Notes 6/25/26

The SRC Rotary year in celebration was held at Debbie and Peter Browns home on June 25, 2026.  Thanks to them for hosting and cooking hamburgers and bratwurst and desert!  With the Browns intended move, this may be the last party on this property. The event was well attended and included family members and friends as well. Phil welcomed everyone and began the program by thanking Team Rotary for all the accomplishments this past year.  He went through a list of accomplishments and while doing so, recognized members and family for their efforts. He gave out patriotic memorabilia including caps and flags. Phil will continue as President for another year. Phil was instrumental in raising funds for both Global and Local initiatives that continue with our goals of doing good in the world. Our 501c4 status was re-established. Even though we lost some members for the coming year, the Club recognized their past contributionsand would welcome them back. 

The first Summer Casual will be a Fillet Cookout sponsored by Jim and Roberto at Jim’s home on 8 Elmwood Drive on July 9, 2026, at 6pm. Dinner will include fillet mignon, backed potatoes, Cowboy Beans, Klondike Bars and bread. Pool and Hot Tub will be open. The price of the event will be $35/person or $40/family.  Guests are requested to bring an appetizer or dessert. Please contact Roberto or Jim if you are planning on attending as we also need a head count. They will need to know the final count by July 5^th so the fillets can be ordered from the butcher. Regrets also help so we don’t need to keep reaching out.

If You are interested in attending the summer casual event on July 30, 2026 at Mac-Haydn Theater at 2:00 pm to see “Newsies” please email Kevin at KRL1873@aol.com. Tickets are $58.50.

Dear Members:

Our last official meeting of our year will be Thursday 25 at 6 pm at the home of Peter and Deb Brown.

Other summer activities are as scheduled:

Thursday, July 9.  Barbecue dinner at Jim Lehayne’s house.  6 pm

Friday, July 17. S and S Brewery.  6 pm

Thursday July 23.  Grants cottage tour. 1 pm. Please let me know if you will be attending.

Thursday July 30th.  Play at the Mac-Hayden.  2 pm.

Thursday, August 6.  Pizza Party at Pat Bailey’s.

Thursday August 27. Party at Murray’s.

Sincerely,

Phil Kellerman, President 

May 28, 2026, SRC Rotary Minutes

Attendance: P. Kellerman; R. Martinez; J. Leyhane; M. Forth; P. Bailey; L. Pferr; P. Brown; D. Brown; C. Heaney; A. Leyhane; K. Leyhane; R Hannan; 

Guests: Denise Figueroa, Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley; Jessie Pferr

Presentation:  Thanks to Laurie Pferr for arranging.

Our guest, Denise Figueroa, from Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley discussed her agency, which eliminates barriers and inspires opportunities for people with disabilities. They envision a world in which people with disabilities enjoy the same right for self-determination, economic freedom and full and equal participation in community life as their non-disabled peers.  

Services include advocacy, peer counselling, benefits advisements, living skills, employment support.

ILCHV services people of all ages with all disabilities including those affecting mobility, hearing, vision, mental health, self-expression and learning. 

ILCHV has bee operating since 1987. They are a non-residential consumer-controlled community-based organization. Over one half of their board of directors and most of the staff are persons with disabilities. 

To learn more about ILCHV visit online at www.ilchv.org or on Facebook.

Business: 

Happy Dollars: 

• Jim completed the Scouts safety protocols to continue as the Club Liasson.

• Happy Dollars are currently going to Circles of Mercy and will switch to Flutter Express in the Fall

• Phil’s soccer player friend Delphine has been granted an ok to seek work in the USA and will begin applying in July

Membership Dues and Membership: 

• Murray has sent out invoices to current club members. We need to know within the week who will be renewing or not. Thanks to Murray and all involved for monitoring this process.

• We have two possible new members from Top Form and continue to pursue Phil’s old boss.

Time Sensitive: All invoices have been sent out. Dues need to be submitted or committed by next week to Murray Forth. Make necessary adjustments to membership for Rotary International and CNY Rotary. 

IRS update:  Our filing was incorrectly changed to calendar from fiscal year. Nothing to do on our part as adjustments have been made by the IRS. 

Website Update: Carol continues to work on this project and hopes to have the site by fall. Thanks to all involved. 

Global Grant Update:

• Kenya WASH Project: P. Brown provided an update and photos. Completion is expected by the end of June. Some contingency funds will be satisfied by Jennifer Grimm, District Grants Subcommittee Chair, through an arrangement with a Rotary organization in India. The project completion does include sealing the well. The Club acknowledged Peter’s persistence in bringing the project to a close despite the many construction challenges. Jennifer will continue to oversee the grant after the project’s completion. 

District Grant Updates: 

Flutter Club District Grant 2026/27: $2500

Carole Heaney submitted the District Grant to the Flutter Club to support safe and comfortable transportation for individuals living with life-threatening illnesses to health centers in Boston and New York City. The club’s $1,250.00 fundraising contribution will be raised through a tag sale in late June or July, planned by Phil. Carole will host a Fall fundraising dinner. There is a possible $2500 match from an anonymous donor. Thanks to the Committee’s support in getting the grant timely submitted.

Action: Await approval.

East Greenbush Backpack Program District Grant for food storage Facilities and Equipment 2025/26 $2500

Laurie Pferr reported that she has the receipts for the school’s grant-related purchases and is prepared to finalize the grant report for submission. The Club has till the end of July. She has some question which need clarification. Laurie wants to include a posting in Our Towne for publicity. 

Action: Our Towne article and completing of the final report.  Laurie will send the report to Phil K. before submission. Await our reimbursement.

Meeting Schedule:

• Next meeting is on June 25^th at the Brown’s home. This is the last meeting for the calendar year and recognizes Phil and the Clubs accomplishments for the Rotary Year. Please plan on attending.  RSVP’s to the Browns. It is requested to bring an appetizer or salad to the event. Cost per person is $30or $40 for the family. Friends and family invited. Signup sheets were going around at the meeting. Thanks to the Browns for hosting. 

• Plans for summer activities currently include:

o Cookoff at Jim Leyhanes hosted by Jim / Roberto  6pm July 9^th

o S&S Brewery hosted by Phil and Pat 6pm Friday July 17^th

o Grant’s College hosted by Phil 1pm July 23^rd

o MacHayden Newsie’s hosted by Kevin 2pm Jul 30^th

o Cookout at Murray and Maggie’s 6pm August 27th

Action: Fill in remaining dates for the summer

Dear Members:

This Thursday June 11th, our guest speaker will be Denise Figueroa, Executive Director of the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley.

If you have not done so please give your membership dues to Murray Forth.

At our meeting on Thursday I will be handing out a schedule of summer activities to review.

Sincerely,

Phil Kellerman 

May 28, 2026, SRC Rotary Minutes

Attendance: P. Kellerman; R. Martinez; J. Leyhane; M. Forth; C. Foote; P. Bailey; Mary Alice; D. Drumm; L. Pferr; P. Brown; D. Brown; C.Heaney; A. Leyhane; K. Leyhane

Guest: Heidi Buono, Community Caregivers 

Our guest, Heidi Buono, Social Worker for Community Caregivers, discussed her nonprofit agency, which provides assistance to residents in Albany and Rensselaer counties through volunteers, helping them stay in their homes and live independently with dignity. Volunteers are always in high demand. Various types of non-medical support provided by volunteers include grocery shopping, transportation to medical appointments, friendly visits, and more. Community Caregivers is funded entirely by grants and donations. If any members have suggestions for connecting Heidi with community resources to support their financial and resource goals, contact her at 518-456-2898 or by email at info@communitycaregivers.org. For more information, go to their website at www.communitycaregivers.org

Business: 

Membership Dues: 

Time Sensitive: All invoices have been sent out. Dues need to be submitted as soon as possible to Murray Forth.

Global Grant Update:

Kenya WASH Project: P. Brown provided an update and photos. Completion is expected by the end of May. Jennifer Grimm, District Grants Subcommittee Chair, Rotary Club of Kilifi, noted that a contingency amount must be held for a period but was not included in the overall project budget. Jennifer will satisfy the contingency through an arrangement with a Rotary organization in India. Roberto and Peter acknowledged the recent contributions from members that closed the previous shortfall in construction fees. Roberto also acknowledged Peter’s persistence in bringing the project to a close despite the many construction challenges. Jennifer will continue to oversee the grant after the project’s completion. 

District Grant Updates: 

Flutter Club 2026/27

Carole Heaney reported on the Board-approved submission of a $2,500.00 District Grant to the Flutter Club to support safe and comfortable transportation for individuals living with life-threatening illnesses to health centers in Boston and New York City. The grant team did an initial review and is ready to submit this weekend. The club’s $1,250.00 fundraising contribution will be raised through a tag sale in late June or July, planned by Phil. Carole will host a Fall fundraising dinner.

Action: Grant team to review the final copy of the grant and send comments to Carole by Friday, May 29^th. 

Phil to confirm the tag sale date and the support needed. 

East Greenbush Backpack Program 2025/26

Laurie Pferr reported that she has the receipts for the school’s grant-related purchases and is prepared to finalize the grant report for submission by June 10^th. The final piece of documentation is a copy of the check to the East Greenbush Foundation. 

Action: Murray to send Laurie the copy asap. 

Laurie will send the report to Phil K. before submission

Meeting Schedule:

Next meeting is June 11th. The end of the year meetinf is June 25th at the Brown’s home.

Plans for summer activities include a visit to Grant Cottage and McHaydenTheater. Fundraising dinners will be planned. Dates and hosts to be announced. 

Action:

Kevin Leyhane to communicate the best date for the McHayden performance. 

Deb and Peter Brown will provide communication for the end-of-year celebration. 

Phil to get dates for Grant Cottage visit.

Jim and Roberto are to organize a summer steak dinner and confirm details. 

Kevin to update the SRC calendar with events. 

Murray will communicate the dates for hosting dinner.

Other Business:

*Important Update from Kevin: Some folks are receiving the weekly updates in their junk folders. If you don’t receive them, please check your junk folder.

We hope you noticed the new sandwich board sign outside Moscatiello’s. It was purchased through a Public Image Grant from CNY Rotary by Carole Heaney.

CNY Rotary District Updates:

CNY Rotary Inauguration, June 20^th 12-6pm, Roselawn Banquet Facility, 446 Main St., New York Mills, NY

https://cnyrotary.org/events/cny-rotary-inaguration

Join CNY’s celebration of the leadership transition across all of CNY. We will thank outgoing CNY District President Bob Balk, welcome our 2026-27 CNY District President Pamela Baker Gratton, and honor all outgoing and incoming Club Presidents for their service. 

For just $30 per person, enjoy an all-inclusive experience featuring:

• Three hours of all you can eat cookout fare, including steak sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, hot sausage, baked beans, kielbasa with sauerkraut, salt potatoes, pasta salad, corn on the cob, and clam chowder

• Four hours of all you can drink beverages, including beer, soda & coffee

• Space to play lawn games and relax

• Kids 5 and under are free! 

Watch for a more detailed program for the afternoon’s festivities!

Registration closes June 6th and no tickets will be sold at the door.  Be sure to register today!

Dear Members:

Our speaker for our meeting on Thursday May 28 will be Helen Buono, MSW and she will speak on “Community Caregivers.”

If you have not done so, please remember to renew your membership.
Our year is coming to a close so please think about summer activities.

Sincerely,
Phil Kellerman, President

Minutes 

May 14, 2026

Members: Laurie, Peter, Kevin, James, Robert, Murray, Dick

Zoom: none

Guests: Michael Asbury and Ellen Santasiero of Braver Angels speakers

Peter Sawyer Rotarian, Professor Hudson Valley

John Eberle, President and CEO of Community Foundation

Karen DeBonis, Volunteer for Braver Angels

Meeting called to order by Murray Forth

Phil was on the road today and when he returns, he will give an update on our Board Meeting.

Dues: Murray will be sending out notices for our new calendar year. The dues are $175 for members and $350 for corporate members. Wee would like to have these by June 1.

Dean’s EGB presentation: Dean gave a presentation at the EGB Library on the Greek Immigrant Journey on April 28^th. It was well received and had an hour discussion afterwards.

District Grant 25-26: Almost complete and waiting to send check to the EGB Foundation so we can submit the final report.

District Grant 26-27: The Committee is writing the grant proposal. We will be working with the Flutter Express to deliver supplies for transportation to and from the medical appointments.  We will be committing $2500 of which 50% should be reimbursed by the District. There is also a matching donor who will bring the total of the project to $5,000. Thanks to all involved in the process. We would like to complete the grant application by the end of this month.

Global Grant: The Global grant in Kenya in progressing and will hopefully be completed by the end of June.  The extra funds of $1005 have been committed and will be sent. The project will include securing the bore hole, a water collection system, training and some toilets. Thanks again to everyone who has been involved, especially Peter and Debbie Brown.

Epic Day of Service: 5/16/26. Clubs are encouraged to focus on food insecurity which we have been doing!

Inauguration Event in Utica 6/20 12-4p, register by 6/6 $30. This is a family event to celebrate the past year and the year to come. More information on CNYRotary.org

Bowlathon Summary: $850 plus to Anchor Food Bank along with donations. Thanks to Phil for organizing.

Year End Picnic: Debbie and Peter Brown will be hosting once again on June 25^th at their house.

Summer events: Options for the summer events and field trips. S&S Brewery, Pool fundraiser at Jim Leyhanes, Murray to do cookout, trip to Grant Cottage outside Saratoga. Other ideas welcome.

Speakers: The next speaker is Helen Buono, MSW from Community Caregivers and invited by Carole Heaney. 

Presentation: Michael Asbury and Ellen Santasiero of Braver Angels speakers

​

Braver Angels — Depolarizing the United States

• Braver Angels is a nonpartisan organization founded in 2016 that brings red and blue Americans together through structured workshops, aiming to reduce affective polarization — not by changing people’s policy views, but by improving how they understand and relate to one another. Equal representation from both sides. The idea is that we share more in common than we differ. 

• Brings Americans together to bridge the partisan divide. Like Rotary, people unite and take action to create lasting change. Building a house united.

• Their programming demonstrably works: 70–80% of participants report better understanding and more positive attitudes toward the other side, with outcomes focused on collaborative problem-solving rather than ideological conversion.

• The organization is scaling rapidly — from its first Red-Blue Workshop in 2016 through explosive growth in 2020–2022 — expanding into legislative engagement (“Braver Politics”), special-interest groups (Angels of Color, Working People’s Project), and a national convention. Local groups exist as well an on line communications.

Dear Members,

At this Thursday’s dinner meeting, Michael Asbury and Ellen Santasiero of Braver Angels will be presenting.

Unfortunately, I will be out of town but Murray Forth has agreed to lead the meeting.

A board meeting was held on May 7 at Dean’s house.  I will provide a brief report at our meeting on the 28th

I have spoken to the manager of the Forrest Pointe apartment complex where I reside about having a garage sale on a Saturday in July.  The board discussed raising funds via the sale as part of a district grant to support the Flutter Express.

Sincerely,

Phil Kellerman 

On Sunday April 26 our club held its annual bowl-a-thon at the East Greenbush Bowling Lanes. More than $900 was raised for the Anchor Food Bank along with donations of food. Thanks club!

Sincerely,

Phil Kellerman, President