Cogitator Dec 22, 2010

GUESTS

Frank and Beverly Prosnitz joined us.  Frank is the president of the Greenwich Odeum, and his wife 'Bev' has worked for a long time at the EG Chamber of Commerce.  Welcome!

BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY

Happy Birthday to Janet Essex on the 23rd, and Happy Anniversary to Ken (and Joyce) Colaluca on the 28th. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Ed has been in touch with a daughter of former Rotarian Bill O'Neel, and she gave Ed details on Bill's memorial service.  The East Greenwich Yacht Club will host a memorial service and celebration of life on Friday, January 7th.  The memorial service will be from 2pm to 3pm, and the celebration of life will follow until 6pm.  All EG Rotarians are invited.

Next week, December 29th, will be our Election Day.  Also, the EG Rotary Scholarship recipients will be in attendance. 

Harry Waterman, recent speaker from Friends Way, sent a nice thank-you card to the club. 

Jane Boynton also received thank-you cards from Plan USA and the Wheelchair Foundation. 

Regarding membership...President Ed reminded the club that he has 200 postcard lunch invitations, and he is counting on each Rotarian to invite at least one prospective member to lunch.   This is an easy task, asking friends, family, and colleagues to lunch...but we need everyone's participation in extending the Rotary invitation to others, as we continue to grow this great club.

HAPPY BUCKS

Paula Buckheit is happy to have daughter number one already in college, and daughter number two was just accepted for admission.  (Sounds like an early admission--congratulations!) 

Amy Levin mentioned that the RI Coalition for the Homeless desperately needs more beds, so please reach out to the Coalition in any way you can, as the harsh winter is now truly upon us.

Soozie Sundlun was happy to give thanks to the best Santa Claus in town, John Wolcott, for all the good work he does, and she wished a Merry Christmas to all!

Wil Yoder is happy that school's out (RISD) for winter break! 

Bill McHale is happy to have completed the sale of his long-time business, PRM Concrete.  Congratulations, Bill!

Yours truly gave a happy buck, thinking back on what a 'positive personal experience' (Bill's favorite opening line during 'happy bucks') it was anytime I was in the company of our good friend, Bill O'Neel.  God bless him...

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

Frank Prosnitz, President of the Greenwich Odeum

Frank Prosnitz, after many years of trying to get the Greenwich Odeum reopened, told us he has learned that 'happiness in life has more to do with a set of attitudes, rather than a set of circumstances.'  It has been a long haul, but he's on the doorstep of having the East Greenwich landmark, the Greenwich Odeum, back in business.  Frank is smiling these days, and he's getting ready to finally reopen his doors. 

Frank first opened the Greenwich Odeum, formerly the Greenwich Theater, in 1992.  The Odeum was soon a hot place for local entertainment, selling out frequently when Frank and company brought fine talent and shows into town, like folk singers, jazz musicians, Shakespeare plays, and even the cast from the daytime soap 'Another World.'  He ran the Odeum successfully for 14 years, lines were often out the door, and his theater became a tremendous draw in town for other businesses, especially the many restaurants which lined Main Street. 

But then came February 20, 2003 and the tragic Station Fire in West Warwick.  One hundred lives were lost in the fire, the fourth deadliest fire in American history.  And the life of The Odeum was put on hold.   

In reaction to the fire, laws were passed which mandated sprinkler systems for businesses and restaurants with capacities of 400+ people.  The Odeum was now facing a potential $200,000 bill to update, a cost too great for Frank and the Odeum Corporation.  After exhausting years of seeking relief and negotiating other options besides one that would break his small Main Street theater, Frank finally received some good news: the capacity provision of the RI sprinkler law was changed from 400 to 500.  Suddenly, The Odeum Corporation saw light at the end of the tunnel. 

In March, 2010, he petitioned the state fire board to reopen, and won.  He also cleared up all remaining issues with the East Greenwich Town Council and the East Greenwich Fire Department.  Frank has even put together a terrific board of directors for The Odeum, made up of members who will be able to rebuild and reconnect to the business community and get The Odeum back into top notch shape.  (Our own Steve Lombardi is part of that board.) 

Finally, fundraising continues.  The Odeum recently raised $7,500 through various events.  Frank is now trying to put an album together in which past Odeum artists would 'donate a song,' and proceeds would go toward the grand reopening.  Volunteers for the Odeum are always welcome, especially in the area of raising funds.  From all of us, good luck, Frank! 

Here's an article from ProJo.com back in March about the Odeum...

 http://www.projo.com/news/content/EG_ODEUM_SAVE_03-26-10_AMHTBG1_v14.389c1de.html