Report of Meeting of 7January 2008

(For Distribution 14 January)

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


·        Ron Serapilio opened the meeting with a remembrance of Charter Member and Past President, John Palm.  George Bailey delivered an invocation recalling John Palm and his accomplishments.

·        Ron welcomed our Assistant District Governor, Dee Pangburn.  Welcomes were extended to Howard Townley, Mike Boudoin, John Irving (our speaker) Mike Brewster and Jody Turpen.

·        Chris Nyhan announced that John Fantauzzi will join the club.

·        Dee Pangburn presented a pin to Steve Caine for bringing in a new member, and announced the availability of tickets for the Glenville Rotary Club Ziti Dinner on 1 February.

·        Ken Crotty presented an update on the Rotary Foundation, announcing that Bob Youmans has reached the second level of giving.

·        Mark Gasparovic read a communication from Harriet Noble, our District Governor describing her joining other Rotarians in the annual New Years Day Polar Bear Plunge at Lake George.  About $25K was raised for PolioPlus Partners.  Please send your pledges to her at One Arbor Lane, Clifton Park, NY 12065.

·        The Gift of Life annual dinner dance will be held at the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge on Saturday 9 February. Please consider attending and/or donating appropriate items to the Silent Auction.

·        Laura Linder promoted a presentation to be made by Ballston Town Historian Rick Reynolds at 7 PM on 16 January at the Ballston Town Hall.  His topic is Sights and Scenes of 20th Century Ballston.

·        Linda LeTendre presented an award to the club for our inclusion of people with disabilities in our programs.

·        Bob Youmans led the singing of Auld Lang Syne, followed by the collection of Happy Dollars.

·        Dick O’Rourke introduced our speaker, John Irving, recalling a long association going back to hiring him into the BHBL schools.  John is shown in the left of photo with our own Dick O’Rourke.

Text Box: Program: CHS — Community Human Services — John Irving 

 

 


CHS provides or facilitates services for families and individuals, including education, counseling, referral or other support, by bringing together professional staff, volunteers and broad community support.  Their offices are located at 543 Saratoga Road in Glenville.  CHS is 32 years old.  John has led it since April.

Money is always tight, and the club was thanked for its role in providing the van used for the Wellness Express Transportation Program, taking seniors and kids to medical services.  A new service will use the van to take clients to the Ballston library on Thursdays.

CHS supports six social workers in the BHBL schools.  The Family Support Services Program provides many option for families with children who face social or emotional challenges.  Programs include advocacy, support groups, information and referral, proactive intervention, parent workshops, counseling, employment skills program, job match, and other support.

An important new program is the CHS participation in VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, a national program providing tax-preparation services to low-to-moderate income-tax payers, supported by both the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).  The program seeks to increase awareness of the Earned Income Credit (EIC), as well as many other credits available to, but not usually claimed, by non-sophisticated taxpayers.  The free service saves the taxpayer the $50 to $200 fee, which they may otherwise have paid to a commercial preparer.  In 2006 the program brought back $7.3 M to the Capital District in tax refunds.  Since most refunds are spent, the program benefits both the individual and the local economy.

CHS is actively seeking volunteers to serve in the program during the upcoming tax-preparation season.  Preparers take a three-hour course, pass an open-book test, and receive their certification.  They are provided with a computer program, with provision for electronic filing with the IRS.  Taxes will be prepared at the CHS office and at the Ballston Library.

Among the CHS fund raisers for 2008 are:

·        A March dinner contributed by the Outback Steak House restaurants.

·        A craft fair at the BHBL High School on 19 October.

·        A house tour in planning by Rick Reynolds.

The program closed with a question-and-answer period.  Thanks were extended and John was presented with one of the historic Rotary coffee mugs.

 

Reported by Fred Baily