Kiwanis Club of Sand Lake, NY

President Patricia A. Lane                                                                                           Treasurer Robert S. Pasquarelli

President-Elect Michael T. Gates                                                                                         Secretary David E Booker 

Immediate Past Pres Russell B. “Skip” Patton                                                                       Webmaster David E Booker

Sandpiper Editor Margaret R Weiss                                                        Photographers James Rogers &  Kevin Sarsfield

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Barbara K Fioravanti, Roland B Wagner, Robert R Loveridge

Bryce B Ginther, John B Mulligan, Margaret Weiss

Kevin P. Sarsfield, John C. Brownrigg & William M. Whipple

MEETING OF APRIL 16, 2012

PRESIDENT Patricia A. Lane presiding

GREETINGS & INVOCATION by Peg Weiss

GUESTS:  shown with Program Chair Mike Marcelle from the AP Board of Education, Jessica Zweig and Chris Foster 
                                              

of their spouses, Joanne Rogers   

and Pat Mulligan 

WELCOME BACK, from Florida, Jim Rogers; from Georgia, Dudley Dorr

          and Woodie Hacker 

PROJECT SIGNUP SHEETS

DOORS OF HOPE, unloading food truck

            TOMORROW TUES APR 17^th:  Bob Loveridge, Nancy Davis………HELP, PLEASE!

KIWANIS ONE DAY, Sat Apr 21^st, Key Bank parking lot (with large shredder)

            SLKs working with Sheriff’s Dept for the Children’s ID project

            9-11 Ward, Loveridge, Booker      11-1 Rogers, Loveridge, Booker

BLOOD DRIVE Fri Apr 27^th from 12:30 to 6:30 @ Church of the Covenant

12:30 Set Up:  Jim Colabelli & Ken James              6:30 Take Down:  Lyndon Ellis & Nancy Davis

            Registration                                                                 Canteen

1 – 3:30:  Eve Ward                                                    1 -- 3:30:  Peg Weiss

3:30 – 6:  Linda Ellis                                                  3:30 – 6:  Pat Lane & Janet Malecki

TRASHBUSTERS – HIGHWAY CLEANUP Sat Apr 28^th @ 9AM, Arlington House parking lot

            Malecki, Whipple, Loveridge, James, Fioravanti, Mulligan, Brownrigg

            Need more SLKs, Key Clubbers, Builders Clubbers, Boy Scouts

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ø  John Brownrigg:  Summerfest meeting prior to regular meeting next week @ 5:30 PM!

Ø  Pres Pat:  Hoags Corners VFD Golf Tournament June 24^th—information available.

Ø  Joe Behson:  Legacy member to be honored next week—a good night to bring your favorite guest.  Cash bar and hors d’oeuvres at 6 before dinner at usual price.  Be sure to let Dudley know EARLY that you are bringing a guest!

Ø  Pres Pat:  Troy Kiwanis Club hosting a “Kiwanis Night at the Valley Cats” on Monday, July 23^rd—same night as SLK’s baseball night.

Ø  Linda Ellis:  WSL FD holds breakfasts every month on the 3^rd Sundays.  Next one is May 20^th from 8-11AM.  The Flea Market, Craft Fair & Open House is this Sat, April 21^st.

Ø  Woodie Hacker:  Our sponsored Boy Scout Troop 526 promoted 12 Scouts at an Elevation Ceremony recently, and soon will promote two to the rank of Eagle Scout!

PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARD to our “snowbird”

    Jim Rogers, for 12 years!  Congratulations, Jim! 

    Glad to have you back with us!     

PROGRAM

          Mike Marcelle, Program Chair, introduced Averill Park Board of Education members, Jessica Zweig and Chris Foster.  As for himself, he commented that he has been in education for more than 20 years, and came out of retirement to be AP’s interim superintendent.  He said he was very favorably impressed with our district, the facilities, the staff, the students, and the community’s support.  He then proceeded to present an illustrated explanation of the proposed budget situation for the next school year.  Mike commented that NY State’s schools are facing a “perfect storm” of events which together create an almost impossible task for school boards.  Revenues are reduced, costs have increased, there is no mandate relief from the state, and the property tax levy cap of 3.95% has complicated things even more.  Next year’s proposed budget is $53,519,565 compared to last year’s $55,044,318, ($1.5+ million less), but we will receive $3.9 million less than last year.  Mike outlined the cuts the Board has made in order to meet this challenge, cuts that are necessary but are painful to make.  Personnel reductions total 34.4, which includes 22 teachers (some retiring, not to be replaced), 2 administrators, and 10+ non-instructional & related services.  Bus service will continue as it is now (late bus was eliminated last year), and there will be full day kindergarten.  1404 responses were received from the survey and they were all considered.  The board will continue lobbying efforts, and pursue collective bargaining with the teachers union.  Currently AP has about 3300-3400 students.  Some, fearful of cuts in programs, have left for private schools, and we do have some students who come from the Wynantskill & Little Red School districts, who pay tuition.  Consolidation with other districts has been discussed, but is not feasible at this time.  All schools in New York are desperate, and many are facing much bigger cuts.  Politics are a big stumbling block, with downstate politicians much more influential.  In answer to a question about the lottery which was proposed to provide money to education, Mike replied, “pie in the sky!” and commented that this is how he has spent the last three months of his life!  Go to the district’s website at www.averillpark.k12.ny.us for more details.  Residents are also invited to attend board meetings.

HAPPY DOLLARS

$     Woodie Hacker:  My granddaughter has made the Dean’s List at Johnson & Wales!

$     Pete Stevens:  I participated in the walk at Siena College for the Red Cross and it raised $4000!  And, my brother-in-law is still looking for visitors to his Bender Lab facility!

$     Dudley Dorr:  We had a great time in GA visiting grandchildren, and I had my first visit to Disney in Florida!

$     Jim Rogers:  We had a great winter in FL but are glad to be back in this refreshing air!  But we returned to a house full of fumes—the new furnace was installed today!

$     Janet Malecki:  The WSL K-Kids competed in a District-wide service project.  They read about ill-treated dogs that had to be taken to the M-H Humane Society, and decided to raise money for the facility.  They ran a school-wide collection of cans, transported them to the Humane Society, sorted them for recycling, and took a tour of the place.  Best part—they came in 2^nd in all of NY District!

$     Mike Marcelle:  I admire the receptive audience you are, and I bring thanks from Sharon Lawrence for all the good things that Kiwanis does!  I also visited my grandchild in Conn to help celebrate a 5^th birthday!

$     Pat Lane:  I had a wonderful week in Boston visiting friends and relatives, but I’m not moving back there!

DOOR PRIZE, provided by Mike Marcelle, was won by Linda Ellis! 
50/50 for $27 was won by Ron Wagner!MEGA 50/50 worth $238.50 stymied even Stuart Nippes, who produced the Ace of Hearts from the 38 remaining cards!  Not too often does an Ace get trumped by a King, but you needed the King of Clubs to win!

COMING WEEKS…

APRIL 23              PROGRAM:  Bob Carpenter    
                                    Legacy Member honored
                                    GREETER/INVOCATOR:  Bruce Perry 

APRIL 30                   PROGRAM:  Stuart Nippes
                                    Jenifer O’Neil & Barb Glasser from RAAD   
                                    GREETER/INVOCATOR/CERTIFICATE:  Doug Baldrey

MAY 7                        PROGRAM:  Barb Fioravanti & John Mulligan
                                    Installation of Key Club Officers
                                    BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING  
                                    GREETER/INVOCATOR:  Joe Distell

MAY 14                      PROGRAM:  President Pat Lane
                                     ANNUAL MEETING & ELECTION OF OFFICERS/DIRECTORS
                                    GREETER/INVOCATOR:  Peg Weiss

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

            “The key to good decision making is not knowledge.  It is understanding.  We are swimming the former.  We are lacking in the latter.”                           Malcolm Gladwell

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