MEMBERS ATTENDING (14): Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Kevin Leyhane, Andy Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Debbie Rodriguez and Phil Kellerman. Via Zoom: Charlie Foote and Carol Orvis.

GUESTS (3): Joe Corr, Cherie Corr and Kevin Drumm.

President Kevin Leyhane called the meeting to order.

Theme for the Year: “Growing Fellowship and Service Locally and Globally.” 

Hybrid Meeting:  Please let Kevin Leyhane, Jim Leyhane or Roberto Martinez know if you plan to join the weekly meeting via Zoom.

Proxy Votes:  If unable to attend please submit your proxy votes to President Kevin Leyhane or any board member who will be attending the meeting. Proxy votes can also be submitted using the Remind App. Text to the number 81010.

MEETING NOTES

Circles of Mercy Easter Basket Program: Once again, SRC Rotary and the East Greenbush YMCA are partnering to support Circles of Mercy and their annual Easter Basket Program. We would like to provide for 25 baskets this year. We have enough baskets and cellophane wrap. Items needed include coloring books, crayons, color pencils, facial tissues, toothpaste and toothbrushes, dental floss, hair combs and brushes, age appropriate (1 to 12 years old) small stuffed animals, toys, small games, or reading books, and of course various different types of traditional wrapped candy.

Items may be dropped off at the YMCA or collected at each Club meeting. The last collection day for our Club will be the regular Club meeting on Thursday March 30, 2023. Circles of Mercy will also take monetary donations for this project.

Rotary Bowling Event:  Per Phil Kellerman, the event will be held on April 2nd (Sunday) from 2 pm until 4 pm. The cost is $16 per individual bowler or $50 for a family or student group of 4 with shoes included. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the Anchor Food Pantry of Castleton-on-Hudson and the Water for South Sudan Project, organized by 7th grade students from the Maple Hill junior/Senior School.

There will be raffles for gift certificates. Those who bring food donate to the Anchor Food Pantry will receive a free raffle ticket. Requested food items include cereal, toiletries, instant mashed potato boxes, peanut butter, jelly, snack packages of crackers, and canned chicken.

If you have not already done so, please let Phil know you will be attending. Sponsors who have not yet submitted their check, please do so at the next meeting.

District Training Assembly and Grants Managment Seminar: The Assembly and Grants Training will be held on April 1st. You can register for the Training Assembly, the Grants Management Seminar or both.  There is no cost for attendance at these events. Roberto Martinez and Jim Leyhane will attend the training in Schenectady. Debbie Rodriguez has signed up to attend the training via Zoom.

Viking Gym: Ron Anis is presenting the project at the Schodack Town Board meeting tonight.

Tri-City Valley Cats: The game the Club was to attend last year was canceled due to weather. The new date tentatively is July 27th. If you had not signed up last year and are interested in attending a baseball game and picnic this year, please contact Debbie Rodriguez. Further information will be forthcoming.

Next Meeting: Thursday, March 30, dinner at 6:00 pm at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant, Route 4, North Greenbush. Also, you can join the by Zoom using the link on the websites calendar page. Our speaker will be Andy Leyhane on the Frontiers of Science.

Entree choices will be Antipasto Salid, Chicken Limone and Portobello Ravioli.

Joe Corr recently retired as the Superintendent of the North Colonie Central School District. He served as the Superintendent for 12 years and as a teacher and administrator for 41 years. He was the 5th Superintendent of the School District in 73 years. For him, education is a family business. His wife Cherie Corr is a teacher. Both his mother and his father were teachers as well as his sister. Early on, he worked in food services, custodial services, building and grounds and transportation. He worked at St. Gregory’s School from 1973 to 1978 teaching grades three through eight. He then worked at Brittonkill Central School District from 1978 to 1981 teaching grades nine through twelve. He started in the North Colonie Central School District in 1981 and taught grades seven through twelve.

The North Colonie Central School District consists of six elementary schools, Shaker Middle School and Shaker High School. As of 2023, there were 6,090 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. They recently enrolled 52 new students and half of them were not English-speaking learners. 25% of the students are on free or reduced lunch. 6% have limited proficiency in English. Demographically the District students are 62% White, 20% Asian/Native Hawaiian, 6% Spanish/Latino and 6% Multiracial.

The North Colonie School District’s culture is reflected in their two-part Mission Statement. First, to establish an environment to develop each student’s potential and, second, establish collaboration between teachers and administrators to build the capacity to provide the environment for education. They strived to create a culture of dignity where inclusion, acceptance, recognition, safety (both physical and psychological) and accountability are important. Inclusion is achieved through participation in athletics, music, robotics and other interests. The district’s public declaration of their values is exhibited in their budgetary resource allocation for staffing, professional development and capital investment. Success is reflected in the recognition and awards the district has received.

“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandella.