A Quilt, a Geologist, Two Celebrations and Community Day

 

This handmade quilt by Susan Kipp is her second such gift to Malta Sunrise Rotary. We plan to raffle it off, maybe at the Harvest Craft Fair on Nov. 8 at the Community Center. Thanks, Susan.

Our speaker on Thursday was Malta resident Chris Mack, who is a geologist at the Albany office of Continental Placer Inc. Before he, his wife and their young son settled in Malta, Chris said, he "bounced around a lot," working on mine and quarry operations in the western United States, Africa and Saudi Arabia. Now he deals with many clients in the southeastern US.

There is no morning meeting next Thursday, Sept. 4. Instead, Larry Levine will host a party for Rotarians and prospective members from about 2 pm into the evening.

On Sept. 9 from 3 to 6, Miles Cornthwaite and his wife Nancy will host a 25th wedding anniversary celebration to which club members are invited. RSVP requested to 518-587-7388. 

On Malta Community Day, Saturday Sept. 6 from 10 to 3 at Shenantaha Park, we'll be running a cornhole game with various prizes. Stop by and say hello.

From Bobsleds to Baseball

                                            Last week's speaker, Norman Miller, is a 33-year US Air Force veteran, a former Olympic bobsled coach, and a participant in end-of-the-Cold War adventures involving the Soviet Union, its soldiers and the KGB, the CIA, alloy composites, Latvian athletes and an Estonian escape route to Finland. Miller has fictionalized those experiences in two novels, IceSpy and Inside the Cold War, and is working on a third with a Mafia element. 

Shaun Francis, this week's speaker, is a Malta resident who grew up in Colonie, and became a professional baseball umpire. He also became a labor activist, leading the Association of Minor League Umpires, and supporting its affiliation with the Office and Professional Employees International Union. He now works for the New York State Public Employees Federation, and attends law school.

In other business, we're sponsoring the AOET booth at the Glenville Oktoberfest on Sept. 27.

Banner Project Update

 

At a reception on July 24 at the Malta Community Center, the following 10 paintings were announced for the ongoing banner project in Malta.

They are:

Cyclist on Iron Truss Bridge by Tammy Handley

First Rose of the Season by Kristina Guernsey

Trail Traipsing by Maggie Dinneen

Winters Past in Luther Forest by Sean Campanie

Whimsical Faces- Zee Zee by Lisa Santy

Whimsical Faces-Buzz by Lisa Shanty

Helping Hands and a Monarch by Annika Nerf

The Malta Drive-in by Kristen Hardy Allen

After the Rain, Luther Forest by Ottavia Huang

Geese on Pond by Maggie Dinneen

Town Supervisor (and Rotary Treasurer) Cynthia Young said at the reception, "You can't have a community without art."

Chris Havens has led the project for Rotary.

Innovation Center

 

Our speaker Thursday was Beth Moeller, president of the Innovation Center at Saratoga, a seven-day-a-week nonprofit which is located in Malta at 16 Old Stonebreak Road. (Beth is also the owner of Interactive Media Consulting.)

The Innovation Center describes itself as a collaborative makerspace for all creatives and entrepreneurs. "It's a place to bring people together," said Beth, with resources including 3D printers, a computer lab, a wood shop and a sewing room.

It also has big plans, she said, including working with Tec-Smart (the Malta HVCC campus) on creating certificates for programs such as electric vehicle maintenance. 

Deadline Reminder, and Confirmation Clarification

 The July 1 deadline for our Make Your Mark on Malta project is quickly approaching, and if you have submitted something you should have gotten a confirmation email. If you haven't gotten a confirmation within a day or two of submission, it's possible you used the wrong email address -- as we're now aware at least one person did. So please submit again. We've had 24 submissions received so far.

New board sworn in

 

The new Rotary year starts July 1, and incoming officials, elected earlier this year, will include from left: Immediate Past President Chris Havens, Treasurer Cynthia Young, Vice President Paul Phillips, Secretary Brian Farrell, Finance Chair Steve Ames (in wheelchair), Sergeant-at-Arms Bob Bonney, Foundation Chair Barbara Conner, President Dwight Havens, and Membership Chair Steve Haydon. They were sworn in by District Area Representative Jim Frey, on right, at the house of Miles and Nancy Cornthwaite, who hosted our change-over dinner. Missing was Murray Eitzmann, who will be president-elect. 

Scholarship Winners

 Malta Sunrise Rotary scholarships this year went to two Shenendehowa High School graduates. Haylie Doxtater, on right in white dress, won $1,000 and Grace Green, on left, won $500. Cate Miller, at center, represented our club at the awards ceremony in the Shenendehowa auditorium.

Our speaker on Thursday was Fred Bahr from the Mechanicville chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which makes and delivers wooden beds for children in need.

The organization was founded in 2012, Fred said, and now has 327 chapters in four countries.

See here for details about upcoming events and how to volunteer or contribute locally.