Home Page | Rotary Club of Highland

Registration and Sponsorships are now available on our Golf Outing Webpage.

RICHIE T. WHISKEY RAFFLE

The Highland Rotary Club is proud to present this year’s Richie T. Whiskey Raffle, supporting Highland Rotary initiatives and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Last year, this raffle raised over $1,600 for suicide prevention.

Tickets:

1 for $20

3 for $50

7 for $100

PRIZES: Three bottles from the Van Winkle line:

Third place: 10-year bottle

Second place: 12-year bottle

GRAND PRIZE: 15-YEAR BOTTLE

DRAWING
The drawing will take place the week before Father’s Day.

SPECIAL THANKS
This event is made possible with the generous support of:

The Salvatori Family, who donated the 12-year-old bottle
JK's Wine & Liquor and Payless Wine & Liquor for providing discounted bottles

Proceeds benefit Highland Rotary charitable initiatives and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Service Above Self: More than a Motto

An unexpected crisis turns into a powerful display of community, resilience, and heart.

What was meant to be an elegant evening of recognition quickly became something far more meaningful.

On Friday April 17, with just 35 minutes until the Highland Rotary Club’s annual Service Above Self Awards Dinner was set to begin, an emergency unfolded at Casa Milanes, which was the event venue and, fittingly, one of the evening’s honorees. A fuel oil tank incident forced an immediate evacuation of the building just as guests were arriving and others were en route.

In a matter of moments, months of planning seemed at risk.

But what followed was a real-time demonstration of exactly what Rotary is all about.

Rotarians Show Up Strong for Hope on a Mission!

In April, 16 Highland Rotarians showed up with a simple goal: serve others. What we experienced was so much more.

Alongside volunteers from Hope on a Mission, the Club served over 150 meals to individuals facing homelessness and hardship, surviving on the streets in Poughkeepsie. From grilled chicken thighs, to homemade mac and cheese, baked beans, corn muffins, cookies, brownies—and more than 100 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches—every item was prepared and provided by Rotary, with care and intention. (Special thank you to community member Mark Elia for preparing all of the chicken for us!)

But what stood out most wasn’t just the food.

HRC Donates $1K to Teen Closet

Rotarians were proud to be able to meet some of the student members of the Peer Leadership Club while making a delivery of essential items to the Highland High School Teen Closet last week. This was the second delivery of necessities Rotarians have sponsored for the closet this year, completing a $1,000 total donation for 2025-2026 school year.

The Teen Closet is stocked with basic necessities, such as clothing, shampoo, deodorant, body wash, and more. The Closet is a confidential resource, coordinated through the Guidance Department, where students can access what they need with dignity and privacy.

We’re thankful to play a small role in supporting Highland students and ensuring every young person has access to the essentials they need to feel confident and ready to learn.

Making a Difference: Highland Rotary Club Honors Community Champions at 22nd Annual Service Above Self Dinner

The Highland Rotary Club will present three awards to distinguished members of the community at the 22nd Annual Service Above Self Dinner, which will be held on Friday, April 17, at 6 PM at Casa Milanese, in Highland, NY. This year’s honorees include Brian Beck, Taso Bakatsias, and Casa Milanese.

“This award recognizes non-Rotarians in our community whose actions reflect Rotary’s humanitarian motto, Service Above Self,” said Highland Rotary Club’s president, Don Verity. “The consistent dedication, generosity of spirit, and willingness to go the extra mile without seeking recognition of this year’s honorees truly exemplify these values.”

Local Generosity, Global Impact: A Gift of Shelter

Once again we are reminded of the incredible generosity and heart within our Rotary family. Our fellow member Bjarne Mikkelsen presented the Club with a $1,000 donation from his nonprofit, Hudson Valley Helps Refugees, to purchase a ShelterBox.

For those who may not know, ShelterBox is an international disaster relief organization that partners closely with Rotary. When disaster strikes — whether from earthquakes, hurricanes, conflict, or displacement — ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and essential supplies to families who have lost everything. It is often the very first step toward stability, dignity, and hope for families facing unimaginable circumstances.

Rotary has partnered with ShelterBox for over two decades, and together Rotarians around the world have helped deliver shelter and supplies to millions of people in crisis BJ’s consistent dedication to helping displaced humans across the globe means that a family somewhere in the world will have protection, warmth, and a safe place to regroup during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

https://www.facebook.com/highlandnyrotary

Welcome to the Highland Rotary Club

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

Our Projects

President

Don Verity

President Elect

Pete Fiorese

Vice President

Ron Ferris

Secretary

PDG Chrissy G. Giangrasso

Treasurer

Shawn Shaughnessy

Public Relations

Holly Brooker

Rotary Day of Service Chair

Ruy Alencar

Membership Chair

BJ Mikkelsen

Immediate Past President

Steve Laubach

The Rotary Foundation

PDG Chrissy G. Giangrasso

Rotary International

RI President Home

Rotary Global Rewards

Joining Rotary

Rotary History

Rotary Foundation

For New Members

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.

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!