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Newsletter Date: 
March 6, 2016

For Meeting on
February 29, 2016

Reporter:
Dick Gregory
Upcoming Speakers
Apr 18, 2016
 
Apr 25, 2016
 
May 09, 2016
 
View entire list
Visiting Rotarians
DGE Russell Bertrand - Wakefield
PDG Terri Fitch – Newport
 
Guests
James Derr & Jamie Derr
Guests of George Burman
 
Karen Sullivan
Guest of Mary Brewster
 
 
Officers & Directors
President
Michael E. Kelly

President-elect
Anthony Hollingshead

1st Vice President
Elizabeth R. Messier

 
2nd Vice President
John McGinn

Secretary
Don Saracen


Recording Secretary
Arthur D. Norwalk


Treasurer
Richard A. Kaplan

Assistant Treasurer
Peter M. Loescher

Sergeant-at-Arms
Parker Smith

Past President
Paul R.
Borrelli
 
Governor, District 7950
Kristine Musco David

Directors
to June 30, 2016
:
George Burman
T. Bryan Cook
Geoffrey P. Gaunt
William R. DiBiasio


to June 30, 2017:
Mary Brewster
Bintou Chatterton
John Folan
Ed Queenan
Jim Gilcreast

Executive Administrator
Jeremiah H. Cannon
ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.
 
Walter Adamowicz reminded us that our lives are full of peaks and valleys, but the peaks are barren places and only in the valleys can we find the opportunity for growth.
 
President Mike Kelly then announced that after many months of discussions Jenny Miller and Mike Friedman have decided to start a new Rotary Club in Providence. They have been strong members of our Club, and we wish them well in their new venture.
 
The Club’s St. Patrick’s Day lunch on March 14 (never too early to celebrate) will feature a traditional Irish dinner of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. And what about zepolis to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day? We’ll see.
 
Mary Brewster announced the peanut butter drive, and in doing so challenged us to bring in so much peanut butter each week that she will need a hand truck to transport the load, and still have to make several trips to her car.
 
Geoff Gaunt brought us up to speed on plans for the Paint-Off on April 6 at the Dryden Gallery. We have some terrific sponsors (Nikki’s Liquors and Julian’s for food), a superb and talented group of artists and Dan Mechnig as auctioneer. We are looking for more silent auction items. Tickets are $40 per person in advance – buy them online at www.ProvidenceRotary.org -- and $60 at the door.
 
George Burman reported that much progress has been made in the ongoing saga of the Rotary Fountain at Roger Williams Park. A new prominent site has been chosen behind the Museum of Natural History. The hope is to create a new marker in a kid friendly space (see concept above), and to that end we have formed a partnership with Books Are Wings, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children discover the joy of reading.
 
  
Left photo, Eric Shorr said delivering dictionaries to third graders at Frank Sapziano Elementary School was "a great experience!" Right, where did Bob Morse find this Rotary monument? Answer at end of Happy Bucks.
 
We Want To Give Money Away
Terri Fitch, Chair of the District’s Rotary Foundation Committee introduced her talk by reminding us there are 7 billion people in the world today, and many lack adequate housing, basic sanitation and safe water to drink. We in the US are very fortunate, but even here many face challenges. The Rotary Foundation is one of the most effective charitable organizations in the world in addressing human needs.
 
For each $100 raised locally, $50 comes back to the District. $20 may be spent on local projects like our dictionary project. The other $30 may be spent on Club projects elsewhere. These projects are typically larger projects, and Club dollars are often matched by District and Rotary Foundation money. 
 
The Rotary Foundation focuses on several areas of need such as disease (polio), maternal and child health, education, and economic and community development. At the District level, we WANT TO GIVE MONEY AWAY. If we do not give it away, the District funds will revert to the international foundation.
 
The Foundation’s year begins on July 1. Applications for “backyard” grants for the next fiscal year are due by June 1. There is a 2-page application on line at www.myrotary.org.
Happy Bucks
A heartfelt “good-bye, but hope to see you soon” from Jenny Miller, followed by best wishes to Jenny and Mike Friedman from Anthony Hollingshead as they take the first steps in organizing a new Rotary Club (sentiments shared by many other club members;
 
Kris David breathed a “90 days and counting” sigh of relief as she enters the home stretch of her year as District Governor;
 
Richard Applebaum reported a new baby (not his!);
 
Members recognized highly ranked Brown lacrosse and opening day of the 2016 baseball season;
 
Mary Brewster thanked club members for an outpouring of peanut butter for the RI Food Bank.
Rotary Club of Providence, 27 Dryden Lane, Providence, RI 02904
www.ProvidenceRotary.org