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The Rotary Club of Potsdam will honor Duane Pelkey of Madrid and Sunday Smith of Potsdam as Paul Harris Fellows, and Bobby Gordon of Potsdam with the Service Above Self Award at its annual dinner on Thursday, June 8, at the Lobster House in Norwood. Pelkey will also be installed as the 2023-2024 president at the event.

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 a check, please email your RSVP to info@potsdamrotary.org for a guest count.)

Pelkey and Smith will be honored as Paul Harris Fellows for their 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."

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

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

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

All reservations must be received by Monday, June 5. Please email info@potsdamrotary.org or call 315-265-5584 with questions.

Potsdam Rotary BOCES April Student of the Month

Destinee Haught of Potsdam Central School, a student in the Cosmetology program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the Rotary Club of Potsdam BOCES Student of the Month for April. At a Rotary luncheon honoring Haught, she met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for her academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Nicole Rutledge. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey, Rutledge, Haught and Rotarian Sunday Smith.

Shannon Sullivan Inducted into Potsdam Rotary

Shannon M. Sullivan of Hannawa Falls was recently inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam. Sullivan is the senior director of revenue cycle operations at St. Lawrence Health. She was born and raised in the North Country and received her bachelor of science degree in business administration from Clarkson University. Sullivan is a Certified Professional Coder and Revenue Cycle Representative. She enjoys running, reading and being with her daughter, Maria, in her spare time. Left to right: President Duane Pelkey; Sullivan; her sponsor, Michael Griffin; and Membership Chair Sunday Smith.

Potsdam Rotary BOCES March Student of the Month

Isabella Shatraw of Potsdam Central School, a student in the Building Trades program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the Rotary Club of Potsdam BOCES Student of the Month for March. At a Rotary luncheon honoring Shatraw, she met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for her academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Larry Ashley. Left to right: Ashley, Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey, Shatraw and Rotary Vocational Service Chair Amanda Wilson.

Jason Hofmann Inducted into Potsdam Rotary Club

Jason Hofmann of Lima, N.Y., was recently inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam. Hofmann is a junior at Clarkson University studying Environmental Engineering. He enjoys volunteering and in high school was a part of an Interact Club (Rotary International's service club for young people ages 12 to 18) and was very involved in volunteer activities with sports boosters and PTA. He also worked with his Rotarian mom, who started a community group through Rotary collecting and donating food, gift cards, school supplies, etc for families who might need it. Hofmann has also traveled to Nicaragua twice to help construct a school with an organization called Linking Hands for Learning, which is a club based off of two Rotary Clubs: Honeoye Falls-Lima and Avon. Left to right: Rotary President and Hofmann’s Sponsor, Duane Pelkey; Hofmann; and Membership Chair Sunday Smith.

Registration & Sponsorships Now Open for Potsdam Rotary Golf Tournament

The Rotary Club of Potsdam invites you to its 19th annual Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 20, at the Potsdam Town & Country Club.

Registrations for foursomes are now being accepted at potsdamrotary.org or bit.ly/rotary-golf-2023.

There are also many levels of sponsorships for area businesses and individuals also available at potsdamrotary.org.

Potsdam Rotary BOCES February Student of the Month

Hunter LaPage of Parishville-Hopkinton Central School, a student in the Automotive Tech program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the Rotary Club of Potsdam BOCES Student of the Month for February. At a Rotary luncheon honoring LaPage, he met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for his academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Dave Denny. 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, Denny, LaPage, and Rotary Vocational Service Chair Amanda Wilson.

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 26-28, 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 BOCES January Student of the Month

Bowen Rodriguez of Canton 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 Rodriguez, 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, Rodriguez, Collins, and Rotarian Sunday Smith.

Jessica Carista Inducted into Potsdam Rotary Club

Jessica M. Carista of West Stockholm was recently inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam. Carista is the director of interactive marketing at Clarkson University. She is a native of Ogdensburg and received her bachelor's degrees in economics and French from St. Lawrence University, and her MBA from Clarkson. Carista has been a member of the Department of Marketing & External Relations at Clarkson since 2008. She is a member of the West Stockholm Ladies Auxiliary and the Potsdam Elks Club. A former board member of the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce, she currently serves on its membership and marketing committee. Carista resides in West Stockholm with her husband, Matt, and her daughters, Carrigan and Quinn. Left to right: Membership Chair Sunday Smith; Carista; her sponsor, Michael Griffin; and President Duane Pelkey.

Potsdam Rotary at Frosty Fest!

Potsdam Rotary put Rotary International on display, today, at Frosty Fest!, Potsdam's annual snowman competition. Rotarians Duane Pelkey, Sunday Wright Smith, Amanda Wilson and Michael Griffin, led by Laurean Pelkey and assisted by Bobby Gordon, created a "Snowtarian" tableau promoting literacy and other Rotary areas of focus. Thanks to the North Country Children's Museum, SLC Arts and the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce for this service opportunity! Left to right: Duane Pelkey, Laurean Pelkey, Michael Griffin and Amanda Wilson.

Potsdam Rotary Donates $1,000 of Personal Care Products to Potsdam Central School P2 Club

The Rotary Club of Potsdam recently donated $1,000 worth of personal hygiene products to the Potsdam Central School Positivity (P2) Club for its Food and Personal Care Pantry. The contribution is partially funded by a matching grant from Rotary District 7040. The P2 students have raised funds for the purchase of food, but are unable to purchase many personal hygiene items due to their high cost. The Potsdam Rotary donation will allow the P2 Club to distribute more personal care items to students and senior citizens in need. The P2 Club fills the gap between the need for and the availability of costly personal care items for those in the Potsdam community. The donated products include shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, sanitary pads, tampons and bar soap. The Rotary-P2 project focuses on two of Rotary International's seven causes: providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; and fighting disease. Left to right: Potsdam Central School Positivity (P2) Club President Johannes Richter , Rotary District 7040 Area Governor Michel Wong Kee Song, Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey, and Potsdam Rotarians Mary Sue Foster and Laurean Pelkey.

District Governor Visits Potsdam Rotary

Rotary District 7040 Governor Michel Wong Kee Song visited the Rotary Club of Potsdam on Wednesday and addressed its members. Left to right: District Governor Wong Kee Song and Potsdam Rotary President Duane Pelkey exchange banners.

Potsdam Rotary BOCES December Student of the Month

Evan Converse of Massena 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 Converse, 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, Converse, and Rotary Vocational Service Chair Amanda Wilson.

Potsdam Rotary BOCES November Student of the Month

Skyler Thomann of Colton-Pierrepoint Central School, a student in the New Visions program at BOCES Seaway Tech, is the Rotary Club of Potsdam BOCES Student of the Month for November. At a Rotary luncheon honoring Thomann, 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, Thomann, and Rotary Vocational Service Chair Amanda Wilson.

Potsdam Rotary Donates $1,000 to Potsdam Holiday Fund

The Rotary Club of Potsdam has donated $1,000 to the Potsdam Holiday Fund, 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 Duane Pelkey presents a check to Potsdam Holiday Fund President Traci Giffin, assisted by Rotary Treasurer Shawn Seymour and Secretary Romeyn Prescott.

Potsdam Rotary Provides Hundreds of Children with Books During Haunted Hallway Event

Members of the Rotary Club of Potsdam provided nearly 300 children with a book as well as a scare during their annual Haunted Hallway event during the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce Fright Night. The club ordered a wide selection of children's books from Scholastic and allowed each child to take one home. The youngsters took home a fright and a doughnut as well, as they navigated the club's Haunted Hallway with their parents, which culminated in "bobbing" for doughnuts on a string. The book distribution is part of Rotary International's focus on basic education and literacy. St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, the Potsdam Food Co-op and Yum Yum's Chilly Delight also supported the project through their donations.

Potsdam Rotary BOCES October Student of the Month

Gracie LaLonde 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 October. At a Rotary luncheon honoring LaLonde, she met with Potsdam Rotarians and was commended for her academic excellence by Seaway Tech School instructor Joe Colon. Left to right: Potsdam Rotary President Taylor Robertson, Rotary Vocational Service Chair Amanda Wilson, Lalonde and Colon.

Michael Griffin Recognized as Paul Harris Fellow

Potsdam Rotarian Michael Griffin was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow at the Rotary District 7040 annual conference in May in Ottawa, Ontario. Griffin's Paul Harris Fellowship was made possible by a donation of points by Rotary District 7120 Governor Janet Tenreiro of Canandaigua, N.Y., in recognition of the work he has done on making a new custom New York State license plate available to Rotarians. The new plate will be available for order on the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website in early August. This is the sixth time that Griffin has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. He currently serves as Rotary's north central New York area governor. A past president and board member of the Potsdam club, he joined Rotary in 1986 and chairs the club's community service and communications.

Amanda Wilson Inducted into Potsdam Rotary Club

Amanda L. Wilson of Hannawa Falls was recently inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Potsdam.

Wilson grew up in Hopkinton, N.Y., and graduated from Parishville-Hopkinton Central School in 2010. She earned her bachelor of science degree in community health from SUNY Potsdam in 2020. She is the office manager at Midwife Sunday Smith’s Birthing and Wellness Center, where says she has "a passion to serve the birthing community."

Wilson is involved in the St. Lawrence County Arts Council with her partner, Andrew Norrell, who works in ceramics. They have four children: Leah, Lucy, Claire, and Brayden.

Left to right: Wilson's new member sponsor Sunday Smith, Wilson, and President Taylor Robertson.

Clarkson President Tony Collins Recognized as Paul Harris Fellow by Potsdam Rotary

Clarkson University President Tony Collins was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Potsdam at its annual meeting on June 1. 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." Collins, who has served Clarkson University for 40 years, and as its president for nearly 20 years, will step down as its 16th president, this month.

Potsdam Rotary President & Board Installed

Taylor Robertson of Parishville was installed as the 2022-2023 president of the Rotary Club of Potsdam for a second consecutive year at its annual dinner on June 1. During the ceremony, incoming and continuing officers President-elect Brandon LaShomb of Parishville, Secretary Romeyn Prescott of Potsdam, and Treasurer Shawn Seymour of Hannawa Falls were also recognized. Laurean Pelkey of Madrid was elected as a board member, and Beck Tessier of Massena and Michael Griffin of Colton will continue on the board.

Potsdam Rotary Donates $700 of Products to Potsdam Central Positivity Club

The Rotary Club of Potsdam has donated nearly $700 of personal hygiene products to the Potsdam Central School Positivity Project, which operates the Potsdam P2 Food Market, a food and personal care pantry for students and senior citizens. The donated products included shampoo/conditioner, soap, deodorant and feminine products as well as razors donated by Harris Medical Supplies & Equipment.

The Potsdam P2 Food Market is the only student-run, free food pantry in the northern New York region. It is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, with monthly food shipments arriving from the Food Bank of Central New York. Clients are able to order an assortment of canned food, pasta, breakfast items, and personal hygiene products. The market fills a gap between need and availability of costly personal care items for students and senior citizens. The need for hygiene products among those in need is very great in the Potsdam community.

Left to right: P2 member Ashley Berry-Wilson, Rotarian and P2 advisory board member Mary Sue Foster, and P2 Food Market Co-Manager Johannes Richter.

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 16, at 2:30 p.m. at Ives Park in Potsdam.

Potsdam Rotary Golf Tournament Results

The Rotary Club of Potsdam thanks the North Country community for its support of the club's 18th annual Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 14, at the Potsdam Town & Country Club!

Potsdam Rotary Pres. Changeover & Awards Dinner
Lobster House

Jun 08, 2023
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community Room

Jun 20, 2023 5:00 PM
Rubber Ducky Pluck 2023
Ives Park

Jul 15, 2023
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community Room

Jul 18, 2023 5:00 PM
Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community Room

Aug 15, 2023 5:00 PM
Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community Room

Sep 19, 2023 5:00 PM
Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community Room

Oct 17, 2023 5:00 PM
Board Meeting
Potsdam Town Hall Community Room

Nov 21, 2023 5:00 PM

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Links

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District 7040 Home

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New member application

Rotary Basics (Adobe Document 832k)

Potsdam Club Bylaws

Constitution (Adobe Document 43k)

Rotary magazines 2023 Photo Awards

In Rotary magazine’s 2023 Photo Awards, we see the world courtesy of this year’s finalists.

A song of their own

The Imagine Impact Tour brings Gaby Moreno to her home country of Guatemala to inspire children to dream big.

Rotary International Convention concludes with a message of hope

As the gathering in Melbourne comes to an end, Rotary looks forward toward Singapore and a focus on mental health.

Rotary projects around the globe June 2023

Learn how Rotary clubs are taking action in Canada, Grenada, Korea, Australia and Ireland.

Peace and climate change take center stage in Melbourne

Nobel Peace Prize laureate, child climate change activist, and Rotary Peace Fellows explore the intersection of environmental protection and peace

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