Bring your school supplies to the pool party

July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.29.32 PM If you are planning to attend Thursday’s “Pool Party & Picnic” at Jim Leyhane’s residence, being co-hosted by Roberto Martinez, here are a few things to consider bringing with you:

• Your donations to our annual “Back-to-School Supplies” drive. This is the first of only two drop-off dates. Everyone has been supplied several times with the preferred shopping list, but if you have lost your copy just go to the club website and scroll down to find it. (SRCrotary.org)

• Your checks to cover the 2019-20 dues Rotary if you have not yet mailed them to Treasurer Murray Forth. (Please make them payable to SRC Rotary Club.)

• A simple appetizer or dessert to augment the catered barbecue.

Also, Bill Dowd is bringing a supply of the official plastic bags and bar code stickers to use with our Clynk beverage container recycling project. Please let him know at the event what you need.

See you at 6 p.m. Thursday. The weather forecast is for sunshine and low-80s temps. It should be a beautiful evening!

Tonight’s the deadline for pool party RSVP

July 22, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Poolside

Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.29.32 PM — **SRC Summer Casual**

Tonight is the drop-deadline for making your reservations for the “Pool Party & Cookout,” set for 6 p.m., this Thursday.

The get-together is being co-hosted by Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez at Jim’s East Greenbush residence.

Details: Catered meal featuring grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, various side dishes, and beverages. Bring a simple appetizer or dessert if you wish.

The pool will, of course, be open for this family-friendly event, and we’ll welcome students from East Greenbush schools who participated in the recent fundraiser for the Honduras water project.

If you haven’t emailed your RSVPs, please do so tonight to leyhane@aol.com or rrmtz@aol.com so our hosts can give the caterer an accurate headcount for this event that is part of the “SRC Summer Casual” series for July and August.

Honolulu convention registration is open

July 22, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

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On a rainy, dreary day like today, one’s imagination often turns to visions of sunny places. How about Hawaii? It’s worth thinking about since that’s where the Rotary International Convention will be held in Honolulu on June 6-10, 2020.

Registration already is available online for Rotarians and Rotaractors alike, and earlybirds always are rewarded with discounted fees. Here are the key dates:

• December 15: Last day for early-registration discount.
• March 31, 2020: Last day for preregistration discount.
• April 30, 2020: Last day to request to cancel registration or tickets.
• June 10, 2020: Last day for online registration.

Save the date for ‘Rotary Day at the U.N.’ trip

July 22, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2019-07-22 at 4.06.23 PM Each year, Rotary holds a special day at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, and any Rotarian is eligible to participate.

It has been several years since the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club has had representatives attend, so this would be an excellent time to resume our participation. Members’ expenses for the trip are paid for by the home club, which includes registration, transportation, and mid-day lunch in the main U.N. cafeteria.

Why the Rotary-U.N. connection? Rotary International’s ongoing efforts to achieve peace in the world have been part of the organization’s fiber since its inception, and RI has been part of the U.N. fiber since it began. In fact, in 1945 it was one of 42 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the U.S. invited to serve as consultants to the United Nations Conference on International Organization, the fledgling organization’s effort to write a constitution suitable to nations of differing philosophies, races, religions, and often-conflicting histories.

Today, Rotary holds the highest consultative status offered to an NGO by the U.N.’s Economic and Social Council, which oversees many specialized U.N. agencies. The Rotary Representative Network maintains and furthers its relationship with several U.N. bodies, programs, commissions, and agencies. This network consists of Rotary International representatives to the United Nations and other organizations.

Screen Shot 2019-07-22 at 4.04.12 PM “Rotary Day at the United Nations” each year celebrates the organizations’ shared vision for peace and highlights the critical humanitarian activities that Rotary and the United Nations lead around the world.

And, each year a delegation from District 7190 heads to New York to meet with Rotarians from around the world to participate in seminars and workshops on a myriad of topics of particular concern around the globe.

Click here to visit a site containing the complete history of the Rotary-U.N. connection.

Every year, Rotary turns the page

July 22, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

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The RI motto and logo for 2019-20.

By LARRY JONES
Rotary District 7190 Governor 2019-20

July 1 marked the start of a new Rotary year. Each year the entirety of Rotary leadership changes, and in District 7190 this includes the District Governor. And so, as we start a new year, I am pleased to join Rotarians and those who believe in the ideals of Rotary. It is my humble belief that a strong and vital Rotary movement is in the highest interest of people everywhere.

At the end of June, Rotarians from District 7190 held a changeover event to mark the end of one Rotary year and the start of the next. It was a family event, with many kids and other non-Rotarians attending. No mention of family is complete for a Rotarian without talking about our Rotary Family.

We come together to identify and solve problems; and have fun. We raise money to provide fresh drinking water we’ll never taste. We plant trees for food and shade we’ll never eat, or sit under. We provide books and computer learning tools for children we’ll never get to tutor. We donate vaccines for the world’s children to stop polio — and we will end polio! There are six million children who would have had polio were it not for Rotary. If you’ve been a Rotarian for 50 years or 50 days, this is part of your work, part of our shared legacy.

But Rotary is more than these few things, because Rotarians are always looking for the next problem to solve.

Our affiliated organizations that do big things, such as ShelterBox and Gift of Life, are only part of the story. Most of the work of Rotary is done at the grass roots, in our communities.

A recently-completed study shows that the 1.23 million Rotarians around the world dedicate 45 million volunteer hours each year, about 40 hours per member, with a value of over $850 million dollars.

Our theme for the coming year is “Rotary Connects The World,” and indeed it does. Rotarians come from around the world; I’ve met people from most countries on every continent except Antarctica. That said, I understand there are two clubs there!

Meeting Rotarians in other countries is an experience akin to seeing friends you didn’t know you had. They embrace the same values, share the same hopes for a better world, and, like us, they take action to improve the lives of others. Ours is an amazing network of caring people, centering around our core value.

Our vision statement from Rotary International says it all:

Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change –- across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

This statement does not mention Rotarians. I submit to you, if we help engage people in our communities in the work of Rotary, not necessarily in the name of Rotary, we will be most successful. Much more gets done if no one cares who gets credit; indeed, there even is credit.

Community, connections, change — our watchwords for this year. What Rotary does is a noble cause, a high calling, a worthy endeavor. As we celebrate what we’ve accomplished, let’s be all the more determined to build a bigger and better Rotary experience, and connect the world.

Have you paid your 2019-20 dues?

July 20, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Rotary Cash A gentle reminder that dues for the 2019-20 Rotary Year were due to be paid in time for the start of the fiscal year on July 1.

If you missed that deadline, please make a point of quickly getting your check to SRC Treasurer Murray Forth at P.O. Box 71, East Greenbush, NY 12061, so we can close the books on that category.

Annual individual dues remain at just $175 per individual member or $350 for “Family” or “Corporate” group memberships covering an unlimited number of members (although such entities have only a single vote on matters coming before the membership). If it is easier for you, dues may be paid in two equal installments, by June 30 and by December 31. The initial partial payment for individuals is only $87.50, or $175 for “Family” and “Corporate” groups.

Thanks for your attention.

We had more fun than the ValleyCats did

July 20, 2019July 20, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

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Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.29.32 PM A sizeable contingent of SRC members, family, and friends showed up for Thursday night’s pavilion picnic and baseball doubleheader at Bruno Stadium on the Hudson Valley Community College campus.

Unfortunately for the host Tri-City ValleyCats, it was a pair of losses to New York-Penn League rival Lowell (who also beat them the following day), a Red Sox minor league affiliate.

However, the Rotarians and others had a good time on the first day of decent weather this week.

In a Rotary ceremony during a break in the action, Murray Forth was honored as our Rotarian of the Year for 2018-19.

NOTE: Please remember, our “SRC Summer Casual” lineup of events continues next Thursday with a “Pool Party & Cookout” at Jim Leyhane’s residence, a catered cookout co-hosted by he and Roberto. They need to hear from you no later than Monday so they can provide the caterer with an accurate headcount.

What to bring? A simple appetizer or dessert if you like. Also, this is one of two dropoff dates for donations to our annual “Back-to-School Supplies Drive” in partnership with Circles of Mercy. We’ve published the shopping list several times, but if you missed it just click here.

(Thanks to Roberto Martinez for the ValleyCats event photos.)

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‘Summer Casual’ updates, including tonight

July 18, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2019-07-18 at 11.29.15 AM — **A view from the picnic pavilion at Bruno Stadium.**

Those of you with tickets for the pavilion picnic and ValleyCats game this evening at Bruno Stadium on the HVCC campus are in for something extra.

Because Wednesday’s scheduled game with Lowell, MA, was rained out, today’s event is a doubleheader (seven-inning games beginning at 5 and 7 p.m.). Your tickets still are good for the 6 p.m. picnic and also cover both games.

Otherwise on the “SRC Summer Casual” calendar:

July 25 — “Pool Party & Cookout,” 6 p.m., hosted by Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez at Jim’s East Greenbush residence. Details: Catered meal featuring grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, side dishes, and beverages. Bring a simple appetizer or dessert if you wish. The pool will be open for this family-friendly event that will welcome students from East Greenbush who participated in the recent fundraiser for the Honduras water project.

Reservation deadline: Monday, July 22, via email to leyhane@aol.com or rrmtz@aol.com.

August 1 — A performance of “Ragtime: The Musical” at Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham, preceded by dinner at Yianni’s At The Chatham House. We thank Debbie Brown for once again arranging the field trip for club members and friends.

Reservations for both closed on July 4.

August 8 — “Picnic at Fox Hollow,” hosted by Dick and Mary Drumm at their residence, 176 Fox Hollow Road, Valatie. Details to be shared closer to the event date, but mark your calendars now.

Reservations to Mary at rmdrumm176@aol.com no later than August 1.

August 15 — “Sundae Thursday (+ food),” hosted by Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguez at the Rodriguez residence, 121 Lape Road, Nassau (Schodack). Event to begin at 5:30 p.m. with ice cream sundaes and continue with hamburgers, hot dogs, and accompanying salads. 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.

Reservation deadline via email to pbailey7@nycap.rr.com or debannrod@yahoo.com by August 9.

After that — unless someone wishes to arrange or host an event the week of August 22, we have nothing scheduled until resuming weekly dinner meetings at 6:15 p.m Thursday, September 12 at Quigley’s.

RSVP deadline nears for Pool Party & Cookout

July 17, 2019July 17, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Poolside

Registration is open for the second “SRC Summer Casual” event of the season — a Pool Party & Cookout — but it closes Monday evening (July 22), so don’t delay making your reservations.

Screen Shot 2019-06-03 at 4.29.32 PM Our co-hosts, Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez, need to know how many of you and your family and/or guests plan on joining them at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 25, at Jim’s East Greenbush residence so they can give the caterer an accurate headcount.

The pool will be open, and guests will dine on grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, plus side dishes and beverages. Feel free to bring simple appetizers or desserts to share.

This will be an especially fun time to assemble family and friends and let everyone get acquainted or reacquainted. We will have 25 or so guests from the East Greenbush School District who participated in raising funds for the Honduras water project.

If you have not already done so, please mail your RSVPs by Monday to Jim at leyhane@aol.com or Roberto at rrmtz@aol.com.

P.S. Don’t forget to bring your donations for our annual “Back-to-School Supplies” drive for needy kids in cooperation with Circles of Mercy. This is the first of two dropoff dates. You can access the preferred shopping list by clicking here.

The rest of the “SRC Summer Casual” calendar:

August 1 — A performance of “Ragtime: The Musical” at Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham, preceded by dinner at Yiannis At The Chatham House. For reservations for either or both events contact Debbie Brown at mdbrown@nycap.rr.com.

August 8 — “Picnic at Fox Hollow,” hosted by Dick and Mary Drumm at their Valatie residence. Contact Mary at rmdrumm176@aol.com.

August 15 — “Sundaes on Thursday (+ food),” hosted by Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguez at the Rodriguez residence. Contact Pat at pbailey7@nycap.rr.com or Debbie at debannrod@yahoo.com.

New Rotary Year dues are now (over)due

July 12, 2019 SRCrotaryLeave a comment

Rotary Cash Your dues for the 2019-20 Rotary Year were due to be paid by June 30. That’s nearly two weeks ago, so if you missed that deadline, please make a point of getting your check to SRC Treasurer Murray Forth at P.O. Box 71, East Greenbush, NY 12061.

If it is easier for you, dues may be paid in two equal installments, by June 30 and by December 31. But again, that first date ws nearly two weeks ago, so speed is of the essence. The initial payment for individuals is only $87.50 per individual, or $175 for “Family” and “Corporate” groups.

Dues help support local and global initiatives of the club, the district and Rotary International. And, even if you are tardy in submitting dues, the club is liable to make its overall payment to Rotary on time.

Thanks for your attention.