The long-range forecast from the National Weather Service calls for cloudy skies on Wednesday, but no rain. However, the ever-vigilant Terry Brewer is making contingency plans in case we do experience a rainout of our scheduled ValleyCats picnic and baseball game.

Reports Terry, our event coordinator:

“The ValleyCats policy for rainouts or games being postponed is:

1. The tickets can be turned in for tickets to another game.

2.  A group for the picnic pavilion can reschedule for another date, pending availability.

“I have reviewed the schedule and see two possible dates — Wednesday, August 8, and Wednesday, August 15. I will work with Michelle Skinner, our representative with the ValleyCats, to reschedule if needed.”

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We’re midway through our annual “School Supplies Drive” and doing well so far. We’re hoping every SRC member will donate something large or small to help needy students in the Rensselaer, Schodack, and East Greenbush school districts.

The deadline for contributions is August 19. You can drop off items you have purchased from the suggested shopping list at the Greenbush YMCA during its regular hours, or at one of two upcoming “SRC Summer Casual” events —  the August 12 “Sundaes On Sunday” event at Debbie Rodriguez’s residence, and the August 16 “Clubhouse Get-Together” at  The Spinney at Pond View clubhouse in East Greenbush.

Here, once again, is the official shopping list provided by our partners at Circles of Mercy:

• Pencils (Regular Lead #2 and Color)
• Pencil sharpeners
• Erasers (for pencil work)
• Pens (black or blue)
• Markers (dry erase and color)
• Pocket Folders (Assorted Colors)
• 3-Ring Binders (in 2” and 3” Sizes)
• Loose leaf paper (college ruled)
• Graph paper
• Spiral subject notebooks (1-, 3- and 5-subject, college ruled)
• Subject dividers
• Pencil cases / boxes (plastic, zippered)
• 3”x5” index cards
• Highlighters (yellow)
• Rulers (regular with metric)
• Kleenex tissues
• Hand sanitizer (small bottles)
• Post-It Notes
• Backpacks (no rollers / no wheels)
• Ear buds (inexpensive, for computer use)
• Flash drives (all sizes)
• Scientific calculators (Texas Instrument TI-84)
• Hole reinforcement labels
• Combination locks (for gym lockers)

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• The weather:  Salubrious

• The food:  Scrumptious

• The conversation:  Scintillating

• The water:  Well, it was both hot and cold, depending on whether you were in the hot tub or the pool.

Put it all together and it was “Cookout By the Pool I,” the first of two such events on the “SRC Summer Casual” calendar, with Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez generously co-hosting the event at Jim’s residence on Thursday evening.

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(“Cookout By the Pool II” is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, August 23, at the Forth residence. Please be sure to RSVP to Murray and/or Maggie by August 20 if you plan to attend.)

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We had a strong turnout Thursday evening of Rotarians, family, and guests of all ages, including a special appearance by old friends Phil and Ann Eagan.

And, plenty of people dropped off donations to our annual “School Supplies Drive” we’re running in conjunction with the Greenbush YMCA for needy students in the Rensselaer, Schodack, and East Greenbush school districts. Remember, you can drop off items at the Y during regular hours, or at the club’s August 12 or 16 events. (Check the website calendar for details. And, click here for the shopping list.))

Here are a few scenes from Thursday’s event, captured by Bill Dowd and Roberto:

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Dean and Doris Calamaras are known for their Mediterranean-style hospitality. They upheld that reputation Thursday evening with a “Mediterranean Sit-Down Dinner” as part of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club’s “Summer Casual” schedule.

Next up on the calendar is “Cookout By the Pool I,” another family-friendly event set for 6 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at Jim Leyhane’s residence in East Greenbush. Please make your reservations with Jim no later than Tuesday, July 17. Main dishes and beverages will be provided, but guests are asked to bring appetizers serving 6-8 people. Bring your bathing suits, or attire the kiddos for a good time!

Some scenes from the Calamaras evening and a menu that included Corsican beef and green beans a la Grecque:

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We all know what ShelterBox does to assist victims of disasters around the globe. But, how much do you know about the people on the ground who do the work of getting that assistance to those in need?

If you get to know the sort of rigorous, demanding training volunteers undergo to become qualified to help, you’ll have some idea of what the work entails.

The Rotary.org website has an intriguing report in which it shows how, after a grueling year of preparation, two Rotarians and a Rotaractor face one last challenge before they can join the elite ShelterBox Response Team.

Click here to see the type of people who turn your generous donations to ShelterBox into life saving help.

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Louise Beckerle Rourke and Bridget Simpson are two people who should be on your radar.

Besides their other accomplishments in life, they are planning to raise funds for Rotary’s ongoing global fight against polio by doing something few people have done: Swim the 32-mile length of Lake George!

They’ll do it by swimming a two-person relay in five-mile increments over 24 hours, sharing the first and last miles on their way to Diane’s Rock. The event is weather dependent, so the swim will take place either July 30-31 or August 1-3.

Donations are being sought, either from individuals in any amount, or from clubs and organizations at various sponsorship levels from $100 to $1,000. Proceeds will go to Rotary International’s global polio eradication program. (Click here for details.)

Meet Louise

Louise is a retired teacher from Porter Corners who contracted polio at six months of age, resulting paralysis of her right leg.  Her family was fortunate to have a camp on Lake George where she spent every summer swimming and enjoying the beautiful lake. She has always been a swimmer, feeling more graceful in the water than on land.  However, she didn’t let the effects of polio prevent her from pursuing any interests. For example, she learned to alpine ski using outriggers.

Louise  remembers that when she was just four years old she learned of Diane Struble’s swim of Lake George and dreamed that perhaps someday she could do the same. She has been preparing for the swim throughout the year by swimming at the Saratoga YMCA.

Meet Bridget

Bridget has been an open water swimmer since 1999, and has participated in swims in Lake Champlain, the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River, the Hudson River, and off the Caribbean island of St. Croix, and supported many causes. Through teaching swimming, coaching and leading group fitness classes, Bridget has encouraged and been inspired by swimmers of all ages and skill levels for 28 years, and she has many more goals in mind.

She swam Lake George to celebrate turning 50. People told her afterward they could not imagine swimming for that long. She told everyone that we all need to find our own adventures that bring a sense of accomplishment.  We all get to set our own goals and we get to decide how we define success.

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Once again, we are working on a summer drive to collect school supplies for needy area students returning to class in the fall. However, this year the drive, which ends August 18, has expanded.

As announced earlier, rather than limit our efforts to the Rensselaer City School District — in partnership with Circles of Mercy — we also are teaming with the Greenbush YMCA to aid students in the East Greenbush and Schodack districts.

Here are the dropoff sites and dates. The drive ends on Saturday, August 18. Note: For those who have not kept track of the suggested shopping list, it follows:

• Any weekday or Saturday — Greenbush YMCA, 20 Community Way, East Greenbush (just off Luther Road/Route 151).

• Thursday July 19 — 6 p.m., at the “Cookout By the Pool I,” Jim Leyhane’s residence.

• Sunday, August 12 — 4 p.m. at the “Sundaes on Sunday” event, Debbie Rodriguez’s residence.

• Thursday, August 16 — 6 p.m. at the  “Clubhouse Get-Together” event, the clubhouse at The Spinney at Pond View complex, 2500 Pond View Drive (off Miller Road), East Greenbush.

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THE PREFERRED SHOPPING LIST

 

• Pencils (Regular Lead #2 and Color)
• Pencil sharpeners
• Erasers (for pencil work)
• Pens (black or blue)
• Markers (dry erase and color)
• Pocket Folders (Assorted Colors)
• 3-Ring Binders (in 2” and 3” Sizes)
• Loose leaf paper (college ruled)
• Graph paper
• Spiral subject notebooks (1-, 3- and 5-subject, college ruled)
• Subject dividers
• Pencil cases / boxes (plastic, zippered)
• 3”x5” index cards
• Highlighters (yellow)
• Rulers (regular with metric)
• Kleenex tissues
• Hand sanitizer (small bottles)
• Post-It Notes
• Backpacks (no rollers / no wheels)
• Ear buds (inexpensive, for computer use)
• Flash drives (all sizes)
• Scientific calculators (Texas Instrument TI-84)
• Hole reinforcement labels
• Combination locks (for gym lockers)
  

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Here’s the latest SRC “Summer Casual” calendar for July and August. No more open dates exist. Please keep an eye on the RSVP deadlines as we regularly update this lineup of family-friendly social events:

Thursday, July 12 — “A Mediterranean Sitdown Dinner”

5:30 p.m. appetizers, 6 p.m. dinner (limited to 18 guests) at the Calamaras residence. Please RSVP by phone to 518-477-4694, and specify names of all guests. Donation to the club treasury is suggested at $15 per person. RSVP deadline: 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 10.

Thursday July 19 — “Cookout By the Pool I”

6 p.m. Leyhane residence, East Greenbush. Please make your reservations with Jim Leyhane at 518-428-1732 or leyhane@aol.com. Guests are asked to bring an appetizer for 6; please bring donations for our “School Supplies Drive.” RSVP deadline: 6 p.m.  Tuesday, July 17.

Wednesday, 25 — Pavilion picnic and New York-Penn League baseball game (Tri-City ValleyCats vs. Auburn Doubledays)

6 p.m. Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, Troy. Tickets $26 (includes meal and reserved game seating). Please make your reservations with Terry Brewer at 518-221-4050 or tlbrewer12piseco@gmail.com. Registration closed. Anyone interested in obtaining tickets should contact the ValleyCats box office directly.

Thursday, August 2 –– “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

8 p.m. curtain, Mac-Haydn Theatre, 1925 State Route 203, Chatham. Tickets $39.50. Please make your reservations with Debbie Brown at 518-441-8579 or
mdbrown@nycap.rr.com. Registration closed. Anyone interested in obtaining tickets should contact the Mac-Haydn box office directly.

Sunday, August 12 — “Sundaes on Sunday”

4 to 6 p.m., Rodriguez residence. Please make your reservations with Debbie or Pat Bailey via email at debannrod@yahoo.com or pbailey7@nycap.rr.com or call 518-766- 0215 for this family-friendly event. Please bring donations for our “School Supplies Drive.” RSVP Deadline: 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 7.

Thursday, August 16 — “Clubhouse Get-Together”

6 to 8 p.m., Ray and Lois Hannan will host us at the clubhouse at The Spinney at Pond View, 2500 Pond View Drive (off Miller Road). Details to come. Please bring donations for our “School Supplies Drive.” RSVP deadline: 6 p.m. Monday, August 13.

Thursday, August 23 — “Cookout By the Pool II”

6 p.m., Forth residence, East Greenbush. Please make your reservations with Murray or Maggie Forth at 518-441-8783 or mmforth51@gmail.com. RSVP deadline: 6 p.m. Monday, August 20.

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We already have a contingent of 34 SRC Rotarians, family, and friends signed up to participate in our annual pavilion picnic and ValleyCats pro baseball game at Bruno Stadium. If you want to join that group, time is running out.

Terry Brewer, who again this year is coordinating this “Summer Casual” event for us, plans to purchase the tickets tomorrow — Monday, July 9 — so he needs to hear from you no later than noon on Monday.

The tickets are $26 per person, which covers the picnic, reserved game seating, and a souvenir baseball cap. (Parking is free.) The pavilion opens at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25 —  note, that’s not our usual Thursday event day — for the picnic.

The ValleyCats will be hosting the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League. The ValleyCats currently are in first place in the league’s Stedler Division. Auburn is in second place in the Pinckney Division.

Here’s who Terry already has signed up:

Jim Leyhane – 8 tickets
T.erry Brewer – 5 tickets
Mike Dewey – 2 tickets
Becky Raymond – 2 tickets
April & Bill Dowd – 2 tickets
Dick & Mary Drumm – 2 tickets
Phil Kellerman – 1 ticket
Murry Forth – 3 tickets
Peter & Debbie Brown – 2 tickets
Roberto Martinez – 1 ticket
Ray Hannan – 6 tickets

PAYMENT NOTES: If you order tickets you will be responsible to pay for them even if you are a no-show.  You will need to pay SRC Treasurer Murray Forth prior to the game.
Make checks payable to “SRC Rotary.” Terry will distribute tickets near the stadium entrance at about 5:45 p.m. on game night.

If you miss tomorrow’s reservation deadline but still would like to participate, you are on your own to make arrangements through the ValleyCats box office. Click here for contact information.

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We’ve just added another event to our “Summer Casual” calendar, and it’s not on our usual Thursday.

Debbie Rodriguez and Pat Bailey will co-host “Sundaes On Sunday,” an event that’s sure to be an attraction for our younger members looking for family-friendly Rotary socializing.

It will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 12, at the Rodriguez residence, 121 Lape Road, Nassau (that’s the postal address; it actually is in Schodack).

It’s a make-your-own ice cream sundae bar to help initiate Debbie and Chuck’s new porch. Various flavors of ice cream with all the toppings, as well as other dessert offerings, will be available for all ages. Beverages also will be provided.

And, if you or your little ones would like, you can go for a dip in the pool (see photo above with Chuck testing the waters.)

Deadline for reservations is Tuesday, August 7. A $10 individual donation (or $15 per family) will go toward our ongoing support of the Freedom From Fistula Foundation. Please make your reservation by emailing Debbie (debannrod@yahoo.com) or Pat (pbailey7@nycap.rr.com) or by calling 518-766-0215.

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CALENDAR NOTE: We still have open dates for August 9 and 16 (both are Thursdays). If you want to host or suggest an event, please contact President Andy Leyhane ASAP.

Here’s the latest updated summer calendar:

Thursday, July 12 — “A Mediterranean Sitdown Dinner”

5:30 p.m. appetizers, 6 p.m. dinner (limited to 18 guests) at the Calamaras residence, Please RSVP by email to dcalamaras@verizon.net or by phone to 518-477-4694, and specify names of all guests. Donation to the club treasury is suggested at $15 per person. RSVP DEADLINE: Tuesday, July 10.

Thursday July 19 — “Cookout By the Pool I”

6 p.m. Leyhane residence, East Greenbush. Please make your reservations with Jim Leyhane at 518-428-1732 or leyhane@aol.com.

Wednesday, 25 — Pavilion picnic and New York-Penn League baseball game (Tri-City ValleyCats vs. Auburn Doubledays)

Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, Troy. Tickets $26 (includes meal and reserved game seating). Please make your reservations with Terry Brewer at 518-221-4050 or tlbrewer12piseco@gmail.com. RSVP Deadline: Noon on Monday, July 9.

Thursday, August 2 –– “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

8 p.m. curtain, Mac-Haydn Theatre, 1925 State Route 203, Chatham. Tickets $39.50. Please make your reservations with Debbie Brown at 518-441-8579 or
mdbrown@nycap.rr.com.

Thursday, August 9 — Open

Sunday, July 12 — “Rotary Sundaes on Sunday”

4 to 6 p.m., Rodriguez residence. Please make your reservations with Debbie or Pat Bailey via email at debannrod@yahoo.com or pbailey7@nycap.rr.com or call 518-766- 0215 for this family-friendly event. RSVP Deadline: Tuesday, August 7.

Thursday, August 16 — Open

Thursday, August 23 — “Cookout By the Pool II”

6 p.m., Forth residence, East Greenbush. Please make your reservations with Murray or Maggie Forth at 518-441-8783 or mmforth51@gmail.com.

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