Liz Messier delivered a blessing from Mary Davis: “Be present. Let the day flow with grace. Expect joy. Be positive. Serve with compassion. Speak only kindness. Impart only love. Never forget you’re not alone. Give thanks for everything and seek goodness in others.”

 

Stay well and happy holidays to all!

 

Please reach out to Walter Cotter if you would like to offer an inspiration in 2021!

 

Former member Ernest Barone has passed away. We observed a moment of silence in his memory.

 

Thank you from Steve Hug and his colleagues at Family Service of RI (FSRI) to Kris David and all Providence Rotarians who participated in the holiday drive for the 12 girls who currently live in FSRI shelters. Please call Kris at 401-480-1419 if you still have gifts that you need her to pick up.

 

Liz Messier and Holly Applegate will chair a January Diaper Drive. Stay tuned!

 

Finally, please remember the Providence Rotary Charities Foundation (the club foundation) and The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International this holiday season! Both foundations offer easy and secure online giving. The links to give can be found here! Thank you for all you’ve made possible—especially this year.

 

A screen shot from the meeting includes Karen Mueller (lower left, in scrubs and protective eyewear) taking a few minutes away from her frontline healthcare work at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

 

Bill DiBiasio: $1 happy buck for everyone who sent cards and called—he is recovering well from his second hip replacement!

 

Margaret Kane: $10 for the vaccine-a “real shot in the arm”! Margaret also shared a “traditional” Christmas story!

 

Jim Gilcreast: $1 happy buck-he’s happy! And another $5 happy bucks for being Santa Claus’ personal agent, but NOT Santa Claus. Please don’t confuse the two!

 

Kris David: $5 happy bucks, because Pearl and John are in attendance! Also in celebration of her niece giving birth this week and her son who is home from California-they shared their first hug in a year!

 

Valerie Perry: $5 happy bucks-delighted to be here, and to see her dear friend Pearl!

 

Wendy Marcus: $5 happy bucks for Hanukkah! She is feeling better.

 

Past District Governor Ijeoma Pearl Okoro updated Providence Rotarians on the End Polio Now campaign.

 

Despite the unprecedented challenges of this year, poliovirus was declared eradicated in Africa (and in particular, in Nigeria) in August 2020. An incredible accomplishment! Polio, however, is still endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 

The polio eradication program is currently pitching-in to protect the vulnerable worldwide from COVID-19—especially in Polio Endemic Countries. Rotary was quick to adapt and adopt! For example, Rotary’s existing polio platform is assisting in contact tracing. There are also Rotary Foundation Global Grants for COVID-19.

 

“We cannot become complacent,” Pearl said, “because it’s our fight, as Rotarians. Until polio is eradicated, no child in the world is free.”

 

For more resources on how to support the End Polio Now campaign, please visit: https://www.endpolio.org/resource-center 

 

To donate to the End Polio Now campaign today, please visit: https://www.endpolio.org/donate For every $1 you give, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will add 2 more!