Cogitator Jan 5, 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2011!
CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
Happy Club Anniversary this week to: Amy Levin, 4 years; Stan Reuter, 20 years; and Bill McHale, 25 years.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The District 7950 Mid-Year Meeting will be held January 29th, at White's of Westport. All incoming officers are encouraged to attend, and all Rotarians are invited.
Club Visioning ideas will be presented at the EG Rotary Club Assembly, January 19th. One of the primary ideas of the Visioning session, held back in October with Terry Fitch, is to coordinate a Club Leadership Team, comprised of current officers and the past president.
January 20 will be the next Board Meeting at United Methodist Church on South County Trail. As usual, all are invited.
The Membership Committee is on track to hand out perfect attendance awards. And please make sure you get all of your make-ups to Secretary Betsy.
PAUL HARRIS FELLOW
George Popella handed out a special Paul Harris Fellowship Award to Wil Yoder. It was Wil's ninth award, earning him a new pin with three rubies. Wil's nine awards are second only to Andy Erickson, who at ten awards is known by Rotary Foundation as a Major Donor. Wil is already on a new team, and will be the club's next Major Donor sometime over the next several years. Congratulations, Wil!
George also reminded us that our club now has awarded over 250 Paul Harris awards to 110 individuals. That means we have contributed over $250,000 to the Rotary Foundation throughout the years. Take a bow, all Paul Harris Fellows, and, take an extra bow, George Popella, for your time, effort, and leadership over the past 10+ years with our club's Paul Harris Fellowships.
(Here are two www.Rotary.org links relating to Paul Harris Fellowships...
http://www.rotary.org/en/contribute/donorrecognition/individualrecognition/Pages/ridefault.aspx
HAPPY BUCKS
Alan Flynn gave an exhausted-but-happy buck for his recent family reunion in Charlotte.
Andy Erickson gave $20.15, in honor of his grandson Drew's acceptance to 'some little old college down the road in New Haven.' Drew will be part of Yale's class of 2015. Andy, proud grandpa and alumnus of that same 'little old school,' will be celebrating his 55th reunion year when Drew graduates.
Bill TenEyck was happy about his Cardinal Logistics Salesman of the Year Award, until his boss reminded him that 'last year was last year, and we're all back to zero in 2011.' So much for celebrating. (Sounds like he works for Bill Belichick.)
Dave Iannuccilli was happy to see Santa John Wolcott's new neatly trimmed look after John's annual trip to the barbershop.
Betsy DePrimo was happy about the club's outstanding participation in the Rotary Foundation's Paul Harris Awards.
PROGRAM/SPEAKER
Bruce MacGunnigle, East Greenwich's Main Street Coordinator
Bruce MacGunnigle spoke to our club 6 years ago, when he was just starting his new position as the town's Main Street Coordinator. Since then, there have been plenty of good things happening on Main Street, East Greenwich. Bruce mentioned that he's a good fit for the job of trying to help East Greenwich and its businesses succeed, since his family was instrumental in the formation of the town many, many years ago.
Bruce worked in the jewelry business for a long time, before his job literally went south. Unemployed, Bruce ran into Town Manager Bill Sequino at a local grocery store. Bill took note of Bruce's organizational skills while shopping, and not too long thereafter Bruce was the town's Main Street Coordinator.
The town took over the old courthouse and moved its municipal offices there. That was an important moment in the rejuvenation of Main Street. Aesthetically is was a terrific move, plus the town employees were now part of the Main Street breakfast, lunch, coffee house, and shopping scene. Bruce also mentioned the positive effect of the opening of The Green Door, right across the street from the new Town Hall. Today there are 200 businesses on Main Street from the Post Office Cafe to Citizens Bank.
Bruce helps people looking for certain-sized business spaces up and down Main Street. He also helps make loans and grants available for good signage.
The 'Main Street Stroll' has become very successful over the past years. Rather than starting the strolls in March, they begin in May so the better weather will attract more people, and they continue until September. Parking is tough on Main Street, but there have been very few complaints since the strolls began. The 'Taste of East Greenwich' has now become part of the program, as restaurants are happy to share samples to folks passing by. Sponsorships for strolls have grown from 25 businesses in the first years to 60+ businesses last year, which is great sign of success.
Two final points Bruce made: the local Lions Club is trying to get their 5K race going again; and, he would like to see the Odeum Corporation hire a full time fundraising chairperson to get them up and running successfully once again.
Bruce is an historian as well, and he proudly trumpets the fact that East Greenwich was the birthplace of the United States Navy, an event celebrated every year now. Finally, he has put together a terrific little pamphlet entitled A Walking Tour of the Historic Village of East Greenwich Rhode Island.