MEMBERS ATTENDING (12): Dick Drumm, Bill Dowd, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Debbie Rodriguez, Ray Hannan, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Phil Kellerman, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Pat Bailey.

GUESTS (1): Christian Maltunas.

MEETING NOTES:

• PAUL HARRIS FELLOWS — At least six members have donated $250 each to the Rotary Foundation to qualify for 750 PH points from District 7190, which means 1,000 dollars/points. That is enough to qualify them for a Paul Harris Fellow designation or a PH+ level. The deadline for anyone else wishing to do so needs to make their $250 donations by the end of the month AND email DG Rich Griesche that they have done so to assure the 750 points are recorded for them. Rich’s email address is richg851@aol.com. Details of the program are available by clicking here.

• SCHOLARSHIPS — Emma Endress, a graduating senior, and administrator Brandy Cenci of Rensselaer High School will be joining us via Zoom on June 10. Emma is one of three seniors who are being awarded $1,000 SRC Rotary Scholarships this year. We still are waiting for responses from recipients at Columbia and Maple Hill high schools.

• SUMMER CASUAL — We are lining up social events for July and August. July is full, but dates remain available on August 5, 12, and 26. If you wish to host an event or plan an outing, please contact President-elect Debbie Rodriguez or webmaster Bill Dowd to reserve the date.

• IN-PERSON MEETING — Our first in-person meeting of the 2020-21 Rotary Year — a brief business session followed by a subs-and-beverages social session — will be held at 6 p.m. (note the earlier time) at the Martinez residence next Thursday, June 3. Open to members and guests as long as they have been fully vaccinated. The deadline for letting Roberto (rrmtz@aol.com) or co-host Jim Leyhane (leyhane@aol.com) know if you plan to attend is Tuesday to allow for a proper headcount.

• SPEAKER — Christian Maltunas, who had been teaching math and science in schools in New York and Connecticut, returned to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, his alma mater, to pursue a PhD. in nanotechnology. He just completed his second year of academic work and now is in fulltime research.

He provided an overview of the relatively rapid advancement in reducing the size and speed of computer components in recent times. He is working on the nano level to find ways to improve current technology. Several slides from his on-screen presentation show the rapid advancement so far in the field from the bulky machines we knew in the 1930s-’60s to the ever-shrinking devices of today.

MEMBERS ATTENDING (17): Dick Drumm, Bill Dowd, Murray Forth, Debbie Rodriguez, Ray Hannan, Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Tony Morris, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Charlie Foote, Andy Leyhane.

GUESTS (1): David Harris.

• PAUL HARRIS POINTS: The District has announced a program to help Rotarians achieve Paul Harris Fellow status (or adding PH levels +1, +2, etc.) by contributing $250 to the Rotary Foundation. The District then will add 750 District Donation Points to that payment to reach the 1,000 dollars/points needed for each PH level. All individuals need to do is make the $250 donation no later than May 30 (click here to download the Foundation donation form) then notify District Governor Rich Griesche (richg851.aol.com@clubrunner.email) that you have done so, and he will take it from there.

• SCHOLARSHIP VISITORS: Terry Brewer continues to work on lining up Zoom visits by our three SRC Rotary Scholarships recipients from Columbia, Maple Hill, and Rensselaer high schools. We probably will have their visits divided between the June 10 and 17 meetings.

• IN-PERSON MEETING: Members who are fully vaccinated and plan to attend our first in-person meeting of the 2020-21 Rotary Year — 6 p.m. (note the earlier meeting time) Thursday, June 3, at Roberto Martinez’s residence — are asked to email Roberto (rrmtz@aol.com) or co-host Jim Leyhane (leyhane@aol.com) NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, JUNE 1, so they have an accurate headcount for ordering food.

• SPEAKER DAVID HARRIS: Our speaker was the Schodack Town Supervisor, now in his second and final term in office. He provided a rundown of how the town has been conducting business during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by an update on commercial development in the town.

Much of new and proposed business expansion is concentrated on the Route 9 corridor which, he noted, “Is commercial, always has been commercial, and always will be commercial.” He listed such new businesses as several Stewart’s Shops locations, a new specialty butcher shop, the latest expansion of the Curtis Lumber venue, and the proposed expansion of Amazon’s presence which would add about 500 jobs to its current 1,100-person local workforce.

David pointed out that Amazon is helping pay for expansion and upgrades of water and sewer lines in the area, and noted that other companies and developers would be following suit. “Infrastructure is what draws businesses, and businesses are the main contributor to the town tax base,” he said, with builder-supported infrastructure making it possible to attract still more businesses.

Among other topics, he talked about

• Adding two police offers to the force, and posting an officer on the Empire State Trail, probably on weekends. Amazon contributed a police bike to that effort, which will be utilized by the force’s first female officer, hired several months ago by Chief John Horrigan.

• Improving water quality and availability in various parts of the town. In particular, the area around Nassau Lake will become a water district and the town is working with state and federal representatives to get General Electric to pay for a water system necessitated by continued drainage from the old, controversial Dewey Loeffel landfill.

• NEXT WEEK’S SPEAKER: Christian Multunas, a doctoral candidate in nanotechnology at RPI, 7 p.m. via Zoom.