Blood Drive Wednesday

We are sponsoring a blood drive tomorrow, Wednesday, August 28, at the Malta Community Center. It is scheduled from 1 to 6 pm, but most of the earlier slots are filled up already. If you would like to schedule an appointment to donate blood, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS, using the sponsor code MALTA, or go online to redcrossblood.org. We can probably accommodate drop-ins during the late afternoon.

Business Updates

District 7190 Governor Larry Jones (right, with Malta Sunrise Rotary President Mike Williams) was our speaker this morning. Larry, a member of the Glenville Rotary Club, discussed some international successes, such as The Rotary Foundation's 100 percent rating from Charity Navigator, the virtual elimination of polio from Africa, and how both Gift of Life International and ShelterBox originated from Rotary. He also spoke about upcoming district events -- an October peace summit for young people, and a Nov. 9 bus trip to the UN -- and local membership ideas.

We also discussed this morning and at last week's business meeting upcoming local projects, including an August 28 Red Cross blood drive we are helping run, Malta Community Day on September 7 at Shenantaha Park where we plan to operate the dunking booth, an October 5 chicken barbecue at Brookside Museum where we'll be helping the Ballston Spa club raise funds for elementary students' weekend food supplies, and an October 20 pancake breakfast at the Round Lake Fire Department.

Health Concerns

Rachel Maxwell, left, (shown with club President Mike Williams and member Helen Endres), was our speaker on Thursday. Rachel is senior public health educator at Saratoga County Public Health (a department formerly led by Helen).

Rachel talked about her efforts to prevent diabetes, tick-born diseases, and suicide. The suicide prevention Lifeline phone number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).