From the Archives: 06/29/2009

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A Year of Quiet Accomplishment

LOOOUUUUUUUU!!!! The shouts for our outgoing president rang through the meeting room at Twin Ponds as we celebrated the 2008-09 year. President Lou Steppello spoke with his usual humility, recognizing many Utica Rotarians for their contributions to our successful year.

It started with our Service Fund. Kevin Marken and Jim Turnbull would not be denied, working tirelessly until our $20,000 goal was reached. In addition to running our Friday Committee, Jeff Jones was a key player in our area's "Takes a Man to be a Dad" initiative. Rotarian John Wolff has breathed new life into our Pride of Workmanship program, taking the awards public.

Other members were praised for their selfless contributions. Our club shutterbug, Chuck Kershner continued to contribute to Utica Rotary's success despite battling cancer. Amy Mielnicki and the Special Needs Committee threw a great holiday party (our 38th annual!), spruced up the ARC day camp, and are planning a special needs park. When the district undertook a major literacy project, Utica Rotary's super soprano JoElyn Wakefield Wright took the lead for our club. JoElyn's Literacy Committee also introduced us to the Literacy Cares program, and we supported a reading tutor for an adult new reader.

What can you say about PP Dave Jones? This 25 year Utica Rotarian is not resting on his laurels (or any other body part, for that matter). From breakfast at Adrean Terrace to dinner at Hope House to outings for at-risk families to item collections to landmine awareness....and that's just his Rotary resume!!

Throughout the year DG Larry Calabrese has asked all Rotarians to "walk the talk". When we needed an 11th hour chair for our Youth Services Committee, Catherine McEnroe stepped forward without hesitation. Our club hosted 32 students from eight area schools, and presented the Outstanding Educator Awards for the 26th year. Catherine made it happen by attending to the many details of this committee. In the words of President Lou, she is a Rotarian, not just a member of Rotary.

Our club puts great effort into the International component of Rotary. The area Youth Exchange consortium of clubs has allowed YE to grow and prosper in our region. PP Jack Altdoerffer assumed the YE chair for our club, and Youth Exchange legend Shawki Elgarhi continues his tireless work for both inbound and outbound young people. Other international projects got their start because of the efforts of Utica Rotarians. A clean water project for an elementary school in the Dominican Republic is planned and fund raising is nearly complete thanks in part to the efforts of Steve Gassner and Connie Schreppell. PDG Don Reese has put the wheels in motion for a project to build a playground in Chile for special needs children. Our club's Group Study Exchange committee is the most active in the district. Thanks to Jim Turnbull and crew we made five new friends from Brazil in the past year.

Two Utica Rotarians earned special praise from President Lou. DG Larry Calabrese honorably represented our club as leader of our central NY Rotary district. He encouraged teamwork, led by example, and "walked the talk." The 60 member increase in the district and more than $60,000 raised for Pennies for Polio are a testament to his leadership. DeWitt Rotarian Fred Cholet, DG for 2009-10, has a tough act to follow. And where would we be without Norma Montagnino-Gemza? Norma's organizational skills and ability to keep the meetings running smoothly were unparalleled in the realm of Sergeant at Armsdom. Such was her performance this year that President Lou made a donation to Norma's Paul Harris Sustaining member program. Don't know what that is? You are sure to find out soon from two members of our Rotary Foundation committee for '09-'10 - namely, DG Larry and Sgt. Norma!

All told, 2008-2009 was a great year for our club, and it started with our president. Many Utica Rotarians were motivated to go the extra mile this year, and they did it without great fanfare or the expectation of recognition. Thanks, President Lou, for showing all of us what Service Above Self is all about!!

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Friday Programs

Sep 10:	Michael Hennessy & Maria Pavelock, NYS Senate, District 47
Sep 17:	Richard Hanna
Sep 24:	District Governor, Paul (PJ) Scott
Oct 01:	Lt. Timothy O'Neill, NHPD - Theft Prevention
Oct 15:	Cathy Newell - Mohawk, Ltd.

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