Last week we heard from Deanna Ruffer, Director of Community Development for the City of Pittsfield, who spoke about the $3.4 million coming to the City under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Deanna is taking part in a listening tour throughout the City trying to get a handle on how these funds may be invested to gain the best impact. Funds are to be received by the City over 2021 and 2022, and must be spent by December 30, 2026. If you have suggestions regarding these funds, contact Community Development, or participate in their interactive online survey: Web Address: www.menti.com
Last week, Alex Reczkowski, standing in for vacationing president John Murphy, announced that the Club board would be taking up the issue of Rotary Club of Pittsfield contributing to disaster relief for Haiti as a result of the recent earthquake. Club members are invited to contact a board member if they have specific suggestions regarding Haitian disaster relief.
You will recall that Alex Reczkowski had previously reported his plans to travel to Serbia as part of a District 7890 delegation early in October to celebrate the "Hearts of Europe" project partnering Rotary International with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and specifically targeting kinder instruction in Serbia. At our last meeting Alex noted because of the resurgence of Covid-19, that trip has been postponed until next spring.
We are getting close to the start of the school year and obviously there is still a lot of uncertainty. I am hopeful that this year we will be able to resume with Students of the Month from both Pittsfield High & Taconic.
If you have any family members that are seniors at either school can you please reach out to me before I contact the Guidance Departments. I will need the students name as well as the school.
At last week’s meeting, Alex Reczkowski announced that the committee organizing the 2021 Walk to End Alzheimer's in Adams on October 2 was seeking walk-day volunteers. If you can lend a hand for the event, contact Jacy Settles at jasettles@alz.org or 617-393-2152. The walk begins at the Adams Visitor Center (3 Hoosic Street, Adams), with walker registration starting at 8:30 a.m., ceremony at 9:30 a.m., and walk starting at 10:00 a.m.
After a comprehensive vetting process, Jay Marion has been appointed to the very exclusive Sergeants at Arms, currently comprised to John O'Brien, Dave Hall and Ron Latham. Jay will make every effort to make sure no good deed goes financially unpunished.
Because the Holiday Inn is being used by the Courts making that space unavailable to us, the Auction Committee (Robert Harrison, Brooks Sherman, Alex Reczkowski and John Reynolds) has announced that the 2022 auction will be held at the Berkshire Hills Country Club on February 12, using RI’s theme this year “Serve to Change Lives” for the auction as well. Last week committee co-chair Brooks Sherman noted that as an interest gimmick, they hope to set up a ping-pong table(s) at the event to tie into the "Serve to Change Lives" theme.
Members are reminded that the Club's attendance requirement was reinstated as of July 1. There are make-up opportunities with other Clubs, Club sub-committees, and service projects that make it easy to meet this requirement.
Dues bills have long since been sent to the membership via email. If you want a paper copy, or would like an invoice that includes prepaying for 44 lunches, let Jeff Hassett know and he will send you a revised invoice. To date, the Club has received payments from 33 members, with 14 still outstanding.
