The summer calendar is full! We’ve added a waterside August 4 event to our “Summer Casual Schedule” of events, giving us eight consecutive Thursdays full of a variety of family-friendly activities.
Next up is a pool party and cookout co-hosted by Jim Leyhane and Andy Leyhane at Jim’s residence in East Greenbush on Thursday, July 7. If you don’t have his address, simply use your password to go to the website’s “Membership Contact Data” to get it.
A procedural note:
Bill Dowd is coordinating attendance at all of these events. Please let him know directly if you plan to attend, and how many guests you plan to bring. Please do NOT send notes or make calls to other people and assume your RSVP will be passed along. We have had several instances of people using the wrong way to respond, resulting in some confusion over the correct headcount.
We’ll never turn anyone away, but we do like to make it as easy on our hosts and event coordinators as we can.
You can put your information on the signup sheet that is circulated each week, or simply RSVP to Bill’s weekly emails that ask you for the same info.
1770 — Lexell’s Comet passes closer to the Earth than any other comet in recorded history to that time, approaching within 0.0146 astronomical units (1,357,154.79 miles).
1863 -– The Battle of Gettysburg begins in the vicinity of the Adams County, PA, town during the Civil War.
1908 — “SOS” is adopted as the international distress signal.
1933 — Aviator Wiley Post becomes the first person to fly solo around the world, traveling 15,596 miles in 7 days, 18 hours, 45 minutes.
1963 — ZIP codes (the acronym for Zone Improvement Plan) are introduced nationwide. The delivery designation program of five digits supplanted a system of numbers for major cities that the U.S. Post Office had introduced in 1943. (An additional voluntary set of figures — the five digits followed by a hyphen and four more digits — was introduced in 1983.)
Presidential Changeover Forth Residence East Greenbush June 30, 2016
Members Attending (20): Terry Brewer, Debbie Rodriguez, Roberto Martinez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Bill Dowd, Jim Leyhane, Andy Leyhane, David Taylor, Ray Hannan, Charlie Foote, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Marco Koshykar, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Carole Spencer, Melissa Bill, Dick Drumm, Phil Kellerman.
Guests (11+): Maggie Forth, Jeremy Forth, Kara Leyhane, Deb Dewey, Betty Brewer, Lois Hannan, Mary Drumm, Craig Forth, Amanda Forth, Alice Senrick, Lauren Koshykar, and a gaggle of kids.
PRESIDENTIAL CHANGEOVER
Terry Brewer passes the president’s gavel to Debbie Rodriguez as officers Pat Bailey (secretary), Roberto Martinez (president-elect), and Murray Forth (treasurer) provide the backup scenery.
It’s official. Today is the beginning of the new 2016-17 Rotary Year, and the gavel has been passed.
At our annual “Presidential Changeover” dinner, held Thursday evening at the Forth residence, Terry Brewer turned over the presidency to Debbie Rodriguez.
In addition, Roberto Martinez now is president-elect, and John Sawchuk vice president. Treasurer Murray Forth and Secretary Pat Bailey returned to their offices, and carryover at-large board members Jim Leyhane, Bill Dowd, and Jim Butterworth have been joined by Andy Leyane and Ron Annis on an expanded board.
We had a turnout of 31 adults — including five members inducted this year — and a gaggle of kids, the latter of whom took advantage of the pool and play area. Hosts Maggie and Murray Forth provided the basics of the picnic, with guests supplementing with appetizers and desserts. The club extended its thanks to the Forths for once again hosting a signature club event.
On his last day as president, Terry presented a variety of awards to club members. Earlier, he had presented Murray with an award at the District Conference for his ongoing service. On Thursday, he did the same with separate awards for April Dowd and Bill Dowd. Awards were presented in absentia to A.J. Amato for his youth work and Shannon Romanowski for her work with the new breakfast meeting group.
Attendees were reminded of two ongoing efforts:
The 2nd annual “School Supplies Drive” will begin on Friday, July 1, with Bill Dowd again coordinating the push to collect items for needy students in the Rensselaer City School District. Members have been emailed about the push, and full details are on the website.
Our “Summer Casual Schedule” of events will begin next Thursday, July 7, with a cookout and pool party at Jim Leyhane’s residence. Check the website calendar for other events and details.
Here are some other scenes from the “Presidential Changeover” event:
April Dowd receives the Gift of Life Leadership Award.Bill Dowd receives an award for his ongoing website and social media efforts.Murray Forth displays an embossed decanter President’s Award.This table pays rapt attention to the awards presentations.Kara Leyhane sends son Alistair into orbit — sort of.The goodie table gets plenty of attention.Abbondanza!Jim in a lighter moment.Itty-Bitty and friend.
A casual chat by a placid fountain.Carole Spencer and part of the Koshykar clan.Papa Craig Forth playing lifeguard.Mama Amanda Forth accompanied by the SRC Rotary Club president for 2038.Pat and Debbie chat with guest Alice Senrick (right).Yes, Peter is a happy man. A future Navy SEAL Team in training.A perfect 10 for style!Terry with the Rotary-emblazoned jacket and golf ball he received as “parting gifts.”
Welcome to July 2016. What’s the big deal, you may say? The month comes around every year.
Ah, but not THIS sort of July. Check the calendar and you’ll notice something different. It has five Fridays, five Saturdays, and five Sundays. For those of you who live for the weekends, soak it in. This occurence comes around only once every 823 years!
Today, of course, is Canada Day, our northern neighbor’s official birthday, and Monday will be our own Fourth of July. But, they are not the only special days in July. Try these on for size:
2nd — World UFO Day
4th — National Country Music Day; Sidewalk Egg Frying Day
6th — International Kissing Day
8th — National Blueberry Day
10th — Teddy Bear Picnic Day
15th — Tapioca Pudding Day; Cow Appreciation Day
20th — National Lollipop Day
21st — National Junk Food Day
23rd — National Hot Dog Day
24th — Parent’s Day (fourth Sunday in July)
26th — Aunt and Uncle Day
28th — National Milk Chocolate Day
29th — National Lasagna Day
30th — National Cheesecake Day
And, the 30th is a perfect day for Rotarians. It is the International Day of Friendship.
1559 — During a jousting match, a splinter of wood from the shattered lance of Count Gabriel de Lorges pierces the eye of King Henry II of France, mortally wounding him. From his deathbed, Henry absolves De Lorges of any blame.
1859 — French acrobat Charles Blondin crosses Niagara Falls on a tightrope.
1906 — The Congress of the United States passes the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.
1937 — The world’s first emergency telephone number, 999, is introduced in London.
1997 — The United Kingdom transfers sovereignty over Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China.
1613 — In London, the original Globe Theater, among whose owners is William Shakespeare, burns to the ground. It will be rebuilt on the same site in 1614.
1767 — The British Parliament approves the Townshend Revenue Acts, imposing import duties on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea shipped to America. (Colonists bitterly protested, prompting Parliament to repeal the duties on all goods, except tea, in 1770.)
1776 –- Father Francisco Palou founds Mission San Francisco de Asis in Alta California. It eventually will grow to be the modern city of San Francisco.
1889 — Hyde Park and several other Illinois townships vote to be annexed by Chicago, forming the largest United States city in area and second largest in population.
1928 — Pilot Albert Hegenberger and co-pilot Lester Maitland accomplish the first nonstop flight from California to Hawaii, flying the modified transport Bird of Paradise.
Here’s what we’ll be doing as a club — including family and friends — in July and August. We hope you’ll be interested in taking part in as many activities as possible.
Please note we still have one date open in August, and we’re looking for someone or several someones to step forward to host or coordinate an event. Please contact incoming President Debbie Rodriguez if you’re interested in doing so.
1778 — Mary Hays McCauley, wife of a Colonial artilleryman, carries water to the American soldiers during the Battle of Monmouth against British troops in Monmouth County, NJ. She becomes known as “Molly Pitcher.”
1894 — The U.S. Congress approves legislation making Labor Day an official national holiday.
1914 — Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Duchess Sophie, are assassinated in the city of Sarajevo, helping touch of World War I. On this same date five years later, the Treaty of Versailles is signed, ending the war.
1971 — The Supreme Court of the United States overturns the draft evasion conviction of boxing great Muhammad Ali.
2007 — The American bald eagle is removed from the endangered species list.
It may sometimes seem like all the good public service ideas have been taken. Don’t fool yourself. Energetic, imaginative Rotarians around the globe keep coming up with ways to improve the world.
The impact tracker shown above gives you an idea what has been accomplished in just this Rotary Year. And, we’re always looking for ideas large and small that we can put into action. As SRC Board member Jim Leyhane usually explains to new members during their induction, “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
If you’re looking for ideas for a project that may interest you, one you’d like to discuss with your club, check out the “Rotary Showcase” website for inspiration. It has a slideshow of projects, and an easy-to-use dropdown search facility that lets you browse the database by category, topic, location, and other terms.
Are you familiar with RadioRotary? If not, you may want to tune in to see what the weekly program is all about. Hint: It’s never the same thing.
The weekly series of 30-minute interviews is sponsored and presented by our neighboring Rotary District — 7210, covering Columbia, Greene, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties.
Professional radio hosts Sarah O’Connell (a member of the Millbrook club) and Jonah Triebwasser (Red Hook club) chat with Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike, people who live by Rotary’s motto, “Service above Self.”
As RadioRotary explains it, “Guests are humanitarians who work on many levels in programs that address such important issues as poverty, education, health, the environment, and employment and vocations. Each interview provides timely information that focuses on improving the quality of life for everyone, both here and abroad. Our guests’ stories of their humanitarian work are uplifting, showing how caring people strive to do good in the world.”
This weekend’s program is “Solar Power for Your Home.”
RadioRotary is accessible through a number of platforms each Saturday, with replays on Sundays. The lineup:
Presidential Changeover
Welcome to July 2016. What’s the big deal, you may say? The month comes around every year.
The impact tracker shown above gives you an idea what has been accomplished in just this Rotary Year. And, we’re always looking for ideas large and small that we can put into action. As SRC Board member Jim Leyhane usually explains to new members during their induction, “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
The weekly series of 30-minute interviews is sponsored and presented by our neighboring Rotary District — 7210, covering Columbia, Greene, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties.
