Community affair

Rotary pancake breakfast brings out the best in Skaneateles

By Lori Ruhlman

Skaneateles Rotary

Father’s Day is right around the corner.  In Skaneateles, that means the Rotary Father’s Day Pancake Breakfast: the single biggest community gathering of the year, where thousands catch up with friends and family while supporting an organization that supports the community year ‘round.

Sunday, June 16, at the Allyn Arena from 7:30 to 1 p.m. will mark the 51st year of the phenomenon that has extended from one generation to the next.

Last year, for the 50th celebration, Rotary Club members were asked to speculate about the success of this tradition.

Why do thousands of people, year after year, fit a Sunday breakfast of pancakes and eggs into their Father’s Day plans?

And why do 200 plus people choose to work to make it happen?

Here are some answers:

Tradition. Collaboration. Family.  Friends.

Carolyn Legg, a pancake breakfast community volunteer, remembers attending the very first breakfast at age 8 and getting a ride on one of the planes. She has attended many of the years – and decades – since then, and enjoys on the team that makes the breakfast happen.  (Look for her selling locally produced maple syrup as you enter).

Community. Excitement. Comradery.

“I love the excitement of it,” says Rotarian Mary Giroux. “There is much anticipation and preparation among all of our members from our youngest to our oldest. I like the sense of community it imparts.”

Tradition that serves.

Chuck O’Neil, Rotarian and former club president who chairs the breakfast, loves the tradition.

“To witness so many family members, neighbors and friends happily gathered together is heartwarming. It is the highlight event that kicks off our summer here in our beautiful village. And, of course, it is an activity that raises a lot of money for many worthy causes in our community.”

Global focus.

Lee Bennett, longtime chair of the Rotary Youth Exchange Committee, likes seeing scores of former exchange students and host parents come back to help serve.

Student reunion.

Karen Price, a Rotarian who heads up the high school’s Interact Club (Rotary sponsored), loves being with the students who fill more than 700 balloons (to decorate and to sell). As people stream by, she sees them all.  “It is such a wonderful reunion,” she said. “It is a community gathering … all day long hugging alumni who stop by – or who jump in to help.”