Customize your weekend experience

We're planning a fun weekend with a series of events Friday through Sunday, each awesome in their own right, open to all to join in. Choose one or choose them all - you create the experience you want based on your availability! Everything takes places at the historic and ornate Syracuse Marriott Downtown (formerly known as Hotel Syracuse). 

Read on for the latest developments and ways that you can help make it a fantastic time together!
 

Friday Evening Socials - April 10:

Dine-Arounds

Choose from several area restaurants for a dinner out with a smaller group of attendees. This will help you meet new people and each location will feature at least one member of CNY Rotary leadership for you to connect with. We handle the reservations and will invite members to sign-up for their restaurant of choice in advance once we are closer to the event.
Signup coming soon!

Foundation Celebration

After our dinners out together, we'll return to the hotel for dessert and a celebration of the impact of our Rotary Foundation - both here in CNY and around the world. There will be special awards presentations you won't want to miss. This is free to attend, but we will ask you to sign up with a separate sign-up that will be shared out soon, so we can be sure to have enough sweets for everyone!
Signup coming soon!

 

Saturday's Main Event - Conference - April 11:

All speakers, general sessions, breakouts, and traditions like the Parade of Flags and Memorial Service - will all take place on Saturday. If it's a bit of a drive before or after this long day, or you just want to experience this beautiful venue, members can take advantage of incredibly low room rates (just $175/night +taxes/fees) to enjoy the stunning, historical hotel rooms and space. 
Click here to book a room in our room block now (deadline 3/14).

 

Sunday Togetherness - April 12:

Sunday Service Projects

We are coordinating multiple service projects to give members something meaningful to do, giving back to the community hosting our conference. You will be invited to choose one that suits your skills or your passion.
Signups coming soon!

Optional PDG Breakfast

Also on Sunday morning, Past District Governors will be invited to register for a special breakfast just for them. Spouses and partners welcome. A great time for our past leaders to connect!
To sign up, choose the PDG Breakfast ticket in the conference registration (even if you are not attending Saturday's conference).

It's important to note that any of these events can be attended regardless of whether or not you go to Saturday's conference. If you only have time to zip into town on Sunday for service, join us. If you are local and want to dine out with us on Friday night, you will be allowed to sign up too. It is not required that you go to the full day of conference in order to enjoy these other features!

 

More Things to Get Excited About:

  • The absolutely gorgeous hotel and spacious guest rooms that they've given us at a great rate
  • An engaging and informative "State of CNY" report from all of our committees on Saturday morning
  • Go "Red to Toe" for polio and wear red to dinner (or all day), with all dress codes welcome from End Polio Now tees to ball gowns
    • Our conference tee is a red End Polio Now tee that you can order online and pick up when you check-in - click here to pre-order by March 22
    • You can also pre-order any of the swag from our shop (not just the conference tee) and save on shipping by having it brought to conference for pickup!
  • Great space for connecting in our Rotary Row where clubs can showcase their service projects and CNY committees will offer up valuable information
    • Sign up for table space by March 15th
  • The free parking (who thought that was possible at a downtown hotel?!?)
  • The flexibility of getting conference all in one day or extending your stay if you wish with any or all of the Friday and Sunday events
  • And getting to see all of you!
RESERVE YOUR SPACE IN ROTARY ROW

DEADLINE: MARCH 15TH

This year's House of Friendship will be called Rotary Row and it will include displays from clubs, Rotary programs, and CNY committees.
It is required that you register in advance for a table and space is limited.
Click the button below to learn more about how to reserve a space and this year's scavenger hunt feature!
Learn More
 
Get Involved: Support & Be Part of Conference
Join Rotary Row
Submit Member for Memorial
Become a Sponsor

SEEKING SPONSORS

We are seeking businesses, individuals and Rotary Clubs who are interested in supporting the conference experience for hundreds of volunteers who make a positive impact in our communities all across Central New York. Benefits to sponsorship include:
  • Recognition on our conference materials, including on our website and social channels
  • Promotion at the conference with hundreds of our community-minded members
  • Ensuring our inbound and outbound Youth Exchange Students can join us
  • The warm fuzzies you will get from helping to celebrate and inspire our Rotary members
 

Submit Your Members for the Memorial

DUE BY MARCH 15

For any members who have passed since April 2025, please submit their information so they can be included in the memorial video that will be showcased after lunch on Saturday. The link to their obit and quality photo is required.
Click to view last year's remembrance video:
 

Conference Registration is Easy

Choose your ticket:
  • You can do all day Saturday or just dinner
  • You can get a discount when registering as a couple if you bring your partner
Consider an optional breakfast on Sunday:
  • Take-out breakfast for anyone
  • Past District Governor Breakfast for PDG's and spouses
Add your breakfast ticket before checking out too!
 
Friday dinner, Foundation Celebration and Sunday service have separate sign-ups coming soon!
 
Book Your Hotel Stay Today
You can book your hotel stay as part of our room block now through March 14, 2026.
 
It's a one day conference, but if you are coming in from elsewhere in the district you may enjoy an overnight prior to or following our jam-packed day together. We encourage all to make plans to stay if needed!
Book Your Stay
Contact Your Conference Team
    Enter your email address and the message you want to send.
    fields are required

    Meet Your Conference Chair

     
    Sam Netzband is in her second and final year as Conference Chair, while also serving as our President Nominee to lead CNY in 2027-28. She's a member of VVS Community Rotary Club, is a contract management professional, has five cats and a dog, and loves to travel, read and knit.
     
    You can contact Sam at samnetzband@outlook.com with any ideas for the upcoming conference or to join the planning committee to help out!

    CNY Rotary President Bob Balk

    Each year, the district leader hosts a conference designed to bring members together for learning and fun.
     
    From President Bob: "CNY has strength in numbers, if we can Unite for Good (our message this year), we can make significant and lasting change. But we need to get together and get to know each other. I am hoping this conference will allow us to make connections from Northville to Waverly and all points in between. "

    Vice Chair Pam Baxter

    Pam is shadowing Sam to learn the ropes of being Conference Chair as she will serve in that 2-year role begining 2026-27. Pam currently also serves as our district DEI Chair. She's a member of Albany Rotary and soon to be charter member of Albany Mosaic Rotary Club. Pam has a son, Jeremiah, also a Rotarian and loves to travel. Professionally Pam is a Program Management Analyst for NYSDOT and a certified Travel Advisor with FORA. 
     
    You can contact Pam at pamb7180@gmail.com with any ideas about what you would like to see at conferences in the future or to get involved in the conference planning committee or DEI Committee!

    Never been to a District Conference before?

    Not sure what to expect or why you should go? 

    Here is a little more information on what it's all about to help you decide!
     
    From Rotary International...
    "The purpose of the district conference is to provide opportunities for networking, inspirational addresses, and discussions of Rotary-related matters. The event should recognize the service programs, projects, and public relations achievements in the district in order to inspire Rotarians to become more involved in service. The conference should also give Rotarians and clubs a vision of Rotary beyond the club level and provide a memorable fellowship experience."
     
    To sum it up, conference is a gathering where we offer all Rotarians in the district the opportunity to come together, learn more about Rotary and each other, eat good food, enjoy fun entertainment and have social time. It's an opportunity to share, celebrate successes and revel in the wonderful world of Rotary! Very much like any conference you might attend for work, it is designed to surround you with like-minded people and expand your horizons. You should leave inspired and ready to do more, better.
     
    At a conference you will learn more about Rotary and each other
    There will be speakers, sessions and a House of Friendship featuring information about all avenues of service. You can learn about how to improve your club, do a project, get involved in a youth program and more. Thanks to social time, you will have the opportunity to get to know your fellow clubmates better, meet Rotarians from around the district, and meet with district leadership in person.
     
     
    This is the perfect place to come for new members or for those who want to learn more about Rotary in general
    Whether in a general session, at a meal, socializing after hours, or visiting the House of Friendship, you will learn about Rotary from everything and everyone around you over the course of the whole weekend. Every aspect of the event becomes a learning experience!
     
    There is plenty of social time
    As a one-day conference, the schedule will be very full to make the trip worthwhile, but we know how important it is that you all have time to chat with and get to know each other. Rotarians can socialize during meals, can come and go as needed during general sessions, and there will be time for the House of Friendship. If you come the night before, we'll be planning smaller group outings to area restaurants for dinner so you can mix it up with some new people. If you stay over into Sunday, you can join us for a hands-on service project - and we all know that volunteering is the best way to get to know each other.
     
    You will get inspired!
    Between what you learn and who you meet, you are bound to find inspiration to do more in Rotary. Whether you learn how you can improve your club, find a new project to be a part of, join a new committee or make a new friend, you will gain something and grow as a member. It is extremely inspiring to learn about all the amazing things we are doing locally, across CNY and internationally. It makes you feel like a part of something amazing and confirms that you are truly making a difference in the world by being a part of this fantastic organization. It's a unique experience you should try at least once, just like international convention!