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.

We need your RSVPs for 3 upcoming events

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Meeting of 12/8/16: ‘Banking Today,’ and ADG visit

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screen-shot-2016-10-16-at-7-10-54-pmMeeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
December 8, 2016

Members Attending (15): Debbie Rodriguez, Murray Forth, Roberto Martinez, Bill Dowd, Jim Leyhane, John Sawchuk, Terry Brewer, Stewart Wagner, Dick Drumm, Dean Calamaras, Ray Hannan, Becky Raymond, April Dowd, Melissa Bill, Charlie Foote.

Guests (1): Assistant District Governor Jack Faddegon.

PROGRAM: “TODAY’S BANKING AND YOU”

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Melissa Bill leads listeners through a ‘financial wellness’ checklist.

Club member Melissa Bill, the West Sand Lake branch manager for Key Bank, described her background of 12 years in the industry during which she worked her way up from part-time clerk to management. In that period, she has worked for five different banking companies.

Melissa explained that beyond basic banking services, many modern companies deal with customers’ “financial wellness,” something she said fits within her personal philosophy of banking. What that means, she said, is “paying attention to what people really want and need from their bank.”

She also noted that younger customers tend never to go into a bank, preferring to handle all their transactions electronically. In answer to a question about how to get young adults to be more bank savvy and proactive in  their financial dealings, Melissa advised that they should get to know their bank branch managers and make an appointment for an annual  review of their finances. “Think about it the same way you do for a checkup from your doctor,” she said.

She supplied a list of questions her bank asks during client interviews, and suggested we all use it as a self-assessment.

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BUSINESS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

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ADG Jack Faddegon speaks.

ASSISTANT DG VISITS — Jack Faddegon, ADG of District 7190’s Area 8 (SRC, Cohoes, Lansingburgh, Colonie-Guilderland), was our special guest. He said DG John Mucha has asked each ADG in the District to come up with a cooperative project involving their Areas’ clubs. Among suggesti0ns already up for consideration are a work project at a local historic site, conducting a public “What Is Rotary?” informational event, undertaking a membership improvement effort for clubs having difficulty, or any other item we can think of. He said he will coordinate among the clubs, and hopes to decide on an effort shortly after the upcoming holidays.

Jack also switched to his role as District coordinator (along with wife Nancy) for ShelterBox to express thanks for SRC’s continuing support at a high financial level for the international disaster agency, and to Bill Dowd for serving as the club’s ShelterBox Liaison Officer. SRC Treasurer Murray Forth then surprised Jack with our latest check for ShelterBox — this one for $2,600, funded by five SRC members’ special contributions.

NEW MEMBERS — President Debbie Rodriguez announced the acceptance of new members Phil and Mary Bonnie Nasca. Phil is dean of the UAlbany School of Public Health, Read More »

Latest RI Convention newsletter available

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screen-shot-2016-12-06-at-2-58-21-pmIssue No. 3 of the Rotary International Convention newsletter now is available by clicking here.

The Atlanta gathering alread has drawn more than 40 Rotarians and guests from  District 7190. And, both Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez have expressed interest in attending on behalf of SRC.

If you think this is something you’d like to be involved in, check out the newsletter, then get in touch with Jim or Roberto to coordinate travel and lodging plans.

 

‘Votes & Volts’ program on December 15

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screen-shot-2016-12-05-at-10-40-01-pmAre you planning to attend SRC’s December 15 “Votes & Volts” meeting? We certainly hope so, because the agenda has been created especially for ALL members, new and old, and it will be an excellent opportunity to get to know each other a lot more.

Not only will it be the last regular meeting of 2016 (see below), we need you to vote on proposed major changes to our Club Bylaws AND to be there for Bill Dowd’s program on”Our Web, Social Media, & You.” screen-shot-2016-12-05-at-10-37-19-pm

All member have been emailed the proposed changes, but, in a brilliant bit of serendipity, if you didn’t read your email or accidentally trashed it you still can find the changes on one of our club’s communications platforms Bill will be talking about — SRCrotary.org.

Please plan to attend, and bring your cellphones, iPads, laptops or whatever you usually use to go online. Quigley’s has WiFi, and we know you will find the program very worthwhile.

IMPORTANT NOTE — About that mention above that  December 15 will be our last regular meeting of 2016 — that’s true, but don’t forget to RSVP to Murray Forth at mmforth51@gmail.com no later than Monday, December 20, if you plan to attend the Thursday, December 22, “Holiday Dinner & Theme Basket Silent Auction” at Murray’s residence. After that, we won’t meet again until January 5 when President Debbie Rodriguez has something special in the works.

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RSVP now for our Thursday return to Quigley’s

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On Thursday’s menu

After a one-week hiatus due to owner John Walsh’s illness, he’ll again be hosting us at Quigley’s, with our usual 6:15 Thursday dinner this week.

The menu will feature John’s popular lasagna, plus chef’s choice of sides, salad, bread, dessert, and beverages. And, as always, the cash bar is available.

After dinner, club member Melissa Bill, a First Niagara Bank branch manager,  will speak on a very timely topic — “How Banking Today Affects You.” Come armed with your questions.

Note: Because dinner coordinator Debbie Brown will not be available this week, please email Murray Forth at mmforth51@gmail.com no later than Tuesday to let him know if you plan to attend (and so we can give Quigley’s a proper headcount). And, please be sure to let him know if you plan to bring a guest.

See you on Thursday!

Proposed SRC Bylaws changes

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screen-shot-2016-12-04-at-7-37-32-pm• This message was emailed to all members today.

To: SRC Members
Date: December 4, 2016
Re: Proposed Bylaws Changes

At the December 1 meeting of your SRC Board of Directors, attended by nine of the 11 Board members, a series of proposed bylaws changes was unanimously approved to be put before the general membership for a vote.

The changes would modify two sections of the current bylaws (which are available in full on the club website for your review). One change would reduce the annual dues. The other would amend the types of memberships, adding “Corporate” and “Family” categories as recently allowed by Rotary International, and would introduce a streamlined process for proposing and accepting new members.

In accordance with our current bylaw requirement of a 10-day notice of proposed changes, this email will serve as such notice and allow for a vote to be held at the December 15 meeting or thereafter as designated by President Debbie Rodriguez. Members’ questions will be answered at such a meeting.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SRC BYLAWSRead More »

Meeting of 12/1/16: ‘A Change of Venue’

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screen-shot-2016-10-16-at-7-10-54-pmMeeting at the Schodack Diner
1842 Columbia Turnpike
Schodack, NY
December 1, 2016

Members Attending (20): Debbie Rodriguez, Roberto Martinez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Jim Leyhane, Andy Leyhane, Carole Spencer, Terry Brewer, Peter Brown, Jim Butterworth, Dick Drumm, Debbie Brown, Bill Dowd, April Dowd, Dean Calamaras, Julius Frankel, A.J. Amato, Charlie Foote, Stewart Wagner, Phil Kellerman.

Guests (1): Dawn Vavala.

Business/Announcements

screen-shot-2016-12-02-at-2-03-53-pmWELCOME — President Debbie Rodriguez welcomed the members and guest Rotarian Dawn Vavala who delivered the special Rotary shirts the club had ordered from her marketing company in support of the Rotary Foundation. Debbie also thanked members for attending despite the short notice of a change of venue. Quigley’s owner John Walsh recently underwent  cardiac procedure and could not accommodate us at our usual meeting place. She will keep everyone posted about that situation as we go forward, but at the moment we are planning to return to Quigley’s next week.

FOUNDATION DINNER — Roberto Martinez reported that SRC had a group of eight (six members, a spouse, and our Youth Exchange student) in attendance at the recent dinner at Saratoga National Golf Course. Our silent auction basket of items made in Rensselaer County was purchased for $80 — by our own Carole Spencer!

SPECIAL T-SHIRTS — Jim Leyhane said the special T-shirts purchased by three club Read More »

The latest on our 3 ‘Adopt-a-Family’ efforts

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srcadopt-logoThis promises to be our biggest “Adopt-a-Family” holiday period in club history. We have three separate efforts now under way that you can choose to support in one way or the other. Here are the details:

CIRCLES OF MERCY
Rensselaer

April Dowd is spearheading this effort for a local 70-year-old who is caring for her three young great-grandchildren and is herself battling cancer.

April emailed the family’s “wish list” to all members several weeks ago, but if you missed it or trashed it, you can click here to see an update on the effort that contains the shopping list. You can contact April at 238-1950.

DOORS OF HOPE
Averill Park

Terry Brewer has taken the lead on this effort on behalf of a family with three children. You can contact Terry at 221-4050. The “wish list” is as follows:

Girl (13): Favorite colors are blue, pink, black, white, gray

Long-sleeve flannel shirts, woman’s size small; PJ’s with long sleeves, woman’s size small; scarf and gloves, black/gray; Ariana Grande poster; teen magazines; movie tickets; Target gift card

Girl (8): Favorite colors are pink and purple

Theme toys (Trolls, Emoji, Shopkins); long-sleeve shirts with theme items, girls’ size 8/9; PJ’s with long sleeves, girls’ size 8/9; toys (Trolls, Num Noms, Animal Jam, Tsum Tsum); age-appropriate crafts

Boy (9): Favorite colors are blue and red

Theme toys (Pokeman, Star Wars abd Marvel characters); PJ’s and long-sleeved shirts, size boys medium, with theme characters; Halo figures, small’ Marvel figures, small; Civil War toys; Qixels crafts; books (Pokemon Moon, Pokemon Sun, Pokemon the Official Strategy Guide)

COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL
East Greenbush

Club member John Sawchuk, principal at CHS, is marshaling his students and staff in an effort to adopt at least seven families for the holidays on behalf of SRC. If you’d like to help there, you can call John at 487-0990, although this appears to be pretty much a contained effort at the school.

 

How to create a themed basket for our holiday silent auction

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basketAs of today, we are a mere three weeks (!) from one of our best-attended annual events — the “SRC Holiday Party & Themed-Basket Silent Auction.”

That’s right. Just 21 days. The dinner and festivities are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, December 22, at the Forth residence in East Greenbush. (And, an advance “thank you” to Maggie and Murray for once again volunteering to be our hosts.)

The basket auction portion of the evening is always a display of ingenuity, and prompts a lot of bidding that supports our club’s many community service projects.

Deciding on a theme, then creating a basket around it, is something everyone can participate in, no matter their artistic skill levels. And, to give you some ideas to jump-start the process, take a look at these examples:

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Damian Lewis makes Mosul aid plea for ShelterBox

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Damian Lewis

Damian Lewis, the English actor/producer familiar to American audiences for roles ranging from Henry VIII to a turncoat U.S. Marine, is lending his support to the ShelterBox international relief agency headquartered in his home country.

The star of “Homeland,” “Wolf Hall,” “Band of Brothers” and many other series and films has made a plea on behalf of the estimated one million people trapped in war-torn Mosul, Iraq. He has endorsed the efforts of ShelterBox as it prepares to help families displaced by the ongoing warfare there.

“They are the people who were not able to escape before Islamic State took hold,” Lewis said. “They are the very young, the very old and the families who were not able to leave due to illness and poverty. They have suffered atrocities we can only imagine. We cannot fail these families.”

The tents and shelter kits are in place, the distribution partnerships arranged, and aidRead More »