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Meeting Clipboard 3/6/2025

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Minutes: Rotary Meeting, March 6, 2025

A meeting was held in person and in attendance were Roberto Martinez, Pat Bailey, Phil Kellerman, Jim Lehayne, Dick Drumm, Ray Hannan, Peter Brown, and Deb Brown.  In attendance via Zoom were Dean Calamares and Andy Leyhane.

Roberto reported that Marlisa Mutari was to attend to provide an update from the district but was unable to come.

Roberto informed the group that our club just had its 65th birthday.

Phil provided a financial update and said that he had contacted the IRS for an update on submittal for reinstatement of our 501(c)4 tax status. The first representative Phil spoke to could not find our package which was causing frustration on the part of our group.

(Subsequent to the meeting, the second representative he spoke said that he had found our package and we would be hearing by March 24th. Phil was told that there is a usual 16 week waiting period).  

Phil also reported that he was almost complete with the reconciling of club finances on Quicken and he would report to the club once completed on the club’s finances.

Roberto said that the board approved $500 to support an exchange student in April to attend a district meeting. Murray reminded the group that he wanted to hand the check in person to avoid the risk of fraudulent “check washing” by mailing the check.

Phil said that our annual bowl-a-thon is scheduled for Sunday April 6 from 1-3 pm at the East Greenbush Bowling Lanes. Several members pledged to become $50 sponsors. Phil also said that the local Planet Fitness wanted to pledge $100 and have a table next to ours at the event to pass out flyers. The members agreed. Furthermore, Phil said that the day after our meeting, he would bring informational flyers to the event to the Maple Hill School along with a sign up sheet. Phil also asked members for help at the event manning our table, and Peter, Deb and Pat agreed to help out.

Phil reported that he and Carole attended an RLI Leadership Conference in Johnson City. Subsequent to the conference, Carole developed a banner which we could use to display at events. It was going to be funded with a matching grant. The members liked the banner which outlines the projects and organizations supported by the club.

Phil also told the group that he learned at the training that to encourage young folks to join Rotary, that they be allowed to become “friends of Rotary.” They could participate in Rotary activities to give them time to decide whether to join. If they decide to join, a member of the club or the club itself would pay for their first year dues. Phil thought this was idea the club should pursue.

For the second week in a row, a donation jar was passed around to raise funds for the Global Eye Clinic in Haiti.

Concerning the Water Hole project in Kenya, Peter said that there had been a delay because the district in Kenya was informed that they may be paying too much for the drilling, and that a rebid of the project may have to occur.

A meeting at the East Greenbush school district will be held n March 18 to further the Backpack program. Several club members will attend.

Pat reminded the group that the AAA defensive driving course would be held in Nassau on May 17th. Five club members have signed up.

A membership meeting will be held May 1st. Roberto asked members to invite a person that they believe might be interested in joining.

A PETS training will be held in Syracuse on March 15-16. Roberto, Jim and Phil will be  attending.

A Foundation grants management seminar will be held via Zoom on Sunday March 23rd. We need at least two members to attend to apply for district grants. Jim and Roberto are registered.

A district conference Learning Assembly will be held starting Friday April 4th in Albany. Roberto recommended that members at least attend on Saturday as Peter Brown will be on a panel to discuss global grants. Admission is free.

Upon going around the room at the end of the meeting, Dean thanked the club for their contribution to Gift of Life. He said that Gift of Life had received 8,400 pledges of financial support.

Meeting Clipboard 12/5/24

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Minutes
Southern Rennselaer County Rotary Meeting
December 5, 2024


Attended by: Roberto Martinez, Phil Kellerman, Jim Lehayne, Kevin Lehayne, Dick Drumm, Pat Bailey, Peter Brown, Deb Brown, Ray Hannan, Andy Lehayne and Murray Forth. Dean and Doris Calamares attended by Zoom.


Roberto welcomed everyone. The pledge was conducted.


Nest week on the 12th the annual holiday party will be held at the home of Peter and Deb Brown.


Phil Kellerman introduced the guest speaker, Gretchen Zegger, co-president of Whiskers.


Whiskers, based in Albany, rescues cats and finds suitable homes for adoption.  The agency currently houses 122 cats and depends on 230 volunteers.  


A new state law will limit the number of cats to 12 for occupancy in any one room. Thus, Whiskers is embarking on a fund-raising campaign for a new building with larger space.  


Whiskers has been around for about 40 years. Many of the cats rescued have been abandoned.  Medical treatment is provided to cats when needed.


In 2024 Whiskers served 655 cats.


In regular business, Roberto thanked everyone for taking Rotary items that were brought out of storage. Pat asked everyone who took items to get her a list of what was taken for record-keeping.


Roberto announced that the global grant for funding to provide access to safe water by establishing a borehole at the Enabelibel Full Gospel Church in Narok County, Kenya had been approved. Roberto thanked Peter and everyone loudly applauded Peter’s efforts. Peter said that the next step is to arrange the hydro-geological survey to see if there is potable water.


Concerning membership, two members (Jennifer Felts and AJ Amato) have ended their participation, but the club is picking up two new members.


Pat said that she is working to schedule a defensive driving class in the spring.


The holiday party is scheduled for December 12 at the Browns. Kevin reviewed a chart with holiday gifts requested by the club’s “adopted” family to bring to the party for collection.


On December 19 our meeting will be held at Spinney and hosted by Ray and Phil. They are making arrangements for catered food and Phil will conduct a trivia contest.


There will be no meetings on December 25 and January 2nd. The next meeting will be January 9th.


Ron has a potential member, Laurie Pferr, who will be speaking in either January or February.


John Justino has agreed to speak on the transition of the SUNY Albany School of Public Health in February.


Carole Heaney will be conducting a Holiday Grief Conversation December 8th from 1-3pm at the Lyons Funeral Home.


Roberto mentioned several Rotary international conferences coming up.


Peter and Kevin addressed the intention for our club to hold a Cornhole Tournament to raise funds. While the casino in Schenectady would draw lots of competitors, Kevin thought that holding it at an East Greenbush school would be more family friendly. Discussions are ongoing with the East Greenbush school board.


Phil said that he wanted to communicate with representatives at the East Greenbush Methodist Church about holding a benefit charity concert in the spring with a band from Florida and the Albany-based band “Enjoyous.”

Meeting Clipboard 6/27/24

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Last night the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club held its annual Presidential Changeover Meeting. The event hosted by Peter and Debbie Brown featured perfect weather, fine food and drinks, and all while surrounded by the Browns’ beautiful gardens. Before Peter Brown handed the gavel off to new incoming president Roberto Martinez, Peter recognized several members of the club including Pat Bailey, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Phil Kellerman, Murray Forth, and Debbie Brown for their support during his presidency. Out going President Peter Brown was presented with a jacket as a gift from the club marking his 4th term as club president in is 40 years of service. Some of this past years accomplishments include enlisting social capital, working with RI on a Global Grant that aligns with water initiatives, local scholarships, our annual bowlathon, and support for Girls Inc, Boy Scout Troop 41, the Epilepsy Foundation, Circles of Mercy and assisted the YMCA with projects throughout the year.

Members present: Charlie Foote, Dick and Mary Drumm, Maggie, Murray, and Jeremy Forth, Phil Kellerman, Pat Bailey, Jim Leyhane, Roberto Martinez, Peter and Debbie Brown, Andy Leyhane and family, and Kevin Leyhane and family.

There is no meeting scheduled for the upcoming week due to the 4th of July Holiday. The club is looking into making a reservation at the Boathouse Grill in New Baltimore for the July 11th meeting. More details will follow.