Archive: Around Town

The Rotary Club of Ithaca will host the 2016 District 7170 conference in Ithaca April 1 – 3. More than 200 representatives from 45 district clubs are registered for the three-day gathering, which is entitled 'Be a Gift of Health to You and Your Club.' The conference will take place at the Statler Hotel on the Cornell University campus beginning Friday, April 1.

The purpose of the annual district conference is to bring together Rotarians from the district to recognize service projects and programs, inspire Rotarians to greater involvement in service, share a vision of Rotary, share memorable fellowship experiences, and provide the opportunity to interact with Rotary leaders. Presiding over the conference will be Rotary District 7170 Governor Doug Larison of the Rotary Club of Cortland.

In his program remarks, Larison says: "(Our) journey will continue over the next three days as we all enjoy the 2016 District 7170 Conference. The focus on health will hold significance for all of us. It is our honor to have two very significant partners this year that are major sponsors for the conference. The Cayuga Medical Center and Cornell University have made much of this conference possible. With their support, we will hear major speakers who are on the cutting edge of research and practice."

The district conference will kick off on Friday afternoon, April 1 with a variety of area activities, including wine tastings at Coltivare, tours of the Lab of Ornithology at Cornell, beer tasting at Hopshire Farm & Brewery in Freeville, and a downtown Ithaca walking tour led by Gary Ferguson of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. The conference wraps at noon on Sunday following a Baroque organ recital, brunch and a closing session entitled 'An Extraordinary Partnership for the Common Good,' presented by Bob Riter of the Cancer Resource Center and Dr. Bob Weiss of the Cornell Veterinary College.

Saturday breakout sessions include such topics as Innovations in College Student Mental Health, Chair Yoga, Climate Change, Women and Heart Health, the Role of Luck in Business Life, and the very timely Rotary International Global Grant to Help Communities Fight Opioid Addiction. The keynote speaker at Saturday night's gala dinner will be Cal Walker, co-founder of The Village at Ithaca, on 'The Importance of Stepping Up,' followed by a Rotary student exchange talent show.

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