Welcome to the latest edition of the “C-Club Connection,” a periodic update available on the C-Club Web site as well as via e-mail through the C-Club Athletics Newsletter to keep you informed of C-Club initiatives, Hall of Fame activities, special projects and Board meeting summaries throughout the year.

Here are some recent C-Club items:


C-CLUB BOARD MEETING - JUNE 16

The C-Club held its last board meeting for the 2008-09 membership year on June 16. The new C-Club Executive Board of Directors for the 2009-10 membership year, which began July 1, includes: Karen Funk '72, President; Ted Woods '53 Vice-President; Kris Terrillion '72, Secretary; Harry Schwarze '63 Treasurer; Joan Sitterly, Executive Director; and Jim Codispoti '63, Past-President.

C-CLUB INITIATIVES
 
C-Club initiatives include planning for the 2009 Hall of Fame Weekend, which will be held on Saturday, October 31. As part of the weekend festivities on Friday, we will be honoring Cortland's seven NCAA Division III championship women's cross country teams, all coached by C-Club Hall of Fame member Jack Daniels, as part of our ongoing C-Club Classic Teams Reunions.

We are also continuing the Web site revision, focusing on updating the C-Club Evolution and reviewing and revising the C-Club History, Timeline and Archives material from the original C-Club Web site.
 
NEW C-CLUB HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
 
The C-Club Board of Directors extends their congratulations to the following people who will be inducted into the C-Club Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 31:  Don Hartley '58, Kay Shanks Barton '58, Francine Kalafer '73, Joanne Schmeelk '73, Perri Nizzi '77, Rick Suddaby '79 and honorary inductees Dr. Katherine Ley (posthumously) and Beulah "Buff" Wang.

NATIONAL LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
 
My wife Lois '64 and I had the opportunity to attend the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse championship game at Gillette Stadium as guests of Peter Staunton and Bob Callanan of the UBS Financial Services Callanan Group in Boston. We also attended the very successful tailgate party, co-sponsored by the C-Club, both before and after the game. Congratulations to the Cortland players and coaches for winning the national title with a 9-7 victory over Gettysburg College.
 
C-CLUB ATHLETICS AWARDS CEREMONY
 
The annual SUNY Cortland Athletics Awards Ceremony, sponsored by the C-Club, was held on Monday, May 4, in the Alumni Ice Arena. As C-Club President, I had the honor of presenting the C-Club Male and Female Senior Athlete of the Year honors to field hockey player Kayla Chambers and wrestler Paul LeBlanc. The C-Club Coach of the Year was presented to men's cross country and track and field coach Steve Patrick '97.
 
C-Club blankets were presented to more than 100 graduating senior student-athletes for their dedication to Cortland Athletics. Another major highlight of the evening was the annual presentation of the Red Letter Award winners in each sport.

C-CLUB BOARD MEMBERS RECOGNITION
 
Congratulations from the C-Club to Karen Funk '72, who was recently inducted into the New York State Section IV Hall of Fame. She is the only female coach to receive this honor. Congratulations also to Ted Woods '53, who will be inducted into the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Hall of Fame in August, and to Fran Elia, who received the ECAC Sports Information Directors Association (ECAC-SIDA) College Division Irving T. March Award for excellence in his field.

C-CLUB ENDOWMENT
 
The C-Club Endowment is off to a great start with over $40,000 pledged toward our goal of $500,000. Beginning with the 2009 Hall of Fame induction, all those contributing at the "Hall of Champions" level ($5,000 or more over a 5-year period) will have their names listed in the Hall of Fame Banquet program as well as the C-Club Athletics Awards Ceremony program. That ceremony is held in May with more than 500 student-athletes in attendance along with coaches and C-Club members. In addition, the names will be featured on a plaque in the Hall of Champions, opposite the Hall of Fame Wall in the Park Center.

Learn more about how you can champion this vision and leave a legacy for future generations of student-athletes through gift planning by contacting Peter VanderWoude, Manager of Planned Gifts at (607) 758-5309 or peter.vanderwoude@cortland.edu.
 
2009-10 C-CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS
 
C-Club Board meetings for the 2009-10 membership year are tentatively scheduled for October 3, October 31, December 5, March 27, April 17 and June 12 – all Saturdays. All meetings are held in the Hall of Fame Room beginning at 10 a.m.


 
Your generosity, suggestions and recommendations are always appreciated.  Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail with your concerns.
 

Sincerely,
 
Jim Codispoti '63
C-Club President
(914) 967-7614
jcody45@optonline.net

.