Cogitator Nov 16, 2011

VISITING ROTARIANS

Eric Winkler, past president of the Merrimack (New Hampshire) Rotary Club, and son of Charlie Winkler, joined us.

GUESTS

Susan Quackenbush, from the Providence Journal and Charlie Winkler's good friend, was also with us.  President Mike Gemma invited two guests: retired businessman and friend Bill Mueller; and, Matt D'Agenais, manager of the new Pawtucket Credit Union branch in East Greenwich.

BIRTHDAYS

Happy birthday this week (November 21st) to Honorary Rotarian John Eastman.

CLUB ANNIVERSARIES

Happy Rotary Anniversary wishes go out this week to Karen Taylor, from the East Greenwich Library, who has been an East Greenwich Rotarian for 7 years now, and also to Beth DeGerlia, from Rocky Hill School, who was inducted 3 years ago.

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY/CLUB MILESTONES

And special birthday and Rotary Anniversary wishes go out to Charlie Winkler, who not only celebrated his 96th birthday last month, but noted that he has been in Rotary for 60 years now.  Cheers for both, Charlie!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

International Service Director Jane Boynton happily reported that the club recently gave $2,500 to Boy Scouts of Romania.  Local Boy Scout leaders Jon Widmark and Andy Erickson were instrumental in bringing this worthwhile proposal to the club.

Mike Gemma reminded the club to please lend a hand in a district-wide effort of aiding military families.  You can drop off at Mike's office or Dr. Bob Miller's any used cell phones, CD/DVD's, as well as any coupons (which will be then be honored at local military stores).

Past President Ed Neff received an award at the recent Rotary Foundation dinner, citing the East Greenwich Club as having ranked 3rd last year in District 7950 for donations to the Rotary Foundation.  Congratulations, Ed, and nice work, Rotary Club of East Greenwich!

CITRUS CAMPAIGN

Citrus Chairperson Bonnie Sauer mentioned that we now have some $13,600 in citrus orders.  Not bad at all, but a long way to go still since that's only 60% of our sales goal.  Keep on selling everyone, and get those orders in soon. Don't forget--Cragan Field needs those lights!  In this week's sales contest, Team Orange finally dethroned the Tutti Fruttis, as Lou Lepry led the charge with some big orders.

PAUL HARRIS AWARDS

Last year, Gill Thorpe donated a Paul Harris Award to his brother, Robert Thorpe, a World War II fighter pilot lost while on a mission in the Pacific theater.  From that same Paul Harris team, George Popella announced that this year's award recipient is...Wil Yoder.  Wil now prepares to receive his eleventh Paul Harris Award.  His tenth earlier this year qualified him as a Rotary Foundation Major Donor.  Congratulations (times eleven), Wil Yoder!

And in a very special ceremony, Charlie Winkler's was truly surprised when George Popella presented him with his first ever Paul Harris Award, donated by his son, Eric.  Eric had touching words for his dad during the presentation, while George Popella proudly gave Charlie his commemorative Paul Harris Award pin and certificate.

Eric Winkler, Charlie Winkler, and George Popella during Charlie's award presentation. 

HAPPY BUCKS

Chuck Sauer congratulated Charlie and Eric Winkler on a terrific Paul Harris Award moment.  Chuck also told a funny story about how Mike Gemma almost bought an expensive tie during a Rotary auction some time ago.  Mike that night, as usual, was passionately speaking to his table-mates about Rotary and gesticulating freely, while Chuck and company were trying to warn him to keep his hands silent.

Steve Lombardi's son number one is interviewing with the law firm, Adler, Pollack, and Sheehan.  And son number two actually surprised his dad by calling long-distance from Barcelona to get some advice about upcoming classes as he studies abroad.

Andy Erickson congratulated Charlie Winkler, too.  He also presented a flag from Anchorage, Alaska, from his trip a few months ago which was unfortunately cut short due to his serious ankle injury.

Gill Thorpe reported that he's still cutting the grass Charlie Winkler planted at his North Kingstown home 32 years ago.

Pat Lenihan had a happy completion buck for the St. Francis De Sales Church project.  There was a dedication Mass recently, showing off the new church's rose window and other features, including parts of other churches from all over.

Chub Clement noted that the town's Veterans' Day Parade Committee was struck by how 'out of step' Mike Gemma's 'Rotary patriots' were as they marched down Main Street.  (A bit out of step or not, Rotary was there in force, thanks to Mike and the many other club volunteers!)

Vin Meola saluted both Charlie Winkler, as well as the club for its great turnout during the Veterans' Day Parade.  Vin also had a great time recently during a 4.2 mile run from Jamestown to Newport, which took runners over the Newport Bridge.   

Jane Boynton congratulated Charlie Winkler, and, told of a great 'girl bonding' trip to Florida last week with her 14-year old daughter.

Lou Lepry happily noted that he is no longer the eldest Paul Harris Award recipient in the club.

George Popella mentioned that Charlie Winkler, throughout the years, has always been a 'real soldier' for our club, including the leadership Charlie gave to Rotary's annual multi-club boat races held on Narragansett Bay.

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

Stephen Isherwood, Associate Judge, RI District Court

Judge Stephen Isherwood is a graduate of Pilgrim High School and still hails from Warwick.  He first went on to Elmira College where he completed undergraduate studies and obtained a masters degree in education.  He then attended New England School of Law, proceeding into private practice for 21 years.  He became a probate judge for the City of Warwick, and in 2010 Stephen Isherwood was sworn in as a Rhode Island District Court judge.  

Rhode Island is one of only a handful of states which appoint judges for lifetime tenure.  Judge Isherwood cited a positive argument for this: outside influences and pressures are reduced dramatically when judges don't have to stand for elections.  He pondered whether 'blind justice' was more difficult to achieve in a system of elected judges.

The District Court handles misdemeanors, whereas Superior Court handles felonies.  He has been very busy as an associate judge, with sometimes as many as 30 cases per day.  (See links below for charts displaying the structure of our local courts, and, other interesting information.)

http://www.courtreference.com/Rhode-Island-Courts.htm 

http://www.ncsconline.org/D_Research/Ct_Struct/state_inc.asp?STATE=RI

Judge Isherwood has for years enjoyed his avocation as referee of yet another type of court, a basketball court that is.   Besides being a great stress reducer, he has always immensely enjoyed the game of basketball and his work as a 'ref.'

Finally, Judge Isherwood spoke of a good experience for his own teenaged children.  They joined him in court for arraignment calendar work, and they certainly got a good glimpse of the justice system in action.  He noted that perhaps it was an awakening for his kids (and others who visit public courtrooms), comfortable and fortunate in their own lives, to see that for many others life isn't always quite so 'hunky dory.'