South Shore Rotary of Staten Island

South Shore Rotary of Staten Island Our primary mission is to do good in the community of Staten Island, New York and to assist Rotary International when needed.

Check out our latest SSR profile on member Victoria Nieto:Victoria Nieto is a lifelong Staten Islander, accomplished ent...
08/14/2026

Check out our latest SSR profile on member Victoria Nieto:

Victoria Nieto is a lifelong Staten Islander, accomplished entrepreneur, devoted mother, and emerging community leader with a deep commitment to the people and community she calls home.

A product of Staten Island’s schools—including P.S. 3, St. Joseph–St. Thomas School, and St. Joseph Hill Academy—Victoria has built a successful local business while remaining firmly rooted in the community that shaped her. She is the founder of Visions By Victoria Rose, a locally owned optical boutique providing personalized eyewear and eye-care services for children, adults, and families. Under Victoria’s leadership, the boutique has earned a reputation for its welcoming atmosphere, attentive personal service, and commitment to helping every customer find eyewear that complements their vision, lifestyle, and individual style.

A devoted mother of six—five boys and one girl—Victoria places family, service, and community at the center of her life. Her entrepreneurial success reflects not only her business acumen, but also her determination to create something meaningful for the families she serves.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Victoria is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, community involvement, and empowering women to pursue their own personal and professional ambitions. Music has also remained a lifelong passion; she enjoys singing and performing with her band, bringing the same energy and enthusiasm to the stage that she brings to her business and community.

At a young age, Victoria has already demonstrated the qualities of a successful business leader, philanthropist, and community builder. With her entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to family, and genuine desire to make a difference, she is well on her way to becoming one of Staten Island’s next generation of community pillars.

Today’s guest speaker was Mike Cusick, President and CEO of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation and a for...
08/13/2026

Today’s guest speaker was Mike Cusick, President and CEO of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation and a former New York State Assemblyman.

Mike spoke about SIEDC’s critical role in promoting constructive and responsible economic development across Staten Island. A native son of the borough, Mike explained that Staten Island’s unique characteristics present both challenges and opportunities. Despite the complexities of bridging the public and private sectors, we share a common mission grounded in a belief that anything is possible when we share a love for our community and master the art of working collectively toward a common goal.

Check out our latest SSR profile on John Vincent Scalia:John Vincent Scalia is a self-made local business legend who has...
08/11/2026

Check out our latest SSR profile on John Vincent Scalia:

John Vincent Scalia is a self-made local business legend who has helped shape Staten Island’s economy for 62 years. At Rotary, John shares his time, talent and wisdom with the next generation of Rotarians every Thursday over lunch at his Old Bermuda Inn.

In John’s words: “Community service is in my genes. While growing up, I remember our living room, dining room and hallways lined with food baskets to be delivered to those in need during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

At the start of each school year, our dining room table was filled with uniforms to be worn for the girls of St. Rita’s School. My father would cut out the patterns and my mother would sew them. My parents were deeply involved in the community, serving as Mother’s Club Officers, Holy Name Officers, and Boy Scout Leaders, to name a few.

-The Four Way Test-

Because of this upbringing, I was well acquainted with the Rotary Four Way Test long before I joined the organization. We practiced these principles daily in our family business and they remain a cornerstone of our success.”

We had a great pizza crawl tonight at Jimmy Max!
08/11/2026

We had a great pizza crawl tonight at Jimmy Max!

At this week's meeting, we were proud to welcome Dr. Diane Taranto and Dr. Liz Basile from the Seton Foundation for Lear...
08/07/2026

At this week's meeting, we were proud to welcome Dr. Diane Taranto and Dr. Liz Basile from the Seton Foundation for Learning. Thank you for sharing all the work you do for students with disabilities!

Check out our latest SSR Member Spotlight:A 2024 Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement and Paul Harris Fellow, Lynn...
08/02/2026

Check out our latest SSR Member Spotlight:
A 2024 Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement and Paul Harris Fellow, Lynne Conhagen Persing, our Chief Operating Officer, exemplifies the very highest ideals of community service. Through her leadership and board service with organizations including Richmond University Medical Center Foundation, The St. George Theatre, The JCC, and the Staten Island Giving Circle, Lynne has devoted herself to strengthening the community she so deeply cares about.

A grandmother of 20 and great-grandmother of 11, she is particularly passionate about supporting disadvantaged youth and expanding educational opportunities. After retiring in 2017 from Conhagen Industries, the national corporation founded by her father in 1942, Lynne continued to dedicate her time, energy, and considerable talents to serving others.

In 2018, South Shore Rotary was honored to welcome Lynne as a member. Since then, she has become a true embodiment of our guiding principle, Service Above Self, inspiring all of us through her extraordinary generosity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to making a difference.

Today, our guest speakers were Janice Monger and Faith D’Alessandro from the Staten Island Museum. Thank you for educati...
07/30/2026

Today, our guest speakers were Janice Monger and Faith D’Alessandro from the Staten Island Museum. Thank you for educating us about the museum and the history of Staten Island!

Check out our latest SSR member spotlight!Michael J. DeSantis is a second-generation member of the South Shore Rotary Cl...
07/27/2026

Check out our latest SSR member spotlight!

Michael J. DeSantis is a second-generation member of the South Shore Rotary Club, where a lifelong commitment to service was instilled by his father, Bob DeSantis, a Past President whose decades of leadership exemplified Rotary’s mission of “Service Above Self.”

Michael is the Founder and President of The MJD Law Group, headquartered on South Avenue in Staten Island. Since establishing the firm in 2006, he has built a respected practice specializing in civil litigation, estate planning, personal injury defense, and complex commercial litigation. Under his leadership, the firm has earned a reputation for delivering exceptional legal representation with unwavering professionalism, integrity, and client advocacy.

A lifelong Staten Island resident with a broad professional perspective, Michael is dedicated to providing world-class legal counsel while remaining deeply committed to the community he serves. He is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey, as well as before all federal courts in both jurisdictions.

Michael resides in West Brighton with his wife and daughter.

This week, we celebrated Family Day at South Shore Rotary! We loved having Rotarians' spouses, children, parents, and si...
07/25/2026

This week, we celebrated Family Day at South Shore Rotary! We loved having Rotarians' spouses, children, parents, and siblings with us!

We were proud to welcome back our friend Rami Rifi to hear updates about his work with Play Passion Project!
07/24/2026

We were proud to welcome back our friend Rami Rifi to hear updates about his work with Play Passion Project!

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Staten Island, NY

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