Stonington Rotarian Sabrina Buehler has been in Zambia at Chikumbuso. Pictured above with Whyness, one of the students that we have been helping to educate.
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Westerly
Celebrating Sixty-Five Years June 28, 1958-2023
Celebrating Sixty-Five Years June 28, 1958-2023
Former Westerly Rotarian Dawn Robinson visited our group last Monday evening. She is employed by Barnum Financial Group and their founder, Paul Blanco, established a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called Foundation for Life. It's mission is "to improve the quality of life for the people and families we serve through actions that promote change and deepen connections within our community." As they have done previously, partnering with Valenti Subaru, a very special event will occur at 4 Langworthy Road on May 18 beginning at 11:00am. 35 children have been selected by Elementary School Principals and invited to attend with their families for a celebration of the child's success in school. Dinner will be provided by WHS Culinary students. The children will participate in a pie contest and then they will be invited to select their very own bicycle.
Rotarians are invited to volunteer their morning to assist Dawn to make this event a complete success. Friday evening she requires about 4 people to help assemble the bikes. Saturday morning we will serve dinner and assist with the bike lineup. Let Derin or Rose know if you're volunteering.
Rotary strives to create and maintain an experience for members and participants that reflects our fundamental values, empowers people to contribute at their fullest potential, and celebrates people as they are. Our core values - service, fellowship, diversity, integrity and leadership - align with our commitment to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all.
Dora brought to our attention Monday evening that finally our Rosie the Riveters were going to be honored on April 10th by receiving the Congressional Gold Medal - an honor long overdue. At the rosietheriveter.org website, I found an article by Tammy Brumley about the long journey of Rosie Mae Krier (Boeing, Seattle WA) and the late Rosie Phyllis Gould (journeyman welder at Kaiser Shipyards, Richmond CA) to get recognition for all the Rosies. Their goal had been to achieve "a Rosie the Riveter Day to spotlight what our Nation's women did in a time when our country, and the world, needed them the most." March 21st was celebrated as National Rosie the Riveter Day during Women's History Month in 2016 but not to become a Federal holiday. They then set their sights on the Congressional Gold Medal and the RtRCGM Act HR01773 was passed November 12, 2020. Mae and Phyllis worked together on a medal design until Phyllis passed away in 2021. Mae continued their work along with Phyllis' daughter and the Gold Medal design committee.
Dora Vasquez-Hellner has been chosen to be one of this year's Westerly Armory's Honorees at the Annual Appreciation Evening which will take place on April 6th. Other honorees are Tom O'Connell, Gail Quattromani and Chief Byron Brown. Armory member cost is $25, Non-member cost is $40. Dinner will be catered by Bogue's Alley. If you plan to attend, please let Rose know. We will make reservations for Club members.
Remember the following in your prayers and perhaps with a card or two: Karen Hanson
Meetings will be in person but spaced appropriately
15 Apr: Bruce Fellman, Environmental Journalist
22 Apr: Carly Callahan, Executive Director of The United
29 Apr: March, April Students of the Month at Highland Grille, Babcock Hall
13 May: Mark Patinkin, Providence Journal & Nationally Syndicated Journalist
4 May: Day of Service at Frank Olean Center - let Derin or Rose know if you're participating
6 May: Board meeting at 4:30
13 May: Mark Patinkin, Providence Journal & Nationally Syndicated Journalist - invite guests and let Derin
or Rose know how many attending
20 May: Jane Perkins, Watch Hill FD Captain
1 June: Charitable/Scholarship Dinner Auction at The Cooked Goose - register to attend $100 per person
3 June: Board meeting at 4:30
22 June: Chorus of Westerly Summer Pops
Steve, John and Bob leading us in The Rotary Welcome Song written by Rotarian Ed Smalley
Remember those in need and bring canned goods either to meeting or to Avie's Ski/Sport by month's end. These items will be distributed to The Jonnycake Center of Westerly, the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center and RI Center Assisting those in Need.
Club Home - We are meeting at The Frank Olean Center next to Rotary Park, Monday, 5:30pm. Gina & Stephanie will send the sandwich/salad menu on or about Wednesday for the next Monday meeting; respond to them at gbrancato@navigantcu.org and snorthup@navigantcu.org by Saturday Noon. If you don't receive a reply from within 24 hours, please contact them again. Please respond whether ordering or not as it will help us to know how many will be attending meeting.
Covid Aid Goes On....
18 Mar 2023 marked three years that our Club "had been making food and health item deliveries to area residents who are elderly, infirm, or without transportation. Although the pace has slowed a bit, the need is still great." Rona reports that 327 deliveries, as of 13 April, have been made since the program began in 2020.
Take responsibility for website and newsletter. Excellent tutorials in Clubrunner. Contact Rose at ra.russo@cox.net or 401.315.5868
The Children's Library is looking for volunteers to read children's books. They will be videotaped for later use. Please contact Rona at six07co@att.net if interested. Nine volunteers have signed on.
Wishing Well at McQuade's Marketplace
The wishing well was emptied last week. We're delighted to report that $14,104.95 has been donated by the McQuade's community since we began to maintain the Club's financial history in Quickbooks in 2009.
Our Vision: We seek to create, locally and globally, a culture of peace in which the inherent worth and dignity of every living being is honored and respected and conflicts are resolved nonviolently.
Our Mission: To create activities, programs and projects focused on creating a culture of peace as well as working with other community groups and organizations engaged in similar endeavors.
Link to Frank Thacker's Daily Peacemaker: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/jHESfbkHSf7jXw0u/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world. Consider making your Every Rotarian, Every Year contribution of $25, $100 or more as early as possible. If you send your contribution directly to Rotary Foundation, please let Rose know. Eighteen members have contributed since 1 July. For the 13th consecutive year, the Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating - FOUR STARS - from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S. - ranked #4 in the top ten best charities list.
The Polio Plus Society of District 7950
Pledge to help Rotary make history by continuing to contribute $100 or more each year until the World Health Organization certifies that polio has been fully eradicated because Until the world is polio-free, every child is at risk. Society members will received a PolioPlus Society membership pin and certificate. Your contribution qualifies for Paul Harris Recognition and Major Donor Credit. To make your tax-deductible donation go to my.rotary.org/donate and click on "Polio Fund". You can choose a one-time donation of $100 or more, or a recurring donation in the amount and frequency of your choice. Please email form to the District 7950 Polio Plus Society Chair Kristine David at kd7950@gmail.com or mail it to 112 Port Circle, Warwick RI 02889. Your PolioPlus Society certificate and pin will be presented at a club meeting to make sure you are recognized for your commitment to polio eradication.
The lockbox above was installed on John Street - it's location must be easy to find and close to the front door for quick access by First Responders.
If you know of someone who is "at risk" and can benefit from having a lockbox installed at their home, please contact the Westerly Police Department or Officer Mills at the non-emergency Phone Number 401.596.2022. Our lockboxes are provided to residents, as needed, free of charge. Also, if other groups wish to donate lockboxes to the Westerly Police Department, please purchase them from McQuade's Ace Hardware. We are being awarded special pricing and have delivered 63 lockboxes to Officer Mills for distribution as of this month.
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SERVICE ABOVE SELF
Westerly, RI 02891
United States of America