Held at Quigley’s Restaurant
573 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY 12061

Members Attending (19): Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Terry Brewer, Bill Dowd, Murray Forth, Roberto Martinez, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Ray Hannan, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Wells Packard, Carol Orvis, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Becky Raymond, Debbie Rodriguez, Charlie Foote.

Guests (2): Noah Albanese, Hans Albanese.

MEETING NOTES: President Phil welcomed members and father-son guests Hans and Noah Albanese. … Terry Brewer reported that we have about 10 lane sponsors so far for the March 1 Foundation Bowl-a-Thon, and urged members to continue spreading the word about the event. He also encouraged people to create teams to compete in the fundraiser at the East Greenbush Bowling Center. … We received a handmade “thank you” gift and note from one of the Hazzard children we sponsored through Circles of Mercy in our annual Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program. …

Our annual Recycling/Shredding Day date has been changed to April 25. Members are again asked to share the official flyer they have been sent with their social media accounts, on bulletin boards, etc. … Coordinator Bill Dowd reminded everyone that Friday, Valentine’s Day, is the deadline for reserving seats at earlybird prices for our March 5 60th Anniversary Dinner at the Comfort Inn on Miller Road. Prices are $45 for adult, $10 for children 12 and under. After Friday, they go to $50 and $15 through the final deadline of the Thursday, February 20. Reservations must be made by email to Bill Dowd (BillDowd4Troy@gmail.com), and checks made payable to SRC Rotary Club given to Treasurer Murray Forth. … Raffle tickets are being sold for our 3rd Cafe Capriccio Wine Dinner to be held on Saturday, March 28. The drawing is scheduled for our March 19 meeting. Tickets are $20 each for the private-room chef’s dinner valued at $1,300. …

Becky Raymond reported that a memorial for Rotarian Phil Nasca is planned at the UAlbany School of Public Health  from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7. … Two board members from the Freedom From Fistula Foundation will visit the area on Monday, April 20, for a series of events involving SRC, Danes Rotaract, the School of Public Health, and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Details will be announced closer to the event. … There is no regular club meeting next week, but there will be a 6 p.m. Board of Directors meeting at Quigley’s. … We will resume weekly dinner meetings on Thursday, February 27.

PROGRAM: “The Tides of Fundy”

Dean Calamaras presented a travelogue on his and Doris’s visit to the Bay of Fundy, places of the highest tides in the world.

The bay is located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the state of Maine.

In addition to photos of the landscape between high and low tides and various waterways, Dean’s photos showed such things as waterside caves carved out of sedimentary rock over the centuries by the power of the tides; a hotel employee who took advantage of the tides for some regular surfing activities, and boats perched on muddy land at low tide.

Held at Quigley’s Restaurant
573 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY 12061

Members Attending (18): Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Terry Brewer, Bill Dowd, Murray Forth, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Ray Hannan, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Wells Packard, Carol Orvis, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Becky Raymond, Debbie Rodriguez, Ray Hannan.

Guests (2): Jack Conway, Joshua Smith.

MEETING MINUTES: President Phil welcomed members and guests. … He reminded members that Bill Dowd has refreshed the supply of Clynk recycling bags and bar code stickers that help support ShelterBox and encouraged participation in the redemption-and-recycling program via Hannaford supermarkets. … Murray Forth noted that raffle tickets are being made available for the club’s 3rd Cafe Capriccio private wine dinner. …

Bill Dowd reminded members that discounted reservations for the club’s 60th Anniversary Party, scheduled for Thursday, March 5, are available through Valentine’s Day — $45 for adults, $10 for children under 12. After that, reservations are $5 more per category. Anyone wishing to attend is asked to contact Bill and make payment to Murray. … Terry Brewer reported that we are soliciting lane sponsorships and participants for our Foundation Bowl-a-Thon, scheduled for Sunday, March 1, at the East Greenbush Bowling Center. … Our next recycling/shredding event is set for Saturday, April 18. Members are asked to share the flyer via social media. …

Wells Packard presented an update on the Rotary Youth Exchange program, which he is working to resuscitate this academic year and next. His primary effort is to to establish a support system of host families through local schools. … Next week’s program will be Dean Calamaras with a travelogue on the “Tides of Fundy.”

PROGRAM: “The State of East Greenbush”

Jack Conway, just entering his second — and, as he proclaims, his final — term as supervisor of the Town of East Greenbush, presented his view of the “State of the Town.”

Jack concentrated on the rebirth of Columbia Turnpike, particularly its expanding lineup of ethnic restaurants he said he believes creates a more cosmopolitan tone from the addition of Asian fusion, Indian, and other ethnicities he said contradicts the idea that East Greenbush has no good restaurants. Rather, he said, there are at least 50 different choices.

Conway also provided details on a number of housing developments under way or proposed, and the broad scope of new businesses and the economic boom in development payments from corporations such as Regeneron that has paid more than $1 million to the town in recent months.

He also paid homage to several SRC members, calling Terry Brewer the best school superintendent in the county during his tenure with the East Greenbush Central School District and Dr. Dick Drumm as a compassionate businessman and veterinarian.