Rotary Club of Buffalo VOL

Rotary Club of Buffalo VOL. 143 , NO. 16 www.buffalonyrotary.org February 22, 2017

Thursday, February 23, 2017 12:15 Thursday, March 2, 2017 12:15

Templeton Landing Templeton Landing SPEAKERS Joseph Benedict SPEAKER: Doug Swift SUBJECT: Why You Should Promote Careers in SUBJECT: The Story Behind Riverworks

Construction: Local Demands & Shortages

Joseph W. Benedict, Jr., Executive Director DOUGLAS G. SWIFT, Principal, CityView Joe joined the Construction Exchange in No- Properties, LLC., Larkin Development vember 2009. Joe’s responsibilities consist of Group, LLC., and Buffalo RiverWorks, LLC. managing all of the Exchange’s programs and services, developing and maintaining the Mr. Swift earned a Master’s Degree in online plan room, providing educational op- Architecture from the State University of portunities to members by offering seminars New York at Buffalo. and construction industry related educational training programs. Mr. Swift has partnered on several lead- The Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY is a not-for- ing edge development projects in downtown Buffalo, includ- profit organization that has served the local construction in- ing: City Centre, the Root Building, the Larkin at Exchange dustry since 1981. Building and additional properties in the emerging Larkin Dis- trict, the Genesee Gateway and Buffalo RiverWorks. He is Their mission is to enhance the growth and prosperity of currently teamed with Stinson Development in the redevel- member companies by providing information, education and communication for the construction industry. As the largest opment of Buffalo’s Central Terminal. construction association in Western New York, Construction Mr. Swift is past President of the board of the Roycroft Cam- Exchange is an influential advocate and steward for the pro- pus Corporation. He is a founding board member of Preser- motion and advancement of our industry. vation Buffalo Niagara. He is past Chair of the Design Review They provide information on bidding and planning stage resi- Committee for the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corpora- dential, commercial, industrial and municipal construction tion. He is a former board member of The Darwin Martin projects, or low-cost safety training and consulting, construc- House Restoration Corporation, The Buffalo Olmsted Parks tion education, industry events, a competitive workers’ com- Conservancy, The Graycliff Conservancy, New York State pensation plan, or to save money on the things you use eve- Preservation League and The Elmwood Franklin School in ry day. Buffalo. The Construction Industry Education Foundation is a charita- ble organization with a mission to promote awareness of the He will be talking opportunities available in construction and to provide those about the story be- pursuing a career in the industry with the education needed hind the development to be successful. of RiverWorks . Achieving this mission results in fulfilling and profitable careers for individuals and ensures a robust workforce for the future of the industry. Support for the Foundation is provided solely through donations from Construction Exchange of Buf- falo & Western New York member companies. ROTARY CLUB OF BUFFALO ROTARY REFLECTIONS February 9, 2017 701 Seneca Street, Suite 218

Buffalo, NY 14210 th Phone: 716-854-3397 February 9 was a day of reckoning. It was the day that members heard from our Club leaders — a Club 28 Founded 1911 Club # 4725 State of the Club, if you will. www.buffalonyrotary.org It was also the day that Katharine Smith pulled a fast one. First, having worn her nametag home from CONTACTS the Ukranian Center at the last Enchanted Evening, she posed as the unwitting Joyce DeLong for the Administrative: Heather Culverwell duration of the meeting. Shortly after she arrived, colorful prints of the cover of Buffalo Magazine ap- [email protected] peared on every table, with a complimentary mention of Katherine’s (sic) business and her “I Heart Financial: Mary Ellen Puleri Buffalo” line of note cards on the reverse. While she claimed to be pre-emptively confessing to the

[email protected] Phone 553-3670 publicity, her move was genius: no Finemaster today. By the time this appears in the Cog, the Statute Meets Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. of Fining Limitations will have run out on (a) forgetting her nametag, (b) confessing to the mention,

Templeton Landing , 2 Templeton Terrace and (c) promoting herself under the clever guise of confessing. It was brilliant. If only she would use Publication Committee her powers for good. Heather Culverwell, Editor Associate Editors: Joe DePaolo provided the invocation, asking for resolve for our leaders. I served as Sargent at Arms, Fred Batson, Bryce Bixby, Jack Karet, but there were no guests and I never even needed to draw my weapon. Dave Male bought the ticket David Male, Stephen Robshaw, Katharine Smith after mine and won the Queen of Hearts draw, with a shot at half of a pot now worth $1945. He drew Suzanne Taylor, Jim Tyrpak the two of Hearts, and got his five bucks back. The COG (USPS 120-620) Issued bi-weekly by the Rotary Club of Buffalo, NY, U.S.A. as a source of Susan Schwartz was then called up to receive her third Paul Harris pin, which she graciously received information to its members. with the poetic words, “Why am I getting this?” Nick Alberalla reminded us that the Trade Show is the th CLUB OFFICERS and Directors 2016-2017 evening of March 9 , and that we cannot stress the Open Bar enough. Please show up. Then Vinny Paul Hurley, Jr , President appeared, apparently now out of custody. If you want tickets for Wines of the World, he can “set you Michael Sendor , President Elect up.” He reminded us that they still need auction items, but “nothing that fell off the back of the truck.” Joyce DeLong, Vice President Then the Club Meeting began. Bill Larkin had the tough opening spot, as our Finance Committee chair Katharine Smith, Secretary and Club Treasurer. He provided the accountant’s review of the Club’s income and expenses, and in- William Larkin, Treasurer troduced his committee: “a group of great minds I don’t fit in with.” He effectively broke down our Laurie Albertsson, Immediate Past President expenses, pointing out where expenses have been cut in recent years (President Hurley saved us thou- CLUB DIRECTORS with remaining terms sands of dollars by not going to conferences he felt weren’t necessary), and discussing the meal cost at Templeton Landing as a major expense. We have looked at other locations, but have not found a place 2015-2017 Term 2016-2018 Term that can accommodate us the way Templeton Landing does, especially with respect to only charging us David Knauss Hank Sokol for the members who show up instead of a set number each week. With the membership still perky Susan Schwartz Nora Eberl from lunch, Larkin fielded the most questions (and suggestions) of any of the speakers. Christa Linsey Al Stocker Nicholas Alberalla Carolyn Murray Mike Grimaldi followed, as President of the Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Foundation policies and bylaws are up on the web site, but the short version is that they are concerned with asset growth, and they also consider the goals and vision of the Club in their decisions. Their expenses are the grants to ROTARY INTERNATIONAL local and international not-for-profits, minimal administrative costs, and the payment of $100 per member to Rotary International. Our net assets are currently $940,000, the bulk of which are perma- John Germ, RI President nently restricted funds. Unrestricted funds and unappropriated endowment earnings make up the rest Marlene (Marlee) Diehl, District Governor of the pot. Financial statements are available upon request. Laurie Albertsson then spoke about the Major Project Committee. Our current major project is in conjunction with the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. Laurie and Sandie Yeater are working on the global grants that will help our fundraising, and have received grants already — some which will be matched — and are waiting to hear back from other international clubs, including a club in Brazil. The Library is currently reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding, and was very supportive in promoting (and selling out!) our Laughs for Literacy event on February 17th. They have 30,000 cardholders on their email list for promoting further events to fund this project. Sponsorships of $10,000 and under for the project are still available. Jeff Fancher was the lucky guy who got to talk about membership. Long story short: the rate of loss is greater than the rate of gain. He pointed out that we are “currently in the process of reconstituting our Club.” Corporate Memberships have been redefined, trial memberships have been made available, and (with the help of Katharine “Joyce DeLong” Smith) materials are being updated and modernized. Mike Ryan has formed a subcommittee to identify local corporations who should be members — we don’t have the corporate presence that we used to, despite the fact that Buffalo’s corporate communi- ty is vibrant and thriving. Jeff quoted a statistic that said that 80% of Rotary members join at the request of a current member, so you know what you have to do. It was a pretty meaty meeting, but was still adjourned at 1:32 pm. Well done, everyone.

Reporter Suzanne Taylor COG February 22, 2017 Page 2 Rotary Reflections—February 16, 2017

Hat’s off to the Program Committee!!! They’ve stumped me. Normally I can take a presentation and spin it some way to make attempts at humor but the Committee just keeps doing too good a job of attracting great speakers. How good was he, you may be asking? Well, so good that Jerry Kelly did both the invocation and the introduction and the speaker was able to show all his slides and have time for questions and answers.

And... Jerry and John Somers, the speaker, know each other from Westminster. Let me digress for the housekeeping items. Nora Eberl was a masterful Sargent at arms and Don DeMeo pulled the BIG CARD----the 2 of clubs and won a whopping $5. Suzanne Taylor dug through a very old copy of the Unknown Comedians Journal and tested each tables’ knowledge of marginally humorous (or for Suzanne, is it humourous?) lines from people most of us never heard of. It was a smart way to fill the finemaster coffers, though, since no one had a clue where the quotes were from or who most of the comedians were. Fortunately, the Laughs for Literacy Event will have professional comedians. The main act at this fine meeting was John Somers from Harmac Medical Products. They’re locat- ed on the east side. They have additional locations in Ireland and Tijuana. Their business is producing medical devices, most for single use. They are a preferred provider for Johnson & Johnson. Their products are used in just about every medical field from cancer to gastro to urology and John Somers opthamology. Harmac’s vision is Changing the lives of patients, employees and the communities in which they work. They take that vision seriously. They provide one week of summer camp for employees’ kids and grandkids and provide a farmer’s market on premises in season and pay most of the cost. The company has bought several buildings in the area, demolished them, and created green space. They’ve helped with 4 houses being built through Habitat for Humanity and have more on the drawing board. John and his company have gone further helping some of the neighbors to the new habitat houses fix their porches and put on new gar- age doors. John and Harmac have partnered with UB to draw up a plan for the neighborhood which tied for second in an international competition. Harmac started executing the improvement plan in conjunction with a lot of players to make that area of the city a better place. At the risk of editorial opinion (and my readers know that I have a hard and fast rule about only providing the facts) it is wonderful to see that our city is not only improving along the waterfront or in Larkinville or Hertel but thanks to John, his company and a lot of other folks this part of the east side has a brighter future. John, thanks for speaking and for being a great neighbor! Your COG reporter,

Jim Tyrpak Photos by Paul Maze

COG February 22, 2017 page 3 Bob Galdys Bernie O’Donnell Ravi Bansal Richard Klepfer Carolyn Murray Feb 23 Feb 25 Feb 26 Mar 3 Mar 7

Please support these Rotarians who make this newsletter possible.

Adema Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. M & T Insurance Agency, Inc. Induction as New George Adema William Larkin & Matthew Saxe 853-7960 Fax 854-1170 834-7611 www.ademaheating.com

Member The Bonadio Group Proforma Total Business—Promotional Items Kenneth C. Gaines, CPA Barbara J. Campagna 250-7808 Fax 250-9130 Phone: 639-0630 Fax 639-0630 (call first) [email protected] [email protected]

Eberl Iron Works, Inc. RBC Wealth Management Frank L. Eberl and Nora E. Eberl Jeffrey Fancher 854-7633 Fax 854-1184 635-8428 Fax 635-8439

[email protected] Ferguson Electric Construction Co. Donald Ferguson Walsh Duffield Co., Inc. 852-2010 Fax 852-4887 Ed Walsh

853-3820 Fax 847-1360 Fernwood Capital & Leasing Laurie Albertsson

694-9302 ext 15

www.fernwoodcapital.com

C. Markarian & Sons Mike & Mike L. Markarian 873-8667 Fax 873-8248

COMMITTEE MEETINGS Future Meetings Saturday Make-up Program WOW Committee 2017 Calendar Feb 23 - Why you should Promote Careers Thurs. Feb 23 @ 1:30 pm in Construction- Joseph Benefict, Exec. Templeton Landing Director Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY February 18 Mar 2 - Riverworks - Doug Swift March 4 Mar 9 - Trade Show (5:30-8PM) March 18 Mar 16 - Paul Ciminelli, Pres. Ciminelli Apr 1 RealEstate Corp. Milos Restaurant Mar 23—Opiod/Hep C epidemic—Dr. Gale 8:30—9:30 A.M. Burstein 5877 Main Street Mar 30—Ralph Wilson Foundation—David Williamsville, New York 14221 Colligan Apr 6 - Livestock, Livelyhoods and Human All District 7090 Nutrition - Dr. Jennifer Lane, DMV, MPH Rotarians welcome! Apr 13 - Five Star Bank - Martin K. Mirmingham, Pres.

COG February 22, 2017 Page 4

ROTARY SPORTS GROUPS Reminder

When our President or a guest speaker is making his/her Thursday night Rotary Tennis has existed since 1977. We play doubles on Thursday nights at the presentation, it is rude to be conversing so loudly that Village Glen in Williamsville from 7:30pm to 9pm. other Rotarians cannot hear the speaker . It is great for Rotary camaraderie. We play for a Stanley Can each Also—the speaker can hear you interrupting his/her May, the can was built by Rich Adams and RP Adams Co. presentation. Also, There are many Rotarian skiers who ski at Kissing Bridge with an informal business group. If you must talk, please whisper If you are interested in Tennis or Skiing contact: so those around you can hear the speaker and the speaker is Tennis: Gary Blum at [email protected] not offended. Skiing: Rich Adams at [email protected]

COG February 22, 2017 Page 5 Shining Waters Division Rotary Leadership Institute

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

The Rotary continuum starts at the club level and grows. There is a much larger Rotary world that is just waiting for you to embrace once you understand what it is all about. Come and join us at the upcoming Rotary Leadership Institute session. It is open to all Rotarians in District 7090 as well as other districts. It is an excellent opportunity to meet new Rotary friends and expand your Rotary experience.

Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) Saturday, April 1, 2017 Niagara College Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario REGISTER HERE (registration closes March 24, 2017)

Over 240 Rotarians from around 60 clubs in District 7090 have participated in the Rotary Leadership Institute since we joined the Shining Waters Division of the RLI. Some have graduated and are currently in club and district leadership roles. Others have graduated, have more Rotary knowledge and are supporting their clubs as behind the scenes leaders. To graduate from RLI, you will need to attend all three parts held on Saturdays in different locations within District 7090. You can only complete one part per Saturday session. While it is a commitment, it is well worth it. You will grow in Rotary and the fellowship is one of the best parts of all Rotary events.

Other sessions are being planned to be held later in 2017 - watch the District Website Upcoming Events, the District 7090 Newsletter, and your Rotary e-mail for details and locations as dates are set.

You can register online for this event at http://www.rotary7090.org. Scroll down the left-hand menu under Dis- trict Events. Or, you can register by clicking REGISTER HERE.

We encourage clubs to pay for attendees. The cost for each part is $75.00 per attendee which includes a light continental breakfast, lunch, coffee/refreshment breaks and course materials that you need to download from the Shining Waters website. After you register, go to http://www.rlifiles.org and download the Participant Course Guide for the course you will be taking. It is absolutely necessary to pre-register and prepay as we must plan for food and have sufficient binders for your downloaded course material.

Space is limited. We cannot accept walk-ins on the day of the event. If you have questions contact me at [email protected] or 905.302.0060.

Yours in Rotary, Glen Christensen RLI Chair, District 7090

COG February 22, 2017 Page 6 More Photos from Enchanted Evening at the Ukrainian Center By Paul Maze