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 MEMBERS

Two individuals have been proposed to membership in the Rotary Club of Providence. They has been reviewed by the membership committee and approved by the board of directors.

Information on the proposed members is in the emailed and printed versions of the newsletter.

Any member in good standing who objects to the admission of either of them must communicate in writing his or her objection and reason therefor 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.

Richard Kaplan and Jerry Cannon spoke in praise of "A Little Night Music".

Jim Gilcreast said he never would have achieved 37 years of perfect attendance if it had not been for his wife's bad cooking, then promptly softened the joke with words of devotion.

Cynthia Leonard wished her sister Bonnie Bennett a Happy Birthday and the same for Art Norwalk.

Lee Miller extolled family ties with the University of Virginia.

Cy Wyche had three bucks to remind us he will still be happy the next three weeks.

Bonnie Bennett praised all three Rotary actors.

Ken Conde is happy because Kris David will be away so he can go on a trip to Maine with her husband, Bill.

Don Saracen told us where to get the worst hot dogs and the best Boston Cream Pie. Two different places!

Debbie Lengyel is delighted with the Rotary exchange student she is hosting, Joyce Wu from Taiwan.

Jackie Gourd's announcement of PP Mo Gaebe's 90^th birthday led to a standing ovation for him.

Providence and Woonsocket Rotarians help distribute and train families in use of ceramic water filters on their mission to Esperanza, Dominican Republic. Lots more pictures here.

Reported by Dave Burnham

Our speaker, introduced by Barbara Harris, was Merrill Weingrod, CEO of China Strategies, a Chinese business consulting firm. A recognized expert on foreign business in China, Mr. Weingrod's clients have included Philips Electronics, Hanes Apparel, Adidas, duPont, Goldman Sachs as well as educational institutions, mid-sized private companies and startups. He has an office in Shanghai with 15 employees.

China Strategies works with Chinese companies which manufacture goods to be sold in the United States and with American Companies selling in China, including those whose products are made in China under a US brand name. He also assists American colleges looking for students from China or planning to set up branches there.

Mr. Weingrod's expertise is clearly in his ability to understand the differences between Chinese and American business styles and also in his knowledge of the different tastes and desires of consumers in the two countries. During the Q & A he pointed out that Chinese manufacturing for the home market is not as high quality as goods made for export. Chinese people do not trust their own products unless made in highly supervised situations such as is the norm in Hong Kong, where the government endeavors to maintain the former British colony's reputation for quality. It is interesting to learn that in the political arena Hong Kong also enjoys special status. While Google has been stifled in mainland China, that has not happened in Hong Kong.

When someone asked whether Chinese should be taught more in America, Weingrod said yes but also observed that English has increasingly become the language of business among the Chinese themselves.

This blog is being written on the eve of my departure to Esperanza, DR. To reiterate, I am truly thankful to have this opportunity and thank Tony Mendez, Barbara Harris, Suzanne Cannon, Kris David, Anthony Hollingshead, Wendy Marcus, Kathy Swann, Bob Picard from Woonsocket Rotary, and all others who have done the heavy lifting and planning and agreed to my joining with them on this adventure.

Follow our experiences on providencerotary.org, click the Facebook link on the left, and click on the F as a fan of Providence Rotary. The tentative schedule combines receptions, press conference(s), Rotary meetings, visits to schools to distribute dictionaries, distribution of water filters, and training in the use and cleaning of filters.

Although we are presently scheduled to spend Saturday at the beach or pool and/or shopping, I'll advocate for some more hands on work too. I am incredibly pleased, and will tell the press, Rotarians, and citizens there, that we are being enabled to fulfill in a major and personal way the third and fourth steps of the Four Way Test. It will build good will and better friendships, and it will be beneficial for ALL concerned.

Our trip will also help us to fulfill in a concrete way the Fourth Object of Rotary: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service. Our efforts will also be accomplished in fulfillment of the goals of the International Service Avenue of service actions taken to expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe and (to) promote world understanding and peace. So keep an eye on us!

It was my pleasure at the recent District conference to accept awards and honors for four of our members:

Left, Jim Black for over 51 years in Rotary. Right, Duke Faubert for 64 years.

Left, Jim Gilcreast for 37 years of perfect attendance. Right, editor Jerry Cannon for Best Club Bulletin in the District for 09-10 (second year in a row for that honor).

In addition, the Rotary Club of Providence was presented Rotary International President John Kenny's Citation for strengthening Rotary's future through exemplary action and service.

Please join Cynthia Leonard, Jerry Cannon, and me at incoming District Governor Charlie Murphy's installation on Thursday evening, June 3 at Century House in Acushnet. I have the invitation, so let me know ASAP.

Don't forget about the annual Rotary Fishing Derby for the San Miguel School boys on June 5 - contact Walter Adamowicz.

Finally, the 50^th Anniversary of the Million Dollar Meal, started right here in our own District, will take place at White's on Sunday, June 27 as a brunch event. This is definitely an event worthy of participation and celebration.

Hope to see you Monday with a tan, a settled stomach, and lots of Rotary memorabilia and stories.

Richard

President Richard praised Jerry Cannon for his diligence as editor of The Newsletter and cited our Club's fine reputation for its involvement with water purification, hunger relief projects and the ambassadorial scholarship program.

He thanked Liz Messier, Holly Applegate and Walter Cotter for their outstanding performances in "A Little Night Music" at Barker Playhouse. Holly Applegate responded and expressed her appreciation for the Club's support.

Walter Adamowicz reminded us of the Fishing Derby with San Miguel School boys on Saturday, June 5. The bus will leave from the Marriott at 8:30 AM.

Also, Rotary goes to the Boston Pops on Wednesday, June 9th. Bus leaves from the Marriott at 6:00 PM.

Avram Cohen is once again in charge of Rotary Night at the PawSox. It will be on Monday evening, August 16^th at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.

Deepak Vishnu announced that Cranston Rotary is celebrating its 75^th Anniversary and hopes some of us will attend their anniversary dinner. Cranston Rotary is an offspring of Providence Rotary.

President Richard read a letter from ShelterBox USA expressing appreciation for our Club's $25,000 contribution. Richard especially thanked PP Bill Di Biasio for his leadership in this endeavor. He also gave Barbara Harris a T-Shirt in honor of her work setting up the water purification trip to Esperanza. In turn Barbara said the honor really belongs to Tony Mendez but she will keep the shirt because it is too small for Tony.

Richard also announced that the Board will meet on May 27^th and Rotary After Dark will take place on the same day.