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 Club Newsletter
The Rotary Club of Wakefield, Rhode Island
Monday, October 2, 2017
Photos:  Sandy Cutting
RITUALS
Greeter: Sheryl Peno
Pledge and 4-Way Test:  Pam Ancheta
Prayer: Harv Whitley
Song: Marion Humphrey
VISITING ROTARIAN AND GUEST INTRODUCTIONS
Vice President Robert "Bob" Cruz was very thorough in his search for guests among our ranks and found that today's speaker our District Governor Steven Certa from the Weymouth, Massachusetts, Rotary Club was the club's sole guest (and technically a visiting Rotarian).
ROTARY MINUTE
Harry Cesario presented this week's Rotary Minute.
 
Harry talked about the "assignment" that President Pam Ancheta asked him to take on in response to a quote Harry emailed Pam about the importance of meeting attendance in Paul Harris' book ”Adventure in Service”.  Pam asked Harry if he could reconcile the strict terms Harris detailed about being responsible to one's club with Rotarian Michael Brand’s article [see Rotary Minute section of July 24, 2017 newsletter] about clubs needing to adapt to ways that help retain membership.  Pam emailed:..."you might find inspiration.  Maybe you’ll have an inkling of a fresh way our club can move forward.  Maybe I’m trying too hard."
 
Harry said he CANNOT see reconciling the need to meet members in-person rather than electronically.  He said he'd rather "give a hug than text a hug."  But he felt inspired by individual Wakefield Rotarians'  dedication, perseverance, faithfulness and support to each other and the club.  Harry earned applause for his presentation.....took more than a minute, though.  THANKS, HARRY!!!
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

--Monday, October 9th -- NO MEETING -- Columbus Day observed in Rhode Island

--Monday, October 9th -- Jamestown Rotary Club's 42nd Annual Jamestown Classic Bike Race, Registration @ 7:00AM /Start @8:30AM, More info, click here

--Tuesday, October 10th -- Balloon Festival Committee meeting, 6:00pm @ Navatek conference room (1080 Kingstown Road, Building 5, Peace Dale, RI 02879)

--WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH -- 5:00 - 7:00PM -- WHALERS BREWING COMPANY (1174 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown, RI 02879) The first of monthly second-Wednesday gatherings that will be held instead of the week's regular meeting.   It is a relaxed time to hang out with fellow Rotarians to get to know each other and invited guests (colleagues, spouses, partners, friends, neighbors, etc.).

--Wednesday, October 25th -- 5:30pm  -- Wakefield Rotary Board of Director's meeting @ Navatek conference room (1080 Kingstown Road, Building 5, Peace Dale, RI 02879).  BOD meetings are typically held on the last Wednesday of the month.

--Thursday, November 9th -- Rotary Foundation Dinner @ at the Venus de Milo restaurant (75 Grand Army Highway, Swansea, MA  02777).  The featured speaker will be our own Razia Jan an inspiring Rotarian who opened a girls school in Afghanistan.  Registration is $46.50 per person / $465 for a table of 10.  Click here for flyer.  

--Monday, November 6th -- NO MEETING...INSTEAD...2ND WEDNESDAY SOCIAL ON Nov. 8th

--WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH - 5:00 - 7:00PM -- TBD  "Second-Wednesday Social" location announcement soon!

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Vote on a request for funds from the Charitable Committee:  Easter Seals of Rhode Island requested $5,000 for an eating disorder care program that lost its state funding.   Harv Whitley & Elizabeth Candas motioned for a vote and then membership approved unanimously to donate $2,500 to the Easter seal program for children age birth to three years with eating disorders/difficulties.  The funds will support one six-week-long, lunchtime course for instruction and support to six very young children (up to age 3-years) with severe eating issues and their families.
 
Toiletry Collection for Veterans Hospital Patients -- October 16, 23, and 30:  It's that time of year, again.....our Betsy Wisehart is collecting unopened/new containers of hair & body cleansers, conditioners and lotions; as well as all types of oral hygiene products. Donations may also include shaving products for both men & women.  All product portion sizes are welcome for donation--from hotel-size, to travel-size, to family size.  All donations should be brought to the next three regular club meetings:  October 16, 23, and 30.  The donations will be delivered to:
Providence VA Medical Center
830 Chalkstone Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
401-273-7100 | 866-363-4486
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Charitable Committee:  The Board of Directors approved a $2,500 request from Easter Seals of Rhode Island to help very young children with eating disorders.  Today club membership voted to approve the request -- see Meeting Highlights for more.
 
REINTRODUCTION -- Social Committee -- Second Wednesday Socials:
A new idea intended to boost club morale and encourage more personal interaction among membership.  The plan is to REPLACE one meeting a month with a purely social activity – a gathering that isn't at the usual meeting location, better yet, at a different location each time.  So instead of holding the regular meeting on the second week of the month, a social gathering will be scheduled from 5 -7pm on the second Wednesday of the month. Again, it's an opportunity for club members and their invited guests to relax and enjoy each others' company at a setting that is NOT a regular meeting.
 
This all starts Wednesday, October 11 @ Whalers Brewing Company, 5:00 – 7:00pm. See more in calendar highlights section of this newsletter or click on the club calendar icon in the right-column. The next and future “Second Wednesday Socials” will be posted in THE WHEEL newsletter & the club's website calendar.  Contact Mary Roda for questions or comments.
 
Treasurers' Mystery Deposits still unsolved:  Betsy Wisehart is still asking club members for help in identifying the "mystery deposits" she mentioned at last week's meeting.  So if you can help her out, Betsy's email is <betsy@wisehart.biz>.  Here are the four (4) deposit amounts:
July 12th -  $310
July 26th - $80
August 14th - $1380
August 29th - $297.58
 
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS REPORT
 
number of members present: 30 /number of visiting Rotarians:  1 /number of guests:  0  
 
 
 
MEMBER NEWS
During Happy Bucks, members talked about communications with Karl Midunsky as he recovers from his hiking injury.  And Elizabeth Candas admitted having a birthday last month (think she's turned 29, now).
HAPPY BUCKS
Harv Whitley - talked about caring for his terminally-ill sister in Oklahoma last month
 
Jay Shartenberg - happy about the start of Boston Bruins hockey season!
 
Beth Leconte - wasn't at tonight's Rotaract meeting because wanted to be at our meeting with District Governor Steve Certa; announced that Rotaract has been having 40 students attending its meetings; talked about potential project collaborations between our two clubs
 
Linda Hennessey - has been emailing Karl Midunsky as he recuperates from his hiking accident; has talked wtih John Terasevich (former Wakefield Rotary member) about how he's recovering from Hurricane Harvey and he's been busy repairing a damaged rosaysof; also has been in with Ven Venkatesan (former Wakefield Rotary member) and his wife, Pam
 
Doug Wardwell - grateful that his daughter reminisced with him about lovely details of when she was growing up and ended her review of touching moment with her dad by saying , "Thank you."
 
Betsy Wisehart - sad about today's news of the mass shooting in Las Vegas at at country music festival...then mentioned that she learned from a cousin of Jay Shartenberg that he hasn't been staying in touch
 
Dennis McLeavey - talk of his contact with Karl Midunsky; and that Karl says he hopes to be able to walk in 5 - 6 weeks;  and Karl offered an interesting perspective on the recent elections in Germany
 
Sandy Cutting - has been a Rotarian for 27 years!
 
Fran Alexakos - her 91-year-old mother has gone back to Florida after spending most of the summer with her in Wakefield.
 
Martha Whittier - has missed several meetings because of work and family schedule and is glad we'll be moving the meeting time; thanked Harry Cesario for his Rotary Minute talk and how he was inspired; and her daughter turned 4-years-old
 
Marion Humphrey - thanked Harry for his inspiring Rotary Minute
 
Elizabeth Candas - thanked everyone for their well-wishes, kind thoughts and prayers as her husband, fellow Rotarian, Sezgin Candas continue to recover from eye surgery....and Elizabeth had a birthday last month.  We all sang a very happy birthday to her.
 
Lori Horton - updated us all on the trash sorting and pick-up she coordinated at this year's balloon fest in July: the process was successful; where other festivals pride themselves with almost 50% of the waste it produces is compostable/recyclable, the year's balloon fest produced almost 62% recyclable/compostable waste....yeah!
 
Steve White - was happy for today's visit from District Governor Steve Certa!
 
Pam Ancheta - sad about the Las Vegas shooting & news about Tom Petty's condition
TODAY'S PRESENTATION - Steve Certa, District Governor 2017-18 
Steve Certa, District Governor 2017-18, District 7950
 
Governor Steve shared his strategic priorities and updated our club on what's new throughout our district.
 
But first he gave personal info:  He was born in the Bronx borough of New York City.  During the Vietnam War, President Nixon put a stop to the War Draft before Steve's number, luckily, was called up.  At college, Steve met his wife Paula and after they graduated both entered the field of education.  When Steve found himself out of a teaching job because of budget cuts, he decided to start his business.  Four years ago, Steve retired from the pest control business and, having been a Rotarian since 1994, he agreed to be part of the District's planned-succession and became this year's Governor for District 7950.
 
As part of his presentation about Rotary International's priorities, Steve described the symbolism of Rotary International President Ian Riseley themed-banner logo design and the motto Rotary:  Making a Difference.  The banner represents diversity among Rotarians in all sorts of demographic ways and unity of purpose in that the design in framed by a circle symbolizing our world.  Steve then detailed the strategic priorities of Rotary International:  support and strengthen clubs; focus and increase humanitarian service; enhance Rotary's public image and awareness.  
 
Among the goals for a Rotary International Presidential citation, Steve mentioned:  a tree planting project; Every Rotarian Every Year contributions; fundraising for polio eradication.  On efforts toward polio eradication, Steve reiterated the details from the October 2017 Rotarian Magazine timeline (see page 48, Bill Gates is on the mag cover) about the 2017 fundraising goals.  Governor Steve also highlighted District-wide updates which can be found in the latest district newsletter, which you can access by clicking here.
 
ADJOURNMENT
REMINDER: Tuesday, Oct. 10 @ 6pm, Balloon Festival Committee meeting / Wednesday, Oct. 11 @ 5-7pm, Second Wednesday Social @ Whalers Brewing Company / Monday, Oct. 16 @ 6pm, regular meeting
 
Note:  Regular Club meetings will continue to be Monday nights 5:30pm at the Holiday Inn on Route 1 until the date of the new meeting location.  This announcement is on the agenda for Monday, Oct. 16th.
Upcoming Events
Second Wednesday Socials
Whalers Brewing Company
Oct 11, 2017
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
 
Speakers
Oct 09, 2017
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Thank You Notes
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Habitat for Humanity
Jonnycake Center
Galilee Mission
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