The club met for lunch at noon at the Corning Radisson (soon-to-be DoubleTree) Hotel for a very special lunchtime meeting in honor of our exchange student and her visiting parents. Vice President Cathy Buck called the meeting to order at 12:05 pm with the ringing of the bell. Club members sang My Country âTis of Thee and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Deacon Ray Defendorf gave the invocation.
The meeting recording may be found here.
Club Service: Bill Boland served as photographer, Ray Defendorf gave the invocation, and Ted Goldwyn was the Cogs editor.
Guests included Vida and Jan, parents of our exchange student Polina, along with Polina's Corning-area host family, Stella and Adam Dupree. Unfortunately, Polina was home ill, as was our President Stu Sammis.
Program: This week's program consisted entirely of a tribute to Polina, her parents, her Corning-area host family, and the intrepid spirit of the Ukrainian people.
Ray Defendorf was the first to speak, and he shared the results of the two "pancake suppers" our Club hosted last spring, during the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The first dinner offered dinners of kovbasa (Ukrainian kielbasa) and latkes (potato pancakes) for sale, and raised $10,000 for Rotary International's Ukrainian relief efforts. The event was so successful, our Club hosted a second event featuring kovbasa and pierogis, which raised an additional $4,000, this time for World Central Kitchen, which provides much-needed food for Ukrainian refugees.
Next up was Mayor Bill Boland, who shared the results of the Holiday Evening with Rotary event in December. The event was another very successful fundraiser for Ukraine, raining $8,000 for humanitarian relief, and it demonstrated this Clubâs ongoing commitment to supporting freedom in Ukraine. Bill also shared the amazing job that Polina did in speaking at the event, during which she was "dignified, graceful and poised far beyond her years." The entire audience stood and gave her a round of applause. In his capacity as Mayor of the City of Corning, Bill offered the City's welcome to Vida and Jan, and shared that the City Council has passed a resolution of support for Ukraine.
Lastly, David Kartzman, our Club's youth exchange officer shared a little more detail on Polina's journey from Ukraine to Corning. She had initially been evacuated to a high school (gymnasium) in Poland, and her friends were dispersed and evacuated elsewhere. As of the invasion of February 24, 2022, Polina had to give up all the normal teenage activities that she loves, especially dance. A year ago, Polina wouldnât have been able to finish high school. Now, working with the high school's guidance office, she is on track to earn a GED from CPP HS, and she will walk with her class in June.
David thanked the Club for its generosity in providing resources and safety for Polina and her family, Wendy Winnett, who in her role as Youth Exchange Counselor has done so much to support Polina, and especially the Duprees for taking on the enormous responsibility of hosting Polina for the entire school year. It has truly been a group effort. Thank you to all âwe've truly made a difference!
To close out the ceremonies, Stella Dupree read a statement from Vida and Ivan, expressing their enormous thanks to our Club for all its hospitality, generosity and support during these unprecedented times.
You may view the recording of the meeting here.
Ernie is still looking for volunteers for the Spelling Bee on March 11th at the Corning-Painted Post Middle School. Sign-ups for volunteers are here.
Our next First Thursday lunch at DoubleTree is 3-2-23. Here's the sign-up.
Meeting adjourned at 1:10 pm