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

Members Attending (19): Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Terry Brewer, Bill Dowd, Murray Forth, Roberto Martinez, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Ray Hannan, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Wells Packard, Carol Orvis, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Becky Raymond, Debbie Rodriguez, Charlie Foote.

Guests (2): Noah Albanese, Hans Albanese.

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MEETING NOTES: President Phil welcomed members and father-son guests Hans and Noah Albanese. … Terry Brewer reported that we have about 10 lane sponsors so far for the March 1 Foundation Bowl-a-Thon, and urged members to continue spreading the word about the event. He also encouraged people to create teams to compete in the fundraiser at the East Greenbush Bowling Center. … We received a handmade “thank you” gift and note from one of the Hazzard children we sponsored through Circles of Mercy in our annual Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program. …

Our annual Recycling/Shredding Day date has been changed to April 25. Members are again asked to share the official flyer they have been sent with their social media accounts, on bulletin boards, etc. … Coordinator Bill Dowd reminded everyone that Friday, Valentine’s Day, is the deadline for reserving seats at earlybird prices for our March 5 60th Anniversary Dinner at the Comfort Inn on Miller Road. Prices are $45 for adult, $10 for children 12 and under. After Friday, they go to $50 and $15 through the final deadline of the Thursday, February 20. Reservations must be made by email to Bill Dowd (BillDowd4Troy@gmail.com), and checks made payable to SRC Rotary Club given to Treasurer Murray Forth. … Raffle tickets are being sold for our 3rd Cafe Capriccio Wine Dinner to be held on Saturday, March 28. The drawing is scheduled for our March 19 meeting. Tickets are $20 each for the private-room chef’s dinner valued at $1,300. …

Becky Raymond reported that a memorial for Rotarian Phil Nasca is planned at the UAlbany School of Public Health  from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7. … Two board members from the Freedom From Fistula Foundation will visit the area on Monday, April 20, for a series of events involving SRC, Danes Rotaract, the School of Public Health, and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Details will be announced closer to the event. … There is no regular club meeting next week, but there will be a 6 p.m. Board of Directors meeting at Quigley’s. … We will resume weekly dinner meetings on Thursday, February 27.

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PROGRAM: “The Tides of Fundy”

Dean Calamaras presented a travelogue on his and Doris’s visit to the Bay of Fundy, places of the highest tides in the world.

The bay is located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the state of Maine.

In addition to photos of the landscape between high and low tides and various waterways, Dean’s photos showed such things as waterside caves carved out of sedimentary rock over the centuries by the power of the tides; a hotel employee who took advantage of the tides for some regular surfing activities, and boats perched on muddy land at low tide.

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

Members Attending (18): Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Terry Brewer, Bill Dowd, Murray Forth, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Ray Hannan, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Wells Packard, Carol Orvis, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Becky Raymond, Debbie Rodriguez, Ray Hannan.

Guests (2): Jack Conway, Joshua Smith.

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MEETING MINUTES: President Phil welcomed members and guests. … He reminded members that Bill Dowd has refreshed the supply of Clynk recycling bags and bar code stickers that help support ShelterBox and encouraged participation in the redemption-and-recycling program via Hannaford supermarkets. … Murray Forth noted that raffle tickets are being made available for the club’s 3rd Cafe Capriccio private wine dinner. …

Bill Dowd reminded members that discounted reservations for the club’s 60th Anniversary Party, scheduled for Thursday, March 5, are available through Valentine’s Day — $45 for adults, $10 for children under 12. After that, reservations are $5 more per category. Anyone wishing to attend is asked to contact Bill and make payment to Murray. … Terry Brewer reported that we are soliciting lane sponsorships and participants for our Foundation Bowl-a-Thon, scheduled for Sunday, March 1, at the East Greenbush Bowling Center. … Our next recycling/shredding event is set for Saturday, April 18. Members are asked to share the flyer via social media. …

Wells Packard presented an update on the Rotary Youth Exchange program, which he is working to resuscitate this academic year and next. His primary effort is to to establish a support system of host families through local schools. … Next week’s program will be Dean Calamaras with a travelogue on the “Tides of Fundy.”

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PROGRAM: “The State of East Greenbush”

Jack Conway, just entering his second — and, as he proclaims, his final — term as supervisor of the Town of East Greenbush, presented his view of the “State of the Town.”

Jack concentrated on the rebirth of Columbia Turnpike, particularly its expanding lineup of ethnic restaurants he said he believes creates a more cosmopolitan tone from the addition of Asian fusion, Indian, and other ethnicities he said contradicts the idea that East Greenbush has no good restaurants. Rather, he said, there are at least 50 different choices.

Conway also provided details on a number of housing developments under way or proposed, and the broad scope of new businesses and the economic boom in development payments from corporations such as Regeneron that has paid more than $1 million to the town in recent months.

He also paid homage to several SRC members, calling Terry Brewer the best school superintendent in the county during his tenure with the East Greenbush Central School District and Dr. Dick Drumm as a compassionate businessman and veterinarian.

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

Members Attending (14): Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Terry Brewer, Bill Dowd, Murray Forth, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Ray Hannan, Andy Leyhane, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Wells Packard, Charlie Foote.

Guests (1): Jean Carazza.

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MEETING MINUTES: President Phil Kellerman welcomed members and guest Jean Carazza. This gathering was one of the periodic Club Assemblies intended to discuss club matters. … We began with setting February 20 — a date on which there will be no regular meeting because of school vacation week — as the date for the next Board meeting. Phil will contact all Board members to arrange location and details. … Discussion was held on restating our policy on financial responsibility for dinner guests. It was emphasized that program presenters will be guests of the club, but non-presenters will be required to pay for their dinners rather than having the club foot the bill. All members who schedule presenters are asked to determine precisely who and how many people are involved in the program and (a) be sure dinner coordinator Debbie Rodriguez is informed, and (b) be sure the presenter knows any other people attending are responsible for paying for their meals. … The annual Rotary Home Cooking series of member-hosted dinner events will take place this year. We have three such events accounted for — to be hosted by Wells Packard, Terry Brewer, and Murray and Maggie Forth — with specific dates and themes/details to be announced. Historically, hosts have created themes for their events ranging from historic menu recreations to wine-centric events to whimsical themes. …

Phil and Wells Packard reported on their participation in the recent District 7190 Membership Training Session. Wells noted that key to the effort are use of signage in the community and the meeting venue, and creation of brochures to distribute at community events. It was noted that we have had a brochure Bill Dowd created but have not distributed it for some time. We will review it to ascertain what updates may be needed. Since East Greenbush Town Supervisor Jack Conway is scheduled to be next week’s speaker, we will check with him at that time to see what we need to do to have a Rotary emblem posted on town limits signs. …

Wells also reported on the Rotary Youth Exchange program he is working on. He was the RYE liaison for his former club, and is gathering information on club involvement in the 2020-21 academic year exchange. … Terry Brewer reported on a Finance Committee meeting with club member A.J. Amato, a financial planner, to gain information on how to improve our financial record-keeping and budgeting. We will schedule a Financial Committee meeting to put into place a variety of his recommendations, and report back to the club. … The next recycling/shredding day will be held at Wainschaf Associates in Rensselaer on Saturday, April 18. Bill Dowd will create a flyer to be distributed with all details.

We will hold our third Cafe Capriccio wine dinner raffle as a fundraiser for the general treasury. The dinner will be on March 28 at the Albany restaurant. Ticket sales will be held on March 19. … Bill Dowd reported that plans are advancing for the SRC 60th Anniversary Party on March 5 at Comfort Inns on Miller Road. Discount reservations are available for members and kids 12 and under through Valentine’s Dat. Details are available online. Terry Brewer moved that we appropriate $500 from the general treasury to support the event; it was secinded by several members and approved without dissent.

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

Members Attending (18): Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Dean Calamaras, Ray Hannan, Dick Drumm, Debbie Rodriguez, Pat Bailey, Wells Packard, Roberto Martinez, Murray Forth, Charlie Foote, Carol Orvis, Terry Brewer, Geoff Brewer, Phil Kellerman, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Jeff Simons.

Guests (5): Ida-Marie Lindberg, Jennifer Carraher, Jim McHugh, Michelle Hall, Alexandra Omicinsky.

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MEETING MINUTES — President Phil Kellerman presided, welcoming members and guests to the first dinner meeting of 2020. … Phil will represent the club at the District 7190 Membership District Training sessions. … Treasurer Murray Forth reported that the themed gift basket silent auction at the recent Holiday Party he and Maggie hosted raised $500 for the club treasury. … Bill Dowd delivered $3,525 in member contributions to ShelterBox to the District SB liaisons Jack and Nancy Faddegon. …

Prices were set for the March 1 Foundation Bowl-a-Thon to raise funds for two organizations we regularly support — the Oley Foundation for people using tube feeding and the Freedom From Fistula Foundation that deals with women’s obstetrical issues in sub-Saharan Africa. Admission will be $15 per person, and lane sponsorships will be $100 each. … The date for the 2020 Gift of Life Golf Tournament fundraiser will be Monday, September 14. … New member Wells Packard reported that his daughter has been selected as a Rotary Exchange Student. She will spend an academic year in Germany. … Next week’s program involves Ruth Samuels and the New Visions project at the UAlbany School of Public Health.

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PROGRAM: EGSCD English Language Learners

Jeff Simons, superintendent of the East Greenbush Central School District and a former SRC Rotary member, was the guest speaker.

He introduced staffers involved in the languages programs. The number of  students involved in such study is growing faster Upstate than in other parts of New York. Nevertheless, the courses encourage students and their families to maintain their native languages while they increase their fluency in English.

The New York State Seal of Bi-Literacy is affixed to the diplomas of all students who are proficient in more than one language.

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

Members Attending (18): Phil Kellerman, Murray Forth, Terry Brewer, Bill Dowd, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Charlie Foote, Debbie Rodriguez, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Pat Bailey, Wells Packard, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Dick Drumm, Kevin Leyhane, Carol Orvis, Mike Bennett.

Guests (2): Jodi Sullivan, Jean Carazza.

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MEETING NOTES: President Phil Kellerman presided, welcoming members and two guests. Phil also circulated for members’ signatures a sympathy card for former member Bonnie Nasca whose husband passed away last week. The attendees also agreed to send a monetary donation to the Carol A. Whittaker Global Health Travel Award Fund as requested in Phil Nasca’s obituary. … Members are reminded to contribute their returnable beverage containers from the holiday to our ongoing Clynk recycling-and-redemption effort for ShelterBox. Official plastic bags and bar-code stickers can be picked up at any meeting at Quigley’s. Phil K. also reminded members tonight was the final night of sales of free market coffee as a fundraiser for ShelterBox, with $5 from the sale of each bag going to the aid organization. …

Murray Forth took final reservations for the 6 p.m. Thursday, December 19, Holiday Party & Gift Basket Raffle he and Maggie are hosting. He stressed that anyone bringing appetizers or desserts limit the size to servings for four to avoid having too many leftovers. Also, attendees are strongly urged to bring along a themed gift basket for the silent auction. Suggested themes have been posted on the webite. …. Terry Brewer reported that Sunday, March 1, 2020, has been reserved for a Foundation Bowl-a-Thon to raise funds for two organizations we regularly support — the Oley Foundation for people using tube feeding and the Freedom From Fistula Foundation that deals with women’s obstetrical issues in sub-Saharan Africa. The site of the event will be the East Greenbush Bowling Center (formerly called Spare Time) on Columbia Turnpike. The contribution is $15 per person for as many frames as you can bowl in one of two sessions — noon to 2 p.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. We also are soliciting $100 lane sponsors from businesses, individuals, groups, or families. Anyone interested in sponsorships is asked to contact Terry or Murray. …

Debbie Rodriguez thanked all who participated in our annual Adopt-a-Family drive in partnership with Circles of Mercy. The final gift donations will be delivered there on Friday. Debbie delivered another carload of gift earlier, along with a check for a $500 SRC grant to purchase personal hygiene kits. … This was the last dinner meeting of 2019. After next week’s holiday party and a hiatus for the Christmas and New Year’s weeks, we will resume Thursday sessions on January 9. Anyone who has been assigned program dates in January (check the chart on the website calendar page) is asked to let both program coordinator Dick Drumm and webmaster Bill Dowd know the speakers and topics ASAP.

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Five SRC members attended the Albany Rotary Club’s annual silent auction fundraiser in support of District 7190 Gift of Life, which usually raised about $5,000. From left: Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Phil Kellerman, Doris Calamaras, Dean Calamaras. Several donated auction items, and Dean and Doris continue to be SRC’s liaisons with GOL.

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PROGRAM: Maple Hill Mental Health Highlights

Maple Hill Junior-Senior High School today was named one of just 35 schools in the nation selected by the National Council for Behavioral Health’s teen “Mental Health First Aid” pilot program.

The project, which began last year with eight schools, has been expanded with the support of entertainer Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.

“This first-of-a-kind program will truly make a difference in our communities, and we are excited that our state was chosen … ,” said Glenn Liebman, CEO of the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS).

The course specifically highlights the important step of involving a responsible and trusted adult. To ensure additional support for students taking the training, Maple Hill will train approximately 30 school staff in “Mental Health First Aid for Adults Working With Young People.” Overall, the program aims to ensure that students are able to recognize when a friend or peer may be struggling, and to feel confident what to do to help.

Jodi Sullivan, a vice principal at Maple Hill, is the lead staff member working on the multi-faceted mental health wellness programs at the school.

In her presentation to SRC, she outlined the many components of the Scho0dack Central School District’s ongoing efforts — emotional and physical wellness, skills training in area beyond the classroom, conflict resolution, restorative practices, curriculum writing, creation of a Twitter page called (@maphillwellness (WIldcat Wellness), and many other activities.

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

Members Attending (12): Phil Kellerman, Dick Drumm, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Ray Hannan, Terry Brewer, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Kevin Leyhane, Andy Leyhane.

Guests (5): Speaker Al Mackey, Oley Foundation Director Joan Bishop, 2 dietitians from Ellis Hospital, Spinney resident Bob Howe.

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MEETING NOTES: Phil Kellerman presided, greeting members and guests. … Members will share and discuss fundraising ideas at a Club Assembly scheduled for Thursday, December 5. … Reminders that (1) Phil will be selling free market coffees for the holidays, with $5 from the sale of each bag going into the club’s ShelterBox effort; (2) a supply of bags and tags is available at each dinner meeting for member participation in our ongoing Clynk container recycling effort for ShelterBox; (3) Members are urged to work on themed gift baskets for the silent auction that will be part of our annual Holiday Party, to be hosted by Maggie and Murray Forth at their residence on Thursday, December 19. … No meeting next week due to Thanksgiving Day.

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PROGRAM: “Hiking for Oley”

Our guest speaker was Al Mackay, 61, who in the 1990s received aggressive treatment for cancer and ended up with a feeding tube  because of difficulty of swelling. After finding the Oley Foundation on the Internet, he became a client.

Al, an experienced hiker, wanted to make a fundraising hike from June 17 to July 19 for Oley by traversing the Long Trail in Vermont, part of which is on the Appalachian Trail. He eventually made it from the Massachusetts line north to the Canadian border, a 272-mile hike while carrying a backpack that weighed more than 30 pounds.

Al had to overcome many adversities, including knee problems at Mile 36, rain, mud, fog, cliffs, and the steep trails that in some parts required ladders.  His mantra: “Limitation is a state of mind.”

You can read more details of Al’s feat by clicking here to access the Oley Foundation newsletter.

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

Members Attending (16): Phil Kellerman, Murray Forth, Bill Dowd, Jim Leyhane, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Terry Brewer, Pat Bailey, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Wells Packard, Debbie Rodriguez, A.J. Amato, Charlie Foote, Kevin Leyhane, Dick Drumm.

Guests (1): Dan Caurabia.

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MEETING NOTES: President Phil welcomed members and our guest speaker. … Terry Brewer reported that District 7190 has approved $35,000 to support membership recruitment and retention efforts, $15,000 of which will pay an individual to head up the effort. The District membership is reaching a point at which RI may reconfigure the region and merge 7190 into another district. …

Bill Dowd updated plans for the club’s 60th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, scheduled at the Comfort Inn & Suites for March 5, 2020. He said he has reserved the Berkshire Ballroom there, and hired a caterer, getting the two largest items out of the way. He noted that he has sent an email to all members as a “save the date” request in which he also invited input from everyone on things they would like to have considered as part of the event. … Phil reiterated that he will be selling fair trade coffee specialties during the holidays as a ShelterBox fundraising effort, and that the ongoing Clynk container redemption and recycling program overseen by Bill Dowd also is a ShelterBox fundraiser. …

A reminder that our annual Holiday Party & Themed Basket Silent Auction will be hosted by Murray and Maggie Forth at their residence on Thursday, December 19. Ideas for themed baskets are being put on the club website periodically. (See item at right.) … Anyone scheduled to secure a program for January is asked to get that information to program coordinator Dick Drumm ASAP so we can get it on the calendar. Still not sure what date you have? Just check the chart at the bottom of the website calendar page. … The speaker next week is a man who, despite being on a feeding tube, hiked 270 miles on Vermont’s Long Trail to raise funds for the Oley Foundation. .

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PROGRAM: “The Norman Rockwell Museum”

A.J. Amato introduced guest speaker Dan Caurabia, a guide at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA.

Dan is a wealth of information about the iconic American painter and illustrator who used, as he put it, “commonplace people for commonplace themes”; i.e., friends, family, acquaintances and the like as models for his works that have become American icons.

In addition to providing a look at the early life and artistic training of Rockwell, Dan explained the changes in color, technique, and subject matter over Rockwell’s years of painting that ranged from his early teen years until the end of his life in 1978 at the age of 84.

Dan also shared photographs and anecdotes about some of the people who modeled for Rockwell and Dan’s experiences meeting many of them when they made a pilgrimage to Stockbridge to visit the museum. He also invited SRC members to visit the facility on Fridays when he conducts tours.

Information on the Norman Rockwell Museum, now celebrating its 50th anniversary,  is available online.

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

Members Attending (14): Phil Kellerman, Murray Forth, Bill Dowd, Jim Leyhane, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Pat Bailey, Ray Hannan, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Becky Raymond, Wells Packard, Roberto Martinez, Debbie Rodriguez.

Guests (2): Kurt Vincent, Mike Stangl.

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President Phil welcomed members and guests. … Jim Leyhane will represent the club at an informational meeting with East Greenbush Central School District personnel and law enforcement officials to discuss ways to get seed money to begin installing cameras on school buses in line with a new state approval. The aim is to help enforce the prohibition on passing a stopped school bus, which seems to be on the rise. The cost is about $1,000 per camera, and the EGCSD has about 100 buses, so outfitting all of them would be cost prohibitive at first. The theory is that each fine for violating the rule would go toward purchasing additional cameras. In the long term, if such a program comes to fruition, SRC might then work with other local school districts to expand it. …

Dean Calamras reported that the recent Gift of Life golf tournament raised $13,752.49 for the medical philanthropy. He also reported that the Bolivian child who had been scheduled to come to Albany for cardiac surgery will not be able to because his mother cannot get a travel visa. GOL will hold a fundraiser and silent auction. Details are available online. … Debbie Rodriguez volunteered to chair this year’s Adopt-a-Family holiday effort with Circles of Mercy, succeeding Bill Dowd. Bill said he would be happy to work with her. Details will be shared once Circles send us the details on the families and their needs. …

Phil has begun selling specialty fair trade coffees at $15 a bag or $25 for two, with $5 from each sale going to our ShelterBox drive. … Our annual Holiday Party & Gift Basket Silent Auction will be held on Thursday, December 19, at the home of Murray and Maggie Forth. Details to come, but start working on your basket ideas now. … Next week’s speaker will present a program on the Norman Rockwell Museum, located in Stockbridge, MA.

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PROGRAM: “Trolleys Across the Hudson”

Kurt Vincent, prominent local historian and the Village of Nassau’s official historian, provided a PowerPoint look at the history and the future of the trolley system that opened in 1900 and ran between Albany and Hudson.

Portions of the system remain in various pieces and a large chunk of it is being incorporated under the name Albany-Hudson Rail Trail into the state’s under-development system of rail trails that eventually will run from New York City to Buffalo.

The local project’s Facebook page contains updates and progress report. Go here to access it.

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