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In reflecting on this, I considered sharing with you that MCC is in excellent financial health. Our enrollment continues to increase. In fact, we enroll more students than any other college in the greater Rochester area.

I could share with you that our collaboration and partnerships with business and industry continues to grow at a remarkable pace. I could share with you that with Bob King, who spoke to you here a couple of weeks ago, as our new Chancellor, our State University system may very well reach the potential it promises.

I could also share with you that one of my visions is to assist our many partners in the community in developing an economic development plan which will address issues before they become problems, such as our current workforce shortage.

I could share with you how our Foundation seeks private sector support to help the college provide resources that enhance all the good things we do for this community.

But, as I thought about this speech, I realized that is a very traditional approach and what I want to share with you today is that Monroe Community College is far from a traditional college. Thus, I have decided on a different approach. I am going to ask you to envision what our community would be like without Monroe Community College.

Imagine Rochester without Monroe Community College.

Now, I'm not asking you to envision an overgrown lot at our Brighton Campus or the pig farm it used to be. I'm not suggesting that you just squint your eyes and picture cobwebbed walls and empty floors in the historic Sibley Building, home of our Damon City Campus. If I've learned anything over the last 26 years, it’s that the heart of MCC isn't about bricks or mortar. MCC is the people who thrive there. MCC is the professors and staff who infuse their professional lives with their personal commitment to our students. MCC is those people who counsel and teach our students -- helping them to learn, to grow and to ultimately contribute to the overall good of our community. MCC is those alumni who have gone out and gone on to further their education or launch their careers.

MCC is Peggy Van Kirk, director of MCC's Work and Learn Program.

Peggy heads a program that served over 3,000 welfare recipients last year. Over 2,000 of those people completed assessments and were referred to either community agencies or MCC. As significant as these successes are, these aren't just numbers to Peggy and her staff. Each one of those 3,000 plus public assistance recipients who were assisted last year has a name, a face and a unique life story. Elena Velez (ee-LAY-na veLEZ) is just one example.

Less than a month after graduating from MCC and the Work and Learn Program, Elena obtained a job with Preferred Care. While the enthusiastic support she's received from the Work and Learn staff helped her land that much-needed position, it has also fueled her incentive to continue her education. Today, in addition to holding down that new job, Elena is also a full-time evening student at SUNY Brockport studying criminal justice with plans to eventually enter law school.

Imagine Elena's life, imagine her lost potential, if MCC's Work and Learn Center hadn't provided such a solid support system for her. And she is just one of thousands we help to start their careers.

MCC is professor Sharon Dobkin, founder of the Holocaust Genocide Studies Project -- a project that has heightened the awareness of MCC students, Rochester-area teachers and residents about the Holocaust. Dr. Dobkin’s passion and commitment has inspired some of Rochester’s most generous philanthropists to help us in endowing the nation’s first chair in holocaust studies at a U.S. two-year college.

MCC is instructor Chris Otero-Piersante and assistant professor Cathy Smith – both of MCC’s English/Philosophy department.

Accessibility is a vital part of MCC's mission statement. Today, thanks to the efforts of Chris, Cathy and more than 40 other MCC faculty members, Monroe Community College enrolls more online, distance learning students than any SUNY college in the state. The proliferation of online courses has meant that a growing number of our students aren't bound by time or place. From an over-the-road truck driver in Ohio to a young Olympic skater temporarily living and training in Detroit, we're giving people a chance to meet their life dreams and obligations without having to sacrifice their college education. MCC’s one-year dental assisting program -- the only American Dental Association certified program nationwide offered online -- received ADA approval status after less than one year’s operation. And that’s just one example of the success that has resulted from the diligence and dedication of MCC faculty – to learn new systems, to embrace new technologies – to establish innovative solutions for our students. This semester, more than 1300 of our students are logging on to courses that range from Stress Management to English 101. Now imagine for a moment that the option of online, distance education courses didn't exist. Imagine what a loss it would be if those people who find it difficult or even impossible to get to our campus never managed to get a college education at all.

MCC is engineering professor Frank Ambrosio.

Of course, Frank will say he's just doing his job but thanks to his willingness to train high school teachers all over Monroe County, 1400 high school students from 27 different high schools aren't just passing notes or enduring another study hall. They're taking college courses right in their high school classrooms through MCC's Dual Credit Program. Through this program, parents save money while students get a jump start by taking basic college courses that are transferable to colleges and universities all over the country, wherever they eventually choose to go to school. With that said, I can honestly say that nothing pleases me or Frank Ambrosio more than when these same students decide to pursue their education where they experienced their first taste of college -- at MCC.

MCC is athletic director Murph Shapiro.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association Summer Camp, a nationally recognized program, has been held at our Brighton Campus for more than 25 years. Every summer, the dedication and commitment of Mary Diez of Jefferson Middle School and MCC’s athletic director Shapiro have brought more than 400 inner city children between the ages of 10 and 16 to this fun-filled, educational camp.

MCC is proud of the opportunities it provides to the younger members of our community – not just during the summer but all year long. Such enrichment activities don't just happen. Their success often depends upon enthusiasm like that of engineering professor John Wadach who organizes the annual sumo car competition for high school students. And Damon City Campus executive dean Quintin Bullock who directs the College's Center for Urban Education Studies – a program that provides Rochester City School district students the means to explore their love of science, mathematics and technologies. This program opens educational doors for students starting as early as seventh grade and extending through the first two years of college.

According to a national study done in 1992, campus-based childcare enables college students to remain in school, perform better academically and graduate sooner. Last fall, MCC's Child Care Center received a quarter million dollar grant that awards stipends to MCC students who are unable to afford child care. A student-child support program was also established for those receiving the awards. Through this program, children of these students receive age-appropriate care to better prepare them for pre-school and kindergarten. This, in turn, can only benefit our area schools in years to come. The program is a tremendous asset not only for our students -- but for the littlest members of their families. Audrey Abbondanzieri, (a BON dan zee air ee) MCC’s Child Care Center director spent her weekends writing the grant and her lunch hours fine-tuning it and says that every half-eaten sandwich was worth it.

Imagine Rochester without MCC.

That’s very difficult for me.

If MCC hadn't been here to occupy the last 26 years of my professional heart and soul, my golf game might be better -- but if MCC hadn't been an option for one promising young golfer named Jeff Sluman, a member of our athletic hall of fame -- his career might not shine so brilliantly. In addition to the academic excellence of our students, MCC is proud to note their many athletic accomplishments as well.

MCC is coach Tracey Britton who this year led our women's soccer team to the national championship playoffs in her first year as head coach. MCC is Dan Dubois, who coached both our men’s and women’s swim teams to third place in national competition and Tim Parrinello who recently led our women's basketball team to second place in the nation. As thrilled as I am to report on the tremendous accomplishments of our sports teams, I am equally pleased to note that this year Tracey, Dan and Tim were each named coach of the year in their respective sports by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

MCC is Geordie Robertson, ex-Amerk and current coach of our men's hockey team. While the ESL Sports Centre at MCC, located right on the grounds of our Brighton Campus, gives our hockey team a place to play and practice, this facility has also created a wealth of skating opportunities for many young Rochester athletes. All of MCC’s facilities are used for countless events that enrich our community. Last year, our campus welcomed over 30,000 visitors and hosted the Diabetes Walk, the American Heart Association Walk and the Teddi T Tournament that benefits Camp Good Days and Special Times.

During my tenure, I have had the honor of getting to know many of the people who have chosen to pursue their dreams at MCC. Since its founding in 1961, more than a quarter-million Rochester-area residents have taken courses at the College. Many of those people have gone on to contribute their personal time and professional talents to the Rochester community.

Imagine the well-being of Rochester without MCC graduate and Rochester Police Chief Bob Duffy, who is distinguishing himself as one of the great police chiefs in the nation. Imagine what Rochester would be like without others like him who began work on their careers as MCC students and who have gone on to dedicate themselves to ensuring our community's safety.

MCC's Public Safety Training Facility has a national reputation in training public safety professionals. In addition to its role in law enforcement training, the Center offers training programs for paramedics, fire and emergency medical service personnel and public officials. Recently, the new Public Safety Training Facility unveiled its newest, state-of-the-art training tool. Designed specifically for air rescue responders, this Boeing 737 mockup is surrounded with propane fuel valves to simulate an actual aircraft fire. To see these valves fully ignited can be an immensely dramatic sight. To see trainees hard at work extinguishing those flames makes you realize that the partnership between MCC, Monroe County and the city of Rochester, provides an invaluable resource to our community.

Imagine Rochester's economy without graduates like RG&E's manager of energy delivery Mike Whitcraft or Rich Warshof who helps to steer Paychex as that company's director of Marketing & Business Development. Last year's MCC graduates were hired by 435 different employers -- the vast majority of these were local businesses and organizations. Rochester's hospitals, hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, schools, banks and manufacturing companies all benefit from the availability of MCC's well-trained, well-educated graduates. Graduates like your fellow Rotary members, Laurence Green, Barbara Jablonski, and Laurie Mahoney and many others. MCC’s able pool of graduates provides many benefits to our community. In addition, the College’s ability to respond to this community’s employment needs by designing and developing coursework and programs has become a tradition as well as a community expectation that has greatly enhanced the economic well-being of our region.

Imagine Rochester industry without MCC’s Applied Technologies Center. The Applied Technologies Center, located on West Henrietta Road, has strong connections with our community’s precision machining, automotive and heating/ventilating industries. Machinists, in particular, are in high demand; Rochester area manufacturers turn away contracts for lack of workers. MCC partners with the Rochester Tooling and Machining Association to make sure that we continue to bring new workers into the industry and train them appropriately.

Imagine the Rochester City School Teacher's Union without MCC graduate Adam Urbanski. MCC has provided the first two years of college education to many of our region's most dedicated teaching professionals. The college recently responded to the current shortfall of Rochester City School District teachers by teaming up with the Rochester Association of Paraprofessionals to help fill the gap. On February 21, MCC signed an agreement that clears the way for teaching paraprofessionals to begin earning teaching degrees.

MCC is Michael Nolan. Mike leads the Future Educators Initiative – our partnership with the paraprofessionals union -- with counselor Michael Johnson and associate director of our Damon City Campus Center Pam Weidel. These three individuals not only work with students pursuing careers in education, they provide academic and career counseling and teach a four-credit internship/cooperative learning course designed for future educators.

Imagine Rochester without George Eastman. No, he didn't graduate from MCC, didn't even take a class here. But I think he would have been very pleased when in 1962, Kodak's hometown built upon his legacy in imaging by becoming the birthplace of our nation's first two-year degree program in optical technology. In 1997, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory selected MCC as the first site to train optics fabricators in the country.

In 1995 when the Middle States accreditation team evaluated Monroe Community College, they wrote, "The Board of Trustees is a supportive and visionary board… Their collective leadership is a role model for other boards." MCC is Nick Robfogel and Alice Young, former board members, now honorary trustees, who have contributed so much of their time and experience to ensuring the success of our students. MCC is current board of trustee president John Parrinello who, along with our nine other trustess, have committed themselves to the mission of our College.

MCC is Brenda Babitz, the college’s Foundation president, and Foundation board members Arnold Klinsky and Sandy Parker. Last year, their efforts provided hundreds of students with scholarships. Through their dedication, MCC's Foundation has been ranked first in alumni giving, first in corporate giving and second in total giving among the 30 SUNY community colleges. Nationwide, MCC was ranked seventh in total support, third in corporate donations and fifth in alumni giving. While the impressive standing of the MCC Foundation is a testament to those who raise the necessary funds, it is also a testament to the loyalty, support and good will of our community.

I was recently reacquainted with that wonderful old classic movie It's A Wonderful Life starring Jimmy Stewart as the small town savings and loan owner George Bailey. I'm not going to tell you how old I was the first time I saw this picture. But Frank Capra’s film reminded me of what a remarkable difference one seemingly ordinary life can make. It reminded me that the neighbors we help, the kindnesses we extend, the good relationships we foster touch more lives, influence more minds and affect more hearts than we can ever know.

To imagine Rochester without MCC is to imagine our streets less safe, our economy less strong, our public assistance rolls more crowded, our medical facilities staffed with fewer qualified professionals, our children with fewer enrichment opportunities, and our students with far greater obstacles to a college education.

Fortunately, that is not the case and, therefore, mine is not a doomsday address. Today, my message is much like Frank Capra's -- that MCC is filled with George Baileys. People who walk their dog, pay their mortgage, mow their lawn and generally go about their daily business without much fuss. They are people who make a difference. The facilities folks who sweep the floor, the financial aid staff members who answer a frantic parent's questions with patience, the public safety personnel who jumpstart a student's car on some frigid winter evening…and of course our outstanding faculty.

Their dedication to the job, their passionate commitment to higher education, their compassionate understanding of the diverse needs of our students has helped to create and maintain a tremendous resource in your community. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE -- for me, for you, your neighbors, your spouses, your siblings and your children, It's a wonderful life in many ways because of MCC -- your community's college.

Thank you for letting me share this with you today.