The next meeting of the Environmental Committee is Wednesday, December 27th. Note, no November meeting as it's the day before Thanksgiving. Speaking of Thanksgiving, here are some tips for a sustainable plastic free Thanksgiving:

1. Choose Scratch Over Store-Bought
2. Shop Local
3. Use Sustainable Decor
4. Serve on Reusable Dishes & Dinnerware
5. Provide or Bring Reusable Containers for Leftovers
6. Compost!

The environmental committee is open to everyone who cares about the environment. There are many areas of sustainability, and the committee is open to everyone and every project idea. My passion is plastics. I am a speaker for Beyond Plastics and available to speak at your club. Please reach out to get me on your club's schedule.

The Wakefield Rotary Club has an honored tradition of recognizing the service of veterans year-round through various service projects, donations, and partnerships. This year, however, the club members wish to highlight the service of veterans within its ranks; the club is home to four military veterans and a Peace Corps volunteer.

Jay J. Curley served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Infantry, serving in Vietnam. He received the Bronze Star Medal for heroic service. After his military career, his service to others continued at home as an attorney in Wakefield and the Wakefield Rotary Club President from 1987-88. In fact, his dedication to the Wakefield community and beyond is unwavering with 52 years of perfect attendance, more than any other member of the club. He said, “I have always tried to help people from a young age and continue to do so today through Rotary. I did not want to lead a life without giving back. I was a team player in the military and am a team player in Rotary. I like to have a positive approach to helping others.”

 

Last Saturday morning a group of Rotarians descended on our ‘adopted highway,’ removing unsightly debris from the roadside along Route 133 between County Road and the Essex town line. Over the course of about 2 hours, the team collected 8 large bags of trash, helping to maintain the beauty of this picturesque motorway.

As usual, the litter removal squad was organized by President Elect Tom Murphy. Helping this year, were Rotarians Susanne Pedersen (pictured in the photo), Lee McNelly, Nat Pulsifer, and Doug Shealy. This project is part of our larger commitment to protecting the environment. 

The Rotary Club of Chelsea was recently honored to host two Rotary roamers from India. They were Surendra Manjrekar from the Rotary Club of Mumbai Sion and Aniruddha Nakhawa from the Rotary Club of Thane Angels.  Rotary banners were exchanged. 

We are happy to announce that Katherine Platt has joined Ipswich-Rowley Rotary.

Katie Platt is the new Officer Manager at Campbell-Porter Funeral Home, formerly known as Whittier-Porter. Now in her 10th year with Campbell Funeral Home, she has assumed responsibility for the High Street location formerly owned and operated by Bob and Kim Porter. Katie is thrilled with this opportunity. ‘I am excited to extend my experiences with different situations and dynamics in new ways with the community.’

In the true spirit of Rotary, Katie has discovered how rewarding it can be to help people during difficult times. ‘When you can make someone smile, it warms your heart knowing that you were able to make that difference.’