CORNING, NY — The Corning Rotary Club once again sponsored the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee, which was held on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at the Corning-Painted Post Middle School. This year’s first place winner was Reed Fuchs, an eighth-grade student at the Alternative School for Math and Science in Corning, NY. The second-place winner was Sharon Hwang, a seventh grader at the Alternative School, and seventh grader Akshara Patil of Corning-Painted Post Middle School came in third.
The winner of the regional spelling bee advances to the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Corning Rotary Club, in partnership with the Canisteo, Endicott, Belmont, Orchard Park, and Bath Rotary Clubs, ServU Credit Union, and Campbell-Savona School District, and with other gifts from individual Rotarians and community donors, supports the champion speller and one parent or guardian by paying expenses to travel to the Washington, D.C.-area competition for “Bee Week,” May 26-May 31, 2024. Corning McDonald’s, Corning Wegmans, and the Corning-Painted Post School District provided in-kind support for the event.
This year’s Bee featured 84 student spellers from 43 area schools. Local school districts and homeschool organizations first conducted their own spelling bees for students in grades one through eight to identify one winner and one runner-up from each participating school.
Participation in spelling bees improves students’ spelling and vocabulary skills and helps them develop poise — a necessary skill for success in public speaking, performing arts and athletics.
About the Scripps National Spelling Bee:
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation's largest and longest-running educational program. The purpose of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company.
About Rotary
Rotary is an international service club with the motto “Service above Self”. Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Visit rotary.org and endpolio.org for more about Rotary and its efforts to eradicate polio.
Greeter: Gail Hostuttler with help from Mani Kutti
Invocation: Dave Anderson
Photographer: Jim Webb
Cogs Editor: Jan Harvey
Announcements (and there are well enough of them!):
Les Rosenbloom informed the club that Al Lewis is out of the hospital and in fact, was here at the meeting!
President Dale Wexell announced that Mani Kutty will be serving as Secretary filling out the term of Jenniffer Mullen. He also announced the club members who will be serving on this year's Nominating Committee: Past President Jeff Ugoretz will serve as chair supported by Pauline Emery and Vice-President Jennifer Batzing.
Ray Defendorf mentioned that tickets for the International Celebration (April 13th) are now on sale both on-line and in person. Sponsorships are also available. Mani Kutty asked for volunteers for the entertainment for the international fashion show.
Gil Sweet asked for another volunteer to serve as meeting photographer.
Pauline Emery said 4 more volunteer readers are needed for Ag Lit week (March 20th) to read to second graders. Contact Pauline!
Stacy Ward is looking for program ideas and speakers. Please connect with Stacy with your ideas.
Paul Tick made a donation in honor of becoming a Great-grandfather! He also gave an envelope from the Baron Steuben Coffee Club in memory of late Rotarian Jim Smith. It contained $140 to be used for the Scholarship Fund.
Mayor Bill Boland just returned from a visit to Corning's Italian sister city in San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy, where a renewal of the sister city agreement was signed.
Sue Boland announced a sister city pasta dinner fundraiser is planned for April 16th from 4:30 to 7:30 PM followed by a concert. Tickets can be purchased for dinner, for the concert and a combo ticket for both for just $20. See Sue for details.
President Dale then presented a District 7120 award to honor Dr. Bob Cole for becoming a Polio Plus Society member.
And lastly, President Dale surprised this Cogs writer (Jan Harvey) with a Paul Harris Award for
her service to the club. After enumerating her background and the many activities she does for this
club, Prez Dale gave Jan a Paul Harris sapphire pin. Many thanks to the club, the Paul Harris
committee and to Prez. Dale.
The meeting concluded with a program by Jennifer Sellers and Deborah Dann
from Corning Community College on the Great American Eclipse.
The popular Annual Groundhog Day Dinner fundraiser was held by Corning Rotary on February 1st. Organized by Buddy Cutler and Stu Sammis, volunteers from the club cooked pancakes, home fries and sausage. The dinners were then served to a couple hundred hungry diners by a crew of Interact students.
Music was provided by the Ted Goldwyn Trio. Over $3,000 was raised for the scholarship fund.
And lastly, President Dale surprised this Cogs writer (Jan Harvey) with a Paul Harris Award for 
The popular Annual Groundhog Day Dinner fundraiser was held by Corning Rotary on February 1st. Organized by Buddy Cutler and Stu Sammis, volunteers from the club cooked pancakes, home fries and sausage. The dinners were then served to a couple hundred hungry diners by a crew of Interact students.