INSPIRATION
In honor of our guest speaker, Nondas Voll offered some comments on education: “If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people,” says a Chinese proverb. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire,” wrote William Butler Yeats. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” from Nelson Mandela.

ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.

A team of Rotarians braved Friday’s storm to gather in the Literacy Center at Kizirian School to place labels in more than 650 books purchased by our Rotary Reads program. The books will be placed in all the school’s grade K-2 classrooms where students will be able to borrow them for recreational reading. Volunteer Rotarians will “prime the pump” by reading from some of the books in classroom visits over the next few months. Thanks to George Babcock and a District grant for funding and to Terri Adelman for organizing.

President Don thanked Christy Clausen for serving as Greeter, Nondas Voll as Reporter, Rob Black and Tiffany Bumgardner-Scheffler for staffing reception.

Past District Governor Kris David will collect donations next week for the anniversary of Rotary International.

Terri Adelman has recruited 50 volunteer readers for upcoming school visits.

PP Stanley Sorrentino has moved to South Point in Fall River and is recovering from a recent stroke.

Rotary Rocks Plymouth District Conference will be held in Plymouth May 18-20. Register at the club or district web site.

Happy Bucks
Pete Brock gave because every Monday at Rotary exceeds his expectations.

Jane Kratsch gave along with potted plants and candies to cheer people up as spring is coming.

Nondas Voll gave in honor of PP Mike Kelly who is Deputy Grand Marshall of the Providence St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

PP Anthony Hollingshead appreciated the polite students when he delivered two boxes of dictionaries to their school.

Sharon Garland gave for the third-graders who carried her book boxes up the stairs.

Richard Gregory gave in honor of Cy Wyche.

Wendy Marcus gave with sadness as her next-door neighbor, Patriot Danny Amendola, moved today.

Kris David gave to invite members to country line dancing for PP Anthony Hollingshead’s birthday.

Barry Fain gave because neighbors, preservationists and students organized to convince Brown to maintain several historic buildings.

PP Mike Kelly gave and wondered how Swan Point Cemetery is able to dig up treasures such as the 100th anniversary crystal.

Bill DiBiasio gave after returning from Florida to remove his boat.

President Don celebrated the 4th birthday of grandson Johnny Blue Eyes and congratulated Terri Adelman for knowing how to work a room to engage volunteers.

Create and Sustain Change
Danny Smith, principal of Harry Kizirian Elementary School in Providence, described challenging statistics about his school’s population: 589 students in K-5, 40% are English learners, 90% eligible for reduced price lunch, and parents who work two or three shifts. But he immediately stressed how kind-hearted, curious and excited these students are.

Mr. Smith said he was fortunate to have grown up living in a house, having two parents, a stay-at-home mom, and many books. Now he has to ask where these children are sleeping, do they do their homework, do they have to walk long distances to school? His role is to create and sustain change. The main element they offer at Kizarian is access: access to learning, bi-lingual education, adult interaction, after-school programs with local organizations, and mental health services.

He thanked Rotarians for their generous donations of books, beatification of the campus by painting crews, and volunteers.  He invited anyone to visit Kizirian School saying: “Your heart will be lifted.”