Providence Rotary - Read Our Newsletter

OFFICERS
President
Richard B. Applebaum

President-elect
Cynthia Leonard

1st Vice President
Barry W. Fain

2nd Vice President
Barbara Harris

Secretary
Susan Johnson

Treasurer
Richard A. Kaplan

Asst. Treasurer
Peter M. Loescher

Sergeant-at-arms
Kevin M. Oates

Past-President
John A. Daluz

Directors to
June 30, 2010:
James Alexander
Richard P. Leone, Sr.
Jenny Miller
Arthur Norwalk
Kathleen A. Swann

Directors to
June 30, 2011:
Holly Applegate
Paul Borrelli
Patricia Germani
Steven M. Rotondo
James C. Scanlan

PROPOSED NEW MEMBER

The following individual has been proposed to membership in the Rotary Club of Providence. She has been reviewed by the membership committee and approved by the board of directors:

Name: Debra A. Moretti

Job: Manager/Owner

Multi State Title Co., LLC

Address: 481 Atwood Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920

Residence: 1275 New London Ave.,Cranston, RI

Proposed Classification: Real Estate - Title

Sponsor: PP Peter Loescher

Any member in good standing who objects to the admission of the above must communicate in writing his or her objection and reason therefore to the Board of Directors, Rotary Club of Providence, 23 Dryden Lane, Providence, RI 02904 within seven (7) days of the date of this publication.

Suzanne Cannon expressed her and her father Jerry's deep appreciation and gratitude for the Rotarians who went to the wake, stood in the Honor Guard and attended Joan Cannon's funeral last weekend. Rotarians were a huge extension of her family.

David Isenberg spent the weekend in Philadelphia--his daughter has no use of her right hand.

Gary Kaufman's son just returned from a Mark of the Living trip to the death camps in Poland and then to Israel. He has been touched for life.

Cap Willey had $2 because he received $10k of his own stimulus money!

Terri Adelman thanked everyone who worked on Shadow Day last week. A student who went to Swan Point, said, "There aren't just dead people there!" One met the Mayor and one student apologized for not being able to participate--not something today's students often do!

Richard Kaplan and his wife took two grandchildren on an airboat in the Florida Everglades. Their return flight was overbooked and they were able to spend a night in a hotel at the airline's expense, get free flights in the future and even got some cash!

Ken Conde and his wife Susan went south to get two new puppies, saw Joe Lodo, former Providence Rotarian, now the director of emergency response for the SBA, and his wife Susan Bracall, and discovered that a stray cat had adopted Ken and Susan when they got home.

Don Saracen's grandson is the Prince of One Liners!

Barbara Harris thanked Bill Hunt, the District Group Study Exchange (GSE) chair, and Paul Segal for their work on welcoming our GSE visitors to our club and area.

Kris David is proud to be a member of a Club that gave so much support to the Cannon Family during their difficult time.

Bill Hunt gave an overview of the Group Study Exchange Program for the members. Rotary International pays for airfare and some minor expenses, and Rotarians and the host clubs pay for the Team’s expenses while with their clubs. Team members are between the ages of 25 and 40, represent various professions, and spend four weeks in the host country.

The team leader is a Rotarian. Bill thanked John Arruda of the Blackstone Valley ARC for providing their van for transportation. He also thanked Paul Segal, Barbara Harris and Dave Clifton for their work with the team.

Nora Bill then introduced the team from Uruguay. Nora, left, the team leader, is from the Montevideo Rotary Club, the first one established in South America. The Club has an Interact Club, its own building and has a big barbecue annually to raise money for its projects. The team members are from the Republica Oriental de Uruguay.

The focus of their Club is to “Protect the Rights of Newborn Babies.” Nora introduced the team members—a teacher, an emergency room MD, a pediatric dentist and an accountant. The teacher teaches English and Portuguese in a private school that straddles the Brazilian/Uruguayan border. The accountant works for a cemetery. Each member described her family, her home town, and where she works. Education at all levels is free in Uruguay, even including public and private universities.

It is just a little hard to believe that over 80% of my term is now completed. I hope I have and continue to live up to your expectations. Of course, it's never too late to offer suggestions, comments, etc. From my perspective, members have responded wonderfully to the goals I had set for myself and the Club. It's all about making progress, and I am confident that our succession team will keep the momentum going, and more.

For all of you financial and/or legal types, please consider joining with Tom Madden in reviewing and updating our Bylaws. Given all the opportunities (a new Club was just chartered in Smithfield), please help us improve our attendance. When you don't attend, you deprive other Rotarians and yourself of the fellowship, spirit, and good ideas that Rotary is all about.

Not only was it a pleasure and highlight to host P.D.G. David Clifton, D.G. Terry Humfryes, and the GSE team so ably assisted by Bill Hunt (Pawtucket), P.P. Paul Segal, and others, but I was fortunate enough to be asked to join the group (most) with Kris and Bill David, Richard Leone and and others for dinner at Twin Oaks last evening. I was extra fortunate to be seated next to the Rotarian Team Leader, Nora, who I pumped for information and facts between bites. Among the additional things I learned: Uruguay has a democratic form of government with three branches set up very much like our own system. Presidents, however, serve only one 5 year term, and senators and representatives are elected for terms of five years at a time. The aboriginal population (about 2-3%) was mostly slaughtered in the early 1800s (now very much regretted). The standard of living is quite good, and there are open borders and very positive relations with Brazil and Argentina. The transportation system is very good (better north-south than east-west), with cars primarily manufactured in Argentina (GM, Ford, VW, Citroen), but with a healthy number of brands from Japan, China and elsewhere. Tourism is a major industry, with beach resorts available. The land is mostly flat and the climate temperate (no snow). The largest Rotary Club in the capital has over 300 members, but most local clubs are in the twenties in size, and do mostly focus on help within the local communities. Pretty good retention of info between the laughter and the beer/wine, if I say so myself.

See you Monday,

Richard.

It is good to see Rev. Ralph Barlow back after his recent surgery.

Holly Applegate reminded everyone about Rotary Night on May 13 at the Barker Playhouse for "A Little Night Music." See her or Jerry Cannon for tickets. ALSO, if you want to drink wine after the performance, please bring a bottle!!

John Daluz getting award

District Governor Terry Humfreyes (above right) presented Past President John Daluz (above left) with two certificates earned during his term—one the Presidential Citation and the other from the Rotary International Foundation for the Club’s support of the $200 million polio challenge.

If interested in working on a revision of the bylaws, please join Tom Madden and other interested members before the next meeting at 11:30.

Kris David showed us a new emergency travel kit that can be used in case a volcano--or whatever---interferes with your travel plans. All those going to the Dominican Republic next month will get one--let's hope they won't need to use it!

Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

Bob Picard--Woonsocket

Colin Murray--Pawtucket

Bill Hunt--Pawtucket

Otmane Zellou--guest of PP John Daluz

Cynthia Burke--guest of Linda Xavier

Michael Doyle--guest of Tony Mendez

May 14--16 Rotary District 7950 Annual Conference at the Cape Codder in Hyannis

June 3-- Installation of new District Governor Charlie Murphy in Acushnet.

June 27--Brunch at White's of Westport to celebrate 50 years of the Million Dollar Meal.