A small group of Danes Rotaract members, joined by their SRC advisers John Justino and Debbie Rodriguez, took time off from studying for final exams Saturday to help sort surplus food at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York for distribution to food pantries around the Capital Region. A few other scenes from the day:
Held at Quigley’s Restaurant
573 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY 12061
Members Attending (17): Andy Leyhane, Murray Forth, Ron Annis, Pat Bailey, Terry Brewer, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Bill Dowd, Dick Drumm, Charlie Foote, Ray Hannan, Phil Kellerman, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Debbie Rodriguez, Carol Orvis, Jennifer Felts.
Guests (1): Tom King, NYS Pistol & Rifle Association/NRA.
NOTES: Bill Dowd reported that the needs of the 2-person family in this year’s Adopt-a-Family effort with Circles of Mercy have been met. However, we’re barely at the halfway point of the creation of 50 personal hygiene kits, and responses from the membership at large have been lacking despite several requests for donations and pledges. The deadline for giving them to Bill is next Thursday’s (December 13) dinner meeting. Still not sure of the details on creating kits? Simply click here. (We also have been assured by SRC member/school principal Mike Harkin that Columbia High School is on track to adopt a family of five as part of the effort as requested.) …
… Phil Kellerman continues to sell specialty coffees for the holidays, with a portion of sales going to the Capital Region Nordic Alliance adaptive sports organization our club regularly assists. … Debbie Brown said plans are advancing for the annual Holiday Party & Gift Basket Silent Auction, to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, December 20, at Quigley’s. She and Terry Brewer are working with Quigley’s for an upgraded menu for the event. A self-serve wine/beer/soda mini-bar will be available in the meeting room, with cocktails available as always at the main cash bar. Debbie needs registrations ASAP (via email to mdbrown@nycap.rr.com) from all who hope to attend, and asks that anyone bringing guests be sure to notify her of that as well. Proceeds from the basket auction will go to the club treasury to support our many community activities. …
… Next week’s program will be presented by Brad DiPietro, speaking on the New York State Mentoring Program, how it works in the schools, and how individuals can get involved. As always, please RSVP no later than next Tuesday evening to Debbie Brown if you pan to attend. And, click here for an advance look at the program.
Tom King, president of the New York State Pistol & Rifle Association (NYSPRA), spoke about the numerous activities undertaken by his organization across the state in the areas of gun safety, gun avoidance for children, legislation, women’s self defense and gun training, shooting competitions, Second Amendment issues, and other items.
He also answered questions from the audience, and responded to comments from some, on the activities of not only the state organization but the National Rifle Association (NRA) of which he is a board member.
Tom, a resident of East Greenbush, noted that the NYSPRA — founded in 1871 — has recently moved into new headquarters on Columbia Turnpike, where it has been renovating a long-vacant building.
We’re close to the end of our annual “Adopt-a-Family or the Holidays” drive, but we haven’t heard from many of you about your plans. We need everyone who can to participate, and we are approaching crisis time to fulfill our commitment.
While Columbia High School is partnering with us to adopt a five-member family for the Circles of Mercy project, our club has accepted just two needs: (1.) A two-person family (mother and child) to care for. (2.) And, putting together 50-100 personal hygiene kits that Circles distributes each holiday season. But, we need to know how many each member will create and we still are in the dark about that because of the unexpected lack of responses from many of you.
We have only the next two SRC dinner meetings left (December 6 and 13) to donate the gifts, which Bill and April Dowd are collecting to deliver to Circles of Mercy by that family support organization’s deadline.
Here’s what you need to know to help:
PERSONAL HYGIENE KIT / CIRCLES OF MERCY
Each kit should contain all the items below and be small enough to fit into a backpack pocket with ease. Odorless products are best due to allergies. Items to be placed in Glad-brand zip-lock heavy duty bags (one gallon size). All need to be travel-sized containers of:
Please put together your kits and bring them to this week’s meeting or next week’s. After that, it’s too late.
As to the family of two, several members have pledged several items from the “needs” and “nice to have” wish list, but we need a few more. Here is the original shopping list we sent you several times:
All we have so far are the gift cards, a hoody, and some socks and gloves for mom, and the “Magic the Gathering” cards for the child. Obviously that is not enough to create a happy holiday for these people who are far less fortunate than we.
Please respond to this email ASAP to let us know (a) if you will help at all, and (b) what you plan to bring to one of the next two SRC dinner meetings.
We need your help in the true spirit of Rotary. This is an excellent opportunity for SRC members who are less involved than the core of members who do the bulk of the heavy lifting to keep us viable as a community service organization.
Thank you for all you do. Every bit helps your fellow human beings.
That’s the topic for this Thursday’s 6 p.m. dinner meeting program at Quigley’s. The speaker will be Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association and a board member of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Given the ongoing debate over guns, gun rights, gun legislation, etc., this promises to be a lively and informative session. However, we need to know how many people plan to attend so we have sufficient food and seating. If you haven’t signed up, please do so by emailing dinner coordinator Debbie Brown at mdbrown@nycap.rr.com no later than Tuesday, and as always feel free to invite a guest. Just let her know.
The menu will feature Quigley’s popular lasagna, antipasto salad, chef’s selection of sides, Italian bread, dessert, and beverages. Plus, the cash bar is available as always. Members already signed up:
1. Ron Annis
2. Pat Bailey
3. Terry Brewer
4. Debbie Brown
5. Peter Brown
6. Bill Dowd
7. Dick Drumm
8. Charlie Foote
9. Murray Forth
10. Ray Hannan
11. Phil Kellerman
12. Tom King (guest)
13. Andy Leyhane
14. Jim Leyhane
15. Kevin Leyhane
16. Debbie Rodriguez
How much do you know about Hanukkah — besides the fact you also can spell it Chanukkah? For what bills itself as the best website for all things Hanukkah, click here to find out more about the Festival of Lights.
Held at Quigley’s Restaurant
573 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY 12061
Members Attending (17): Andy Leyhane, Ron Annis, Pat Bailey, Terry Brewer, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Dean Calamaras, Dick Drumm, Charlie Foote, Ray Hannan, Phil Kellerman, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Becky Raymond, Debbie Rodriguez, Carole Spencer.
Guests (5): District Governor Tammy Heckenberg, Assistant DG Jack Faddegon, Donna Vickery of Blue Star Mothers, Bill Nathan, Mike Stangl.
THE PROGRAM — District Governor Tammy Heckenberg paid her first official visit of the 2018-19 Rotary Year to speak about current affairs of the district. She presented an RI presidential citation to SRC for excelling in five areas, one of just three clubs in the district so honored. And, she presented President Andy Leyhane with this year’s official RI pennant, with the “Show Gratitude” motto.
Among other topics, Tammy also stressed that she is asking clubs undertake a project that helps seniors; said SRC has “by far” the best website in the district; plugged the district conference which will be held in Woodstock, VT, and said the keynote speaker there will be a polio survivor who crossed Canada on a handicap bike to raise awareness for polio prevention.
NOTES — ADG Jack Faddegon was in attendance to receive the final check in our fund drive for ShelterBox to Jack, who also is the district chairperson for ShelterBox. Combined with checks delivered during the holiday period by fundraising coordinator Bill Dowd, SRC members and one former member contributed $6,340 in total to the international disaster relief agency. Jack noted that SRC not only is the heaviest contributor in District 7190, but indeed in the Northeast, and has contributed about $23,000 since 2010. … Phil Kellerman again is selling specialty coffees for the holidays as a fundraiser for the Capital Region Nordic Alliance (CRNA), the adaptive sports training organization. Details are available on the website….
… Our annual Adopt-a-Family effort in support of Circles of Mercy is underway, with Bill and April Dowd again coordinating the effort. This year, we are adopting a family of two as well as creating personal hygiene kits that Circles distributes each winter. Mike Harkin is leading Columbia High School, where he is principle, in partnering with us by adopting a family of five. Terry Brewer is acting as liaison between club and school. We are a very short turnaround time, so donations should be brought to one of the next two dinner meetings. … Terry Brewer talked about the club membership survey and said he will be discussing the results with the SRC Board. He also talked about the latest meeting of the district membership committee which he chairs. He wanted us to consider a “sub club” that would, in essence, support the district’s “failing” clubs. …
… The Blue Star Mothers organization, with which we often work, is trying to put together another 1,000 holiday gift boxes for troops stationed overseas, at a shipping cost of $12.50 per box. SRC members have brought in supplies, but cash also is acceptable. Andy announced that SRC will award $1.000 to the Blue Star Mothers to help this effort. The money was raised during last winter’s SRC “Bowling for Vets” fundraiser. … Becky Raymond reported that she has been in contact with a Rotary club in Scotland with which we may be able to partner in trying for a Rotary Global Grant to help support the Freedom From Fistula Foundation. … Guest Rotarian Bill Nathan provided details about the Albany club’s annual auction to benefit Gift of Life. It is scheduled for noon Wednesday, December 5, at the Zaloga American Legion Post on Everett Road. … Our annual Holiday Party & Themed Basket Silent Auction will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, December 20, at Quigley’s. Debbie Brown and Terry Brewer will work with owner John Walsh to create an upgraded holiday menu and check on the possibility of having a mini bar in the room. Suggestions for themed baskets have been posted on the website. It is up to members to create and bring basket and establish a starting bid level. Proceeds of the auction go to the club treasury. …
… Next Thursday’s program topic will be “The Second Amendment,” with speaker Tom King of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association. He also is a member of the national board of the NRA.
By TAMMY HECKENBERG
District 7190 Governor
The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. During the past 100 years, our Foundation has spent $3 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
Here in District 7190, we have a strong history of supporting The Rotary Foundation. Our clubs donate well over $100,000 each year, and every year we receive District Designated Funding — typically more than $25,000 — that clubs can use to support local grants and projects.
Every donated dollar helps. It takes only 60 cents to protect a child against polio. Local Rotarian donations are used to support Global Grants as well as our local grants, and we love to use our District Designated Funds to make our local communities and the folks that live in them perhaps a little better off.
The only thing holding us back for bigger, better, bolder projects is, well … nothing. The sky is our limit.
How did our international Foundation start? At the 1917 Rotary convention in Atlanta, outgoing Rotary International President Arch Klumph set up an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world.” That one idea, and an initial contribution of $26.50, set in motion a powerful force that has transformed millions of lives around the globe.
What does our international Foundation do today? Using Rotary grants, 34,000 clubs across the globe develop and carry out sustainable humanitarian projects that provide scholarships and professional training opportunities that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sustain mothers and children, improve education, and strengthen local economies.
What about our signature effort, the PolioPlus program? We are a worldwide leader in the efforts to eradicate polio through our partnerships with the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
We have made a promise to the children of the world that we will conquer this disease, and Rotarians will keep their promise. We must!
Thank you to our current Rotarians for the way you continually give very generously to The Rotary Foundation! And, if you are interested in joining our efforts, send me an email at tammyheckenberg@yahoo.com and I will assist you in becoming a Rotarian supporting the Foundation. You’ll be joining an organization committed to community service, both here and around the world, backed by one of the world’s most respected and honored foundations.
Learn more about the Rotary Foundation by clicking here. Globally and locally, we are stronger because we have said yes to improve the lives of many with our donations.
Be the inspiration!
Getting ready to do some holiday entertaining> Most folks enjoy a good cup of specialty coffee at such times, but that cup has to start with a good bag of coffee.
For the third year, Phil Kellerman is offering the popular Sweetwater Coffee, an organic/fair trade product, to raise funds for our friends at the Capital Region Nordic Alliance (CRNA) who offer adaptive sports for disabled military vets and others.
The price is $15 per 12-ounce bag, or two for $25. Phil will be bringing two varieties — the medium Carpe Diem Blend ground and the darker Midnight Oil Blend whole beans. Both are USDA-certified organic, and are 100% Arabica beans.
Not only are these coffees great for personal consumption, they also make great holiday gifts.
For more information, members can contact Phil by calling 352-262-5421 or by emailing him at philkellerman77@gmail.com.
This annual District 7190 outing helps usher in the busy holiday season.
The venue is the Cool Insurance Arena, formerly known as the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Tickets are just $15 and are available directly from Doug Ford (ford@curtislumber.com) or Sandy McAlonie (SMRotary1213@gmail.com). Shoot them an email and they will hook you up.
Besides helping raise funds to battle polio, you also can participate in the local coat collection. See the flyer for details.
Questions? Call Doug at 518-365-4958 or Sandy at 518-339-9904.
Ray Hannan wins the (imaginary) prize for being the first SRC member to respond to the request for pledges for our annual “Adopt-a-Family” for the holidays project. Thank you, Ray!
Wonder who will be next? Maybe it will be you. Or, if you didn’t get around to reading your email yet, simply click here to catch up on what we’re doing for our annual push and what you can do to be part of it.
We sincerely need all our SRC members to get involved in one way or another — by purchasing items on our two-person family’s wish list or by putting together a batch of personal hygiene kits from the shopping list we’ve provided to you. Please just let us know ASAP what you plan to do by emailing us a note to SRCrotary@gmail.com.
The hard deadline for donating items is Thursday, December 13. We’ll be collecting your donations between now and then and then delivering them to Circles of Mercy.
Thanks for all you do.
Bill & April Dowd
Adopt-a-Family project coordinators
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 