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

GUESTS (2): Denise DiNoto, District Governor and Marissa Multari, Assistant District Governor.

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

Website updates: We are still updating club information on MYRotary (International), ClubRunner (District), SRCRotary.org.  Rotary International is concerned about using copyrighted images. Please be on the lookout for any incorrect information. 

Albany Water Project Video Presentation: The video has been updated to a post and is currently saved as a draft.

Exchange Program: No updates

Gift of Life: The District Rotary is once again offering the barrow of booze raffle. See Jim Leyhane for tickets. Tickets are $20 for one and two for $30. The drawing will be held live on Facebook on May 26th. Proceeds will go to the Gift of Life.

Gift Of Life 25th Annual Golf Tournament: Will be held Thursday, September 14, 2023.  The brochure and link to register can be found on a post on our website.

Student Scholarship Update:  Per Terry Brewer, Columbia High School has selected a student. Maple Hill and Rensselaer will send in their nominations. The student recipients, one parent and a school administrator are invited to attend the Club meeting on June 8th.

Summer Nights in the park:  The Schodack Town Board was meeting tonight and will let us know about participation. If approved, we will have to discuss what we would like to do verses what we can staff. Music in the Park is on Tuesdays in May, June and August. There are four Movie in the Park scheduled to be held on Fridays.

Dues: A reminder from our Treasurer, Murray Forth, that our yearly membership dues of $175 should be paid by June 1st or you can opt to make two payments of $87.50 each.

Summer Program: Schedule will be posted and updated to calendar on our website.

New Member: Top Form is now a corporate member.

Presidential Changeover: Will be held on July 6, 2023 at Peter and Debbie Browns house.

Next Meeting: Thursday, May 4th, 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. Mike Bennett will speak about A Guide to Recovery to a School Shooting.

Entree choices will be Chicken Rustica Salid, Chicken Marsala and Manicotti.

Denise DiNoto is the current District 7190 Governor. She is a member of the Colonie Guilderland Rotary Club. She spoke about why she was inspired to become a Rotarian.

Denise grew up in a Rotarian family. Her father was a Rotarian. She was a member of Interact and exchange students stayed with her family. During high school, Denise had accelerated her courses and was eligible to graduate at the end of her junior year. However, she had an accident that caused a concussion. The local vet visited her and suggested she do an exchange study during her senior year instead. She applied, was interviewed and accepted into the Binghampton 7170 exchange program. Her family wanted her to go to an English-speaking country so that her health requirements could be addressed. Seventy students were sent overseas that year. Denise went to Tasmania. Before she left, she was given some very good advice. She was told that she would receive many invitations and opportunities to do things and she should just say yes to all of them.

Denise had four host families in Tasmania. She also toured Tasmania for two weeks with 22 other students. She met many people from around the world. Being oversees allowed her a different perspective on world events. She almost was not able to tour mainland Australia due to concerns over her disability. The other exchange students refused to tour without her and came up with a plan for addressing the concerns. Denise inspired inclusion. She even slept in a pole tent during the tour. She went to Melbourne and toured the zoo. She went by ship to Victoria. Denise also sent a postcard every day to the person who had not wanted her to participate in the tour showing her ability to participate. She said that Rotary believed in her and she began to believe in herself. Imagine Rotary is this year’s theme. What does that inspire you to do? Ask questions, get involved. Denise will be going back to Australia to attend the International Rotary Convention. She will be staying with one of her exchange host families. While at the Convention, Denise will speak at a breakout session about accessibility and inclusion.

Marissa Multari, Assistant District Governor, provided updates.

On May 17th, there will be a youth recognition at the Joseph Zaloga Post on Everett Road.

On May 25th, there will be a training session on how to navigate and use Club Runner and My Rotary from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm.

June 9th, the Colonie Guilderland Rotary will hold a golf outing at the Mill Road Golf

September 14, the Gift of Life’s 25th Annual Golf Tournament has been moved to The Fairways of Halfmoon.