Pioneers

Tom Amell, president and CEO of Pioneer Bank, was our speaker Thursday (shown here with Pioneer colleague and Malta Rotarian Estelle Genest).

It was also the last meeting to be chaired by Arlene Schmidt, who is winding up her second successful stint as president of Malta Sunrise Rotary.

Health, Learning and Change

Last week's speaker was Cathi Duncan, director of public health for Saratoga County Public Health Services. She noted that for the second year in a row, Saratoga was named the healthiest county in New York state, but also raised concerns about issues including rising obesity rates and pre-diabetes diagnoses, and problems related to excessive drinking, opioid and substance abuse, and issues related to mental health and suicide. You can find more information and links to community resources for these and other health issues at the county website: http://www.saratogacountyny.gov/departments/publichealth/ 

In other news, Malta Sunrise Rotary announced the winner and commended finalists in our 2017 scholarship program for graduating high school seniors residing in the town of Malta, NY.
Paul Ruger, a recent graduate of Saratoga Central Catholic School, received the 2017 scholarship for $1,000. Paul is the son of Joan and Karl Ruger. Paul will be attending Siena College as a business major this fall.
Four additional Malta high school seniors were named commended finalists in the scholarship program and each received a $100 textbook award.
Ben Balet, the son of John and Sandi Balet, is a senior at Ballston Spa High School. Last year, as a high school junior, Ben was also chosen to participate in RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) sponsored by our Malta club. Ben will be attending the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Ashley Waite, the daughter of Regan Bouleris, is also a senior at Ballston Spa High School. Ashley will be attending SUNY Plattsburgh, with a planned major in Childhood/Special Education in their five-year master’s program.
Cetera Moore, also a Ballston Spa High School senior, is the daughter of Wendy Perreault and William Moore. Cetera plans to attend Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY, with a major in Childhood Special Education with a concentration in Spanish.
Logan Vandenburgh, a senior at Shenendehowa High School, is the son of Eric and Megan Vandenburgh. Logan will be attending the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Finally, there will be no Thursday meeting this week, because instead we held our change-over dinner last night at Andy's Adirondack Grille. Here's incoming president Bob Conner (who takes over on July 1 from Arlene Schmidt) greeting his wife and fellow Rotarian Barbara Conner at the event.

Bob Bonney, Paul Harris Fellow

Bob Bonney, second from left, was awarded a well deserved Paul Harris fellowship from Rotary International at our meeting Thursday.

Bob is a key player in our fund-raising, organizing pancake breakfasts at the Malta Ridge Fire House, and recently getting us involved with the CLYNK recycling program through Hannaford. If you want your empty bottles and cans to benefit Malta Sunrise Rotary, Bob can help make it happen.

Heart Story

Malta Sunrise Rotarian Glenn Rockwood was our speaker Thursday, talking about his heart transplant. Glenn is also raising funds for the American Heart Association.

And below are some pictures of Rotarians on two recent occasions at the Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, putting out flags on veterans' graves on the Saturday before Memorial Day, and picking them up on the Tuesday after.

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