Held at Quigley’s Restaurant
573 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY 12061
Members Attending (12): Andy Leyhane, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Bill Dowd, Debbie Rodriguez, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Jim Leyhane, Dick Drumm, Carol Orvis, Peter Berry, Roberto Martinez.
Guests (3): Jack Conway, Dennis Cicchino, Jeff Morris.
MEETING NOTES — President Andy Leyhane presided and welcomed guest speaker Jack Conway and BSA Troop 41 reps Dennis Cicchino and Jeff Morris. … Reminders of two Saturday, April 13, events — our “Recycling & Shredding Day” at Wainschaf Associates warehouse in Rensselaer (behind Target) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the “Rotary Home Cooking” Hungarian dinner being hosted at 6 p.m. by Dean and Doris Calamaras. We need volunteers to work the recycling event. Please contact Murray Forth if you’re willing to help out with this major fundraising effort. And, if you are interested in attending the dinner, please contact the Calamarases ASAP via email (dcalamaras@verizon.net) or phone (518-477-4694). … Jim Leyhane is organizing a driver safety course to be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at Quigley’s. The cost will be $35 per person. Completion of the course will result in receipt of a certificate that usually earns a substantial three-year reduction in one’s auto insurance rate. This class, taught by a professional driving safety instructor, will be open to non-Rotarians. Anyone interested is asked to contact Jim. …
Easter basket project coordinator Debbie Brown reminded everyone that items to go into the baskets need to be brought to either or both of our next two meetings, or items may be dropped off at the Greenbush YMCA during normal business hours. Jim and Roberto Martinez reported that items sufficient for 25 baskets have been dropped off for Len Leonidas’s Cub Scouts to assemble, and Debbie Rodriguez said Rotaract is willing to have several members assemble baskets as well. (Not sure what items to buy? Simply click here for the shopping list.) … Bill Dowd, our club’s ShelterBox liaison officer, reported that ShelterBox workers were among the first responders in Malawai, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe in the wake of cyclones and floods currently devastating that region of East Africa. He thanked all who financially contribute to ShelterBox. … Anyone who was a sponsor of the recent Community Recognition Awards dinner is asked to turn in their $100 payment to Treasurer Murray Forth no later than March 31. …
Quigley’s owner John Walsh and his wife dropped in to express appreciation for the work SRC members did in renovating the meeting room. As a gesture of gratitude, John said, a free dinner will be provided at next week’s meeting. Members also were reminded that we need to have a quorum (12 members) at that meeting to allow us to vote on Bylaws modifications. Details have been emailed to all members in accordance with the 10-day advance notification requirement. … Our speaker next Thursday will be Ruth Samuels on “Teaching Gifted High School Students.”
Jack Conway, first-term supervisor of the Town of East Greenbush, was our speaker. He discussed the learning curve necessary for someone such as he, a non-politician, to work into the position. He said he was greatly helped by hiring a staff of people who were well qualified for their positions, rather than simply being political appointments.
He outlined changes made to professionalize the town administration, get the police department certified, purchase a fleet of police cruisers using money from criminal property seizures rather than tax dollars, make improvements in town infrastructure, and work to encourage and attract new businesses to the town.
Conway also noted that, despite much public misconception, only about 20% of taxes anyone pays goes to the town. The vast bulk goes to the school district.
Scoutmaster Dennis Cicchino (wearing hat in photo above) visited to present his annual report on Troop 41 activities. SRC has been a financial sponsor of the troop since its inception in 1961. Dennis said there now are only six Scouts, but because two of them are Den Chiefs with Cub packs, they expect them to funnel new members into the troop over the next two years. Meanwhile, the troop maintains a busy schedule of camping events, field trips, and public service efforts such as bottle collecting, food pantry drives, and community cleanups.
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 