MEMBERS ATTENDING (17): Debbie Rodriguez, John Justino, Pat Bailey, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Dick Drumm, Becky Raymond, Phil Kellerman, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Charlie Foote, Kevin Leyhane, Andy Leyhane. By proxy: Carol Orvis, Tony Morris, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras.

GUESTS: None.

President Debbie Rodriguez called the meeting to order via Zoom, and noted the presence of a quorum.

MEETING NOTES:

• BOARD MEMBERS WANTED — As we look ahead to the June 1 start of the 2022-23 Rotary Year we are in need of several Board candidates. First and foremost, we need someone interested in becoming President-Elect, then moving into the club presidency in the 2023-24 Rotary Year. We also need to fill two At-Large vacancies. One will occur because Bill Dowd has informed the club he will not stand for reelection, and the other occurred when Jim Leyhane moved to Vice President upon the recent resignation of Terry Brewer. Anyone interested in any of these positions should contact Debbie Rodriguez.

• EASTER BASKET PROJECT — At last count, 38 baskets will be created from member donations for the annual Circles of Mercy effort. That’s a sharp drop-off from previous years when we donated as many as 155 baskets (126 last year, for example, despite the interference by the pandemic). Baskets will be assembled at the Greenbush YMCA. Anyone who would like to help is asked to call Shannon Romanowski at the Y for details.

• PROGRAM — Member John Justino, of the UAlbany School of Public Health, presented a program on “Complex Humanitarian Emergencies” (CHEs). They are defined as “complex multi-party intra-state conflict resulting in a humanitarian disaster which might constitute multi-dimensional risks or threats to regional and international security.”

He cited one major historical conflict such as the Liberian civil war that raged from 1990 to 2004, as well as the current carnage in Ukraine. His presentation touched on the following points:

Characteristics of CHEs:

• Long periods of time

• Often target civilians

• Food shortages

• Unhealthy living in refugee camps

Health effects of CHEs:

• Increase mortality rates as high as 10 times

• Infectious disease outbreaks

• Malnutrition and lack of water, shelter and food

• Increased mental health conditions, women more than men.

Addressing CHEs:

• Water

• vaccines

• infectious disease control

• mental health

Needs assessments:

• Personal hygiene

• 1 toilet per 20 people

• Vit A to children

• Disease control measures

• Have you ever considered what happed if you became displaced?

A Q&A and discussion followed.

NEXT MEETING — Representatives of Capital Roots, the Troy-based regional community gardens organization, will visit on Thursday, April 7, to tell us about the organization’s services and programs. We will have a social period from 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6, at Moscatiello’s Restaurant. The menu choices are linguine with white clam sauce or chicken Caesar salad. As always, a cash bar will be available.