Meeting Date: Feb. 9
Reporter: Sharon Garland
INSPIRATION
In honor of guest speaker Jim Hummel, Nondas Voll offered a quote from journalist Bill Moyers:
“It is very difficult to measure the impact on policy of ANY investigative journalism. You HOPE it matters to let a little more TRUTH loose in the world, but you can’t always be sure it does. YOU do it because there’s a STORY to be told.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.
Co-chairs Holly Applegate and Liz Messier thanked the 28 members and non-members who donated a grand total of 4373 diapers to Family Service of RI’s BeSafe program. Steve Hug, who works at Family Service, said the program provides free curbside contactless delivery of food, cleaning products, masks (thank you Rotary!), diapers (thank you Rotary) and much more to needy families.”
Pete Brock reported that the Legends for Literacy fundraising planning committee met last week and determined that a 2021 virtual Legends event would be a good placeholder in anticipation of a 2022 live event, event details will follow (in case you missed it, TOM BRADY WON!)
Kris David encouraged members to join her and Holly Applegate at the District Grants Zoom webinar on 2/18/21. An increased understanding of this process can be helpful for support of club projects.
George Babcock reported that the implementation of the literacy plan for Providence middle schools continues and the final planning for the Kizirian School is underway.
HAPPY BUCKS
Margaret $10 because she is lucky to know Jim Hummel
Scot Jones for finding his grandfather’s Rotary pin; his father was also a Rotarian in Rumford, Maine.
Anthony Hollingshead $10 for seeing new members, Scot Jones and Susan Smith
Anthony, Kris David and May Brewster offered happy bucks in recognition of the many contributions of Connie Donnelly who recently resigned because she’s moved to Florida. She was especially active in the literacy program at Kizirian.
Pete Brock gave $20 happy bucks: $10 for Tom Brady’s 10th Super Bowl, $7 for his 7 wins, and $3 for his 3 touchdowns this year
Mary Brewster is happy about her upcoming show of paintings at the Providence Art Club from February 14 to March 5. Her artwork can be viewed at online at issuu.com/providenceartclub
Walter Adamowicz gave $2 to welcome Jim Hummel
Jim Gilcreast sent $47 to the Club and $47 to the Providence Rotary Foundation for 47 years as a Rotarian with 47 years of perfect attendance!
LOOKING BACK ON 39 YEARS OF
RHODE ISLAND JOURNALISM
Jim Hummel of the Hummel Report shared his experiences as a journalist in RI. His thirty-nine year news career includes work at The Providence Journal, ABC6, and current partnerships with the ProJo, Rhode Island Public Television and WPRO radio.
At The Hummel Report, a non profit investigative news service, Jim focuses on, “investigative journalism with impact.” His speciality is 7-9 minute videos that explore stories that aren’t covered by other news outlets. See more on his work at
www.hummelreport.org.
As a journalist Jim is concerned with how diluted media coverage has become and the future of news reporting. News resources, like the ProJo, struggle to survive, and they continue to eliminate reporters. The Boston Globe continues to expand its RI coverage with 4-5 reporters covering RI. The Globe’s expansion is possible because of private financial investment made by owner, John Henry, and demonstrates the limitations of corporate owned newspapers, like the Providence Journal, now owned by debt ridden Gannett News.
