The Bulletin -- October 21, 2009 (#1013)

CORNELIA FORRENCE SPEAKS WITH PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY RICHARD KESSEL. THE PROGRAM COVERED KESSEL’S FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CLEAN ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

Program: Richard Kessel, President and CEO of New York Power Authority

In just over one year at the helm of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), Richard Kessel has made a significant impact. With over 25 years of experience including Executive Director of the NYS Consumer Protection Board and CEO of the Long Island Power Authority, Kessel’s current role is a perfect fit. He has ramped up clean energy and energy efficiency efforts, and Kessel continues to create and protect jobs for New Yorkers.

When Kessel came to NYPA, he began to focus on a few key issues—one of which was economic development.

“Wherever you are, whether you’re in Niagara Falls where the city is dead, or in Farmingdale on Long Island, companies are suffering everywhere,” said Kessel. Under the direction of Governor David Paterson, Kessel has focused on bringing companies to NYS in order to create and protect jobs for New Yorkers. They have created over 1,000 new jobs and protected jobs such as those at ALCOA in Massena.

NYPA is also in the power business, and Kessel is working diligently on energy initiatives. “It’s amazing to me that we, in the 21st Century, don’t have what I call an electrical throughway,” Kessel said. “This would carry electricity from the North Country to Long Island and vice versa.”

NYPA is in discussion with Hydro-Québec to tackle this project. Kessel feels strongly that New York needs to import hydropower and inject it into the entire state of New York from north to south. He highlighted three key justifications for these initiatives: the power is needed; fossil fuels are too expensive; and, New York needs a smart grid with the technology to handle emergencies such as statewide black outs.

Solar power is very much the future of energy production. Though it is a difficult time to get solar projects going, Kessel was pleased to announce that the largest solar project in the history of the state of New York is going to be implemented before the end of the year.

ROTARIANS AT WORK DAY

BONNIE BLACK CONGRATULATES JON COOPER (L) AND ROD GILTZ FOR RAISING MONEY FOR THE CLUB’S POLIOPLUS NITIATIVE. COURTESY OF NORTHERN INSURING AND CHAMPLAIN NATIONAL BANK’S DONATION OF $250 EACH, THE BOARDS EACH HAD 50 FIVE DOLLAR BILLS ATTACHED. FOR EVERY $5 A CLUB MEMBER DONATED, ONE $5 WAS REMOVED FROM THE BOARD. CLUB MEMBERS MATCHED THE TWO COMPANIES’ $500 BEFORE THE MEETING WAS CONCLUDED.

This Week:

• Thanks to great work done by Vicki Marking, the club was able to present a terrific board called “The Four Avenues of Service” at the District Conference. It received the Best Club Presentation Award. Vicki, congratulations for doing a great job!

Fines:

• Past President Tony Searing forgot to sign in last week, and President Bonnie asked him to spin the wheel. Tony spun an “all-pay”, and each member paid a buck. (The Membership Committee is sending emails to absent members as a reminder to make up the meeting. Please make an effort to make up the meetings.)
• Terrianne Pavone spun the wheel for $5 for a photo in the Press Republican.

Visiting Rotarians: Kevin Kehoe (Sunrise)

Guests: Courtney Chandler (Brian Hammond), Kristi Spooner (Ellen Bouchard), Greg Brienza (Linda Brienza), Kathleen Garenani (Maryanne Bukolt-Ryder), Christine Prichard (Bob Parks).

Announcements:
Membership Committee— Marsha Cook: Marsha inducted new member Wallace Westfeldt into the club and presented him with his Blue Badge.
Next month’s Board Meeting (11/16) will be a strategic planning meeting, and all members are welcome to attend.
Last week, Vicki Marking announced long-term volunteer opportunities at Meadowbrook Nursing Home. Two club members, Ellie Murray and Jay Kerley, have gone through the training program.

Bonnie’s Bucks:

• Josh Kretser announced POD Studio’s upcoming Halloween Fundraiser: Beasties and Beer Bash on Friday, Oct. 30, at 65 Court Street, Plattsburgh, 5:30—8:30 p.m. There is a suggested $10 donation and proceeds support the ADK Young Professionals civic group.
• Bob Parks introduced Christine Pritchard and thanked her for arranging today’s speaker.
• Cornelia Forrence announced that First Thursday is going to be at Anthony’s Restaurant, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.
• Peter Cadieux said the reason Wallace Westfeldt took so long to get his blue badge was that he got a dollar from each person at his table every week he was a red badge. This let those at the table get a free-bee announcement!
• Gilbert Zahn reported that construction has begun on the Rotary Pavilion Park.

Another Candle Burning For: Gerald Dominy (10/28)

WALLACE WESTFELDT WAS INDUCTED AS A FULL MEMBER AT THE MEETING (10/21) . HE SAID, “I MAY BE THE LONGEST ‘RED BADGE’ MEMBER IN THE HISTORY OF THE CLUB, BUT I’VE MANAGED TO DO IT.”

The following people have been proposed by our Membership Committee and our Board of Directors. If there are no objections registered with the Club Secretary or President within 10 days, they will be asked to join our club:

Name: Doug Kashorek
Business: Church of Christ
Position: Pastor
Classification Clergy
Membership: Active
Previous Rotary Membership: N/A
Proposed by: Steven Frederick
Additional Info: Doug is a volunteer at CVPH where he serves as a clergy. Other club members who know Doug are Vicki Marking and Maria Alexander.

Name: Kathleen Garenani
Business: Champlain Valley Transportation Museum
Position: Director of Fundraising and Membership
Classification Membership and Fundraising
Membership: Active
Previous Rotary Membership: N/A
Proposed by: Brian Hammond
Additional Info: Kathleen is a recent graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh. She had been a volunteer with the museum.

Name: Leigh Mundy
Business: North Country Cultural Center for the Arts
Position: President of the Board of Directors
Classification Arts—Management
Membership: Active
Previous Rotary Membership: N/A
Proposed by: Bob Parks
Additional Information: Leigh is past co-chair of the Heart Walk, chair of the Arms and Legs Auction and is a member of the Foundation CVPH Event Committee

TRIVIA
Did you know…?
The first Rotary International convention held outside the United States was in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1921.
NEW MEMBER PROPOSALS