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At our May 7 Lunch meeting, two outstanding individuals became the newest members of Bristol Rotary: Lynette-Marie Lacerda (below, far left) and Jason Regan (far right), Center: is President, Mary Jo Tavares & Sponsor, Jacques de Labry.

Lynette-Marie is a real estate agent for Revolv Real Estate in Somerset, and prior to that, she had an impressive career. She is fluent in Spanish, and resides in Bristol.

Jason Regan is a young higher education professional working in development for his alma mater, Roger Williams University, with a primary focus on community engagement, alumni fundraising, and professional pipeline cultivation.

We are looking forward to having their backgrounds and motivation add new skills to the support for our many charitable activities. Welcome aboard, Jason and Lynette-Marie

“Help us Help Others”

Bristol Rotary Top Sponsor for the Imagine Walk for Autism

On Sunday, April 27, The Imagine Walk – for Autism was held at Goddard Memorial Park where several thousand participants filled the park. The Autism Project conducts the annual fundraiser to help families with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The rate of children diagnosed with ASD has increased alarmingly (per the CDC) from 1 in 68 in 2015 to 1 in 36 today. For parents of a child on the spectrum, it is a life time commitment of caring and support that extends even beyond the parent’s life time. The Autism Project has been a local leader in helping families with ASD deal with a host of difficult and often unique challenges of children on the spectrum.

Bristol Rotary has been a supporter of The Autism Project (TAP) since 2015, when they teamed up with TAP to raise over $70,000 to create an East Bay Support Center. The Center was established to help what was estimated to be over 2000 families affected by ASD in the East Bay - out of an estimated 10,000 families in Rhode Island. With the arrival of Covid, the money for the Support Center was used to develop online lectures, interactive family sessions and subject specific videos that have been used to provide assistance, not only to the East Bay, but also nationwide and internationally.

For the second year in a row, Bristol Rotary has been proud to be the top donor to the Imagine Walk fundraiser. Please donate at theautismproject.org or to bristolrotary.com (Help us Help others).

Below, L-R: Maria Cesario, Treasurer of Bristol Rotary’s Charities Foundation (BRCF), Joanne Quinn, Executive Director of The Autism Project (TAP), Jonathan Roderick, Board Chair TAP, and Bruce Cox, President of BRCF.

New Rotary Banners Gifted by Ian McLellan

When a hard charging organization like Bristol Rotary has just one banner left, originally sewn by Betsy Ross, it’s time for action! That action came from our new Rotarian, Ian McLellan, President and Owner of Hill House Graphics, LLC. In the picture below, Ian (right) and his colleague Danny Liew are displaying some of the banners he has donated to Bristol Rotary.

The banners are made of indestructible materials that vary from tent cloth to vinyl to a hardwood structure that can stand on its own. Only a few are shown.

We thank Ian for creating these banners for any occasion, most of which will be fundraisers or recognition events even yet this fiscal year.

Thanks again, Ian!

Paul Prindiville Re-joins Bristol Rotary

What makes this event so special is that Paul was a past President of the Bristol Rotary Club in 2000/2001, and has decided to rejoin the Club while having previously spent 20 years as a Rotarian. And, the ties are deeper. Bruce Cox, our President-elect for the next fiscal year, was his sponsor when Paul first joined Rotary in 1992.

Paul is currently retired, but prior to his retirement, he was President and Owner of Diversified Capital Corp in Barrington for 20 years. Prior, from 1978 to 1981, he was Chief Operating Officer of UVEX Winter Optical in Smithfield, RI.

Paul was born in Toronto, Canada and has been in Rhode Island for 47 years. He is married and has 3 children. Welcome back, Paul!

In the picture, Paul Prindiville (center) is being inducted into Bristol Rotary on April 2 by Mary Jo Tavares, President of the Club (right), while his sponsor, Doug Gablinske is on the left

Bristol Rotary Supports the Autism Imagine Walk

In the promotional ad for the Autism Imagine Walk of 2025, Bristol Rotary is the top donor for the second year in a row (see below). This fundraiser is The Autism Project’s (TAP) largest fundraiser event of the year, and all of the funds raised go directly to activities to support families dealing with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Bristol Rotary has been a donor to this worthy organization since 2015 when we raised over $70,000 to create an East Bay Support Center, to help over 2,000 families with ASD in the East Bay. Since then, Bristol Rotary has been a consistent supporter of this very necessary organization. The sponsors page below reflects that Bristol Rotary is currently the top donor with a contribution $15,000 to sponsor the Imagine Walk at Goddard Memorial Park on April 27. This page, part of TAP’s promotion for the fundraiser, will go out every day until April 27, and we will also be part of all the other advertising as well as a formal thank you at the Park at the beginning of the Walk.

Bristol Rotary Supports a Winner

Last year, Bristol Rotary donated to a project at the School of Architecture at Roger Williams University to design and build a new gatehouse for the Bristol beach. In the March 7th 2024 issue of the Bristol Phoenix, Paul LaFleur, then president, was pictured with the team, awarding them a grant from Bristol Rotary. This was an exceptional team, as shown below, having won a national award, the Freedom by Design Award from the American Institute of Architectural Students. The project won the award over all schools in the Ivy League and schools across the country. As expressed by the project manager, Domonic Cavello, "...this is a point of pride for the town of Bristol in that they invested in something that is getting national praise."

Bristol Rotary helps the Mt Hope’s DECA Team get to the

International Conference in Orlando

Pictured above L - R: Evan Rodrigues, Matthew MacDougall, Adriana Botelho, Isabella Brando, Lauren Pattie, Madeleine St. Pierre, Gavin Reed, Preston Brodd, Jacob Betres, John Thompson, Anderson Charest, Logan Dubois, Lola Silva, Benjamin Peters, Co-Advisor Michael Almeida (not pictured, Co-Advisor Maureen Gauthier). Center with yellow badges Mary Jo Tavares and Cid Rodrigues, President and Treasurer of Bristol Rotary.

The Mt. Hope High School DECA club once again finds itself in the enviable position of having thirteen (13) students qualify for international competition! To update you, this year we had a record setting 61 students compete at the RI DECA Career Development Conference, that is up from 41 last year and 26 the year before. We are extremely happy to say the DECA organization is growing by leaps and bounds! Of those that competed, 19 placed in the top three of their events, with 13 students earning an invitation to compete this April at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, Florida with over 20,000 U.S. and international students. Of the 13 students who qualified, all will be representing Mt. Hope and RI DECA by competing in either a written paper / presentation event, or an individual / team role-play as well as take a national exam. This is an incredible achievement and the students have worked very hard to attain their goals.

Bristol Rotary donated $4,000 to assist with the students’ expenses in getting to the competition. DECA stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America.

Bristol Rotary Welcomes Michelle Myers

In picture above, Michelle (center) is being inducted by President Mary Jo Tavares (right) and her sponsor is Sandra Andrade (left).

We were very pleased to have Michelle Myers join the Bristol Rotary Club on February 19, 2025. Michelle has a doctorate in Organizational Leadership, an MBA, and a BA in US History. She has spent the last 26 years working in education, primarily higher education. Currently, she is a tenured professor at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) and has taught management, organizational behavior, leadership and other business classes for the college since 2008. Michelle started her career in higher education in the traditional “bricks and mortar” classroom but has taught her classes completely online since 2013 which allows her the flexibility to work from anywhere. She hopes to retire in the next 3-5 years and will have more time for herself, her family, and the community.

Bristol Rotary Teams Up Against Homelessness

Letter to the Editor Bristol Phoenix

The Winner of “Dinner for 2 - Anywhere in the World,” the Bristol Rotary fundraiser, was Linda Medeiros of Portsmouth

From August to November, Bristol Rotary ran a sweepstakes to raise money for food pantries in Bristol. These food pantries are suffering from an increase demand because of the increase in food prices and budget cuts in some school lunch programs. Emily Mushen, Executive Director of the East Bay Food Pantry (EBFP), reported a 30% increase in visits for food in 2024 over 2023. As a repeat donor to two pantries in Bristol, the EBFP and Friends of St Elizabeth’s Food Pantry, Bristol Rotary created a sweepstakes fundraiser to address this surge in demand, “Dinner for 2 – Anywhere in the world.”

With the purchase of a $25 ticket, the winner would get a dinner for two anywhere in the world, including flight tickets and lodging at the hotel(s) of their choice. The total value of the prize would be $10,000. Over 1,000 people participated, and on November 17, the winner was selected from a drum containing the names of all the participants.

The winner was Linda Medeiros from Portsmouth, RI. Linda and her husband Eddy are seen in the picture below. The preliminary itinerary they have chosen, are visits to three Italian cities: Venice, Naples and Florence. They also plan to include their daughter, Kayla, on what is turning out to be a family vacation in Italy.

In total, the sweepstakes raised approximately $20,000, to which Bristol Rotary donated another $10,000, for a total of almost $30,000. At a recent Bristol Rotary Meeting, Mary Jo Tavares, President of Bristol Rotary, presented checks for approximately $15,000 each to Amy Castro, President of the Friends of St. Elizabeth Food Pantry and Emily Mushen, Executive Director of the East Bay Food Pantry and Thrift Shop.

“Dinner for 2 - Anywhere in the World,” a Bristol Rotary fundraiser for Bristol Food Banks, raises $29,500

All proceeds from the fundraiser went directly to support our local food pantries - East Bay Food Pantry and Thrift Shop and Friends of St Elizabeth Food Pantry. These food pantries have served individuals and families in need in our community, offering groceries at no cost to community members who require assistance. As Rotary provided funds during Covid, the need continued, as many school lunch programs continue to be affected by budget cuts and more needs arose.

Seeing the continuing and growing need of these outstanding Food Banks, Bristol Rotary created a Sweepstakes, that with the purchase of a $25 ticket, the winner would get a dinner for two anywhere in the world, including flight tickets and lodging at the hotel of their choice. The total value of the prize would be $10,000. Over 1,000 people participated, and on November 17, the winner was selected from a drum containing the names of all the participants.

The winner was Linda Medeiros from Portsmouth, RI who is currently planning her trip which we will share with you when a decision is made. However, the sweepstakes raised $19,500, to which Bristol Rotary donated another $10,000 for a total of $29,500. As seen in the picture below, $14,750 each was presented by Mary Jo Tavares, President of Bristol Rotary (center), to Amy Castro, President of the Friends of St. Elizabeth Food Pantry (left) and Emily Mushen, Executive Director of the East Bay Food Pantry and Thrift Shop (right).

All parties were thrilled with the results and thanks goes to all members of the community and of Bristol Rotary who made this possible.

“Help us Help Others”

Rotary Club of Bristol Announces Winner of “Dinner for 2 – Anywhere in the World” Fundraiser

**Bristol, RI** – November 18, 2024 – The Rotary Club of Bristol, Rhode Island, is thrilled to announce the incredible success of its “Dinner for 2 – Anywhere in the World” fundraiser! The fundraiser, launched in August, offered for $25 a ticket, dinner for 2 anywhere in the world for an upper limit of $10,000. The much-anticipated winner was drawn Sunday, November 17th during a celebratory event at the historic Linden Place in downtown Bristol.

In the presence of community members, representatives from the East Bay Food Pantry, Friends of Saint Elizabeth’s, and Rotarians, the atmosphere was electric as Rotary President Mary Jo Tavares expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this campaign. Tickets raised $19,500, to which Bristol Rotary matched with $10,000 for a total of $29,500. Proceeds from this fundraiser will directly support the East Bay Food Pantry and Friends of Saint Elizabeth’s, helping to fight food insecurity and provide vital assistance to those in need. Each pantry will be getting $14,750.

“This fundraiser could not have been possible without the dedication and teamwork of so many people,” said Tavares. “From those who purchased tickets to the incredible volunteers who helped spread the word, this was truly a community effort. Together, we’ve made a

difference.”

The winner of the “Dinner for 2 – Anywhere in the World” is **Linda Medeiros from Portsmouth, Rhode Island, who purchased her lucky ticket from Bristol’s own Ryan Fonseca. Congratulations, Linda—get ready for the trip and dining experience of a lifetime!

Bristol Rotary Club was founded in 1929 and is a member of Rotary International which has over 34,000 clubs worldwide with over 1,200,000 members. Each club serves a community like Bristol and generally is made up of many of the businesses and professionals of the town. Bristol Rotary has been donating to the charitable needs of this community every year to over 20 local organizations serving the community. The Club raised funds from many donors and through fundraisers. Last year, the Club distributed over $100,00 to local charities in need, which is why are motto is “Help Us Help others.

Ian McClellan joins Bristol Rotary

Ian McLellan owns Hill House Graphics, in Bristol, RI. After running a commercial printing company for a decade, Ian started and has been running Hill House Graphics to Help Small Businesses and Organizations make a Big Impression with design and production of Commercial Signs, Vehicle Wraps and Graphics for more than 15 years. Ian is supported in all things by his partner, Tina and they have raised two adult children who are currently both in college full time. One at URI majoring in Pharmacy, and one at Rhode Island College with a double major in Business and History. This past January, Tina a career nurse, donated a kidney to Ian and truly gave him the gift of life after he suffered from kidney failure in 2017 and had been on hemodialysis from then until the successful transplant surgery. With this new lease on life Ian knows that future possibilities are boundless. Ian believes that you get out of life in direct proportion to what you give. He brings that philosophy with him to Bristol Rotary. Welcome aboard Ian!

Picture below: Ian - on the left, his sponsor Doug Gablinske – center, and President Mary Jo Tavares - right.

The Autism Project

On September 18, our Speaker was Joanne Quinn, the Executive Director of The Autism Project, who’s primary function is to provide information, education and support to parents, education professionals, and now the workforce on how to successfully engage with individuals with an autism spectrum disorder. Bristol Rotary has been a consistent supporter of The Autism Project as they work to improve the lives of autistic people. Autism now affects 1 in 35 births in this country, with no known cause, and whose impact is accelerating world-wide.

Chuck MacDonough joins Bristol Rotary

On September 18, Charles "Chuck" MacDonough was sworn in as the newest member of our Rotary club. Chuck works at George Mason University - RPRC in Research and Development. He is an active member of the Bristol Fourth of July Committee for over 15 years and served as their past Chair and Vice Chair. He also serves on the Capital Project Commission and is a regular moderator at the polls. He will be an excellent addition to our club and brings many talents, skills and is a "tech guy", whose experience that will enhance our club's efforts. He resides in Bristol. Maria Cesario is his sponsor.

Below: Chuck is on the left; Maria is next to Chuck; and President Mary Jo Tavares is in the foreground.

Bristol Rotary donates a Computer Lab to Franklin Court Independent Living

To assist the residents of Franklin Court Independent living to have access to today’s technology, Bristol Rotary donated funds to purchase two computers and a printer. The residents will be able to contact their family and friends; access their banks, medical portals, social security sites; and explore and enjoy many other things that are now available on-line.

In the picture below, Mary Jo Tavares, President of Bristol Rotary (standing), is attending the opening of the new Computer Lab with resident Genevieve Drummond at Franklin Court Independent Living.

Two new members join Bristol Rotary Club, Vicki Boyle and Jennifer Little

In the picture below, President Mary Jo Tavares is swearing in our two new members. From left to right: Vicki Boyle, Jennifer Little (professional name), and Maria Cesario (Jenn’s Sponsor) and Mary Almeida (Vicki’s sponsor).

Something more about Vicki and Jenn:

Virginia "Vicki" Boyle was the Chair of the Arts and Applied Arts Departments at Mt. Hope High School. She retired after a 40-year teaching career that included New Bedford High School. She was recently appointed Program Director for the Community String Project in Bristol, where she also directs the Adult Guitar Ensembles. Vicki Resides in Bristol.

Jennifer "Jenn Little" Graney Sebolt is a marketing social media professional. She is the owner and digital creator of Jenn Little Media. She is a member of the East Bay Chamber and the Bristol Fourth of July Committee. She resides in Bristol.

Welcome to Bristol Rotary. We are sure they will both make major contributions to our Club’s success.

A Thanks for Bristol Rotary's Support

Bristol Rotary's New President & Board for Fiscal Year 2024/2025

After a year when Bristol Rotary broke new records in donations to local charities and in increasing our membership by 25%, Paul LaFleur steps down and Mary Jo Tavares steps in as the new President for Fiscal Year 2024/2025. Paul volunteered to be President for the past 2 fiscal years, as we were coming out of the difficult Covid slump, and lead the successful return of Bristol Rotary.

In the collage below, at the top, Mary Jo has been inducted as President by Betty Galligan the Assistant District Governor of District# 7950. In the middle picture, the new Board for fiscal Year 2024/2025 is sworn in. Left to right is: Mary Almeida, Cesar DaPonte, Maria Cesario, Cid Rodrigues, Marty Roussel, Sandra Andrade, Mary Jo Tavares (new President), Bruce Cox (future President), Paul LaFleur (past President), and Ken Watkinson.

In the pictures at the bottom, two members receive the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award which is awarded in Rotary to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Club. They were awarded by Paul LaFleur to Maria Cesario on the lower left and Marty Roussel on the lower right. Maria for excellent financial management of the funds in the Charities Foundation, and Marty for his consistent outstanding leadership and contributions to Bristol Rotary over the past 41 years.