INSPIRATION
Wendy Marcus noted that one of our best traits as a club is supporting each other’s dreams. That can be literacy, the dictionary project, or in Wendy’s case, Earth Day. Cheers to clean water and a healthy environment. Please send her a selfie of you with a bag of litter that you have picked up from your favorite part of our environment.

 

According to a count by The Dictionary Project, Providence Rotarians have purchased and presented 37,896 dictionaries to Providence 3^rd Graders since the program was started! Kudos to project leader Randy Dittmar and all who have participated.

 

Thanks to Christy Clausen and Anthony Hollingshead for organizing an after-hours gathering at the Salem Rogers Recreation Center, where the kids enjoyed crafts along with pizza donated by Amy Manchester and Flatbread’s.

 

Thursday, May 16, will be our next event at Barker Playhouse. Wine & munchies reception at 6:30 pm, followed by the rollicking musical “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to The Forum” starring Liz Messier with lighting by Pres. Art at 7:30. The cost is $35/person and reservations can be made at www.ProvidenceRotary.org, at the meeting front desk, or by seeing Holly Applegate.

 

 

 

Bryan Cook added a touch of style to our gathering with this snappy bowtie -- hand-tied no less!

 

 

 

 

 

Former Providence Rotarian Jean Audette was the guest of Margaret Kane.

 

Julianna Roland, Past Pres. of the Hollis, NH club was our visiting Rotarian.

 

 

Michaela Hermann was inducted as the newest member of Providence Rotary. Michaela is a Realtor with Sotheby’s and has volunteered to join our literacy committee.

 

 

Margaret Kane was happy to have former club member Jean Audette as her guest.

 

Jim Gilcreast had a sad $ for the 200+ Christians killed in terror attacks in Sri Lanka as well as a happy $ for time spent with his granddaughter who coincidentally is a 3^rd grader back in upstate NY who was given a dictionary by her local Rotary club.

 

Pete Brock had $5 for Spring weather and happy Easter and Passover.

 

Don Saracen and Sharon Garland both had --$ to welcome Jean Audette.

 

Wendy Marcus and Lynn Bruso $ for new member Michaela Hermann.

 

Randy Dittmar--$ happy to be through tax season.

 

Bob Huseby--$20 for Books Are Wings and the wonderful work they do.

 

David Hunter--$3 for Randy D. agreeing to help his son with taxes.

 

Richard Applebaum--$5 for Earth Day, the good fortune to be able to do chores/projects for his loved ones and for the joy of assembling an electric car for his granddaughter.

 

BUILDING SUCCESS WITH BOOKS
Jocelyn White, executive director of Books Are Wings (BAW), told us about the group’s mission of collecting and redistributing new and gently used children’s books.

 

In RI, there are 39,000 kids at or below the poverty level ($25,000 for a family of 4). For many of these families there is a choice between buying food or books. With the cost of a book ranging between $7 and $25, books lose out for many of these kids. BAW tries to fill that void.

 

Third grade is the tipping point when it comes to reading. Those who learn to read by 3^rd grade are more likely to graduate high school and earn more than those who do not. Currently in RI, only 40% of 3^rd graders are meeting expectations. This dips to 19% for kids in Providence.

 

BAW partners with several schools where they attend school events, read in classrooms, and promote summer reading events. Up to 8 books per year are given to the children to take home and keep. Additionally, they have created Children’s Book Spots at places such as DCYF offices, the DMV, and Roger Williams Park where kids can take and keep books.