President-elect Pete Brock presided over the meeting.
Inspiration
Emily Bernstein recently attended a moving and powerful nationalization ceremony at Homeland Security in Springfield where her business partner, originally from Uganda, became a US citizen along with 50 other individuals. The process to become a citizen takes thousands of dollars and can take up to 20 years. They take an oath to renounce any allegiance to another country, swear allegiance to the US Constitution, and take up arms if necessary.
Guests
Enedelzy Escobar King, a visiting Rotarian from Panama.
- Louise Pelletier who will be inducted into the Providence Club next week.
- Anthony Hollingshead introduced his guest, Melissa Ricoh, who recently moved to R.I. She was a Rotarian in Shreveport, Louisiana and a Paul Harris Fellow. She is interested in becoming a Friend of the Providence Rotary.
Announcements
Our thoughts and prayers are with longtime Rotarian and friend, Nondas Voll, who is receiving hospice care.
We are sorry to hear from new member, Troylynda Williams, that she experienced two unexpected deaths over the holidays.
Get well to Barry Fain who has pneumonia and to Bill David, Kris’ husband, who is recovering from knee replacement surgery.
The Providence Rotary annual meeting will take place at the Club’s lunch meeting on January 23. The agenda will include financial and committee reports, plans for next year’s gala and input on where members would like to see the Club in five years.
The District’s mid-year meeting will take place on February 3 at Cape Cod Tech. All Rotarians are welcome, there is no cost. It is a suggested meeting for all new board members and a mandatory meeting for presidents and presidents-elect.
New Year Party
Emily announced that there will be a Rotary New Year party on Thursday, January 18, 6 pm to 8 pm, at The Industrious Spirit Co. 1 Sims Avenue, Providence. $20 per person (checks payable to Rotary Club of Providence) includes dinner, cash bar.
Tent Suppers
Mary Brewster is organizing “tent suppers” to benefit a Rotary International health project in Ghana. Holly Applegate, Liz Messier, Anthony Landi and Kris David have volunteered to host a dinner. Mary is looking for three more hosts. If you can help, please contact Mary.
Happy Bucks
- Pete was happy to fulfill the promise he made to his wife – he completed building a greenhouse just before the snowstorm on Sunday!
- Anthony Landi was happy for his son’s 20th birthday.
- Cap Willey was $5 happy and grateful to the Providence Rescue team for their help when he became ill in Providence last week.
- Michael Durand is happy because he loves snow since he’s doesn’t have to leave early for work and the HOA where he lives does all the snow removal.
- Bob Murphy $10 for Michael Durand bringing to his attention Wreaths Across America. Bob attended with 1,000 others, and they placed 4,000 wreaths at the R.I. Veterans Cemetery. Bob had another $10 for the boys at San Miguel who sent 60 uniquely designed cards to the Club thanking us for the holiday party in December.
- Enedelzy Escobar King was happy to be in Providence visiting her family and new grandchild.
Anxhela Ekezaj was happy to be back after travel home for the holidays!
Speaker
Javier Alfonzo, stone carver and graphic artist, is originally from Venezuela and has been in the United States since 2000. He graduated from college at 19 with a degree in graphic arts and went on to teach and later became a design director. He spoke about his journey to become a stone carver and shared some of his interesting projects, the tools he uses and the different types of stone he carves.
He was introduced to stone carving while attending a 2010 calligraphy conference in Boston where he met his mentor in stone carving. His first project as an apprentice was at the Rhode Island Zen Center in Cumberland. He has gone on to work on projects in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Spain. He has worked for many years as a leading stone carver with Rhode Island stone artist Karen Sprague.
Before Javier picks up one of his very sharp chisels, he works with an artist drawing and makes his plans by carefully measuring the stone and designing the lettering to meet the artist’s rendering. There is no room for mistakes when working with stone. It requires deep concentration and can be physically demanding. He recalled working in a very cold, snowy Michigan winter sheltered only by a tent with a portable heater. He chisels using a V carving technique used by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Javier plans to continue his artistic development by studying sculpturing in Italy.
