Cogitator June 1, 2011
Million Dollar Meal, at the 'new' Cole Junior Middle School
VISITING ROTARIANS
Assistant District Governor Russ Bertrand joined us for our Million Dollar Meal.
GUESTS
Kathy Washburn, Director of Admissions at Rocky Hill School, was a guest of Beth DeGerlia. Alexia Gladstone, daughter of Jodi, also joined us. And Andrew Quackenbush was with us for lunch once again, a guest of Charlie Winkler.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Alan Flynn noted that there are still 4 openings for the Water for Cambodia annual dinner which is being held on Friday, June 24th, at the Newport Officers Club. It will be a great dinner, fine Rotary fellowship, and a good night for the volunteers of Water for Cambodia to tout their progress and discuss goals for the future. Please see Alan if you would like to attend.
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
Irving 'Chub' Clement is 80 today! Happy 80th, Chub. Also, Vin Meola has an easy-to-remember birthday--he celebrates every year on D-Day, June 6th. And happy anniversary to Past President Bob MacKenzie and wife Jan on Friday, June 3rd.
CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
Two past presidents celebrate club anniversaries this week: Don Anderson has been in the club for 16 years (1995), and Andy Erickson has been an East Greenwich Rotarian for 40 years (1971). A hearty thanks to both Don and Andy for many years (and countless hours) of Service Above Self.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE AWARDS
Three East Greenwich Rotarians received perfect attendance recognition awards at the recent District Conference held on Martha's Vineyard: Alan Flynn, 35 years; Andy Erickson, 39 years; and Bob Greene, 42 years. When you add it all up, Alan has shown up for nearly 1,700 meetings in a row, while Andy and Bob have made it for 1,900 and 2,100 respectively. I guess one could say those recognition awards were pretty well deserved! Congratulations, Alan, Andy and Bob, and thank you for your commitment to, and leadership in, our club.
BOARD MEETING
The June meeting will be held on Thursday, June 9th, at 7:30am at the East Greenwich United Methodist Church on South County Trail. President Ed will preside one last time on the 9th, as the 'old' board and the 'new' board get together to review the year past and discuss the year ahead. All Rotarians are invited to attend.
INSTALLATION DINNER
Please get your reservations for this year's Installation Dinner to Secretary Betsy DePrimo as soon as possible. The big night of our Changing of the Guard will be Wednesday, June 15th, 6pm, and we'll be at the East Greenwich Fireman's Hall. Tickets are $40 per person and $75 per couple.
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
Assistant District Governor Russ Bertrand was pleased to present to President Ed a Presidential Citation for the Rotary Club of East Greenwich's 2010-2011 Rotary year. It was truly a banner year for President Ed and our club, and a presidential citation is nice feather in the cap. Congratulations to the club, and congratulations goes especially to President Ed for his stewardship throughout this phenomenal Rotary year!
PROGRAM/SPEAKER FOR MILLION DOLLAR MEAL
Victor Mercurio, Superintendent East Greenwich School Department
Imagine this...a new middle school built in your back yard, using local tax dollars, actually coming in under budget and on time. WOW. Welcome to Cole Middle School (formerly Cole Junior High). The new capacity for Cole Middle School is approximately 650 students.
Careful planning and careful design went into the new East Greenwich middle school. (Kudos to our own Wil Yoder, who was a key member of the design team.) Next year students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade will head to the building on Cedar Avenue, standing on the old junior high school grounds. There are lots of 'green' design elements within the new 'Cole,' including plenty of natural lighting and natural air flow. Only the administrative offices are fully air conditioned. Also in the 'green' department, natural rain water will be harvested at Cole.
Superintendent Mercurio joked that eighth graders will wish they could stay and not be forced to head over to Avenger Drive for 9th grade given the newness, technological advances, and comfort of the new Cole school. The building isn't 100% complete yet, although students have been able to use the newer section of Cole since coming back from April vacation.
The old school will soon be razed, construction areas will be shifted one last time, and the new Cole Middle School will be completed this summer.
We then went on to enjoy a superintendent's tour of the beautiful new school...
(The new library at Cole.)
(The new gymnasium.)
(The new Cole band room.)
Thanks to Vin Meola, Bonnie Sauer, and Mike Balsamo for helping to put together a great Million Dollar Meal at Cole!