Breakfast Meeting
Greenbush YMCA
20 Community Way
East Greenbush, NY
January 18, 2018

Members Attending (6): Roberto Martinez, Shannon Romanowski, Jim Leyhane, John Justino, Matt Smith, Murray Forth.

Guests (1): Prospective member Kasie Burrello.

MEMBERSHIP — President Roberto welcomed Kasie Burrello, who has submitted her application to become our newest Rotarian. Some members know Kasie from her attendance at a variety of our meetings with boyfriend Adam Roberts, who himself joined our ranks several months ago. She has fulfilled the meeting requirements, and turned in her dues check and application. Welcome, Kasie!

ROTARY HOME COOKING — The member-hosted dinner series begins this Saturday with “A Taste of New Orleans” being hosted by Debbie and Peter Brown. Contact them ASAP if you wish to attend.

EXCHANGE STUDENT — Although not part of the Rotary Youth Exchange program, student Alessandra Barbarossa from Rotary Club Cosenza, Italy, this week enrolled at Columbia High School under a private exchange scholarship. A.J. Amato, our Youth Exchange officer, has been in contact with her father, and we will issue an invitation for Alessandra to attend one of our meetings.

INDOOR GOLF EVENT — The first of our Mid-Winter Indoor Simulator Golf Tourneys is scheduled for Saturday, February 10, at Burden Lake Country Club. Members are asked to share the flyer sent to them and posted on our website and Facebook page as much as they can through social media, bulletin boards, etc., to spread the word about this major fundraiser.

BOWLING FOR VETS — The annual bowl-athon fundraiser has been scheduled for Sunday, March 4, at the East Greenbush Bowling Center on Columbia Turnpike. We will be coordinating the activity with the new Rotaract club at the UAlbany School of Pubic Health which we are sponsoring. Jim Leyhane reported that a goal of the event is to raise $1,000 to cover the cost of a support dog.

YMCA MIRACLE LEAGUE DINNER — This event, which will involve the Greenbush YMCA, Rotary, Rotaract, and Kiwanis clubs, is set for Sunday, February 11. It will feed about 30 families. Preparations will begin at the Y at 9 a.m. and dinner will be served from 2 to 4 p.m.

YOUTH PROGRAMS — As part of the current restructuring of the club committee system, Shannon Romanowski and Matt Smith have expressed interest in co-chairing the Youth Programs Committee.

BOTTLE & CAN REDEMPTION — Bill Dowd will be explaining the Clynk recycling program at tonight’s dinner meeting as a club fundraising possibility. The breakfast group is very supportive of the idea, as is the Board.

OFFICER CHANGES — We are looking for someone interested in serving as Vice President for the 2018-19 Rotary Year that begins July 1. Current VP Ray Hannan is stepping away from that role. Also, Andy Leyhane has moved from an At-Large board seat to become President-elect for the remainder of this year after Jim Butterworth and Ron Annis stepped away from sharing that role. Andy, thus, is in line to become club president on July 1, and will participate in the PETS (Presidents-Elect Training Seminar) series that begins this month.

BRANDED TOTE BAGS — The tote bags branded with SRC logos now are available at $10 each, proceeds going to Club Sustenance. Several were sold today, and one was given to newest member John Justino.

MISCELLANY — Mention was made of the passing of Richard Hodge, a 41-year Rotarian who has worked with many of us on such projects as Gift of Life. He was a member of the Colonie-Guilderland club. … The Capital Region Rotary Club’s 6th annual Bins of Fun toy collection for the Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center is under way. Details are on a posting on our club website. … District Governor Fred Daniels has announced a tree-planting program for Arbor Day. Details to come The breakfast group expressed interest, and suggested looking at some of our town parks as well as trying to involve Boy Scout Troop 41 which we co-sponsor with the Rensselaer Elks Club.

NEXT BREAKFAST MEETING — 7 a.m. Thursday, February 15, at the Greenbush YMCA.

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