Pledge: led by Mike Kelly

Attending On Zoom: Cap Willey, Lew Hassell, Paula Jageman, Rob Brewster and Mary Brewster

Inspiration: 
Paul Borelli shared the story of what inspired him to become a Rotarian. 

As a child in the early 1950s, Paul was among the first generation of children selected to receive the polio vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk. He reflected on the profound impact this medical breakthrough had on families around the world and how it demonstrated the power of people coming together to address a global challenge. 

Learning about Rotary International’s leadership in the fight against polio was a significant reason he was drawn to the organization and its mission of service above self. 

President’s Report: Liz Messier

Hope to see everyone at Rotary After Dark this Tuesday, August 25th at AQUA in the Providence Marriott 5;30-7:30pm.  Bring a guest!  

Two volunteers are needed at The Bodega (food and clothing pantry) at the Pawtucket YMCA on Wednesday, August 26 anytime between 9am and 12pm.  Call or email me to sign up or with any questions.   

Be sure to join us for lunch on Tuesday, September 1st to help get our school supply project ready for distribution to our partner school.  

Thank you to the volunteers who showed the flag and served the pizza for "Back to School Night" at Kizirian school this past Wednesday - Art Norwalk, Anthony Hollingshead, Jane Berkowitz and Chris Salvadore (and Pete Brock for getting the pizza donated!) 

Congratulations!  Through our volunteerism we are making "lasting impact" in our communities!  

Please note that our September meeting dates have changed due to scheduling conflicts with the Marriott.  September dates are September 1, 8 and 22 - 12pm at the Marriott and Wednesday September 30th for Rotary After Dark.  No meeting on September 15th.

Hope to see you at AQUA Tuesday night!  

Liz

Announcements

• Don’t forget to bring used men and women’s sneakers and tee shirts to the club meeting for Shower on the MOVE.
• Please take a few moments to complete the survey that was recently emailed. Your feedback regarding our lunches is extremely valuable and will help us better understand what is working well and where there may be opportunities for improvement.
• Paul Borrelli shared details about a Family Day event planned for September at Mulligan’s Island. We would appreciate hearing about your interest in attending. Your response will help us estimate participation and make the necessary arrangements. We are targeting a mid-September date, with a cost of $25 for children and $45 for adults.
• Our club was recently recognized with a Club Excellence Award, one of Rotary’s highest honors. This prestigious award is not easily earned, as clubs must successfully meet a comprehensive set of goals related to membership growth and engagement, service projects, charitable giving, leadership development, and support of Rotary’s mission both locally and internationally.
• Bill Applegate provided an update on the upcoming Legends for Literacy Gala, sharing several exciting new features at this year’s event. A panel discussion will feature actress and children’s author Kim Parsons, along with former New England Patriot and acclaimed children’s author Malcolm Mitchell. Bill also reported that sponsorship support for the event continues to be very strong. To date, the gala has secured $49,500 in sponsorship commitments, reflecting significant community and corporate support for the George W. Babcock Literacy Initiative. 

Happy Bucks – collected by Simone Fagiorgio, pinch hitting for Pete Brock

• Simone is happy.
• Anthony Hollingshead is happy about the engagement level of our newest members.
• Don Saracen is happy that Cherie is here. He is also happy about the recent launch of his new novel, mentioning that you could buy a copy at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HDKM8W9L.
• Mary Brewster is happy that we have the school supplies for the elementary school children. We need 5 volunteers to pack the boxes, please contact Mary.
• Bill Applegate is happy about a terrific family vacation.

Guest Speaker 
Introduced by Don Saracen, our guest speaker, Mai Donohue, shared a powerful, heartfelt, and deeply inspiring story of bravery, resilience, and survival. 

Mai, a noted author and motivational speaker, recounted her personal journey through extraordinary challenges and spoke about the determination, courage, and perseverance that enabled her to overcome significant obstacles in her life. Her remarks highlighted the importance of maintaining hope in difficult circumstances, finding strength in adversity, and using life’s experiences to inspire and support others.