Cogitator Sept 26, 2012

Posted by George Cooper 
on Sep 26, 2012
 

Staci Cormier, Classification Talk

 

VISITING ROTARIANS

None.

CLUB ANNIVERSARY

Happy 1st club anniversary to Keith Peacock on September 28th.  Keith has done a fine job during his first year helping build on a new idea for the club, Rotary after Dark, evening socials during which members get a chance to meet up after work to enjoy some drinks and light appetizers.  (As Keith was not in attendance today, we wondered if he was recouping from the latest Monday the 24th.) 

ELECTION DAY BREAKFAST

John Wolcott will be heading up the committee for this year’s Election Day Breakfast.  This year’s breakfast will be held on…drum roll, please…Election Day (Tuesday, November 6th).  Breakfast will be served at St. Luke’s on Peirce Street.   More details to follow…

PHONEBOOK

The Phonebook committee is wrapping up this year’s campaign.  Kathy Brown was happy to report that most of the collection work is done at this point, with only a small number of advertisers still unpaid.

NEW PROJECT/CHARITY CAMPAIGN

Sue Dorne has volunteered, at President Ken Colaluca’s request, to spearhead a new project/charity event this year.  Sue will hold her first committee meeting at Ken’s office during the second week of October. 

ROTARY AFTER DARK

President Ken noted that attendance was off this past Monday for Rotary after Dark, yet he mentioned it was a terrific evening for those who made it to the Grille on Main.  Ken also asked members who have yet to attend a Rotary after Dark to do so this month.  ‘You’re missing a great time!’

HAPPY BUCKS

(NOTE/REMINDER:  The board has voted that 100% of Happy Bucks proceeds, for the next several months, will be used to bolster our operations funds unless you choose to specifically designate contributions toward a project/charity.) 

-Vin Meola, Happy Buck Meister for the day, welcomed Bob Miller back!  In related news, the Yanks are also back--in first place, up a game and a half over the Orioles. 

-Bob Sloan gave a ‘help wanted ad’ happy buck.  He is searching for a part-time administrator with insurance and securities experience. 

-President Ken pushed through a ‘senior moment’ and remembered he was happy…that Staci Cormier volunteered to help out today with her classification talk, filling in for a speaker who didn’t show up.

-Bill TenEyck is having ‘great fun’ this year watching his daughter Schuyler and the Toll Gate High School tennis team.    

-Bob Miller announced great news from the ALS 5K committee--the Christopher Stone Fund has already donated $2,500 toward the 2013 Scott Carlson ALS 5K! 

-Yours truly thanked Matt D’Agenais for taking good care of a mutual customer who was in need of a unique home improvement loan.

 

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

Staci Cormier, Classification Talk

Good for Staci Cormier, owner of Staci’s Place on Main Street and new Rotarian.  She jumped at the chance to help President Ken and the club when this week’s speaker didn’t show. 

Staci said she joined Rotary to give back to the community. 

Born just south of Boston, Staci’s family moved to Sandwich, MA on Cape Cod.  Staci still owns a house in Sandwich.  She is one of five siblings, including her fellow East Greenwich Rotarian sister, Sue Dorne.    

At 26 years old, Staci was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  Getting through rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, she was surprised to note how little information and support families and patients receive. 

She made it through her treatments, all the way to a career in nursing.  Influenced by her own recovery experiences, Staci went on to become board-certified for work with women breast cancer patients.  Her special work took her at times outside the United States.

Married with two children, Staci endured a terrible tragedy.  A car accident took the lives of her husband and son.  The indomitable Staci turned this sadness into an opportunity to share blessings with others.  She and her family, each year, go into various communities to help others in need.  In fact, one year Staci organized a drive in which Stop and Shop successfully delivered 100 turkeys to the needy.  The Christmas season is also one of wonderful giving for Staci and family. 

Moving to East Greenwich begins a ‘new chapter’ for Staci, ‘one of many.’  She recently opened her own retail business, Staci’s Place, on Main Street.  Staci’s Place specializes in fine intimate apparel for women, including upscale European lingerie.      

Staci looks forward to new chapters ahead, including giving back to her community via the Rotary Club of East Greenwich.

http://eastgreenwich.patch.com/articles/north-end-of-main-street-turns-up-retail-heat

 

Nice work, Staci!  And welcome to the club…!