Mentorship is one of those goals rotary clubs strive for, particularly when it comes to grooming future community business leaders. Nowhere was this more important than when the most recent Farmingdale Breakfast Rotary meeting’s guests were Stanley Pelech, director of Integrated Academic and Technical studies and Jodi Haniquet, advisor of the Farmingdale High School (FHS) Interact club. Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people. The Farmingdale Breakfast Rotary is the sponsor of the 75-plus student strong high school club. Advisor Jodi Haniquet reported to Rotary club members what fundraising events the Interact Club will participate in for the 2015 school year. The service group will once again team with FHS student government in a food drive – donations collected for Island Harvest pantries. They will also participate in Ronald McDonald house dinner program – cooking and serving meals on the premises in New Hyde Park for the many families staying at the residence while their seriously ill children receive treatment at nearby hospitals.
A club favorite is the Habitat for Humanity project in March/April raising money and helping in building homes for the needy on Long Island. Other projects include collection of used eyeglasses to be refurbished for those in need overseas and used cell phones to be distributed to the elderly and organizations that help battered women. The projects are many and successful because, Haniquet said, the student members “serve because they want to serve and have their heart in it.” The Rotarians in attendance at the meeting were amazed and proud at how much service the students do and their sense of wanting to give back to the community. Rotary International’s mission for the student service club is that through projects and fundraisers Interact students will develop a network of friendships, leadership skills and learn the value of hard work in helping others. Director Stanley Pelech would like for students to see successful community businessmen and women who act as role models for proper behavior and professionalism. “They won’t see any businessmen wearing their pants dangling below their hips,” he said. “Students need to see more examples of success around them to understand what will be expected of them.”
The Breakfast Rotary and Interact hope to team together on a project supporting our troops. Adopt-A-Battalion is a volunteer-based organization that operates year round collecting goods and monetary donations for our service men and women stationed overseas Adopt-A-Battalion will be featured at the next Rotary meeting on Nov. 4 at the Village Diner at 7:45 a.m. in honor of Veteran’s Day with guest speaker & volunteer Janine Bertuglia-Wich. “The troops especially need hygiene items (travel sizes), undershirts (green), boot socks (black), shaving cream, toothpaste & toothbrushes and snacks such as granola bars, gum and mints,” Jeanine said. A complete list of items are listed on the groups Facebook page at Adoptabatallionli and may be dropped off to the Massapequa Park Knights of Columbus Hall located on 2 Eastgate Road. The Breakfast Rotary will also install new member, Lieutenant Colonel Gary E. Dolan, retired US Army Ranger. All are invited to attend.
