Betty Conger and Glenn Morey recognized for service to Groton youth

When the Tompkins County Municipal Youth Services System (MYSS) held its annual networking and recognition event at Hotel Ithaca Oct. 12, two of Groton’s most dedicated public servants were honored with certificates of appreciation for their commitment to the mission of the MYSS. In part, this mission is the organization’s commitment “to providing opportunities for underrepresented and underserved youth to deal successfully with the challenges of adolescence.” 

Those who have served for 20 years or more on local boards of youth commissions were given the awards. Betty Conger and Glenn Morey were certainly qualified. Conger has served on the Groton Youth Commission (GYC) board for 22 years, and Morey for 34. Each has contributed that service — and so much more — to the community. 

“The award was a complete surprise to me,” Morey said. “I just thought I was going to dinner!” 

But it is no surprise at all when the accomplishments of these pillars of Groton, and their involvement with young people, are reviewed.  

Conger, who has lived in Groton for her entire life, is a 1960 Groton High School (GHS) alumna. She noted that she is in the second generation of four in her family to attend Groton schools. In 2020, she was inducted into the GHS Distinguished Graduate Hall of Fame. 

Careerwise, Conger served as a certified senior professional in human resources at Northeast Dairy Herd Improvement for 26 years and as faculty support at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management for 12 years, retiring in 2008. 

For 23 years, Conger has served as a member of the Groton Village Board of Trustees, including stints as police commissioner and park commissioner, and as representative for the village of Groton on the Tompkins County Council of Governments. She is also a 46-year member of the Groton American Legion Auxiliary and was awarded an honorary life membership in 1998. She has previously served as president of the American Legion Sixth District of the State of New York and president of the Groton American Legion Auxiliary, as an instructor and associate dean for the American Legion Auxiliary College and as local chair of Girls State for the past 27 years.   

Conger also serves as a member of the Joint Town and Village Recreation Committee and, of course, the GYC, of which she has been vice chair for the past 15 years.  

Morey is a 1972 alumnus of Jamesville-Dewitt High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in management from SUNY Oswego in 1975. He has been a Groton resident since 1980.  

Morey began his career in his hometown of Syracuse as a junior estimator for a construction company there, but he landed a position at Cornell University in 1979 as a purchasing agent for the Maintenance, Repairs and Operations department. He retired as a senior purchasing agent in 2018.  

Glenn met his wife, Jean, in Clayton, New York. Glenn’s parents owned a summer cottage on the St. Lawrence River, and Jean happened to live right next door. They said it was “love at first sight,” and they were married in July 1980.  

“We lived in an apartment in Freeville at first,” Glenn said, “but we saw an ad in the newspaper for a house in Groton. Two days later, we bought it — and have lived here ever since.” 

Glenn and Jean welcomed their sons, Doug and Ben, to the family in 1983 and 1984, respectively. Sadly, Ben succumbed to cystic fibrosis in 2011, but he is forever in their hearts.  

When the boys were younger, they both played baseball. Glenn ended up being the coach of the Groton Little League (GLL), as well as its treasurer. At that time, Barney Marlette was the mayor of the village of Groton and the president of GLL.  

“Barney asked me to join the Groton Youth Commission back then,” Glenn said, “and I’ve been there ever since.” 

Glenn has served on the GYC board for the past 34 years and has been its chair since 1998. He also served on the village planning board. He was a trustee on the village board from 1990 to 2000, town supervisor from 2000 to 2015 and a member of the Tompkins County Legislature from 2015 to 2021.  

“I have enjoyed serving my community and helping make it much better than it is,” Glenn said. “We live in a great place. I love my neighborhood and how neighbors care about you.” 

Conger explained the structure of the GYC. She was appointed to it by then-Mayor Dennis Toolan in 2001 because she was a trustee on the village board, and that is one of the required seats at the board table.  

“The other members required represent different areas,” Conger said. “Currently, in addition to Glenn and me, we have Shelly Lester from Cornell Cooperative Extension [CCE]; Kristin Prugh from the Groton Board of Education; Brian Klumpp as the town council representative; Pegi Ficken as the town member-at-large; Kayla Esparza as the village member-at-large; the Groton Public Library director, Sara Knobel; and two student representatives, Ellie Dykeman and Maddie Perkins. We meet once a month, and members of the MYSS meet with us.” 

Conger also said they recently hired a new program manager, Keith Davenport, and that the position is funded by CCE, while the cost for programming is shared jointly by the town and village.  

“The programming ideas are first approved by CCE, and then the GYC,” Conger said. “Usually, things are a four- to six-week program. We’ve had things like photography, international cooking classes, hiking, crafts, music and more.”  

Conger added that location is sometimes a challenge, but they find space wherever it can be found, such as Groton Memorial Park, the Masonic Lodge, or the Groton American Legion, and that she is very excited about the opportunity to use the community room in the new public service building on Main Street when it is completed. 

Conger and Glenn both agreed that their most successful and popular program is the summer day camp, which serves more than 110 children and is always full. 

Glenn said, “A big part of the job our GYC board does is identify and promote programs that will benefit these students. This board is spectacular! Everyone knows what they’re doing, and they do it.” 

“These programs fit the students who are on the fringe and not involved with a lot of other school activities,” Conger said. “It gives them some confidence and belief in themselves.”  

“Kids need a place to go after school with a responsible person to give them things to do instead of just going home to watch TV or do things they shouldn’t do,” Glenn added.  

It is very clear that Conger and Glenn were recognized for their dedication to students for good reason. Longevity aside, they both have hearts for providing the best for young people.  

“When we hear reports from the program manager at our meetings, he usually highlights at least one student, and it chokes me up every time,” Conger said. “These students really get brought out of their shells, and that is why this program is so important!” 

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922.  

In brief: 

Free knitted items for the cold weather 

The Groton Public Library has free hand-made knit hats, gloves and scarves available as the weather gets colder. Both adults’ and kids’ sizes can be found in a wooden basket tower in the long hallway. 

Concert at the library 

A concert with Josh Dwyer, followed by Travis Knapp, will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Groton Public Library, made possible in full by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and Tompkins County, administered by the Community Arts Partnership. The Holy Smoked Food Truck will be parked out front. For more information, call 607-898-5055 or email director@grotonpubliclibrary.org. 

Wanted: Basketball coaches 

Groton Recreation’s K-2 youth basketball program needs coaches for its kindergarten and second-grade levels for Saturday mornings in January and February. Sessions are designed to introduce the game of basketball to young players. Each session will focus on basic skills and fun drills and games. Email recreation@grotonny.org if you would like to volunteer or have questions.