We look forward to seeing you soon!
This year's a la carte Conference weekend, with a series of events Friday through Sunday, each awesome in their own right, is just days away. Everything takes places at the historic and ornate Syracuse Marriott Downtown (formerly known as Hotel Syracuse) and we look forward to seeing you there!
Friday Evening Socials - April 10:
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.
If you signed up, watch for information from your dinner host!
Foundation Celebration
After our dinners out together, we'll return to the hotel for dessert and a celebration of the impact of our Rotary Foundation - both here in CNY and around the world. There will be special awards presentations you won't want to miss.
If you signed up, come to the Persion Terrace (off the hotel lobby) at 8pm on Friday.
Saturday's Main Event - Conference - April 11:
All speakers, general sessions, breakouts, and traditions like the Parade of Flags and Memorial Service - will all take place on Saturday.
Registration starts at 8am and our first general session will start promptly at 10am. See you there!
Sunday Togetherness - April 12:
Sunday Service Projects
We are coordinating multiple service projects to give members something meaningful to do, giving back to the community hosting our conference.
If you signed up to participate, watch for communications with more details
Optional PDG Breakfast
Those who registered for this will gather in the Conesus Room, down in the breakout room space, at 9am Sunday to enjoy a breakfast buffet and fellowship for Past District Governors and their partners.
More Things to Get 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 to Toe" for polio and wear red to dinner (or all day), with all dress codes welcome from End Polio Now tees to ball gowns
- 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?!?)
- And getting to see all of you!
GET THE SCHEDULE RIGHT ON YOUR PHONE
All of our Conference activities and the full schedule is available in the Sched app, which you can download in your phone's app store. The icon looks like the little astronaut shown here.
Set up an account and search CNY Conference 2026 to find our event to add to your schedule.
Select the breakout sessions you want to attend in the app to help our leaders plan ahead.
Note that the Positive Peace Conversations breakout spans both session I and II.
GET READY TO VISIT ROTARY ROW
Mix, Mingle & Meet New People
This year's House of Friendship will be called Rotary Row and it will include displays from clubs, Rotary programs, and CNY committees.
Click the button below to learn more about this year's scavenger hunt feature!
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!