09/12/2

Posted by Jerry Meyer 
on Dec 02, 2009
 
 

What a day, our President arrested and taken away in handcuffs.  Shocked members watched as President MacKenzie admitted to a long list of infractions and did the perp walk.   As it turned out it was all for MDA, set up by super prankster Chuck Sauer.  The story Chuck wrote and which we sent to the press with pictures, appears at the end of this award winning column.


Who was that man with the collar?  Turned out to be Past President Don Anderson.  In the absence of our felon and President-elect Neff, the club reached way back into the records and determined he was the next one in line to run a meeting.    Many members remembered his tenure in office and how it seemed it would never end.  Agile as always, he managed to dodge the dinner rolls thrown from the crowd.



Serious about Citrus.   Delivery Day is December 12th when it all comes together at Greene Industries on Rocky Hollow Road.  Jane Boynton needs help for the afternoon shift.  Be ready to commit or be committed this coming Wednesday.  We have extra fruit to sell, so tell your friends and neighbors.  The delivery teams will be loading up fruit, candles and CDs in the first year of our expanded product offering.  Chairperson Mike Balsamo reports 590 cases pre-sold and 200 additional cases ordered.  $18,500 collected withi a goal of $20,000.  Looks pretty good for reaching goal.

Sally Russell reported receipt of a letter from CCRI, thanking us for the two scholarships, which are helping two adults further their education.  Sally was also presented a Rotary Pin with two sapphires, recognizing her 3rd Paul Harris Fellow award.  George Popella, who presented the award, said Sally is also a member of another Paul Harris team. 

Guest speaker Neil Steinberg of the Road Island Foundation explained how the foundation works and their goals for Rhode Island  In the coming months heavy focus will be placed on education and health care issues in Rhode Island.  Founded in 1919, The RI Foudation is one of the oldest the nation.  In simplest terms it is a co-op for foundations.  Individuals and groups pool their money for investment purposes and get professional money management.  The donors retain control over distribution of their money.




The Rotary Club of East Greenwich has a history of making a difference in the lives of people in our local community, our country, and our world.  Each year the E.G. Rotary Club donates in excess of $100,000.00 to dozens of worthwhile projects and organizations. 

For the past several years the East Greenwich Rotary Club has been a "Gold Star" contributor to the Muscular Dystrophy Association by making a $500.00 donation to the Annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.  It was through this association that a "secret project" was undertaken this year.  The Rhode Island Chapter of MDA contacted the Rotary Club's Community Service Director Mr. Chuck Sauer with a special request.  The MDA was sponsoring a "Lock-up" fundraising event where people would volunteer to be locked-up on December 3rd.  The "jailbird" was responsible for raising their own "bail money".  When Mr. Sauer realized that the lock-up was taking place during the regular Wednesday meeting time of the Rotary Club, he decided to add a special twist to the event.  Instead of having himself locked-up, Chuck made arrangements to have the Rotary Club President Mr. Robert (Bob) MacKenzie taken away instead.  This was done without the knowledge of President MacKenzie (with a little help and coordination from his wife Janice). 

Mr. Sauer set a goal of raising $1600.00 bail money that would be enough to send two local kids whom are suffering from one of the MDA diseases to a week of summer camp in Massachusetts next year.  This terrific camp allows these kids to be among their peers fun filled week without any of the stigma or limitations that they are challenged with during the rest of the year.  A flurry of secret emails, phone calls, and presentations were done behind President MacKenzie's back for around six weeks prior to the day of the lock-up.  Through the generosity and personal donations of over 25 members of the Rotary Club they exceeded their goal.  Just as President Bob was about to convene the meeting a member of the East Greenwich Police Department came forward and "arrested" President MacKenzie.  Bob was taken completely by surprise and was a little bit shocked!  He was driven away to "jail" at Mozzarellas restaurant on Post Road in East Greenwich.  There he had his mug shot taken, and was served some good jail food.  Mr. Sauer arrived to bail him out with $1,825.00 of bail money. 

A good time was had by all involved.  President MacKenzie was a good sport about it, and was reportedly very glad to get released for his good behavior.   More importantly money was raised for a good cause, two kids will get to go to camp next summer and the Rotarians had a great time doing it.  If you are community service minded and think you might like to become a Rotarian, you can call the East Greenwich Rotary Hotline at 401-885-4650.