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PORT CHESTER, N.Y. The Port Chester-Rye Brook Rotary club inducted two new members on Wednesday evening at the club's annual holiday celebration. The two inductees are Rye Brook attorney Michael S. Goldstein and Claudia Oliva of Port Chester.
"It's such an honor to induct both Michael and Claudia into the Rotary," Rotary president John Kiyak said. "They are two fantastic people."
According to Goldstein, the Rotary club, which has upped its membership to over 30 members, "exists only to help people."
Goldstein got involved with the club through his casual acquaintance with Kiyak, who's business, Port Chester Rug and Linoleum, is only blocks from Goldstein's law offices.
"John asked me to come to a Rotary lunch one day, and there was an instant spark," Goldstein recalled. "The Rotary isn't a business group. It's more like a family."
Oliva, a native of Argentina, moved to Port Chester in 1997 and quickly connected with the community.
"I instantly fell in love with the lifesaver building," Oliva said. "I lived there for seven years, moved away from Port Chester, and almost instantly moved back.
Oliva, a real estate agent for William Raevis in Katonah, was a child psychologist and university professor in her native Argentina.
"This country has given me so many opportunities," Oliva said. "I wanted to start giving back.
Oliva added that she looks to apply some of her expertise in the area of child psychology to her work with the Rotary.
Although the mood of the night was celebratory, Kiyak wanted to make sure the Rotarians didn't lose sight of the club's mission.
"We used to have this big dinner with fancy drinks and all the rest," Kiyak said. "But this year we've scaled back so that money can go to a better use.
Kiyak hopes the Rotarians can raise $500 to be donated to "Every Rotarian, Every Year," a charity dedicated to saving the lives of malnourished children. He said that amount can save anywhere between 500-700 children's lives. The charity provides vaccines, antibiotics, and the like to children who lack access to these life-saving amenities.
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