Sorry to say October is more than half over and I’m just getting the newsletter out, but it’s because there’s been so much good stuff happening. Here goes…

 

One thing everyone agrees on is that gaining ground lost due to the pandemic will be a challenge. However, we are the original Come Back Kids, and we will have the opportunity to live up to our reputation once again!

 

It’s also the month that honors World Polio Day – October 24^th. The theme for World Polio Day 2020 is ”A win against polio is a win for global health.” This year we celebrate Africa’s wild polio-free certification. As you know, that leaves just two countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan, as the only remaining holdouts. For a very interesting trip through the history of this fight, from within our own district, be sure to click here to read PDG Lou Marciano’s article.

 

In that context, this month’s highlighted committee is the Polio Plus Committee chaired by Rotarian Henry Atterbury. You may contact him or any member of his committee for help in the fight to eliminate polio. His contact information is in the District Directory and on the district web site, as are all the others:

 

Henry Atterbury, Chariho, Chair

Jeanne Abate, PAGC, Chariho

Joseph Clancy, PDG, Weymouth

Kristine Musco David, PDG, DRFC, Providence

Lou Marciano, PDG, Cranston

Charlie Murphy, PDG, Fairhaven

David Clifton, PDG, Sharon

Robert Elmer, PP, Westerly

Mike Dubois, PAG, Woonsocket

Sharon Johnson, AG, Scituate, R.I.

 

AG Brad Boyd reports on the Habitat for Humanity Bike Ride. The day was perfect - cool weather, almost no breeze. Great for biking. The team raised almost $15,000 -- $2,500 above the goal. Our Rotary 2 Wheel Test team had 29 members! I think 16 from my Harwich Dennis club. Just a great event all around!!

 

 

What an opportunity – what a challenge! To no one’s surprise, District 7950 rose to the Challenge, identified who would best benefit from this wonderfully generous gift and deployed our resources to make it happen! A very special Thank You to Lori DiPersio, Art Norwalk, PDG Bill Tennant, All Assistant Governors, the balance of the Continuity Team and all the participating clubs in the district.

Due to interstate travel restrictions, we ended up presenting two separate public image events to mark the acceptance of this wonderful gift. The fun part is happening, now, as Rotarians are actively distributing the masks in their communities.

 

We are most grateful to Ted Rossi, the Rossi Family Foundation and our friend and neighbor, District 7890, for the generous gift of 120,000 high quality surgical masks for distribution to first responders, nursing homes, fire and police, among others, within District 7950.

 

President’s Volunteer Service Award
Bridgewater area volunteers, Janet Dye, Frances Jeffries and Steve Savrann have been recognized by the US Presidential Administration and humanitarian organization, ShelterBox USA, with the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their efforts in 2019 to provide emergency shelter and supplies to people who lost their homes to natural disaster or fled because of civil conflict. These volunteers are members of the Rotary Clubs of The Bridgewaters and Sharon.

 

A BIG Shout-Out to every member of the Rotary Club of The Bridgewaters for being the first club to have every member registered on the MyRotary web site!! That means that each Rotarian can check for Rotary news, find all kinds of help – for example in the Brand center, and, most importantly from my perspective, peruse The Learning Center to learn all things Rotary! We all love a little competition – who wants to follow suit?!

 

Virtual Vibrant Club Workshops
Session one, the very timely, “How to be a Change Agent” was very interesting and informative. Session 2, “What Really Matters to the Rotary Foundation” is scheduled for October 22, 7:00 p.m. The last session, “Taking your Public Image to the Next Level” will be presented October 29, also at 7:00 p.m. I hope to see you there – on Zoom of course.