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.

Visiting the Freedom From Fistula Foundation

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Lindsey Riback (left) of Danes Rotaract and SRC’s John Justino with FFFF’s Angela McCabe.

NEW YORK — A contingent from SRC and Danes Rotaract met with Angela McCabe at the Freedom From Fistula Foundation office at United Nations Plaza on Monday.

Lindsey Riback, outgoing Rotaract president, and SRC members John Justino, the club advisor and director of the UAlbany School of Public Health’s Center for Global Health, and Becky Raymond, one of SRC’s Rotaract liaisons, were on hand to present a check for funds raised by the club. (Becky shot the photo above.)

Discussion focused on collaborative opportunities between Rotaract, the School of Public Health, and the Foundation, and ongoing efforts by SRC to support a Rotary global grant for the maternity center in the west African nation of Sierra Leone.

Are you joining us at these events?

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Each July anScreen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.29.32 PMd August, SRC puts its “SRC Summer Casual Calendar” into effect, with a series of family-friendly events that allow us to re-energize our Rotary membership, network with each other, and just plain have fun.

We also encourage our members to bring along friends, colleagues, and others to get to know their fellow Rotarians and find out why so many of us choose Rotary membership as a great way to socialize, participate in community service, and give back to their community.

Here’s what we have lined up so far. We urge you to make your reservations and join us.

• Thursday, July 11 — 6 p.m., a private-room dinner and chatfest at the Schodack Diner, 1842 Columbia Turnpike. Hosts Ray and Lois Hannan are covering the cost, but guests are asked to contribute $15 per person or $25 per couple to go toward our club treasury to support our numerous public service efforts. To reserve a seat, contact Ray at ray110b@yahoo.com or call Ray or Lois at 585-315-1385.

• Thursday, July 18 — Tri-City ValleyCats baseball game and pavilion picnic at HVCC’s Bruno Stadium. To reserve tickets, contact Terry Brewer no later than July 13 at tlbrewer12piseco@gmail.com or call him at 518-518-221-4050.

• Thursday, July 25 — Pool Party & Cookout, Jim Leyhane‘s East Greenbush residence, co-hosted by Roberto Martinez. EG Student Advisory Council as special guests. Bring an appetizer or dessert to augment the catered menu of sliders, mini-hit dogs, and sides. Jim and Roberto are covering the meal cost, but guests are asked to contribute $15 per person or $25 per couple to go toward our club treasury to support our numerous public service efforts. To reserve a seat, contact Jim at leyhane@aol.com or Roberto at rrmtz@aol.com by July 22.

• Thursday, August 1 — A  performance of “Ragtime: The Musical” at Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham preceded by dinner at Yiannis at the Chatham House. For reservations for either or both contact Debbie Brown at mdbrown@nycap.rr.com no later than July 25.

• Thursday, August 8 —  Picnic at the Drumms’ Fox Hollow residence in Valatie. Contact Dick or Mary at rmdrumm176@aol.com or 518-784-2521 no later than August 1.

• Thursday, August 15 — “Sundaes on Thursday (+ food)“ ice cream social, hosted by Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguez at the Rodriguez residence. Contact Pat at pbailey7@aol.com or 518-766-0215 or Debbie at debannrod@yahoo.com or 518-766-3451 no later than August 11.

Would you like to host or arrange an outing for August 22? That’s the one date we have remaining, Simply set it up and contact Bill Dowd at BillDowd4Troy@gmail.com or 518-238-1950 to get on the schedule.

 

The torch has passed, once again

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Past, present, future — Outgoing President Andy Leyhane (left) and Incoming President Phil Kellerman exchange gifts while President-elect Dick Drumm looks on.

An annual rite of Rotary, the Presidential Changeover, took place Thursday evening when President Andy Leyhane figuratively passed the torch to Phil Kellerman for the 2019-20 Rotary Year that begins July 1.

Witnessing the peaceful transfer of power were Jim Leyhane, event host and Andy’s father, President-elect Dick Drumm (who will move up for the 2020-21 Rotary Year), Board members Bill Dowd and Pat Bailey, April Dowd, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Kevin Leyhane, Carol Orvis, Ray Hannan, Charlie Foote, and a large variety of adult and smaller friends and relatives.

This was the final SRC event of the Rotary Year. After a week off to mark the July 4th holiday, we’ll begin the annual “SRC Summer Casual Calendar.” First up will be a private-room dinner and chatfest at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at the Schodack Diner, 1842 Columbia Turnpike. Reservations, priced at $15 per person or $25 per couple, should be reserved no later than July 4 by emailing Ray Hannan at ray110b@yahoo.com or by calling Ray or Lois at 585-315-1385.

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Brothers Kevin and Andy Leyhane are SRCs newest Paul Harris Fellows.
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Carol Orvis displays a multiple-Paul Harris Fellow award presented by another SRC multiple-multiple awardee, Jim Leyhane.
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Kevin and Phil model indestructible sunglasses that may become the official SRC eyeware.

Summertime recycling push good for everyone

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Clynk BagsSummertime tends to be a time when we consume more beverages — soft drinks, beers, fruit drinks, etc. — that are sold in glass, plastic, and metal containers requiring a deposit.

Redeeming them can be a pain in the neck — rinsing, sorting, bagging, etc. The Clynk redemption program in which SRC is enrolled will save you a lot of trouble and help the club raise funds at the same time.

After a strong start with member participation, we have hit a slump. We’d like to take this opportunity to get back on track this summer.

All you have to do is toss the containers in one of the approved plastic bags with a bar code sticker affixed and drop the bags off at any Hannaford supermarket. No rinsing, no sorting, etc. Just use the hand-scanner at Hannaford’s drop-off window to scan the bar code (that credits SRC’s account). It can’t get much simpler.

If you need the bags and/or bar code stickers, please let me know today or first thing Thursday and I’ll bring some to the Presidential Changeover Dinner set for Jim Leyhane’s residence Thursday evening, (If you don’t plan to attend but still would like to get the bags and/or stickers, let me know and I’ll find a way to get them to you ASAP.)

Recycling is good. Low-effort fundraising is good. What’s not to like?

Thanks for your attention.

— Bill Dowd

 

The Anchor needs your help for summer demands

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SRC Rotary frequently assists The Anchor food pantry in Castleton. Sometimes it is with food items, sometimes with clothing or toiletries, sometimes with money. And, the needs vary season by season.

Here is a screen-grab of the latest request for assistance. If there is anything you can do to help without waiting for our club to create a formal effort, it would be quite helpful.

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Will we see you at the Presidential Changeover?

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This is what Andy looked like when he succeeded Roberto as president last June. Join us on Thursday to see if the presidency has aged him!

Once a year we go through the changing of the guard, and this Thursday is the day.

President Andy Leyhane will pass the figurative baton — and the actual responsibility — to Phil Kellerman as we prepare to end the 2018-19 Rotary Year and usher in 2019-20 on July 1.

The catered Presidential Changeover Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. at Jim Leyhane’s East Greenbush residence. We encourage all members to attend to show support for Phil and offer thanks to Andy for his accomplishments during another busy year.

To that end, please be sure you email Jim at leyhane@aol.com no later than this Tuesday evening with your RSVP so he can give the caterer, Selena’s Cafe, an accurate headcount.

P.S. While this is the final event of the 2018-19 year, we have a busy summer lined up via our “SRC Summer Casual” calendar that will carry us through July and August — pool parties, cookouts, summer professional theater, a pro baseball game, an ice cream social, etc., all created as family-friendly events. Keep watching the club website (http://SRCrotary.org) for updates and details, and watch the calendar page on the site as well.

 

Meeting Clipboard: 6/20/19

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

Members Attending (12): Andy Leyhane, Dick Drumm, Jim Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Roberto Martinez, Kevin Leyhane, Pat Bailey, Doris Calamaras, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Peter Berry, Charlie Foote.

Guests (1): Phillipa Martin.

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Kevin Leyhane presented a musical trivia quiz from the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s.

MEETING NOTES: President Andy welcomed members and guest Phillipa Martin, spouse of our newest member, Peter Berry. … Treasurer Murray Forth had a second knee replacement surgery and is doing well. He thanks everyone for their support. … Andy urged participation by SRC members at the East Greenbush Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, June 25. Jaime Gibbs will be making a presentation on the impact of Augie the service dog at Bell Top Elementary School. SRC is one of the major financial sponsors for Augie. …

The SRC Summer Casual schedule for July and August was reviewed. Details are available by clicking here. Only one date (8/25) remains to be filled. … The annual Presidential Changeover Dinner is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, June 27, the final day of the 2018-19 Rotary Year. President Andy will be turning over the gavel to Phil Kellerman. Please (a) contact host Jim Leyhane at leyhane@aol.com ASAP, and (b) plan to bring an appetizer or dessert.

 

 

 

Update 2: Events added to ‘Summer Casual’ calendar

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UPDATE 2: Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguez will host “Sundae on Thursday (+ food)” event on Thursday, August 15. Save the date. Details to come.

UPDATE 1: Dick and Mary Drumm will host Rotarians and friends at a picnic-style get-together at their Fox Hollow residence on Thursday, August 8. Mark that date on your calendar, and stay tuned for details. Meanwhile, scroll down for all the other events and reservation deadlines.

We hope you and your family — and friends as well! — will join us at one or more of our “Summer Casual” events in July and August.

We have a few pressing reservation deadlines to facilitate planning, as follows:

Screen Shot 2019-06-17 at 12.49.01 PM• If you plan to attend the private-room dinner and chatfest at the Schodack Diner, 1842 Columbia Turnpike, on Thursday, July 11, you’ll need to contact event coordinator Ray Hannan (ray110b@yahoo.com) no later than Thursday, June 27 (the date of our Presidential Changeover Dinner, which we hope you will attend at Jim Leyhane’s residence). $15 per person or $25 per couple. Proceeds go to the club treasury.

Screen Shot 2019-06-17 at 12.51.02 PM• If you plan to attend our annual outing to Bruno Stadium at HVCC on Thursday, July 18, for a pavilion picnic and ValleyCats game you need to let event coordinator Terry Brewer (tlbrewer12piseco@gmail.com) know by Wednesday, July 10, how many tickets you will need. The price is $26 per ticket, which includes dinner. He will distribute the tickets on July 11. After that, you’re on your own.

Screen Shot 2019-06-17 at 12.52.48 PM • If you plan to attend our annual outing to the Mac-Haydn Theater (for a performance of “Ragtime: The Musical”) and/or a pre-theater dinner at Yiannis at the Chatham House on Thursday, August 1, you’ll need to contact event coordinator Debbie Brown (mdbrown@nycap.rr.com) by July 4.

Screen Shot 2019-06-17 at 1.01.43 PM• If you plan to attend the Thursday, July 25, Pool Party & Cookout being co-hosted by Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez, you’ll need to let Jim (leyhane@aol.com) or Roberto (rrmtz@aol.com) by Friday, July 12. The EG Student Advisory Council will be our special guests. Bring an appetizer or dessert. $15 per person or $25 per family. Otherwise, catering is by Selena’s Cafe. Proceeds go to the club treasury.

NOTE: We still need people to step forward to host or coordinate an event the week of August 22. As always, it need not be on a Thursday if another day works better for all concerned.

 

 

Meeting Clipboard: 6/13/19 (Scholarship Night)

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

Members Attending (16): Andy Leyhane, Murray Forth, Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Dick Drumm, Bill Dowd, Terry Brewer, Doris Calamaras, Ray Hannan, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Geoff Brewer, Mike Simon, Mike Bennett.

Guests (9): Megan Shiffer, Max Brady, Abigail Utter, Brandy Cenci, Jim Brady, Mr. & Mrs. Utter, Mrs. Shiffer and interpreter.

PROGRAM: ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.46.57 PMAll three winners of our $1,000 SRC Scholarship Awards were present along with school representatives and parents.

President Andy prefaced the presentation by announcing that special awards were being given to three members who were largely responsible for the fundraising efforts to underwrite the awards, and they in turn would make the check presentations to the students. They were Murray Forth for running our recycling program, Terry Brewer for coordinating the community awards dinner, and Roberto Martinez for securing the necessary district grant.

The scholarship awardees, and their chosen colleges: Megan Shiffer of Columbia High School (New England College in Henniker, NH), Max Brady of Rensselaer High School (Siena College in Loudonville), and Abigail Utter of Maple Hill High School (Marist College in Poughkeepsie).

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Mike Bennett and Abigail Utter of Maple Hill flank presenter Roberto Martinez.
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Rensselaer HS counselor Brandy Cenci and Max Grady flank presenter Terry Brewer.
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Presenter Murray Forth congratulates Columbia’s Meghan Shiffer as Jeff Simon looks on.

RI Gold LogoMEETING NOTES: President Andy welcomed members and guests. … Jeff Simon reported on the East Greenbush elementary school kickball tournament that raised $441 for the EG Student Advisory Council. The proceeds were donated to Rotary International’s Clean Water Project. … Bill Dowd gave an update on the creation of a Troy Rotary Club that SRC is sponsoring. Bill and Terry Brewer are on the steering committee for the new entity. Its first public meeting generated about 30 attendees, three corporate sponsors were pledged, and several people volunteered to be charter officers. He said all are welcome to participate in Troy activities, and that its summer schedule would be incorporated into our own website calendar page for easy reference. …

Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.29.32 PMSignup sheets were circulated for two events on our Summer Casual Calendar — a July 11 private-room dinner at the Schodack Diner, 1842 Columbia Turnpike, sponsored by Ray and Lois Hannan, and the July 18 pavilion picnic and ValleyCats baseball game at Bruno Stadium being coordinated by Terry Brewer. Also, Jim Leyhane said he will be hosting a pool party and cookout on July 25, with members of the EG Student Advisory Council as special guests. For the diner event and pool party, the sponsors are picking up the food costs, while guests are asked to contribute $15 per person or $25 per family to the club treasury. All available July dates on the Summer Casual Calendar now are spoken for. Anyone wishing to host or coordinate events the weeks of August 8, 15, and 22 is asked to let Bill Dowd know the date and details so they can be publicized ASAP. …

Screen Shot 2019-06-13 at 9.15.34 PMNext Thursday’s meeting will be “Musical Trivia, Part Deux,” with Kevin Leyhane as the quizmaster once more. … The following Thursday, June 27, Jim Leyhane will host the annual Presidential Changeover Dinner when Andy will pass the gavel to Phil Kellerman for the 2019-20 Rotary Year and Dick Drumm will become president-elect for 2020-21, our 60th year as a club. It will be a catered dinner, so RSVPs are quite important.

 

Troy Rotary’s 1st public session goes well

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Organizer Kareem Jandali (right) speaks at first Troy Rotary public meeting.

About 30 people, including SRC Rotarians Bill Dowd and Terry Brewer, turned out for the first public meeting of the under-development Troy Rotary Club on Wednesday evening at the Troy Kitchen food hall and entertainment venue.

The group of curious Troy residents and business people was treated to finger foods and a cash bar as well as a presentation by Past District Governor Fred Daniels and District Governor-Elect Larry Jones. Terry and Bill both spoke to the crowd in their roles as liaison between the Troy club and SRC, which is its sponsor.

Interest in formally applying for Rotary membership appeared strong, and we picked up three guaranteed corporate memberships. Several people stepped up as officer candidates (RI requires a minimum of a president, treasurer, and secretary to form a club), and one volunteered to create a closed group on Facebook to facilitate club communications.

Although this was the first public meeting, the project has been in the planning stages for several months. A summer schedule has been outlined that will include several networking sessions and public service project dates. The next open public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, again at Troy Kitchen, 77 Congress Street. (Its owner, Cory Booker, was the first recruit for the club, which is being spearheaded by Kareem Jandali, already a Rotarian.)

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About half the attendees get together for a post-meeting photo.