Annual Student Recognition Awards 2008

     One of our most satisfying annual programs is the week, along toward the end of the school year, when we get an opportunity to meet and to recognize some of the young people who will be our next community leaders.  This recognition is based on their school and community activities. It is always inspiring to see what these young people, with their unlimited energy, can and have demonstrated, and what they promise for the future. We are proud to recognize and honor the following:

     Central Tech     Arriana Morris
               Ryan Matt

     Christian Brothers Academy     John Fletcher
               Anna Drescher

     Corcoran     Julio Chanelo
               Solange Williams

     Faith Heritage     Katherine Masten
               Joseph Matthews

     Fowler     Jodeann Harris
               Vy Tran

     Bishop Grimes      Christine Buckley
               Ian Doherty

     Henninger     Allison Forbes
               Taurean Boyd

     Bishop Ludden     Abigail Hiza
               Connor Sweeney
              
     Nottingham     Samuel Kraemer
               Samantha Hinds

            Community Service Award Luncheon

     Each year, at this time, the Rotary Club of Syracuse honors community volunteers at its annual

          Community Service Recognition Luncheon
    
          This year, in the spirit of the Rotary motto
               “Service Above Self,”
          the Club honored one of its own
               and presented a single award

          This year’s honoree is:

‘There are at least two things Dan Morrow is passionate about, one is Rotary and one is literacy.  When Dan takes on a job, you want to sure to clear a path for him.  He takes it seriously.  A good example of this is the District Community Assisted Adult Reader (C.A.A.R) program.  When the District Literacy Committee, of which he has been a long time member, came up with the idea, Dan came right back to the Board of the Rotary Club of Syracuse with a well developed marketing plan.  He felt strongly that his own Club should be in the forefront with a five-year commitment culminating with the Club’s 100th anniversary in 2012.
        ‘The Community Assisted Adult Reader program targets people, who for various reasons have problems with literacy.  Many have “bluffed” their way into and through responsible jobs, only to hit a dead end when their ability to read functionally became an obvious necessity to be promoted to the next level.  Others feel their lives will be better and more complete with the ability to read.
        ‘The Community Assisted Adult Reader program provides funding to community literacy organizations to tutor students.  The student, their tutor and a Rotary liaison are linked.  That Rotary liaison provides their sponsoring club with the adult reader’s profile and regular monthly updates.  As of this date, as part of this District literacy initiative, Syracuse Rotary is sponsoring 22 adult readers.
     “Dan’s ultimate goal is 100 adult new readers over the course of this program.  Again, knowing Dan’s tenacity and dedication to literacy, there is little doubt about him making this goal by 2012.
     “For all Dan Morrow does for Rotary, his Club and the Community Assisted Adult Reader program, we honor him with this 2008 Community Service Award” 
    
   and the       “Community Assisted Adult Reader”  Program

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The October 3 meeting deserves a special note.  A power outage caused a last minute shift of the Congressional Election Forum from our usual meeting place to the Drumlins cafeteria at the other end of the building, thus disrupting the careful arrangements already in place.  Special thanks to Matthew Schallmo for his ability to adjust at the last minute and to Drumlins (Angle) for their special efforts. The program went off as planned, starting in the dark with only the outdoor light coming through the windows.  Charlie Manro’s most appropriate invocation brought National Grid to attention and the power was restored just as he finished.  The turnout was impressive, the candidates performed on cue, and the League of Women Voters presided with aplomb.  Everyone, especially President  Jim, performed with distinction under the pressure and all should be recognized for their outstanding coolness under pressure, resulting in a very special Rotary program.

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Golf Outing  -  July 30, 2008

Brad reports that ten golfers enjoyed a great outing at the Westvale Golf Club.  The weather was perfect and the course was in great shape  Of course, the fellowship was terrific. Participating were Denny Baldwin, John Bertram, Butch deAngelo, Jim Gladziszewski, Ray Leach, John McDivitt, Dick Perkins (Tully Rotary), Bob Sargent, Brad Strait, and his guest, Jack White.
Outstanding scorers included John Bertram-82 and Dick Perkins-88 with the rest of the participants strung along behind, all, however, having a great time!

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Group Study Exchange

September 26, 2008
President Jim and PP Doug with Group Study Exchange Group from Brazil

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ROTARY  PHILANTHROPY AND CHARITY COMMITTEE

2007-2008

Jim Glad announced the following grants for the 2007/2008 year:

Literacy Tutors	$7,000
The Determination Center of CNY	$500
Signature Band and Choir Camp	$1,000
Camp Good Days and Special Times	$1,000
Connections of CNY	$500
Person to Person Citizen Advocacy Association	$1,000
Habitat for Humanity	$5,700
Detached Worker Program	$800
Women's Opportunity Center	$1,000
Haiti Water Project  (A District 7150 Project)	$4,400
Project Lifesaver	$600
Total	$23,500

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The Syracuse Rotary Foundation Chair, Brad Strait, and Dan Morrow, Literacy Chair, present a donation to Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse to fund six more adult learning students.

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Annual Holiday Party For City School Children

The annual Holiday Party for Syracuse City School Children has come and gone.  Approximately 50 kids arrived ready to party. At times it was hard to tell who was having the most fun, but the kids really responded to the magician, Cinderella (or was it Snow White) who painted cheeks with a choice of image and included a Polaroid picture of each subject, the Cookie Monster, Bat Man, the balloon twister, clowns, and of course, our own Kosher Santa Claus who, with the help of  a number of Rotarians, presented an individually selected and wrapped gift to each child, through the extraordinary efforts of Treasurer Mary Lou Thompson.
Enthusiastic participants and observers included Syracuse City School Superintendent, Dan Lowengard,  District Govenor Marlene Brown, and Dewitt Rotarian, Past DG Joe McCarthy.
The hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, pizza, and ice cream were properly disposed of and the party ended on a festive note with a bunch of happy and exciting kids being loaded on the busses to be returned to a proper and dignified afternoon of school.  The kids might have calmed down before the end of the school day, but that is extremely doubtful.

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   Dick Ford and The Signature Syracuse Band

     Every couple of years we get a chance to enjoy the talent that Dick Ford nurtures and brings to Syracuse Rotary, usually in midwinter when we really need a lift.
     Signature Syracuse is a comprehensive music instruction and performance program for Syracuse children in middle and high school.
Since 2000, the program has offered a unique learning experience for children to improve their musical skills through disciplined rehearsals and public performances.
     Signature Syracuse offers participating children free music lessons and the opportunity to play in a marching band and jazz ensemble, classes in sight singing, and voice lessons.

Syracuse Rotary helps to support this program through grants from the Syracuse Rotary Foundation.