David Hunter shared an anecdote from his first college psychology class (on stress management). When the professor entered the class, she raised a glass of water, and told the class it was not about whether the glass was half full or half empty, but about the weight of the glass. She then continued that the absolute weight of the glass didn’t matter – what did matter was how long you held it. A few minutes would likely be fine, an hour much more difficult, but if you held the glass for the whole day, you might drop it. Stresses in life are much like this glass of water. Stress management involves realizing when to put down the glass.  

 

Paul Segal encouraged all Rotarians to respond to the annual Providence Rotary Charities Foundation holiday appeal. Please be on the lookout for this appeal in the mail. We had 50% participation in last year’s holiday appeal, and are shooting for 100% this year!

 

A team of club volunteers gathered at Kizirian Elementary School last week to place bookplate labels inside the covers of more than 700 carefully selected books purchased by the club foundation as part of our Childhood Literacy Initiative. They’ll be placed in the classroom libraries for all third, fourth and fifth graders, completing a gift that started with books for grades K-2 last year. Clockwise from left: Art Norwalk, Sharon Garland, Wendy Marcus, Bob Huseby and Kris David. Not shown: Terri Adelman, Don & Cherie Saracen.

 

Christy Clausen announced that there will be a Rotary social on Thursday December 6 at 5:30pm at Federal Hill Pizza. All are welcome to attend!

 

Rotarian Nondas Hurst Voll was one of 13 Women of Achievement honored by YWCA Rhode Island. Representing our club were Cherie and Don Saracen, Kris David, Sharon Garland and Anthony Hollingshead.

 

John McGinn announced that the next Street Painting Festival Committee meeting will be held on Monday, November 19^th at 1:30pm.  The committee will be discussing next year’s date – either the first Saturday in May or the first Saturday in October. John encouraged all Rotarians to send him lists of potential festival sponsors. He also reminded all those who hadn’t yet done so to please pay this year’s Street Painting Festival pledges.

 

Welcome New Member:
Sponsor Sharon Garland presented new member Kimberly Dumpson, VP for Development & External Relations at Rhode Island College. Kim will join the Fundraising Committee. She relocated from Salisbury, Maryland in August, where she was a member of her local Rotary club, but has roots that date back to the 1700s in Rhode Island. She is particularly inspired by the adage: “To whom much is given, much is required.”

              

Pete Brock was happy that there are no more night games on the Patriots’ schedule.

 

Jan Feyler was happy for two weeks in Florence.

 

Don Saracen was happy to welcome Kimberly Dumpson to the club.

 

Rev. Ralph Barlow was happy for the teamwork demonstrated by the Patriots. 

 

Anthony Landi was happy for the Patriots game and for the generosity of members who offered to sponsor Providence Bruins tickets for San Miguel students. 

 

Trish Cirelli was happy she got home from Iowa (and Packers country) in time for the Patriots game.

 

Terri Adelman was happy for the help in putting labels in books for students at Harry Kizirian Elementary.

 

Jim Gilcreast was happy to tell everyone to remember to vote.  

 

Wendy Marcus announced November birthdays: Terri Adelman, Bill David, John Thompson, and Rob Brewster. Happy birthday!

 

When Harris “Hershey” Rosen retired from School House Candy Company - which he ran for 40 years - in 1998, he realized that if he were to die before his wife, she wouldn’t know how to manage the family finances, who to contact regarding insurance, or how to oversee their investments. So he decided to commit all of this information to writing. When Hershey’s estate attorney got a look at it, he suggested it would make a great book, and might be immensely valuable to many families – and so My Family Record Book was born.

 

Chapters cover everything from appointing a new family financial manager, to how to engage the right professionals (accountants, attorneys), to writing down key medical information, pet care information, and computer and electronic device passwords, to managing charitable gifts and pledges, to funeral arrangements. Hershey also includes tips for survivors, and tips on living alone and downsizing. (There are even cartoons sprinkled throughout the book!)

 

For Hershey, My Family Record Book isn’t about death, but rather, how to help your loved ones live after you are gone. It is a way of showing love and protecting those that you care most about.  You can purchase the book on Amazon here.

 

Don Coyne joined us as Pete Brock’s guest. 

 

Tyler Wentworth joined us as Anthony Hollingshead’s guest. 

 

Ted Dennison joined us as Mike Kelly’s guest, along with Mike’s son Brendon.