INSPIRATION
Anthony Hollingshead shared a quote from Desmond Tutu: “Do your little bit of good where you are - it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.
Upcoming in person meetings, also available on Zoom:
May 11 – Squantum Club –
Click HERE to register, enter your meal choice and pay $23. Reservations must be made by Wed., May 5.
May 25 – Marriott Welcome Back. Details to come.
Cinco de Mayo Trivia Night: Wednesday,May 5
th. Social virtual gathering at 7; game starts at 7:30pm. Zoom Link will be sent. Charge is $15 and will be donated to Polio. If you donate $100, donation will be doubled with Kris David’s Rotary International Match. Email
Secretary@providencerotary.org to register; send check to Rotary Club of Providence, P O Box 90, Barrington, RI 02806.
Cleanup of Benefit Street was successful – thank you to the nine Rotarians who participated, including, l-r, Mary Cullen, Wendy Marcus, Kris David and Holly Applegate.
Dollars for Diapers – there is a link set up on Providence rotary.org to donate $ to purchase some additional diapers for Family Services.
Auction Committee for the Legends Gala is looking for large donations – experiences – airline tickets, overnights, dinner events, etc. Respond to Jim Gilcreast with suggestions.
Leaders of the club’s Childhood Literacy Initiative met recently with Providence School Supt. Harrison Peters and K-12 Literacy Supervisor Clarise Brooks to reinforce the ongoing partnership between the club and city schools. A $65,000 grant from the club is currently funding a full year of access to the MyON Reader digital library platform for over 5,000 elementary and middle school students in the district.
(l-r) Supt. Peters, George Babcock, Mary Cullen, Art Norwalk and Clarise Brooks.
HAPPY BUCKS
Wendy Marcus – one happy buck for each individual who participated in the Benefit Street Cleanup
Rob Black – Daughter Elizabeth welcomed beautiful new baby - Evelyn Anne grandchild
Jim Gilcreast in memory of Cy Wyche
Kris David - $30 for a wonderful time at her daughter’s bridal
Richard Applebaum – for a nice weekend with his significant other and the good news that her mother is doing well following surgery.
Pete Brock – for a great trip to West Coast to visit family
Mary Brewster is happy that she will soon see her sister and Rob’s brother – family get togethers are great
Holly Applegate – for today’s speaker and thank you to John McGinn for helping arrange it
Bryan Cook – for his youngest son who turned 21 on the 21st
BRINGING TOURISM
BACK FROM THE PANDEMIC
Guest speaker Kristen Adamo, President & CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, explained that the PWCVB is a non-profit responsible for marketing and selling Providence as a leisure destination, Providence and Warwick as a meeting and convention hub, and all of RI as a premier place for sporting events.
She went on to discuss how the pandemic has resulted in an estimated 73 million dollar loss in direct spend revenue for Rhode Island. Providence hotels saw a 70.3% decrease year over year revenue with Warwick seeing a 46.2% decline. Although there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it is estimated that annual event levels and requests for face to face meetings, will not return to normal until 2023.
Kristen shared that for Rhode Island to begin the slow climb back they will need the support of our corporate community. They are asking all RI corporations to commit to their new program – MeetInRI.com and to hold at least one meeting /event in RI between 2021-2023. When a corporation commits to an event, the PWCVB’s staff of professionals will become an extension of the corporation’s staff assisting with all details of planning an event or meeting.