 Rotary 2000 |
1999-2000 District Clubs |
 Consistency, Credibility, Continuity |
The Rotary Club of New Hartford Honors Jim Simpson
|
Rotary 2000 |
1999-2000 District Clubs |
Consistency, Credibility, Continuity |
The Rotary Club of New Hartford Honors Jim Simpson
State Senator Ray Meier presents Jim with resolution passed by the NYS Senate
NH Rotarian & Event Chair Don Urbanke presenting Jim with Rotary plaque and proclamation
County Executive Ralph Eannace designating April 26th, 2000 as Jim Simpson Day in Oneida County
Village Clerk Janet Durr, from Mayor Reynolds office, presents a plaque to "the million dollar man"
Town Supervisor Bill Kaiser presents a plaque from the Town of New Hartford
Tom Laribee, from Mayor Ed Hanna's office, proclaiming April 26th 2000 as Jim Simpson Day in Utica
A moved Jim Simpson with wife Annette
Even the Alfredo's sign welcomed Jim!
L.toR. President Craig Pugh, Steve Urbanke, Jim Simpson, Lt. Erwin Brandl, Don & Bobby Urbanke
Service Above Self
Picture a suitcase packed and waiting by the front door for a year -- with clothing changed according to the seasons. Picture a man who lost two brothers to heart attacks while young, a man whose heart was so tired -- even after two bypass surgeries and two heart attacks -- that he longed for the phone call to come through telling him, "the donor's heart has arrived, grab your suitcase and head out for your heart transplant surgery". This man is Don Urbanke, the organizer of the New Hartford Rotary Club's "Salute to Jim Simpson Day."
Don is just one example of the countless people of all ages in the Mohawk Valley who have benefited from the leadership Jim Simpson displayed. In 1975, the original 5 runners in America's Greatest Heart Run/Walk raised $274. By 1982, 118 runners raised $9,800. In 1983, Jim Simpson became Chairman. That year, 186 runners raised $18,000. In the year 2000, 8,278 runners raised $1,001,067. dollars, making it the #1 fundraiser of the #1 event in the country. Alfredo's Restaurant was full of people representing all walks of Mohawk Valley life, there to honor one of their own. The presentations, proclamations, and plaques said it all.
It was evident how special it was that the day was arranged by Rotary, an organization of business and professional leaders whose motto is Service Above Self. Under the leadership of President Craig Pugh, New Hartford Rotary Club presented a plaque to Jim. Marlene Brown had received an e-mail from Mike Simpson, former Utica College President, which said in part, "From Paris, Jim's namesake will be thinking of him today, and remembering with rapidly beating heart setting the world's land speed record for the Rome to Utica run on a fine St. Patrick's Day not so long ago."
State Senator Ray Meier recalled, "the nicest thing New Hartford Rotary Club did for me was to introduce me to Kim Davis, then their Club Secretary, who later became my wife. My daughter became a Rotary exchange student, my wife became Club President, and I became a Rotary spouse"! Presenting Jim with a Resolution passed by the NYS Senate, Ray said, "During the years, watching the 1,000's of participants and spectators makes me think of people like Jim Simpson, who rise to the occasion and succeed."
State Assemblyman David Townsend Jr., presenting a citation on behalf of the NYS Assembly said, "being a former trooper, it's amazing all that Jim has done for our community while representing law enforcement in such an outstanding manner with such dedication". County Executive Ralph Eannace, who designated April 26th as Jim Simpson Day, said "I got to know Jim in high school. This community has benefited immensely from Jim's efforts. This whole community have become a running community. He's put us on the map, with the rallying cries in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas being 'beat Utica!' Jim just keeps giving."
Bill Kaiser, Supervisor for the Town of New Hartford, presenting a plaque on behalf of the town, said "Jim is an asset to the town, a person with a warm heart." Presenting a proclamation from Mayor Hanna's office, Commission of Urban & Economic Development Tom Laribee said, "this community is so rich in resources, with our most precious resource being people like Jim who give so much back." Presenting a plaque from the Village of New Hartford Mayor's office "to our million dollar man", Village Clerk Janet Durr shared, "This event is special for me in two ways. I had a daughter who was a recipient of a Rotary scholarship abroad, and my family has been recipients of help from the AHA, most recently a 24-year-old niece who had a successful bypass."
Responding to the outpouring of gratitude, Jim said, "As a native of the City of Utica, and resident of the Town of New Hartford for the past five years, to be recognized by your peers is the greatest accomplishment ever. I have a real soft spot for Rotary and have enjoyed the presentations I've given to the Clubs in my role as a NYS Trooper with Troop D in Oneida. Heart disease, our #1 killer, does touch all of us in this room. In 1979, I first got involved with the run, handing out water on a freezing morning. My grandfather had just passed away from heart disease. To raise money in his name, my first run was in 1980. It was my greatest accomplishment to date. Two years ago, my Dad had a Pacemaker installed.
As the event grew, it became contagious and you couldn't get away from it. Every year we wondered how we'd continue to grow, and we did, because of special people. On the day of the run, everybody's on the same team, with the goal of saving lives. To HA Executive Director Dan Benzo and his staff, raising money and making a difference is a way of life. I gave up the position of Director of the Run to spend more time with my sons. They're growing up and I was missing the biggest love of their life - hockey. My wife, Annette, was there with them, but I wasn't always. It's been a great ride, and I'll still be a community volunteer, helping others. This day, coming from Rotarians, is absolutely special to me. My thanks to you all."
The standing ovation said it all. The Mohawk Valley is indeed, a wonderful place to live and to be a part of Service Above Self, making a difference to so many -- especially on this day to those who keep their suitcases packed, waiting for that donor phone to ring.
Submitted to Observer-Dispatch & Town Crier by Marlene B. Brown
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