Inspiration

By Ralph Barlow

President Richard, you have been extraordinarily timely in your Presidency of Rotary this past year.  "Service above Self" is our motto, as we all know.  Yet our time begs the question:  How can the self really serve in a day when technology seems to defy human ability?  Witness the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico in April:  What human control do we really have over the very technology we have so brilliantly created?

Rotary insists on the human element.  It runs through the 4-Way Test from beginning to end.  What the 4-Way Test really tests is how well we invest ourselves in human society.  You, President Richard, have embodied this test beautifully, and for this we give thanks as you pass the torch to your successor, Cynthia Leonard.  You championed it so highly that you learned it in Spanish as you went to the Dominican Republic not long ago.

Is it the truth?  Don't leave me with absolutes, you have said, but show me the truth in terms of personal lives.

Is it fair to all concerned?  You have answered this question by saying:  Get on the scene and find out what fairness, translated "justice," is all about.

Will it build goodwill and better friendships?  You have answered:  Go to Haiti with Shelter Boxes and to Esperanza with dictionaries and water filters and do the work of building a new society.

Will it be beneficial to all concerned?  You have answered:  Live with the doubt, raise all the good questions, but put our best foot forward to be sure everyone will have a chance at the benefits:  through our Street Painting Festival, our Group Study Exchange Team in Uruguay, our compassionate outreach to those with Lyme Disease, and our increasingly personal relationships with Sophia Academy and San Miguel School.

You, President Richard, celebrated human accomplishments.  You met the challenges of a highly technical age by supporting and highlighting our human efforts to overcome falsity and deception, unfairness and injustice, damaging incidents of bad will and convoluted friendships, hostile acts which threaten the benefits to all concerned.

In short, you, President Richard, have lived the 4-Way Test - tested as it is in our complicated time.  For that, we thank you and pledge ourselves to address the challenges identified by the needs of our own time.

NEW MEMBER INDUCTED

President Richard's Farewell

Reporter:  Dave Burnham

President Richard began his farewell remarks by asking the following members who have sponsored new Rotarians this year to come forward to be recognized:  Jim Alexander, Jerry Cannon, Pat Germani, Gary Kaufman, Cynthia Leonard, Peter Loescher (2), Bob Murphy, Tony Mendez (2), Jenny Miller, Don Saracen, and Nondas Voll. 

He then expressed pleasure that much of his agenda for the year had been accomplished and cited: Street Painting, clean water and dictionaries for Esperanza, increased membership, PR & Technology, Rotary Charities Foundation, Shelter Boxes for Haiti, Best Holiday Party (at the home of Kathy and Mike Kelly), Ambassadorial Program, Past Presidents Meetings, and Visioning.  He thanked everyone for their support.  He would have liked to have seen attendance improve beyond 65%, it being a habit to wear your Rotary pins, and monthly recognition of The Rotarian's articles.

President Richard Applebaum with President-elect Cynthia Leonard

President Richard concluded by presenting citations to the following people for their hard work and leadership over the year:

Walter Adamowicz

- Chair, Annual Holiday Party for Students

- Chair, Annual Fishing Derby for Youths

- Chair, Rotary Goes to the Boston Pops

- Co-Chair, Fellowship Committee

Terri Adelman

- Chair, Annual Student Shadow Day

Jim Alexander

- Club Director 2009 - 2010

Holly Applegate

- Chair, Rotary Goes to Barker Playhouse

- Club Director 2009 - 2010

Jean Audette

- Secretary, Providence Rotary Charities Foundation

Reverend Ralph Barlow

- Chair, Meeting Invocations

Paul Borrelli

- Chair, Weekly Music Committee

- Club Director 2009 - 2010

Jerry Cannon

- Editor, Club Newsletter

- Rotary Club Administration

Suzanne Cannon

- Chair, Annual Rotary Street Painting Festival

Leo Canuel

- Chair, Weekly Reporters Committee

Ken Conde

- Service on Annual Fishing Derby for Youths

- Chair, Paul Harris Fellow Committee

Avram Cohen

- Co-Chair, Rotary Goes to Sports Events

Maxine Cohen

- Co-Chair, Rotary Goes to Sports Events

Kristine David

- Chair, Rotary District Events

- Chair, Rotary Youth Exchange Program

- Chair, Incoming Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars

- Service with Annual Holiday Party for Students Committee

Matt DeChirico

- Chair, Holiday Bell Ringers

PP Bill DiBiasio

- Chair, Shelter Box Program

PP Randy Dittmar

- Chair, Nominating Committee

- Chair, Annual Dictionary Project

Barry Fain

- Chair, Rotary Golf Tournament

- Co-Chair, Annual Big Event

- Community Avenue of Service

Phyllis Fern

- Chair, Get Well Committee

Pat Germani

- Chair, Weekly Program Committee

- Chair, Food for the Hungry Drive

- Chair, Annual Coat Drive

- Club Director - 2009 - 2010

Dick Gregory

- Rotary at the United Nations

Barbara Harris

- International Avenue of Service

- Service with Esperanza, DR Clean Water Project

Ron Hoak

- Chair, Providence Rotary Charities Foundation

Sue Johnson

- Vocational Avenue of Service

Richard Kaplan

- Club Treasurer

Gary Kaufman

- Chair, Technology Committee

- Chair, Annual Blood Drive

Kathy Kelly

- 2009 Holiday Party

Mike Kelly

- Co-Chair, Fellowship Committee

- 2009 Holiday Party

Cynthia Leonard

- Lyme Disease Awareness

- Chair, Rotary Leadership Training

- Club Avenue of Service

- Chair, Visioning Committee

Richard Leone

- Chair, Bowling Committee

- Club Director 2009 - 2010

Peter Loescher

- Assistant Treasurer

- Chair, Past President's Council

Wendy Marcus

- Chair, Attendance Committee

Tony Mendez

- Chair, Esperanza, DR Clean Water Project

- Chair, Rotary on Facebook

Liz Messier

- Chair, Feed the Hungry Committee

Jenny Miller

- Chair, Membership Committee

- Chair, New Member Orientation

- Co-Chair, Rotary After Dark

- Club Director 2009 - 2010

Art Norwalk

- Chair, Newsletter Committee

- Chair, Public Relations Committee

- Club Director 2009 - 2010

Kevin Oates

- Chair, Weekly Registration Committee

- Sergeant-at-Arms

Steven Rotondo

- Co-Chair, Rotary After Dark

- Club Director 2009 - 2010

Maury Ryan

- Co-Chair, Annual Rotary Big Event

- Chair, Book Club

Sara Ryan

- Lyme Disease Awareness

Jim Scanlan

- Chair, Awards Committee

- Club Director 2009 - 2010

Paul Segal

- Chair, Rotary Group Study Exchange

- Chair, Incoming Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars

Kathy Swann

- Club Director 2009 - 2010

President Richard also acknowledged his office staff, who provided support throughout the year:

Lynn M. Pryor

Denise Manooshian

Sarah Morgan

Club Administrator Jerry Cannon was acknowledged and thanked by President Richard for his support and dedication throughout this Rotary year.  President Richard remembers Jerry's words, which he tells every incoming President, "by June, you won't like me because I will be haunting you all year." 

Well, this is (just about) it.  But before it is, some news from our Thursday board meeting.

It looks as if we will end the club year in the black. Thank you Richard Kaplan, Peter Loescher, and Jerry Cannon.  A balanced budget for next year was approved.  Since district dues, international dues, and meal costs have all slightly increased, it was agreed without dissent that Club dues be increased by $10 to $210 annually and that the quarterly meals charge will increase by $10 to $230/qtr.

Street Painting Festival planning is in full swing for the Bank of America Skating Rink on Saturday, October 2, 2010.  Best to get involved or you will be asked!

As the District had requested, our Club reserved a table of 10 for the 50^th Anniversary of the Million Dollar Meal brunch at White's on Sunday, June 27 at 10:00 AM.  There may be a seat or two available - contact Jerry.

With great thanks due to Jenny Miller, her committee, and all who sponsored a new member this year, our Club had a net gain of 7 members!  Certainly an appreciated and welcome result, but we all better get started on substantially increasing our membership in our coming Centennial Year.  You will hear more soon.

I am now very much looking forward to leaving Saturday to head to Montreal for the International Convention (my first).  Being together with Cynthia Leonard and her husband, Paul Damon, invitations for a District 7950 happy hour(s), and a planning meeting with the incoming International President 2011-2012 have already been extended.  I am brushing up on my French (not used since college) and have been forewarned about jaywalking (not Leno).

The induction of new officers and directors under the Be Bold leadership and guidance of Cynthia Leonard promises to be a great and memorable day.  Festivities will start at 11:30 AM on Monday, June 28 and there will be a cash bar, so plan your late afternoon siestas now.

Finally, I will reiterate comments I made at the conclusion of the Board Meeting.  With your cooperation, participation, and support, I believe that our Club has had an enjoyable and successful year.  Although there is never a lack of new and good ideas, I also feel that most of what I hoped to see the club accomplish in 2009-2010 has indeed been achieved.  I look forward to Cynthia and her leadership team helping the Club build on that which is in place and to reach even higher and loftier goals.  I could not have done the job I did without you, so I again thank all of you for allowing me this opportunity of a lifetime.

Yours in Rotary,

Richard