At Your Service(formerly RadioRotary)

Maureen Taylor, Executive Administrator in Dutchess County’s Habitat for Humanity, discusses how home ownership is made possible for low income families with the ability to carry the responsibilities of the home once it is built. Ms. Taylor describes potential recipients’ qualifying requirements for ownership, the required contribution of “500 hours of sweat equity,” contributions by licensed elec...

Dave Dobson, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together in Dutchess County, and Rhinebeck Rotarians Mike Mazarella and Mike Frasier, discuss their joint volunteer efforts to help repair homes for those in need. Rebuilding Together, a leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable home ownership, revitalizes communities through its network of more than 200 affiliates, providing critic...

Salvation Army Captain Doris Gonzalez (whose brother is a Rotarian in Puerto Rico) and Salvation Army Advisory Board Chairman Bob Outer discuss various programs in this important humanitarian organization as well as interesting information about themselves. The Salvation Army today is providing services for more people than ever before, as more Americans today are facing problems obtaining the bas...

Kathy Kruger, co-chair of Rotary District 7210’s Domestic Violence Ended (DOVE) and Pleasant Valley Rotarian, and Judy Lombardi, Executive Director of Grace Smith House, discuss the various ways victims of domestic violence can get help in the Hudson Valley. Both Grace Smith House and DOVE assist thousands of victims of domestic violence each year through 24-hour hotlines, emergency shelters, and...

Susan Davidson, Founder and Executive Director of Friends of Seniors, discusses how volunteers in this nonprofit humanitarian organization make a huge difference in the lives of those in need. The organization provides basic support services to the older adult community, age 60 and older, such as transportation to medical appointments, assistance with grocery shopping, visiting services, respite f...

Millbrook Rotarian Scott Meyer and novelist Eileen Charbonneau, Administrators of the nonprofit George Byrd Grinnell American Indian Fund, dedicated to maintaining the cultural integrity of American Indian communities. The interview covers ways the Fund helps Native Americans, most recently members of Montana’s Blackfoot Nation, and local exchange programs. Serving Native Americans throughout the...

Founder of the nonprofit organization, Semper Fi Parents of the Hudson Valley, Paula Zwillinger discusses how her organization supports the families of those in the military as well as the military itself. Various forms of support provided by Semper Fi Parents include an providing emotional outlet for Marine/military parents of those in boot-camps, active, or reserve status and for those who have...

ShelterBoxes is a UK-based disaster relief organization supported by Rotary clubs around the world. In Rotary District 7210 Suffern Rotarian Larry Palant is ShelterBox Coordinator and Disaster Relief Chair. For this interview, Mr. Palant details how the ShelterBoxes function. Each box is filled with critical necessities for keeping at least 10 victims of disasters alive for a minimum of six months...

A Rotary member for 23 years, Walden Rotarian Mike Martin, is Rotary District 7210’s Co-chair of Domestic Violence Ended (DOVE). In this interview, he discusses the problem of domestic violence in today’s environment. DOVE works with other domestic violence agencies, such as Safe Homes, to protect victims and their children. Mr. Martin explains how he first became involved in DOVE 15 years ago and...

Two guests from Highland Rotary, Steve Laubach, the assistant governor for District 7210 Region 2, and Don Verity, Station Manager of Hudson Valley Talk Radio, have lots of laughs discussing the now-famous Hudson Valley Ribfest, attracting thousands of visitors each year. The Ribfest has become the Hudson Valley’s largest barbecue event for the whole family. Held in the Ulster Country Fairgrounds,...

RadioRotary co-host Jonah Triebwasser interviews humanitarians in the House of Friendship at the Rotary International Birmingham Convention, where 17,000 Rotarians have gathered. The interviewees include John Byrne from Wales discussing the good works of a Welch Interact club; Patricia Smith from Pennsylvania discussing Youth Exchange and its purposes; a representative of PolioPlus, who is display...

In the first of a two-part series, RadioRotary co-host Jonah Triebwasser interviews humanitarians from around the world in the House of Friendship at the Rotary International Birmingham Convention, where 17,000 Rotarians have gathered. Featured speaker at the Convention, humanitarian Dr. Jane Goodell, gives a fascinating interview. Rotarian Heather Merrian from San Francisco, California discusses...

Dr. Suresh Chandani, President of Southern Dutchess Rotary, and Neha Chandani, President of Marist College Rotaract, discuss their local and international humanitarian efforts. Rotaract is a service club for young professionals and students ages 18-30. Sponsored by local Rotary clubs, Rotaract clubs provide young people with opportunities to foster leadership, responsible citizenship, and promote...

Steven Pressman, Executive Director of Mid-Hudson Addiction Recovery Centers (MARC) in Poughkeepsie, and Sue Tallardy, Program Director of the MARC Crisis Center, discuss successful approaches and services in treating addictions. MARC operates the Crisis Center, two halfway houses for recovery, a transitional residence program, and nearly twenty sober apartments. Mr. Pressman and Ms. Tallardy expl...

Helen LiMarizi, Rotary District 7210’s Literacy Chair and Director of Literacy Connections for Putnam County, discusses interesting – and sometimes surprising — information about literacy here and around the world. Ms. LiMarizi describes Rotary’s emphasis on basic literacy as a pre-condition to the prevention of poverty and the development of peace. The majority of Rotary clubs around the world in...

Millbrook Rotarian Rev. Dr. Doug Fisher (Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Millbrook, NY) discusses how Hudson Valley Rotarians and other humanitarian organizations support Food Pantries, a vital resource for those in need in today’s economic environment.

Distinguished guest Doug Hovey is the recipient of the NYS Senate’s 2006 prestigious Achiever’s Award, which recognizes accomplishments on behalf of the community while overcoming personal challenges, and the recipient of the Red Cross 1995 Humanitarian of the Year Award. Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities, Doug Hovey is founder and Executive Director of Indep...

Wayne Johnson, Youth Exchange Chair for Rotary District 7210 in Rotary Year 2009-10, shares important information for parents and teens interested in Rotary’s excellent international exchange program. The Rotary Youth Exchange program provides thousands of young students with the opportunity to meet people from other countries and to experience new cultures, planting the seeds for a lifetime of in...

Rotary District 7210’s Past District Governor (1990-91) Chet Sawyer, International Medical Relief Foundation Co-Chair with Nuise Prewphan Bhitiyakul, discusses how his organization of dedicated Rotarians in the Mid Hudson region of New York State collects surplus medical supplies and equipment for distribution to developing countries around the world. The distribution in the receiving country is s...

David Green, District Governor Elect (2009-10), discusses what Rotary means to him and his plans and hopes for his district next year. Among the topics he explores are polio eradication worldwide and Rotary’s capacity to provide service to local communities, the nation, and the world. This moving interview provides insight into the serious responsibilities of a district governor.

In a unique RadioRotary program, doctoral candidate Ed Kalinka discusses his research for his thesis on the topic of Why Rotarians Volunteer: An examination of Their Motives and Incentives. Mr Kalinka, a Florham Park (New Jersey) Rotarian, provides interesting summaries of studies and statistics about Rotary clubs in the U.S. and around the world and lots of information about what motivates people...

Roger Risko (Arlington Rotary), Rotary District 7210 Advisor to Interact, Rotaract, and Elderact, describes each of these humanitarian clubs and explains the importance of attracting people of all ages to humanitarianism. Jimmy Lyles, Interact President of John Jay High School, describes his club’s community service such as recycling, clean-up, and awareness projects and talks about how he became...

In this riveting interview, Nate Almeida describes his ultimately successful journey, from living on the streets to becoming the President and founder of a Rotary community Rotaract organization, called Nubian Directions. Darnell White, Head of Technology and Computer Science Instructor at Nubian Directions, and Mr. Almeida explain the mission of Nubian Directions, which is based in Poughkeepsie,...

Past District Governor Knut Johnsen (2003-04) and Rotary District 7210’s Rotary Foundation Chair, discusses Rotary International’s mission to “bring us closer to world peace … through the humanitarian and educational programs” made possible by financing from The Rotary Foundation. Humanitarian projects for those in need here and abroad include issues involving food, poverty, and water. Education p...

Representatives from two Rotary clubs provide insight into how autonomous Rotary clubs are similar yet different, depending on the talent and skills of their members, as they provide humanitarian service locally and abroad. Red Hook Rotarian Niki Weaver describes her Therapy Dog program and her club’s yearly Apple Blossom Community Day event. New Paltz Rotary Secretary Marianne Knulf and New Paltz...