As always, Community Day’s food and drinks are free of charge, with beverages provided by some of your favorite local breweries and establishments. There will be great live music by Quantum Cosmic (including members of Annie in the Water, Raisinhead, and the Reflexions). There will also be some great activities for the kids including the ever popular scavenger hunt and a dinosaur themed singalong/dance party. Whether you live here, work here, own a business here, or volunteer here, this day is for you. Come have fun and feel appreciated for all you do.

The Rotary Club of Lake Placid’s role on the Sunday of Community Day is like any one of up to 50 nonprofit organizations, groups and projects that send representatives and have a display table with their information. The long, covered Pavilion of Nonprofits and Organizations is a central focus of Community Day because there are so many people who volunteer in our community, are members of faith communities, people who care about the welfare of others and donate their time and money to help, or who work at a nonprofit. Nonprofit organizations have a large measurable positive impact on the economy of the Adirondack Park, as shown by a 2011 study put out by the Adirondack Foundation (see https://bit.ly/ADKNFP).

Community Day seeks to honor and support the nonprofits that are host to so many volunteers, including this year’s Distinguished Volunteer of the Year, who will be announced and receive an award at the event. The Distinguished Volunteer of the Year celebration was established in 2007 by ROOST with Annette Albright honored as the first adult volunteer of the year. A youth category was added soon after, to recognize and promote the contributions or our community’s youth. Scott Pedu was the first youth to receive the honor in 2008.

A plaque naming each year’s recipients is on display in the North Elba Town Hall, and a beautiful garden has been planted in Mid’s Park in honor of the recipients and all volunteers.

This year, Rotary will have a table next to its relatively young sister, the Lake Placid New York Rotary Foundation (www.LPNYRF.org), which helps projects that need fiscal sponsors. The foundation’s mission is to support the larger community’s fundraising efforts for charity, education, community and public improvements that benefit all. Their vision is a community that enhances the quality of life for all.

Community Day tables are available for free to any nonprofit, group or organization. Please contact lakeplacidcommunityday@gmail.com.