MEMBERS ATTENDING (14): Dick Drumm, Murray Forth, Bill Dowd, Debbie Rodriguez, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Tony Morris, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Terry Brewer, Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Charlie Foote, Roberto Martinez.

GUESTS: None.

MEETING NOTES:

• DISTRICT CONFERENCE: The annual event is scheduled for Saturday, May 15, but the keynote speaker will be appearing via Zoom on Tuesday, May 11. Both events are available to all Rotarians, but advance registration is required. To do so, simply go to the club website to (a) read the details, and (b) click on the appropriate links on the calendar page.

• DONOR ADVISED FUND (DAF): Our new financial unit, officially designated The Dr. Richard Drumm Fund, has received more than $10,000 from the club general fund and several member donations. That money has been invested via the Rotary Foundation, and we continue accepting donations.

• DISTRICT GRANTS: Roberto Martinez said he and Jim Leyhane have submitted an application for a District 7190 grant to support our scholarship fund effort for 2022. Once we receive the names of the graduating seniors at Rensselaer, Columbia, and Maple Hill high schools who will receive our scholarships in June, they will complete the grant paperwork for 2021. Our scholarships total $3,000, and the district grant equals a 50% reimbursement.

• RI CONVENTION: Roberto reminded members that registration is open for the virtual event. Go to the club website for details and a registration link.

• IN-PERSON EVENTS: Because virtually the entire club has received COVID-19 vaccinations, we will begin phasing in a resumption of in-person events with an outdoor Presidential Changeover picnic at the Drumm residence at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 24, when Dick hands over the presidency to Debbie Rodriguez. Details to come. … We still are looking for hosts for outdoor events for July and August, traditionally our “Summer Casual” period. So far, Peter and Debbie Brown and Roberto Martinez and Jim Leyhane have volunteered, although no specific dates have yet been announced. … We also discussed potential indoor meeting sites, but came to no conclusions. The restaurant industrywide problems with staffing, seating protocols, pricing in the face of rising food and labor costs are making it difficult to find and secure a spot. No word yet on the fate of Quigley’s, our former meeting site that is permanently closed and up for sale. It also was discussed whether to alternate in-person meetings with Zoom sessions.