Home Page | Rotary Club of Potsdam

The Rotary Club of Potsdam will honor Clarkson University President Tony Collins as a Paul Harris Fellow at its annual dinner on Wednesday, June 1, at the Lobster House in Norwood. Taylor Robertson of Parishville will also be installed as Potsdam Rotary's 2022-2023 president at the event.

Collins will be honored as a Paul Harris Fellow for his demonstrated commitment to the goals and purposes of Rotary and "in appreciation of his tangible assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world."

All Rotarians; family, friends and colleagues of the honoree; and community members are invited to attend the dinner.

A social hour with hors d'oeuvres gets underway at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. A selection of eight entrees will be available to order at the dinner: prime rib, beef brisket, chicken pesto, chicken parmesan, haddock (broiled or fried), maritime platter (broiled shrimp scampi, fish filet, fried clams, and fried shrimp), vegetarian ravioli, or pasta primavera.

Tickets are available by advance purchase only for $40 per person. To pay online, go to potsdamrotary.org, click on "Donate," and select "Use this donation for Annual Dinner."

Or checks can be mailed to “Potsdam Rotary” at PO Box 912, Potsdam, NY 13676. (If you mail us a check, please email your RSVP to Robertson.Taylor.31@gmail.com, so we can get a guest count.)

All reservations must be received by Friday, May 25. Please call Taylor Robertson at 518-534-2863 with questions.

Potsdam Rotary Donates $1,000 to Potsdam Neighborhood Center Food Bank

The Rotary Club of Potsdam has donated $1,000 to the Potsdam Neighborhood Center food bank in honor of the Rotary District 7040 Week of Service, April 24-30. The donation was supported by a matching grant from Rotary District 7040. According to the district, with inflation in food costs, food banks have warned that those in need may soon run out of money for food and increase their use of food banks and other food sources. Also, due to inflation, it is likely that these organizations will have to pay more for many items.

To address this issue, the Rotary district is providing about a total of $80,000 to support food banks and other providers in the New York, Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut. Participating Rotary and Rotaract clubs in District 7040 are each making a donation to a local food bank, food operation, or charitable meal provider during the Rotary Week of Service.

Potsdam Rotary Volunteers at Community Clean Up Day

Potsdam Rotarians turned out at Ives Park on April 24 to volunteer at the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce Potsdam Community Clean-Up Day and celebrate the first day of the Rotary District 7040 Week of Service! Thanks to everyone who helped out!

Registration Now Open for Potsdam Rotary Golf Tournament

The Rotary Club of Potsdam invites you to its 18th annual Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 14, at the Potsdam Town & Country Club. Registrations for foursomes are now being accepted at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/307534894147. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with a 10:00 shotgun start and lunch at the turn. The event will culminate in an award reception with hors d'oeuvres. The $80 per golfer cost includes greens fees, carts, lunch, and hors d'oeuvres. Contests are planned for longest drive (men and women), closest to the pin (men and women), closest to the line, beat the pro, and putting, as well as mulligans, skins and a 50/50.

Potsdam Rotary Offering Take-out Baked Ziti Dinner Fundraiser Dinner, Apr. 27

The Rotary Club of Potsdam will hold a Take-out-only Baked Ziti Dinner Fundraiser on Wednesday, April 27, from 4:30-6 p.m. at Helping Hands, 5868 State Hwy. 56 in Hannawa Falls. Each dinner will include Baked Ziti with meat sauce, a green salad, a dinner roll and dessert. Vegan sauce will also be available.

Tickets are $12 each and must be purchased online before the event at

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/take-out-baked-ziti-dinner-tickets-300137498337

Proceeds will support Potsdam Rotary's charitable activities, such as Dodge Pond Camp for people with disabilities and health conditions, and BOCES student scholarships. The Rotary Club thanks Helping Hands for graciously allowing the club to use its facilities.

For more information, please email potsdamrotaryevents@gmail.com or call 315-244-2122.

Potsdam Rotary Seeks High School Students for Leadership Program

The Rotary Club of Potsdam is seeking 15- to 17-year-old high school students from the Potsdam area who are interested in being part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), May 27-29, at RKY Camp on Eagle Lake, one hour north of Kingston, Ontario. Potsdam Rotary is sponsoring up to two students who will incur no costs of their own to attend the camp, other than their personal transportation.

Potsdam Rotary Donates $1,000 to Potsdam Holiday Fund

The Rotary Club of Potsdam has donated $1,000 to the Potsdam Holiday Fund. The Potsdam Holiday Fund, Inc. is an all-volunteer non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that provides new gifts, warm clothing and food to families and senior citizens in need in Potsdam, Madrid, Hopkinton, Nicholville, Brasher Falls, Chase Mills, Fort Jackson, West Stockholm and Winthrop. Donations to the Potsdam Holiday Fund are still needed and welcome at potsdamholidayfund.org. or Potsdam Holiday Fund, PO Box 827, Potsdam, NY 13676. Left to right: Rotarian Duane Pelkey (right) presents a check to Potsdam Holiday Fund President Marylee Ballou.

Potsdam Rotary Opens Three Lil' Free Libraries

The Rotary Club of Potsdam has opened three "Lil'" Free Libraries with books specifically geared toward children. The new libraries are located outside of Trinity Episcopal Church at 8 Maple St., Yum Yum's Chilly Delight at 12 Main St., and Harris Medical Supplies inside the Market Square Mall. Little Free Libraries are little house-like kiosks in which books are donated. They are located all over the world and are free to both adults and children to take a book or leave a book, if they can.

New Custom License Plate for NYS Rotarians

A new custom Rotary license plate will soon be available for New York State Rotarians! The new custom plate will feature the Rotary logo and our motto, "Service Above Self." District 7120 Governor Janet Tenreiro along with District 7040 Area Governor Michael Griffin are taking point on this project, which has the support of all nine district governors in New York State. The new plate will take the place of Rotary's current custom plate in New York, which uses the old logo and has no motto. In order for New York State to move ahead on printing the new plates, we need to get at least 200 New York State Rotarians to express interest in ordering the new custom license plate. If you are interested in ordering a plate, please contact Michael Griffin.

Laurean Pelkey Inducted into Potsdam Rotary Club

Laurean Connors Pelkey of Madrid was recently inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam. Pelkey grew up in Rush, N.Y., the seventh of nine children. She graduated from Rush-Henrietta High School in 1982 and worked in a variety of jobs. She then attended SUNY Potsdam, where she met her husband-to-be, Duane M. Pelkey, and received a bachelor of arts degree in biology in 1988 and completed a master of science in teaching in 1991.

Bobby Gordon Inducted into Potsdam Rotary Club

Bobby Gordon of Potsdam was recently inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam. Gordon graduated from Cornell University in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and earned a master’s degree in education in 1967. She and her family moved to the Potsdam area in 1975.

Tamie Sauve Inducted into Potsdam Rotary Club

Tamie Sauve of Potsdam was recently inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam. Sauve is a 1 A (assistant manager) locally for Maurice's Department Store and has an extensive background in upper retail administration, personnel hiring and training, office management, and customer service skills.

Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament Results & Sponsor Thanks

The Rotary Club of Potsdam thanks the North Country community for its support of the club's 17th annual Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 15, at the Potsdam Town & Country Club! The winners and sponsors were:

Local Businesses Support Potsdam Rotary BOCES Scholarships

Thanks to the generosity of many local business sponsors, students at the BOCES Seaway Career & Technical Education Center have received scholarships, despite the cancellation of a major Potsdam Rotary fundraising event.

The club's annual scholarship gala was cancelled this spring, due to COVID-19 guidance. However, the event's sponsors still made donations toward the scholarships.

Noel Newton of Potsdam Central School, a student in the Culinary Arts program, was selected as Rotary Student of the Year from among all of the Potsdam Rotary BOCES Student of the Month recipients for the 2020-2021 academic year. Newton received a $500 scholarship award from Rotary funded by proceeds from last year's Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament.

The following $200 business scholarship awards to the students below were made possible by donations from the businesses listed:

Tickets Available to Win $500 Top Prize in Potsdam Rotary Rubber Ducky Pluck

It's that time of year again! The Rotary Club of Potsdam will hold its annual Rubber Ducky Pluck during the Potsdam Summer Festival on Saturday, July 10, at 2:30 p.m. at Ives Park in Potsdam.

The proceeds send children with disabilities to summer camp at Dodge Pond as well as benefiting other Rotary community projects.

Tickets are available from any Potsdam Rotarian for $5 per ticket. You can buy tickets online at potsdamrotary.org. Just click on "Donate" and under "(Optional) use this donation for," select "Duck Pluck Ticket Donation." You can also order tickets via email at ducky@potsdamrotary.org. Ticket holders need not be present to win.

Michael Griffin Recognized as Paul Harris Fellow by Potsdam Rotary Club

Michael Griffin of Colton was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Potsdam at their annual meeting on June 8.

He was honored for his demonstrated commitment to the goals and purposes of Rotary and "in appreciation of their tangible assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world."

This is the third time that the club has honored Griffin as a Paul Harris Fellow. A past president and longtime board member, he joined Rotary in 1986 and currently chairs the community service committee and leads communications for the club.

Nancy Griffin Receives Service Above Self Award from Potsdam Rotary Club

Nancy Griffin of Colton was honored with the Service Above Self Award by the Rotary Club of Potsdam at their annual meeting on June 8. She was given the award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the Potsdam community. Griffin has worked for those in need in our area for nearly 40 years. She is the secretary of the St. Lawrence Health Foundation, and a director of the Potsdam Holiday Fund and North Country Children's Museum. In 2017, she retired as a development officer from SUNY Potsdam, where she had worked for 34 years. Griffin resides in Colton with her husband, Michael.

Taylor Robertson Installed as Potsdam Rotary President

Taylor Robertson of Parishville was installed as the 2021-2022 president of the Rotary Club of Potsdam at its annual dinner on June 8. During the ceremony, Brandon LaShomb of Parishville was also recognized as outgoing president. Romeyn Prescott of Potsdam will continue as secretary and Shawn Seymour of Hannawa Falls will continue as treasurer.

Nancy & Michael Griffin to be Honored at Potsdam Rotary Dinner, June 8

The Rotary Club of Potsdam will honor Nancy Griffin of Colton with the Service Above Self Award and Michael Griffin of Colton as a Paul Harris Fellow at its annual dinner on Tuesday, June 8, at the Potsdam Town & Country Club. Taylor Robertson of Parishville will also be installed as 2021-2022 president at the event.

Nancy Griffin will be honored with the Service Above Self Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the Potsdam community.

Michael Griffin will be honored as a Paul Harris Fellow for his demonstrated commitment to the goals and purposes of Rotary and "in appreciation of their tangible assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world."

All Rotarians; family, friends and colleagues of the honorees; and community members are invited to attend the dinner.

Potsdam Rotary Offering Take-out Spaghetti Dinner, Apr. 28

The Rotary Club of Potsdam will hold a Take-out-only Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Wednesday, April 28, from 4:30-6 p.m. at Helping Hands, 5868 State Hwy. 56 in Hannawa Falls. Each dinner will include spaghetti with meat sauce, a green salad, a dinner roll and dessert. Vegan sauce will also be available. Tickets are $12 each and must be purchased online before the event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/takeout-spaghetti-dinner-rotary-club-of-potsdam-tickets-147874184667?aff=Webpage.

Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament, May 15

The Rotary Club of Potsdam invites you to its 17th annual Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 15, at the Potsdam Town & Country Club. Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m., with lunch at 11:00 and a shotgun start at 11:30. The event will culminate in a fun seafood & barbecue celebration and prizes. The cost includes greens fees, carts, lunch, and a seafood and barbecue dinner. Registrations for foursomes are now being accepted here at potsdamrotary.org (click on "Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament 2021" under Upcoming Events).

Potsdam Rotary Virtual Mixer, March 3

If you're looking for a service opportunity in the community, consider joining the Rotary Club of Potsdam.

Potsdam Rotary will host a virtual membership mixer "(Re)Discover Rotary" on Wednesday, March 3, at 5 p.m.

Please join us for a fun-filled informational virtual cocktail hour in the form of a brief Zoom meeting in which Potsdam Rotarians will address who they are, what they do and why it's beneficial to become involved. All community members interested in joining Rotary, as well as current and former club members are invited to attend.

You do not need a Zoom account to attend, but to get the meeting link, please contact President-elect Taylor Robertson at trobertson@stlawu.edu. For more information on the event, please contact Membership Chair Mary Sue Foster at foster.marysue@yahoo.com or 315-265-0623.

Local Businesses Support Potsdam Rotary BOCES Scholarships Despite Fundraiser Cancellation

Thanks to the generosity of one major sponsor and many other local business sponsors, students at the BOCES Seaway Career & Technical Education Center have received scholarships, despite the cancellation of a major Potsdam Rotary fundraising event. The club's annual scholarship gala was cancelled this spring, due to COVID-19 guidance; however, the event's sponsors still followed through on their donations toward the scholarships. Northern Insuring Agency provided a gift of $1,500, matching scholarship donations by other businesses and organizations.

Brandon LaShomb Installed as Potsdam Rotary President

Brandon A. LaShomb of Parishville was recently installed as the 2020-2021 president of the Rotary Club of Potsdam during its first-ever online presidential changeover and awards ceremony.

Becky Tessier Recognized as Paul Harris Fellow by Potsdam Rotary Club

Becky J. Tessier of Massena was recently recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Potsdam during its first-ever online presidential changeover and awards dinner.

Board Meeting
Via Zoom

May 18, 2022 8:00 AM
Dodge Pond Work Day
Dodge Pond

May 21, 2022
9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Potsdam Rotary Pres. Changeover & Awards Dinner
Lobster House

Jun 01, 2022
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Board Meeting
Via Zoom

Jun 15, 2022 8:00 AM
Rubber Ducky Pluck 2022
Ives Park

Jul 16, 2022
Board Meeting
Via Zoom

Jul 20, 2022 8:00 AM
Board Meeting
Via Zoom

Aug 17, 2022 8:00 AM
Board Meeting
Via Zoom

Sep 21, 2022 8:00 AM
Board Meeting
Via Zoom

Oct 19, 2022 8:00 AM
Board Meeting
Via Zoom

Nov 16, 2022 8:00 AM

May 2022
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
01	02	03	04	05	06	07
08	09	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31	01	02	03	04

Links

Join Rotary!

For New Members

Potsdam Rotary on Facebook

Potsdam Rotary on Twitter

District 7040 Home

Our Club Helps at Dodge Pond

New member application

Rotary Basics (Adobe Document 832k)

Potsdam Club Bylaws

Constitution (Adobe Document 43k)

European Rotaract clubs organize to help Ukrainian refugees

Across Europe, Rotaract members are using digital tools to share information and coordinate to help people who have been affected by the war in Ukraine

Staff Corner: John Hewko

Learn more about the general secretary and CEO of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation, John Hewko.

Rotary Statement on the War against Ukraine

Rotary supports UN General Assembly resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukraine.

World Immunization Week: Vaccines keep communities healthy

Our progress in the fight against polio shows why vaccination is important

Rotary’s network enables rapid humanitarian relief for Ukrainian refugees

Rotary clubs have taken swift action to provide food, water, medical equipment, and shelter for Ukrainian refugees.

May 2022
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
01	02	03	04	05	06	07
08	09	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31	01	02	03	04

May 2022
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
01	02	03	04	05	06	07
08	09	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31	01	02	03	04

May 2022
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
01	02	03	04	05	06	07
08	09	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31	01	02	03	04