Pledge
Potential new member, Sheri Hendricks
Inspiration
Alex David gave the inspiration on The power of our differences. He started with a trivia quiz.
Trivia: What is the country with the most official languages: South Africa, 11 languages
How this applies to Rotary: Differences are our asset; celebrate our differences.
On Zoom
Kevin Oates; Michaela Hermann; Paul Pimental; Kris David; Benjamin Hadsell
Visitors
Bill Monahan, President Swan Point Cemetery replacing Anthony Hollingshead; Kris David’s grandson Austin; Matt Sharrio of Merit 2.0
Announcements
President Pete Brock shared highlights of his recent vacation trip to Rome
Mary Brewster. Asked for donations ($50/box) per box for school supplies for the next school year for our two partner schools: George J. West and Kizirian
Jane Berkowitz: Asked for volunteers to affix Jane Babcock bookplate labels to classroom library package books; May 14th at Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Delivery to the George J. West school by May 21st for the Rotary and Roccos’ presentation to the K-5 students.
Happy Bucks
- Bill Applegate: Celebrated of a wonderful weekend in New York and staying at the Fains’ apartment in Kips Bay.
- Don Saracen: Happy to report that medications have significantly helped wife Cheri’s mitral valve situation; Barrington children’s book illustrator R.W. Alley will serve as a Legend for Literacy at this year’s gala.
- Liz Messier: Celebrating her last three weeks prior to knee surgery and to honor her mother and all mothers as we approach Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11.
- Alex David: on his meeting with Baryshnikov’s granddaughter at Ellie’s
- Maury Ryan: asked for additional members to join the Rotary book club
- Pete Brock: In celebration of his church’s pilgrimage to Rome and the church’s Jubilee in Rome
(Note by Kris David. Pope Francis was a Rotary member in Argentina before elected pope.
Note by Pete Brock: Pope Francis was the only Jesuit priest elected pope in Vatican history.)
Speaker
Deborah J. Goddard, RI Secretary of Housing as of 2024 was introduced by Don Saracen.
Ms. Goddard was not only nominated by Governor Daniel McKee to be Secretary of Housing in December 2024, but she is also to serve as Chair of the Rhode Island Board of Commissioners in March 2025.
Ms. Goddard’s background included her serving as Executive Vice President at the NYC Housing Authority where she oversaw a capital improvements portfolio valued at over $3 billion and managed a staff of 350 persons. She has also served as Managing Director for Policy and Program Development of MassHousing.
Ms. Goddard received her law degree from Boston College Law School and an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College in Massachusetts.
Deborah, being new to her role here in RI, could only discussed what she sees as the challenges we face in RI with housing, and stressed that the need to increase our stock is of utmost importance. This can be done with new builds, appropriate zoning, and support from the population to encourage our representatives to make the process more accessible. She encouraged us to attend public meetings on the topics of housing.
She promised to come back in the future to discuss what she has accomplished over the year.
