When paying with a Credit Card, fees approach $1 per transaction, Cash is preferred.
Important Message!!!
Bahamas Disaster Relief
President Bob Cruz and Donna Vignali
Fellow Rotarians,
My daughter Alicia is working along side, with Andrew Sharpe, Executive Director of the Caribbean Foundation in Boston, in collecting urgent items needed for the people of the Bahamas. Andrew spoke with the Ambassador from the Bahamas today and he listed the following items as some of the most needed at this time.
Flashlights
Batteries
Insect repellent
Plastic tarps
Water purification kits
First aid kits
Portable lights
Andrew will collect the items from Alicia and he will drive all donations to the Embassy in New York. Everything is going to the Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund coordinated through the Embassy of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Please consider donating one or several of these items. Alicia and I will be at the picnic if you would like to bring them at that time or maybe to next weeks meeting where I will collect them. Your help is appreciated.
Yours in Rotary,
Donna Vignali
Club Business and Announcements
Business: Elizabeth nominated Russell Bertrand to serve on the District 7950 Legislative Council. The members unanimously approved the motion. Our club will nominate him formally by letter.
Announcements:
Our September 12 program will be a visit from the District Governor. Business meeting will be at 11 AM and the regular meeting at noon. All board members should attend.
Event Committee is meeting Tuesday evening at Tom’s office. We have enlisted 10 teams for the fall Bumper Ball Beach Challenge and need 15 more to meet our goal. Please reach out to businesses and organizations to recruit teams of 5 at $500 per team! Highlight that the charities supported by the event are Habitat for Humanity and Easter Seals.
We are preparing a Power Point presentation about the work of the club. If you have any information about the causes we have supported, please send it to Donna Vignali.
Don’t forget the annual picnic this Sunday, September 8, from noon to 3 PM at the Matunuck Community Association, Matunuck Beach Road. Bring an appetizer, snack, salad, or dessert, steak knives and/or nutcrackers. There will be music, games, and an auction (see below).
One of the hot auction items is Lori Horton’s condo in Waterville Valley, which sleeps up to 10 people and includes a fireplace and deck. You can check it out at http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p109357
Other auction items include a new 21-speed men’s mountain bike, a deep sea fishing trip, OLLI gift certificate, wine, and MORE! Also a 50-50 raffle!
Happy Bucks
Harv and his wife are celebrating their 59th anniversary.
Pete Swain just returned from a trip to Maine. He and Claudia are celebrating their 38th.
Fred Frostic’s granddaughter recently was married.
Donna moved into her new house.
Dennis was in Jackson Hole, the Tetons and Yellowstone.
Chris Hart took a 2400 mile motorcycle trip to Nova Scotia.
Linda announced a Trash or Treasure event at the Dunes Club, a fundraiser for the Peace Dale Museum of Art and Culture. She also gave an update on Deidre Durocher, whose home was badly damaged by the last hurricane and is in the path of Dorian.
PROGRAM
Program: Chris Simpson and Marc Archambault, introduced by Beth Leconte, on Dealing with Alzheimer’s
Chris is the Artistic Director of the Contemporary Theater in Wakefield, and Marc is a Sales Associate with Randall Realtors in Wakefield who has an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. They connected last year when the theater did the play “The Father” about a family in which the father develops Alzheimer’s. They realized that they could use theater to educate people about the disease, help people relate to those who have Alzheimer’s, and provide caregivers with tools for communication and self-care to deal with the stress inherent in their role.
Marc discussed his life with Alzheimer’s, how he realized he was developing the disease, family connections (his father also suffered from it) studies he has been involved with, and accommodations he has made to keep working, including taking on an associate. He stressed that support from others helps people with Alzheimer’s in terms of brain functioning, slowing the advancement of the disease, and improving their quality of life. He said that Rhode Island Hospital, Butler Hospital, and the Ryan Center are excellent resources close to home.
Chris explained how he teaches techniques of Improvisational Theater to caregivers and family members in an “Improv for Alzheimer’s” workshop. Useful Improv tools for interacting with patients include relaxation, eye contact, showing empathy, and being present during tough moments.
Both stressed the importance of bringing Alzheimer’s out into the open. They encourage people to acknowledge that people have the disease and not to avoid them. They suggest that instead of asking patients “How are you doing?” People should “say the word”: “How are you doing with Alzheimer’s?” Be there for them, give them a hug or a pat on the arm. Include them in conversations and activities.
Marc shared four books he encourages everyone to read: On Pluto by Craig O’Brien, The 36-Hour Day by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins, Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory by Andrew Budson and Maureen O’Connor, and Being Mortal by Atul Gawande.
.jpg)
