The Geneva Rotary Club is proud to announce that the club will award this year’s Springstead Award for Outstanding Community Service to retired Ontario County Administrator John Hicks.
The presentation will take place at the Gala 100th Anniversary Celebration at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Club 86.
The club also announced that Don Alhart, veteran television news anchor of Rochester, will be the keynote speaker at the event.
“John Hicks has left his mark on Geneva and Ontario County at so many levels and we are excited about the chance to honor him for all he has done,” said Rotary President Shad Cook.
Besides serving as county administrator, Hicks has been Town of Seneca Supervisor, Chairman of the Ontario County Board of Supervisors, aide to the late Assemblyman Frank Talomie, Regional Director of the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, aide to State Senator Randy Kuhl, manager of the Ontario County Airport contract and director of the Geneva Business Improvement District.
Noted for his ability to get things done and to deal with people Hicks said, “I loved every job I had. I don’t play any instruments, I just conduct the orchestra.” Sounding the same theme, he noted that “you didn’t do things; the people working with you did things.”
For a reservation for the dinner, contact Karen Luttrell at 315-828-3078 or e-mail [email protected]. The ticket price is $100. Tickets also can be purchased online at eventbrite.com at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/geneva-rotary-100th-anniversary-gala-tickets-53079062906?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. Corporate and Business sponsorships are also available and interested persons should contact Tara Rago at 315-781-5000. Information on the dinner also is available on the Geneva Rotary Club Facebook page and the club website at genevarotaryclub.org.
“This will be a fun and memorable evening,” said Gala Co-Chair Lisa Ventura, “and we invite the entire community to join in the celebration.”
Hicks and his wife, Rosalie, have four children, Joe, Cy and Sandy Hicks and Becky Andrus. He has been involved in various community service endeavors over the years, including youth recreation in the Town of Seneca, the Seneca Castle playground, the Salvation Board in Geneva and the Board of Directors of Finger Lakes Health for 46 years.
Alhart is the anchor of Rochester 13 WHAM News at 6 p.m. and co-anchor of 13 WHAM News at 11 with Ginny Ryan. He has been an active member of the Rochester Rotary Club for the past 33 years, serving as president in 1987 and Governor for Rotary District 7120 for 2002-2003. He is involved in numerous charitable organizations throughout the Rochester area.
The 100th anniversary celebration will feature a special menu including Classic Caesar Salad, Homemade Focaccia Bread, Duel Entrée
Beef Filet & Chicken Marsala (combo plate), served with green beans and whole baby carrots and twice baked potato, wine, coffee, tea and dessert.
Another highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the annual Springstead Award and the honoring of 24 Paul Harris Fellows. The Club established the Springstead Award nine years ago. The award is named for the late Ralph Springstead, who was a long-time Geneva banker and a member of Geneva Rotary. Springstead supported community service in a quiet and sometimes anonymous way. Past recipients of the award are the late Carl Fribolin, the Rev. James Gerling, the late Rosa Blue, David and Brenda Rickey, Mark and Mary Gearan, Judge Walter Gage, Ken and Eva Steadman, Nozomi Williams and Jim DeVaney.
The Paul Harris Fellow award recognizes Rotarians and community members for their achievements. The awarding of 24 in one year is unusual and commemorates the 100th anniversary of the club. For the 75th anniversary, 19 Paul Harris awards were presented.
Rotary International is composed of 1.2 million men and women around the world who donate their expertise, time and funds to support local and international projects that help people in need and promote understanding amongst cultures. If you are interested in serving your community in a new way and are interested in becoming a Geneva Rotarian, please contact [email protected] for more information or visit us on our website at www.genevarotaryclub.org. Geneva Rotary meets every Wednesday at noon at Geneva Country Club.
<END>
This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.