Cogitator Sept 4, 2013

Posted by George Cooper 
on Sep 04, 2013
 
 

VISITING ROTARIANS

None.

GUESTS

Ron Winde’s daughter Melissa, a health care worker in New York City, was in town for her upcoming wedding at St. Kevin’s Church on September 7th.  Cathi Sloan, Bob’s better half and business partner at Sloan Associates, also joined us.  Alex Lyon from Lyon Landscaping, our mum ‘wholesaler’ for the day, was on hand as well.  Alex is also the brother of Bill TenEyck’s wife, Daphne. 

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Happy birthday wishes from the club go out this week to three Rotarians:  Chuck Sauer, on September 5th; Bob Petrucelli on September 7th; and Jim Essex on September 9th. 

Congratulations, and happy wedding anniversaries to three Rotarians this week:  Chub (and Florence) Clement, married 61 years ago on September 6th (1952); Gill (and Nancy) Thorpe, married 58 years ago on September 10th (1955); Seth (and Jeni) Wilson, married 17 years ago on September 7th (1996). 

MUMS, MUMS, EVERYWHERE

Sue Dorne did an amazing job with the club’s newest fundraiser.  She brought in a truck load of mums from Lyon Landscaping, sold plenty of them on site, and put together a strong volunteer crew to continue selling mums for the club’s Charity Fund throughout the weekend.  Thanks to everyone who chipped in, and thanks to local business who helped get the job done:  Phipps Realty, Coldwell Banker, Staci’s Place, and United Methodist Church. 

There are still a few remaining, so if you haven’t yet purchased any, please see Sue next Wednesday. 

PAUL HARRIS FELLOWSHIP

Our newest Paul Harris Fellowship Award recipient, announced by new Paul Harris Team leader, Vin Meola, is…Bill McHale.  Congratulations, Bill!

PRESIDENTIAL MINUTE

Speaking of Bill McHale, he was our club’s president in the 1993-1994 Rotary year, and he took us back in time to tell about a significant achievement.  That year, the club raised over $20,000 from its Phonebook Campaign.  Those funds were used to purchase a defibrillator for the East Greenwich Fire Department, a machine which Bill noted has saved or prolonged many neighbors’ lives since then. 

SUMMER’S END CONCERT

The Rotary Club of East Greenwich was well represented at this year’s Summer’s End Concert held at Eldredge Field last Friday.  Several members were treated to terrific food from Bill Pinelli and refreshing libations inside the VIP tent.  With Rotary’s help over the years, the Summer’s End Concert each Labor Day weekend has truly become a great celebratory family night for our community.

LINDSAY ANN BURKE MEMORIAL FUND

President Jodi Gladstone reminded us about the Imagine Dinner, to be held on October 17th, at the Atlantic Beach Club in Middletown.  Proceeds will benefit the Lindsay Ann Burke Memorial Fund and efforts to stamp out teenage domestic and dating violence.  http://labmf.org/pages/imaginedinner

 DISTRICT GOVERNOR, ANYONE?

President Jodi invited past club presidents to consider sending in an application for the honorable position of District (7950) Governor.  Please see Jodi for more details if interested! 

END POLIO NOW

Jodi also told us of a recent polio outbreak in the Horn of Africa, especially in Somalia.  Rotary has approved $500,000 in emergency funds for inoculations.

HAPPY BUCKS

-Jane Boynton was glad to see Alex Lyon and thanked him for his help in our newest fundraiser.  Jane also saw daughter Jenny off to the airport, and Jenny embarks on her junior high school year abroad in Sardinia. 

-Judy Pratt announced a great fundraising event for the Toll Gate Lady Titans ice hockey team.  Due to budgetary constraints, the team needs to raise money for new uniforms this year.  Judy and friends of the team have organized a wine tasting and live auction event at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, Thursday, October 10th.  The evening—cocktails, dinner, and auction—will run from 6:30-9:30pm.  Tickets are only $35 and will be available at next week’s meeting.

-Pat Lenihan was happy to see the sun finally!  She also had a wonderful time hosting husband Mike’s 70th birthday party.  Plenty of family and good friends were on hand, including political commentator Phil West, who paid a very nice tribute to Mike’s enduring legacy as a Rhode Island state senator. 

-Steve Lombardi was on hand for the 70th birthday bash.  Steve agreed that it was indeed a fantastic time and a fine day of tribute to Mike Lenihan.

-Andy Erickson was excited about preparing for his 11th annual trip to Kodiak, Alaska.

-Ron Winde was happy about his daughter Melissa’s upcoming wedding.

-John Wolcott wished wife Donna a very happy birthday.

-President Jodi extended Happy New Year wishes.  Also, her daughter turns 21 this week, and her son is on kibbutz in Israel.

 

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

Sheila Drew, New England Organ Bank

Sheila Drew has been a registered nurse for 29 years with Lifespan.  She is happily married to a cancer survivor.  Together, they adopted an infant daughter from China.  And…as we witnessed today…Sheila a super-charged bundle of energy with a fascinating personal story about becoming an organ donor.

Sheila and her husband endured the long, expensive process of becoming adoptive parents of a Chinese infant girl.  Blessed with a beautiful and healthy child, who they nicknamed ‘Chi-rish’ for her mixed Chinese and Irish heritage, Sheila offered to donate a kidney to another young local Chinese girl named Hannah.

The preparation was intense with long bouts of blood testing, psychological testing, cat-scans, and more.  Sheila was ready to save young Hannah’s life.  However, at the last moment, she was informed that a younger donor’s kidney would be used instead.  She was told, ‘thanks, but we’re good.’ 

Undaunted, and fully prepared after her battery of tests, Sheila pressed on and offered to continue on with another patient, if needed.  Of course, it didn’t take long to find someone else in need.  Sheila ended up donating her kidney to a Coventry woman, who today, one year later, ‘is doing great!’  Sheila and her new Coventry friend meet regularly at 1149 Restaurant in celebration of a very blessed gift and new life ahead.

‘It’s the joy of giving that has enriched my life,’ Sheila concluded. 

 

A young heart transplant recipient

*Last year alone, organ donors saved more than 28,000 lives. Another one million people received tissue transplants that helped them recover from skin loss, bone damage, spinal injuries, burns, hearing impairment and vision loss.

And yet sadly, thousands more die every year waiting for a donor match that never comes. Today, we have the power to change that.  Because if we all sign up, we can save each other.

—from:  www.donatelifenewengland.org, and, http://www.neob.org/index.html

 

 

Melissa Winde and Sheila Drew