Newsletter Date: April 29
Meeting Date: April 23
Reporter: Holly Applegate
INSPIRATION:
Rob Black read a quote by Barbara Bush: “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent.”
President Don Saracen thanked Rob Black and Tiffany Bumgardner for checking everyone in and Pete Brock for greeting everyone and Holly Applegate for taking notes.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, etc.
Holly Applegate reminded everyone about the upcoming theatre event at Barker Playhouse on Thursday night, May 10th at 6:30 pm for wine reception followed by the 7:30 pm curtain for the production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Tickets are $30 – buy yours online at www.ProvidenceRotary.org. We already have 31 people signed up!! Kris David is coordinating the food and wine for the event. Please reach out to Kris if you would like to bring something to share at the event.
Peanut butter drive is still going on!!
Service Above Self Luncheon is going to held on Monday. June 11, 2018 honoring Rotary philanthropist George Babcock and Honor Flight coordinator George Farrell.
Don Saracen gave a membership certificate to our newest member, Yoni Sunshine.
Terri Adelman talked about the on-going Rotary Reads program. Applications for BCI were sent out to Rotarians to fill out and bring back to the meeting. She has received applications from only 4 Rotarians. Please bring in application with copy of driver’s license to be notarized at April 30 meeting and then it will be sent to AG’s office.
HAPPY BUCKS
Margaret Kane gave 5 Happy Bucks for an amazing story about a South African instructor for Bartending class at Johnson and Wales University.
Peter Brock gave 5 Happy Bucks in celebration for this beautiful Spring weather!!
Luis Lourenco gave 5 Happy Bucks for his family’s involvement in a very successful Relay for Life Fundraiser.
Jim Gilcreast gave a Happy Buck for today’s speaker about RI Special Olympics.
Jan Feyler gave 20 Happy Bucks for her wonderful two week visit in Italy.
Bill DiBiasio gave a Happy Buck for his travels by planes, trains and automobiles!!
George Babcock gave a Happy Buck and told story of being in Florence, Italy and hearing and then seeing fellow Rotarian, Jan Feyler at a bar!!
Richard Applebaum gave a Happy Buck for a wonderful weekend in up- state New York that he spent with his life partner, Hillary.
Jane Kratsch gave 10 Happy Bucks for singing in a great concert featuring Chris Turner at her church over the weekend.
Anthony Hollingshead gave 2 Happy Bucks for the great line dancing Birthday party planned by Kris and Bill David.
Steve Hug gave a Happy Buck for running into someone at a doctor’s office that knew of him from 30 years ago.
Bill David gave a Happy Buck to say that when he first met Kris’ father, he said to Kris, “I hope you are not going to end up with this guy.”
Kris David gave 2 Happy Bucks. One for the continued story of her mother meeting Bill. She said, “why don’t you live with him first.” The other Happy Buck was for her rewarding experience of working with the Special Olympics as an intern.
Art Norwalk asked for volunteers to take photos at our meetings for weekly newsletters. If interested, please reach out to him or Pres. Don.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS CELEBRATES 50th
Dennis De Jesus, CEO of Rhode Island Special Olympics since 2009, gave a brief history of the organization from its beginnings in 1962 through the vision of Eunice Kennedy Shriver who was a pioneer in the struggle for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities.
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Special Olympics, the largest sports organization for the people with intellectual disabilities with more than 5 million athletes in 172 countries and over a million volunteers.
Dennis spoke about three most important goals: acceptance, inclusion and respect!
In RI, there are 25 different sports programs all year round with 3500 athletes participating. No athlete has to pay any registration fee. They continue to ask for support in order to keep these programs going for people of all ages with intellectual disabilities!!
