8 days left to sign up for in-person event

May 24, 2021 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

If you’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and plan to join us for our first in-person SRC meeting of the 2020-21 Rotary Year, you have just eight days left to make your registration.

Roberto Martinez and Jim Leyhane are co-hosting the meeting at Roberto’s residence — at 6 p.m., an earlier time than we have been meeting virtually. After a brief business session, we will devote the remainder of the time to eating (subs), drinking (BYOB alcohol if that is desired), and getting reacquainted with each other after a 14-month shutdown.

So, be sure to email Roberto (rrmtz@aol.com) or Jim (leyhane@aol.com) NO LATER than next Tuesday, June 1, so they can have an accurate headcount to purchase food and beverages for the June 3 event. Attendees can chip in to cover that cost at the meeting.

Rotary charity golf event registration open

May 20, 2021May 20, 2021 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

The Colonie-Guilderland Rotary Club is planning its 16th annual Golf Outing, a sign some normalcy is returning to the region after more than 14 months of COVID-19 shutdowns.

The event will be held at the Mill Road Acres golf course in Latham on Friday, June 18. It is open to anyone, and is designed as a fundraiser to benefit local and global charities such as Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude’s, Polio Plus, The Rotary Foundation, Food Pantries of the Capital Distinct, and ShelterBox.

The registration form and event details are available online.

Sign up for 6/3 meeting & social event

May 14, 2021 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Now that all club members have, to our knowledge, been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, we are planning our first in-person meeting of the 2020-21 Rotary Year.

It will be held at Roberto Martinez’s residence, with Jim Leyhane co-hosting, at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 3. (Note the time differs from our usual Zoom meeting time.)

In addition to addressing any business that may crop up, we will spend some time socializing and enjoying a subs-and-beverages dinner. (BYOB for alcoholic beverages.) To get an accurate headcount in time for ordering, please email Roberto (rrmtz@aol.com) or Jim (leyhane@aol.com) NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, JUNE 1, if you plan to attend. We ask that only fully vaccinated people attend, including guests.

Meanwhile, enjoy the weekend. The forecast certainly is favorable.

Join Becky on a virtual trip to Niskayuna

April 12, 2021April 12, 2021 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

SRC’s Becky Raymond will be addressing the Niskayuna Rotary Club at 7 o’clock this evening. Her topic, which will reflect her volunteer involvement nationally and internationally, is “Partnering For Peace: The Rotary-Peace Corps Partnership.”

To attend, all you need to do is click here sign in to the meeting. The process is the same as we use for our Thursday virtual meetings each week.

Alternately, you can dial in on a mobile phone to 929-205-6099. The meeting ID is 543 488 1418, and the password is 12309.

Easter baskets delivered to Circles of Mercy

March 30, 2021March 30, 2021 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez, shown above, delivered a gajillion — OK, 126 — Easter baskets to Circles of Mercy to conclude the annual “Baskets for Cate’s Kids” drive.Project coordinator Shannon Romanowski and a team at the Greenbush YMCA where she is executive director assembled the baskets, which will be distributed to children in need in the Rensselaer area.

“I can’t say enough about the amazing community we live in,” Shannon says. “Rotarians, Greenbush Y members and our dedicated volunteers came together to provide this amazing gift to the children in Rensselaer.

“Thank you to all who helped make these baskets special, and a huge shout-out to Roberto and Jim for their help in making the delivery. Our community continues to deliver when it comes to helping those in need.”

Thanks to all who participated by donating baskets, basket contents, and money to purchase some necessary items. We have been partnering with Circles of Mercy for about seven years on this particular effort and have created and donated approximately 800 baskets.

Deadline near for aiding Easter basket push

March 15, 2021 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

This Friday is the final day for dropping off checks or items purchased from the shopping list for our annual Easter basket project.

The drop-off site is the Greenbush YMCA, 20 Community Way, adjacent to the East Greenbush Public Library, during regular hours.

THE SHOPPING LIST

• Baskets
• Toothbrushes (ages 1-12)
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Hairbrushes
• Combs
• Hair ties, bows or barrettes (ages 1-12)
• Socks
• Children’s books (ages 1-12)
• Coloring books
• Crayons / markers
• Small games (ages 1-12)
• Small toys (toy cars, dolls, blocks, airplanes)
• Bubbles
• Small stuffed animals
• Assorted traditional candy (must be individually wrapped)

Easter basket timeline, shopping list

January 21, 2021 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

This year, we are looking to collect items to fill up to 175 Easter baskets as part of our effort to assist Circles of Mercy, the family assistance organization. Our project coordinator, Shannon Romanowski, also is recruiting the assistance of the Greenbush YMCA and Columbia High School to once again make our effort a successful one for underprivileged kids.

Shannon will be setting up an “Amazon Wish List” and a “Target Registry” for people who are not comfortable shopping in-person and prefer to order online. Items can be designated for delivery directly to the Greenbush YMCA, 20 Community Way, East Greenbush, NY 12061. Links for those items will be made known soon.

Meanwhile, here are the key elements of the initiative:

THE PROJECT TIMELINE

Monday, February 1: Donated items will begin being accepted at the Greenbush Y during normal operating hours — 5:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:15 to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Friday, March 19: Final day to drop off donations at the Greenbush Y.

Friday, March 26: Basket assembly at the Y, 2 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, March 27: Basket assembly at the Y, 9 to 11 a.m.

THE SHOPPING LIST

• Baskets (Jennifer Felts already has donated 16 baskets, so we need another 159)
• Toothbrushes (ages 1-12)
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Hairbrushes
• Combs
• Hair ties, bows or barrettes (ages 1-12)
• Socks
• Children’s books (ages 1-12)
• Coloring books
• Crayons / markers
• Small games (ages 1-12)
• Small toys (toy cars, dolls, blocks, airplanes)
• Bubbles
• Small stuffed animals
• Assorted traditional candy (must be individually wrapped)

Catching up on club financial notes

June 28, 2020June 28, 2020 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Rotary Cash

• We missed several major fundraisers because of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (bowl-a-thon, recycling day, etc.). Thus, it is with pleasure we can report that Thursday’s Presidential Changeover dinner raised $680 for the club treasury. Many thanks to Dick, our incoming club president, and Mary Drumm for not only hosting the outdoor event, but for underwriting the catering fee which allowed all monies from several dozen attendees to go directly to the club.

Screen Shot 2020-06-28 at 6.55.07 PM

• We must soon submit our annual payment to Rotary International, which means we are counting on all membership dues to be paid promptly for the 2020-21 Rotary Year. The deadline is July 1, the start of the new fiscal year, as noted in an earlier announcement. Dues remain at just $175 per individual member or $350 for “Family” or “Corporate” group memberships covering an unlimited number of members. If it is easier for you, dues may be paid in two equal installments, by June 30 and by December 31. The initial partial payment for individuals is only $87.50, or $175 for “Family” and “Corporate” groups. Please send checks, payable to “SRC Rotary Club,” to Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club, P.O. Box 71, East Greenbush, NY 12061.

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• We’re still involved in the CLYNK returnable beverage container program. More bags and tags were distributed at the Presidential Changeover event, but if you’ve run out of the official green bags (the only ones that may be used), you can pick up a box for less than $2 at any Hannaford supermarket. If you need the bar code stickers that must be attached to them, just contact Bill Dowd (518-238-1950 or BillDowd4Troy@gmail.com) and he’ll mail you some. All proceeds from the deposit returns go to our club treasury. And, remember you do not have to rinse and sort the metal, plastic, or glass containers. Just stick them in the correct bag, slap on a sticker, and scan the bar code at any Hannaford drop-off window. A very easy fundraiser, so drink up!

Poolside

• Because of ongoing social restrictions and uncertainties, to club events have been scheduled for July and August. That does not mean, however, that we’re giving up on the usual “Summer Casual” period. It’s not to late for some small bit of return to normalcy. If you have an idea about hosting or helping arrange an event — preferably one involving families and one we can use as a small fundraiser — please contact incoming President-elect Debbie Rodriguez (518-766-3451 or debannrod@yahoo.com) as soon as possible.

Screen Shot 2020-04-30 at 8.13.04 PM

As one of his final presidential acts for 2019-20, Phil Kellerman announced that the packet of required documents has been sent to the Internal Revenue Service as part of an effort to regain tax-exempt status for the club. Although it may be a slow process, we’ll be sure to keep club members informed of any progress.

The gavel is passed on a stormy evening

June 25, 2020June 27, 2020 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Held at Drumm residence,
Fox Hollow Road, Valatie

Members Attending (18): Phil Kellerman, Dick Drumm, Debbie Rodriguez, Murray Forth, Terry Brewer, Andy Leyhane, Bill Dowd, Pat Bailey, Murray Forth, Geoff Brewer, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Maggie Forth, Ray Hannan.

Guests Attending (10): Numerous friends and relatives.

The figurative gavel was passed on Thursday evening, with lone charter member Dick Drumm (1960) assuming the presidency of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club for the 2020-21 Rotary Year from Phil Kellerman as dozens of members and guests looked on.

The al fresco dinner event, hosted by Dick and Mary Drumm at their rural Valatie manse, was the first in-person SRC event since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Although well attended, the crowd fell well within the 50-person limit imposed by the state. All social distancing protocols were observed.

Catering was by Talk of the Town, owned by former Rotarian Jim Mendrysa who served a dinner of his signature chicken Parm, plus appropriate sides, salad, rolls, coffee, and chocolate mousse. All went well until a sudden storm blew up the event around 7 p.m., upending the catering canopy and drenching many attendees before they moved indoors. Typically, the Rotary spirit was undampened.

Outgoing President Phil thanked several members for their varied effort in the pandemic-curtailed Rotary Year. In particular, he made note of the trio of $1,000 scholarships presented a week earlier, the work done on filing for reinstatement by the IRS of our club’s tax-exempt status, and hosting of virtual events via Zoom.

While no firm dates have been set for “Summer Casual” events during July and August, members were encouraged to let incoming President Dick Drumm and incoming President-elect Debbie Rodriguez know of any thoughts on planning and scheduling such events. Members were encouraged to visit the club website’s Calendar page regularly to stay apprised of events.

The fate of our normal weekly dinner meetings for September through June 2021 remains in limbo until we learn owner John Walsh’s plans for Quigley’s restaurant, which has been closed since mid-March.

Thanks from the entire membership was proffered to Dick and Mary Drumm for hosting the event.

Here are more scenes from the event, including the scramble to anchor the catering tent upended by the blustery winds.