Have you ever pondered the effects science and culture have on shaping individuals? If not, you probably will be giving it a lot of thought after Dr. Ron Carroll presents a talk on that topic at our Thursday dinner meeting this week.

As always. we need to know how many members and guests will be attending so we can let the folks in Quigley’s kitchen know. Please be sure to email dinner coordinator Debbie Brown (mdbrown@nycap.rr.com) no later than Tuesday with that information. The menu will include beef tips in mushroom gravy, pasta, veggies, salad, bread, dessert and beverages. As always, the cash bar is available before, during and after dinner.

Here who has RSVP’d so far. Please join them for dinner.

Bailey, Pat
Brewer, Terry
Brown, Debbie
Brown, Pete
Dowd, April
Dowd, Bill
Forth, Murray
Kellerman, Phil
Leyhane, Jim
Raymond, Becky
McHugh, Jim
Guests: Ron Carroll, Mary Lou, Maureen McHugh

If you like to play bocce but missed signing up for the Gift of Life Golf & Bocce Tournament that took place today, you have another chance coming up fast.

The Shen Rotary Club’s 2nd annual Rotary Dinner & Bocce Challenge will be held next Monday,  September 26, at the Italian American Community Center, 257 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany. The event is open to all Rotarians and their families and friends.

The event will begin with a Grand Italian Buffet Dinner at the restaurant Treviso’s in the center from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Bocce will start at 6:30.Dinner reservations are $25 per person, which covers tax and tip.

Each Rotary club may have a four-person team for an additional fee of $25. Although only Rotary members are eligible to play in the Rotary challenge, there also will will be free open games for everyone who would like to play. Bocce courts are covered and lit for night play.

The reservation deadline is this Friday , September 23. Contact George Urciuoli at ggu2020@gmail.com or (914) 475-3219.

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Planning to attend our 6:15 p.m. Thursday dinner meeting at Quigley’s this week?

Great, but if you haven’t yet let dinner coordinator Debbie Brown know, today is the deadline fork doing so. And, PLEASE, if you plan to bring a guest, let her know that as well via email (mdbrown@nycap.rr.com).

The menu includes Chicken Marsala, appropriate side dishes, salad, bread, dessert and beverages. As always,  the cash bar is available before, during and after the meeting.

After dinner, Lauren Carpenter of Home Connections Companions in Albany will speak on her organization’s non-medical services, which include light housekeeping, meal prep, medical appointment transportation, grocery shopping, etc., for those who wish to remain in their homes for as long as possible.

Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
September 15, 2016

Members Attending Dinner Meeting (14): Terry Brewer, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Ray Hannan, David Taylor, Dick Drumm, Carol Orvis, Phil Kellerman, Becky Raymond, Dean Calamaras, Charlie Foote, Stewart Wagner.

Dinner Guests (3): Phil and Bonnie Nasca, Vivian Behn.

PROGRAM: “The Immigration Controversy”

Club member  Phil Kellerman began his presentation by asking attendees a question and reminding us to follow the money: “How does someone come here legally?”

He said there are a number of ways some with negative aspects: (1.) with a work permit and a green card (permanent resident status), but no federal benefits; ( 2.) on a student visa, but 40% overstay their welcome; (3.) requested by farms or others needing labor; there are many requirements to come legally and no easy path; (4.) special circumstances admission such as political refuge; (5.) a lottery; but, we have no relationship with many poorer countries and, therefore, people from such places have no way to get in line for a lottery; (6.) anyone with a lot of money can buy their way in by hiring an attorney to find a loophole.

Phil asked for volunteers to demonstrate the problem, and Peter Brown offered to play the immigrant. Provided with $14, 000 in play money, he could first hire two “coyotes” — people who help illegally transport people to the U.S. — to help him navigate the path from Guatemala. Once here, he must rent a room and will be living with other immigrants, must find a job, and get transportation, maybe the bus). With a job and now required to pay taxes he will be given an ID number by the Internal Revenue Service, or he may “borrow” a real Social Security number. But, he never will have such benefits as retirement, Medicare or Medicaid.

Peter’s problems are just beginning. If stopped while driving with no license he will be  assessed a fine, and perhaps reported to immigration authorities and deported. If he marries, any children born here are citizens; any child not born here still will receive a free public education. But, his initial funds soon are exhausted.

Several programs were mentioned:

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an immigration policy that allows certain undocumented immigrants to the U.S. who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation.

• Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) — sometimes called Deferred Action for Parental Accountability, was created by a 2014 Obama executive order but has been held up in court. If implemented, it would grant deferred action status to certain undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since 2010 and have children who either are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Phil took questions from attendees. Among them, with his responses in parentheses: “What is the screening process?” (Immigration services is overloaded and underfunded; many people waiting 10 years for a green card. They do have a requirement to import 400,000 illegals and funding is based on that.) “What about proof of legal work, i.e., I-9’s, and how do these folks get jobs? ” (Immigration looks the other way, especially for farm workers. Service workers often are allowed in due to agreements with business, nevertheless many businesses still cannot find enough workers.)

BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

OPENING — Immediate Past President Terry Brewer presided in the absence of President Debbie Rodriguez and President-elect Roberto Martinez. He welcomed Members and introduced guests.

BREAKFAST MEETING — The Third Thursday breakfast meetings resumed today at the Greenbush YMCA (minutes here), co-hosted by Shannon Romanowski and Terry.

GOL GOLF & BOCCE — Jim Leyhane is sponsoring the foursome of Jim Mendrysa, Rob Mangold, Murray Forth and Terry Brewer in the September 21 Gift of Life fundraiser. That same foursome won the tournament two years ago, and was runnerup last year.

YOUTH EXCHANGE — Debbie Brown relayed information from Youth Exchange Officer A.J. Amato that Rafaella Leal Câncio, our exchange student from Brazil, arrived, although a week later than expected because of paperwork problems. Several more host families are needed during her stay.  Please contact A.J. if interested. Meanwhile, our outgoing exchange student, Michaela Rosetti, has arrived in Italy for her year abroad. (Her family is Rafaella’s initial host family.)

RYLA UPDATE — We now have five juniors from Maple Hill High School who will attend the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program that begins this month. We are hoping to get one or more students from Averill Park High School. Becky Raymond has volunteered to be our contact with APHS.

NEXT MEETING: 6:15 p.m. Thursday, September 22. The after-dinner speaker will be Lauren Carpenter of Home Connection Companions.

It may be 73 days until Thanksgiving Day, but you don’t have to wait for a turkey dinner. That’s what is on the menu for this Thursday’s 6:15 p.m. SRC Rotary Club dinner meeting at Quigley’s.

Sliced turkey, cook’s choice of sides, salad, bread, dessert, and beverages will be on the buffet table. As always, a cash bar is available before and after the meeting.

Dinner coordinator Debbie Brown needs to hear from you via email (mdbrown@nycap.rr.com) no later than Tuesday evening if you plan to join us. As always, we also need to know if you plan to bring a guest. The after-dinner speaker will be club member Phil Kellerman on the current immigration crisis controversy.

Here’s who has signed up so far to attend:

1. Bailey, Pat
2. Brewer, Terry
3. Brown, Debbie
4. Brown, Peter
5. Forth, Murray
6. Hannan, Ray
7. Kellerman, Phil
8. Orvis, Carol

President Debbie Rodriguez has just released the new committee assignments for the remainder of the 2016-17 Rotary Year.

Please be sure to check who you’ll be working with, and,  if you’re not listed as the lead member of a committee don’t be reluctant to bring forth your own  ideas for sharing and discussion. Rotary is a team effort.

Click here to go to the COMMITTEES page.

We’re resuming our weekly dinner meetings at 6:15 p.m. this Thursday at Quigley’s.

The program: President Debbie Rodriguez will lead a discussion about our programs and projects for the remainder of the 2016-17 Rotary Year.

The dinner menu: Roast pork, veggies, salad, bread, dessert, beverages. Cash bar before the meeting.

If you haven’t made your reservation, please do so no later than Tuesday via email to Debbie Brown (mdbrown@nycap.rr.com).