The Friar Tuck Resort, Spa & Convention Center in Catskill, NY

View the awesome District Conference 2007 slide show, courtesy of our PR Chair Bob! View the first pictures from Conference 2007 uploaded by DG Marlene while at the Zone Institute, along with Zone pictures! We celebrated with "A Blast to the Past & the Future!" where attendees met our international eClub members, our GSE team from India, our Inbound YE's, Marlene's team & family! They brought * credentials for voting at our Friday afternoon business meeting * cameras for the Friday night YE Parade of Nations * costume (Sherwood Forest, Star Trek, Star Wars) for Friday night optional contest fun, followed by karaoke & jazz! * Rotary questions for our Saturday morning breakout sessions * golf bag * casual clothes for the bocce / tennis / basketball courts, yoga * bathing suits for the indoor & outdoor pools, jacuzzi, sauna, and paddle boat pond * fancy duds for Saturday night's Parade of President's & Special Guests & Dignitaries, plus our keynote speakers, "The Rotary Musicians" and "Broadway Bash!" Guessed the Monk & R2D2 candy #'s! Entered the free overnite at Friar Tuck!

The 2007 District Conference was held Friday September 28 to Sunday September 30, 2007 at The Friar Tuck Resort, Spa & Convention Center, one of the Northeast's premier resorts, blending old medieval times with the new, including spacious yet charming banquet facilities and conference rooms. The unspoiled beauty and serenity of the region offers an alternative to the traditional urban conference hotel and city convention center. With its convenient proximity, two hours from Utica, right off the Thruway, the resort boasts 500 beautifully appointed guest rooms, fully refurbished to offer unique surroundings and modern conveniences.

Guests take advantage of the following on-premise amenities: two large outdoor swimming pools; outdoor Jacuzzi & Kiddies pool; large pond with paddle boats; large indoor swimming pool; indoor Jacuzzi, steam & sauna rooms; outdoor courts for handball, tennis, basketball, bocce & shuffleboard; video arcade & game room with ping pong, pool table & foosball; fitness center, and gift shop. Their European Spa & Salon is also available. "Come back with us to Medieval times at the Friar Tuck Resort & Spa. Nestled in the picturesque Catskills, surrounded by the timeless majesty of the mountains, this the perfect place to share Rotary fellowship, relax and enjoy amenities for the entire family, no matter what the age, in a truly unique affordable setting!" - District Governor Marlene Brown

In medieval times, feasting played a major role in any celebration. At Friar Tuck this tradition still holds true, featuring renowned restaurants with Italian-American cuisine. In-room amenities include Internet access, marble bathrooms, coffee makers, hair dryers, iron & ironing boards, and more. A full-service resort, it also boasts the finest live entertainment, unparalleled sports and leisure amenities on-site, including a new European-style Spa and Salon; fitness center with steam and sauna; 3 outdoor swimming pools plus indoor pool featuring huge indoor Jacuzzi; tennis, basketball, handball, shuffleboard, volleyball, bocce, kids playground; paddleboats on the geese pond; discounted greens fees on two nearby golf courses; gift shop, video arcade and game room. Howe Caverns is less than an hour away. Just down the road is Pony & Horse Rides, a Championship Golf Course, and the Olana Art Museum.

Spent Saturday afternoon in all the free amenities in the Friar Tuck Resort including a new European-style Spa and Salon; fitness center with steam and sauna; 3 outdoor swimming pools plus indoor pool featuring huge indoor Jacuzzi; tennis, basketball, handball, shuffleboard, volleyball, bocce, kids playground; paddleboats on the geese pond; discounted greens fees on two nearby golf courses; gift shop, video arcade and game room. Just down the road is the Balliwick Ranch and Discovery Zoo, and a Championship Golf Course!

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The Friar Tuck Resort, Spa & Convention Center in the Catskills Mountains

Driving Directions
Getting to the Friar Tuck Resort is easy... Simply follow the directions below to get there!

BY CAR - From The North:
New York State Thruway South to Exit 21 (Catskill). After getting off Exit 21, Turn left to Rt. 23 West, heading towards Cairo. Then turn left at Cairo [DON't keep going straight into Catskill] onto Rt. 32 South, which will take you 8 miles directly to The Friar Tuck Resort. You'll pull into the long driveway and park there on the Left in the big parking lot by The Buckingham Palace. The registration desk [where you'll pick up your conference bag, a map of the resort, the 2007-08 District/Conference Directory, your room key, and your meal tickets] is right inside the Palace Theatre. Conference committee will be there to welcome you and direct you to your room!

BY CAR - From The South
New York State Thruway North to Exit 20 (Saugerties). Take Rt. 32 North 8 miles directly to The Friar Tuck Resort. Less than one hour from Albany International Airport and less than two hours from Metropolitan New York City.

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R. I. President's Rep - David M. Michaux

We are proud to announce this year's District Conference R. I. President's Rep - David M. Michaux. David, a past Rotary International Director, hails from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. David joined the Rotary Club of Myrtle Beach in 1974 and has 32 years of perfect attendance.

Born in Atlanta, Ga., Rotarian Michaux graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. After college, he served a term in the U.S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of captain. For many years, David worked for the Bank of America in Myrtle Beach, S.C., USA, as a trust business development officer. Prior to that, he was a partner in a firm in Atlanta specializing in insurance and surety bonds for contractors.

Serving as Governor of District 7770 in 1984-85, David led a Group Study Exchange Team to District 2260 in Norway in 1989, and in 1992 was his District's Delegate to the Council on Legislation held in Anaheim, Ca. A Delegate to the 2007 Council, he served as part of the Sgt. @ Arms Committee at the International Institutes and International Conventions. He recently ended a three year stint on the Rotary International Finance Committee, serving as Vice-Chairman 2005-2006. David was the Zones 33 & 34 representative on the RI Presidential Nominating Committee in 2003 for the 2005-06 International President and in 2005 for the 2007-08 President.

For three years he served as International Convention Aide to the family of RI President Glenn Kinross. He has been the President's Personal Representative to numerous District Conferences. In 1999 the Rotary International Board of Directors awarded David their highest distinction , the "Service Above Self" award. A Major Donor to the Rotary Foundation and a Benefactor, David and his wife have a son and daughter and two grandchildren.

Saturday night keynoters Dave Groner & Ann Lee Hussey will mesmerize you with their stores of Water Projects in Africa and Polio immunizations in India!

PDG Dave Groner, from District 6360 in Michigan, is the 2004-2007 Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for Zone 28. Dave drove an ambulance 3200 miles to Belize as part of the first D6360 Belize-Serve Caravan, a District World Community Service Project, donating 172 tons of school supplies to 44 elementary schools.
In December of 1998, Dave took a group of Rotary volunteers to India for participation in a National Polio Plus Immunization Day. The team helped immunize 188,000 children in one day! Dave led a second team of 57 volunteers to India, in Jan 2000, for another National Immunization effort. This took place in the state of Gujarat (“goo-jah-raht”). Approximately 1.3 million children were immunized against polio at 1,288 immunization locations.
Since January of 2000, Dave has led fifteen volunteer teams and organized four additional teams to foreign lands to immunize children. Over 450 volunteer team members have assisted him in these efforts. He has lead volunteer teams nine times to India, twice to Niger, and to Nigeria, Benin, Egypt and Mali.
A major donor and benefactor of The Rotary Foundation, Dave has received Rotary’s Four Avenues of Service Award, the Service above Self Award and The Meritorious Service Award. During 2002-2003 he served on the National Polio Eradication Fundraising Committee. During the 2003-2005 Rotary year Dave served as Assistant Chairman of the Polio Plus Task Force and was also a member of the Family of Rotary task force.
A member of the Polio Plus Task Force for this Rotary year, he is the Director of the Rotary Action Group – Polio Survivor’s and Associates (P.S.A.). He is also the Director of Comley Bank – Paul and Jean Harris, Harris Home.
Dave has three married daughters and six grandchildren. His hobbies include making stained glass windows, exploring rivers, and sailing on the Great Lakes. Dave believes in Rotary, the ability of Rotarians to provide service to their community, and the ability of Rotarians everywhere to work together, making the world a better place to live.

Ann Lee Hussey, from Maine's District 7780, is an Animal Medical Technician who with her Rotarian husband, own Village Veterinary Clinic in NH. She joined the Rotary Club of South Berwick, Maine in April 2002 and has has served her club and District as Chair of many Committees and as Club President. For Rotary year 2006-07 she served her District as Chair of World Community Service and as District Polio Plus Chair. She remains active in the her Club, serving as Polio Plus Chair and as Foundation Chair for 2007-08.
In May 2005 she received Rotary’s highest honor for individual Rotarians, the Service Above Self award. She received the Rotary Foundation International Service Award for a Polio Free World in June 2006. She is also a Major Donor to the Rotary Foundation.
Ann Lee has traveled twice to Venezuela on Rotaplast trips to assist children receiving surgeries for cleft lip and cleft palate. But her real mark has been her travel to India, Egypt, Mali and Niger to work on a Rotary National Immunization volunteer team. She has participated in 10 NID's, immunizing children against polio. Starting with the last 4 of her trips she now co-leads NID teams and is currently planning NID's to India in December and Nigeria in February.
On January 1, 2007 Ann Lee became Chair of the Polio Survivors and Associates Rotarian Action Group and plans to be active in support of polio survivors worldwide and assist with establishing rehabilitation centers globally.
As a polio survivor, Ann Lee has a passion for the polio eradication program and shares Rotary International’s vision for a polio free world. She strongly believes one person can make a difference and that it is a privilege and a gift to do the work of Rotary.

Charles Adams is the International Ambassador of District 7190 for Water, Health & Hunger, Literacy, 2006-present. A Rotarian involved with the Clean Water Plan for Haiti Project, he will present at both the Saturday evening Plenary and at a Saturday morning breakout session. Pictured above on the left, Charles examines a new source of sand for a water filtration project he's setting up in Haiti. Adams was kidnapped there, but continued his work after he was released. With several masters degrees and a great deal of experience and expertise, Charles represents Rotary District 7190 at conferences; consults with Rotary Clubs, NGO's, and funding agencies in the design and implementation of humanitarian projects in developing nations.

The Rotary Club of Petion-Ville, Haiti, in partnership with Pure Water for the World, Inc's goal is to stimulate a national, private-sector, Rotary supported, sustainable clean-water plan for Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Dirty water is killing our children. So, beginning in the summer of 2007, they expect the first in a series of Rotary projects to be launched aimed at "Clean Water for Every School in Haiti". Teachers and students are ideal candidates to educate the community and get hygiene, sanitation, and clean water to be a part of daily life in individual homes. One of the original members of the United Nations and a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), Haiti ranks last out of 147 countries on the international Water Poverty Index and remains the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere.

2007 DISTRICT CONFERENCE COMMITTEES:

Conference Chair– Earl Lewis, Rotary eClub NY1
Conference Co-Chair– Matt Chemielswki, eClub NY1
Registration & Host Club President – Earl Lewis, eClub NY1
Resolutions & Secretary - Laraine Dell, Greater Utica Sunrise RC
Treasurer's - Harry Hood, Canastota RC & Sam Crisino, Kuyahoora Valley RC
Parliamentarian – PDG Jerry Gortner, Canastota RC
Counsel - Tom Taylor Esq., eClub NY1 & Jim Gascon Esq., Marcellus RC
Greeter for DG & Chair of Partners Program - Barb Paparella
Publicity & District Directory – Bob Stronach, Utica RC
RIPR Liason – PDG Jim & Joanie Austin, Tully RC
Chaplain & Memorial Service – PDG Ed Paparella, GUS RC
Sgt. At Arms – PDG Ned Mann, Chittenango RC with YEI's
Decorations – Brad Brown, eClub NY1 & Eva Brodehl, eClub NY1
Contests - Nancy Crisino, Kuyahoora Valley RC
Program & Keynote Speakers – Marlene Brown, DG, eClub NY1
Youth Exchange – Mary Stronach, YE Chair, N. Utica/Whitestown RC
Music – Pat Booth, Fulton SR RC, Steve Osbourn, Fulton RC
Audio Visual – Matt Chemielswki, eClub NY1 & Jim Atlee
House of Friendship – Assistant Governor's
Golf Tournament - Barb Schwartz, Camden RC
Door Prizes – Club President's