The Ken 11/14/2022
Director: Linda Sroka
Table Attendance: Rick Graham
Invocation: Chuck Patterson
Fine Master: Cameron Kukla
The Ken: Donna DiFrancesco
President Brandon rang the gong at 12:22 p.m., we recited the Pledge to the Flag and Chuck led us in
prayer. Brandon announced our speakers, Miss Lizzie and Mr. James from NY Project Hope, and our new
member, Karen Kulakowski, who will be inducted into our club at the December 5 th meeting. Welcome
Karen! We had a nice turn out for today’s meeting. That was nice to see!
Announcements: Chuck has received several foundation grant requests and asks if anyone has anymore
to please have them in by next week. Cathy reminded everyone to register for the Ken-Ton Holiday Gala,
to be held on Wednesday December 7 at the Park Country Club from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. It’s easy to
register at kentongala.com. Our club will be sponsoring the basket raffle with the money going to our
Operation Santa. We ask that everyone please try to donate a basket or gift cards, and drop it off at the
Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce office directly or bring it to our regular meeting on Monday 11/28 and
we’ll transport it. We are also seeking volunteers to come to the chamber office on Wednesday
November 30 at 4 p.m. to sort through, assemble and number the baskets. President Brandon is
attending, via Zoom, a Rotary District wide business meeting on some day soon (I guess I wasn’t paying
attention to that part). THERE IS NO MEETING ON MONDAY 11/21 IN OBSERVANCE OF THANKSGIVING.
The speaker for November 28 is Russ Ward with the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Our Great President Brandon introduced our speakers, Lizzie and James, crisis counselors with NY
Project Hope, Coping with Covid. This project came about in March of 2020 due to the stress of the new
Covid pandemic. FEMA funded it and it was set up to run about 6 months but due to the great need, it
has gone much past that. That funding is set to run out on December 12 and the state will take it over,
they just aren’t sure for how long. This initiative is a part of the Office of Mental Health and is run
through the Buffalo Urban League. They offer an emotional support help line which is confidential and
anonymous. They have resources that can link people up to job training, mothers with child care or
necessities, funds to help people out of work, etc. They can also just be an ear to listen. They want to
help find balance between mind, body and spirit. They present to schools, from Pre-K through college
level. Small children can’t always articulate their feelings, which can be heightened due to the stress of
their living conditions during trying times. Sometimes it’s easier for them to talk to someone other than
a family member. They can present in an office setting as a group or individually. They also go into
senior citizen centers, as they are oftentimes the ones with the greatest needs during a pandemic like
this. They try to teach ways to deal with stress like yoga, meditation, sticking to a routine, massage
therapy to name a few. Take time to decompress. Everyone needs that. Their emotional support line is
open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. at 716-250-2478, or you can email them at
projecthope@buffalourbanleague.org. What a great resource to have! Cam won the split club of $10
and Ed Markarian picked the ACE…of clubs.
Cameron asked for confessions and Ed confessed to missing a lot of meetings and missing the gang. He
offered to pay a fine or give a pre-written check. Cam chose the check. Thank you, Ed, for your
generosity! We missed you too. Cam confessed to going to the Urban League Gala on works dime. He
find himself. He then quizzed us on November trivia. November is the last of 4 calendar months to have
30 days, the birthstone is Topaz, star sign is Scorpio and official flower is chrysanthemum (I had to look
up that spelling). Our table is the only one to get fined because we got the hardest questions!
Our great President adjourned the meeting at 1:15 p.m. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!