Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
May 3, 2018

 

Members Attending (18): Roberto Martinez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Jim Leyhane, Bill Dowd, Andy Leyhane, Debbie Rodriguez, April Dowd, Debbie Brown, Maggie Forth, Becky Raymond, Charlie Foote, Kevin Leyhane, Marty Mahar, Dick Drumm, Carol Orvis, Ray Hannan, John Justino.

Guests (13): John Mucha, Jack Faddegon, Nina Mucha, Jeremy Forth, Kaitlyn Driesse, Ashley Beaulieu, Carolyn Stover, Annette Highley, Liam O’Connor, Alexis Russell, Cydney Miazga, Emilia Carlino, Shannon Hastings.

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PROGRAM: Joint Induction Into the Rotary Family

The Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club marked yet another milestone in its 58-year history on Thursday evening at Quigley’s in East Greenbush.

Several of the numerous people who joined us in 2017-18 plus a contingent of charter members of the new Danes Rotaract Club that SRC sponsors at the UAlbany School of Public Health were brought into the Rotary Family in our first-ever joint ceremony attended by more than 30 people.

Jim Leyhane, SRC Board Member At-Large, served as emcee of the evening. Past District Governor John Mucha and Area 8 Assistant District Governor Jack Faddegon delivered remarks.

New Rotarians inducted included Kevin Leyhane, John Justino, and Marty Mahar, and in absentia, Adam Roberts, Kasie Burrello, Jeff Simon, Phil Nasca, and Bonnie Nasca.

Here are a few other scenes from the event:

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BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

YOUTH ACTIVITIES — Information on our scholarship program has been sent to local high schools — Columbia, Maple Hill, Rensselaer, and Averill Park. In addition, preliminary information on the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program has been sent, and a followup notification mentioning the link to our website where the 2018-19 RYLA brochure has just been uploaded will be sent out. (Click here to see it.)

STAR OF HOPE — Volunteers are being sought to help in the Saturday, May 19, cleanup project at the Star of Hope memorial at the East Greenbush Public Library. The memorial is to Columbia High School students who passed away before they graduated. The Greenbush YMCA is participating in the effort.

ROTARY HOME COOKING SERIES — We need your RSVP if you plan to attend the Saturday, May 19, “International Wine & Cheese Tasting” event at Roberto’s residence in East Greenbush, co-sponsored by Bill Dowd and Jim Leyhane. Despite the name of the event, it is being planned as a kid-friendly one. Reservations are just $10 per person, kids free, with proceeds going to the club treasury. The hosts are underwriting the cost of  the event. We will have eight international wines for the adults to try, plus nibbles and hors d’oeuvres, and stuff for the kids. Please be sure to make your reservations with Roberto ASAP. (Guests are welcome.)

RONALD McDONALD HOUSE MEALS — An SRC team prepared breakfast last Sunday for guests at the Ronald McDonald House in Albany. Click here for a look at it. This Sunday, another team will prepare dinner there for some 40 to 50 guests.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING — The annual Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is scheduled for Saturday, October 20, at the UAlbany School of Public Health. All Rotarians are eligible to participate at any level available, and participation is strongly urged by the club. The norm is a three-level course completed over three years, with occasional graduate level offerings. SRC will pay the tuition charge for any interested member. See President Roberto Martinez if interested; if you would like to learn more about the program, see recent three-year graduates Bill Dowd and Debbie Rodriguez. (Click here for official details on RLI.)

RECYCLING & SHREDDING DAY — We will hold our latest such event this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wainschaf Associates headquarters in Rensselaer, behind Target. Volunteers still are need to staff the day. Please see Murray Forth if interested. Event details are on the flyer. Click here to see it.

CALENDAR UPDATES — Bill Dowd will represent SRC at District 7190’s Thursday, May 24, “Public Image and Social Media Seminar” in Clifton Park. If anyone else is interested in attending, please see Bill ASAP. … The deadline for applying for a Rotary Peace Fellowship is May 31. Click here for program details. … Registration is open for the annual District Conference, being held this year on June 1-3 at the new Rivers Casino in Schenectady. Click here for event and registration details. … SRC will be honored at the annual “Taste of Mercy” fundraiser for Circles of Mercy, scheduled for Wednesday, June 13, at the Shaker Ridge Country Club. Anyone who wishes to attend the gala is asked to contact Bill Dowd ASAP.

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