Category: Activities: Local

Rotary Runs planning on a steady track

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From President Philip Kellerman:

On Thursday July 11, Jim Lehayne, Roberto Martinez, and I traveled to the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham to scope out the site of the proposed “Rotary 5K/10K Runs and Festival of Good” for October 10, 2020.

While the proposed fundraising runs and other family activities are over a year off, there is a considerable amount of work to do to prepare, and Jim and Roberto have already spent a considerable amount of time in discussion and planning. Thank you to them.

After viewing the fairgrounds and our lengthy discussion, I am comfortable that we can pull this off. However, we will need everyone to play a role, and if it succeeds the event can generate money for our chosen charities.

At our first official dinner meeting of the 2019-20 Rotary Year — 6:15 p.m. Thursday, September 12 —  we will have an update from the planning committee so we all have the opportunity to ask questions and give comments.

 

Time to chip in for the annual school supplies drive

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Screen Shot 2019-07-12 at 12.04.19 PMIt’s time for SRC members, family and friends, to once again help less-fortunate students prepare for their return to school — yes, it’s getting that close! — by participating in the annual Circles of Mercy Back-to-School Supplies Drive.

The program, as in other years, focuses on all high school grades (9-12) and on pre-school students, and SRC is always a major contributor. The shopping list recommended by Circles of Mercy:

• pencils (regular lead #2 and color)
• pencil sharpener
• erasers (for pencils)
• pens (black or blue ink)
• markers (dry-erase and Sharpies, assorted colors)
• pocket folders (assorted colors)
• 3-ring binders (in 2” and 3” sizes)
• loose leaf paper (college ruled)
• graph paper
• spiral subject notebooks (1-, 3- and 5-subject, college ruled)
• subject dividers
• plastic zipper pencil cases/boxes
• 3”x5” index cards
• highlighters (yellow)
• rulers (regular with metric)
• Kleenex tissues
• hand sanitizer (small bottles)
• Post-It notes
• backpacks (no rollers/wheels)
• hole reinforcement stickers
• combination lock (for gym lockers)
• flash drives
• ear buds (for computer use)
• scientific calculators

Donations can be dropped off at the following two SRC Summer Casual events, after which we will deliver them to the Circles of Mercy headquarters in Rensselaer in time to meet its August 19 deadline:

Thursday, July 25 — “Pool Party & Cookout,” Jim Leyhane residence, East Greenbush, co-hosted by Roberto Martinez.

Thursday, August 8 — “Picnic at Fox Hollow,” the Drumm residence in Valatie.

 

‘SRC Summer Casual’ events under way

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Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.29.32 PMThe first event in the annual “SRC Summer Casual” schedule of July and August events  — a dinner and chatfest arranged by Ray and Lois Hannan — was held at the Schodack Diner this evening. Proceeds from the dinner go to the club treasury.

The remainder of the schedule:

Thursday, July 18 — ValleyCats pro baseball game and pavilion picnic at HVCC’s Bruno Stadium. $26 per person covers meal, souvenir ‘Cats baseball cap, and reserved seat for the game. Event coordinator: Terry Brewer.

Thursday, July 25 — “Pool Party & Cookout,” Jim Leyhane residence, East Greenbush, co-hosted by Roberto Martinez. EG Student Advisory Council as special guests. Bring an appetizer or dessert. $15 per person or $25 per family. Contact Jim Leyhane at 518-477-4881 to RSVP.

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 or 518-732-7178.

Thursday, August 8 — “Picnic at Fox Hollow,” the Drumm residence in Valatie. Contact Mary Drumm at rmdrumm176@aol.com or 518-784-2521 for reservations.

Thursday, August 15 — “Sundaes on Thursday (+ food),” co-hosted by Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguez at the Rodriguez residence. Contact Pat at pbailey7@nycap.rr.com or 518-766-0215 or Debbie at 518-766-3451.

We still have the week of August 22 available if anyone would like to host or arrange an event. If so, please contact Phil Kellerman or Bill Dowd.

Meanwhile, here are some scenes from the Schodack Diner event. To get a full accounting of who participated, be sure to check out the man in the mirror taking pictures.

diner 1
Roberto (in yellow shirt) records a table for 10.
diner 2
Murray, Phil, and Jim get to work out on the buffet.
diner 3
Hosts Ray and Lois offer the photographer some great smiles.
diner 4
Phil sporting the new official sunglasses of the SRC presidency.
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The man in the mirror materializes for a little dessert.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

RSVP for SRC scholarship night THIS Thursday

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Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.46.57 PMOK, so we said last week it would be Scholarship Night, but it wasn’t. It WILL be this Thursday at Quigley’s and we’d like to have as many Rotarians as possible on hand for this annual event.

We will be presenting $1,000 scholarship checks to graduating seniors from Columbia, Maple Hill, and Renselaer high schools, a philanthropic effort funded each year by the hard work and generosity of SRC members.

The menu will feature Quigley’s popular lasagna, plus antipasto salad, chef’s choice of side dishes, garlic bread, dessert, and beverages. As always, dinner coordinator Debbie Brown (mdbrown@nycap.rr.com) needs an accurate headcount for purposes of providing adequate seating and food without last-second scrambling. If your name is not on the following list, please be sure she receives your RSVP no later than Tuesday evening.

Bailey, Pat
Brewer, Terry
Brown, Debbie
Brown, Peter
Dowd, Bill
Drumm, Dick
Forth, Murray
Hannan, Ray
Kellerman, Phil
Leyhane, Andy
Leyhane, Jim
Leyhane, Kevin

Orvis, Carol
Simon, Jeff