Reporting Meeting of 22 October 2007

(For Distribution 29 October 2007)

Text Box: Calendar of Events Last Week, 10/15: “Taste of Burnt Hills” Dinner & Packet Preparation for the Apple Run at the High School This Week, 10/22: “Interact 2008” Cheryl Bach (BHBL High School) Next Week, 10/29: “Friends Forever” (10 young visitors from Ireland) Coming Up: 11/6: Election Day Apple Pie Festival 12/4: Tree Lighting and Orchestra Concert 12/10: Christmas/Holiday Party at Longfellow’s Note: Regular meetings are held Monday Evenings at 6:15 PM at the Sewell Memorial Room in the Ballston Town Hall 22 October Meeting Attendance: Members, 24; Visiting Rotarians, 0; Spouses, 2; Prospective Members, 0; Program Guests, 3. Invocation: George Bailey, Garry Morrow, Dan Stec or Bob Youmans Please give suggestions for future programs to Mark Gasparovic
Text Box: 22 October Welcome and Announcements
 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


·         Ron Serapilio welcomed the members, the three Interact speakers, and two wives.  Particular greetings were extended to Doug and Jodie Turpin.

·         Ron described next week’s programs – a spouses night – in which the club will be visited by 10 young visitors from Ireland, representing both the Roman Catholic and Protestant communities.  An attendance estimate was requested.

·         Ron delivered a Rotary Moment recalling a visit to the Schenectady Free Health Clinic.  An impressive charcoal portrait of Abraham Lincoln hangs on the wall.  It was drawn by Alan, a bipolar client of the clinic, who benefits from the medication contributed by the club.  Ron felt the impact of our contributions in helping the artist and others to function in society.  Rotary helps people.

·         Bob Youmans announced the need for helpers to cleanup Charlton Road on Saturday 10/27.

·         Mary Anderson is organizing closing down the Town-in-Bloom project for the winter.  Plants need to be pulled from the beds and disposed of.  The activity is scheduled for 10 AM on Saturday 10/27.

·         Dick O’Rourke has a remaining stock of Entertainment Books, which he will be glad to sell for $30 per copy, for the benefit of the club.

·         Paul Lewandowski announced a successful Apple Run with a gross of about $6000 and an anticipated net of $3000.

·         Chris Nyhan is organizing Apple Pie festival activities, and needs workers.

·         Clarence Linder is looking for three contributed pies per member or $21 per member with which to buy them.

·         Mark Gasparovic collected Happy Dollars while Doug Turpen delivered the traditional joke.

·         Mark Gasparovic introduced the evening’s speakers and program.

 

 

 

Text Box: Interact 2008, Cheryl Bach, Dallas Marshall and Maggie Donohue 

 

 


          The BHBL High School Interact club has 55 members under the leadership of teacher Cheryl Bach.  The club was pleased to host Ms Bach, Dallas Marshall, Club President and Maggie Donohue, Club Secretary, as they told us of their activities.  Dallas opened with a review of the year 2005-2006, Cheryl Bach’s first year as advisor.  In September books were collected for Pakistan under the sponsorship of our club.  In October funds were raised at a refreshment sale at Homecoming to benefit the Relay for Life Team.  Assistance was given to the Rotary Apple Pie Festival.  The Thanksgiving Food Drive was started, successfully extending into November.  That month the Scarf Project began with scarves made and donated by teachers, and sold for the benefit of cystic fibrosis.  Over a thousand dollars were raised.  The club participated in the Christmas and other food drives at the Immaculate Conception church. In January and February the students solicited donations for the auction benefiting the American Cancer Society, and a 50/50 raffle helping the Relay for Life team. In May they worked with Town-in-Bloom spring planting.  Finally, they raised over $1700, plus

a $1000 match from Wal-Mart, with the Relay for Life, Walk for a Cure, for the benefit of the American Cancer Society.

          Maggie continued with a discussion of plans for the present academic year.  Work with the Apple Pie Festival and the sale of scarves will continue.  They will help out with the blood drive on 16 November, and work with Thanksgiving and Christmas food drives.  A special auction will be held in March for the benefit of a leprosy colony in India, which was founded by Capitol Region family.  50/50 raffles will be held throughout the year for the Parker Project for community cleanup.

          Ms Bach closed the program, telling us that they are recruiting more knitters for more scarves, hoping to raise over $2000 this year.  The scarves are priced from 5 to 20 dollars, averaging about $10.  Some will be on sale at the Apple Pie Festival on Election Day.  She referred us to an article to appear in the Tuesday 23 October Albany Times Union for more details. 

          At the end of the program Ms Bach and Maggie modeled scarves.  One of our members commented that the Interact Club seems to do more that we do!  Thanks were given to all for an interesting presentation on their community-orientated activities.The people in the photo, from left to right, are Dallas, Maggie, Ms Bach and our own Mark Gasparovic.

Reported by Fred Baily

Text Box: Serve with us – the world is waiting