2011 Centennial Celebration Kickoff and Annual Meeting – November 16, 2011
What a wonderful evening! With over 220 people in attendance, we certainly jump-started our yearlong celebration of 100 years of educating the residents of Jefferson County.
Our evening began with interactive displays about our history and current programs. From ag to energy, youth to nutrition, camp to school, parenting to working with military families, everyone received a taste of the wide breadth and depth of educational programming we have to offer the residents of our community. Our educators were available to answer any questions posed by our guests.
After our brief business meeting, our hosts at the Commons at Dillenbeck’s Corners at Fort Drum served us a fabulous meal. Whether you had the ginger marinated salmon, eggplant parmesan, or Yankee pot roast, you enjoyed a delicious plate of scrumptious food.
Following dessert, our keynote speaker, Dan Holdridge, author of Pentagon Prayer – Story of a 9/11 Survivor, spoke to us about his experiences both being very involved in 4-H all his life and surviving the September 11, 2001 plane crash at the Pentagon.
Dan grew up on the family farm and began his 4-H involvement at an early age. He embraced all that the 4-H programs had to offer him, including spending much time at the local 4-H camp. In fact, he sought out his 4-H camp after 9/11 for peace and solitude and began his healing process. Today he serves on the local 4-H foundation and leads his own 4-H club encouraging the youth to reach their full potential.
Dan’s presentation was received with much acclaim by all who attended. Dan’s relatings of his experiences on 9-11 brought a closeness to the events that almost all of the attendees had never experienced. It was awe inspiring to meet him as a survivor, to learn what he continues to go through as he continues his recovery, and to hear him share his hopes for all of our country as we reflect on the events of this memorable day in our country’s history.
Dan’s challenge to learn the importance of appreciation for all we have and to let go of feelings of entitlement was the perfect concept for our organization to think about as we approach our future challenges. Dan spoke eloquently and passionately about his experiences and everyone left with a feeling that they can make a difference in someone else’s life.
Dan was well versed in the goals of our organization and was the perfect fit for our celebration. Dynamic, charismatic, empathetic, sympathetic, and, most of all, thought provoking – peppered with the appropriate amount of humor – these are the things that made Dan’s presentation such a special event for all of us. We thank Dan for allowing us to share this evening with him!
Please join us at our centennial celebrations throughout 2012 on June 9, September 10, and October 24. Contact us at 315-788-8450 or at jefferson@cornell.edu if we can provide any of our program offerings for you.