We celebrated the '07-08 successes of DG Marlene Brown and welcomed '08-09 DG Larry Calabrese, at Turning Stone Resort. We were honored that Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson was our Keynoter! A record group of nearly 240 people enjoyed an evening they'll long remember!

A message from District Governor Marlene B. Brown - Tonight we celebrate the accomplishments of our Club President’s, other Club leaders, our District Staff & Chairs, and our Assistant Governor’s. We also recognize and thank all our District Rotarians who cared and shared Rotary throughout the year. Clubs who earned the Presidential Citation are honored, Clubs with outstanding projects are recognized, along with Rotarians of Excellence. The outgoing District Governor reviews the highlights of their year, and the incoming Governor shares the goals for their year.
2007-08 saw the following accomplishments in the District:
* successful Summer Kick-off Meetings & Mid-Winter District event
* the drafting and passing of our first District Bylaws
* a successful District Conference of fun, fellowship, Rotary learning
* successful programs for young people in RYLA & Youth Exchange
* successful Gift of Vision, Literacy, Make a Difference Day programs
* successful Multi-District PETS and District Assembly
* successful Membership and Foundation Seminars
* a successful Group Study Exchange with India’s District 3200
* a successful Rotary Leadership Institute program
* matching grant projects in South Africa, Chile, Ghana, and India
* the beginning of a District-wide Matching Grant project in Haiti
* foundation success with over $100,000 District donations, including 3 new Major Donors, 46 new Paul Harris Fellows, 39 new MPHF’s, 180 new Sustaining Members, plus $10,000 to the PolioPlus Challenge
* the holding of our first District 4-Way Test Speech Contest
* the charter formation of our District Paul Harris Society
* the chartering of our first Rotaract Club & a new Interact Club
* the chartering of a new District Club
* net membership of nearly 50 Rotarians
This is a record year for District 7150 and you need to congratulate yourselves. Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson dedicated this year to “Rotary Shares” and you lived up to this motto in D-7150.

2007-08 Presidential Citation Clubs

AREA ONE: Assistant Governor, Ann Blask, Little Falls RC
Dolgeville Rotary Club, Walt Lallier, Club President
AREA TWO: Assistant Governor, Sam Crisino, Kuyahoora Valley RC
Rome Rotary Club, Ray Carnevale, Club President
North Utica/Whitestown Rotary Club, John Storey, Club President
Kuyahoora Valley Rotary Club, Michael Chauvin, Club President
Rotary eClub NY1, Earl Lewis, Club President
AREA THREE: Assistant Governor, Cal Lyon, Greater Utica SR RC
Utica Rotary Club, Ralph Immundo, Club President
AREA FOUR: Assistant Governor, Colleen Bennett, Sherrill RC
Cazenovia Rotary Club, Fred Palmer, Club President
Oneida Rotary Club, Penny Polling, Club President
AREA FIVE: Assistant Governor, Fred Cholet, Dewitt RC
Hamilton Rotary Club, Joe Glaze, Club President
AREA SIX: Assistant Governor, Charlotte Tarwicki, Fayetvl/Manl RC
Dewitt Rotary Club, Fred Cholet, Club President
Chittenango Rotary Club, Charles Kirsch, Club President
Eastwood Rotary Club, Arlene Kellogg, Club President
AREA SEVEN: Assistant Governor, Doug Mouncey, Syracuse RC
Syracuse Rotary Club, Patrick Spadafora, Club President
Syracuse Sunrise Rotary Club, William Boyd, Club President
Syracuse Inner City Rotary Club, Khalid Bey, Club President
AREA EIGHT: Assistant Governor, Paul Graziano, Oneida Shores RC
Oneida Shores Rotary Club, Frank Upwood, Club President
Baldwinsville Rotary Club, Bruce Stebbins, Club President
AREA NINE: Assistant Governor, Paul Scott, Oswego RC
Oswego Rotary Club, William Crist, Club President
Oswego Sunrise Rotary Club, Donna Kuhn, Club President
Fulton Rotary Club, Steve Osborne, Club President
Fulton Sunrise Rotary Club, Diane Cooper-Currier, Club President
AREA TEN: Assistant Governor, Tom Collins, Moravia RC
Aurora Rotary Club, Ed Rossman, Club President
AREA ELEVEN: Assistant Governor, Jim Gascon, Marcellus RC
Marcellus Rotary Club, Debra Glisson, Club President
Camillus Rotary Club, George Mango, Club President
Skaneateles Rotary Club, Richard Kokosa, Club President

2007-2008 Changing of the Guard Awards Went to:

External Relations Best Cooperative Projects Awards - recognizes clubs that conduct outstanding projects in cooperation with other local, national, or int’l organizations. Awarded to: Rotary eClub (Earl Lewis); Fulton RC (Steve Osborne); New Hartford RC (Chuck Tomaselli) for the Journey of the Desks to India Project
Membership Development Awards - recognizes membership growth & retention in clubs. Awarded to: Rome RC, Ray Carnevele; Marcellus RC, Deb Glisson; Utica RC, Ralph Immundo; Chittenango RC, Chuck Kirsch; Syracuse RC, Patrick Spadafora; Rotary eClub NY1, Earl Lewis.
Newsletter/Public Relations Awards - recognizes clubs for outstanding newsletter & media campaigns that improve Rotary’s public image. Awarded to: Large Clubs: Utica RC (Dana Jerrard); Rome RC (Dennis Schonewetter), Syracuse RC (Frank Decker); Medium Clubs: Skaneateles RC (Ward Vuillemot), Fulton RC (Dick Kemmis); Small Clubs: Moravia RC (Tom Collins), Oriskany Falls RC (Deirdre Purdy), Skaneateles Sunrise RC (Tom Seely), Oswego Sunrise RC (George Reed)
Significant Achievement Awards - Recognizes clubs for outstanding community service projects. Awarded to: Utica RC, Rome RC, Little Falls RC, New Hartford RC, Dolgeville RC, Syracuse RC, Hamilton RC, Rotary eClub NY1
Exemplary Service Award: To club whose record of services include an exemplary service project that started, completed, or was on-going during the Rotary year. Awarded to: Rotary eClub NY1 (Vocational Training Centers in India & NYS)
Community Award: For that club whose program of service made a significant impact on its local community or another community within the USA. Awarded to: Syracuse Inner City RC, Khalid Bey, Club President (for their Hoops for Peace)
Vocational Service: For that club whose program of service has best forwarded the dignifying of all Rotarians occupations. Awarded to: Marcellus RC (for numerous vocational projects)
Club Service: For that club whose success in building membership & developing enthusiasm for Rotary among its members. Awarded to: Skaneateles RC (for numerous membership projects)
The District 7150 Award for Innovation: Presented to the club which had implemented a new service project within the last three years judged to represent a novel effective idea. Awarded to: Rotary eClub NY1 (Blogs & Webcams & locations)
International Service: For clubs whose programs have made the most significant impact on at least one community beyond USA borders. Awarded to: Rotary eClub NY1, Skaneateles RC, Chittenango RC, Syracuse Sunrise RC, Oneida Shores RC (listed in next category)
The Rotary Foundation District Service Award: for Rotarians who serve humanity through Foundation programs. Awarded to: Larry Richardson (Chittenango RC, Ghana water project), Ward Vuillemot, (Skaneateles RC, South Africa literacy project); Antonio Herrara (Syracuse Sunrise RC, Chile literacy project); Frank Upwood (Oneida Shores RC, Armenia literacy project); Marlene Brown, Earl Lewis, Brad Brown (Rotary eClub NY1, South India Literacy projects; Haiti Water project)
Significant Achievement Award: Recognition of the Clubs who sponsored our first Rotaract Club. Awarded to: Oswego RC & Oswego Sunrise Rotary Club, Advisor: Diane Dillon, Oswego RC & Oswego State University
Significant Achievement Award: Recognition of the Club who sponsored our most recent Interact Club. Awarded to: Dolgeville Rotary Club, Advisors: Jim Donnelly, Ari Marucci, Christine Reynolds; Officers: Alissa Kent; Catherine Donnelly, Ann Locke, Shelby Warren, Greg Young, Erin Patrick, Austin Litwhiler
Significant Achievement Award: Recognition of the Club who sponsored our first District Speech Contest winner. Awarded to: Adirondack Foothills RC, President Jack Weidner, who secured speech winner, Logan Wills, assisted by AG Sam Crisino
Recognition of Smaller Club Membership Growth: This district-level award offers an incentive to clubs that fall below 20 members to get above 20 members. Awarded to: Fulton Sunrise RC, President Diane Cooper-Currier
Membership Development Award: Recognition of the highest growth rate Clubs: Awarded to: Rotary eClub NY1 (Earl Lewis, Club President), Marcellus RC (Deb Glisson, Club President), Fulton Sunrise RC (Diane Cooper-Currier, Club President), North Utica/Whitestown RC (John Storey, Club President)
Membership Development Award: Recognition of Clubs with most new members: Awarded to: Rome RC, Ray Carnevele, Club President; Rotary eClub NY1, Earl Lewis, Club President; Marcellus RC, Deb Glisson, Club President; Skaneateles RC, Dick Kokosa, Club President; Utica RC, Ralph Immundo, Club President; Syracuse RC, Patrick Spadafora, Club President
Membership Extension Award: Recognition of the Club who sponsored a new club: Awarded to: Rotary eClub NY1 for the Chartering of The Galaxy RC (Earl Lewis & Marlene Brown, Rotary eClub, and Mark Crever & Stacy Butcher, Galaxy RC)
Individual Governor’s Thanks: Matt Chmielewski & Earl Lewis (District Conference Co-Chairs): Sam Crisino (District Treasurer): Laraine Dell (District Secretary): Don Reed (Literacy Golf Tournament): Mary Stronach (Youth Exchange Chair); Bob Stronach (District Directory/P.R.); Paul Terwilliger (District Literacy Committee); Jim Gascon (District Gift of Vision Chair); Henry MacDonald & Dick Kemmis (GSE Co-Chairs); Penny Polling (GSE Team Leader); PDG Bruce Frassinelli (Make a Difference Day Chair); David Craine (RLI Chair): PDG Ed Paparella (District Trainer); PDG Jerry Gortner (Chair of Bylaws Committee); PDG Ned Mann (Chair Governor’s Council); Tom Taylor (District Parliamentarian); Nancy Crisino (Conference & Event Committee); Val & Paul Graziano (Conference & Event Committee)
Rotarian of Excellence: Recognition of a District Rotarian by the Governor Awarded to: Earl Lewis, President of Rotary eClub NY1 (for playing multiple roles with dignity and consistency, including photographer & bookkeeping, which allowed the District Governor to complete her goals, and helped our Clubs to complete their goals)

Changing of the Guard Dinner – Program Agenda

5:00 to 6:00pm - Private Reception (invitation only)
6:00 to 7:00pm - Social Hour in Conference Center’s Mohawk Room (cash bar)
7:00 pm - Call to Order by Master of Ceremonies, Paul Scott, DGND
7:00 pm - Pledge to the US Flag by Fred Cholet, DGN
7:01 pm - US Anthem by Steve Osbourn, President of Fulton Rotary
7:02 pm - Canadian Anthem by Doug Mouncey, Ass't Gov., Syracuse RC (Canada native)
7:03 pm - Invocation by Ed Paparella, Past District Governor
7:04 pm - Welcome by Marlene B. Brown, District Governor
7:05 pm ~ Dinner Served ~
7:30 pm - Four-Way Test Contest Winner, presentation by Logan Wills
7:35 pm - GSE Team Reflections, by Penny Poling, GSE Team Leader to India, Oneida RC
7:37 pm - 2007-08 Reflections & Video by Marlene Brown, District Governor
7:48 pm - Introduction of R. I. President Wilf Wilkinson by District Governor Marlene
7:49 pm - Keynote Address, We Shared Rotary by Wilf Wilkinson, Rotary International President
8:05 pm - Presentation of New Clubs Charter (Rotaract, Interact, Galaxy) by DG Marlene/President Wilf
8:10 pm - Awards Presentations, Marlene Brown, District Governor with R. I. President, Wilf Wilkinson
8:47 pm - Passing of Gavels: Club Presidents + Governors & Pins: DG Brown to DGE Calabrese
8:48 pm - Presentation of Banner to new Home Club, by Earl Lewis, Rotary eClub NY1 President 2007-2008 to Lou Steppello, Utica Rotary Club President 2008-2009
8:50 pm - A Look Ahead, Conference '09 Make Dreams Real, Larry Calabrese, Dist.Gov-elect, Utica RC
9:00 pm – Closing Bell & Adjournment - Paul Scott, DGND

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Welcome Letter

Program Agenda: Celebrating Our Club & District Successes
Download Registration Form * Information Flyer * Awards page * Download Awards to be presented
Attendees: Presidents & President-Elects, Offficers & Staff, Rotarians & Guests, Rotaractors & Interactors, celebrating achievements as we Share Rotary and Make Dreams Real.

The Changing of the Guard is one meeting of the year we enjoy Rotarian fellowship. Outgoing presidents have the opportunity to share with pride their club’s accomplishments, and incoming presidents are looking forward to a year of achievements that will be remembered.

We have great projects that our clubs run in their communities! To spread this knowledge each club will be able to include their club's most memorable accomplishment of the year in a 2007-08 Rotary District 7150 Commemorative Booklet. Copies will be available for each Club and one will be given to R. I. President Wilf. Email your info to DG Marlene.

What club had the most outstanding projects in 2007-2008? Come to our District Changing of the Guard with your members to help these clubs celebrate their accomplishments! What does District Governor Marlene Brown feel were our most memorable accomplishments as we Celebrated "Rotary Shares" in District 7150? Join us at Turning Stone Resort as celebrate our successes with RI President Wilf!

What lies ahead? District Governor Elect Larry Calabrese will highlight his goals for our District as we "Make Dreams Real" in 2008-09.

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