June 2009 - Twelve Area Professionals Join Saratoga Springs Rotary Club During 2008-2009 Rotary Year

The Saratoga Springs Rotary Club inducted twelve new members during the 2008-2009 Rotary year. These individuals joined the 85-member service organization covering the Saratoga area. Rotary is an organization of business and professional people who provide humanitarian service locally and internationally.

The new members pledging their time and talents to the Rotary Club’s activities are:

• Justin Bousquet of Queensbury, an advisor with Wachovia Services in Saratoga Springs;
• Tai Goldston of Wilton, a banker;
• Frederick Harris of Albany, a Boy Scout executive;
• Robert Jackson of Saratoga Springs, a retired engineer;
• Sarah Jurica of Saratoga Springs, assistant branch manager of NBT Bank in Saratoga Springs;
• Kevin Kosach of Granville, a sales representative for Commercial & Personal Coverage Inc. of Ballston Spa;
• Michael O'Connell of Gansevoort, a banker;
• Michael O'Sullivan of Gansevoort, a newspaper publisher;
• Patrick Ragucci of Granville, a banker;
• Susan Rhoades of Gansevoort, branch director with the YMCA in Saratoga Springs;
• Janet Tessitore of Saratoga Springs, a real estate agent with Weichert Realtors in Saratoga Springs;
• Richard Thomas of Saratoga Springs, a consultant for educational and non-profit organizations.

The Saratoga Springs Rotary Club provides funding and people-power for community service activities for local organizations and youth scholarships. Reaching beyond the local area, the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club also sets aside a small portion of its annual budget to support humanitarian, educational, and peace-building efforts around the world, carrying out the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self”. The Club supports many community projects and encourages local non-profit organizations to submit applications for funding. Guidelines and instructions for submitting requests are located at www.saratogarotary.com.

The annual Saratoga Rotary Home and Garden Show is the major source of funds for local Community Support and Major Gift programs, as well as youth scholarships and international humanitarian projects. The 2010 Home and Garden Show will run from February 26-28 at the Saratoga Springs City Center. The Show offers over 100 exhibitors with a wide range of home and garden products and services, as well as informative seminars and great prizes. The Club meets every Wednesday from 12:15 to 1:15 at Longfellows for fellowship, lunch, and an informational program.

May 2009 - Saratoga Springs Rotary Club Announces Recent Donations of $18,500 to Local Non-Profit Organizations

The Saratoga Springs Rotary Club recently announced donations to local non-profit organizations that requested funding:

• $4,000 to the Franklin Community Center for summer camp scholarships for Project Lift students
• $2,500 to Rebuilding Together to purchase building supplies for spring projects
• $1,500 to Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar for mentoring and tutoring of high school students preparing for college
• $1,000 to Literacy NENY for tutor training materials
• $1,000 to SaratogaArtsFest to assist local youth participation in the festival
• $1,000 to the Saratoga Hospital Guild to support TREASURES consignment shop, which raises funds for the hospital
• $1,000 to Twin Rivers Council of Boy Scouts to support repairs of their health facility at Camp Boyhaven
• $1,000 to Saratoga Bridges for art supplies for day habilitation programs
• $1,000 to the Northeast Woodworkers Association to purchase lumber for wood craft kits given to Double H Hole in the Woods camp
• $1,000 to Saratoga Children’s Theatre to support sets, costumes, and props for productions at Jefferson and Vanderbilt Terrace subsidized housing
• $750 to Heritage Area Visitors Center for Congress Park summer concerts
• $500 to Saratoga County EOC for food pantry assistance
• $500 to the Catie Hoch Foundation to fund gas cards for Saratoga County families with children undergoing cancer treatments
• $500 to the Ballston Spa United Methodist Church food pantry, in honor of Clara Dutcher, the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club’s “Senior Citizen of the Year”
• $500 to Saratoga Challengers to fund summer recreation for disabled youth members
• $500 to the Waldorf School to allow lower-income children to attend a free performance of Circus Smirkus
• $425 to Saratoga Babe Ruth baseball to sponsor a team

Since July, 2008, the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club has provided over $30,000 in funding to local non-profit organizations, not including Major Gifts and Scholarships. The Club supports many community projects and encourages local non-profit organizations to submit applications for funding. Guidelines and instructions for submitting requests are located at www.saratogarotary.com.

The 85 members of the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club meet every Wednesday for fellowship, lunch, and an informational program. These weekly gatherings are the launching point for the Club's community service activities, including funding for local organizations and youth scholarships. Reaching beyond the local area, the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club also sets aside a small portion of its annual budget to support humanitarian, educational, and peace-building efforts around the world, carrying out the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self”.

November 2008 - Saratoga Springs Rotary Club Donates More than $9,000 in Funds For Local Assistance

The Saratoga Springs Rotary Club recently announced donations to several local non-profit organizations that requested funding:

• $1,000 to the Saratoga County EOC for food assistance
• $750 to the Salvation Army in Saratoga Springs for food pantry assistance
• $300 to the Association of Ladies of Charity for their Christmas Giving Store
• $500 for the Saratoga County Children’s Committee Empty Stocking Project
• $2,500 to the Franklin Community Center for affordable housing refrigerator upgrades
• $600 to the National Museum of Dance for the purchase of a TV/DVD unit for exhibits
• $1,000 to Saratoga Reads for promotional support
• $2,500 for aid to needy families and individuals that will be distributed through five area religious institutions

The Club supports many community projects and encourages local non-profit organizations to submit applications for funding. Guidelines and instructions for submitting requests are located at www.saratogarotary.com.

The 80 members of the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club meet every Wednesday for fellowship, lunch, and an informational program. These weekly gatherings are the launching point for the Club's community service activities, including funding for local organizations and youth scholarships. Reaching beyond the local area, the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club also sets aside a small portion of its annual budget to support humanitarian, educational, and peace-building efforts around the world, carrying out the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self”.

The annual Saratoga Rotary Home and Garden Show is the major source of funds for local Community Support and Major Gift programs, as well as youth scholarships and international humanitarian projects. This year’s Home and Garden Show will run from February 27-March 1 at the Saratoga Springs City Center. The Show offers over 100 exhibitors with a wide range of home and garden products and services, as well as informative seminars and great prizes.

There are now 1.2 million Rotarians in 33,000 clubs in over 200 countries. With them, through the programs of Rotary International, the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club helps to alleviate hunger and poverty, provide clean water and better healthcare, and improve literacy. One of Rotary International’s best-known programs is Polio Plus, the effort to permanently eliminate polio from every country on earth.