Last night the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club held its annual Presidential Changeover Meeting. The event hosted by Peter and Debbie Brown featured perfect weather, fine food and drinks, and all while surrounded by the Browns’ beautiful gardens. Before Peter Brown handed the gavel off to new incoming president Roberto Martinez, Peter recognized several members of the club including Pat Bailey, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Phil Kellerman, Murray Forth, and Debbie Brown for their support during his presidency. Out going President Peter Brown was presented with a jacket as a gift from the club marking his 4th term as club president in is 40 years of service. Some of this past years accomplishments include enlisting social capital, working with RI on a Global Grant that aligns with water initiatives, local scholarships, our annual bowlathon, and support for Girls Inc, Boy Scout Troop 41, the Epilepsy Foundation, Circles of Mercy and assisted the YMCA with projects throughout the year.
Members present: Charlie Foote, Dick and Mary Drumm, Maggie, Murray, and Jeremy Forth, Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Peter and Debbie Brown, Andy Leyhane and family, and Kevin Leyhane and family.
There is no meeting scheduled for the upcoming week due to the 4th of July Holiday. The club is looking into making a reservation at the Boathouse Grill in New Baltimore for the July 11th meeting. More details will follow.
This Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 6:00pm the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club will meet at Peter and Debbie Brown’s residence for dinner and our annual Presidential Change Over meeting where new President Roberto Martinez will be taking over the duties from Peter Brown. This event will kick off the start of our summer casual events hosted by club members on Thursday nights throughout the summer. A quick reminder we ask for a $30 donation to the club for each individual and $40 for a family, these funds will offset the cost of the dinners and serve as a fund raiser for the club. Looking forward to seeing everyone this Thursday.
This Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 6:00 pm the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club will be hosting its weekly meeting at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant located on Route 4 in North Greenbush. The agenda for this evening will be an end of the year general club assembly hosted by Peter Brown. A brief overview of our website and some of our local club programs such as Clynk and clothing drop boxes for ShelterBox. As our usually policy, if you are unable to attend in person you may do so remotely using the Zoom link located on the calendar page of our website.
Menu choices for the evening include a choice of Antipasto Salad, Spaghetti with Meatballs, or Eggplant Parmesan. Looking forward to seeing everyone this Thursday, and quick reminder our yearly dues are due July 1, 2024.
This Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 6:00 pm the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club will have its weekly meeting at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant on Route 4 in North Greenbush. Joining us as a guest presenter will be Tracy Pitcher, Executive Director of St. Paul’s Center in Rensselaer. St. Paul’s Center provides emergency shelter to mothers and their children without a place to call home. They operate a 19-bed facility year round so families always have a place to go in times of need. Once again if you are unable to join us in person you may still join us remotely using the Zoom Link located on the calendar page of our website. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday.
This Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 6:00 pm the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club will be meeting at Moscatiello’s Family Italian Restaurant as a part of its weekly schedule. This week’s program will feature the induction of 6 of our newest members into the club. As usual if you are unable to join us in person you may do so remotely using the Zoom link located on our calendar page. Looking forward to seeing everyone this Thursday.
This Friday (not Thursday) May 31, 2024 at 6:00pm the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club will be meeting at S&S Farm Brewery located at 174 Middle Road Nassau, NY 12123. S&S offers fine craft beer along with food trucks all in the atmosphere of a country farm. For more information on the brewery use the link below. Looking forward to seeing everyone this Friday.
Minutes of Meeting May 23, 2024 Members in Attendance(10): Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Pat Bailey, Murray Forth, Terry Brewer, Phil Kellerman, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Andy Leyhane, Carole Heaney Guests (9): East Greenbush Scholarship recipient Shea Fajen, Mrs. Fajen, Columbia HS Assistant Principal Beth Farnum; Maple Hill Scholarship recipient Alyssa Gray, Carrie Earle (Alyssa’s mom), and MHHS Principal Rob Santaracangelo; Rensselaer High School Scholarship recipient Lydia Jyaw, Mrs. Jyaw (aunt), Brandy Cenci, High School Counselor President Peter Brown called the meeting to order and welcomed our guests from the three High Schools in our community. Each student introduced herself, her guest, and the representative from her school. Theme for the year: “Building Community” PROGRAM NOTES: President Brown turned the meeting over to Terry Brewer, Chair of SRCR Scholarship program who reviewed the criteria and process for this signature project of our club. Each student gave a brief presentation about her activities at their respective schools, outlined their plans following graduation and thanked our club for this honor and for the scholarship award. Below are summaries of each student’s remarks. Maple Hill senior Alyssa Gray’s motto and guiding principle is “Do Good in the World” and she has demonstrated many times her commitment to this motto. A Girl Scout and a National Honor Society member, she has initiated and organized several fundraising/awareness campaigns during her HS career. She hopes to become a high school Math teacher and will attend HVCC in the fall and then continue her education at Siena College (accepted to both schools!). Columbia senior Shea Fajen has completed 17 advanced level courses as well as being a varsity level track “star” as a distance runner. Her community service focuses on supporting underrepresented communities and she has enjoyed learning how to communicate with speakers of languages other than English. She has particularly enjoyed her work at the West Hill Welcome Center providing support to those relocating to this country. She has served on the EGCS Superintendent’s Advisory Committee and will attend Middlebury College to study Biology. Rensselaer senior Lydia Johnson is a member of Key Club and National Honor Society and also an athlete in track, soccer, and dance. She is a member of the Rensselaer City Citizens’ Advisory Committee, which Mayor Stammell mentioned in his program at our May 2nd meeting. Much of her community service focuses on food insecurity and homelessness. She has been a volunteer at Capital Roots. Lydia will attend Siena College in the fall and is enrolled in the 3/2 program with Albany Law School. SRC Rotary congratulated all these outstanding young women who have demonstrated commitment to the goals of Rotary and to further education which will make significant contributions to their communities. As usual, members were very impressed with these young women and wished them well in their future endeavors. MEETING NOTES: Board meeting Monday May 20th was largely spent on clarifying and refining the application for Grant funding for the Kenya Water project. Major fundraising will be needed to meet our share of the cost of this project. Upcoming Programs: May 31st: FRIDAY Social event at S&S Brewery June 6th; New Member Induction June 13th: St Paul’s Tracy Pitcher June 20th Club Assembly, Brief presentation on Arts participation with Emma Leyhane and short video June 27th: Change over/Induction of officers at Brown’s Details to follow
This Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 6:00pm the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club will be holding its weekly meeting at Moscatiello’s Family Italian Restaurant on Route 4 in North Greenbush. Joining us will be 3 local Rotary Scholarship winners from Columbia High School, Rensselaer High School, and Maple Hill High School. Each scholarship award recipient will be joined by family and a representative from their school district. Due to the anticipated high attendance at this meeting it will not be available remotely this week. Looking forward to seeing everyone this Thursday.
Members in Attendance: (12): Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Charlie Foote, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Murray Forth, Phil Kellerman, Ray Hannah, Andy Leyhane, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Carole Healey.
Guests (2): Karen Spinelli, Teresa Martell and Karen Rogers
President Peter Brown called the meeting to order.
Theme for the year: “Building Community”
Meeting Notes:
Guest speakers: Karen Spinelli, RN and Teresa Martell, RN of the ALS Regional Center
Ray, who organized the presentation, introduced Karen and Teresa.
Karen, who is director of the ALS Regional Center, said that ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a progressive disease with no known cure at this time. The effects are extremity and general weakness; impairment and weakness of swallowing; changes in speech; respiratory insufficiency; drooling; muscle spasticity/cramping/pain; and depression, anxiety and isolation.
The Center provides both a medical and an emotional system of support to help maintain quality of life throughout the course of the disease. All ALS patients eventually succumb to the disease.
Most ALS patients are within the 45-75 age range but the center has treated younger patients. The average life span of a person diagnosed with ALS is 3-5 years.
Eight to ten percent of ALS patients have genetic tendencies but it is relatively unknown how others get it.
The Center operates on an annual budget of around $750,000. It gets a few grants to sustain itself but also relies on fund-raisers.
Club members asked insightful questions which Karen and Teresa responded to. All agreed it was an excellent and interesting presentation. Phil spoke to both after the meeting to indicate he had experience in tube feeding as many of the ALS patients use tube feeding to sustain themselves. He offered his assistance to help in case the center needed tube feeding supplies or other equipment which could be obtained by Mission Central in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
Scholarship award winners:
Next week, scholarship awards will be given out to three area high school students.
501C4 Status;
Peter reported that Murray and Phil have been communicating with the IRS about our 501C4 status.
Water for Kenya and Global Grant status:
Peter said a Zoom meeting was held with club members involved to review the 18 page proposal by the club for the project. The two hour meeting helped to resolve some issues with the grant and improvements were made to the proposal. One important issue that will need to be resolved is that the club most likely will have to raise above the initial $5,000 – most likely within the $7,000-10,000 range. Peter had spoken to Sue Austin who recommended that the club ask for donations from other clubs to help raise funds.
Roberto complimented Peter on doing a good job on the proposal.
Carole’s Home:
Carole reported that she is conducting monthly internet discussions on “inviting death into the room” and that members were invited to participate. Deb Brown recommended reading the book “Being Mortal.”
Viking Gym and Peace Pole
Jim reported that we are waiting to hear if the town of Schodack wants the peace pole.
Fund raisers including suggestions by Marisa
Peter said that the club needs to schedule fund-raisers for this summer to raise funds for the Kenya water project.
Board meeting
A board meeting will be held on Monday the 20th at the Browns.
Member inductions
New member indications will be held June 6th. Four new members are expected to be inducted.
Summer meetings:
Pat said she would help to coordinate the schedule of summer events. There will be no meeting on July 4th.
District Meetings:
The District 7190 Celebration will be held on June 19 at 5 pm at Wolf Hollow Brewing.
This Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 6:00pm The Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club will be holding its weekly meeting at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant on Route 4 in North Greenbush. Joining us will be Karen Spinelli, RN and Teressa Martell, RN and they will be presenting on ALS, or otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. As usual if you are unable to join us in person you may do so remotely using the Zoom Link on our calendar page of our website. Looking forward to seeing everyone this Thursday.
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 