Welcome to the Rotary Club of Westerly
Celebrating Sixty-Seven Years  June 28, 1958-2025

 

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
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.
Home Page Stories
Alesia (Lee) Sadosky has attended the last couple of meetings and desires to transfer her membership from Chariho Club to Westerly.  She has recently retired and is devoting much of her time to volunteering.  She is also a URI Master Gardener and AARP/IRS tax preparer.
If anyone has a comment or objection to Lee's membership, please contact President Alan.
President-Elect Suzanne presented the Children's Library Book to Commissioner Larry.  He presented a series of slides from many of Rhode Island's historic cemeteries.  He said, "Rhode Island is one of few states that has a Commission, a unique system for cemeteries with a central database." At their website, click on "database" and insert the last and first names of your deceased person, and you will find not only where they are located but also a picture of the tombstone and possibly an obituary.  There are 3200 known cemeteries throughout RI's 39 cities and towns.  Farm families had their own family plot and most were on their private property.  Field stones were used because they were readily available and carvers not so much.  Over time many of these private family plot have been lost, stones overturned, woodland growth covering up the family plots. 
The Commission sees their task to identify and protect all cemeteries.  "It is our hope to formulate and develop plans and programs to restore, rehabilitate and maintain historical cemeteries and locate sources of funds such as grant and individual or corporate sponsors."
"Volunteers needed to find cemeteries and get GPS readings - some responsibilities include taking pictures of gravestones, document cemeteries, research deeds, clean cemeteries, and adopt a cemetery." The Commission trains volunteers to properly clean and repair damaged gravestones.  For more information, go to https://rihistoriccemeteries.org or call Larry at 860.485.6776
Meetings will be in person but spaced appropriately
21 Apr:     Megan Toscano, Ocean Community YMCA
22 Apr:     Earth Day
28 Apr:     Mar & Apr Students of the Month
5 May:      Board meeting, 4:30
12 May:    Charisse Duroure - Rebirth of Neighbor Day
17 May:    District "Day of Service"
19 May:    Ethan Bachand - Boy Scouts
2 Jun:       Board meeting, 4:30
7 Jun:       Charitable/Scholarship Dinner -auction items needed!!!!
9 Jun:       Joe Nigrelli's 100th Birthday Celebration
21 Jun:     Chorus of Westerly Summer Pops in Wilcox Park
28 Jun:     Antique Car Club Event at Gen Stanton Inn, 9 to 2
 
District Governor Sharon Johnson joined us for dinner 14 April to introduce the membership to our new Assistant Governor Nancy Kleniewski who hails from the Wakefield Rotary Club.  It is always a pleasure to have our DG's and AG's visit us.  Sharon enthusiastically encouraged membership to attend the District Conference 30May-1Jun, THRIVE event 26 May at White's of Westport, Day of Service events 17 May, 2025/2026 DG Installation on 14 June, International Convention in Calgary 21-25 June.
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 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 2025 marked five 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 345 deliveries, as of 17 March, 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
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 to outline a plan - a brick walk pathway from parking lot to entrance of Children's Garden - about 900 bricks.  Website to purchase:  bricksrus.com/donorsite/rotaryclubofwesterly and brochures and flyers are available from Club members and at member stores.  We hope to have enough sold bricks to complete installation in October.  The flyer is also available on our website - see "Download files"
Friday, 11 April, Greg Powell, the Executive Director of Reforest the Tropics, brought the program to Westerly Middle School.  The 5th Grade Class was in attendance in the auditorium and they had studied a bit about climate change.  Hands up around the room as Greg and Victor in Costa Rica asked for questions, which included everything from "what was his favorite tree" to "how did he protect himself from wildlife living in the Westerly Middle School Forest".  Victor Martinez is our Forester in Costa Rica and Friday he spoke to the students from the N. E. Biolabs Forest.  He said, "three goals of RTT are efficient carbon capture, income for farmers, and biodiversity with habitat wildlife creation."
  
First picture above is Greg Powell greeting Victor our Forester in the WMS Forest in Costa Rica via Zoom.  The second shows a bit of the classroom again with Greg and Teacher Sara Steverman.  Greg is the Executive Director of Reforest the Tropics, succeeding Dr. Herster Barres who founded this organization to effect climate change through the planting of mixed species of trees.  He began the presentation with Victor by showing what once was grazing land for cattle and what it has become since creating a forest that now includes many animal species.  In 2024 about 175 tons of CO2 was stored in the WMS forest.  Special thanks go out to our Dr. Dan Alvino as we learned on Friday that he has donated funds in 2021 to begin a WHS forest.  Most of Friday's class was Spanish spoken and the expression of the day from Victor is Pura Vida (it means Pure Life) but has come to be used like saying "hello", "how are you".  Rotarians attending this event were Janet and Rose.
Be There!!!!!!
 
Bob recently visited his brother, Pete, who is President of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Rotary Club, two towns on the North Shore that borders Lake Michigan north of Chicago.  They were in the process of a preparing a Polio Exhibit at Lake Forest High School which included an Iron Lung exhibit.  Bob is a survivor of polio and lived for a time in an iron lung; thus he agreed to participate in a video that Pete's Club was producing. Below is a picture of the Iron Lung at the exhibit.
Mark your calendar to visit ATY Bar & Bonbons on 13 Water St in Mystic on 17 April and DONATE to END POLIO NOW!!!!
 
 
 
President Alan with Alison Croke, President & CEO of Wood River Health a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has provided "compassionate care since 1976 to residents of Washington County RI" as well as Pawcatuck and North Stonington CT.  "They are a full service medical dental and behavioral health care facility offering patient-centered care." 
Earlier this month US Representative Seth Magaziner visited Wood River Health where "he was told that deep cuts proposed to Medicaid by House Republicans would lead to layoffs, reductions in services for patients and more.  The proposed Medicaid cuts in the federal budget would be financially devastating to health centers and many other providers in Rhode Island.  The roughly 82,000 Rhode Islanders eligible for Medicaid through the Expansion provision of the ACA rely on this coverage to give them access to primary medical and dental care, as well as treatment for behavioral health conditions," Alison said.  "This access to preventive care improves health outcomes and prevents spending on more expensive treatment options like emergency department visits and hospital stays.  Under House Republicans' proposed budget plans, more than 300,000 Rhode Islanders on Medicaid could lose access to care, according to Magaziner's office."
Medicaid is jointly financed by Federal and State governments currently and came into being about 1965 to help in the following areas:  Temporary Assistance to Need Families, Children in Substitute Care, Children with special needs, Adults with disabilities.  If the proposed cuts happen, their health care will be at risk.
 
President Alan presents children's book from Westerly Library to Lois Lawrence, President of Artists Cooperative Gallery of Westerly.
"Founded by artists Bruce Goodsell, Sandi Gold and Ginger Mitchell in 1992, this artist-owned and operated gallery has grown significantly through the years and currently has more than 50 artist members....ACGOW is committed to supporting and nurturing the visual arts in the greater Westerly/Pawcatuck area through increasing awareness and appreciation for the visual arts, building an arts community through mutual support, cooperation and education and by providing artists with an opportunity to develop exhibit and sell their work."  The gallery is funded through member dues and public contributions.  For more information, go to https://westerlyarts.com.
      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/16HaNgQGzD/?mibextid=wwXIfr
 
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
"Rotary's history reminds us that peace is not passive - it is built, nurtured, and sustained through intentional action.  Today, as members of the Rotary Action Group for Peace, we continue this mission by:  empowering communities with sustainable peace projects, equipping future leaders through Rotary Peace Fellowships, strengthening Peacebuilder Clubs to amplify local and global impact and using our vocations to create solutions for conflict and inequality."
 
"Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are and Something you give away."
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 17 March, 15 members have contributed to either "EREY" and/or "Polio Plus"                                                                                                                              
   
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.
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.
Club Executives & Directors
President
President Elect
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Immediate Past President
Rotary Foundation
Membership Chair
Public Image
Other
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • Rosemarie Russo
    April 7
  • Joe Potter
    April 29
  • Steve Cofone
    April 29
  • Gina Brancato
    April 30
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
  • Donna Celico
    April 24
Anniversaries:
  • Angelina Swain
    Ken Swain
    April 6
Join Date:
  • Bob Boughner
    April 1, 1986
    39 years
  • Cal Lord
    April 1, 1991
    34 years
  • Joe Nigrelli
    April 1, 1969
    56 years
  • Joe Potter
    April 27, 2010
    15 years
  • Rosemarie Russo
    April 28, 2008
    17 years
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Mailing Address:  Rotary Club of Westerly, PO Box 407, Westerly RI 02891