INSPIRATION
Anthony Hollingshead shared what Reverend Ralph Barlow sent him in a Christmas card: parts of a poem called The People, Yes written by Carl Sandburg during the Great Depression of the 1930’s:

Hope is a tattered flag and a dream out of time…..
The shimmer of northern lights across a bitter winter night. The blue hills beyond the smoke of the steel works...
Hope is an echo, hope ties itself, yonder, yonder..

 

Pres. Bryan announced that the slate for directors and officers will be presented soon. Anthony Hollingshead is chairing the nominating committee. Bryan encouraged anyone who is interested in serving on the Board to contact Anthony.

 

Kris David thanked everyone who contributed gifts and gift cards for the 12 young women in shelters. Kris and her son delivered 35 wrapped packages!!

 

George Babcock gave us an update about the Literacy Initiative. There will be a formal check presentation to the Providence School department next week. They also will be moving forward with a fundraiser in the spring to be formally announced.

 

AG Sharon Johnson is taking orders for Girl Scout cookies. Anyone who is interested should print and fill out the form below and contact Sharon at agsharon7950@gmail.com to set up payment.

 

Jim Gilcreast asked for a moment of silence in memory of Past President Vince Borrelli.

 

Upcoming meetings:

 

January Birthdays presented by Wendy Marcus: Erika Busillo Adams, Rob Gessman, Christy Clausen, Walter Adamowicz, Stephen Hug, Cap Willey, Geoff Gaunt, Wendy Marcus

 

Margaret Kane gave a Happy Buck for a Happy New Year in 2021!

 

John McGinn gave 28 Happy Bucks for the number of years that he has been a Rotarian and for his upcoming wedding on Friday to the love of his Life!! He will be moving to South Kingstown.

 

Jim Gilcreast gave a Happy Buck because he is happy!! Jim also read a quote for bringing positive energy to all of us.

 

Anthony Hollingshead gave a Happy Buck for our essential worker, Karen Mueller, for logging in to our meetings from her hospital!!

 

Karen Mueller gave 10 Happy Bucks in gratitude for the vaccine!!

 

Don Saracen gave 28 Happy Bucks also for the 28 years that he has been a Rotarian as well in honor of Karen Mueller and John McGinn’s upcoming wedding!

 

Barry Fain gave 5 Happy Bucks for his recent visit in Westport with son, daughter in law and grandson who didn’t require quarantine!

 

Steve Hug gave 5 Happy Bucks for Barry Fain’s kindness in giving magazines to girls in shelters who were making art projects.

 

Richard Applebaum gave a Happy Buck for another negative Covid Test and for his visit with Hillary, his significant other in New York. Her mother is now recovering from a fall that required surgery.

 

AG Sharon Johnson gave a Happy Buck for an upcoming zoom meeting on how to be an innovative club.

 

THE PLAYERS AND COVID
Our guest speaker, Carole Collins, president of The Players at Barker Playhouse, started out as an audience member, but soon took an acting class which elevated on to The Players Stage. She worked on the benefit nights program where she met members of our Providence Rotary. She was very taken with the performance where students from the San Miguel School saw the production of Romeo and Juliet. The students were so thrilled to tour the building and to see a live performance.

 

The Players has endured many challenges during Covid. She talked about the shows that Players has featured this year with The Enemy of the People done as a Radio Show, The War of The Worlds, A Home Away from home program with submitted songs and scenes by members of Players, Dancing Lessons, and A Christmas virtual Holiday card program. There will be two more productions, Red Maple and Native Gardens.

 

Players has been very innovative in their adoption of zoom and streaming performances for all our members. There are also on-line acting and Storytelling classes. Walter Cotter has a very successful Strictly Shakespeare program with many members participating in reading plays from Shakespeare. Players has also invested in recording and sound equipment so that scenes can be recorded safely and then streamed to our members. If you have any interest in joining The Players, please go to http://playersri.org.

 

There was a presentation that was produced for the meeting that was unable to be shown, but it can be viewed from this link: https://youtu.be/8RrmwdaRdQc