• New Member Application
  The Ithaca Rotary Club Board of Directors will be considering the membership application(s) from the person(s) listed below. Any concerns about these membership proposals should be made in writing to the Secretary of the Club by November 5, 2003.
  
  Name: Lenore Schwager
  Classification: Health Advocacy/Disabilities
  Position/Employer: Executive Director, Finger Lakes Independence Center
  Sponsor: Beverly Baker
  

• Notes from President Jeff
  This week’s nods to Rotarians in action: Dave Flaccus, focus of a great article in the Ithaca Journal; Past President Jean McPheeters who has been named November's Enterprising Woman -- a reprise of her August selection no less! JB Brown is all over the media as the United Way Annual Campaign gets under way -- Good luck JB! Susan Murphy who managed to find her way into almost every picture in the Ithaca Journal during their coverage of the inauguration of new Cornell President Jeffrey Lehman. On a sad note, fire claimed Bill Rusen's facility recently, displacing 40 residents. Fortunately, nobody was hurt and all 40 residents have temporary placements. Although a new facility is under construction, it will still be a while before it is ready for residents to move in. Best of luck to Bill.

• Red Cross and Measles
  President Jeff has information from the International Red Cross about a program they are starting aimed at eliminating measles. Patterned after Rotary's Polio Eradication campaign, the Red Cross program will be starting in Africa. If you would like to learn more about this program, see Jeff.

• Ithaca Rotary Pancake Day on November 4
  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 sheet will be at the next couple of meetings. 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. If you would like to place an advertisement on the Pancake Day placemat, spaces are available for $75 each. Please see President Jeff if you would like to place an ad.

• Spelling Bee Team
  Jim Fogel is once again putting together a team for the annual IPEI Spelling Bee at Ithaca High School. Our own queen bee, Jean McPheeters will preside as usual as adult teams from around the county try to spell their way to fame and fortune - or infamy as the case may be. If you are at all inclined to try spelling words in front of a large crowd, please contact Jim. The event takes place on Sunday, Nov. 16, so you have plenty of time to practice!

• Ringing for the Salvation Army
  Once again the Ithaca Rotary Club will be ringing bells for the Salvation Army's annual kettle drive. Following are the dates and locations for our days, please check your calendars and be ready to sign up for a time slot when you are asked. Believe it or not, those dates will be here sooner than you think! Mark your calendars now so you have the time set aside.
  
  INSIDE at KMart on Route 13 in Ithaca: December 1 from 9 am - 8 pm and December 16 from 9 am - 9 pm. On December 17, the kettle will be at our meeting for members who would like to make a donation.

• There are now Shut-in cards on the tables each week along with the comment cards. If you know of a fellow Rotarian who is unable to make it to the meeting and would appreciate a visit from a friend, please fill out one of these cards and give it to PJ or Scott Russell.

• Ithaca Rotary Community Grants
  Once again the Ithaca Rotary club will be presenting worthwhile organizations in the community with small grants to help them achieve their goals. Requests for Rotary Grants are now being accepted and any organization with a need can apply simply by making a request to the Small Grants Committee. A letter detailing the request should be sent to either President Jeff True or Secretary Scott Russell care of the Ithaca Rotary Club, P.O. Box 306, Ithaca, N.Y. 14851. Letters may also be addressed directly to the committee via chair Jessie Ripple, 57 Highgate Circle, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 If you have any questions about the Small Grants Program you may also call Jessie at 257-6454 or 254-2372. Deadline for requests will be January 31, 2004.

• Ithaca College Rotaract Club
  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.

• 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.

• A Special Request
  Secretary Scott Russell has received a request from Linda Stalford Harding for any location information on Sharon Loomis and Daniel J. Maier, two students that were sponsored by our club in 1966-67 for a year's exchange in the Netherlands. They were part of a group of seventeen American students selected by RI for the year in Netherlands. Ms. Harding is attempting to organize a reunion of this group, hence the request. Last addresses she has are 792 Ridge Rd, RD 1, Ludlowville for Sharon and 1025 Bostwick Rd., Ithaca for Daniel. Her telephone number is 304-745-4743 and e-mail is lumelover@aol.com.

• Rotarian Ambassadors
  10/24-10/26: Gene Erickson (District 7150 Annual Conference, Chautaugua Institution)
  

• Visiting Rotarians
  Barry Downing (Endwell)
  Kevin Gross (Cortland Noon)

• Visiting Exchange Students
  Esteban Campos (Costa Rica)
  Michal Sykora (Slovakia)

• Contact Information for our Youth Exchange Students
  Esteban Campos-Hernandez (Costa Rica)
  Host family Mike and Joyce Billing
  6 Pheasant Lane, Ithaca, 272-9208
  
  Michal Sykora (Slovakia)
  Host family John and Ann Costello
  8 Winthrop Place, Ithaca, 257-0919
  
  Jose Salcedo-Martin "Pepe" (Mexico)
  Host family Amdrea Parrot & Steve Allen
  8 Legrand Court, Ithaca, 277-1695

• Cathy Haupert (host) one for being able to vote next Tuesday, one for the Supreme Court not changing the Pledge of Allegiance and for the free speech that enjoy in this country.

• Dave Flinn one for Jean McPheeters and the Chamber's Great Big Auction recently where he was the high bidder on a brunch with Jean and either skiing or a wild flower walk - he'll be taking the walk, thank you!

• Terry Byrnes one for everyone who will be coming to Monday night's event on public education at Ithaca High School (after helping set up for Pancake Day of course!), and one for anyone who will be signing up for the upcoming IPEI Spelling Bee. Two more just for being here.

• Bettsie Park one for spending a rainy Sunday afternoon with Simonetta Antenucci and two of our exchange students -- Esteban and Pepe -- at the corn maze in Macedon. It only took an hour and 55 minutes to find their way out!

• Chris Sanchirico one for IBCA's walkathon where they raised over $37,000 for local use in helping people with breast cancer, and one with special thanks for Larry Baum and wife Trudy who, as corporate sponsor chairs, helped raise some $13,000-$15,000 of that $37,000 total.

• Nancy Potter one to welcome Ken Schlather back to our community as the new Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension.

• Ken Schlather one for his new position at Cooperative Extension, an organization with a history of strengthening democracy in light of concerns addressed in the thought for the day.

• Dave "The Tie" Flaccus one for his daughter's new job with AP in Los Angeles and she got engaged last Friday as well. Upon returning to her apartment after dinner with her future in-laws, she found a slew of messages sending her immediately out to cover the fires in California.

• Robin Korherr one for living in this community and for running for Common Council in the only contested race this year -- after meeting more than 2,500 people in her ward she really likes her neighbors, she likes living here, and is very happy to find so many different perspectives in the community -- it's just a great place to live!

• Bill Currie one for the CDC fundraising event in Lansing last Saturday evening where he worked alongside fellow Rotarian Jess Esposito to help raise over $20,000 to buy computers and technology for the Lansing school system, and one for his 8 year-old son Sam who plays hockey with the Travel Mite team -- Sam got his first hat-trick on Saturday!

• Jeff True one to recognize our caterer for lunch today, Carol Bowers, who also did our picnic lunch at Stewart Park this summer -- thank you very much Carol!

"Big Expectations in a Small Media Market"

Julie Newman, Joe Schwartz, and Bob Steinkamp

Our program this week featured representatives from the local media -- Abby Ginter from Newscenter 10, Joe Schwartz from the Ithaca Journal, and Bob Steinkamp from Eagle Broadcasting -- answering questions about their respective media roles in our community. Responding first to a series of prepared questions and then some questions from the audience, the panel members gave us all a glimpse of how the media view themselves in our community, what their goals are, and how well they feel they are meeting those goals.

All three agreed that the local media outlets strive to provide accurate, unbiased reports of news and events that are important to the people who live in their reporting areas. Joe Schwhartz, as editor of the opinion page, has a slightly different view as he is not really responsible for reporting news, but rather must choose things like guest editorials and letters to the editor that reflect the views and sentiments of the community as a whole.

The similarity comes in trying to choose a balance of opinions to print so that all sides of the discussion are represented. In the case of political races where the Journal might receive far more letters than they can print, again, it is necessary to choose a representative selection that is fair to all concerned.

Perhaps one of the more important items that we heard about during the discussion is the change coming to Newscenter 10. As of November 7th, the news on cable channel 10 will no longer be produced entirely here in Ithaca. The new programming, News 10 Now, will be 24 hour news and information, but centered out of Syracuse. Regional reporting units in Watertown, Oswego, Rome, Ithaca, and Potsdam will be on the go 24 hours, bringing stories to us essentially as they happen. The staff here in Ithaca will be minimal, though the largest of all of the satellites. They will have live capabilities and weekend coverage as well. Clearly this change will bear watching to ensure that local news and events do receive the coverage that the community requires. Abby was very upbeat about the coming change and assured us that we would be happy with the results.

Bob Steinkamp shared some of his thoughts with us in regard to concerns some residents have about the concentration of media in his business. As the Executive Director of News for Eagle Broadcasting, owner of four of the local radio stations, Bob reminded us that there are at least three other local radio stations and, with the explosion of news sources – television, print media, and the internet – he felt that we have enough options in this market that concentration should not be a real concern. In some of the other upstate markets where he has worked in the past, Bob found a greater concentration of media power and, in that respect, we are very fortunate in this community.

Our thanks to the panelists for their time and for sharing their very interesting views with us. The presentation was very informative and they all were excellent representatives of both their own organizations and the local media as a whole.

• 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: Larry Robinson
Greeter: Barbara Eckstrom
Thought: Barbara Thuesen
Introductions: Mike McGreevey
Music: Siu-ling and Don Hinman
Happy Dollars: Cathy Haupert
Photography: John Ziegler and Guy Tabacchi
Setup: Dave Flinn
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.