Emily Bernstein led us in the pledge of allegiance
Inspiration
Major Lopes gave us the inspiration of the day, drawing on our Rotary Founders with inspirational phrases to live by
“Use your Gifts to serve others.”
“Greatness is defined by service.”
“Service above Self.”
Visitors
Karen Drake of Blackstone Park Conservancy
Peter Lisle, who lives at Laurelmead, which is next to Swan Point Cemetery.
Sherry Smith a new prospect looking to get involved with Rotary.
Sophia Diaz Program Manager for urban forestry
Announcements
President Kris David thanked Jonathan Kaufmann for manning front desk while Rob Black visited family.
President Kris thanked participants of Saturdays Food Pack Project with the Metro Providence Rotary club. The event was a big success with a dozen Rotarians from our club helping to pack 10,000 meals. The District Conference event will be a redo of the Food Pack Project
May 19 is the date of the Dental Hygiene Packing event.
Kris reminds us of the Book Reading project to be held at George West school the last week of May. Please see Art Norwalk to sign up.
Happy Bucks
Pete Brock is happy about the full tables for today’s meeting.
Anthony Landi is thankful for Daughter’s acceptance and package to attend Pace University.
Liz Messier is happy for a clean bill of health on her cancer challenge and for her Cruise.
Randy Ditmar is planning for a college visit to see his daughter get a Master’s degree.
Bob Morse is happy to be rejoining us at Rotary, after time away.
Anthony Hollingshead is thankful for colleague Tammy taking over I.T. responsibilities.
Speaker
Anthony Hollingshead introduced our guest speaker - John Torgan of Nature Conservancy RI.
John’s Presentation focused on the progress in the last 20 years in the Narraganset bay watershed. Highlighted by 40,000 acres and 25 preservations under the nature conservancy’s management.
John went into some detail of the background to the success story of the Narraganset bay turn around, attributing the success to projects such as large-scale Wastewater treatment infrastructure investments, and ongoing investments in nature-based restoration projects, Artificial reef experiments and installations, four fish passes along previously dammed rivers feeding the bay, and recent attention to urban forestry with an eye to equitable distribution of this important resource.
