INSPIRATION
Jim Gilcreast offered an inspiration from Robert Maynard Hutchins on the dangers of propaganda to a democratic society.
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED
The Nominating Committee, chaired by Anthony Hollingshead, has put forth a slate of candidates for club officers and directors for the year beginning July 1:
Officers
President Elect – Steve Hug
1st VP- Kris David
2n VP Cap Willey
Secretary- Mary Brewster
Treasurer - Luis Lourenco
Asst. Treasurer - Peter Loescher
Note: Holly Applegate’s accession to President is automatic, so her name will not be on the ballot.
Nominees for Board, term ending 2023 (vote for five)
Erica Busillo Adams
Herb Altman
Laraine Beck
Pete Brock
Maxine Cohen
Mary Cullen
Kim Dumpson
Lisa Hill
Karen Mueller
Caroline Rumowicz
Paper ballots will soon be mailed to all members in good standing (that means dues paid up to date).
ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.
President Bryan congratulated Kris David for her appointment as Polio Plus regional coordinator.
For at least eight years Art Norwalk has served as the club’s newsletter editor. He is ready to pass this responsibility on to another Rotarian. If you would like to learn how to do this job, or like more information, please contact Art or Bryan.
Holly Applegate and Liz Messier are co-chairing a diaper drive to address the tremendous need of children and adults served by Family Service of RI. An easy to use gift registry has been set up on Amazon where Rotarians can make a purchase and it will be shipped directly to Family Service of RI. Be sure to change the delivery address from yours to Jim at Family Service. Alternatively, you can purchase diapers and deliver them to Holly and Liz at the Marriott at a date to be determined.
George Babcock reported that leaders of the Providence Public School District, all the way up to superintendent Harrison Peters, gathered on Zoom to thank our club for its generous donations in support of literacy education.
Pete Brock says it’s time to kickoff a fundraising effort to support the Club’s literacy efforts for Providence school children. There are many online fundraising models to consider, as well as the possibility of a traditional gala later in 2021. He will set up a planning meeting for those who worked on the 2019 gala.
HAPPY BUCKS
Margaret Kane: $10 because she’s happy she doesn’t have a job - she’s glad to be at home!
Jim Gilcreast: congratulations to Kris David for her outstanding work on polio plus.
Mary Brewster: $10 for visiting her parents for the first time in four months.
Bryan Cook: Happy his dad in Florida received a Covid vaccination!
Sharon Garland: $10 for the club members who work to bring us together each week continuing interesting speakers and service projects.
FROM SWIMSUITS TO SOCIAL ISSUES:
BEAUTY PAGEANTS THEN AND NOW
Guest speaker Hilary Levey Friedman, author of Here She Is: The Complicated History of the Beauty Pageant, spoke about the connection between the world of pageants and feminism. Her background is well suited to the topic since her mother was Miss America 1970 and her student at Brown University became Miss American 2018. Although Hilary didn’t go the pageant route herself, she does admit to loving all the glitz and glamour surrounding the pageant. She is an active feminist currently serving as president of Rhode Island NOW.
In her book she connects beauty pageants, which were founded in 1921, with the growth of women’s rights and opportunities in the past 100 years. Her work looks at women’s expanded visibility and involvement in three waves: the suffragette movement starting in 1848 resulting in women’s right to vote in 1920,
the feminist movement for women’s increased educational and career equality beginning in the 1960’s, and the influence of identity politics and reality TV.
The book links women’s changing roles and expectations with broader popular cultural changes. Pageants have had to evolve to remain relevant. For example, community service projects are a now an important criteria for judges. Many contestants have been on the front lines of key issues like HIV/AIDS awareness, disability issues and the impact of workplace sexual harassment.
