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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.

Sunday Smith Joins Potsdam Rotary in First Online Induction

Sunday Smith of Potsdam recently became the newest member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam in its first-ever online induction ceremony. The event was conducted on Zoom and attended by other Potsdam Rotary members, including her new member sponsor, Mary Sue Foster. President Duane Pelkey conducted the ceremony during the club's weekly Wednesday noon meeting.

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

The Rotary Club of Potsdam has donated $1,000 to the Potsdam Neighborhood Center food bank for COVID-19 relief. The gift was made possible in part by a grant from the Rotary Foundation.

Potsdam Rotary Club Golf Tourney Rescheduled to Aug. 7

The Rotary Club of Potsdam invites the North Country community to its 16th annual Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament, which has been rescheduled from May to Friday, August 7, at the Potsdam Town & Country Club. Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 11:30, and a fun clambake celebration afterward. Registrations for foursomes are now being accepted at potsdamrotary.org (click on "Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament 2020" under Upcoming Events).

Potsdam Rotary BOCES January Student of the Month

O'Dourghty Cunningham of Massena Central School, a student in the Metalworking program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the Rotary Club of Potsdam BOCES Student of the Month for January. At a Rotary luncheon honoring Cunningham, he met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for his academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Nanci Collins. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey, Collins, Cunningham and Rotary Vocational Service Chair Paul McGrath.

Potsdam Rotary BOCES December Student of the Month

Stephen McCargar of Potsdam Central School, a student in the Natural Resource Management program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the Rotary Club of Potsdam BOCES Student of the Month for December. At a Rotary luncheon honoring McCargar, he met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for his academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor John Morgan. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey, Morgan, McCargar and Rotary Vocational Service Chair Paul McGrath.

Potsdam Rotary BOCES November Student of the Month

Makali Russell of Massena Central School, a student in the HVAC/R program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the Rotary Club of Potsdam BOCES Student of the Month for November. At a Rotary luncheon honoring Russell, she met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for her academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Mark Murphy. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey, Murphy, Russell and Rotary Vocational Service Chair Paul McGrath.

Potsdam Rotary Donates $2,000 in Cash & Gifts to Potsdam Holiday Fund

The Rotary Club of Potsdam has donated $1,000 to the Potsdam Holiday Fund. The club will also provide about $1,000 in new books for the fund to distribute as holiday gifts to children. 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 can be sent to the Potsdam Holiday Fund, PO Box 827, Potsdam, NY 13676. Read more at http://www.potsdamholidayfund.org. Left to right: Rotary Club President Duane Pelkey and Potsdam Holiday Fund President Pam Yurgartis.

Potsdam Rotary Earns Silver Citation

Rotary District 7040 District Governor Gerry Lambert (right) recently presented a 2018-19 Rotary Citation with Silver Distinction to Rotary Club of Potsdam President Duane Pelkey. The award was presented to the club "for helping Rotary be the inspiration in the lives of people all over the world."

Potsdam Rotary BOCES October Student of the Month

Cora Capozzi of St. Lawrence Central School, a student in the Health Careers program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the Rotary Club of Potsdam BOCES Student of the Month for October. At a Rotary luncheon honoring Capozzi, she met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for her academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Richelle Cisco. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey, Cisco, Capozzi and Rotary Vocational Service Chair Paul McGrath.

Brandon LaShomb Installed as Potsdam Rotary Vice President

Brandon LaShomb was installed earlier this year as the 2019-2020 vice president of the Rotary Club of Potsdam. LaShomb graduated from Norwood-Norfolk Central School in 2008 and from SUNY Potsdam in 2012, where he received a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a minor in music business. After graduating from college, LaShomb worked locally at entry-level positions, and then moved to New York City. But it was not long before he decided Potsdam was his home, and he started with Community Bank N.A. in 2015. There, he advanced from Electronic Banking, through Trust Services, to Commercial Banking. LaShomb says he is a firm believer in community involvement and networking. He credits his success to his relationship with Rotary, the St. Lawrence Leadership Institute, and community support. He looks to augment the growing number of professionals in the area through chairing the St. Lawrence County Young Professional Network. LaShomb also serves as the treasurer of the Potsdam Community Dog Park and as a committee member of the St. Lawrence Leadership Institute. LaShomb is the son of Kimberly and John LaShomb Sr., and the grandson of Gordon and the late Eileen Perry, and Barbara and the late William LaShomb.

Duane Pelkey Installed as Potsdam Rotary President

Duane Pelkey was installed earlier this year as the 2019-2020 president of the Rotary Club of Potsdam. Pelkey graduated from Massena Central in 1983 and SUNY Potsdam in 1989 with a degree in writing, minoring in psychology. He started his career with KeyBank in Watertown, got his first branch management assignment in the Binghamton area, and first joined Rotary in 1991. Pelkey managed a number of progressively larger branches for financial institutions throughout the Southern Tier. He was working for Fleet Bank in 2001, when Community Bank made one of its many acquisitions and he joined them as a commercial lender. Back in the North Country since 2006, Pelkey has sat on numerous boards and volunteered for many worthwhile organizations. He currently works as a commercial banker out of Potsdam, and he and his wife, Laurean, co-own a year-round ice cream and frozen yogurt shop in Potsdam.

Potsdam Rotary BOCES September Student of the Month

Lindsey Besaw of Brasher Falls Central School, a student in the Criminal Justice program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the Rotary Club of Potsdam BOCES Student of the Month for September. At a Rotary luncheon honoring Besaw, she met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for her academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Juddy Plumb. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey, Besaw, Plumb and Rotary Vocational Service Chair Paul McGrath.

Amber Clark Inducted into Potsdam Rotary

Amber Clark was inducted as the newest member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam at its October 30 meeting. She has worked at 3 Bears Gluten-Free Bakery & Café since its inception and at Cubby T. Clown & Company, where she is known as "Rooster." She is also a personal care assistant / direct support professional / home health aide for Community Health Center of the North Country and the Resource Center for Independent Living. Clark grew up in the Brasher Falls area and was involved with Girl Scouts, theater (both on- and back-stage), Students for Environmental Awareness, Supporting Peers Options to Resist Tobacco, and anything pertaining to music. She was introduced to the Potsdam Rotary Club by her close friend Beck Tessier. "After realizing how similar its' goals are to my previous engagements, and how welcoming the other members are, deciding to join was one of the easiest decisions I've made all year," says Clark. Photo caption: Amber Clark was inducted as the newest member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam at its October 30 meeting. Left to right: President Duane Pelkey, Clark and her new member sponsor, Beck Tessier.

Rubber Ducky Pluck 2021
Ives Park

Jul 10, 2021
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM

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Links

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District 7040 Home

Our Club Helps at Dodge Pond

New member application

Rotary Basics (Adobe Document 832k)

Potsdam Club Bylaws

Constitution (Adobe Document 43k)

Rotary’s second virtual convention highlights accomplishment in polio, progress toward ending COVID-19

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Fellowship has created a global home for LGBT members and friends

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