The Rotary Club of Potsdam has donated $1,000 to the Potsdam Holiday Fund as well as $600 worth of children’s books. 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: Potsdam Rotary Club President-Elect Christina DeLorenzo presents a check to Potsdam Holiday Fund board member Laurean Pelkey and President Traci Giffin.
BOCES Student of the Month
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Rev. William R & Crystal E Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable US
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Rev. William R & Crystal E Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable US
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Rev. William R & Crystal E Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable US
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Rev. William R & Crystal E Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable US
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Rev. William R & Crystal E Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable US
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Rev. William R & Crystal E Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable US
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Rotary Club of Potsdam, New York, U.S.A., District 7040
Elizabeth Birdou of Massena Central School District, a student in the Cosmetology program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the November recipient of the Potsdam Rotary Club’s “Rev. William R. and Crystal E. Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable U.S.” At a Rotary luncheon honoring Birdou, she met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for her academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Niki Rutledge. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary Vocational Service Chair Duane Pelkey, Birdou, and Rutledge.
The Rotary Club of Potsdam has donated $250 to the Colton Pierrepont Parishville Neighborhood Center (CPPNC) to assist children and families in need during the holiday season. Once again, the Neighborhood Center is providing children with toys, books, hats, mittens, scarves and pajamas, etc., while families are receiving the fixings for a turkey dinner.
Kendall LaMora of Colton-Pierrepont Central School District, a student in the Building Trades program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the October recipient of the Potsdam Rotary Club’s “Rev. William R. and Crystal E. Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable U.S.” At a Rotary luncheon honoring LaMora, she met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for her academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Larry Ashley. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary Vocational Service Chair Duane Pelkey, LaMora, Ashley and President Sunday Smith.
The Rotary Club of Potsdam celebrated the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce Fright Night by distributing more than 300 books to children and hosting them in a spooky Haunted Hallway, where the children also enjoyed apple cider and bobbing for donuts. Rotary thanks event sponsors, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union and Midwife Sunday's Birthing and Wellness Center, for their support. In recognition of World Polio Day, the club also collected donations for Rotary’s PolioPlus Fund. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Its goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary has reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since its first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. All donations are matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, tripling the impact.
The Rotary Club of Potsdam recently hosted a four-club Dodge Pond Committee fundraising dinner. During the event, the Rotary Clubs of Canton, Massena, Ogdensburg and Potsdam presented a check for $8,500 to The Arc Jefferson - St. Lawrence CEO Lynn Pietroski in support of its summer 2024 summer camp for children with disabilities. Pietroski and Rotary District 7040 Governor Teresa Whitmore spoke at the dinner, which raised more than $800.
Nathan Keleher of Potsdam Central School, a student in the Automotive Technology program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the September recipient of the Potsdam Rotary Club’s “Rev. William R. and Crystal E. Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable U.S.” At a Rotary luncheon honoring Keleher, he met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for his academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Michael Ells. The Potsdam Rotary Club meets at noon at the Potsdam Town Hall community room every Wednesday. Guests are welcome. Find out more at potsdamrotary.org. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary Vocational Service Chair Duane Pelkey, Keleher, Ells and President Sunday Smith.
The Rotary Club of Potsdam recently made a $400 donation to the Potsdam Fire Department in recognition of the department’s support of the club’s annual Rubber Ducky Pluck. The proceeds from the event send children with disabilities to summer camp at Dodge Pond and benefit other Rotary community projects. Above, Potsdam Fire Department Chief Mark Bradish (center) accepts a check from Rotary President Sunday Smith (left) and Treasurer Shawn Seymour.
Emily S. Bristol of Norwood was recently inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam. She is a commercial lending officer at AmeriCU Credit Union.
Laura J. Perry of Parishville was recently inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam. She is the director of academic technology and support at Clarkson University.
The Rotary Club of Potsdam has earned the 2023-2024 Rotary Citation, the most significant award a Rotary club can achieve. This past year, our club demonstrated a commitment to achieve our goals, which ultimately helps strengthen Rotary and shape our future. Only 13 clubs in our district achieved this honor! Congratulations to all of our members and our 2023-24 president, Duane Pelkey! (Pictured: 2024-25 President Sunday Smith and Duane Pelkey.)
The Rotary Club of Potsdam is a Gold Sponsor of the Potsdam Back to School Fair, presented by the Potsdam Snack Pack Program. Above, Potsdam Rotary President Sunday Smith (right) presents a $250 Rotary donation to Lynzie Schulte of the Potsdam Snack Pack Program. The event will be held at the Potsdam High School Gymnasium on Saturday, August 24.
Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Potsdam and the Rotary Club of Massena volunteered on August 3 at The Arc Jefferson - St. Lawrence Dodge Pond to stain two cabins. The clubs are part of a four-club committee that supports Dodge Pond and sends children with disabilities to summer camp, each summer.
Rotary District 7040 Governor Teresa Whitmore visited the Rotary Club of Potsdam on July 31 and shared the District Action Plan for 2024-2025. Above, Whitmore (left) presents this year’s theme banner (“The Magic of Rotary”) to Potsdam Rotary President Sunday Smith, while Smith reciprocates with the Potsdam club banner.
Adele Finazzo of Brasher Falls won the top prize at the annual Rotary Club of Potsdam Rubber Ducky Pluck in Ives Park during the Potsdam Summer Festival on Saturday, July 13. The $500 award was donated by Dr. and Mrs. G. Michael Maresca. Proceeds from the Ducky Pluck send children with disabilities to summer camp at Dodge Pond and benefit other Rotary community projects.
Thanks to the generosity of many local business sponsors, 14 students at the BOCES Seaway Career & Technical Education Center have received $200 Potsdam Rotary business scholarship awards. Luc Eddy of Massena Central School, a student in the Electrical Technologies Program, also was selected as the Potsdam Rotary Student of the Year from among all of the Potsdam Rotary “Rev. William R. and Crystal E. Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable U.S.” recipients for the 2023-2024 academic year. Eddy received a $500 scholarship award from Potsdam Rotary, funded by proceeds from the Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament.
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 13, 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 by clicking above on "Donate" and under "Use this donation for" select "Duck Pluck Ticket Donation." You can also order tickets via email at info@potsdamrotary.org. Ticket holders need not be present to win.
The top prize is $500 cash, donated by Dr. and Mrs. G. Michael Maresca; second prize is $100 cash from Plumley Real Estate; third prize is $100 cash from AccountAbility; fourth prize is $100 in Potsdam Chamber Dollars from Community Bank; fifth prize is a $50 gift certificate from Big Spoon Kitchen; sixth prize is $50 in Potsdam Chamber Dollars from Pinto, Mucenski, Hooper and Van House CPAs; seventh prize is $50 in Potsdam Chamber Dollars from North Country Savings Bank; eighth and ninth prizes are two Clarkson University men’s exhibition hockey game tickets; 10th prize is a $25 gift certificate from Harris Medical; and 11th prize is a $25 gift card from Stewart's Shops.
Viola Partridge of Potsdam, daughter of Ruth Policella and Sean Partridge, was awarded the "Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable U.S." at the Potsdam High School Senior Awards Night on June 6. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a Potsdam High School senior pursuing higher education who exemplifies the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self." Partridge will attend Binghamton University to study business administration and potentially concentrate in marketing.
Laurean Pelkey of Madrid was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Potsdam at its annual meeting on June 12. She was honored for her 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."
Pelkey is assistant secretary and secretary-elect of the Potsdam Rotary Board, secretary of the county Rotary Dodge Pond Committee, and volunteers for many Rotary activities and community service projects. Last year, she went above and beyond in her work with the FISU World University Games. She is also a board member of the Potsdam Holiday Fund. Pelkey has been instrumental in obtaining and continuing Rotary business sponsorship awards for graduating seniors from each Seaway Tech BOCES program, and organizes the gala that further benefits BOCES students.
Sunday Smith of Potsdam was installed as the 2024-25 president of the Rotary Club of Potsdam at its annual dinner on June 12. During the ceremony, incoming and continuing officers President-elect Christina DeLorenzo of Potsdam, Past President Duane Pelkey, Secretary Laurean Pelkey of Madrid, and Treasurer Shawn Seymour of Hannawa Falls were also recognized. Michael Griffin of Colton will continue on the board.
Traci Giffin of Potsdam was honored with the Service Above Self Award by the Rotary Club of Potsdam at their annual meeting on June 12. Giffin, the president of the Potsdam Holiday Fund, was given the award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the Potsdam community.
Luc Eddy of Massena Central School, a student in the Electrical Technologies program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the recipient of the “Potsdam Rotary Student of the Year Scholarship” and the May recipient of the club’s “Rev. William R. and Crystal E. Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable U.S.” At a Rotary luncheon honoring Eddy, he met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for his academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Shane Jenkinson. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey, Eddy and Jenkinson.
Darrick LaMay of Brasher Falls Central School, a student in the Metalworking Technology program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the April recipient of the Potsdam Rotary Club’s “Rev. William R. and Crystal E. Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable U.S.” At a Rotary luncheon honoring LaMay, 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, LaMay and Collins.
Damen Olson of Brasher Falls Central School, a student in the Natural Resource Management program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the March recipient of the Potsdam Rotary Club’s “Rev. William R. and Crystal E. Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable U.S.” At a Rotary luncheon honoring Olson, 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, Olson and Morgan.
Devin Love of Massena Central School, a student in the Visions Medical Careers program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the February recipient of the Potsdam Rotary Club’s “Rev. William R. and Crystal E. Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award Sponsored by Brookfield Renewable U.S.” At a Rotary luncheon honoring Love, he met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for his academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Richelle Cisco. The Potsdam Rotary Club meets at noon at the Potsdam Town Hall community room every Wednesday. Guests are welcome. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey, Love and Cisco.
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Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community RoomDec. 17, 2024 5:00 p.m.
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Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community RoomJan. 21, 2025 5:00 p.m.
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Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community RoomFeb. 18, 2025 5:00 p.m.
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Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community RoomMar. 18, 2025 5:00 p.m.
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Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community RoomApr. 15, 2025 5:00 p.m.
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District Conference
Infinity Convention CentreApr. 25, 2025 – Apr. 26, 2025
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Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament 2025
Potsdam Town & Country ClubMay 17, 2025 9:00 a.m.
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Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community RoomMay 20, 2025 5:00 p.m.
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Service Above Self
Potsdam, NY 13676
United States of America