Erie Ambassador Program: Graduation!

It’s official. The Spring 2014 Erie Ambassador class has graduated. Ask us what Erie has to offer. We can share plenty after nine sessions, during which we learned about nearly twenty different organizations that make Erie a better place.

Our graduation ceremony and celebration was hosted by the Regional Cancer Center (RCC), which was founded in 1987 as a joint venture by Saint Vincent Health System and UPMC. Michael Keyes, executive director, gave us an overview of the organization, and remarked that it is rare for a community of our size to have the level of cancer services that are provided by RCC. The Center also partners with nearby Cleveland Clinic and Buffalo’s Roswell Park for services that it does not provide at this time. RCC’s eight board-certified physicians and 160 staff members treat 10,000 patients per year and also focus on prevention and education.

Sarah Humphrey, RCC outreach coordinator, spoke next and acknowledged that no one wants to walk through the doors of the cancer center, but if they do, they can be confident of receiving a high level of comprehensive care by a caring staff. Humphrey provided an overview of the many services the Center provides, such as a survivorship program, regardless of where these individuals received their care. This program helps cancer survivors deal with the emotional turmoil and fear of recurrence that they often experience. She also talked about other services that the Regional Cancer Center provides, such as a wellness program, art therapy, nutrition education, a speakers bureau, and cancer screenings.

Offering some sobering statistics, Humphrey said that one-in-three women and one-in-two men will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. However, one third of all cancers can be prevented through lifestyle. Cancer is not necessarily predetermined, as many people resign themselves to thinking. Eighty-percent of all lung cancer is caused by smoking, and obesity is linked to post-menopausal breast cancer. Did you know that 50% of all cancer deaths can be prevented through healthy lifestyle?

Rounding out the speakers for the evening was Beth Zimmer, an Erie Ambassador alumna from the very first class almost 15 years ago. She told the graduates that we are here to represent Erie to our customers, suppliers, and people we encounter while traveling. We have a lot of talent in Erie, but we lack confidence. We choose to live in Erie because it’s a great place to raise a family, it has the largest medical school in the nation, and it is safer than most cities in the United States. “We have a ton of sparkle and opportunity,” said Zimmer. “We can’t collectively act like a second-class town.”

When the graduates were asked what they liked about Erie, one said that it’s just easy to be here, and another said it’s an easy commute to anywhere. Others commented on the excellent summers, and my husband, Jim, said he values the rich culture and numerous festivals.

Following the speakers, the 32 graduates received their diplomas and oxford shirts with the Erie Ambassador logo embroidered on them. We, and our guests, enjoyed catering by Calimari’s, Erie Brewing Company, and Mazza Vineyards. Now that we are graduates, we look forward to attending area ribbon cuttings, business-after-hours events, and participating in various volunteer opportunities over the next year. Best of all, we are well equipped to share with others why Erie is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

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Ann Silverthorn (Twitter: @annsilverthorn)  is a versatile blogger who’s written about a wide variety of subjects in a vast number of genres. She’s a proven writer on technology topics, in addition to travel, creative, and grant writing. Ann is currently working on a biography on the life of William E. Dimorier (1871-1951), the nearly forgotten poet and assistant principal of Academy High School in Erie, PA, who dedicated his life to the betterment of young people. Dimorier’s story will demonstrate how this man of humble beginnings positively influenced many lives around the world.