Welcome to the Rotary Club of Westerly
Celebrating Sixty-Six Years  June 28, 1958-2024
 

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

We meet In Person
Mondays at 5:30 p.m.
The Frank Olean Center
93 Airport Road
Westerly, RI 02891
United States of America
Phone:
(401) 315-5868
Email:
ra.russo@cox.net
Please call ahead if visiting. Dinners are ordered by Saturday and delivered just before meeting. Contact Derin at 401.787.5575 or Alan at 401.623.1577.
District Site
Venue Map
Home Page Stories
Tom Foley, Director United Music School
13 January we were so fortunate to have as our guest speaker none other than Tom Foley, guitarist/singer/director of United Music School.  This is a 501 (c)(3) organization "in partnership with Knickerbocker Music Center and United Theatre".  Over two dozen teachers give over 400 one-on-one lessons weekly in bagpipes, banjo, baritone, bass guitar, button accordion, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, harp, mandolin, percussion, piano, saxophone, tin whistle, trombone, trumpet, ukulele, viola, violin and voice as well as a "variety of arts education opportunities in fine arts, digital design, photography, film studies and podcasting" - all with a goal to "create a community of creative thinkers, leaders and lifelong learners."  For more information about UMS go to https://unitedmusicschool.org  or email music.school@unitedtheatre.org  or call 401.388.8483.
Scholarship Recipients June 2024
As with the rules established by our Scholarship Policy, scholarship recipients must attend a Club dinner meeting during Christmas break to talk briefly about their college experience and to receive their scholarship.  So, on 16 December meeting we were happy to meet Camden Kelly and Nicholas Tria with their parents, the two of our Scholarship recipients.                                
They were followed, on 6 January, by Andrew Plumpton and Kaylee Chim
   
Andrew is at Duke University in BioMed Engineering and Kaylee is at University of Virginia in Nursing
And finally on 13 January, Geena Falcone and Samuel Marchese came to visit with their parents.
   
Both are studying at University of Rhode Island - Geena in Nursing and Sam in Marine Biology and Animal Science
Prospective New Member
Janet Joy has been attending our meetings for the past three weeks with every intention of becoming a member of our Club.  Her daughter is a member of Chariho's Interact Club.  Janet has submitted her application and a fireside chat will be happening soon.  If anyone has a reason NOT to accept Janet's nomination, please get in touch with President Alan as soon as possible.
 
Nov & Dec2024 Students of the Month
November Student of the Month Easton French with President Alan and Principal Moulin.  Easton came to WHS from East Greenwich and hopes to attend Villanova in Sports Management.
December Student of the Month Maurice Dunn with President Alan and Principal Moulin.  Maurice is hoping for Rhode Island College or Johnson & Wales to study Sports Marketing and Entertainment.
 
Special thanks to Nigrelli's Jewelry for the generous support of this important program.
Other Notes
Meetings will be in person but spaced appropriately
20 Jan:    M L King Holiday - NO Meeting
25 Jan:    MidYear District Meeting @ NE Institute of Technology (8am to Noon)
27 Jan:    Tish Rabe - Children's book author, singer, songwriter
3 Feb:      Board Meeting & Jan, Feb Students of the Month
8 Feb:      Love Letters starring Rona Mann & Cal Lord - this is a fundraiser to benefit the Granite Theatre
10 Feb:    Seth Mastin & Matthew Mania of Higher Frequency Media
17 Feb:    President's Day - NO Meeting
24 Feb:
3 Mar:     Board Meeting 4:30
10 Mar:
17 Mar:
24 Mar:
31 Mar:    Dr Linda Stillman
Steve, John and Bob leading us in The Rotary Welcome Song written by Rotarian Ed Smalley
 
Food Collection Program
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 and the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center.
 
Club Home -   We are meeting at The Frank Olean Center next to Rotary Park, Monday, 5:30pm.  Gina & Angie will send the sandwich/salad menu on or about Wednesday for the next Monday meeting; respond to them at gbrancato@navigantcu.org and aswain@navigantcu.org by Sunday 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 2024 marked four 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 341 deliveries, as of 16 December, have been made since the program began in 2020. 
 
Creative Opportunity
Take responsibility for website and newsletter.  Excellent tutorials in Clubrunner. Contact Rose at ra.russo@cox.net or 401.315.5868
 
New Projects
29 March 2025 is the tentative date for a Chowder CookOff event which will be held at the Windjammer.  There will be a meeting at Grey Sail's Tap Room on Tuesday at 4:00pm if anyone is interested in joining the committee step up preparations for this event.
 
Also in process is the Brick Walk at Rotary Park.  We have partnered with an organization called Bricks R Us.  The committee met 15 January and will soon have brochures to begin "selling".  We will have website access also for purchases directly.  More will be available very soon.
Peace & Justice
      Peace & Justice Committee of Rotary Club of Westerly     
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/DD4HY2mmK2Bf7G4p/?mibextid=WC7FNe
 
Peace Pole dedication 22Oct2018
 
Rotary's Four Roles in Promoting Peace (from www.rotary.org/ourcauses....
Practitioners:  Our work fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, improving the health of mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies directly builds the optimal conditions for peaceful societies.
Educators:  Our Rotary Peace Centers (seven of them) have trained more than 1,700 peace fellows to become effective catalysts for peace through careers in government, education, and international organizations.
Mediators:  Our members have negotiated humanitarian ceasefires in areas of conflict to allow polio vaccinators to reach children who are at risk.
Advocates:  Our members have an integral role as respected, impartial participants during peace processes and in post-conflict reconstruction.  We focus on creating communities and convening groups that are connected, inclusive and resilient.
 
Rotary Action Group for Peace Memo
An urgent humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Lebanon.  With over 1,000,000 people displaced and a nation already battered by adversity, the situation is dire.  The Rotary, Rotaract and Interact Clubs of Lebanon are on the front lines, tirelessly providing immediate relief and essential supplies to those in need.
Rotary Foundation
Posted on Dec. 31, 2024
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.    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".  Payment should be made payable to Rotary Foundation and give to Rose for proper handling.      
 
As of 13 January, 11 members have contributed to either "EREY" and/or "Polio Plus"                                                                                                                              
Read more...
Westerly's Lockbox Program
Posted on Aug. 30, 2023
   
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.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
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.
Greetings

Alan Brinton

member photo
 
 
Club Executives & Directors
President
Alan Brinton
President Elect
Suzanne Lane
Vice President
Jeffrey Wendth
Secretary
Kathryn Taylor
Treasurer
Rosemarie Russo
Immediate Past President
Derin Temel
Rotary Foundation
Bob Elmer
Membership Chair
Derin Temel
Public Image
Rona Mann
Other
Bob Lane
Site Pages
Photo Albums
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • Brandon Gidicsin
    January 3
  • Danny Alvino
    January 11
  • Bob Lane
    January 18
  • Andrew Clapham
    January 21
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
  • Dave Hellner
    January 14
  • Bob Lane
    January 18
  • Andy Clapham
    January 21
Anniversaries:
  • Bob Elmer
    Ada Elmer
    January 14
Join Date:
  • Theodore Avedesian
    January 1, 1994
    31 years
  • Mary Lennon
    January 9, 2008
    17 years
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Rotary's response to U.S.'s plan to withdraw from World Health

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The liberation of Julie Mulligan

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Mailing Address:  Rotary Club of Westerly, PO Box 407, Westerly RI 02891