WELCOME TO LAKE PLACID NY AND THE BEAUTIFUL ADIRONDACK PARK
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
 
Whether you're just visiting or you live in Lake Placid and would like to visit with us as a guest, please email rotarylakeplacid@gmail.com and we'll contact you.  Our meetings are held weekly at the Hampton Inn and Suites, 801 Mirror Lake Drive, Lake Placid NY.  Meetings are each Thursday at 7:20am unless a special event or meeting is planned.
Email us http://rotarylakeplacid@gmail.com         Visit our website:  https://portal.clubrunner.ca/1980
Hampton Inn and Suites
FOCUS ON OUR FOOD DRIVE - THE NEED IS THERE AND URGENT
 
Restoration of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits doesn't make the need for nutritional support in our area go away.   Please click "food drive" on the menu ribbon above and jump to the list of suggested items to drop off at the Thrive & Thrift parking lot when we update our food drive schedule for January,
 
According to 2023 data from the Essex County Department of Health and NY State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance, 13% of individuals in the county are below the Federal poverty level.  This is higher than the US rate of 11.1%  The county data breaks down like this:  Adults (age 19 - 60) 1,295 people.  Older adults (over age 60) 874 people.  Children under age 18, over 817.  In our county, roughly 1 in 11 people (approx. 8.8% of recipients as a percentage of population) receive benefits based on estimates.
 
Dropping off food in bags and/or boxes would be appreciated.  Cash or checks are also accepted so our food banks can utilize wholesale purchasing power from the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY.  Please make checks payable to Lake Placid Thrive and Thrift.
 
Lake Placid Thrive and Thrift is located at 21 Cummings Road in Lake Placid.
 
Please be generous.  Thank you. 
 
For more information, please email rotarylakeplacid@gmail.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home Page Stories
Donate, Shop, Support at Thrive & Thrift
Donate, Shop, Support at Thrive & Thrift
Pastor Jim Koenig, Board Chair of Thrive & Thrift spoke about the success story which demonstrated the generosity and strength of our community.  He spoke about the beginnings of the organization and how it outgrew the original locations.  In 2024, a 501c3 was formed with the community raising sufficient funds to construct a new modular facility.  Almost 70 volunteers work at the organization which maintains strong partnerships with faith organizations, the Town, the Village and the school system.  Jim said that if anyone comes to the food pantry door on pantry day, assistance is provided without question.  Thrive & Thrift’s informational brochure is presented here.  Besides donations of food and goods, monetary donations are always welcome.  There’s always a need for more volunteers.
Welcome New Rotarian Roberta Bryson
Our club keeps growing.  Today we inducted Roberta Bryson as the newest member of our Club.  Even before today, Roberta has been participating in club activities such as our November food drives.  We're sure Roberta will be a very active member no matter which committee(s) she'll serve on.   Welcome Roberta!  Roberta is flanked by John Huttlinger and Kate Thompson who will serve as her mentor.
A Biotech Career Journey: STEM, Family, and Service
Today we heard from one of our newest members, Jessica Ballinger.  Jessica described her upbringing as an academically focused student who excelled in STEM fields, attending the University of Illinois on a Pell Grant.  This launched her career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Her talk highlighted her extensive work experience at companies like Monsanto and Pfizer, where she specialized in developing drug delivery devices and contributing to numerous pharmaceutical products.  This often required her family to relocate multiple times, including to the UK. Finally, Jessica discussed her transition to a leadership role as President and CEO of Lyndra Therapeutics, a company pioneering a long-acting oral drug delivery platform.  Currently, she is an Entrepreneur in Residence with Mass General Brigham Ventures, focusing on bringing biotech companies to her current region.  Jessica is an avid photographer and should you see her around town, she's probably got a camera or two with her.  Here's some of her recent pictures.
Our November Food Drive Was Successful
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Lake Placid/North Elba community for food bank contributions at our November sessions.  The Thrive and Thrift staff were very pleased with being able to go from empty shelves to full shelves.  Based on a standard formula used by food banks, enough food and money has been donated for approx.2,545 meals, which is enough to feed a family of 4 three meals per day for 212 days.  We want to give special thanks to the employees of Community Bank, The Lake Placid Community School District, The Lake Placid Synagogue and GW Pratt insurance for their generous donations.  But the need remains as we enter the holiday season.  The Rotary Club will hold two food drives in December.  We hope to see you on December 8 & 15 from 10a to 1p at Thrive and Thrift on Cummings Rd in Lake Placid.  Pictured are the Rotary crew from November 15, joined by Thrive & Thrift Board Chair Jim Koenig.  LPES Principal Sonja Franklin is shown with donations from her school.
The Shelter Box & Rotary Partnership
The Shelter Box & Rotary Partnership
Rotary's ShelterBox coordinator, Renee Brouse, woke up early in Portland OR to Zoom in to our meeting to update us on ShelterBox' worldwide efforts in providing disaster relief.  Our club has donated $7,000 over the years to help funds these efforts.  ShelterBox works in an independent partnership with Rotary International as an NGO dedicated to providing emergency shelter and vital non-food supplies to people who have been displaced by disaster or conflict. Its vision is a world where "no one is without shelter after disaster." Aid items include tents, solar chargers, solar lights, cook stoves, water filters, blankets, and hygiene kits.  Among places where ShelterBox is active are Gaza, Philippines, Sudan.  And also here at home where ShelterBox USA met the emergency needs of approximately 1,500 families displaced by Hurricanes Helene/Milton in North Carolina.   Please visit https://shelterboxusa.org for more about their many programs.
Fall Highway Cleanup
Fall Highway Cleanup
Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night.... Well, maybe gloom of night will but 10 intrepid Rotarians braved the season's first snow today and trekked along our designated portion of Route 73 to pick up accumulated trash from the roadside.  The snow cover probably hid some items from the crew.  Guess the spring cleanup crew might be a tad busier.  In any case, thanks to (L to R) Andrew, Greg, Stephanie, Jess, Peter, Randy, David, (bottom row) Mary Liz and Rick and (not pictured) Chandler.   A crew from Rotary patrols Route 73 several times during the year to help keep things clean.   
Lake Flower Landing - Music & Art in Saranac Lake
Ren Davidson and Peter Seward, artists who came to the Adirondacks 22 years ago, created Lake Flower Landing, a Saranac Lake / North Elba arts-venue, out of a 100-year old mixed-use building. Their art studios and event space are downstairs, and their apartment is upstairs. They open their door to the public for a variety of special events and visited with us to talk about how they got to this point in their careers, and in their efforts of community-building.  Lake Flower landing was recently featured in a story on NCPR.  Visit Lake Flower Landing’s website for information about upcoming events, space rental and more.  https://lakeflowerlanding.com
Dam Duck Race Winners 2025
2025 Teddy Bear Picnic
August 2025 Social Event
Delektowanie się polską kolacją at the Redneck Bistro
OOH LA LA - A French Dinner
Our 2023 Holiday Party
Ways You Can Help Our Community
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Shelter Box
Emergencies don't take holidays
Floods, earthquakes, severe storms happen 24/7/365.  A gift to ShelterBox, a Rotary sponsored program. can provide several different types of urgently needed emergency equipment.    Just use the link on the left side of this page to download the ShelterBox gift form showing many ideas . Your one gift will bring much help and aid to those in need.  Learn about ShelterBox by visiting https://www.shelterbox.org 
 
 
 
A Statement from Rotary International
As a global network that strives to build a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity and celebrates the contributions of people of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, color, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status.  https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
Officers /Click on a name to contact a Club Officer
President
Stephanie Pianka
Immediate Past President
Kathleen Thompson
Vice President
Chandler Ralph
Secretary
Kathleen Thompson
Treasurer
Heather Perkins
Director
May Chow
Director
William FLEDERBACH
Director
Linda Flederbach
Director
Harris Semegram
Director
Lee Slocum
Director
Gregory McNally
Director
Chandler Ralph
Membership
Gregory McNally
The Rotary Foundation
Peter Beatty
Sergeant-at-Arms
Roger Catania
Sergeant-At-Arms
Randy Quayle
Sergeant-At-Arms
Dr. Ernie Stretton
Community Service
Debbie Erenstone
Dam Duck Race Co-Chair
Lee Slocum
Trivia Night Co-Chair
Mary Liz Alexander
Trivia Night Co-Chair
Heather Perkins