I’ve always known that FLCC is a special place, but I’d like to tell you about an experience I had last week that reminded me that the warm, caring nature of the FLCC family is alive and well.  This year, the invitation to our traditional annual holiday reception asked guests to bring a donation in support of the college’s emergency food pantry.  Instead of planning the usual food drive where people arrive with a can of peas or a box of jello to toss into a big box, we decided to set the goal higher.  Walmart generously donated large reusable grocery bags and we asked guests to “fill a bag” for our pantry and bring the bag along to our holiday reception.   Bags were available around campus in the weeks before the event and festive signs urged members of the campus community to get involved with this project.  The bags disappeared very quickly, but I think everyone was still amazed last Friday as we saw clearly the incredible generosity and caring spirit of the FLCC campus community.  At the reception, the decorations were beautiful, the food was delicious and there was nothing quite like the Hip Hop Club students doing moves that still make me shake my head - but, nothing topped watching the pile of bags grow throughout the party.  Some were adorned with holiday ribbons and some were seriously overstuffed.  One bag simply contained a large envelope, but that envelope was filled with $5 grocery store gift cards.  Bags came from faculty, staff, community members, students and student clubs.  It was an amazing sight.

In the end, we collected more than 180 bags and we estimate that the bags contained over 1,700 food items for our pantry.  In addition, $350 in gift cards to grocery stores was donated.  With this outpouring of giving, we will be able to stock our pantry in Canandaigua for what we anticipate will be a winter where our students’ needs will be great.  The wonderful news is that we will be able to establish food pantries for the first time for our students at our two campus centers - in Geneva and Newark. 

I am so grateful to be a part of a campus community that truly cares.  The spirit of giving is alive and well at FLCC.   Thank you for reminding us all of what really matters.

I admit that I am one of those people who “bleed Orange” - a lifelong Syracuse University fan.  Some of you know that it isn’t always easy being an SU fan, but in recent years we fans have patiently persisted through football season, counting the days until basketball and lacrosse return.  As an SU alum and a Syracuse native, I’ve cheered on my team through plenty of ups and downs in recent years - okay, mostly downs.  Still the SU basketball team is now ranked #16 after starting the season with an impressive record.  Tonight we’re at halftime of the SU vs. Cornell game and, believe it or not, the score is Cornell 40, SU 35.  SU basketball behind a team from the Ivy League?!?  It feels impossible, but sadly it’s true. 

This actually brings to mind one of the things I like about sports.  There’s something inately hopeful about half time.  No matter how many points my team is trailing, I always believe in my heart that if the opponent could score 55 points in the first half to SU’s 30, there is certainly enough time left for my team to reverse that scoring in the second half.  Why not?  By the end of the game, it could always go into overtime and then SU could get a last second basket to win!  Half time means my team is about to get a second chance.  It’s an opportunity to turn things around - a fresh start.

Community colleges offer that same fresh start for many students.  Even if they feel like they fell behind during the “first half” of their lives, our students can come to us, get the encouragement and support they need, and make a big turn-around.   Community colleges are all about hope - just like halftime.

PS    Syracuse 88    Cornell 78     Even when you have to struggle a bit along the way, remember it’s only the final score that counts.

The other day, Bob Lowden (our Athletic Director) forwarded me a message he received from Coach Jones about a recent performance by our men’s basketball team.  The team had just defeated Columbia-Greene Community College 78 - 49, but that wasn’t the reason for the email.  The “performance” that really mattered happened on the trip back to Canandaigua.  At a rest stop, most of the team members headed off to Burger King while Coach Jones grabbed a snack at Dunkin Donuts.  When the coach made his way over to BK to catch up with the team, he noticed that some of the guys were sitting in booths eating, while others were still waiting in line.  An older couple was sitting nearby and the husband approached and asked, “Are you in charge of ‘this bunch’?”.  He held his breath and then said ‘yes’, he was their coach.   The older gentleman said, “I’d like to give you and them the highest compliment.  We came in just after your team and they insisted that we go ahead of them in line.  I’m from New Hampshire and it’s really rare that you see such manners from young men today.” 

Now there’s a top-notch performance by an FLCC athletic team!  Great job, guys - you make us proud!

Yesterday, the Messenger included a brief item at the bottom of the front page, noting that a group of FLCC students were engaged in a project to invite President-elect Barack Obama to be our commencement speaker.   The newspaper interviewed an FLCC student about this possibility and her reaction was that it seemed like a long shot, but “why not?”.

That’s my thought exactly…why not?  Mr. Obama has expressed sincere interest in the work of community colleges and with our economy facing difficult times, it seems clear that our nation’s community colleges will play a major role in the recovery.  For our President to choose to speak at a community college commencement would send a strong message of hope and commitment to millions across the country.    

And why not FLCC?   We are located in the heart of the Finger Lakes, one of the most beautiful parts of the country.   The newly renovated CMAC, a performing arts center that can accommodate 8,000 people, is located on our campus and is the site of our commencement ceremony.   We are not one of the mega-community colleges found in some states.  Instead, FLCC continues to offer the warm, supportive learning environment that should characterize a community college.   And most of all, like Mr. Obama, at FLCC we think big.  We see clearly the challenges ahead and we’re not afraid to step up and make a difference.  We are growing and thriving, reaching out to the four communities we serve.  We are all about hope and we change lives, one student at a time.  

President-elect Obama, please join us for our commencement ceremony in May!