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Cogitator June 4, 2014
Marie Brouchard, MS Dream Center of Rhode Island
VISITING ROTARIANS
Linda Klevatt, President Jodi Gladstone’s mom, joined us again for lunch. Linda hails from the Newport-Balboa Club in California and was in town this past week for the birth of her first great-grandchild (Jodi’s first grandchild).
GUESTS
Sidney Klevatt, Jodi’s dad, was also on hand as a guest of his two favorite Rotarians. Antonella Ricciotti was a guest of Steve Lombardi, and Paul Muffoletto joined friends Dave Iannuccilli and Bob Sloan for Rotary lunch. Finally, Karen Taylor introduced Janet Kenney and Leanne Paquette from London Bridge Child Care Center.
LONDON BRIDGE
Janet Kenney offered a sincere thank-you from the London Bridge Child Care Center for the great work of Karen Taylor and this year’s Literacy Committee. Janet passed out several adorable handmade cards from London Bridge’s grateful kids. She also showed us nicely sewn bags manufactured by a local Girl Scout involved in a unique Gold Award project.
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
The club sends out warm birthday wishes this week to two Rotarians—Vin Meola (June 6th) and Seth Wilson (June 9th).
And, very happy wedding anniversary wishes go out this week to Andy (and Polly) Erickson, married just a few years back, 53 to be exact, on June 10th. Congratulations!
ROTARY ANNIVERSARY
Happy Induction Day this week to President Elect Ron Winde who came into the club four years ago on June 8th. Also, happy first Rotary anniversary to Jon Soule on June 12th.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE
President Elect Ron Winde attended the District Conference on the Cape and brought back the 2014-2015 Rotary banner, ‘Light Up Rotary.’
LUNCH AT ROCKY HILL, JULY 2ND
Don’t forget…we’ll be meeting at Rocky Hill on July 2nd for our Brown Bag Lunch. We will also have our annual club photo taken on campus by Soozie Sundlun and EG Photo.
PHONEBOOK COMMITTEE
Chuck and Bonnie Sauer are revving up this year’s Phonebook campaign. They’ve already met with printer Alan Clarke and have some novel ideas for generating extra excitement and revenue from our club’s major campaign for Project/Charity funds. Please see Chuck or Bonnie if you’d like to be part of the team.
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Dave Iannuccilli announced that we’ll be giving out a total of $14,000 in East Greenwich Rotary Scholarship funds this year. The recipients will join us for lunch on Wednesday, June 18th, so be sure to attend that week.
PRESIDENTIAL MINUTE
Dave Iannuccilli’s presidential year of 1997-1998 saw, in his own words, ‘some good and some bad.’ First, Dave took a strong leadership role that year in getting the club out of Mr. Marco’s Restaurant, where the food and general décor ‘were really going downhill,’ and over to the East Greenwich Fireman’s Hall. The move, like any move for a club, was a big deal, but Dave, his officers, the board, and the club…together handled it all as smoothly as possible.
On the happier side, Dave recalled presiding over the club’s 35th Anniversary Gala at the Quonset O’ Club. It was a wonderful social event, a great birthday celebration for the club, and we had the pleasure of listening to the talented David Osborne on the piano that night (thanks to Richard Waterman).
HAPPY BUCKS
-Vin Meola gave a D-Day remembrance buck, which doubled as his birthday buck.
-Judy Pratt’s daughter Sami turned sweet 16! Also, Judy and fellow dentists recently worked for 2 days, free of charge, in a marathon dental clinic setting known as ‘Mission of Mercy,’ which was for Judy ‘an amazing experience.’
-Pat Lenihan thanked Dr. Bob Miller for recently taking good care while removing something from her eye.
-Jane Boynton counted down…only 13 days ‘til Jenny’s return from Sardinia!
-Dr. Bob Miller was glad to have helped Pat Lenihan, and he had a great time golfing over the weekend with Pat’s cousin, Steve Lombardi.
-Linda Klevatt praised her daughter for her terrific hospitality over the past week!
-President Jodi happily announced her granddaughter’s name—Eliana Hannah—paying tribute to two great-grandmothers in the family.
-Steve Lombardi agreed with Bob Miller about their great golf day together, while also thanking Bob for helping his cousin Pat!
-Dave Iannuccilli had a fun time at his grandson’s first birthday party. Dave said there were around 20 kids or so, all under 4 years old, helping celebrate the big day.
-Soozie Sundlun enjoyed her grandson Calvin’s baseball game last week. She also congratulated President Jodi on a great year as president of the club and for becoming a grandmother for the first time. Lastly, Jodi thanked Dave Iannuccilli for getting us out of Mr. Marco’s in 1998!
-Andy Erickson was happy for two granddaughters graduating from college recently, one in Charlottesville, Virginia and the other in Pennsylvania.
-Bob Sloan was on hand for the annual meeting for the East Greenwich Library. ‘What a great facility, and what a great staff!’ Bob also noted what an excellent resource our local library is for kids.
-Jonathan Soule praised the local East Greenwich High School lacrosse team for its recent state championship, noting that the team is mostly made up of sophomores!
SPEAKER/PROGRAM
Marie Brouchard, Special Projects and Development, MS Dream Center of Rhode Island
Marie Brouchard knows a thing or two about helping folks in need, having been a Rotarian over the past 25 years in the Warwick and East Providence Rotary Clubs. These days she works with the MS Dream Center of Rhode Island, raising funds while helping to spread the word about their good work.
The MS Dream Center was founded by Marie Parna and Joe O’Reilly, two Rhode Islanders suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. They formed a group of fellow concerned citizens and opened a facility near the Bain School in Cranston, hoping to help improve the lives of people with MS.
Marie helped recently with a guide book, now in print, which informs people with disabilities in RI where they can get help.
Today, there are 110 members at the Dream Center.
You can read more about the MS Dream Center, and ‘Accessible RI,’ here:
NOTE: From our Flag Committee Chair, Andy Erickson, here is some wonderful info to share when visiting another Rotary Club here in the US or abroad!
Presentation Information for the Banner
Of
The Rotary Club of East Greenwich in
Rhode Island, USA - 2014
About the Town of East Greenwich –
Founded over 300 years ago as a Seaport and Farming Community, it was for years one of the rotating State Capitals of Rhode Island
Our town is the Birthplace of the US Navy – Here a 1774 Resolution of the RI General Assembly authorized a formal Navy of two warships
The colonial court house is still used as a government building in the center of town, appearing as the focal point of our Club Banner
Also shown on the Banner are two historic militia units tracing linkage to local Revolutionary War Generals Greene and Varnum
Now a prospering Suburb of over 13,000 residents, East Greenwich is known widely for its many attractive features
Come experience its vibrant Main Street, scenic waterfront, great restaurants, colonial architecture, and many community activities!
About the Rotary Club of East Greenwich –
Gathered in 1963, its membership numbers about 50 Rotarians, and warmly recognizes visiting Rotarians every Wednesday at 12:15 PM
Primary Fundraisers are a local Telephone Directory, an annual Citrus Sale, a 5K Road Race/Walk and social Wine Tasting Events
Our Club is a District leader in the number of its Paul Harris Fellows and in funding the various campaigns to rid the world of Polio
Service Projects include support of ALS (nearly $500,000 to date), an endowed Scholarship Program of over $300,000, and many charities
Focus on Development of our Youth has created a thriving Rotaract Club at the local New England Institute of Technology
East Greenwich Rotary also fosters International Girl & Boy Scouting