One of the largest businesses in the Capital Region is … ?

If you said Albany Medical Center, you’re right. And, it just keeps growing.

Our speaker at this week’s 6:15 p.m. Thursday dinner meeting at Quigley’s will be Caitlin O’Callaghan on the topic of “What’s New at Albany Med?” And, there is plenty that is.

This might be an opportune time to invite a guest to hear Caitlin and to enjoy Rotary fellowship and a meal of lasagna, antipasto salad, chef’s choice of side dishes, bread, dessert, and beverages.

As always, you’ll need to be sure dinner coordinator Debbie Brown has your reservation (via email to mdbrown@nycap.rr.com)  no later than Tuesday evening. Here is who has signed up so far:

Pat Bailey
Terry Brewer
April Dowd
Bill Dowd
Dick Drumm
Murray Forth
Julius Frankel
Ray Hannan
Phil Kellerman
Jim Leyhane
Roberto Martinez
Becky Raymond
Debbie Rodriguez
Caitlin O’Callaghan (guest speaker)

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You’re familiar with the idea of matching funds, right? Usually it’s a matter of contributing $100 — or $500, or $1,000, or $2,000 or so on — and some philanthropic person or organization will match the gift.

However, most people may only be able to contribute much less to various causes — say, $1 or $5 or $10. Every dollar helps. But, this year you’ll have a perfect opportunity to make every dollar do double duty by participating in “The Giving Challenge,” a 24-hour fundraising effort that will aid ShelterBox, the Rotary worldwide aid agency.

SRC has a long history of generously supporting ShelterBox, but not all members are in a position to make large contributions. So, “The Giving Challenge” is a great way to give a little but make a greater impact.

Here’s how it works.

Beginning at noon Tuesday, May 1, and running through noon Wednesday, May 2, if you donate simply by visiting the website GivingPartnerChallenge.org the Patterson Foundation will match every $1 raised up to $100 per individual, per household! That means double the money and double the shelter and aid that ShelterBox can supply around the world to victims of natural disasters and conflict.

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Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
April 5, 2018

Members Attending (16): Roberto Martinez, Murray, Forth, Andy Leyhane, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Jim Leyhane, Debbie Rodriguez, Dick Drumm, Ray Hannan, Julius Frankel, Charlie Foote, Dean Calamaras, Phil Kellerman, Carole Spencer, Stewart Wagner.

Guests: None.

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Announcements/Business

OPENING — President Roberto welcomed members and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

INDUCTION EVENT — This year’s new Rotarians and members of the new Danes Rotaract Club at the UAlbany School of Public Health will officially be inducted into Rotary at our Thursday, May 3, dinner meeting. Pins have been ordered for all. Murray Forth introduced a motion, seconded by Peter Brown, to have the club pay the dinner fees for all inductees. The motion was approved without dissent. Jim Leyhane introduced a motion, seconded by Debbie Rodriguez, to give the newly-formed Rotaract unit a $2,000 grant to help fund its startup activities. The motion was approved without dissent.

RECYCLING & SHREDDING DAY — The temporary hold on our next recycling-and-shredding day has been lifted. Now that all necessary equipment has been arranged for, we’re definitely back on for Saturday, May 5. Click here for the flyer and details, and please copy and share it as widely as possible.

SERVICE DOG UPDATE — Jim Leyhane reported on a meeting with East Greenbush Central School District officials about the Bell Top Elementary project to purchase and have trained a service dog for a military veteran in need. SRC donated $1,500 from the proceeds of its recent “Bowling for Vets” fundraiser to the project. Jim said plans are moving forward quickly, and the dog purchase should soon be accomplished. The training aspect takes several years.

PETS TRAINING — President-elect Andy Leyhane has completed the three-part PETS (Presidents-Elect Training Sessions) program and is prepared to assume the club presidency on July 1 when current President Roberto’s term ends.

VIKING GYM GRANT — We have received a $500 District grant to help underwrite the cost of the rustic Viking Gym constructed at Schodack Town Park.

BOY SCOUT CAMPING GRANT — Jim Leyhane introduced a motion, seconded by Dick Drumm, to give Boy Scout Troop 41 a $450 grant to help underwrite summer camping activities. The motion was approved without dissent.

MISCELLANY — It was decided, and ratified by members attending, to decline an offer to participate in the East Greenbush Memorial Day Parade. … A speaker is needed for the 7 a.m. Thursday, April 19, breakfast meeting at the Greenbush YMCA. … Although we will not participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange program for the 2018-19 academic year, Roberto will ask members who usually attend only the breakfast meetings about working on having a student in 2019-20. … The Danes Rotaract Club will hold a benefit from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday (April 9) at Wolff’s Biergarten on Broadway in Albany. Proceeds will go to the Freedom From Fistula Foundation. Details are available by clicking here. … SRC will participate in District 7190’s tree-planting project. Jim Leyhane introduced a motion, seconded by Murray Forth, that each member plant a tree in concert with the initiative. The motion was approved without dissent. … Roberto and Jim will serve as SRC’s voting delegates at the Rotary International Convention in Toronto in June.

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PROGRAM: “Is the Pharmaceutical Industry Ignoring Alzheimer’s?”

Speaker Andy Leyhane, PhD, a senior chemist at AMRI (formerly Albany Molecular Research Inc.), posed the question “Is the Pharmaceutical Industry Ignoring Alzheimer’s Disease?”

He said there are two theories about the cause of Alzheimer’s. One is that amyloid plaques collect in the brain. In the early 2000’s, pharama giant Pfizer and competitor Eli Lily had produced antibody drugs that showed potential in early tests. However, they failed in phase three testing to show symptom improvement, and trials were ended. One drug was approved in 2012, but it only masked symptoms. Pfizer has ended funding on Alzheimer’s Disease research as of this year.

Merck Co. began phase one testing on another possible drug. By 2016, the drug did show a reduction of amyloid plaques and the testing entered phase three, but it did not have good results either, and in 2017 and 2018 trials ended. Amgen/Novartis does have an ongoing study. And, research at the Cleveland Clinic has shown promise in slowing the disease.

Andy explained that universities and research facilities have ongoing studies to uncover new pathways as they continue to find leads to dealing with “tangles and plaques.” Recent studies also show an overlap with Parkinson’s disease.

Details of Andy’s presentation are available on the club website’s program archives page, accessible by clicking here.

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NEXT MEETING — 6:15 p.m. Thursday, April 12, at Quigley’s. The program will be “What’s New at Albany Med?”

The temporary hold on our next recycling-and-shredding has been lifted. Now that all necessary equipment has been arranged for, we’re definitely on for Saturday, May 5. So, please copy and share this flyer as widely as possible.

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FEEL FREE TO COPY AND DISTRIBUTE THIS FLYER.

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“Is the Pharmaceutical Industry Ignoring Alzheimer’s Disease?”

SRC President-elect Andy Leyhane, PhD, who works in that very industry, will tackle the topic head-on at this Thursday’s 6:15 p.m. dinner meeting at Quigley’s.

It might be a perfect time to invite a non-Rotarian to take in the program, as well as a perfect time for those SRC members we seldom see to join us for what promises to be an informative program.

The process hasn’t changed. Simply let dinner coordinator Debbie Brown (mdbrown@nycap.rr.com) know no later than this Tuesday evening if you plan to attend, and she’ll be sure we have enough seating and a bountiful buffet. The menu calls for a roast turkey entree plus all the trimmings such as an antipasto salad, chef’s choice of side dishes, bread, dessert, and beverages. And, course, the cash bar at Quigley’s is always available.

Here’s who already has signed up to attend:

 

Pat Bailey
Debbie Brown
Peter Brown
April Dowd
Bill Dowd
Dick Drumm
Murray Forth
Ray Hannan
Phil Kellerman
Andy Leyhane
Jim Leyhane
Roberto Martinez
Debbie Rodriguez

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While they may not be household names or be celebrated by the news media, they are among the superstars of Rotary International.

Rotarians Dr. Geetha Jayaram of Maryland, Marie-Irène Richmond-Ahoua of the Ivory Coast, and Danielle De La Fuente of California were honored at the recent World Bank conclave in Washington, DC, for their commitment to improving lives through innovative humanitarian projects.

Click here to read about what these remarkable women are doing through Rotary to do good in the world by helping poor women in India gain access to mental health care, vaccinating hundreds of thousands against polio in West Africa, and empowering refugee children around the world.

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Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
March 29, 2018

Members Attending (14): Roberto Martinez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Terry Brewer, Geoff Brewer, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Jim Leyhane, Debbie Rodriguez, Bill Dowd, April Dowd, Dick Drumm, Ray Hannan, Becky Raymond.

Guests (2): Lou and Pat Rubenstein.

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Announcements/Business

OPENING — President Roberto welcomed members and two repeat guests: Lou Rubenstein of the Albany Rotary Club and his wife, Pat.

BYLAWS VOTE — Copies of proposed changes to the Club Bylaws, which had been emailed to all members on March 13, were distributed to attendees. They dealt with modifications to language pertaining to standing committees (Article 6) and to the dues structure (Article 9). Terry Brewer moved adoption of the Article 6 changes, and Bill Dowd seconded his motion. It was passed unanimously. Murray Forth moved adoption of the Article 9 changes, and Jim Leyhane seconded. It, too, was unanimously adopted. (Click here to go to the updated Bylaws page on our website.)

ROTARACT INTERNATIONAL DINNER — We received a thank-you note for our participation in an “International Dinner” fundraiser at the UAlbany School of Public Health, created by the school’s Graduate Student Organization and our Danes Rotaract club there. About $600 was raised for the Save the Children international aid organization. (Click here to see a report on the event.)

RECYCLING DAY CHANGE — Murray Forth reported that the planned May 5 date for “Recycling Day III” will have to be changed because the shredding equipment will not be available on that date. Please do not circulate the flyer for the event any further until a new date has been guaranteed and the flyer has been modified.

ROTARY HOME COOKING — The most recent event in the series, “A Brewer Social, and More,” raised $225 which will go to our Danes Rotaract club to help underwrite their startup activities. Thanks to Terry, Betty, and Geoff Brewer for hosting the event. The next “Rotary Home Cooking” date is Saturday, April 14, when Murray and Maggie Forth will host a “Surf & Turf Night” at their East Greenbush residence. The deadline for making reservations is April 10, so please contact the Forths ASAP if you plan to attend.

RONALD McDONALD HOUSE EVENTS — An SRC team will be preparing breakfast at Ronald McDonald House in Albany on Sunday, April 29. And, on Sunday, May 6, another team will be preparing dinner there. For the dinner event, Bill Dowd will be preparing the menu and heading the kitchen crew, assisted by April Dowd. We have asked the Danes Rotaract group if they want to assist by volunteering two people. Depending on their response, we will need several more SRC volunteers, but we do not want a team of more than six because of the size of the kitchen.

EXCHANGE STUDENTS — The infrastructure currently is not in place for this year, so we will skip the next academic year. However, we will begin laying the groundwork for the following school year.

GRANTS SEMINAR — Terry Brewer and Debbie Rodriguez will represent the club at the District’s annual Grants Training Seminar at Skidmore College. A minimum of two attendees is required for a club to qualify. We may be seeking a grant next year to underwrite creation of another Viking Gym, this one in East Greenbush. The original, part of an Eagle Scout project, in Schodack Town Park has proven very popular.

COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE REPORT — The committee is working on ways to participate in a global tree-planting initiative. Possibilities include planting at the Shining Star of Hope memorial on the grounds of the East Greenbush Public Library, and participation in a district-wide work effort.

FOUNDATION & INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE REPORT –– The committee has two events in the planning stages. The first is “An International Wine & Cheese Tasting” set for Saturday, May 19, co-hosted by Jim Leyhane, Bill Dowd, and Roberto Martinez at the Martinez residence in East Greenbush. The second is a long-range initiative — a 10K run at Schodack Island State Park for September of 2019. Initial thoughts on the run would be to create a festival-like atmosphere with food trucks, beer and soft drink vendors, and live or DJ music. The committee already has met with park officials and with experienced distance runners from the local community to begin mapping out the possibilities.

MISCELLANY — The Third Thursday breakfast meeting on April 19 will be held as usual at 7 a,m. at the Greenbush YMCA. There had been discussion about having a joint breakfast with the Danes Rotaract club, but they start their sessions too late for our members. … The club has been invited to participate in the Town of East Greenbush’s annual Memorial Day Parade. That topic was referred to the Community Services Committee. … Club members have been invited to attend the opening day ceremonies of the Miracle League at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19. … Next Thursday’s (April 5) dinner meeting will feature President-elect Andy Leyhane speaking on the topic “Is the Pharmaceutical Industry Ignoring Alzheimer’s Disease?”

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The combined efforts of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club and its frequent partners at the Greenbush YMCA helped make Circles of Mercy’s annual Easter basket drive a success again.

We were able to provide baskets for 35 underprivileged kids in the community. Thanks to Len Leonidas’s Cub Scouts for assembling many of the baskets from items donated by SRC members.

While the overall number of baskets was less than in previous years, last year we overachieved to such a degree that Circles of Mercy received many more than it could handle and wound up sharing them with other family aid agencies.

Thanks to all who participated in any way to another in a long line of successful public service endeavors.

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√ Ziti and sauce!

√ Meatballs!

√ Antipasto salad!

√ Voting!

Which of these things is not like the others? Well, in the broadest sense they all are part of the same thing: Our 6:15 p.m. Thursday dinner meeting this week at Quigley’s.

The menu is self-explanatory. The vote will be on several proposed changes to Club Bylaws, copies of which were emailed to all SRC Rotarians several weeks ago. (As noted in the email, you can read all the current Bylaws on our club website. Click here to go to that page.)

Considering that we prefer as many members as possible to vote on any Bylaws changes that affect all of us, please make every effort to attend even if you usually skip dinner meetings. Especially since we also will be working on several other projects and initiatives at this Club Assembly.

As always, dinner coordinator Debbie Brown needs to know no later than Tuesday evening if you plan to join us. (Email her at mdbrown@nycap.rr.com.)

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