Contributed by Elizabeth (Betsy) Vicencio, Co-Chairman, Rotary Club New Generations Successful Mentoring Program Fall 2011 Plattsburgh’s Noon Rotary Club has created a partnership with SUNY Plattsburgh’s School of Business & Economics (SBE) to initiate a New Generations Mentoring Program. Enacted by the Rotary Council of Legislation in 2010, New Generations is the fifth avenue of Rotary service. It joins Club, Vocational, Community, and International Service as the foundation of all activity. “Club president Jon Cooper and the Plattsburgh Noon Rotary Club have made an invaluable contribution of time and service to our students,” said Mary Carpenter, the SBE’s Director of Internships & Career Placement. “The enthusiasm and support of the business leaders who have volunteered for this first phase of the mentoring program is gratifying.” Mrs. Carpenter created a pilot mentoring program during spring semester 2011 with a handful of students and business leaders. The resounding success of the pilot inspired the idea of partnering with an established community service organization. That led her to Jon Cooper and the Noon Rotary Club. Mr. Cooper, who is president of Champlain National Bank, emphasized, “When Rotary International established “New Generations” as a recognized avenue of service, our club saw the SBE’s partnership program as a perfect opportunity. It offers us a way to connect our talented members with the future business leaders at SUNY Plattsburgh.” According to Mr. Cooper the club recruited 35 community leaders to participate. Mentors and students meet for four or five one-hour sessions. They work from an agenda designed to help students define their career goals, evaluate their resumes, improve their interview skills, and participate in a mock interview. This one-on-one relationship provides the students with an opportunity to get to know their mentors` on a personal and professional level and to benefit from their career successes and challenges. As the first semester of the New Generations Mentoring Program winds down, the feedback is very positive. “The mentors have been wonderful and the students are enthusiastic,” Mrs. Carpenter emphasized. “In addition to their initial, generous commitment, many of the mentors have gone above and beyond. Some have arranged for their students to interact with other members of their professional circle; they have taken them to lunch, to dinner, to networking events; coached them on life skills, and created a bond that may extend beyond their time in the program.” Through the Plattsburgh Noon Rotary Club’s flagship New Generations mentoring effort, members are committed to working with SUNY Plattsburgh to help produce the next generation of business leaders who are prepared and ready to embrace their future.
