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Tomorrow’s meeting:
July 1, 2020
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 958 0388 6484 Password: 730484
Megan Barber, New Executive Director of Community Arts Partnership June 24, 2020
Newsletter Reporter: Loralyn Light | Photos: Mike Brown | Editor: Ted Schiele Last week, we passed the gavel. Frank Towner would move into the sun-bathed Land of the Past Presidents for his one year term as its administrator, and Geoff Dunn would shed the tethers of “Vice-” and “-Elect,” and soar to the winds of, “President.” Just, plain, President. And so it would be, and so it was.
 A slideshow in celebration of the annual transition, created by Tom Hoebbel, held the Zoom screen until Heidi Goldstein rang the bell to bring our meeting to order. Geoff had brought a number of guests to the meeting, including his brother David Dunn, sister-in-law Christine Dunn, and niece, Sam Dunn. Sam, a rising senior at Sarah Lawrence University and, we quickly learned, vocal powerhouse, had recorded three songs, the first of which, America the Beautiful, was played to open the ceremony. Easing the awesomeness of the musical opening, Frank Towner soloed the Four-Way Test.
In his Thought for The Day, Past-Pres Jim Johnston reflected on the cycle of presidency, the ways and whys of presidents who have gone before, and the strengths that Geoff will bring to the office. Geoff introduced those guests who were not among his family; close and long time friends Craig Wilkins and C.J. DelVecchio, Jim Gilmore, who brought Geoff and his well-rounded baritone to Ithaca in 1992 to work in radio at his Eagle Broadcasting Company, and Barbara Eckstrom, director of County Solid Waste, who hired Geoff as communications manager in 2012.
 Catrina VanAtta who is relinquishing her mantle of V.P. as she steps into the Pres-Elect role, instructed Frank to grab the gift that was mailed to him. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to serve as Vice President under your leadership,” Trina said, adding “this is not farewell, by any means!”
Frank opened the box to find a Rotary tie with a children’s theme. Grinning from ear to ear, and noting that he had not worn a tie in a very long time, Frank thanked Trina very much.
 “We’re very proud of Geoff,” David Dunn said, adding that their parents would also be. A tradition of service in the Dunn family included Geoff’s Dad as President of the Rotary Club in Horseheads, and David a member of the Corning Club. “Geoff said Pass the Gavel was a bit of a roast, but I’m not so good at that,” David continued. “More toasting than roasting!”
 Our member Gary Steward leaned a bit more toward the roasting end of the spectrum, reminiscing that he and Geoff were “once members of the working press.” Geoff was at WHCU and WYXL radio, owned (since 1985) by Jim Gilmore’s Eagle Communications, and Gary was Opinion Page and Senior Editor at the Ithaca Journal from 1993 to 2002. Gary continued; the difference between radio and print was that mistakes in the former were “just a fleeting moment over the air,” while his errors in print were far more permanent and memorable. Gary related a couple of good examples, but I won’t drag them back into the permanent, printed record of this newsletter.
Gary chided Geoff, saying that his radio newscasts were merely a reading of his Ithaca Journal, punctuating with a tale of one day taking an early morning call from Geoff, who was in a panic because the Journal delivery was late, and he had to go on the air!
“All kidding aside, I think the Ithaca Rotary Club is fortunate to have Geoff as its next President,” Gary said. “He is one of the hardest-working, most dependable guys I know; he digs in, takes ownership, and gets stuff done!” Gary thanked Geoff for being a great colleague, a stand-up guy, and a good friend, asserting that Tompkins County residents, including members of our Club, are lucky to have him as a fellow citizen.
 Representing the past Presidents, June Losurdo recalled how she had met Geoff when she was at the American Cancer Society and he worked for NewsCenter 7, (once upon a time our very own Time Warner Cable TV station). Later, she got to know him well by way of golf, hockey, and pancakes! June shared a photo of Geoff at the WHCU microphone, and recalled that both she and Geoff were the voices behind the morning announcements at their respective high schools.
Unable to have the traditional Parade of Past Presidents this year, Catrina VanAtta read remarks provided to her by those PPs. Then Frank took the yellow zoom box to thank his Court, and review the three goals he had set out for the year: Membership is irresistible, International work, and Education of our Rotarians and our community. To all leadership past, present, and future, and to all members Frank expressed his thanks. “I never felt alone,” he said.
 Now, with gavel in hand (yes, it actually was teleported across the ether of Zoom) Geoff spoke to the membership. He displayed a photo of his parents and his father’s Paul Harris Fellow medallion, and recognized Rotary members: Past Pres Frank, his sponsor Beverly Baker, and his mentor Jim Johnston, along with June and Joanne Lamoureux, and Tom Hoebbel.
Noting the themes for Rotary International, “Rotary Opens Opportunities,” and District 7170, “Making Membership Memorable,” Geoff said he had been thinking through a theme for our Club. He cited how our Club had adapted well to the challenges of the pandemic, how the pandemic did not stop members from doing good in the community, and indeed had spawned new programs and a stronger, more participatory membership. Bringing it all together, Geoff revealed his theme.
“Out of crisis, Rotary Opens Opportunities to Make Membership Memorable,” Geoff concluded, “and as Rotarians, we RISE to meet those opportunities and the challenges they may present, with Resiliency, Inspiration, Strength and Engagement.
Geoff once again introduced his niece, Sam Dunn, who closed with another song, “Rise Up,” presented in a video with photo montage including a “Proud to be a Rotarian” bumper sticker and photos of our members.
Workers:
• Thought for the Day, Jim Johnston
• Introductions, Rotary hosts introduced their guests
Zoom master: Catrina VanAtta
Bulletin Reporter: Loralyn Light
Photographer: Mike Brown
Bulletin Editor: Ted Schiele
Club Service Facilitators, Beverly Baker & June Losurdo
Sunshine Chair, Kellyann O’Mara
July 1, 2020
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 958 0388 6484 Password: 730484
Megan Barber, New Executive Director of Community Arts Partnership
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