The Ken
2/7/2022
Fine Master: Cameron Kukla
Table Attendance/Split Club: Brandon Blatz
Invocation: Chuck Patterson
The Ken: Donna DiFrancesco
The meeting was called to order at 12:27 by President Dick with the Pledge of Allegiance. Chuck Patterson led us in prayer. Brandon introduced our guests, speaker Monica Pellegrino Faix, Executive Director of the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation and Jim Jones from the satellite club. Split club of $11 was won by Brandon and his number was also picked to draw for the Ace, which he didn’t. He picked the Queen of Diamonds.
Dick asked for announcements. Pat told us that Shred It will be on Saturday April 23 from 10-2 at the Kenmore Elmwood Commons. He will hold a committee meeting at the end of February or beginning of March. Also on April 23, there will be a clean up at Isle View Park, where our Rotary bench is. Jim will have more information for us as it gets closer, but there are usually 2 shifts and definitely 1 in the morning. Brandon thanked the Foundation for the grant to purchase an archery set for the Boy Scouts. He invited everyone to come out and see it. Cam announced the Cigar and Bourbon night at Park Country Club. It will be on Thursday April 21 and the cost will be $100 per ticket. The bourbon will be paired with food, similar to last year’s event. There is no speaker on 2/14, there’s no meeting on 2/21 in celebration of George Washington’s birthday in which he would be 290 years old, and the speaker on 2/28 will be Eric Ensminger from Marketing Tech.
Cam came up as fine master and asked for confessions. Brandon confessed that effective the 15th, he is getting a promotion within the Boy Scouts. Congratulations!! Cam got his first bonus at work. They hit all their goals and he is very proud of his team. Way to go Cam!! Our trivia consisted of: Which King in the deck of cards has no mustache? Hearts. Vincent Van Gogh was in a psychiatric hospital when he painted Starry Night. Bill Clinton sent a total of 2 emails during his Presidency.
Our speaker, Monica, gave a very informative talk on the Buffalo Central Terminal, which will be reused, not just restored. It had its grand opening in 1929 and the last train to depart was in 1979. In 1997, the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation was formed. The tracks are still used today by CSX. The building is 500,000 square feet in size, and will be re-established as a hub of activity, inside and out. In 5 years, they hope to open some areas for use, but it won’t be for at least another 20 before there will be a complete re-use. Monica had a wealth of information and welcomes everyone to visit their website buffalocentralterminal.org to find out more information and view some amazing photos.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:13 and everyone enjoyed lunch.