Jim McHugh has been appointed the new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction by the Board of Education of the East Greenbush Central School District.
Jim, a member of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club, had been serving as principal on special ssignment at the district office since returning on from a medical leave of absence in February.
In his new role, Jim will oversee all academic programs and services in the district. He also will supervise instructional technology, administer testing, lead and participate on a variety of committees, and seek grant opportunities.
“I am excited for this new challenge and to be able to help all of our students receive an excellent K-12 education,” he said. “The most important thing is that I still think like a teacher.”
Jim had been the principal at Bell Top Elementary School since 2007. Prior to that, he was an administrator at Columbia High School and spent 17 years in the district as a classroom teacher. Marty Mahar will continue to serve as interim principal at Bell Top while the process of selecting a permanent principal is conducted.
“The District is extremely fortunate to have Jim McHugh step into this important role,” said Board of Education President Dr. Shay Harrison. “Jim is an expert in pedagogy, not just in present delivery but also in being fully informed about and anticipating the directions that classroom instruction will take in the future. He’s demonstrated his leadership and creativity throughout his educational career, from classroom teacher to building administrator and now as an assistant superintendent.”
The Viking Gym project being constructed at the Schodack Town Park as an Eagle Scout project with major assistance from Rotary now has signage letting the public know what is going on. Ron Annis, who is coordinating the work, shared these images along with a thanks to Murray Forth for creating the sign centerpiece.
The park is located at 479 Poyneer Road, Nassau. It was created in the 1990s by volunteers and crews from the Town Highway Department, with support from town government and local businesses. You can download a brochure explaining the park’s amenities by clicking here.
Piecing the sign together …… getting it upright …… and, Ta Dah!
Dinner Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant 593 Columbia Turnpike East Greenbush, NY
May 11, 2017
Members Attending (18): Debbie Rodriguez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Bill Dowd, April Dowd, Dick Drumm, Geoff Brewer, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, A.J. Amato, Maggie Forth, Ron Annis, Terry Brewer, Phil Kellerman, Ray Hannan, Andy Leyhane.
Guests (4): Rotarians Kevin Markham, Tom Rogers, Charlie Perry; Jeremy Forth.
PROGRAM: 3rd annual Great North American Whizbang Trivia Test
Bill Dowd works the competition presentation keyboard while the participants work their memory banks.Visiting Rotarian Tom Rogers (center) and Debbie Brown wound up tied for the victory.
Triviamaster Bill Dowd conducted the annual brainteaser event. The scoring was done on the honor system for answers in five categories — television, food and drink, American history, sports and geography. Questions ranged from easy to very challenging, and all required serious contemplation.
Debbie Brown, Terry Brewer and visiting Rotarian Tom Rogers wound up tied with 24 of a possible 40 points each. After a series of tie-breaking questions, Debbie and Tom remained tied, but Tom won a coin flip to get the top prize — a boxed set of the party game “Hollywood Game Night” — and Debbie was awarded a book of 250 word puzzles.
Business & Announcements
VISITING ROTARIANS — President Debbie Rodriguez welcomed a trio of visiting Rotarians — Kevin Markham of the Glens Falls club and Tom Rogers and Charlie Perry of the Salem club — who all spoke at great length about the District’s Rotary Youth Exchange program, including their experiences, tips for finding host families, and how to engage with incoming students. A.J. Amato, our club’s Youth Exchange Officer, thanked the visitors for being so supportive of him during this academic year. It also was announced that Ella Câncio, SRC’s student from Brazil, will remain with her current host family through the end of her stay here.
BUSINESS CARDS — Debbie distributed new club business cards, asking members to use them to help attract interest in Rotary and to use when seeking donations to the club. She also thanked Bill Dowd for designing the cards and having them professionally printed.
WORK DAY SIGNUP — Members are asked to sign up for a volunteer work day project at the Shaker Heritage Site in Colonie, an effort being put together for next Saturday, (May 20) by Assistant District Governor Jack Faddegon. Volunteers are asked to bring tools — shovels, hammers, handsaws, rakes, etc. — suitable for some landscaping and repair chores. A picnic lunch will be served. Anyone who did not sign up at this meeting but wishes to participate is asked to contact Debbie Rodriguez ASAP.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES — A sign-up sheet is being circulated to solicit suggestions for summer club activities. We especially are looking for ideas to attract our younger members with children to engage with all members.
VIKING PLAYGROUND — Murray Forth reported for Ron Annis that work is progressing at a rapid pace on Leonardo Gonzalez’s Eagle Scout project (click here and herefor photos) that will result in creation of the initial phase of a Viking Gym at Schodack Town Park. A sign already has been installed. The project is being undertaking in cooperation with our sister club in Gefle, Sweden, Monika Annis’s hometown.
SCOUT NEWS — Murray also reported receipt of an invitation from Boy Scout Troop 41 to participate in the community Memorial Day parade. Scoutmaster Dennis Cicchino will visit the club on May 25 to update us on the Scouts’ activities.
NEXT MEETINGS — On Thursday, May 18, two meetings are on the calendar. Jim Leyhane will show a version of the polio history video at the 7 a.m. Third Thursday breakfast meeting at the Greenbush YMCA. At the 6:15 p.m . dinner meeting at Quigley’s, club member Mike Bennett, assistant superintendent of the Schodack Central School District, will accompany juniors from Maple Hill High School who participated in the 2016-17 RYLA program. Their tuitions were paid for by the SRC club.
A beautifully landscaped hole at Whispering Pines Colf Club.
The Colonie-Guilderland Rotary Club will hold its 13th annual Golf Outing on Friday, June 9. Rotarians from all clubs as well as friends of Rotary are invited to participate.
The venue is the Whispering Pines Golf Club, located at 2200 Helderberg Avenue in Rotterdam.
Proceeds from the outing will support the host club’s activities in Colonie and Guilderland as well as the Ronald McDonald House in Albany. Hole prizes and a raffle worth thousands of dollars will be included,
You can get further details and register on the Colonie-Guilderland club’s website. Directions to the course are available on the golf club’s website.
Question No. 1: What’s on the menu for this Thursday’s Rotary meeting?
Answer No. 1: Chicken Marsala with chef-selected sides, salad, bread, dessert and beverages.
Question No. 2: What else?
Answer No. 2: Trivia.
Yes, it’s time for our 3rd annual GreatNorthAmericanWhizbangTriviaTest, that yearly opportunity for Rotarians and guests to clear all that useless trivia knowledge out of their brain pans and make room for more knowledge.
WebTriviamaster Bill Dowd has put together a five-category quiz you’ll be taking as individual players (no teams). Prizes to the top three finishers. The categories:
Television
Food & Drink
American History
Sports
Geography
Be sure to invite a friend, relative, colleague, etc., anyone who enjoys good-natured competition. Just be sure to email dinner coordinator Debbie Brown at mdbrown@nycap.rr.com no later than this Tuesday evening. The following people already have signed up, but we’d like to have a lot more:
Ron Annis
Pat Bailey
Geoff Brewer
Terry Brewer
Debbie Brown
Peter Brown
April Dowd
Bill Dowd
Dick Drumm
Murray Forth
Ray Hannan
Phil Kellerman (*) Jim Leyhane
Roberto Martinez
Debbie Rodriguez
Longtime SRC member Burke Adams (left) and colleague Jack Conway pose together after Sunday’s “Charity Challenge Chicken BBQ” that raised money for the Capital Region Miracle League. The organization, which the SRC helps fund annually, is a sports-centered initiative that involves people with a variety of disabilities. Click here to learn more about the Miracle League.
Part of the Saturday morning conference session.Site of the conference.
The much-anticipated polio history video spearheaded by the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club made its debut Saturday at the District 7190 Annual Conference in Lake George.
The informational video is a cooperative venture involving the SRC; technical staff production work from the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA), also known as the Center for School Improvement at the UAlbany School of Education; the UAlbany School of Public Health, and District 7190.
The project was an outgrowth of discussion held after a “World Polio Day” live-streaming event hosted by the School of Public Health. District Governor John Mucha, in introducing the video to a full house attending the session, said, “SRC Rotary was really the striving force behind this.”
Because many people, younger ones in particular, have not lived through polio epidemics and scares that once were commonplace until Rotary International stepped in to help lead the global effort to eradicate the disease, it was felt that an educational video would help explain the ongoing need for vigilance and funding of the effort since polio cannot be cured but can be prevented.
Dr. Martha J. Lepow of Albany Medical Center, who has had a lengthy practice in pediatric infectious diseases, had volunteered to talk about polio with Rotary club audiences, but it was thought that a video presentation that could be widely disseminated would be more efficient. SRC;s Dr. Jim Leyhane interviewed her on-camera as part of the video.
After the video was shown, our club member, Martha and the School of Public Heath were given “District Governor Emmys,” and Jim posed for the statue. Martha also was award a Paul Harris Fellows certificate, and given an “End Polio Now” fleece jacket. Jim and Dr. Roberto Martinez accepted the club’s award.
Also attending the conference were SRC President Debbie Rodriguez and Secretary Pat Bailey, as well as Ella Leal Cancio, our Rotary Youth Exchange student from Brazil who was recognized along with other exchange students from throughout the District,
Displays and discussion topics also included ShelterBox, Gift of Life, and PolioPlus. Keynote speaker Mitty Chang’s topic was “Attracting the Future of Rotary.”
Thanks to Roberto Martinez for providing these notes and the following images:
DG John Mucha, with microphone, talks about the polio video, with Roberto Martinez and Jim Leyhane alongside.The “Emmy”-winning crowd.Dr. Martha Lepow displays her Paul Harris Fellow certificate.Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguez flank Dr. Martha Lepow …… while Debbie poses with SRC’s Ella Câncio (right) and other Rotary Youth Exchange students studying in the District this academic year.Our club advertisement in the conference program.A ShelterBox partially unpacked to display the tent that is part of its contents.The Gift of Life display.The End Polio Now display.
Construction has begun on the Swedish Viking Gym project at Schodack Town Park, helped in part by a grant from the Southern Rensselaer Rotary Club.
Trroop 41 Eagle Scout candidate Leonardo Gonzales, SRC’s Ron Annis and John Snyder are pictured unloading the Top Form truck of all equipment and beginning the first phases of building.
Thanks go to the Home Depot store in East Greenbush and its general manager, Craig Fenoff, for supporting the project by offering a generous discount on purchase of supplies.
Dinner Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant 593 Columbia Turnpike East Greenbush, NY
May 4, 2017
Members Attending (19): Debbie Rodriguez, Roberto Martinez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Jim Leyhane, Dick Drumm, A.J. Amato, Ron Annis, Terry Brewer, Becky Raymond, Phil Kellerman, Ray Hannan, Carol Orvis, Charlie Forth, Rommel Tolentino, Mary Griswold, Maggie Forth, Jennifer Felts, Bob DeBenedetti.
Guests (1): Jeremy Forth.
Induction of New Members
Club President Debbie Rodriguez and inductor Jim Leyhane flank the five newest SRC members. From left: Debbie, Jennifer Felts, Bob DeBenedetti, Maggie Forth, Mary Griswold, Rommel Tolentino, and Jim.
We inducted five new members into Rotary — returning Rotarian Rommel Tolentino and Mary Griswold from Community Care Physicians, as well as Maggie Forth, Jennifer Felts, and Bob DeBenedetti.
Club Board Member Jim Leyhane lead the event, explaining our fast-growing club, its history and his role as the inductor of new members. He also spoke about some of the things that our club has been involved in, including Boy Scouts, ShelterBox, Gift of Life, local student scholarships, Polio Plus, clean water projects and other health related projects. He also spoke about Rotary International, and about its recent changes in membership requirements and responsibilities.
Jim asked that members participate in the way they can with their talents and ideas. Jim read the “4-Way Test” and recommended they view our website for more information. The new Rotarians were given Rotary pins and decals.
Club Awards
President Debbie Rodriguez announced the recognition of various members for their efforts in numerous projects during the 2016-17 Rotary Year, and gave a brief explanation of each award and the contributions made by the recipients. Here are looks at those able to attend:
Inspiring Member Award: Ray Hannan for his level of involvement in club activities.Inspiring Member Award: Becky Raymond for work on behalf of the Freedom From Fistula Foundation.Unsung Service Award: Charlie Foote for his continual quiet, generous support of club projects.Unsung Service Award: Pat Bailey for maintaining club records plus committee work.Visionary Award:Terry Brewer for creating the breakfast meeting series and for membership recruiting efforts.Above & Beyond Award:A.J. Amato for work as Youth Exchange Officer and recycling project sponsorship.Innovative Fundraising Awards:Murray Forth, along with Terry Brewer and non-attendees Matt Smith, Josh Wainman, and Mike Dewey for recycling events.
Awards also went to two other members unable to attend the meeting:
Community Spirit Award
• John Sawchuk for initiating the inaugural Community Celebration Dinner, and for his ongoing efforts involving the Columbia High School community with several Rotary initiatives.
Service Above Self Award
• Bill Dowd for his annual efforts creating and coordinating the school supply drive, the Adopt-a-Family drive and the Easter baskets drive, all of which benefit adult and child clients of the Circles of Mercy family service organization.
Announcements/Business
VIKING GYM — Ron Annis reported on the Viking Gym project he and Eagle Scout Leonardo Gonzalez are heading at the Schodack Town Park, and thanked the club for its financial support.
POLIO VIDEO — Roberto Martinez spoke about the polio history video that will debut at the District Conference in Lake George, and showed a portion of the completed project. He thanked CASDA, which was instrumental in the effort, partnering with SRC, District 7190, and the UAlbany School of Public Health.
TRIVIA EVENT COMING UP — Next Thursday, Bill Dowd will conduct his 3rd annual “Great North American Whizbang Trivia Test.” As always, friends and prospective members are welcome to participate.
Dinner Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
• John Sawchuk for initiating the inaugural Community Celebration Dinner, and for his ongoing efforts involving the Columbia High School community with several Rotary initiatives.
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 