Meeting Highlights:
President Sundra opened the meeting at 12:25 pm with the pledge. The 4-way test was recited and Philippe rendered the invocation. The Rotary song was led by Harvey.
Guest Speaker:
James Killoran, Executive Director of the Fuller Center for Housing, spoke of the mission of the Center which is Our mission is to provide safe, quality, affordable, and green housing for lower-income families and individuals.
Launched in 1988, The Fuller Center for Housing of Greater New York City (FCH-NY) is one of over 70 active affiliates of The Fuller Center for Housing, founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 2005.
In its 30 years of active house-building and affordable-housing advocacy in the county, FCH-NY has generated an impressive resume of local house-builds attracting literally thousands of volunteers to their cause.
Jim said FCH-NY's homeownership process is notable for its ability to empower individuals and families. A popular Fuller Center slogan is, “It’s not a hand out, it’s a hand up!” Homebuyers are screened and vetted for their willingness to partner with FCH-NY and their ability to afford the submarket-price home that FCH-NY can provide for them.
To date, FCH-NY has built and rehabbed more than 800 houses for families in the county as well as in disaster-ravaged areas of the country.
The Center has initiated the Greater Blessings Program to help out needy families. In Mamaroneck, the Center was involved with extensive Greater Blessings projects assisting more than 200 families in the Floods of 2007 and again returned during Hurricanes Irene wrath. Other local projects have sent Center volunteers to Somers, Rye, Pound Ridge, Larchmont, Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle, Ossining, Peekskill, and Yonkers, but Greater Blessings isn’t limited to Westchester; They are now focused on projects repairing the damage done by Hurricane Sandy and helping anyone who needs it. In the Rockaways and Breezy Point, the Center has assisted with more than 900 disaster rebuilds, including focussing on veterans in need.
Pancake Breakfast: As of 12 March, there are 13 sponsors for a total receipt of $6,650. All of these sponsors are from Jim Letsen. Jeffrey announced that Mont Olympos Diner has donated 2 $50 gift certificates. Parul is collecting all Raffle prizes and gifts, so these certificates were handed to her. 7 letters were returned by the USPS as undeliverable. Jeffrey will remove them from the list. Jeffrey is giving $25 to Parul for a basket. Alix will bring a wine basket, Harvey will bring 2 baskets, Sundra and Bina will each bring a basket. Frank will bring an Auto Care basket.
Polio Donor Dinner:
Mahbub reported that he had asked Barbara for a list of those who were awarded Paul Harris Fellow awards, so that he could prepare a news story for publication. Shaw said he would provide the list to Mahbub. Shaw also said that the income from the Dinner was $2,735 and the expense was $4,355. Alix asked that this and the breakdown be circulated in written form.
Grants/Scholarships:
One application for Scholarship was received at the P.O. Box. President Sundra said the Committee will decide. Mahbub asked for the list of Committee members, to update the scholarships@yonkersrotary.org email address, so applications could go to all Committee members.
Community Service Grants:
President Sundra said she would form a Committee to evaluate the applications. Mahbub also asked for the list of committee members to update the grants@yonkersrotary.org email address to send all applications directly to every committee member.
West Side Meetings Option:
There was a discussion about having one meeting a month on the west side of Yonkers to accommodate those who cannot make it to meetings at the Diner. Shaw offered to ask each Club Member about their preference and Sundra asked him to go ahead. The Board decided that more discussion will take place at a regular Club meeting.
Adjournment:
President Sundra adjourned the meeting at 1:45pm.
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