• Notes from PJ
  A note of Rotarians in action - Cal Walker in the Ithaca Journal reading to children in Trumansburg from a play written by local writer and historian Carol Kammen. Congratulations to Casey Stevens for moving back into the county just in time to help us out with our increasing tax burdens (he's moving to Trumansburg). Special thanks to Jessie and Dick Ripple for hosting the local Ambassadorial Scholars for brunch several weeks ago. Thanks also to Rich Spingarn and Scott Heyman for the new rosters which are now printed and available at the front table for members to take home (see policy statement below).

• Route 13 Clean-up
  The fall Highway Clean-up Day is coming up on Saturday, October 4. The crew will meet at the Tops at Triphammer at 8:30 and begin to work down Route 13 towards Stewart Park. Once again we hope to have volunteers join us from Onsite Volunteers and we will try to get the entire stretch done in one outing. Noel Desch will have sign-up sheets available next week, please come and help make our neighborhood a little nicer! There will be a second day on October 11 if necessary.

• Ithaca Rotary's Annual Pancake Day is coming up on Tuesday, November 4 at the Women's Community Building. Once again we will be serving pancakes, eggs, etc. to the masses from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. All members will be asked to sell tickets and to sign up to help out during the day. Sign-up sheets will be available soon. This event counts as a make-up meeting and is a great opportunity to share some fellowship with Rotarians from our club as well as the Ithaca-Cayuga club and the Ithaca Sunrise club. It's a lot of fun, don't miss out! The best shifts go first, so sign up early and often.

• Ithaca College Rotaract Update
  The Ithaca College Rotaract club is gearing up for the year and will be meeting on Monday evenings every week throughout the school year. Interested Rotarians are encouraged to attend, more information on the location and time of the meetings is coming shortly.

• Ithaca Rotary Nominating Committee
  The nominating committee for this year is being formed and will be looking for some assistance in choosing the future leadership of our club. By definition, the committee consists of at least three past presidents and two members at large. Those at-large members can not be currently serving on the club's board of directors. If you have any interest in serving on this committee, please see PJ as they will start meeting soon. The election of new officers takes place at our annual meeting which is the last regular meeting in December.

• Rochester Rotary's annual Eastern Cities Dinner will take place on Wednesday, November 12 in Rochester, N.Y. Rotary International President Jonathan Majiyagbe will be the keynote speaker at this wonderful event. Tickets are expected to be $50 per person. If you are interested in attending, see PJ for more information.

• "How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me," with nationally acclaimed author Susan Blauner will be featured at the 34th annual meeting of Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service. If depression or suicide has touched your life, this program will be meaningful, helpful, and inspirational for you. The meeting will be held on Sunday, October 19, in the First Baptist Church at DeWitt Park, following the Jack Lewis Award at 4pm.

• An Open House to view the new Sidney Tamarin training and resource center will be held just before the annual meeting, from 3-4pm. The Center is just across the street from the church, at 124 East Court Street. For more information and registration, contact Rotarian Nancy Rosen at 272-1505.

• Rotary Policy Information
  
  Commercialization:
  
  Rotary policy states that it is improper to use the RI Official Directory or any district or club directory for a mailing list for any commercial activity. In addition, it has been a rule of practice that these documents not be made available by a Rotarian or Rotary club or district for circulation
  
  Public Affairs:
  
  The Rotary Club of Ithaca Constitution Article IX, Section I states that the general welfare of the community is of concern to the members of this club and the merits of any public question involving such welfare may be fairly and intelligently studied and discussed before a club meeting for the enlightenment of its members in forming their individual opinion. However, this club shall not express an opinion on any pending controversial public measure. Section 2 states that this club shall not endorse or recommend any candidate for public office and shall not discuss at any club meeting the merits or demerits of any such candidate.

• New Member Introduction
  Jeff True introduced our newest member, Rich Gallagher. Rich owns Acuity Learning Systems and is a published author. He graduated from Ithaca High School and from Cornell and his wife Colleen is a native Ithacan as well. Please welcome Rich and we will look forward to getting to know him better.

• Special Guest

  Dave Barr brought a number of special guests with him today, all members of local law enforcement agencies and all members of the NYS Cops for Kids Softball Tournament Championship team. By virtue of the tourney format, the team had to defeat the Onondaga County Sheriff's Dept. team twice, having suffered their only loss at the deputy's hands earlier, to win the title. In the process, the team helped raise more than $4,000 for children's programs. Dave also presented each of the team members with a team photo as part of his way of saying thanks for all that they do. Congratulations to the team and thanks from all of us for your fine efforts in the communities that you serve for the children that you have helped.

• October Birthdays
  Gary Stewart presiding
  
  10/1: Karen Macier
  10/3: Don Hinman
  10/5: Bill Baldwin, Pat Baxter, Don Kompf
  10/6: Chuck Nocera
  10/8: Ross Lynch
  10/10: Bill Currie
  10/12: Dale Flinn
  10/13: Bob Eastman
  10/15: Jim Fogel, Tom Hunter
  10/16: Bill Rusen
  10/17: Bill Hawley, Susan Murphy
  10/19: Catherine Stulir
  10/21: Ed Kabelac
  10/23: Fred Johnson
  10/24: Mary Benetti
  10/25: Tom Bennett, Barb Caldwell, Gene Erickson
  10/26: Don Dickinson
  10/27: Brent Stephans
  10/29: Frank Rhodes
  
  Whew! What a month for birthdays! Happy Birthday to our fellow Rotarians!

• Ambassadors
  8/31: Mike Brown (Ithaca Sunrise)

• Visiting Rotarians
  Barry Downing (Endwell)
  Tom Overbaugh (Trumansburg)
  Susan Goksu (Seneca Falls)
  Kevin Gross (Cortland Noon)

• Exchange Students
  Estaban Campos (Costa Rica)
  Michael Sykora (Slovakia)

"What's Happening on South Hill"

Peggy Williams, President, Ithaca College

Beverly Baker introduced our guest speaker for today, President of Ithaca College, Peggy Williams. Peggy gave us an update and overview of all that is happening on South Hill these days, and there is quite a lot happening up there.This year the college received 11,000 applications for 1,700 spots. Of those students accepted at Ithaca, 55 are either the Valedictorian or Salutatorian of their class. Their average SAT score was 1200. The 6,000 students currently enrolled come from 40 states, 12 provinces, and 33 foreign countries.

One of the unique aspects of this year's freshman class is that they were all given a summer reading assignment - James McBride's "The Color of Water." Once on campus, the students participated in discussion groups focused on the book and McBride then gave a lecture - and jazz performance - as a follow-up to the discussion groups. Parents and faculty have both expressed an interest in being part of this new program, so new ideas for next year's class are already in the works.

An important component of the college's new Master Plan is increased focus on diversity throughout the campus. One of the results of that focus has been an increase in minority applications for admission - up 80% - and in the population of students of color which has doubled. Also in the master plan is the goal of bringing more students into campus housing and the addition of the College Circle apartments has brought the school 700 students closer to that goal. Finally, a new division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies was created with the Culture and Communication Arts program its first new development.

Of course, the college continues its long history of success in many areas. Many of us are at least somewhat aware of the great successes that the many athletic teams on the hill continue to have. One other area where they are very successful, and one that has some bearing and importance to our organization, is in the area of job-based educational opportunities. Although many of us may not be aware of this, the federal government requires schools that offer work study programs to their students to spend a minimum of 7% of their federal work study funds on students working off-campus with not-for-profit organizations. Ithaca currently exceeds that level of funding significantly - 13% - which translates into 117 students working for 36 employers in our community. Our thanks to Peggy for a wonderful and informative update on doings at Ithaca College and for taking the time to speak to us.

• Please view the calendar posted on the main page of this website for the most up-to-date information. [View Rotary Calendar]

Program Chair: Jeff True
Kettle Watch: Jess Esposito
Greeter: Harlin McEwen
Thought: David Barnes
Introductions: Alan Cohen
Music: Jack Burns, John Bailey, and Vaughan
Photography: John Ziegler
Setup: Mike Billing
Editor: Dale Flinn
Website: Matthew Dearing

• Please address all correspondence to the club to:
  Ithaca Rotary Club P.O. Box 306
  Ithaca, N.Y. 14851
  Attn.: Scott Russell, Secretary
  
  
• For eNewsletter comments, questions or corrections, and subscription requests please contact the Editor at bigd@starflinn.com.