Jim Gilcreast led the pledge.

Spoken by Samwise Gamgee, a character in the movie “Lord of the Rings” by author J R R Tolkien.  It possibly reflected his experiences as a soldier during
World War 1:

 

“It's like the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad has happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it'll shine out the clearer. I know now folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something. That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for.”

Pres. Steve announced the rebirth of the Environment Committee with members Anna Knes, Sam New and Emily Bernstein already at work on their first project.

 

PP Art Norwalk asked members to save the date of Saturday, May 20, to take part in an outdoor cleanup at Kizirian Elementary School. It’s our part in a multi-district, five-state, and two-country Rotary Day of Service. (The other country is Bermuda.)

 

PP Richard Applebaum reported that the Nominating Committee is so far unable to find members willing to serve in the officer ranks, rising to become president in the future. Consideration is being given to changing the bylaws requirement that officers must have been members for at least one year.

 

Liz Messier celebrated two February birthdays: Walter Cotter and Ken Conde; and five in March: Maxine Cohen, Anthony Landi, Barry Fain, Laraine Beck, and Bill Applegate.

Anthony Landi introduced Chris Flanigan, a graduate of Johnston High School, where Anthony’s wife works. Chris is on break from the University of Konstanz in Germany, where tuition is $123 per semester (you read that number right) and he’s planning to look into Rotaract when he goes back.

 

Robert Watt, an attorney in Providence, who came to hear our speaker and plans to join the club.

 

Attending on Zoom: Mary Cullen and Kevin Oates.

 

Get Well wishes to Rev. Ralph Barlow and Margaret Kane.

 

Don’t worry about the Marriott’s parking fee signs – they don’t apply to us.

Pres. Steve proudly officiated at the induction of new Providence Rotarians Jane Berkowitz and Dave Hamel.

A Rotarian since 1987, when she became one of Rotary’s first women members, guest speaker Frances Jeffries has been a leader in peace initiatives across Africa and Asia for decades.  She recounted experiences in Ethiopia, South Africa and Cambodia where she used skills in peace and conflict resolution to advance Rotary’s mission to support education, health and alleviation of poverty.

 

Fran described Rotary’s eight Peace Centers around the world where more than 2,000 Peace Fellows – including her - have been trained and certified.  She called it an intense program where students must know at least two languages to be admitted and need to be able to accept criticism.  The teams that review applicants are looking for disruptors.

Recent Tent Supper at the Applegate's home with proceeds going to World Food Program USA for Ukraine. 

 

Joining Holly and Bill were Liz Messier, Art and Mary Norwalk, Jane Berkowitz, Walter Cotter, and Sharon Carpentier.