President Bill Applegate presided over the meeting. Bill had a moment of silence for George Babcock.
Pledge
President Bill led us in The Pledge of Allegiance in honor of George.
On zoom
Lou Hassel, Emily Bernstein, Richard Applebaum.
Guests
Heidi Abelli and Dr. Victor Pricolo, Matt
Inspiration
Emily Bernstein via Zoom gave a nice inspiration that few could hear, but the main point was that she volunteered at crossroads and the take away was, when you have more than you need, build a longer table not a higher fence.
Announcements
Bill announced the funeral arrangements for George Babcock including asking for Rotary honor guard before the service on Saturday, January 24 at 10 am at Community Church of Providence at 372 Wayland Avenue, Providence, RI 02906.
Liz Messier and Mary Brewster are organizing the Tent Suppers to raise funds for solar panels in Nepal. As of the meeting, there are 8 hosts for dinners in February and March. The hosts can select their own meals. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It’s a great way to get to know fellow Rotarians!! So far we have The Brewsters, The Applegate’s, The Landi’s, The David’s, Liz Messier, Jenny Koehler, Jane Berkowitz, and Sheri Hendricks.
The donated price per person is $50.
Happy Bucks
- Pete Brock gave $20 Happy Bucks for Our New England Patriots’ AFC win on Sunday. Also happy in a way that George Babcock found his way home to God who appreciated his time on earth . He is happy that his suffering is over and he is resting at peace.
- Cap Willey gave a couple of Happy Bucks that George saw his flags.
- Bill Efthimiades gave a Happy buck for getting home from Las Vegas with my shirt on and a second Happy Buck from Suzanne Cannon for George.
- Jane Berkowitz gave $5 Happy buck for our speaker, Cristina Iannarino from Books on the Square.
- Guest Victor Pricolo is happy to join Rotary as a new member soon.
- Holly Applegate gave 10 Happy Bucks for the dinner they gave for the two couples who bid on our dinner at The Auction this past October.
- Sharon Garland gave a happy buck for George’s generosity to our club.
- Barry Fain gave 10 Happy bucks for attending a wedding of his nephew.
- Richard Applebaum gave two happy bucks for George Babcock
- Bill Applegate gave 10 Happy Bucks for the dinner we had on Saturday for the couples who had the winning bid at our Legends Auction. He said it cost more than the bid. Also, I am happy that Holly and I were able to visit George and Petrina on Sunday.
Speaker
Michaela Hermann introduced our speaker, Cristina Iannarino who is Children’s Book and Gift Buyer at Books on the Square, Providence’s leading independent bookstore since 1992. Cristina is Bronx-born, first-generation American. She graduated summa cum laude in cursu honorum: Fordham University’s Honors Program, B.A. in history and Italian Studies in 2017. In 2022, she graduated with M. A. in Italian Studies from Brown University, Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship from the Cogut Institute for the Humanities. Cristina’s research includes History of modern Childhood, birth of children’s literature, humanist education of women alongside their cultural achievements.
As a children’s Book and Gift Buyer at Books on the Square, she expands her knowledge of readership and industry trends for readers age 0 to 18. She also collaborates with publishers to follow children’s market and recent acquisitions. She coordinates special author in-store events, performs Storytime once a week, designs digital and print marketing campaigns to encourage young readers. She also is committed to serving diverse community especially children and families historically underserved and under-represented. She loves to host events where she is collaborating with local authors and illustrators. She celebrates and maintains partnerships with local schools, libraries, charities and non-profits such as The Providence Rotary Club, Books are Wings, Rhode Island Center for the Book and Providence Parks department.
Cristina shared a wonderful quote that “Books should be windows and mirrors…children should see themselves reflected in the literature they read (mirrors) but also gain insight into others’ experiences (the windows) to foster diverse stories, empathy, identity and broader understanding.”
Art Norwalk gave a brief introduction to the literacy initiatives for our newer members. Culminating in this, our biggest and most diversified year because of collaborations, a Rotary International Priority. Same budget, but we’re doing more with collaborations. Funded by Legends for Literacy, a whole club project. There are opportunities for hands-on-volunteering now until June, some- one and done, others greater commitment, sign-up sheets on tables and we’ll get back to you with full info.
Newest Collaborations: tutoring with LLC (Lifelong Learning Collaborative) on the front lines with Providence kids. One Hour/week at Kizirian.
Books are Wings Tale Mail, an expanded family reading support program
A growing collaboration with local authors, illustrators and Books on the Square.
Continuation of popular and effective literacy supports from prior years. Selected in collaboration with literacy coaches, administrators and teachers.
Books for vending machines, volunteer at Reading Weeks, Headsets to allow full use of AI-based reading in 5 and 6.
Immediate need for van and driver to deliver books to schools in late February.
