Cogitator Feb 29, 2012

 
No Visiting Rotarians

Guests

Bill Winter, a financial professional and guest of President Mike Gemma, joined us for lunch.

Club Anniversaries

Three years ago on March 4th, our 2011 phonebook leader, Betsy DePrimo, and, our current Treasurer, Mike Balsamo, joined the club.  Seventeen years ago on March 1st, 1995, I 'took the oath.'  And on March 3rd, 1988, Sally Russell was the first woman to join the Rotary Club of East Greenwich.  (Sally, daughter of founding member Howard Russell, continued 'trailblazing' in 1994 when she was inducted as the club's first woman president.)

Daffodil Days

Lou Lepry thanked the club for its enthusiasm and generosity, not to mention support of the American Cancer Society, as he wraps up another year of successful participation in 'Daffodil Days.'   

Rotaract/New Generations

Bill TenEyck reported that we are sponsoring 2 Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) scholarships this year.  Local high school sophomores and juniors will head to Cape Cod for this year's conference.  Also, Bill is trying to get a Rotary Shelterbox set up at New England Tech during the week of March 13th (Global Rotaract Week). 

Wine Tasting/Taste of the Town

Pat Lenihan has inquiries into several potential locations for this year's Taste of the Town and Wine Tasting event.  She and her committee will be meeting at 8am at her Coldwell Banker office on Friday, March 9th to 'ratchet up' efforts.

Happy Bucks

Richard Waterman's 'public service announcement' served as a reminder to the club that it is tradition to pay a happy buck while apologizing to the weekly speaker if one must leave immediately after lunch.  With that, he apologized to Elizabeth McNamara, from the East Greenwich Patch, and passed on a happy buck (or three).

Judy Pratt was glad to see friend Soozie Sundlun.  She also mentioned that 5200 mailers went out this past week to local runners as well as supporters in prior years of the Scott Carlson Memorial ALS 5K, and, that Mike Flood of Flood Ford is graciously donating his Route 95 billboard near Jefferson Boulevard to advertise this year's race.  Finally, she wished a very happy Leap Year birthday to her son, Alex, who celebrates today his 3rd and 12th birthdays.  

Alan Flynn reminded one and all that Friday, June 22nd will be the date for the Clean Water for Cambodia fundraising dinner, to be held at the Newport Officers' Club.  Please see Alan if you'd like to attend this event and support a worthwhile cause near and dear to his heart.

Mike Gemma thanked the East Greenwich Patch for its fine coverage of East Greenwich Rotary's efforts in our local community.  'Coach' Mike was also happy to announce yet another championship for one of his teams, this time at a tournament in Kingston, MA. 

Mike Balsamo gave three happy bucks for his kids' participation with Interact at East Greenwich High School and Cole Middle School.  

Betsy DePrimo also gave three bucks: first, for being able to spend time with friend Soozie Sundlun; second, for Pat Lenihan's grace under pressure; and lastly, for Judy Pratt's wonderful article in the Warwick Beacon, which also served as a great plug for this year's race.

Jane Boynton was glad to see Soozie as well. 

Ken Colaluca gave a buck for not wearing his 'standard issue' Rotary pin today.

Beth DeGerlia's daughter was happy to see local anchorman Gene Valicenti at Rocky Hill recently.  

Bob MacKenzie congratulated Andy Erickson for last week's incredible announcement that $50,000 will be donated in Andy's name to the East Greenwich Rotary Scholarship Fund. 

Vin Meola, a diehard member of Red Sox Nation, who suffered with the rest of us through last year's September Collapse, gave an appropriately subdued happy buck as Sox Spring Training begins this week. 

Speaker/Program

Elizabeth McNamara, editor of East Greenwich Patch

Elizabeth McNamara is a twenty two year resident of East Greenwich, mom of three, has been in journalism for twenty-plus years, and in her own words, 'was a Rotary kid' growing up in Santa Monica, California.  She recalled her dad's Friday night meetings, Christmas socials and other Rotary events to which he brought her and the family.  Looking out at our crowd she said, 'Dad would have loved this meeting.' 

Elizabeth is the editor of East Greenwich Patch, a local website news source and successor to 'My02818.com.'  'Patch' is nationwide actually, owned by AOL (America Online).  It is not a franchise.  There are several Patch sites in RI, yet East Greenwich's is one of the top 50 Patch sites in the country.  'East Greenwich is a perfect town for Patch,' Elizabeth noted, 'as a town with a true sense of itself.' 

Typically, she will post five stories per day.  Originally surprised with what seemed like a difficult charge from higher up, Elizabeth has found that producing five stories works out quite well in our town.  There is some regional management of Patch, but for the most part she is 'a one-woman show' with East Greenwich Patch, although she does rely on some freelance writing support.  Her autonomy is 'interesting and refreshing.'     

Elizabeth is very interested in local (and national) elections coming up and promised to provide good coverage in the weeks and months ahead.  She also promised to provide a story about Amica's recent $50,000 donation, in Andy Erickson's name, to the East Greenwich Rotary Scholarship Fund.  The Patch has also been happy to get news out about other Rotary efforts, including the Scott Carlson Memorial ALS 5K.

'Unique' visitors, or first timers, and 'engaged' visitors are eagerly measured by Elizabeth.  She can see fairly easily that people are not only checking out The Patch, but they are taking a decent amount of time while reading its content, and importantly, returning for more.

She urged all of us to sign up so the her newsletter can come directly to us every day.  Elizabeth also suggested 'listings,' which she feels is a great way to get the word out to others about local businesses. 

http://eastgreenwich.patch.com/ 

Soozie Sundlun, with Elizabeth McNamara in background