Business

 Treasurer Cynthia Young reported that in the 2023-24 Rotary fiscal year starting July 1, we have expended through May $2,400 on charitable donations, an additional $1,500 on scholarships, another $1,584.92 on donations to the Rotary Foundation, $1,973.92 for Rotary International dues and $720 for Rotary District dues. 

The slate of officers elected for the 2024-25 year is President Chris Havens, Vice President Paul Phillips, President-elect Dwight Havens, Treasurer Cynthia Young, Secretary Brian Farrell, Membership Chair Larry Levine, Foundation Chair Barbara Conner, Budget and Finance Chair Steve Ames. 

Woerner's World

 

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner spoke at our meeting Thursday (while Larry Levine, Cynthia Young, Paul Phillips and the rest of us listened, sometimes engaging in give and take).

As usual, Carrie went on talking for those who stayed after the meeting ended, displaying her customary expertise about the workings of the state Capitol. This time was mostly analysis of the budget passed last month. On education spending, for example, the governor wanted to eliminate the "hold harmless" provision protecting some districts' aid, but the Legislature kept it.

Most of the talk and discussion was about health care and its knotty problems, including very high malpractice costs for doctors, and a lack or workers at all levels of the health care system.

250 Years Later

 

Sean Kelleher, right, in friendly discussion with fellow historian Paul Perreault at this morning's meeting. Kelleher, the longtime Town of Saratoga historian, is a member of the board of the Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa, and also serves on the county's 250th commission marking the anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga.

The 250th anniversary of the 1777 battles (fought three weeks apart) won't be for another three years, but the commission is marking other events in the meantime. Late next year, for example, will mark the 250th anniversary of Col. Henry Knox's midwinter trek hauling cannons from Ticonderoga to Boston, which helped drive the British out of that city. It will be marked by events in upstate New York through Massachusetts.

The commission has also been focusing on the role of women in war, including Lady Harriet Acland, wife of a wounded and captured British officer in the Saratoga campaign, who displayed extraordinary courage and devotion.

Ballston Spa and Beyond

 Harry Armer, flanked by Katherine Turner, Paul Perreault and Murray Eitzmann, holds up an old newspaper clip at today's joint meeting of the Malta Sunrise and Ballston Spa Rotary clubs.

The Ballston Spa club meets Wednesday mornings at The White House, and the first and third Tuesdays for lunch at Ballston Spa Country Club. But today they were at our home base, The Ugly Rooster in Malta. 

Upcoming events and volunteer opportunities in Ballston Spa include an April 27 cleanup day, and a May 3 barbecue at Brookside Museum. 

Ms. Turner is not a member of either club but has connections in our area, and told us about Baja Bridges on the West Coast.

Trash Crew

 

Saturday morning's Dunning Street trash pickup crew consisted, left to right, of Rotarians, Bob and Barbara Conner, Dwight and Chris Havens, Paul Perreault, Miles Cornthwaite, Paul Phillips, Kristen Stanley, and our junior helper, young Master K., in the front. Plus Helen Endres, who took the photo.

No meeting on Thursday April 11, because members may choose to attend this event instead.

Pre-empted on April 11

 

Pete Bardunias (in blue shirt) listens to Cynthia Young (across table) at our meeting on Thursday.

Pete, who was our speaker, is senior vice president for community advancement at the Capital Region Chamber. (Cynthia is our club treasurer, and the town of Malta supervisor.)

Pete talked about "keeping the lights on" as possibly his top priority, and a new geothermal energy company in town. 

He also plugged "Inside Malta: A Community Business Forum", which is an 8-9:30 am breakfast event to be held April 11 at the Malta Community Center. Panelists will include leaders from GlobalFoundries, HVCC North, Arnoff, and Signature ONE Real Estate.

The club decided to cancel its scheduled April 11 meeting because members might want to attend the Chamber event. That breakfast is open to the public, and to register and purchase tickets, or find out more information, click on this link.

Schools Report

 

Dr. Gianleo Duca (in tie), Ballston Spa School District superintendent, speaks at this morning's Rotary meeting.

Duca addressed various issues, including key and related district goals of enhancing parent engagement and ensuring students get in the habit of actually attending school. The district is working with Hudson Valley Community College to push education for the trades, and is concerned about a persistent problem of student homelessness. 

There was discussion about transportation, and the cameras with audio on school buses which are there to prevent bullying. He expressed concern about the state's electric vehicle mandates for buses. One issue is that the district would need more space to park its fleet (currently of 86), because of the danger of fire spreading from one electric vehicle to another.