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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

The North Pole...a different destination for the Travel and Tourism Club


On Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002, MCC's Travel and Tourism Club and MCC's Phi Theta Kappa Club joined efforts to earn a first class dose of "Christmas Spirit." About 40 area children from Camp Good Days, St. Joseph's Villa and the Muscular Dystrophy Association were treated to a flight to the North Pole. Courtesy of Continental Express, they boarded a flight that actually went from Rochester to Niagara Falls and back. When the youngsters returned to the airport, they found the Rochester Monroe County Airport's International Hall to be transformed....aka the North Pole. Many of these children have never been on a plane before, and because of their fragile life situations, many may never have such an opportunity again.

Travel and Tourism Club Advisor, Janet Zinck, volunteered the services of the Club to Continental Airlines Manager Jill Morgan and BOCES #1 Travel and Tourism Instructor Deb Liseno-Tyo back in the summer. This activity has been held for 6 years, but the size of the event was scheduled to triple this year. In addition to the 40 youngsters that went on the flight, hundreds of others from these associations were invited to the airport "party." We thought it would be a great and meaningful way for the Club to contribute to its community.

MCC's Travel and Tourism Club actively recruited donations from local stores, vendors, and local corporations. "My office at MCC was chock full of boxes from McDonald's Happy Meal Toys, Bubble Bath from a local Avon Representative to puzzles and gift certificates," said Janet Zinck, Hospitality Department. Many corporations and stores contributed money and gift cards to the club so that purchases could be made to help supplement the stockings. Some travel students even found themselves writing personal checks of contribution. Phi Theta Kappa, a very active organization on campus, volunteered to hand-make the "huge" stockings that each student would receive while coming off the flight to the North Pole. The generosity of both clubs, the overwhelming contribution by our local companies and businesses allowed each youngster to take home a fun-filled stocking from the event. These stockings were amazing, and the two student leaders from each club, Dawnmarie Mannino and Ann Schwartz, really enjoyed going aboard the flight to hand them out to the eager youngsters.

Dianna DiPrimma, Experiential and Adult Learning, charmed the children dressed as Mrs. Claus. In addition, the Travel and Tourism Club set up two tables for the youngsters to engage in hands-on activities while they were waiting for their chance to visit with Santa. The activity tables were almost an after thought...but these activities were a real hit. These were some of the most determined and spirited children you'd ever want to see. Their lives have all been touched by illness or violence, but they taught the MCC participants the true spirit of the holiday.

The two clubs will be joining efforts again in the spring to work on a project for the Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong. Be on the look out for this dynamic duo! They are making great things happen.

Janet Zinck
Hospitality Department
12/17/2002