Cogitator May 25, 2011

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARY

Happy birthdays this week to Beth DeGerlia on the 29th and to Steve Lombardi on the 30th.  And happy anniversary on May 25th to two Rotarians who coincidentally share the same anniversary date...Jim and Janet Essex.  

TASTE OF THE TOWN

Jane Boynton reported on an amazing night at Swift Community Center for fundraising and fellowship.  The club's small wine tasting social at St. Luke's from a couple of years ago has under Jane's leadership truly grown into something special.  Along with more amazing food and wine this year than ever, the atmosphere was one of true comaraderie and Rotary spirit.  This event a couple of years ago was budgeted to raise some year-end funds for the club, in the $1000-$2000 'hopeful' ballpark.  Last year, happily and surprisingly, nearly $8,000 was raised.  So, how to describe this year's results....$16,000 raised...without using the word 'incredible'?!  

Jane graciously thanked her committee--Pat Lenihan, Gill Thorpe, Beth DeGerlia, Betsy DePrimo, Bill TenEyck, and Judy Pratt.  She also singled out jobs extremely well done by crowd pleasing emcee, Corey Guglietti, and passionate auctioneer, John Wolcott.  Finally, she thanked the entire club, one and all, for their combined enthusiasm and effort in making the Taste of the Town such a resounding success. 

(Jane Boynton, making sure everything's perfect before the Taste of the Town crowd arrives.)            

EG ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Rotary Scholarship President Dave Iannuccilli and Club President Ed Neff were on hand last week for the announcements of 2011's East Greenwich High School scholarship recipients.

NEW ORLEANS UPDATE

President-Elect Mike Gemma passed on a message from the International Convention in New Orleans to please keep in our thoughts and prayers flood victims near the Mississippi River, including one particular Rotarian at the convention whose child was still listed as 'missing.'  

MILLION DOLLAR MEAL

Don't forget--next week, June 1st, we'll be meeting at Cole Junior High at 12:30pm for our second Million Dollar Meal.  

INSTALLATION NIGHT 

Secretary Betsy DePrimo needs a good head count for the Wednesday, June 15th Installation Dinner, held at the East Greenwich Fireman's Club.  As Mike Gemma is sworn in as chief, and while Ed Neff puffs away on that delicious victory cigar, Betsy will be...what's that...wait a minute...you can't leave, Betsy!  Permission to move to Texas denied by the board.  (Can we do that?)  Sadly, apparently we can't do that, and yes, it's true, Betsy will be heading to Texas in the near future after June 15th with her husband, John.  Our loss, Texas' gain. 

Which means...we have a constitutional crisis?!  Maybe not.  Secretary-for-an-election, Ken Colaluca, has happily agreed to skip over secretarial duties to move into the number 2 spot, president-elect, for the upcoming year.  Which means...we have a constitutional crisis for the secretary position?!  Still nope...sorry.  In a precedent setting year of what for other clubs would have meant election chaos, the East Greenwich Rotary wheels turned quickly, and a member has been chosen from the many to be the 2011-2012 secretary---Jodi Gladstone!  (Congratulations, Jodi.)  Phew.  Now that that's all squared away, hurry up and get your head count to Betsy (before her plane arrives)!  

NEW MEMBER INDUCTION

President Ed swore in our club's newest (and now youngest) member, Jonathan TerMeer, with assistance from past presidents Gill Thorpe, Janet Essex, and Jonathan's sponsor and future father-in-law, Bob MacKenzie. 

Jonathan was lucky to have grown up in California, but he had even better fortune in deciding to attending college at St. Bonaventure University, where he met a lovely classmate hailing from Rhode Island, Megan MacKenzie.  Jonathan and Megan will be heading down the wedding aisle on July 15th.  Jonathan currently lives in Cowesett and works at Data Storage Corp.  

ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR

Please get your nominations over to John Wolcott, as soon as possible, for the Bipin Pancholi Rotarian of the Year Award.  The Installation Night is almost here, and John would like everyone's selection and feedback.    

HAPPY BUCKS

Jane Boynton was happy about a great visit recently to Dr. Bob Miller's office with her son, Jack.  

Betsy DePrimo gave a bunch of happy bucks for: Mike Gemma's reports from New Orleans; for Jon TerMeer joining our club; for John Wolcott's Group Study Exchange leadership, and, his auctioneering work at Taste of the Town; and for Ken Colaluca and Jodi Gladstone stepping into their new officer roles next year.  

Chub Clement noted that the late Chris Mercurio, auctioneering legend, would have been proud of John Wolcott's recent efforts.  

Jonathan TerMeer gave his first official happy buck, glad to be inducted and ready to 'lend a hand' in the club.  (Nice work at Taste of the Town, too, Jonathan on clean up duty--even before induction!)

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

Bob Aldrich, Treasurer and Project Director, Water for Cambodia 

Gunther Hausen, a Middletown Rotarian, launched a pilot program back in 2006 called Water for Cambodia.  Gunther passed away a couple of years ago, yet his Water for Cambodia lives on and continues to grow in funds raised and families helped.  

Our mission is to bring clean, disease free water together with literacy and hygiene education to empower rural Cambodian families thereby reducing infant mortality and improving their capacity for livelihood in a sustainable manner.  (From www.waterforcambodia.org)

Water for Cambodia has installed 7000 water filters in Cambodia to date, mostly in small rural homes.  Some 55,000 people have been impacted by Rotary efforts with these filters.  Thousands of children in the Siem Reap area, especially under the age of 5, might have otherwise simply died from dysentery caused by polluted water.    

There is very little modern sanitation in this area of the world.  Clean water is therefore absolutely critical.  Water for Cambodia is hoping to install some 600 additional filters in even more rural areas in 2012. 

Literacy efforts are also of great importance.  Educating the local population means basic school lessons, as well as a good introduction to health, clean water, and sanitation.  Water for Cambodia has put nearly 2000 students through their educational program, mainly women in the 15 to 35 age group.  

The Rotary Club of East Greenwich has donated over $25,000 to Water for Cambodia since 2006.  The East Greenwich Club is 'neck and neck' with the Edinborough, Scotland Rotary Club for total support over the past years.  Bob Aldrich thanked his good friend and fellow Water for Cambodia Board Director, Alan Flynn, for his tremendous leadership in our club.  

Water for Cambodia will hold its annual dinner at the Newport Officers' Club on Friday, June 24th.  Bob invited all East Greenwich Rotarians to attend.  Due to our generous donations, our club is allowed a table for ten people.  Please contact Alan Flynn, or Bob Aldrich, as soon as possible should you wish to attend this year's event.   

(Nice work Bob Aldrich, Alan Flynn, and all the vounteers of Water for Cambodia...)