Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
October 5, 2017

Members Attending (14): Roberto Martinez, Pat Bailey, Murray Forth, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Dean Calamaras, Jim Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Terry Brewer, Phil Kellerman, Julius Frankel, Jim Butterworth, Becky Raymond.

Guests (4): Tovah Lisky, Gracin and Merrick Lisky, Vivian Behm.

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PROGRAM: “Junior Achievement”

Jim Butterworth introduced Tovah Linsky, senior district & development director of Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York.

She explained the mission of JA — which is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy — and its local and worldwide reach. Junior Achievement is an organization with offices on every continent. It is governed by a board of directors, and operates in more than began 209,000 classrooms.

The program, which began in 1919, entered this area in 1953. Here, a staff of five serves 19,000 students in a 12-county area. Their focus is on youth development, economic development, and educational development.

Training varies depending upon the ages of the students:

• Tovah passed out “job” cards to show how JA helps second graders. The cards included travel service, tax service, help with a website, dental service, legal services, car repairs and banks. Students learned the progression of using their money.

• In middle schools, the program is called “Financial Park Virtual” and is used to teach life experiences from budgeting and grocery shopping to paying bills. Students begin with a salary and must spend it all, including saving and charity giving.

• At the high school level, it is called “JA Stock Market Challenge,” a high-tech event in which students buy and sell and compete to earn the most “money.”

She ended her presentation by showing a short video titled “JA: Be Entrepreneurial.” Her complete PowerPoint presentation is available on this website’s “Program Presentation Archive” page. (Click here to access it.)

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Announcements/Business

MEMBERSHIP — Kevin Leyhane was approved as a new member of Rotary at last week’s SRC Board of Directors meeting. He thus joins his brother Andy and their father Jim, both of whom are on the SRC Board, as SRC members.

FOOD DRIVE — John Sawchuk is planning a drive at Columbia High School this month for The Anchor food pantry in Castleton, with delivery of food tentatively scheduled for November 21. Debbie Brown will check with The Anchor about the efficacy of that date. The drive could be supplemented by food donations brought to Quigley’s by Rotarians.

T-SHIRTS — Several T-shirts with the “Humanity” motto remain. If you would like one, see Murray Forth.

WORLD POLIO DAY — Planning for the 5th annual event, scheduled for Tuesday, October 24, continues and the flyer is being circulated. (Click here to access it.) More than 50 people are expected to attend the event locally at the UAlbany School of Public Health on the Health Sciences Campus (formerly called the East Campus)  in Rensselaer from 5 to 7 p.m. We will have a Rotary table in the lobby, and the club will donate $250 toward purchase of refreshments.

IN MEMORIAM — Longtime member Russ Edberg recently passed away, and several members spoke about his contributions to Rotary and the community at large. Russ ran our club’s Rotary Exchange Student program for years, and he and his late wife Dottie were strong supporters of the club in numerous ways. He also was a font of information on many topics through his work with the state Department of Transportation and the East Greenbush Fire Department. (Click here for the story on Russ’s passing and a link to his obituary.)

PEACE SUMMIT FOR YOUTH — This District-led event for high school students from throughout the Greater Capital Region will be held on Sunday, November 12, in Mechanicville. The membership agreed to contribute $250. (Click here for details on the event.)

DIRECTORS RETREAT — There were a number of topics that needed further discussion after the recent Board of Directors meeting, so a “retreat” has been scheduled for October 16, 2017 at the Community Care office. Comments and concerns are welcome; contact Roberto.

COMMUNITY DINNER — A second Community Celebration and Recognition Dinner — the first was held in February —  has tentatively been scheduled for December 5, again at Moscatiello’s Restaurant in North Greenbush. John Sawchuk will coordinate with Murray Forth on plans. The initial dinner raised about $5,000 for the club.

ALSO ON THE CALENDAR — “Recycling & Shredding Day” Saturday, October 14, at the Wainschaf Associates warehouse in Rensselaer. … Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) at UAlbany’s Health Sciences Campus in Rensselaer on Saturday, October 21. We have six members signed up to attend so far. … The Capital Region Nordic Alliance (CRNA) luncheon gala fundraiser is set for 11 a.m. Sunday, October 22, at the Albany Country Club. (Phil Kellerman again will be selling coffee during the holidays as a fundraiser for CRNA.) … The District’s annual Foundation Dinner, with the theme “People of Action,” will be held on Sunday. November 19, at the 90 State Street event space in Albany.

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NEXT MEETING — 6:15 p.m. Thursday, October 12, at Quigley’s. The speaker will be Deborah Ciprioni of Comprehensive Physical Therapy Solutions.

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Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
September 28, 2017

Members Attending (19): Roberto Martinez, Pat Bailey, Murray Forth, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Dean Calamaras, Jim Leyhane, Andy Leyhane, Maggie Forth, Ray Hannan, Charlie Foote, Debbie Rodriguez, Terry Brewer, Phil Kellerman, Julius Frankel, Jim Butterworth, Ron Annis, Carole Spencer.

Guests (2): Jeff Simons, Jeremy Forth.

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PROGRAM: ‘Becoming a Lighthouse District’

Terry Brewer introduced Jeff Simons, who has been the superintendent of the East Greenbush School District for slightly over a year, and is a prospective Rotarian.

Jeff last addressed our club during the run-up to a vote on a capital budget for the district. It was passed by a wide margin, and the first phase will begin being implemented next summer.

Jeff covered the high academic achievements, excellence in classroom teaching, supportive safety nets, and positive parental and community support. He said there is a 92% graduation rate at Columbia High School, and the system overall is ranked sixth in the Capital Region. Student achievement has been above average (58% ELA), and the Regents Exams Mastery level is above 85%.

He also discussed “Where Are We Going?,” including; the curriculum, measuring success, 21st Century learning technologies, rigorous college-level AP, Arts, Humanities and CTE coursework and workplace learning and mentoring.

In addition, he discussed mentorships and community-based learning. Even with high levels of literacy, he noted, there remains a need for strategic partnerships and high levels of numeracy and technological skills.

He said employers need graduates with both “hard” and “soft” skills such as solving problems, verbal skills, the ability to plan and organize and prioritize, to obtain and process information, analyze data, and have a proficiency with computer software programs.

Jeff said we will get there by having strategic partnerships, collaborative planning and communication, prioritization of goals and objectives, cyclical reviews and a climate of trust.

His full presentation can be accessed on this website’s “Program Presentation Archive” page by clicking here.

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Announcements/Business

THANK YOUs — The club received a thank-you note from Phil Nasca for the floral arrangement sent to him. And, we received a note of thanks from The Anchor food pantry for our recent donations.

EXCHANGE STUDENT UPDATE — President Roberto informed the club that we will not have anyone participating in the Rotary Youth Exchange program this year.

EMERGENCY TRAINING — Dean Calamaras, who participated in Rensselaer County’s “Bystanders to Upstanders” training symposium, reported that 150 people participated in the training of volunteers who will first responders assist in cases of emergency.

SHELTERBOX — Bill Dowd delivered the club’s donation of $7,050 to local SB representative Jack Faddegon, who also is our Assistant District Governor. The donation was made in support of SB’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.

THE ANCHOR — Terry Brewer reported on Columbia High School students supporting The Anchor Food Pantry with food and other supplies. A definite date is needed for delivery of items collected.

T-SHIRTS — A few “Humanity” T-shirts are left. In two weeks, we will begin giving away the remainder.

RECOGNITION DINNER — Terry reported that planning for the 2nd annual Community Recognition Dinner has begun.

RECYCLING DAY — Murray Forth said all planning has been finalized fot our next “Recyling & Shredding Day,” set for Saturday, October 14, at the Wainschaf Associates warehouse in Rensselaer.

ALSO ON THE CALENDAR — A hurricane relief fundraiser is set for October 20 at Columbia High School. … The annual Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) workshop will be held on Saturday, October 21, at the UAlbany Health Sciences Campus in Rensselaer. Members are encouraged to sign up; the club will pay the fee. … The Capital Region Nordic Alliance fundraising luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, October 22, at the Albany Country Club. … The annual District 7190 Foundation Dinner, this year themed “People of Action,” will be held on Thursday, November 16, at the 90 State Street event space in Albany. Click here to find the form for reservations.

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NEXT MEETING — 6:15 p.m. Thursday, October 5, at Quigley’s. The speaker will be Tovah Lisky of Junior Achievement.

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