Cogitator Dec 15, 2010

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Honorary Rotarian, club past president, long-time president of the East Greenwich Rotary Scholarship Fund, kind soul, and friend Bill O'Neel passed away last Thursday, December 9th.  He was being cared for by his daughter in the Plymouth, MA area, after falling into a coma about a week before his passing.  You can go online and offer condolences at Bartlett-Santos Funeral Home in Plymouth.  http://www.bartlettsantos.com/obits/obituary.php?act=addtrib&id=59632

ELECTION DAY/SLATE OF PROPOSED OFFICERS

The nominations are in!  The proposed slate of officers for the upcoming election December 29th is:

President--Mike Gemma

President-Elect--Betsy DePrimo

Treasurer--Mike Balsamo

Assistant Treasurer--Dave Caldwell

(and, the drumroll please...)

Secretary--Ken Colaluca

Congratulations to all! 

CITRUS UPDATE

Citrus delivery day went extremely well.  It was an uncharacteristically beautiful December day, and the fruit was sold out.  Selling out completely is an unusual occurence, but it made for lighter than normal lifting into trucks and cars of the remaining citrus.  Congratulations to Dave Caldwell, Jane Boynton, the citrus committee, and the club for getting it done once again on Citrus day. 

POST CARDS/MEMBERSHIP INVITATIONS

President Ed, by presidential edict, engaged all members in the task of gaining new members.  He has 200 postcards with our club's group photo.  Each member is assigned the duty of using at least one postcard to invite a prospective member.  One Rotarian, one invitee...that's a pretty simple edict.  Let's get it done for President Ed, and let's get it done for the future of our great club.     

BOARD MEETING DONATIONS

Community Service Donations: American Cancer Society, $500; Disabled American Veterans, $500; St. Jude's Hospital, $300

International Service Donations: Wheelchair Foundation, $450; Guatemala Literacy Campaign, $500.  Jane Boynton also noted other contributions to date: $1000 for Rotary Shelter Boxes; $288 to Plan USA; $1000 for sanitation efforts in Guatemala, through the BPD (Beerhorst Partners Development)

HAPPY BUCKS

Bill TenEyck thanked Bob Greene for his contribution, once again, to the success of our citrus campaign.  We've for 20 years enjoyed the use of Bob's property at Greene Industries on Rocky Hollow Road.  To Bob Greene, from Bill (and all of us), a hearty thank you!   

Amy Levin, along with several local rabbis, enjoyed a bridge-building meeting with several local Muslim imams.

Vin Meola enjoyed working with Jack Boynton, Jane's son, on citrus pickup day. 

Don Anderson encouraged the club to help the RI Coalition for the Homeless, a cause near and dear to his heart.  the Coalition is already 100 beds short, and they need space, volunteers, and donations.

Steve Lombardi gave $25 to the EG Rotary Scholarship Fund in thanks for Santa John Wolcott's appearance at the recent EG Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours.

John Wolcott told a funny story in which he showed up at a house dressed in full Santa gear, rang the doorbell, and saw a youngster almost jump through the ceiling upon opening the door!  (Those parents are still trying to explain that one to the little man...)   

President Ed's daughter recently gained a huge promotion within Bank of America/Merrill Lynch.  Instead of a permanent relocation to Hong Kong, which is what she sought, she will be traveling throughout the world. 

Alan Flynn was happy and grateful that Chub Clement, as usual on citrus day, shared lots of his famous Irish soda bread.

Mike Gemma's kids keep on rolling to success in the EG sports scene, and he congratulated Betsy DePrimo on a good job sending out thank you holiday postcards, with the club photo, to phonebook sponsors.

Jane Boynton gave kudos to Dave Caldwell for making it to the cover of RI Builders Magazine.  She also gave a happy 'phew,' now that the citrus drive is now behind us. 

Lou Lepry was happy about getting a chance to be the Grand Marshall of the East Greenwich Veterans Day Parade.  Nice work, Lou! 

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

Lori Horton, District 7950 Pure Water Committee

The mission of the District Pure Water Committee is to provide sustainable sources of clean drinking water to Third World countries.  Tainted water kills so many innocent kids around the globe.  Providing clean water keeps kids healthy, and, it allows for improved literacy of kids as well as economic success for parents who are less hampered by chronic family sickness.

Lori discussed efforts of the committee near Lima, Peru, close to the Rimac River.  The river is terribly tainted with lead and arsenic.  Half of the nearby kids suffer dysentery.  Parasites in the water are also a huge problem.  Cars and trucks are washed and animals drink from the same sources of water families use daily.  It just seems to be accepted that kids and others are always sick, especially during the rainy season. 

But, the simple concrete bio-sand filter makes all the difference in the world.  They are made, with Rotary's help, locally, which helps the locals economically.  Their special bio-sand creates a biological cleansing layer which can remove nearly all toxins and nearly all dysentery causing bacteria.  The simple filters are inexpensive, virtually maintenance free, and they typically will last 20+ years. 

Parts of Honduras, Peru, India, and Cambodia have all benefited from Rotary's tremendous efforts in providing 'pure water.'  The committee is also looking to increase its efforts in Haiti. 

Lori thanked our club for its very generous support of and commitment to, throughout the past several years, Rotary's Pure Water efforts.  And we in turn thank you, Lori, for yours!    

http://purewaterfortheworld.org/