Cogitator April 30, 2014

GUESTS              

Margaret Hunier, a licensed psychotherapist from East Greenwich, was a guest of President Jodi Gladstone.  Membership chair Janet Essex introduced Dave McMillen, who joined us for the second time, and, local author Judy Boss.

DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S INSTALLATION

On Friday June 20^th, at the Crown Plaza in Warwick, Valerie Perry will be installed as District 7950’s governor for the 2014-2015 Rotary year.  Please see President Jodi or President-Elect Ron Winde if you’d like to attend. 

SAVE THE DATE!

Speaking of installation banquets, our club’s is coming up, too!  President Jodi will pass the gavel to President-Elect Ron Winde on Tuesday, June 10^th.  Details to follow, but save the date…

BIPIN PANCHOLI ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR

Get your ballots in for the Bipin Pancholi Rotarian of the Year Award to John Wolcott, Jane Boyton, or Bill TenEyck as soon as possible!  You can even send your selection with commentary directly to John, Jane, and/or Bill via email.

Bill Ten Eyck  ws10ike@aol.com

Jane Boynton  jboynton@besttile.com;

John Wolcott  johnwolcott55@msn.com

EG TRACK CLUB

President Jodi was pleased to announce that the East Greenwich Track Club had over 340 registrants for their ‘Bunny Hop’ held April 12^th at Goddard Park.  Jodi also noted Rotary’s support for the Track Club over the past several years. 

FEINSTEIN HUNGER CHALLENGE

Congratulations to Sue Dorne on a wonderful job with this year’s Feinstein Hunger Challenge!  Our club broke its previous record by donating over $2,000 in food items and cash to the East Greenwich Food Pantry at St. Luke’s Church. 

PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE

President Jodi thanked John Wolcott for his recent work as Public Relations Committee Chair, getting news of Rotary events like our Scott Carlson ALS 5K as well as Wine and Wonderful prominently displayed in the East Greenwich Magazine. 

WINE AND WONDERFUL

Jane Boynton was happy to announce that some 160-170 guests were expected for the May 2^nd Wine and Wonderful event at Swift Community Center.  Jane also made a last minute plug for anyone who had yet to buy tickets, promising a great time for all those in attendance given the wonderful local restaurants and wine options on the menu for the evening. 

PRESIDENTIAL MINUTE

John Wolcott’s year as president, 1998-1999, began with a fun reception on a June summer’s eve, overlooking the bay, at Rocky Hill School.  John noted that his guest that evening was a local dentist named Judy Pratt, who happened to be working with Dr. Jim McManus, right across the East Greenwich line on Post Road. 

‘That might have been the highlight of my year, recruiting Judy Pratt to join the club!’ John mused.

During the year, a great deal of talk at the board level centered on the question of moving the club’s meeting time to breakfast hours.  The primary thrust was to help the club grow in membership, considering that for some community minded folks interested in Rotary, breaking away for lunch was much harder than meeting earlier during breakfast hours. 

After a tight vote, the club did move to a breakfast meeting at the East Greenwich Fireman’s Hall.  All went fairly well at the Fireman’s Hall.  John was able to forge ahead with annual Rotary missions, both charitable and operational.  And, we did gain several new members by moving the meeting Wednesday mornings.  But, some 7-8 months later, another vote was held.  This time, the club decided to reverse course and return to its original lunchtime meeting (at today’s Chianti’s).      

John wrapped up with advice, and a smile, for future presidents:  ‘Leave the lunchtime meeting alone!’   

HAPPY BUCKS

-Jane Boynton was thrilled that Carenique Turner, from the New England Tech Rotaract Club, was hired by Best Tile. 

-Bill McHale is back in Rhode Island after happily spending five months in a ‘No Snow Zone’ (sunny Sarasota, Florida).

-Bonnie Sauer congratulated Judy Pratt, Jane Boynton, and Pat Lenihan for their respective work in this year’s Scott Carlson ALS 5K and Wine and Wonderful. 

-Kathy McMahon thanked the club for its support recently with her husband’s passing, and she also said that she is glad to have made the move when she did to Rhode Island.

-Vin Meola congratulated Judy Pratt on yet another amazing ALS 5K event.  He also remembered his uncle, Lou Tafuri, who passed many years ago from ALS, and to whom he dedicates his run each year.

-Yours truly offered an idea--a ‘draft John Wolcott for president again’ campaign--so John might enjoy a full year at the presidential helm without any ‘lunch-versus-breakfast’ controversy!

-President Jodi traveled to Tel Aviv, Israel to see her son, Caleb, who attends university there.  She enjoyed a great historical tour of Israel with Caleb, even in the 100-degree heat.  Jodi also happily, and proudly, commented how Caleb has grown up and become a ‘fine young man.’ 

SPEAKER/PROGRAM

Elizabeth McNamara, Editor and Publisher of ‘East Greenwich News’

Elizabeth McNamara hails from Southern California, near Los Angeles, but she has thoroughly enjoyed planting roots here in East Greenwich for the past 25 years.  She loves the town, her kids have made it through the schools here, and she wants to ‘remain part of the town in the world of journalism and reporting.’ 

Liz began five years ago an interesting concept in local reporting called ‘My 02818.Com.’  Her idea was to set up an online news resource for the East Greenwich community, one which could cover local stories, including politics, current events, school and sporting events.  Local businesses supported My 02818 via advertising. 

My 02818 was then purchased by AOL’s ‘Patch,’ and Liz enjoyed her work there as a ‘local, embedded reporter.’  For a while, it was a great job, since it’s a great basic idea—covering local news in a consistent, daily manner. 

Unfortunately, the AOL bean-counters pushed for better profitability and demanded that local Patch editors cover more than one town.  Liz and her staff were forced to extend into North Kingstown, which proved to be quite difficult.  Finally, the higher-ups still wanted yet more profits, ultimately leading to 90% of personnel being cut.  Liz was not spared. 

Liz said that it was hard going through the layoff, yet she soon realized it was a great time for a change and to get back to what she loves the most—local reporting, local journalism.  So, she started up her own local press blog called ‘East Greenwich News.’ 

Today, East Greenwich News has some 360 subscribers, all of whom Liz noted are ‘people who remain very interested in what’s going on in the town.’  Her blog, along with the Patch, Pendulum, and Independent, together do a nice job in covering local affairs.  Liz still loves being part of the ‘boots on the ground’ side of local reporting in the town of East Greenwich. 

Liz noted that former Rotarian Bill Foster, publisher and editor of the East Greenwich Pendulum for many years, is about to be inducted into the RI Press Association’s Hall of Fame.  She also mentioned that Robert Allen Greene and former fire chief Fred Miller are both slated to be recognized for their many years of community service. 

‘I love unearthing local stories!’ 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Greenwich-News/1401847620073776