From the President's desk . . . June 2008

President's Letter Dear Members,     As I sit here writing this, it has not cooled off much from the afternoon heat. I guess summer is here and that means the annual picnic, annual meeting and elections are just around the corner. The picnic will be held at the Hunts Mills Recreation Area on Monday, June 23. Please be generous when the Telephone Committee calls for donations of salads and Rumford Baking Powder biscuits.     On Saturday, July 19, Keith Gonsalves will be paddling "Roger William's last 7 miles to Providence". His trip will begin at Freedom Green on the corner of North Broadway and Roger Williams Avenue at 10:30 a.m. and end at the R.I.S.D. museum near the riverwalk in Providence. Please come to see him off and cheer him on.     The U.R.I. Master Gardeners and other volunteers have been very busy around the Hunt House Museum. Come by and see their progress. New volunteers are always welcome.     Before the May members meeting, many of us toured the Rumford Center and the Phillip Walker House. The Rumford Center is coming along quite nicely despite what it looks like from the outside. The Peregrine Group is hoping to have the first tenants move in September 2008. The first 2 floors will be commercial space and the upper 3 floors will be apartments of varying styles and sizes.     After the tours, we enjoyed ice cream Sundaes and a brown bag auction. (In my next life, maybe I will be an auctioneer!) Thanks to those who bid on some very interesting items. We raised $75.00! ANNUAL MEETING/ELECTION OF OFFICERS/PICNIC     Monday, June 23, 6 p.m. (rain date Tuesday, June 24) Hunts Mills Recreation Area, Rumford. The following candidates will be elected by a vote of the Secretary since there were no other nominations for the offices: Kris Rose, President; Nancy Moore, 1st Vice President; Edna Anness, 2nd Vice President; Pat Henry, Corresponding Secretary; Cheryl Faria, Recording Secretary; Peter Allen, Treasurer. The Telephone Committee will call the membership for salads and Rumford Baking Powder biscuits for the picnic. Hot dogs, hamburgers, beverages AND strawberry shortcake will be served. Cream donated by Monroe Dairy. TICKETS: $3 members. $6 non-members to be paid at the door. Reservation deadline: Saturday, June 21. Telephone the society, 438-1750 or 437-1530 or e-mail, ephist.org if need be. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. The public is invited. Peter Allen, Treasurer, will accept reservation payments at the door. Mona Breault, Membership Chairman, will be available to accept annual dues. All are welcome to Hunts Mills at 5:00 p.m. to take care of these obligations and enjoy the grounds. FOOD WILL BE SERVED AT 6:00 p.m.     Kris Rose, President