Month: February 2020

We’re taking a journey to the Golan Heights

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Screen Shot 2020-02-24 at 1.24.14 PM

The Golan Heights have been in the international spotlight for more than a half-century, ever since the Syrian area was occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War.

Dean Calamaras will present a PowerPoint program at our Thursday dinner meeting called “Journey To the Golan Heights,” retracing a visit he and son Michael paid to the region.

The dinner mean will feature chicken Parmesan plus an antipasto salad, chef’s choice of side dishes, bread, dessert, and beverages. And, as always, the cash bar is available.

If you plan to attend but have not yet informed dinner coordinator Debbie Rodriguez, please email her no later than Tuesday evening at debannrod@yahoo.com. Above all, be sure to let her know if you plan to bring one or more guests so we don’t have a last-second scramble for seating.

Those who currently have reserved:

Pat Bailey
Terry Brewer
Debbie Brown
Peter Brown
Dean Calamaras
Bill Dowd
Dick Drumm
Murray Forth
Ray Hannan
Phil Kellerman
Kevin Leyhane
Wells Packard
Becky Raymond
Debbie Rodriguez

Only 3 days left to RSVP for 60th celebration

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60th logoHere it is, February 17, and that means there are just three days remaining to email your RSVP for our “SRC 60th Anniversary Party.”

We have a nice crowd already lined up to attend, but we’d like it if you would join the festivities. Guests and kids are welcome, too. Reservations are just $50 per person, $15 for kids ages 12 and under. Just contact event coordinator Bill Dowd (BillDowd4Troy@gmail.com ) no later than Thursday so we can give our caterer a correct headcount.

WHAT: The 60th anniversary of the founding of our club.

WHEN: Thursday, March 5 — 6 p.m. cocktail hour (unlimited beer, wine and soda; cash bar), 7 p.m. buffet dinner followed by professional magician Doug Eash and his “It’s Magic!” show.

WHERE: Comfort Inn & Suites’ Berkshire Room, Miller Road, just off I-90 Exit 10.

Hope to see you there!

 

Meeting Clipboard: 2/13/20

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SRC ClipboardHeld at Quigley’s Restaurant
573 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY 12061

Members Attending (19): Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Terry Brewer, Bill Dowd, Murray Forth, Roberto Martinez, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Ray Hannan, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Wells Packard, Carol Orvis, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Becky Raymond, Debbie Rodriguez, Charlie Foote.

Guests (2): Noah Albanese, Hans Albanese.

 

Bowling logoMEETING NOTES: President Phil welcomed members and father-son guests Hans and Noah Albanese. … Terry Brewer reported that we have about 10 lane sponsors so far for the March 1 Foundation Bowl-a-Thon, and urged members to continue spreading the word about the event. He also encouraged people to create teams to compete in the fundraiser at the East Greenbush Bowling Center. … We received a handmade “thank you” gift and note from one of the Hazzard children we sponsored through Circles of Mercy in our annual Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program. …

60th logoOur annual Recycling/Shredding Day date has been changed to April 25. Members are again asked to share the official flyer they have been sent with their social media accounts, on bulletin boards, etc. … Coordinator Bill Dowd reminded everyone that Friday, Valentine’s Day, is the deadline for reserving seats at earlybird prices for our March 5 60th Anniversary Dinner at the Comfort Inn on Miller Road. Prices are $45 for adult, $10 for children 12 and under. After Friday, they go to $50 and $15 through the final deadline of the Thursday, February 20. Reservations must be made by email to Bill Dowd (BillDowd4Troy@gmail.com), and checks made payable to SRC Rotary Club given to Treasurer Murray Forth. … Raffle tickets are being sold for our 3rd Cafe Capriccio Wine Dinner to be held on Saturday, March 28. The drawing is scheduled for our March 19 meeting. Tickets are $20 each for the private-room chef’s dinner valued at $1,300. …

Becky Raymond reported that a memorial for Rotarian Phil Nasca is planned at the UAlbany School of Public Health  from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7. … Two board members from the Freedom From Fistula Foundation will visit the area on Monday, April 20, for a series of events involving SRC, Danes Rotaract, the School of Public Health, and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Details will be announced closer to the event. … There is no regular club meeting next week, but there will be a 6 p.m. Board of Directors meeting at Quigley’s. … We will resume weekly dinner meetings on Thursday, February 27.

dean

PROGRAM: “The Tides of Fundy”

Dean Calamaras presented a travelogue on his and Doris’s visit to the Bay of Fundy, places of the highest tides in the world.

The bay is located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the state of Maine.

In addition to photos of the landscape between high and low tides and various waterways, Dean’s photos showed such things as waterside caves carved out of sedimentary rock over the centuries by the power of the tides; a hotel employee who took advantage of the tides for some regular surfing activities, and boats perched on muddy land at low tide.

Join us for a fun-day dinner trip

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Screen Shot 2020-02-10 at 8.54.49 PMEver hear of the Bay of Fundy? It’s located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the state of Maine. And, it’s known as the place with the highest tides in the world.

Dean Calamaras will be presenting an illustrated travelogue titled “The Tides of Fundy” at our dinner meeting this Thursday at Quigley’s.

The menu will feature Chicken Marsala, along with an antipasto salad, chef’s choice of sides, bread, dessert, and beverage. And, as always, the cash bar is available.

If your name is not on the reservation list below, please email dinner coordinator Debbie Rodriguez (debannrod@yahoo.com) no later than Tuesday evening if you would like to be included.

Pat Bailey
Terry Brewer
Debbie Brown
Peter Brown
Dean Calamaras
Bill Dowd
Dick Drumm
Murray Forth
Ray Hannan
Phil Kellerman
Jim Leyhane
Roberto Martinez
Wells Packard
Becky Raymond
Debbie Rodriguez

 

Friday deadline for 60th anniversary earlybird reservation rates

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60th logoThis Friday, Valentine’s Day, is the deadline for making your reservation for the “SRC 60th Anniversary Dinner” at the earlybird discount price.

If dinner coordinator Bill Dowd receives your reservation (via email to SRCrotary@gmail.com) by then, you pay just $45 per adult, $10 per child age 12 and under. After that, prices are $50 and $15 until the final RSVP deadline on Thursday, February 20.

This special dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at the Comfort Inn on Miller Road. It will feature a lavish buffet spread, a performance by a professional magician, a wine/beer/soft drink open bar, and a cash bar, plus some special guests.

We hope you and your guests will make the effort to join us for what promises to be a fun celebration of our club’s 60 years of serving the community and the world.

 

Recycling/shredding date changed

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We have moved the date for our next Recycling/Shredding Day by one week, to Saturday, April 25, 2020.

Here is a revised flyer you can use to help publicize the even. Please help share it by reposting on social media, printing it out and posting it everywhere you can think of.

2020 Recycling Flyer revised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight’s dinner meeting cancelled

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Screen Shot 2020-02-06 at 12.36.11 PMTonight’s dinner meeting has been cancelled due to inclement weather, according to President Phil Kellerman after consultation with a number of officers.

Many local roads already are icy, the National Weather Service says temperatures will not rise during the day and evening, and it predicts  a 70-80% chance of more precipitation between 5 and 8 p.m., our prime Rotary meeting “commuting” time. So, in an abundance of caution, we’ll skip this week’s session.

Meanwhile, if you haven’t made your reservations for our “SRC 60th Anniversary Dinner” on March 5 at the earlybird pricing mentioned in emails sent earlier to everyone, please email BillDowd4Troy@gmail.com ASAP so you don’t get left behind.

Meanwhile, safe travels to all. See you next week at Quigley’s.

The magical details for our 60th anniversary party

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Doug Eash
Magician Doug Eash

Now it can be revealed! We have a pair of magicians lined up to make our SRC 60th Anniversary Dinner a very special evening for all.

For adults and kids alike, our featured guest will be professional magician Doug Eash and his “It’s Magic!” show. Over a decades-long career he has performed for audiences large and small and for everyone from kindergartners to retirement community residents.

Jim Mendrysa
Chef Jim Mendrysa

Also for adults and kids alike, our old friend Jim Mendrysa of Talk of the Town Catering will be wielding his culinary magic to provide a lavish buffet spread, plus a wine-and-soft drink open  bar and a cash cocktail bar. Most of us are familiar with the cuisine this Culinary Institute of America-trained chef provides as one of the region’s most experienced caterers.

If you haven’t yet made your reservations, remember there are only 10 days left to cash in on early bird pricing: $45 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under. Just email event coordinator Bill Dowd (BillDowd4Troy@gmail.com). After Valentine’s Day, the prices go to $50 and $15. (Send checks, made payable to SRC Rotary, to the club at Box 71, East Greenbush NY 12061.)

Please remember that we always welcome guests, so if you’re bringing one or more be sure to send Bill their names, too, so they can be included in the headcount needed to arrange sufficient food and seating . We hope to see you at the Comfort Inn on Miller Road just off I-90 Exit 10 at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5.

Meanwhile, here is a first look at the menu:

Before Dinner

• Assorted cheeses garnished with a bountiful amount of fresh seasonal fruits

• Crisp sliced vegetables with herbed dips and gourmet crackers

First Course

• Mediterranean mixed green salad with house vinaigrette

• Baskets of fresh-baked breads with butter

3-Entree Main Event

• Medallions of Atlantic salmon,  served with a citrus vin blanc sauce

• Tenderloin of pork, herb crusted and slow roasted, served with rich pork demi glace

• Chicken Breast Marsala, dredged in seasoned flour, sauteed in Marsala wine sauce with  sliced mushrooms

Accompanied by a Chef’s Medley of steamed seasonal vegetables in a light herbed butter , plus crispy Yukon Gold potatoes accented with rosemary and garlic

Coffee & Dessert

• Chocolate mousse cups garnished with wild berries
• Our own signature blend of brewed coffee, plus decaf, teas

• A special anniversary cake