REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
Mark your calendars to travel to Syracuse on April 11, 2026 for a full day of Rotary fellowship, learning and fun at the historic and ornate Syracuse Marriott Downtown (formerly known as Hotel Syracuse). The weekend will include optional social events on Friday night and a service opportunity on Sunday for those who are staying a night or two, or who just want to have more time together with fellow Rotarians!
Read on for the latest developments and ways that you can help make it a fantastic time together!
IS IT REALLY A ONE DAY CONFERENCE?
Technically, yes. The conference content - all speakers, general sessions, breakouts, and traditions like the Parade of Flags and Memorial Service - will all take place on Saturday. However, there will be things happening Friday evening and Sunday morning for those who wish to start early or extend the fun. Members can take advantage of incredibly low room rates (just $175/night +taxes/fees) to enjoy the stunning, historical hotel rooms and space. This is especially helpful for anyone who has enough of a commute that would make one day just too long for comfort. Click here to book a room in our room block now.
Optional Friday Dine-Arounds
Choose from several area restaurants for a dinner out with a smaller group of attendees. This will help you meet new people and each location will feature at least one member of CNY Rotary leadership for you to connect with. We handle the reservations and will invite members to sign-up for their restaurant of choice in advance once we are closer to the event.
Optional Sunday Service Projects
We are coordinating multiple service projects to give members something meaningful to do, giving back to the community hosting our conference. You will be invited to choose one that suits your skills or your passion. Stay tuned for more details!
Optional PDG Breakfast
Also on Sunday morning, Past District Governors will be invited to register for a special breakfast just for them. A great time for our past leaders to connect!
It's important to note that all of these "add-on" events can be attended regardless of whether or not you go to Saturday's conference. If you only have time to zip into town on Sunday for service, join us. If you are local and want to dine out with us on Friday night, you will be allowed to sign up too. It is not required that you go to the full day of conference in order to enjoy these other features!
More things we're excited about:
- The absolutely gorgeous hotel and spacious guest rooms that they've given us at a great rate
- An engaging and informative "State of CNY" report from all of our committees on Saturday morning
- Go red for polio and wear red to dinner (or all day), all dress codes welcome from End Polio Now tees to ball gowns
- Our conference tee will be an End Polio Now tee with easy online ordering and pick up at registration
- Great space for connecting in our Rotary Row where clubs can showcase their service projects and CNY committees will offer up valuable information
- The free parking (who thought that was possible at a downtown hotel?!?)
- The flexibility of getting conference all in one day or extending your stay if you wish with any or all of the pre- and post-conference events
- And getting to see all of you!
RESERVE YOUR SPACE IN ROTARY ROW
This year's House of Friendship will be called Rotary Row and it will include displays from clubs, Rotary programs, and CNY committees.
It is required that you register in advance for a table and space is limited.
Click the button below to learn more about how to reserve a space and this year's scavenger hunt feature!
SEEKING SPONSORS
We are seeking businesses, individuals and Rotary Clubs who are interested in supporting the conference experience for hundreds of volunteers who make a positive impact in our communities all across Central New York. Benefits to sponsorship include:
- Recognition on our conference materials, including on our website and social channels
- Promotion at the conference with hundreds of our community-minded members
- Ensuring our inbound and outbound Youth Exchange Students can join us
- The warm fuzzies you will get from helping to celebrate and inspire our Rotary members
Sponsorship For Businesses
- Our members are typically age 40-75, are highly educated, have discretionary spending power, enjoy travel and cultural exchange, and prioritize ethical business leadership and social responsibility
- Reach hundreds of these highly engaged, community-minded, and professionally diverse members in a way that garners loyalty
- Our members are trusted local influencers in their communities who value local business (and might even own one too!)
- This is a highly visible event for our members, even if they are unable to attend, with a lot of communications and promotions in the months leading up to the conference
Sponsorship For Individuals
- Consider supporting our conference as a form of club service because it supports a great experience for your fellow members
- You will only be recognized on sponsorship materials if you want to be
For Clubs
- Clubs are encouraged to consider sponsoring a Youth Exchange Student (or two) at $175 each
- All of these funds will go towards their conference experience - include room, board and any special activities done for team building and orientation
- This is a great way to participate in the program if you are not hosting and sending students abroad!
Know any great speakers? Have ideas for service projects?
Help us identify dynamic and engaging speakers on topics relevant to the club experience, growing our service impact, and adapting Rotary to attract new members.
We are also looking for service projects that can accommodate larger groups in the Syracuse area for Sunday morning following our one-day event.
Use the form on this page to tell us if you would make a great speaker (and why), or who you know that we should consider, as well as any service projects that would be possible and impactful!
Submit Your Members for the Memorial
For any members who have passed since April 2025, please submit their information so they can be included in the memorial video that will be showcased after dinner on Saturday evening of Conference. The link to their obit and quality photo is required.
Click to view last year's remembrance video:
Book Your Hotel Stay Today
You can book your hotel stay as part of our room block now through March 10, 2026.
It's a one day conference, but if you are coming in from elsewhere in the district you may enjoy an overnight prior to or following our jam-packed day together. We encourage all to make plans to stay if needed!
Meet Your Conference Chair
Sam Netzband is in her second and final year as Conference Chair, while also serving as our President Nominee to lead CNY in 2027-28. She's a member of VVS Community Rotary Club, is a contract management professional, has five cats and a dog, and loves to travel, read and knit.
You can contact Sam at samnetzband@outlook.com with any ideas for the upcoming conference or to join the planning committee to help out!
CNY Rotary President Bob Balk
Each year, the district leader hosts a conference designed to bring members together for learning and fun.
From President Bob: "CNY has strength in numbers, if we can Unite for Good (our message this year), we can make significant and lasting change. But we need to get together and get to know each other. I am hoping this conference will allow us to make connections from Northville to Waverly and all points in between. "
Vice Chair Pam Baxter
Pam is shadowing Sam to learn the ropes of being Conference Chair as she will serve in that 2-year role begining 2026-27. Pam currently also serves as our district DEI Chair. She's a member of Albany Rotary and soon to be charter member of Albany Mosaic Rotary Club. Pam has a son, Jeremiah, also a Rotarian and loves to travel. Professionally Pam is a Program Management Analyst for NYSDOT and a certified Travel Advisor with FORA.
You can contact Pam at pamb7180@gmail.com with any ideas about what you would like to see at conferences in the future or to get involved in the conference planning committee or DEI Committee!
Never been to a District Conference before?
Not sure what to expect or why you should go?
Here is a little more information on what it's all about to help you decide!
From Rotary International...
"The purpose of the district conference is to provide opportunities for networking, inspirational addresses, and discussions of Rotary-related matters. The event should recognize the service programs, projects, and public relations achievements in the district in order to inspire Rotarians to become more involved in service. The conference should also give Rotarians and clubs a vision of Rotary beyond the club level and provide a memorable fellowship experience."
"The purpose of the district conference is to provide opportunities for networking, inspirational addresses, and discussions of Rotary-related matters. The event should recognize the service programs, projects, and public relations achievements in the district in order to inspire Rotarians to become more involved in service. The conference should also give Rotarians and clubs a vision of Rotary beyond the club level and provide a memorable fellowship experience."
To sum it up, conference is a gathering where we offer all Rotarians in the district the opportunity to come together, learn more about Rotary and each other, eat good food, enjoy fun entertainment and have social time. It's an opportunity to share, celebrate successes and revel in the wonderful world of Rotary! Very much like any conference you might attend for work, it is designed to surround you with like-minded people and expand your horizons. You should leave inspired and ready to do more, better.
At a conference you will learn more about Rotary and each other
There will be speakers, sessions and a House of Friendship featuring information about all avenues of service. You can learn about how to improve your club, do a project, get involved in a youth program and more. Thanks to social time, you will have the opportunity to get to know your fellow clubmates better, meet Rotarians from around the district, and meet with district leadership in person.
This is the perfect place to come for new members or for those who want to learn more about Rotary in general
Whether in a general session, at a meal, socializing after hours, or visiting the House of Friendship, you will learn about Rotary from everything and everyone around you over the course of the whole weekend. Every aspect of the event becomes a learning experience!
There is plenty of social time
As a one-day conference, the schedule will be very full to make the trip worthwhile, but we know how important it is that you all have time to chat with and get to know each other. Rotarians can socialize during meals, can come and go as needed during general sessions, and there will be time for the House of Friendship. If you come the night before, we'll be planning smaller group outings to area restaurants for dinner so you can mix it up with some new people. If you stay over into Sunday, you can join us for a hands-on service project - and we all know that volunteering is the best way to get to know each other.
As a one-day conference, the schedule will be very full to make the trip worthwhile, but we know how important it is that you all have time to chat with and get to know each other. Rotarians can socialize during meals, can come and go as needed during general sessions, and there will be time for the House of Friendship. If you come the night before, we'll be planning smaller group outings to area restaurants for dinner so you can mix it up with some new people. If you stay over into Sunday, you can join us for a hands-on service project - and we all know that volunteering is the best way to get to know each other.
You will get inspired!
Between what you learn and who you meet, you are bound to find inspiration to do more in Rotary. Whether you learn how you can improve your club, find a new project to be a part of, join a new committee or make a new friend, you will gain something and grow as a member. It is extremely inspiring to learn about all the amazing things we are doing locally, across CNY and internationally. It makes you feel like a part of something amazing and confirms that you are truly making a difference in the world by being a part of this fantastic organization. It's a unique experience you should try at least once, just like international convention!
Between what you learn and who you meet, you are bound to find inspiration to do more in Rotary. Whether you learn how you can improve your club, find a new project to be a part of, join a new committee or make a new friend, you will gain something and grow as a member. It is extremely inspiring to learn about all the amazing things we are doing locally, across CNY and internationally. It makes you feel like a part of something amazing and confirms that you are truly making a difference in the world by being a part of this fantastic organization. It's a unique experience you should try at least once, just like international convention!