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Victor Rodriguez - Class of 2007 Victor grew up in New York City, and has subsequently had the opportunity to live in New Jersey, Chicago, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Dallas and Long Island. He has B.A. in Religion from Rutgers University and an M.A. in Religion from the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Victor has worked for the Federal Government for the past 15 years. He is currently the Director of Operations for the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Labor. His specialty is anti-discrimination and he is personally involved in most major discrimination cases for the Northeast Region.

He enjoys writing, and is currently writing an historical fiction novel. He is an elder in the Journey Church, and is involved with the Penn Club, the Oxonian Society, and the Federal Managers Association.

Victor found out about Rotary from his friend Reiko Takei, who is a Rotary member in Tokyo, Japan. She introduced him to Xiaxou (Shawn) Lin, who is a member of New York Rotary. Shawn sponsored Victor for membership.

Victor strives to excel in whatever he does. He was President of the Student Government in college and spoke at commencement. In Graduate School he headed a student election investigation that received much media coverage. The experience helped Victor land his first professional job with the Federal Government as an investigator. He is proud that he can use his people skills to get things accomplished in whatever organization he is involved with.

Victor likes the idea of Rotary’s humanitarian efforts and aggress that it is a great way to meet interesting people.





Helen Reisler Class of 1988. Helen will go down in history, not only as the first woman President of the Rotary Club of New York, but as the President who was unexpectedly faced with the greatest challenge--an unprecedented terror attack on our own city.Without a second thought, Helen innately knew what she had to do on that fateful day of 9/11. She "rose to the occasion", taking the reigns of leadership in a most admirable and awesome way.Her focus became threefold-instilling team spirit in our own club members, giving immediate aid to victims and rescue workers, and coordinating money contributions for the neediest. At the same time, she insisted that all activity be communicated, daily, to the world through our own "up to the minute" website. She interviewed for a six page article in "The Rotarian" magazine entitled, "Ground Zero", which highlighted the heroic actions of individual members who volunteered at "The Pit".Our weekly club meetings became a patriotic and "safe haven" for members, rescue workers, and victims' families, where hope, camaraderie, and spirit were shared, the effects of which are still felt today.Helen, personally, received over 400 E-mails from Rotarians around the globe, and answered them well into the nights, encouraging contributions to the "Disaster Relief Fund" which she set up with our Foundation. This Fund accumulated over 1.4 million dollars, and more importantly, was distributed in a timely fashion to a variety of needy people.Through the teamwork of special committees which she set up, over 50 rescue workers were sent on "rest vacations" to Rotary clubs in New Zealand, England and Nantucket. We helped the Delta Club distribute hundreds of quilts to victims' children and had 8 families "adopted" by Michigan Rotarians. Helen met with her "9/11 committee" every single week before the regular luncheons.Our successful accomplishments prompted Rotary clubs throughout the States to invite Helen as a speaker. She has traveled, on our behalf, to Missouri, California, Texas and others, where she proudly relates the heroic deeds of The Rotary Club of New York.




Adelle Roban Class of 2006
















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Mary Reed Class of 2007 is a director of the American Diabetes Association, the organization that is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, their mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes



















Francis Rienzo - Class of 2007
I was born in Manhattan but raised in a suburb of Washington, D.C. After graduating from Georgetown University in 1989, I spent a year volunteering in Nicaragua. In 1997 I earned a Masters of Business Administration from Stanford.

My wife Paige and I moved to Manhattan last year, Paige to pursue an acting career and I to search for my next project. Over the years I have held several different positions in various industries, including chief executive of a children’s non-profit, commercial real estate developer, and lobbyist for a pharmaceutical company.

In March I joined Juice Energy, a quickly growing start-up company that supplies electricity to commercial and industrial users and advises its clients on how to incorporate green energy into their business strategies. Paige (aka Paige Rien, pronounced “Ryan”) is now the co-host of a television show on HGTV called “Hidden Potential”. We are expecting our first child in January.
Beyond preparing for our new arrival, my interests include traveling to new places where American tourists are seldom found and buying and restoring old houses, which helps soothe the real estate junkie in me.

I am also energized by time spent among friends new and old. As such, I am active in both Stanford and Georgetown Alumni organizations. My favorite pastime, however, is spending time with my siblings and their families.

Clearly my greatest achievement was convincing Paige to marry me. Aside from that, I think I am most proud of my work with the Fabretto Children’s Foundation, an organization that assists impoverished children in Nicaragua. As the foundation's first employee in the U.S., I increased annual revenue from $190,000 to $2.5 million, transforming a small, barely organized “mom and pop” non-profit into a sustainable one.
Visit http://www.nyrotary.org/ for a more complete bio.





Trish Rubin Class of 2005 is a former middle school teacher is the author of Trish Rubin’s New York Minute. Her book focuses on one single, indisputable premise: networking can change your life. From the formal event to the passing conversation on the street, all communication is a way for you to increase your network, make new connections, and maximize the benefits from those individuals. And the best part about it is that anyone, regardless of if they think they are a people person or not, can become in a New York Minute that person that just seems to know everyone in the room.

Trish is also the president of The Edventures Group the consulting company specializing in business development and client servicing through Relational Communications training. They deliver interactive and collaborative communication seminars throughout the globe that result in continuous learning and confident communication.
Specializing in active processes that enhance a culture of communication, The EdVentures Group provides organizational facilitation, consultation, and presentation that support clear business and personal communication. The EdVentures Group works collaboratively with business leaders, administrators, managers and support staff to build capacity at all levels of an organization.