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Cogitator August 4, 2010
Posted by George Cooper
on Aug 04, 2010
COGITATOR FOR AUGUST 4, 2010
VISITING ROTARIANS
Paula Hurd, Warwick
GUESTS
Eric Ritzen, guest of Chub Clement, all the way from Virginia, famous (or infamous) for setting up Chub's blind date with a pretty redhead name Florence over 50 years ago. Eric has been 'one of the family' with the Clements for that time or longer.
ANNIVERSARY
Bob and Shirley Petrucelli, August 4th of each year is the big day, this time celebrating 20 years. (Not sure if theirs was a blind first date. We'll need to do more research and report back.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bob Sloan mentioned that Rotary's longstanding program of getting groceries to local families in need, SERVE, is officially shut down. Internally, it was impossible to keep the program going. However, Wil Yoder mentioned that perhaps with the North Kingstown Club something can be worked out down the road.
A warm thanks to Bob Sloan, Wil Yoder, Bill McHale, and ALL of the many volunteers who've given of their early Saturday mornings, year after year, to make SERVE a success.
President Ed Neff reported that former Sergeant at Arms Earl Shaw wrote a nice letter of thanks to the club for the kind words, cards, and fruit basket. Earl's feeling well enough these days to even play some music at a local senior center.
HAPPY BUCKS
Vin Meola gave a big WELCOME BACK, Chuck Sauer buck! And a second buck for the SECOND place Yankees.
President Ed gave a buck for the fact that his life as a US Census administrator is coming to an end! Finally, a new life. Please bear with Ed in the months to come, as he continues to shake hands with people while asking 'How many people live with you?' Just let it go.
Bob Petrucelli was happy about his 20th wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Bob!
Chuck Sauer gave a big 'thanks' Happy Buck to the club for all its support while we was at RI Hospital. He also said he would have paid $100 to have seen his wife, Bonnie, walk in while the nurses, one fine day at Jane Brown, were clumsily trying to adjust his knee brace while he still had on his breezy hospital 'johnny!'
Jane Boynton was getting ready for her trip to the Catskills, with the Inkleys, TenEycks, and other friends.
REMINDER-Rotary Board Meeting, United Methodist Church, Thursday August 19th, at 7:30AM.
PROGRAM-
AGOSTO ('COOKIE') ROJAS, GENERAL SALES MANAGER OF PAWTUCKET RED SOX
'Cookie' Rojas, a Persian Gulf veteran, lawyer, and former United Way Campaign Director, visited our club. He is not related to the former ballplayer also known by the same name. His dad took on the nickname Cookie first, since he was such a big fan of THE Cookie Rojas, and the nickname was passed on to the younger Agosto Rojas as well.
McCoy Stadium was built in 1946, named for Mayor Thomas McCoy. The first team to play at McCoy was the Pawtucket Slaters. The Slaters and the Pawtucket Indians met the same fate--they folded after several tough years of low attendance.
In 1973, a group including Frank Sinatra, Jr took ownership. When they faced their own financial troubles, they looked to a well-known businessman from Woonsocket, Ben Mondor. The rest, as they say, is history.
Ben Mondor brought on Mike Tamburro in 1977, and together they turned the PawSox into one of the most successful minor league franchises in the country. The PawSox now attract some 625,000 fans each year. The secret to their success? Making the ballpark 'family friendly' with pricing (box seats are $11!), good vendors, reasonable parking, and excellent concessions.
Cookie grew up the son of immigrant Columbian parents in a house only a few blocks from McCoy Stadium. His dad was a hard working handyman, while his mom always wanted Cookie to be a lawyer. Cookie realized, after getting his degree and passing the bar, that HIS dream was NOT working in the law field.
While working as a sports announcer for Bryant University, and after getting his Suffolk law degree, Cookie started working for the PawSox. His hard work and excellent resume were rewarded when he was at last brought into the front office, where he is a very happy General Sales Manager of a terrific minor league ball team.
He says that his mom is happy that he did get that degree, but she's just as happy that she gets to sit behind home plate watching players like Jacoby Ellsbury these days.
VISITING ROTARIANS
Paula Hurd, Warwick
GUESTS
Eric Ritzen, guest of Chub Clement, all the way from Virginia, famous (or infamous) for setting up Chub's blind date with a pretty redhead name Florence over 50 years ago. Eric has been 'one of the family' with the Clements for that time or longer.
ANNIVERSARY
Bob and Shirley Petrucelli, August 4th of each year is the big day, this time celebrating 20 years. (Not sure if theirs was a blind first date. We'll need to do more research and report back.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bob Sloan mentioned that Rotary's longstanding program of getting groceries to local families in need, SERVE, is officially shut down. Internally, it was impossible to keep the program going. However, Wil Yoder mentioned that perhaps with the North Kingstown Club something can be worked out down the road.
A warm thanks to Bob Sloan, Wil Yoder, Bill McHale, and ALL of the many volunteers who've given of their early Saturday mornings, year after year, to make SERVE a success.
President Ed Neff reported that former Sergeant at Arms Earl Shaw wrote a nice letter of thanks to the club for the kind words, cards, and fruit basket. Earl's feeling well enough these days to even play some music at a local senior center.
HAPPY BUCKS
Vin Meola gave a big WELCOME BACK, Chuck Sauer buck! And a second buck for the SECOND place Yankees.
President Ed gave a buck for the fact that his life as a US Census administrator is coming to an end! Finally, a new life. Please bear with Ed in the months to come, as he continues to shake hands with people while asking 'How many people live with you?' Just let it go.
Bob Petrucelli was happy about his 20th wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Bob!
Chuck Sauer gave a big 'thanks' Happy Buck to the club for all its support while we was at RI Hospital. He also said he would have paid $100 to have seen his wife, Bonnie, walk in while the nurses, one fine day at Jane Brown, were clumsily trying to adjust his knee brace while he still had on his breezy hospital 'johnny!'
Jane Boynton was getting ready for her trip to the Catskills, with the Inkleys, TenEycks, and other friends.
REMINDER-Rotary Board Meeting, United Methodist Church, Thursday August 19th, at 7:30AM.
PROGRAM-
AGOSTO ('COOKIE') ROJAS, GENERAL SALES MANAGER OF PAWTUCKET RED SOX
'Cookie' Rojas, a Persian Gulf veteran, lawyer, and former United Way Campaign Director, visited our club. He is not related to the former ballplayer also known by the same name. His dad took on the nickname Cookie first, since he was such a big fan of THE Cookie Rojas, and the nickname was passed on to the younger Agosto Rojas as well.
McCoy Stadium was built in 1946, named for Mayor Thomas McCoy. The first team to play at McCoy was the Pawtucket Slaters. The Slaters and the Pawtucket Indians met the same fate--they folded after several tough years of low attendance.
In 1973, a group including Frank Sinatra, Jr took ownership. When they faced their own financial troubles, they looked to a well-known businessman from Woonsocket, Ben Mondor. The rest, as they say, is history.
Ben Mondor brought on Mike Tamburro in 1977, and together they turned the PawSox into one of the most successful minor league franchises in the country. The PawSox now attract some 625,000 fans each year. The secret to their success? Making the ballpark 'family friendly' with pricing (box seats are $11!), good vendors, reasonable parking, and excellent concessions.
Cookie grew up the son of immigrant Columbian parents in a house only a few blocks from McCoy Stadium. His dad was a hard working handyman, while his mom always wanted Cookie to be a lawyer. Cookie realized, after getting his degree and passing the bar, that HIS dream was NOT working in the law field.
While working as a sports announcer for Bryant University, and after getting his Suffolk law degree, Cookie started working for the PawSox. His hard work and excellent resume were rewarded when he was at last brought into the front office, where he is a very happy General Sales Manager of a terrific minor league ball team.
He says that his mom is happy that he did get that degree, but she's just as happy that she gets to sit behind home plate watching players like Jacoby Ellsbury these days.