Million Dollar Meal at Rotary Park with DG Joe Clancy
Posted by Rosemarie Russo
Monday, 30 July 2012, the membership, spouses, Past District Governor Bill and Tina Vangel, District Governor Joe and Geraldine Clancy and ADG Russ Bertrand joined together over pot luck side dishes and desserts with hot dogs and hamburgers grilled by Honorary member Joe Potter assisted by his wife, Carol, and daughter, Cindy. All proceeds collected went to Rotary Foundation. Some members chose to "kick start" EREY by bringing that contribution along as well.
After eating heartily from all the wonderful dishes, we moved from the picnic area to the park's Children's Garden and DG Joe spoke to all about the successes of last year's efforts by PDG Vangel and of the goals that he (DG Joe) planned to achieve through his year of service. He spoke also about the "moment that changed him and opened his heart to the needs of others" as a new Rotarian in the Weymouth Rotary Club back in 1995 - delivering Christmas gifts to a family. His charge to Rotarians is to "keep your priorities straight - family, business and Rotary."
President Cal received his Paul Harris Fellow with one sapphire Pin from DG Joe. Congratulations to Cal!! The Paul Harris Society, named after Rotary's founder, recognizes donors who contribute US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund. For each subsequent $1,000 to $6,999 contributed a sapphire, up to five, is added; these are followed by one to three rubies for gifts of $7,000 to $9,999.
The Board and membership voted to award a Paul Harris Fellow to Rosemarie Russo. As she was about to take a photo shot of DG Joe, she was called to step into the gazebo. DG Joe told the attendees of the origin of the Paul Harris Fellow Society and of the many honorees, such as Mother Teresa. [Editor Note: What an honor this was for me. I so wished that my sons were there and couldn't wait to get home to share this with them via email. As if it wasn't enough to have been awarded the Unsung Hero Award and the Best Newsletter Award at the District Conference. When we met earlier in the day for our Board Meeting, Bob Elmer casually asked me when and why I joined. I told him how impressed I was with the 50th Anniversary articles that were in The Westerly Sun. As a fairly new resident of Westerly and now a "semi-retired" person, I was looking to to become part of an organization that contributes to their community. I soon found myself filling up all those "nonpaid working" hours with Rotary tasks. I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with some very special people and we have done some really good things in these four years together for our community and internationally. I am honored and very grateful.]
See the MDM July2012 Photo Album for more pictures
After eating heartily from all the wonderful dishes, we moved from the picnic area to the park's Children's Garden and DG Joe spoke to all about the successes of last year's efforts by PDG Vangel and of the goals that he (DG Joe) planned to achieve through his year of service. He spoke also about the "moment that changed him and opened his heart to the needs of others" as a new Rotarian in the Weymouth Rotary Club back in 1995 - delivering Christmas gifts to a family. His charge to Rotarians is to "keep your priorities straight - family, business and Rotary."
President Cal received his Paul Harris Fellow with one sapphire Pin from DG Joe. Congratulations to Cal!! The Paul Harris Society, named after Rotary's founder, recognizes donors who contribute US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund. For each subsequent $1,000 to $6,999 contributed a sapphire, up to five, is added; these are followed by one to three rubies for gifts of $7,000 to $9,999.
The Board and membership voted to award a Paul Harris Fellow to Rosemarie Russo. As she was about to take a photo shot of DG Joe, she was called to step into the gazebo. DG Joe told the attendees of the origin of the Paul Harris Fellow Society and of the many honorees, such as Mother Teresa. [Editor Note: What an honor this was for me. I so wished that my sons were there and couldn't wait to get home to share this with them via email. As if it wasn't enough to have been awarded the Unsung Hero Award and the Best Newsletter Award at the District Conference. When we met earlier in the day for our Board Meeting, Bob Elmer casually asked me when and why I joined. I told him how impressed I was with the 50th Anniversary articles that were in The Westerly Sun. As a fairly new resident of Westerly and now a "semi-retired" person, I was looking to to become part of an organization that contributes to their community. I soon found myself filling up all those "nonpaid working" hours with Rotary tasks. I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with some very special people and we have done some really good things in these four years together for our community and internationally. I am honored and very grateful.]
See the MDM July2012 Photo Album for more pictures
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