Newsletter Date: October 1
Meeting Date: September 25, 2017
Reporter: Holly Applegate
INSPIRATION- Jane Kratsch
With the help of a photo taken of the pale blue dot, Jane read an excerpt of Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot: A vision of the Human Future in Space. To highlight some of his words: “The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there-on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam…”
ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.
Pres. Don reminded us about the clothes donations for Hurricane Relief. Thanks to Kevin from Jones Warehouse for picking up and storing the donations.
Don encouraged everyone to make sure their information in the member directory on the club web site is up to date and accurate. If you don’t know how to fix your bio, contact Rob Black for help. He reminded us that the directory is not for public use or mass mailing on non-Rotary topics.
Don asked Terri Adelman to speak about the Jane Babcock Rotary Reads Program. This year the program will be focused on the students from K to 5 at the Harry Kizirian School. They are meeting with the literacy coach and staff to determine what would be best for the students. There will be lots of volunteer opportunities. Stay tuned.
Holly Applegate spoke about benefit performances through The Players at the Barker Playhouse. This is a wonderful opportunity to have a fundraiser and social gathering while enjoying the experience of live theatre. There are upcoming performances in May of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, a whodunit musical based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel of the same name.
There is an upcoming Paul Harris Dinner on November 9th with a special speaker, Razia Jan, who was born in Afghanistan and lived in the US for many years. She returned to her native country after 2001 to start a school for girls.
Kris David reported on the Street Painting Festival on October 14th. There is a need for artists. There are only 10 artists signed up so far. She asked that we ask neighbors or anyone you know to sign up. The goal is for each Rotarian to bring in “one” artist! The $25 artist fee can be in the form of a scholarship if the artist is unable to pay. The Artist Registration form is on the web site.
Anthony Landi, who is in charge of the volunteers, asked us all to let him know what you would like to help with during the event. Also we were reminded to help with sponsorships. So far the sponsorship is at $14,000. Thank you to all who have sponsored this event.
HAPPY BUCKS
Margaret Kane for Red Sox and Patriots wins.
Randy Dittmar for the start of the Rotary Bowling League on Monday night, October 2nd!!
Jackie Gourd to thank Richard Applebaum for his help with a neighbor who cut a significant amount of branches off two of her beloved maple trees.
Goeff Gaunt for the lead engineer (a woman) who advised Carl Sagan and his photography team how to take the photo of the “Pale Blue Dot”.
Wendy Marcus for the wonderful gala sponsored by Higher Ground International honoring fellow Rotarian Jim Alexander’s 50 years of volunteer service!
Jane Kratsch for her glorious weekend in Bar Harbor, Maine. Only down side was one of her friends had to have emergency surgery for appendix.
Pete Brock gave two Happy Bucks, one for the victorious outcome of Sunday’s Patriots’ Game and one for his vacation.
Kris David for her idol, Jane Goodall, who spoke at URI. She wasn’t able to get a ticket to the event, but was able to see a live stream of her speech and visit to the zoo.
Maxine Cohen gave a happy Buck for everyone who has been immunized for polio. She spoke about the closing of Afghan province of Oruzgan’s health facilities postponing a vital polio vaccination campaign.
Arthur Robbins gave $60 Happy Bucks for his dear friend Paul Segal’s 80th Birthday, for super recovery of George Babcock and in memory of a great Rotarian, Mike Marra.
Barbara Harris for a special event, a national juried art show at Vets Auditorium. She has a painting in the show.
Pat Germani gave 5 Happy Bucks for her sister who shared a birthday and her successful business trip to West Michigan where she and her partner won the competition!!
Barry Fain for the Patriots Game and their win and that, “Brady is a God.” And for his new format for Eastside Monthly with high gloss paper!!
Don Saracen gave two Happy bucks for a welcome again to Marco Marinelli and for his grandson, Jack, who has a starring role in a New Movie produced by LionsGate, “Saving Christmas.” Watch the trailer at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iUPrd5F-I4s
CLUB ASSEMBLY:
MEMBERSHIP GROWTH
Don introduced Pat Germani and Anthony Hollingshead, co-chairs of the Membership Committee, and members John McGinn, Holly Applegate, Jane Kratsch, Christy Clausen, Lisa Hill and Mary Brewster.
Pat reported that the committee meets the first Friday of the month to foster attraction, retention and engagement. We are adding a new member orientation on the last Monday of the month. We currently have 87 active members. Every member is responsible for helping to recruit new members.
Pat introduced two new membership classifications, Corporate and Family, that are being established to help expand membership. Guidelines for each were circulated at the tables.
Members of the committee were at the tables to initiate brainstorming/discussion of the following questions: What do you think of the new membership categories? How can we increase membership with the 25 to 45-year-old group? Notes were turned in from the table discussion to be reviewed and presented at a subsequent meeting.
Visiting Rotarian
Marco Marinelli, Italy
Guests
Terri Adelman had her father as her guest on his 90th Birthday!!
Trish Cerelli
guest of Kris David
(& possible new member!)
