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Club Newsletter
The Rotary Club of Wakefield,
Rhode Island
Thursday, 2/11/2021
 
Place & Time:
 
Virtual ZOOM Meeting
 
 
Meeting Thursday @ Noon
 
 
The Wheel February 4, 2021
 
Meeting via Zoom
 
 
Attendance: 27 members; 1 guest: Chuck Sauer, Assistant District Governor
 
President Dick Pike called the meeting to order at 12:30.
 
 
 
Club Business and Announcements
 
  • Bob H: the International Committee is bring forward a proposal to apply for a District Grant that will support a school project jointly with the Rotary Club of Pursat, Cambodia. Besides Wakefield Rotary, the East Greenwich club and the Providence club are partnering on the grant. Our club’s contribution of $1500 will be matched by the District. (We pay $3000 up front and get $1500 reimbursed at the completion of the project.)  A motion to approve was made, seconded, and passed.
  • Donna introduced a community service project with the Peace Dale Congregational Church, which serves free dinners on Wednesdays and Fridays. The church is planning a special St. Patrick’s Day dinner and is looking for sponsors to help pay for the food. Dick forwarded the request to the Charitable Committee for a recommendation.
  • Assistant District Governor Chuck Sauer publicized the upcoming District Grant webinar on Feb. 18 at 6:00 pm. He also welcomed the District’s incoming Assistant Governor, our own Bob Cruz. Chuck and Bob have been visiting area clubs virtually to introduce Bob in his new role.
 
Sunshine
  • Val: Betsy and Karl both had birthdays.
 
Happy Bucks
  • Ed invites all members to join a blood drive sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Feb. 24, 2:00 to 6:00 PM at St. Thomas Moore parish hall, 53 Rockland St., Narragansett. All donors must make appointments at either www.ribs.org/drives or 401-453-8383, sponsor code 0626.
  • Donna is happy that her daughter just got a new job with the federal government, even though it means she will be leaving Rhode Island.
 
     Service Above Self
 

These principles have been developed over the years to provide Rotarians with a strong, common purpose and direction. They serve as a foundation for our relationships with each other and the action we take in the world.

Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

  • FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
  • SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
  • THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
  • FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

The Four-Way Test

The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings:
Of the things we think, say or do

  1. Is it the TRUTH?
  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
  4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Avenues of Service

We channel our commitment to service at home and abroad through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity.

  • Club Service focuses on making clubs strong. A thriving club is anchored by strong relationships and an active membership development plan.
  • Vocational Service calls on every Rotarian to work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society. Learn more in  and the .
  • Community Service encourages every Rotarian to find ways to improve the quality of life for people in their communities and to serve the public interest. Learn more in .
  • International Service exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding. We support this service avenue by sponsoring or volunteering on international projects, seeking partners abroad, and more.
  • Youth Service recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young professionals through leadership development programs such as , , , and
PROGRAM
 
Speaker and Program: Christine Foisy, Interim Vice President for Development at South County Health, new member classification talk, introduced by Dick
 
Christine grew up in Warwick and graduated from Pilgrim High. She attended Rhode Island College for two years but decided that teaching was not for her. After working as a nanny for a while, she enrolled at Katherine Gibbs and graduated at the top of her class. She studied business administration and worked for the Gilbane Corporation for several years, starting at age 19.
 
In 1996, Christine moved with her family to Wakefield, then in 2000 she married, moved to West Kingston, and started a new job. In 2002 she had a daughter and took some time off to raise her. Fast forwarding to today, Christine is: divorced, the mother of a 19-year old CCRI student, living part-time with a partner in Dennisport, riding a Harley, raising chickens, and watching TikTok videos for fun.    
 
Christine got involved in the nonprofit sector through her mother, who worked with House of Hope, an organization serving homeless people. Starting with a part-time job building a database, Christine’s involvement over 14 years ended with her serving as Chief Operating Officer of Harrington Hall, an 80-bed emergency shelter with supportive services. During those years, she helped set up their fundraising program, advocated at the State House for a $50 million housing bill, and started job training and placement programs that changed women’s lives through building their skills. Christine’s time at House of Hope showed her what supportive services, used creatively, can do to help homeless people.
 
In 2016, Christine moved to South County Health as a Development Officer. She worked on establishing a planned giving program and a business partners program. When Claudia Swain announced her retirement as the hospital’s Vice President for Development, she trained Christine to take over on an interim basis. Despite the challenges presented by Covid, she says that the community has responded well with donations, and that South County Health is now planning a comprehensive campaign that will include some growth, building renovation, and additional parking.
 
Because Christine was formerly a member of Warwick Rotary, she is no stranger to Rotary International. Welcome, Christine!
 
 
 
Photos
 
 
 
Next Meeting:  Thursday February 18, 2020
 
Many thanks to the reporters and photographers!
 
Please make every effort to attend our next Wakefield Rotary meeting.
Better yet, bring a friend!
 
 
 
 
Upcoming Events
Community Service Committee
Feb 15, 2021 5:00 PM
 
Board of Directors Meeting
Old Mountian Lanes
Feb 16, 2021 4:00 PM
 
Community Service Committee
Mar 15, 2021 5:00 PM
 
Board of Directors Meeting
Old Mountian Lanes
Mar 16, 2021 4:00 PM
 
View entire list
CLUB CALENDAR
Bulletin Editor
Russell Bertrand
(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)
Speakers
Feb 18, 2021
Nellie M. Gorbea, RI Secretary of State
Bond Proposals
Feb 25, 2021
Vanessa Venturini, State Program Leader
Master Gardener Progam Projects
Mar 04, 2021
Kathy Collins, URI VP of Student Affairs
Food Insecurity on Campus
Mar 25, 2021
Chris van Hemelrijck
Water for Cambodia
View entire list
Russell Hampton
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