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Successful Meat Raffle

Rotary Meat Raffle Fundraiser – Thank You!

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended and supported our Rotary Meat Raffle Fundraiser. Your enthusiasm, generosity, and community spirit made the event a tremendous success!

Congratulations to our prize winners:

1st Place: Marty Nephew – Freezer filled with meat
2nd Place: Donna Saskowski – Basket of Booze
3rd Place: Rhonda Lund – Batavia Downs Stay & Play Package
4th Place: Joe Volino – Two VIP Tickets to Wings Over Batavia

We would also like to give a special thank you to our incredible sponsors whose support made this event possible:
The YNGODESS Shop, Wings Over Batavia Air Show, Ben's Appliance, Biggs Sound and Entertainment, Mr. Wine and Liquor, Arctic Refrigeration Co., Eli Fish Brewing Company, Batavia Downs, Eastown Beverage, Batavia Redemption Center, the GLOW YMCA, and Jimi Jamm.

Because of all of you, we are able to continue supporting important programs and initiatives in our community. We look forward to seeing you again next year!

2026 Meat Raffle

Batavia Rotary 2026 Meat Raffle

Join the Rotary Club of Batavia for an evening of fun and prize! Your $15 ticket includes beer, wine, and soda. There will be door prizes, a basket raffle, and plenty of meat prizes to win. Guests are encouraged to bring snacks for their table and a cooler to take home their winnings! For tickets and info, visit www.bataviarotary.com.

Doors Open at 5PM

First Drawing is at 6PM

Tickets Available Here!

Batavia Rotary Membership Growth

Adapting to Grow Membership – Offer Options and Support

Membership growth is a goal shared by every Rotary club—but meaningful, sustainable growth requires more than recruitment alone. Over the past year, our club has taken a thoughtful, relationship-centered approach to both attracting new members and, just as importantly, retaining them.

Our club has a highly active membership committee. We meet monthly to discuss ways to not only grow our membership but also retain the members we have.

Over the past five years, we have removed thirty-four members from our roster. While that may seem like a staggering number, we currently sit at 73 members - two members higher than our previous five-year average.

Attrition is natural and many of the reasons are unavoidable – Rotarians move out of the area, resign for health reasons, and some pass away. Of the thirty-four former Rotarians, thirteen left due to job or family obligations. Our answer was to develop a different philosophy when engaging potential members. We no longer place the focus on attending weekly meetings. We instead provide members with a menu of options to support our club, while filling their bucket in a meaningful way, that also recognizes their job and family commitments. We also encourage family involvement in our fundraising and service projects.

We have also implemented a Mentor Program to bridge the gap between new member enthusiasm and long-term engagement. Each new member is thoughtfully paired with an experienced Rotarian who serves as a guide, resource, and connection point within the club. Mentors connect regularly with their mentees during the first year, helping them navigate meetings, service opportunities, and club culture. New members are introduced to key aspects of Rotary - committees, service projects, and fundraising efforts.

Our Mentorship Program continues to grow and adapt based on feedback from both mentors and mentees. As we refine the process, our goal remains the same: to create a Rotary experience where every member feels valued, connected, and inspired to serve.

Club Membership Goals

While still evolving, the impact has been clear. We’ve seen improved engagement, stronger attendance, and most importantly, a noticeable decrease in early attrition. New members are not just joining—they’re staying, participating, and stepping into leadership roles.

Membership growth isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people. By investing in relationships and creating a supportive environment, we are building a stronger, more vibrant club for years to come.

Submitted by Tracy Ford, Membership Chair
Rotary Club of Batavia, NY

Batavia Community Grants

Making Music, Building Community

Thanks to the generosity of Rotary fundraising efforts, local organizations like the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble are able to thrive and expand their impact in our community.

Rotary support helps bring high-quality live music to the Greater Genesee Valley by funding the purchase of new and contemporary musical works opportunities that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. This means richer performances, more engaging concerts, and continued artistic growth for musicians ranging from professionals and educators to talented students.

Beyond the stage, Rotary funding strengthens community connections. Grants support outreach and promotional efforts that increase awareness, grow audiences, and ensure more people can experience the joy of live music. At a time when operational costs are rising, this support allows organizations to focus their resources on sustaining performances and enriching cultural life.

Because of Rotary, our community doesn’t just hear music, it feels its impact.

Hospice Care Grant

Rotary Club of Batavia Grant Supports Hospice Care Technology in Genesee County

Batavia, NY – Patients and families receiving hospice care in Genesee County will benefit from enhanced communication and care coordination thanks to a recent community grant awarded to HomeCare & Hospice by the Rotary Club of Batavia.

The Rotary Club of Batavia awarded HomeCare & Hospice a $1,300 grant through its community grant program to support the organization’s Hospice Tablets Initiative. The funding will help purchase two ruggedized tablets for hospice staff serving patients throughout Genesee County.

The tablets will allow hospice nurses and care team members to access and update patient records in real time while in the field, helping improve efficiency and communication between caregivers, physicians, and families. The technology will also support telehealth capabilities, particularly important for patients living in rural areas.

By reducing administrative delays and allowing staff to complete documentation and care planning while visiting patients, the tablets will help ensure that more time is spent providing compassionate, hands-on care.

“Rotary is proud to support organizations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of our neighbors,” said Lynn VanDerBeck, club president of the Rotary Club of Batavia. “HomeCare & Hospice provides compassionate care for individuals and families during some of life’s most difficult moments. We are pleased to help fund these hospice tablets, which will strengthen communication and allow caregivers to spend more time focusing on patients and their needs.”

HomeCare & Hospice serves patients across several counties in Western New York and remains committed to ensuring that funds raised or donated in a specific county directly benefit services in that region. Through this initiative, grant funding received from Genesee County partners will support tablets used by staff serving patients within the county.

“Community partnerships like this one with the Rotary Club of Batavia make a real impact,” said Andrea Aldinger, a member of the HomeCare & Hospice Board of Directors and of the Rotary Club. “These tablets will give our hospice nurses the tools they need to access patient information quickly, coordinate care efficiently, and remain fully present with the individuals and families they serve throughout Genesee County.”

The Rotary Club of Batavia’s community grant program recognizes organizations that strengthen the well-being of Genesee County residents and support initiatives that improve quality of life.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Batavia, please visit bataviarotary.org.

HomeCare & Hospice is a nonprofit healthcare organization dedicated to providing compassionate home health, palliative, and hospice care to patients and families across Western New York. Through skilled nursing, supportive services, and community-based programs, HomeCare & Hospice helps individuals receive high-quality care wherever they call home.

For more information about HomeCare & Hospice, visit www.homecare-hospice.org.

NEWS RELEASE

Date: March 11, 2026

Contact Person: Sarah Negron, Agency Relations Coordinator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Subject: Rotary Club of Batavia Grant Supports Hospice Care Technology in Genesee County

Rotary Youth Exchange Experience

A Life-Changing Exchange: Dr. Christine Tenebryso Returns to Batavia Rotary

More than forty years after her own Rotary Youth Exchange experience, Dr. Kristine Tenebruso recently returned to the Batavia Rotary Club to share the profound impact the program had on her life.

Kristine was a student at Batavia High School in 1983 when she first learned about the opportunity to spend a year abroad as a Rotary exchange student. Although she was involved in many activities, she recalled not always feeling that she fully fit in. The chance to live in another country intrigued her, and she eagerly applied.

That decision would change the course of her life.

Kristine spent her senior year of high school in Denmark, where she was immersed in a new culture, formed lifelong friendships, and discovered a deep appreciation for global community and connection. During her presentation to the club, she shared stories of the experiences she had while living abroad and the many ways the year shaped her perspective.

She told Rotarians that her exchange year helped her see the importance of building connections across cultures and communities. It gave her a sense of purpose and inspired a lifelong desire to give back and stay engaged in her community.

Christine expressed heartfelt gratitude to Batavia Rotary for making that opportunity possible and for the lasting influence it had on her life.

Christine’s return to Batavia Rotary was a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of Rotary Youth Exchange—an investment in young people that continues to shape lives, strengthen communities, and build international understanding decades later.

Wreaths Across America

Rotarians Honor Veterans During Wreaths Across America Ceremony

On a snowy, wintery day, Batavia Rotarians came together in the true spirit of service to participate in Wreaths Across America at the Western New York National Cemetery, honoring both loved ones and those who bravely served our nation. Despite the cold temperatures and falling snow, the atmosphere was filled with warmth, gratitude, and a shared sense of purpose.

Volunteers gathered to lay wreaths at gravesites, pausing to reflect on the sacrifices made by veterans and the families who carry their legacy forward. Many Rotarians took special care to place wreaths at the resting places of loved ones, while also honoring countless service members whose dedication and courage helped preserve our freedoms.

Though winter weather blanketed the cemetery in snow, it did little to dampen spirits. Smiles, quiet conversations, and moments of reflection underscored the meaning of the day. The sight of evergreen wreaths resting against white headstones served as a powerful reminder that remembrance endures in every season.

Participation in Wreaths Across America reflects Rotary’s commitment to Service Above Self, reminding us that honoring those who served is a responsibility shared by all. The dedication shown by Rotarians on this cold winter day ensured that the memories of our veterans remain evergreen—now and always.

Batavia Rotary Welcomes Byron Brown

Weekly Program: Byron Brown, CEO of WROTB

Batavia Rotary welcomed Byron Brown, former Mayor of Buffalo and current President and CEO of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation (WROTB), as this week’s program speaker. Brown began his remarks by thanking Batavia Rotary for the many ways our club supports the local community.

Brown shared his long-standing connection to Rotary, noting that he participated in Rotary’s Young Professionals Study Exchange in Central America in 1990. He added with a smile that he would gladly volunteer for an “Old Professionals” exchange if the opportunity ever arises.

WROTB is a public benefit corporation jointly owned by 17 municipalities across Western New York. Since joining the organization about a year ago, Brown said 2025 has been a year of exceptional growth, reform, and strong revenues. He noted that approximately $10 million is expected to be distributed to member municipalities by year’s end, with Genesee County already receiving $173,000.

Brown also highlighted increased patronage from both Genesee County and Erie County, WROTB’s contributions to education, and the many local organizations supported throughout the region. With 440 employees, WROTB is the fifth-largest employer in Genesee County.

Looking ahead to 2026, Brown shared WROTB’s continued focus on growing returns for its member municipalities, with the top priority being expansion, including plans to build a state-of-the-art conference and event center.

Read more about Byron Brown’s visit The Batavian News Article and The Daily News Article

Annual Polio Auction

Batavia Rotary Polio Plus Auction Success!

Our Batavia Rotary Polio Plus Auction November 11^th was an outstanding success — together, we raised $7,650 in support of Rotary’s fight to end polio worldwide!

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who participated and contributed so generously. At the recent District Conference, we were reminded that each polio vaccination costs $1 for the vaccine plus $2 for research, transportation, and delivery to reach unvaccinated children. With the Gates Foundation’s 2-to-1 match, our club’s efforts last week will help vaccinate an incredible 7,650 children against polio.

Our yearly Polio Plus Auction is always a highlight of the Rotary calendar — and much of that is thanks to Todd Jantzi of Bontrager Auction Group. Todd has been running our auction for years, bringing his trademark energy, humor, and heart, making the event truly unforgettable. We are deeply grateful for his continued partnership in this meaningful mission.

Thank you, Batavia Rotarians, for your dedication and impact in helping eradicate polio.

Batavia Rotary Composting Program

Eli Fish Launches Composting Program with Batavia Rotary

The Rotary Club of Batavia and Eli Fish Brewing Company are joining forces to make a greener impact on the community through a new food composting initiative launching October 27. The program is designed to reduce waste, protect the environment, and inspire other local businesses to adopt sustainable practices.

Under the new partnership, EcoVerde Organics LLC of Akron will collect food scraps from Eli Fish Brewing Company. Instead of heading to a landfill, these materials will be transformed into nutrient-rich compost used to enrich local soil and promote sustainable agriculture. To ensure the program’s success, Eli Fish staff will receive training on proper composting procedures—learning what materials can be composted and how to separate them effectively.

This effort is made possible through financial support from the Rotary Club of Batavia and Rotary District 7090. Each year, Batavia Rotary funds a community service project selected by the club president. For 2025, President Lynn VanDerBeck chose to focus on an environmental initiative that promotes sustainability and community education.

The Batavia Rotary is thrilled to partner with Eli Fish owner Matty Gray and his team to take meaningful action for our planet right here in Batavia. This project not only keeps organic waste out of landfills but also demonstrates how small changes in business practices can make a big environmental difference.

Through this collaboration, the Rotary Club of Batavia continues its mission of “Service Above Self,” combining community spirit, environmental responsibility, and local partnership to create a cleaner, more sustainable future for Genesee County and beyond.

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