Sign up now for ‘Presidential Changeover’ picnic

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Outgoing club President Dick Drumm will be handing over the gavel to President-elect Debbie Rodriguez on Thursday, June 24.

Dick and Mary Drumm will be hosting the 6 p.m. event at their Valatie farm, but they need to have an accurate headcount for catering purposes. Please email them at rmdrumm176@aol.com or call them at 518-339-7459 ASAP to (a) let them know if you plan to attend, and (b) whether you plan to bring one or more guests. Please, fully vaccinated visitors only.

Meanwhile, the chart below lists our “Summer Casual” events that we have planned for July and August. Only two dates are open, so if you would like to reserve one of them to host or arrange an event, please let Debbie know (debannrod@yahoo.com) and/or Bill Dowd (billdowd4troy@gmail.com) ASAP to secure the date.

And, if you’d like to get ahead of the curve, you can let Debbie and Peter Brown know if you plan to join them when they host a picnic at their residence on July 8 after the Fourth of July break. Email them at mdbrown@nycap.rr.com or call 518-732-7178.

Meanwhile, we have two Zoom meetings scheduled — this Thursday and next — at which we will have our 2001 SRC Rotary Scholarship winners joining us. As always, simply go to the website calendar page and click on the link for those dates to access the meeting.

‘Summer Casual’ events filling up fast

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We have just two dates remaining to be filled on our July-August “Summer Casual” schedule, and two events are at or near capacity already.

• The August 5 “Dinner & A Show” event in New Lebanon that will include dinner at Mario’s Restaurant and a musical play at The Theater Barn both are fully reserved. We were limited to 12 people because of pandemic-era seating restrictions.

However, anyone wishing to make a reservation at the theater for “Night and Day: Love Lost and Found Through the Eyes of Cole Porter” — a romantic musical set in a Berkshires mansion circa 1930, told entirely through songs by the iconic composer — may do so on their own by contacting the theater online or by calling 518-794-8989. 

• The August 19 picnic and ValleyCats ballgame at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, which is capped at 20 people for our group, is just about filled. If you are interested in attending you can check with Debbie Rodriguez at debannrod@yahoo.com to see if any spots are left.

We have two dates remaining for anyone wishing to host or arrange an event: August 12, August 26. Remember, you can host or arrange events any time during the weeks of those dates if something other than a Thursday works for you.

So, here is the updated “Summer Casual” grid:

Meeting Clipboard: 6/3/21

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Hail, hail, the gang’s all here (at last!!!)

MEMBERS ATTENDING (14): Debbie Rodriguez, Bill Dowd, Kevin Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Murray Forth, Maggie Forth, Peter Brown, Pat Bailey, Debbie Brown, Ray Hannan, Phil Kellerman, Becky Raymond, Andy Leyhane.

GUESTS (4): Stewart Wagner, Lois Hannan, Jeremy Forth, Mike Stengl.

This was our first in-person meeting since March 12, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to Roberto Martinez and Jim Leyhane co-hosting the meeting at Roberto’s residence. Despite overcast skies, the group enjoyed a picnic dinner on the deck and some long-anticipated reacquainting with each other.

We will revert to virtual 7 p.m. meetings via Zoom for our next two sessions — June 10 and 17, at which this year’s SRC Rotary Scholarship students will join us — then gather for an outdoor Presidential Changeover event on June 24 at the Drumm farm when President Dick turns over the reins to Debbie Rodriguez for the 2021-22 Rotary Year.

• DINNER-AND-A-PLAY — Bill Dowd is arranging a dinner-and-theater outing on Thursday, August 5, in New Lebanon. We will have dinner at Mario’s Restaurant at 5:30 p.m., followed by a performance of “Night and Day: Love Lost and Found Through the Eyes of Cole Porter.” It’s a romantic musical set in a Berkshires mansion circa 1930, told entirely through songs by the iconic composer. Because of seating limits all around, we are limited to 12 people — as explained to members in various emails and website postings. Ten spots already have been claimed, so the last two will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis no later than June 10. Although the restaurant party is limited to 12, Bill can try to make theater reservations for anyone who wishes to attend the theater but not attend the meal. (Click here for details.)

• MEMBER-HOSTED “SUMMER CASUAL” EVENTS — Debbie and Peter Brown will host a cookout at their residence at 6 p.m. on July 8; Dean and Doris Calamaras will host a meal at their residence on July 15; Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez will co-host a pool party picnic at Jim’s residence on July 22; Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguez will co-host an event-to-be-decided on July 29.

• VALLEYCATS OUTING — Debbie Rodriguez is coordinating a pavilion picnic and ValleyCats baseball game at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on August 19. Attendance for our group is capped at 20, and we are very close to that number already. So, if you’re interested in getting one of the last remaining spots, contact Debbie at 518-766-3451 or by email at debannrod@yahoo.com as soon as possible. First come, first served. (Click here for details.)

Virtual 5K coming up to aid GOL

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Restrictions on group activities slowly are being removed as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ease, but not all such limitations have been lifted.

So, in an effort to encourage 5K walkers/runners to participate in a Gift of Life fundraiser next Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13, you or any such participants you know can take advantage of a virtual method fo help out.

Details are available online by clicking here. But, if you can’t participate, you still can contribute to the pediatric lifesaving program by clicking here.

P.S. Another GOL fundraising activity is the annual golf tournament. Circle September 20 on your calendar to save the date, with details to come closer to the event.

Update: Dinner-and-show spots going fast

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UPDATE AS OF 11 P.M. WEDNESDAY: Requests for reservations for our proposed August 5 dinner-and-theater outing are going fast. We’re limited to 12 spots (see story below) and on the first day have received seven. So, just five spots left, so if you want to participate, better act quickly.

For the second straight summer, we will have to forgo our traditional dinner-and-a-show outing to Chatham where the Mac-Haydn Theatre remains iffy about a production schedule because of the problems the COVID-19 pandemic caused with its planning.

However, all is not lost. We can travel approximately the same distance (from EG) — to New Lebanon — to enjoy the same sort of “Summer Casual” outing for dinner at a local restaurant before a show at a professional summer theater.

I’m looking into the possibility of setting up such an event for Thursday, August 5, but need to know how many people would be interested in participating. At the moment, I’m limiting it to 12 people on a first-come, first-served basis since so many facilities continue to impose crowd size restrictions for various reasons (state guidelines, staff availability, etc.)

Here are potential details:

DINNER — At Mario’s, an upscale Italian-American restaurant that has operated for nearly 60 years on Route 20 in New Lebanon.  You can access its current menu by clicking here. I have spoken with the owner and they can accommodate us at two tables near each other.

 THEATER — At The Theater Barn, a professional seasonal venue now in its 37th season. It is presenting “Night and Day: Love Lost and Found Through the Eyes of Cole Porter.” The beloved songs of the iconic American composer have been arranged into a romantic musical set in a Berkshires mansion,  circa 1930. This regional premiere is only the second production of the show ever mounted. Tickets are in the $30+ range. I’m awaiting a response from the box office manager with specifics. NOTE: The theater is admitting only fully vaccinated guests who will be asked to provide proof of vaccination. 

Mario’s Restaurant, New Lebanon

What I need to know in fairly short order is:

(a) How many people would like to attend the theater performance, and

(b) How many would like to have dinner before the show. 

It is NOT a package deal, so I could make reservations for theater-only for anyone who prefers that. However, to be sure of guaranteeing one or both options, I need to hear from all interested parties no later than Thursday, June 10. To expedite responses, simply email your reply to SRCrotary@gmail.com. And, please, only fully vaccinated people.

Thank you,
Bill Dowd

‘Hybrid meetings,’ a Rotary how-to

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If you make a practice of regularly checking the calendar page on this website, you will have noticed links to monthly multi-district membership sessions. For June, the topic will be “hybrid meetings.”

The discussion sessions are open to any Rotarian, but advance registration is required. Just click here to sign up.

Rotarians from 7190 will join with colleagues from 7120, 7150, and 7170 to learn how to hold a successful meeting or event combining in-person and virtual attendance. It also will touch on the technical aspects, equipment, and everything else you need to know to help your club with vibrant, inclusive, impactful meetings.  

The Monday, June 7, event is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Once you have registered you will be sent an email confirmation with the link to the event. 

Filling out our ‘Summer Casual’ calendar

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We already have the first month of our July-August “Summer Casual” social calendar filled, but we need your help rounding out the August dates.

We have the possibility of resuming our annual picnic-and-baseball game outing to see the ValleyCats play at Bruno Stadium (tentative date Thursday, August 19), but we need your feedback very quickly. The two packages available:

• $30 for adults/$25 for children under 12:

Each person would receive a game ticket, souvenir, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, hot dog, pasta salad, coleslaw, dinner roll, soda or water.

• $15 package for all ages:

Each person would receive a game ticket, souvenir, hot dog, chips, soda or water.  

What we need to know from you is (a) Will you attend? (b) Will you bring guests, and how many? (c) Which package would you prefer?

Please send your feedback to event organizer Debbie Rodriguez (debannrod@yahoo.com) ASAP so we can ascertain the potential size of our group and what package the majority prefers, and can reserve the date with the ValleyCats office.

Meanwhile, the chart below shows what we have scheduled so far. If you wish to host or arrange an outing on any of the remaining August dates, please let Debbie or webmaster Bill Dowd (SRCrotary@gmail.com) know so the date can be reserved for you.

Meeting Clipboard: 5/27/21

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MEMBERS ATTENDING (12): Dick Drumm, Bill Dowd, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Debbie Rodriguez, Ray Hannan, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Phil Kellerman, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Pat Bailey.

GUESTS (1): Christian Maltunas.

MEETING NOTES:

• PAUL HARRIS FELLOWS — At least six members have donated $250 each to the Rotary Foundation to qualify for 750 PH points from District 7190, which means 1,000 dollars/points. That is enough to qualify them for a Paul Harris Fellow designation or a PH+ level. The deadline for anyone else wishing to do so needs to make their $250 donations by the end of the month AND email DG Rich Griesche that they have done so to assure the 750 points are recorded for them. Rich’s email address is richg851@aol.com. Details of the program are available by clicking here.

• SCHOLARSHIPS — Emma Endress, a graduating senior, and administrator Brandy Cenci of Rensselaer High School will be joining us via Zoom on June 10. Emma is one of three seniors who are being awarded $1,000 SRC Rotary Scholarships this year. We still are waiting for responses from recipients at Columbia and Maple Hill high schools.

• SUMMER CASUAL — We are lining up social events for July and August. July is full, but dates remain available on August 5, 12, and 26. If you wish to host an event or plan an outing, please contact President-elect Debbie Rodriguez or webmaster Bill Dowd to reserve the date.

• IN-PERSON MEETING — Our first in-person meeting of the 2020-21 Rotary Year — a brief business session followed by a subs-and-beverages social session — will be held at 6 p.m. (note the earlier time) at the Martinez residence next Thursday, June 3. Open to members and guests as long as they have been fully vaccinated. The deadline for letting Roberto (rrmtz@aol.com) or co-host Jim Leyhane (leyhane@aol.com) know if you plan to attend is Tuesday to allow for a proper headcount.

Christian Maltunas

• SPEAKER — Christian Maltunas, who had been teaching math and science in schools in New York and Connecticut, returned to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, his alma mater, to pursue a PhD. in nanotechnology. He just completed his second year of academic work and now is in fulltime research.

He provided an overview of the relatively rapid advancement in reducing the size and speed of computer components in recent times. He is working on the nano level to find ways to improve current technology. Several slides from his on-screen presentation show the rapid advancement so far in the field from the bulky machines we knew in the 1930s-’60s to the ever-shrinking devices of today.

Save the date for ‘dueling’ changeovers

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As so often happens, a District 7190 event conflicts with SRC’s meeting schedule. But, in the spirit of unity, we advise you that the District Presidential Changeover is scheduled for Thursday, June 24.

That is when Rich Griesche passes the gavel to Bruce McConnelee for the 2021-22 Rotary Year. A link to the virtual event will be distributed to Rotarians in the District closer to the event.

Meanwhile, save the same date for the SRC Presidential Changeover when Dick Drumm passes the gavel to Debbie Rodriguez at a 6 p.m. outdoor picnic event at the Drumm residence for all fully vaccinated SRC members and friends. Closer to the event we will be sharing details as well as asking for your RSVP.