I look forward to seeing you at our holiday party tomorrow night at 6 pm -Thursday the 18th at the Forth Home at 280 Hays Road in East Greenbush. Please bring items for our silent auction to raise more funds for our club. Kevin is starting up another football fund-raiser. He will be at the party to give more details.
Thank you to all of you who donated to our Adopt-A-Family at Circles of Mercy. Many gifts were donated and I am sure the family of six will benefit from the generous donations. Thank you to Laurie, Carole and Peter for attending recent meetings concerning the EGSD Food Backpack Program, and for moving the program forward.
Carole and I recently met to begin initial plans for a talent show fund-raise. Yours truly also met with the event coordinator for the Nine Pin Cider establishment to plan a fund-raiser on Sunday March 1st. More details to follow.
We will do another fundraiser for the Christmas Day football games. More information to follow.
Please let me know if you have gifts for our Adopt a Family via Circles of Mercy. I will be at the office at 11 Washington Street in Rensselaer today, the 9th and tomorrow the 10th from 10 am – 2 pm. And next week from M-Wed. If you cannot make it down, contact me for pickup.
Don’t forget our holiday party on the 18th at Murray’s home at 6pm. Please donate a gift basket for the silent auction to raise more funds.
The SRC Rotary Club’s Annual Christmas/Holiday Party will be hosted by the Forth’s at their residence on Thursday December 18, 2025 at 6:00pm. The cost for the event is $30 per person with children under 12 free. Please RSVP by December 13 with Murray if you have not already.
Back by popular demand will be our annual silent gift basket fund raising auction. Simply design and build a gift basket suggested cost range $20-$50 to enter into the auction, and sit back and enjoy the show as attendees bid on the baskets with proceeds going to support club programs.
Please continue to support our adopt a family program by checking the calendar page on our website to see up to date needs.
Thanks to Kevin for organizing a successful fund-raiser.
The next meeting is Thursday, December 4th at 6:00 pm at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant, Route 4, North Greenbush. You can join by Zoom using the link on the website’s calendar page. Joining us will be a speaker from the Nassau Food Pantry.
Please check the calendar on our web-site to let Kevin know what items you would like to donate for our Adopt a Family via Circles of Mercy. Please bring your items to Thursday’s meeting and I will bring them to the agency.
Plans are being initiated for our annual Bowl-a-Thon in the spring at the East Greenbush Lanes to raise funds and collect donated food for the Anchor Food Bank. Talking about the Food Bank, via our happy dollars at meetings, $137 has been raised so far for the Food Bank.
Please check the calendar on our web-site to let Kevin know what items you would like to donate for our Adopt a Family via Circles of Mercy. Please bring your items to our next meeting a week from Thanksgiving. I will bring the to the agency.
This Thursday, November 20th, at 6:00 at Moscatiello’s our own Dean Calamaras will be presenting “Exploring the Dead Sea” describing his visit to the Dead Sea, including its origin, events associated with it, and its significance today. If you are unable to attend in person, you may join us remotely using the Zoom link on the Calendar page.
Thank you Dean.
The Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society is in need of cat and dog food donations. If you bring any to the meeting, I will bring donations to the center. Don’t forget to continue to check out the CNY web-site for Rotary information and other activities.
Our Adopt a Family from circles of Mercy is about begin, the wish list will be posted on the website this Thursday.
Pat Bailey and Mary Alice selling pies for the Nassau Library
This Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 6:00pm the SRC will be holding a brief Zoom meeting to discuss our upcoming Thanksgiving Fundraiser. The purpose of the meeting is to give a brief overview of the project, and to answer any questions. The meeting should run only 15-30 minutes in length.
The club will be returning to Moscatiello’s next Thursday at 6:00 pm and Dean Calamaras will be presenting on “The Dead Sea Scrolls”
Attendance: P. Kellerman; R. Martinez; J. Leyhane; P. Brown; D. Brown; C. Foote; Ray; D. Drum; P. Bailey; C. Heaney; L. Pferr; T. Brewer, D. Calamaras, M. Forth and C. Heaney.
Guest: Dr. Kotes, Superintendent, EG School District
Dr. Kotes’ Presentation Notes (Condensed)
Professional Journey
Native of Rensselaer County; background in education leadership.
Career path: classroom teacher → administrator → superintendent.
Experience in several districts (Arlington, Cornwall, others).
Values strong leadership, family support, and lifelong learning.
Graduation Reform in New York State
Focus on revising graduation requirements.
Exploring alternatives to Regents exams (e.g., internships, applied learning).
Goal: prepare students for multiple post–high school paths—college, trades, or workforce.
Growing acknowledgment of the need for flexible graduation measures.
Challenges in Educational Leadership
Preparing students for life and work in a changing economy.
Advocates early conversations about career goals and financial literacy.
Concerned about high cost of living in NY and its impact on school communities.
Education Policy and Systemic Issues
Complex relationship between State Ed Department and Jewish schools; political challenges.
Risks of private entities managing public school functions—resource diversion.
Emphasis on financial literacy, vocational exposure, and career readiness.
Noted ongoing challenges in ESL staffing and changing student demographics.
Project Reports:
Kenya Water Project
P. Brown reported on the meeting with the Kenya Partners. They are waiting for a solution to the girls’ bathroom facilities, and Jennifer from CNY agreed to contact a Rotary Club in Middletown, Connecticut, to help fund them. A plan is still needed to plug a dry borehole, which will cost approximately $700, and a discussion of the structural requirements for the water collection system is required. A follow-up virtual meeting for the Kenya Water Project was scheduled for Monday at 9 AM.
Action: P. Brown invited anyone interested to join the meeting on Nov.10th to contact him for the Zoom link.
Monument Relocation Plans
T. Brewer reported the plan continues to evolve and is slated for completion in April, 2026. Some funding has been procured, but additional funds will be required. Dr. Kotes mentioned that the project involves working with contractors and local graduates to minimize costs and preserve as much of the existing monument as possible.
Action: T. Brewer to report back to the board on needed funds for completion.
District Grant/Backpack Program Update
P. Brown explained that a meeting about the backpack program had to be postponed due to a tragedy at the school, and will now take place on Nov. 17th, 11:30 am. Roberto clarified the various parts of the backpack program, including that the district grant is for storage and shelving, not backpacks.
Board Meeting Update
Phil reported that the board meeting of Oct. 28th, revealed the club is currently taking in less than it plans to distribute, with approximately $15,000 in its checking account and obligations due in January to Rotary International and the CNY District. Board members discussed fundraising efforts in detail. Three concrete ideas were agreed to pursue.
Football Pool
Talent Show
Tag or Garage Sale
Kevin Leyhane suggested using a football pool as an effective fundraiser. He can organize one for the Thanksgiving games. Members discussed the pros and cons of the legal concerns related to pools.
Action: It was agreed that a trial pool would be held at Thanksgiving, followed by an assessment with K. Leyhane.
T. Brewer suggested a dinner/dance event featuring local school music performances.
Action: None Decided
C. Heaney and P. Kellerman are exploring the possibility of hosting a community talent show in April 2026. Members were requested to inquire with family and friends with experience in theater, music, sound, lighting, etc., to advise our team for the event.
Action: C. Heaney will create and distribute a blurb to members to share. Anyone interested in supporting the effort, contact Phil or Carole.
T. Brewer discussed the Café Capriccio fundraiser. Tickets would need to be sold by members. This could raise upwards of $4,000 for student scholarships and other initiatives.
Action: No further decision or discussion reached.
Phil announced the opportunity to participate in Circles of Mercy’s Adopt-a-Family program, which will support a family of six with children ages 1 month to 7 years for Christmas. Phil will send an email to all regarding the types of contributions requested.
Next Meeting: The next meeting is Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 pm at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant, Route 4, North Greenbush. Also, you can join by Zoom using the link on the websites calendar page.
The next meeting is Thursday, November 6th at 6:00 pm at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant, Route 4, North Greenbush. Also, you can join by Zoom using the link on the website’s calendar page. Dr. Kotes, EGCSD Superintendent will speak.
The East Greenbush Backpack Program meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, November 17 at 11:30 am in the Administration Center board room.
Our club Board meeting was held on October 28 at the home of Carole Heaney. It was a good meeting and fund-raising events were discussed. Thanks to Carole for hosting the meeting.
We are still looking for a speaker for our meeting on November 20th. Please let me know if you have someone in mind.
Don’t forget to continue to view the CNY web-site for information and activities.
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 