Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
May 12, 2016

Members Attending (17): Terry Brewer, Murray Forth, Debbie Rodriguez, Pat Bailey, Jim Leyhane, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Charlie Foote, Mike Dewey, Ray Hannan, Roberto Martinez, Ron Annis, Monika Annis, John Sawchuk, Stewart Wagner, Becky Raymond.

Guests (2): Betty Brewer, Debra Dewey.

NOTE: Corrections included in this version.

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PROGRAM: “Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy In the Schools”

President Terry Brewer introduced Betty Brewer and Debra Dewey and gave a brief outline of their role in the Averill Park Central School District offering physical and occupational therapy in an educational setting.

Betty explained that she and Debra, along with a speech therapist, are a team that serves 180 kids. They work with students who need to learn a variety of skills, and they utilize tactile items in various shapes and colors, games, and various exercises.

The children they work with have a range of problems, including autism, cerebral palsy, sensory and processing disorders, and other limitations.

Debra explained that they work to instill in the students a mutual respect for others, and attaining a goal of  improving and moving on. They work with children as needed and for as long as needed.

A new program in this school year is teaching strategies for coping with habits, not sitting and fidgeting, and so on. The team often uses therapy balls instead of chairs for better posture. They work on fine and gross motor skills, directional skills, exercise on mats, and sitting and getting up correctly. They also include time for play.

One of their main efforts is working on “sensory integration,” which affects multiple areas of muscle, senses, and auditory faculties. They work in a variety of ways — in groups, independently, in classrooms, and separate rooms. They displayed many small tactile items they use with the children,, such as soft, squishy balls, colorful soft items that light up, and pencils with soft grips.

In conclusion, they answered several questions from attendees.

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BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

REMINDERS — (1.) The “Pocket Change” contribution jug now is being used to collect money at each meeting for the Freedom From Fistula Foundation. (2.) The club officially has decided to raise $1,400 to “adopt” a school in Haiti as part of the Pure Water Project’s effort there. An initial donation will be made in the amount of $500.

WEB PAGE REVAMP — Since our last meeting, a redesign and relaunch of the club website has taken place, and the new address —  http://SRCrotaryblog.wordpress.com — is  active. Several new pages are password-protected. They still are in development, and passwords will be distributed to members once the content is finalized.

RONALD McDONALD HOUSE EFFORT — Seven club members cooked dinner for 40 guests at the Ronald McDonald House complex in Albany today. Bill Dowd planned the menu and oversaw the effort, aided by April Dowd, Debbie Rodriguez, Roberto Martinez, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, and Mike Dewey. (Scroll down to see photos of the event.)

GOLFING EFFORT — The club donated $250 for Columbia High School’s golf tournament being held in support of the school’s scholarship programs.

PRESIDENTIAL CHANGEOVER — Our Thursday, June 30, meeting has been designated as the annual Presidential Changeover meeting. Debbie Rodriguez will succeed Terry Brewer as president at that time for the 2016-17 Rotary Year. The event will be held at Murray Forth’s residence in East Greenbush.

NEW-MEMBER INDUCTION — Our second member induction of the year will be held during our Thursday, June 23, meeting to officially welcome members who have joined us since the last induction.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES — At the next meeting, we will begin asking people to sign up to host a cookout or plan a group outing during our “summer casual” schedule when we do not hold formal weekly dinner meetings. The dates are July 7, 14, 21, and 28, and August 4, 11, 18, and 25. Ideas are welcomed.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS — We will conduct the annual vote for club officers and directors at our May 26 meeting.

FUNDRAISERS — (1.) It was announced that the raffle for a sightseeing flight in an antique plane at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome raised $215. Roberto Martinez was the lucky winner of the drawing. (2.) Becky Raymond reported that $6,000 was taken in at the recent Freedom From Fistula Foundation fundraiser. She thanked members who attended.

DRIVER TRAINING — Jim Leyhane, who is arranging a defensive driving training session that will qualify participants to receive a deduction on their auto insurance, said it will be held on a Sunday in June. He asked that anyone who would like to attend but has a conflict on any particular Sunday to let him know ASAP so he can finalize the date.

HEALTH UPDATES — Doris Calamaras is reported to be improving after a bout of pneumonia. … Stewart Wagner thanked the club for its support of he and Lois since her return home from hospitalization.

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NEXT MEETING — 6:15 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at Quigley’s. We will have a program on “Let’s Share the Sun,” a program that shares solar energy devices with poor parts of the world.

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Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
May 5, 2016

Members Attending (15): Terry Brewer, Debbie Rodriguez, Pat Bailey, Bill Dowd, Jim Leyhane, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, A.J. Amato, Dick Drumm, Charlie Foote, Julius Frankel, Roberto Martinez, Ron Annis, Monika Annis, Carole Spencer.

Guests (2): LuAnn McCormick, Phil Kellerman.

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PROGRAM: “Girls On The Run“

Debbie Rodriguez introduced LuAnn McCormick, executive director of Girls On The Run – Capital Region.

LuAnn described GOTR as a physical activity youth involvement program. There are 225 GOTR  local councils in 49 states, Washington DC, and Canada. They had more than 88,000 adult volunteers assisting in 2015.

She showed a short video that explained explaining the idea of empowering girls. The local council, founded in 2014, has more than 300 volunteers to date.The Capital Region chapter encompasses Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady counties, although presently the only Rensselaer County participating school is the Woodland Hills Montessori School.

The GOTR goal is to teach girls life skills by engaging them in activities, goal setting, and fun running activities, finishing with a 5K run. Participants are divided into two levels — grades 3-5 and 6-8, with eight to 15 girls on each team. Adult buddies help mentor them and help with two 90-minute practice sessions per week. The girls will be running in the annual Mother’s Day Run in Shenectady’s Central Park.

The program is open to all girls — urban, suburban, and rural alike. About 50% receive full or partial scholarships toward the $150 registration fee. Families unable to pay are asked to contribute a minimum of $10.

In five local seasons through this spring, 278 girls have participated. LuAnn said mentors and school personnel have witnessed significant improvement in attitudes, behaviors, and physical conditions among many of the participants. She said she is looking to get more participating schools in Rensselaer County and would appreciate any help we might be able to extend.

President Terry Brewer said our club, and the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA) for which he works, will supply contacts to LuAnn, with emphasis on the Rensselaer City School District. He said the club also will discuss the GOTR program with an eye toward making a monetary donation.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS/BUSINESS

CLEAN WATER — Our club is undertaking an effort to donate $1,400 to “adopt” one school in Haiti as part of  the Pure Water for the World Inc.‘s initiative there. The organization, which has strong and growing Rotary support, plans to raise $14,000 to aid 10 schools at $1,400 each. Jim Leyhane had suggested our club support one school as a challenge to other clubs in District 7190 to also help underwrite the project.

EAGLE SCOUT AID — President Terry Brewer said we are looking into a request from a prospective Eagle Scout for assistance in a work project. The local scout is not a member of the troop we historically have supported, so additional information is needed before a decision is made.

SHREDDING DAY — A.J. Amato, our Youth Exchange Officer, reported that the annual document shredding day he holds at his office raised about $450 through donations last Saturday that will go toward our Youth Exchange program.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES — Terry asked that members begin thinking about hosting a cookout or group outing as part of the club’s “summer casual” schedule. The dates are July 7, 14, 21, and 28, and August 4, 11, 18, and 25. A signup sheet will be available at our next meeting.

INDUCTION CEREMONY — Terry has tentatively set June 23 as the date for our latest group induction of new members. Fred Daniels, who will be the District Governor for 2017-18, is scheduled to visit that evening to address the topic of Rotary’s recruitment and retention of younger members.

SHELTERBOX — Bill Dowd, our ShelterBox Liaison, last week reported on current demands on ShelterBox’s aid equipment because of multiple concurrent disasters around the world. He noted that even though the club already has purchased five ShelterBoxes this year (at $1,000 each), he hoped we could do more. This week, Terry set a goal of underwriting at least two more ShelterBoxes, at a total cost of $2,000.

OUTREACH — A prospective member has run into serious financial difficulties because of family illness, and started a GoFundMe effort to raise a certain  amount of money. The club, thanks to Jim Leyhane, will donate $300 for emergency aid. … Stewart Wagner’s wife, Lois, has come home from a lengthy stint of hospitalization and physical rehabilitation. It was suggested that we might provide several meals a week to Stewart and Lois if acceptable to them.

HOSPITAL STAY BROCHURE — Terry announced additional support as an organization for the “Hospital Stay Brochure” project that has been created by Peter Brown, Roberto Martinez, and Jim Leyhane. Peter expressed their appreciation for the ongoing support of the club in making downloadable copies of the brochure available on the club website.

CLOTHES FOR KIDS — Bill Dowd, project coordinator, thanked everyone who contributed to the collection of new and like-new clothing for kids as part of the anti-poverty theme of the annual “Rotary Day of Service.” He will deliver them to the family aid organization Circles of Mercy for distribution through its thrift shop.

POCKET CHANGE — Our “Pocket Change for … ” contribution jar, the contents of which this year will go to the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk, has been closed. We now are switching to the next recipient, which will be the Freedom From Fistula Foundation. That effort will continue through the end of the 2016-17 Rotary Year. April Dowd inaugurated the weekly-donation project during her presidency in 2013-14. Since then, it has continued to be a president’s-choice effort. Donations have gone to autism education at Wildwood, The Great American MilkDrive for food pantries, and now to the Buddy Walk.

DRIVER TRAINING — Jim Leyhane asked for a headcount of people interested in participating in a defensive driving class that will enable them to receive a two-year discount on their auto insurance. He said the workshop would be held at Community Care Physicians at a date to be decided.

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NEXT MEETING: 6:15 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at Quigley’s. Betty Brewer and Deb Dewey will make a presentation on “Occupational and Physical Therapy In Schools.”

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