Rhinebeck Rotary Weekly Newsletter
November 10, 2025
This week, we join Joe Phelan in welcoming Mr. Albert Cousins, Rhinebeck Central School District’s Superintendent of Schools.
Mr. Cousins has been serving the community in this position since July 2020.
Before taking the helm for the Rhinebeck School District, Mr. Cousins had been principal at North Shore High School in Glen Head on Long Island for 19 years.
According to 2018-19 New York State Education Department data, North Shore High School had an enrollment of 845 students in a school district of 2,580 students. By comparison, 2018-19 New York State Education Department data noted that the Rhinebeck school district had a K-12 enrollment of 945 students, with 342 of them as students at Rhinebeck High School.
Cousins was previously director of social studies for the North Shore School District for two years. He was also employed as a smaller learning community coach by the Institute for Student Achievement in Lake Success, a supervisor of student teachers at Columbia University in New York City, and a social studies teacher at Frontier Central School District in Hamburg in Western New York for six years.
Cousins earned Bachelors and Masters degrees from SUNY Buffalo, and is working on a doctorate at Columbia University.
🔵 COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUND
💬
Our Club can help our community as SNAP benefits are in a state of flux. Any changes with the current situation will take time to impact individuals. We are consulting local and county resources and following their guidance in terms of what assistance is currently needed. The Board determined that creating a fund specifically to support this effort was important and the best method to assist our community. Individual donations may be made directly to Rhinebeck Rotary.
🟡 Checks may be made to:
Rhinebeck Rotary (memo: Community Support)
Venmo: @RhinebeckRotary
The Club's Square for credit card donations will be available at Monday's meeting.
Please reach out to Erika if you have any questions.
🔵 THANKSGIVING BASKETS
📍The Beek OR 187 E. Market St. Suite 206 in Rhinebeck
🟡 Darlene Pedrosa has taken the lead on coordinating Thanksgiving baskets.
🟡Please note directions for drop-off: The Beek will not let us hold food there this year. Bag may be left in front of my office if I am not there at 187 E. Market St. Suite 206 in Rhinebeck instead. At this point, I am the only one collecting so if I am not at the meeting (which I will try hard to be) to collect, then please drop off at my office.
🔵 MUSIC BINGO!
📅 Saturday, November 22 4:30 AND 7 PM
MUST RSVP @ WWW.THEGROVEATREDHOOK.COM
📍 The Grove Restaurant, Red Hook Golf Club
🟡 Proceeds to benefit the many local causes supported by Rhinebeck Rotary including the Jayne Brooks Food Pantry at the Church of the Messiah and the Rhinebeck Dutch Reform Church Food Pantry
🟡 Family Friendly Event! ALL WELCOME!
🔵 SPEAKER SCHEDULE
For conflicts or questions, please contact Erika: erikamurphy2015@gmail.com
💬 November 10: Joe Phelan
💬 November 17: Tom Mendl
💬 November 24: Cathleen Tobin
💬 December 1: TBD
💬 December 8: Kimberly Nobel
🟡 Please provide a brief bio for your speaker so we can share with the community.
🌐 To see the full speaker assignment schedule through June 2026, go to this link on our website: Speaker Assignments
🔵 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
📍 Rhinebeck Reformed Church & Jayne Brooks Memorial Food Pantries
📅 Tuesdays — Reformed Church
📅 Fridays — Church of the Messiah
🟡 Egg donations are especially appreciated!
🔵 Blue Fridge
🟡 Please remember Blue Fridge when you visit the market! Suggested sandwich fixings are always welcome: Tuna, Mayo, Peanut butter & jelly, Bread
Thank you for your support of this fantastic initiative!
🔵 Food Pantry Volunteering
📍 Rhinebeck Reformed Church & Jayne Brooks Memorial Food Pantries
📅 Tuesdays — Dutch Reformed Church
📅 Fridays — Church of the Messiah
🟡 Egg donations are especially appreciated!
🔵 Senior Home Assistance Program
Helping seniors ensure their smoke alarms are working properly. Sometimes it’s as simple as a new battery.
Contact Mike Frazier:
michaelfrazier@earthlink.net
👉 Don’t forget that all of our events information is on our website.
