Club Donates $500 to Ugandan Mission

At Thursday's business meeting, we voted to donate $500 to help fund projects in Uganda sponsored by a Saratoga Springs church, which works with the Ugandan nonprofit AOET. Paul Phillips, one of our members and a leader of the upcoming trip, said it will focus on expanding school facilities in a poor area of northern Uganda, which was devastated by civil warfare.
In other business, we voted to appoint Estelle Genest (pictured) to the board as Rotary Foundation chair.

Still Time to Volunteer for "Tots"

Malta Sunrise Rotary President Tom Disinger working today at the Toys for Tots warehouse behind the Starpoint Church on the north side of Route 146 in Clifton Park.

Volunteers are still needed to sort and dispatch toys from there, at least through Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm. Contact Tom (a regular presence there, assisted occasionally by other Malta Sunrise Rotarians) or call 518-912-1663 for further information.

Taxman

Jeffrey Canastra, a CPA with the Albany accounting firm Staff Ciampino & Co., was our speaker this morning. He gave an account of how recent changes in federal tax law will affect how we should file our taxes this year.

Also in attendance was Larry Jones from the Glenville Rotary Club, and governor-elect for Rotary District 7190. He said the district change-over event this June 22 will be less formal than usual and less expensive -- a barbecue to be held at the Mabee Farm on the Mohawk River -- and encouraged members and prospective members to attend.

A couple of members have been joining regular attendee Tom Disinger (Malta Sunrise Rotary president) at the Toys for Tots warehouse. There they receive, sort, dispatch and lug around toys to be given to needy children this Christmas. More volunteers are welcome at the warehouse, which is located behind Starpoint Church, on the north side of Route 146 in Clifton Park.

No morning meetings for the next two weeks, but don't forget about our Christmas/holiday party next Thursday Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. at The Ripe Tomato. Contact Chris Luhn for details.

Membership, Tots, Seniors, etc.

Marisa Multari, left, dropped by yesterday's board meeting (which as usual was held at Panera the morning before the monthly business meeting at the Malta Diner). Marisa is vice president of Capital Region Rotary, and a membership coach for District 7190.

At last week's regular meeting, Kathy Eitzmann talked about Malta Seniors.

Tom Disinger is continuing to volunteer doing Christmas preparations at the Toys for Tots warehouse in Clifton Park, and invites members to join him there. 

And Chris Luhn is taking reservations for our Dec. 20 Christmas/holiday party at The Ripe Tomato. There will be no morning meeting on Dec. 20, and no meeting on Dec. 27.

Scholarships, and Toys for Tots

The Malta Sunrise Rotary Club offers a scholarship for a graduating high school senior residing in the Town of Malta. Students attending either public or accredited private schools or accredited home-school programs are eligible to apply, as long as they are Malta residents.
Our scholarship committee is hoping to interest students who demonstrate excellence in their core curriculum education as well as strong involvement in community service. Consideration may
also be given to financial need.
The selected student will be awarded a one-time scholarship of $1,000. Our scholarship committee may also offer one additional $500 award to the runner-up scholarship finalist.

Find applications and more information in the school counselling offices at Shenendehowa, Ballston Spa, or Saratoga Central Catholic high schools, or by writing to: Scholarship Committee, Malta Sunrise Rotary Club, P.O. Box 671, Round Lake, NY 12151.

And club President Tom Disinger has been helping out at, and is seeking support for, "theToys for Tots warehouse facility in Clifton Park.This is the sorting and distribution facility for the entire Capital Region. The operation is immense, and they need help.

     "If you have some extra time during the next few days, they could use more volunteers. There are thousands of toys to sort by age, boys vs. girls, and then to bag and tag for distribution. ... The facility is in a warehouse located behind the Starpoint Church on Route 146 ... As you head west, you'll pass Tanner Road, and the church will be on your right, just past Tanner. Follow the Toys for Tots signs to the warehouse behind the church, and enter on the left front door. Allison is the person in charge. ...

"The schedule from Saturday into next week is as follows:

Saturday 10/24 10AM - 3PM.

Sunday - 12 Noon - 6PM (Maybe later, as this is a major day for receiving donations, and a great deal of sorting and bagging will be done.)

Monday thru Thursday (11/26-29) 10 AM - 3 PM As I said earlier, this is a huge operation, and lots of help is needed. Thanks (in advance) for supporting this cause."

Club Donates $500 for Scholarships in Lesotho

At our business meeting yesterday, club members voted to donate $500 to Qholaqhoe Mountain Connections, in a rural part of the southern African nation of Lesotho. We have been donating regularly to QMC since 2014, and this contribution will go to their scholarship program.

DeLucia, Fund-Raising

Malta Supervisor Vince DeLucia spoke at our meeting last Thursday, not about politics or town government, but about growing up in a very different Malta Ridge, near what is now Exit 13 of the Northway, a couple of generations ago.

Then on Saturday, we raised funds by supplying food service for the craft fair at the Malta Community Center, led by our tireless worker/organizers Cynthia Young and Miles Cornthwaite.