Exactly how busy are you?

August 17, 2019August 17, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

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Please note the Rotary pin on Prince Charles’s lapel.

It takes all kinds to make up Rotary International. Such as, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, President John F. Kennedy, astronaut Neil Armstrong, entrepreneur-artist Walt Disney, President Ronald Reagan, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, food pioneer Colonel Harland Sanders, inventor Thomas Edison, aviation pioneer Orville Wright, British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, President Woodrow Wilson, movie producer-director Cecille B. DeMille, poet James Whitcomb Riley, Pope Francis, opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, world boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Holly Comption, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, Nobel Prize-winner Guglielmo Marconi, Walmart founder Sam Walton, Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. Charles Mayo …. and so many, many more.

If they could fit Rotary into their busy schedules, how difficult can it be for us to do the same?

‘SRC Summer Casual’ finishes with dessert

August 16, 2019August 17, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2019-08-16 at 8.21.12 PM We finished our “SRC Summer Casual Schedule” with an ice cream social on Thursday, hosted by Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguiez at Debbie’s abode.

Attending, in addition to the co-hosts, were Rotarians Becky Raymond, Murray Forth, Maggie Forth, Jim Leyhane, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Dick Drumm, Roberto Martinez, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Phil Kellerman, and Carol Orvis, and guests Rod Rodriquez, Jeremy Forth, Paige Johnson, Mike Stangl, and Mary Drumm.

We now have a brief hiatus before resuming our weekly Thursday dinner meetings at Quigley’s on September 5. (Note this is a change from the long-published schedule, getting us back into the regular rotation a week earlier than previously planned. Be sure to check the website’s Calendar page for the evolving events listings and program assignment chart.)

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‘Back-to-School Supplies Drive’ successful

August 12, 2019August 17, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

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SRC President Phil Kellerman poses with a portion of the donated items collected for our annual “Back-to-School Supplies Drive” for students in need.

The collection, in partnership with the family services agency Circles of Mercy in Rensselaer, is now in its fifth year of SRC involvement. The items were delivered to Circles today. A special thanks to all who generously donated.

‘Picnic at Fox Hollow’ driven indoors

August 9, 2019August 17, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Here’s where we were supposed to be …

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… but, here’s where we wound up when inclement weather forced revelers indoors during Thursday evening’s “Picnic at Fox Hollow,” part of our “SRC Summer Casual” lineup of July-August events.

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Thanks to Dick and Mary Drumm for hosting the gathering. Remember, we have only one remaining summer social event before we take a hiatus — next Thursday at 5:30 p.m. when Debbie Rodriguez and Pat Bailey co-host “Sundaes on Thursday (+ Food)” at Debbie’s residence. If you haven’t sent them your RSVP, please do so quickly.

Here are a few more scenes of Thursday’s event:

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Coming to Fox Hollow? Here’s what to bring

August 5, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2019-07-18 at 11.34.56 AM If you are planning to attend “A Picnic at Fox Hollow” this Thursday, here are a few things to bring along:

• An appetizer or dessert to augment the food our hosts Dick and Mary Drumm will be supplying.

• Your donations of items for the annual “Back to School Supplies Drive.” This will be the final dropoff date. If you do NOT plan to attend this event, please contact President Phil Kellerman to arrange a dropoff/pickup for your donations so we can meet the necessary delivery schedule. (Haven’t shopped yet? Check the shopping list on the website.)

• Your check for 2019-20 Rotary dues if you haven’t already paid them. Just make it out to SRC Rotary Club.

The menu will feature that summertime favorite pulled pork, plus appropriate side dishes and beverages. The cost is just $15 per person, or $25 per family, with all funds going to the club treasury to support our many public service efforts.

Screen Shot 2019-07-18 at 11.39.43 AM After this week, we have a single get-together remaining on our “SRC Summer Casual Events” calendar — an ice cream social plus food, co-hosted by Pat Bailey (pbailey7@nycap.rr.com) and Debbie Rodriguez (debannrod@yahoo.com) at Debbie’s residence beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, August 15.

If you have not yet emailed either of them your RSVP, please do so quickly. Cost: $15 per adult, children free. Proceeds will be split between the Freedom From Fistula Foundation Fistula and the Danes Rotaract club. The pool is open. No need to bring anything (except a bathing suit) to this family-friendly event.

Thereafter, we’re on hiatus until resuming our weekly dinner meetings at Quigley’s at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 12.

Kinderhook Rotary BBQ to support Electric Trail

August 2, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2019-08-02 at 1.55.15 PM The Kinderhook Tri-Vllage Rotary Club is planning a chicken barbecue fundraiser to benefit the Columbia Friends of the Electric Trail (CFET).

The event is set for 4 to 7 Saturday, August 24, at Rothermel Park, 15-19 Rothermel Avenue in Kinderhook. Tickets are $12 for the dinner that includes half a chicken, corn, roll, and dessert. Meals are for eat-in or take-out.

CFET is a group supporting the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail, a shared-use bicycling and pedestrian trail along the 35-mile Albany-Hudson Electric Trolley corridor from Hudson to Rensselaer, running through Rensselaer and Columbia counties, and now under construction.

AHET is part of the Empire State Trail, providing a key link between the Capital Region and the Mid-Hudson Valley. The Empire State Trail, when completed next year, will create a 750-mile biking and walking trail from New York City to Canada and from Albany to Buffalo.

Are you bagging your returnable Clynk beverage containers?

August 1, 2019August 17, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

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In response to the headline question, we certainly hope so, for several reasons.

• The Clynk program we’re enrolled in via Hannaford supermarkets and the Clynk recycling company helps the environment through responsible recycling of beverage containers, and helps us raise funds for ShelterBox.

• Each container’s deposit return goes to the SRC treasury to support ShelterBox.

• The process saves you time and effort because you do not have to separate, rinse, and re-cap redeemable plastic, glass, and metal beverage containers.

We hope to present the club with a check of $400 or so by the time our first dinner meeting rolls around in September. Of course, we need your ongoing help to make that a reality since at a nickel or so per container it takes quite a while for the total to mount up.

Although we’ve told every SRC member numerous times how the program works, we’ll do it one more time to be sure everyone understands how easy it is to do good:

(1.) Only specific plastic bags and bar code stickers are usable with the Clynk program. You can get them at any dinner meeting at Quigley’s, or by contacting program coordinator Bill Dowd.

(2.) Simply put any plastic, glass, or metal beverage container on which a deposit has been paid in one of the bags. No need to rinse, uncap, or sort them.

(3.) When a bag is full, just put a bar code sticker in the appropriate place, take the bag to any Hannaford where you can scan it and drop it in the receptacle chute, and then be on your merry way.

That’s it! You’ve just helped the environment, the club, and ShelterBox. And, therefore, the world.

(If you’re curious about the Clynk process at its recycling facility in Maine, click here for a short video explaining it.)

Finish line near for school supplies drive

July 31, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2019-07-12 at 12.04.19 PM SRC members, family, and friends are once again helping less-fortunate students prepare for their return to school — yes, it’s getting that close! — by participating in the annual Circles of Mercy Back-to-School Supplies Drive.

The program, as in other years, focuses on all high school grades (9-12) and on pre-school students, and SRC is always a major contributor. The shopping list recommended by Circles of Mercy:

• pencils (regular lead #2 and color)
• pencil sharpener
• erasers (for pencils)
• pens (black or blue ink)
• markers (dry-erase and Sharpies, assorted colors)
• pocket folders (assorted colors)
• 3-ring binders (in 2” and 3” sizes)
• loose leaf paper (college ruled)
• graph paper
• spiral subject notebooks (1-, 3- and 5-subject, college ruled)
• subject dividers
• plastic zipper pencil cases/boxes
• 3”x5” index cards
• highlighters (yellow)
• rulers (regular with metric)
• Kleenex tissues
• hand sanitizer (small bottles)
• Post-It notes
• backpacks (no rollers/wheels)
• hole reinforcement stickers
• combination lock (for gym lockers)
• flash drives
• ear buds (for computer use)
• scientific calculators

We have one final drop-off date for your donations: 6 p.m. Thursday, August 8, at the Drumm residence in Valatie.

If you do NOT plan to attend that get-together, please contact President Phil Kellerman to arrange a dropoff/pickup for your donations so we can meet the necessary delivery schedule. We are hoping to at least meet the level of help we have provided in past years, but we can do it only with your generosity.

Fox Hollow picnic RSVP due, plus school supplies

July 31, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.29.32 PM The fourth event in our July-August “SRC Summer Casual” lineup of social events is coming up fast.

It’s “A Picnic at Fox Hollow,” to be hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, August 8, at Dick and Mary Drumm’s Fox Hollow family farm in Valatie. But, to facilitate planning, we need to know by noon this Friday, August 2, to rmdrumm176@aol.com if you plan to attend so the caterer can have an accurate headcount.

The menu will feature that summertime favorite pulled pork plus appropriate side dishes and beverages, plus whatever appetizers and desserts you bring with you. The cost is just $15 per person, or $25 per family, with all funds going to the club treasury to support our many public service efforts.

The location is 176 Fox Hollow Road in Valatie. If you’d rather phone Dick and Mary instead of emailing them, you can reach them at 518-339-7459.

What else can you bring? Folding chairs would be helpful. And, please bring your donations for Circles of Mercy ‘s annual “Back-to-Supply School Supplies Drive.” This is the final date to do so.

‘Pool Party & Cookout’ draws a nice crowd

July 26, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

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Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.29.32 PM The annual “Pool Party & Cookout” at the Leyhane residence — part of the “SRC Summer Casual” lineup of social events — drew nearly 50 Rotarians, family members, friends, and students Thursday evening.

Members attending: Co-hosts Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez, Phil Kellerman, Bill Dowd, Murray Forth, Maggie Forth, Debbie Rodriguez, Dick Drumm, Carol Orvis, Carole Spencer, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Ray Hannen, Andy Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Marco Koshyhar, Jeff Simon.

Next up on the “SRC Summer Casual” schedule is next Thursday’s trip to the Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham for a performance of “Ragtime: The Musical,” preceded by dinner at Yianni’s at the Chatham House. Reservations have closed for the event.

Then comes “Picnic at Fox Hollow,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 8, at the Drumm residence in Valatie. Please RSVP to rmdrumm176@aol.com no later than August 1. And, for the final event, it’s “Sundae Thursday (+ food),” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, August 15, hosted by Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguez at the Rodriguez residence, 121 Lape Road, Nassau (Schodack). Reservation deadline via email to pbailey7@nycap.rr.com or debannrod@yahoo.com by August 9.

Meanwhile, here are more images from the pool party captured by Bill Dowd and Roberto Martinez:

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