Rotary Club of Stoneham’s members and their guests met at Stoneham Community Television studios for their bi-weekly luncheon meeting.

Attendees wrote messages on hundreds of Valentine's Day cards graciously donated by Boyd’s Direct to be delivered to clients at Bear Hill Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Life Care Center of Stoneham, Arnold House, Fuller House, Stoneham Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, Hope for Boston’s Homeless and the Bridge Recovery Center, along with several other agencies. “Our combined efforts will put a smile on the faces of each of the recipients who may not receive another message like the ones we wrote,” said President David Gardner (Boyd’s Direct). “Everyone’s time and compassion will have a positive impact on those who are often forgotten.” 

President Gardner thanked Membership Chair Craig Celli (Century 21 Celli) for planning this event and for his efforts to grow the Club’s membership and to introduce Rotary to more community members. He also thanked Executive Director Amy Palmerino and Stoneham TV for hosting the meeting.

Our guests included Dave’s wife Joni, Senior Center Director Kristen Spence, Boys and Girls Club Substance Use Prevention Program Director Elizabeth Valett, and Frank and Lois Gould from Hope for Boston’s Homeless. It was so great to have them join us in this community project.

 

During its annual January Food Drive, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary collected 1,368 pounds of much needed food items for The Open Door's Ipswich Community Food Pantry. This total is 300 pounds, or about 30%, above what the club collected in 2022.

Pressure on food pantries increased significantly during the pandemic, and that demand was accelerated even further by above average food price inflation during the past year. "We are happy to partner with The Open Door to help our neighbors in need," said Chris Davis, Service Projects chair for Ipswich-Rowley Rotary.

The Rotary Club is grateful to our members, and to everyone, who donated so generously. We also thank our community partner organizations for providing drop off locations which are so vital to the collection process. This year’s collection partners were The Institution for Savings, Bank Gloucester, Brookline Bank, MAC Fitness, and the Ipswich Family YMCA. 

District Governor Alexander Falk visited the Manchester-Essex Rotary Club today, February 1^st, and presented President Jack Costello and Membership Chair (and President-Elect) Tim Collins with the District Membership Committee Citation Certificate for completing the new Membership Citation program. 

 

In addition all club members received the new Membership Committee Citation pin! 

 

Manchester-Essex is the first Rotary Club in our District 7930 to be recognized this way. If you want to learn more about the membership citation program, and how you can implement this in your club, please read this article.

There are only a few more days to sponsor Rotary Peabody's biggest fundraiser: Taste of the North Shore. We have several levels of sponsors still available. Each sponsor appears on our Taste website (https://peabodyrotarytaste.com/), social media and gets mentioned during the event. It is a great opportunity for exposure for your company or organization. Deadline for sponsorship is February 8.

Want to support us but aren't able to sponsor? Buy your $100 raffle ticket at https://peabodyrotarytaste.com/ . Your ticket includes 2 admissions where you and a guest can sample amazing flavors from more than 20 vendors of food and spirits, plus your chance to win $10,000.

Join us on Tuesday, March 14th, 6PM at Danversport for food, drinks and fun!