The Catskill Chronicle

Liberty Rotary Club’s President Dave Thomson (left) and Barbie Marty Neumann (right) present the club’s donation of $718 to Boys and Girls Regional Director of Operations John Kane and $718 to the American Youth Soccer Organization’s (AYSO) Commissioner Peter Racette at a recent meeting held at Charlie’s Restaurant on Main Street in Liberty.

LIBERTY, NY (February 21, 2011) – The Liberty Rotary Club hosted leaders from two of the outstanding youth programs of the community at a recent meeting held at Charlie’s Restaurant on Main Street in Liberty. The two organizations became the benefactors of the club’s recent spaghetti dinner profits.

John Kane, Regional Director of Operations of the Boys and Girls Club that serves Liberty, Monticello, Fallsburg, Pine Bush and Wallkill along with Peter Racette, the American Youth Soccer Organization’s (AYSO) Regional Commissioner presented programs to the club with separate “state of the organization” addresses.

Mr. Kane’s address featured information about all the local Boys and Girls Clubs and most specifically the one-year-old Liberty Club and how their existence and activities benefit our youth. He sang the praises of Liberty’s club program director Shannon Harman, and the 58 students in the Liberty Club who participated in helping to make the Spaghetti Dinner a success by making centerpieces, serving and clearing, and by selling tickets.

Mr. Racette in his presentation to the club stated that the Liberty AYSO teams include kids from ages 6 to 18. The organization is run by volunteer coaches and referees that help the organization to thrive. He stated that the organization is always looking for additional volunteers to coach the teams whose season stretches from the middle of August to the end of October. AYSO is also hoping to be able to provide assistance to those students that are not able to participate due to economic hardship.

After the addresses, Liberty Rotary Club President Dave Thomson and one of the newest members of the club, Barbie Marty Neumann who is the Program Director of the Monticello Boys and Girls Club, presented a donation of $718 to each of the organizations. “Youth organizations such as Boys and Girls Club and AYSO provide great opportunities and positive experiences for the youth of our community and we are proud to support them” said President Dave.

Currently the Liberty Rotary Club is conducting a raffle to benefit the Liberty Interfaith Food Pantry as well as other community organizations and rotary projects. The club collected and donated five shopping carts full of food to the local food pantry this past month.

In addition the club will be participating in the WSUL/WVOS Heart A Thon on February 26, and will be selling roses in the spring to raise money for scholarships which are awarded annually.

For more information about membership and activities of the Liberty Rotary Club, call 845-292-5100.