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Club Newsletter
The Rotary Club of Wakefield, Rhode Island
Monday, October 23, 2017
Photos:  Sandy Cutting
RITUALS
Greeter: Spencer Seitz
Pledge and 4-Way Test:  Pam Ancheta
Prayer: Ben Bardo
Song: Marion Humphrey
VISITING ROTARIAN AND GUEST INTRODUCTIONS
Lori Horton deftly handled introductions.  Fran Alexakos had two guests Sharon Kernan and Mary Ann Scott.  Steve White was accompanied by his wife, Maureen White.
ROTARY MINUTE
President Pam Ancheta presented this week's Rotary Minute:
 
Although her initial announcement about a Second-Wednesday Social event planned jointly with URI/Rotaracters for November 8th will need to be put off for another date (Pam was texted at the end of the meeting about the need to cancel those plans), the purpose of this announcement is to emphasize efforts being made to work together with that club.  The Charitable Committee Chair, Harv Whitley, has been emailed by the Rotaract Club's Project Coordinator Jillian Delasanta to propose joint-community service projects to help the environment in South County.
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

--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.

--Saturday, October​ ​28th​ -- URI/ROTARACT EVENT:​ ​​Rock,​ ​Spook​ ​and​ ​Skate!​ ​​It’s​ ​from​ ​​8pm​ ​to​ ​10pm​​ ​at​ ​the  Boss​ ​Ice​ ​Arena​.​ ​Its​ ​$5​ ​per​ ​person​ ​for​ ​the​ ​entrance​ ​fee​ ​and​ ​$5​ ​to​ ​rent  skates.​ ​This​ ​event​ ​is​ ​benefiting​ ​shelter​ ​box.​ ​Get​ ​excited​ ​and​ ​​wear​ ​a  costume!  For more Rotaract events click here

--Thursday, November 2nd -- please bring to this regular meeting personal hygiene items for the VA Hospital in Providence (see COMMITTEE REPORTS in this newsletter)

--Friday, November 3rd -- 3:30pm -- thank-you gathering for OLLI volunteers who helped at this year's Balloon Festival @ The Coast Guard House (40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, RI 028820).  Contact Beth Leconte for further information.

--WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH - 5:00 - 7:00PM -- Second-Wednesday Social -- Sons of Liberty Spirits Company (1425 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown, RI  02879) -- no meeting Thursday, Nov. 9th

--Thursday, November 9th -- Rotary Foundation Dinner @ at the Venus de Milo restaurant (75 Grand Army Highway, Swansea, MA  02777).  Cocktails 5:30-6:45pm.  Dinner 7:00pm.  Master of Ceremonies will Be our own Russ Bertrand.  The featured speaker will be District Rotarian Razia Jan an inspiring role model who opened a girls school in Afghanistan.  Registration for the dinner is $46.50 per person / $465 for a table of 10.  Click here for event flyer.  

--Tuesday, November 14th -- 6:00pm -- Balloon Festival Committee meeting @ Navatek conference room (1080 Kingstown Road, Building 5, Peace Dale, RI 02879)

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
DECISION -- the new regular meeting location & time: 
 
MEETING PLACE: Arturo Joe's, 140 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-3230
  • Welcome 12:00pm / Meeting Start 12:30pm
  • meal cost:  $20/pp
  • menu samples--click here
MEETING TIME: Thursdays @ noon – except on the 2nd week of the month
 
START DATE: Thursday November 2, 2017 (no meeting for Monday, October 30th)
 
NEXT SECOND WEDNESDAY SOCIAL: Wednesday, November 8th (see newsletter's CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS)
COMMITTEE REPORTS
THERE'S STILL TIME -- Toiletry Collection for Veterans' Hospital Patients:
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 regular club meeting: Thursday, November 2nd.  The donations will be delivered to:
Providence VA Medical Center
830 Chalkstone Avenue
:401-273-7100 | 866-363-4486
 
Charitable Committee Reminder: The committee's GRANT APPLICATION FORM is available as a downloadable pdf on the club's website homepage.  Completed forms can be mailed to the club's address on the form or sent as an email attachment to the current committee co-chair Harv Whitley: harvwhitley@gmail.com or hlwhitley@aol.com.
 
IS THIS STILL A "THING," BETSY? -- Treasurers' Mystery Deposits:  Betsy Wisehart is asking club members for help in identifying "mystery deposits".  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:  0 /number of guests:  4  
 
The Club's Sergeant-at-Arms Gene Corl imposed a fine on almost every member attending today's meeting for not commenting to him or Kathy Lindvall about the lighted jack o'lantern at the edge of the sign in table...for shame!
MEMBER NEWS
No birthdays, or anniversaries were noted...but if any member knows of any correction regarding member news for this week please notify the newsletter editor.
HAPPY BUCKS
Pam Ancheta - Acknowledged League of Women Voters South County President Linda Bongiolatti's Athena Award nomination from The Chamber of Commerce of the Ocean Communities & paid a fine for ignoring the jack o'lantern 
 
Betsy Wisehart - paid a jack o'lantern fine; talked about the importance of of breast cancer screenings after watching an interview with TV host Joan Lunden talking about the disease; and her "baby" recently turned 30-years-old
 
Spencer Seitz - reminded everyone about donating hygiene items for the Vet Hospita; he had collected items and will bring those in at the next meeting.  Also mentioned former Wakefield Rotarian Kyle Stewart's business is collecting coats to donate for a charitable project and Spencer requested that those interested in contributing to this donation drop items off at his office.
 
Gene Corl - thanked his partner at the check-in table, Kathy Lindvall, for all the help she's been offering to club meetings--as well as Joe Norris, too.  And mentioned that with the new meeting time Kathy won't be able to attend regular meetings, Darn!
 
Yan Sun - requested photos of fellow Wakefield Rotarians for a music project that her children have written song for--which will be posted on YouTube.  Please contact Yan for further details to help her out.
 
Lori Horton - missed meetings
TODAY'S PRESENTATION -  Providence Journal Executive Editor
Alan Rosenberg - Executive Editor, The Providence Journal
 
Much of Alan Rosenberg's introduction and professional background is covered in this article when he became Executive Editor in May 2017:  click here.  Here is a highlight of other topics presented and discussed during Q&A:
 
  • On why there is not more regional coverage--especially in South County:  declining advertising revenue has resulted in staffing cuts for particular areas of the state.  There was lamenting of the recent announced closing of Benny's discount stores because it is a major retailer that is now not going to pay for ads.  Also there is ad revenue competition from Amazon & other online retailers that don't need to advertise in local papers.  Other online businesses like Craigslist and E-Bay has also cut into classified advertising.
  • Alan Rosenberg discussed other revenue options for The Projo -- contracting out printing operations to other publications; hosting fundraiser events like awards & recognition programs and mentioned a recent event that headlined musician, singer-songwriter and Providence native Jeffrey Osborne.
  • A discussion about the controversy in our nation regarding the origin of "fake news" brought up the editorial standards of the Projo and Alan Rosenberg gave an example of how he stopped a national sexual harassment story from leading the front page of the paper; also an example of bias accusations against the newspaper was brought up and the Executive Editor talked about how he contacted the reader clarifying that his accusation of omitting news stories was actually the cycling of headlines news on the website that the reader missed because he didn't fully review all the listed headlines.
  • Alan Rosenberg replies to ALL inquiries and complaints directed to him...to the surprise of many who submit comments.
ADJOURNMENT
NEXT MEETING:  Thursday, November 2, 2017 & President-Elect Tom Tarzwell will be presiding.
Upcoming Events
Second Wednesday Social
Sons of Liberty Spirits Company
Nov 08, 2017
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
 
Rotary Foundation Dinner
Venus de Milo
Nov 09, 2017 5:30 PM
 
Thank You Notes
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
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