History and Activities

The Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY) is a not-for-profit organization which has been active in the region since 1903. Originally named the Technology Club of Syracuse, the name was changed in 2002 to reflect the broader scope of the organization.

Our primary mission is to promote excellence in technology in the Central New York region. This is done by bringing together the technical commmunity though the Sweet Lecture Series, the Technologist Newsletter, the TACNY Web page, and chairing the Technical Societies Council of Greater Syracuse, which merged with the Technology Club of Syracuse in 1963. Our members are concerned that Central New York should have a continuing workforce of competent technologists. This concern is emphasized though the Outstanding Teacher Awards Program, and the support of the Science Olympiad, Build 'Em and Bust 'Em!, Greater Syracuse Scholastic Science Fair, and the Milton J. Rubinstein Museum of Science and Technology.

On October 3rd, 1903, a small group of men who were interested in exchanging ideas met in the home of Professor John Edson Sweet, an eminent Syracuse industrialist and educator. This was the birth of the Technology Club of Syracuse, and at this meeting Professor Sweet was elected the Club's first president. Other outstanding representatives from the City's industries and the University became officers of the Club. They included Dean William Kent, well know as the author of an engineers handbook, and Edward N. Trump, the chief engineer of the Solvay Process Company. By 1907 the Technology Club of Syracuse was a well established organization, and on June 5th of that year it was incorporated.

In 1916 a lecture series was established to honor the Tech Club's founder, Professor Sweet, and a permanent memorial fund of $20,000 was placed in trust. The proceeds from this fund have been used to bring outstanding lecturers to the Central New York Community.

In January 1946, Tech Club member Simon B. Storer presented the Club with 200 acres of land located on Onondaga Hill. Part of this acreage now provides the main entrance to Onondaga Community College.

Membership in the Technology Alliance of Central New York has helped to support the following activities:

• Co-founders of The Discovery Center of Science & Technology, now renamed the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST). The museum has undergone a large expansion, including the Silverman Planetarium and Central New York's only IMAX experience in the new Bristol Omnitheater. The new home of the MOST is in the old, but wonderfully renovated Syracuse Armory, in the heart of Armory Square. For MOST information, call: 315.425.9068.
• John Edson Sweet Lecture Series - generally six technical lectures each year, free and open to the public, with a social and dinner opportunity to share in a collegial atmosphere.
• Outstanding Technology Teacher Recognition Awards - up to five awards are presented each year to K-12 teachers who have distinguished themselves in Math, Science, or Technology by inspiring and involving students and colleagues in the technical fields.
• Technical Society Council umbrella organization for all the Technical Societies in Central New York.
• Annual Celebration of Technology Event and Awards Banquet during National Engineering Week.
• Web page to aid in contacting Council association officers and in sharing their Society's meeting announcements.
• Support of the Building Big Student Engineering Project and the Science Olympiad Student Competition.
• Co-sponsor of Build 'Em and Bust 'Em competition.
• Support for Sonia Kovalevsky Festival, a program exploring math intensive fields for high school girls and their teachers.
• Co-sponsor with the MOST of the Greater Syracuse Science Fair.

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