Newsletter Date: August 27
Meeting Date: August 21
Reporter: Bryan Cook
INSPIRATION
Bill David dove deep into his book of interesting laws for a comical inspiration.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.
President Don offered a personal statement denouncing hatred and bigotry while highlighting the ideals of Rotary which promote unity and diversity.
Please pay your dues if you have not done so already as they are past due.
The Prov. Rotary Organizational Chart will be available next week, please take a look as everyone is plugged in somewhere. If you have additional interests, please let Pres. Don know.
Pat Germani gave an update on membership including the possibility of some new categories of membership. More to come in September.
Bill David is in charge of sponsorships for the Street Painting Festival and would like the club to promote the event. There have been some changes to the sponsorship levels and an email will be coming out to all members shortly.
Ken Conde will have his other knee replaced on 8/22 with hopes of being ready to hit the slopes this winter.
Wendy Marcus highlighted the July and August birthday boys and girls.
Mary’s Merry Mural Mavens
Mary Brewster led a months-long effort including students and staff at Harry Kizirian Elementary School along with Rotarians to create a 22-foot “Welcome” mural now hanging in the school lobby. Thanks to the team who got it up straight and smooth Saturday morning.
HAPPY BUCKS
George Burman--$1 in the belief that Rotary should take a stand in the current climate of contention and let the public know what our views are.
Rev. Barlow--$1 for the club and his gratitude for the honor guard at his wife’s memorial service.
Kevin Kernan--$2 as a down payment on the windfall he will bestow upon our club after his expected Powerball (lottery) win.
David Hunter- $1 for the Boston police and their handling of the protests last weekend.
Christy Claussen--$1 as a kickstart to funding for 4 more kids to attend a trip to the zoo that she is organizing.
Barry Fain--$1 for the Red Sox win earlier in the week.
Paul Segal--$1 for the Red Sox.
Jane Kratsch--$1 for a great summer, Boston in general, and weekly trips to the Cape for Light Opera performances.
Pres. Don—For Boston.
KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON PROVIDENCE
Dan McGowan has been fascinated with Providence politics since moving here after college. He initially started a free blog about local issues which eventually turned into his current position with WPRI.com. Dan covers Providence politics as well as statewide education issues in the traditional fashion of a beat reporter rather than a reporter whose primary focus is content for the evening newscast. His stories often take more time to develop and he appreciates the support he gets from the station to follow these stories to fruition.
Often, Dan finds himself as the only party in a council meeting that does not represent a constituency or slanted point of view. He believes that he can be the eyes and ears of the public through his reporting and sees this as an important service being provided. He shared a New England Emmy with four WPRI colleagues for a story about a state representative who did not live in the district he was elected to serve.
After his planned remarks, Dan engaged in a lively question and answer session touching on subjects ranging from the recent political protests in Charlottesville, VA and Boston to the type of information found on politicians’ financial disclosure forms.