Members in Attendance (12):  Peter Brown, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Kevin Leyhane, Phil Kellerman, Andy Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Debbie Rodriguez, Murray Forth, Dick Drumm, Becky Raymond and Charlie Foote.

By Zoom (2): Pat Bailey and John Justino.

Guests (1): Mike Stangl and Kevin Bailey (Speaker).

President Peter Brown called the meeting to order. 

Theme for the Year: “Building Community”

MEETING NOTES:

Iron Giraffe Bowl-a-Thon: The bowl-a-thon will be held on Sunday April 14 from 2 pm until 4 pm. The cost will be $13 per person. Per Phil Kellerman, sponsorships are $50. Phil has collected $650 so far in sponsorships. Proceeds will go to the Anchor Food Pantry and to the Maple Hill water project. Phil will pick up some gift cards for the raffle. He will also ask participants to bring a food item for donation. He also spoke to Christine Fowler regarding student participation. Pat Bailey has volunteered to staff the entry table. More volunteers are needed.

Membership: Each SRC Rotary member is asked to bring a friend to the Rotary meeting on April 11th. Terry Brewer will put a program together about Rotary, what the Club does and what we can do for individuals to interest them in Rotary. Members should be prepared to talk about why you joined Rotary. The Club will cover the costs for guests.

Water for Kenya: Ms. Kenara and members of the Rotary Club of Enkare Naroch visited the Full Gospel Church in North Central Kenya on February 7th. They reported that it was an excellent meeting and all are excited about the community project. They are discussing a small charge for water in order to generate funds to maintain the well. The next step is the needs assessment. Phil Kellerman and Debbie Rodriguez have started the Rotary International Global Grant training.

Exchange Program: Peter Brown recontacted both the Schodack and East Greenbush School Districts. Both are considering how to proceed. Becky Raymond suggested getting one of previously sponsored students to speak at an assembly about their experience as an exchange student. Per Peter Brown, this had been suggested to both schools.

Grants Management Training: The next training will be held via Zoom on Monday, April 1st, at 7 pm. Register for grant training at https://cnyrotary.org/. Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane and Debbie Rodriguez completed the training offered on February 7th. In the new CNY Rotary District 7190, there are more than 100 clubs and greater than 3,000 Rotarians. There were 87 participants in the training. There are three categories of grants, District, District Scholarship and Regional. There is $60,000 available for grants this year. Applications are due by June 1.

PETS Training: The next free virtual pre-PETS trainings will be held on Wednesday, February 21st at 7 pm and Thursday, February 29th at 7 pm.

Rotary District: The in-person PETS training will be held March 15th through 17th at the Double Tree in Syracuse. Register early to secure a hotel room. For further information go to  http://www.RotaryEmpireMDPETS.org. The majority of the meeting will be held on Saturday if you are considering attending for one day. Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez will attend the District PETS training.

Rotary Leadership Institute Northeast America: The Institute is holding a graduate class on succession planning on Saturday, March 2nd, at Johnson City High School in Johnson City, New York. The class will start at 7:30 am and end at 3:30 pm. The course includes suggestions on how to develop leaders. You must have completed the Rotary Leadership parts I, II and III to take the graduate course. Register at RLINEA.org.

Easter Baskets for Circles of Mercy: Lois Hannan is coordinating the collection this year. Roberto and Jim Leyhane purchased 25 baskets and delivered them to the YMCA. Richard Zazycki, Circles of Mercy, is asking that the baskets include coloring books, color pencils, facial tissues, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, hair combs, hairbrushes, small stuffed animals, toys, small games, small books, and different types of wrapped candy. Items can be dropped off every Thursday at Moscatiellos. Shannon needs the items for the baskets by March 18th so she can get the baskets to Richard by March 22nd. Easter is on March 31st this year.

Viking Gym: Jim Leyhane is looking at the possibility of placing a Rotary Peace Pole at the site.

Rotary Birthday Party: The Party is February 23rd from 5 pm until 8 pm at the Parting Glass located at 40 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Appetizers will be provided, and a cash bar will be open. the cost is $5. Register here https://www.crsadmin.com/eventportal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=9c633b5f-9f0c-44ab-a378-ca8b39759110.

Opportunity for Service: The Colonie-Guilderland Rotary Club sent information on helping the immigrant IRC with help for asylum seekers. Phil Kellerman researched the request and reported back to the Club with his recommendation.

Member Lists: The meeting of March 28th will be a General Assembly. The membership lists will be updated so Keven Leyhane and Debbie Rodriguez can update the website.

Gift of Life: Per Leyhane, 5,000 children around the world received heart surgery. If every Rotarian contributed $50 to Gift of Life, another child could receive a transplant. To donate go to https://www.giftoflife.org/contrib#makecontribtoday.

Social Capital: Debbie Rodriguez suggested that the Club look into the Rotary Community Corps where non-Rotarian Community members work in partnership with Rotary to improve their community. Peter Brown will check with our Rotary District about existing Corps or how to establish a Corp.

Next Meeting: Thursday, February 22nd at 6:00 pm at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant, Route 4, North Greenbush. Also, you can join the by Zoom using the link on the websites calendar page. Our speaker will be Suzanne Gazinski from the Epilepsy Foundation.

Entree choices will be Antipasto Salid, Chicken Marsala and Eggplant Parmesan.

Kevin Bailey majored in international political science in college. He graduated and went on to establish High Peaks Solar, a solar installation service located in Wynantskill. He also founded the 501c not-for-profit The Sky is Not Limited. While working the Home Show at the Pepsi Arena in 2006 he met Jean Dobbs the CEO of the African Reflection Foundation. In partnership with the Foundation, The Sky is Not Limited has provided 15 wells combined with solar power to areas in Tanzania. They have also provided for a well in Haiti.

When Mr. Bailey went to Africa ten to twelve years ago; he witnessed poverty and saw how long it took to get water. A woman in her seventies walked one and a half miles each way every day to get a gallon of water. Having a well is life changing.

The African Reflection Foundation sites the wells, provides logistics and funding. The Sky is Not Limited, installs the wells, storage tanks and solar panels. Solar panels are used to power the well pump. Each well had cost $15,000 but due to inflation, the cost is now $17,000. Many of the wells were located at schools. The equipment is donated to the schools and become school property. Students and their families obtain water for free while there was a small charge for others. The solar panels last for forty to fifty years. However, the pump controls are electronic and need protection from the sun. Cell phones are used for monitoring.

The Sky is Not Limited is looking at developing solar cooking projects. Many people cook with charcoal and/or wood. Deforestation is becoming a problem. For further information or to donate to their projects go to https://theskyisnotlimited.org/.

Members in Attendance (15):  Debbie Brown, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Kevin Leyhane, Phil Kellerman, Andy Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Debbie Rodriguez, Murray Forth, Terry Brewer, Monica Annis, Ron Annis and Dick Drumm.

By Zoom (0): 

Guests (1): Sister Betsy Van Deusen and Lois Hannan.

President Peter Brown called the meeting to order. 

Theme for the Year: “Building Community”

MEETING NOTES:

Iron Giraffe Bowl-a-Thon: The bowl-a-thon will be held on Sunday April 14 from 2 pm until 4 pm. The cost will be $13 per person. Per Phil Kellerman, sponsorships are $50. Phil has collected $300 so far in sponsorships. Proceeds will go to the Anchor Food Pantry and to the Maple Hill water project. Phil will pick up some gift cards for the raffle. He will also ask participants to bring a food item for donation. He also spoke to Christine Fowler regarding student participation.

Membership: Each SRC Rotary member is asked to bring a friend to the Rotary meeting on April 11th. Terry Brewer will put a program together about Rotary, what the Club does and what we can do for individuals to interest them in Rotary. Members should be prepared to talk about why you joined Rotary. The Club will cover the costs for guests.

Water for Kenya: Ms. Kenara and members of the Rotary Club of Enkare Naroch visited the Full Gospel Church on February 7th. They reported that it was an excellent meeting and all are excited about the community project. They are discussing a small charge for water in order to generate funds to maintain the well. The next step is the needs assessment.

Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez and Debbie Rodriguez met with Jeff Simons, Superintendent of the East Greenbush Central School District, on Monday, February 5th. Mr. Simons is looking at ways that students and staff can be involved in the process.

Lois Hannan reported that she has received the Sister’s of Mercy grant application for the water project. She may need some help with that.

Phil Kellerman and Debbie Rodriguez will take the Rotary International Global Grant training.

Exchange Program: Peter Brown spoke with Jeff Simons about the possibility of a summer exchange program. Mr. Simons will pursue the idea. The Schodack School District is considering how to proceed.

Grants Management Training: The next training will be held via Zoom on Monday, April 1st, at 7 pm. Register for grant training at https://cnyrotary.org/. Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane and Debbie Rodriguez completed the training offered on February 7th. In the new CNY Rotary District 7190, there are more than 100 clubs and greater than 3,000 Rotarians. There were 87 participants in the training. There are three categories of grants, District, District Scholarship and Regional. There is $60,000 available for grants this year. Applications are due by June 1.

PETS Training: The next free virtual pre-PETS trainings will be held on Tuesday, February 13th at 7 pm, The rest will be held on Wednesday, February 21st at 7 pm and Thursday, February 29th at 7 pm.

Rotary District: The in-person PETS training will be held March 15th through 17th at the Double Tree in Syracuse. Register early to secure a hotel room. For further information go to  http://www.RotaryEmpireMDPETS.org. The majority of the meeting will be held on Saturday if you are considering attending for one day. Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez will attend the District PETS training.

Rotary Leadership Institute Northeast America: The Institute is holding a graduate class on succession planning on Saturday, March 2nd, at Johnson City High School in Johnson City, New York. The class will start at 7:30 am and end at 3:30 pm. The course includes suggestions on how to develop leaders. You must have completed the Rotary Leadership parts I, II and III to take the graduate course. Register at RLINEA.org.

Easter Baskets for Circles of Mercy: Lois Hannan is coordinating the collection this year. Roberto and Jim Leyhane purchased 25 baskets and delivered them to the YMCA. Richard Zazycki, Circles of Mercy, is asking that the baskets include coloring books, color pencils, facial tissues, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, hair combs, hairbrushes, small stuffed animals, toys, small games, small books, and different types of wrapped candy. Items can be dropped off every Thursday at Moscatiellos. Shannon needs the items for the baskets by March 18th so she can get the baskets to Richard by March 22nd. Easter is on March 31st this year.

Viking Gym: Ron Annis reported that the equipment is at the Schodack Town Highway Department. Ron met with the Town in November. The Town Highway Department will clear the land in April. Ron will work with the Highway and Park Departments to lay out the equipment location. The Town will drill the holes and coordinate the concrete order and delivery. Volunteers will be needed to hold the equipment in place during the concrete pour. Along with Rotarians, volunteers will be recruited from the community, boy scouts, Kiwanis and other groups. Top Form will provide scan codes for how to use the equipment and we may add a Rotary Peace Pole. The Club will look at publicity for the project.

Student Scholarships: Terry Brewer will get the scholarship letters out. The Club agreed to three $1000 scholarships to a student from the East Greenbush, Maple Hill and Rensselaer School Districts. Will try to have the responses from the Districts by April 15th so that the Club can meet the recipients in a meeting on May 16th or 23rd but no later than June 6th. Terry will speak with Andy about a Cafe Capriccio Dinner fundraiser.

Gift of Life: Per Leyhane, 5,000 children around the world received heart surgery. If every Rotarian contributed $50 to Gift of Life, another child could receive a transplant. To donate go to https://www.giftoflife.org/contrib#makecontribtoday.

Social Capital: Peter Brown attended a seminar on social capital, also called community resilience, which generates value for a community. An organizational process has been developed. Peter will provide further information ideas.

Next Meeting: Thursday, February 15th at 6:00 pm at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant, Route 4, North Greenbush. Also, you can join the by Zoom using the link on the websites calendar page. Our speaker will be Kevin Bailey from High Peaks Solar speaking on water projects in Tanzania.

Entree choices will be Chicken Rustica Salid, Lasagna and Cheese Ravioli.

Sister Betsy Van Deusen is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet. She is a social worker by training and has served as Director of Church Relations for Habitat for Humanity International and Director of Community Partnerships for the Diocese of Albany. She serves on the Boards of the Regional Food Bank and the College of Saint Rose. Sister Betsy has been the CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany since July of 2022.

Catholic Charities of Diocese of Albany encompasses 14 counties witch cover 10,000 square miles. There are 10 agencies with 85 programs. The organization employes 700 people and has a 48-million-dollar budget. They serve 100,000 people a year. Funding comes from the Counties and the State with some Federal grants. They also fund raise.

Catholic Charities provides health, housing and shelter, youth and family, older adult and community services such as residences for pregnant teens, foster family placement and substance abuse assistance. They also have food insecurity and nutrition programs which include food pantries. For example, they provided a bus token to an individual so he could apply for a job and then provided steel toed shoes so he could do the job. That individual is now self-sufficient. They also provide services for run-away youth and help incarcerated individuals re-enter society. They provide community outreach and emergency services.

There are 168 Catholic Charity organizations in the Country. They are the largest service provider in the Country and in New York State. For more information go to https://www.ccrcda.org/.

Members in Attendance (12):  Debbie Brown, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Kevin Leyhane, Phil Kellerman, Andy Leyhane, John Justino, Ray Hannan, Debbie Rodriguez and Mary Alice Caldes.

By Zoom (0): 

Guests (1): Richard Zazycki

President Peter Brown called the meeting to order. 

Theme for the Year: “Building Community”

MEETING NOTES:

Iron Giraffe Bowl-a-Thon: The bowl-a-thon will be held on Sunday April 14 from 2 pm until 4 pm. The cost will be $13 per person. Per Phil Kellerman, sponsorships are $50. Phil has several sponsors. Please let Phil know if you want to be a sponsor.

Membership: Each SRC Rotary member is asked to bring a friend to either the Rotary meeting on April 11th or the meeting on April 25th. One of these meetings will have a speaker (TBD).

Water for Kenya: Tony Kasura, one of Peter and Debbie Brown’s guides during their trip to Maasai Mara Kenya, Edith Kenara of the Rotary Club of Enkare Naroch and Peter Brown agreed to locate the bore hole in Enabelibel Village at the Full Gospel Church. Mr. Kasura and Ms. Kenara will be visiting the Full Gospel Church on February 7th. Peter is sending them a model of a Memorandum of Understanding which will also include what everyone is responsible for. The next step is to develop a needs assessment. Peter and other Club members will meet with Jeff Simons, Superintendent of the East Greenbush Central School District, at Genet at 10 am on Monday, February 5th.

Exchange Program: Peter Brown reported that the Schodack School District is still looking at the Program.

Grants Management Training: There will be two sessions to choose from. Trainings will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, February 7th at 7 pm. and on Monday, April 1st, at 7 pm. The Club needs at least two people to attend. Register for grant training at https://cnyrotary.org/.

PETS Training: The first of the four free virtual pre-PETS trainings will be held Monday, February 5th at 7 pm, Tuesday. The other trainings will be held on February 13th at 7 pm, Wednesday, February 21st at 7 pm and Thursday, February 29th at 7 pm.

Rotary District: The in-person PETS training will be held March 15th through 17th at the Double Tree in Syracuse. Mario Cesar Martins de Carmargo from Brazil, the RI President for 2025-26, will be attending. Register early to secure a hotel room. For further information go to  http://www.RotaryEmpireMDPETS.org. The majority of the meeting will be held on Saturday if you are considering attending for one day.

Rotary Leadership Institute Northeast America: The Institute is holding a graduate class on succession planning on Saturday, March 2nd, at Johnson City High School in Johnson City, New York. The class will start at 7:30 am and end at 3:30 pm. The course includes suggestions on how to develop leaders. You must have completed the Rotary Leadership parts I, II and III to take the graduate course. Register at RLINEA.org.

Easter Baskets for Circles of Mercy: Roberto and Jim Leyhane purchased 25 baskets and delivered them to the YMCA. Richard Zazycki, Circles of Mercy, is asking that the baskets include coloring books, color pencils, facial tissues, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, hair combs, hairbrushes, small stuffed animals, toys, small games, small books, and different types of wrapped candy. Shannon needs the items for the baskets by March 18th so she can get the baskets to Richard by March 22nd. Easter is on March 31st this year.

Next Meeting: Thursday, February 8th at 6:00 pm at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant, Route 4, North Greenbush. Also, you can join the by Zoom using the link on the websites calendar page. Our speaker will be Sister Betsy Van Deusen, CEO of Catholic Charites in Albany.

Entree choices will be Chicken Cesear Salid, Veal Marsala and Baked Ziti.

Richard Zazycki is the President and CEO of Circles of Mercy located at 11 Washington Street in Rensselaer. The Sisters of Mercy sponsor the organization. For twenty-five years, Circles of Mercy has provided services for people in need with a special emphasis on helping women and children.

Circles of Mercy offers free tax preparation assistance, financial literacy and computer training and assistance with employment searches and resume preparation. They provide kids programs, coordinate and run Christmas adopt-a-family, back to school and Easter basket programs providing Christmas gifts, school supplies and Easter baskets to families in need. They provide human service resource referrals for those services not provided by Circles of Mercy.

Catherine’s Closet is a thrift shop run by Circles of Mercy and also located at 11 Washington Street. They provide clothing grants for clients and families, layette sets for newborns and monthly grants for baby clothes, diapers and wipes. The thrift store is open from 10 am until 2 pm Monday through Friday. Donations are accepted from 10 am until 1:30 pm. They do not accept toys, household electrical or baby equipment.

Though their donations and grant revenues were down this past year, Circles of Mercy was able to provide 7,900 service transactions involving 1,600 clients. They have maintained and expanded their volunteer and benefactor base and have met or exceed their strategic planning goals. For more information on Circles of Mercy and Catherines Closet go to https://circlesofmercy.org/.

Members in Attendance (13):  Debbie Brown, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Kevin Leyhane, Phil Kellerman, Andy Leyhane, Terry Brewer, John Justino, Ray Hannan, Debbie Rodriguez and Charlie Foote.

By Zoom (1): Guest David Hannan.  

Guests (4): Dr. Jessica Kumar (Speaker) and family.

President Peter Brown called the meeting to order. 

Theme for the Year: “Building Community”

MEETING NOTES:

Iron Giraffe Bowl-a-Thon: The bowl-a-thon will be held on Sunday April 14 from 2 pm until 4 pm. The cost will be $13 per person for 50 bowlers. Per Phil Kellerman, sponsorships are $50. Please let Phil know if you want to be a sponsor.

Water for Kenya: Tony Kasura, one Peter and Debbie Brown’s guides during their trip to Maasai Mara Kenya, Edith Kenara of the Rotary Club of Enkare Naroch and Peter Brown agreed to locate the bore hole in Enabelibel Village at the Full Gospel Church. The next step is to develop a needs assessment. There will be a Zoom meeting tomorrow at noon with the Enkare Naroch Rotary Club. If you are interested in participating, contact Peter Brown or Roberto Martinez for the Zoom link.

Grant Training: There will be two sessions to choose from. Trainings will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, February 6th or Thursday, February 7th at 7 pm. The Club needs at least two people to attend.

PETS Training: The first of the four free virtual pre-PETS trainings will be held Monday, February 5th at 7 pm, Tuesday. The other trainings will be held on February 13th at 7 pm, Wednesday, February 21st at 7 pm and Thursday, February 29th at 7 pm.

The Rotary District in-person PETS training will be held March 15th through 17th at the Double Tree in Syracuse. Mario Cesar Martins de Carmargo from Brazil, the RI President for 2025-26, will be attending. Register early to secure a hotel room. For further information go to  http://www.RotaryEmpireMDPETS.org. The majority of the meeting will be held on Saturday if you are considering attending for one day.

Easter Baskets for Circles of Mercy: Roberto Martinez spoke to Shannon Romanowski at the YMCA. The YMCA will again partner with us. Roberto and Jim Leyhane will purchase 25 baskets and members of the YMCA will put the baskets together. Richard Zazycki of Circles of Mercy is asking that the baskets include coloring books, color pencils, facial tissues, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, hair combs, hairbrushes, small stuffed animals, toys, small games, small books, and different types of wrapped candy. Shannon needs the items for the baskets by March 18th so she can get the baskets to Richard by March 22nd. Easter is on March 31st this year.

Next Meeting: Thursday, February 1st at 6:00 pm at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant, Route 4, North Greenbush. Also, you can join the by Zoom using the link on the websites calendar page. Our speaker will be Richard Zazycki of Circles of Mercy.

Entree choices will be Antipasto Salid, Chicken Parmesan and Penne ala Vodka.

Jessica Kumar, D.O., MPH is the Medical Director of the Office of Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention. She did Residencies at Albany Medical Center and Case Western. She joined the Department of Health in 2019. She was hired for the Immunization Program but moved to Communicable Diseases with the outbreak of COVID. She worked on the vaccine related polio outbreak in 2022 in NYS.

Polio is caused by the Enterovirus poliovirus. The virus is passed through poor hygiene and ingestion of fecal contaminated food and/or water. People are most infectious prior to exhibiting symptoms although 75 percent of children show no symptoms. Only a small percentage develop paralysis. Jonas Salk developed an inactivated (killed) polio vaccine in 1955 and Albert Saben subsequently developed an attenuated live oral vaccine.

In 1988, polio was present in 25 countries. That year, the World Health Assembly established the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Rotary is one of the major contributors to this initiative. Other contributors include UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the CDC. Czechoslovakia was the first country to eliminate polio. There were 350,000 cases worldwide in 1988. Now there is less than 10. Polio is still endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In June of 2022, New York State had the first case of paralytic polio since 2013. It was found through surveillance for acute flaccid myelitis. It was identified by genomic sequencing at Wadsworth Laboratories and confirmed by the CDC. It was a case of vaccine-derived polio virus. The attenuated live oral vaccine can mutate into a virus that cause disease. If an unvaccinated person comes in contact with the mutated virus, he/she can develop disease. The public health response included communication, media messaging, modeling, predictions of new infections and wastewater surveillance. The virus was found in wastewater in Rockland and Orange Counties. In New York State, 78.9 percent of children received the polio vaccine. Emphasis is on increasing vaccine coverage. For more information on polio, check the WHO Polio Guidelines https://www.who.int/health-topics/poliomyelitis#tab=tab_1 or the Pan American Health Association https://www.paho.org/en/topics/poliomyelitis.