Cogitator Oct 27, 2010

VISITING ROTARIANS/GUESTS--None...

Honorary Rotarian and friend John Eastman paid us a visit.  Welcome, John!

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

-Mike Gemma celebrates a birthday every October 30th (Hallow's Eve eve?).

CLUB ANNIVERSARIES

-Jane Boynton, Bob Petrucelli, and Jonathan Widmark all celebrate their 4th Club Anniversary with the EG Club on the 1st of November.  (Considering their combined contributions, that turned out to be a heck of a Draft Day for our club...Epstein and Belichick would be proud.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tired of elections yet?  Well, hang on...there's one more on the way.  Our own Club Election Day is coming up.  This year's Nominating Committee will include past-presidents Don Anderson, Bob MacKenzie, and Pat Lenihan.  Pat Lenihan will chair the committee.  Current President Ed Neff will also serve.  They will begin preparing a slate of officers for the 2011-2012 year.  Please forward any suggestions as soon as possible to President Ed or Pat. 

Regarding Membership, a message to all club members, from President Ed:  It's part of our job and heritage as Rotarians to help our club grow.  The only way we can grow is through our simple invitations to friends and neighbors.  By each of us inviting guests, at least once a year, we will continue to grow as a club and as a vibrant part of our local community.  We will also easily be able to reach Ed's goal of 10 new Rotarians this year.  Ed's off to a great start so far, so think of who might be a good Rotarian, interested in his or her community and Service Above Self, and get them in for a visit.

Rotary Foundation reminder (see John Wolcott or President Ed to sign up):

Million Dollar Meal reminder:  Wednesday, November 17th, Quonset Air Museum. 

Paul Harris Awards:  George Popella picked three Paul Harris Team winners today.  Congratulations to awardees Chuck Sauer, Betsy DePrimo, and Gill Thorpe.  George also mentioned that Gill is dedicating his award to his brother, Lieutenant Robert (Bob) Thorpe, a WWII fighter pilot who lost his life in the Pacific Theater in 1944.

HAPPY BUCKS

--Jane Boynton was happy to see John Eastman, and, to have such a good dentist (Judy Pratt).

--Judy Pratt had to pay a buck or two for the glowing advertisement.  She also slipped Jane an extra toothbrush, wax floss, and travel Crest.   

--Dave Iannuccilli was glad to announce the ribbon cutting for his new condos on Greene Street.

--Richard Waterman and John Eastman were both happy to give a buck each for their respective 25th wedding anniversaries. 

PROGRAM/SPEAKERS

RI Coalition for the Homeless, Speakers Bureau--Carl Freese, Carlton Pona, and Chris Tibedo 

Carlton Pona, Chris Tibedo, and Carl Freese each spoke compellingly of their individual journeys which brought them to homelessness.  They travel to communities throughout Rhode Island, revealing their stories and educating the public that homelessness is not a problem of a downcast few but rather is something that can suddenly happen to just about anyone. 

Carlton Pona (pictured above), a husband and father, left his wife 3 years ago and went to Crossroads.  From there he was sent to the Cranston Street Rescue Mission, and ultimately landed at the Providence Center, where he was able to meet with case workers and psychiatrists.  Overwhelmed during this difficult time, Carlton was able to get psychiatric help and began attending church services.  He tells us that today he is a stronger, braver, and better person because of the help afforded him through the Coalition.  And, he is able to see his kids once again.

Chris Tibedo, a construction worker, was unable to find work and affordable housing.  His message was that there are, like him, many ordinary, college-educated men and women in RI who simply need work and suddenly find themselves, after an extended period of unemployment, at a homeless shelter.  Chris reminded us that the winter's coming, and the cold winter is a daunting challenge for those still seeking employment without the most basic structure and needs in their lives, including hot meals and a warm bed at night.  

Carl Freese (pictured below) told an incredible story of his own. 

Carl grew up in RI, was educated here, studied music, English, and several languages.  He worked for the state for 9 years before embarking upon a career in the cruise travel business.  He worked on a cruise ship for 11 years and was mainly responsible for the ship's entertainment.  After 11 adventurous years, he came back home to work in the jewelry business.

Health problems suddenly took over his life.  He first came down with pneumonia, which was actually connected to a serious and previously unknown heart problem, cardiomyopathy, a condition serious enough to warrant defibrillation one day in which he was literally paddled back to life.   

He was instructed not to return to work.  However, he was denied TDI from the State of RI since he had been on a ship for so long and didn't have the necessary contributions into the TDI system.  Then, for 4 long years, he fought Social Security over disability benefits.  Along the way he also battled prostate cancer and diabetes, the latter which caused a refusal for a heart transplant his doctors told him he needed.

At one point during his health struggles, his landlord, who was gracious and forgave his rent payments for a long time, finally asked him to leave.  Now Carl was 'couch surfing.'  At one point, he was able to stay in a friend's basement.  It was dark and dank, and the stairs gave him trouble every day. 

With the help of the RI Coalition for the Homeless, Carl eventually moved to House of Hope in Warwick, where he resides today. 

Carl also did, finally, get that heart transplant.

Carl spoke of how quickly homelessness consumes a person, and how it literally eats you up.  He thanked us for the opportunity to spread the word about the RI Coalitions for the Homeless, and he also urged us to contact elected officials to help make RI housing more affordable.