Miracle League fundraiser a success
Author: SRCrotary
A volunteer service club located in Rensselaer County, NY, that is part of Rotary International, the 1.23 million-member international organization of men and women serving their community and their world.
Funding the polio fight for 2017
Polio video debuts at District Conference
The much-anticipated polio history video spearheaded by the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club made its debut Saturday at the District 7190 Annual Conference in Lake George.
The informational video is a cooperative venture involving the SRC; technical staff production work from the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA), also known as the Center for School Improvement at the UAlbany School of Education; the UAlbany School of Public Health, and District 7190.
The project was an outgrowth of discussion held after a “World Polio Day” live-streaming event hosted by the School of Public Health. District Governor John Mucha, in introducing the video to a full house attending the session, said, “SRC Rotary was really the striving force behind this.”
Because many people, younger ones in particular, have not lived through polio epidemics and scares that once were commonplace until Rotary International stepped in to help lead the global effort to eradicate the disease, it was felt that an educational video would help explain the ongoing need for vigilance and funding of the effort since polio cannot be cured but can be prevented.
Dr. Martha J. Lepow of Albany Medical Center, who has had a lengthy practice in pediatric infectious diseases, had volunteered to talk about polio with Rotary club audiences, but it was thought that a video presentation that could be widely disseminated would be more efficient. SRC;s Dr. Jim Leyhane interviewed her on-camera as part of the video.
After the video was shown, our club member, Martha and the School of Public Heath were given “District Governor Emmys,” and Jim posed for the statue. Martha also was award a Paul Harris Fellows certificate, and given an “End Polio Now” fleece jacket. Jim and Dr. Roberto Martinez accepted the club’s award.
Also attending the conference were SRC President Debbie Rodriguez and Secretary Pat Bailey, as well as Ella Leal Cancio, our Rotary Youth Exchange student from Brazil who was recognized along with other exchange students from throughout the District,
Displays and discussion topics also included ShelterBox, Gift of Life, and PolioPlus. Keynote speaker Mitty Chang’s topic was “Attracting the Future of Rotary.”
Thanks to Roberto Martinez for providing these notes and the following images:
Viking Gym project goes into high gear
Construction has begun on the Swedish Viking Gym project at Schodack Town Park, helped in part by a grant from the Southern Rensselaer Rotary Club.
Trroop 41 Eagle Scout candidate Leonardo Gonzales, SRC’s Ron Annis and John Snyder are pictured unloading the Top Form truck of all equipment and beginning the first phases of building.
Thanks go to the Home Depot store in East Greenbush and its general manager, Craig Fenoff, for supporting the project by offering a generous discount on purchase of supplies.
5 more inductees, plus club awards
Dinner Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
May 4, 2017
Members Attending (19): Debbie Rodriguez, Roberto Martinez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Jim Leyhane, Dick Drumm, A.J. Amato, Ron Annis, Terry Brewer, Becky Raymond, Phil Kellerman, Ray Hannan, Carol Orvis, Charlie Forth, Rommel Tolentino, Mary Griswold, Maggie Forth, Jennifer Felts, Bob DeBenedetti.
Guests (1): Jeremy Forth.
Induction of New Members
We inducted five new members into Rotary — returning Rotarian Rommel Tolentino and Mary Griswold from Community Care Physicians, as well as Maggie Forth, Jennifer Felts, and Bob DeBenedetti.
Club Board Member Jim Leyhane lead the event, explaining our fast-growing club, its history and his role as the inductor of new members. He also spoke about some of the things that our club has been involved in, including Boy Scouts, ShelterBox, Gift of Life, local student scholarships, Polio Plus, clean water projects and other health related projects. He also spoke about Rotary International, and about its recent changes in membership requirements and responsibilities.
Jim asked that members participate in the way they can with their talents and ideas. Jim read the “4-Way Test” and recommended they view our website for more information. The new Rotarians were given Rotary pins and decals.
Club Awards
President Debbie Rodriguez announced the recognition of various members for their efforts in numerous projects during the 2016-17 Rotary Year, and gave a brief explanation of each award and the contributions made by the recipients. Here are looks at those able to attend:
Matt Smith, Josh Wainman, and Mike Dewey for recycling events.
Awards also went to two other members unable to attend the meeting:
Community Spirit Award
• John Sawchuk for initiating the inaugural Community Celebration Dinner, and for his ongoing efforts involving the Columbia High School community with several Rotary initiatives.
Service Above Self Award
• Bill Dowd for his annual efforts creating and coordinating the school supply drive, the Adopt-a-Family drive and the Easter baskets drive, all of which benefit adult and child clients of the Circles of Mercy family service organization.
Announcements/Business
VIKING GYM — Ron Annis reported on the Viking Gym project he and Eagle Scout Leonardo Gonzalez are heading at the Schodack Town Park, and thanked the club for its financial support.
POLIO VIDEO — Roberto Martinez spoke about the polio history video that will debut at the District Conference in Lake George, and showed a portion of the completed project. He thanked CASDA, which was instrumental in the effort, partnering with SRC, District 7190, and the UAlbany School of Public Health.
TRIVIA EVENT COMING UP — Next Thursday, Bill Dowd will conduct his 3rd annual “Great North American Whizbang Trivia Test.” As always, friends and prospective members are welcome to participate.
Are you staying in the loop?
Do you keep up with all the activities of our club and District 7190? It’s easy to do. Just go to our Facebook page and click on “events.” You’ll see something like this each time you do, although of course the events themselves will change. Then, click on the headline to get the details.
Groundbreaking completed for Viking gym project in Schodack
Work has begun on the Viking Gym project at Schodack Town Park. These images show the groundbreaking for the setting of logs which will stabilize/make the gym.
Pictured are: Leonardo Gonzales, the Eagle Scout project leader from Troop 41; helpers/friends Matthew Kelly and Billy Lindemann, and Ron Annis of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club who is the project coordinator.
The gym will be an outdoor training and exercise station, with this phase laying the groundwork, with other Scouts expanding the resource year-to-year, eventually covering an approximately 100 square foot area. The project is based on a Viking playground design created in Sweden. It is being developed in conjunction with the our sister Rotary Club in Gefle, Sweden, the hometown of Ron ‘s wife Monika.
Re-cycling another re-sounding success
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary’s second electronics recycling and paper shredding effort of the year, held Saturday at Wainschaf Associates Construction in Rensselaer, was another successful effort: six large packing boxes of electronic devices and three vans crammed full of old television sets — including a vintage floor model, laptop computers, computer monitors, etc. — as well as untold pounds of paper documents recycled.
We had a large contingent of SRC members, family and friends on hand to make the day go smoothly. They included Debbie Rodriguez, Terry Brewer, Murray Forth, Debbie Brown, Josh Wainman, Andy Leyhane, Peter Brown, Matt Smith and Guilana Gianfarani, A.J. Amato plus wife Ann and A.J.’s office staff, Mike Dewey, Charlie Foote, Pat Bailey, Becky Raymond, Jim Leyhane, Julius Frankel and Roberto Martinez.
Here are some images from the day.
4/27/17 meeting: Our Youth Exchange Student
Dinner Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
April 27, 2017
Members Attending (16): Debbie Rodriguez, Roberto Martinez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Jim Leyhane, Ron Annis, Terry Brewer, Dick Drumm, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Phil Kellerman, Ray Hannan, Charlie Foote, A.J. Amato, Carole Spencer, Julius Frankel.
Guests (1): Ella Câncio.
Speaker: Rafaella (Ella) Câncio
Ella Câncio, who had visited us several months ago, paid a return visit as her Rotary Youth Exchange year nears its end.
She showed us a map of her home area in Brazil, including her hometown of Ubá, a city of about 100,000 residents in the state of Minas Gerais about 75 miles north of Rio de Janiero. And, she shared photos such as one with her parents, her brother, and her sister, and one of her house.
Ella explained the differences between her home area and Schodack, where she has been attending Maple Hill High School. She said she has enjoyed the get-togethers with other exchange students who are studying in this region, and showed photos of some of those events. Ella also had photos from her school in Schodack and the three who went to All County Chorus. She said she has participated in softball and track, both of which she liked.
This was her first Halloween and she showed us photos of her in costume and also her seeing her first snowfall, a special experience since she never had seen snow before.
Ella said she began English classes outside of school at the age of 11, which is why her English is very good. She said she will have a year to a year and a half more high school when she returns home, then probably will attend university which is free.
She said her favorite food is tacos, and she has been making desserts for her host family. She also said might teach her family and friends how to play softball when she returns to Brazil.
Announcements/Business
POLIO VIDEO — Roberto Martinez reported that the project is nearly finished. A 10-minute excerpt will be shown at the District Conference next Saturday, May 6, in Lake George.
RONALD McDONALD HOUSE MEAL — Terry Brewer reported on the breakfast effort at Ronald McDonald House last Saturday. Eight club members and friends made up the volunteer kitchen crew.
RECYCLING DAY — Murray Forth reported on the event scheduled for this Saturday, April 29, at the Wainschaf Associates warehouse. Several members are signed up to help staff the event, but anyone else who wishes to volunteer is welcome. Both the ad and the news article from The Advertiser for the event were circulated.
SHAKER HERITAGE PROJECT — The Area 8 interclub cleanup event at the Shaker Heritage Site in Colonie is scheduled for Saturday, May 20, and volunteers from SRC are needed. A signup sheet be circulated at next Thursday’s dinner meeting.
VALLEYCATS ROTARY NIGHT — Terry Brewer is handling tickets for our annual picnic-and-ballgame event at Bruno Stadium on Thursday, July 27. The price of tickets has gone up by $1. Terry will get tickets and start a signup sheet soon.
OFFICER NEEDED — We are in need of someone to step up to become President-elect for 2018-19. John Sawchuk had been in that position, but will be moving out of the area before then. Anyone interested should contact Debbie Rodriguez or any other member of the SRC Board.
NEXT MEETING — 6:15 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at Quigley’s. We will be inducting new members and giving out awards.
SRC breakfast crew aids Ronald McDonald House
A group of SRC members and friends whipped up breakfast on Saturday morning for the guests at Ronald McDonald House in Albany. Terry Brewer coordinated the event again this year.
The three-building facility provides lodging and volunteer-created meals for families with youngsters undergoing treatment at the nearby Albany Medical Center. SRC will be cooking and serving dinner there on Wednesday, May 31.
Here’s a look at the breakfast cooks:
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 