FLEMING - Since the beginning of 2007, it has been a time of transition at Options for Independence. Options for Independence helps people with disabilities enjoy happier and more fulfilling lives, working with the community to insure that those who struggle have the same opportunities as everyone else.
Their Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon was held Wednesday at the Springside Inn.
In the event program, in an essay titled “A New Era at Options,” new Board of Directors Chairperson Nancy Wise wrote that “change within any organization is inevitable and Options for Independence is no different.”
“This year we bade a fond farewell to many families faces, and welcomed new staff to the Options' team,” Wise continued. “As we begin this year, we look back fondly at our friends and colleagues, and look forward to an exciting new era at Options for Independence.”
Perhaps the biggest change came right at the top. Current Executive Director Tracy L. Murphy started in June, replacing former director Guy Cosentino. The former Auburn mayor, and political columnist for The Citizen, is now executive director of the Stardust Foundation of Central New York.
Awards were presented to two persons in each of three categories - Advocates of the Year, Community Service Awards and Volunteers of the Year. Presented the first Advocate of the Year award was Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R-Springport), who represents most of western and southern Cayuga County. Wise praised Finch for his ability to secure state funds for initiatives important to advocacy groups such as Options, and for his support of Timothy's Law which guarantees mental health services for children under most private insurance plans. The business community, and almost all of his Assembly Republican colleagues, were against the bill.
“I took a couple of shots here and there, but it was the right thing to do,” Finch said. He praised Consentino for his leadership over the past 11 years, and Murphy's work ethic in leading the organization, and he was humble in accepting the honor.
“I appreciate the award, but I was just doing my job as an elected official representing you,” said Finch, who has served in Albany since 1999. Jenny Haines was also given an advocacy award.
Recognized with Community Service Awards were Bill Ryan, president of Cayuga Lake National Bank; and Mark Covich, who works for Cayuga-Seneca ARC.
Jane Bowen, secretary for Options Board of Directors, said Ryan and his community bank not only supported her organization with financial assistance, they also are directly involved with people with disabilities. Bowen noted that Cayuga Lake calls itself “The People's Bank.”
“I couldn't agree more,” she said.
Best known for his tireless efforts in improving Camp Columbus on Owasco Lake, a day camp that many mentally-challenged citizens from Cayuga County and elsewhere in central New York look forward to each year, Covich was instrumental in leading the effort to build a ramp with an electric car system that will transport campers with wheelchairs down to the waterfront so they could fish, swim, and boat. This past summer, Covich told of how painful it was for him to see those campers sitting at the top of the steep hill while their friends played in the water below. Now they're camping experience is far more complete, he said.
Covich thanked the approximately 100 people in attendance for their work over the past year, saying “this isn't my honor, it's for all of you.”
And he vowed to continue working diligently to make Camp Columbus the finest program of its kind in upstate New York.
“We're not done moving this camp forward,” he said.
Honored as Volunteers of the Year were Judy Dove and Susan Storms. Dove is the nurse manager for Auburn Memorial Hospital's psychiatric unit, commonly known as One North. Storms was the former chairman of the long-range planning committee. Storms, a Weedsport resident, has been an enthusiastic advocate for Options' programs despite losing her sight several years ago. Options for Independence assisted over 1,000 individuals during the past fiscal year, and they are based at 75 Genesee St. in downtown Auburn.
The winners are ...
Advocates of the Year
Gary D. Finch, NYS Assemblyman
Jenny Haines, director of the City of Auburn's Office of Planning and Economic Development
Community Service Awards
Bill Ryan, president of Cayuga Lake National Bank
Mark Covich, Cayuga-Seneca ARC; director of Camp Columbus Volunteers of the Year
Judy Dove, former Options' board member
Susan Storms, local activist
In the event program, in an essay titled “A New Era at Options,” new Board of Directors Chairperson Nancy Wise wrote that “change within any organization is inevitable and Options for Independence is no different.”
“This year we bade a fond farewell to many families faces, and welcomed new staff to the Options' team,” Wise continued. “As we begin this year, we look back fondly at our friends and colleagues, and look forward to an exciting new era at Options for Independence.”
Perhaps the biggest change came right at the top. Current Executive Director Tracy L. Murphy started in June, replacing former director Guy Cosentino. The former Auburn mayor, and political columnist for The Citizen, is now executive director of the Stardust Foundation of Central New York.
Awards were presented to two persons in each of three categories - Advocates of the Year, Community Service Awards and Volunteers of the Year. Presented the first Advocate of the Year award was Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R-Springport), who represents most of western and southern Cayuga County. Wise praised Finch for his ability to secure state funds for initiatives important to advocacy groups such as Options, and for his support of Timothy's Law which guarantees mental health services for children under most private insurance plans. The business community, and almost all of his Assembly Republican colleagues, were against the bill.
“I took a couple of shots here and there, but it was the right thing to do,” Finch said. He praised Consentino for his leadership over the past 11 years, and Murphy's work ethic in leading the organization, and he was humble in accepting the honor.
“I appreciate the award, but I was just doing my job as an elected official representing you,” said Finch, who has served in Albany since 1999. Jenny Haines was also given an advocacy award.
Recognized with Community Service Awards were Bill Ryan, president of Cayuga Lake National Bank; and Mark Covich, who works for Cayuga-Seneca ARC.
Jane Bowen, secretary for Options Board of Directors, said Ryan and his community bank not only supported her organization with financial assistance, they also are directly involved with people with disabilities. Bowen noted that Cayuga Lake calls itself “The People's Bank.”
“I couldn't agree more,” she said.
Best known for his tireless efforts in improving Camp Columbus on Owasco Lake, a day camp that many mentally-challenged citizens from Cayuga County and elsewhere in central New York look forward to each year, Covich was instrumental in leading the effort to build a ramp with an electric car system that will transport campers with wheelchairs down to the waterfront so they could fish, swim, and boat. This past summer, Covich told of how painful it was for him to see those campers sitting at the top of the steep hill while their friends played in the water below. Now they're camping experience is far more complete, he said.
Covich thanked the approximately 100 people in attendance for their work over the past year, saying “this isn't my honor, it's for all of you.”
And he vowed to continue working diligently to make Camp Columbus the finest program of its kind in upstate New York.
“We're not done moving this camp forward,” he said.
Honored as Volunteers of the Year were Judy Dove and Susan Storms. Dove is the nurse manager for Auburn Memorial Hospital's psychiatric unit, commonly known as One North. Storms was the former chairman of the long-range planning committee. Storms, a Weedsport resident, has been an enthusiastic advocate for Options' programs despite losing her sight several years ago. Options for Independence assisted over 1,000 individuals during the past fiscal year, and they are based at 75 Genesee St. in downtown Auburn.
The winners are ...
Advocates of the Year
Gary D. Finch, NYS Assemblyman
Jenny Haines, director of the City of Auburn's Office of Planning and Economic Development
Community Service Awards
Bill Ryan, president of Cayuga Lake National Bank
Mark Covich, Cayuga-Seneca ARC; director of Camp Columbus Volunteers of the Year
Judy Dove, former Options' board member
Susan Storms, local activist
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