Be Like Ruth Campaign Under Way In Oswego

by Steve Yablonski | July 11, 2017 7:46 pm

OSWEGO, NY – For the past 70 years, Oswego’s historic, educational and cultural organizations have benefited from the energy, enthusiasm and leadership of Ruth Sayer.

Born July 2, 1917, in North Carolina, she came to Oswego in 1947 and began a career in education.

Learn How You Can Be Like Ruth[1]

At 30 years old, Sayer came to Oswego to teach at the SUNY Oswego Campus School.

In Oswego, she met and married Frank Sayer Jr., on April 16, 1949 and “became an honorary Oswegonian.

Together they immersed themselves in the life of the community lending their time, talent and leadership to many of the Port City’s non-profit organizations.

Ruth Sayer immediately recognized Oswego’s historic importance and dedicated herself to its preservation. Whether serving as member, chair, president, or volunteer, her impact on her adopted city is “awe-inspiring.”

She dedicated her life in the Port City to helping others and enhancing the quality of life.

“Ruth’s impact on the H. Lee White Maritime Museum and her continued support of the museum is hard to fully measure,” said Executive Director Mercedes Niess.

That sentiment is echoed by Justin White, president of the Oswego County Historical Society.

“Ruth’s energy, dedication and institutional memory has been so valuable to our work,” he said. “We need more people like Ruth Sayer. We all need to be like Ruth.”

Recently, a 100th birthday celebration was held at Bridie Manor for Ruth. The mayor presented her with a city proclamation recognizing the milestone, and he publicly recognized her at this week’s Common Council meeting.

She has inspired her many friends and acquaintances with her passion to support civic organizations … including Oswego County Hospice, The Ladies Home, Oswego County Historical Society – Richardson-Bates House Museum, Riverside Cemetery, H. Lee White Maritime Museum, American Association of University Women, Oswego Hospital Auxiliary and several others, Niess said.

A special campaign, named in her honor, is under way in the Port City.

Citizens are encouraged to support as many civic organizations as they can.

“A couple of month’s ago, Justin (White, president of the Oswego County Historical Society) and I met with Mrs. Sayer and asked if we could have a community thank you for her,” Mercedes Niess, executive director of the Maritime Museum said.

Mrs. Sayer replied, “No way,” Niess said.

“There was nothing we could do to convince her otherwise. What she did want is to inspire people to do what she did for 70 years. So, for myself, as a member of several of the cultural not-for-profits that Ruth helped support and found … not just organizations that Ruth fostered but in some cases helped to found – we are honored and humbled by her 70 years of dedicated service to the culture and heritage of Oswego,” Niess said.

To celebrate Ruth’s many contributions, Niess and White launched the “Be Like Ruth Sayer Campaign: A summer of service” beginning July 10 and continuing throughout the summer.

“Ruth is one of Oswego’s most distinguished citizens,” Mayor William Barlow said. “She is a family woman who exemplifies all the qualities of a life well lived. She and her late husband, Frank, are a stellar example of civic pride and participation that extends far beyond their own endeavors and is shared and appreciated by a grateful community. The Be Like Ruth Sayer Campaign is designed to encourage folks in the Oswego community to get involved, contribute, give back and volunteer in your community to make Oswego a better place for all.”

“Ruth is an example of what an impact one individual can have on their community. She is an inspiration and continues to serve as a mentor to all of us,” Niess said. “She’s not resting on her laurels even today.

The Be Like Ruth Campaign is a “unique and motivational way” to celebrate Ruth, she said, adding, “It is an opportunity for citizens to step forward and help their favorite not-for-profits, through donations, volunteering or other methods.”

Several members of the myriad organizations that formed the committee were present at Monday’s council meeting to honor Sayer in person, along with family and community members.

Participating organizations include the H. Lee White Maritime Museum, the Oswego County Historical Society and Richardson-Bates House Museum, the Heritage Foundation of Oswego, the Oswego Public Library, Friends of Hospice, Riverside Cemetery and the Philanthropic Educational Organization.

“The different organizations have different needs,” Niess pointed out. “Each organization has created a wish list of specific ways members of the Oswego community can participate, follow Ruth’s lead, and ‘Be Like Ruth.’ These include, for example, volunteering to help paint the Boating Center buildings at the Maritime Museum.”

Other examples:

The historical society would like to install an historic rose garden reflecting the era of the Richardson-Bates House.

The Philanthropic Educational Organization provides scholarships for women to go to college. They have a couple fundraiser scheduled, which people can support.

Riverside Cemetery needs about 40 (dead) trees removed and they could use a new restroom in the chapel.

The Oswego Public Library is looking for help with the purchase of a 3-D printer and the supplies that go along with that.

“Some of these projects are small. Some of these are larger. Some might take several years,” Niess said. “We hope that people are inspired to ‘Be Like Ruth’ and that this support will continue on for a lot of years. We hope that it will continue and grow each and every year.”

Those inspired by Ruth Sayer’s 70-year legacy of community involvement can contribute to the campaign by donation of time, talent, materials or monetary contributions.

Citizens who want to “Be Like Ruth” are encouraged to contact the participating organizations for more detail. Participants should email or call the organizations directly for more information.

To “be like Ruth” select one or more civic organizations listed here and help with their wish lists.

H. LEE WHITE MARITIME MUSEUM
1 W. First St.
Oswego, NY 13126
www.hlwmm.org
Contact: Mercedes Niess
[email protected]
315-342-0480
Wish list:
• Volunteers to paint Museum’s Boating Center buildings, white with blue trim
• Re-roofing or donated roof shingles for Museum’s Boating Center buildings
• Tree removal at Museum’s Boating Center and removal of brush
• Painting of Buoys by Derrick Boat 8

OSWEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
120 E. Second St.
Oswego, NY 13126
www.oswegopubliclibrary.org
Contact: Kathy Mantaro
[email protected]
315-343-3025
Wish list:
• Donate a 3-D Printer and supplies needed for a new program
• Plant and maintain library gardens
• A volunteer with experience organizing, setting up and helping to plan a used book sale to assist our AmeriCorps person this over the summer

HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF OSWEGO
156 W. Second St.
Oswego, NY 13126
www.oswegocountyheritage.org
Contact: George Koenig
[email protected]
Phone: 315-343-6791
Wish list:
• Redesign and publish Historic Walking Tours and create an app for the Walking Tours
• Help establish a historic district in the city of Fulton
• Historic Plaque Project- Help with contacting residents of Franklin Square and Kingsford Park Historic Districts to identify houses in need of a historic plaque.
• Assist with a World War I Monument Restoration Project

THE OSWEGO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND RICHARDSON-BATES HOUSE MUSEUM
135 E. Third St.
Oswego, NY 13126
www.rhousemuseum.org
Contact: Justin White
[email protected]
Phone: 315-343-1342
Wish list:
Beautification projects of the exterior landscape, to include:
• Restoration and Planting of the Bates family rose garden as memorial garden
• Restoration of the 19th century octagonal shed and its conical roof
• Restoration of early 20th century brick garage along with new fence on property border
• Restoration of limestone retaining wall surrounding the property

FRIENDS OF OSWEGO COUNTY HOSPICE
34 E. Bridge St. #202
Oswego, NY 13126
www.friendsofhospice.org
Contact: Debbie Bishop, Executive Director
[email protected]
Phone: 315-343-5223
Wish list:
Become a Hospice volunteer to:
• Provide family and patient support
• Assist the Friends of Oswego County Hospice with fundraising events, office help and Camp Rainbow of Hope

RIVERSIDE CEMETERY
4024 County Route 57
Oswego, NY 13126
www.riversidecemeteryofoswego.com
Contact: Chris Gagas, President
Phone: 315-343-7691 (office)
Wish list:
• Page Memorial Chapel – installing restroom facilities in the tower to enable Riverside to extend to the community the chapel facilities for other functions, for example for weddings
• Tree Projects – to continue to remove a number (more than 40) dead trees, and to plant new trees to replace those removed.

PHILANTHROPIC EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION
Contact: Lee Audlin, President
[email protected]
Phone: 315-343-7602
P.E.O. promotes educational opportunities for women through a variety of philanthropies that include scholarships, grants, awards and loans. To learn more about this dedicated group, contact Lee Audlin, President.
Wish list:
Support for its upcoming fundraisers at the west side McDonald’s Restaurant:
• August 9 from 5 to 8 p.m.
• November 8 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/oswego/be-like-ruth-campaign-under-way-in-oswego/

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