Members in Attendance (14):  Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Murray Forth, Ray Hannan, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Carole Heaney, Dick Drumm, Andy Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Charlie Foote and Debbie Rodriguez.

By Zoom (0):

Guests (0): 

President Peter Brown called the meeting to order.

Theme for the year: “Building Community”

Meeting Notes:

Website Overview: Kevin Leyhane gave a brief overview of the website. There is a lot of information on the website. It is searchable. The most used are the member contact information, the calendar and meeting minutes.

Water for Kenya Global Grant: Per Peter Brown, there is no update. Same status as last week.

District Grant: Roberto Martinez reported that the final written report for last year’s grant was submitted. The Club should get $1150 in reimbursement. The grant for 24-25 was submitted to the new District.

501C4 Status: No update.

Dues: Murray Forth reminded members that Club dues of $175 are due by July 1st.

Viking Gym: The Viking Gym is open. Debbie Rodriguez contacted Kevin Konig to clarify who is providing the peace pole. He is checking on it. She also emailed and Ron Annis about a hard opening but has not heard back yet.

Fund Raisers: Some suggestions are hosting a pickle ball tournament, Cafe Capriccio raffle, summer outings, plant swap, game nigh, a talent show, silent auction, raffle, cornhole tournament, car show, solicit businesses and fitness fair.

Speakers: We will need speakers for the fall. Carol Heaney attended the Capital District Initiative for Mental Health for Adolescents. She suggested having someone come and speak in the fall.

Summer Schedule: Check the calendar for the latest updates. Please let Debbie Brown know if you will be attending Capital Rep on August 1st. Please let Debbie Rodiguez know if you will be attending the Valley Cats game on August 8th.

Next Meeting: The changeover will be held on Thursday, June 27th at 6:00 pm at Peter and Debbie Brown’s home. Please bring a salad or an appetizer. If you have not done so, please let Debbie know if you will be attending.

The District 7190 Celebration was held on June 19 at 5 pm at Wolf Hollow Brewing in Schenectady. We bid farewell to District 7190 and welcome District 7180.

Members in Attendance (10):  Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Murray Forth, Ray Hannan, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Carole Heaney and Debbie Rodriguez.

By Zoom (1): Charlie Foote

Guests (0): 

President Peter Brown called the meeting to order.

Theme for the year: “Building Community”

Meeting Notes:

Water for Kenya Global Grant: Peter Brown reported that the District number was fixed. He was just informed that the the Rotary Club of Enkare Naroch needed 25 members for a Global Grant. The Club did not meet this criteria so they joined with another Club to continue the Grant. The new Club will have to set up the bank account to pay the contractors. Both Clubs are working on a different project to provide water tanks to schools. Peter received the contact information from the new Club but neither of the contacts were listed as Club members. Peter is in the process of clarifying the information.

Per Roberto Martinez, the final written report for last year’s grant is due at the end of July. The grant for 24-25 was submitted to the new District and is dependent on the tax status.

501C4 Status: No update.

Dues: Murray Forth reminded members that Club dues of $175 are due by July 1st.

Viking Gym: The Viking Gym is open. Carol Heaney drove by and observed people using it. Per Murray Forth, the mock-up of the sign is done, was submitted to the Town of Schodack and Mr. Peters, the Town Supervisor, approved it. Debbie Rodriguez will contact Kevin Konig to clarify who is providing the peace pole and Ron Annis about a hard opening.

Fund Raisers: Some suggestions are hosting a pickle ball tournament, Cafe Capriccio, summer outings, plant swap, game night and a talent show. Murray Forth will talk to someone in Latham about structuring a pickleball tournament. Debbie Brown will contact Capital Rep about attending on August 1st.

Changeover: Will be held June 27th at 6 pm at Peter and Debbie Brown’s home. Please bring a salad or an appetizer.

District Meetings: The District 7190 Celebration will be held on June 19 at 5 pm at Wolf Hollow Brewing in Schenectady. Carol Heaney is willing to drive. Please contact her if you are interested in attending.

Speakers: We will need speakers for the fall.

Summer Schedule: Check the calendar for the latest updates.

Next Meeting: Thursday, June 20th at 6:00 pm at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant, Route 4, North Greenbush. Also, you can join by Zoom using the link on the websites calendar page. The will be a Club Assembly and a brief presentation on arts participation with Emma Leyhane.

Entry Choices will be Antipasta Salad, Spaghetti with Meatballs and Eggplant Parm.

St. Paul’s Center

Tracy Pitcher

Tracy Pitcher is the Executive Director of St. Paul’s Center. She has a master’s degree in social work and building bridges to a brighter future is her goal. She has been at St. Paul’s for fourteen years. Her dedicated staff has been there almost as long.

St. Paul’s Center was opened in October of 2006 as an emergency shelter. It is the only shelter in Rensselaer County dedicated to mothers and children. Over the years, it has helped over 1,373 families facing homelessness. Poverty leads to a culture of poverty resulting in generational poverty and homelessness. 64% of the mothers experienced homelessness as children and 40% did not finish high school.

St. Paul’s Center also provides support, guidance and advocacy. They offer workshops on skills building, finance, nutrition, cooking, parenting and other topics. Community partners offer workshops on various health issues, childcare contraception and empowerment. Childcare and tutoring are available. The Bridge Program, established in 2017, offers case management for six to twelve months after the families leave the shelter. Of the families served, 97% have not returned to homelessness.

Their new program is a 16 one bed unit for homeless seniors on Wolf Road. It is near Colonie Senior Services and the Center for Wellness. There are employment opportunities in the area and shopping and pharmacies are nearby. Their headquarters will move there, freeing up room to house more families in Rensselaer. For more information go to https://stpaulscenter.com/.

Members in Attendance (13):  Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Charlie Foote, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Murray Forth, Ray Hannan, Kevin Leyhane, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Carole Heaney, Ruth Russell and Debbie Rodriguez.

Guests (0): 

President Peter Brown called the meeting to order.

Theme for the year: “Building Community”

Meeting Notes:

Water for Kenya Global Grant: Peter Brown reported that the grant was submitted last week for $50,000. The District ID was incorrect, but the app is locked. Peter is working on correcting the ID. Sue Austin approved the grant application. Waiting on the remaining approvals. Peter would still like to send two members of the Club to Kenya which would require an additional $7,000. Carol Heaney suggested the individuals fundraise.

501C4 Status: No update.

Dues: Murray Forth reminded members that Club dues of $175 are due by July 1st.

Viking Gym: Carol Heaney will contact Ron Annis. Debbie Rodriguez will contact Kevin Konig, Schodack Parks Supervisor.

Fund Raisers: Some suggestions are hosting a pickle ball tournament, Cafe Capriccio, summer outings, plant swap, game night and a talent show.

Changeover: Will be held June 27th at 6 pm at Peter and Debbie Brown’s home. Please bring a salad or an appetizer.

District Meetings: The District 7190 Celebration will be held on June 19 at 5 pm at Wolf Hollow Brewing in Schenectady. Carol Heaney is willing to drive. Please contact her if you are interested in attending.

Speakers: We will need speakers for the fall.

Summer Schedule: Check the calendar for the latest updates.

Next Meeting: Thursday, June 13th at 6:00 pm at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant, Route 4, North Greenbush. Also, you can join by Zoom using the link on the websites calendar page. Tracy Pitcher, Executive Director of St. Paul’s, will speak.

Member Inductions

Welcome

Carol Heaney and Ruth Russell

Jim Leyhane gave an overview of Rotary International (RI) and the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club and their activities. Rotary began in 1906 in Chicago. There are now over 2 million members. There are 40,000 Rotary Clubs in the world in 160 countries. Districts are comprised of 40 to 100 clubs. Rotary is the largest non-government charity in the world. Over 5 billion dollars has been raised to eradicate Polio. With 2 to 3 cases per year, we are almost there. New projects will focus on water. Everyone has the right to clean water. Rotary is also involved in literacy, maternal health, peace and economic stability. Rotary is a partner to Shelter Box. A Shelter Box is an emergency tub that holds everything 10 people need to survive 10 weeks. Each box costs $1,000. Shelter Box has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize the last three years. Our members contribute to Shelter Box and each of our local high schools has sponsored at least one tub.

The East Greenbush Rotary Club, renamed to the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club (SRC), was established in March of 1960. Our district has recently regrouped with 100 clubs with over 1,000 members into the Central New York District. We have sponsored Boy Scout Troup 41 since our inception. This Troup has produced over 100 Eagle Scouts. Members contribute to Gift of Life, established in the 80s, to fix the hearts of children with congenital heart disease. Surgeries cost $10,000 and the SRC sponsored one child’s surgery by itself. Now RI provides grants to countries to learn how to do the surgeries themselves. The SRC has sponsored water buffalos for Pakistan. We contribute to the local food pantries. We provide Easter baskets, school supplies and adopt a family for the holidays for the Circle of Mercy. We contribute to the YMCA’s Thanksgiving food drive and are trying to restart our exchange program.

Welcome to Carol Heaney and Ruth Russell.