Thanks to the wonderful picnic setup and food by Bob and his team from Corning Catering! And – thank you to King William for the photographs.
First, let's go to outgoing President Ernie's summary of the 2024-2025 Corning Rotary year and then our new President Jen Batzing's look forward for our 2025-2026 Corning Rotary year:
Outgoing President: Ernie Danforth
My first reactio
n to this past year is it is amazing to me how fast it has gone, but I know that time is relative and the older I get the faster it seems to move.
So, what was good? Congratulations to Stu and his greenhouse project, that and the other community gardens continue to positives for the community. We also planted a butterfly garden at the CareFirst facility in Painted Post. We participated in: HarvestFest, WineGlass, Shepherd's Table, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, River Clean-up and more…
Our Literacy Committee continued their work at Winfield and Severn. Recently we had a wonderful event at the Severn open house and last week hosted the Winfield Kindergarten classes at a picnic and outdoor activity in the park across the street from the library. Thank you, to Pauline and the committee for their continued excellent work.
After a false start, the International Committee pulled off their fundraising event at the Radisson and it was reasonably well attended considering the competition in the area that evening and it appears it will be a financial success as well. Staying with International Committee, congratulations and thanks to Deacon Ray for his work on the Soyodi project.
Congratulations to the Foundation committee who ran two successful campaigns for Polio Plus and for the Foundation. We qualified again for a district grant.
We also had a very successful Pancake Supper at the High School – and typical of other events - tremendous help from our Interact Students.
The Spelling Bee [this year at Campbell-Savona] – another great event. Many of our club members participated as volunteers. Finally, the Scholarship program was another success, with several winners for this year.
We also had multiple Paul Harris Fellows; Stu Sammis and Kathleen Hallinan were recognized by the club and we had multiple members of the club who were recognized for their contributions; most recently Gretta Tomb, but also Rick Davis +5, Gil Sweet, Jim Webb, John Ullman +2. Thank you all for your dedication!
Well, the Rotary Biography contest didn't get as many entries as I hoped – but we had a clear winner: Barb Richter!
Closing this up, our Rotarian of the Year award went to co-winners: Jan and Andy.
What a year!
Incoming President: Jen Batzing
Good evening, everyone.
It’s truly a pleasure to be with you tonight as we celebrate the close of another impactful Rotary year and welcome the beginning of a new one. Changeovers like this offer a meaningful opportunity to reflect, to express our gratitude, and to look ahead with purpose and optimism.
My journey with the Corning Rotary Club began back in 2011, when I was serving as Principal at Winfield Elementary School. At the time, Rotary was already a key supporter of the Winfield Roo Reading program, and I had the opportunity to collaborate with the club in a community role. I was immediately impressed by the club’s dedication, energy, and its unwavering commitment to expanding opportunities for local students and families. In 2015, that commitment grew as Rotary helped expand the reading program to another school in the Corning-Painted Post School District. I was proud to be part of that growing effort to strengthen early literacy. Then in 2016, I had the honor of serving as the keynote speaker for the 0.0K Race for Literacy—an event that perfectly captured the club’s creativity and passion for promoting education.
A moment that continues to stand out for me came in 2018, when Rotary, along with First Presbyterian Church and First Heritage Federal Credit Union, presented a combined $39,000 to support early literacy efforts in our district. Rotary’s contribution funded monthly We Both Read books for K–2 students at both Winfield and Severn Elementary Schools. These books—and the dedicated volunteers who delivered them— fostered not only literacy skills, but also a genuine love of reading.
Over the past 14 years—through partnerships, programs, and even some time away—I’ve seen the true heart of this club. Service Above Self isn’t just a motto here; it’s a lived value.
Like many organizations, our club evolved after the pandemic. With reduced membership, the last few years have centered on reviewing our bylaws, engaging in strategic planning, and renewing our commitment to outreach and member engagement. Through it all, we’ve remained focused on what matters most: ensuring that our work continues to reflect the values, needs, and hopes of this community.
And tonight, I’m excited to share some good news for the year ahead:
Congratulations! Our Rotary District Grant for the 2025–2026 year has been approved by the District 7120 Grant Committee. We’ve been awarded $1,000 to support Grief Week, a collaborative initiative between CareFirst and the Corning Library. This meaningful program will provide space, support, and resources for children and families navigating loss — an often overlooked but deeply important aspect of community care. Our club is proud to help bring this compassionate programming to life.
We’re also thrilled to be planning our first annual OktoberfeAst — a community-centered event that promises to be both fun and impactful. This event is more than just a gathering; it’s a critical fundraiser designed to help support the nearly $40,000 in service-related expenses that our club committees have budgeted for the year ahead.
Not only will this be a chance to raise essential funds — it will be a tremendous opportunity to promote our club, grow our membership, and share our story. OktoberfeAst will allow us to show the community who we are, what we stand for, and what we’re setting out to accomplish. We’ll raise money—but we’ll also raise our visibility, build relationships, and invite others to join us in meaningful service.
Before I close, I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to two individuals who have been steady and inspiring presences throughout my Rotary and professional journey: Dr. Dale Wexell and Ernie Danforth. From Dale’s early leadership as Head Start Board Liaison, to his role as CPP Board President, and most recently, for bringing me back to the Rotary Board in 2021 — he has been a mentor, a connector, and a true champion of service. And I will never forget my very first meeting with Ernie and Kate in my office at Winfield. They approached me with a simple but powerful message: “We, on behalf of our church, want to make an impact in the same way the Rotary Club has made an impact. How can we partner and do so?” That moment planted the seeds of a lasting partnership and reflected Ernie’s deep commitment to collaboration and community impact. I’m truly grateful for both Dale and Ernie—their leadership, their encouragement, and the example they’ve set for all of us.
As we head into this new Rotary year, I want to thank you again for trusting me with this role—and ask for a little patience as I find my rhythm! One of my biggest goals is to really get to know our members better — your interests, your schedules, and how Rotary fits into your already busy lives. I believe strong membership starts with strong relationships. And on the fundraising front— well, we’ve got some big goals, and I know we’re up for the challenge. With OktoberfeAst on the horizon and new ideas bubbling up, I’m excited about what we can build together. So let’s grow the club, raise some funds, and have a lot of fun along the way.
