The Corn Hill Waterfront & Navigation Foundation (CHN, for short) is a not-for-profit organization with a vision to improve and sustain Rochester’s (NY) waterways for current and future generations through awareness, education, and enjoyment. This year, CHN celebrates its 20th anniversary, which is a significant accomplishment in the non-profit world, as well as a testament to the work done and progress made.
Over the past several years, I have had the privilege of working with CHN in varying capacities, from being a deckhand in grad school (must pay the bills somehow!) to helping the organization with their digital media strategies to being elected to the Board of Directors and, last August, being elected as their Chairman. I will be honest, it has been a humbling experience serving as the Chairman of an organization with so much history and tenure, particularly in reference to the members of the Board. Our organization’s leadership is comprised of community leaders, city and county officials, business leaders, volunteers, and lovers of all things nautical. The founder of the organization, Ted Curtis, is also a prominent figure in the community, and it was his vision 20 years ago to find a way to provide a unique perspective of enjoying the community in downtown Rochester.
I recognize the idea sounds simple, but when you think back to that first conversation, whereby Ted asked if he could bring a boat downtown, there was no Corn Hill Landing, no dock, no development of any kind. The iconic bridge which now spans the Genesee River was an ugly overpass. For reference, even e-mail and web sites were laughable ideas at the time. If I think back, I can imagine it would have been easy to dismiss Ted’s vision.
The tenacity and persistence of Ted and his fellow supporters are what allow residents and visitors to partake in boat rides and educational cruises up and down the Genesee River and Erie Canal. He didn’t give up, and neither did the early leaders of Corn Hill Navigation. Their hard work resulted in not one, but two boats joining the Rochester waterway system, and spawning other operations in communities up and down the Erie Canal. Under the leadership of CHN’s President, Vicki Schmitt, the organization continues to grow and expand into new territories and offerings.
As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, I cannot help but reflect on where we will be in the next 20 years, and how exciting that will be! There will be a celebration on 15 July to cap a week-long dedication to Ted, the organization, and all of its supporters, complete with fireworks later in the evening. (Tickets are available, should you wish to join.) I am looking forward to the gathering and to meeting the task I have been elected to do — continuing the great work of the organization as we enter our third decade of operation.