Pledge of Allegiance
led by Mike Kelly
On Zoom
Lew Hassell, Sam New, Don Saracen, Barry Fain and Pete Brock
Visiting Rotarians
Stacey O’Brien - Falmouth Rotary Club, Tammy DeBarros – New Bedford Rotary Club
Inspiration
Jenny Koehler gave this inspiration.
When thinking about what to say today for my inspiration, I thought about my grandfather and what he shared with this club when I was installed as President in 2013. At the time he was 96 years old, strong and so proud! I chose to share with you excerpts of what he said at my installation, that I hold close to my heart every day!
“I have always believed that no matter how successful you are, you have a responsibility to help others. The Providence Rotary Club is one of the best vehicles which to do this. Maya Angelou said, ‘I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ This is a motto I personally hold true.”
Poppa continued… “I am just a 96-year-old man who now wants to listen to the music instead of being the leader of the band. But to Jenny and all those who follow as President of this great Rotary Club, I say to you – You should admire without jealousy, praise without flattery, follow without imitating and lead without manipulating. In doing this you will leave this world a better place and the people around you better for knowing you!”
New Member Induction
Members welcomed Claude Leboeuf to the Club.
Announcements
Valentine Cards
Holly Applegate reported that the Club will give Valentine cards to veterans again this year. Next week, Holly will bring cards for members to sign and add a note. The cards will be delivered to the VA Hospital. Last year, recipients were very appreciative, with cards even distributed in the lobby.
“Tent Suppers”
Liz Messier and
Mary Brewster are organizing Tent Suppers in February and March. Proceeds will support young women in Nepal in cooperation with the Falmouth Rotary Club. If you are new to the Club, signing up for a dinner hosted by a fellow Rotarian is a fantastic way to meet other members. If you sign up early, it helps with planning and ensures hosts have full tables. A $50 per person donation is suggested and checks should be made payable to the Providence Rotary Charities Foundation.
Please consider signing up for a dinner!
Liz's phone is 401.258.1089; Mary's phone is 401.474.6743.
More Support
President Bill Applegate encouraged members to visit the merchandise site, made in conjunction with Her Future Coalition, as another way to help support the Nepal project.
We have an initiative to purchase product from the women, whom we are helping in the regions, and you can make a difference to them directly by buying gifts for your loved ones. We are partnering with Her Future Coalition, which is a very lean organization to sell the products created by the women extracted from the "Trafficking Industry." Eighty percent of the purchase price goes to them, ~20% comes back to our club, which we should use to continue our support of those women in addition to our Tent Suppers revenue.
Here is the
link. Note that all the merchandise ships from Florida - the home base of Her Future Coalition. Shipping is free or can be expedited for a price. Their coordinator is returning from India (another site) on Tuesday, Feb 3, so orders may be delayed for a day or two.
Happy Bucks
- Bill Applegate contributed $5, as sufficient snow has now been cleared from his street to attend the meeting today.
- Jenny Koehler has $20 happy bucks to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her business, Senior Care Concepts
- Richard Applebaum is hoping for a good doctor’s visit today, and he welcomes Wendy Marcus back to the Club.
- Cap Willey is hopeful for a Patriots Super Bowl win on Sunday.
- Emily Bernstein is $10 grateful because she was not injured when she got into an auto accident during the snowstorm.
- Stacey O’Brien contributed $20 because she is proud and grateful for the collaboration between the Providence and Falmouth Rotary Clubs. As the District emphasizes teamwork, this leadership is at the forefront—thank you.
- Tammy DeBarros is $5 happy for her new job at Swan Point Cemetary.
- Anthony Hollingshead is $5 happy to see Jenny Koehler at the front desk, for newly inducted member, Claude Leboeuf. Also, for visiting Rotarians, Robin Singer and Stacey O’Brien.
- Chris Stevenson has $20 happy bucks for the birth of his second child in November.
- Don Saracen has $100 happy bucks because his wife, Cheri, is doing better after recent health challenges, and for the important contributions of George Babcock to our Club.
- Pete Brock has $10 happy bucks because the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl.
Speaker
Liz Messier introduced Robin Singer, secretary of the Rotary Club of Falmouth. Robin joined Rotary after retiring from teaching math at Sturgis Public Charter School in 2019. She had previously spent 20 years at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, where she was a research engineer.
In 2006 Robin began volunteering for an NGO called Her Future Coalition (HFC) which has helped more than 5000 girls and young women who were rescued rom slavery in brothels in India or are at considerable risk of being trafficked from their homes in Nepal. HFC provides shelter, vocational training, mental health services, and education programs so that each girl or woman can become self-sustaining and realize her dreams. At a Himalayan hostel at-risk girls have a safe place to live and access to education.
Robin serves as the chair of the Falmouth Rotary Club’s anti-trafficking subcommittee, which provides support to Learning Centers in Nepal. These Centers are equipped with libraries, computer laboratories, educational and arts programming, and essential resources. Implementing solar power is critical for delivering services in the Himalayan region. The Providence Rotary made a contribution by allocating funds specifically for the solar power installation at the school.
From our Gala
We were featured in the 401 section of the February issue of Rhode Island Monthly. Here is the full page picture.
