Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Text Box: Calendar of Events Last week 4/25: David Stills – Starfire Systems This week 5/2: Our International Service Committee presents an American Field Service Program, recognizing the support BHBL Rotary gives AFS. This program will include a Thai Dance by our own Thai Rotarian, Mali Naksanga Next week 5/9: Don Marshall – “What’s New at the Charlton School” Coming up: 5/5: Chili Supper at the Senior High School Cafeteria 6/3: 9-Hole golf Tournament at the Galway Golf Club Invocation: George Bailey, Garry Morrow, Dan Stec, Bob Youmans Please give suggestions for future programs to Linda LeTendre
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: 4/25 Announcements 


               

 

 

• Jennie and Jim Pennington were welcomed.  Jennie’ return, George

(Heckofaprayer) Bailey’s invocation, and Bill and Gen Sewell’s 60th wedding

anniversary dominated the reasons for joy during Happy Dollars.

• Ken Crotty reported that Dick Arthur, Bob Youmans, Rey Whetten, Mary Anderson, Bill McClary and he had completed necessary preparatory work on Camp Cloverpatch replacement bridges and hoped to assemble the bridges next week.

                • Club contributions to the Rotary Foundation have reached $2600, which is within $1900 of reaching the goal of averaging $100 per member in total.  Make checks out to “The Rotary Foundation” and give them to Treasurer Ken Crotty.  

                • Val Mosier began distribution of tickets for the Chili Supper to be held on Friday, May 5 from 5::30 – 7:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.  Tickets are $8.  

• Walt Grattidge announced that the Mel Bartlett Fire Science scholarship to

SCCC had been awarded to Brian Walsh.

Text Box: In Memoriam: Terry Morris 

 


               

President Rey acknowledged the recent passing of past club member and community icon Terry Morris.  Terry was our speaker on December 20 and was introduced by Linda LeTendre as “her favorite Republican and a man who pulled himself up by his bootstraps”.  At tonight’s meeting, Linda recounted a story Terry told her about his first business venture as owner of a fruit /vegetable store while still a BH-BL high school student.  It was Terry’s practice to buy bananas at $.07 each and sell them for $.11each or bruised for $.09.  A thrifty customer wanted bruised bananas, and Terry had none. He excused himself, went into the back room, tossed several bananas against the wall, and returned to still make a profit on his sale. Terry will be missed.

     

 

 

Text Box: Capturing the Promise of Silicon Carbide Ceramic 

 

 


                David Stills, Vice President for Plant Operations at Starfire Systems, Inc. in Malta’s Saratoga Energy and Technology Park, described his firm’s brief history and its accomplishments in expanding from a local to an international business.  Mr. Stills began his presentation by assuring his audience that a Tech Valley here in the Capital District is “real”.  He stated that there are a thousand tech companies in the Capital District area with a total of 50,000 employees and $2 billion (with a “b”) in annual payroll.

                Starfire was founded in 1988 by Walter Sherwood, a visionary who saw the potential of silicon carbide ceramic products.  The firm has been assisted by funding from the NYS Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and through several break through ventures has established itself as a major player in providing new options for better products.  For example, it obtained the contract to create patch material for the 2004 Columbia space shuttle that could be heated by the temperature in space when applied and thus avoid the tragic accident of its predecessor.  Fortuitously, the crack repair kit was not needed, but it passed all the NASA tests and led to a partnership with a $7 billion European firm.

                Silicon carbide ceramic is highly resistant to wear and corrosion, has high temperature strength, and is thermally stabile and light weight.  Starfire is developing families of material systems and has targeted markets in transportation (brakes and other friction products), electronics (semiconductor chips and circuit boards), aerospace (propulsion and repair kits) and industry (diesel emissions).  Mr. Stills distributed to his audience for comparison purposes a 7 lbs. silicone carbide brake rotor and a 21 lbs. rotor manufactured with standard materials.

                Mr. Stills said Starfire Systems was achieving great success in developing its silicon carbide ceramic products because it had taken full advantage of its networking and collaboration opportunities, had strong public and private support, and was focused on research and development.    The firm is currently investigating opportunities with the U.S. Air Force for ceramic brakes and with Georgia Tech to produce a thin, flat circuit board of silicon carbide.  Mr. Stills spoke with passion about his work and his firm belief that Starfire Systems is part of a business climate in the Capital District that will result in a higher percentage of its young people finding good jobs in the Albany area after college graduation.

               

 

As reported by Dick O’Rourke

Text Box: Serve with us – the world is waiting.
 

 

 

Rotary AFS - Cathi Currin, coordinator, Momoko Ito, Japanese student, Mali Naksanga, Thai teacher, Mary Anderson, chair Rotary International Committee