District Conference 2008

thanks to Bill Waszkiewicz for the photos   

The Group Study Exchange team from District 4570, with Dick Kemmis, District GSE Chair, and DG Larry.

P Lou Steppello assembled an elite squad of Sergeants at Arms - among them Utica Rotarians Greg Benincasa and Norma Montagnino Gemza.

Past Rotary International Director Dan Mooers spoke passionately of the need to complete our polio eradication mission.

JoElyn Wakefield Wright arranged for singers, dancers, musicians and magicians to entertain conference attendees.

PDG Ed Paparella presented a Paul Harris Fellow to Annabelle Calabrese, and an additional PHF to DG Larry Calabrese.

Robert and Barbara Rogers, the foster parents of Lopez Lomong, US flagbearer at the Bejing Olympics, introduced this story of triumph. They will be the keynote speakers at the district Rotary Foundation Seminar on October 25.

Reading is fun at any age, as Tina Passalacqua and friend illustrate.

Utica Rotarians lead Friday night's sing-along.

Roger Breslow appreciates that classic line " It was so cold this morning that I saw a lawyer with his hands in his own pockets", delivered by Deb Altdoerffer, wife of PP Jack.

Everyone pitched in to make this the most successful conference in recent memory. Kevin Marken makes off with a table so that he and PP Darby O'Brien could practice (table) tennis.

In 50 minutes, conference attendees fabricated 300 literacy kits for newborns.

The international flavor of Rotary was evident throughout the conference.

Rotary cannot do its work without new members. PP Jack Altdoerffer urges Rotarians to "Get your 'ask' in gear" to keep Rotary strong.