Meeting at Quigley’s Restaurant
593 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY
February 25, 2016
Members Attending (19): Terry Brewer, Debbie Rodriguez, Murray Forth, Pat Bailey, Bill Dowd, Jim Leyhane, Charlie Foote, April Dowd, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Shannon Romanowski, Ray Hannan, Roberto Martinez, Dick Drumm, Stewart Wagner, John Sawchuk, Len Leonidas, Doris Calamaras, Dean Calamaras.
Guests (1): P. Thomas Carroll.
PROGRAM: “Tiffany Treasures of Troy”
Pat Bailey introduced P. Thomas Carroll, Ph.D, the noted historian and lecturer who several years ago presented a program on the Industrial Age in Troy to the club. This time around, Tom, who currently is the senior historian of the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway, concentrated on the large numbers of Tiffany glass creations in Troy.
Tom quoted several experts who had made reference to the number of glass works — windows, lampshades, chandeliers, etc. — created by the famed Louis Comfort Tiffany studios of Manhattan. For example, the late Bill Cummings, who was one of the leading experts in Tiffany works, referred to Troy as being home to “the mother lode of Tiffany windows.”
Most of the Tiffany work locally is housed in St. Paul’s, St. John’s, and St. Joseph’s churches, as well as in the Troy Public Library, and the Gardner Earl Chapel at Oakwood Cemetery.
Tom explained that although many of the windows are referred to as “stained glass,” they are not. They are paint on glass, using glass as the “canvas.” Louis Tiffany, who was part of the famous jewelry company Tiffany, developed a technique for “painting” with pieces of glass, soldering them in place, and maintained a huge inventory of all types of glass.
At one time, Tiffany purchased glass from an Indiana company called Kokomo Opalescent Glass, which still is in business. We were shown a video of the fascinating and intricate hands-on process that company uses to create sheets of glass for use throughout the world.
PROGRAM: ANNOUNCEMENTS/BUSINESS
INDOOR GOLF — The “Early Spring Simulator Golf Tourney” is set for Saturday, March 12, at the Burden Lake Country Club. Contact Murray Forth if you would like to volunteer or play. There still is room in some time slots.
ROTARY HOME COOKING — The second such dinner in the series was a sold-out success at the Forth residence on February 27. Next up is March 18 at Pat Bailey’s residence (sold out), then April 16 at the Dowd residence (one seat left).
RONALD McDONALD HOUSE – Event coordinator Debbie Rodriguez will circulate a signup sheet for volunteers to cook at the residential complex in Albany. On Thursday, May 12, we will be cooking dinner, and on Saturday, April 2, another group will be cooking breakfast there. Volunteers should contact Debbie for scheduling. The dinner shift prepping will begin at 3 p.m., breakfast prepping at 7 a.m.
SHELTERBOX DONATIONS – Treasurer Murray Forth will be delivering checks totaling $5,000 from individual members and the club to Jack and Nancy Faddegon, district coordinators of the ShelterBox emergency relief program. That donation will pay for five boxes.
EASTER BASKET PROJECT – Coordinator Bill Dowd reported that we’re on track to contribute 35 finished Easter baskets for the annual drive by Circles of Mercy to serve needy children ages 2 to 12. Basket items (see earlier postings for a “wish list”) must be dropped off no later than March 10. Finished baskets must be delivered to Circles of Mercy no later than Friday, March 18.
DINNER OPTIONS – Member suggestions are being solicited as part of an inquiry into changing the price and choices for our Thursday dinner meetings. Quigley’s owner John Walsh said an increase from the current $15 to $18 per person would greatly increase the possibilities. A final decision will be made in the near future.
ROTARY BUSINESS EXPO – President Terry Brewer said representatives of this Rotary-inspired business-to-business event will visit the club on March 10 to explain and answer questions about the effort.
ANNUAL GOALS – Terry said he will be working with the aid of Bill Dowd and Debbie Rodriguez to update the club’s annual goals-and-projects online information that must be submitted to RI.
RI DIRECTOR’S VISIT – A reminder that Jennifer Jones, one of the 20 directors globally working with Rotary International, will be the speaker at a March 16 luncheon at the Doubletree Inn by Hilton in Schenectady. It is open to all Rotarians by reservation. Check the website for details on reserving a seat.
BY-LAWS VOTE – A set of three proposed changes to the club by-laws that had been distributed to all members on February 18 was approved without dissent. They involve approval of the monthly breakfast meetings as “official,” institution of specific numbers to constitute meeting quorums, and approval of a three-tiered dues structure for new members.
THEATER DATES – Doris Calamaras reported on the possibility of attending as a group a performance of “The Lion King” at Proctors in Schenectady on Thursday, April 14. Ticket prices range from $20 to $130 (see separate posting). The deadline for calling Doris at 477-4694 if you plan to attend is next Wednesday (March 9).
NEXT MEETING: 6:15 p.m. Thursday at Quigley’s. Becky Raymond, a frequent visitor to the club since her return from working in Malawi, will present a talk on maternal health care in Africa.
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 