Meeting held virtually via ZOOM videoconferencing.

MEMBERS ATTENDING (19): Dick Drumm, Murray Forth, Bill Dowd, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Terry Brewer, Geoff Brewer, Debbie Rodriguez, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Charlie Foote, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Phil Kellerman, Becky Raymond, Pat Bailey, Tony Morris, Kevin Leyhane, Ray Hannan.

GUESTS: None.

MEETING NOTES: President Dick Drumm called the meeting to order and welcomed 19 members, the largest number of members to attend a regular ZOOM session. … Event coordinator Bill Dowd reported that progress on the annual Adopt-a-Family holiday project is strong. Many gift items were dropped off at the former Quigley’s restaurant on Wednesday night for our two adoptee families. Members may drop off gift donations through December 10 at the Drumm Veterinary Hospital, or at the second and final evening drop-off from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, December 11, at Quigley’s. The recommended shopping list can be found on the club website. … Becky Raymond reported on her participation as speaker at a Rotary/Peace Corps health project program earlier in the day. Her talk centered on her work as a Peace Corps volunteer and how it led her to Rotary membership since the two organizations’ interests often overlap. …

Fundraisers & Finances: Phil Kellerman said he has specialty Sweetwater Coffees in hand (12-ounce packages in two flavors). He will donate $5 from the sale of each package, and match each donation for the club treasury. … Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez said they are anticipating receipt of the second batch of 100 bars of plant-based scented soaps after the first 100 sold out. Because they are underwriting the bulk purchase price, they estimate that if the second batch is a sellout the project will raise about $1,500 for the club. … Terry Brewer reported that the Internal Revenue Service has reinstated the club’s status as a 501(c)4 organization. While that does not allow financial contributions made directly to the club to be tax deductible, it does certify us as a non-profit, which helps in such things as applying for Rotary Global Grants. To reiterate: Personal donations made directly to such things as ShelterBox, Gift of Life, etc., are tax deductible, but if made to SRC for such use they are not. This is the same status we had until 2015, and we are not required to pay taxes on any funds we raise. Terry, Phil Kellerman, and Murray Forth worked on the reinstatement effort. We now will check with the state to apply for an exemption from paying sales tax on purchases. …

Calendar: The consensus at tonight’s meeting was to cancel the annual Holiday Party & Gift Basket Auction because of pandemic dangers and the state’s current limit on the size of gatherings. … Our next two meetings will be held via ZOOM at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 10, and Thursday, December 17. Thereafter, we will be on hiatus during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s, resuming meetings on Thursday, January 7.

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There are three great mathematical questions in the universe still to be resolved:

(1.) If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

(2.) How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

(3.) How many Christmas presents does it take to fill a Subaru Impreza hatchback?

We probably never will know the answers to the first two questions, but we moved a step closer to answering No. 3 during the first drop-off of gifts this evening for our annual Adopt-a-Family effort.

The parking lot at the former Quigley’s sports bar was bustling as a steady stream of SRC members popped in to share a wide array of presents for our two adopted families, the Burnetts and the Fitzgeralds. Project coordinator Bill Dowd was able to stuff his vehicle about two-thirds full, and we still have another nine days to donate before the dropoff deadline at Circles of Mercy.

If you haven’t yet participated but wish to do so, here’s how you can do it:

• Check the updated, suggested shopping list on the club website to see what items still are needed (gift card duplicates are OK) and let Bill know if you plan to purchase them.

• Drop off gifts at the Drumm Veterinary Clinic during regular business hours up until Thursday, December 10, or between 6 and 6:30 p.m. at Quigley’s on Friday, December 11.

PLEASE REMEMBER that gifts must be appropriately wrapped (gift cards should be in an envelope) and clearly labeled with the intended recipient.

Our sincere thanks to all for their generosity so far. You’ll be making a happy holiday season for two needy families.

P.S. If we manage to overfill Bill’s car, don’t worry about it. He has another for use as a backup Santa Claus sleigh!

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Becky Raymond, a returned Peace Corps volunteer and member of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club, will be the featured speaker at a special health-focused information session for Rotarians.

The virtual event, “Health Programs for Rotarians,” is scheduled for 1 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, December 3. 

It is part of the Peace Corps celebration of Rotary’s Disease Prevention and Treatment Month. As the event organizers explain it, “Care for our world through Peace Corps service. Public health specialists are needed to address issues of global maternal and child health, nutrition and hygiene, infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases, and more. Help improve a community’s basic healthcare and promote healthy behaviors, while gaining global skills for your career. Join us at this health-focused information session to learn about Volunteer experiences.”

To gain access to the event, pre-registration is required. Click here to sign up.

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As has become common in this COVID-19 pandemic era, most annual events have moved to virtual status. On Tuesday evening (November 24) that will be the case with the annual Rotary Foundation Dinner sponsored by District 7190.

We provided information earlier on the club website and several times during our virtual weekly meetings on ZOOM about how to register and participate. If you did not take advantage of that but wish to do so at the last minute, simply click here to access the links.

One of your opportunities will be to interact with Jennifer Jones, who is about to become the first woman in the century-plus history of Rotary International to be RI president. That is something for women and men of Rotary to celebrate and enjoy.

Please make a point of joining us at this critical time in Rotary’s efforts to serve the community and the world during a global pandemic that could otherwise derail our worthwhile public service initiatives. The event is a mere 90 minutes long, hardly a strain on your social schedule, and you can’t get much pandemic-safer than attending online.

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Here’s the latest update as of midnight Saturday. Items in green have been spoken for; those in black need to be claimed.

Please email Bill Dowd as soon as you decide to donate a specific gift.

Here is an update of the shopping lists for our “Adopt-a-Family” project in conjunction with Circles of Mercy.

Anything in green has been taken; anything in black still needs to be taken.

Please email me when you decide what you want to donate and I will coordinate, then update and disseminate the charts daily or as often as necessary.

I will be in the parking lot at Quigley’s from 6 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2, and Friday, December 11, to accept donated items. If you cannot make either of those dates, you can drop them off at Drumm Veterinary Hospital prior to December 11 during normal business hours. I will collect them from that site. (If you choose that option, please call the office from the parking lot and one of the staff will come to your car to take the donation.)

Please remember all gifts have to be gift-wrapped and labeled with the name of the recipient. In the case of gift cards, please place them in a sealed envelope with the name of the recipient family written on the outside.

Thanks for your generosity!

— Bill Dowd, project coordinator

Meeting held virtually via ZOOM videoconferencing.

MEMBERS ATTENDING (17): Dick Drumm, Bill Dowd, Terry Brewer, Debbie Rodriguez, Phil Kellerman, Ray Hannan, Pat Bailey, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Murray Forth, Andy Leyhane, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Charlie Foote, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Kevin Leyhane.

GUESTS: None.

MEETING NOTES: President Dick Drumm welcomed attendees. He delivered congratulations on behalf of the club to Dean and Doris Calamaras on their upcoming 50th wedding anniversary. It was suggested that anyone wishing to do so could make a donation to Gift of Life in their name since they are our liaisons to the District chapter. …

Bill Dowd reported that several members already have responded to his request for gift donations for the annual Adopt-a-Family effort in conjunction with Circles of Mercy. He noted that again this year SRC is adopting two families, or a total of seven people. The shopping list has been made available to everyone, and is on the website. Bill will be posting regular updates of what gifts have been spoken for and what more is needed. He will set up two pickup dates on which he will be in the Quigley’s parking to accept gift drop-offs before December 14. Dick said anyone can drop off their gifts at the Drumm Veterinary Hospital any time during regular office hours, and they will be delivered to Bill. … Phil Kellerman said he again is selling specialty coffees for the holidays — $15 for one bag or $25 for two, with $5 from the sale of each bag going to the SRC treasury. He again will be offering Carpe Diem (medium roast) and Midnight Oil (dark roast). …

Bill Dowd reported that the CLYNK container redemption program has again reached the $400 level. Some months ago he forwarded a $400 check to the treasury, so this will raise it to $800 toward a ShelterBox donation. Each box costs $1,000. … Jim Leyhane said the arrival of a second 100-bar shipment of scented handmade soaps is expected right after Thanksgiving, with sales proceeds going to the club treasury. … Jim and Roberto reported that former longtime member Stewart Wagner and his wife Lois and one of her healthcare workers are patients at Albany Medical Center after contracting COVID-19. …

There will be no meeting next week because of Thanksgiving Day. The club wishes its Rotary family, community, and neighbors a safe and happy holiday despite the restrictions of this pandemic era. …

Our next ZOOM session will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 3, to be immediately followed by a Board of Directors meeting.

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Are you familiar with Rotary Action Groups? They are independent, Rotary-affiliated groups of people from around the world who are experts in a particular field, such as economic development, peace, addiction prevention, the environment, or water.

The beauty of many of them is that you sometimes can participate without in-person activity — perfect for the ZOOM culture we find ourselves in. And, you get to network with Rotarians in other states and countries.

Click here to go to the website that explains the wide range of Rotary Action Groups and how you can become involved.

Meanwhile, courtesy of Debbie Rodriguez, here is an excerpt from the latest newsletter of the WASH Rotary Action Group, the name an acronym for “water, sanitation, hygiene). The full newsletter is available by clicking here.

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District 7190 Governor Rich Griesche is inviting all SRC members to participate in a “Rotary Opens Opportunities” multi-district event.

The event, involving Rotarians from 7190 as well as 7170, 7150, and 7120, will facilitate discussions on membership, including the development of a club membership plan, innovative club models, “and a few other topics that you’ll just have to join the meeting and be surprised!,” Rich says.

Guest speaker Jason Browne will “make M&Ms” with his presentation titled “Make Membership Memorable.”

“Our four districts have been working diligently over the past two months to present you with a quality, fun, and interesting seminar,” Rich says. “It is extremely important for all District executives, chairpersons, AG’s, club presidents, and membership chairs to be in attendance. And, it’s just as important for all club members to partake in this effort. We all need to take an active part in increasing our district membership so our district remains intact.”

The free seminar is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, November 30, via ZOOM video conferencing and will run about 90 minutes. Anyone who plans to participate is asked to register online. The ZOOM link will be sent to you just before the session.

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