Cogitator May 7, 2014

GUESTS

Paul Muffoletto, former co-owner of the Eagle Quest Golf Dome, was a guest of Dave Iannuccilli.  Also, Janet Essex was happy to introduce two East Greenwich residents, Judy Boss and Dave McMillen.  And in the ‘is his badge in yet?’ category, Harry Bonham from Mass Mutual joined us as a guest one last time before his induction. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Warm happy birthday wishes from the club go out to Jonathan TerMeer this week (May 9^th).    

POLIO UPDATE

President Jodi Gladstone spoke of dismay and grave concern at Rotary International, as polio has now officially spread into 10 countries including significant outbreaks in Syria, Cameroon, and Pakistan.  It is becoming a world crisis, a setback threatening nearly 30 years of efforts in seeking polio’s final eradication.

SCOTT CARLSON MEMORIAL ALS 5K

We received some very nice press coverage of our Scott Carlson ALS 5K recently in the Providence Business News. 

Also, May 6^th was Scott Carlson Night at McCoy Stadium.  The PawSox organization again graciously trumpeted our ALS 5K event, while spreading the word about the great work of the RI ALSA Chapter.

NEIT GRADUATION

Bill Sequino and Bill TenEyck were among the Rotarians in attendance for the New England Institute of Technology graduation at the Providence Convention Center last weekend.  Bill Sequino said that the East Greenwich Rotary Club was recognized for its strong alliance with the New England Tech Rotaract Club. 

SAVE THE DATE

Save the date!  Tuesday, June 10^th will be our club’s Installation of Officers banquet.  We will toast President Jodi as she looks back at the 2013-2014 Rotary year, while also installing President-Elect Ron Winde for the 2014-2015 year. 

DISTRICT GOVERNOR INSTALLATION

Don’t forget to see President Jodi or President-Elect Ron if you’d like to attend the District Installation of Officers Gala at the Crown Plaza in Warwick.  Valerie Perry will be installed on Friday, June 20^th, and we’d like to get a nice table together for the evening.     

ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR

Sally Russell reminded everyone to get their Bipin Pancholi Rotarian of the Year ballots in as soon as possible. 

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

President Jodi said our club has received an invitation to participate in East Greenwich’s Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26^th.  Please see Jodi or Soozie Sundlun if you’d like to participate.

BILL FOSTER/RIPA

Bob Miller attended the RI Press Association’s posthumous Hall of Fame award presentation to Bill Foster.  Bob said they did a terrific job remembering the life and contributions of our dear friend and former Rotarian great. 

WINE AND WONDERFUL

Pat Lenihan reported that 175 people were on hand for a truly ‘wonderful’ evening at Swift Community Center on Friday, May 2^nd.  Pat said she hopes to have raised $6,000-$7000, including funds from several fun ‘games’ enjoyed that evening.  She thanked Carlos Figueroa for his ‘fabulous’ wine selections, and noted that the food from the participating restaurants was ‘wonderful!’

PRESIDENTIAL MINUTE

Andy Erickson was president of our East Greenwich Rotary Club during the 1983-1984 Rotary year, and he did a wonderful job sharing several highlights from back then. 

Andy presided over the induction of a new Rotarian, a veterinarian from India and polio survivor whose resume included work on elephants and water buffalo.  Bipin of course soon became an invaluable leader in the club and inspiration to all, especially with his Polio Plus efforts.   

The Heifer Project trip to Palmer, MA was an important International Service event to our club in those days.  Rotarians signed up for a two hour trip to Western Massachusetts to clean out animal stalls and help with various other tasks.  Jim Armstrong, Polly Erickson’s father, was also instrumental with inoculating goats destined for Egypt.

The founding of the East Greenwich Rotary Scholarship Fund was debated that year.  After first being shot down, the Fund was indeed later established under the guidance and charisma of Bill O’Neel, with Bill Foster also playing a major role. 

Andy’s year also saw an emphasis on RI Scouting, with trips to local schools and a vocational connection in helping older Scouts.

He added, ‘There were no individual heroes in the club; rather, everyone was a hero.’

Andy concluded while mentioning that in 1983 and 1984, Rotary happily stood for the recognition of altruism and attendant Judeo-Christian values.  These of course are still values which guide all as we positively participate in helping those less fortunate, and, together making the world a better place. 

HAPPY BUCKS

-Vin Meola was happy to remember Andy having also inducted him into the club, and Vin recalled his sponsor and good friend, Bill Foster. 

-Bob Sloan had an amazing vacation, cruising rivers of Eastern and Central Europe with the Iannuccillis and Muffolettos. 

-President Jodi said she feels like this is the ‘calm before the storm;’ her son is about to come home from Israel after his first year in college, and, her daughter is nine months pregnant!

-Bill Sequino has done some make-ups recently, and he swears ‘our club sings better, the food is better, and lunch is cheaper here!’ 

-Pat Lenihan thanked all who helped with Wine and Wonderful, especially Jane Boynton and Sue Dorne.  ‘It was a great Rotarian event!’

-Dave Iannuccilli agreed with Bob Sloan about their fantastic 2-week vacation in Europe and said there are ‘thousands of pictures’ that will likely become a Rotary lunch program in the near future. 

-Harry Bonham passed his Series 6 licensing exam on Monday, and is now studying for the Series 63 test. 

-Sally Russell recalled the Heifer Project and a special regional award the club received for our extraordinary efforts during her year as president.

-Ed Neff’s first granddaughter, tiny and beautiful ‘Joey,’ showed up 5 weeks early!  Everyone is well and Grandpa Ed is thrilled…

-Soozie Sundlun gave a few happy bucks…for Pat Lenihan and the Wine and Wonderful Committee, for her granddaughter who just received an award from the Jamestown Rotary Club, and for ‘a great man,’ Bipin Pancholi. 

-Bob Greene was happy to note his name being added to the ‘Wall of Honor’ at East Greenwich High School.  (Congratulations, Bob!)

-Dr. Bob Miller remembered his ‘friend and confidant,’ Bipin Pancholi.  Bipin’s billing system when helping a family putting down a beloved pet was to ask someone to ‘Please…make your check out to Rotary.’  He also recalled Bipin saying that becoming president of our club was the proudest day of his life.  Bipin swore that since Rotary in India saved his life when he had polio by allowing him access to an iron lung, he would make sure to pay Rotary back some day.  (And  did he ever…)

-Janet Essex also thanked Carlos Figueroa for his expertise and generosity with our Wine and Wonderful event. 

SPEAKER/PROGRAM

Robert H. Steele, Former Connecticut Congressman, and Author

Former Congressman Robert Steele’s years as a public official and businessman, as well as his deep roots in Connecticut—including two decades living on the edge of the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation—made him uniquely qualified to write this epic story.

With meticulous research concerning both Connecticut history and the impact of gambling, Steele wields historical details with firsthand knowledge of the 1990s gambling expansion to weave a tale of greed, politics and town and tribal conflict set in the fictional town of Sheffield, Connecticut.

Robert H. Steele is vice chairman of an international retail marketing agency and has been a director of numerous companies. A graduate of Amherst College and Columbia University, he served in the CIA and Congress, and was a candidate for governor of Connecticut. He lives with his wife in Essex, Connecticut.

http://rhsteele.com/about-the-book-author

Author Robert Steele is a native of Connecticut.  He was once a U.S. Congressman, and he even ran for governor back in the 1970's.  Bob wrote his novel, The Curse: Big Time Gambling’s Seduction of a Small New England Town, in part to cast a powerful light on what happens to small towns, like his, when big time gambling opens up for business nearby. 

Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, not far across the border into Connecticut, have become the two largest casinos in the world.  Foxwoods opened in 1992 and is run by the Pequot Mashantucket Indians.  Mohegan Sun, run by the Mohegan Indians, opened in 1996.

Both casinos were built with the tremendous promise of economic prosperity.  They brought in thousands of customers from out of state, some 20,000 jobs were created, and millions upon millions of dollars were sent to the state coffers. 

Today, the story reads differently.  Most jobs are low-paying, as it turns out in the long run.  A pervasive gambling ‘culture’ has taken root, with the promise to all—governments and individuals—of big bucks just around the corner.  And, a wake of devastation from problem gambling, bankruptcies, and crime—especially embezzlement—has become part of today’s landscape. 

Some $6.5 billion has been sent from the two local casinos to Connecticut’s state treasury over the past 18 years.  Yet, Connecticut has never been in worse fiscal shape than it is today.   

The Indian Regulatory Gaming Act has changed America.  Before the Connecticut reservation casinos, only two states allowed gaming: Nevada and New Jersey.  Today, 38 states have Indian and non-Indian casinos.  Gambling has become the nation’s new national pastime; casino visitors easily outnumber the total of sporting event attendees in the entire country (all sports, combined). 

Mr. Steele’s main point is that casino gambling has become, indeed, a terrible curse.  By three to one in real dollars, casinos end up draining formerly successful cities, towns, and communities…and in far too many cases, casions end up ruining lives.   

Steele added a warning toward the end of his presentation:  ‘Today, Rhode Island depends more than ever on Twin River and all of its other gambling revenues.  More than twelve percent of the state’s budget comes from gambling.  That’s four times worse than Connecticut’s dependence.  Thus, it’s difficult to believe that Rhode Island’s story will end any differently than Connecticut’s.’

Robert Steele and his wife, Betsy