Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
May 31, 2018
Members Attending (14): Roberto Martinez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Jim Leyhane, Peter Brown, Ron Annis, Terry Brewer, Geoff Brewer, Debbie Brown, Bill Dowd, April Dowd, Dick Drumm, Debbie Rodriguez, Charlie Foote.
Guests (5): Olivia Sterantino, Abbey Utter, Dan Sterantino, Amy Utter, Jacklyn Hill.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/BUSINESS
OPENING: President Roberto welcomed members, plus five guests — RYLA students Olivia Sterantino and Abbey Utter and parents Dan Sterantino and Amy Utter, and Maple Hill High School principal Jacklyn Hill.
YOUTH INITIATIVES: SRC is in the process of informing local high schools about the opportunity to enroll students in the 2018-19 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program, with the club underwriting the associated costs. … An application for a $1,500 grant from District 7190 has been submitted with the intent of covering half the cost of the annual $1,000 scholarships given to three graduating high school students each year.
STAR OF HOPE REFURBISHING: Terry Brewer is seeking adult volunteers to assist in the sprucing up of the Star of Hope memorial on the grounds of the East Greenbush Public Library. The effort, which primarily will be by students from Columbia High School with some adult supervision and assistance, is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 9. Faddegon’s Nursery will supply planting materials. The memorial honors CHS students who passed away before they could graduate.
CIRCLES OF MERCY AWARD: SRC will be the recipient of the Sister Gail Rieth Award at the annual banquet held by Circles of Mercy. Roberto, Jim Leyhane, Murray Forth, and Maggie Forth will attend to represent the club.
VALLEYCATS OUTING: Our annual trek to Bruno Stadium for a pavilion picnic and ValleyCats baseball game has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 25 (not our usual Thursday night activity). Terry Brewer again is making the arrangements, and will be working with the District administration for this to be a Rotary Night event at the ballpark. Friends and family are very welcome to join us for this family-oriented evening. Please see Terry if you plan to attend. Tickets are $26 each, which covers food, the game, and souvenirs.
BOARD RETREAT: The discussion and planning meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, June 4, at the Community Care offices in Schodack. Roberto is putting together the agenda with the aid of suggestions made by Board members.
ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: This year’s RLI training is scheduled for Saturday, October 20, at the Health Sciences Campus (formerly the East Campus) in East Greenbush. Members who have not yet attended RLI are urged to sign up for Level I. If there is enough Districtwide interest, a Graduate level workshop will be offered for those who have completed Levels I, II, and III. SRC will pay the registration fee for all our attendees, which covers instruction, lunch, and materials. If you are interested in participating, please contact Bill Dowd who will coordinate our group reservations.
PROGRAM: “The RYLA Experience 2017-18”
Abbey Utter and Amy Sterantino, two of the juniors from Maple Hill High School who participated in the 2017-18 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) under SRC sponsorship in this academic year, paid a visit to briefly discuss their experience.
From September through March, they met with other RYLA students from across District 7190 in monthly workshops and activities at Skidmore College meant to enhance their planning, public speaking, and leadership skills.
Both girls said they enjoyed most of the experience and liked the opportunity to plan events — including a dinner held at the end of the sessions, meet other students — including three who were studying in the U.S. under the Rotary Youth Exchange program, and have been encouraging other students at their school to submit their names for inclusion in next year’s RYLA.
Abbey and Olivia both are very involved in activities at Maple Hill, and both are members of the National Honor Society.
For anyone who would like more information on the RYLA program, click here to go to the proper page on our website.
NEXT MEETING: 6:15 p.m. Thursday, June 7, at Quigley’s. The program scheduled by Melissa Bill will be on the “Eyes Wide Open” mentoring program.
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 