Fred Parker, Ray Halbritter, Bruce Wilkinson
Oneida Indian Nation CEO, Ray Halbritter, began the Thursday morning of June 11th by speaking to a full brigade of enthusiastic golfers. All were ready to enjoy a full day of good golf, good food and wholesome fun at the 2009 Annual Charity Classic Golf Tournament. The pristine Atunyote Golf Course in New York (recently added to the PGA circuit tour) was the site of the Charity Classic event now in its 7th year. Group camaraderie was high as friendships were renewed and game expectations expressed in comparison to previous year’s player/team match-ups.
Pastor Bruce Wilkinson, N.A.D. Native Ministries Coordinator/Trainer, offered prayer, recognizing the Creator as the Great Benefactor, making events like this possible by providing the most beautiful scenery Mother Earth can offer. Fred Parker, a Seventh-day Adventist Nation Administrator, was acknowledged as one of the many involved in the internal planning and preparation of this anticipated event.
Elder Stan Rouse, New York Conference President and Superintendent of Education, rallied his team players from Union Springs Academy, posting an outstanding score at the end of the day. Over $500,000 in proceeds was collected in the course of the 7 annual tournaments. Being the recipients of much of the events over the years, Native Ministries and Union Springs Adventist Academy of New York has proudly served many Oneida Nation young people. These groups are preparing for a new generation of Nation members beginning this year.
However, no one team of golfers of the 2009 Classic Event could have enjoyed the outing more than the Native Ministry donor team of Mr. Joe Labella, Rick Manzi and Kirk Bristol, each expressing the same sentiment that, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” With great vision and expectation, Mr. Halbritter, “Ray,” has not only provided an event bringing friends together but has opened an avenue to help secure quality education for young people that includes our Native children.
