Cap Willey discussed the significance of October 22.  This includes national nut day, national make a dog’s day, clean up the earth day, and eat a pretzel day.  This week is also freedom of speech week, give wildlife a break week, national friends of libraries week, and national save for retirement week. 

More interestingly, at least in Cap’s view, is that today is national wombat day.  Please take time to reflect of the myriad special designations for October 22.

Visiting Rotarian

Robert Bowman of Leicestershier, UK. 

Announcements

Thank you to club members for making the gala a tremendous success. Teamwork makes the dream work.  High-five, everyone!

District Governor, Sharon Johnson will visit  on 12/3.

San Miguel school is visiting on 12/10.

Happy Bucks

• Anthony Hollingshead thanked the committee for all their hard work on the gala.  Thanks to everyone for great execution.
• Kris David mentioned that 10/24 is World Polio Day.  Rotarians around the world are working to celebrate the worldwide efforts toward polio eradication.
• Bill Applegate had happy bucks for his father’s birthday, who was an avid Yankees fan.  His mother was an avid Dodger fan. They would be happy because this weekend is the 12th time that we have a Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series.  Additionally, his granddaughter is coming to visit today.
• Sharon Garland shared an exciting vacation in Greece.
• Diana Riccitelli is happy to be a new member of the club.
• Pete Brock highlighted the feeling of stepping off the field post-game in the NFL and how that was his opportunity to live in the moment.
• Sam New was thankful for his friend Gillian, a terminal cancer patient, who has shown a level of strength and dignity that is truly admirable.
• Wendy Marcus was thankful for Anthony Hollingshead’s leadership as new member chair.
• Michael Durand said the cast is making him a better Pickleball player.

Speaker 

Dr. Rosemary Costigan Interim President at CCRI

Dr. Costigan is a proud first-generation college graduate, is the first CCRI graduate (1978) to lead the college, has spearheaded efforts to advance faculty development, and she worked for 20 years as an ICU nurse

Dr. Costigan discussed the value of community colleges, and the myriad ways in which they benefit the communities where the operate.  Dr. Costigan emphasized that talent is universal, but opportunity is not.  Community colleges act as a great “equalizer.”

Community colleges add an estimated $1.3 Trillion to the US economy.  This includes added student income, added business income, and savings from relief to social programs.  CCRI contributes to higher lifetime earnings of more than $500K.

Currently, there are over 12,000 students enrolled at CCRI, and demographics are distributed across a range of gender, racial, and age groups.  CCRI was recently designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution.  Approximately 79% of students are part-time.  ESL, and multi-language learners, are a material component of the CCRI enrollment.

CCRI students come for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, obtaining credits to be applied to a BA/BS degree, and/or vocational/workforce training.

The key takeaway is that community colleges, including CCRI, provide a wide range of impactful benefits to communities that are often overlooked.