Cogitator Sept 21, 2011

VISITING ROTARIANS/GUESTS

None this week. 

BIRTHDAYS

Happy birthday this week to Andy Erickson and Corey Guglietti who share the same birthday, September 23rd. 

PHONEBOOK

Betsy DePrimo mentioned that the end is near for Phonebook Campaign-2011, as the book heads into print mode.  So, any last minute phonebook ads need to get to Betsy immediately.  It's 'Let's Make a Deal' time, chimed in President Mike Gemma and fellow senior committee member Richard Waterman.  Betsy also thanked the entire club for this year's efforts.  The gross revenue figure stands at $58,300, so make your last minute calls as we edge as close as possible toward the goal of $65,000.

CITRUS DRIVE

Bonnie Sauer, heading our Citrus Drive this year, announced that there are already 2 orders in the online system!  

ANNOUNCEMENTS

--Please keep Andy Erickson in your thoughts and prayers, as he is recovering from a severely broken ankle.

--End Polio Now...and see a good Providence Bruins game, too, on Friday, October 21st at The Dunk.  Game time is 7pm, and tickets are a steal at $12 ($5 per ticket goes to the District's End Polio Now efforts).  Invite your family and friends to a great Rotary hockey game, all for a great cause, at The Dunk.  Please let President Mike know how many people you're bringing, since the ticket deadline is Friday, September 20th.   

--Mike Balsamo is leading the charge to the Get Motivated Now Seminar, also at The Dunk, on Monday, October 3rd.  The seminar runs all day from 8am to 4:45pm.  Bill Cosby, Colin Powell, Rudy Giuliani, and Terry Bradshaw are among the featured guest speakers.  Mike has 50 tickets available for our Rotary group, so let him know asap if  you plan to attend (886-7700).  Also, if you're interested in a workbook for the day:

The workbook is a full-color, 124 page interactive mega-resource with speaker outlines, fill-in-the-blank exercises, articles written by our present and past speakers and much more. You will use the workbook throughout the day— and after the seminar. It will be a resource that provides you with hundreds of cutting-edge skills for success. The cost is $4.99 in advance or $20 at the event. Remember if you purchase more than what you need, you can refund them with no questions asked!   

https://getmotivated.com/city.aspx?a=5342   

HAPPY BUCKS

Bill TenEyck was happy to be at Gillette Stadium for the season opener with future Hall of Famer Tom Brady leading the way.

Judy Pratt's husband, Jon, and son, Alex, got to see a great game at Fenway last Monday.  

One of Bob Miller's daughters is visiting Rhode Island, and his second daughter is...engaged!  Congrats, Dr. Bob!  Bob also was happy that Mike Flood and Flood Ford are helping Gill Thorpe's friend in a car purchase.  (Flood has been a big Rotary supporter over the past several years in both the Phonebook and the Scott Carlson Memorial ALS 5K Race.)  Finally (we knew it was coming), Bob taunted Red Sox fans in the room with 'It's over--eat your heart out Sox lovers!' 

Vin Meola, the Albanian sage and Sox fan, queried "Wasn't it Yankee Hall of Famer Yogi Berra who said 'It ain't over 'til it's over?'"

Mike Gemma was happy to be recently booking reservations for Dreams Park in Cooperstown, NY with the Pratt family.  The Pratts and Gemmas will be heading there in 2012.  

Richard Waterman needs a shrink to help him get through his recent spell of rooting for the Yankees to...to...win...(gulp)...as they actually helped the Sox recently by beating up on the Tampa Rays.  (Don't worry, Richard, many of us have the same problem now, and we'll pass out that psychiatrist's phone number in next week's cogitator.)

Dave Iannuccilli said something...about the Yankees...blah, blah, blah...something, something...more blah, blah, blah...(hehe--sometimes being the editor has its perks).

Jodi Gladstone's daughter Alexa could care less about the current pennant race, seeing how she's getting married!  Congratulations, Jodi (and Alexa)!  Also, Jodi's son Caleb is 16, has his driving permit, and managed to...put his family car in a ditch recently.  Back to driver's ed school, Caleb.  The East Greenwich High School cross country standout could of course just run everywhere if this driving thing doesn't work out.

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

Rona Mann, North Kingstown Rotarian and Rotary Youth Exchange Leader 

Rona Mann talked about the difference in 'joining Rotary' and 'becoming a Rotarian.'  The latter involves having a 'Rotary Moment.' 

Rona had been through the ranks of Rotary, serving as a volunteer on lots of committees, and even served as president in Westerly.  But she never had a Rotary Moment. 

Then, as a Rotary Youth Exchange coordinator, she got a call from a determined 16-year-old named Derek.  Derek introduced himself, and bluntly presented that he'd like to go to Germany in the upcoming year, and, 'how can you help me do that?'  Rona, happy to help, gave him some contacts to call trying to help Derek find a sponsor.  After several rejections, and hearing 'we don't have money this year' and 'maybe down the road,' Derek was frustrated.  He decided to keep plugging away.  Derek showed up unannounced one day at a Westerly Rotary meeting.  He introduced himself to the club, and he made an impassioned plea for a sponsorship to Germany.  

Rona's long time Rotary friend in Westerly, Fr. Bob, called her that same day and told her the story of 'a young fellow named Derek' showing up out of the blue and asking for help.  After listening to the story Rona asked him, 'Well, Bob, can you help him get there?'  Fr. Bob, smiling at Derek's pluck, told his friend Rona, 'Sure, we'll do it.' 

And there was Rona's Rotary moment.  

Rotary Youth Exchanges are either short term or long term.  The long term exchanges are typically for one year.  Short term exchanges are usually for 3-6 weeks.  Kids can choose exchanges in many different countries.  Short term exchanges are far simpler.  The long term exchanges require an extensive 17-page application; the short term exchanges do not.  Short term exchanges are family to family, meaning (for example) three weeks away in another country and then three weeks with that foreign host family back here in the States.  Most short term exchanges are during the summer months.  

Costs for short term exchanges are usually fairly reasonable--airfare, spending money, a $100 fee to the District, and nominal insurance money for the trip paid through Rotary.  But they are life changing experiences for the kids who are able to go to foreign countries.  So, says Rona, 'Find us some great kids for short term Youth Exchanges!'         

http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/756en.pdf   (Short-Term Youth Exchange information...)

http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/755en.pdf   (Long-Term Youth Exchange information...)  

Nice work, Rona! 

Here's some more good information about the entire Rotary Youth Exchange program:  http://www.rotary.org/en/studentsandyouth/youthprograms/rotaryyouthexchange/Pages/ridefault.aspx