SPEAKERS
September September 28, 2023 – Rotarian – Avery Marder
September September 21, 2023 – Jonathan Schor, MD – Vascular Surgeon
September 14, 2023 – Rotary District Governor Visits
September 7 – Jack Furnari – Tunnel to Towers
August 31, 2023 – RoseMarie Illuzzi – Bridge Prep Charter School
August 24, 2023 – Dominick Provenzano – Chamber of Commerce
August 3, 2023 – Anil Srivatsa, Charter President of the world’s first cause based Rotary Club Organ Donation RID 3232
July 27, 2023 – Tatiana Arguello, Executive Director of Staten Island Not for Profit Association.
July 20, 2023 – Anisa Beteshi, Director of Programming for the SIEDC.
July 6, 2023 – Mary Cibelli – Memorial for Dick Cibelli
Native Staten Islander Richard E. (Dick) Cibelli, 81, a retired pharmacist, business owner and Rotary giant. Born in Grant City, he graduated from New Dorp High School and then earned a bachelor’s degree at St. John’s University in Queens. He moved to Huguenot in 1979 and then settled in Clarksburg in 1996. In 1961, Mr. Cibelli established the Staten Island Pharmacy, later known as Island Pharmacy & Surgical Supply, which remained in business for 39 years.
June 22, 2023 – Rena Schainholz – Ohel Family Organization
nce 1969, Ohel has provided a critical safety net of support and hope.
Mental health counseling and residences. Older adult care. Residences and programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. Foster care placement. Trauma and bereavement services. Shelter for victims of domestic violence.
June 8, 2023 – Ann Lawrence – Constructive Partnership
OUR MISSION
Constructive Partnerships Unlimited promotes opportunities for people with I/DD to achieve fulfilling lives.
OUR VISION
Our dedicated staff provide a wide range of direct services and supports that address the needs of each person receiving services. All CP Unlimited programs are provided within a warm, caring environment, using person-centered planning.
June 1, 2023 – Carmine Azzato -Sportsworld
I always dreamt of becoming an NFL player till I suffered a career ending ankle injury in High School. Shortly after recovering I began my pro wrestling training with W.W.F. Superstar Johnny Rodz. I had my first Pro Wrestling match a month before my 18th birthday. About 15 years later I suffered from another devastating leg injury that knocked me out of pro wrestling. The reality hit me hard as I began to realize that I could no longer hide behind this character “Blast” that I had created, and that “fame” no longer mattered once my wrestling career was over. My life began to spin out of control to the point that God felt the need to step in and send two men into my life that began to share stories about Jesus with me. I didn’t know how to receive what these men saying to me because of my pride and stubbornness, and more than that, I did not want to appear weak to them. Finally a year later, in November of 2002 I opened my heart to what they were sharing, I chose to give up control and I received Jesus into my life. I gave Jesus permission to love me and to lead me in every decision that I would make from that day forward. Since then, I became an Evangelist and a Pastor as I continue to do Motivational Speaking.
May 18, 2023 – Sandy Haft – Director of Sunrise Camp
Our Mission
Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is a proud member of the Sunrise Association. Our mission is to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings world-wide, through the creation of Day Camps, Year-Round Programs and In-Hospital Recreational Activities, all offered free of charge.
The Dream Becomes Reality
Sunrise Association Day Camps began as a “dream” of Arnie Preminger, President & CEO of the Sunrise Association. After attending a benefit concert for Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp (a sleep-away camp for children with life-threatening illnesses), the dreaming began. Having built and operated summer day camps for more than 30 years at the Friedberg JCC, Arnie researched the existence of summer-long day camps for children with cancer, but to his surprise, found none.
May 4, 2023 – Pat Caltabiano – Founder & Executive Director of World of Woman (WOW)
Making a Difference for Women and Children That’s What We’re All About
“WOW” was founded in 1995 for the Purpose of advocating on behalf of women and children. Now entering our 24th year, WOW continues to pursue its mission with continued enthusiasm and vision to accomplish its goals. Our members are rich in talent, compassion and commitment. It is their dedication to our mission that allows WOW to be known as the prestige women’s organization on Staten Island.
April 20, 2023 – Dino Selita – President & Co-Founder – The Debt Relief Company
Committed To Excellence
At The Debt Relief Company, our ultimate goal is to provide the best customer service in the U.S. and alleviate the stress load of all clients (regardless of whether it pertains to their finances or not). With over a decade of professional consumer debt relief experience, our team of experts has been helping clients attain financial freedom nationwide since 2009. Over a decade of experience has taught us to always make your financial success our top priority and in doing so we can help lay down a foundation for you to grow and prosper in the future. Moreover, our organization was founded without the use of servicing debt and this is something we are very proud of.
April 13, 2023 – Eric Shuffler – Staten Island FerryHawks
The Staten Island FerryHawks are an American minor-league professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Staten Island. They are a member of the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a “partner league” of Major League Baseball[2][3] They play their home games at SIUH Community Park, the former home of the Staten Island Yankees, which is in the St. George neighborhood and overlooks the Manhattan skyline across New York Harbor.
In 2021, Staten Islanders chose the name “FerryHawks” in a team-sponsored fan ballot. The name refers to the iconic Staten Island Ferry, which connects the borough to Manhattan across the Harbor, and to the red-tailed (Buteo jamaicensis) and Cooper’s hawks (Accipiter cooperii) native to Staten Island.
Eric discusses the future plans for the FerryHawks during the upcoming season
April 6, 2023 – Dean Marlin – NY Life Insurance Co.
New York Life offers the Protection you need and Benefits you didn’t expect.
Life insurance from New York Life offers protection plus benefits that can help can fund your retirement, pay for college, or just give you financial peace of mind. Dean explains the company offerings available throughout your lifetime.
March 30, 2023 – MISS STATEN ISLAND AND LENORE LAMBERT ADDRESS SOUTH SHORE ROTARIANS
March 23, 2023 -Tracy Purpora, Gail Luben, Judy Moody Lewis – Sandy Ground
Sandy Ground is the oldest continuously inhabited free Black settlement in the United States, Sandy Ground is a place of great historical significance. Founded in the early 19th Century, the community arose from a settlement of free Blacks from New York, Maryland & Delaware. By harvesting oysters and farming, this fledgling community was able to thrive and became a safe haven on the Underground Railroad. Today, Sandy Ground is home to 10 families that are descendants of original settlers. The museum educates and inspires the public with exhibitions, photographs, and art documenting the history of Sandy Ground and African Americans. A visit to Sandy Ground guarantees a lesson in our Nation’s history.
March 16, 2023 – Patrick Buono – President & CEO of Aurora Computer Tech, Inc.
Aurora Computer Technology, Inc. is a pioneer in Information Technology outsourcing. Based in Staten Island, New York, we’ve served scores of businesses and organizations throughout the tri-state area.
March 9th, 2023 – Genesis Gonzalez – Renu Wellness Club
At ReNu Wellness by Dr. Aluko Jervis & Genesis Gonzalez, & their staff understand that surgical procedure or cosmetic enhancements are often a life changing experience, and we appreciate the degree of responsibility that comes with it. Whether surgical or non-surgical, it requires solutions, determination, and a financial investment.
A team of caring staff members that will not only deliver results and experience that surpass your expectations, but also that you can rely upon to be there for you and answer your questions, assuage your anxiety, and walk you through the experience every step of the way.
Our goal is to help you look more refreshed, more rested, more positive and more confident *We do not produce “cookie cutter” results.
March 2nd, 2023 -Dina Rosenthal – Executive Director at Staten Island Children’s Museum
Chief executive officer responsible for the overall management of Museum reporting. Responsible for implementing the museum’s mission to serve children, families and schools through participatory exhibitions, educational programs, curriculum and professional development.
February 23rd, 2023 – Pasquale Loporcaro – Executive Director of ECHO
The Emergency Children’s Help Organization “ECHO” is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to a child experiencing a challenging medical or living emergency. ECHO’s goal is to help ease the burden financially, along with brightening the child’s life during a time of crisis.
February 16th, 2023 – Linda C. Dianto MS – National Lighthouse Museum
Located on the former site of the United States Lighthouse Service’s (USLHS) General Depot in St. George, Staten Island, the National Lighthouse Museum educates visitors about the history and technology of the nation’s lighthouses.
The Museum occupies the 2,400 square foot 1912 USLHS foundry building. Visitors are welcome to enjoy self-guided tours of the Museum exhibits including: Beacons Through Time, Supplying the Nation’s Light Stations: The General Depot, Optics: Projecting the Light, Life at the Light: Lighthouse Keepers, and much more!
February 9th, 2023 – Principal Jermaine Cameron – Eagle Academy
Jermain S. Cameron currently serves as the Principal of the Eagle Academy for Young Men on Staten Island, a small Secondary School founded in 2014. He has twenty years of experience in education as a Teacher, Staff Developer and Education Administrator within the NYC Department of Education. As stated in the vision Statement of the school he proudly leads, Jermaine Believes continuous collaboration and strong partnerships will “Create a Culture of Success” within the school and the surrounding community. He was recently appointed to NCAA Education Forum Moderator.
February 2nd, 2023 – Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio, Owner of SIX Figure Start
Co-founded by two Fortune 500 recruiters with a combined 40 years of recruiting experience, SixFigureStart coaches you to be the candidate employers are looking for. We have coached professionals from Amazon, Google, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Conde Nast, Tesla and other leading firms. Our clients make the leap from the wrong career to the right fit, from middle management into the executive ranks and from jaded professional to rediscovering meaning in their work.
Hushabye
The business and professional men and women of the South Shore Rotary club welcomed Al Contrera, founding member of the Mystics’ as the guest speaker at their recent meeting. “During his career as a mechanical engineer, Al Contrera worked on projects from New York City to Cairo,” said Rosemarie Dressler, president, South Shore Rotary Club. “He also founded a rock and roll group in the 1950s. Today he continues to entertain audiences with the classic, the Mystics and the Brooklyn Reunion.” Al Contrera’s new book, Hushabye, he shares how five Brooklyn teenagers went from singing on street corners to fame with their hit song. “Al’s book, Hushabye, provides an insight into the sweet sound of the street corner doo-wop harmonies of the 1950’s,” said long-time South Shore Rotarian and Singer Al Lambert. Contrera accounts of the trials and adventures of forming a rock and roll group to a neighborhood controlled by the mob.
Our Staten Island
Janet Necker Medoro, author of OUR STATEN ISLAND shared her journey to experience the history of the Island with the members of the South Shore Rotary. Fourth-generation-born Staten Islanders, Janet and her brother had a special sense of being Staten Island natives. “Our family laid down the bare roots that made us realize that our story here began, in what seemed to us ‘olden times.’” Their journey began by collecting newspaper stories and images over time and finding their way to the reference section of libraries and museum archives where they came to know who the really good borough historians were, and their works. This passionate pursuit offers up a history of Staten Island by taking the reader on that journey of discovery to experience it just as Janet and her brother did: through woods, along old roads; through centuries of change, people and events along the way as we learned the history of “Our Staten Island.”
CASC: KNOW THE SIGNS OF ELDER ABUSE
Jeanne Zieff, head of the Community Agency for Senior Citizens (CASC), works to provide a variety of services to the address the total needs of the elderly individual and their family. Committed to the welfare of Staten Island’s senior citizen she briefed the members of the South Shore Rotary on the signs of elder abuse.
Signs of elder abuse are: Contradictory or inadequate explanation of bruises, fractures or burns Dehydrated or malnutrition appearance Heavy sedation Isolation Anxiety, depression, withdrawal, resignation Reluctance to speak in front of caregiver Shame, fear, anger, defensiveness Unusual financial activity – withdrawals Closing of bank accounts 718 981-6226 for more information
Elizabeth Bennett, SI Arts, discussed the local agency as an essential tool in community cultural development at a recent South SHore Rotary Club meeting. Their mission is to cultivate a sustainable and diverse cultural community for residents of Staten Island offering free programming ans services to make the arts accessible to every member of our community.
STATEN ISLAND ARTS
Failure to file and pay taxes may be catastrophic to your current and future financial health. Ronald C. Scott, CFP, AEP, EA, of First Call Tax Advocates, addressed the members of the South Shore Rotary Club during a recent meeting. “Don’t ignore the IRA or any State tax authority,” said Ronald Scott, a First Call Tax Advocate. First Call Tax Advocates provide a cadre of services including developing an installment agreement, penalty abatement, offering a compromise, determining the uncollectible/hardship, and individual and business tax return preparation. For more information: 718 400-9250.
AUTISM SPEAKS AT SOUTH SHORE ROTARY MEETING
Patricia Rollins, Autism Speaks, addressed members of the South Shore Rotary at their recent meeting.
Patricia poses with South Shore Rotary president, Rosemarie Dressler, and members (Timothy Mercaldo, Terry Marie Tulli, Bob DeGennaro, Lynne Persling) who work to support and increase awareness about the issues related to autism.
FOUNDATION FOR DIGNITY
Diane Kramer and Helen Timari, Foundation for Dignity, support the commitment that requires the volunteer and fundraising efforts of the Foundation for Dignity; the generosity of local elected officials, local funeral directors and cemeteries; the cooperation of area hospitals and care facilities and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; and the talent and dedication of the staff of the RCPA’s Office, which is led by Edwina Martin, Staten Island’s newly-appointed public administrator.
THUNDERING SUPPORT FOR OUR VETERANS
Rolling Thunder is a United States advocacy group that supports veterans . South Shore Rotary and Rolling Thunder work with other local Rotary clubs at the annual Oktoberfest set for Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Richmond Town Staten Island.
DEDICATED TO COMMUNITY GOOD
Barry Wiener presents the virtues of the Knights of Pythias to the membership of the South Shore Rotary club at a recent meeting.
INTEGRITY JOURNALISM: KEEPING NEWS CREDIBLE
Brian LaLine. editor, Staten Island Advance, discusses the new state of journalism at a recent South Shore Rotary meeting. Mark Stern offered a glimpse into the future of how information is delivered.
“Is journalism in America dying? It damn not be…America was built on free press.” -Brian Laline.
ACHIEVING OPTIMUM HEALTH
Samantha Telle, Nutritionist, ShopRite, plays an important role when it comes to educating Staten Island individuals and families on the principles of ideal nutrition, diet and food selection. She addressed the members of the South Shore Rotary Club to increase awareness of dietary needs and explain her mission to educate community how nutrition can help to achieve optimum health.
EMMA’S PLACE
Support + Community = Hope
Mary Beth Melendez, Grief Counselor/Care Giving, and Matt Kiefer from Emma’s Place – A Grief and Loss Center for Children and Families
Enriching Mariner’s Harbor
Emanuel Bloomfield, President of Friends of Mariner’s Harbor, described efforts to create and maintain impactful programs that enrich the community to the members of the South Shore Rotary at their recent meeting.
MAKING LITERACY A VALUE AND RIGHT OF ALL CHILDREN
Rosalind Diaz tells the membership of the South Shore Rotary of the work of Literacy Inc. — harnesses the power that exists in every community to make literacy a value and right of all children. LINC’s mission is to engage families and community members to support young readers in high need neighborhoods. LINC was named one of eight winners in the NPCC New York Community Trust 2018 Nonprofit Excellence Awards.
South Shore Rotary Guest Speaker RICHARD MARCHESE:
Monmouth Film Festival features film about Father Capodanno
August 11, 2019
Al Lambert and Richard Marchese with South Shore Rotary President Rosemarie Dressler
Rebecca and Chris Arrigali present to the members of the South Shore Rotary Club
RETIRED NYPD DETECTIVE ADDRESSES
SOUTH SHORE ROTARIANS
Madeline Dowd offers safety tips for everyday living
GREENBELT CONSERVATION
RECOGNIZED BY SOUTH SHORE ROTARY CLUB
Steve Cain addresses South Shore Rotary Club after accepting check from John Vernazza, president
Want To Know More?
Subscribe To Our Mailing List With The Form Below