Rotary In Action - 2008-2009 Projects

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Sarah Jane Mc Cullough Playground

It started with a chance conversation. Barbara Trekker, of the Richmond Recreation Commission, had called Rita Casady (Past President) to ask for vendor leads for their Richmond Holiday Bazaar. Rita, co-chair of the Rotary Playground Committee, was running out of leads for acreage suitable for the Sarah Jane McCullough Playground. President Jeff Duscha (2008-2009) had made a pledge to see that the playground would be installed in 2009. So, although the Rotary had been told that there was no land available in Richmond, Rita decided to ask Barbara anyway. To Rita's surprise, Barbara did not know the Chariho Rotary was looking for acreage for the playground. Despite the press coverage and newsletter, Richmond Recreation was unaware that a home was still needed. Barbara immediately went into high gear..........and the rest is history.

After meeting with the Recreation Commission, the Richmond Town Council and the Chariho School Committee, the gift of the Sarah Jane Mc Cullough Playground has finally been accepted.

On April 13, Scott Barber of the Richmond Department of Public Works began clearing the future site of the Sarah Jane Mc Cullough Playground. On May 16, the Poured In Place Surfacing was completed.

Check out the pictures of the construction of the playground by "clicking" here.

Bike Helmet Safety

Scott McCleod, (Incoming President 2009-10), had asked Nancy McBride to be a guest speaker at a Tuesday dinner meeting. Nancy had recently survived a horrific traffic accident. Riding a bicycle,

Nancy was hit by a car in downtown Westerly, and endured many surgeries to reconstruct her jaw. She was absolutely certain her life was saved, and she did not suffer any brain trauma, because she was wearing her helmet. Feeling incredibly lucky, Nancy decided to "pay it forward", and warn children and adults alike, about the benefits of helmet safety. Raising money to buy helmets for free distribution, Nancy also instructs her audience that it is not enough to wear a helmet, but it must fit correctly as well. The Rotary Club was extremely moved by Nancy's experience and her quest, and made a donation of $500 for helmets to be purchased and distributed in our service area. Rotarians will also be on hand on April 18, at the Arcadia YMCA Safety Fair, where Nancy will distribute the helmets.  Click here for additional pictures.

South County Economic Crisis

It appears that Southwest Washington County has been hit unusually hard by plant closings and layoffs. President Jeff Duscha asked the Board to continue to subsidize the Heating Assistance Program, administered by The Wood River Health Services. A gift of $3,000 was made.

A $500. donation was made to each of the major food pantries within our service area, including Wood River, Exeter, RICAN, Good Hope and St. Andrews. Jeff has also amassed volunteers to help out at a RICAN meal site, and help unload the trucks in RICAN in Charlestown.

Bosom Buddies Night

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but Rita Casady, (Past President 2007-2008), had thought that additional emphasis needed to be placed on Mammography and early detection. Knowing that mammography is draped in dread and old wives tales, she thought that an informal night of camaraderie and information would be just the "fix".

With support of the Board and Wood River Health Services, Bosom Buddies Night was held at the Arcadia YMCA. Speakers included a member of the Board of Health, who explained to the audience that there in no reason why any one, man or woman, in the United State, cannot afford to have a mammography. With or without insurance, it is federally mandated that breast cancer screening be afforded to anyone who needs it, and so is treatment, if necessary. It has also been mandated that if Tamoxifen is needed, that will also be afforded to anyone who requires it. Dr. Kristen Lichtenberg

of Wood River Health Services covered several topics, and answered many questions. Munchies were served, and attendants were invited to participate in a penny social. The press also covered the event, stressing the need for early detection. Rita said "if one person was touched by the information, it was a success".

Arcadia YMCA

Recognizing the need for a family/ youth development organization within the Chariho-Exeter area, The Reach Out to Youth Campaign for the Arcadia YMCA has received perennial support from the Rotary Club of Chariho. The mission of the YMCA is to develop strong bodies, mind and spirit. President/CEO Maureen Fitzgerald has been a guest speaker on many occasions, but stressed to the Club that the need is even greater this year, as jobs disappear. While the need for daycare,

health, wellness and enrichment programs increases, the lack of accessibility also increases as families are forced to make cutbacks. The Rotary Club donated $2,500 to this campaign.