From left to right are the officers of the Mendon Foundation: Vice President Steve Richards; President Drew Saur; Treasurer Fran Celona; Secretary Bud Grindle. Submitted photo
The Mendon Foundation held its annual meeting on May 1, 2017, electing new officers and revising its bylaws.
After 7 years serving as President and almost 17 years as a volunteer, John Farrell stepped down and remains a Director. Drew Saur was elected President; Steve Richards was re-elected Vice President; Fran Celona was re-elected Treasurer; and Blaine “Bud” Grindle was re-elected Secretary. “The board and community thank John with all our hearts for the fantastic work he has done as President over the years,” Saur said. “We’re fortunate to have his continued presence as a Director.”
Saur is CIO of the Palmer Family of Companies and also serves as President of the Honeoye Falls-Town of Mendon Historical Society. Richards is CEO of Intelligent Computer Technologies/NYSYS AirAccess. Celona is President of Francis M. Celona, CPA, PC. Grindle is Director of Facilities at MCC.
The Mendon Foundation is well-known throughout the town as the all-volunteer group who contracts with Monroe County to maintain and improve the Lehigh Valley Trail (including Rochester Junction and Mendon Station Park), but it also serves an important role as our local land trust, maintaining hundreds of acres of open space throughout the town (as well as in the adjoining town of Caledonia) for public enjoyment. The Sibleyville Nature Reserve on Plains Road and the Honeoye Haven property donated by John Lewis are two of the more widely-enjoyed properties maintained by the Foundation, delighting hikers, skiiers, and bird lovers alike.
“Our commitment to the open spaces of Mendon remains our core mission,” noted Saur. “In 2017, we hope to not only continue our hard work on interpretive signage for Rochester Junction, but we hope to regain traction on the maintenance of the land trust properties so they remain enjoyable for our community. We are in need of volunteers who are interested in helping us out, and I welcome those people to contact us through our web site or Facebook.”
The Foundation’s largest fundraiser, the Black Diamond Express Half Marathon and 5K, will take place on Sunday, August 27 along the Lehigh Valley Trail. Now in its 6th year, the Half Marathon is pending USA Track & Field Course Certification, which will make it a qualifying race for many nationally-recognized races.
Joining John Farrell as Board members are founding member Arlene Cluff; Bonnie Coddington; Rodney Ham; Ryan Stoner; and Charles Woolever.
