SQUANTUM S Nature Preserve Letter from the Presidentdigitalmarketing.blob.core.windows.net/9388/files/Newsletter.pdfsocial media platforms and web-based public relations. My boss arrived

Surrounded by wetlands, coves, and rocky outcroppings, our small wooded peninsula is embraced by an abundance of wildlife. Centuries ago, when Providence was settled, the waters between Squantum Point, Fields Point and Pomham Rocks boasted bountiful fish and shellfish

Letter from the President

Letter from the President ............ 1

Squantum’s Nature Preserve ...... 1

Save the Date ............................. 2

Club Update ................................ 3

Buildings and Grounds Report .... 3

Marketing Update ........................ 3

Squantum Chuckle ...................... 3

Interested in Playing Bridge? ...... 4

In Memory of Richard B. Colby ... 4

Gingerbread House Event .......... 4

Continued on Page 2

Dear Members

In this season of looking back with appreciation and looking ahead to the New Year with great anticipation, please share with me in thanking the people who make our Squantum Experience so wonderful day after day, all year long!

The following are just some of the many people who make Squantum what it is, but these are the ones who know us and care for us on a daily basis!

JON PRATA

JOAO GONCALVES (JG)

LAUREN LYSAK

RICHARD PETRELLA

JEREMY MCDONALD

TINA DESROSIERS

MYNOR GONZALEZ

VERONICA SYRIAC

JOHN HOLLINRAKE

JUDY SMITH

ARLENE NORTHUP

ANDREA HOFFER

May the blessings of the season continue for all of you throughout the New Year and I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events and dining!

If you have any suggestions, questions or comments, the Board of Governors and I are always here to listen!

Deb

SQUANTUM’S Nature Preserve

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019

Page 2 THE SQUANTUM BULLETIN

populations. Even today these waters, where the Providence River suddenly doubles in size, remain a prime recreational fishing area.

This marine bounty and habitat is irresistible to hungry birds – and not just the ever-present mallards and gulls. Great Egrets, Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Belted Kingfishers, inshore ducks (Merganser, Scaup and Wigeon are common in winter) and the occasional Osprey can commonly be glimpsed foraging and feeding either on the wing, in the water, or wading in the shallows. All you need do is look – they’re all around us. On Whortleberry Island, spring often draws Canada Geese to nest – as witnessed by those goslings skittering around our grounds last spring and summer.

On the road through Squantum Woods from Veterans Parkway, you might encounter Wild Turkeys, White-tailed deer, Raccoons, Red Fox and, less frequently, Coyotes and Groundhogs. Plus, we have an abundance of tree loving wild birds, such as Flickers, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, Red-tailed hawks, Cedar Waxwings, Cardinals and Goldfinch. You might even catch sight of a hummingbird flitting between our summer flowers on a hot July afternoon.

Keep your eyes open for the many species of birds that will be making stopovers along our shore as they fly north when the spring migration begins in a few months. Perhaps we should have a warm-weather birdwatching walk in the spring?

— Photographs and editing courtesy of Jeff Silva

SQUANTUM’S NATURE PRESERVE Continued from Page 1

Club Day Lunch Buffet Wednesday, January 8th • 11:30 am

Trivia Night with Buffet Thursday, January 16th • 6:00 pm

Kids Magic Show Saturday, January 18th • 12:00 pm

Frank Sinatra Night Friday, January 31st • 6:00 pm

Capt. Cady Club Day Lunch Wednesday, February 5th

Lunch Buffet: 11:30 am

Capt. Cady’s Birthday Lite Fare Night

Thursday, February 6th • 5:30 pm

Sunday Brunch Sunday, February 9th • 11:00 am

Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance Friday, February 14th • 6:00 pm

Club Day Lunch Buffet Wednesday, March 4th • 11:30 am

Sunday Brunch Sunday, March 8th • 11:00 am

World Premier Band Saturday, March 14th • 6:00 pm

St. Patrick’s Day Lunch Buffet Tuesday, March 17th • 12:00 pm

Psychic Night Friday, March 27th • 6:00 pm

Club Day Lunch Buffet Wednesday, April 1st • 11:30 am

Easter Egg Decorating Saturday, April 11th • 12:00 pm

Easter Brunch Sunday, April 12th • 11:30 am

Squantum’s Antique Appraisal Night Friday, April 24th • Time TBD

Kentucky Derby Party Saturday, May 2nd • 5:00 pm

Club Day Lunch Buffet Wednesday, May 6th • 11:30 am

Mother’s Day Buffet Sunday, May 10th • 11:30 am

THE SQUANTUM BULLETIN Page 3

A Strong, Vibrant Association Needs the Talents and Contributions of Its Membership!

We would appreciate your help – getting involved in the committee work that keeps our club active, vibrant and successful. Won’t you please consider joining a Squantum Association Committee in 2020? The commitment is small, only meeting a few times a year, but the results are important. Ideas and a little bit of time is all we require. Find one that suits you.

Committees you can join are:

Membership • Bylaws • Finance • Marketing

Audit • Long Range Planning • Building & Grounds

Please fill out the enclosed card and either drop it off at the Squantum office or mail it in the supplied envelope.

Take-Out Food from Squantum

Remember that whenever the Squantum kitchen is open, you can call in an order and pick it up on your way home. Take a night off, and let Chef Rick and his team put a delightful dinner or appetizers on your table at home! During boating season, call your order in, and we’ll bring it out to you when you dock your boat!

(Please note that take-out orders do not apply towards your minimum.)

A Busy, Fun Line-up of Winter Events

You need to mark your calendar for two fun evenings at Squantum:

January 16th we are holding our second Trivia Night. Form a team (or just come that night and join one) and enjoy a good-natured competition. Last year we had lots of laughs and enjoyed the topics, which included Rhode Island facts, history, movies, sports, and pop culture.

January 31st we will have Frank Sinatra Night. Mike Dutra has an exceptional voice and personality, and it will include an Italian buffet and dancing. Come dine and enjoy the music of Frank Sinatra, and the company of your fellow members.

See our full list of upcoming club events on Page 2.

LinkedIn

If you have a profile on LinkedIn, the online social media network for business professionals, we ask that you follow Squantum Association's page, as we will be testing it as another channel to generate corporate business. When you see that we have a new post, please “LIKE” it so it will be shared with your network. Thank you.

Buildings and Grounds

As we close out the year, we have completed most of our outside projects. The Clubhouse entrance has been restored and painted. The East and West sides have been painted on the northern end of the building. The exterior of the Bakehouse has been painted on all sides. We are planning on hoisting the dock floats to the parking lot to finish the restoration below the water line. The majority of our work has been completed by our in-house staff. We have also negotiated an arrangement with Bradley Hospital to plow our roads and parking areas in exchange for their using our northern parking lot. We are proud of the accomplishments of our staff and look forward to the upcoming new year.

We continue to look for opportunities to increase public awareness of the Squantum Association. This effort is twofold – one target is additional bookings. Both corporate business for the club and more wedding bookings. The second initiative is to support the effort to increase membership. Perhaps you have seen some promotional efforts in both statewide and local publications. We are also driving promotional opportunities through our website, social media platforms and web-based public relations.

My boss arrived at work in a brand-new Rolls Royce.

“Wow,” I said, “that’s an amazing car.”

He replied, “If you work hard, put all your hours in, and

strive for excellence, I’ll get another one next year!”

SQUANTUM CHUCKLE Hard Work Pays Off

Page 4 THE SQUANTUM BULLETIN

Gingerbread House Event

It was a festive gathering of 85 members and guests on Sunday, December 8th, for our Gingerbread House event. Many families had multiple generations present, all enjoying the decorating of their houses. Throughout the Bakehouse, you could hear laughter, giggles and congratulations as the houses became extravagantly decorated by enthusiastic young ones, encouraged by their parents and grandparents. If there was an award for “Most Team Spirit,” it would surely go to the group of friends at the table hosted by Mrs. Joanne McGunagle. They came with their own unique holiday lights (see photograph below) and had a great time.

The buffet luncheon was delightful, too. Chef Rick worked his magic and provided multiple delicious warm-weather dishes at the buffet: Chicken Piccata, sliders, pasta and sauce, Caprice salad and more.

A special thanks to our fabulous Pastry Chef, Tina Desrosiers, for all her efforts in organizing and creating the houses.

Also of note, December 8th marked the last day of our Toys-for-Tots collection, and we ended the day with over 100 toys donated! That’s Christmas Spirit at its best. Special thanks to Jon Prata, and Brian Sadler, and also to Mrs. Billie Read for being the club’s guiding angel for this.

Are you interested in playing Bridge?

It is with great sadness that

we announce the passing of

Richard B. Colby

1937 - 2019

Richard B. Colby, a Squantum member

since 1968, passed away at age 82

on October 27th at Laurelmead

in Providence, RI.

Our prayers are with his family.

Are you interested in playing Bridge?

Our House Chair, Ernie Crivellone, is looking for fellow members and

guests that are interested in starting a Bridge Club at Squantum.

Squantum will be offering Bridge Classes on Thursdays for beginners:

January 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th February 6th, 20th, and 27th

6:00-8:00 pm, in the Captain’s Cottage

1st 2 lessons FREE, $20.00 for Lesson Book, and $20.00 for each remaining lesson.

Contact Veronica at 401-434-8377 or [email protected]