led by Jenny Koehler
Inspiration
by Fatima Rodrigues
I chose a quote today for my inspiration because it reflects the heart of my work as a family sales counselor at a cemetery. Each day, I meet families who are facing profound grief while also being asked to make difficult and deeply personal decisions. In those moments, I strive to offer compassion, guidance and reassurance - small acts of care that can bring a sense of calm and comfort during one of life’s hardest times. The quote is “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud” from Maya Angelou.
Guests & Visiting Rotarians
Dr. Victor Piccolo and his wife Heidi
Anthony Landi had his daughter Francesca and niece Olivia here with him
Claude Leboeuf - new member applicant
Lynn Fitzpatrick and Stacy Newell of Sail Beyond Cancer - Newport
On Zoom
Lew Hassell, Liz Messier, Don Saracen, Richard Applebaum, Barry Fain, Paula Jageman, Chris Stevenson
Announcements
Tent Suppers are starting again. These are a great way to support the club and break up the winter. This year, Liz Messier and Mary Brewster are co-chairing the project.
The club has a tradition of giving small suppers during the winter to support our international projects. The first year, we raised money to buy tents for hurricane survivors in the Bahamas and we called them Tent Suppers. They remain tent suppers, though the beneficiaries change yearly. This year, we are going to support a solar project in Nepal. We will learn about the project on February 3rd when we will have a presentation on it at our lunch meeting.
Hosting and attending are very rewarding, as you inevitably walk away knowing people better and appreciate them more deeply as fellow members.
We are currently asking for dinner hosts to volunteer to host a supper as a first step.
Hosts select the day, the menu and the number of guests that they are comfortable entertaining. They are very casual and the menus do not need to be elaborate.
When we have enough hosts, we will publicize the dates to the club for signing up. The suggested donation for each seat will be $50.
Contact Liz Messier or Mary Brewster if you want to volunteer or have questions.
Happy Bucks
- Pete Brock decided to be happy this morning, and is also excited he got sucked back in as the Patriots are in the playoffs. His wife is also coming home from a few weeks in Florida today.
- Jenny Koehler is $2 happy for a trip to Aruba and making it home safely; also it is her birthday month
- Anthony Landi is $20 happy - $10 for each of the two lovely guests he brought with him today
- Fatima Rodrigues is happy she got through the inspiration
- Paula Jageman on zoom is happy because she is excited to be moving to Providence to work with JWU
- Liz Messier is happy because she is two weeks post her second knee surgery, and she is excited for our speakers
- Luis Lourenco is $10 happy after 30 years in public accounting he is moving into a new position
- Anthony Hollingshead is $5 happy to extend a welcome to our guests, for receiving a new membership application, and to thank Yani for greeting
- Mary Brewster is happy for the completion of her second cornea replacement surgery
- Cap Willey is happy because his neck pain is getting better
- Simone Fargiorgio is happy to have his guest with him today
- Bill Applegate is happy because this Saturday they are providing the dinner for the two couples who won the dinner with them at the gala
Speaker
Suzanne Snyder is the Founder and Executive Director of Sail Beyond Cancer USA, a national nonprofit whose mission is to honor those challenged by cancer by harnessing the healing powers of wind, water and sail. The mission began in 2014, inspired by Suzanne’s own journey as a survivor of cancer and spinal meningitis.
Facing repeated health challenges gave Suzanne a deep understanding of life’s true priorities and strengthened her commitment to giving back with passion and purpose. Sailing played a powerful role in her recovery, offering peace and renewal - an experience she now shares with others facing cancer.
Under Suzanne’s leadership, Sail Beyond Cancer USA has grown to five chapters: Vermont, Annapolis, North Shore (MA), Virginia, and Newport (RI). Together these chapters provide free, private sailing experiences for individuals living with cancer and their loved ones.
Suzanne holds a 100-ton USCG Captain’s license and brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, marketing and management - making a difference one sail at a time.
Each nominee gets to go on a free 3 hour cruise, taking them away from all the stress and burden of a cancer diagnosis. They get to reconnect with Mother Nature - the wind, the water and the waves, and focus on something else for a while. They even get to take the helm, and be in control of something for once as opposed to constantly worrying about others’ instructions. They can bring their caregivers and loved ones as well, giving them a treat and thanking them for their help. They document each sail with dozens of photos as well, so they have lasting memories of what it is like to be out on the water.
Each chapter owns their own vessel and uses other people’s vessels who want to give back in their own way. They sail 7 days a week, up to 3x/day. They have brought over 6,000 individuals out on sails. The nonprofit is supported by individual donations, some grants and a few corporate donations. Anyone can nominate anyone for a sail.
Here is the
video Suzanne played at the meeting
