From President Debbie Rodriguez (sent via email today to all members):

Last fall, we successfully instituted a fundraising effort that gave members the opportunity to contribute to the club treasury or specific recipients of their choice.

The impetus was the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic on activities usually spent raising funds to support numerous local and global initiatives.

Although things have eased slightly, we’re still not able to undertake some of our past major events such as bowl-a-thons, virtual golfing, and recycling days. So, we’re again asking all members to make direct financial contributions according to their means and philosophy.

To decide on a contribution level, we’re suggesting that since we now are alternating virtual and in-person meetings, you may want to donate the $25 you are not spending for meals on alternate weeks: i.e., we have approximately 20 virtual meetings set for the remainder of the 2021-22 Rotary Year. That means $500 not being spent on dinner meetings over that period.

If you could contribute that amount, or any portion of it, to Rotary, it would help offset the lack of major fundraisers. Your contribution could be designated for the general treasury or toward specific efforts we’ve supported in the past — such as ShelterBox, Gift of Life, Circles of Mercy, Blue Star Mothers, Polio Plus, scholarships, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards seminars (RYLA), various food pantries, Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI), etc. — or any combination of those items as you wish. And, if it is more comfortable to do so, you can split your contribution into two separate donations –- one now, one in March, for example.

Your contribution level will be kept confidential. Only Treasurer Murray Forth will have access to that information so he can distribute money as you and other members instruct.

Please send your checks, as soon as possible, made payable to SRC Rotary (with an accompanying note designating how you want the contribution distributed), to SRC Rotary, P.O. Box 71, East Greenbush, NY 12061.

Thank you for your ongoing contributions to the important work of Rotary, whether financial, personal effort, or both. By practicing “Service Above Self,” we do our best to make the world a better place.