One longstanding cause has been Camp Sertoma - a labor of love since its purchase in 1956. The Binghamton Sertoma Club raised the funds to purchase the camp’s original 25 acres, some members mortgaging their homes to assist. Now a 110-acre camp, located in Kirkwood, it offers day programs and residential (week long) programming with an emphasis on serving children who otherwise would be unable to
attend camp. Despite record-level attendance of campers and an extended season, the camp annually challenges the Club to support its capital and operational enhancements. In addition, the Club is working with camp leadership to focus on supporting children with communication disabilities attend camp with trained speech/hearing staff and/or interpretive equipment. Each year, the Club takes on a variety of fundraising activities to support its namesake. Its premier fundraiser established in 1982, the “Million Dollar Antique Show,” is the largest antique show in Southern New York State. The Club boasts sponsorship of an annual scholarship for high school students in the Binghamton high school districts. Eligible students are those with a documented communication disability or those who plan to study speech and/or hearing rehabilitation. Scholarship recipients are announced in May – “Better Speech and Hearing Month”. This year Sertoma will launch the “Wise Ears” program, which promotes education regarding noise induced hearing loss. The Binghamton Sertoma Club has an established history of collaborative community service. Joining forces with other local chapters, this Club supported worthy causes such as the Sertoma Speech and Hearing Clinics at the former Rehabilitation Services Inc. Sertoma is an international organization of more than 650 clubs sharing in the belief that universal communication, whether heard, seen or spoken, is the key to human understanding. The Binghamton Sertoma Club meets Tuesdays at the Binghamton Club and guests are always welcome.
