Recent News
United Way Day of Caring
United Way Day of Caring

Rotarians Lend a Hand at Purple Pony for United Way Day of Caring

Rotarians from the Batavia and Le Roy Rotary Clubs rolled up their sleeves for this year’s United Way Day of Caring, joining forces to support Purple Pony Therapeutic Horsemanship and its mission of enhancing the lives of individuals with diverse needs through therapeutic horsemanship. Volunteers spent the day making meaningful improvements to the facility, including building a new run-in shed for the horses, cleaning and refreshing the sensory trail, and installing a new gate to improve safety and accessibility.
Ellicott Trail Clean-Up 2026
Ellicott Trail Clean-Up 2026

Rotary and Friends of the Ellicott Trail Come Together for Spring Trail Clean-Up

Rotary members joined forces with the Friends of the Ellicott Trail and community volunteers for a successful Trail Clean-Up Day following the long winter season. Volunteers worked together to clear debris, clean pathways, and help restore the trail for residents and visitors to enjoy throughout the spring and summer months.
 
This community effort reflects Rotary’s continued commitment to service, environmental stewardship, and community pride. We are grateful to everyone who volunteered their time and energy to help maintain one of Batavia’s treasured outdoor spaces.
 
We also thank Video News Service for covering the event and helping highlight the positive impact of community collaboration and volunteerism.  
 
Human Trafficking Educational Seminar
Human Trafficking Educational Seminar

Rotary District 7090 and PATH (People Against Trafficking Humans)

Join Rotary District 7090 and PATH (People Against Trafficking Humans) for a crucial educational seminar focused on understanding human trafficking and learning how to take actionable steps in our community. This event features expert insights from PATH, Project Mona’s House, and Hilbert College.

The seminar is open to all community members and includes a complimentary lunch. While the event is free to attend, an RSVP is required via the QR code on official event flyers.

  • When: Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

  • Where: Batavia Downs Gaming, Park Place Room (8315 Park Rd, Batavia, NY)

  • Cost: Free (Includes Lunch) - https://bataviarotary.org/events/human-trafficking-educational-seminar/ 

Successful Meat Raffle
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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