Recording Secretary &
Newsletter Editor
Arthur D. Norwalk
Treasurer
Richard A. Kaplan
Asst. Treasurer
Peter M. Loescher
Sergeant-at-arms
Kevin M. Oates
Past President
Jenny Miller
President, Rotary International
Gary C. K. Huang
Governor, District 7950
Valerie Perry
Directors
to June 30, 2015:
Paula M. Jacobson
Gary S. Kaufman
Wendy S. Marcus
Marcus Mitchell
Nondas Hurst Voll
to June 30, 2016:
Marion F. Avarista
T. Bryan Cook
Kimberly C. Hadsell
Benjamin Longtin
Wascar F. Montilla
Executive Administrator
Jeremiah H. Cannon
INSPIRATION
President Elect Mike Kelly said Memorial Day should never be forgotten just because it was a great weekend and the kick-off to summer with its promise of warmth and sunshine, vacations and outdoor fun. It is a day of remembrance for all Americans who died while serving in the nation’s military.
The brave souls who served in our country’s conflicts understand that few things in this world are truly free. Even our choices: to work, to play or spend time at one endeavor over another, come with a cost. And so does the effort to preserve nations, and certainly this nation, founded on the principle that we all have God-given, inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. With the sacrifice of the men and women who have been willing to put their lives on the line, this nation, and those rights, would not be here today.
And so, as we enjoyed our day and weekend free of the usual hustle and bustle and look forward to our summer fun, we can all benefit by stopping to remember those who were willing to serve, and even lose their lives, so that we can live as a people who are free.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS
President Paul read an email from Margaret Kane. She is recovering from shoulder surgery at Hattie Ide Chafee (200 Wampanoag Trail, Riverside, RI 02915; 401-434-1520), which has left her in major need of rehab and pain medications! She expects to be in rehab for a while. Margaret sends best wishes to everyone for a good summer filled with ‘happy bucks’ and looks forward to seeing everyone sooner rather than later.
District Governor Elect Kris David’s installation & the Glenn Miller Orchestra is Thursday, July 9th at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. Tickets for dinner and dancing are $60. The cost for Providence Rotary Club members cost is $39 since the Club’s July 6th meeting will be cancelled and the $21 meal cost applied to the installation dinner. Tickets will also be sold for dancing only at 8PM and guests will be seated upstairs. Visit the Providence Rotary website to purchase tickets.
The 50/50 Raffle starts June 1, get your tickets in so you don’t miss a chance to win the $200 weekly drawing! 76 tickets have been sold so far in this major fundraiser for the Club’s charity efforts.
Walter Adamowicz announced that DEM came through with a free bus for the Fishing Derby (really a Catching Derby!) for San Miguel students on June 6th. Volunteers can contact Walter for directions.
Polo for Polio is Sunday, July 26 at Glen Farm in Portsmouth – it’s a fun way to support Rotary’s polio efforts.
Bill DiBiasio reported that 20,000 individuals who are homeless due to the earthquake in Nepal are being helped through the Shelter Box program. Each week 5,000 more Shelter Boxes are going to Nepal thanks to Rotarian’s support for this program.
Terri Adelman reported that all books for Providence 4th graders are in the schools ready to be distributed by Rotarians. If you have signed up to read, please contact the school soon to schedule a date. We received funding from the District for this project! If you have questions about Rotary Reads, call or email Terri or SharonGarland.
Admiral Girrier honored with World War II combat veteran, our own Cy Wyche.
Art Norwalk introduced a timely speaker, Rear Admiral Robert P. Girrier, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Admiral Girrier is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, the University of Rhode Island and his parents live in Tiverton. This is the first-ever Navy Week in Rhode Island and he is reaching out to community groups, like the Providence Rotary, to thank Rhode Islanders for their support of the Navy. It is also an opportunity to educate on the scope of the Navy’s engagement around the world. The Navy has a presence in almost every country with the foremost intention of keeping the world’s chaos away from the United States. Since 70% of the world is water, there are many opportunities for the Navy to respond to dangers. “Being there” is a major strategy used by the Navy to provide deterrence and prevention.
The US Navy operates with the intention of Being Forward by Looking Forward and impacts many diverse areas including:
Threats like counter narcotics trafficking off the East Coast of South America; supporting NATO allies in the Baltics; conducting Mediterranean maneuvers; providing a strong presence off the African coast to thwart piracy; and
Economic Impact -oceans are sea lines of communications and commerce that affect the global economy; 80% of the world’s population is within 200 miles of a coast; 90% of all shipping is by sea; communications travel by subterranean cables; keeping water ways open for commerce is a huge part of the effort.
The Navy leverages existing assets to help during disasters and although disaster relief is not part of their mission, it does create good will around the world. They provide early leadership in crisis so that other nations will also come forward. Navy assets can be used in disasters, like Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident several years ago where the US Navy had the latest equipment to monitor radioactivity for the Japanese.
Happy Bucks
George Burman for Brown’s decision to award the Dean’s Prize to his wife for superior teaching, and for his 70th birthday
Jenny Miller for member talks by John Folan and Eric Shorr, for daughter Lucy’s 5K run and for her own personal best in a 10K event
Cap Willey for a high school graduation
Parker Smith for Jerry Cannon’s good spirits and a 50th high school reunion in western MA where he ran into Art Robbins
Barbara Harris for a bicycle trip in the Netherlands
Barry Fain for a terrific celebration of his daughter’s wedding
Walter Adamowicz for his daughter’s opportunity to address the National Convention of Environmental Scientists
Jeanne D’Agostino for Highlander’s successful golf fundraiser
John Folan, Don Saracen and many others for fun at the fishing derby
Cy Wyche because he was happy
Wendy Kountz for her daughter’s high school graduation
Jane Kratsch—turns 61 today!
Rotary Club of Providence, 27 Dryden Lane, Providence, RI 02904
