A message from our chapter leader:
I know, I know, this column is indeed sporting a new and familiar name and face! I have been approached and asked to succeed John Beiter and his administration as leader of NACUNY, NTID Alumni Chapter of Upstate New York, for those of you who are not familiar with this organization. This is a BIG step forward for us to assume such a prominent position of leadership within, not only the local Deaf Community of Rochester, NY, but also the larger community of Deaf Alums of NTID encompassing of all of upstate New York! I would like to use this article to properly introduce ourselves to you as well as issuing a very broad overview of our goals for this organization.
My name is Frank M. Sankey. I am a native of Pittsburgh, PA. I relocated to Rochester, NY back in 1986 when I began my academic career at NTID. It was at NTID where I came to learn and love ASL and became immersed in the wonderful deaf culture of NTID! In the ensuing years, I have earned three college degrees (AAS, BS, and MS ED). It was at NTID where I met my wife, Arlene Sankey. We ended up married and settled in Rochester, NY where we have resided for nearly 20 years now. We have two children, Laura and Frank Jr. At NTID, I have been involved in several organizations such as being one of the founding members of the Asian Deaf Club, which recently celebrated its 18 th anniversary! I have also been indirectly involved in various other local organizations such as RDMC, Rochester Deaf Mother’s Club, and ASADV, Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Victims, through my wife, Arlene’s direct involvement. Many of you may recall me from one or more of my previous vocations such as Page NY where I sold alphanumeric pagers for the deaf as well as Prudential Insurance Company where I sold insurance to numerous deaf clients, and Wegmans where I worked in the Video Department at the Hylan location. I have also worked as a substitute teacher at RSD, Rochester School for the Deaf, for quite a few years now and have assumed my new position as a math tutor at the new RASA, Rochester After School Academy, program this past October.
Now, at the helm of NACUNY, we have plans to solidify specific goals for this organization during my two year term. However, I would like to utilize this organization in such ways that the constituent alums can and will, not only benefit from, but also utilize to further the solidarity of their respective local deaf community where ever it may be within Upstate NY. Furthermore, we would also like to engage this organization in various fundraising activities that will serve as a double-edged sword of both contributing to the NTID Scholarship fund as well as enabling members an opportunity to socialize and enjoy each other’s company while building a strong community! After all, we all know that we, deaf folks, do it best! A very popular example of this is the annual NTID alumni golf tournament that will be and has been held at the Lima Country Club every June. Once we have the NACUNY website completed and implemented, Mark and I will be very much open to ideas and suggestions as to what types of activities we can engage in with these two goals in mind! Remember, as Otto Rank said it best, “What we achieve inwardly will change the outer reality,”
There is a t-shirt with a very humorous comment that I would like to paraphrase to: “Never Underestimate the Power of Deaf People in Large Groups”! With this in mind, let’s all give this a try together and make a difference! After all, this brings to mind another old saying: “What we have done for ourselves dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” Albert Pike.