More than 100 Boy Scouts from Rensselaer and Columbia counties spent last Saturday working on a variety of cooperative team-building activities at the Rotary Scout Reservation, more commonly known as Camp Rotary, in Averill Park.
The Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club historically has supported the camp with summer scholarships and other forms of support.
The Record sent photographer Nicholas Buonanno there to capture the scenes. You can go here to see his 12-photo slideshow.
Have you ever visited one of the newer attractions at Crossgates Mall — the Lucky Strike Social bowling and entertainment emporium? If not, here’s your chance. And, if you have been there, here’s your chance for a return visit for even more fun.
Rotary District 7190’s Next Gen Council is hosting a “Next Gen Council Mixer” from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, February 9, at the bowling venue, located downstairs from Best Buy.
(Not familiar with Lucky Strike Social? It’s quite a multifaceted entertainment complex. Click here to visit it.)
Say the organizers, “Join us for a night of fun, food and bad bowling at the Lucky Strike Social. If you’ve never been there, you’ve got to check it out. Finish up work, and head on over. Bring a friend who might some day become a Rotarian.
“Don’t misunderstand. This is not a big membership rush event of some sort, but we need to get more young professionals to join our Rotary Clubs, and we’ll have a bunch of these mixers and fun service projects so your friends can see what you see: Rotary is fun AND important. It will be a cheap night out — $15 will get you food, bowling shoes, and a good time.”
No reservations necessary. Just show up and bring a friend or three.
That headline may seem like an odd combination, but, trust us, it will be a good one for this Thursday’s meeting at Quigley’s. Here’s how it works:
• We will begin at 6:15 p.m. by dining on a Quigley’s favorite — Chicken Parmesan — with an antipasto salad, chef’s choice of side dishes, bread, dessert and beverages.
• After dinner, club member Marco Koshykar, a practicing attorney, will speak on “The Law Today.”
• And, Jackie Lynch of the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” will fill us in on the details of the fundraiser that is staffed and coordinated by volunteers in more than 5,200 communities and 20 countries.
As always, we need to provide the folks at Quigley’s with an accurate headcount first thing Wednesday morning. So, if you plan to attend and are not yet on the reservations list, please be sure to email dinner coordinator Debbie Brown at mdbrown@nycap.rr.com no later than Tuesday evening. And, also as always, guests are welcome, just be sure to let her know you’re bringing someone along.
The RSVP list so far:
A.J. Amato
Terry Brewer
Bill Dowd
Dick Drumm
Murray Forth
Ray Hannan
Phil Kellerman
Marco Koshykar
Becky Raymond
Carole Spencer
Jackie Lynch (Relay for Life guest speaker)
Dinner Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
January 19, 2017
Members Attending (15): Debbie Rodriguez, Roberto Martinez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Bill Dowd, Jim Leyhane, Terry Brewer, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Dick Drumm, Dean Calamaras, Julius Frankel, Carole Spencer, Stewart Wagner, Charlie Foote,
Guests (1): Jean Marie Niederhoffer.
Program: “Our Website, Social Media & You”
Our webmaster, Bill Dowd, presented a discussion of our methods of communication in the past and what still works today, as an introduction to a hands-on workshop on use of our website and social media accounts.
As he compared them, he noted, for example, that many newspapers have lost more than 50% of their circulation in the past decade; that mail has largely been supplanted by email because of its low cost, speed of delivery and ease of use; landline phones, which many families have done away with, have given way to cellphone usage that is portable, has no long-distance surcharges or expensive calling-hour periods; telegrams have virtually disappeared — he said telegrams still exist, but the message is communicated simply by a service calling you on the phone and reading the message to you; there are so many cable TV and live streaming services that traditional commercial TV has a fragmented audience.
He explained a set of research slides showing the sharp increase in social media use in the past decade, that usage is about even between the sexes, that the more educated people are the more they use such communications; that race and age really do not make a difference in usage.
Bill then walked us through the club website (SRCrotary.org) he created and maintains. It combines a blog and 21 interior pages, as well as links to the club’s Facebook and Twitter accounts and to numerous offsite resources. He described the blog content as a mix of announcements, event coverage, meeting minutes, local and global Rotary news, and other pertinent content.
He also suggested members sing up on the website to “follow” it, meaning they will get email notifications anytime the site is updated so they can link directly to it.
The PowerPoint portion of Bill’s program is available on our Program Presentation Archive website page.
Announcements/Business
RECYCLING REPORT — Treasurer Murray Forth reported a profit of $2,245 from Saturday’s paper and electronics recycling day, and noted that many members of the public asked if we plan to repeat the event. We will do so in the spring. President Debbie Rodriguez thanked Mike Dewey, Matt Smith, Josh Wainman, Terry Brewer and Murray for their particular efforts in putting together the event, as well as all other members and friends who volunteered to staff it; 22 Rotarians were involved in the project.
GOLF EVENT CANCELLED — The planned January 21 indoor simulator golf tournament at Burden Lake Country Club has been cancelled due to insufficient registration numbers.
ROTA
RY HOME COOKING SERIES — Dean Calamaras said five seats remain for the January 27 Greek dinner he and Doris are hosting. Please contact them directly if interested in participating. The next dinner after that is scheduled for February 11, hosted by Debbie and Peter Brown. A few seats remain open for that event. Contact either of the Browns if interested.
ROTARY BIRTHDAY PARTY — Members are asked to save February 24 to attend the annual Rotary Birthday Party, this year to be held in Ballston Spa. Details will be shared closer to the date.
NEXT DINNER MEETING: 6:15 p.m. Thursday, January 26. A “2fer” evening, with club member Marco Koshykar, an attorney, speaking on “The Law Today,” and a representative of the American Cancer Society speaking on the Rensselaer County Relay for Life event.
Breakfast Meeting at Greenbush YMCA
2 Community Way
East Greenbush, NY
January 19, 2017
Members Attending (13): Shannon Romanowski, Terry Brewer. Jim Butterworth, Jim Leyhane, Andy Leyhane, Matt Smith, John Sawchuk, Murray Forth, Melissa Bill, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Ron Annis, Roberto Martinez.
Club member Jim Butterworth, executive director of CASDA (Capital Area School Development Association), spoke about the organization’s work in developing programs for a wide variety of schools and school districts throughout the state.
NEXT THIRD THURSDAY MEETING: 7 a.m. February 16 at the Greenbush YMCA.
The club’s first indoor simulator golf tournament of the winter has been cancelled.
The event, scheduled for Saturday, did not draw a sufficient field for the Burden Lake Country Club venue.
From time to time we like to offer a flashback to a program or activity our club has experienced. This is from March 31, 2016, when Sharon Wheeler and Jennifer Kilinski from Albany Medical Center’s medical therapy staff and the singing group Triskele visited us to provide a program on musical therapy. Click on the date for a review of their program.
One of the many things our club does of which we’re very proud is make people from many walks of life available to our members. We learn about various professions, volunteer groups, governmental entities, education programs, youth programs and many, many more undertakings from both guest speakers and our own members.
Our “Calendar” page is the conduit by which we keep you updated on when such people will be speaking to the club — when you and your guests can plan to attend their presentations. Here’s the latest schedule:
Each year, Rotary provides its members with a series of free webinars — online seminars — geared toward improving members efforts in business as well as in their efforts through membership in Rotary.
A full description of each 60-minute webinar, and how to register, is available here. Meanwhile, here is the list of upcoming events:
GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Simple marketing strategies for small business & nonprofits
Wednesday, January 18, noon to 1 p.m.
GYB DIGITAL MARKETING TRENDS IN 2017
For small businesses and non-profits
Tuesday, January 31, 2 to 3 p.m.
DRIVE NEW BUSINESS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
Guide to successful social media marketing
Wednesday, February 15, noon to 1 p.m.
SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR BETTER EVENT MARKETING
You have a great event. Now, let’s get more people there
Tuesday, February 28, 2 to 3 p.m.
THE POWER OF THE INBOX
Email, the absolute best communication tool
Wednesday, March 15, noon to 1 p.m.
STANDOUT SUBJECT LINES
Email: Get open, get read, get results
Tuesday, March 28, 2 to 3 p.m.
LOOK GREAT IN THE INBOX
The 7 “don’ts” of email design
Wednesday, April 5, noon to 1 p.m.
CONTENT MARKETING: WHAT TO SAY, HOW TO SAY IT
Using words and images to craft your email messages
Tuesday, April 18, 2 to 3 p.m.
GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Simple marketing strategies for small business & nonprofits
Wednesday, May 3, noon to 1 p.m.
DRIVE NEW BUSINESS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
Guide to successful social media marketing
Tuesday, May 16, 2 to 3 p.m.
MEASURING YOUR MARKETING
Using reports and analytics to evaluate your marketing campaign
Wednesday, May 31, noon to 1 p.m.
SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR BETTER EVENT MARKETING
You have a great event. Now, let’s get more people there
Tuesday, June 2, 2 to 3 p.m.
LOOK GREAT IN THE INBOX
The 7 “don’ts” of email design
Wednesday, June 28, noon to 1 p.m.
Our first “Resolved To Recycle” on Saturday was a successful new fundraiser in support of our many community service projects.
The event, held at the Wainschaf Associates facility in Rensselaer that Josh Wainman supplied, was co-chaired by Mike Dewey and Matt Smith, with special help from Terry Brewer and Murray Forth, and additional help both financial and physical from many other club members. (See the Our Sponsors website page.)
“I want to thank all club members for supporting and participating in our first
effort at a recycling activity. We had 22 members work the event,” Terry Brewer reported. ” A special thanks to new member Josh Wainman who offered his building and facilities. A great location and venue. The main office worked great for the cashiers and a warm place for workers throughout the day.
“Murray Forth provided recycling boxes and trucks to collect and transport recyclables. Murray’s support throughout the project made the day a success. We received many positive comments throughout the day for the event and were encouraged to hold another event in the spring.”
Fred Daniels, who will become our District Governor on July 1 but already has made himself a strong presence on the 7190 scene, manages a grin as he emerges chilly but relatively unscathed from the New Year’s Day “Polar Plunge” in Lake George, an annual fundraiser for Rotary’s ongoing fight against polio.
Fred’s friends pledged $1,050 for him to go in up to his neck in the lake during the event. Current DG John Mucha has announced that if all pledges and matching funds are realized, 7190 will have raised about $30,000 through this year’s plunge.
(Thanks to Christine Daniels for the photo.)
