And, the winner is …

March 19, 2020March 20, 2020 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2020-03-19 at 11.32.37 PM

SRC Treasurer Murray Forth displays the winning ticket drawn for our latest Cafe Capriccio wine dinner. And, Carol Orvis is the winner of the chef’s private dinner for 12, the third different winner in three such raffles.

Our special thanks to Murray for staking out the Quigley’s parking lot this evening to receive ticket sales money in lieu of our regular meeting, cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A SPECIAL NOTE: Although our weekly dinner meetings and other activities have been indefinitely postponed because of the current public health crisis, you can keep up to date with global, regional and local Rotary news by making a point of regularly checking our website and Facebook page. Even in times of trouble, Rotary perseveres.

Our sponsors

March 19, 2020April 11, 2025 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2020-03-19 at 9.37.01 PM We thank the following organizations and individuals for being $50 lane sponsors for our Bowl-a-Thon event, held on Sunday, April 6th, at the East Greenbush Bowling Center.

COMPANIES & ORGANIZATIONS

Stretch Zone
East Greenbush Bowling Lanes
Yoga Vital

INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES

Pat Bailey

Terry Brewer

Peter and Deb Brown

Dean Calamares

Laura Castanos

Dick Drumm

Anne Federlein

Murray Forth

Chris Fowler

Diane Gabano

Ray and Lois Hannan

Karen Kellerman

Andy Lehayne

Jim Lehayne

Kevin Lehayne

Fred Levine

Roberto Martinez

Kim Muller

Laurie Pferr

Bren Price

Deb Rodriguez

Bill Winnewisser

Scott Young

Send a card to our latest GOL child

March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2020-03-16 at 4.54.41 PM Batnasan, our latest Gift of Life child from Mongolia (where it is common to go by a single name), is recuperating well from cardiac surgery at Albany Medical Center.

If you would like to send a message of encouragement, a small gift, etc., you can send it to the host family where he is staying.

Batnasan
c/o Daniel and Brielle McCarty
41 Green Island Avenue
Latham, NY 12110

Some coronavirus-induced District shuffling

March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2020-03-16 at 4.46.47 PM Growing government restrictions on public events because of the coronavirus pandemic have necessitated some changes on the District 7190 calendar. Here are actions taken by the District Board:

• The Foundation Dinner scheduled for March 26 has been cancelled. Refunds will be available for those who registered, although the Board is asking that Rotarians consider leaving their payments in place for credit to the Foundation. “If you were planning to make a donation to the Foundation, please consider accelerating that payment so it can start earning while the financial markets are down,” said District Governor Larry Jones.

• The District Training Assembly/Grant Management Seminar scheduled for April 4 will be reformatted to become an online experience. Details will be announced.

• The District Conference scheduled in Albany for May 15-17 has been suspended. “While we do not anticipate being able to hold even a scaled-down conference, we have not worked out the final details on cancellation,” Jones said. “We will continue to hold a raffle for a ‘Wheelbarrow of Booze’ that was to be a fundraiser for the conference.” At the least, we will have an online meeting to conduct the business required by our District By-laws, to recognize outstanding service, and to remember those who have passed on to higher service.

• All other District face-to-face sessions will be delayed at least through May 31.

About those Cafe Capriccio raffle tickets …

March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Rotary Cash We need to collect the money for all of the raffle tickets for the Cafe Capriccio wine dinner our members have purchased or sold.

If you have not yet turned in your money to Treasurer Murray Forth, the deadline for doing so is this Thursday.

Even though we will not be meeting at Quigley’s that evening, Murray will be in the parking lot at 6 p.m. to accept your payments and to draw the winning raffle ticket. Please don’t stand him up. (if you need to contact Murray in advance, you can call his cell at 518-441-8783.)

Obviously, because the state has ordered all restaurants to cease normal operations as of this evening, and for the foreseeable future, the Cafe Capriccio dinner will have to be rescheduled. We will be in contact with the owner to make suitable arrangements.

Thank you for your cooperation.

SRC activities suspended over virus concerns

March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2020-03-16 at 3.37.30 PM Effective at 8 o’clock this evening, under an executive order issued this morning by Governor Andrew Cuomo, all restaurants and bars in the state will cease operations except for takeout and delivery orders. That means Quigley’s will not be available to host our meetings for the foreseeable future.

In addition, President Donald Trump’s coronavirus response team this afternoon announced additional restrictions and guidelines, including asking people not to meet in groups of more than 10, and asking people 65 and older to stay home and avoid contact with others.

As a result of these actions, club President Phil Kellerman is calling for suspension of all activities of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club until we receive further information and advisories from health officials, at which time the Board will evaluate and discuss resumption.

Meanwhile, we suggest everyone check the online information and advice about the coronavirus from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Stay away from crowds, wash your hands, stay home as much as possible, and check on older friends and relatives on a regular basis.

SRC to continue meeting, with caution

March 13, 2020 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2020-03-13 at 11.24.02 PM Keeping the coronavirus pandemic in mind, the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club has decided to continue its Thursday dinner meetings for now.

However, the club is encouraging anyone feeling ill or who is in the categories of those most susceptible to the virus (over age 60; compromised immune system; other underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes) to stay home if they feel uncomfortable about the potential of exposure.

Screen Shot 2020-03-13 at 11.25.52 PM Everyone is encouraged to follow the basic precautionary guidelines being issued by local, state, and national health agencies:

• frequent thorough hand washing with hot water and soap (at least 20 seconds);
• avoiding large crowds where potential contamination is greater;
• covering up when sneezing or coughing to avoid affecting others;
• regularly wiping down work surfaces with disinfectants;
• avoid touching your face, mouth, ears with unwashed hands, etc.

You can find an excellent set of guidelines online from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Freedom From Fistula event postponed

March 13, 2020 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2020-03-13 at 10.25.09 PM Becky Raymond, SRC liaison with the Freedom From Fistula Foundation, and club president Phil Kellerman today participated in a meeting of the FFFF Planning Committee via Skype.

It was decided to postpone the scheduled April 20 foundation discussion and fundraiser at the UAlbany School of Public Health at SUNY Albany in light of the school’s recommendation that all on-campus activities be postponed for at least 45 days due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Because students will not be on campus again until late spring, the group decided to wait until the fall to attempt to hold event.

Phil said that although presidential term will expire before then, he would like to continue to be involved with the FFFF committee.

Meeting Clipboard: 3/12/20

March 13, 2020 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Held at Quigley’s Restaurant
573 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY 12061

Members Attending (12): Phil Kellerman, Murray Forth, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Debbie Rodriguez, Pat Bailey, Dean Calamaras, Dick Drumm, Charlie Foote, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Wells Packard.

Guests (4): Tony and Debbie Morris (potential members), Dennis Cicchino and Jeff Morris (Boy Scout Troop 41).

MEETING NOTES — President Phil Kellerman presided, welcoming members and four guests, including potential members Tony and Debbie Morris. … The main topic of discussion was about our future dinner meetings in light of concern over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In an email poll of Board members, several recommended suspension of meetings, others were in favor of continuing. After discussion at the meeting, it was decided to (a) continue meeting pending any further health-related concerns, (b) Phil will talk with Quigley’s owner John Walsh about us ordering off the menu if fewer than 12 people attend, and (c) speakers would be invited and given the opportunity to decline if numbers are small. …

Murray Forth reported that sales of raffle tickets for the March 28 wine dinner at Cafe Capriccio are slow, but we have raised enough to at least cover the cost of the event. The drawing is scheduled for next Thursday’s meeting. … Dean Calamaras reported that the district’s Gift of Life child underwent successful cardiac surgery at Albany Medical Center on March 11. …

Until further notice, members are asked to hold off on bringing Easter basket items to the meetings until we clarify the status of the project with Circles of Mercy. We will contact Circles of Mercy to ask about its needs instead and suggest that food items or money towards necessities might be more useful, especially since schools could be closed because of the coronavirus problem and lunch programs curtailed. On another topic, Circles of Mercy will hold a “Walk for Mercy” on Saturday, April 4, and is looking for sponsors. Contact Ray Hannan for more information. …

Phil has spoken to the IRS about our tax exempt status (one hour on the phone). It appears we will need to file missing annual reports. He, Murray, and Terry will work together to complete the required documents and file them. … Our SRC Recycling & Shredding Day remains scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Wainschaf Associates in Rensselaer. Details are on the event flyer that has been distributed to all members several times. …

Peter Brown reported that the Capital Region Nordic Alliance (CRNA), the adaptive sports program for disabled vets, is seeking a sponsor for a CRNA athlete to participate in the European Trail Orienteering Championships 2020 being held in Finland. About $500 is needed, and we already have raised $380 through the weekly money jug contributions. … We need at least two members to attend the April 4 District Training Assembly / Grants Management Seminar to be able to file for grants. … President-elect Dick Drumm said he would be unable to attend this week’s Empire Multi-District PETS training in Syracuse. …

Roberto Martinez reported that Julius Frankel is out of hospital rehab and is doing well at home. … Roberto also gave a short talk about the “new” flu and its symptoms, etc. … Wells Packard reported that the Rotary Youth Exchange still is on, and students will be traveling as expected in the late summer and fall. … Next meeting: 6:15 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at Quigley’s. The scheduled program will be musical trivia with Andy Leyhane. Members are reminded to check the website calendar page for program assignment dates/speakers/topics and to contact webmaster Bill Dowd as soon as they have a program lined up so he can publicize it.

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Dennis Cicchino (right) and Jeff Morris of Boy Scout Troop 41 visited to make their annual report on Scouting activities and their appeal for continued SRC funding.

The cost of summer camp has gone up again, and for this summer will be $545. Murray moved, Roberto seconded, and attendees approved without dissent a club grant of $545 to the troop for that purpose.