At Your Service(formerly RadioRotary)

Chris Silva, Executive Director of the Bardavon since 1994, discusses the Bardavon’s upcoming programs and its fascinating history in the Hudson Valley. Many legendary performers have graced its stage in the past, including Mark Twain, Sarah Bernhardt, Frank Sinatra, and Houdini. When the Bardavon fell on hard times in the 1970s, citizens rallied to restore it. Its dramatic growth since then can b...

Dr. Gary Lovett, Senior Scientist at Millbrook’s Cary Institute, discusses the forests of the Hudson Valley and the problems they face now and will face in the future. During the interview, Dr. Lovett answers questions about the effects of acid rain, how climate change affects the forests, the problems that arise from invasive insects new to our region (notably the emerald ash borer), and lots mor...

Professional caregiver advocate, Rotarian Christine Sotmary, Executive Director of Caregiver Access, considers the rarely- discussed topic of caring for the caregivers, the people who help the ill or disabled in their own homes. People live longer today, so more families are involved in such situations. The caregivers live under enormous pressure caregiving and need support themselves. Ms. Sotmary...

Barbara Kohlhausen, CEO of Meals on Wheels Programs & Services of Rockland, and Pearl River Rotary President Carol McGrath, discuss how their Rotary club and other Rockland Rotarians work with volunteers to deliver lunch and dinner–about 1,000 meals a day, customizing meals for special diets as needed. Listeners will be in awe at the enormity of the services this organization offers, not only to t...

Founder and Executive Director of Touching Bases, Bob Baird, describes this unique baseball league. This league is for adults of all ages with disabilities. They follow modified rules, which create a safe environment for players to socialize with each other and to succeed in a game they love. Listeners will enjoy Mr. Baird’s description of games in which the spectators have as much fun as the play...

Sister Margo Morris, Executive Director and Founder of Sprout Creek Farm, discusses how this working farm helps foster a better understanding of our place in the natural world, thus encouraging responsibility for the future of our environment. Sr. Margo Morris emphasizes her preference to educate young people about “from soil to table” at the beginning of learning, not in the middle. Education is...

When Executive Director and Founder of Tri-County Crisis Center (TCCC), Maria DiBari, realized how difficult it was for victims of domestic violence to get all the help they needed, she created TCCC, which supports victims and families of victims of domestic violence. In this moving interview, Ms. DiBari describes the personal journey that led her to create this life-saving organization. Jackie Ax...

Nicholas Gati, composer/guitarist/pianist, and actor Anthony Avella, both professionally trained entertainers, discuss the song they created for Rotary Day at the United Nations. Written in 2011, “We Come Together,” is a moving tribute that is played during the interview. Mr. Gati and Mr. Avella describe the process of their successful collaborations over the years, each having skills that enhance...

Ron Van Warmer, Associate Director of the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, discusses this important organization’s dedication to alleviating hunger while preventing the waste of wholesome food. Providing some astonishing statistics about hunger in our midst in today’s poor economy, Mr. Van Warmer describes the current profile of people who are hungry, how Food Banks are vital in helping them, and s...

Chris Colby, Principal of Spire Architecture & Design, provides an overview of how architecture impacts our quality of life and the importance today of “green” architecture—building to save energy and recycle materials. Mr. Colby outlines different steps to take to make a home more energy efficient. This includes solar and geothermal heating or electricity as well as basics such as sealing leaks a...

In this candid interview about male breast cancer, Nyack Rotarian Dr. Arnold Roufa, a retired OB/GYN, describes his own experience with breast cancer, detected in 1994. It is not nearly as prevalent as among women, but breast cancer affects about 2,000 men each year. Dr. Roufa describes the signs and the treatment, effective especially if the cancer has been detected early. Since the topic has not...

Helen LiMarzi, Director of Literacy Volunteers of Putnam County and Rotary District 7210’s Literacy Chair, discusses literacy—the ability to read with understanding–in the 21st century and the impact of electronic books on reading. Illiteracy still exists, but service organizations such as Rotary and Literacy Volunteers have developed programs that teach reading and encourage reading among relucta...

Certified Tai Chi instructor and World Tai Chi member Scott Grimes explains the health benefits, both physical and mental, of the martial art called tai chi, which can be practiced by people of all ages. In addition to describing the interesting history of tai chi, Mr. Grimes discusses several simple behaviors that people can do in their daily life to reduce stress.

This program was pre-recorded. We dedicate the December 30 show in memory of an outstanding Rotarian, Chet Sawyer. Rotary District 7210’s Past District Governor Chet Sawyer (1990-91), President of the IMRF (International Medical Relief Foundation) and one of its founders, discusses how his organization turns “leftovers into life savers.” It collects gently used or new but outdated medical equipmen...

Vocations improve our lives and strengthen our communities. Rotary District 7210’s Vocational Service Advisor Tamton Mustapha (Past District Governor 1999-2000), and Rotarian Penny Byron, District Vocational Service Chair, discuss vocational training initiatives for young people, including shadowing, mentoring, and Career Days. Rotary’s emphasis is on high ethical standards in all vocations, and R...

Rotarian Roger Lane, Organ Donor Advisor for Rotary District 7210, and Registered Nurse Sarah Wilbur, Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse Manager/CKD Educator, discuss current medical improvements in the areas of dialysis and transplants as well as dietary suggestions (that may be surprising to some) to avoid kidney problems. Mr. Lane allays fears related to dialysis and relates his experience as a transpla...

John Harper, Chief Executive Officer of H.O.N.O.R (Helping Others Needing Our Resources—also known as Honor Ehg, Inc.), and Rotary District 7210’s Secretary and H.O.N.O.R Board Member Nick Constantino, discuss several ways this organization helps the neediest in New York’s Orange County. H.O.N.O.R programs include vocational training, which prepares clients for the job market, as well as shelter p...

Interact clubs for high school students, sponsored by local Rotary clubs, provide young people with an opportunity to participate in meaningful service to the community, the nation, and the world and thus learn about the many rewards of service. Rotaract clubs for college-age students, including community-based clubs, and Elderact clubs for senior citizens, especially those living in assisted livi...

In this information-packed interview, Executive Director at Pure Water for the World, Rotarian Carolyn Meub, discusses how water filters of various kinds prevent disease. Safe water preserves an enormous number of lives in all parts of the world, especially the lives of children. Ms. Meub corrects many common misunderstandings about water. Fresh water seems to be in plentiful supply in most—but no...

Poughkeepsie Journal reporter Larry Hertz describes his professional career, discussing his newspaper accounts of humanitarian volunteers in the Hudson Valley as well as major criminal cases he has covered, the stories and their trials. Regular readers of the newspaper are familiar with his byline from his column as well as on major local stories. One issue of importance covered in the interview i...

In this extraordinary interview, Shane Hobel, aka Shane “White Feather” Hobel, informs the listeners of the survival skills needed when lost in the woods or otherwise cut off from civilization. These techniques can to be used for everyone of every age when in need of them. Mr. Hobel, founder of the Mountain Scout Survival School in Beacon, New York, is a professional tracker and a member of a Sear...

Interviews with Rotarians from around the world at the New Orleans Rotary International Convention include representatives from Don’t Meth with Us (drug prevention), Rotarian Action Group of Dental Volunteers (providing surgery worldwide), Malaria elimination, Thousand Smiles, promoting blood donations, and more.

Sara-Elizabeth Clark, age 16, discusses her life with epilepsy and how she has developed her philosophy: “I will not let my epilepsy define me. It’s what I have, not who I am.” Sara describes the many misunderstandings and misinformation among the public that add to the burden of those with this neurological condition and describes the support available to those with epilepsy. Sara helps support r...

In these on-site interviews with Rotarians from around the world at the New Orleans Rotary International Convention in 2011, co-hosts Sarah O’Connell and Jonah Triebwasser interview representatives from Brain Game for Babies, Blindness Prevention, Sewing Projects around the world, Dollywood, Shoes for Orphans, and more.

Suffern Rotarian Larry Palant, Disaster Response Chair and ShelterBox Representative for Rotary District 7210, discusses how he came to be a ShelterBox Representative as a result of helping provide relief for Hurricane Katrina victims. He describes what each Box contains that help people survive disasters. Founded by Tom Henderson, a Rotarian and former Royal Navy search and rescue diver, ShelterB...