Members present: Andy Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Phil Kellerman, Carole Heaney, Laurie Pferr, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Jim Leyhane, Roberto, Mary Alice and Murray Forth.
Guests: Tom Burdick (speaker for Gift of Life), Lorraine McConnelee (area representative) and Bruce McConnelee (Past District Governor)
President Phil called the meeting to order and the pledge and blessings were given. This was our first meeting at Melvin Rhodes Post American Legion, 200 Columbia Turnpike in Rensselaer. This will require a change from Thursday to Tuesday meetings, but still the 2nd and 4thTuesdays of the month. The meeting was buffet style, and the Club was introduced to Class Act Catering who welcomed everyone. Going forwards we will need to let the Caters know a head count Friday for the numbers attending the following Tuesday. This will be a work in progress, but for those who are regular attendees, we would like to assume a yes unless they contact Phil. If you consider yourself a regular, then let Phil know so we automatically include you in the count. If not a regular we will assume you will let Phil know when you are coming. The idea is to reduce the admin burden for the club.
Business:
Garage Sale: Our Club will be holding a garage sale to benefit the Flutter Express which transports patients to medical appointments in NYC and Boston. This in part of a Rotary District Grant for 26-27. The sale will be held at Laurie’s house and is scheduled for 9-3 on Friday, September 25 and from 9-2 on Saturday, September 26. Volunteers were solicited of course donations of items for sale. If you want to volunteer, please contact Phil or Laurie.A formal brochure is located on our website should people want to print. An article on the garage sale is included in the September Our Towne Magazine.
Speakers: Phil is looking for speakers and anyone with additional speakers should contact Phil. Please on our SRCRotary.org for calendar openings.
Club Operations: Phil is looking for someone to help with the minutes of our regular meeting. Carole Heaney if looking for Rotary Photos to be used on our website and for a posterboard for the garage sale.
Nassau Free Public Library Pie Fundraiser. Pat announced a date of October 24th. More information to come.
Our next meeting will be September 22 at 6pm. Simone Fish will be speaking on “Capital District Tabacco Free Communities”.
Gift of Life (GOL): Speaker Tom Burdick, President of the CNY District Chapter. Tom started the presentation speaking of the contributions given to GOL by our Club. Dean and Doris Calamaras are both on the Gift of Life Board. Initially, the idea was to have kids come to Albany to have congenital heart defects repaired. Now the effort has expanded to have personal from Albany go to other countries to educate hospital staff on performing surgeries in countries such as Romania, the Philippines, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. Tom showed an 8-10 min video of recent success stories going back several years with updates to their conditions post-surgery. The last recipient was a child from Mongolia who was at the District Conference. Her name was Bayarchimeg. GOL also gets assistance from Samaritan’s purse. The GOL raises funds via donations and fundraisers. The next fundraiser is the Annual GOL Golf Tournament. It will be at the Fairways of Halfmoon, 17 Johnson Rd, Mechanicville, NY 12118 on September 24th. Thanks to Tom for visiting our club and the work Rotary is doing for these children.
For more information on donations and the tournament, please visit the GIFTOFLIFECNY.ORG
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 