Rochester Rotary

What is the outlook of the New York State economy? 77th Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York, Kathy Hochul, will give us the breakdown during our Tuesday Luncheon. Lieutenant Governor Hochul has successfully spearheaded numerous initiatives and leads the administration's economic development and job creation efforts across the state, working every day to advocate for policies that help all New Yorkers make ends meet. Don't' miss out on this meeting!

Dr. Paritosh Prasad, University of Rochester Medical Center.

What does COVID-19 look like for our front line healthcare workers? What will the future look like for us?

These questions and more are answered in this week's Tuesday Luncheon with Dr. Paritosh Prasad, Strong and the University of Rochester Medical Center's Global Health Director and intensive surgical care and infectious disease specialist.

Dr. Prasad has been on the front lines since the beginning. We will hear what challenges he, his team and his family faced. He will also share what this virus and our health will look like in the future.

Aqua Y. Porter, Executive Director of Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative (RMAPI)

Recently, Aqua accepted a role as the Executive Director of RMAPI, a collective impact organization committed to reducing the number of persons living in poverty and increasing self-sufficiency of people in the City of Rochester and Monroe County. Prior to this, Aqua had a 30+ year career with Xerox Corp, where she held a variety of positions in Engineering, Marketing, Product Development, Global Purchasing, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Lean Six Sigma and Channel Partner Management. She is a mature, confident and innovative executive with strong interpersonal skills, adept in building strong teams who deliver exceptional business results.

Jaime Saunders, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Rochester. Recently billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gave a $20 Million grant to United Way of Greater Rochester after researching more than 6,800 organizations across the nation. The surprise grant is the largest in the United Way's 103 year history with the goal to "transform United Way and the community" - presenting a unique challenge and opportunity. United Way President & CEO Jaime Saunders will update us on this historic gift, the significance of this moment, and what she sees are the main issues facing our community in 2021.

Dr. Allen Furr, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Auburn University.

Dr. Furr received his PhD from the Louisiana State University. His main research areas are the sociology of health and medicine with a particular focus on mental health. He has published in medical and nursing journals as well as in scholarly publications in sociology. In 2005, Allen received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach at Punjabi University in India where he often returns to lecture and conduct research. A Texas native, he now resides on a mountainside in Asheville, NC.

Hear the Voices of Six Rising Young Community Leaders.

A new wind is blowing here, and voices from some of our rising young leaders are part of this new perspective on Rochester. They come from different backgrounds, cities, and career paths, but they all matter to the future of this place. Expect a thoughtful and provocative discussion!

(Moderator)
Pauly Guglielmo, Owner of Permac & Guglielmo's Home Grown Marinara Sauce.

(Panelists)
Steve Carter, Co-Founder of Explore Rochester & Upstate Social
Lauren Gallina, Marketing Director of Gallina Development Corporation & Owner of Bar Bantum
Maiah Johnson Dunn, Creator of Chasing Grapeness
Rachel Laber Pulvino, Director of Market Communications & Public Relations at VisitRochester
Rashad Smith, Project Manager at CauseWave & Co-Founder of ROC Freedom Riders
Miguel Melendez, Rochester City Council & Ibero-American Action League

The annual dinner famous for bringing Rotarians from around the globe together goes virtual, and welcomes keynote speaker, 2020-2021 Rotary International President-Elect Shekhar Mehta, and many other Rotary luminaries!

In 2006, a decision based on kindness during a high school basketball game turned Coach Jim Johnson into a national news celebrity, and an authority on leadership and helping make dreams come true.

Coach has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, ESPN, and dozens of National TV and radio shows. In 2011, he released his first book: A Coach and a Miracle: Life Lessons from a Man Who Believed in an Autistic Boy.

Dr. Michael Mendoza, Commissioner of Public Health for Monroe County, NY. Dr. Michael Mendoza is the 9th Commissioner of Public Health for Monroe County. He is also appointed as Associate Professor at the University of Rochester in the Departments of Family Medicine, Public Health Sciences, and Nursing.

As Commissioner of Public Health, Dr. Mendoza's goal is to improve population health by strengthening the collaboration between clinical medicine and public health in our community. He has a particular focus in leveraging science and best practice to address the disparities in health and health care here in Monroe County.

Our Veterans luncheon has always been a special day at Rochester Rotary. This year, we heard from Jim Connors, Chief Operating Officer of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation and Sergeant Gary Beikirch, U.S. Army (ret.), Medal of Honor Recipient. We also have a special book presentation from Roberto Clemente School No. 8, the students of which interviewed our Rochester Rotary Veterans and wrote their stories.

Jim Connors joined the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation team as Chief Operating Officer in November 2019 overseeing all design & construction aspects of the Museum in Arlington, TX and the Monument in Washington, DC as well as finance, legal, IT and administrative functions for the organization.

Gary Beikirch is an ordained minister of the United Baptist Fellowship and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and SUNY-Brockport. Gary recently retired after a 33-year career as a middle school counselor in his hometown of Rochester, NY. Since leaving the military, he has worked in hospital, prison and youth ministry and as a team counselor with the Veterans Outreach Center.