Wines of the World: Wine, Food and Auction List

Here's the latest list of Wines, Restaurants and Auction Items for the 5th Annual Wines of the World on February 26th.  Get your tickets online today! Click here to order.

WINES:
Premier Wines Group, Martin Scott Wines, Empire Merchants North, Opici Wine Group, Southern Wine & Spirits, Dr Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars, Lauber Imports, and Warm Lake Estate.

RESTAURANTS:
Bing's, Buffalo Yacht Club, Trattoria Aroma, May Jen Chinese Restaurant, Stillwater, Verbena, Oliver's, Old Orchard Inn, Spot Coffee, Left Bank, Muscoreil's

LIVE AUCTION ITEMS:

• Buffalo- with a Twist!
  Four lucky individuals will share an extraordinary evening of gourmet dining at O'Connell's American Bistro and be regaled by one of Buffalo's finest storytellers-Kevin O'Connell of Channel 2. Kevin will share his memories and experiences growing up in Buffalo and embarking upon his very successful career, the people he has met, the places he has gone and the things he has done (at least some of them)! (Please note -wine and spirits are not included.) Donated by: Ron Caruso, Value: Priceless
  
• Refurbished Aud Orange Seat, 2 Sabres tickets and book of the history of the Aud
  Watch the Sabres play from the comfort (or discomfort) of the Aud! One seat from the Oranges, reassembled and mounted on a new, free-standing bracket (without the original tasty lead paint) will be yours, to plant in front of the wide-screen, or anywhere you like. Included are AUDieu:Buffalo Says Farewell to the Aud, a 120-page book about the Aud from beginning to the sad end in 2009, and a companion 2010 calendar. For the non-readers, AUDieu includes a flip-book of the web cam photos of the demolition, and for the collectors, it is signed by the author, Rotarian Suzanne K. Taylor.
  And finally, to bring you back to the present, the package includes two tickets for the Sabres-Montreal game on March 24, 2010 - section 113, next to the Pour Man's Aud Club in the end where the Sabres shoot twice. The seats are by the Zamboni entrance, where one of the cameramen is posted, so bring a sign and get on the Jumbotron!
  Donated by: Suzanne Taylor ,Value $600
  
• Two Round-trip tickets for Southwest Airlines
  Be the lucky winner of these 2 roundtrip passes that are good for travel between any two cities within the Southwest Airlines system! These passes have no restrictions or blackout dates.
  Expires 3/1/201. Value $800
  
• Wine Tasting for 10
  A private store tasting for 10 people at the Wine Room in Williamsville. Seven premium wines will be paired with special hors d'oeuvres to create a unique tasting experience. The event will be scheduled at a mutually agreed time. Donated by: The Wine Room, Main Street in Williamsville Value: $500
  
• Oriental Rug
  6 by 9 hand-knotted Oriental rug from the ancient country of Rumania, classic design with rich jewel-toned colors. Donated by C. Markarian & Sons Rugs Value: $995
  Cooking Class for 12 Welcome to the Culinary Arts Center at Auburn Watson
  Twelve lucky people will be able to enjoy a great evening of cooking together. Slip on an apron and roll up your sleeves for our hands-on cooking classes! Our professional chef instructors guide you through a memorable evening. Sauces are simmering, pans are sizzling. And after the class is over, everyone is invited to enjoy an unforgettable student-created meal. Our highly trained staff makes sure you leave the class armed with the essential cooking tips and techniques needed to re-create the magic at home. Donated by: Culinary Arts Center at Auburn Watson Value: $ 800
  
• One week of accommodations for 8 at "The Field Cottage" in Ireland
  Come and live Ireland in this beautiful Irish cottage, site of the movie "The Field" with Richard Harris (1991). This charming cottage has Irish pine antiques throughout, a fully equipped modern kitchen and a soft turf fireplace. Take a drive to Galway City and explore Lynch Castle, the Spanish Arch, the oldest pub in Ireland, The King's Head and watch the sunset over Galway Bay. Available dates for 2010 are:
  Jan 16- Mar 1, April 1- June 20,
  Aug. 1- Sept. 30 , Nov. 1- Dec. 20,
  Donated by: Buffalo Sunrise Rotary Value: $1200
  
• 4 days & 3 nights in the WILDFLOWER  Condo in ELLICOTTVILLE, NY
  Beautifully furnished ground floor, two-story condo, accommodations for 4 people Open floor plan includes :-a queen size sofa bed in living room with w/b fireplace.-one-bedroom loft with queen size poster bed. dining area comfortable for nice dinners with washer/dryer in unit.
  Available - Sept.14, 2010 - Jan. 31, 2011
  Excludes FALL FESTIVAL - Security Deposit...$200.
  NO PETS/ NO SMOKING
  
• Elegant Finger Lakes Get-a-Way
  You and your guest will have the opportunity to experience Geneva on the Lake, a AAA Four Diamond award winning resort in Geneva, NY, located on Seneca Lake in the midst of the scenic Finger Lakes Wine Country. Perfect for a romantic getaway or a short escape with friends, Geneva on the Lake is European Elegance in the Heart of the Finger Lakes. Experience the exceptional beauty of the villa and lakeside setting, and the gourmet cuisine that has attracted guests from all over the world. Service is attentive to the smallest detail. The terrace, formal gardens, classical sculptures, 70 foot pool and boathouse enhance the old-world charm that awaits you.
  Your package includes: 1 night luxurious accommodations at Geneva on the Lake
  Gourmet candlelight dinner for two
  A full breakfast in the morning
  All taxes and gratuities
  Donated by : AAA Value: $500

Feb. 18th Meeting: Jan Nichols on Polio Plus

Janice Flood Nichols is a survivor of a polio epidemic that struck her suburb of DeWitt, NY, in fall 1953.
Nichols received a BA in psychology from Seton Hill University and a MEd. in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Pittsburgh (Jonas Salk's research institute).
In 2003, Janice received a March copy of the Rotarian from her college friend and grad school roommate, former First Lady of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Michele Moore Ridge. Michele's note was a simple one: "Jan, now you have to tell your story."
That night, she spoke to her husband and decided that she had to do something to bring attention to the disease. Her book, Twin Voices: A Memoir of Polio, the Forgotten Killer, was published in 2007 (with a second edition released in fall '08). The book wraps her family's personal story around the greater story of polio, the disease. A concise history of Rotary's PolioPlus program is included in one of the book's appendices.
Today, she spends her time speaking to Rotary clubs and districts, other civic groups, high school health classes, book clubs, immunization coalitions and conferences, and medical personnel regarding the importance of polio eradication and vaccination.
Her book received honorable mention in both nonfiction and biography at the 2007 London Book Festival. She received the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award from Seton Hill University for her work with polio.
Her short story entitled, "A Twin Nudge," appears in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More (published in March 2009). The short story traces her present work to the 2003 Rotarian magazine sent by her friend. As Jan likes to put it, she's a woman on a mission.
Jan resides with her husband, Dr. David Nichols, in Lockport, NY. The couple has a grown son, Dr. Kevin Nichols.
Learn more at: www.twinvoices.com. The Web page provides links to vaccine sites, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Post-Polio Health International, and an international relief organization.

This meeting will be held Thursday, February 18th, 2010 at 12:15pm in Shanghai Red's, 2 Templteon Terrace, Buffalo, NY 14202.

Click here for a complete list of upcoming speakers at our weekly meeting. 

If you'd like to attend a meeting, contact John McClive. 

For more information about Rotary Club of Buffalo, visit our website, www.buffalorotary.org.

February 4th Meeting: Offsite at THE CHARTER SCHOOL FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES

This meeting will be held at Noon in THE CHARTER SCHOOL FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES, 2245 KENMORE AVENUE,CORNER OF ROESCH AVE, KENMORE, NY 14207. PLENTY OF PARKING IN THE LOT NEXT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL
A map is attached.Click to enlarge.

There will be a seated lunch prepared and served by students in the school's Culinary program. Lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m.

After announcements and a presentation by Superintendent Efrain Martinez, we will be given tours of the high school by the students

In September 2001, the Charter School for Applied Technologies (CSAT) opened its doors to 708 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Today, CSAT is a bustling campus of three distinct buildings (Elementary, Middle, and High Schools), serving 1,600 pupils representing 16 different school districts throughout Western New York. It has evolved to become the largest charter school in New York State and one of only two state charter schools to offer a comprehensive K-12 experience.
Admission to CSAT is free and open to all students eligible to attend public school in Erie and Niagara Counties.  As a "school of choice," CSAT's student population is diverse.  Forty-one (41) percent of its students are African American, 41 percent are Caucasian, 16 percent Hispanic, two percent American Indian/Alaskan Native, one percent Asian/Pacific Islander, and another one percent indicate that they are "Multi-racial." CSAT's student body reflects a significantly high rate of poverty, as evidenced by the large number of youths who consistently qualify for Title I programming.  Currently, 81 percent of the school's students have applied and qualified for either free or reduced-price meals.  Further, the actual percentage of students who qualify for such programs is most likely higher, as some, especially those in the upper grades, often do not apply for the program due to its perceived negative stigma.  As evidence, the percentage of qualifying students is at 83 percent in the Elementary School (K-6), dipping to 68 percent in the High School (9-12).
Not only is CSAT the largest charter school in New York, it is consistently seen as one of the best, demonstrated by numerous factors:
(1) 80% of CSAT students out-scored their home districts on the New York State English Language Arts and Math assessments;
(2) High School students scored above the State average on eight of nine Regents Exams; and,
(3)its second graduating class, the class of 2009, posted a 100% graduation rate, (all 85 students). This compares favorably to city (52%)and state (63%) averages;
(4) anecdotal support has come from former Regents Chancellor Bob Bennett, who referred to CSAT as "the best charter school in the state" in 2008 and former U.S. Education Department staffer Doug Mesecar, who called CSAT a "model charter school" after a 2008 visit;
(5) The average per-pupil expenditure of the school districts with pupils at CSAT in 2009 was $17,260. Due to state law limiting charter schools to 2/3 of the funding received by traditional districts, CSAT was able to provide a better educational experience for thousands less – approximately $12,000/student.

What Makes CSAT so Different?
It's the school's commitment to its motto - "Every Day is Career Day" - though, that sets it apart from others. CSAT's school-to-career component prepares all students, including those who may not be college bound, for the world of work. Career preparation starts for our students in kindergarten with field trips and visits by community business leaders and extends throughout their entire educational career, culminating in student enterprise programs, job shadowing, and individualized work study and internships for those in higher grades.
For more information on the school, please see the CSAT website at
http://csat-k12.org/csat/site/default.asp

Click here for a complete list of upcoming speakers at our weekly meeting. 

If you'd like to attend a meeting, contact John McClive.
For more information about Rotary Club of Buffalo, visit our website, www.buffalorotary.org.