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Club Newsletter
The Rotary Club of Wakefield, Rhode Island
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Place & Time:
Arturo Joe's
140 Point Judith Road, Narragansett, RI  02882
Meets Thursday @ Noon (except Thursday after 2nd Wednesday & holidays)
Photos:  None taken
RITUALS
Pledge and 4-Way Test: Pam Ancheta
Prayer: Harv Whitley
Song:  Pam Ancheta
 
About the meeting program:  The bell will be rung at 12:15PM to help the staff with food service timing and a final attendance count.  Also, a subtle "two minute warning" reminder before the end of the meeting will be signaled to help the program end promptly at 1:30PM. 
VISITING ROTARIAN AND GUEST INTRODUCTIONS
Mary Roda expertly introduced today's guest Anne Vincent, Martin Vincent's wife and John Smith.  John was both Brenda Celani's guest and a visiting Rotarian from Warwick.
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
For all the latest details concerning club related meetings or events click on any and all items listed in the Upcoming Events section in the right column.
 
Please note:  The club's Board of Directors meeting on January 31st.  Also, there is a new location for the monthly meetings for both the Balloon Festival Committee and the Club's Board of Directors:  213 Robinson St, Wakefield, RI 02879;  Phone: (401) 284-1000.  Time and day of the month stays the same--so Balloon Fest Committee meets at 6:00pm on the second Tuesdays and Board of Directors meet at 5:30pm on the last Wednesday of the month.
 
Please see details about February Fellowship on Thursday, too.
MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Proposed Date for Club Assembly - March 1
With speakers set for February meetings, club assembly is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 1st.   At a club assembly there is typically a review of the budget; the standing committees; any ad-hoc committees; and any proposed initiatives.  There will be no guest speaker presentation.
 
Club Meetings' Road Signage Issue
Several members have informed club Prez Pam Ancheta that Wakefield Rotary signage in our town displaying our logo and our meeting day & time has incorrect meeting information at two locations and a missing sign at another location.  Please let Pam know whom to contact about correcting and replacing road signage.
 
Correspondence from Wipatsayaporn Tirapongprasert...but you can call her Mint
We received a "Happy New Year!" card from our Thai exchange student from last year.  Mint's card was circulated along with Rotary note cards for members to sign.  Those note cards will be mailed back to Mint .  Mint's grasp of English remains impressive considering how little she knew when we met her in the summer of 2016.  She wrote to let us know she's graduating next month and will attend Bangkok University.  Let Pam know if you'd like Mint's mailing address.
 
Next Month's Social...Will Be On A Thursday
Because February's second Wednesday is Valentine's Day, club member consensus decided to move the social to Thursday evening since there isn't a scheduled meeting for this week anyway.  So the next social event is on Thursday, February 15th @ The ChopHouse Grille from 4:00-7:-00 PM.  Check out more details in the newsletter's Upcoming Events section.
 
Latest Thank-You Notes
A card from OLLI @ URI and a letter from Kingston Chamber Music Festival were received.  Both expressed gratitude for a Charitable Committee donation.  They are added to the "thank you" mail  list posted in this newsletter.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Rotary Foundation - EREY Contribution
Co-Chairs Deb Casey and Fran Alexakos collected at this meeting--and will collect at the next few meetings--a $10 or more contribution from members for the "Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY)" program.  The goal is that our membership have 100% participation in this EREY donation.  Please contact Deb Casey <dc4of7@aol.com> for further info.
 
Paul Harris Awards
Also, Deb Casey set out the application forms for Paul Harris Award nominations of those individuals within our community who demonstrate "Service Above Self".  Rotarians are not excluded from nomination.  The application form is also available as a pdf download on Wakefield Rotary's homepage under Downloadable Files.  
 
Vocational Service Update:  Student-of-the-Month & "Service Above Self" Scholarships
Next month, Peggy Benz, Vocational Service Chair, will start student-of-the-month presentations which will be done at the last meeting of each month.  So, Thursday February 22nd will be the first presentation.  Also, Peggy will need volunteers to review scholarships when they are turned in by April 11th and then will need volunteers to present awards at the schools in May and June. To volunteer and for more information contact Peggy Benz  <mpbenz@gmail.com>.
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS REPORT
 
number of members present:   35   /number of visiting Rotarians:  1   /number of guests:   1   
 
Gene gave fines to:  Martin Vincent for no badge; Chris Hart for being late - then he paid again at podium for no badge; Spencer Seitz for being late; Marion Humphrey for being late
BTW: Bob Horrocks can not find his badge - not in box
HAPPY BUCKS
Pam Ancheta --  mentioned the previous night's "Rotary After Dark" gathering and was grateful for the socializing, the sharing of ideas, opportunity to kvetch with fellow club officers in the district
 
Ben Bardo --  announced Russ Bertrand is an honorable man; and that Martin Vincent should not have been fined for lateness last week because he'd just arrived from the airport after a 6 week trip from Africa
 
Fran Alexakos -- grateful for a trip to the Dominican Republic, visiting family in Sedona, Arizona & that her husband Britt is still in the state and calls her often to tell her he's alive while enjoying the great outdoors
 
Marion Humphrey --  grateful for her husband Bob's recuperation, said the doctor told Bob, "you have a new heart."  Thanks for all the well-wishes from club members
 
Chris Hart -- paid a late fine and talk about his recent trip to Hawaii where he received a text early in the morning that read:  Emergency Alert - BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER.  THIS IS NOT A DRILL. [......yeah, now, it's funny] 
 
Joanne Daly -- was away for awhile on a cruise to the Caribbean;  attended the Women's March this past weekend (Jan. 20th) & announced  she is part of a huddles group in our community and will be happy to tell you about their latest meeting info if you'd like
 
Martin Vincent --  thanked Ben Bardo for considering his lateness to last week's meeting as a valiant effort to be a dedicated Rotarian after traveling from the other side of the world
 
Steve White --  as he did last week and will continue to due at every Happy Bucks....please contact our Balloon Fest sponsorship & marketing consultant Rotarian Tarah Warner [tarahandzachary@tmwproductions.biz / phone: 401-589-1321] about businesses she could contact to send sponsorship packets.  Just give her a name she'll do the rest of the work.  She doing a great job so far.
 
Jay Shartenberg --  announced that Habitat for Humanity in South County is starting work on a home in Exeter he's looking for a large storage space to keep panels during this build. 
PRESENTATION  -  Changes in Tax Laws: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Betsy Wisehart,Wisehart & Associates/Sandy Cutting, H&R Block Tax Office :  Changes in Tax Laws
Both Betsy's and Sandy's presentation referred frequently to the handouts which are listed below. They talked about  how the new federal tax laws applied during the current year and effect the personal income tax filing for 2018 that's due next year.   In their presentation and during Q&A, they identified the changes for tax credits (child tax credit, for example), rates, and brackets.  The new law eliminated personal exemptions but increased standard deductions.  There are new limits on itemized deductions like mortgage interest and state taxes.  And regarding state taxes Betsy mentioned that the IRS will not recognize property taxes paid in 2017 for 2018 taxes unless there is an actual invoice/bill/statement for 2018 tax fees--not a value assessment. There is also a repeal of the individual mandate under the Affordable Care Act.  Sandy and Betsy also mentioned the new tax law's effect on businesses including: reduced corporate tax rate; limits on the deduction for business interest; changes in meal & entertainment deductions; changes for pass-through business income.
 
 
 
ADJOURNMENT
Board Meeting:  Wednesday, January 31st
Next Meeting:  Thursday, February 1st! 
Upcoming Events
Board of Directors Meeting
Easter Seals of Rhode Island
Jan 31, 2018 5:30 PM
 
Deadline for reporting officers to RI
Feb 01, 2018
 
Mid-Year Meeting/Pre-PETS, DGE Bill Tennant
Feb 10, 2018
 
Balloon Festival Committee
Easter Seals of Rhode Island
Feb 13, 2018
 
NO THURSDAY MEETING
Feb 15, 2018
 
February Fellowship on Thursday*
ChopHouse Grille
Feb 15, 2018
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
 
Board of Directors Meeting
Easter Seals of Rhode Island
Feb 28, 2018 5:30 PM
 
Water and Sanitation Month
Mar 01, 2018
 
Balloon Festival Committee
Easter Seals of Rhode Island
Mar 13, 2018
 
North East PETS
Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center
Mar 15, 2018 – Mar 17, 2018
 
Speakers
Feb 01, 2018
General Federation of Women's Clubs
Feb 08, 2018
How does an "Interdisciplinary" approach to patient care affect outcomes?
Feb 22, 2018
What is Rhode Island Doing to Prepare for Climate Change?
View entire list
Thank You Notes
OLLI @ URI - received January 2018
Kingston Chamber Music Fest - received January 2018
Medical Center/U.S. Depart. of Veterans Affairs - Dec. 2017
Girl Scouts of Southern New England - Dec 2017
Easter Seals Rhode Island - Oct. 2017
Jonnycake Center - received October 2017
Welcome House
Habitat for Humanity
Jonnycake Center - July 5, 2017
Galilee Mission
Bulletin Editor
Pam Ancheta
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner