charlie Topper Rotary Pavilion at Hanofee Park. Supporters of this renovation were our club, Resorts World Catskills, The Town of Liberty Parks and Recreation Department and Dave Thomson. We thank all those that contributed to this great project. Dave Thomson, a former long term member of Liberty Rotary Club left some funds to our club after his passing. Dave was a huge supporter of making improvements to our local parks and a connoisseur of good food. It seemed appropriate that some of his generous donation be used to improve the park kitchen and that he be noted on the commemorative plaque.
2. In what we believe will be an annual tradition, members were recognized for their years of service to Rotary. Members with five or more years of service were given pins to recognize their milestone years of longevity in increments of 5. Each rotary pin had a special commemorative tag to recognize the long term contributions of the recipients. Below are some pictures of some of the members receiving their pins.
3. As each Rotary year begins, another is ending. The past year has been served by a great board under the direction of President Terry Grafmuller. Terry did an exceptional job of running meetings, coordinating events and keeping all things running well. We thank him for his leadership and commitment to our causes. We further thank all those that served on the board to provide judicious decisions to keep our club growing and vibrant.
4. The Liberty Rotary Year 2023-2024 will be a bit different, because it will be the first time our group will have co-presidents. Last night Co-Presidents Bill Silver and Gary Silverman were inducted to the role. They look forward to continuing the incredible momentum that our club has been building for many years. Shown below are Gary, Bill and District Governor Peter Sullivan.
5. Also inducted was an outstanding board of directors. Shown below are: Director Jack Strassman, Secretary Tony Sinacore, Immediate Past President Mr. Terry Grafmuller, Director Meg Gavin, Vice-President Gary Siegel, Treasurer Matt Sush, and Sergeant at Arms Barbi Neumann Marty. Additional executives include Alyssa Thalmann and Jessica Thalmann-Osterhout who were not available for this event. Incoming District 7210 Governor Peter Sullivan presided over the induction ceremony. We thank all board members for donating their time and efforts to making the forthcoming year productive, fun, and full of opportunities to provide "Service Above Self".
6. Beyond all the other exciting moments, we were delighted to welcome two new members to our club last night, Hope Blecher-Croney and Beth Bernitt. Shown are Hope with her mentor Matt Sush (left) and Beth with her Mentor Barbara Blakey. We were fortunate to have incoming District 7210 Governor Peter Sullivan(right) perform the induction ceremony. We are all looking forward to Hope and Beth joining us in doing good in this world.
Thanks to all that contributed to making this evening a success. As we begin the 2023-24 Rotary year, the future looks very bright.
For 70 years, the members of the Liberty Rotary Club have been dedicated to doing their parts to make the community a better place. Our 2022-23 campaign was a memorable one under the leadership of President Terry Grafmuller, Presidents-Elect Dr. William Silver and Gary Silverman, Vice President Gary Siegel, Treasurer Matthew Sush, Secretary Dan Parkhurst, Sergeant-at-Arms Barbi Neumann-Marty and Directors Dan Berkowicz, Fay Cerullo, Charlie Mangini and Joseph Abraham.
The board authorized over $70,000 in donations to local causes this year, and the state of membership is strong, especially with the new additions of Susan Haas-Zelinski, Michelle Quick, Alyssa and Jessica Thalmann, Merri White, Hope Blecher Croney and Beth Bernitt.
Here’s a summary of some of the club’s larger efforts! (Note: They could not be done without the support of our partners and the community-at-large)
Traditions continue
Dave Thomson Spirit, Beer and Wine Fundraiser: Named after late Liberty Rotarian and educator Dave Thomson, this event allows attendees to try locally-produced spirits, beer and wine and raises money for our club’s scholarship fund and efforts to support the fight against food insecurity. This year, we raised approximately $10,000 to fund scholarships for 15 students and $7,000 to benefit local non-profit, A Single Bite.
Hummingbird Awards/Paul Harris Fellows honored: Our club once again honored several Rotarians and community members doing their part to make their home and the greater world a better place, at a luncheon in April. Funds raised benefit our club’s Haiti Clean Water Project. This year, approximately $5,200 was raised to help with our efforts in Haiti
Disaster Preparedness and Relief: Through this Committee, our Club responds to disasters and assists in preparing communities for the next disaster. This past year, we donated money to assist those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, and we distributed solar lights (which can charge mobile devices), water filtration systems, and non-perishable food items in Puerto Rico, less than one week before Hurricane Fiona hit. We are also working on a Rotary Club Preparedness Plan for the Rotary Clubs in District 7000 (which encompasses all of Puerto Rico), so that they can work together to prepare their communities for the next hurricane or earthquake.
Feeding the community: Once a month, our club purchases food and prepares/serves dinners at the Interfaith Food Pantry, providing a good meal to those in the community who need it. We also hold several coin drops, with proceeds benefiting several different local pantries. Furthermore, our club often assists A Single Bite on Thursdays, with members delivering meals the non-profit has prepared to local families in the Liberty area.
Coat Drive: In conjunction with Rotary District 7210’s Warming the Hudson Valley initiative that takes place each fall, our club held its annual coat drive in September. We once again setup in front of the Liberty Senior Center and gave away hundreds of coats, gloves and clothes to local families and residents that needed them.
Combating Alzheimer’s: Several members have participated in events put on by the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter. In September, a group of Liberty Rotarians traveled to Montgomery for the Orange/Sullivan Walk to End Alzheimer’s. In January, the Subzero Heroes’ team Strike Out Alz, which featured seven Liberty Rotarians, held the first ever Freeze for a Cure event on White Lake, as a warmup … figuratively speaking … to the Chapter’s larger event in Berean Lake in February. When all was said and done, Team Strike Out Alz raised $14,000 the most of any team in the Hudson Valley.
Supporting Bold Gold Media NY fundraisers: Each year the generosity of our community is on display during two major fundraisers led by Bold Gold Media Group – the WSUL 98.3 Heart-A-Thon and Thunder 102 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon. Several members of our club take great pride in distributing hearts and boot cards across the county, as well as supporting events that generate proceeds for it. This year the Radiothon and Heart-A-Thon raised $123,783 and $103,198 respectively.
Hanofee Park upgrades: One of our long-term initiatives has been the improvement of the Liberty Rotary Club Charlie Topper Pavilion at Hanofee Park. This year, our Parks Committee, in collaboration with the Town of Liberty Parks and Rec department, got new LED lighting installed at the pavilion, repaired the perimeter of its asphalt pad and poles adding support to the roof, as well as repaired the pavilion sign. The kitchen was also renovated and now boasts a new and higher concrete floor to prevent rain incursions, has new counters for added flexibility and cleanliness, two new stoves and a water heater.
New initiatives
Special Olympics Dance: Last July, our club held its first annual Dance Benefitting the Special Olympics. It raised $1,400, but more importantly it was an inclusive event with members of our club and the community, as well as those New Hope Community and Arc of the Greater Hudson Valley support, dancing the night away together.
Engaging Seniors: Our club’s Jannetta MacArthur has spearheaded a partnership with the Sullivan County Office for the Aging on the Community Friends Engaging Seniors project, which is funded by a Rotary District 7210 grant. Gifts for over 150 members of our elderly population in an effort to let them know that someone is thinking about them. Many seniors deal with a great sense of isolation, so this granted program is devising ways to reach out to the group as a whole to assure no one feels forgotten.
CARE-oke: Last fall, our club held its first CARE-oke for Catskill Animal Rescue event. It was a fun afternoon filled with some classic tunes and truly unforgettable performances, which most importantly, raised $1,200 that will benefit several of our furry friends at the Ferndale-based rescue.
Clothing Shed: Our club recently partnered with St. Pauly Textile Inc. to sponsor a used clothing shed, currently located by Panda Parlor on State Route 52 in Liberty. St. Pauly Textile Inc. will use the items for charitable purposes, and through the partnership, our club will receive a monthly host fee that will support our various community projects. If you wish to donate clothing items, please make sure they are bagged and tied. There is a QR code near the drop chute with tax deduction information!
Want to learn more? Anyone is welcome to attend a Liberty Rotary meeting. We meet on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at Yiasou Greek Restaurant from September-June and at Hanofee Park in July and August. You can also check back here at our website, https://libertynyrotary.org/ and follow us on Facebook and Instagram, to learn more
Our club is partnering with St. Pauly Textile Inc. to sponsor this used clothing shed, currently located by Panda Parlor on State Route 52 in Liberty.
St. Pauly Textile Inc. will use the items for charitable purposes, and through the partnership, our club will receive a monthly host fee that will support our various community projects.
We ask that donated clothing items are bagged and tied. There is a QR code near the drop chute with tax deduction information!
St. Pauly Textile Inc. will use the items for charitable purposes, and through the partnership, our club will receive a monthly host fee that will support our various community projects.
We ask that donated clothing items are bagged and tied. There is a QR code near the drop chute with tax deduction information!
The Community Friends Engaging Seniors project prepared gifts for over 150 members of our elderly population in an effort to let them know that someone is thinking about them. Many seniors deal with a great sense of isolation, so this granted program is devising ways to reach out to the group as a whole to assure no one feels forgotten.
Corn bags were chosen as a gift for recipients because they seemed fitting for seniors who have arthritis and/or other pain. They can be heated in the microwave or placed in the freezer to be used as a warm or cool pack. These corn bags were hand made and the material was chosen to be fitting for men and women. They distributed 55 made for male seniors, and 102 made for female seniors. These were handmade in Tennessee. They were packaged individually in gift bags with instructions on use, as well as a letter and poem, which was included in the gift bags. These gifts were delivered to the Sullivan County Office For the Aging Nutrition site. The Office For the Aging delivered each gift bag to every senior who participates in the Meals on Wheels program.
Special thanks to Liberty Rotarian and Program Chair - Jannetta MacArthur who coordinated purchase of the items and coordinated getting them to The Office for the Aging. Additional thanks to Hope Silverman for assisting in packaging and The Office for the Aging for connecting the group to our local seniors and delivery.
Three members of our club’s Disaster Relief Committee - Gary Siegel, Gary Silver and Irving Kaplan - attended the VOAD Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
They made some very good connections with people from PR VOAD & FEMA and are going to be the connectors between Rotary District 7000 and those organizations.
Liberty Rotary Club honored those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country on Memorial Day by participating in the commemorative events on Monday, May 29th. We were proud to participate in this year's parade and ceremony that pays tribute to our fallen soldiers.
Liberty Rotary Club was proud to assist Thunder 102 and Bold Gold Media at the 12th Annual Thunder 102 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon! The event raised $123,783 to help give children's cancer the boot. Thanks to Thunder 102 for giving our club the opportunity to be part of such an important cause.
Monticello, Liberty, and Livingston Manor Rotary Clubs joined forces to create and host the first ever Wellness Experience. The day featured a blood drive, a wide array of wellness agencies from our region and numerous activities to promote healthy living in Sullivan County.
Special thanks to all the Wellness Agencies who collaborated with us to make this event a success. Further appreciation to Assemblymember Aileen Gunther, Dr. Bill Silver, and Meliss Stickle Director of Community Services for participating with Lori Orestaon-James in the Opening (well recieved) Panel Discussion on the Stigma and State of Mental Health and Wellness. Lianna Maniace, Pedro Tween, Marty Colavito, and Tom Bosket hosted fabulous workshop sessions that were well received by those that attended.
New York Blood Center collected 28 viable pints of greatly needed blood.
Thank you to all that pitched in to make this day possible, including the Wellness Experience Planning Committee. Further thanks to Resorts World Casino for their hospitality and promotion of the event.
LIBERTY –– The Liberty Rotary Club (LRC) recently held their eighth annual Hummingbird Award and Paul Harris Fellow Luncheon in the Liberty High School Cafeteria.
LRC honored Barbi Neumann-Marty, Joanne Gerow, Sharon Toney-Finch of the YIT Foundation, Denise Lombardi, Dr. Ron Israelski, Doug Smith and the Sullivan Public Library Alliance (SUPLA) as the newest “hummingbirds,” while Greg Goldstein, Lori Orestano-James and Theresa Grafmuller were honored as Paul Harris Fellows.
Also, longtime educator and Liberty Rotarian Jack Strassman was recognized as the first recipient of the “Golden Hummingbird Award.”
LRC’s Hummingbird Award recognizes those doing their part to make their community a better place, while the Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals as outstanding Rotarians and/or community leaders who have demonstrated the Four Way Test and performed “service above self.”
All funds raised at the luncheon will benefit the Liberty Rotary Club’s Haiti Clean Water Project, which was established to provide necessary supplies and support to the over 1,000 Haitian families that have received water filtration systems as a result of a global grant from the Rotary Foundation. These systems are providing healthy, clean, potable water to thousands of men, women and children in Cap Haitien.
Our club was happy to team up with Monticello NY Kiwanis Club and Town of Wallkill Boys & Girls Club in helping organize Lori Schneider of NAMI Sullivan County, NY’s performance of “Every Brilliant Thing” at SUNY Sullivan this evening.
Lori’s powerful performance packs an important message and we applaud her for spreading the word about mental illness and available resources!
The benefit of the proceeds from this event go to NAMI to support destigmatizing mental health issues and giving help to those in need.
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Service Above Self/WGSD!
Liberty, NY 12754
United States of America