Newark Rotary welcomed recent refugees to our meeting last Thursday, on our International Day celebration.
Today we celebrated International Day.
Michele McManus began the meeting with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test.
Wellness Update
Jean Salisbury fell and has a broken pelvis. She was in the hospital but no surgery was needed.
Trudy’s calling hours will be on April 8th , 2-4 PM at Murphy’s Funeral Home.
Hannelora is doing better with the new medication. However, Helmuth was struggling today.
Visitors
Meg Huff of Bloomfield Rotary Club
Judi Gorenflo of Canandaigua Rotary Club
Guests
Jim Westfall, Karen Doebler, Marianne Arseneau, Sue Rowe, Jen Stell
Announcements
- Linda Werts announced the Bee-catholon. Newark has a team led by Frank All. One line sponsorships of the event was accepted that day.
- All the workers for the Newark Rotary Salutes were recognized.
- Donna Johnson thanked everyone who brought deserts for the International Day. Deserts from Tunisia, Philippines, Greece, and Italy were present.
- Norma announced the District Training Assembly on April 22 at Bath Central School.
- Norma also announced the District Conference on May 6, 2023.It will be a one day affair in Bloomfield.
- Gary Reilly announced the Camp Onseyawa golf tournament.
- Canal Cleanup will take place on April 22nd.
- The first ticket for the Cash Raffle was sold to President Mitch. The tickets are $100 each and only 250 will be sold. The proceeds go to the Newark Rotary Foundation.
Speakers
Linda Werts introduced Oleksander Tomashevsky and Marc Simeon.
Oleksander came to the USA three months ago. Before the war, he and his wife led a normal life, but the war, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 22, 2022, changed everything . His wife was six months pregnant. They initially made a decision to stay in Ukraine. When the baby was three months old they fled Ukraine. They were experiencing no electricity up to 15 hours per day. Now they are trying to start a new life in USA. Oleksander, who is trained as an engineer, is looking for a job in the area at a place like Goulds Pumps.
Marc studied in college while in Haiti. He was a pastor and worked in an elementary school. After the assassination of the president of Haiti on July 7, 2021, Haiti became the “valley of the shadow of death”. He and his family had no hope due to the ongoing violence. He had met Doug Doebler ten years ago. Marc told him that he was scared for their lives. Doug turned to Linda and the Care program, which enabled him and his family to come to the United States. Hospitals and schools are closing. Gangs have taken over the streets. Being the United States has given them a chance.
Both men gave thanks for the opportunity to be in the United States.
Doug spoke next. He said that he was texting Marc when he was in Haiti, who was desperate. When Biden expanded the refugee program to Haiti, it gave the opportunity to bring Marc and his family to the country. Doug is also working with Silva and his family to bring them to the U.S.
Linda is working on a path for citizenship as their program only allows them to remain in the United States for two years.