Dave Jones
Heads to SE Asia
Utica Rotary Supports Mine Removal in Cambodia
As you read this, Utica
Rotary past president Dave Jones is in Vietnam,
on the first week of a two week stay in southeast Asia.
Dave's visit is the culmination of a project that had
its roots in Seattle, where he attended a landmine
awareness conference sponsored by the Halo Trust back at
the turn of the century. Along with DGE Larry
Calabrese and PP Georgiana Roberts Ide, Dave
mobilized the club to take action, and relationships
with Adopt a Minefield, the US State Department,
Rotarians from Seattle to Toronto, among others, were
forged. Through these partnerships, Utica Rotary was
able to generate more than $23,000 toward a mine removal
project in Cambodia.
Kurt Chesko, Vice
President of HALO USA, and our guest speaker for two
landmine awareness events, is part of the team in
Cambodia. He writes,
Dear Rotarians of Utica,
Thank you for your very
generous donation to the HALO Trust. By supporting
humanitarian landmine clearance your club will breathe
new life into war-torn communities in Cambodia. In
November I will be joining Sally Mackle and 15 other
Rotarians as they travel to rural Cambodia to see
firsthand the results of this project. Upon my return, I
would like very much to return to Utica to meet with
your club - perhaps Dave Jones and I could present a
program about our trip.
Look for trip updates in
upcoming The Hubs!
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Entertainment
Comm. to Throw Holiday Bash
Eat, Drink, Dance and Sing to Your Heart's Content
by "Jolly Ol' St. Rick" Holohan
Your survey
indicates you want a chance to get together - singles
welcome. Our Holiday Party is set for 11/30 at the Ft.
Schuyler - great hors d'ouerves - music - a chance to
say Happy Holidays and maybe some karaoke if you are so
inclined - tickets are on sale for $25 at our Friday
meeting or simply contact me for reservations. And my
personal greeting to all my Rotary friends for a
healthy, prosperous and happy New Year.
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Pride of
Workmanship Awarded to Eight
by Bob Stronach
The Utica Rotary Club has honored eight people for
vocational excellence with its 17th Annual Pride of
Workmanship Awards. The honorees are (l. to r. above):
Dean Polisse, lumberyard supervisor at Jay-K
Independent Lumber Corp. He has been a Jay-K employee
for five-and-a-half years; Hank Visalli, director
of programs at the Rescue Mission of Utica. He has been
at the Rescue Mission for one-and-a-half years; --
Hajrusa Sahman, custodial coordinator for The Arc,
Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC. She has been with The Arc
for seven years; Anne Ferris, coordinator for the
Bill Payer Program at Family Services of the Mohawk
Valley. She has been with the agency for two years; Janice
Decker, customer service representative with HSBC.
She has worked at the bank for three years; Sinisa
Tocakovic, medical assistant at Slocum-Dickson
Medical Group. He has been employed there for
one-and-a-half years; Karen Cornmire,
administrative secretary with Revolutionary Trails
Council, Boy Scouts of America. She has worked for the
Boy Scouts for 18 years; and Barbara Price Kamp,
ticket office/administrative assistant at
Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. She has been
with the Institute for six years.
All of the honorees were cited for their dedication and
willingness to “go above and beyond,” noted Utica Rotary
Club President Ralph Immundo.
Bill Cole and Dave Griffith chaired the
Pride of Workmanship Awards Committee, which also
included Lou Steppello, Stew Williams and
John Wolff.
