Cogitator July 20, 2011

Suzanne Cannon from the Providence Club joined us.  (Suzanne's classification--administration.)   

 

None.

 

Happy anniversary wishes go to several Rotarians this week.  Bob and Cathy Sloan celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary July 21st.  Chuck and Bonnie Sauer celebrate their 28th on the 23rd.  And, Corey and Kelly Guglietti also celebrate on the 23rd, for them their 7th anniversary.  

 

Corey Guglietti also celebrates another important milestone this week...his first anniversary in the Rotary Club of East Greenwich!

 

Please put in your schedules Tuesday, August 16th, which is Rotary PawSox Night.  District 7950 will be there in force at McCoy stadium, with a parade of Rotarians from the district and the district governor throwing out the first pitch.  Bring your family and enjoy a warm summer's night of baseball at McCoy.  

 

President Mike announced that District 7950 is encouraging all clubs to participate in a district-wide Polio Walk event in August.  Good ideas are welcome as to how our own club might participate.  One idea from Mike--a walk from Chianti's back up to Main Street, East Greenwich, while inviting the press to cover the event and spread the word about Rotary's worldwide effort to stamp out Polio forever.  More ideas and details to follow...

 

Jane Boynton read a letter written by a thankful Guatemalan, whose life has been positively impacted by our club's $1,000 contribution toward Clean Water efforts in his country.

 

Betsy DePrimo, Phonebook Chair, reported that $29,000 has been collected and/or committed to date.  But that's only 45% of our goal, and it's getting late in the game.  Please one and all--get out there and sell your renewal ads as soon as possible.  Also, Betsy implored everyone to also pass back to her and the committee that index card she handed out, filled out with the name of one new business not yet in the phonebook.

 

George Popella announced the newest Paul Harris Fellow, who comes from the second 'Old Fogies' Paul Harris Team.  John Wolcott pulled the name of Old Fogie Team Two's first awardee--Alan Flynn.  Congratulations to Alan, who coincidentally pulled John's name two weeks ago.

 

President Mike is making a last minute pitch for embroidered East Greenwich Rotary jackets.  Here's the information again:    

 

Stormtech Softshell. S-XL: $55  http://www.stormtechusa.com/cxj-1-stormtech-bonded-jacket.html

Port Authority Soft Shell. S-XL: $45  http://www.sanmar.com/sanmar-servlets/CatalogBrowser?productId=J790&top=Y

Stormtech Fleece Jacket. S-XL: $65  http://www.stormtechusa.com/sj-2-ottoman-fleece-jacket.html

 

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

 

Mike Ritz's impressive resume includes his work as a multi-lingual US Army interrogator, and his work in 7 documentaries over the past 10 years has received praise from former Vice President Al Gore.  Mike was raised in Indiana by his 16-year old mother.  After his eight years in the Army, at 30 years of age, Mike attended Leadership Rhode Island in 1981, a local organization charged with 'creating and supporting a legacy of leaders for the state.'    

 

The original concept of Leadership RI came from Former Governor and then Providence Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Bruce Sundlun, after a group of business leaders from Atlanta were all lost in a single plane crash.  The idea was to create a 'training camp' or 'lab' in which to gather local leaders from three business sectors, for-profit, non-profit, and government.  These leaders each year are selected 'across the board,' representing a very diverse group from the community.  Their charge is always the same, wrestling with problems that affect Rhode Islanders.  

 

Classes are formed of 50-60 individuals.  Some have called Leadership RI by another name, 'MBA Rhode Island.'  The curriculum is actually designed by 60 alumni who have 'graduated.'  This keeps the subject matter fresh and vibrant.  Two recent themes from recent classes have been 'Positively RI,' and, 'Try RI.'  This year the theme is 'RI, Center of the Universe.'   

 

Creating good stewardship here in Rhode Island in the key.  And Indiana native, yet world traveled, Mike Ritz loves being here in Rhode Island, and loves his challenging work at Leadership RI. 

 

**Our own Steve Lombardi is an alumnus of Leadership RI, class of 1985.     

 

http://www.leadershipri.org/