Mindfulness and Meditation

 

Nicholas Cassius Clay, at rear on left, prepares to speak at our meeting last Thursday. 

A coach and advocate of mindfulness and brain-heart coherence, he talked about "nonjudgmental awareness" and "the challenge of being present." Meditation exercises can start the mind-body connection, he said, and "the bridge is courage."

Clay is a past president of the Schenectady Rotary Club.

No meeting tomorrow, Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving.

Business, Food, Books, Water

 

At our business meeting Thursday, President Chris Havens discussed the possibility of continuing to aid the area in Lesotho served by Qholaqhoe Mountain Connections, which is winding down its operations. QMC's Linda Gorham told Chris in a Nov. 6 email that "there is definitely a need for donations for the food/hunger crisis in the area", which has been stricken by drought. Linda suggested that donations for that purpose could be arranged via wire transfer to St. Charles High School in the QMC area, and club members agreed to pursuing this option.

Members also agreed with Chris's suggestion that we undertake a food drive next February or March to benefit the food pantry at the Malta Community Center. 

Later Thursday, our member Bob Conner spoke about Juneteenth to the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club, and sold and signed copies of his books with all proceeds (about $140) donated to the club's planned water project in Kenya.

Bob was invited to the Rensselaer County meeting by Phil Kellerman, who spoke to our club last month.

From Community Center to Community

 Kristan Gottmann, Malta's director of Parks,
 Recreation and Human Services, was our speaker last Thursday. She focused mainly on the last-listed part of her duties, centered on the food pantry at the David Meager Malta Community Center. It is supported by organizations including the Town of Malta/GlobalFoundries Foundation, Price Chopper, Stewart's, Saratoga Casino, Pitney Meadows, the US Postal Service, and other donors including the public.

There has been a "huge increase" in demand in recent years, she said. In addition to food, the "human services" include Thanksgiving bags, the holiday Christmas tree program for children, and winter clothing. The human services operate year round, when necessary making referrals to other services and agencies.

Kristan also talked about the many recreation, sports, arts, education and other opportunities available through her department at the Community Center and in the parks of Malta.  

   

"It's a lovely place. We're lucky," she said.