Speaker is David Peart - President Rhode Island FC
Rotary Four Way Test
Dismissal
July 26th Newsletter
Meeting Date: July 22, 2025
Reporter: Lew Hassell
Pledge of Allegiance
Mike Kelly led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Inspiration
Cap Willey led us in an inspiration regarding Ice Cream. What could be more inspiring than Ice Cream! Sunday was National Ice Cream Day and July is National Ice Cream Month. Thousands of years ago, people in the Persian Empire put snow in a bowl, poured concentrated grape juice over it and ate it as a treat. Even when the weather was hot, they would savor this sweet treat. Their trick? They placed snow in underground chambers known as yakchai where the temperatures kept the snow from melting. The Persians also hiked to the mountain tops by their summer capital to gather snowfall. The Chinese under the tang dynasty around 697 AD took to freezing dairy with salt and ice. Naples Italy is credited with being the birthplace of the fist ice cream. They give credit to Antonio Latini. He was born in 1642 and created a milli based sorbet. In the United States the Quaker colonists earn the nod for bringing their ice recipes over with them. They opened the first ice cream shops including shops in New York and other cities during the colonial times. Ben Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson enjoyed ice cream. Thomas Jefferson's recipe for Old Fashion Vanilla Ice Cream is believed to be the oldest recipe for ice cream in the USA. It is in the Library of Congress. In 1984 President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and established National Ice Cream Day as the Third Sunday in July. So what is the favorite ice cream in the State of RI??? Of course…Coffee.
On Zoom
Ben Hadsell, Don Sarazen and Richard Applebaum
Announcements
Emily reminded us of the upcoming RIFC Match, Saturday, August 9th. The cost of the tickets is $26 with $5 of each ticket going to our Rotary Foundation.
School Supplies – we are sponsoring 32 classrooms this year, up from 24 last year.
Sadly, Phyllis Fern died this past Sunday. The funeral is being held in Washington, DC, but will also be live streamed. The funeral will take place at Temple Sinai (in Washington, DC) on Thursday, July 24 at 11:30 am and will also be livestreamed here https://boxcast.tv/view/funeral-service-for-phyllis-fern-wgv5jzboehfgmqsqjglm [links.clubrunner.email] Shiva will be at the Fern-O'Brien home on Thursday, July 24 and Saturday, July 26 from 5:00-7:00 pm.
Happy Bucks
Pete Brock is happy about a beautiful day.
Lew Hassell happy about an upcoming Alaskan cruise.
Bill Applegate is happy for a terrific weekend with family.
Richard Applebaum is happy for a terrific turnout to the meeting and seeing everyone.
Chris Salvatore is just happy.
Art is happy for all those who have volunteered to read to Providence Elementary school students.
Speaker
Introduced by Jane Berkowitz. Kelly Nevins has been a leader in the nonprofit sector since 1990, with expertise in strategic development, motivating teams and individuals, workplace equity and community relations tools, program development, and public speaking. She holds a master’s degree in education and leadership, as well as an Executive Certificate in Public Policy. Her top 5 Gallup Strengths include Learner, Input, Responsibility, Achiever, and Relator. The CEO of Women's Fund of Rhode Island since 2016, Nevins often speaks about the status of women and girls, why investing in women pays off, and using a gender lens to create systems change. She was honored in 2020 as Social Sector Industry Leader by Providence Business News and received the Secretary of State's Medallion Award. Nevins is the Secretary of the RI Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, Treasurer of Grantmakers Council of RI, and serves on the boards of the United Way of Rhode Island's Community Advisory Board, and Women's Funding Network. Some of the topics Kelly covered included:
The declining percentage of women in leadership roles and the need to educate and empower women and girls to seek leadership position.
The gender-equity gap – it will take 120 years to close this gap if nothing is done.
Introduced by Jane Berkowitz. Kelly Nevins has been a leader in the nonprofit sector since 1990, with expertise in strategic development, motivating teams and individuals, workplace equity and community relations tools, program development, and public speaking. She holds a master’s degree in education and leadership, as well as an Executive Certificate in Public Policy. Her top 5 Gallup Strengths include Learner, Input, Responsibility, Achiever, and Relator. The CEO of Women's Fund of Rhode Island since 2016, Nevins often speaks about the status of women and girls, why investing in women pays off, and using a gender lens to create systems change. She was honored in 2020 as Social Sector Industry Leader by Providence Business News and received the Secretary of State's Medallion Award. Nevins is the Secretary of the RI Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, Treasurer of Grantmakers Council of RI, and serves on the boards of the United Way of Rhode Island's Community Advisory Board, and Women's Funding Network. Some of the topics Kelly covered included:
