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).

Alzheimer's Advice

Alison Farison, volunteer coordinator (alfarison@alz.org) for the Northeastern New York Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, was our speaker today. As Alison told us, and can be seen on their web site, the NNYCAA provides numerous services free of charge to those who may be suffering from or affected by Alzheimer's, including caregivers. The Alzheimer's Association also has research, education, lobbying and fund-raising roles, along with many opportunities for volunteers. A Capital Region Walk to End Alzheimer's is scheduled for September 21. 

The organization has a toll-free 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900.

Still Farming in Malta

The speaker at Thursday's meeting was Malta farmer and entrepreneur Dave Avenarius (shown here with Miles Cornthwaite from our club). Dave shared his story about growing up in Malta and becoming intrigued by a neighboring farm, wanting to work there even as a young boy. Years later, he was able to buy the farm bit by bit and now lives there with his family. Lake View Farms is currently about 135 acres at the intersection of Malta Avenue Extension and Nelson Avenue Extension. There, Dave raises beef cattle, a few pigs, and sells farm fresh eggs at a roadside stand. He also produces local honey, which can be purchased at Spa Cleaners in Ballston Spa. He works to improve the soil and produce healthy, humanely-raised products.

TU Reporter, Paul Harris Fellow

Times Union reporter Wendy Liberatore was today's speaker -- or rather at her request she was interviewed by Bob Conner. Her many insights about local issues and the news business prompted wide-ranging discussion among Rotarians and guests, including most of the current members of the Malta Town Board.


Today's meeting was also the last one under our current president, Tom Disinger, closing out a successful year. He presented a Paul Harris Fellow award, named after the founder of Rotary, to our fellow member Steve Ames for his service to the club. (No meeting next week, because of the July 4 holiday. There will be a board meeting on July 10, and then the next day, July 11, no morning meeting but a change-over gathering in the afternoon/evening at Larry Levine's house.)

The News From Uganda

Speakers on Thursday included John Gamble and our own Paul Phillips, who told of the mission to Uganda which they participated in recently with AIDS Orphans Education Trust (AOET) and the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church of Saratoga Springs. Our club donated $500 to that mission earlier this year.
 AOET is an African charity whose scope has expanded to helping poor children who may not have been orphaned by AIDS. The main speaker Thursday was Teo Nakubulwa (pictured left), child social welfare officer at AOET-Uganda. 
" I have seen so many children's lives changed from hopelessness to hope," she said, but the need remains "overwhelming." Her work includes securing homes for children in Uganda, finding financial sponsors for them (including a good number from our area), and training women to be hairdressers or tailors.
More information about AOET, including how you can help through sponsoring a child's education or by making a donation to support clinics and outreach programs in Uganda, can be found at https://www.aoetusa.org/.

Rebuilding

Our speaker last Thursday was Michelle Larkin, founder and executive director of  Rebuilding Together Saratoga County. We handed her a $200 check (as agreed last week).

With some funding from the Town of Malta/GlobalFoundries Foundation, and some of our own money, and work by John Amo, we facilitated the repainting and cleanup of the gazebo on Dunning Street in the center of town. It is named after the former supervisor Paul Sausville, who is a member of our club.

This and That

At this week's board and business meetings, we agreed to contribute $200 to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, and another $200 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region for its new project in Lake George.

We also elected a slate of officers for the new Rotary year starting July 1. They are: President, Mike Williams; president-elect, Larry Levine; vice president, Chris Luhn; treasurer, Cynthia Young; secretary, Bob Conner; Finance Committee chair, Steve Ames; Foundation chair, Estelle Genest; seargeant-at-arms, Bob Bonney. 

Photo above was taken at our June I fund-raiser, with Tom Disinger, Helen Endres, Larry Levine and Steve Ames selling food at the Spring Into Summer Malta Marketplace craft fair. Other participants included Miles Cornthwaite, Cynthia Young, Jim Hale and Bob Conner.