Cogitator June 26, 2013

VISITING ROTARIANS 

None.

GUESTS 

Matt St. Ours, a young real estate agent from Re/Max Professionals of East Greenwich, was a guest of Dave Iannuccilli.

BIRTHDAYS 

Warm happy birthday wishes from the club go out this week to John Wolcott (June 26th) and Karen Taylor (June 24th)!

CLUB ANNIVERSARY 

Happy Rotary Induction Day this week to Past President Bob Sloan, who joined the club 22 years ago today, June 26th, 1991.  Bob continues his Service Above Self today as director-at-large on the club’s board, and he is also the vice president of the East Greenwich Rotary Scholarship Fund.

PAUL HARRIS FELLOWSHIP AWARD 

George Popella announced our newest Paul Harris Fellow, Dr. Bob Miller, a multi-award recipient and third awardee from the proudly self-named ‘old farts’ team.  Congratulations Dr. Bob!

HAPPY BUCKS 

-John Wolcott announced that he is officially and happily ‘unemployed’ after selling the remainder of his company’s shares to his partner. 

-Beth DeGerlia was glad to have our scholarship recipients on hand today, especially Rocky Hill’s Angelo Gemma.  

-Bob Sloan had a great time at Fenway Park yesterday, watching the Sox cruise to victory.

-President Ken Colaluca gave a very happy $20 for his last meeting as club president during the 2012-2013 Rotary year, while thanking everyone for their support throughout the year.  (The club in turn gave Ken a rousing ovation for his fine job at the helm this year!)

-Bob Miller was happy to have spent some quality time with one of his twin daughters who flew up from Florida.  Bob also said he survived the strange experience of attending a Jimmy Buffett concert last week.

-Wil Yoder was especially happy to be at Chianti’s today…for Rotary, and, for the air conditioning on a warm and muggy day.

-Sue Dorne was proud to announce that her son Jeff Pluta, founder of AMPED for Education, is opening another classroom in Nicaragua. 

-Jane Boynton had a good time on Block Island with her best friend, even though her moped driving was a bit shaky. 

-Ron Winde congratulated President Ken, and he looked forward to his young granddaughter’s upcoming visit. 

PROGRAM/SPEAKER 

East Greenwich Rotary Club Scholarship Fund Award Recipients 

Dave Iannuccilli, President of the East Greenwich Rotary Scholarship Fund, presented this year’s scholarship recipients.  In 1982, the Fund’s first year of existence, two East Greenwich High School graduates received $2,000 apiece.  Today, 31 years later, thirteen recipients will be awarded $17,500.

East Greenwich Rotary Scholarship Fund Award ($4,000; $1,000 for four years) 

Alice Palmer and Michael McWeeney were this year’s ‘major’ award winners.  Alice lives on ‘the Hill’ in East Greenwich, and she will major in biology at Wellesley College.  Michael has lived in East Greenwich all his life.  He will study chemical engineering and Italian at the University of Rhode Island (URI).

Personal Achievement Award ($1,000)   

Rebecca Nunez was a swimming, soccer, and cheerleading enthusiast during high school as well as a National Honor Society member.  She will study accounting at Bryant University. 

Community Service Award ($1,000) 

Isabella DeSpirito was not present.

Arthur Phillip Silverman Award ($500) 

Megan Gallagher plans to attend the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) in the fall and eventually transfer to URI.  She cracked everyone up by noting that she has ‘worked long enough like a slave at Dunkin Donuts.’ 

Howard D. Silverman Award ($500) 

Elizabeth Wray will attend classes at URI in the fall but has yet to declare a major.  Elizabeth enjoyed theater during her high school years.  She also thanked the club for generously helping her sister, Janice, after she was tragically paralyzed in a terrible car accident last year.

Irving A. Silverman Award ($500) 

Keri Pallister was not present. 

Chuck and Bea Keyes Award ($500) 

Anthony Padrazo was born in New York but moved to ‘the Hill’ section of East Greenwich in 2002. He will attend LaSalle University this fall. 

Barbara M. Tufts Award ($1,000) 

Natalie Wong enjoyed tutoring, Spanish, and volunteering for St. Francis de Sales Parish during her high school years.  She will attend URI this fall.

Walter G. Barney Award ($500) 

Dominic Rizzo grew up in Blackstone, Massachusetts and moved to East Greenwich as a high school freshman.  He was a on the swim team and participated in the drama club.  Dominic will attend Champlain College this fall and will major in professional writing.

Rocky Hill School Award ($1,000) 

Angelo Gemma lives in Exeter.  He was involved in student government, soccer, basketball, and golf during high school.  Angelo also took part in an internship at the Brown University cadaver laboratory.  He will matriculate at Brown as a pre-med student. 

Erickson Family Awards ($2,000 and $500) 

Ben Fazio and Kelsey Wright were awarded $2,000 and $500 respectively as first-ever recipients of Erickson Family Scholarships.  Both Ben and Kelsey were very involved in scouting from youth and throughout high school.  Both spoke with passion about their scouting experiences, including an Eagle project in which Ben donated shoes to the needy in Africa, while for her Bronze Award Kelsey complied a songbook and CD of prominent Girl Scout songs.  Ben will attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) this fall and will major in chemical engineering.  Kelsey will major in medical laboratory sciences at URI. 

Vice President Bob Sloan noted that ‘the future looks bright’ with such great kids in our world, and Dave Iannuccilli wrapped up by thanking the club for its continuous and generous support of the Scholarship Fund.  Dave also made a plea to all to remember the Scholarship Fund when considering annual donations and estate planning. 

Congratulations to all deserving scholarship award recipients!