Rotateller

October 26, 2004

Calendar of Events

Last Week: Club Assembly

This Week: James Fenimore “Genetics”

Next Week: Apple Pie Festival

Coming Up:

November 9 Jerry Smallwood “WW II Veterans”

November 16 Stephanie Lubis “Reporting for BH, BL, & Charlton”

November 23 George Bailey: “Charlton & Ballston in 1953 When Our Club Began”

Suggestions for future programs may be given to Rey Whetten or Linda LeTendre

Other Events Coming Up:

November 2 Election Day

November 23 BOD & Chairs Meeting 5PM

December 7 Tree Lighting & Concert

December 14 Christmas Party at the Glen Sanders Mansion.

Minute for Rotary Schedule

October 26 Doug Turpin

November 9 Rey Whetton

November 16 Bill Sewell

November 23 Bill McClary

WEBSITES:

BHBL Rotary: www.bhblrotary.org

District 7190: www.capitalregionrotary.org

Rotary Foundation Works for the Twin Bridges Club

At the October 12 meeting Ann Cargile, District 7190 Secretary, and Cindy Schemehl of the Twin Bridges Rotary Club described their ambitious international project in Chikandakubi Zimbambwe. Only two years in existence, the Twin Bridges Rotary raised $1,500 to fund this international project; District 7190 committed $1,875 and sought matching funds from The Rotary Foundation, which approved $2,625 to bring the total raised for the Twin Bridges project to $6,000. Three Twin Bridges Rotary Club members (Mary Ann Bennice, Jim Fitzgerald, and Melissa Warner) accompanied Ann and Cindy on the initial visit to Chikandakubi. Each of the five carried two 70-pound suitcases packed with textbooks, school supplies, medical items, and small equipment. While in Chikandakubi, the group arranged a partnership with the Victoria Falls Rotary of Zimbabwe to continue the project jointly. Ann and Cindy presented a four-minute video of this trip which illustrated the warmth of welcome the group received, the extreme poverty and lack of resources found in Chikandakubi, and some of the goods and supplies the group donated to the villagers.

In early November the Twin Bridges Club will ship 44,000 tons of clothing, medicines, books, a battery operated keyboard, books, pencils, crayons, etc. to Chikandkubi. 12 persons have signed up for this second trip including several teachers and a nurse. Twin Bridges is applying for another Rotary International grant to extend its project. Among project goals for the future are to establish a village garden to provide food for school lunches, initiate a solar energy program and use the power generated to operate a computer, and attack community health problems like malaria AIDS, and upgrade the local water supply. The video presentation closed with the following quote from Margaret Mead, which could be the motto for the Twin Bridges project: “Never believe a few caring people can’t change the world. For indeed that is all who ever have.”

News Briefs

Contributions to Rotary Foundation:

Vice-President Rey Whetton reminded the membership that those who wish to contribute to the Rotary Foundation should complete the contribution form found on the Club’s website and return the form together with their check to Club Treasurer Ken Crotty. The Club’s goal is to raise $4,200 for the Foundation this year.

Apple Run Report:

Chairman Paul Lewandowski reported on the success of the October 16^th Apple Run.

190 adults and 34 children competed in the various events, and a net profit of slightly more than $2,000 was achieved for the Club. Paul thanked those Rotarians who contributed to the efficiency of the operation, and in turn, Paul was given rousing applause by the membership for his primary role in organizing the event.

Rotaract Club Exemplifies Service Above Self:

Lynn Rafalik reported that the newly organized Rotaract Club members at the Senior High School had responded to a tragic circumstance confronting two fellow students in a particularly helpful manner. The parents of the two students were killed in a recent automobile accident. The Rotaract Club decided they would assist the family by volunteering to cut the grass and manage snow removal at the family home for the next two years. We are proud of these young people and their example of the Rotary motto: “Service Above Self”.

Apple Pie Festival Tickets:

The Board feels that energizing advanced Apple Pie ticket sales could raise more money. President Steve advises that we should stress to community members that they are buying more than a good time and appetizing food; a $5 dollar ticket purchase contributes to efforts to better community life. Steve hopes that all members will turn in their ticket receipts and unsold tickets no later than the evening of the event.

“CHS Counts” Scheduled for November 1.

Bill McClary distributed a sign-up sheet for the “CHS Counts” inventory of merchandise on the shelves at the Burnt Hills Hardware to be held Monday morning, November 1. Community members, including many Rotarians, assist the store management with their annual inventory, and the store in turn makes a substantial contribution to Community Human Services. Rotarians who wish to volunteer to participate should contact Bill or Shirley McClary.

Entertainment ’05 Sale Winding Down:

Receipts from the sale of Entertainment books and unsold books should be returned to Dick O’Rourke at the Apple Pie Festival or as soon as possible thereafter.

Facts About Rotary from RI

What Is the Purpose of Rotary?

Rotary is made up of business and professional leaders who work to better their community and build understanding and peace in the world. Rotary is a non-political, non-religious humanitarian organization.

There are approximately 1.2 million Rotary club members of more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in 166 countries. Rotary was founded in 1905.

Since 1947, the Rotary Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, which are administered at the local level.

If you have information items for the Rotateller contact

Dick O’Rourke at 372-8287 / robrwo@aol.com

or Ed Warren at 663-7669 / ewarren@nycap.rr.com