Cogitator May 1, 2013

Posted by George Cooper 
on May 01, 2013
 

Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Executive Director of RI KIDS COUNT

 

VISITING ROTARIANS/GUESTS

None.

FEINSTEIN HUNGER CHALLENGE

Sue Dorne reported that we collected a total of $921 in food and donations this year, which means after Feinstein matching dollars, our total this year equals $1842.  A fine showing…despite a shortened Hunger Challenge ‘season’ in 2013! 

INSTALLATION BANQUET

Just a friendly reminder again to mark your calendars…our installation of officers for the 2013-2014 Rotary year, including incoming President Jodi Gladstone, will be held on Wednesday, June 5th, 6pm, at the 1149 Restaurant. 

ROTARACT

Several of the New England Tech Rotaract officers graduated on Sunday May 5th, including President Daythan Newton and Vice President Ramone Wong.  Bill TenEyck spoke of the club’s potential in helping these college kids find work right here in Rhode Island.  In fact, Bob Sloan connected Ramone Wong, a marine technician, with Brewers Boat Yard in Warwick, and voila…Ramone got the job! 

PERFECT ATTENDANCE

Robert Allen Greene has the record in our club for most consecutive years of perfect attendance.  And our club has quite a few members with long-time perfection!  Membership Chair Janet Essex handed Bob his new pin clip, and offered the club’s congratulations as well, for 44 years of perfect attendance (since 1969)!  How’s that for Service above Self?

TASTE OF THE TOWN

Jane Boynton has her volunteer list prepared, so please confirm that you’re on board for Friday, May 17th.  Set up, clean up, manning food stations, etc…make sure to check in with Jane or Pat Lenihan to confirm your mission that night. 

Don’t forget, it’s our club’s last major event of President Ken Colaluca’s year.  So please make sure to bring your family and friends to this fun filled social night, and, this important fundraising night for the club.    

Pat Lenihan included on our tables an ‘A to Z’ suggestion list for silent auction items, and she reminded us that last year we raised over $3,000 from our creative baskets.     

There will be several new restaurants this year showcasing their tasty offerings. 

Tickets are $35 per person, $320 for a table of 10, and $225 for a table of 8. 

CHEERS, TO ALAN FLYNN

John Wolcott made sure that Alan Flynn didn’t make it out of town without a rousing ‘thanks’ from the club, along with a hearty Jim-Essex-led ‘He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.’  Alan is moving soon to North Carolina after selling his home much more quickly than anticipated.  The club gave a very long (and well deserved, indeed) standing ovation to a dear friend, leader, past president, gentleman, and scholar…whose absence will truly be felt in the months ahead.

FACEBOOK…COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT!

Jon TerMeer mentioned that we should all visit our club’s Facebook page.  He even suggested for ‘non-techies’ in the crowd…to get their kids or grandkids to help!  Here’s the link, no matter your age or technical level, to view, check out pictures of events, and even add pictures or announcements.      

https://www.facebook.com/EastGreenwichRotaryClub

WATER FOR CAMBODIA

Jon TerMeer announced that the Water for Cambodia annual dinner will be held at Oceancliff in Newport on Thursday, June 13th, from 6-10pm.  Alan Flynn and Andy Erickson have together been terrific leaders in lending a hand each year in Rotary’s continuing Water for Cambodia efforts.  Jon looks forward to helping out in the years ahead, as Alan prepares to move to North Carolina.

ROTARY AFTER DARK

Be there at Beso’s Kitchen and Cocktails, 378 Main Street in East Greenwich, on Thursday, May 9th for this month’s Rotary after Dark.  Keith Peacock will lead the charge to the bar and ensure that plenty of tasty appetizers will be awaiting your arrival! 

HAPPY BUCKS

-Steve Lombardi is happy that ‘Main Street Stroll’ season is upon us!  The first ‘stroll’ will raise money for the Boston Marathon bombing victims.    

-Sue Dorne gave a very happy buck for Caroline Bradshaw and her Cole Middle School kids, who together contributed over 200 items to the Feinstein Hunger Challenge. 

-Judy Pratt gave a prize to the world’s fastest (East Greenwich) Rotarian, Vin Meola.  Vin has now beaten all Rotarian runners since 2001--13 years straight--during our club’s Scott Carlson Memorial ALS 5K race!

-President Elect Jodi Gladstone enjoyed the Warwick Rotary club’s May Breakfast, held this year at Kent Hospital. 

-John Wolcott added a plug for the East Greenwich Baptist Church’s breakfast on Saturday. 

-Gill Thorpe is ‘living out of boxes,’ but he and Nancy have at last moved into his newly built home in Richmond.  Nancy, by the way, is doing well after recent hip surgery.  Finally, Gill happily and proudly announced that on Friday, May 17th, the State House will host a Veterans’ Administration ceremony honoring his brother, Bob Thorpe, who while on a mission was shot down in the South Pacific during World War II.

-Soozie Sundlun gave a happy buck in honor of Alan Flynn.

-Vin Meola challenged club members to get some running shoes, line up at the starting bridge at Goddard Park next year, and finally dethrone him!  (Not so sure it will be that easy…)  Vin also remembered his Uncle Lou (Tafuri), who lost his battle with ALS years ago and for whom he runs the race each year.  Lou’s granddaughter actually made it to the race on April 20th.  (Question…did she beat Vin?!  Is Vin still the fastest Meola/Tafuri?  Hmmm.) 

-Keith Peacock happily announced that he’s engaged!  Keith also threw down the gauntlet and promised to give Vin a run for the money in 2014. 

-Jane Boynton had two happy bucks…one for Alan Flynn’s years of inspiration to the club, and one for her daughter Jenny who will spent part of her junior high school year abroad in Sicily. 

-Beth DeGerlia also praised Alan Flynn, as a ‘legend and institution’ at Rocky Hill School.  ‘You will be missed!’ Beth assured Alan.  Beth was also happy for her daughter going 4-for-4 in a recent Rocky Hill softball game, including 2 home runs!

-Andy Erickson thanked his friend Alan Flynn who has been a member of the Water for Cambodia team since day 1 nearly 10 years ago, and he welcomed Jon TerMeer to the board of directors in Alan’s stead. 

-Jon TerMeer thanked Alan Flynn for his legacy and leadership with Water for Cambodia. 

-Alan Flynn thanked Gill Thorpe for inviting him into the club back in 1976.  He reciprocated Andy Erickson’s kudos regarding Water for Cambodia.  And he gave thanks to the club while noting, ‘I’ll be back!’

 

SPEAKER/PROGRAM

Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Executive Director, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

 

The mission of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is to improve the health, safety, education, economic security, and development of Rhode Island's children.

Elizabeth Burke Bryant came back to East Greenwich after law school and began her legal career working for the Providence Housing Court.  It opened her eyes to the hard times thrust upon so many in the city, and, how Providence has changed since her days of growing up in Elmhurst.

Elizabeth is now an advocate for children at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT.  She loves crunching numbers and doing impactful work with data.  She has helped publish a fact book of important statistics about RI kids from ages 0 to 18.  Elizabeth also works closely with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Department of Education as they combine to combat abuse and neglect, increase educational aptitude of young children, and properly rate childcare centers.

‘We need early learning programs for all kids,’ Elizabeth noted.  Getting kids up to par particularly in reading by the third grade is absolutely critical.  She warned that if we miss those young educational years, it always leads to problems down the road like failing grades, higher drop-out rate, and a post-high-school population unable to find good jobs here in Rhode Island.

Elizabeth cited that there are approximately 225,000 kids in Rhode Island, and 20% of them live below the poverty line.  She also estimates that there are some 1000 kids in homeless shelters throughout the state.  On a brighter note, Elizabeth confirmed that the state, after years of vigorous campaigning for lead-safe homes, has made great strides in the reduction of children’s lead poisoning.

She saluted our club for its ‘good work and good citizenship,’ and challenged us to ‘stay involved!’

http://www.rikidscount.org/matriarch/default.asp

 

 

Jodi Gladstone and Elizabeth Burke Bryant