The Holland Society of New York Fall Medalist Banquet

Members and friends of the Holland Society of New York and their guests gathered at the Union Club for the Annual Medalist Banquet and to celebrate Dutch American Heritage Day.

The honored guest and recipient of the Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy was Robert Edward Turner, III (Ted Turner). Mr. Turner was accompanied by Elizabeth Dewberry.

The evening commenced with a receiving line which included Mr. Turner and Ms. Dewberry, President and Mrs. John B. VanDerbeek IV, Banquet Chairman Stephen S. and Mrs. Wyckoff, Netherlands Minister of External Affairs Frans Timmermans, and Dutch Consul General to New York Gajus Scheltema. Greetings were exchanged and the guests were seated for a rousing parade of the mascot of the Holland Society of New York, "Astor" the beaver. The Lester Lanin Orchestra played "A Few Good Men" while the Burgher Guard, Holland Society Members under age 40 led by Burgher Guard Captain Sean Palen and Phillip R. Zabriskie handled "Astor" to the delight of those gathered. The first two new Holland Society friends of the Henry Hudson 400 Membership Drive, Nancy Apgar Winship and Martha VanDerbeek Unger received their limited addition de Halve Maen 2009 New Member pins from Membership Co-Chairman Dr. Robert R. Schenck.

After a delicious four course meal, we were treated to an outstanding introductory speech about the medalist by President John B. VanDerbeek IV. Noting that throughout his career, Ted Turner has received recognition for his entrepreneurial acumen, sharp business skills, leadership qualities, and his unprecedented philanthropy, President VanDerbeek noted that whether in billboard advertisement, cable television, sports team ownership, sailing, environmental initiatives or philanthropy, Turner's vision, determination, generosity and forthrightness have consistently given the world reason to take notice.

Turner is chair of Turner Foundation, Inc., which supports efforts to improve air and water quality, develop a sustainable energy future to protect our climate, safeguard environmental health, maintain wildlife habitat protection, and develop practices and policies to curb population growth rates; co-chair of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, which works to close the growing and increasingly dangerous gap between the threat from nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons; and chair of the United Nations Foundation, which promotes a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. Having asked permission to discuss politics in the hallowed walls of the Union Club, Turner quite rightly noted the lack of discussion of nuclear proliferation as a campaign issue in the 2008 elections.

Banquet chairman Stephen Wyckoff and his committee did an excellent job of arranging this year's banquet. Join the fun this fall not only for the 2008 banquet but also Five Dutch Days in New York. Watch this web site for updates.