MEMBERS ATTENDING (14): Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Ray Hannan, Debbie Rodriguez, Charlie Foote, John Justino, Terry Brewer and Phil Kellerman. Via Zoom: Carol Orvis.

GUESTS (1): Marissa Multari, Assistant District Governor.

Vice-President Peter Brown called the meeting to order.

Theme for the Year: “Growing Fellowship and Service Locally and Globally.” 

Hybrid Meeting:  Please let Kevin Leyhane, Jim Leyhane or Roberto Martinez know if you plan to join the weekly meeting via Zoom.

Proxy Votes:  If unable to attend please submit your proxy votes to President Kevin Leyhane or any board member who will be attending the meeting. Proxy votes can also be submitted using the Remind App. Text to the number 81010.

MEETING NOTES

Donation: Jimmy Thomas, the speaker from last week, for Doggie Paddle for Veterans’ Service Dogs gave Roberto Martinez $200 for the Club to go toward attracting new members.

Grant Vote on the 4/6/23: Per Roberto Martinez, the meeting notes from last week should have noted that we approved the submission of the Scholarship Grant application for 23-24 Rotary Calendar year. Again, we will offer three $1000 scholarships. It is anticipated that 50% of the funding will come from the grant and the other 50% was raised through the Cafe Capriccio raffle. The Grant paperwork from last year’s grant is due in August.

Scholarships: Terry Brewer will send out the letters to the Maple Hill, East Greenbush and Rensselaer School Districts for their nomination for scholarships. He will arrange a date in early June for the scholarship recipients to attend a Club meeting to receive their scholarships.

Rotary Bowling Event:  Phil Kellerman spoke to Christine Fowler from Maple Hill. Phil will present a check for $544 to the School on Tuesday, April 18 at 9:50 am. The presentation will air over the school’s TV. The check will go to the Water for South Sudan Project, organized by 7th grade students from the Maple Hill junior/Senior School.  Roberto Martinez and Debbie Brown will also attend. Phil Kellerman dropped off the donated food along with a check for $544 to the Anchor Food Pantry last week.

Website:  Per Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez, we are in the process of updating club information on MYRotary (International), ClubRunner (District), and SRCRotary.org.  While using the websites, please make a note of old contact or other information that is not up to date.  Our information is posted in numerous spots, and we want to check for accuracy. Marissa Multari, the Assistant District Governor, offered to help the Club navigate through the issues experienced while trying to update the Rotary District and Interational websites. We have not been able to correct the incorrect information on the websites for our new member Tom King. Marissa also discussed the possibility of having more local training on the websites.

Viking Gym: Debbie Rodriguez emailed Ron Annis regarding any update on the Viking Gym and what the Schodack Town Supervisor will speak about next week.

Student Exchange Program: Peter Brown and Jim Leyhane sent a letter to Jeff Simon, Superintendent of the East Greenbush Central School District.

Dues: A reminder from our Treasurer, Murray Forth, that our yearly membership dues of $175 should be paid by June 1st or you can opt to make two payments. Members will not receive a bill.

New Member: Burke Adams submitted his application for membership.

World Malaria Day: John Justino reported that the UAlbany Center for Global Health is presenting a World Malaria Day Briefing on Friday, April 28^th at 12pm (ET) in-person in Classroom 4 on the Health Sciences Campus and via Zoom. They are excited to be hosting guest speakers from the CDC/President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and an SPH alumna from Jhpiego. Those wishing to attend, need to use this link to register in advance at https://forms.office.com/r/kB1pgy5jqq.

Rotaract: John Justino provided an update. Members of Rotaract participated in our bowling event. They have a core group of 5 people. They are planning on participating in Healthy Kids Day with the YMCA. They are trying to organize a presentation by Cathy Stone about her therapy dogs. Since Covid, it has been difficult to organize events. Faculty can work remotely five out of ten days.

Thinking Ahead: Jim Leyhane reminded members that now is the time to start planning for the summer. The Club voted to continue hosting at various homes instead of at Moscatiellos. We need volunteers to coordinate or host a summer event. The Valley Cats baseball game is July 27. Some other ideas mentioned included Mac Hayden, S & S Brewery and the Slater. Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguez are looking at participating in the Town of Schonack’s Summer in the Park. Phil Kellerman offered to help with that. Jim reminded us that the Circles of Mercy Backpack Project takes place in August.

Pets Training: Jim Leyhane reported on the PETS training that he and Roberto Martinez attended. Things changed this year. Hors d”oeuvers and an open bar replaced dinner. Experts rotated around the tables every 20 minutes. The Little Falls Rotary Club spoke to them about hybrid meetings, and they learned that Little Falls major fundraiser is selling football squares every week during the football season. Per Jim, there are lots of ideas and we need to listen to them. Jim suggested that everyone should have an elevator speech ready when asked “what is Rotary?” He suggested “who else in the world can take on Polio and win?” Did you know that 450 billion dollars are raised each year for charity and Rotary raises over 300 billion of those dollars? Roberto added that becoming a Rotary Club president gives one a tremendous opportunity to do good in the world. The were 165 people in attendance.

Marissa Multari asked why are you a part of Rotary? Rotary has a large impact. Over 3,600 Rotarians got together to fly a student exchange family to the States and hosted a remembrance service for his father. The family had not wanted to interrupt his exchange experience. That is an example of the impact of Rotary. She suggested hosting a membership mixer. The Club also discussed a satellite club for student exchange to include both the Maple Hill and East Greenbush Districts. Whitney will attend one of our meetings and speak about CNY.

District Training Assembly: Debbie Rodriguez reported that the Rotary theme for 23-24 is “Creating Hope in the World.” The were three breakout sessions in the morning with three topic choices each. The topics for the first breakout session included Club Culture Evolution, Rotary 101 and CNY the Latest and Greatest. The second breakout session included Grow Rotary & Innovative Clubs, Service Projects & Fundraising and My Rotary/Rotary Brand Center/Learning Center. The third session topics include the Rotary Foundation, Rotary Skills in Real Life and Public Image. Since Debbie attended via Zoom, she was limited to Rotary 101 which reviewed the history of Rotary; Service Projects and Fundraising which featured Jimmy Thomas who spoke about the Doggie Paddle for Veterans’ Service Dogs and an overview of the history and function of the Rotary Foundation. In the last session, DGE Whitney Pangburn presented the District Rotary Budget. You can learn a lot at District Training. Debbie, Peter Brown, Roberto Martinez and Jim Leyhane attended the Grants Management Seminar in the afternoon.

District Updates: Marissa Multari, Assistant District Governor, she needed a speaker for Gift of Life. Jim Leyhane volunteered to speaker and to sell tickets. She is also looking for Clubs to donate spirits for this years Barrell of Booze. They raised $5,000 last year. Tickets will be one for $20 or two for $30.

• Multi-District Conference – Thousand Islands, NY 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel May 05, 2023 – May 07, 2023.
• On April 26th, the Free Food Fridge of Albany will be talking at the Albany Rotary Club Mixer at Swifties on Everett Road at 5:30.
• On June 28th, The Albany Rotary Club will be hosting a Blood Drive at the Zologa Post on Everett Road. She would like other Clubs to co-host.

Next Meeting: Thursday, April 20, dinner 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. Charles Peter, Schodack Town Supervisor, will be our speaker.

Entree choices will be Antipasto Salid, Cheese Ravioli with Marinara Sauce and Spaghetti with Meatballs or Marinara Sauce.

MEMBERS ATTENDING (13): Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Andy Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Debbie Rodriguez and Phil Kellerman, Via Zoom: Charlie Foote and Carol Orvis.

GUESTS (2): Jimmy Thomas and Ruth Samuels.

Vice-President Peter Brown called the meeting to order.

Theme for the Year: “Growing Fellowship and Service Locally and Globally.” 

Hybrid Meeting:  Please let Kevin Leyhane, Jim Leyhane or Roberto Martinez know if you plan to join the weekly meeting via Zoom.

Proxy Votes:  If unable to attend please submit your proxy votes to President Kevin Leyhane or any board member who will be attending the meeting. Proxy votes can also be submitted using the Remind App. Text to the number 81010.

MEETING NOTES

Circles of Mercy Easter Basket Program:  Partnering with Shannon Romanowski of the East Greenbush YMCA, over 30 Easter Baskets were assembled and delivered to Circles of Mercy in Rensselaer.  Thank you to everyone who donated and delivered donations to the YMCA.

Rotary Bowling Event:  The event was a huge success.  The Club raised $1088. Phil Kellerman drooped off the donated food along with a check for $544 to the Anchor Food Pantry. The remainder of the money will go to the Water for South Sudan Project, organized by 7th grade students from the Maple Hill junior/Senior School. Phil will check with Christine Fowler regarding the possibility of presenting the check to the students at school or at an upcoming meeting. Thank you to Phil for organizing the event, and everyone who donated time and money especially Pat Bailey, Debbie Brown and Peter Brown for manning the tables and to Murray Forth for making the signs. We are planning to make this an annual event.

Website Updates:  We are in the process of updating club information on our websites, currently there are three of them: MYRotary (International), ClubRunner (District), and SRCRotary.org.  As you use these websites, please check please check the information for accuracy, especially your contact information.

Exchange Program: Peter Brown and Jim Leyhane met with students and parents (approximately 20 people) at an evening event at Maple Hill. The School’s International Club will be making a couple of trips on their own, one to Montreal. There is an exchange request for next summer for a student to visit Australia.

Next Meeting: Thursday, April 13, dinner 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. This will be a Club Assembly.

Entree choices will be Chicken Rustica Salid, Lasagna and Penne Ala Vodka.

Jimmy Thomas is a member of the Glenville Rotary Club. He is also an Army Veteran who recently lost his service dog Boots. Service dogs are trained to assist individuals with physical and/or emotional problems, for example, providing help to someone experiencing seizures, calming someone with PTSD and helping those with visual or hearing disabilities navigate. Having Boots changed Jimmy’s life. Jimmy will be getting another service dog in the future who he will name Duke.

Many veterans suffer from traumatic brain injury, PTSD or amputations. They have a 50% higher risk of suicide. More than 114,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001. Veterans are in need of service dogs. The military does not provide nor does insurance cover the cost for service dogs. Trained service dogs can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $75,000. Jimmy and the Glenville Rotary Club established Doggie Paddle in order to help veterans obtain a service dog.

Jimmy travelled 2,000 miles by kayak from Albany, New York to Key West Florida and he biked 1,945 miles from Key West to Albany “to raise money and awareness for those veterans in need of a service dog.” Along the way, he attended many Rotary meetings and was hosted by a number of Rotarians. Some of his experience included being forced out of the Hudson River because of six-foot waves produced by a hurricane. He reentered the water in New Jersey. A ferry boat hit him in the Delaware Bay. He met two Rotarians who loaded his kayak on top of their car and drove him across the Bay. Kayaks are only 8 inches out of the water which was very scary during a bad storm in Titusville. At one point, sharks swam around the kayak. Jimmy thought that was because the local fishermen used chum and the sharks were then drawn to the kayak looking for food. He was also rammed by a 12-foot alligator. One of the manatees he encountered lifted the kayak up out of the water. Dolphins swam back and forth under his kayak. While biking back, he was hit by a car twice and, at one point, his eyes froze shut. His determination kept him going to prove to those who thought that he could not do this that he could.

Jimmy Thomas has raised a quarter of a million dollars so far for Doggie Paddle. For more information, visit the website at http://www.doggiepaddle.org. You can also attend the Glenville Rotary Foundation Dinner on April 8th.

MEMBERS ATTENDING (16): Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Kevin Leyhane, Andy Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Debbie Rodriguez, Phil Kellerman, Charlie Foote, Ron Annis, Terry Brewer and Ray Hannan.

GUESTS (4): Emery and Joan Maddocks, Monika Annis and Betty Brewer.

President Kevin Leyhane called the meeting to order.

Theme for the Year: “Growing Fellowship and Service Locally and Globally.” 

Hybrid Meeting:  Please let Kevin Leyhane, Jim Leyhane or Roberto Martinez know if you plan to join the weekly meeting via Zoom.

Proxy Votes:  If unable to attend please submit your proxy votes to President Kevin Leyhane or any board member who will be attending the meeting. Proxy votes can also be submitted using the Remind App. Text to the number 81010.

MEETING NOTES

Circles of Mercy Easter Basket Program: Once again, SRC Rotary and the East Greenbush YMCA partnered to support Circles of Mercy and their annual Easter Basket Program. Items needed include coloring books, crayons, color pencils, facial tissues, toothpaste and toothbrushes, dental floss, hair combs and brushes, age appropriate (1 to 12 years old) small stuffed animals, toys, small games, or reading books, and of course various different types of traditional wrapped candy. Tomorrow is the last day to drop off items at the YMCA. Per Shannon Romanowski, the YMCA will assemble the baskets and drop them off at Circles of Mercy. Thank you to all for your donations.

Rotary Bowling Event: The event will be held this Sunday, April 2nd, from 2 pm until 4 pm. The cost is $16 per individual bowler or $50 for a family or student group of 4 with shoes included. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the Anchor Food Pantry of Castleton-on-Hudson and the Water for South Sudan Project, organized by 7th grade students from the Maple Hill junior/Senior School.

There will be raffles for gift certificates. Those who bring food donate to the Anchor Food Pantry will receive a free raffle ticket. Requested food items include cereal, toiletries, instant mashed potato boxes, peanut butter, jelly, snack packages of crackers, and canned chicken.

Per Phil Kellerman, there are 22 sponsors, Murray Forth made the signs and Phil expects 40 to 50 bowlers.

Student Exchange Program: Peter Brown and Jim Leyhane will meet at Maple Hill next with regarding interest in the student exchange program.

District Training Assembly and Grants Managment Seminar: The Assembly and Grants Training will be held on Saturday, April 1st. Roberto Martinez and Jim Leyhane will attend the training in Schenectady. Debbie Rodriguez and Peter Brown have signed up to attend the training via Zoom.

Albany Water Project Video Presentation: Kevin Leyhane is working on posting the video to the website.

YMCA Donation: The Club approved a $200 donation to the YMCA general fund.

East Greenbush Global Education Committee:  The entire East Greenbush School District is reading the book “The Elephant in the Room” by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Velda, a large stuffed elephant, will be making an appearance at the SRC Rotary event this Sunday. We have six of the books which were loaned out to Rotary members this evening. Once done reading, please pass the book on to another member.

Tri-City Valley Cats: The game the Club was to attend last year was canceled due to weather. The new date tentatively is July 27th. If you had not signed up last year and are interested in attending a baseball game and picnic this year, please contact Debbie Rodriguez. Further information will be forthcoming.

New Members Update: Roberto Martinez suggested that new membership should be discussed at every meeting. Rotary is member driven and the biggest service organization in the world.

Name Tags: Contact Pat Baily if you need a new name tag.

Speakers and Schedules: Please check the Calendar page on the Rotary website for the speaker schedule. There still are dates available. If you have a speaker, please contact Becky Raymond, Peter Brown or Kevin Leyhane.

SUNY School of Public Health Lecture: Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, winner of Axelrod Prize in Public Health, will be speaking at the George Education Center on the University of Albany’s Health Sciences Campus on Monday April 3rd at 4:00 pm about the Flint Water Crisis.

Boy Scouts: Per Jim Leyhane, the Scouts are asking for $475 for camper scholarships for this summer. The Club approved funding for the request.

Schodack Town Park: Peter Brown suggested that if the Club wants to participate in the “Summer in the Park” this year, we need to start planning. We will need more membership participation and possibly plan to sell something as a fundraiser.

Next Meeting: Thursday, April 6, dinner 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 Jimmy Thomas from the Glenville Rotary Club.

Entree choices will be Chicken Florentine, Chicken Caeser Salid and Manicotti.

There were two theories about the cause of Alzheimer’s. In the beta amyloid theory, amyloid plaques collect in the brain when the beta amyloid protein wears out and enzymes cut the protein into fragments. The fragments stick together to form plaques. In the tau theory, abnormal forms of the tau protein accumulate and form tangles.

Early on, Pfizer and Eli Lily produced antibody drugs that focused preventing the enzymes from cutting the beta amyloid protein into fragments. Cognitive function did not improve with use of the drugs when compared to the control group. The trials were ended.

Subsequently, addition research suggested that amyloid formation is linked to misfolding of the tau protein leading to tangles.

Recent developments in new imaging agents allowed for better images of the brain, plaques and tangles. However, the half-life of F-18 (radiolabeled fluorinated compound) is 109 minutes necessitating manufacturing of materials in-hospital or facilities geographically located near hospitals.

There are two new treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease. Both involve monoclonal antibodies which bind to the beta amyloid protein and trigger removal of the amyloid plaques. The first treatment from Biogen and Eastside was approved in June of 2021. However, there are concerns regarding efficacy, adverse effects and the high cost of $56,000 per year. The second treatment from Biogen and Eastside was approved in January 2023. This antibody produced significant reduction of plaques and beneficial effects on the tau protein. A third treatment from Eli Lilly is expected to be approved at the end of this year or early next year.

These treatments slow down the progression of the disease. They are not cures.

Ron was asked by the Town of Schodack to present information on the Viking Gym project to the Town Board last Thursday. This project is a multiorganizational effort that started in 2017 and is based on a Viking playground design created in Sweden. It was developed in conjunction with our sister Rotary Club in Gefle, Sweden, the hometown of Ron‘s wife Monika. The original gym was built as an Eagle Scout project helped in part by a grant from the Southern Rensselaer Rotary Club with contributions and guidance from Top Form and the Town of Schodack. The original equipment consisted of wood logs which deteriorated over time and were removed.

The current plan is to add eight new pieces of equipment to the current Viking gym site at the Schodack Town Park. The equipment identified is not made from wood and is guaranteed to last for 20 years. The cost for all eight pieces is $24,000. Contributions from the SRC Rotary and the Kiwanis Club will help offset part of the cost with the remainder hopefully coming from some grant money available to the Town of Schodack. Let’s make an investment in prevention!

MEMBERS ATTENDING (14): Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Kevin Leyhane, Andy Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Debbie Rodriguez and Phil Kellerman. Via Zoom: Charlie Foote and Carol Orvis.

GUESTS (3): Joe Corr, Cherie Corr and Kevin Drumm.

President Kevin Leyhane called the meeting to order.

Theme for the Year: “Growing Fellowship and Service Locally and Globally.” 

Hybrid Meeting:  Please let Kevin Leyhane, Jim Leyhane or Roberto Martinez know if you plan to join the weekly meeting via Zoom.

Proxy Votes:  If unable to attend please submit your proxy votes to President Kevin Leyhane or any board member who will be attending the meeting. Proxy votes can also be submitted using the Remind App. Text to the number 81010.

MEETING NOTES

Circles of Mercy Easter Basket Program: Once again, SRC Rotary and the East Greenbush YMCA are partnering to support Circles of Mercy and their annual Easter Basket Program. We would like to provide for 25 baskets this year. We have enough baskets and cellophane wrap. Items needed include coloring books, crayons, color pencils, facial tissues, toothpaste and toothbrushes, dental floss, hair combs and brushes, age appropriate (1 to 12 years old) small stuffed animals, toys, small games, or reading books, and of course various different types of traditional wrapped candy.

Items may be dropped off at the YMCA or collected at each Club meeting. The last collection day for our Club will be the regular Club meeting on Thursday March 30, 2023. Circles of Mercy will also take monetary donations for this project.

Rotary Bowling Event:  Per Phil Kellerman, the event will be held on April 2nd (Sunday) from 2 pm until 4 pm. The cost is $16 per individual bowler or $50 for a family or student group of 4 with shoes included. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the Anchor Food Pantry of Castleton-on-Hudson and the Water for South Sudan Project, organized by 7th grade students from the Maple Hill junior/Senior School.

There will be raffles for gift certificates. Those who bring food donate to the Anchor Food Pantry will receive a free raffle ticket. Requested food items include cereal, toiletries, instant mashed potato boxes, peanut butter, jelly, snack packages of crackers, and canned chicken.

If you have not already done so, please let Phil know you will be attending. Sponsors who have not yet submitted their check, please do so at the next meeting.

District Training Assembly and Grants Managment Seminar: The Assembly and Grants Training will be held on April 1st. You can register for the Training Assembly, the Grants Management Seminar or both.  There is no cost for attendance at these events. Roberto Martinez and Jim Leyhane will attend the training in Schenectady. Debbie Rodriguez has signed up to attend the training via Zoom.

Viking Gym: Ron Anis is presenting the project at the Schodack Town Board meeting tonight.

Tri-City Valley Cats: The game the Club was to attend last year was canceled due to weather. The new date tentatively is July 27th. If you had not signed up last year and are interested in attending a baseball game and picnic this year, please contact Debbie Rodriguez. Further information will be forthcoming.

Next Meeting: Thursday, March 30, dinner 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 Andy Leyhane on the Frontiers of Science.

Entree choices will be Antipasto Salid, Chicken Limone and Portobello Ravioli.

Joe Corr recently retired as the Superintendent of the North Colonie Central School District. He served as the Superintendent for 12 years and as a teacher and administrator for 41 years. He was the 5th Superintendent of the School District in 73 years. For him, education is a family business. His wife Cherie Corr is a teacher. Both his mother and his father were teachers as well as his sister. Early on, he worked in food services, custodial services, building and grounds and transportation. He worked at St. Gregory’s School from 1973 to 1978 teaching grades three through eight. He then worked at Brittonkill Central School District from 1978 to 1981 teaching grades nine through twelve. He started in the North Colonie Central School District in 1981 and taught grades seven through twelve.

The North Colonie Central School District consists of six elementary schools, Shaker Middle School and Shaker High School. As of 2023, there were 6,090 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. They recently enrolled 52 new students and half of them were not English-speaking learners. 25% of the students are on free or reduced lunch. 6% have limited proficiency in English. Demographically the District students are 62% White, 20% Asian/Native Hawaiian, 6% Spanish/Latino and 6% Multiracial.

The North Colonie School District’s culture is reflected in their two-part Mission Statement. First, to establish an environment to develop each student’s potential and, second, establish collaboration between teachers and administrators to build the capacity to provide the environment for education. They strived to create a culture of dignity where inclusion, acceptance, recognition, safety (both physical and psychological) and accountability are important. Inclusion is achieved through participation in athletics, music, robotics and other interests. The district’s public declaration of their values is exhibited in their budgetary resource allocation for staffing, professional development and capital investment. Success is reflected in the recognition and awards the district has received.

“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandella.

MEMBERS ATTENDING (11): Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Dick Drumm, Kevin Leyhane, Debbie Rodriguez and Phil Kellerman. Via Zoom: Charlie Foote.

GUESTS (1) MC Moran.

President Kevin Leyhane called the meeting to order.

Theme for the Year: “Growing Fellowship and Service Locally and Globally.” 

Hybrid Meeting:  Please let Kevin Leyhane, Jim Leyhane or Roberto Martinez know if you plan to join the weekly meeting via Zoom.

Proxy Votes:  If unable to attend please submit your proxy votes to President Kevin Leyhane or any board member who will be attending the meeting. Proxy votes can also be submitted using the Remind App. Text to the number 81010.

MEETING NOTES

Circles of Mercy Easter Basket Program: They are asking for cellophane wrapped Easter baskets include the following items: coloring books, crayons, color pencils, facial tissues, toothpaste and tooth brushes, dental floss, hair combs and brushes, age appropriate (1 to 12 years old) small stuffed animals, toys, small games, or reading books, and of course various different types of traditional candy. Circles of Mercy would like delivery by March 31. The last collection day will be on Thursday March 30, 2023. Circles of Mercy will also take monetary donations which they will use towards this project. Roberto Martinez will check with Shannon Romanowski to determine if the YMCA is interested in participating in this project.

Rotary Bowling Event:  Per Phil Kellerman, the event will be held on April 2nd (Sunday) from 2 pm until 4 pm. The cost is $16 per individual bowler or $50 for a family or student group of 4 with shoes included. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the Anchor Food Pantry of Castleton-on-Hudson and the Water for South Sudan Project, organized by 7th grade students from the Maple Hill junior/Senior School.

There will be a raffle for a $50 gift certificate. Those who bring food donate to the Anchor Food Pantry will get a free raffle ticket. Requested food items include cereal, toiletries, instant mashed potato boxes, peanut butter, jelly, snack packages of crackers, and canned chicken.

To date, Phil has commitments for 15 sponsorships at $50 a lane. He asks that all sponsors bring in their checks to next week’s meeting. Murray Forth will make the sponsorship signs. Pat Bailey and Ray Hannan are helping Phil plan this event. Information about the event has also been posted on the website.  Ads have been published in “Our Town” and “The Advertiser” newspapers.

New Member: Tom King was voted in as a new member of SRC Rotary. Welcome Tom!

East Greenbush Global Education Committee:  The entire East Greenbush School District is continuing to read the book “The Elephant in the Room” by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Velda, a large stuffed elephant, is making appearances at several local businesses.  Rumor has it that Velda will be present during the Rotary Bowling event on April 2nd. Linda Wegner, Director of Business and Finance for the East Greenbush School District, sent a thank you letter for the donation the Club made. The donation was accepted at the Board of Education meeting on March 8th.

PETS Training: Roberto Martinez and Jim Lehayne will attend this year. PETS training will be held in Syracuse on March 17th through March 19th.

District Training Assembly and Grants Managment Seminar: The Assembly and Grants Training will be held on April 1st. You can register for the Training Assembly, the Grants Management Seminar or both. You can attend in person in Schenectady or participate via Zoom. The District Training Assembly will start at 8:30 am and conclude at 12:30 pm. The Grants Management Seminar will start at 1:00 pm and conclude at 3:15 pm. Debbie Rodriguez has signed up for the Assembly and Grants Management. The Club needs at least one other member to attend the Grants Management Seminar.

Drop the Puck for Polio: The District event has been rescheduled. It will be held in the Insuring Arena in Glen Falls on Fridy, April 7 at 7 pm. The Adirondack Thunder will take on the Mariners. Tickets are $21 per person. You can contact Doug Ford, District Polio Chairperson, at 518-365-4958.

Viking Gym: Debbie Rodriguez will check with Ron Anis about providing an update on the project at one of the upcoming meetings.

Tri-City Valley Cats: The game the Club was to attend last year was canceled due to weather. The new date tentatively is July 27th. If you had not signed up last year and are interested in attending a baseball game and picnic this year, please contact Debbie Rodriguez. Further information will be forthcoming.

Next Meeting: Thursday, March 23, dinner 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 Joe Carr, retired Superintendent.

Entree choices will be Rustics Salad, Chicken Marsella and Baked Ziti.