Stories

We were thrilled to welcome Paul LaFleur, our Assistant District Governor, at our October 30th meeting! Paul comes from the Bristol Rotary Club, where he has served as President four times over his many years, Paul shared his experiences and some great Rotary wisdom with us.

Reflecting on the challenges of post-COVID rebuilding, Paul shared how the Bristol club tackled membership loss head-on. They focused on two guiding principles to bring members back: “Keep the fun, and help us to help others.”

He explained that rebuilding meant more than just numbers—it was about making everyone feel valued. By listening to each member, breaking up the routine of “the same people doing the same things,” and actively welcoming and engaging new members into club activities right away, the club grew stronger. And their efforts paid off! The Bristol club has proudly added around 20 new members in the last two years.

On October 9th, Beth Richards one of our own Middletown Rotarians delivered an insightful presentation on the ShelterBox initiative, explaining how this global effort works and how it assists families displaced from their homes due to disasters and conflicts. Coincidentally, this topic was especially timely, as it was the same evening Hurricane Milton was making landfall on Florida's west coast, reminding us just how crucial ShelterBox’s mission is.

ShelterBox’s goal is to raise awareness about global displacement and provide life-saving shelter and essential tools to families, enabling them to begin rebuilding their homes and lives. While we can’t replace everything lost in a disaster, ShelterBox equips families with the resources to start their own recovery process.

By offering protection from extreme weather, dangerous animals, and disease, ShelterBox ensures that families have a safe space to regroup and rebuild, one step at a time.

Ms. Donna Sweet's Presentation on Career and Tech Education at Middletown High School on September 11, 2024

Ms. Donna Sweet, Principal of Middletown High School (MHS), provided an insightful overview of the new Career and Technical Education (CTE) framework being introduced at the school. This framework is part of a broader effort to reimagine high school education across Rhode Island, with full implementation aimed for 2028.

The new CTE framework focuses on preparing students for both college and career success by aligning education with real-world industry needs. It emphasizes project-based learning and partnerships with local businesses and institutions.

Ferass Sammoura received his PhD in Public Health with a concentration of Environmental Health Sciences from Florida International University (FIU) in 2023. His dissertation research focused on the effects of environmental exposures in neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, Dr. Sammoura focused on the interplay of organochlorine pesticides DDT and DDE in amyloid pathology, relevant to Alzheimer’s disease. His and his collaborators research is the first to ever discover mechanistic links for organochlorine pesticide exposure in Alzheimer’s disease.  Dr. Ferass Sammoura is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Brown University.

Doug Brendel, a prominent figure in Ipswich,MA and beyond, graced our Rotary club with his inspiring presence last night. Known for his multifaceted talents as a writer, actor, and humanitarian, Doug captivated us with heartwarming stories and insights, transporting us to the heart of his humanitarian endeavors in the former Soviet Union.

For over two decades, Doug and his wife have spearheaded NewThing.net, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid in Belarus. What began as a noble mission has evolved significantly in the face of geopolitical turmoil, particularly with the Ukraine conflict engulfing the region. Doug's firsthand accounts shed light on some of the challenges faced by the people of Belarus.

Cheryl Hatch, the Newport Bureau Reporter at The Public's Radio/89.3 FM, brings a wealth of experience to her role. With a background spanning photo journalism and reporting across newspapers, wire services, and European press agencies, Cheryl is a seasoned multi-lingual storyteller and educator with extensive global exposure. Her international journalism career notably includes coverage of conflict in the Middle East and Africa.

In her capacity as a bureau reporter, Cheryl delves into the lives of individuals on Aquidneck Island and in Newport County, focusing keenly on the issues that shape their existence. During our recent meeting, Cheryl shared three very different stories, each offering a unique perspective on local issues. Fortunately, as her work is in radio, all three stories are accessible through links provided below.

Michelle Drew's presentation at Rotary emphasized the misconception that aging is inevitable and problematic, highlighting the prevalence of health issues associated with growing older. However, she stressed that with a focus on age-management solutions and lifestyle wellness, individuals can defy the stereotype of aging and enjoy healthier lives. 

Drew emphasized the importance of lifestyle changes in improving quality of life and slowing down the aging process. She presented us with 10 things we can do to improve our health. Ultimately, Drew's message encourages individuals to live actively and vibrantly throughout their lives, rather than simply managing symptoms in old age.

Find out more at: MDrewNaturalWellness.com or contact her at: MDrewNaturalWellness@gmail.com

View more about this topic at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aGZSGxyNVg

On January 24th, we were honored to have Betty Galligan, the assistant governor for our District 7950, as our guest speaker. Betty has been a longstanding supporter of our club. She brought with her as a guest Sharon Johnson, the District Governor Elect for 2024-25. Betty led the session by highlighting numerous strengths of the Middletown Rotary Club, such as its 71 years of longevity, a robust membership size, our vibrant spirit, a strong club foundation, and the successful events and service activities we consistently provide to the community.

Subsequently, Betty guided us to explore additional aspects, including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Discussions ensued on various ideas raised during the session, with a particular focus on the concern about the continuity of leadership. Many clubs have successfully employed a strategy involving a team of members committed to assuming leadership positions over successive years. This succession plan typically includes the Past President, President, President-elect, and President-nominee. The leadership team collaborates, offering mutual support, sharing expertise, and providing a robust mentoring period for incoming presidents.

Betty played a crucial role in helping the Middletown Rotary Club position itself using this strategy. Angel Gonzalez, a 21-year member of the club, and Chris Semonelli, a former club president, stepped up to become Co-Presidents for the term 2024-2025. The plan includes Cori Kilzi being in line for the presidency after them. This succession plan is expected to strengthen the club in the long term.

On November 8th, the Middletown Rotary embarked on its first-ever month-long coat drive to address the increasing demand for cold weather clothing in our community. The aim was to collect new and gently used clean, warm coats, jackets, hats, and gloves in all sizes, to help ensure that no member of our community would face the winter without the warmth and protection they deserve.

Hello, I'm Larry Kraman, a passionate individual with roots in Brooklyn, New York. My journey began at Brooklyn College, where I initially pursued law but discovered my true calling in music. As a recording engineer, I captured every note of the music department's performances and later established a recording studio within the department. My knowledge extended to starting the Newport Classic CD music label, releasing numerous classical pieces.

Anticipating changes in the music industry, I transitioned to filmmaking, producing three full-length films. My story reflects dedication to music, recording, and filmmaking, with a knack for building relationships in the evolving entertainment landscape. I'm always eager to share my enriching experiences and insights. Read more below to find links to his films and enjoy at your own pace.

Larry is eager to leverage his talents and experience to contribute to the club. He's proposing an engaging video project that involves creating short film interviews with each current member. Larry suggests conducting these interviews at my home studio, assuring everyone that it won't be an interrogation. Importantly, no interview will be presented until the subject has had a chance to review it.

The interview process is designed to start with a casual discussion about the member's name, background, and the reasons behind their involvement in the Middletown Rotary Club. Larry will then guide the conversation based on the member's responses.

For any inquiries or clarifications regarding these proposed projects, feel free to reach out to Larry directly.

Shawn Brown, the Middletown Town Administrator, gave a talk to the Middletown Rotary Club on October 11, 2023 regarding the 2023 Middletown Middle-High School Bond Referendum. The presentation highlighted the importance of the upcoming bond referendum for constructing new, modern, and efficient educational facilities, benefiting all students and ensuring the future readiness of Middletown schools.  Read more for the key points from his presentation:

Erin O'Gara Dollard, Senior Philanthropy Officer at the Newport Hospital Foundation, recently addressed our club to shed light on an important partnership between Newport Hospital and Bradley Hospital. The aim of this partnership is to raise $5 million for the development of an eight-bed adolescent behavioral health unit at Newport Hospital. This unit will provide essential services for young individuals aged 12 to 18 suffering from acute mental health disorders.

The Middletown Rotary Club supports various International charitable initiatives.  Recent support includes

• The Water for Cambodia Project which had its beginnings in the Middletown Rotary Club (2002) builds and installs household biosand water filters, wells and latrines to protect rural citizens from waterborne diseases.

• Polio Eradication - Rotary’s efforts have reduced Polio cases worldwide by 99.9%. Only two countries remain endemic. 

• The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.