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Cogitator Nov 27, 2013
MILLION DOLLAR MEAL AT TEMPLE TORAT YISRAEL
GUESTS
Two Rotaract officers from the New England Tech club’s inaugural year (2012-2013) joined us for lunch--Secretary Lacey Williams and President Dathan Newton.
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
Happy birthday wishes from all of us go out this week to three Rotarians: Matt D’Agenais (November 28th); Bill McHale (November 28th); and David Iannuccilli (December 3rd).
MILLION DOLLAR MEAL
President Jodi Gladstone thanked Million Dollar Meal Chair Bill Winter for organizing today’s event and providing delicious pizzas, salad, and dessert. Jodi also thanked Rabbi Amy Levin for hosting us and allowing us to tour the beautiful new Temple Torat Yisrael facility.
CITRUS UPDATE
Bonnie Sauer sent down the big order to Sunsweet Fruit in Florida which included an extra 65 cases to bolster our net profits. Delivery day is Saturday, December 7th. It looks like we’re a bit short of this year’s budgeted goal, but we’re still in very good shape to clear $10,000! Bonnie thanked the phone-a-thon volunteers as well for a fine job securing last minute sales.
Nice work, Bonnie and the 2013 Citrus committee!
LITERACY COMMITTEE
Karen Taylor and the Literacy Committee will again visit the London Bridge Child Care Center at 9am on Wednesday, December 4th. Please join Karen for a great time delivering books and reading to the London Bridge toddlers and pre-schoolers.
ROTARY AFTER DARK
Our next Rotary After Dark will be held at 5:30pm on Thursday, December 5th, at Caprice Restaurant. The cost is only $10, which will cover light appetizers and allow us to make a donation for Philippine Relief shelter boxes. Make sure to be there for a nice after-hours get together and an evening of fine Rotary fellowship.
ROTARACT
Bill TenEyck and the New England Tech Rotaract Club traveled last week to the South Providence Neighborhood Ministries, passing out early Thanksgiving meals to those in need.
Also, Bill announced that our board has approved, via Vocational Services, three $500 scholarships to New England Tech students this year. Bill read a nice letter from a Rotaractor and applicant who this year has personally volunteered dozens of community service hours.
Bill TenEyck, President Jodi Gladstone, Lacey Williams, Dathan Newton, and Gill Thorpe
SO LONG, DATHAN, AND THANKS…
Dathan Newton, president of the Rotaract Club in its inaugural year, thanked the club, especially New Generations Chair Bill TenEyck, for his great experience and a ‘wonderful year of very meaningful service.’ Dathan’s leadership brought some 50 members in all to Rotaract, all of whom he proudly noted ‘we never turned down a chance to volunteer at Rotary events, and we never will!’ Dathan concluded with, ‘It’s time for me to go, but New England Tech’s Rotaract is in great shape.’ (The club offered Dathan a standing ovation for his service and leadership.)
END POLIO NOW
President Jodi mentioned this month’s Rotarian Magazine’s article about continued efforts to stamp out polio in the few remaining places it exists. Rotary International fights on, despite recent setbacks including outbreaks and violence against health service workers. www.EndPolioNow.org
HAPPY BUCKS
-Jane Boynton gave a buck for Dathan Newton and Lacey Williams and all of their Rotaract work. She also told us of her daughter Jen’s travails during recent cyclone devastation in Sardinia, Italy, where Jen is attending school this year.
-Kathy McMahon was happy to prepare for her first Rhode Island Thanksgiving!
-John Wolcott, aka Santa, appeared in a promotion on a broadcast of the ‘Rhode Show’ last week.
-Bill TenEyck thanked Dathan Newton for his leadership last year with Rotaract. And, Bill thanked his wife Daphne for getting the TenEyck house ready for 22 Thanksgiving Day guests.
-Bob Sloan was pleased that his friend (and fellow Yawgoo camper) Bill Sequino will join Rotary (next week)!
SPEAKER/PROGRAM
Rabbi Amy Levin, Temple Torat Yisrael
‘We’re glad to be open!’ offered Rabbi Amy Levin, after Temple Toray Yisrael’s years of planning and subsequent construction at 1251 Middle Road in East Greenwich. The result of all those years? A gleaming, welcoming, brand new 18,000 square foot facility on 6.2 acres west of Route 2.
Temple Torat Yisrael was formed when two temples merged—Beth Israel and Beth Torah. Their former location was in Cranston, on Park Avenue next to Roger Williams Park. Upon selling the Cranston building to Praise Tabernacle Church, Temple Torat Yisrael moved to the East Greenwich site.
Work began on Middle Road in April, 2012, and on the first Saturday of May, 2013, they held their first services. Dedication weekend was in June of 2013.
Amy thanked the United Methodist Church for graciously allowing Temple Torat Yisrael to use some of their space for services prior to opening. Hospitality like this truly made them ‘feel very much part of the community.’
In Cranston, Amy noted that there were 17 kids in Sunday School; today, happily there are 51.
People from all over the state have joined Temple Torat Yisrael, and their membership stands at 125 ‘units’ of individuals and families. All 18,000 square feet are on one level, and the entire complex is handicap-accessible.
Amy added that acres of conservancy land surrounding the property provide a pleasantly peaceful connection, during weekly services as well as during member gatherings and events.
(Amy then proceeded to give the club a terrific tour of the new facility…)
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Rabbi Amy Levin, giving a tour of the new Temple Torat Yisrael