Breakfast Meeting at Greenbush YMCA
20 Community Way
East Greenbush, NY
September 21, 2017

Members Attending (12): Roberto Martinez, Ron Annis, Jim Butterworth, Jim Leyhane, Terry Brewer, Mike Bennett, Melissa Bill, Peter Brown, , Murray Forth, Andy Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Matt Smith.

Guests: None.

Program: ‘Emergency Preparedness’

SRC board member Terry Brewer was the speaker, on the topic of preparing for am variety of emergencies.

His presentation ranged from such things as handling natural disasters, fires, etc., to how to be sure important documents such as  insurance policies are readily available in case of immediate need.

Terry said the talk prompted at least one attendee to immediately take photos of the interior of his home to supplement his insurance policy with documentation about his home’s furnishings.

ON THE CALENDAR — A board meeting will follow the conclusion of next Thursday’s dinner meeting. … The next recycling and shredding day is October 14 at Wainschaf Associates in Rensselaer. … A hurricane relief fundraiser still is being worked on  by John Sawchuk at Columbia High School for October 20. … The Capital Region Nordic Alliance fundraiser luncheon is set for October 22. … The District’s  “Persons of Action” dinner is planned for November 19. … The annual Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) workshop will be held Saturday, October 21, at the UAlbany Health Campus in Rensselaer. We have a sizeable contingent planning on participating; the club will pay for each registration fee.

NEXT MEETINGS — Dinner meeting, 6:15 p.m. Thursday, September 28, at Quigley’s. The speaker will be Jeff Simon, superintendent of the East Greenbush Central School District. Next Third Thursday breakfast meeting, 7 a.m., October 19, at the East Greenbush YMCA.

Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
September 14, 2017

Members Attending (18): Roberto Martinez, Pat Bailey, Murray Forth, Bill Dowd, Jim Leyhane, Jim Butterworth, Debbie Rodriguez, Ray Hannan, Peter Brown, April Dowd, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Dean Calamaras, Charlie Foote, Phil Kellerman, Kevin Leyhane, Julius Frankel, Becky Raymond.

Guests (2): District Governor Fred Daniels; visiting Rotarian David van Valkenburg of Vienna, VA.

PROGRAM: “The District Governor’s Visit”

Fred Daniels, paying his first official visit as District 7190 Governor, began by presenting to the club the theme banner for the 2017-18 Rotary Year: “Rotary Making a Difference.”

He explained the upcoming “Peace Summit for Youth,” scheduled for Sunday, November 12, in Mechanicville. It is planned as an interactive day that will attempt to create a hospitable environment and context for youths to explore their questions, ideas, and thoughts about peace and what that means to them. (Click here for a posting explaining the initiative.)

Fred also applauded our club for its many public service activities, and its strong membership efforts. He thanked Terry Brewer for his efforts as the point person for the District’s efforts in the areas of membership recruitment and retention, and he noted that SRC is the District leader in growing membership. He noted that this Rotary Year there are 30 Membership Chairs in the District rather than the seven it had before.

And, Fred spoke about raising awareness of Rotary, particularly through social media and websites as our club does. He is suggesting that all clubs consider development of a “cause oriented message,” meaning selecting one or several of our strongest efforts and emphasizing them via social media to attract the attention of young professionals who prefer volunteer efforts for a cause rather than being stuck in a rigid structure of meetings and rituals.

Finally, Fred announced that a “Person of Action” will be honored at the annual District Foundation Dinner, scheduled for November 16 at the 90 State Street event space in Albany.

Fred said various club presidents had been asked to designate such a person from among their members, and he and Roberto presented Bill Dowd with a certificate recognizing him as our club’s “Person of Action” for such efforts as fundraising for ShelterBox, Circles of Mercy initiatives, running the website, Facebook and Twitter accounts, his Board service, and more.

Business/Announcements

WELCOME, THANK-YOUS, ETC.  — President Roberto welcomed Rotarians and guests, and exchanged club pennants with David van Valkenburg, a visiting Rotarian from Vienna, VA. … He also thanked April Dowd of the Sunshine Committee  for sending flowers and get-well cards to members Phil Nasca and Burke Adams who are undergoing medical procedures. … Roberto also announced scheduling of a Board meeting to be held at the conclusion of the regular dinner meeting on September 28.

HOSPITAL STAY BROCHURE — Peter Brown, Jim Leyhane, and Roberto are to meet with medical administrators at St. Peter’s Hospital to discuss the Hospital Stay Brochure developed by our club (available for download on our club website). Peter explained how the free brochure works, and expressed the need to develop in the near future a cadre of people who could advocate in-person for patients with no support system.

RYLA — We will pay tuition for five students from Maple Hill High School who have enrolled in the six-month Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program. We received no interest from any other high schools in our area of service.

SHELTERBOX UPDATE — Bill Dowd, the club’s ShelterBox Liaison Officer, provided an update on what the organization has been doing to supply disaster aid in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and the Caribbean in the wakes of a series of hurricanes. He also noted that $4,700 has been raised so far within the club to go specifically to the ShelterBox Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. Bill said he plans to deliver the money to Jack and Nancy Faddegon next week; they are the ShelterBox coordinatorss for District 7190. He noted that this money is separate from the annual contribution the club makes to the ShelterBox general treasury, which will be made later in the Rotary Year. Please see Bill for details on how to make out checks to insure tax deductability. Any amount will be appreciated. … Phil Kellerman explained his ebay business through which he is offering to auction collectible items to raise additional funds for the special relief effort. (Click here for details.)

ANCHOR FOOD PANTRY — Debbie Brown thanked members for the contributions of toilet paper for the Castleton facility, and said it now is in need of toothpaste. Please give your donations to Debbie next Thursday for a Saturday delivery.

VIKING GYM UPDATE — A message from project coordinator Ron Annis on the outdoor Viking Gym constructed as part of an Eagle Scout project at the Schodack Town Park reported that construction is complete, and that a financial grant from District 7190 has been received to help offset the costs. He thanked Debbie Rodriguez and Becky Raymond for accompanying him to the annual District Grant Seminar.

GIFT OF LIFE — Jim Leyhane reported that Chingunne, the 18-month-old Mongolian child who was brought here for cardiac surgery at Albany Medical Center, has been discharged and is doing well. He is staying at Ronald MacDonald House. … The annual Gift of Life Golf & Bocce Tournament, a major fundraiser, will be held at Pinehaven Country Club in Guilderland on Monday, September 18. A field of golfers twice the usual size has been registered, with SRC entering two teams. Volunteers are needed to work that day. Anyone who works a four-hour shift will be treated to lunch and anyone working a six-hour shift will be treated to the awards dinner that evening.

DISTRICT MEMBERSHIP MEETING — Terry Brewer is coordinating the event, scheduled for Tuesday, September 19. Ray Hannan also will be representing the club along with Terry.

EMERGENCY TRAINING WORKSHOP — Dean Calamaras explained the upcoming “Bystanders to Upstanders” symposium sponsored by the Rensselaer County Medical Reserve Corps on Saturday, September 23, in Troy. Dean and Doris Calamaras have signed up for the event. Registration deadline is this Friday. Details on the event, plus a link to the registration form, are available by clicking here.

RECYCLING & SHREDDING DAY — Murray Forth said plans are set for our latest Recycling & Shredding Day, again scheduled for the Wainschaf Associates warehouse at 589 3rd Avenue Ext., Rensselaer. It will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers are needed to staff the event. Please see Murray or Terry Brewer is you are interested in lending a hand. (Click here for details.)

COLUMBIA DISASTER RELIEF FUNDRAISER — John Sawchuk is organizing a fundraiser at Columbia High School that will include lunch on Friday, October 20. He has asked the club to be one of the sponsors. Details to come.

ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE — This year’s RLI session will move from its longtime Siena College venue to the UAlbany Health Campus in Rensselaer on Saturday, October 21. Thanks to the more affordable space secured through  Jim Butterworth and CASDA, which is headquartered there, the tuition will be only $75, half the usual amount. The club will pay the registration fee for all who are interested. Roberto urged members to become involved in what has proven to be a solid and interesting set of workshops each year. Contact him ASAP. Early registration is necessary so RLI leaders can arrange for proper accommodations and staffing.

NORDIC ALLIANCE — Peter Brown announced that there will be a luncheon fundraiser on behalf of the Capital Region Nordic Alliance, an organization we have financially supported for its work with disabled military veterans and others. It will be held on October 22, with reservations priced at $65 per person or $120 per couple. (Click here for a posting with details and reservation information.)

WORLD POLIO DAY — The event is scheduled for Wednesday, October 24, at the UAlbany School of Public Health. Dr. Martha Lepow, an early polio research pioneer, is scheduled to attend, and the video created under the auspices of SRC, CASDA, the School of Public Health, and District 7190 will be shown.

CREATING ROTARIANS — Pat Bailey reported that Paige Johnson, who we sponsored in the Rotary Youth Exchange program several years ago, now is living in Vermont where she has joined a local Rotary club. She has been put in charge of that club’s membership efforts.

NEXT MEETINGS — Both are set for Thursday, September 21: The first is at 7 a.m. at the Greenbush YMCA when Terry Brewer will speak on “Emergency Preparedness,” and the second at 6:15 p.m. at Quigley’s when Phil Kellerman will speak on immigration.