Newsletter Date: July 8
Meeting Date: June 26
Reporter: Dick Gregory
NO MEETING MONDAY, JULY 10!
WE MEET TUESDAY, JULY 11, INSTEAD.
The June 26 Club meeting celebrated the installation of President Elect Don Saracen and other officers and board members of the Rotary Club of Providence for the coming year!
Master of Ceremonies Peter Loescher led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and called on Holly Applegate to sing our National Anthem (which she did, including all of the impossible high notes which left us clapping and shaking our heads in admiration).
The club was particularly honored that Paul Harris attended the meeting (wearing his “Walter Cotter” disguise), and the founder of our organization offered words of inspiration concerning Rotary’s important contributions to the good of the humankind over the past century and more.
After luncheon, Peter Loescher recognized a number of distinguished visiting Rotarians and guests, including District Governor Russ Bertrand. Then Rachel (“Rachie”) and Jack (“Jackie Boy”) Brunault, two Saracen grandchildren, stole the show as they recounted some of the important life lessons their grandfather had taught them (e.g., no Rotary Street Painting Festival is complete without a side trip for Ben and Jerry’s).
Happy Bucks featured a competition between our Happy$$Meisters, Margaret Kane and Pete Brock, for the title of Happy Bucks Queen/King.
- Many were happy for the outstanding service rendered to the club by President Anthony Hollingshead over the past year, and were equally enthusiastic in anticipating the coming year under President Elect Don Saracen.
- Others were happy for time with family, trips, painting at the Kizirian School, “games” husbands and wives play, and our club’s tradition of “peaceful transition of power”.
- In the end, Peter Loescher declared the hard-fought competition to be a tie. The club is fortunate to have two reigning Happy$$Monarchs.
After Happy Bucks the meeting turned to the important business at hand. New member David Salvatore brought greetings from the Providence City Council, of which he is a member. And he presented citations to new President Don from Governor Gina Raimondo and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza.
District Governor Russ Bertrand then proceeded to install the new members of the board of directors and the officers of the club for the coming year. Finally, the time came for District Governor Bertrand to install Don Saracen as club president, an action followed by much applause and well wishes.
Officers above: Anthony Landi, Secretary; Art Norwalk,
Pres-elect; Luis Lourenco, Treasurer; Geoff Gaunt, 1st VP
Board members Pete Brock, Tiffany Baumgardner-Scheffler, Kris David, Christy Clausen.
See more photos of the installation meeting at
New President Don Saracen then offered brief remarks, thanking newly “Past” President” Anthony Hollingshead for his leadership and service to the club and all in attendance for their contributions to the occasion.
After the ceremonial passing of the President’s Pin, the presentation of a gift to Anthony Hollingshead and a special presentation to Past District Governor Kris David for her outstanding contributions to our club and Rotary, the meeting was adjourned.
