Members in Attendance (15):  Roberto Martinez, Charlie Foote, Jim Leyhane, Debbie Brown, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Dick Drumm, Murray Forth, Debbie Rodriguez, Ray Hannan, Kevin Leyhane, Phil Kellerman, Andy Leyhane, Terry Brewer and John Justino.

By Zoom (0):  

Guests (1): Cathy Krueger.

President Peter Brown called the meeting to order. 

Theme for the Year: “Building Community”

MEETING NOTES:

Adopt-a-Family: We have adopted a family of five. Kevin Leyhane has posted the wish list on our website. Please wrap all gifts and label with the name of the recipient. Debbie Rodriguez and Debbie Brown will collect the donations at the Rotary meetings on December 7th and 14th. If you are unable to drop off donations at these meetings, please contact Debbie Rodriguez to arrange for an alternate date and time. The donations are due on December 15th.

Holiday Party and Silent Auction: The party will be held on December 14th at Moscatiellos. The cost is $30 per person. If you have not yet done so, please contact Roberto Martinez and let him know your intention to participate and the number in your party. Currently, 38 members and their guests will be attending. Phil Kellerman is organizing a silent auction this year. He is seeking donations. Please call or email him at philkellerman77@gmail.com about your donation.

Iron Giraffe Bowl-a-Thon: Phil Kellerman has left a message with the event coordinator at the bowling alley. He will contact Christine at the Schodack School District to pick a date for the event sometime in March. Phil has signs left over from last year’s event. He would like to again split the proceed between the Castleton Food Pantry and the Iron Giraffe Project. He is also planning for a raffle with gift cards.

Water for Kenya: Peter Brown contacted Jennifer Knowles regarding Rotary Clubs in Kenya that may be able to participate in the project.

Dues: Per Murray Forth, those members who split their dues into two payments, the second payment of $87.50 is due.

Clink: Please contact Murray Forth for bag stickers.

Rotaract: Per John Justino, it has been difficult to engage student interest. We are considering a different approach. He has spoken with the Dean of Student Affairs at the School of Public Health. They are open to linking Rotaract to other School Clubs and possibly connecting to the YMCA for joint projects and activities. He will meet with the Dean next week. There is an interest in continuing discussions with the School of Public Health, Rotary and the YMCA.

Next Meeting: Thursday, December 7th, 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 Marcie Bower on “The Benefits of Acupuncture.”

Entree choices are Chicken Rustica Salid, Chicken Marsala and Penne Alfredo.

Cathy Krueger is a Sister of St. Joseph. She taught at Holy Names School for ten years. She brought students to Nicaragua during school breaks for the Mission of Hope. She is now associated with St. Joseph Place in downtown Schenectady.

St. Joseph Place was the dream of Michael Hogan, Pastor of St. Joseph’s Church. He wanted a church presence in the Hamilton Hill neighborhood, so he asked the sisters of St. Joseph to help. They opened St. Joseph Place in a closed police station as a hospitality center. They provide refreshments, prayer, conversation and socialization in a neighborhood with widespread poverty, drug issues, mental illness and individuals with disabilities. It serves as a place for people from shelters and others to go during the day. They also collect hats, scarfs coats and gloves to give out. They charge phones and provide bus or taxi fares as needed. They are partnered with the Schenectady Intercity Missionary which provides food. Volunteers from St. Joseph’s Parish also give service.

Funding comes from a church appeal at St. Joseph’s Church which covers the rent and donations from the sisters of St. Joseph. They are located at 837 Albany Street in Schenectady. They are open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 am until noon. Visitors are welcome. Call 518-374-2683 Extension 115 for more information and to learn how you can help.