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.

 

Banker's Anti-Fraud Tips

 Molly Dugmore, branch manager of the Adirondack Trust northeast of the roundabout in downtown Malta, talked about the rising tide of attempted fraud, giving tips on avoidance while noting there should be "no shame" for the victims. 

These often online frauds include the "unexpected windfall scam", the "sweetheart scam", the "IRS scam", "overpayment fraud", and the "friend or family in need scam". The latter can be particularly effective when AI is used to imitate a loved one's voice.

In general, she advised, "Don't click on the link."

Regarding a more benign form of links, we heard about the Impactful Education Golf Tournament coming up June 14 at the Airway Meadows Golf Club. It benefits a Rotary-connected worthy cause, and if you just go to the dinner it's only $25. (See below.)

Our president Chris Havens went to the Malta Town Board meeting to publicize the Avenue Banners project.

See more at that link and below.