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
Jim Gilcreast offered a prayer for the candidates seeking public office.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS
Bill DiBiasio spoke of the UN Day- outstanding!- because of the Polio work RI performs, the World Health Organization has asked them to assist with the Ebola outbreak, and it took 2 1/2 hours to get to NY this time because of traffic - but they could've done it in 2 hours and 10 minutes!
Don't forget about the foundation dinner on the 13th at Venus DeMilo, as well as the Christmas party at Mike & Kathy Kelly's house on 12/6 from 2-5.
12/8 we have the San Miguel and Sophia Academy Holiday Party.
Paul also thanked Mike Friedman for donating the Mulligan’s Island Spooky World for Kids Day.
Nondas Voll introduced our speaker, H. Philip West, who served for eighteen years, 1988-2006, as executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, the state affiliate of the national, nonpartisan, nonprofit citizens lobby that works toward open, honest, accountable government.
Phil's new book, SECRETS & SCANDALS: Reforming Rhode Island, 1986-2006, tells the inside story of events that shook Rhode Island’s culture of corruption, gave birth to the nation’s strongest ethics commission, and finally brought separation of powers in 2004. No single leader, no political party, no organization could have converted betrayals of public trust into historic reforms. But when citizen coalitions worked with dedicated public officials to address systemic failures, government changed. Phil tells us that this day is the 10th anniversary of the separation of powers!
Phil spoke of some of the scandals that are contained in this new book; one was of Margaret Curran - former US Attorney. Gov. Almond had appointed her to the RI Supreme Court and even after numerous high profile Rhode Islanders spoke highly of her she was "mugged" by the Judiciary Committee and ALL voted her down.
Reason? "she wouldn't take the pledge to be ‘safe’ on separation of powers.”
Change is possible , but it is slow and hard, said West, adding that changes the state needs now include line item veto for the governor.
Steve Hug auctioned off a donated copy of West’s 800+ page book and after a showdown between Kris and Paul it went to Kris for $100!!
Happy Bucks
Cap Willey-“Man-aging” director of his firm was quoted in the Wall Street Journal
Michelle Berard—for Richard Leone’s work on her car
Steve Hug—Santa’s Walking School Bus
Lots for delivering dictionaries to third graders, bell ringing and the holiday party for Sophia Academy and San Miguel
Barbara Harris for reminding us that the Dictionary Project started with Randy Dittmar’s presidency and for her husband’s quote in the Economist
Richard Applebaum for John Folan’s chairing the coat drive
Rotary Club of Providence, 27 Dryden Lane, Providence, RI 02904
Nondas Voll introduced our speaker, H. Philip West, who served for eighteen years, 1988-2006, as executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, the state affiliate of the national, nonpartisan, nonprofit citizens lobby that works toward open, honest, accountable government.
