Happy Birthday, Fulton Noon Rotary Club!

Whenever I’m traveling, I like to see how a city welcomes its visitors. Some simply spell it out: “Welcome To…” Others note an historical fact about their community or someone famous born there. Often among those signs is one bearing the image of a wheel, the international emblem for the Rotary Club. You’ll see one of those Rotary signs as you enter our city, where the Fulton Noon Rotary Club has been welcoming its members for 100 years. 

Rotary started in Chicago, when, in 1905, Paul P. Harris invited three business acquaintances to discuss an idea he had. Harris wanted to meet regularly with other community members to encourage and foster the idea of service as a worthy goal. The members chose the name Rotary because initially they rotated weekly meetings at each other’s offices. When the number of participants outgrew office space, Rotarians moved to local restaurants for lunch and conversation.

Those at the first Chicago meetings included Montague Bear, an engraver who sketched the club’s emblem as a 13-spoked wagon wheel with gears. The spokes, Bear proposed, “represented strength and the gears symbolized power.” In 1929, Oscar Bjorge, of the Rotary Club of Duluth, Minnesota, redesigned Rotary’s emblem, giving the wheel six spokes and 24 cogs, reflecting “a real, working gearwheel.”

By the time Rotary’s emblem became official, the city of Fulton had already been an active club for a decade. In 1919, our city became the home of Rotary Club # 549, under the sponsorship of the nearby Syracuse Rotary Club. (Three years later, Fulton extended that neighborly gesture by sponsoring the Rotary Club of Oswego). When Fulton’s club was founded, Rotary’s international headquarters noted that our city was one of the smallest in the world to receive a charter. At that time, Fulton’s population was 15,000, a far cry from Chicago’s 2,700,000.

But the size of our city wasn’t important; it was what Fulton Rotary members planned to do. Our club’s original twenty-five members were a cross section of Fulton industrialists, clergy, educators and business owners who cared about their city. Immediately, the group went to work. One of its first projects raised funds to provide medical treatment for handicapped or crippled children.

As our world became more inclusive, so did the Fulton Rotary Club. In 1987, women were accepted as members and, in 1999, after realizing that many working people could not make the weekly luncheon meetings, the Fulton Sunrise Rotary Club was formed; that group starts their charitable work at an early-bird start time of seven am.

To learn more about the Fulton Noon Rotary Club’s history, I met with Steve Osborne, the club’s current president, and two longtime Fulton Rotarians, Bill Rasbeck and Judy Young. Rasbeck, a former Fulton School District Superintendent, helps coordinate the club’s generous scholarship program for students from our high school.

“I work with the current school administration to identify students who excel in education, athletics and community service,” Bill said. “The students we grant scholarships to receive $500 for each year they continue their studies in college, up to a total of $2,000.”

The club also provides hometown youth with scholarships through the Tarandi Foundation, a charitable organization set up in memory of Fulton’s Dr. Shah. Along with G. Ray Bodley students, Rotary also supports those attending Cayuga Community College.

Along with financial assistance, the Fulton Noon Rotary Club supports youth in other ways. They sponsor programs at the YMCA and Salvation Army and fund recreational activities for young basketball and baseball players. For many years, club members have been involved with Rotary International’s Youth Exchange Program, which Judy has spearheaded in Fulton for many years.

“Years ago, I sponsored a young man from Denmark,” Judy explained. “He was 16 when he stayed with us and really enjoyed participating in the many programs Fulton offers our youth. He enjoyed his stay so much and has returned to visit our city four times.”

The Youth Exchange is one of the ways that Fulton Rotary’s work reaches beyond our city’s borders. “One of the things I like about our Noon Club is the opportunities that Rotary International offers,” Steve said. “Clubs across our nation work together to sponsor humanitarian aid for countries that are struggling to provide for their own. Our Fulton club has contributed to the development of a medical clinic in Northeast India and a technical school in Brazil. Recently, we funded a project to provide “shelter boxes” for countries that have been hit with disasters. The boxes hold a tent, portable stove, sleeping bags, food and supplies for ten people. We’ve also been involved with Rotary’s Polio Plus, which works with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate that dreaded disease.”

Along with these far-reaching projects, you’ll also find Fulton Rotarians cleaning streets and parks each spring, making our city more welcoming. To commemorate its 100 years of service locally and worldwide, the Fulton Noon Rotary Club has planned a few celebrations. “We’ll have a formal dinner for our members on November 8th,” Steve said. “Assemblyman Will Barclay will be our guest speaker. November 3rd, the club will offer its traditional First Sunday in November Pancake Breakfast, beginning at 7:30 at the Polish Home. Normally this is a Rotary fundraiser, but in honor of our 100 years, we’re offering it to the public at no cost.”

If you attend a Rotary Club meeting—I’ve had the pleasure of attending several—you’ll find that they end each meeting with a pledge known as “The Rotary 4-Way Test." Rotarians stand together and speak as a group, asking themselves four questions: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Here in Fulton, we are fortunate that Rotarians have been answering those questions with their service, charity and good will for a century.

The Fulton Noon Rotary Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary of service to our city and the world.

Dick Swierczek Remembers Fulton Music Makers

A few months ago I ran a column about Richard Swierczek, former music educator and advocate for the Fulton schools and community. Dick, who’s 93 and lives in Chatham, Massachusetts, was such a joy to interview for the column and since then we’ve become email friends. He’s told me more about why making music in our city was special for him, including stories about some of the people he met or worked with during his tenure with Fulton schools. Today’s column highlights a few of them.

Dick enjoys keeping track of former and current Fultonians’ musical accomplishments. “On August 15,” Dick said, “14-year-old Henry Acker, of the Fulton Acker family, appeared at the Crown and Anchor in Provincetown.  The entire Acker family is still involved in the music of their heritage and Henry has twice won the Downbeat Student Award for jazz guitar soloist.  He gave a performance last year with his uncle and father in concert near Hyannis. I was in the audience and had the opportunity to have nice conversations with them during intermission and post concert.”

Another Fultonian Dick fondly remembered is Ronald Caravan, the son of Vince Caravan, longtime Valley News editor and publisher. The younger Caravan also contributed to the newspaper for many years and was involved in our city’s community events. “Ron was a very competent member of the Bodley Band,” Dick noted. “He went on to get his degree from Eastman, the first who had a double major: clarinet and saxophone. Later, Ron became professor of woodwinds at Syracuse University, where he continued studying the physics and acoustics of those instruments. He ended up developing mouthpieces for them, and his creations still have high regard. Ron has also composed music and released a CD of his work.” 

Next on Dick’s list of memorable Fulton musicians is Eugene Nichols, who was in Fulton schools during Dick’s tenure. “He has a highly original mind and ended up graduating with a music degree from Potsdam,” Dick explained. “He went on to become a member of Cole Bros. Circus Band and also composed music at a very young age, writing a piece constructed entirely of easily recognized fragments and phrases of well-known tunes.  Last I knew, Gene was spreading his unique style as member of the community college at Mathias, Maine, and the town is very happy to have him there.” 

There were more students Dick fondly remembered: “Kevin Owen trained as a French horn player, and has been principle horn in such organizations as the Boston Pops, Rhode Island Symphony, Boston Philharmonic and other New England orchestras.  Jazz singer Mark Murphy, whose obituary was listed among other figures of universal recognition, was of the musical Murphy family. His brother, Dwight, graduated from Potsdam two years after I did, taught first in Lake Placid, where I was invited as guest conductor of the Area All State Chorus on two occasions.  Alan Howe, another member of the Murphy Family, is a great jazz pianist and has been guest at Jazz concerts organized as part of summer series organized by Carol Fox.”

Dick has high regard for Carol Fox, who he hired to help him teach music in Fulton. Carol lives in Oswego, but many Fultonians consider her “one of us,” largely due to her enduring commitment to the Fulton Community Band. Dick acknowledges the many contributions Carol and the Community Band have made, noting that it has “earned attention from excellent performers as members from a wide area around Fulton.  Carol organized the band, organized its concert schedule, added other performers for this schedule, and does it without compensation!”

One of the members of Fulton’s Community Band is Jo Ann Butler, whose many talents (she’s also a writer) have enriched our city. When I mentioned to Jo Ann that I was writing a column about Fultonians who had studied music under Dick Swierczek, she had memories of her bandleader to share.

“Dick Swierczek was a high-energy director with high standards,” Jo Ann recalled, “but he also had great rapport with our band, and we created amazing performances together. Personally, I was struck then, and now, by the trust Mr. Swierczek showed in me. In my sophomore year, he handed me a book of bass clarinet solos and said, ‘Pick the one you like for solo competition.’ For the next few months I practiced and polished my favorite at home.

“Three weeks before competition, Mr. Swierczek asked if he had given me a solo. I opened the book to the piece I'd prepped, and he gasped, ‘You are doing the six?!’ Grade six pieces are the most difficult and usually tackled by older, more experienced players. Fearful of doing wrong, I was intimidated by his reaction. Mr. Swierczek gave me several private lessons before competition, but I crashed and burned every time.

“I expected him to leave me at home on competition day, but he must have believed the experience would be good for me, even if I flopped. However, I felt surprisingly calm while playing for the judges, and was happy (and relieved) with my performance. When Mr. Swierczek got the results, his face was red to his hairline (which was pretty far back even in 1971) when he told me how I'd done: ‘You got an A and you are recommended for All-State!’

“Who was more surprised? Probably Mr. Swierczek, and I still thank him for letting that shy little bass clarinetist face the judges. That success transformed my life.”

Stories of appreciation like Jo Ann’s can be told by many Fultonians who studied under Swierczek, but he prefers to see things the other way around. “I’m proud to have been a product of Fulton,” Dick said, “and to have been involved with its music scene.”

Richard Swierczek, shown here with members of the 1972 G. Ray Bodley High School Band, has been following the success of his students for many years.

The Women's Club of Fulton

Throughout my years running Camp Hollis I was privileged to work with many wonderful organizations and businesses that supported the Oswego County camp.  When my career shifted to writing, I visited some of those same groups, this time to provide them with a presentation on local history. Recently, I was invited to a Women’s Club of Fulton luncheon and as I listened to reports of their community-minded work, I became curious how the group was founded. Once I started researching, I learned a lot!

Past Women’s Club President Carmella Demperio shared the Club’s early history with me, pointing out how much our world has changed since the group formed in 1946. “Our club was first known as the Women’s Club of the Chamber of Commerce,” Carm explained. “At the time, Fulton’s Chamber was made up of just men in the business community and at their January 1946 dinner meeting, members’ spouses were invited. The idea to form a women’s group was discussed.”

By the end of that month, 75 women pledged to join the new club, with members signing their name as “Mrs. Edward Smith” or “Miss Jones,” identifying themselves by their husband or father. Dues of $1.00 were collected and a discussion commenced on having a Valentine’s Day party for preschool children. There was also talk of holding card parties and a social tea.

Before long, those types of events weren’t all that the Women’s Club members discussed. Thanks to the Fulton Historical Society, I was able to review the Club’s archives, including its constitution, which listed three concerns the group focused on: educational, civic and philanthropic. A 1951 newspaper article covered how the Club addressed those issues, beginning each meeting with a segment called “Know Your Fulton Better.” In addition, “the group is considering the problems of juvenile delinquency, betterment of public health, prevention of disease, and educational and social problems.…[They] also participated in a Syracuse University study of 1,000 Fulton students.”

To learn more about the Club I talked with members Carol Dexter and her mom, Bobby Dexter. Bobby is currently the woman who has been involved with the group the longest, beginning in 1950. “I joined when a friend of mine, Jeannette Demenkoff, suggested we attend a meeting,” Bobby recalled. “We met on the second floor of the Chamber of Commerce office building on South First Street.”

Bobby would have been involved with the club’s 1951 decision to join the nationwide effort “Crusade For Freedom,” which, according to its mission, attempted to “bring truth to people behind the Iron Curtain.” But over the years, the Club has focused most of its efforts on local issues, often spearheading major fundraisers like charity balls and bazaars. When Fulton united to build a new hospital, the Women’s Club became a major contributor to the Cracker Barrel Fair. “We sponsored the Pie & Coffee Booth,” Carol mentioned, “pledging to raise money over several years for the hospital’s construction.”

During those years Carol helped collect the money the Club raised at the Fair, which led to her becoming its Treasurer, a position she’s held since 2008. She showed me a binder of their financial records and explained that the Club budgets each year to support groups that serve Fultonians. “Where there’s a need, we try to fill it,” she said. Here’s a partial list of organizations which annually have been recipients of the Club’s generosity: Friends of Fulton History, the Fulton Library, the Salvation Army, the YMCA, Fulton schools, and city projects like Lake Neatahwanta’s restoration. Over two dozen such organizations were supported in 2018.

One of the premiere examples of the Women’s Club’s support is its college scholarship program, now in its 40th year. The Club provides a Fulton high school senior who is attending a two-year college with a two-year scholarship.  I asked a few recipients what the Club’s support meant to them.

“The scholarship supported my dream of going into law enforcement,” said Jeff Grimshaw, a 1976 recipient. “I lived the dream of a 23-year career that got me into the FBI National Academy and the top rank of Lieutenant at the Oswego County Sheriff’s Department. I always considered it an honor to receive that scholarship.”

 “The Women’s Club scholarship investment boosted my belief in myself,” 1970 recipient Roberta (Robin) Frawley Christenson commented. “I recently retired from a long, gratifying career in non-profit leadership. Paying it forward, I am active in the Woman’s Club of Albany, which awards scholarships to college-bound kids. Thank you, Women’s Club of Fulton.”

The Club continues to find meaningful ways to support our community. When a Club member arrived at Camp Hollis each year with boxes of arts & crafts and sports supplies (and a check to cover other expenses), I knew they’d researched what it took to run a summer camp. After I wrote a book about the Oswego County Search & Rescue Team, the Club invited me to give a talk about the group. A few members of the team attended and after my talk, a Club member asked what sorts of supplies the team needed. They mentioned items like flashlight batteries and compasses. Soon after, I learned that the Women’s Club had submitted their decorated Christmas tree for the Fulton Historical Society’s Parade of Trees. Adorned with necessary items for the Search Team’s work, the women later donated those important decorations to the team.

Monthly meeting after monthly meeting, the Women’s Club hosts many organizations working to better our city and surrounding areas. Carol mentioned a recent presentation about the Block Builders neighborhood initiative and another on Civil Air Patrol. In the Club’s paperwork, I read about a presentation on local Civil War hero Dr. Mary Walker. How far the Women’s Club of Fulton has come, from a time when women were only known by their husband’s name, to today, when the club honors women making their own history.