A small group of Danes Rotaract members, joined by their SRC advisers John Justino and Debbie Rodriguez, took time off from studying for final exams Saturday to help sort surplus food at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York for distribution to food pantries around the Capital Region. A few other scenes from the day:
By TAMMY HECKENBERG
District 7190 Governor
The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. During the past 100 years, our Foundation has spent $3 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
Here in District 7190, we have a strong history of supporting The Rotary Foundation. Our clubs donate well over $100,000 each year, and every year we receive District Designated Funding — typically more than $25,000 — that clubs can use to support local grants and projects.
Every donated dollar helps. It takes only 60 cents to protect a child against polio. Local Rotarian donations are used to support Global Grants as well as our local grants, and we love to use our District Designated Funds to make our local communities and the folks that live in them perhaps a little better off.
The only thing holding us back for bigger, better, bolder projects is, well … nothing. The sky is our limit.
How did our international Foundation start? At the 1917 Rotary convention in Atlanta, outgoing Rotary International President Arch Klumph set up an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world.” That one idea, and an initial contribution of $26.50, set in motion a powerful force that has transformed millions of lives around the globe.
What does our international Foundation do today? Using Rotary grants, 34,000 clubs across the globe develop and carry out sustainable humanitarian projects that provide scholarships and professional training opportunities that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sustain mothers and children, improve education, and strengthen local economies.
What about our signature effort, the PolioPlus program? We are a worldwide leader in the efforts to eradicate polio through our partnerships with the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
We have made a promise to the children of the world that we will conquer this disease, and Rotarians will keep their promise. We must!
Thank you to our current Rotarians for the way you continually give very generously to The Rotary Foundation! And, if you are interested in joining our efforts, send me an email at tammyheckenberg@yahoo.com and I will assist you in becoming a Rotarian supporting the Foundation. You’ll be joining an organization committed to community service, both here and around the world, backed by one of the world’s most respected and honored foundations.
Learn more about the Rotary Foundation by clicking here. Globally and locally, we are stronger because we have said yes to improve the lives of many with our donations.
Be the inspiration!
This annual District 7190 outing helps usher in the busy holiday season.
The venue is the Cool Insurance Arena, formerly known as the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Tickets are just $15 and are available directly from Doug Ford (ford@curtislumber.com) or Sandy McAlonie (SMRotary1213@gmail.com). Shoot them an email and they will hook you up.
Besides helping raise funds to battle polio, you also can participate in the local coat collection. See the flyer for details.
Questions? Call Doug at 518-365-4958 or Sandy at 518-339-9904.
Time is growing very short. Any last-minute reservations for the annual “Holiday Party & Themed Gift Basket Silent Auction” should be made with Murray and Maggie Forth (mmforth51@gmail.com, 518-477-7433) by this Sunday.
The party will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, December 21, at their residence in East Greenbush. Attendees are asked to bring a small appetizer for six people. The Talk of the Town catering service will provide the remainder of the dinner ($25).
A reminder: The themed baskets are a major part of this social event, and all winning bids go to the club treasury to help support our many public outreach initiatives. We suggest baskets in the $15 to $45 range. And, of course, the more variety the better. Anyone needing an imagination jump start may want to revisit the suggestions we’ve posted in recent weeks on the club website. Check here, here, and here for some examples such as those below.
Christmas came 10 days early to Circles of Mercy in Rensselaer today when the annual collection of “Adopt-a-Family” gifts from the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club arrived at the family services agency.
SRC project coordinator April Dowd and her chauffeur had to enlist the help of Circles Executive Director Richard Zazycki and several of his volunteers in unloading a car crammed to capacity with gifts for a needy “blended” family with children ranging in age from 18 years to 18 months. We had promised Richard “shock and awe” at the treasure trove of presents, and he concurred that the result was startling.
About half of the club members participated in the effort.
Said April, “Our family this year had eight children and two adults, and bringing Christmas to their home could have been a daunting task. But, due to your generosity ‘Adopt a Family 2017’ was quite a success. Bill and I delivered the presents, gift cards, grocery items, and specialty baskets today to Circles of Mercy. Thanks to all of you who participated in this joyous and satisfying venture.”
The mission of Circles of Mercy, with whom SRC partners in several other efforts such as an annual school supplies drive and an annual Easter basket program, is very much in line with Rotary’s guiding principles.
The organization, which has its roots in Dublin, Ireland, in 1827, works to “improve the quality of life in the community by working to end the cycle of poverty, especially among women and women with children. Animated by the Gospel and [founder] Catherine McAuley’s passion for the poor and underprivileged, we honor the dignity of each person. We offer hospitality and provide services, compassion, hospitality, stewardship, leadership and collaboration, with a special concern for the poor and disadvantaged without regard to a person’s religious affiliation, ethnicity or sexual orientation; which is performed in an effort to instill hope and empower individuals to reach their full potential.”
Here’s the latest update on who has pledged what for our Adopt-a-Family holiday gift drive this year. For those of you who haven’t yet decided to participate, check the spreadsheet to see what still is needed (items in yellow have been pledged).
Most people already have dropped off their gifts, but for those whom have not please remember this Thursday’s dinner meeting is the absolute deadline for doing so. And, please be sure each item is gift wrapped and labeled with the recipient’s name.
(Updated 12/12/17)
The 2nd “Community Recognition Awards” dinner drew a full house on Tuesday evening at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant in North Greenbush.
More than 40 students, alums, educators military personnel, first responders, and business people were honored by the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club during the event in front of an audience of more than 120.
Two of our own SRC members were among those honored: John Sawchuk, for his work as lead organizer of the awards program, his service to the community through Rotary, and his service for decades in the East Greenbush Central School District and as principal of Columbia High School, from which he is retiring this month; and, A.J. Amato for his tireless efforts in reviving the Rotary Youth Exchange program in the SRC area of service.
The complete list of honorees follows this sampling of images from the evening.
Columbia High School Outstanding Students
Goff Middle School Outstanding Students
Columbia High School Outstanding Educators
Goff Middle School Outstanding Educators
Local Business “Give Back” Award
Breakout Rotarian Award
Outstanding Veteran Volunteer Award
Outstanding Military Service Award
Outstanding Community Service Law Enforcement Award
Distinguished Service Volunteer Firefighter Award
The Post Graduate “Point of Light” Award
Next Thursday (December 14) is the only remaining dinner meeting at which you can drop off your donations at Quigley’s for our annual “Adopt-a-Family” drive to make the holidays bright for a very needy local family.
If you haven’t yet decided what you would like to contribute, simply check the “needs” and “wants” wish list for the eight children in the family shown below. Items marked in yellow already have been pledged.
You may even want to follow our frequent “kids helping kids” mantra and involve your own kids or grandkids in the shopping experience. We’d especially like to get our newer Rotarians involved in this annual event so you, too, can enjoy the glow that comes with helping the less fortunate.
Interestingly, although the parents of these children did not ask for anything for themselves, several of our SRC members have come up with pledges of gift baskets and shopping cards that will help make the adults’ Christmas a joyful one as well. So, you can always choose to donate something appropriate but not on the list, or even duplicate such things as clothes and toys already pledged.
Thank you for your generosity, and all you do for the community.
(Updated 12/7/17)
There’s a new principal in town, and you can meet him at this Thursday’s 6:15 dinner meeting at Quigley’s.
Michael Harkin, current principal at the Knickerbacker Middle School in Lansingburgh, will succeed the retiring John Sawchuk as Columbia High School principal on December 29.
SRC members Jeff Simons, superintendent of the East Greenbush Central School District, and Jim McHugh, an assistant superintendent, will be on hand to introduce Mike who will speak on his “Visions For Columbia High.”
Prior to that, we’ll be enjoying a meal of chicken Marsala with antipasto salad, chef’s selection of side dishes, bread, dessert and beverages. As always, the cash bar will be available.
We already have 17 members and one guest signed up, but if you wish to add your name to the reservations list — and if you plan to bring a guest — you’ll need to email dinner coordinator Debbie Brown at mdbrown@nycap.rr.com no later than Tuesday evening so we can be sure to have sufficient food and seating.
Bailey, Pat
Brewer, Terry
Brown, Debbie
Brown, Peter
Dowd, April
Dowd, Bill
Drumm, Dick
Forth, Murray
Hannan, Ray
Harkin, Mike (guest)
Kellerman, Phil
Leyhane, Jim
Leyhane, Kevin
Martinez, Roberto
McHugh, Jim
Raymond, Becky
Rodriguez, Debbie
Simons, Jeff
Here’s a look at an upcoming event at which SRC will honor a wide range of achievers in our community, from students to military to educators to first responders and more. If you’d like to be a last-minute sponsor, contact Murray Forth at mmforth51@gmail.com.
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 