The good news: Registration now is open for the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) session scheduled for Saturday, October 22, at Siena College.
The even better news: It’s free!
Well, not really. The registration fee for the day-long workshops — offered at several levels depending on whether or not you’ve participated in RLI before — actually is $105. But, you don’t have to foot the bill. Your club reimburses you for that.
Not sure what RLI is or does for you? Check with one of your fellow SRC Club members who have attended and they’ll fill you in. And/or, go to the menu of “Recommended Links” on the club website to get connected to RLI’s own website where you can find a brochure and other handy info.
If you like to play bocce but missed signing up for the Gift of Life Golf & Bocce Tournament that took place today, you have another chance coming up fast.
The Shen Rotary Club’s 2nd annual Rotary Dinner & Bocce Challenge will be held next Monday, September 26, at the Italian American Community Center, 257 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany. The event is open to all Rotarians and their families and friends.
The event will begin with a Grand Italian Buffet Dinner at the restaurant Treviso’s in the center from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Bocce will start at 6:30.Dinner reservations are $25 per person, which covers tax and tip.
Each Rotary club may have a four-person team for an additional fee of $25. Although only Rotary members are eligible to play in the Rotary challenge, there also will will be free open games for everyone who would like to play. Bocce courts are covered and lit for night play.
The reservation deadline is this Friday , September 23. Contact George Urciuoli at ggu2020@gmail.com or (914) 475-3219.
Planning to attend our 6:15 p.m. Thursday dinner meeting at Quigley’s this week?
Great, but if you haven’t yet let dinner coordinator Debbie Brown know, today is the deadline fork doing so. And, PLEASE, if you plan to bring a guest, let her know that as well via email (mdbrown@nycap.rr.com).
The menu includes Chicken Marsala, appropriate side dishes, salad, bread, dessert and beverages. As always, the cash bar is available before, during and after the meeting.
After dinner, Lauren Carpenter of Home Connections Companions in Albany will speak on her organization’s non-medical services, which include light housekeeping, meal prep, medical appointment transportation, grocery shopping, etc., for those who wish to remain in their homes for as long as possible.
Third Thursday Breakfast Meeting Greenbush YMCA East Greenbush, NY September 15, 2016
Members Attending (10): Terry Brewer, Shannon Romanowski, Mike Bennett, Melissa Bill, Murray Forth, Jim Leyhane, Andy Leyhane, Marko Koshykar, Matt Smith, John Sawchuk.
Business/Announcements: The meeting began at 7 a.m. with Terry Brewer presiding and Shannon Romanowski hosting.
• The schedule for the year was reviewed with the third Thursdays of each month continuing to be the designated breakfast meeting dates: October 20, November 17, December 15, January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20 and August 17. The two latter dates were added at the suggestion of Jim Leyhane to maintain a year-long meeting flow.
• Goals for the 2016-2017 Rotary year were reviewed. President Debbie Rodriguez’s goals were discussed with an emphasis placed on attending breakfast or dinner meetings to meet our fellow Rotarians. Both meetings are available to all Rotarians.
• John Sawchuk will have students from Columbia High School support all drives for food pantries and support for families in need during the holiday season.
• Mike Bennett will work with students at Maple Hill High School on service projects, RYLA and a foreign exchange student activity.
• Matt Smith and Mike Dewey will develop a recycling event for electronics and paper shredding for October as club fundraisers.
• Shannon will sponsor a community service day to discuss opportunities for community service organizations to shared activities and collaborate on events.
• Terry is representing the club at a “Next Gen Membership” summit meeting. Andy Leyhane also will attend.
• Each member attending agreed to have a speaker/program for the monthly meeting.
Terry will coordinate the schedule. At the October 20 breakfast meeting, John Sawchuk will arrange for teachers from Columbia HS speaking on service programs. Shannon will obtain a speaker from the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce for the November 17 meeting.
Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant 593 Columbia Turnpike East Greenbush, NY September 15, 2016
Members Attending Dinner Meeting (14): Terry Brewer, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Ray Hannan, David Taylor, Dick Drumm, Carol Orvis, Phil Kellerman, Becky Raymond, Dean Calamaras, Charlie Foote, Stewart Wagner.
Dinner Guests (3): Phil and Bonnie Nasca, Vivian Behn.
PROGRAM: “The Immigration Controversy”
Club member Phil Kellerman began his presentation by asking attendees a question and reminding us to follow the money: “How does someone come here legally?”
He said there are a number of ways some with negative aspects: (1.) with a work permit and a green card (permanent resident status), but no federal benefits; ( 2.) on a student visa, but 40% overstay their welcome; (3.) requested by farms or others needing labor; there are many requirements to come legally and no easy path; (4.) special circumstances admission such as political refuge; (5.) a lottery; but, we have no relationship with many poorer countries and, therefore, people from such places have no way to get in line for a lottery; (6.) anyone with a lot of money can buy their way in by hiring an attorney to find a loophole.
Phil asked for volunteers to demonstrate the problem, and Peter Brown offered to play the immigrant. Provided with $14, 000 in play money, he could first hire two “coyotes” — people who help illegally transport people to the U.S. — to help him navigate the path from Guatemala. Once here, he must rent a room and will be living with other immigrants, must find a job, and get transportation, maybe the bus). With a job and now required to pay taxes he will be given an ID number by the Internal Revenue Service, or he may “borrow” a real Social Security number. But, he never will have such benefits as retirement, Medicare or Medicaid.
Peter’s problems are just beginning. If stopped while driving with no license he will be assessed a fine, and perhaps reported to immigration authorities and deported. If he marries, any children born here are citizens; any child not born here still will receive a free public education. But, his initial funds soon are exhausted.
Several programs were mentioned:
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an immigration policy that allows certain undocumented immigrants to the U.S. who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation.
• Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) — sometimes called Deferred Action for Parental Accountability, was created by a 2014 Obama executive order but has been held up in court. If implemented, it would grant deferred action status to certain undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since 2010 and have children who either are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
Phil took questions from attendees. Among them, with his responses in parentheses: “What is the screening process?” (Immigration services is overloaded and underfunded; many people waiting 10 years for a green card. They do have a requirement to import 400,000 illegals and funding is based on that.) “What about proof of legal work, i.e., I-9’s, and how do these folks get jobs? ” (Immigration looks the other way, especially for farm workers. Service workers often are allowed in due to agreements with business, nevertheless many businesses still cannot find enough workers.)
BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING — Immediate Past President Terry Brewer presided in the absence of President Debbie Rodriguez and President-elect Roberto Martinez. He welcomed Members and introduced guests.
BREAKFAST MEETING — The Third Thursday breakfast meetings resumed today at the Greenbush YMCA (minutes here), co-hosted by Shannon Romanowski and Terry.
GOL GOLF & BOCCE — Jim Leyhane is sponsoring the foursome of Jim Mendrysa, Rob Mangold, Murray Forth and Terry Brewer in the September 21 Gift of Life fundraiser. That same foursome won the tournament two years ago, and was runnerup last year.
YOUTH EXCHANGE — Debbie Brown relayed information from Youth Exchange Officer A.J. Amato that Rafaella Leal Câncio, our exchange student from Brazil, arrived, although a week later than expected because of paperwork problems. Several more host families are needed during her stay. Please contact A.J. if interested. Meanwhile, our outgoing exchange student, Michaela Rosetti, has arrived in Italy for her year abroad. (Her family is Rafaella’s initial host family.)
RYLA UPDATE — We now have five juniors from Maple Hill High School who will attend the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program that begins this month. We are hoping to get one or more students from Averill Park High School. Becky Raymond has volunteered to be our contact with APHS.
NEXT MEETING: 6:15 p.m. Thursday, September 22. The after-dinner speaker will be Lauren Carpenter of Home Connection Companions.
It may be 73 days until Thanksgiving Day, but you don’t have to wait for a turkey dinner. That’s what is on the menu for this Thursday’s 6:15 p.m. SRC Rotary Club dinner meeting at Quigley’s.
Sliced turkey, cook’s choice of sides, salad, bread, dessert, and beverages will be on the buffet table. As always, a cash bar is available before and after the meeting.
Dinner coordinator Debbie Brown needs to hear from you via email (mdbrown@nycap.rr.com) no later than Tuesday evening if you plan to join us. As always, we also need to know if you plan to bring a guest. The after-dinner speaker will be club member Phil Kellerman on the current immigration crisis controversy.
When you score 97 of a possible 100 points, there isn’t much room for making improvements. However, the Rotary Foundation did so anyway.
In the latest ratings just released by Charity Navigator, the prestigious independent evaluator of charities in the United States, the Rotary Foundation received its highest possible score — 100 points!
That score was awarded for both financial health and accountability, and for transparency. It reflects how efficiently Charity Navigator believes the Foundation will use donations, how well it has sustained programs and services, and its level of commitment to good governance and openness.
Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant 593 Columbia Turnpike East Greenbush, NY September 8, 2016
Members Attending (14): Debbie Rodriguez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Bill Dowd, Ray Hannan, Dick Drumm, Terry Brewer, Phil Kellerman, Doris Calamaras, Dean Calamaras, Becky Raymond, Charlie Foote.
Guests (1): Dawn Vavala.
PROGRAM: “Rotary Serving Humanity”
Debbie Rodriguez leads the discussion.
New President Debbie Rodriguez presented a review of our summer activities, plus a look ahead for the remainder of the Rotary Year utilizing the 2016-17 RI theme “Rotary Serving Humanity.”
Among things she noted while recapping the summer activities: (1.) We have raised slightly more than $1,000 for the Freedom From Fistula Foundation and will continue raising more such funds through the Rotary Year via the “Pocket Change” jug and other efforts; Becky Raymond, who first brought this need to our attention, has joined the Rotarian Action Group for Population & Development to further our flow of information; (2.) We raised $250 for Gift of Life; (3.) Although we had some well-attended “summer casual” events — in particularly the ValleyCats picnic and game — some other events were lightly attended, and we even had to cancel the planned wine tasting dinner at Goold Orchards. Debbie said we will need to revisit our summer event planning.
She also discussed the six standing committees we will have this year — Membership & Leadership Training, Foundation Giving, Public Relations, Youth Programs & Scholarship Awards, Fundraising Programs, and Community Service . She said the intent of committees is to allow manageably-sized groups to better discuss ideas then report them to the full membership for refinement. In support of planning our activities, she circulated a questionnaire during the summer to all members and took their responses into account when assigning committee roles. Committee memberships are listed on the club website.
As to membership, we stand at 42, down from our high of 45 due to the death of Bob Horan and resignations of longtime members Rommel Tolentino and Len Leonidas. Our stated goal for this Rotary Year is to reach the 50-member level. We will be looking at projects and activities that may be more appealing to younger people who are reluctant to join rigidly-run clubs, which is something being recommended by RI.
BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
FUNDRAISING EFFORTS — In addition to planning to continue such successful efforts as Bowling for Veterans, CPR training, simulator golf tournaments, Rotary Home Cooking series, Hoffman’s Car Wash tickets, etc. , several other ideas were thrown out for discussion, including a technology “crushing” session, a “mud run” obstacle course that may attract a younger demographic, and calendar sales. Further discussion will be held over the coming weeks.
RLI — The annual Rotary Leadership Institute will be held on Saturday, October 22, at Siena College in Loudonville. Members are urged to participate in what has proven to be an excellent training and networking program. Workshops will be held for first-time attendees, as well as advanced levels for those completing the course in prior years. The club will pay the fee. Anyone interested should check with Debbie Rodriguez.
GOL GOLF & BOCCE — Jim Leyhane is sponsoring the foursome of Murray Forth, Jim Mendrysa, Terry Brewer and Rob Mangold in the 17th annual Gift of Life Golf & Bocce, scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, at the Mohawk River Country Club in Halfmoon, Saratoga County. The same foursome won the event two years ago and finished second last year. Registration remains open for anyone else who wishes to enter a foursome. Details are available on the club website.
THANK-YOUS — Debbie read a letter from Mikaela Mueller, a graduate of Maple Hill High School who was one of our three latest $1,000 scholarship winners, updating us on her activities entering her freshman year at the University of Hartford. Treasurer Murray Forth noted that Mikaela, Jolene Bell, and Matt McHugh all sent thank-you notes to the club during the summer for their awards.
MEMBERSHIP — Terry Brewer, who is serving on the District 7190 Membership Committee, said a workshop titled “Next Generation Rotary Summit” — aimed at how to recruit and retain new members — will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, September 24, at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. It will be one of only 19 such events nationwide. He said anyone else who wishes to attend should contact him ASAP and he will have their registration fee covered. In response to a question about availability of membership information shared by District Governor-elect Fred Daniels during a recent visit to the club, webmaster Bill Dowd said that Fred’s entire presentation has been available since that visit on the club website under Program Presentation Archives, along with copies of other programs as announced several times.
ROTARY DAY AT THE U.N. — The District is providing bus transportation to the annual fall event at the UN headquarters in New York City. Registration is closed, but Becky Raymond is on the standby list with hopes to be included.
RYLA — Terry reported that Maple Hill High School administration is working on a list of students to participate in this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program. Columbia High School has declined to participate in favor of its own program. Becky Raymond said she would like to get in touch with officials at Averill Park High School to see if they have any candidates and asked for information on RYLA. Bill Dowd explained that the club website has for years had an entire page devoted to RYLA, including explanation, registration information, and a current online brochure. Tuition is $375 per student, which our club will pay.
AID TO LOUISIANA — Anyone wishing to contribute money to disaster recovery efforts in Louisiana is asked to send checks directly to Rotary District 6200, 2266 South College Road, # C, Lafayette, LA 70508.
EXCHANGE STUDENT UPDATES — Debbie said it appears that the arrival of Rafaella Leal Câncio, our Brazilian exchange student, was delayed due to a paperwork problem. However, our outgoing student, Michaela Rosetti, a Maple Hill graduate, left on schedule for a year in Italy. We’ll look forward to an update by Youth Exchange Officer A.J. Amato.
FLAG CEREMONY — Ray Hannan reported that a flagpole area has been installed in the Eastwyck Village community where he and fellow club member David Taylor reside, and club members are invited to attend the dedication ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 2. He said he will circulate a signup sheet to ascertain who will attend.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE — Project coordinator Bill Dowd reported a successful 2nd annual “School Supplies Drive” to collect items for needy students in the Rensselaer City School District. He noted that despite a large increase in membership since the first drive, member contributions overall did not increase appreciably. However, the strong participation of John Sawchuk and students at Columbia High School helped push the total contributions to about 600 items.
FOOD DRIVE — Project coordinator April Dowd sent thanks to all who contributed to an emergency collection of non-perishable food items for the Ronald McDonald House complex. One delivery already has been made, and the items contributed at this meeting will be the second and final load.
SHELTERBOX UPDATE — Our SB Liaison, Bill Dowd, reported that ShelterBox teams were the first disaster relief group on site after the recent devastating earthquake in Italy. He noted that this timeliness usually is the case with a non-governmental organization (NGO) such as ShelterBox because of the lack of bureaucracy. He said SB continues to juggle aid to a large number of regions in Asia, South America, and Africa, and urged all who have not yet contributed in this Rotary Year to ShelterBox to do so. (See Murray for details on tax deductibility.) Anyone who needs information on how the humanitarian project works can find it on the club website.
POLIO UPDATE — Bill reported that although Rotary’s PolioPlus decades-long effort had reduced the dread disease’s prevalence to just two countries — Afghanistan and Pakistan — three cases have recently been reported in Nigeria. They occurred in a part of the country where immunization programs had been blocked by the terrorist organization Boko Harum. He also noted that because polio is not something they grew up with, younger people tend not to know anything about it. He said they can be pointed to the “What Is Polio?” video on the club website.
NEXT MEETINGS: Our “Third Thursday” breakfast meeting series will resume at 7 a.m. September 15 at the Greenbush YMCA, 20 Community Way, East Greenbush. Please let Terry Brewer or Shannon Romanowski know in advance if you plan to attend.
At the 6:15 dinner meeting that same day, new member Phil Kellerman will speak on the controversy over the immigrant crisis.
Health experts fear more cases of polio may be found, including at displaced-persons camps such as Manu, Nigeria, shown here.
A third case of polio in Nigeria, where the disease was believed to have been wiped out, has just been confirmed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the case for Rotary International, reporting that a crippled toddler found in an area of the West African nation newly liberated from Boko Haram Islamic extremists.
Nigeria once was the global epicenter of the wild polio virus, but last year it and, in fact, the entire African continent were declared polio free. However, two cases were discovered last month among refugees from the northern state of Borno recently won back by Nigeria’s military.
Unfortunately, more cases of the highly-infectious disease are expected to be discovered in the area where Boko Haram had interfered with Rotary’s polio immunization efforts. That is key because polio cannot be cured, only prevented by an ongoing immunization program.
To fight the outbreaks, Rotary is participating in a new emergency immunization drive in which last week along saw more than 1.5 million children vaccinated in Borno where, WHO has said, the virus has been circulating undetected for five years during Boko Haram’s Islamic uprising that has resulted in countless killings.
The campaign is supposed to spread across the country, with a plan to reach 25 million children before the end of this year. However, the U.N. Children’s Fund has warned that about 1 million children are in areas too dangerous to access. The Nigerian military is helping with logistics and other aid, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the United Nations and Britain’s Save the Children, as well as government health workers. Military helicopters have been transporting vaccines into places too dangerous to reach by road, and truckloads of troops and armored cars escorted vaccinators elsewhere.
Continued financial support is being sought from Rotarians worldwide as well as from non-Rotarian individuals and organizations.
The good news: Registration now is open for the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) session scheduled for Saturday, October 22, at Siena College.
If you like to play bocce but missed signing up for the Gift of Life Golf & Bocce Tournament that took place today, you have another chance coming up fast.
Third Thursday Breakfast Meeting
Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
YOUTH EXCHANGE — Debbie Brown relayed information from Youth Exchange Officer A.J. Amato that Rafaella Leal Câncio, our exchange student from Brazil, arrived, although a week later than expected because of paperwork problems. Several more host families are needed during her stay. Please contact A.J. if interested. Meanwhile, our outgoing exchange student, Michaela Rosetti, has arrived in Italy for her year abroad. (Her family is Rafaella’s initial host family.)
When you score 97 of a possible 100 points, there isn’t much room for making improvements. However, the Rotary Foundation did so anyway.
Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
RLI — The annual Rotary Leadership Institute will be held on Saturday, October 22, at Siena College in Loudonville. Members are urged to participate in what has proven to be an excellent training and networking program. Workshops will be held for first-time attendees, as well as advanced levels for those completing the course in prior years. The club will pay the fee. Anyone interested should check with Debbie Rodriguez.
GOL GOLF & BOCCE — Jim Leyhane is sponsoring the foursome of Murray Forth, Jim Mendrysa, Terry Brewer and Rob Mangold in the 17th annual Gift of Life Golf & Bocce, scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, at the Mohawk River Country Club in Halfmoon, Saratoga County. The same foursome won the event two years ago and finished second last year. Registration remains open for anyone else who wishes to enter a foursome. Details are available 
MEMBERSHIP — Terry Brewer, who is serving on the District 7190 Membership Committee, said a workshop titled “
RYLA — Terry reported that Maple Hill High School administration is working on a list of students to participate in this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program. Columbia High School has declined to participate in favor of its own program. Becky Raymond said she would like to get in touch with officials at Averill Park High School to see if they have any candidates and asked for information on RYLA. Bill Dowd explained that the club website has for years had 
SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE — Project coordinator Bill Dowd reported a successful 2nd annual “School Supplies Drive” to collect items for needy students in the Rensselaer City School District. He noted that despite a large increase in membership since the first drive, member contributions overall did not increase appreciably. However, the strong participation of John Sawchuk and students at Columbia High School helped push the total contributions to about 600 items.
SHELTERBOX UPDATE — Our SB Liaison, Bill Dowd, reported that ShelterBox teams were the first disaster relief group on site after the recent devastating earthquake in Italy. He noted that this timeliness usually is the case with a non-governmental organization (NGO) such as ShelterBox because of the lack of bureaucracy. He said SB continues to juggle aid to a large number of regions in Asia, South America, and Africa, and urged all who have not yet contributed in this Rotary Year to ShelterBox to do so. (See Murray for details on tax deductibility.) Anyone who needs information on how the humanitarian project works can find it 
NEXT MEETINGS: Our “Third Thursday” breakfast meeting series will resume at 7 a.m. September 15 at the Greenbush YMCA, 20 Community Way, East Greenbush. Please let Terry Brewer or Shannon Romanowski know in advance if you plan to attend.
