Linda Hennessey reminded us of the Installation Dinner on the 22nd with registration on-line. No Monday evening meeting next week! Linda also said that the Art Festival has volunteers for Friday and Saturday, but needs more help on Sunday, the 25th.
International Committee recommended dividing up the $2,000 taken from the District's Pure Water Committee into four $500 donations to the four projects mentioned at last week's meeting, which included the Congo projects, Guatemala and Pure Water and other projects for Cambodia. Members approved the $10,000 total awards unanimously.
The Balloon Festival Committee will have 2 more meetings before the event. Tuesday, 6 pm, Navatek.
Spencer said that the Time of Meeting survey has 71% of members voicing an opinion. More on this at another time.
The Club Budget was sent out by E-mail. A second mailing will be done.
Amani, our Rotarian friend from the Congo, gave us a 5 minute up-date on the amazing projects his club and his District are doing. He gave strong praise to our club for being involved and helping to get things going. His club received a grant from Rotary International to put in place 27 pure water taps, but by economizing and carefully watching expenses they were able to put in 52 water taps and allow 81,000 people from 10 neighboring countries to have pure water. The District recognized this project as the “most successful” at their annual conference. He also mentioned the “Congo Peace School” and the purchase of 50 acres by Rotary friends to give a new homestead for the relocated pygmys.
Spencer Seitz said that this is why we work at the balloon and art festivals, etc. to make things like Amani's projects possible.
Chris Pelton told us the tragic news that one of the Rotary Exchange Students from Thailand drowned off Cape Hatteras, NC. He was not part of our District, but the sadness was felt by all.
Val Szlatenyi had a great visit with Agnes Doody. Marion Humphrey's granddaughter, Ami, graduated from UNH in chemical engineering. Don Wisehart bought a new car. Elizabeth Candas enjoyed her trip to Milwaukee for niece's wedding. Donna Gilton enjoyed train rides to visit friends in NC and Wash. DC. John Tarasevich was happy to see “old” faces, and commended the membership on its many good projects. Julia Yang, back from Hong Kong, was happy to report that her medical project for children was very successful helping more than 50 children with cleft pallets. Chris Pelton has been busy working to raise funds for the high school hockey program with needs of $15,000. Harvey Whitley reported on the graduation of a grandchild. Joe Dziobek, wearing a Red Sox hat, told a good news/bad news baseball story. Rick Medeiros of the Pawtucket Red Sox was happy to report there are fireworks every Saturday night at the ball games. Mark Johnson said that his daughter will be married in July and that his son is engaged. Joanne Daly said that her daughter arrived safely this evening from overseas.
Jim Blackerby introduced Dr. Charles Steinberg, president of the Pawtucket Red Sox, who gave a most interesting mostly biographical talk on his career in baseball. Though he collected only 2 hits in 2 years in little league his love for baseball has been a major part of his life for the past 41 years. In his senior year in a Baltimore high school he was able to intern with the Baltimore Orioles for one month in their PR work. He put together slides on the team and took them to 3 TV stations. He promoted the sale of T-shirts and giveaway bats. He was asked to come back the next summer. He worked on statistics with his boss, Earl Weaver. He followed his father into dentistry, hoping to be his own boss, and allowing him the opportunity to continue his love of baseball with the Orioles. Though initially against the new ballpark idea in Baltimore, he saw how the Camden Yards park rejuvenated the city. His then boss asked him to go with him to the San Diego Padres and again watch how a new stadium would enliven a big city.
Dr. Steinberg was part of persuading the Padres to grant 25 middle school students $5,000 scholarships to the college of their choice. It was important for him to reach those kids at a turning point in their lives and give them a goal and direction before moving in a negative life style. After Petco Park was constructed he moved back with his boss to Boston in 2002. The Red Sox organization provided $10,000 scholarships to middle school students.
Now that he is president of the Pawsox Red Sox organization he intends to see that $10,000 in scholarships are given out. Since their funds are quite limited, they will begin with 2 middle school scholarships, one from Pawtucket and one from Central Falls.
He believes that the Pawsox need to develop a good PR program that reaches each of RI's 39 cities and towns. He closed with a touching story about an 11 year old boy teary-eyed because he did not get Jason Varetek's autograph. The line was too long at a mall signing ceremony, and the 3 Red Sox players had to split up in order to get to another event in Conn. So, the Red Sox player who got to this boy was not the idol he was waiting to meet. Understanding the child's grief Dr. Steinberg personally walked the boy to the waiting bus, had him meet his idol, get the autograph. Two years later the boy's father, a Gulf Oil Co. exec., told Dr. S. that what he did changed his son's life. How could Gulf not reward the Red Sox in a large financial endorsement after what they had done for his son?
