Welcome to the Rotary Club of Westerly
Celebrating Sixty-Three Years  June 28, 1958-2021
 

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

We meet In Person
Mondays at 5:30 PM
Franklin Lodge #20 Masonic Hall
20 Elm Street
Westerly, RI 02891
United States of America
Phone:
(401) 315-5868
Email:
ra.russo@cox.net
Please call ahead if visiting. Dinners are ordered on Saturday and delivered just before meeting. Contact Rona at 401.539.7762 or Ted 401.742.2515
District Site
Venue Map
Home Page Stories
Alison Croke, President of Wood River Health
Louise Dinsmore, Pres Ted, Alison Croke and Sarah Channing
 
President & CEO Alison was excited to speak to us about Wood River Health and its growth since it had its beginning in Hope Valley in 1976.  With its mission "to improve the health and well-being of our community by providing high quality, coordinated health and support services, accessible to all", this 501(c)(3) organization serves Charlestown, Richmond, Hopkinton, Exeter, West Greenwich and Westerly.  A second location was opened July 2019 in Westerly.  The health center accepts patients regardless of their ability to pay - charges are based on a sliding fee scale.  Services provided include primary medical care, dental care, behavioral health care, care management/community resources, women/infant/children on-site, lab.
Recognizing the need to expand programs and care, WRH has begun a Capital Campaign to expand their current facility - an two-story addition to the current Main Street facility - that will expand clinical space by 57% and "create a first floor entirely dedicated to clinical services and patient care."  The dental program's "footprint will be expanded" as well as the Behavioral Health program.  They plan to have an on-site pharmacy and rotating Specialist Space, such as cardiology, physical therapy, determatology and other services.
WRH has already raised $800,000 with an "aspirational goal of $1 Million to support a $3.5 million project" with grants from Champlin Foundation, Delta Dental Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, Washington Trust and more.  To find out more or to donate, go to https://www.mightycause.com/organization/Wood-River-Health-Services.
First Responders' Event
  
 
   
 
     
 
A very special thank you to all our First Responders who protect us every day.  This celebration included Central Baptist Church, Christ Church, the Westerly Band, the St. Edmund's Pipe & Drum, many of our local clergy and Rotary members - but our honored guests were the Police, Fire and Ambulance Departments.
Adam Young of SIFT
Adam Young of SIFT Bakery with just a couple of his 150 employees.  He spoke about his beginnings from home on a Vermont farm to traveling and working around the country as a pastry chef.  He arrived in Rhode Island in 2010 taking a position with The Ocean House where he met Ebbie.  Six years later the two opened SIFT with 13 employees and have built, with lots of hard work and dedication three companies and 150 employees.  Adam said he found that people no longer worked just for a paycheck but also wanted to love what they were doing.  So, building a "culture environment" of a loyal staff even during the pandemic was important to him.  His staff stayed employed for the eight works of closure and happily returned when they re-opened with curbside service.  In his new book "SIFT", Adam shares his skill, knowledge, techniques and, of course, his recipes.  
 
Newest additions to SIFT are the Rooftop & Bar MIX, Young Buns Doughnuts and Adam T Young Confections.  Check out their website at www.siftbakeshopmystic.com or visit them at 5 Water Street in Mystic.
 
Shown below are Adam with President Ted and Father-in-law Bob Elmer auctioning off Adam's book.  The winner was Julie Lord.
   
 
October Student of the Month
WHS Assistant Principal Kevin Cronin, who knew our October Student Sienna Fusaro at Westerly Middle School, happily introduced her to our membership.  Mr. Cronin described Sienna as a person who would make a difference, talented, scholarly and kind.   An honor roll student and involved in many activities as well as putting in over 67 hours of community service assisting the Ocean Community Chamber's various activities.
Again we gratefully thank Nigrelli's Jewelry for donating and making the plaque.
Golf Tournament  4Oct2021
Golf Committee Co-Chairs are Frank Livingston (flivingston98@gmail.com) and Derin Temel (temelderin@yahoo.com)
Event returned to normal with Noon ShotGun start.  Unfortunately, the rain Gods prevailed during the day but most hearty players continued valiantly onward.  The Winners were:
      1st Place Gross:  Tom Bivona, Douglas Bottaro, Matthew Carbray, Kevin Tabellione
      2nd Place Gross:  Bill Collins, Frank Livingston, Keith Murphy, Mike Panciera
      1st Place Net:  Steve Dimitriou, Dan Fratalia, Jay Thompson, John Uricchio
      2nd Place Net:  Andrew Rose, John Tillistrand, David Vandal, John Willenborg
      Closest to the Pin -Men:  Mal Makin
      Closest to the Pin -Women:  Kim Rayner-Russell
      Longest Drive -Men:  Tyler Carlson
      Longest Drive -Women:  Judy O'Connell
 
SPONSORS
    Gold Sponsor
            Professional Planning Group
    Silver Sponsor
           Grey Sail Brewing Co
           Westerly Community Credit Union
    Bronze Sponsor
           Bank RI
           Bouvier Insurance   
    Sponsor
           Thorpe & Trainer
    Hole In One Sponsor   
           Valenti Subaru
    Tee Sponsor        
           Alvino, Dan & Florence
           Ashaway Line & Twine
           Avie's Ski/Sport
           Beachcrest Dental
           Bob & Marty Boughner
           Bogue's Alley
           BPS Lawyers
           Breezeway Resort
           Central Baptist Church
           Chariho Furniture
           D'Angelo Sandwich Shop
           DMR Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Inc
           Dunns Corners Chiropractic Center
           Dunns Corners Market
           Edward Jones Investments
           Evie & Steve Cofone
           Focus (First) Physical Therapy LLC
           Frank Hall Boat Yard, Inc
           Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home
           Giamalis and Company LLC
           Ginger's Service Station
           Gray Goose Cookery
           Grey Sail Brewing Co
           Hilltop Cafe
           Hoof's Restaurant
           Hotel Maria
           Hoyt, Filippetti & Malaghan LLC
           Lamb & Lion Inn on Cape Cod
           Mansfield Insurance Agency
           Margin Street Inn
           Maria's Seaside Cafe
           Mia's Prime Time Cafe
           Michael A Cozzolino Painting
           Midas
           Misquamicut Business Association
           Joe & Carol Potter
           Randall Realtors
           Douglas & Jean Rayner
           Rebecca J Woodward, DMD &
                Adam S Kaufman, DMD
           Reforest the Tropics Inc
           Robert H Lord Co.
           Royal Health
           Seaside Pharmacy
           South County Auto
           The Cooked Goose
           The Jonnycake Ctr of Westerly
           The Westerly Sun
           Toscano's Mens Shop
           Urso, Liguori & Micklich PC
           Valenti Subaru
           WBLQ
           Westerly Dental Group
           William T Sisco CPA             
               
See "4Oct2021 Tournament" photo album for more pictures - special thanks to Kathryn Taylor, Steve Cofone and Cal Lord for their photos.  A HUGE thank you to the SHGC staff !!!!
 
 
 
Other Notes
Frank Thacker's wife, Karen Hanson, is at home to continue her recovery - 38 Valley Drive, Westerly RI 02891.
Julie was back at meeting this week and we said a fond goodby to Deb Macauley as she heads south this weekend.
 
24 Oct:  First Responders' event at Central Baptist Church and Christ Church beginning at 4:00
 
25 Oct:  Alison Croke, Exe Dir of Wood River Health and Can Do Week - remember to bring food items to Avie's
 
29 Oct:  Golf Tournament meeting at Avie's, 8:30 am.
 
1 Nov:  Board meeting at 4:30
 
6 Nov:  Veterans' Day Parade beginning at 9:30am - Doug has volunteered his truck.  Would be great to have one or two Veterans riding along with him.
 
8 Nov: Visitation by District Governor William "Billy" Roberts - Board meeting at 4:30pm
 
10 Nov:  Club is hosting Ocean Community Chamber "After Hours" - expect 30-40 attendees
 
12 Nov:  District 7950 Foundation Dinner Cocktails 5:30pm, dinner 6:00pm at Rosebrook Ctr Wareham MA.  Please let Rose know if you plan to go.  Tickets are $65 per person.
 
15 Nov:  Rotary & Lions hosting Pasta Dinner to benefit Jonnycake Ctr's Fuel Assistance Fund - take out dinners - flyers are ready for posting everywhere.  Tickets were delivered to all members - SELL!!!!!!!
 
22 Nov:  Stonington & Westerly High Schools' Football Night at 6:00pm
 
26 Nov:  Stonington Tree Lighting - Buoy Tree
 
29 Nov:  Ryan Saunders from Chorus of Westerly
 
6 Dec:  Board meeting at 4:30; Annual meeting -election of 2022/23 officers
 
12 Dec:  Christmas Light Parade 6pm  Rain date 19 Dec
 
13 Dec:  November & December Student of the Month
 
Club Home - It has been decided to remain at the Westerly Masonic Hall at 20 Elm Street with catering by various restaurants. Easiest to enter  via Central Baptist Church driveway, go down toward the back lot but turn right and you will find yourself at the back of the Masonic Hall and entrance.  Please bring your own beverage.   Dora will send the sandwich/salad menu on or about Wednesday for the next Monday meeting; respond to Dora (abndora@aol.com) with your food order by Saturday morning.
 
Covid Aid
 March 18th marks one year that our Club "has been making food and health item deliveries to area residents who are elderly, infirm, or without transportation.  Although the pace as slowed a bit, the need is still great."  Rona reports that 193 deliveries have been made during the past year.
 
and so the 4th Generation of Rayners begins to learn the business of Summer Pops....
 
Rotary Foundation
Posted on Sep 27, 2021
Your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world. We recognize donors to express our gratitude for your commitment, offering individual and club recognition as well as naming opportunities that enable you to honor a friend or family member with a named or endowed gift.

Every Rotarian, Every Year Club  (EREY)

For clubs that achieve a minimum Annual Fund contribution of $100 per capita during the Rotary year, and every dues-paying member must personally contribute at least $25 to the Annual Fund during the year.  John Hall suggested that members could offer $20 for dinner each week with the difference going toward EREY.  Example:  $20.00 minus $13.50 (dinner cost), leaves $6.50 to either split between Happy/Sad and EREY or apply entirely to EREY.  Great idea, John!!  Monthly the Treasurer will submit the funds to Rotary Foundation under the donor's name.  REMINDER:  if you make your contribution directly to Rotary Foundation, please let your Treasurer know that you have done so.

2021/2022 Donors: Dan Alvino, Ted Avedesian, Bob Boughner, Alan Brinton, Bob Elmer, John Hall, Bob & Suzanne Lane, Cal Lord, Julie Lord, Rona Mann, Doug Rayner, Rose Russo,  Derin Temel, Frank Thacker - 10 to go for full participation by 30June2022.
 
24 October is World Polio Day
"For more than 30 years, Rotary and our partners have driven the effort to eradicate polio worldwide.  Our PolioPlus program was the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication by vaccinating children on a massive scale.  As a core partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary focuses on Advocacy, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and awareness-building.
Rotary members have contributed more than $2.2 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease.  Rotary's advocacy efforts have played a roll in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort."
 
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.
Read more...
Westerly's Lockbox Program
Posted on May 17, 2021
The lockbox above was installed on John Street -  it's location will be easy to find and close to the front door for quick access if needed.  Sadly we were not available to take a picture of Officer Mills installing it.
 
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 in need 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 50 lockboxes to Officer Mills for distribution.
RI VFW Patriotic Event 16-17 Oct 2021
From State VFW Commander and Rotarian Dora Vasquez-Hellner  -  The Old Glory Relay will travel across Rhode Island starting from VFW Post 237 in Bristol from 16 Oct to 17 Oct - the Plan follows:
 
September Student of the Month
Pres Ted, Asst Princ Donna Sweet, Jacob Serra, Mom Courtney Serra
 
Our first student of the 2021/2022 school year  represents the exemplary spirit of Rotary.  Introduced by Assistant Principal Sweet as a "natural born leader", Jacob has been involved in school sports and other activities earning MVPs and other awards.  Somehow he also holds down a part-time job.  When asked how he handles it all, he said "you just figure it out".  Kind and considerate are other adjectives used by Assistant Principal Sweet.  As President of the National Honor Society, Jacob lead its members to assist Chorus of Westerly Summer Pops Chair Doug Rayner with many duties.  Doug was impressed with his willingness to pitch in and do anything asked.  Jacob is still in the process of applying to colleges around the country but his goal is Pre-Med.  We know that this young man will be very successful wherever he goes.
 
Westerly Pee Wee Football
Coach Vacca and Pres Ted
 
Pee Wee Football organization's President Joseph Vacca joined us for dinner Monday event and spoke about the on going needs of maintaining the field and equipment as the kids benefit from the best in coaches while learning the game and what it means to play as a team.  And it isn't just football players, cheerleaders are learning the same goals.  The organization began in 1964 and played all over town until a group of volunteers got the town to donate the land on Old Hopkinton Road.  Then more volunteers graded the land and built a football field, added fencing, a storage shed, a snack shed, parking area.  Through it all there was Coach Vacca working with children, helping them to be better and seeing them grow up to be police officers, doctors, teachers.  And then they come back to coach other children.   An example of the increased costs of the program - a helmet once cost $38 and now the cost is $180.
 
   
   
Greetings

Ted Avedesian

member photo
 
 
Club Executives & Directors
President Elect
Steve Cofone
President
Ted Avedesian
Treasurer
Rosemarie Russo
Secretary
Julie Lord
Rotary Foundation Chair
Bob Elmer
Membership
Cal Lord
Vice President & Public Image Chair
Derin Temel
Director-at-Large
Suzanne Lane
Site Pages
Photo Albums
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • Dora Vasquez-Hellner
    October 12
  • Rona Mann
    October 18
  • Ted Avedesian
    October 19
  • Kathryn Taylor
    October 24
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
  • Jennifer Brinton
    October 31
Anniversaries:
  • Alan Brinton
    Jennifer Brinton
    October 2
  • Bob Lane
    Suzanne Lane
    October 29
  • Suzanne Lane
    Bob Lane
    October 29
Join Date:
  • Rona Mann
    October 19, 1989
    32 years
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Speakers
Ryan Saunders, Exe Dir
Nov 29, 2021
Chorus of Westerly
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Mailing Address:  Rotary Club of Westerly, PO Box 407, Westerly RI 02891