Summer is upon us! With this newsletter I am attaching the Minutes of our
July 15th meeting. As you can see, we are more than a Dinner Club. This
important meeting laid the foundation for our year ahead marked with
service, philanthropy, and club building.

In August, we will be resuming our regular schedule for meetings. We will
meet on the second Tuesday of the month (August 11th) at Howard
Hanna’s Conference room. And on the fourth Wednesday of the month
(August 26th) place to be announced.

Effective July 1, 2026, we will be increasing our dues to $175.00 for the
year. In correcting the minutes of the meeting on July 15th the increase
was made due to higher costs but not due to the CNY Rotary District. The
district has not increased their dues. With the decline in fees paid by club
members this past year we would be operating at a loss without an
increase. This fee covers the club, District and international dues as well
as the Rotary Magazine. Your support and added contributions are greatly
appreciated.

Scholarships to each of our four area High Schools are being increased to
$1250 each. Please encourage your High School seniors to apply.

We are presenting a Pickle ball tournament in the Fall (September 26th) to
raise funds for organizations addressing food insecurity in our community.
The plans are well under way and we ask you to step up and assist in
getting sponsors. I have also attached our appeal letter and sponsorship
levels. Feel free to make contacts on our club’s behalf.

We are moving the date for our Community Recognition luncheon to the
latter part of October. The date will be finalized in conjunction with
restaurant’s availability. This is our club’s 60th Anniversary and a
milestone to be celebrated.

See you all at our next meeting to be held at the Coppertop Bar and
Restaurant on Milton Ave., Camillus Wednesday July 29th at 5:30 PM.
Remember to bring a guest. All are welcome.

George Mango
President 2026-2027

July 1, 2026 

Please note that for the Month of July we have a change in our meeting schedule due to room conflicts. The Meetings schedule for July 2026 is as follows:

• At Howard Hanna’s 3^rd Fl Conference room. Wednesday, July 15^th at 12:30PM
• At the Coppertop Dinner Meeting: Wednesday, July 29^th at 5:30 PM

Please remember to text me at 315 952-2256 to let me know if you will be attending and if you will be bringing a guest.  All are welcome!

We are wrapping up the grant we applied for to provide the Power pack program with much needed funds to expand its service to West Hill School students. The final report has been prepared, and we are in the process of getting it signed for submission.

This past month we held an orientation program for new members that was hosted by Olivia Calobufo and attended by three of our new members.  Special thanks to Phyllis Danks, and Deborah Glissen, both former District Governors who assisted in the orientation.

We need your assistance in identifying prospective members who can assist us in our search for a public image chairperson and social media committee member.  The role would be to help the club promote its activities through social media and other avenues open to the public.  If you have skill in communication through social media, we need you to step up.

We are also searching for a membership chairperson to coordinate membership recruitment, training and outreach. We need someone to step up.  This position is necessary for us to receive future grants through our District (CNY Rotary).

While we have limited members available to assist in projects, we are inviting the community to participate in our projects.  Our social meetings are a great way to invite guests to learn about our projects.  Currently, we are working on a pickle ball Tournament, and The Rotary Peace Pole Dedication.  Please share your thoughts with respect to the languages to be placed on the Peace Pole. Representatives of countries whose languages are on the pole will be invited to the dedication. We hope this to be representative of our community’s shared efforts to encourage dialogue and peace.

We are enormously grateful to Brian Kesel for his service and contribution to our club.  Brian has accepted another job in Oswego County and will be leaving us.  We will miss him and wish him well.

At our first meeting in July, we will be voting on a modest increase in annual dues.

George,

President 2026-2027

Gmango117@gmail.com

Cell:315-952-2256

As we prepare for the incoming slate of officers, President elect George outlined three new initiatives for 2026 which begins July 1, 2026

1- Purchase and erect two Rotary Peace Poles which would display a peace message in 8 different languages. A committee is to be formed which would decide on both location and languages. The committee would plan for the Dedication ceremony and would include members of the larger community. There are some 10,000 such poles erected throughout the world.

2- In place of a walk for hunger this year we are planning for a pickle ball tournament. To be held at Camillus Park on Pool Rd., Camillus on September 26, 2026. The funds raised will provide support to organizations addressing Hunger in our community.

3- This is our Camillus Club’s 60th Anniversary. In celebration of this milestone, we are holding a Community Luncheon in October that will recognize members in our community who have championed the effort to practice “Service above self”.
This year we will make an effort to have our monthly social meetings as an open invitation to bring community members to have fun, meet our membership, and participate in meaningful causes.

Remember we have done away with attendance requirements for membership, feel free to bring spouses, friends and other members of our community to our social meetings.

Please join us in giving a warm Rotary welcome to Susan Murray, the newest member of the Rotary Club of Camillus Solvay Geddes!

Susan is the retired Director of Special Education for the West Genesee Central School District and continues her commitment to students and families through her volunteer work with the WG PowerPack program. Her dedication to service and community impact makes her a wonderful addition to our club—we’re thrilled to have her!

Interested in Rotary? We’d love to meet you!

Meetings:

• 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30 PM – Howard Hanna Building in Camillus

• 4th Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM – rotating local restaurants

Come check us out and see service above self in action!

CNY Rotary News NetworkCNY Rotary#ServiceAboveSelf#wgpowerpacks

Recently, our members had the honor of presenting a $3,000 check to Lynn Christian Hy and the Food Bank of Central New York.

These funds—raised through our Walk for Hunger this fall—will help provide 9,000 meals to our neighbors across the region.

On the very day of our visit, the Food Bank moved an incredible 250,000 pounds of food from its warehouse to food pantries throughout Central New York—an inspiring reminder of the impact this organization has every single day.

We are proud to turn community action into real impact and to continue our commitment to providing solutions to food scarcity in our neighborhoods.

Visit the Foodbank’s website and make a contribution today.

Together, we’re making a difference.

#RotaryinActionCNY Rotary News NetworkCNY Rotary

On behalf of our Club and community, Acting President Brian Kesel proudly delivered a $1,600 donation today to fellow Rotarian Olivia Colabufo, who coordinates the West Genesee PowerPack Program.

This donation represents the proceeds from our Club’s Walk for Hunger and will directly support students in our community. The PowerPack Program provides shelf-stable foods every Friday to children experiencing food scarcity concerns.

This is Rotary service in action — meeting real needs close to home.

Stonehedge Elementary Principal Amanda Simmons shared a meaningful reminder of why this work matters: “I hope you know that your time, effort, and financial support goes to wonderful, beautiful, kind human beings.”

If you’d like to support the PowerPack Program, donations can be made through Venmo: @WGPowerPacks

CNY Rotary News Network#RotaryInActionWest Genesee Central School District#CNYRotary

The WG PowerPacks program is thrilled to announce our expansion, making it easier than ever to get meals during school breaks!

Huge thanks to a generous grant from CNY Rotary for helping us increase our reach and provide more essential meals to local children.

We now have meals available for pickup at two convenient library locations:

Maxwell Memorial Library (Village of Camillus)

 Fairmount Community Library (Chapel Drive)

Stop by today to pick up your free meal pack for extended school breaks.

#CNYRotary#PeopleOfAction#RotaryInAction

We’re this close to ending polio — and your help can get us across the finish line!

The Rotary Club of Camillus-Solvay-Geddes is raising funds for End Polio Now, Rotary’s global initiative to eradicate polio once and for all.

Every $1 you give becomes $3 thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Donate directly to The Rotary Foundation’s PolioPlus Fund here:

https://raise.rotary.org/Brian-Kesel/fundraiser816770

Together, we’re building a world free from polio. #EndPolioNow#Rotary#PeopleOfAction

Thank you to our incredible sponsors throughout the community who made our Annual Hunger Walk possible! #ServiceAboveSelf