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Rick Lawrence, Clean Water/Sanitation Project in Guatemala
VISITING ROTARIANS
Guest speaker Rick Lawrence hails from the Manchester (Connecticut) Rotary Club.
GUESTS
Dave Iannuccilli again invited his good friend and former Eagle Quest Golf Dome co-owner Paul Muffoletto.
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
Happy 24th wedding anniversary to Bill (and Daphne) TenEyck on May 19th.
ROTARY ANNIVERSARY
And a very happy Rotary Induction Day anniversary this week to Sergeant at Arms Jim Essex who joined the club 13 years ago on May 16th, 2001.
DISTRICT GOVERNOR INSTALLATION
For those who plan to attend incoming District Governor Valerie Perry’s installation at the Crown Plaza in Warwick on Friday, June 20th, our board of directors has agreed to ‘go halves’ with you. The installation gala will now cost only $22.50, versus $45, and along with the important business of the evening, it also promises to be a fun social event for District 7950. Please see President Jodi Gladstone if you’d like to purchase a ticket.
EAST GREENWICH INSTALLATION
Our club’s Annual Installation of Officers Banquet will be held on Tuesday, June 10th, at Café Fresco, Main Street, East Greenwich. Mark your calendars, and plan to be on hand as President Jodi passes the gavel to President-Elect Ron Winde for the 2014-2015 Rotary year.
CALLING ALL MARCHERS…
Anyone interested in marching in the East Greenwich Memorial Day Parade on May 26th…please see President Jodi or Soozie Sundlun.
‘CLASS PHOTO’ WITH SOOZIE
Make sure to be present for lunch on Wednesday, July 2nd, as Soozie Sundlun and EG Photo have again generously volunteered to shoot the club’s official annual photograph.
ROTARACT NEWS
Bill TenEyck had a great time at the New England Institute of Technology graduation two weekends ago and proudly saw several Rotaract Club students receive diplomas. Bill was also planning a field trip for the Rotaractors this week, to Best Tile on Jefferson Boulevard.
ROTARY AFTER DARK!
Rotary After Dark returns this month. Keith Peacock announced that we will meet on Thursday, May 21st, at The Shanty. The Shanty, formerly known as Ward’s Pub, is located on Post Road in Warwick, near Brewer’s Marina. Please make an effort to get out to The Shanty for an after-work drink (or two) and some good fun with fellow Rotarians. The cost is only $10 per Rotarian for light appetizers.
INDUCTION/NEW MEMBER
Membership Chair Janet Essex proudly introduced Harry Bonham for induction into the club. Harry works in the insurance field with Mass Mutual, has been married for 37 years, has four daughters, and now resides in North Kingstown after living in East Greenwich for many years.
President Jodi then performed the happy induction ceremony. A very warm welcome to our newest club member, Harry Bonham!
Membership Chair Janet Essex with new member, Harry Bonham
DISTRICT RECOGNITION
President Jodi noted that Chuck Sauer and Andy Erickson were recognized at the District Conference last weekend for their work in recruiting new members over the past year. Andy, one of our club’s most prolific recruiters of all time, noted that he received credit incorrectly this time around and handed his award to Janet Essex for a success story in the future! (It’s a good bet the award will back in his hands shortly…)
EAST GREENWICH INTERFAITH FOOD CUPBOARD
Chris and Steve Barlett sent a nice note of ‘thanks’ for the club’s generosity in this year’s Feinstein Hunger Challenge. We donated to the Cupboard over $2,000, thanks to Sue Dorne’s leadership, many generous Rotarians, and, Caroline Bradshaw’s amazing work with her kids at Cole Middle School.
HAPPY BUCKS
-President Jodi was happy to mention Bob Greene’s recent addition to the East Greenwich High School Wall of Honor.
-Jon Soule’s daughter is home, temporarily, but she will be on the move again shortly. She just received a $20,000 summer scholarship to Europe! Wow…
-Bob Sloan was twice happy for family graduations. His niece received her degree in architecture from Syracuse, and his daughter was preparing for the upcoming weekend commencement exercises at Lasell College.
-Ron Winde’s son John was just married last weekend. Congratulations, Ron, and family!
-Karen Taylor announced an upcoming book sale at East Greenwich Library. She also noted that the library is celebrating its 100th birthday this year! Lastly, Karen had a wonderful time at the Kentucky Derby last weekend.
-Kathy McMahon had a great evening at Wine and Wonderful. And, she was happy to announce that her New York summer home is under contract and will soon be sold, thus making her a Rhode Islander all year round from now on!
-Jane Boynton thanked Pat Lenihan and Sue Dorne for all of their Wine and Wonderful efforts and expertise. Jane also happily looked ahead to seeing her 16-year old daughter, Jenny, come June. Jenny has been away attending school in Sardinia, Italy since September.
-Pat Lenihan gave a ‘right back atcha’ to Jane!
-Harry Bonham was very happy to be inducted today and is ‘ready to serve!’
-Bill TenEyck is already doing the college tour routine for his oldest daughter.
-Bill Winter gave a happy-and-relieved buck, telling us his dad is doing well after a recent heart procedure.
SPEAKER/PROGRAM
Rick Lawrence, Guatemalan Clean Water and Sanitation Project
Rick Lawrence joined the Manchester (CT) Rotary Club in 1978. He has been a Rotarian for over 35 years, yet his greatest satisfaction as a Rotarian has been in his work over the past 7 years providing clean water, clean sanitation, and safe stoves to the rural mountainsides of various parts of Guatemala.
Rick mentioned that as Rotary contemplates its ultimate success in eradicating polio in the world, it prepares to focus more and more of its money and efforts into clean water and clean sanitation projects in parts of the world most in need…like Guatemala.
Some 1.5 billion people in today’s modern world still lack clean drinking water. Nearly 2.5 billion lack clean sanitation facilities. Approximately 30,000 people die each day, worldwide, from poor water and/or sanitation; 90% of these deaths are kids under the age of five. Rotary sees this need clearly…and is in motion.
Rick and his volunteers have raised over $200,000 for the needy in Guatemala since 2006. He said that’s actually like raising $800,000, since the purchasing power of a dollar in Guatemala is so great.
Behrhorst Partners for Development (BPD) has taken the lead in Guatemala with a ‘teach a man to fish’ motto. Rick noted that locals have really done a great job working with Behrhorst, and assuming ownership of water and sanitation projects.
The four most important aspects of BPD’s work: 1) bringing clean water to homes; 2) providing gray water filters; 3) building vented pit latrines; and, 4) installing safe stoves with proper ventilation so kids (and adults) avoid chronic sickness from smoke inhalation.
Rick is also doing an amazing job working his way around the grant processes, on both the district level in Rotary and within Rotary International. (This is no small feat!) He thanked our club sincerely, and asked us to keep up the good work, noting, ‘What you do in East Greenwich truly does make a difference in Guatemala!’
‘Sin aqua, no hay vida…’ (Without water, there is no life…)
Rick and Ellen Lawrence, with President Jodi Gladstone
Here is some good information on Behrhorst’s wonderful work in Guatemala: http://www.behrhorst.org/