Members in Attendance (9):  Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Debbie Brown, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Kenin Leyhane, Dick Drumm, Andy Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Phil Kellerman, Becky Raymond

By Zoom:  John Justino

President Brown called the meeting to order. 

Theme for the Year: “Building Community”

MEETING NOTES:

Speakers:   The following Thursday, October 26, Our speaker will be John Eberle, CEO of The Community Foundation. He will continue our conversation on social capital.

Members are encouraged to reach out to the extensive list of potential speakers and make appropriate arrangements.   Any slot identified as a Club Assembly can be accessed to accommodate a potential speaker/program.  Artificial Intelligence is of particular interest to members. 

 World Polio Day/Rotaract: John reported that he is struggling to get engagement from the Rotaract Club, and therefore there will be no program sponsored by the School of Public Health.  John would like to involve Becky R and Debbie R in a conversation about the level of commitment from students at the School.

YMCA Basket Brigade:  Becky brought to member attention The Capital District YMCA Caring Community Bucket Brigade to be held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving (Nov 18).  Volunteers are needed to assemble baskets; and drivers are needed for distribution. 

Date for Holiday Party and Silent Auction:  In order to reserve a room at Moscatello’s we need to guarantee at least 30-35 participants.   Dates under consideration are the 14^th or the 7^th in order of preference.   Please communicate to Roberto your intention to participate and the number of your party as soon as possible.  The earlier date of the 7^th may be easier to secure as we may be able to satisfy adequate numbers for that date.   

Jim Leyhane presented many “fun facts” and thought-provoking questions to get members thinking about what they would say when asked about Rotary.  Rotary International is the oldest non-government charity and has 4 million clubs around the world with over 100,600 000 members.  What other organization would take on a worldwide health crisis such as polio and expect to win?  Rotary has effectively eliminated polio with only cases in one country.  Rotary has offered over $10 million worldwide for Ambassador Scholarships for Master’s Programs. 

Service in Rotary, both locally and with worldwide programs such as Shelter Box and Gift of Life, gives tangible ways to give back and have fun by working alongside other Rotarians in a common goal. 

We all know the 4-Way Test:  It is the truth?  Is it fair to all concerned? Does it build good will? Is it beneficial to all?    Jim would add a 5^th: “Is it fun?   If you can help somebody it is pure good.  Good for good’s sake is a natural high.”

Food for thought:  Why are you here?  What has kept you coming all these years?  Personal responses to these prompts help you create a personal “elevator speech”.