This year it was Bill's Tourney

Last week -- the 26th anniversary of the Community General Foundation Pro-Am Golf Tournament -- was held in memory of Bill Towsley.

Until his death on March 10, Bill was the Business Manager of IBEW Local Union #43. He was also a member of the Foundation Board and a long-time friend of Community General Hospital.

More than 200 people attended the Pro-Am on June 18 at the Shenandoah Golf Club at the Turning Stone Resort under picture-perfect skies.

Bill's son Ken played in the IBEW #43 foursome, and all his children attended the award ceremonies at the end of play. They are Ken (with Jen), Billie (with Sarah), Tracy (with Tate), and Jennifer (with Jeremy). It was a wonderful and emotional end to a great day.

That's Don Morgan in the photo, at right. He is the Business Manger of IBEW Local Union #43, and with him are NECA Manager Marilyn Oppedisano and Pat Costello, Assistant Business Manager/ President of the Local.

This year's Pro-Am was supported by more than 90 local and national companies. It is Central New York's only charitable pro-am style tournament. Special thanks go to the Central New York PGA and its executive Alan Seamans for all the help and support in putting together this annual event.

Since its inception the Community General Foundation Pro-Am has raised over $2.2 million in support of Community General Hospital. Greg Cohen, senior vice president of EBS-RMSCO, Inc., and co-chair of the 2010 Golf Committee, announced that this year's Pro-Am was the most successful yet, raising some $170,000. He said this was the result of "tremendous generosity" from the sponsors. My thanks to Greg and to Jim Aiello, who also co-chaired the Golf Committee.

In the closing ceremonies, Greg officially announced the Pro-Am's new name: The Towsley Pro-Am to Benefit the Community General Foundation. Under Bill's leadership, Local #43 donated more than $80,000 to Pro-Am over the past nine years.

Bill passed away on March 10 after a courageous battle with cancer. He discussed the illness with me a number of times. Bill made no secret of the battle he was in, and he was as tough, as straightforward, and as honest in facing cancer as he was in his life as a labor leader.

I told Bill I admired his stoicism about the illness, and I allowed that "it must be tough for you sometimes, Bill."

"Sure it is," he said. "Sometimes you wake up in the middle of the night. You can't help but think about things. But what are you going to do? You've got to face this thing and get on with your life."

On the day he died, a reporter called to ask my recollections of Bill. I told her stories about how I met him and how Bill and the IBEW supported a number of charities. At one point I described Bill as applying "gentle pressure" as he fought to make sure that firms using union labor were included in the competitive bidding process for construction jobs.

"You're the first person I've heard use the word 'gentle' in the same sentence as Bill Towsley," said the reporter.

I knew Bill as someone unapologetic about his union interests, one who was practical and forthright in pursuing his goals, one who was interested in the community, and one who stood by his friends.

At Bill's calling hours, I ran into a prominent elected official coming out of the Edward J. Ryan Funeral Home as I joined the hundreds-long waiting line going in. "We lost a good man," I said.

"He was a good one alright," said the official, "but he didn't hesitate to yell at me."

"Oh, he could yell at me too," I said. "But he was smart, he was a straight shooter, and he had a big heart."

I couldn't be prouder that the Pro-Am is now named for Bill and that in its first year the Towsley Tourney topped previous records for the Community General Foundation. I'd like to acknowledge and thank the sponsors of the 2010 Pro-Am, including:

Presenting Sponsor
IBEW Local 43/ NECA

Course Sponsor
Pepsi

Cart Sponsors
Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists
Welch Allyn

Pro Sponsor
Crouse Radiology Associates

Lunch Sponsors
Alliance Bank
Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC
Buffalo Hospital Supply
Burns Bros Contractors
Carrier Corporation
Empower FCU
Fust Charles Chambers
Honeywell, Inc.
Key Bank
M.S. Kennedy Corporation
Mackenzie Hughes, LLP
Practice Resource
Rural Metro
Upstate Emergency Medicine

Foundation gala raised $310,000

There were more than 600 guests at last week's "Jeans and Jewels" Gala at the Hotel Syracuse -- all in support of the Community General Foundation.

The Gala raised more than $310,000 for Community General Hospital, making it the most successful such event in the Foundation’s history. That amount includes the generous $50,000 gift from the Auxiliary to Community General Hospital.

That's Auxiliary President Dottie DeSimone dancing with husband Jeffrey DeSimone, MD, a general and bariatric surgeon.

My special thanks to the 2009 Gala Committee and its co-chairs Jim Barger, Key Bank senior vice president (at left, in photo), and Mark Re, vice president and general manager of Gallinger RealtyUSA (at right). Through their committee's hard work, more than 60 companies, event patrons and donors helped the Foundation achieve its record-setting results.

Leadership sponsors for the 2009 Gala included the Community General Hospital Medical Staff; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #43; the Laboratory Alliance of Central New York; the Pepsi Bottling Group; Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC; and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Honored at the Gala were the FamilyCare Medical Group, PC; Burns Bros.; along with three former hospital board members: William Burrows, Donald Dew, and John Morrissey, Jr.

It was a great evening as guests, who combined evening attire with blue jeans, enjoyed Pascale’s Catering and three choices of bands: Prime Time, the DeSantis Band and Andrea Miceli Trio.

As one party-goer commented, "This event makes a prestigious affair feel like a fun of a night with friends."

And now, thanks for our sponsors

My thanks to the sponsors of the 25th annual Pro-Am Golf Tournament of the Community General Foundation:

IBEW NECA Local #43, Presenting Sponsor
Pepsi, Silver Anniversary Sponsor
Welch Allyn, Cart Sponsor
Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists, Reception Sponsor
Crouse Radiology, Pro Sponsor

We couldn't do it without these sponsors.

The tourney will be Friday, June 5, at the Shenendoah Golf Club at the renowned Turning Stone Resort.

The tournament features two rounds of golf -- one in the morning, another in the afternoon. In the evening, the reception will be at the beautiful Shenendoah Clubhouse (shown below) with prizes awarded.

Each foursome plays a round of golf with a Central New York golf professional. The pro's are competing for a PGA prize. There are a handful of openings left.

Thank you, sponsors!

Worthy honorees

In about two weeks the Community General Foundation will honor a number of people for service to Central New York: Dr. Drew Merritt, the Auxiliary to Community General Hospital, and Local #43 of the IBEW.

The honors will be given at the Foundation’s annual gala, October 26, at the OnCenter in Syracuse. The gala’s theme is “Diamonds and Denim,” which seems to have left many people wondering just exactly what to wear. Blue jeans are OK, and I’ve heard people will wear “washed black denim” too. Western gear is fine – as, of course, are diamonds or otherwise sparkly things. The bottom line: attendance at the gala does not require formal attire.

In fact, informality is a hallmark of the annual gala. And that means the evening’s presentations are mercifully short too. The emphasis is on raising money for a good cause by dining, dancing, and enjoying the company of friends. Tickets are still available. Just call 492- 5079.

For service to profession, Dr. Merritt
Dr. Merritt, pictured below, will be honored for his service to the medical profession. He is a past president of the Community General Hospital Medical Staff who recently served as interim Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Merritt is Vice-Chair of the Department of Family Practice, a member and past president of the New York State Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), a member and past president of the Onondaga County Medical Society, and a member of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY), where he serves as chair of MSSNY Committee on Health Care, is an alternate delegate to national AAFP, and serves on the AAFP Commission on Practice Enhancement.

Beyond his roles in medicine, Dr. Merritt has served the community as a member of several organizations affiliated with the Town of Marcellus and as a coach for youth sports. He and his wife, Carol (who is also being honored), have three daughters - all of whom were born at Community General Hospital.

For service to hospital, the Auxiliary
The Auxiliary will be honored for 45 years of service to CGH. An important part of the hospital, the Auxiliary helps raise funds and provides community services. Since inception, the Auxiliary has donated over $2 million to the hospital, designating funds to such items as renovations to the Surgery Center, the Jim and DeDe Walsh Family Birth Center, and medical equipment in various patient care services.

The Auxiliary provides blood pressure screenings throughout the community and advocates for health care issues in Albany.

The group photo shows members of the Auxiliary’s Executive Committee, from left: Ted Topalian; Mary Lascaris; Carol Merritt, outgoing President; Kay Cudworth; Dottie DeSimone, incoming President; and Claire Wightman. Not shown are committee members Bernie Schmidt and Donald White. CGH is a very family-oriented place, and isn’t it fitting that both Drew and Carol Merritt will be honored on the same evening?

For service to community, IBEW Local #43
Being honored for service to community is the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW Local #43. Chartered in 1896, the union represents some 1,200 members, including quality electricians in Central New York. In the photo are Don Morgan, Local #43’s President, and Bill Towsley, its Business Manger.
The local chapter contributes to the Community General Foundation’s capital campaign that provides funds for capital projects such as the physical medicine & rehabilitation unit, the Jim & DeDe Family Birth Center, and the cardiac catheterization lab. Local #43 also supports the Foundation’s annual pro-am golf tournament as “presenting sponsor” for the past five years. Beyond its support of CGH, Local #43 assists numerous charitable causes throughout Central New York, with members regularly taking part in local fund raisers and volunteer work.

These are good people who have accomplished much for good causes. Please join me in saluting these worthy honorees.