News
Comedy for a Cause
🚨 Comedy Night Update! We have a great show planned for November 15 at Bad Seed Cider Company. Just $50 a person includes dinner & the show, and proceeds support personal care and essential clothing items for the Teen Closet at Highland High School. 

And boy do we have a lineup of laughter planned for you! Due to a plot twist only Mother Nature could write, initial comedian Maija DiGiorgio is currently lost at sea — professionally speaking! Her cruise ship gig was rerouted after the hurricane shuffled the itinerary. So while Maija’s out there making waves, Sandy Ehlers will be docking right here at Bad Seed Cider Company on Saturday, November 15 to join our show!
 
With a bio that opens with "Brassy, Sassy & Gassy" we’re sure that Sandy Ehlers is just the life jacket we needed! She’s a powerhouse comedian who’s appeared on ABC and NBC, as well as on the stages of some of the best comedy venues between NY and NJ! Her style’s been defined as “eclectic, eccentric, unfiltered — with a voice so distinct, an audience once dubbed her the female Frank Sinatra of comedy.” 
 
Joining Sandy on stage is Eric Haft, a nationally acclaimed comedian who’s performed at some of the most iconic venues on the comedy circuit — including Caroline’s on Broadway, Stand-Up New York, and Governor’s Comedy Club. 🎤 Known for his quick wit, sharp storytelling, and crowd-pleasing energy, Eric has toured comedy festivals and clubs across the country, bringing laughs from coast to coast. Whether he’s riffing on everyday life or spinning characters that hit a little too close to home, Eric guarantees laughs that land every time. 😂
 
So don’t wait — grab your tickets now and help make this event a huge success for our students who could use a little extra support with things many of us take for granted. 
 
Don’t miss this hometown night of laughter! Get your tickets here.
The Walk to End Alzheimer's is Oct. 18
Highland Rotary Club is gearing up to participate in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, October 18 at the Walkway Over the Hudson. Please show some support by joining our team or donating! You can donate to a registered participant or just to the club in general! Your participation helps fight for a different future for the many families who are facing or will face this devastating disease. Join or support our team and be a part of the fight! Learn more here. 
 
$15K Presented to Support First Responders


We are proud to announce the presentation of a $15,000 donation, split evenly between the Highland Fire District and the Town of Lloyd Police, to our brave and selfless first responders. These funds, raised through the Club’s Third Annual First Responders Golf Outing held in May, will support the purchase of vital safety initiatives.

The Fire Department plans to purchase personal protective equipment for volunteers, while the Police Department will acquire a special drone to enhance public safety operations.
This year’s event marks continued growth in the Rotary’s support of local first responders—building on $10,000 donated to the Fire District in the first year and $15,000 split between fire and police in year two. Many years ago, long before they were standard safety tools, the Club also provided funding to purchase cameras for police cars.
Read more...
$12K in Scholarships Awarded to HHS & Ulster BOCES Grads
We are so proud to present scholarships and awards totaling $12,000 to eight deserving Highland Central School District students from the High School and from Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center.
 
Congratulations to the Ulster BOCES CTE students who each received $1,000 John Jankiewicz Scholarship Awards to use towards launching their careers in the trades, whether it be purchasing tools and equipment, paying licensing fees, or other expenses to support their professional goals:
• Gavin Goodenough - Electrical Construction
• Bradley Gatto - HVAC
• Stephen North - Electrical Construction
• Hayley Sutfin - Cosmetology
 
Congratulations to the following students who were each awarded $2,000 academic scholarships to use for college tuition:
• Alexa Pavese
• Amelia Delforno
• Lillian Reynolds
• Elaine Shebey
2005 Service Above Self Honorees
 
Join us in congratulating this year's Highland Rotary Club Service Above Self Awards honorees. The Rotary "Service Above Self" motto conveys the humanitarian spirit of our organization. Each year, the Highland Rotary Club recognizes the people in our community who live by the same motto and are dedicated to serving our local community. See the event pictures here.
 
This year's honorees are:
Amelia Delforno, Student Honoree
Darlene Plavchak, Individual Honoree
Bushiken Karate Dojo, Michael Skinner & Dan Paradies, Business Honoree
 
Read more...
RYLA Students Share their Experience
Five students who will be juniors at Highland Central School District in the fall attended the 2024 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) leadership conference at Mount Saint Mary College this summer. Their participation was sponsored by the Highland Rotary Club. RJ Schneider, Alexis Violaris, Zackary Maroney, Wesley Clarke, and Connor Pickett attended.
 
RYLA is an annual event that brings youth from across the region together for an intensive experience designed to help them develop skills in leadership, team building, problem-solving, and communication, while also having fun and making connections. RYLA’s main goal is to teach youth about the power of confidence, comfort, and cooperativeness. Participants are provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience that builds social and working skills.
 
RJ and Alexis attended this week’s breakfast meeting and shared their experience with members. Their parents reinforced the student’s enthusiasm upon returning from the conference, sharing that they are still taking about what a great experience it was.
The RYLA program committee is chaired by Mark Mahoney.
 
Club Information
Welcome to the Highland Rotary Club
Highland

Service Above Self

We meet In Person
Wednesdays at 7:10 a.m.
From the Ground Up Cafe; Vineyard Commons
6142 Merlot Dr
Highland, NY 12528
United States of America
District Site
Venue Map
What We Do
Club Executives & Directors
President
Don Verity
President Elect
Pete Fiorese
Vice President
Ron Ferris
Secretary
PDG Chrissy G. Giangrasso
Treasurer
Shawn Shaughnessy
Public Relations
Holly Brooker
Diversity Equity Inclusion
Ruy Alencar
Immediate Past President
Steve Laubach
The Rotary Foundation
PDG Chrissy G. Giangrasso
Rotary Links
 

Mission:

The Highland Rotary Club mission is to support local community and international needs through the Five Avenues of Service:  Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, New Generations Service, and International Service guided by the ethical standards of the Four-Way Test.

Vision:

The Highland Rotary Club is one of the leading service organizations in the community, serving as a positive resource for the local community and expanding our humanitarian support internationally. As a service leader in the community, we make a difference in the lives of many people during their time of need and work to foster our service ethics with our youth.

A LOOK BACK TO 2024: We were honored to present $15,000 to our first responders to be split between the Highland Fire District and Town of Lloyd Police to aid in the purchase of safety equipment. The funds were raised through the generosity of our sponsors and participants in our second annual First Responder Golf Outing in May 2024. Special thanks to our title sponsor JSP Home Services!
A LOOK BACK TO 2023: We were honored to present the Highland Hose Co. No. 1 Fire District with a check for $10,000 to aid in the purchase of safety equipment. The funds were raised through the generosity of our sponsors of and participants in our first-ever golf outing in May 2023 to benefit first responders. Special thanks to our title sponsor JSP Home Services.
Photo Albums
Upcoming Events
💙 Service Above Self in Action 💙 On Saturday, May 31, we had the honor of sponsoring, preparing, and serving a hot meal to more than 100 individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction through the Hope On A Mission:HOAM street outreach in Poughkeepsie.
 
Highland Rotary is proud to support their mission, and this event marked one of many times our members have stepped up to serve. This time, Rotarians were also joined by several dedicated student volunteers from the Mount Academy.
We left humbled, inspired, and reminded why we do what we do. 💛

2024 Service Above Self Honorees

 
The Rotary "Service Above Self" motto conveys the humanitarian spirit of our organization. Each year, the Highland Rotary Club recognizes the people in our community who live by the same motto and are dedicated to serving our local community.

Award Honorees for 2024 are Jami Anson, Dennis Bragg, Raegan Hons, Sorbello Landscaping/Steven Sorbello, and TRC Auto Repair/Matthew & Sarah Bahr. You make our community a better place and are an example for all to follow.
We are so pleased to provide Taso Bakatsias with a donation towards his Eagle Scout Project! Taso came to a recent Rotary meeting and discussed his project, “Anchors Away,” which is an informational kiosk of the Black Creek Watershed that will be installed at the canoe/kayak launch. Taso has worked with the town's Environmental Committee, Town of Lloyd, Scenic Hudson, and John Burroughs Black Creek Trail Committee to design and get approval for his project, which will cost approximately $3500. Once he has secured the funding needed, his Boy Scout Troop and students from Highland High School will help build the kiosk. Good luck Taso!