At Your Service(formerly RadioRotary)

This lively interview features husband and wife Rotarians Ken and Doris Obremski, both Past District Governors of District 7210 (Ken 1993-94, Doris 2005-06). They describe the enormous accomplishments of The Rotary Foundation, with Doris sharing her personal story of how she became a convert, dedicated to the Foundation. Both are Major Donors to the Foundation, and Ken is the recipient of the Regi...

Jo Hausam discusses her personal journey through life with Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) and the extent of its impact on her life–therapy, surgeries, and medical support since she was three years old. She also details her recent research into PPS. Ms Hausam emphasizes the need for public awareness because children everywhere, including those in the United States, are still at risk, and she praises Rot...

In these on-site interviews at the New Orleans Rotary International Convention in May, 2011, Rotarians from around the world discuss various initiatives and action groups. Some of the topics are: the Dictionary Project in America to encourage literacy, clean water projects around the world that save countless lives, Interact clubs for young adults in secondary schools where students learn about th...

Lou DiPaolo (American) and Jim Morita (Japanese), both veterans of World War II, describe a remarkable coincidence involving two members of the same Rotary Club (New York Rotary). Lou, Jim, & Noriko Morita, Jim’s wife, explain what happened 65 years after the discovery of a letter. The odyssey of the letter will make listeners question the pieces of history they might have unwittingly stored away,...

Carol Ann Armstrong, President of Philmont Rotary Club, describes her club’s journey, starting in 2002, to honor those who died on September 11—the victims, their families, and the rescue workers who saved so many lives. American flags are distributed to all visitors coming from all over the Hudson Valley, and many stay for snacks afterwards to share the unity and fellowship of this day of remembr...

Paula Zwillinger, Founder and Executive Director of Semper Fi Parents of Hudson Valley, NY, discusses ways the organization supports parents of military troops and the troops themselves, both deployed and stateside. Semper Fi Parents raises funds to offset the cost of shipping packages to troops. They also educate parents about the many services available to them and to their children in the milit...

In an interview that includes music made with with bells, Rotarian Douglas Martin Sturomski (Southern Dutchess Rotary), Executive Director of the Peace Bell Foundation, describes the work of this unique organization and its successful Walk for Peace project. The purpose of the Peace Bell Foundation is to ring in awareness that we can live in harmony and love. Through our most universal language, m...

Bob Grems, General Manager of the famous Dutchess County Fair, discusses the unique features of this year’s Fair. For six days, about half a million visitors will enjoy, entertainment by big name talent, constant free shows and attractions, an Antiques Museum Village featuring story-tellers in costume describing our history, a carnival, thousands of farm animals on display, food for every taste, v...

Summer is RibFest time, thanks to the Rotary Club of Highland, New York, and Rotarian Don Verity discusses this year’s exciting RibFest events. Held this year on August 20-21, the Highland RibFest at the Ulster County Fairgroundsis now in its seventh year. This year’s RibFest promises adults and children a wealth of joy, with the festivities including delicious food competitions, demonstrations by...

In this interview from the New Orleans Rotary International Convention, Louisiana environmentalist Windell Curole (Golden Meadow Rotary) discusses the effects of the recent Mississippi River flooding. Mr. Curole is the General Manager of South LaFourche Levee District and one of Louisiana’s leading coastal environment experts. Mr. Curole has testified before the U.S. Congress after Katrina, provid...

This program features a powerful discussion of teenage eating disorders and one parent’s journey to help her daughter. The principal eating disorders are anorexia nervosa (self-starvation) and bulimia (binges followed by purging). The interview ranges from the early signs of the illness to the difficulties of finding effective cures. Included in the discussion are the painful effects of the illnes...

Enjoy interviews with students participating in Rotary International’s Youth Exchange Program, including current Inbound and next year’s Outbound students. Rotary’s Youth Exchange program began in the 1920s, enabling students to learn firsthand about life in another country, while planting the seeds for a lifetime of international understanding and gaining a deeper understanding of themselves. The...

On-site interviews at the 2011 New Orleans Rotary International Convention include Rotarians from around the world and discussions with representatives from PolioPlus (explaining the existing threat), ShelterBox (describing tents and equipment for survival after a disaster), Diveheart (Jim Elliott, Founder and President, explaining therapeutic diving and snorkeling experiences for everyone, especi...

Rotary Foundation Chair for District 7210 Knut Johnsen (past District Governor 2003-04) explains the work of The Rotary Foundation, describing it as the “engine that drives the work of the clubs.” He provides many examples of describe the plight of those being helped by the Foundation and the aid it provides. For example, the Foundation’s humanitarian and education projects include medical centers...

Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith, known for his “Cowboy Logic” philosophy, discusses his next pursuits (you’ll laugh at one of them). Other interviews include the Rotarian Action Group for Diabetics; Microcredit, which provides small loans to families worldwide to achieve economic independence; and the Learn/Grow project, which meets the challenge of food shortages through diverse f...

Rotary District 7210 Scholarship Chair Bill Bassett (District Governor Nominee for 2012-13) discusses the various scholarships supported by the Rotary Foundation that are available to the public on both the graduate and undergraduate level, either locally or abroad. Depending on the degree sought, students can undertake programs in the areas of focus supported by Rotary International, such as peac...

n this first broadcast of on-site interviews at Rotary International’s Convention, co-hosts Sarah O’Connell and Jonah Triebwasser talk to Rotaracters and other humanitarians from around the world who are working on projects such as Guitars for Troops, maternal health, mercy ships, and artificial limbs.

Peter Muir is the Director of the Institute of Music and Health, a nationally recognized center pioneering in the use of music for well-being, especially for people with disabilities. Although he grew up in England, Dr. Muir has become an acknowledged authority on American jazz and ragtime music, authoring numerous scholarly articles and the book Long Lost Blues: Popular Blues in America 1850-1920...

Vivian Hardison, Membership Chair of Rotary District 7250 and member of Glen Cove Rotary on Long Island, NY, discusses the benefits for people of all ages of joining a Rotary club. Among her personal reasons for joining Rotary, Ms. Hardison emphasizes how she found soulmates who share her passion for humanitarianism. Ms. Hardison also tells of the issues potential members should consider before de...

Dr. Richard Ostfeld discusses the results of his extensive research on Lyme disease. Dr. Ostfeld is a Senior Scientist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY. In addition to debunking long held myths about Lyme, Dr. Ostfeld tells how to prevent Lyme disease, how to reduce the tick numbers in the environment, the role of white-footed mice, and much more. His book, Lyme Disease: The...

Dr. Sherre Wesley describes various education and job programs provided by Dutchess Bureau of Cooperative Services (BOCES) for adults. The literacy program helps adults get their GED (high school equivalency diploma), and ESL (English as a second language) classes help adults improve their proficiency in English. The career program, which consists of hands-on training on state-of-the-art equipment...

Principal Mitchell Shron discusses the Dutchess Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES, pronounced “BOH-sees”), a cost-effective education solution unique to New York State. BOCES programs provide career and technical education, special and alternative education, and professional development. The Career and Technical Institute (CTI) is for students, mainly in 11th and 12th grades, to learn...

In this club close-up of the Rotary Club of Red Hook, club representatives tell how Red Hook Rotary exemplifies the autonomous and unique character of an individual Rotary Club while yet maintaining the humanitarian goals of other clubs around the world. Past President Niki Weaver describes her club’s support of Therapy Dogs, a program that helps patients in hospitals as well as students with spec...

Greg Pikor describes Hudson Valley Homes for Heroes, a company that provides discounted real estate to those “who work every day to make our communities better places to live.” “Heroes” include military personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, and other every day heroes. Created in Minnesota after the tragic events of 9/11 as a “Thank you” to the heroes who...

In an on-site interview at the Millbrook Rotary Club, Rotary District 7210’s Past District Governor (2005-06), Doris Obremski (Goshen Rotary), tells how she became a supporter of The Rotary Foundation. Ms. Obremski emphasized the Foundation’s efforts to eradicate polio worldwide, giving specific statistics about the number of lives spared from polio by Millbrook Rotary’s financial contributions al...