Breakfast Meeting at Greenbush YMCA
20 Community Way
East Greenbush, NY
May 18, 2017

Members Attending (14): Debbie Rodriguez,  Pat Bailey, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Jim Butterworth, Mike Dewey, Murray Forth, Andy Leyhane, Jim Leyhane, Shannon Romanowski, Matt Smith, John Sawchuk, Roberto Martinez, Ron Annis.

Business & Announcements

RECYCLING / EXPANSION — Murray Forth gave an update on our second recycling event, a very profitable fundraiser. He is looking into the possibility of us accepting batteries for disposal at the next such event, which already covers electronics recycling and document shredding.

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS — President Debbie Rodriguez presented “Innovative Fundraising Awards” to Matt Smith, Mike Dewey and Josh Wainman, the latter not in attendance,  for their efforts with the club’s recycling events. (Murray Forth also was honored for those efforts at an earlier dinner-meeting presentation.) John Sawchuck also received an award for his efforts with the Community Recognition Dinner.

SHAKER PROJECT — A signup sheet was circulated for the multiclub work day at the Shaker Heritage Site this Saturday. Volunteers are needed.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES — A signup sheet was circulated for potential summer club activities. Debbie Brown will look into possible dates for our annual outing to the Mac Haydn Theatre summer playhouse. Terry Brewer already has reserved a block of 45 tickets (at $26 each) for our annual picnic and ValleyCats baseball game vs. the Staten Island Yankees at Bruno Stadium on Thursday, July 27. Anyone wishing to reserve tickets is asked to contact Terry directly. Tickets will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

PROGRAM:  Polio History Video

Roberto Martinez and Jim Leyhane provided the background and process of the polio history video, and thanked all involved for their contributions to the project. It was a cooperative effort among SRC, CASDA, UAlbany School of Public Health, and District 7190, and a version of it debuted at the recent District Annual Conference in Lake George.

The video was created to provide Rotarians with a historical perspective of the disease for purposes of education and fundraising. It features  Dr. Martha Lepow, an early polio research pioneer and local pediatrician who specializes in pediatric infectious diseases. It covers the early days of polio; thoughts, treatments and impact of the disease on patients and on society as a whole.

It provides viewers with a greater understanding of the following:

• The history of polio

• The disease’s impact on the population before vaccines

• Control of polio through vaccines in this country and throughout the world

• Rotary International’s long and persistent quest to eliminate the disease worldwide and the progress made to date

Roberto and Jim showed the 20-minute version (there are versions in several different lengths) and took questions from attendees.

NEXT BREAKFAST MEETING: 7 to 8 a.m. Thursday, June 15, at the Greenbush YMCA.

Dinner Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
May 11, 2017

Members Attending (18): Debbie Rodriguez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Bill Dowd, April Dowd, Dick Drumm, Geoff Brewer, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, A.J. Amato, Maggie Forth, Ron Annis, Terry Brewer, Phil Kellerman, Ray Hannan, Andy Leyhane.

Guests (4): Rotarians Kevin Markham, Tom Rogers, Charlie Perry; Jeremy Forth.

PROGRAM: 3rd annual Great North American Whizbang Trivia Test

Triviamaster Bill Dowd conducted the annual brainteaser event. The scoring was done on the honor system for answers in five categories — television, food and drink,  American history, sports and geography. Questions ranged from easy to very challenging, and all required serious contemplation.

Debbie Brown, Terry  Brewer and visiting Rotarian Tom Rogers wound up tied with 24 of a possible 40 points each. After a series of tie-breaking questions, Debbie and Tom remained tied, but Tom won a coin flip to get the top prize — a boxed set of the party game “Hollywood Game Night” — and Debbie was awarded a book of 250 word puzzles.

Business & Announcements

VISITING ROTARIANS — President Debbie Rodriguez welcomed a trio of visiting Rotarians — Kevin Markham of the Glens Falls club and Tom Rogers and Charlie Perry of the Salem club — who all spoke at great length about the District’s Rotary Youth Exchange program, including their experiences, tips for finding host families, and how to engage with incoming students. A.J. Amato, our club’s Youth Exchange Officer, thanked the visitors for being so supportive of him during this academic year. It also was announced that Ella Câncio, SRC’s student from Brazil, will remain  with her current host family  through the end of her stay here.

BUSINESS CARDS — Debbie distributed new club business cards, asking members to use them to help attract interest in Rotary and to use when seeking donations to the club. She also thanked Bill Dowd for designing the cards and having them professionally printed.

WORK DAY SIGNUP — Members are asked to sign up for a volunteer work day project at the Shaker Heritage Site in Colonie, an effort being put together for next Saturday, (May 20) by Assistant District Governor  Jack Faddegon. Volunteers are asked to bring tools — shovels, hammers, handsaws, rakes, etc. — suitable for some landscaping and repair chores. A picnic lunch will be served. Anyone who did not sign up at this meeting but wishes to participate is asked to contact Debbie Rodriguez ASAP.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES — A sign-up sheet is being circulated to solicit suggestions for summer club activities. We especially are looking for ideas to attract our younger members with children to engage with all members.

VIKING PLAYGROUND — Murray Forth reported for Ron Annis that work is progressing at a rapid pace on Leonardo Gonzalez’s Eagle Scout project (click here and here for photos) that will result in creation of the initial phase of a Viking Gym at Schodack Town Park. A sign already has been installed. The project is being undertaking in cooperation with our sister club in Gefle, Sweden, Monika Annis’s hometown.

SCOUT NEWS — Murray also reported receipt of an invitation from Boy Scout Troop 41 to participate in the community Memorial Day parade. Scoutmaster Dennis Cicchino will visit the club on May 25 to update us on the Scouts’ activities.

NEXT MEETINGS — On Thursday, May 18, two meetings are on  the calendar. Jim Leyhane will show a version  of the polio history video at the 7 a.m. Third Thursday breakfast meeting at the Greenbush YMCA. At the 6:15 p.m . dinner meeting at Quigley’s, club member Mike Bennett, assistant superintendent of the Schodack Central School District, will accompany juniors from Maple Hill High School who participated in the 2016-17 RYLA program. Their tuitions were paid for by the SRC club.