Meeting Minutes: 1/6/22

SRCrotaryLeave a comment

MEMBERS ATTENDING (18): Debbie Rodriguez, Bill Dowd, Becky Raymond, Charlie Foote, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Pat Bailey, Murray Forth, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Andy Leyhane, Dick Drumm, Kevin Leyhane, Carol Orvis (by proxy), Dean Calamaras (by proxy), Doris Calamaras (by proxy), Tony Morris (by proxy).

GUESTS: None.

President Debbie Rodriguez, presiding over our first session of 2022, called the meeting to order via Zoom and declared the presence of a quorum.

MEETING NOTES:

• Becky Raymond reported that she visited the Schodack town park on Route 150, site of the Viking gym and playground built there in 2017 and co-sponsored by SRC, then-Eagle Scout candidate Lorenzo Gonzales, member Ron Annis’s Top Form company, and the Town of Schodack. She said the rustic gym appears to have been dismantled and parts carried off. Debbie Rodriguez said she would check with the town to see what happened to the gym and will report back to the club. We also will contact Ron, now spending the winter in Sweden, to see if he has any knowledge of the playground/gym tentatively scheduled for an expansion later this year.

• President Debbie said the club has sent a $500 check to the Mayfield (KY) Rotary Club to be put toward relief efforts for the area hardest hit by recent tornadoes.

• Bill Dowd volunteered to serve on a screening committee selecting candidates for District Governor. He has represented the club in the same capacity in the past.

• Debbie verified that we raised $650 through the silent auction of themed gift baskets at the annual Holiday Party & Basket Auction in December. The money goes to the club treasury to help underwrite community service projects.

• Roberto Martinez said he spoke with District Governor Bruce McConnellee today about assistance for purchasing audio-visual equipment to facilitate meetings, and that $150 is available to any club undertaking such an effort. The money will be supplied if the club sends the district a receipt for any such microphone/camera purchases.

• Because of the current upsurge in COVID cases locally, member consensus tonight was to suspend in-person meetings until at least February. Instead, we will meet each Thursday at 7 p.m. via ZOOM, and give our scheduled speakers the option of rescheduling or making their presentations virtually. Roberto Martinez will contact management of Moscatiello’s restaurant to let them know about the change and lock in February dinner meeting dates.

Nearly time to get your party hat on!

SRCrotary1 Comment

Well, another messy year is nearly down the drain. So, don your party hat — and probably your face mask, depending on what you plan on doing — and jump into 2022 in just a little over two days from now.

We’re not sure what the world has in store for us in the new year, but we do know some of the things the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club has lined up.

Such programs as a travelogue to a forgotten city, the resumption of our annual trivia competition, and presentations by a variety of speakers all are on tap. You can get the details by regularly visiting our club calendar online.

And remember, we’re always looking for more programs. Just check the calendar to see what’s available, then contact Becky Raymond or Kevin Leyhane to lock in the date you want and provide them with the details.

Meanwhile, begin the countdown, and … Happy New Year!

God bless us, everyone!

SRCrotary2 Comments
Alastair Sim as Scrooge in ‘A Christmas Carol’

Well, that’s what Tiny Tim said at the conclusion of the classic 1951 film “A Christmas Carol.” But, Ebeneezer Scrooge had more memorable lines.

For example, this all-encompassing commentary that tells us all it’s never too late to become a better person:

“I don’t know anything. I never did know anything. But now I KNOW that I don’t know anything. I never did know anything. But now I know that I don’t know. All on a Christmas morning.”

And, as we all continue to evolve and gain wisdom, a very Merry Christmas to all of us.

Thanks again for your generosity!

SRCrotary1 Comment
Just a part of the bounty of gifts you donated this year.

Imagine thinking your young children would be waking up tomorrow morning to a very sparse Christmas. Now, imagine as a single parent receiving a call from Circles of Mercy, telling you not to be concerned, the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club has come through once again.

That’s what happened thanks to our “Adopt-a-Family” effort for 2021, with a big boost from the Greenbush YMCA. Two moms and six kids are receiving a variety of “needs to have” and “nice to have” items donated by the generous folks of both of these organizations, and a few of their friends.

To all who helped in one way or another — wrapped gifts, gift cards, pickups, deliveries, etc. — thank you, thank you, thank you.

What’s our Clynk impact (besides money)?

SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Have you wondered about our collective environmental impact from recycling through Clynk?

The accompanying graphic gives you a bit of an idea. That’s in addition to the money we raise for ShelterBox (our most recent contribution was a check for $500.)

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Remember, all you need to participate in our Clynk effort is an official collection bag (buy ’em at any Hannaford customer service counter), a bar code sticker (get ’em from Bill Dowd) and … oh, yes, some redeemable beverage containers.

No need to rinse or sort the glass, metal, or plastic containers. Simply stick them all in the same bag, stop in at a Hannaford market, use the bar code reader and drop the bag in the chute. Voila! Money for ShelterBox and less clutter in your house.

So, pack up all those holiday beverage containers. And, you don’t have to be a Rotarian to join the club’s effort.

Holiday frivolity, and welcome to a new member

SRCrotary1 Comment
A seasonal salute to Rotary.

After a year off because of you-know-what, the “SRC Holiday Party & Basket Silent Auction” returned on Thursday evening, with a large group assembling at Moscatiello’s Italian Family Restaurant for dinner, fellowship, and some catching up among people who hadn’t seen each other in a while.

In addition to the fun, we raised more than $600 for the club treasury through the silent auction.Thanks to all who contributed themed baskets, and to those who bid on them.

Another one of the highlights was the official induction of Tony Morris as a member of Rotary, with Jim Leyhane doing the honors. Tony has been part of SRC for a while, but COVID restrictions delayed the formality. Welcome, Tony!

The dinner was the last SRC event of 2021, but we are lining up plenty of activities for the new year. Just make a practice of regularly checking the website calendar page to stay in the loop.

Meanwhile, here are a few more scenes from the evening captured by Bill Dowd and Roberto. Special thanks to Debbie Brown for providing the floral table decorations. And, thanks to Roberto Martinez and Jim Leyhane for arranging the dinner.

It may look something like The Last Supper, but it isn’t. We’ll have more.

Tony raises the flag after his induction by Jim.

Bidding early, bidding often.

Tangible proof that the basket fundraiser was paying off.

Mary Drumm and the Brewers catching up.
Bill & April Dowd pose for the camera.
Phil Kellerman and Andy Leyhane exchange beer tips.
April visits with (some of) the Leyhanes.
Roberto Martinez and his infectious smile.
Tony & Debbie Morris await his induction.
Debbie Brown ponders a bid.
Pat Bailey and Chuck Rodriguez deep in financial discussion.
Some more relaxed chat.

A picture of contentment.

Some late Christmas shopping?

How to help Kentucky tornado relief

SRCrotaryLeave a comment
Part of the tornado damage in Mayfield, KY.

The Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club will be sending a $500 check to a Kentucky Rotary club to go toward relief efforts in the wake of devastating tornadoes there.

Any individual Rotarians and friends of Rotary who wish to send checks in any amount large or small are asked to:

(1.) Make checks payable to “Mayfield Rotary Club”

(2.) Enter the phrase “Tornado Relief” in the memo line

(3.) Mail checks to John William Carrico, Administrator, 300 Wexford Court, Paducah, KY 42003

Thanks for all you do.

Meeting Minutes: 12/9/21

SRCrotaryLeave a comment

MEMBERS ATTENDING (15): Debbie Rodriguez, Kevin Leyhane, Bill Dowd, Becky Raymond, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Charlie Foote, Ray Hannan, Andy Leyhane, Phil Kellerman, Dean Calamaras (by proxy), Doris Calamaras (by proxy), Carol Orvis (by proxy), Peter Brown (by proxy), Debbie Brown (by proxy).

GUESTS (1): Lois Hannan.

President Debbie called the Zoom meeting to order and noted the presence of a quorum with the help of proxies.

MEETING NOTES:

• Bill Dowd reported that we are close to filling the gift list for our “Adopt-a-Family” effort on behalf of Circles of Mercy. Several members stepped up at the meeting to handle most of the remaining needed items. The updated shopping list is at the bottom of this post. Items marked in red are taken care of; the few remaining items can be purchased, wrapped and labeled, and dropped off at Circle, 10 Washington Street, Rensselaer, no later than December 15. Please call ahead (518-462-0899) to be sure office is open.

• Roberto and Jim reported that the menu for the annual “Holiday Party & Theme Basket Silent Auction” at Moscatiello’s on Thursday, December 16, has been finalized: choice of chicken Caesar salad, chicken Marsala, or eggplant parmagiana. Salad and cookies will be included. Price is $30 per adult. Children will be able to order off the kids’ menu. Reservations are requested no later than Monday, December 13, by calling or emailing Roberto (518-396-7250 / rrmtz@aol.com) or Jim (518-428-1732 / leyhane@aol.com). And, attendees are reminded to bring a themed gift basket, proceeds of which will go to the club treasury.

• Becky Raymond reported that the NYSCR Danes Rotaract Club we sponsor has scheduled a “Moon Bee” work session for Tuesday, February 15, to assemble feminine hygiene kits for the Mooncatcher Project. At present, it will be for students and faculty at the UAlbany School of Public Health.