Standing left to right are: Bill White, 2025 – 2026 Bath Rotary Club Membership Chair; Elaine Tears, Bath Rotarian who will serve as Smalt’s mentor; Michelle Smalt; Eddie VanStine, 2025 – 2026 Bath Rotary Club President.
From the Bath Rotary Club,
On April 2nd Michelle L. Smalt became the 30th member of the Bath Rotary Club. Usually, present Rotarians of the Bath Rotary Club seek out and sponsor prospective members. However, Michelle was so impacted by the local club’s service to the community that she, herself, sought out membership. Elaine Tears, Bath Rotarian, will serve as Smalt’s mentor.
After receiving an Associate of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences (Humanities/Social Services) from Corning Community College, Michelle received a Bachelor of Science in Community and Human Services from SUNY Empire State and a Master of Social Work from SUNY at Buffalo.
Michelle is the Program Manager for Hillside Institute for Family Connections, Permanency Resources Centers. She has worked at Hillside for twelve years in various roles. Previously, she was a Youth Care Professional at the Snell Farm Campus; a Care Coordinator, responsible for aftercare for youth that had left the residential program; a Permanency Specialist, responsible for adoption recruitment for youth in foster care through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption; the Community-Based Supervisor of the Greater Erie Permanency Resource Center, providing support and resources to post-adoptive, post-guardianship, and kinship families. She is now the Program Manager of all of the Permanency Resource Centers.
Michelle and her husband, Gabriel, have two children: a daughter, named Sienna and a son, named Logan. They live on a small farm with their three shelties and three horses. She stated that she really enjoys working around her little piece of heaven. In addition to dogs and horses, Michelle is most interested in community growth, the outdoors, and music.
“I wanted to join Rotary because I have a passion for helping people and communities,” stated Michelle. “I’ve based my life’s work around service. I wanted to find a way to get involved in my community which would have a positive impact and would allow me to work with like-minded individuals. Becoming a Rotarian will be an honor. Rotary has a reputation for doing good, not only locally, but also globally.”
Upon her induction Eddie VanStine, Bath Rotary Club President, stated how pleased he and all Bath Rotarians are that Michelle chose to become a Rotarian. He also noted that her willingness to share her experiences as a social and human services worker would indeed benefit the Bath Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club meets at noon on Thursday, except for holidays, in the Empire Room of the Dormann Library. For more information about Rotary and the local club specifically, visit the club’s website at: www.bathnyrotary.org or email Eddie VanStine, 2025 – 2026 Bath Rotary Club President at: edwardvanstine@gmail.com or Bill White, 2025 – 2026 Bath Rotary Club Membership Chair at: bewhitey@aol.com.
