Cogitator July 6, 2011

VISITING ROTARIANS

After several roll calls, and consultations with officers new and old, it was determined...that there were none.

GUESTS

Kevin McDonough joined us as a guest of President Mike Gemma.  

ANNOUNCEMENTS

-Thanks to all new website sponsors.  It is a simple and inexpensive way to advertise your business, and it's also a good way for the club to raise some extra funds.  

-Also, please everyone, check out our East Greenwich Rotary Club website, get logged in, and get familiar with the Club Runner system.  

-Betsy DePrimo reported that $18,000 has already come in for Phonebook.  But there's still a long way to go.  Get out there and get those renewals in.  It's the club's biggest generator of funds for Community Service Funds, so please do your part.

-Mark this in your calendar.  Rotary PawSox Night will be on Tuesday, August 16th this year.  Opening ceremonies start at 6:30pm.  This is always a good night to catch a PawSox game, and it's always a good night of fellowship for our club and Rotary District 7950. 

MILLION DOLLAR MEAL (AND CLUB PHOTO)

Rocky Hill School will be the site for our July 13th Million Dollar Meal.  You are encouraged to use the 'second entrance' which will take you to the Flynn Academic Center.  (The AFLAC trivia question--for whom is the Flynn Center named?)  This will also be the 2011-2012 Club Photo Day, so please make sure to attend. 

R.E.A.P. (Rotary Emergency Assistance Program)

Chuck Sauer met with East Greenwich School Department's substance abuse counselor, Bob Houghtaling.  Bob specifically asked for Rotary's help with a couple of struggling junior high school kids who were in need of funds to get them through summer classes.  Chuck quickly sent the necessary funds ($340), the kids were able to attend the classes, and they're ' back on track.'  Caroline Bradshaw, Cole's guidance counselor, sent a nice note of thanks to Chuck.  

NEW MEMBER INDUCTION

President Mike conducted his first new member induction.  (One meeting, one induction...so far so good, Mike.)  Kathy Brown, sponsored by Steve Lombardi, comes to our club from the Legacy Financial Group, a Mass Mutual affiliate.  Past Presidents Ed Neff and Gill Thorpe were on hand to assist with the ceremony.  Welcome, Kathy! 

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

Bonnie Sauer, Classification Talk 

Bonnie Sauer opened her terrific classification talk with, 'I'm Chuck's wife...but I'm so much more!' 

Bonnie's career began as a legal secretary, but soon she was working as an engineering secretary for TRW Aerospace.  One day, when Bonnie corrected work problems her boss had given her to transcribe, the boss took notice of her talent and promptly urged her to get back into school.  She heeded his advice and went to school at night, training in 'Fortran' among other things.  Bonnie went on to work for Magnavox Research, specializing in satellites.  She was moved to the GPS department, when GPS was in its infancy, where she helped develop handheld devices for jet airplanes.  Bonnie was married with two children at this time, but times were difficult in her home life.  She met a 'hot dog' co-worker around this time, someone whose bosses were reporting that 'he walks on water.'  That hot dog's name?  Chuck Sauer.

Working on Teledyne Control's Missouri River Hydroelectric Project, Bonnie found herself working with three foreigners who apparently weren't used to working with an intelligent woman in charge.  So on to greener and less chauvinistic pastures she went--Logicon Company.  Here Bonnie worked on cruise missile systems for the Army and Navy.  She later moved over to an ICBM project for the Air Force.  Her work was so superior she was relocated for a special task, in Newport, RI, working on a Tomahawk Missile program for the Navy.  This was very detailed, precise, and demanding work which required absolute perfection.  And Bonnie loved it.  

When she was asked to uproot once more, to Virginia, Bonnie declined.  Now married to Chuck, she opted to stay in RI and work with her husband.  Chuck's company specialized in financial data, analysis, and automation.  He and Bonnie worked together on big contracts with the likes of NYNEX and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. 

In time, the word 'outsourcing' became a familiar one to independent contractors in Bonnie's field.  Bonnie and Chuck looked to a new venture, one which could last for some time and one which would be able to allow them to retire one day with equity in an ongoing business.  Quiznos was the choice for the new family business.  Quiznos Subs started out in a promising way, but after a very tough time with Quiznos and lousy local landlords, they shut their franchises down.  After this, Bonnie went back to her pre-restaurant roots, and she now works on Post Road with Chuck and Chuck's brother.  

Bonnie's has three daughters, two from her first marriage and one daughter with Chuck.  Daughter Marnie is 35, and she recently has had to deal with a difficult brain tumor.  Autumn, soon to be 30, is a licensed practioner of social services and mental health.  Autumn is expecting, with a due date is in December.  This will be Bonnie and Chuck's first grandchild.  Nicole, 26, is a mechanical engineer working for British Aerospace.  Bonnie notes that Nicole is very much like Chuck, especially in the 'super smart' category.  

For hobbies Bonnie enjoys cooking, making stained glass lamps, and art.  

Bonnie 'truly believes in Rotary's mission--service above self, and our common obligation to help those in need.'  And once inducted this spring, Bonnie wasted no time in getting involved.  She took the lead role in the 'Feinstein Hunger Challenge' and achieved her goal of raising $1,000.