Speakers

Helen Reisler, NY PDG and PP of the Rotary Club of New York, will discuss her year as the first president of the Rotary Club of New York, and how she was confronted with corrdinating all Rotary contributions worldwide through the Rotary Club of New York in response to the bombings of the Twin Towers on 9/11. 

 

HelenBReisler@gmail.com

NJ Rotary President Bill Mercantini is visiting all Rotary Clubs in the newly formed District 7450 to introduce himself to everyone and learn about each club's projects.

 

(609)300-8545

w.mercantini@gmail.com

Ms. McDonough is back!  This time she will discuss the writing of her latest book, Murder by Moonrise, an evocative, compelling mystery set in the Victorian era. Scotland Yard’s first female medical examiner, the unconventional Dr. Julia Lewis, finds her holiday sidelined by a murderer who has infiltrated the royal family’s summer retreat.

Ms. McDonough is a former educator who taught history for more than three decades. A member of the Historical Writers of America, the Mystery Writers of America, and the Historical Novel Society, she splits her time between New Jersey and the Florida Gulf Coast.

Please visit her online at PatriceMcDonough1789.com.

 

 

 

New Concepts for Living's New Aquatic Center in Westwood, NJ. 

New Concepts for Living is dedicated to enriching the lives of adults with special needs through caring and compassionate support within a nuturing environment that promotes independence, growth, and inclusion. 

201-843-3427

sscimica@ncfl.net

The Blood Bank will be on site in the parking lot from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Please bring a relative, friend or potential new member for this very important cause. The Blood Bank will provide water and snacks for the donors. 

 

Paramus High School students who attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program will speak about their experiences and the lessons they gained from this intensive leadership program.

 RYLA  brings together promising young people for workshops, presentations, team-building activities, and opportunities to learn from community leaders and their peers. Participants strengthen their communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills while building confidence and discovering ways to make a positive difference in their schools and communities. They also have the opportunity to form new friendships with other service-minded students.

The RYLA participants will share highlights from the program, how the experience influenced them, and how they hope to apply what they learned in their future endeavors.

 

Jan H. Brown, Esq. heads The Law Offices of Jan H. Brown, P.C., a New York City-based law firm specializing in the practice of immigration law. Mr. Brown brings over 47 years of experience in the field of immigration law. 

 

Mr. Brown is a frequent lecturer on diverse immigration-related topics for the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the New York State Bar Association, among other groups. He is also a frequent consultant on US immigration topics on WNBC TV.

Mr. Brown represents businesses and individuals on issues concerning immigrant and non-immigrant status. He is an experienced litigator before the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals. He has brought numerous mandamus and APA actions in the district courts as well as petitions for review in the 2^nd, 3^rd and 5^th circuits.

The popular “Brown Around Town” editorial cartoon series, commenting on topical immigration issues, is drawn and authored by Mr. Brown.

201-693-6550
www.JanHBrown.com

 

Alexandra Valdivia, LSW, is the Community Programs Manager, and Nicole Torres, LSW, is a social worker with The Bright Side Family, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable assisted living and supportive services tailored to the changing needs and preferences of low- and moderate-income older adults. The organization is dedicated to helping older adults, individuals with disabilities, and families live with greater independence, dignity, and security.

https://www.thebrightsidefamily.org

201-530-6756

Kristine Pendy LCSW, is the new CEO of at the Center for Hope & Safety. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. As such, Ms Pendy will discuss the critical work being done at the Center to support survivors, and how community partnerships play a vital role in creating safer communities.

Kristine@hopeandsafetynj.org

Heather Thompson and Maria Sinopoli of Table to Table will discuss how the nonprofit is using FIFA World Cup-related festivals and watch parties to fight hunger and reduce food waste. Through its Kick Hunger Out of NJ Tour, Table to Table rescues nutritious surplus food from large events and quickly delivers it to local food pantries, shelters, and community organizations.

They will also share how Table to Table has evolved since its founding in 1999 and describe their vision for expanding its impact in the years ahead.

Mrs. Rana will be discussing her latest book, Another Spring, her work as a playwright, and the role that art, resilience, and storytelling play in helping us better understand the human experience.

ybrana@aol.com

 

Military veterans Amy McCambridge-Steppe and Mark Steppe founded the nonprofit The Unbridgled Heroes Project in 2018 to rescue wild mustangs and pair them with veterans and others who have experienced trauma.  

https://www.unbridledheroesproject.org

201-937-3659

 

Women Light the World (WLTW) empowers women from marginalized communities to become leaders in climate action. Through practical skills training and entrepreneurship programs, WLTW equips participants to expand access to clean energy, build sustainable livelihoods, and advance lasting environmental and economic progress in their communities.

Mary Mahoney

marymahoney@womenlighttheworld.org

Robert will be speaking on what inspired him to become a Rotarian. 

AG Healthy Living

Michele Calise is a retired banking executive and an active leader in Bergen County’s nonprofit community. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Center for Food Action and has been a longtime member of Women United in Philanthropy, supporting initiatives that address hunger, housing insecurity, and the economic well-being of women and families throughout our area.

Michelle willl be speaking about the struggles of people in need of food and basic daily necessities. 

201-755-1969 

mmhc99@att.net

Bergen Center for Child Development 

Tom Santagato, Executive Director and Principal; Krysten Cummins, Supervisor of Instruction and Case Manager; and Tyler Ryan, Social Worker and Case Manager, will discuss the Bergen Center for Child Development and its individualized educational, therapeutic, and community-based programs helping students with developmental disabilities gain greater independence and prepare for life beyond the classroom.

201-385-4857

Krysten Cummins, MS.CCC-SLP Speech Language Pathologist (Supervisor of Instruction)

Tyler Ryan, Exeuctive Director

Tom Santagato, Executive Director and Principal 

 

Mia Forsberg-Villon founded Baby Bundle Inc. to help ensure that every newborn has an equal start in life. Inspired by the maternity-package tradition of her native Finland, Mia created the Baby Bundle Box to address a critical need among first-time mothers in New Jersey.  The nonprofit has supported new mothers since 2020 and primarily serves first-time mothers experiencing financial hardship or other difficult circumstances.

Each box is thoughtfully filled with essential newborn clothing, diapers, hygiene products, infant-care supplies, and other necessities. Through these packages, education, and community support, Mia’s organization provides practical assistance and peace of mind to mothers and families facing financial hardship and other challenging circumstances.

 

 

 

 

Allison Scorsone, is a Community Services Specialist with NJ Sharing Network, New Jersey's federally designated nonprofit organ procurement organization. Her role is to provide education about the lifesaving gift of organ and tissue donation directly to communities across New Jersey. She serves Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties, Allison is the point of contact for organizations in these areas:

• Educational presentations at meetings and events within your community.
• Information tables at community events and health fairs
• Educational materials and resources at no cost
• Tours of NJ Sharing Network headquarters for those interested.

NJ Sharing Network’s educational goal is not to persuade anyone to take specific action, but to help community members understand what organ and tissue donation is, how the process works, and address common questions or misconceptions in an accurate and respectful way.

NJ Sharing Network
691 Central Avenue
New Providence, NJ 07974
Phone: 908-516-5400
Toll-free: 800-742-7365