Pledge
Anthony Landi led us in the pledge
Inspiration
Cap had an opportunity to travel to Point Barrow, Alaska. It's the most northern point in the US. roughly 1,300 miles from the North Pole. It was November and -56 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun would rise at 10am and set at 2pm. He was to be there for two days, but his plane didn’t return until five days. It was the experience of a lifetime. When you fly in, there is a memorial dedicated to aviation pioneer Wiley Post and humorist Will Rogers, who died in a plane crash in 1935. Will Rogers was a stage and screen actor, columnist and commentator. He even ran for president.
Some of his famous quotes are: “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat."; “Everything is funny as long as it happens to someone else.”; "Never let yesterday use up too much of today.”; “All I can say about the US Senate is it opens with a prayer and closes with investigation.”; “I don’t make jokes, I just watch the government and report the facts.”; “Alexander Hamilton started the US Treasury with nothing, and that was the closest our country has ever been to being even.”; “Letting the cat out of the bag is a lot easier than putting it back in.”
Announcements
President Holly recognized Steve Hug's guests, associate Rebecca Taft and student Ruth Mulbah.
Thanks to Bill for filling-in for Rob.
Wendy reported on The Little Free Library set up at the Brown Street Park. Art said the installation has drawn over 1,300 impressions on Face Book.
Mary’s Good Works Committee is working on a food drive and recruiting pen pal’s.
Kris said that Feb. 23rd will be Rotary Internationals' 115th Birthday called World Understanding & Peace Day. Festivities will be held at our club on the 22nd and Internationally on the 23rd.
Anthony Landi announced the District's P-Bruins game on Feb 11
th, and that PC and Xavier (two top basketball teams) will meet on Feb 23
rd. The Club is sponsoring San Miguel students to attend. Details for sponsoring and attending are on our
Club's website.
Gala letters will be going out shortly.
Happy Bucks
- $4 Margaret three for Jim’s 300 years of perfect attendance and a dollar in memory of Cy.
- $1 Wendy is happy to be here!
- $2 Pete for his granddaughter Elizabeth's 9th Birthday and he is a proud Papa for his dog Jaeger who passed his first test as a hunting dog.
Speaker
Annette Bourne is the research & policy director for
HousingWorks RI (HWRI) at Roger Williams University. She is responsible for the overall management of the research program, including the annual
Housing Fact Book, which details housing affordability and its relationship to Rhode Island’s economy and its impacts on health and educational outcomes. Prior to her position she was the Training Manager for Grow Smart RI. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from BU and a Masters of Liberal Arts & Government from Harvard.
Annette presented her findings on RI housing affordability and economic development, and outcomes in health and education.
She stated that 2020 taught us a lot. Your location connects your access to health/healthcare, schools, community, jobs, safe neighborhoods, and a clean environment. She gave examples of cost burden on owners & renters vs. national figures.
She stressed the importance of public engagement and feels Rotary's mission of diversity, equality and inclusion is what our society should strive for.