Cogitator Aug. 14, 2013

VISITING ROTARIANS

None.

GUESTS

President-Elect Ron Winde brought two guests--his neighbor Rob Baxter, who works for the Warwick School Department, and local sports broadcaster Chuck Wilson.  Also, George Popella invited his girlfriend, Deb Pellegrino, who for years has been a truant officer for the Town of North Providence. 

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Happy birthday wishes from the club go out this week to Caroline Bradshaw on August 20^th. 

Happy 38^th wedding anniversary this week to Bill (and Marie) McHale on August 16^th.  And, happy 35^th anniversary to Sally Russell (and John Prendergast) on August 19^th. 

Finally, happy 3^rd Rotary anniversary to Steve Lombardi, who was inducted on August 18th, 2010. 

GREETINGS FROM LAKE PLACID

How about new member Jonathan Soule, who recently traveled to Lake Placid, New York, visited the local Rotary club, got a make-up slip, and brought back a Lake Placid Rotary banner!  Nice work…

MEMBERSHIP MONTH

August is Rotary Membership Month, and President Jodi Gladstone handed out two invitation cards to each Rotarian, reminding all that it is our important duty to make sure our club continues to grow. 

PHONEBOOK UPDATE

Ed Neff gave an update on behalf of Phonebook Chair Matt D’Agenais.  Ed reported that 99 renewals are in, but we’re hoping for at least 80 more.  Ed, along with fellow campaign captains Bob Miller and Andy Erickson, are available to answer questions and to help get these ads wrapped up as soon as possible.  Keep on contacting your assigned businesses, and let’s get these orders in while helping the club succeed in its most important Charity Funds campaign of the year.

YALE SPIZZWINKS(?)

Andy Erickson reminded us that next Wednesday, August 21^st, we’ll be visited by the Yale Spizzwinks(?), the first and oldest underclassmen a cappella group in the country.  It should make for a great meeting!

GLAMOUR SHOTS

Make sure to also be on hand Wednesday, August 28^th, when Soozie Sundlun will take snapshots of members for ‘The World’s Biggest Commercial.’  The ‘commercial’ is part of Rotary’s Polio Eradication campaign.  Find out more on www.EndPolioNow.org. 

LITERACY PROJECT

Don’t forget to let Karen Taylor know the titles of your favorite childhood books.  These selections will be reviewed by the Literacy Committee when considering books for donation to the London Bridge Child Care Center.

THE BOURNE INVITATION

The Rotary Club of Bourne-Sandwich presents the return of Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions of Austria to Cape Cod with shows throughout Labor Day Weekend.  Performances will be held at the Upper Cape Technical Regional School.  Tickets can be purchased at www.RotaryClubTickets.com.

PAST PRESIDENT’S MINUTE

John Eastman was with us for lunch, and he began the first of this year’s series, ‘Past President’s Minute.’  John was inducted 41 years ago, and he was president of our club 34 years ago.  Back then, John noted that we met at a local restaurant called Scurti’s, located on the same site of…our current meeting place, Chianti’s!  John’s journey through memory lane included the special wrath of Mrs. Scurti once when he forgot to tell her in advance of an off-site Million Dollar Meal.  (Ouch.)  John also remembered fellow Rotarian Jim Michaud, who did a nice job organizing Paul Harris Fellowship Teams back in those days, prior to George Popella’s subsequent and successful tenure. 

HAPPY BUCKS

-Jane Boynton was happy to see John Eastman, former Rotarian (and today’s speaker) Bob Houghtaling, and Deb Pellegrino.  Jane and her family also had a great time in the Catskills last weekend with the Inkleys and TenEycks.    

-Jonathan Soule enjoyed his time recently in Lake Placid, NY. 

-Ron Winde was glad to be joined by guests Rob Baxter and Chuck Wilson.  He mentioned that Chuck is very involved in a local youth sports program. 

-John Eastman was happy that his Rotary pin helped him avoid a possible fine.

-Speaking of fines, Andy Erickson, Wil Yoder, and I all paid self-imposed $5 fines for ringing cell phones!

-President Jodi planned a trip to New York to see son Caleb off to Tel Aviv University for his freshman year.       

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

Bob Houghtaling, East Greenwich Youth Initiative Counselor

Former Rotarian Bob Houghtaling said his career as a substance abuse and youth initiative counselor began 30 years ago when 13 year old Todd Morsilli was killed by a drunk driver.  Todd, a nationally ranked tennis player from Warwick, was tragically hit by a 17 year old East Greenwich High School student on First Avenue one afternoon in February 1983.

From that moment on, Bob has continued trying to ‘integrate’ himself into the East Greenwich community--kids, parents, and concerned citizens—as a local drug and substance abuse counselor, always seeking to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.

Years ago, Bob took a bus trip to Ohio for a ‘Youth-to-Youth’ conference.  ‘That was the beginning of something special,’ he said.  These annual conferences have become extremely important to Bob and scores of local youths who have attended throughout the years.  ‘They bring together eclectic kids in a safe environment in which they can find themselves and bond with others.’ 

Rhode Island Youth-to-Youth conferences, once held at Bryant University and Roger Williams College, are now held at the University of Rhode Island.  Bob noted that they are ‘a pretty big undertaking.’  They include overnight dorm room stays for 3 nights and help forge lifetime friendships. 

Bob’s local youth programs for East Greenwich High School students are designed to show by example that kids can have fun without drugs and to serve as a ‘second home’ of sorts for kids to bond, form friendships, and then pass on their experiences to others. 

Always impressed by his many ‘talented kids,’ Bob brought with him today three youngsters who have benefitted from his work and who now share their own experiences with others.

Michael Guilfoyle took part of this year’s URI conference as a staff member.  ‘Youth to Youth taught me valuable lessons for good times and tough times,’ Michael offered.  He enjoyed the challenge of trying to impact each of the 400 attendees this year, something he said ‘was not an easy job!’  Michael also praised East Greenwich’s teen center at Eldredge School.  At Eldredge, kids stay drug free while keeping busy with games and sports.      

Jordan Barbosa was a staff member at this year’s event.  Jordan also has enjoyed time with several groups of kids at the Quonset Air Museum, and during smaller ‘mini-youth-conferences’ at the Alton Jones Campus in West Greenwich. 

Alexia Lekos served as a staff member this year at URI, too.  Her experiences taught her to ‘get out of her comfort zone and help others, and to have fun along the way.’  Alexia mentioned the wonderful interaction during ‘philosophy club sessions’ in which Bob Houghtaling supplies topics (good books, or current events, for example) and helps nurture kids’ engagement in thoughtful conversation.

http://www.eastgreenwichfaces.org/