The Lawrence Rotary Club celebrated this holiday season with the Leahy School administrators and its grade1 to 5 students.
Lawrence Rotary arranged for 6 musicians to provide musical entertainment and elves to hand out gifts. This made for both a most fun and happy celebration! Among the club members who participated were Sean Murphy, our lead elf who coordinated the distribution of gifts to the assembled kids, and Shirley Fitzpatrick and Cecilia Cuesta who dressed in their elf costumes. They also brought sugar and caffeine laden snacks to sustain the adults. Richard Rodriguez was an elf, Ron Hill was Santa, and Ron's wife Janis was the lovely Mrs. Claus.
The children's shining eyes and happy, smiling faces told the true story of this holiday season!
The Lawrence Rotary Club sends its best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and holiday season, and a happy, healthy and prosperous year ahead!
The Gr. Salem Rotary Club has been committed in distributing scholastic dictionaries to 3rd graders for the past 20+ years. This week the club distributed 250 dictionaries to the Golden Brook School in Windham NH one of the communities we support.
This is an ongoing service to promote literacy and empower students with the tools they need to succeed. Gr. Salem services 5 communities, Salem, Windham, Atkinson, Hampstead and Pelham NH.
Gr. Salem Rotary Club Distribute Scholastic Dictionaries
Topic: Navigating the Polio Vaccine During Turbulent Times When: Thursday, February 12, 2026 Where: Spinelli's Function Facility, Route 1, South, Lynnfield, MA, 01940
Keynote Speaker: PDG Mike McGovern Chair International PolioPlus Committee at Rotary International, Past Trustee of the Rotary Foundation (2012-2016), Past Board of Director, Rotary International (2006-2008)
Each year, Reading Rotary works with community partners, ReadingCares, the Town of Reading and many community donors coordinate the Adopt-a-Family project for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Thanksgiving distribution day was November 24. Receiving families are matched anonymously with donor families or groups to provide meal and gifts at Christmas and meals at Thanksgiving. Donors drop off at the Town DPW garage in the first shift, then recipient families pick up their food and gifts during a later shift.
Reading Rotary’s efforts were headed by Rotarian Sasha DiPietro. This is a truly inspirational and humbling event to see the community come together to help others. The generosity of the donors is overwhelming as evidenced by the many smiling faces as well as some tears of thanks. Reading Rotary is proud of and grateful for its partners ReadingCares and the Town of Reading in this community giving event. A huge thank you to all the donor families and groups. Their generosity makes this all possible.
On November 20th the Lawrence Rotary Cub enjoyed hosting District Governor Pooja Singla (far right) and District International Service Chair Maria Bertolone (2nd from left). It was an interesting and informative meeting which included both Rotary fellowship and instruction! Also pictured from left to right are Janis Hill, Shirley Fitzpatrick, Attorney Ramsey Bahrawy, Attorney Richard Rodriguez and Ron Hill.
The District leadership team and I cordially invite you to the District Mid Year Leadership Meeting, where we will come together to exchange ideas, address challenges, and celebrate our collective progress.
Giving Tuesday, December 2, is an opportunity to make a big impact with a gift of any size to The Rotary Foundation. A donation to Annual Fund-SHARE supports projects you're passionate about. A gift to PolioPlus helps transport vaccines and immunize children to keep them safe. You ensure that our programs can bring positive and lasting change to communities close to home and around the world. Please consider giving the Gift of Rotary this season, so we can keep Doing Good in the World.
For ways to donate to The Rotary Foundation, click here.
The Rotary Club of Burlington participated in the "Name a Puppy Plus" program with NEADS. This was accomplished via a District Grant in 2023. NEADS is a world class service dog program. NEADS raises and trains a future Service Dog or Breeder Dog. Service Dogs provide increased independence and connection for people in need.
Our dog is named "Junior" and has an aptitude for hearing. We received quarterly updates and photos throughout the puppy's training which kept us up to date on Junior's progress. We are excited to share that Junior has graduated from the program and has been matched to Isabelle as a Service Dog for hearing. This has been a very rewarding experience for our club, and we know we are making a difference in the life of Isabelle.
Each year as the weather gets colder, the Lawrence Rotary Club purchases and delivers 100 coats, 100 mittens and 100 hats to young Lawrence Grammar School students. Two weeks ago, the Lawrence Rotary Club delivered 100 coats, 100 mittens and 100 hats to Hennessey Grammar School students.
Rotarians pictured are Shirley Fitzpatrick, 2nd from left; Ron Hill, 3rd from the left; Pedro Rentas 2nd from the right and Attorney Richard Rodriguez in blue suit standing next to Pedro with some of the grammar school children wearing their new winter coats.
Happy Thanksgiving to all our Rotarians, families and friends from District 7930 Leadership Team.
At Thanksgiving we are especially thankful for all the service and good works our Rotarians and partners have provided throughout the year. And we are thankful for the friendships and fellowship we find in Rotary.
Do you remember the first ever district-wide Clothes Swap held this past September? It's a THING. National Clothes Swap Day is December 6.
The Environment Committee challenges you to host a clothes swap at your house or have a clothes swap activity at your next Rotary meeting. Everyone brings 1-2 items of clothing or accessories and let the fun begin. Why swap clothes? The US generates 17 million tons of textile waste annually with about 11 tons of this waste going into landfills. In many cases, these clothes are still wearable. This is a win-win for your wallet as well as the environment.
Last week Woburn Rotary and Winchester Rotary joined together to have their annual combined meeting celebrating the Thanksgiving High School football rivalry at the Woburn/Stoneham Lodge of Elks #908.
The guest speaker was Doug Carns from the Woburn Tanners 1975 Super Bowl team. Doug spoke about the great rivalry with Winchester and showed film clips of the 1975 Thanksgiving Day football game, courtesy of the Woburn Historical Society. Winchester Rotary’s historian Jack Kean also spoke about one of the longest running rivalries in Massachusetts, 125 years of Woburn and Winchester football!
As we have ticked off the first few months of the Rotary year, it is an opportune time for clubs to conduct a Public Image health check.
A strong and vibrant Public Image is one of 2 proven key tactics for successful and growing clubs -- the other is a large number of service projects. Effective Public Image helps expand your reach and artfully tell compelling stories that demonstrate Rotarians as people of action. The Public Image Committee’s role is to help clubs to have a robust media and social media strategy, an up-to-date website and an engaging online presence in their local communities.
We suggest all clubs engage on social media to boost your Public Image. Social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.) provides free opportunities to get your stories out there. The various platforms can provide a direct way to push your news to the public. Here are some tips to think about.
On November 12, 2025, Rotarians from across District 7930 gather to honor military veterans at the PDG Bob Wood Memorial Heroes Celebration, held at the Andover Country Club. The event recognized and celebrated veterans from throughout the district for their service and dedication to their country. Each Hero designated was presented with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition in appreciation for their service to our country.
It was a wonderful turnout to acknowledge and support our Heroes, and we were particularly inspired by the powerful speeches by our guests of honor BG Jack Hammond and Rotary International Director Chris Etienne with the touching story of Micaila Britto, the presence of her Service Dog, Rabbit. We were privileged to have special guests from Rotary International Celeste Herbert and Mary Shackleton and PDG Bob Wood’s widow Susan Wood.
The evening’s featured speaker was Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond, Executive Director of Home Base. Home Base is a national nonprofit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans of all eras, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen through world-class, direct clinical care, wellness, education and research, all at no cost to them, regardless of era of service, discharge status or geographical location.
More than a dozen districts have joined together during the 2025-26 Rotary year to increase membership in the PolioPlus Society (PPS), and ultimately eradicate Polio, once and for all!
You can help by setting up your annual or monthly recurring Polio donation today.
The district with the greatest percentage increase of PPS members by June 2026 will win a fancy banner and bragging rights! Better yet we will all know we did our part in saving the lives of children all over the world!
To learn more about the PolioPlus Society and find out how easy it is to join, please click here.
Each club is asked to plan an activity to raise funds for Polio sometime by March. The top 3 clubs in PolioPlus donations now are: 1. Marblehead; 2. Lexington; 3. Andover.
What a wonderful week of celebrations as the Wakefield Rotary Club attended multiple celebrations of our nation's heroes. On Veterans Day, Rotarians Jay Curley (US Army, ret.), Barbara Worley, Joie Gerrish and Jim Fitzgerald attended the town's Veterans Day event and gave tribute to local heroes.
The following day, members of the club attended the retirement party for Rotarian Fire Chief Michael Sullivan. The third generation fire professional, Michael retired with over 41 years of service to the town.
Later that week, Barbara, President-Elect Paul Adams, Wendy Maguire, Jay Curley and his wife Annette, and Frank Fiorentino (US Army, ret.) and his wife Mary attended the District's Bob Wood Memorial Heroes' Celebration. The club mominated Wakefield Veteran Servies Director David A. Mangan (US Air Force, ret.) to be recognized.
It was truly a wonderful week of celebrating those who served.
Posted by Pooja Singla and Terry Curran on Nov 09, 2025
Event: District 7930 Mid Year Leadership Seminar
When: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 5:30 pm - 9:00 PM
Where: Four Points by Sheraton, 1 Audubon Road, Wakefield, MA 01880
Who should attend:
· Current Presidents (2025-2026)
· Presidents Elect (2026-2027)
· Presidents Nominee (2027-2028) and beyond if elected
· Assistant Governors.
Your chance to reflect, refocus, and recharge. This will give current Club Presidents time to speak with DG Pooja and her team on what is going on in your club and the District.
All come together to exchange ideas, address challenges, and celebrate our progress halfway through the Rotary year. The Mid Year event will highlight successes and areas for improvement, ensuring we stay on track with our plans to create a lasting impact.
To those clubs who have Presidents-Elect listed in Club Runner, thank you. Please update your Club’s President Elect information on ClubRunner so that the PEs get all the notifications of the leadership meetings in a timely manner.
The Gloucester Rotary has published a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2026, featuring the photography of several local photographers. In addition to the beautiful photography, each calendar includes a raffle ticket for a $50 weekly raffle drawing throughout the year. The calendars are $25 each and proceeds from sales will be used for the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities. Calendars may be purchased online here or at BankGloucester (160 Main St, Gloucester), the Weathervane (153 Main St, Gloucester), and at the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce (24 Harbor Loop, Gloucester) or from any Gloucester Rotarian.
Here's a reminder that your club as a nonprofit or tax-exempt organization is required to file its annual return (Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, or 990-BL) by November 15. (This year since November 15 falls on a Saturday, the deadline is extended to November 17.) Make sure you file your return or duly file for an extension.
Our annual Halloween lunch meeting was a spirited success! More than half of our members joined in the fun by coming in costume, adding plenty of laughter and color to the day. We were delighted to welcome District Governor Pooja Singla, who arrived as Super Rotarian—cape and all!—along with our Assistant Governor Ron Block.
The room was filled with witches, cats, Mrs. Claus, Eeyore, a pirate, a roller skater, and many more creative looks. This festive gathering is just one of the many fun and fellowship-filled traditions that make our club so special throughout the year! Can you spot past District Governor Ingrid Brown?
The Wakefield Rotary Club hosted its Halloween party at a meeting this week. Co-hosts Jay Curley and Amy Luckiewicz led several haunted games and invited members to dress up in costumes.
Following the weekly lunch, Rotarians and guests gathered to play a Halloween Music Trivia game, a Halloween category-based party game, and more, all for fun Halloween-themed prizes. Members were encouraged to rotate partners on team games and sit with someone they may not know that well. Club Vice-President Paul Adams said, “We love to do service projects here, but we do take breaks for fun. It’s a time for us to work with each other, build friendships, and take a break from the daily hustle of the day.”
On Friday, Oct 24th, in honor of World Polio Day, Newburyport Rotary loaded up a truck full of crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, canes, and other mobility aids generously donated by our community - all headed to Crutches4Africa, a nonprofit that helps improve mobility and dignity for people in developing countries.
This effort was made possible thanks to the incredible support from our neighbors, fellow Rotary Clubs, and local organizations who answered the call over the past few months. Your donations will soon travel across the world and make a real difference for individuals in need.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped us collect, sort, and deliver these items. We’re proud to be part of a global mission to help eradicate polio and support those affected by it.
And a big thank you the Rotary Club of Saco Maine for helping us coordinate and letting us collaborate with you.
It was a privilege to welcome our Rotary District Governor, Pooja Singla, to the Rotary Club of Peabody. Her visit brought great energy and a clear vision for the year ahead.
She shared inspiring updates on district-wide initiatives—from youth programs and international service projects to local partnerships making a real difference. We're excited to align our club’s efforts with the broader goals of the district and explore new ways to contribute meaningfully.
Thank you, Pooja, for your leadership and for taking the time to connect with our club.
Pictured here is DG Pooja Visit with Peabody Rotary President Kerry Armstrong and Vice President Curt Bellavance.
In lieu of regular meeting last week, Beverly Rotary made 100 take home dinners for home bound Beverly folk. With the guidance of Brenda Mattos of Ellis Square Friends, a nutritious and delicious meal was prepared.
Our diners got Mexican seasoned rice. All rice seasonings came from Green Beverly Food diversion program. Corn on the cob that was donated by the American Legion in Middleton. We decided to make Mexican lasagna because we received a case of spinach wraps from our Stop & Shop donation. We prepared for 100 people, we served 96. And today’s win...we served 100 people at $1.06 a serving!!! Yup, Ellis Square Friends spent $106.00 to make that entire meal. So $49.75 of that was spent on Chicken. All we purchased was cheese, sour cream, Salsa and a 10lb bag of rice. And that is how we do it.
Thanks to Brenda, President Connor and all our volunteers who provided a dinner for those most under served #beverlyrotary #ellissquarefriends #district7930 #beverlyma #beverlymainstreets
As we celebrate Rotary’s incredible progress toward a polio-free world, now is the time for District 7930 to step up and lead the charge! Across the Rotary network, districts are making remarkable strides through their PolioPlus Society efforts. Let’s take a moment to applaud the top performers in the PolioPlus Challenge.
1st Place is District 7010 with 217 PPS members, representing 14.97% of District members;
2nd Place is District 6360 with 253 PPS members, representing 12.75%; and
3rd is District 7980 with 122 PPS members, representing 6.59% of their members.
District 7930 has the heart, passion, and reach to be next on that list. Every club can make an impact—one member, one pledge, one conversation at a time. We have 76 PPS in D7930.
At its dinner meeting at Austin Prep this week, Reading Rotary was pleased to welcome Sharon Kelleher, Library Director of North Reading’s Flint Memorial Library. Sharon accepted a donation for the purchase of an automated external defibrillator (AED) for the library. Flint Memorial is North Reading's public library.
Sharon had reached out to Rotarian Peter Majane seeking assistance with the project. There was a pressing need to have an AED on the fourth floor especially because the elevator is not currently working and the additional stairs created greater potential for incidents requiring the device. Pictured are President Amy Walsh, Peter Majane, and Library Director Sharon Kelleher.
Reading Rotary is proud to support the communities of both Reading and North Reading, continuing our mission of service above self. Reading Rotary also sponsors the North Reading High School Interact Club and annually offers scholarships to North Reading graduating seniors.
PDG Bob Wood Memorial Heroes' Celebration is fast approaching on November 12 at the Andover Country Club 5:30 pm. This is going to be a fantastic event and not to be missed! Please sign up now. There is a hard deadline to register for tickets to the event: Sunday, November 2.
Here is the link to register attendance for the event. Please register your Military Veteran Hero/PHF and any guests that may be coming. Your club will be responsible for payment for your honoree and any guests.
Special guests are: RI Director Chris Etienne and guest speaker, Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond, Director of Home Base.
Grant for Home Base. Please let Joan Arsenault, thewellbeing@comcast.net, know if your club is able to contribute to the GRANT for Home Base. We need to raise $10,000 to support this grant. The total grant is $20,000 and the District is providing $10,000 from TRF DDF. The grant provides back packs to veterans and their families with supplies for the intensive mental health program to help reduce suicide risk. In addition, the grant will be buying flags for the Memorial Day Flag Garden on the commons. These flags are for fallen heroes since the civil war. Rotary will be involved in packing the back packs as well as setting up and removing the flags.
Last week Woburn Rotary invited Assistant Scout Master Brian Grace and Scout Unit Commissioner Dave Frizzell of Woburn Scouts Pack 502 to speak about the work that the scouts do in the community and the leadership skills that are learned in the scouts. We were especially grateful for the work the scouts did for our Flags for Heroes program lead by past Rotary Club of Woburn President Bill Sullivan. The scouts helped to install the base mounts into the ground so the flags could fly in Ferullo Park in North Woburn. Rotary Club of Woburn President Danny Walbourne presented the scouts with a donation.
October 24th marks World Polio Day, a day to recognize the more than 35-year fight to end polio world-wide. This year, the Wakefield Rotary Club is again committing to helping eradicate the disease.
This week, Wakefield Rotarians recognized the past contributions of its members to the eradication efforts while re-committing to continue the efforts towards ending polio for good. Past Presidents Barbara Worley and Wendy Maguire reflected on the decades-long efforts from Wakefield Rotarians to combat polio via fundraising and education. Past President Jay Curley noted, “Although the world is so close to eradication, I know Rotarians will continue until polio is gone completely.”
According to Rotary’s polio educational website, “Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort.”
The mission of The Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) North East America is to provide an educational opportunity for Rotarians as potential leaders. Each club President is asked annually to encourage Club members as potential Club leaders in the years ahead. Courses foster Rotary knowledge and leadership skills. It is hoped that these courses will also motivate the participants to be enthusiastic, creative and dedicated Rotarians. Our District's next RLI is being offered virtually on February 24 & 26, 2026. Mark your calendars now! It is open to all Rotary members.
The faculty members are carefully selected by the Institute for their teaching abilities. They are drawn from all areas of the Rotary Districts. Many are present and past R.I. Directors, present and past District Governors, successful past Presidents and those with experience in special areas. If your Club cares about its future, it will want the best leadership possible. This is an outstanding opportunity for each Club to improve the Rotary knowledge of its key people, who will also be exposed to new ideas of leadership. The exchange of ideas with other experienced Rotarians alone makes the courses worthwhile.
The District Interact Council is sponsoring “Jumpstart TwoFive,” a panel discussion designed for Rotary Advisors and Interact leaders for sharing best practices.
Sunday, November 2, from 2-4 pm at Stoneham Teen Center, 79 Central St, Stoneham.
Five Interact leaders and RYLA alum will share success stories and field questions. This event is designed to address the number one concern shared by Interact Advisors across the District - how can we help our kids regain their pre-Covid vibrancy?
See if you or your kids struggle with any of these:
My students are too busy - they can’t find time to meet;
They face too much competition from other clubs...can’t find any Rotarians to help me with Interact;
Our club seems to have lost its way - they just don’t seem to have enthusiasm anymore.
Regardless of what challenges you face, this event is a space for sharing and discovery. And everyone who comes will have something of value to bring as well, because each of you have a heart for these kids. Together we can lift them up and inject new energy into the program. Nothing chases away the weariness like renewed purpose. Admission is free to all!
PDG Bob Wood Memorial Heroes' Celebration is fast approaching on November 12 at the Andover Country Club 5:30 pm. This is going to be a fantastic event and not to be missed! Please sign up now.
Here is the link to register attendance for the event. Please register your Military Veteran Hero/PHF and any guests that may be coming. Your club will be responsible for payment for your honoree and any guests.
Special guests are: RI Director Chris Etienne; US Representative Seth Moulton; and guest speaker: Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond from Home Base
Grant for Home Base. Please let Joan Arsenault, thewellbeing@comcast.net, know if your club is able to contribute to the GRANT for Home Base. We need to raise $10,000 to support this grant. The total grant is $20,000 and the District is providing $10,000 from TRF DDF. The grant provides back packs to veterans and their families with supplies for the intensive mental health program to help reduce suicide risk. In addition, the grant will be buying flags for the Memorial Day Flag Garden on the commons. These flags are for fallen heroes since the civil war. Rotary will be involved in packing the back packs as well as setting up and removing the flags.
Deadline to submit the Nominations for District Governor (2028-29) has been extended until Friday, October 31, 2025.
District 7930 is looking for the future leader for Rotary Year 2028-2029 to carry its flagship forward! This is our Rotary District.
Let's make every effort in order to make its impact more meaningful and magical going forward! We are all in this together!
Please propose suitable candidates who meet the qualifications to serve.
If you feel that your club has such a leader among your members, (including yourself) please consider putting them forward to help fulfill Rotary's ongoing missions.
The nomination form can be downloaded here. In addition to the nomination form, please include a Rotary-focused resume of the candidate, as well as the candidate's vision statement of what they would like to accomplish for our district in their year as district governor. Completed nomination forms and send to me at pooja.d7930@gmail.com along with the additional documents.
The project discussed here is by one of newer members, Virginia Jones. What a positive experience!
As members of Rotary, we understand our purpose is to provide service that benefits our communities. I was, as all new members of the Beverly Club are, privileged to receive a $250 stipend for a service program. The stipend is to encourage new members to participate in community support by developing a service project beneficial to the Beverly community.
My first thought in undertaking this project was to draw upon my professional background as an RN or my personal strengths as a yoga teacher, Reiki Master and a Black Belt karate student. But I soon realized that the costs of renting a space in which to implement and advertise such a program would far exceed the $250.
The District Environmental Committee is working on some exciting projects and would love to have your participation. Join us once a month for a 1-hr or less call to discuss what the committee is up to and how you can be a part of it.
Next meeting is Thursday, Oct 30th at 7 pm.
Please contact Andrea Lacroix at amlacroix@yahoo.com for more info, or use this link to join us:
oin the Gloucester Rotary at Magnolia 525 Tavern (12 Lexington Ave, Gloucester) tonight, October 20, 2025, 5-9pm.
A portion of all proceeds from both dining and bar receipts will benefit the Rotary Club’s community service projects. Enjoy a great meal while supporting local initiatives!
Join our Rotary Zone Membership team for an inspiring session covering Rotary’s story, values, and impact — including the Avenues of Service, Areas of Focus, and the Four-Way Test.
Discover what it means to belong and explore ways to get involved. This special program is open to all Rotary and Rotaract members — whether you're new or just want a refresher.
Choose your session:
🗓️ Tuesday, October 21st — 7:30 PM EST 🗓️ Wednesday, January 21st — 7:30 PM EST 🗓️ Thursday, April 23rd — 7:30 PM EST
Why is Rotary Public Image and consistent Branding important? Public Image is the opinion that people have of an organization based on its actions.
Rotarians do so much amazing work in their communities: we build houses for homeless; we plant trees to protect the shores from destruction; organize educational camps for low-income families; we fight Polio; we volunteer at senior homes; and so much more. If the majority of public is not aware of the great job Rotarians do in their communities how can we expect them to join and support us in our efforts?
Rotary’s public image is shaped by what and how we talk about Rotary, how we present what we do in our communities, and how often. If we are not telling those Rotary’s stories to the public, their impressions are often made up of half-truths or not made up at all. It’s weakening our brand and harming our public image.
Strong Rotary’s public image motivates public to support our efforts and projects; inspires to get involved; engages new members, volunteers, and partners; attracts new donors; and positively distinguishes Rotary from other servicing opportunities.
Nominations for District Governor for 2028-29 are being accepted starting September 1, 2025. Deadline to submit nominations: Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
This important individual leads and supports the clubs in the district by inspiring and motivating them to Do Good in the World! All clubs are encouraged to propose suitable candidates who meet the qualifications to serve. One of these requirements is that at the time of taking office, must have been a past president of a club, completed seven years of membership in one or more clubs, and to have attended governors-elect training seminar and International Assembly. If you feel that your club has such a leader among your members, please consider nominating them to help fulfill Rotary's ongoing missions.
The nomination form can be downloaded here. In addition to the nomination form, please include a Rotary-focused resume of the candidate, as well as the candidate's vision statement of what they would like to accomplish for our district in their year as district governor. Completed nomination forms and the additional documents should be sent to DG Pooja Singla.
The Greater Salem NH Rotary Club successfully completed its annual golf tournament at the Windham Country Club. This event attracted a significant number of enthusiastic golfers, all of whom enjoyed ideal weather conditions throughout the day, contributing to the overall positive atmosphere.
As expressed by Jamie Santo, the club's first President, "There was a great deal of camaraderie with community business folks connecting over a great event." The tournament provided an excellent opportunity for members of the community to come together, strengthen relationships, and celebrate shared interests in a friendly and welcoming environment.
The tournament drew a large group of participants who enjoyed perfect weather while fostering strong community connections and camaraderie. Attendees bonded over a successful and enjoyable day of golf, making the event memorable for everyone involved. Funds raised from the tournament will support fuel assistance and holiday gift cards for the five communities the club serves: Salem, Atkinson, Hampstead, Pelham, and Windham, NH.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians continued a tradition with the Open Door of bringing cheer and laughter in a full bag of everything needed for a joyful birthday party of eight children. Birthday-in-a-Bag!
For four years, Rotarians have packed 25 bags for re-distribution at the Gloucester-based food pantry. Each bag, tied with colorful ribbons, contained – Happy Birthday Banner, Cake Mix, Can of Frosting, Birthday Cake Candles, Plates, Flat Ware, Cups, Napkins, Tablecloth, Party Hats, Party Noise Makers, Party Games to Play, and a full Bag of Candy.
Children’s birthday celebrations add additional stress to families already experiencing food insecurity. This Ipswich-Rowley Rotary donation of laughter and joy in a bag hopefully adds a day filled with fun for all!
Big shout out to the Environmental Committee for hosting a very fun and successful 1st Annual Clothes and Book/Puzzle Swap. What a great way to part with clothes and books you no longer want, keep them out of the landfill, and have the opportunity to shop for new to you items for one small price. The venue was fantastic, in a great location in Danvers just off Route 95 making it easy for most of the district to get there.
Be on the lookout for the 2nd Annual Swap Event. Don't miss next year's Clothes Swap.
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped set-up, break down and put out all the items as people brought them.
Winchester Rotarians, Interactors, Lion’s Heart youth, families and friends gathered to construct fifteen beds for youngsters through the Mass. Coalition for the Homeless and funded by a District Grant. Young and old gathered to champion Service in Action on a perfect Fall day.
PDG Bob Wood Memorial Heroes' Celebration is November 12 at the Andover Country Club 5:30 pm. Clubs are asked to honor a Hero, who for this event must be a Military Veteran or in Active Service in the Military. Hero may be a Rotarian or non-Rotarian.
Here is the link to register attendance for the event. Please register your Military Veteran Hero/PHF and any guests that may be coming. Your club will be responsible for payment for your honoree and any guests.
Special guests are:
RI Director Chris Etienne
US Representative Seth Moulton
And guest speaker: Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond from Home Base
Please consider cancelling your meeting the week of November 12.
Hero Submission. Please use this form to submit your Rotary Club's Veteran/Military hero for our Rotary. This information will be used for the slideshow to be shown during the event, so it is vitally important that we receive your Hero Submission no later than October 15th, 2025! Military Hero Submission Form.
Lexington Rotary continued ours annual tradition and served up BBQs to seniors in September. We lucked out with three beautiful September afternoons for our annual BBQ’s at Lexington’s senior housing communities.
All hands were on deck to support our senior friends who look forward to the visit from Rotary each year. We love giving back to our community and what better way than with cheeseburgers and hot dogs off the grill!
Newburyport Rotary is partnering with the Rotary Club of Saco Bay in Maine and the non-profit, Crutches4Africa.
We will be collecting all types of used mobility equipment until the end of October.
If you, or anyone you know, has unwanted crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, or leg braces just taking up space, please reach out to me at lstpierre@ifs.bank
We’ll be shipping these devices directly to Africa where most people aren’t so fortunate to have these walking tools, never mind surgeries to fix their problems.
The Rotary Club of Andover is proud to commemorate 30 years of service, fellowship, and impactful community initiatives. To mark this milestone, we invite you to join us for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and high-energy fun at the NuBingo Music Extravaganza, a fundraising event celebrating three decades of making a difference in Andover and beyond.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 – Doors open at 6:00 PM, event starts at 7:00 PM at DoubleTree Hilton, Andover.
Highlights: Enjoy a lively night of music, dancing, and bingo, with food available and a cash bar. Ticket options include entry, bingo card(s), and beads for a 50/50 raffle contest. Additional bingo cards and beads will be available for purchase at the event.
This event is open to the public, offering a chance to celebrate with the Rotary Club of Andover while supporting our ongoing community efforts. Over the past 30 years, our club has championed local projects, fostered connections, and made a lasting impact through service and leadership.
Last week, the Wakefield Rotary Club participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge to fundraise in support of the Angel Fund. The Angel Fund aims at supporting research of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Fifteen participants represented Holiday Travel, WCAT, HD Physical Therapy, The Savings Bank, and First Financial Trust. Ten of the participants are also Wakefield Rotarians.
“We had a great turn-out of both participants and supporters,” commented Wakefield Rotary Club President Kathy Boyle. “We were fortunate to be able to support this great cause that has become a well-known campaign with roots right here in Massachusetts.”
In total, through pledges and day-of donations, the group collected $2,336. The Wakefield Rotary Club contributed an additional $1,000 bringing the total to $3,336 collected for the Angel Fund.
The club wishes to thank the Wilmington Rotary Club for their logistical support, participants Carla Dale, Suzanne Bowering, Cameron Harding, Madison Harding, Ed Harding, Matthew Harding, Jim Fitzgerald, Paul Adams, Tom Stapleton, Debbie Young, Kathy Boyle, Bina Siddiqui, Bertha Ruiz, Julie MacArthur and Barbara Worley and the staff at Lakeside Inn for their commitment to the event.
And guest speaker: Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond from Home Base
Please let all your club members know about this event and consider cancelling your meeting the week of November 12. Guest speaker: RI Director Chris Etienne, Representative Seth Moulton, Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond from Home Base.
District 7930 now has a permanent Post Office Box address at one of the most convenient and centralized locations in our District in the city of Woburn, Massachusetts.
The District's new address is:
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 7930
PO Box 2364
Woburn, MA 01888
Please update your address books for all mail, especially including checks for dues or other items. Kindly use this address for future USPS correspondence to the District.
To Benefit Local Scholarships & Lexington Based Projects
Two Grand Prizes of $5,000 each
Eight $500.00 Prizes
Only 300 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD
(Way Better Odds than Powerball)
DONATION - $100.00/TICKET
Join us for an action-packed charitable Friday night filled with Great Drinks, Delicious Food, Very Happy People and the chance to win THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!
Whether you’re already using Rotary’s Service Project Center or are hearing about it for the first time, this dynamic resource hub supports you at every stage of your service project journey.
In the Service Project Center, you’ll find tools and resources all in one place to help strengthen the impact of your projects. There are documents, links, and guidance to design and manage measurable and sustainable projects, locate partners, exchange stories, share best practices, and more.
And now the Service Project Center is even more valuable and exciting to use with the addition of these new features:
A Resources page with links to project planning materials.
A refreshed, mobile-friendly Grant Center page and dashboard integrated into the Service Project Center, giving you seamless access to project resources and grant information.
An Impact page dedicated to supporting Rotary’s Action Plan that will debut with a fun game designed to test your knowledge of impact.
We encourage you to visit the Service Project Center for all your project planning needs and to check back regularly for new features and enhancements.
The Clothes and Book / Puzzle Swap are just around the corner on September 28 from 11 am to 3 pm at Danvers Art Association. We have an amazing food vendor and some great raffle prizes, so I hope you come, swap and shop and enjoy the day.
You do not need to bring anything to "shop", and you do not need to take anything home.
It is with great sadness that we inform you of Marnee Walsh's passing. She passed away on September 13th, 2025. Marnee has been an important and vibrant member of Winchester Rotary since 2010 and will be dearly missed. As a Past President, Paul Harris Award recipient, and District Officer, she led a life of service. Marnee served Rotary District 7930 on multiple committees and was a long serving Assistant Governor.
A celebration of life for Marnee will be held at a later date. Funeral services are under the direction of Costello Funeral Home in Winchester.
On behalf of the Winchester Rotary Club, I offer our most sincere condolences to Marnee's family and loved ones.
On Thursday, September 11, 2025, our small town of Rowley, Massachusetts was connected to other small towns and big cities across the United States as citizens remembered their own who perished on September 11, 2001. A memorial garden at Cross and Pleasant Streets was the gathering point in September 11, 2025, for the ceremony, attended faithfully by Rowley Fire and Police department members and many residents.
The Rowley 9/11 memorial is dedicated to town residents Jim and Mary Trentini and Laurie Neira, who were all killed when their airplane, American Airlines Flight 11 barreled into the World Trade Center. This hijacked flight departed from Boston, Massachusetts, and crashed into the North Tower at 8:46 a.m.
Worldwide, college and university-bound orphans leave their orphanage homes needing all the day-to-day living materials that parents and family members usually supply, resources that orphans obviously lack. In conjunction with the non-profit New Thing, Ipswich, MA, Harbor Rotarians contribute support for The Children’s Village in Belarus. This year, first year college and university student kits contained bedding (sheets, blanket, pillow and pillow case, coverlet), pots and pans and other kitchenware, an iron, and towels, as well as a laptop, desk lamp and study materials.
What’s our club’s connection to such a faraway but very needy place? Some time ago, the members’ hearts were touched by a talk given by Doug Brendel, head of New Thing. Doug visits Belarus frequently and is committed to working with the on-the-ground dedicated caregivers from Belarus who provide the love and attention that the orphans, from the youngest to the oldest, need to be successfully launched into productive futures. For more information (or looking for an international connection), Doug can be reached at unconventional@dougbrendel.com.
The Belle Isle Rotary Club Fundraiser - Limoncello Making Nite! Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 at the East Boston Yacht Club 1 Rice St, East Boston (plenty of parking). Doors open at 5pm for happy hour/complimentary nibbles. Limoncello making begins at 6pm. Donation is $100 and for that you get all the ingredients, equipment and instruction from Belle Isle President Peter Scolaro a 40-year Cello-tarian! So you can make your very own 4 liter batch of limoncello. This is fun to do solo, couple or as a group - you can split batches. Spectators welcome as there will be plenty of fun, food and libations.
Want to sign up please call Joe Steffano 617-909-5382, Peter Scolaro 617-719-4001 or Randy Cipoletta 781-964-2600 or email jes5678918@aol.com.
Did you know that we have a new club in our District? We’d like to introduce you to the District 7930 E-Club. The club became an official Satellite Club in August 2025. We are sponsored by Belle Isle who has generously taken us in and given us a space to get started until we move to our own chartered club. We appreciate their help and support very much!
The mission of the E-Club is to provide service to clubs within our District that need some extra help. In addition, we will be providing quarterly micro-donations ($250 and under) to D7930 club projects and fundraisers.
The E-Club’s founding members, led by AG Coordinator, Lori Becker, is made up of active Rotarians who have seen the need for help with service projects throughout the District.
We are delighted to have received an overwhelming number of requests for District Managed Grants. Some funds for the Global Grants are still available.
We are excited to see this enthusiasm for community services in our District.
Thank you all for submitting the Grants Applications for your important community projects funded by the District Managed Grants. We appreciate the time and effort you invested in your proposals.
The District 7930 Grants Committee has been met with an overwhelming number of responses this grant cycle. This high level of interest speaks to the impressive work being done by the clubs for the communities served in our District 7930.
Following Ipswich Rowley Rotary's regular meeting last Thursday, several Rotarians joined Ipswich Library Director Nora Blake in front of the town Library. The occasion was the dedication of a new granite post and refurbished signage donated to the town by Ipswich-Rowley Rotary.
Seen in the photo are Jim Tedford, co-President George Gray who also is Chair of the Library Board of Trustees, Library Director Nora Blake, Project Chair Lee McNelly, Andrea Lacroix, and Martha Mauser. Kneeling are co-President Doug Shealy and dog Iorek.
This beautiful entryway post is an appropriate reminder that public Libraries are and always will be pillars of learning and democracy.
The Wilmington Rotary Club held their annual Community Ice Bucket Challenge at Wilmington's Rotary Park on Saturday, August 24. Many brave participants, including 8 Rotarians, had the pleasure of dumping ice water over their heads to raise funds for the Angel Fund of Wakefield. The Angel Fund is an organization committed to finding a cure for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Through the work of Dr. Robert Brown at the UMass Medical Center, progress has been made but the cure hasn’t yet been achieved, and additional funds are still needed.
We continue to raise funds for this worthy cause - donations may be mailed to the Wilmington Rotary Club, P.O. Box 503, Wilmington, MA 01887 or sent via Venmo @Wilmington-RotaryClub.
The Reading Fall Street Faire is coming to downtown Reading on Sunday, September 7, from noon to 5 pm, and we need your help! All Rotary members are invited, along with high school students and older—a perfect opportunity for students seeking community service hours. It’s also a fun way to meet and work alongside Rotarians from neighboring clubs. Volunteers Needed for Reading Fall Street Faire!
Even if you can't volunteer, come check out the Faire. This is one of the biggest Rotary run events in the area.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of our District 7930's new District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair!
Please welcome Anne Lewis, Rotary Club of Rockport as our New DRFC. Anne was selected by the DG Track after an extensive research and a detailed interview with her.
Anne brings a wealth of experience and a strong vision to this role. Her expertise will be a tremendous asset to the District Foundation as the mission of Rotary International is pursued.
About Anne Lewis:
Anne served on the TRF District Committee for numerous years in the past.
She is well versed in grants both District Managed Grants and Global Grants as well as Major Donor Fundraising.
She understands PHF points and all aspects of TRF.
She is Rockport Rotary Club's current Foundation Chair.
This year Rotaplast has asked DG Pooja to support their Vocational Training Team (VTT) Mission in Faridabad, India from Oct 25-Nov 9, 2025. VTTs are groups of professionals who travel abroad to teach local specialists their skills in their own field. This VTT will teach the local MDs how to perform Cleft Palate Surgeries in Faridabad, India.
We are seeking non-medical volunteers for the mission: Quartermaster; Recovery Room Helper; Recreation Therapist; Equipment Sterilizer; Ward Coordinator; Patient Transporter; Photo Journalist/Mission Historian.
If you would like to be a part of this incredible life-changing mission to help children with cleft palates, please contact Joan Arsenault for more information.
A Rotary Foundation/Paul Harris Fellow Event for our Veterans: Honoring Those Who Have Served!
Date: November 12, 2025
Place: Andover Country Club
Guest Speaker: Brigadier General Jack Hammond (ret.) of Home Base, a national non-profit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of Veterans and their families.
Clubs are invited to nominate a military veteran (or active-duty serviceperson) as a local hero in your community and award them a Paul Harris Recognition. This is a major opportunity to expand our reach as we publicize this throughout our District.
Please discuss the following with your club members:
1. Select a Hero if you haven't already and your club wishes to participate. The Hero(s) must be a veteran, no exceptions please. It can be awarded posthumously.
Last week, the Wakefield Rotary Club hosted a FUN co-meeting with Lynnfield Rotary. Attendees were mixed into teams to play an interactive trivia featuring some Rotary questions, music, and other topics. The book "Kindness is My Superpower" will be donated to both the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library and Lynnfield Public Library on behalf of both clubs. The winning team got to sign the book plates!
Wakefield President Kathy Boyle said, "We were so glad to have such a great turnout and welcome Lynnfield. Our club actually sponsored them!" She added, "Having fun together during our meeting is something we do at least every few months and it was special to us to have Lynnefield Rotarians join in."
The trivia game was hosted by Past President Amy Luckiewicz with assistance from Wakefield President Kathy and Lynnfield Co-President Christine Travers.
Long time member of Wilmington Rotary, Ernie Pearlstein, has passed away. For those of you fortunate to know Ernie, you knew that he was a great guy with an easy-going personality. He was also a clown with the Shriners in Wilmington.
Ernest Arthur Pearlstein, born April 27, 1944, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, passed peacefully at his home on August 20, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family. Ernie grew up in Wilmington and later made his lifelong home in Malden. After proudly serving his country as a United States Marine, Ernie began a long and dedicated career with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
A man deeply committed to service and community, Ernie was honored with the 33rd Degree of Freemasonry for his decades of devotion to the Masonic brotherhood. He was especially proud of his involvement with the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, and participation in the charters of Independence and Logia Lodges. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Scottish Rite Children’s Learning Center in Lexington, where his efforts supported educational opportunities for children. In recognition of his lifelong commitment to helping others, Ernie was awarded the Scottish Rite Humanitarian Award in 2001. Ernie's proudest Masonry moment was being elected by the membership to serve as Junior Grand Warden in 2005.
A Rotary Foundation/Paul Harris Fellow Event for our Veterans: Honoring Those Who Have Served!
Save the Date: November 12, 2025
Place: Andover Country Club
Guest Speaker: Brigadier General Jack Hammond (ret.) of Home Base, a national non-profit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of Veterans and their families.
Clubs are invited to nominate a local hero in your community and award them a Paul Harris Recognition. You are encouraged to recognize a military veteran. This is a major opportunity to expand our reach as we publicize this throughout our District.
Please discuss the following with your club members:
1. Select a Hero if you haven't already and your club wishes to participate. The Hero(s) must be a veteran, no exceptions please. It can be awarded posthumously.
A Rotary Foundation/Paul Harris Fellow Event for our Veterans:
Honoring Those Who Have Served!
Save the Date: November 12, 2025
Place: Andover Country Club
Guest Speaker: Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond of Home Base, a national non-profit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of Veterans and their families.
Clubs are invited to nominate a local hero in your community and award them a Paul Harris Recognition. You are encouraged to recognize a military veteran. This is a major opportunity to expand our reach as we publicize this throughout our District.
Nicola A. “Nick” Barletta, 96, died peacefully on August 10, 2025. A Rotarian and lifelong resident of Rockport, Nick was a mechanical engineer who worked primarily in the areas of aerospace and computer design. Nick served on the Rockport Select Board for 39 years and was instrumental in leading many town improvement projects during his tenure. During this time, he also was active in many civic organizations in Rockport such as the Educational Foundation for Rockport and the Rockport Rotary.
Nick was also a Eucharistic Minister at St. Joachim’s Church for many years. During his youth, Nick was a member of the Rockport Boy Scouts and was particularly proud of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. In addition to his passion for public service, Nick enjoyed working in his dahlia garden, traveling with his late wife, Mary, and spending time with his family and friends.
All Assistant Governors are respectfully requested to attend the quarterly virtual Assistant Governor Forums on August 27, October 22, 2025; January 28, and April 29, 2026. Please mark your calendars.
Join us for an evening of learning and sharing. Rediscover with us best practices in serving in the AG role and tips to increase our impact in area clubs.
Tickets Are Going Fast—Don’t Miss This Unforgettable Night to Honor Rich Cowdell!
The Camp Rotary Board of Directors is to invite you to a once-in-a-lifetime evening of cocktails, dinner, and celebration as we honor an extraordinary leader and his lasting legacy. Legacy of Leadership: A Tribute to Rich Cowdell Saturday, September 6, 2025 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Camp Rotary, 372 Ipswich Road, Boxford, MA 01921
Tickets are selling quickly, and this is one event you won’t want to miss.
Join us as we raise a glass to Rich Cowdell, whose nearly 40 years of visionary leadership, mentorship, and heart have left a profound impact on Camp Rotary and generations of campers. Together, we’ll celebrate his legacy with meaningful stories, heartfelt tributes, and an evening full of connection and community.
All proceeds will support the creation of The Cowdell Campfire Circle—a lasting symbol of Rich’s incredible contributions and the spark he’s ignited in all of us.
Amesbury Rotary celebrated its 100th Anniversary at the Amesbury Historical Museum on May 29th. President Cathy Toomey cut the cake to commemorate the last 100 years of service and to welcome in the next Rotary Century.
On Thursday, July 31, the Melrose Rotary Club’s Immediate Past Co-Presidents (Don Putney and Mark Hutchinson) presented a Paul Harris Award to club member Ainsley Donaldson.
Ainsley, a member of Melrose Rotary since July 2006, has been the editor-in-chief of the club’s weekly newsletter, “Rumblings”, for the past number of years and has now passed that baton on to a newer member of the club. “The weekly Rumblings is a key part of keeping our club together, and it was particularly during COVID,” noted past president Putney, “It was essential at a time when activities and other communications were sparse or non-existent.”
Past-president Hutchinson also noted that Ainsley always attends our meetings and events with a contagious positive spirit, no matter her circumstances. She can always be relied upon to share a funny story or an inspirational poem, sometimes eliciting groans or a chuckle from those in attendance. Ainsley consistently shows up at our service projects including preparation or serving at our local meal site, digging in the dirt to keep our “adopt-a-site” looking fresh, keeping in contact with our former Rotary Youth Exchange students, and generally being a good sport about everything Rotary! She exemplifies “service above self” and for that, our club is pleased to recognize her as our club’s most recent Paul Harris Fellow.
Pictured are Melrose President Julie Nolan, Past President Don Putney, Ainsley Donaldson and Past President Mark Hutchinson.
The Reading Fall Street Faire is coming to downtown Reading on Sunday, September 7, from noon to 5 pm, and we need your help! All Rotary members are invited, along with high school students and older—a perfect opportunity for students seeking community service hours. It’s also a fun way to meet and work alongside Rotarians from neighboring clubs.
Vendor and sponsorship opportunities are still available as well.
The District Environmental Committee is excited to announce a District-wide Fundraiser, a Clothes and Book/Puzzle Swap. Clean out your closets and your bookcases and bring your gently used but no longer wanted items to the event (adult clothes only please). Leave empty handed, or feel free to "shop". $10 admission, food, drinks and raffle tickets available for purchase. September 28, 11 - 3pm at the Danvers Art Association - 105 Elliot Street in Danvers. This event is open to all so please invite your friends and family.
Proceeds from this fundraiser will either be used towards District 7930's or The Rotary Foundation's environment initiatives.
Help Needed!We are looking for participation from other clubs throughout our District. The Environmental Committee is launching this as a Districtwide event. Contact Andrea Lacroix.
WHAT TO BRING:
Clean, gently used clothing – adult clothing only. Must be clean, stain-free and in good condition (no rips, missing buttons or broken zippers).
Books and puzzles must also be gently used, no ripped pages, no missing puzzle pieces.
Join the Rotary Club of Burlington for their 36th Annual Golf Tournament on August 22 at Billerica Country Club.
Still spots available for golfers. $150 entry fee includes 18 holes of golf with cart, BBQ lunch, hole prizes, raffle, super hole in one prize, silent auction and other special prizes.
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 16-17. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees.
Tickets for the Pancake Breakfast are $10 per person, $6 for children six and under, and are available in advance online here or from any Gloucester Rotarian. Tickets will also be available on the morning of the breakfast.
Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast will benefit local and international projects of the Gloucester Rotary Club
Posted by Tracy Arabian and Tim Kelley on Aug 01, 2025
Has your club recently hosted an event or project or are you planning something in the near future that you would like to share with your fellow District 7930 Rotarians?
The weekly eBulletin depends on the content provided by clubs, so please submit your stories and we will publish them on the district website and in the next eBulletin. Stories that showcase your club or event should be submitted via the website portal at this link. Your club's successes and events can give inspiration to other Rotarians.
The deadline for submitting items for the weekly District 7930 eBulletin is Friday morning in order to be included in the following Monday's edition. If the eBulletin being prepared is getting to be too long and the story submitted is not time-sensitive, we may choose to delay including it until the following week.
For some guidelines on creating stories, please read more!
Reading Rotary Gears Up for Annual Fall Street Faire – September 7, 2025
Reading Rotary is thrilled to announce the 17th Annual Reading Fall Street Faire, returning to downtown Reading on Sunday, September 7. This signature event has grown into one of the largest and most anticipated community gatherings in the region, drawing thousands of visitors each year.
Planning is well underway, and this year promises to be the biggest and best yet! The event features something for everyone:
Live entertainment on three stages
Local vendors, civic organizations, and nonprofits
Children’s activities and games in the Family Fun Zone
An Amusement Zone with inflatables
A wide variety of delicious food options
A Beer Garden and tailgate area with NFL games on the big screen
Vendor registration is now open at readingfallstreetfaire.com, and booths are filling quickly. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this vibrant community tradition!
August is Membership Month! Join the monthly Membership webinar on Zoom. It's the first Monday of the month at 7:30 pm.
For Club and District Membership Committees and others interested in boosting Rotary membership.
It's all about the Team and it will be helpful as districts build their three subcommittees to support membership growth. You won't want to miss it. The link is here or in the Zone Calendar.
The Wakefield Rotary Club will be the sponsor for this week’s Thursday Movies on the Lake in partnership with Wakefield Community Access TV (WCAT) on Thursday, August 7. Prior to the showing of “The Wild Robot,” the club will host a Mega Musical Chairs game, open to all ages 8 and above.
Multiple rounds of the classic game will be held with prizes provided by Holiday Travel of Wakefield. Club President Kathy Boyle noted, “This is purely for fun. We love partnering with WCAT for the movie and thought this would be a fun thing to step it up a bit.”
The club wishes to thank the Department of Public Works for their assistance with organizing the game.
Registration for the musical chairs game is on-site, starting at 6:00 pm. The movie will begin shortly after at sundown and does not require any registration. All ages are welcome for the movie showing. The club recommends you bring your own chair for the movie showing. Playing in the game and movie viewing are both free.
In addition, the Wakefield Rotary Club will again be hosting a Red Sox ticket chance at the WCAT Movies by the Lake. Thanks to a generous donation from Wakefield Rotarian Frank Fiorentino and Mahoney, Fiorentino, and Co., PC, raffle participants can win a pair of tickets for the Red Sox versus Miami Marlins on Sunday, August 17, 2025, game at Fenway Park.
June was a special month for Burlington Rotary Club as we gathered for one of our most meaningful events of the year — our annual Scholarship Dinner. Held in celebration of local achievement and service, the evening recognized outstanding high school seniors, welcomed new Interact leadership, and honored two of our own for their extraordinary dedication.
The night began with the presentation of scholarships to several exceptional graduating seniors, whose academic accomplishments and commitment to community service truly embody Rotary's values. We were proud to support these future leaders as they prepare to begin their college journeys.
A highlight of the evening was the induction of Afsa Khalifa as the new president of our Interact Club. Afsa has already shown remarkable leadership and passion for service, and we are excited to support her as she leads the next generation of Rotarians.
Four times each year, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary volunteers gather at the Masonic Lodge in Ipswich to serve nutritious meals to senior citizens and other residents. This month, a dozen Rotarians and local volunteers served over 70 “Ipswich Dinner Bell’ guests and prepared another 75 meals for delivery to those unable to attend.
The Ipswich Dinner Bell provides free meals weekly. Ipswich churches, veterans, and non-profits rotate as hosts, setting up the room, plating meals, delivering food and desserts, and cleaning up and resetting the room after the event. Ipswich High School Interactors participate during the school year wearing team shirts that are a great hit with the elderly guests. Ipswich Early Actors are another group that lends a hand during the year.
At our regular meeting last week, founder and Director Dorothy Calandra shared the story of the Ipswich Dinner Bell. It was formed in 2010 as a “non-profit cooperation of churches and community organizations to serve hot, nutritious meals, free to all who come, and create a mealtime atmosphere of fellowship with one another.” The Committee receives primary support from the Ipswich Masonic Lodge whose members support the food preparation and wash the dishes every week, the Ipswich YMCA which organizes the delivery drivers, and the Institution for Savings and Ebsco that provide generous donations.
Celebrate Your Club’s New Leadership and Share Your Story!
As the new Rotary year begins, it’s time to celebrate fresh leadership and new beginnings! We encourage every club to share your Changeover event stories—highlight your festivities, acknowledge outgoing leaders, and welcome the new team with enthusiasm.
Be sure to share your stories and photos on your club websites, social media platforms and with local news outlets. Including photos of your incoming and outgoing leadership teams is a great way to personalize your message and show the heart of Rotary in action.
Why It Matters:
A strong Public Image is a key driver of club success and growth. When clubs consistently promote their activities and leadership transitions, they raise awareness, build credibility, and inspire community involvement. Pairing a vibrant public image with a busy calendar of service projects is a proven formula for building thriving clubs.
A Rotary Foundation/Paul Harris Fellow Event for our Veterans:
Honoring Those Who Have Served!
Save the Date: November 12, 2025
Place: Andover Country Club
Guest Speaker: Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond of Home Base, a national non-profit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of Veterans and their families.
The Reading Rotary proudly recognized eleven outstanding local students with the prestigious Service Above Self Scholarship at its annual Installation and Scholarship Night, held on July 21 at Café Escadrille in Burlington, MA. The evening celebrated youth who exemplify Rotary’s core value of service above self through their volunteerism, leadership, and commitment to their communities. Reading Rotary awarded a total of $11,000.00 in scholarships at this event.
“These scholarships honor students who go beyond academics and demonstrate a sincere dedication to helping others,” said Amy Walsh, President of the Reading Rotary. “It is a privilege to support their educational journeys and celebrate their community spirit.”
This year’s Service Above Self Scholarship recipients are:
We are delighted to invite you to an unforgettable evening of cocktails, dinner, and entertainment as we honor a remarkable leader and his profound legacy. Join us for Legacy of Leadership: A Tribute to Rich Cowdell on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 6:00PM – 10:00 PM at Camp Rotary.
This special event will pay tribute to Rich Cowdell and his 37 years of unparalleled dedication, vision, and impact on Camp Rotary. Over nearly four decades, Rich has led with integrity, innovation, and heart—shaping the future, mentoring generations, and leaving an indelible mark on the Camp Rotary community and beyond.
The next meeting of the Environmental Committee is Thursday, July 31 at 7pm. Please email Andrea at amlacroix@yahoo.com for the zoom link.
Anyone interested in any environmental issues, topics or projects should attend.
You have likely heard the phrase "Plastic Free" July. I hope you have been using this past month to take stock of the plastic in your life and ways to reduce. Did you know that Sept 20th is World Clean-up Day? This is new to me also but let's take the opportunity to organize clean-ups in your communities.
The Greater Salem NH Rotary Club, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in and supported our annual Corn Hole Tournament at Tuscan Village. The success of this event is a testament to the strength and generosity of our community. From the spirited teams who filled the tournament with laughter and friendly competition, to the dedicated sponsors who made the day possible, your contributions truly make a difference.
The funds raised during the tournament will go directly toward supporting our monthly service at the local food pantry, benefiting families in all five of our towns: Salem, Atkinson, Hampstead, Windham, and Pelham. Because of your generosity, we can continue to provide essential groceries and resources to neighbors facing food insecurity.
🎉 Rotary District 7930’s 2025-26 Assistant Governors—The Dream Team! 🎉
Hold onto your Rotary pins, folks—because District 7930’s 2025-26 Assistant Governor squad is here, and they’re ready to lead, inspire, and maybe even breakdance for a good cause! 💃🕺
Let’s give a standing ovation (or at least a really enthusiastic Zoom clap 👏) for these rockstars:
🌟 The A-Team of Awesome 🌟Here they are along with the clubs they are working with:
At our recent breakfast meetings, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary presented this year’s scholarship recipients and introduced our short-term youth exchange students.
Earning scholarships this year were Charles Quimby from Ipswich High School and Emma Penniman from Rowley who graduated from Triton Regional High school. Charlie will attend Fordham University this Fall where he will study for a business degree in Environmental Science. Emma is heading to Syracuse University to pursue a degree in Business Management.
Presenting checks to these deserving scholars were the Scholarships Committee co-chairs, Andrea Lacroix and Katie Platt.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is delighted to welcome Beth Chase to the Rotary family, where we achieve more together than we can alone.
Beth joins our club with years of experience as a licensed mental health therapist. She holds advanced degrees in both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Education. Her typical client is “an adult who is dealing with depression, anxiety, life changes and life stages, and who seeks to find joy in life and new tools to meet everyday challenges.” Beth also is a skilled practitioner of coaching, e-learning, educational technologies, and professional research.
Beth lives in Ipswich where she is active in her church and passionate about conservation. She holds memberships in the Ipswich River Watershed Association and the Trustees of Reservations. Beth discovered her love for nature early, as a Girl Scout while growing up. In her leisure time she enjoys paddling, birding, environmental activity, and reading.
30 years ago in June, the Rotary Club of Andover, MA was chartered. We are honored to still have many founding members actively involved today.
Over the past three decades, our members have dedicated countless hours, raised significant funds, and supported local, regional, national, and international non-profit causes, making our community stronger.
At the Friday, July 11th breakfast meeting, the Club celebrated like true champions with a birthday cake for breakfast because nothing says "three decades of doing good" like frosting at 7:30 am.
Here's to more years of service, laughs, and maybe a few more sugary breakfasts - because who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?
The Rotary Club of Andover (Andover Rotary) is proud to announce the awarding of three $3,000 scholarships to outstanding graduating high school seniors residing in Andover. These one-time scholarships support students pursuing higher education in the upcoming academic semester and reflect the club’s ongoing commitment to service and community investment.
Recipients were selected based on demonstrated financial need, dedication to community service, academic achievement, and clarity of future goals.
This year’s distinguished scholarship recipients are: • Gavin Cleary, who will study Computer Engineering with a minor in Music at the University of Massachusetts Amherst • Calvin Paul, who will pursue a degree in Statistics at the University of Virginia • Shriya Bala, who will major in Biomedical Engineering at Northeastern University
District Grants are now open. The Grants Committee has been receiving the new grant applications for the year 2025-2026. Funds are limited. Seven applications have already been received.
Clubs are urged to please make the best use of their donations to the Annual Fund made three years ago. Leverage your funds for more impact in the community. Annual Fund Giving in 2022-23 SHARE was $212,702. The District Designated Funds (DDF) available in 2025-26 is $101,033. Global Grants 2025-26: $50,516. District Grants 2025-26: $50,516
The Grants deadline is on October 31, 2025, or until all the funds have been allocated to the grants on a first come first serve basis - whichever comes first.
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 7:30 am to 11:00 am in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 16-17. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees.
Tickets for the Pancake Breakfast are $10 per person, $6 for children six and under, and are available in advance online here or from any Gloucester Rotarian. Tickets will also be available on the morning of the breakfast.
Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast will benefit local and international projects of the Gloucester Rotary Club.
Tickets are now available to the annual Gloucester Rotary Comedy Night, featuring Ken Rogerson, Artie Januario, Sam Pelletier, and Boston's Dave Rattigan on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square on Gloucester’s harborfront. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.
Don't miss this evening of fun and laughter! Tickets are $30 each, and are available online here or contact Mark Vadala (978-490-0939).
Ken Rogerson, the funniest man you’ve never heard of, has performed on the nationwide “Rescue Me Comedy Tour” with Denis Leary, and made television appearances on such shows as NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, Comics Come Home for Comedy Central and Showtime’s A Pair of Jokers and more. Rogerson has also appeared at The Chicago Comedy Festival and TBS’s The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas. The Boston Herald proclaimed, “He makes the absurd seem logical” and Las Vegas Magazine wrote, “As far as pure stand-up goes, it doesn’t get any better than Rogerson.”
The Wakefield Rotary Club is pleased to announce its newest member, Megan Samborski, who was installed into the club earlier this month by Wakefield Rotary Member, Joie Gerrish and her sponsor, Past President Amy Luckiewicz. Samborski was accompanied by her father, a former Rotarian, Tim Perry.
She is the current Director of Development for INspire Café, the new inclusive café on Main Street in Wakefield sponsored by the Metro North Boys & Girls Club. She notes that her driving passion…”is connecting businesses with nonprofits to do good in the community and bring people together for a greater purpose.”
She volunteers in many roles including being an elected member and Vice Chair of the Stoneham School Committee, Chair of the Stoneham Alliance Against Violence, and member of the Stoneham/ Woburn Elks Club. She added, "I'm honored to join the Rotary Club, where I can build genuine connections and help carry forward INspire’s mission of creating a more inclusive and compassionate community."
In honor of plastic free July, I would like to share a story about a fellow Rotarian who attended one of my plastics presentations at a Rotary meeting and how it's affected her:
Sometimes, it’s a small moment that shifts your entire perspective. For Susanne, that moment came while standing in her own kitchen. “I looked at the glass jars I was about to throw out and thought—why am I doing this?” she recalls. “I had been saving plastic containers, thinking they were more useful. But suddenly I realized I had it all backwards. The glass was reusable, recyclable, safer. And the plastic? That’s what needed to go.”
This quiet epiphany sparked a deeper awareness, one that has since changed the way Susanne approaches consumption in her everyday life. “Now I actively seek out products packaged in glass. When I was in Vermont recently, there were two maple syrup vendors—one sold it in plastic, the other in glass. That decision was easy.”
The following is information from District Governor Todd Smith of District 5870 where the flooding tragedy occurred. To help the victims, see the message following:
In the wake of historic rainfall and devastating floods across Central Texas, families are grieving, communities are shaken, and countless lives have been upended. The road to recovery won’t be easy—but with your help, it will be possible.
Along with reading or listening to the horrific news reports, I’ve personally been canvassing clubs in our District to see what impact we have suffered locally and to make sure our members and their loved ones are safe and secure. Thankfully, so far, I’ve not learned of any members majorly impacted. However, other districts have not been so fortunate.
Consequently, I am asking you to ENGAGE in supporting relief efforts currently underway. Together, when we Engage With Passion, we offer not just relief—but hope. And as the District Anthem goes…”there’s so much we can do!”
More than a dozen districts have joined together during the 2025-26 Rotary year to increase membership in the PolioPlus Society (PPS), and ultimately eradicate Polio, once and for all!
You can help by setting up your annual or monthly recurring Polio donation today.
The district with the greatest percentage increase of PPS members by June 2026 will win a fancy banner and bragging rights! Better yet we will all know we did our part in saving the lives of children all over the world!
To learn more about the PolioPlus Society and find out how easy it is to join, please click here.
Every year the Rotary Club of Rockport gathers in the square downtown at 10:00 am and performs the reading of the Declaration of Independence in costume. It has been a tradition now for 14 years, and each year the club expands its costume closet to accommodate the growing group of participants.
This event is a much-anticipated part of the 4th of July in Rockport for locals and quickly gathers a crowd of over 250 locals and visitors. The Declaration is read by past president and pastor Matt Wigton of the Rockport Baptist Church in a strong voice booming with conviction. The crowd is encouraged to respond with "boos," "huzzahs" and "fyes" as the reading goes on to describe transgressions of the King of England or the changes signed into law by the delegates of the Second Continental Congress.
The Swampscott Rotary Club has awarded over $23000 in scholarships during this past Rotary fiscal year.
In late June we hosted and recognized some of our recent scholarship winners and their families at our Installation Dinner.
Pictured left to right with family members behind them: Swampscott Rotary Scholarship winner, Elijah Stadtlander, attending Harvard University; David Sherman Scholarship winner, Liora Ragozca, University of Maryland; and Dan Cahill Rotary Scholarship winner, Xakari Rickards.
Swampscott Hosts Scholarship Recipients and Families
The Rotary Club of Chelsea participated in the District 7930 2025 RYLA program by sending four students from the Chelsea High School.
Upon returning from RYLA the four students attended a Rotary Club of Chelsea luncheon meeting where they shared their RYLA experience. The four students were extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in the RYLA program. Joining the students were their Interact advisers.
Twenty-three teachers at Pine Grove Elementary School, Rowley, were provided workshops in grade specific environmental education curricula through an Ipswich-Rowley Rotary District grant. Each classroom, for a total of 430 students, joined their teachers for a demo outdoor lesson along the new nature trail, Trackers Trail. It elevated the entire schools awareness of the local surroundings and built sustainalbe support for environmental education in the future.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians also designed, built, and installed a large trail kiosk with a large poster introducing the new outdoor education space.
Please select this link to see an illustrated summary of our project and its impact on the Pine Grove School community.
Join the Rotary Club of Burlington for their 36th Annual Golf Tournament on August 22 at Billerica Country Club.
Golfers needed. $150 entry fee includes 18 holes of golf with cart, BBQ lunch, hole prizes, raffle, super hole in one prize, silent auction and other special prizes.
First, the environmental committee met on June 26th and we will continue to meet the last Thursday of every month at 7 pm. If you would like to join, please contact me and I will send you the zoom link. Water conservation, pollinator gardens, clean-ups, plastic pledges and zero waste events are just some ideas we discussed. Is your club working on an environmental project, large or small, we want to hear from you!
Second, I had the great pleasure of attending the district installation of Pooja Singla on June 20th at the Danversport Yacht Club. It was a great event full of fun, but I was immediately struck with the realization that this was a Zero Waste Event. While I'm sure this wasn't everyone's first thought, these are the things I think about everyday. Every club has the ability to host zero waste events, please reach out to me for tips to make your next event more environmentally friendly. Kudos to Pooja and the planning team for creating a fun and low waste event.
Last, Plastic Free July is here! My passion is plastic reduction and I would love to come speak to your club. Whether I've been to your club before or not, invite me for the first time for an information presentation on plastic facts you may not be aware of, or, invite me back for a fun BINGO game. Each square contains plastic reduction swap ... the more you've done, the better your chances of winning.
Hope to see you at our next meeting on July 31 at 7 pm.
As we all know, Rotary changes leadership yearly. But does it really? Every single day, each of us moves Rotary forward — whether by organizing another fundraiser to provide scholarships, having a conversation with a non-member about Rotary’s impact, or finding ways to maximize the effectiveness of our service projects.
We are all Rotary leaders — regardless of the date on the calendar or the title we hold.
In the past twelve months, we’ve increased Rotary’s positive impact in our communities, our nation, and around the world. It’s no secret that we live in a fractured society. But Rotary is a force that brings people — and the world — together.
When I visited your clubs last year, I asked you one simple question: Imagine your community without your Rotary Club. Who would provide the services your club delivers if we didn’t exist? How many people today might still have polio if Rotary had not stepped in?
Now, imagine the good Rotary will continue to do in the next twelve months, the next twelve years, and even the next twelve decades. It all starts with us — right now, today.
Serving as your District Governor and representing you locally and internationally has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I urge each of us to dig deeper and discover new ways to serve. Because without us, there is no Rotary, and where would the world be without Rotary?
For all the information on Grants and grants qualification module if a club is not yet grant qualified: click here.
The Grants deadline is on October 31, 2025, or until all the funds have been allocated to the grants on a first come first serve basis - whichever comes first.
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault and Tim Kelley on Jun 29, 2025
Don't miss the opportunity to make your final Annual Fund contribution this year before FY year end. Every Rotarian, please make your contribution to The Rotary Foundation's Annual Fund-SHARE by June 30.
Some movement in our Annual Fund Top 3 per capita Clubs leader board: Hamilton-Wenham $477.45; Swampscott $190.84; and Somerville $190.48. If your Club has not given yet, please make a club or individual donation today. Can your Club make their way into the top 3 Clubs?
Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs take action today to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.
Peter Majane, a Rotarian for more than twenty years, has been awarded District 7930 Rotarian of the Year for Rotary Year 2024-2025.
District Governor Tom Hankard presented the honor to Peter at our recent District Installation. Pete is a past president of the Rotary Club of North Reading. He is a member of Reading Rotary and serves as a Club Director. He has served in virtually every club and district position in his long Rotary career. For District 7930, he has served as Assistant Governor Coordinator, chair of our District Club Visioning initiative, formed multiple EarlyAct clubs, and is a Major Donor. As Membership Committee Chair, Peter has introduced different and innovative club types to our District.
Please join me in congratulating a hard-working Rotarian who is always there to support his club, our District, and any Rotarian in need.
Please share with us and with your local news and social media networks the exciting news of your Club installation celebrations and your new leadership. Almost as important as the Service we do in the community is getting the word out about Rotary.
Pictured here are: (top left) DGE Pooja Singla with Chelsea incoming President Dr. Aaron Jennings, (top right) Chelsea outgoing President Madelyn Garcia with Aaron; (lower left) Pooja giving the oath to Andover incoming President Ann Ormond; and (lower right) outgoing DG Tom Hankard with Andover's outgoing President Allen Timm.
Remember the importance of telling your Rotary stories!
From June 21–25, 2025, Calgary, Canada, transformed into a global hub of service, innovation, and connection as it hosted the Rotary International Convention. With over 15,000 Rotary memberss from more than 120 countries, the event marked Rotary’s largest in-person gathering since the pandemic—bringing together changemakers to celebrate humanitarian achievements and chart a course for future impact.
Themed “Magic All Around,” the Convention featured a powerhouse lineup of speakers, including Academy Award-winner Geena Davis, Bill Gates, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman, and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Their messages of equity, resilience, and global cooperation resonated deeply with attendees.
The gardening shed is to support the elderly residents at Chebacco Terrace, a 40 unit elderly housing development owned by the Essex Housing Authority. Residents had expressed interest in gardening, but the housing authority has no budget for this enrichment activity.
The Manchester Essex Rotary Club purchased and installed a pre-fabricated, no-maintenance 8x12 foot gardening shed for the residents, along with a modest set of gardening tools to get the residents started.
The Club will also have service opportunities for the for the 2025 growing season and beyond including help with initial bed creation, initial planting and other work to move the residents towards self-sufficiency in their new gardens.
The project was supported in part by a District 7930 grant.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently installed its new officers and directors during a luncheon at Brightview Wakefield. In accordance with its by-laws, the service club elects new leadership annually.
Club President for the 2024-25 year, Wendy Maguire, reflected on her year serving in club leadership, “It’s been an honor to serve as Club President.” She added, “Our club has succeeded in creating magic with every project we completed together.” Maguire also thanked the members of the club, citing the volume of projects and donations that the members completed this year including adopting a Buddy Bench, providing dictionaries to every 3rd Grader, sponsoring cleft lip and palate surgeries, hosting a luau for adults with disabilities, food pantry projects, and more.
The Salem Rotary Club has been making Salem a better place for local residents and has contributed to communities around the globe for over 100 years. The largest impact they make each year, however, is to local Salem high school-aged students. This spring, the Salem Rotary Club was pleased to present $55,000 in Scholarship and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Awards to senior students from Salem.
Last Tuesday, the Club held their annual Salem Rotary Scholarship luncheon where they awarded $45,000 in scholarships to 12 Salem seniors.
“This is the most special meeting we hold each year, and it is a joy for our members to meet students and their families whose lives are positively impacted by these awards,” said Carolyn Shapiro, Salem Rotary Club President.
Successful applicants are high achieving students who are also involved in their local community. They are athletes, scholars, civically engaged volunteers, and hard workers. Through this program, the Salem Rotary Club is the largest non-profit contributor to student scholarships in Salem.
Thank you to all who came to celebrate with each other at the District Installation. Danversport was a full house with so much enthusiasm. Congratulations to all our incoming Club Presidents. I have so much confidence that you will have an amazing year! It was a memorable and fun event.
It was exciting to see so many of you all so ready to make a difference in the community! Let's keep that passion going and give shape to our dreams! Fulfill them and have more FUN as we Unite For Good!
Supporting you and your projects is my goal in the coming year. Remember that the District is here to support you and we are all in this together! Please keep the line of communication open!
Please reach out to me or your Club AGs if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me or your Club AGs or anyone in the District team relevant to your quest!
Thank you again for your commitment to Rotary and Service Above Self!
Are you passionate about protecting the environment? Do you have ideas to create a sustainable future? If so, we invite you to join our Environmental Committee—a vibrant community of changemakers dedicated to preserving our planet and promoting eco-conscious living.
Why Join the Environmental Committee?
• Make a Difference: Your contributions will directly impact our efforts to combat climate change, reduce waste, and support conservation projects.
• Collaborative Opportunities: Work with like-minded individuals who share your passion for a greener world.
• Build Community: Connect with others who care deeply about the environment and want to make a lasting impact together.
In moments of change the strength and resilience of our Rotary family shine brightest. Following the unexpected resignation of Mário César Martins de Camargo, the Rotary International Board moved swiftly and thoughtfully, in accordance with our bylaws, to ensure continuity in our mission and leadership.
Francesco Arezzo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has been selected by the Board of Directors to become Rotary International’s president for 2025-26. Arezzo will become president on 1 July.
The Board conducted a special session following the unexpected resignation of RI President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo on 8 June. Guided by the RI code and policies, the Board selected the new president-elect from a pool of candidates who were considered by the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in August 2023.
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault and Tim Kelley on Jun 13, 2025
Congratulations to Somerville for cracking the top 3 in per capita donations to the Annual Fund! Please make your contribution to The Rotary Foundation's Annual Fund-SHARE before June 30.
Annual Fund Top 3 per capita Clubs are: Hamilton-Wenham $477.45; Swampscott $190.48; and Somerville $187.72. If your Club has not given yet, please make a club or individual donation today. Can your Club make their way into the top 3 Clubs?
Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs take action today to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.
Share stories of your Club changeover festivities!
Share with your local news outlets, webpages, club websites and social media details with photos of your new leadership. This is an important way to get your club's Public Image before your own local community.
A strong and vibrant Public Image is one proven key tactics for successful and growing clubs -- the other is a large number of service projects. Effective Public Image helps expand your reach and artfully tell compelling stories that demonstrate Rotarians as people of action. The Public Image Committee’s role is to help clubs to have a robust media and social media strategy, an up-to-date website and an engaging online presence in their local communities.
Attached here is a sample draft press release for local news outlets. Always include a photo when sending out a press release.
We are looking forward to Celebrate the PAST, BE PRESENT, and CAST A VISION FOR THE FUTURE at our District Installation of Presidents, Assistant Governors and District Officers.
June 17, 2025, 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Danversport Yacht Club, 161 Elliott Street, Danvers, MA 01923
Be yourself! You matter! It's your day!
Our District is very DIVERSE, representing International Cultures - A GLOBAL FAMILY! WE BELONG!
OnJune 11th the Parkway Rotary Club battled the Kiwanis Club of Roslinday/West Roxbury to raise funds in support of the Jason Roberts Challenger League, a baseball league for youths with learning and physical disabilities.
The Challenger players played the opening game with the Rotary-Kiwanis game following. Both teams were packed with ringers including several Buddies to the Challenger players. The games were held at the Ohrenberger School in West Roxbury. Volunteers provided a cookout dinner for the youth players and attendees.
On hand to support the event were our own District Governor Tom Hankard along with the Kiwanis Governor Kristin Holden. The funds raised from both organizations were designated to the Jason Roberts League.
Special acknowledgment to Parkway President and team manager Ray Fitzgerald for organizing and gathering up the players.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea annually sends twenty children from Chelsea to Camp Rotary for one week. Prior to attending camp the children attend an orientation meeting in Chelsea conducted by PP Susan Gallant who runs the project for the Rotary club. At the orientation Camp Rotary Director Dr. Richard Cowdell explains what to expect at the camp. Sue and other Rotarians then help the children and their parents with filling out the required paperwork and medical questionnaires. Prior to leaving the orientation each child is presented a backpack with personal essentials they can use at camp. The Rotary Club of Chelsea has been running this project for over 15 years.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently donated $2,600 to the Wakefield Food Pantry. Funds were raised via the club’s Dine Anywhere chance. Wakefield Rotary Club President Wendy Maguire said, “We’ve supported this resource in our community for years and its as important as ever to continue that support.” Nancy and Lauren from the Wakefield Food Pantry visited the club Tuesday to receive the gift.
The Rotary Club of Arlington proudly presented its annual Flags for Heroes program, a moving tribute to individuals who have made a lasting impact through service, dedication, and leadership. From May 22 through June 16, more than 100 American flags are on display at Park Circle on Park Avenue, each one sponsored in honor of a personal or public hero.
Flags were sponsored in recognition of military personnel, first responders, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, and community leaders—anyone who made a meaningful difference in the eyes of a sponsor. Each flag includes a dedication to one or two honorees, symbolizing the values of service, sacrifice, and inspiration.
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault and Tim Kelley on Jun 06, 2025
Please make your contribution to The Rotary Foundation's Annual Fund-SHARE before June 30.
Annual Fund Top 3 per capita Clubs are: Hamilton-Wenham $477.45; Swampscott $190.48; and Reading $186.78. If your Club has not given yet, please make a club or individual donation today. Can your Club make their way into the top 3 Clubs?
Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs take action today to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.
Near the end of each month the Swampscott Rotary Club meets at the Swampscott VFW and VFW and Rotary members join to make and package peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. These and packed with fruit, a dessert and a drink in "take home" packages delivered to My Brother's Table in Lynn for their clients.
Swampscott Makes Sandwiches for My Brother's Table
The Rotary Club of Chelsea hosted their 2025 scholarship recipients and the recipients’ advisors at a recent Rotary luncheon. Ten scholarships were given out consisting of eight from the Rotary Club of Chelsea, one from East Cambridge Savings Bank in honor of Joseph Vinard and one from Juan Gallego.
The Ascension Church Hall in Ipswich was once again blooming this week with colorful tablecloths, floral centerpieces, and lots of smiling faces. The event was the annual Senior Lunch, Rotary’s gift to its senior citizens. The event is co-sponsored by the Ipswich Council on Aging.
A dozen students from Ipswich High School Interact, including our sponsored Rotary Exchange Student Joao Alfonso, were on hand to cheerfully engage and serve our guests.
Music was provided by The Journeymen, a local band who regaled the diners with fun and nostalgic tunes from a variety of eras. Following lunch, the celebration continued with students and seniors dancing to tunes such as ‘Sweet Caroline’.
Henry's Catering served up their yummy chicken pot pie, which was so popular it sold out! Filling out the menu was a well-prepared garden salad, green beans, and assorted beverages. To cap off this wonderful feast, Interact served a delicious chocolate and vanilla cake.
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault and Tim Kelley on May 30, 2025
Have you made your contribution to The Rotary Foundation's Annual Fund-SHARE this year?
Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs take action today to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.
Reading Rotary presented longtime Reading Rotary member Dick Haggerty with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition at its May 12 meeting held at Austin Prep.
Dick was designated to receive this recognition as a special expression of appreciation from Reading Rotary. Dick joined Rotary in 1981. He is a Past President of the club and has been a steady and involved member. He has been dedicated to the service ideals of Rotary for well over 40 years. In addition, Dick’s father, grandfather and brother were all longtime Rotary members. Dick is a lifelong newspaperman and co-owner of the Daily Times Chronicle. Dick has been recognized by EMARC for his service to developmentally delayed adults and has been a dedicated volunteer in his native Woburn including in youth sports and the city's historic district.
Reading Rotary Foundation Chair John Douglass and Club President Amy Walsh presided over the presentation of the Paul Harris Fellow Plus 1 award. Pictured here is Dick Haggerty with Rotarians and family members: John Douglass, Meghan Needham, Rich Haggerty, Elaine Haggerty, Dick Haggerty, Erin Haggerty, Madelyn Needham and Amy Walsh.
The Wakefield Rotary Club offers a unique opportunity to its new members through the “Rookie Year Challenge”: each receives $100 of club funds to pursue a charitable project of their choice. The only requirement? The funds must be used in a way that allows the member—and other Rotarians—to actively serve, not simply donate.
When new member Carla Dale joined the club in March, she knew exactly how she wanted to use the funds. As the mother of an adult daughter with developmental disabilities, Carla is deeply aware of the limited recreational opportunities available to individuals like her daughter, Brittany.
“Especially on a Friday or Saturday, it’s hard to find age-appropriate activities for her,” Dale said. Inspired by the Rookie Year Challenge, Carla decided to organize a luau for adult participants of Communitas—a nonprofit that provides individualized, family-centered services to people with developmental disabilities in Wakefield and surrounding communities.
Danvers Rotary Club member Philip Wilson brought the impact of polio to life with a description of his life after being paralyzed, unable to use his arms and left hand, at the age of eight. His presentation, both dramatic and humorous, helped to reconnect us to the American epidemics of the 1940s and 50s. Polio occurred so long ago that now it’s only a word and no longer carries the dread and fear it once did.
Beyond describing his own life, Philip speaks to the world eradication of polio, its infectious nature, Rotary funding, international funding, American funding, the safety and effectiveness of the polio vaccines, and more. Through Polio Plus, Rotary has led the world making a remarkable commitment to world health.
Philip is available to speak on PolioPlus at your club meeting. He can be reached at: wilsonphilipe@Gmail.com or 201-956-8509. Pictured here: Philip Wison, Pooja Singla (District Governor Elect), Rich Vincent (Danvers Rotary President).
This Memorial Day we honor and remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault and Tim Kelley on May 23, 2025
Contributions to The Rotary Foundation support efforts to build stronger, healthier, and more peaceful communities. The Foundation's work would not be possible without the financial support of members and friends of Rotary.
Why give? You can feel good about giving to Rotary. Our Foundation is a world-class organization that is active in nearly every country and takes the stewardship of its funds very seriously. More than 90% of every donation is spent on our service projects, programs, scholarships, and operations.
The Rotary Foundation is recognized as one of the most effective and well-managed charitable organizations in the world, with 13 consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator and a grade of A+ from Charity Watch.
Your contributions make it possible for The Rotary Foundation to offer a variety of grants that help fund local and international humanitarian projects, programs, scholarships, and vocational training teams. Through those, you support peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; community economic development; and the environment.
Again we are asking for players and/or attendees to cheer us on as we play our annual game against Kiwanis in support of Jason Roberts, a baseball league for kids with learning and physical disabilities. The festivities starts at 6 PM on Wednesday, June 11th (rain date Thursday, June 12th) cheering on the young players along with a cookout and then our game starts at 7.
Our District Governor Tom Hankard will be attending, and we are encouraging other clubs to join and either play or cheer us on! We will be wearing our new club shirts (red in support of Rotary’s fight against polio). It should be noted that the shirts in the flyer are for Kiwanis shirts so contributions for the food and for the league can be done separately ($10 to $15 minimum). If you need more information please contact Ray Fitzgerald, Club President and team manager.
At our meeting last Thursday morning, Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians and guests were treated to an unusual double speaker program. Both sessions were fun and enlightening.
Joao Alfonso, our 2024-25 inbound Rotary Youth Exchange student from Brazil, entertained and informed us with a tradition that helps define Brazilian culture, the cultural phenomenon of Carnaval. Running from the Friday before Lent to Ash Wednesday, Carnaval is a major driver of the Brazilian economy, attracting over 46 million participants and generating just under $2 billion (US) dollars annually.
The celebration traces its roots to the Portuguese colonial period when settlers brought the “pre-Lenten tradition of ‘Entrudo’, a festival of street games, water fights, and general revelry. Over time, these festivities merged with African cultural influences, especially rhythms and dances brought by enslaved Africans, helping to shape the early forms of samba. Today, Carnaval is a symbol of Brazilian identity, celebrated in diverse styles across the country – from the glamorous parades in Rio to the street blocos in Salvador and Recife.”
Our District Committees need volunteers. Please consider participating in one of these Committees. Many hands make light work. These Committees usually meet once a month over Zoom. It is a great way to learn more about Rotary beyond your club. You can enhance your skills and learn best practices. Use your Rotary experience and enthusiasm to help other Rotarians.
If you're a seasoned Rotarian or a newer member, we can use your participation.
Please reach out to DGE Pooja Singla or to these Committee Chairs with interest or questions.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is delighted to welcome Iris Yoeli to the Rotary family, where we achieve more together than we can alone.
Compassionate and intelligent with a rich life experience, Iris is a retired teacher of Hebrew at the University of Hawaii and as an assistant professor at the Defense Languages Institute in Monterey, California. She also taught Arab students at an Israeli college and in other locations.
The Arlington Police Department is thrilled to introduce the latest member of their team. Roger has already become a beloved member of the department. His presence at the station brings joy, as everyone is eager to hold him, pet him, and spend a few moments with him. His arrival instantly brings smiles to our faces.
It's often said that dogs can greatly reduce stress, anxiety, and tension, and Roger has proven this to be true in his short time at APD!
Arlington Rotary Club and a matching grant from Rotary District 7930 funded Roger's acquisition and training.
Flags for Heroes is a program designed to honor individuals who have made significant contributions as heroes. These heroes may include military personnel, first responders, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, community leaders, or others who have shown dedication and service.
You may sponsor up to two individuals on a flag. The flags will be displayed at Park Circle on Park Avenue from May 22nd through June 16th. This year, the Rotary Club of Arlington will honor the memory of Dan Brosnan, Will St. Martin and Ed Woods, three community heroes who dedicated vast personal time to supporting the youth of Arlington. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 1st, at 1:00 pm.
On May 5, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner for supporters of our annual Road Race. Rotarians, volunteers and sponsors assembled in The Brewers Table at the Ipswich Ale Brewery.
Rotary Board member and event co-chair Lisa Shanko spoke briefly about the event and expressed the gratitude of the club. The ‘Ipswich Ale Half Marathon for Rotary’ is the club’s signature fundraiser of the year, annually raising over $35,000 for community service projects and humanitarian support.
Again this year, the club donated $10,000 to the Ipswich Family Y. Presenting the check was club Treasurer and event co-chair Ted Garside. Rotarian and Y Executive Director Chris Bevilacqua accepted on behalf of the Y. Representing the host Trustees of Reservation was Rotarian and Crane Property Director Chris Moore along with his family.
Presenting the check is Ted Garside, while Secretary Mary Foote-Hill, Race Director Andy Ellis, Chris Bevilacqua, and Lisa Shanko look on.
The Brand Center an important resource in presenting your club’s Public Image.
Logos and graphics: Create customized logos that identify your club. Rotarians are asked only to use the correct logo as generated in Brand Center. In Brand Center there are options to generate is the club logo in other combinations (full color, all white, all black all azure blue, white and gold).
Click here to see a short video demonstrating how to create your own, brand-compliant, professional looking club logo in Brand Center.
Bring our brand to life. A consistent voice and unified visual identity are essential components of a strong brand. Learn how to use Rotary’s communication and design elements to build awareness and recognition of Rotary and to tell the story of people of action.
Parkway Rotary's annual softball game against Kiwanis is back: Wednesday, June 11 at 6 pm. We battle on the diamond for a great cause - the Jason Roberts Challenger League for children with learning and physical disabilities. The attached flyer gives the details of the game but most important of all WE NEED PLAYERS AND FANS! Our club is small but energetic however not enough members to fill the diamond so if you can please help us out!
As an added incentive Kiwanis will have their own district governor attending the game so we are inviting any past, present and future DGs and AGs to attend (and maybe play). Please contact Ray Fitzgerald, Parkway President and team manager if you wish to come and play or watch!
Posted by Alexander Falk, District Foundation Chair on May 05, 2025
As this Rotary Year draws to a close and the new one begins in just about three weeks, we encourage you to prepare for the transition especially with respect to your club's eligibility to do Rotary Foundation Grants.
In order to be able to do District Managed Grants (DMG) or Global Grants (GG) this coming Rotary year, you need to make sure to complete the following three steps:
From March 8 through March 22 a team from District 7930 left to volunteer on the District sponsored Rotaplast mission to the Philippines. This was District 7930's 20th anniversary mission. Rotaplast missions provides free reconstructive surgery for children with cleft lip and palate anomalies in developing countries.
We met at the San Francisco Airport on Saturday, March 8 at 8:00 pm to register for the flights and claim the supply and equipment boxes that accompanied us. At 11:30 pm we boarded the 15-hour flight that would take us to Taipei, Taiwan and then onto Cebu Island in the Philippines.
We were greeted by the Rotarians of the Cebu Port Centre Club, gathering our boxes and securing our luggage for the trip to our hotel. Once there they celebrated our arrival with a luncheon and introduced themselves to us. The next morning (and every morning thereafter) they arrived with 4 vans to transport our volunteers to the Seventh Day Adventist/Miller Hospital. The first day we unpacked boxes with equipment and supplies. The next day we did the clinic, where we registered 107 patients to possibly be seen during the mission. The next day we were up and running and the surgeries started.
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault and Tim Kelley on May 02, 2025
Top Three Per Capita Giving Clubs for Annual Fund as of May 2:
Number 1: Hamilton-Wenham
Number 2: Swampscott
Number 3: Reading
How is your club doing?
Since we are nearing the end of our Rotary year, it's time to assess where your club is in relation to its giving goals. Regardless of whether you're ahead, behind or on target, sign into myrotary.org under Membership and Foundation Reports and view
Club Fundraising Analysis Report & Club Foundation Banner Report.
Thank you for your continued commitment and contributions to our Annual Fund SHARE which provides our district with monies for global and district managed grants locally.
Tired of the same old District Conferences? Have some fun on Saturday, May 31 at the Salesian Boys and Girls Club in East Boston! Rain or Shine!
Carnival food starts at noon, with carnival games and cornhole, plus pickup soccer at the Boston Scores soccer court!
Join us for a fun service project during the afternoon as well.
Stay for dinner and be treated to Melrose Club President Don Putney cooking up a delicious Pasta Dinner with dessert at 5pm served Family Style.
Come for a little while or stay the whole day! Tickets are $25 for one person, $50 for an entire family. Register at: https://rotary7930.org/Events/carnival
On April 19, 417 runners from more than 20 states 'stormed the Castle' in the annual Ipswich Ale Half Marathon for Rotary. The funds raised help Ipswich-Rowley Rotary support several of our important service missions, including school and camp scholarships. Since the inaugural race in 2016, our premier fundraiser has raised over $200,000.
Finishing first among the men was David Perloff with a time of 1:19:46.36. First female finisher was Lauren Reissfelder, not far behind at 1:30:45.55. This scenic road race winds through bucolic Ipswich, starting and ending at the Trustees properties on Castle Hill and Crane Beach.
It takes many hands and a lot of planning to make an event of this magnitude successful. As President Tom Murphy so aptly stated in his letter of appreciation to the community, we are especially grateful "to Andy Ellis, our Race Director extraordinaire for coordinating and guiding us all.” We also acknowledge the vital support provided every year by the town, including the Town Manager, the Ipswich Police and Fire Departments, and the departments of Building, Health, and Public Works. We also appreciate the area residents for their understanding during race hours.
In honor of Earth Day and our love of community, a small but intrepid group of Ipswich-Rowley Rotary volunteers braved the elements to complete our semi-annual cleanup of the two-mile segment of Route 133 between the Route 1 intersection and the Essex town line. President Tom Murphy, the club’s ‘Adopt a Highway’ Chair, was joined by President Elect Doug Shealy and Vice President Susanne Petersen.
As usual, our team collected several bags of rubbish which were later picked up by the Town DPW. Rotarians clean this section of roadway twice each year to help sustain its pristine beauty for our residents and for travelers heading towards Cape Ann.
Leo Bergeron will be presented with the Gloucester Rotary’s Paul Harris Distinguished Service Award at a special dinner on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square in downtown Gloucester. The Paul Harris Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Gloucester Rotary and recognizes Leo as a long-time local banker and community activist.
Leo was selected by a Rotary committee of previous Paul Harris recipients. Over its 100+ year history, the Gloucester Rotary has honored more than sixty individuals with the award. The award is named after Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney who founded the Rotary movement in the early 1900s.
After graduating from Nichols College in 1976, Leo began a career in the banking industry working at lending institutions in the New Hampshire seacoast region and on Boston’s North Shore. In 2000, he joined Cape Ann Savings Bank in Gloucester where he successfully established a commercial lending department to serve Cape Ann businesses.
Posted by Christina Harris, RYLA Lead on Apr 26, 2025
As a past District Governor of District 7930 and a strong advocate of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program, David Gardner has experienced firsthand the transformative impact the RYLA experience can have on a young person's life.
This week, he’s reaching out and asking for Rotary members’ support in helping make the RYLA experience possible for current high school students by donating to the rewarding weekend.
Why Your Support Matters
Aside from the $25 application fee RYLA remains free for all students, ensuring that every student has equal access regardless of their financial situation. To maintain this commitment, we rely entirely on the generosity of Rotary clubs within our district and individuals like you who understand the program's value. But the cost for the staff and family advisors is an out-of-pocket expense. This is where we could use your help!
Your Donation in Action
Every contribution, no matter what size, makes a huge difference. Here's how your donation can directly support this year's program:
As we approach the Rotary changeover, now is the time for clubs to conduct a Public Image health check.
A strong and vibrant Public Image is one of 2 proven key tactics for successful and growing clubs -- the other is a large number of service projects. Effective Public Image helps expand your reach and artfully tell compelling stories that demonstrate Rotarians as people of action. The Public Image Committee’s role is to help clubs to have a robust media and social media strategy, an up-to-date website and an engaging online presence in their local communities.
We suggest all clubs engage on social media to boost your Public Image. Social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.) provides free opportunities to get your stories out there. The various platforms can provide a direct way to push your news to the public. Here are some tips to think about.
Camp Rotary, the renowned service project of the Lynn Rotary Club, has been offering life-changing experiences for children for over 100 years at its beautiful Boxford property on the shores of Stiles Pond. There are several weeks this summer where we have beds for older campers that we believe may go unused. In an effort to get these beds filled with deserving campers, for a limited time we are offering clubs the opportunity to send campers to camp at a discount. The regular cost of camp is $35 registration fee and $1025 for the week of camp. For the following select weeks, we can offer Rotary clubs the ability to send TWO campers for this cost instead of one!
It is important that the club pays close attention to the dates, gender and age parameters for each week.
Greater Salem Rotary's Public Image Chair Ashley Haseltine is officially a Boston Marathon runner. Her inspiring dedication and tireless efforts have truly made a significant impact. Her journey to becoming a Boston Marathon runner is a testament to her strength and determination. We are immensely proud of her achievements and the incredible support she has shown for thyroid cancer research with Team Mass Eye & Ear.
Reading Rotary just completed its Rotary Readers Literacy Project. Rotary Readers is an annual literacy project where reading books and a backpack are given to kindergarten students. This year the Rotary Club brought the project to all kindergarten classes in Reading and North Reading. This year over 400 literacy bags and over 800 reading books were distributed to eight elementary schools in Reading and North Reading. In addition, Rotarians read to each Kindergarten class as part of Read Across America.
This literacy project has been adapted from Rotary’s previous dictionary and thesaurus giveaways. Teachers expressed their preference to have the younger students receive reading books. Basic Education and Literacy is one of Rotary International's Seven Areas of Focus.
Rotary would like to offer a special thank you to Liz Whitelam and Whitelam Books for supplying these books at a generous discount.
Austin Prep’s Interact Club was integral in helping with this project, including stuffing the backpacks and reading to many classrooms. Rotary sponsors Interact Clubs at Austin Prep, Reading High School and North Reading High School.
May is Youth Service Month — a time dedicated to recognizing the local and global impact of the 350,000+ young people engaged in Rotary’s youth programs worldwide. Join us in honoring Rotary’s young leaders by:
This new account showcases the experiences of Rotary’s youth program participants! Follow for news and updates about Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), and Rotary Youth Exchange. Throughout May, you’ll find special content related to Youth Service Month.
Participating in a webinar about young leaders
Register for the webinar, Youth Service Month: Funding, Elevating, and Integrating Young Leaders, to learn directly from members of Rotary’s Youth Advisory Council about:
• How young people receive support and funding within Rotary
• How Rotarians are champions for young people and amplify youth perspectives
• How Rotary events can foster meaningful collaboration across generations
Register to attend the webinar, being held Wednesday, 14 May, at 09:00 Chicago time (UTC-5).
The webinar will be available in English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Everyone who registers will receive a recording of the event. Register for the webinar.
Get Ready for the New Rotary Year! ClubRunner's annual Changeover Webinar Series is back - running from May 20 to June 3, and it's designed to help you start the new Rotary year strong with ClubRunner.
These sessions are tailored to your role, so you get the most relevant tips, tools, and updates to succeed in the year ahead.
Discover what's new in ClubRunner Brush up on key features and best practices Set your leadership team up for success Ask your questions during the live Q&A with our Product Specialists
Incoming Club Presidents, Treasurers and Secretaries, please enroll and complete your role-based learning plans before the start of the next Rotary year. The Learning Center has learning plans for the Club officers (as well as other plans for membership, Rotary Foundation, public image and service projects chairs.) All members can complete the learning plans, too. Find them all in the Learning Center.
The Rotary Club of Winchester's 36th annual Charity Golf Tournament is on Monday, May 19, 2025, and we expect another great event again this year at the Winchester Country Club. We expect to sell out again this year.
We rely solely on our valued sponsors, donors, and auctions to raise the funds to support our annual charity fund. For more information, go to www.winchesterrotarygolf.com
The Rotary Club of Greater Newburyport inducted 3 new members on April 8, 2025. They have gained 10 new members since July! The club credits their success to member outreach efforts, inviting prospective members to weekly meetings and events and showing them how much fun it can be in helping others.
Thank you to all who supported Saving the Ipswich River & Watersheds: The Lifeblood of Our Communities Global Grant. And thank you to The Rotary Foundation which provided $27,000 to support this $38,624 grant.
We closed out the grant and wanted to give an update. Over two years, this grant reached over 7500 people via stakeholder trainings, outreach and social media and educated all regarding the need for water conservation as well as providing strategies for individuals and communities to reduce water use. We also developed the water conservation toolkit including creating a website to serve as a landing page for water conservation tools specific to the Ipswich River Watershed in Northeastern Massachusetts. In addition to compiling the material on one webpage, we also developed:
Attention Professional and Recreational Photographers
2026 Calendar Theme: The Seasons of Cape Ann. In Order to publish a beautiful calendar, the Club is requesting high quality digital photos that reflect the natural beauty of Cape Ann throughout the year. As we will be featuring one photo per month, we need images from each season: winter, spring, summer and fall. Photographs from Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester will be accepted. Entry Deadline Monday, June 30, 2025, 12:00 PM
The Rotary Club of Rockport is proud to support financially the Rockport Farmer’s Market in their initiative to combat food insecurity. The Rockport Farmers Market has made significant strides in supporting low-income families through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
In 2024, SNAP customers visited the Rockport Farmers Market 59 times, demonstrating the community's reliance on this essential support. With the help of local businesses and community partners, Rockport Exchange can offer a unique 2:1 match program, an initiative that few farmers markets offer. For every dollar a SNAP customer spends, up to $10, Rockport Exchange will double their funds by providing up to $20 in SNAP matching dollars. This means that if a customer spends $10, they will receive an additional $20, providing a total of $30 to buy healthy food. In 2024 alone, they distributed $1,124 to SNAP shoppers. This match has been possible with additional support from local businesses such as Cape Ann Savings Bank, John Tarr Store, Open Book Systems, Institution for Savings, and the Inns of Rockport. Many community partners, including Rockport Police Department, Chamber of Commerce, First Baptist Church, Rockport Music, and the Town of Rockport Select Board are also integral in the mission to provide support for those with food insecurity.
Deadline to register: Wednesday April 16 at noon. Don’t wait to sign up for this opportunity to hone your own leadership skills, expand your Rotary knowledge, and interact with District-wide Rotarians to share ideas for growing your clubs and engaging current and future Rotarians in how Rotary serves locally and internationally. You do not have to be a club officer to participate.
Sessions are in a non-lecture, energetic, interactive format led by experienced facilitators. Parts I, II, III and Graduate will be offered. Parts must be taken in order, each taking an entire 7:30-3:30 day. This year’s Graduate theme is “Capturing the Value of Our Impact.” Curriculum for Parts I, II, and III may be found at www.rlinea.org.
Calling all Presidents-Elect, Club Treasurers, Club Secretaries, Public Image, Membership, Foundation Chairs, new Rotarians -- and all Rotarians!
Our 2025 District Learning Assembly takes place Thurs., April 10, 2025, at Four Points Sheraton, 1 Audubon Road, Wakefield!
Important learning sessions start at 4:30 pm, followed by fellowship, our District Managed Grant Qualification, and a special presentation regarding Rotary's new Action Plan.
This is an important and worthwhile session for all Rotarians. Register today. A buffet dinner will be served and a cash bar will be available during fellowship and dinner. Register here.
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault and Tim Kelley on Apr 03, 2025
The Rotary Action Plan tells us to Expand Our Reach. You can Expand Your Reach by making your Annual Fund-SHARE contribution before June 30. You can donate online by clicking here.
Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs take action today to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea will be holding its annual Kentucky Derby Fundraiser May 6, 2025. The proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to fund five scholarships for Chelsea students and to send twenty Chelsea children to Camp Rotary for one week. Tickets for the chance to own a horse in any of the three races are $100 each. Dinner tickets are $60.
If you would like to participate you can either send me a check made out to the Rotary Club of Chelsea Charitable Foundation, Venmo me the funds at Douglas-Mauch or scan the code on the flyer or go to this link.
Douglas B. Mauch, Secretary Rotary Club of Chelsea 5 Walden Pond Circle Saugus, MA 01906
Wilmington Rotary and Wilmington High Interact Club held their Polar Plunge for PolioPlus on March 22 at Silver Lake in Wilmington. For the first time in three years, the weather cooperated, the speeches were kept to a minimum, and all participants and attendees were invited back to Rocco's Restaurant for Pizza following the Plunge. Click here to see video of the plunge.
We have reached our initial goal of $1,500 and have a few more checks to deposit, however we are still quite shy of our 2023 and 2024 totals.
Thank you to all of our Members, and to Pooja, our District Governor-Elect, who also attended last Saturday's Polar Plunge to support Polio Plus.
There is still time to donate, either by check or through this GoFundme link. Thank you again for your support!
Picture are Interactors, Wilmington Rotarians, Community members who participated in the plunge in support of End Polio Now.
Last week we welcomed Leanne Carbone, the chairperson of Woburn Memorial High School Tanner Closet. WMHS Tanner Closet is a free resource to help any WMHS students in need!
Tanner Closet provides: Non-perishables: food and snacks. School supplies: backpacks, binders, folders, pens, pencils, erasers, calculators, poster board, highlighters, index cards, staplers, correction tape, etc. Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, soap/body wash, loofahs/wash. Gift Cards: Market Basket, Stop & Shop, Family Dollar, and Target.
Rotary Club of Woburn President Bill Balboni presented Leanne with a check to help support this important resource for students in need.
Wakefield Rotary's new Pollinator Garden took its next steps this week. President Wendy Maguire, Past President Barbara Worley and Past President Judy Gordon scouted two potential locations for the garden.
"It's important that the garden be away from a major path to avoid frightening the pollinators away from the garden," Maguire said. "At the same time, we want to the community to know Rotary had a role in the gardens establishment, so we have to be strategic in its location."
After considering spots based on flood zones, foot traffic and visibility, the club has narrowed the location down to a spot near Veteran's Field and one of the Lake Quannapowitt's popular walking path.
As part of their weekly meeting the Manchester-Essex Club gathered on an early Spring morning with distinguished guest incoming District Governor Pooja Singla at the Historic Essex Shipbuilding Museum Schoolhouse to paint bowls in support of the Open Door Food Pantry's major fundraiser, the Empty Bowl.
In 2024 the Open Door served 12,000, providing over 2M pounds of food and 165,000 meals to those on Greater Cape Ann and surrounding communities with food insecurity. The fundraiser is on May 2, 4 - 8 pm at Cruiseport in Gloucester. Guests can choose and keep a soup bowl handcrafted for this community event, and the meal is simple—soup, bread, and a cookie. Tickets are 20 ($15 for children under 10) and available at the door.
The applications for RYLA 2025 are underway, and the enthusiasm from the students is palpable! We have an incredible group of young leaders eager to join us for this transformative weekend. To ensure that RYLA 2025 is everything it can be, we are reaching out for your vital support.
This year, we have encountered an increase in costs, a challenge many of you may also be facing. As Rotary members, your involvement is crucial to the success of our program. To help your understanding of our RYLA initiative and the ways you can contribute, we have created a virtual resource hub. This link (https://linktr.ee/RotaryRylaResources) contains all the information you need to learn more about RYLA 2025 and the ways you can help make this rewarding experience accessible to deserving young leaders.
The Rotary Club of Peabody received a District Grant from D7930 and partnered with Peabody Club funds and a Peabody Education Foundation grant to create a project called My First Book Club. The goal of the program was to provide every student in Grades K-2 with a book that they could own.
Club members believe that reading is a basic building block essential to learning and understanding, and the earlier we engage children in the process, the more well-rounded their overall educational experience will be. Upon acceptance and approval of the grant funding, the Rotary Club of Peabody, met and partnered with the Peabody Public Schools through Superintendent Dr. Josh Vadala to launch the program. The 6 elementary schools in the Peabody Public school district were polled to select the appropriate Dr. Seuss book for each classroom.
The Newburyport Rotary Club is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win a $2,000 shopping spree at M.K. Benatti Jewelers in Newburyport. All proceeds from this raffle will be donated to The Link House and Turning Point.
Raffle tickets can be bought by clicking on the link below. Thank you for your support!
The Rotary Club of Andover will celebrate its annual Citizens Who Care & Educator of the Year (CWC-EOY) Gala on Thursday, May 8th, 2025, at the Andover Country Club. This prestigious event, which begins at 5:30 pm, honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional volunteerism and have made significant contributions to the local community.
Since 1996, the CWC-EOY program has recognized unsung heroes whose dedication to service embodies the spirit of volunteerism. The 2025 honorees include: Ellen Arvidson, Ajita Bhat, Donald Cooper, Mary Beth Ellis & Eric Olson – The Sidney Mae Olson Rainbow Fund, Amy Janovsky, Martha Mahoney, Susan K. McCready, Shawna M. McCloskey & Kristine A. Arakelian, Mark Morgan, and Buzz Stapczynski. The 2025 Educator of the Year is Julie Diehl, and Student of the Year is Sofia Duran-Clark.
Woburn Interact Club President Adrian Caruso presents a check for $2000 to Woburn Dollars for Scholars liaison Catarina DeLemos Loureiro. The money was raised during a recent "Dating Game" event at the school auditorium. They are joined by the Interact Club members and Interact Club advisor Bill Sullivan. The funds raised will go to scholarship for Woburn Memorial High School.
Woburn Interact Raises Funds for Scholarships for High School
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault and Tim Kelley on Mar 20, 2025
Foundation recognition points are awarded to donors who contribute to The Rotary Foundation through the Annual Fund or PolioPlus, or who contribute to sponsorship of a Foundation grant. Donors receive one recognition point for every U.S. dollar contributed to these funds. (Contributions to the Endowment Fund are not eligible.) Donors can transfer Foundation recognition points to others to help them qualify as a Paul Harris Fellow or Multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Foundation recognition points belong to the original donor until the donor’s death, unless the points are transferred, or until the donor uses them (the surviving spouse of a Major Donor may also use the points).
What is the difference between recognition amount and available Foundation recognition points?
Recognition amount reflects the total Paul Harris Fellow recognition you have accumulated through your personal contributions plus all recognition points you’ve been given by other individuals, clubs, or districts. Recognition points given to you don’t count toward Major Donor recognition.
We encourage incoming club committee chairs to enroll in their role-based learning plans before the start of the next Rotary year. The Learning Center has learning plans for the club administration chair, membership chair, Rotary Foundation chair, public image chair, and service projects chair. Members of those committees can complete the learning plans, too. Find them all in the Learning Center under Club Leadership Courses below.
Posted by Peter Majane and Terry Rezendes Curran on Mar 19, 2025
The Lynn, Newburyport and Salem Clubs are on pace to net 5 to 12 members by June 30, 2025.
Here are tips from the Lynn, Newburyport and Salem clubs:
1. Select a powerhouse Membership Committee and lead/s! - Individuals who already have a great network of their own- Individuals who naturally love to network and show enthusiasm for their membership in the Club- Individuals who are also willing to nurture and stay in touch with new members upon their admittance to the Club.
2. Set a clear goal of the Membership Committee and keep them focused on it. - Don't sandbag but give an achievable number; ask regularly where we stand against this number and clearly document the prospect list so you do not lose track of your 'prospects' - Stay focused on the very specific activities that will achieve the results needed.
When Dave Olson lines up for the Boston Marathon on April 21, he knows he’s in for four-plus hours of struggle and pain.
But he only needs to look down at the two words pinned to his runner’s bib to remind him why it’s all worth it.
“For Deb.”
Deborah Olson died in January of 2024 at age 65 after a long struggle with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Dave is running Boston in his wife’s memory and to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Deb and Dave Olson
But as he told me Wednesday, it’s also about raising awareness of Alzheimer’s, a cruel disease that touches so many people and yet can be so difficult to talk about.
“There’s still this kind of stigma about it,” he said. “If Deb had cancer, people would ask how she’s doing. That’s one of the worst things about this disease. It’s isolating for the person who has it, but it’s also isolating for the people around them, because people don’t want to talk about it.”
Do you have great photos that showcase the beauty of Rockport? The Rockport Rotary Club will be producing a 2026 photo calendar as a fundraiser this year and is requesting amateur and professional photographers alike to submit their best high-quality photos of Rockport to be entered into our contest. The photography winners of each month plus the cover will receive $50. The photos are to be of Rockport and emphasize qualities that make Rockport a special place to live, work and visit in each season. Examples include featuring the fishing industry, town events, parades, pets in a quintessential Rockport scene, quarries, architecture and ocean scenes.
The contest will run from now through April 30, 2025. Please submit your high-quality digital photos to rockportrotaryphotos@gmail.com and include your name, mailing address and phone number so we can notify you if you have won. Photos should be in landscape (horizontal) with a high resolution, a minimum of 2-3 MB or higher. Photographers will be featured no more than twice in the same calendar. Please do not include recognizable photos of people who have not given their permission to be in a published photograph. Questions can be submitted to the same email address.
Rotary's PolioPlus Legacy: Leading the Way in Global Health Progress 27 March 2025 | 10:00 Chicago time (UTC-5) Live on Zoom
Rotary’s PolioPlus program is one of our longest-term and most significant humanitarian efforts. Working with our partners, we’ve reduced worldwide polio cases by 99.9% since 1988. The networks and tools we’ve built along the way exemplify the “plus” in PolioPlus, often serving as the epidemic response system in dozens of countries during health emergencies. The panelists will discuss the role of PolioPlus infrastructure in public health and how the success of this initiative guides efforts to address other urgent health issues.
Register today! Participation in the live session is limited and available to the first 1,000 registrants. A recording will be available for those who are unable to attend live. Register here today.
The Wakefield Rotary Club is pleased to announce its newest member, Carla Dale. Dale was recently installed into the club by Wakefield Rotary Past President Amy Luckiewicz and her sponsor, Past President Barbara Worley.
Dale was invited to visit the club by her sponsor in January, "Initially, I wanted to learn more about the club and I was invited to the weekly luncheons," she explained. "I quickly realized it was a fun way to meet people and to join others in an organized volunteer effort."
New members are encouraged to identify areas of service that are of interest to them. Dale noted that she is excited to participate in food drives, maternal health and wellness projects, basic education and literacy and senior programs.
"Carla is a great addition to the club," said Club President Wendy Maguire. "We know she has a particular interest in assisting local adult programs for special needs adults. We encourage her to pursue that, with us, and look forward to diving into this new area of service."
Dale is a retired pharmacist. She grew up in Revere and now resides in Wakefield and has four children, Brittany, Austin, Dylan and Logan.
May 3, 2025, 9:00 AM, Market Street, Lynnfield, MA
Build A Bed is returning to Market Street, Lynnfield on Saturday, May 3, 2025. In 2022 Lynnfield Rotary hosted its first Build A Bed project producing ten beds for children in Massachusetts. In 2023 we built twenty-two beds, and last year over 100 volunteers built thirty. We are optimistic for 2025 to be our best yet.
The cost of each bed is $350. Upon completion, a mattress will be added, and the finished product will be delivered to the home of a Massachusetts child. Lumber, hardware, tools, and expert instruction will be provided. People will work in groups of up to four builders. Children are welcome with adult accompaniment. This is a service project, not a fundraiser. All contributions will be applied to the purchase of beds.
Individuals, families, and organizations can participate as follows:
Purchasing one or more beds allows your team to attend the event and build the frame. If you prefer, a bed will be constructed by our volunteers in your name.
Posted by Joan Arsenault and Tim Kelley on Mar 12, 2025
Looking for creative ways your club can raise funds for the Annual Fund SHARE? Look no further!
Circles of Gold: create Circles of Gold in your club by asking 5 members to join each circle. Each person in the circle agrees to donate $200 per year to the Annual Fund SHARE. Either have the Rotarian use rotary direct to contribute or collect a check from them each year by the end of April. If you collect a check, make sure to send to RI in the Rotarian’s name so they receive credit for their contribution. The Circle of Gold then combines their points which would equal 1000 and can honor a member of their circle with a Paul Harris recognition or another person. Some Circles are all women, others a mixed group. Make it fun! And have the club appoint a team leader to help recruit should a member drop out and to help with PH recognition.
Do you enjoy wine? Are you open to trying and learning about wines from around the world? Join Corks & Caps Local Chapter of RWAF by contacting Joan Arsenault. No Cost!
Next zoom wine tasting on March 23, 6-7 PM: Wines of France
Past topics:
• Greek Food w/ Greek wine & a Greek chef
• Wines of Beaujolais, France
• Orange Wines: the latest craze
• All about corks and wines from Portugal
• Deriving more pleasure from every glass of wine
• Gruner Veltliner & Sangiovese: little known varietals of great value
• Choosing wines by the label; an interactive tasting
The Rotary Club of Woburn recently donated a defibrillator to St. Barbara's Church in Woburn. On hand for the presentation from left to right: Past Rotary President Mike Martini, Farther Edmund Ugwoegbu and Past Rotary President Bill Sullivan.
As its major fundraiser, the Beverly Rotary Club is having BARRY GOUDREAU'S ENGINE ROOM perform at the North Shore Music Theatre on March 29th. Former "Boston" guitarist and his group the Engine Room will be providing music from the group Boston, popular rock covers and some of the group's new music. Once you hear them you will connect and feel the music! They have a following of fans all over New England.
Come have a great night while you're making a donation to the wonderful activities of the Club to help the community. We will be donating a good amount of our proceeds to "A Bed for Every Child." For tickets go here: www.nsmt.org
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Community Service Co-Chair Chris Davis has announced the results of their 2025 February ‘Share the Love’ collection for The Open Door Food Pantry.
Davis said that he is “pleased to report that our February food drive was successful and reached our goal of 1500 pounds of food delivered to The Open Door to help our neighbors in need. This represents a new record for our annual winter collection.”
He added that Rotary is “grateful to our friends and neighbors in Ipswich and Rowley who supported and contributed to this vital effort. The demand for food pantry assistance has never been greater.” He also thanked “our Rotary volunteers, especially John Witzig who helped me deliver and retrieve collection boxes at 13 drop-off locations in Ipswich and Rowley.”
Flags for Heroes is a way to honor people who are your heroes. They may be men and women who are serving or have served as a member of the military, first responders, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, community leaders, or other heroes.
Sponsor an American flag to honor those who have made a difference in their lives, including military members, first responders, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors and community leaders. A $75 donation sponsors a flag and supports Woburn Rotary's service projects.
You may sponsor as many heroes as you want, and a flag with the name of your heroes will be flown at Ferullo Field from mid-April to mid-May 2025.
Send checks to Rotary Club of Woburn, PO Box 2304, Woburn, MA 01888. Please include name of hero to be honored. For more info contact Bill Sullivan at sully1980@comcast.net.
RYLA 2025 will be May 16th-18th at Camp Rotary in Boxford, MA. We are so excited to connect with this year's rising leaders and have a committed group of returning students to help lead the weekend.
As you begin to think about who you can invite to apply for this life-changing experience, remember that the impact of RYLA extends far beyond the weekend itself. It's an opportunity for young leaders to grow, connect, and inspire one another, and we can't wait to see who will join us this year!
We have volunteers eager to speak about RYLA at your Rotary and Interact Clubs. It's a great way to spread the word and encourage more students to take advantage of this opportunity. Please feel free to reach out to Christina at Christina@PartnerWithChoice.com or call 978.270.6706 to arrange a presentation.
Thank you for your ongoing support in the future of these young leaders. Together, we are making a difference!
The Paul Harris Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who elect to contribute $1,000 or more each year to any combination of the following: Annual Fund-SHARE, individual Areas of Focus, PolioPlus Fund, as well as Disaster Response Funds and approved global grants.
The purpose of the Paul Harris Society is to honor and thank individuals for their generous, ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation.
What your giving supports
By giving from your heart each and every year, you’ll support families and change lives. Paul Harris Society gifts have helped provide many local and international grants, including district grants and global grants created by clubs in our district. In addition, this giving helps the major Rotary endeavors, including Polio Eradication, Peace Centers, Malaria prevention, and more.
This past weekend, Wakefield Rotary Club President Wendy Maguire with members Joie Gerrish and Amy Luckiewicz sowed 30 containers of seeds in recycled milk jugs for their upcoming Pollinator Garden project. The Pollinator Garden will be placed in a location in Wakefield as part of the club’s commitment to environmental work.
In 2020, Rotary International added environmental work to it areas of focus. Through the Rotary Foundation and local clubs, Rotarians are committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the environment. Rotary empowers communities to access grants and other resources, embrace local solutions, and spur innovation in an effort to address the causes and reduce the effects of climate change and environmental degradation.
The invoices for District Dues were emailed out through Quickbooks to club officials! If you did not receive them or have questions, please reach out to District Treasurer, Rebecca Harris rotary7930.treasurer@gmail.com.
After contracting polio in 1952 at age 8, Philip Wilson was left with no use of his arms or left hand. Since then Philip has lived a vibrant and productive life, but without any functioning in his upper body limbs and left hand. He has an inspiring and remarkable story including joining Rotary in 1984, one year prior to Rotary announcing the formation of Polio Plus. Having recently moved into Brooksby Village, Philip and his wife, Jane, are new members of Danvers Rotary. Formerly, Phil had been District 7490 Chair for Polio Plus and has done extensive speaking at Rotary clubs and events. He reminds us of the devastation polio brought to America every summer prior to Jonas Salk developing the vaccine in 1955.
Pictured above is Philip with John Nanni, Keynote Speaker for this year's Peace & Understanding event. Below is Philip addressing the assembly at the event.
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault and Tim Kelley on Feb 28, 2025
Have you made your contribution to The Rotary Foundation's Annual Fund-SHARE this year?
Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs take action today to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.
The Every Rotarian Every Year initiative asks every Rotarian to support The Rotary Foundation every year.
At the end of every Rotary year, contributions directed to the Annual Fund-SHARE from all Rotary clubs in the district are divided between the World Fund and the District Designated Fund, or DDF.
At the end of three years, DDF come back to our District to pay for Foundation, Club, and District projects that your Club and others in the district choose. Districts may use up to half of their DDF to fund district grants. The remaining DDF may be used for global grants or donated to PolioPlus, the Rotary Peace Centers, or another district.
Note we are lagging behind in our expected Annual Fund-SHARE donations for the current year. Please consider making your donation today.
Our World Peace and Understanding Event on February 26 featured an incredibly inspirational talk by John Nanni. John is a Rotarian from Middletown-Odessa, Delaware and is one of 20 million polio survivors. John contracted polio at 10 months just before the Salk vaccine became available. He was paralyzed from the neck down for six months.
Thanks to physical therapy to keep his muscles from atrophying, he was able to walk and appeared to have recovered completely. He played sports as a child. At around 40 he began suffering effects of post-polio syndrome: muscle weakness, joint pain and extreme fatigue. In post-polio syndrome, survivors have used other muscles to compensate for damaged muscles and it caused those muscles to weaken.
Last week, Rotary Club of Woburn presented the Woburn Fire Dept. with Smoke/CO detectors. Fire Prevention Lt. Mark Smith and Rosa Lococo Head Clerk of the Fire Dept. were on hand to accept the donation by Rotary President Bill Balboni, along with Marie Lingblom COA Director of the Woburn Senior Center.
Rotary Club of Woburn works closely with both the Fire Dept. and Senior Center to identify Smoke Detector needs in the city.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently hosted its second Rotary’s So Sweet Swap in honor of Valentine's Day. Members and guests were invited to bring a wrapped "sweet" treat. Club Members Jay Curley and Amy Luckiewicz led an interactive, and unpredictable, “sweet swap”. Some directions included to "Swap with a club Past President," "Swap with someone who can recite the 4-Way Test," and other Rotary-related instructions.
Everyone in attendance took home an item at the end of the meeting. Some favorite “sweets” included homemade Italian cookies, muffins from the Gingerbread Construction Company, and a container of cotton candy!
Pictured above Vice President/President-Elect Kathy Boyle and Club President Wendy Maguire came to the swap dressed for the theme.
Burlington Breakfast Rotary will be holding its Semi-Annual Raffle with winners to be selected on April 24. Grand Prize is $2,000 cash. Proceeds to benefit National Ataxia Foundation, People Helping People, Mental Health Awareness, BHS Scholarship and more! Winners need not be present to win.
A major initiative for our Club this year has been to re-establish an Interact Club at the Manchester-Essex Regional High School (MERHS). After a couple meetings with a supportive school administration, we had a terrific introductory discussion with upwards of 25 students at a local pizza place that was informed and made more relevant with neighboring Interact student leaders from Gloucester and Ipswich - special thanks to Serena and Keith.
Led by Past President Jen Doane there were several follow-up discussions with a few students most interested in starting a Club when they hit upon the idea of a fun Polar Plunge fundraiser. On Saturday Feb. 15 we had about 15 Polar Plungers most of whom were students who raised more than $800 in support of Polio eradication. Our Club has agreed to match the raised funds so that our total donation is approximately $1,700. As important, one of our adult plungers is a school faculty member who has expressed interest in serving as the Interact Faculty Advisor. More to follow as we chart a new course for MERHS Interact.
The Rotary Club of Burlington is bringing you NuBingo—a high-energy, music-filled twist on classic bingo! This isn’t your grandma’s bingo—it’s bingo with a beat! Instead of numbers, you’ll be marking off popular songs as our DJ spins the hits. From throwback favorites to today’s chart-toppers, get ready to tap your feet, sing along, and cheer on your friends as you compete for epic prizes! Whether you're a seasoned player or a first-timer, NuBingo is all about fun, excitement, and unforgettable moments!
- Date: Friday, April 4th - Location: The Elks, 295 Washington St., Woburn, MA - Time: 7:00 PM
- DJ-powered music bingo - Exciting raffles & a 50/50 draw - Fabulous prizes up for grabs - BYO Snacks – bring your favorite treats!
Grab your friends, bring your best game face, and get ready to dance, sing, and win big! Whether you’re here for the prizes, the fun, or just a great night out, you don’t want to miss this! Get your tickets here.
The Rotary Club of Rockport served its annual Valentine's lunch of baked haddock to over 70 local senior citizens at the Fish Shack Restaurant last Friday. Diners were serenaded by the high school chorus, and given carnations as they exited. Many seniors expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to get together and socialize during an especially tough winter.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 6-8PM, Danversport, Danvers
Tickets are on sale now for Rotary Club of Peabody’s signature event. Thanks to you, last year we were able to award $17,000 in scholarships to local high school seniors. Your support means so much to the local community, and we hope you will be able to join us again in the new year for one of the most exciting events on the North Shore!
Arlington Rotary honored member Greg Anderson’s over 50 years of service with a surprise celebration at the Knights of Columbus Hall on February 2nd. Greg, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, has been a dedicated member since 1974.In addition, he is a past Club president and currently serves as Club Secretary.
A respected leader, Greg has played key roles in fostering community spirit, organizing fundraisers, and supporting outreach programs. His contributions were recognized at the event by District Governor Tom Hankard, DG-Elect Terry Rezendes Curran and State Representative Sean Garballey, who presented him with a State House proclamation (pictured here).
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault and Tim Kelley on Feb 12, 2025
Did you know that Paul Harris' birthday is April 19? It will be the 157th anniversary of his birthday. Have you considered hosting a celebration to mark the occasion? Tell RI about your celebration ideas by emailing our RI Annual Fund staff at: annualfund@rotary.org. You may be featured in an upcoming issue of the Paul Harris Society Resource!
Looking to help build our Annual Fund SHARE monies to support our local/international and global grants? Consider joining the Paul Harris Society:
• Contact Rotary’s Support Center at rotarysupportcenter@rotary.org or +1-866-9-ROTARY (+1-866-976-8279) or the Rotary International office that serves your area.
• Mail a completed Paul Harris Society sign-up form to The Rotary Foundation.
Find answers to the most commonly asked Paul Harris Society questions here: PHS FAQs.
Save the Ipswich River: The Lifeblood of Our Communities Global Grant supported the Ipswich River Watershed Association’s Legislative Breakfast in the past. IRWA has been continuing the great work on helping our river and watershed thrive. This year's Legislative Breakfast is happening on Tuesday, March 11th. I hope you will consider coming to discuss water and climate resiliency issues facing our watershed and communities. State legislators from around the watershed will share their ideas about how to protect our rivers. This is a great opportunity to let our legislators know how they can help support the river’s needs during this legislative session.
There's Still Time to Support Our Rotaplast Mission
Our Rotaplast Mission needs additional financial support to make our goal. We would like to acknowledge and thank those clubs who have already donated: Belle Isle, Rockport, Lexington, Newburyport, Somerville, Winchester, Parkway, Wakefield, Gloucester, Andover, Marblehead Harbor, Chelsea, Manchester-Essex, Reading, Swampscott, Woburn, Ipswich-Rowley, Burlington, Boston 7, Peabody and Salem, as well as the many individuals who have donated, and generous support from the District in the form of a District Managed Grant, but we still need more funds.
We are extremely proud to welcome one of the United States' newest citizens, Jose David Cermeño Perez. Jose came to our club back in 2012-13 as an exchange student from Venezuela, all wide eyed about Rotary. He was involved with the music and theatre department at high school, with a high point starring as Bernardo in West Side Story.
Our former exchange student who returned to his turbulent home country after a senior year at Beverly High School. He later made entry back to the US to attend Endicott College with the support of Beverly Rotary and the late Dr. Richard Wylie, President of Endicott College. Jose has informed us that he is now a US citizen as of January 25 this year.
His time here was one of preservation and persistence, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Endicott. He now lives in New York City with his marriage partner and is a financial analyst for Luxottica Eyewear.
Let's all welcome him to this 370 million strong melting pot we call the United States as a cherished new citizen.
Welcome Jose! Glad to have you aboard! We love you!
As its major fundraiser, the Beverly Rotary Club is having BARRY GOUDREAU'S ENGINE ROOM perform at the North Shore Music Theatre on March 29th. Former Boston guitarist and his group the Engine Room will be providing music from the group Boston, popular rock covers and some of the group's new music. Once you hear them you will connect and feel the music! They have a following of fans all over New England. Come have a great night while you're making a donation to the wonderful activities of the Club to help the community.
For info and tickets, click here. You don't want to miss it.
What is your Club's Polar Plunge fundraising event? Now is the time to complete your End Polio Now event. Pictured here are plungers from Salem Rotary at the Polar Plunge in East Boston hosted by Belle Isle and Parkway Rotary Clubs.
Here are the totals raised as of February 9. These totals reflect what has been sent in to The Rotary Foundation.
All clubs are asked to organize a local Polar Plunge in their community. Pick any date this winter (i.e. between now and Opening Day at Fenway Park). Plunge any way you want (ocean, dunk tank, swimming pool, jacuzzi, etc.) Be creative to organize another event to raise funds for Polio Eradication.
Our goal is to raise as much money as possible to End Polio Now. Please make sure that you send all the monies that you raised directly to The Rotary Foundation to be credited to the Polio Plus Fund. Our published results will be based on the reports from the Rotary Foundation, so only funds actually sent to the Foundation will be counted for the ranking!
Tell us about your club's event and share your pictures and story with us and your community!
What're You Doing for Competitive Polar Plunge/Polio Challenge
Our Rotaplast Mission needs additional financial support to make our goal. We would like to acknowledge and thank those clubs who have already donated: Belle Isle, Rockport, Lexington, Newburyport, Somerville, Winchester, Parkway, Wakefield, Gloucester, Andover, Marblehead Harbor, Chelsea, Manchester-Essex, Reading, Swampscott, Woburn, Burlington, Boston 7 and Salem, as well as the many individuals who have donated, and generous support from the District in the form of a District Managed Grant, but we still need more funds.
The Rotaplast Mission is scheduled for March 8, 2025. Rotaplast sends multidisciplinary medical teams to provide free reconstructive surgery, ancillary treatment, and training for the comprehensive care of children with cleft palates/lips and other deformities.
The cost of the mission is $88,000 to be raised throughout the district. We have raised in donations and pledges approximately $65,000. We hope all District 7930 clubs will support the Mission with the cost of at least one surgery -- $800. Donations from individuals will also be gratefully accepted. If you have questions, please contact Terry Curran at 617-501-3521 or TerryCurran7930@gmail.com.
Terry is available to visit your club and make a presentation, please reach out. Checks can be made payable to Rotaplast and sent to our Rotaplast Treasurer at Eagle Bank, Attention: Stephen Miliotis, 350 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149.
Andover Rotarian and Past District Governor PDG Sheryl Meehan's daughter, Colleen, was in a serious car accident and suffered a severe head injury as well as other bodily injury. Colleen is hospitalized and will require multiple surgeries. Sheryl is staying in a hotel near the hospital.
There is a great need for funds. A GoFundMe page has been created for people to contribute. Sheryl's daughter from Lawrence posted it on Facebook and we have permission to share the news and invite folks to contribute. Click here for the GoFundMe page.
Gail Ralston of the Andover Rotary Club can be contacted with questions.
Hi, My name is Becca Harris and I am a member of the Arlington Rotary Club and serving as the District Treasurer. In my "real job" I am the Executive Director of 2nd Act which is a nonprofit that is a collective of artists and drama therapists in recovery which uses theatre, film, and drama therapy to address and educate about the impact of substance use. Our programs, including workshops, plays, drama therapy and professional trainings, are impacting the district in many ways and I would love to come to your club meeting to share more about the work we do.
Please contact me at becca@weare2ndact.org if you are interested in scheduling a speaker for your club. I am available to come in person or virtually starting in March.
The Wakefield Rotary Club visited Northeast Metro Tech (Voke) this week. The club re-located its meeting to the James Wallace Breakheart Inn at the school, a fully functioning training bakery, café and restaurant located within the Voke for the first out of four Rotary lunch meetings that will be hosted at the school in 2025.
Wakefield Rotary Club President Wendy Maguire noted, “We absolutely loved our visit. It’s important to us to get to know the resources that are available to our community and to give back. Re-locating our lunch meetings there a few times a year is long overdue, and we’re excited to build a strong relationship with the Voke.” Members of the club commented specifically on the three-course menu selection, student effort and quality of the food. One member said, “I’d bring my friends here every week if I could.”
Have you made your contribution to The Rotary Foundation's Annual Fund-SHARE this year?
Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs take action today to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.
The Every Rotarian Every Year initiative asks every Rotarian to support The Rotary Foundation every year.
At the end of every Rotary year, contributions directed to the Annual Fund-SHARE from all Rotary clubs in the district are divided between the World Fund and the District Designated Fund, or DDF.
At the end of three years, DDF come back to our District to pay for Foundation, Club, and District projects that your Club and others in the district choose. Districts may use up to half of their DDF to fund district grants. The remaining DDF may be used for global grants or donated to PolioPlus, the Rotary Peace Centers, or another district.
Note we are lagging behind in our expected Annual Fund-SHARE donations for the current year. Please consider making your donation today.
With deep regret, we announce the passing of Past District Governor David Drislane, a vibrant member of the Rotary Club of Lynnfield, Massachusetts.
Dave was a Veteran, businessman, photographer, man of great faith, and proud Rotarian. A mentor to many, Dave's personality, vigor, and friendship will be greatly missed by generations of Rotarians, family, and friends.
Serving as our District Governor in 1964-1965 made Dave the oldest serving past district governor in the United States of America.
We can all aspire to live as Dave did -- focused on family and community. He will be sorely missed.
Pictured here is Governor Dave (seated at the far left) visiting the Peabody Rotary meeting during the 1964-65 year.
On January 8, 2025, the Rotary Club of Lynn continued with its tradition of distributing dictionaries to 3rd graders in all the schools in Lynn. Twenty (20) Lynn public and private schools participated this year, up from 18 schools in past years. Since 2008, the Rotary Club of Lynn has presented over 1,200 dictionaries annually to third-grade students. This year marks the 16th consecutive year of this service project for the Club and a distribution of over 20,000 dictionaries since its inception! All the 3rd graders were thrilled to receive a book they can call their own and take home to share with their families!
The Callahan School served as a host for the support of our local Lynn city leaders to participate in our event. The dictionaries were distributed by: Mayor Nicholson; Superintendent Dr. Alvarez; the President of Lynn Rotary, Jean-Marie Minton; and some members of Lynn’s State House representatives. The distribution began at 9:00 am on the 8th at the Callahan School. Thirty-Eight Rotarians assisted distribution of the dictionaries, side by side with several Lynn Public School staff members if various schools.
All clubs are asked to organize a local Polar Plunge in their community (hence Distributed). Pick any date this winter (i.e. between now and Opening Day at Fenway Park). Plunge any way you want (ocean, dunk tank, swimming pool, jacuzzi, etc.) Be creative to organize another event to raise funds for Polio Eradication.
Our goal is to raise as much money as possible to End Polio Now, and we’ll publish a ranking of clubs weekly (hence Competitive). Please make sure that you send all the monies that you raised directly to The Rotary Foundation to be credited to the Polio Plus Fund. Our published results will be based on the reports from the Rotary Foundation, so only funds actually sent to the Foundation will be counted for the ranking!
Tell us about your club's event and share your pictures and story with us and your community!
Join us on February 26 for our World Peace and Understanding Event. The event will be from 6 to 9 pm at Danversport, 161 Elliot St., Danvers, MA 01923.
We are fortunate to have as our special guest polio survivor John Nanni. Six months just before the Salk Vaccine distribution, John was paralyzed from his neck down. He now uses a wheelchair for most of his daily mobility due to severe Post-Polio Syndrome issues. John will enlighten us on Polio and Peace. He is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Middletown-Odessa-Townsend, Delaware, USA.
We are delighted to welcome Gina and Joe Healy, and Larry Jordan to the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary family, where we achieve more together than we can alone.
Larry Jordan resides in Beverly and serves as the Commander of VFW Post 1093 in Ipswich. He also is a member of American Legion Post 80 in Ipswich and of the service dog organization Canine Companions. Larry has been instrumental in raising the profile of veterans' services in Ipswich and was a leading force behind the highly successful 2024 D-Day parade and remembrance. Larry enjoys spending time with family, reading, painting, photography and traveling. His interests also include colonial history and assisting Vietnam veterans. Larry is a retired Director of Risk Management for Anheuser-Busch. Larry’s Rotary sponsor is Ipswich High School classmate Laurie Cameron.
We also welcomed a couple of dedicated humanitarians who recently transferred from the Lakes Region Rotary Club in Laconia, NH after moving to Ipswich to be near family. The Healy’s are sponsored by Community Service Chair Chris Davis.
Applications will be going live in early February, but planning and training are well underway!!
Here are photos from our 1st training session that took place on January 19th with a group of very enthusiastic kids! I really wish you could meet them all! You would be so proud of them and of our clubs for supporting the development of these leaders. We are once again joining forces with D7950, so we had students who came all the way from Dennis and Martha’s Vineyard to attend the training. Such commitment! Start thinking of who you can invite to apply for this life changing weekend!
We have folks who would love to come out to speak about RYLA to your Rotary or Interact Clubs. Please contact Christina@PartnerWithChoice.com or 978.270.6706 to make arrangements.
Once again, thank you for your investment in these young leaders!
Marblehead Harbor Rotarians recently hosted a second Breakfast of Champions. On the left, incoming club president Amy Hart offers words of welcome to representatives of the various sponsors of the club’s major fundraiser, the widely anticipated holiday opening gala, “Holiday Pops” which was held December 14.
This breakfast event was not only a thank-you to the sponsors but an opportunity for the sponsors to meet the invited non-profit recipients of the club’s proceeds from the Pops evening performance. It’s never too late to say “Thank you” to those we serve and to those who help sponsor the club’s events!
Below you will find a statement from Rotary International in response to United States' stated intention to withdraw from the World Health Organization.
As you will read, Rotary remains committed to public health and the eradication of the poliomyelitis disease.
Yours In Rotary, Tom Hankard, Governor, Rotary District 7930
Rotary notes the recent announcement that the United States intends to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), a partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). We remain resolute in our mission to eradicate polio. As a founding partner of the GPEI, Rotary has for decades worked closely with all the GPEI partners, the U.S. government, and other governments to end polio worldwide. This effort has reduced the number of children paralyzed by polio by 99.9% since 1988. The global effort to eradicate polio has innovated many times over the years to come close to protecting every last child.
How do you rate your club's Public Image? Is your Rotary club the best kept secret in your community? Do you have questions about ClubRunner, social media, press releases, how to get the word out about the great things Rotary does?
The Public Image Committee is here to help. We will be holding Office Hours on February 25 at 7:30 on Zoom to be available to answer your questions. Zoom link. Meeting ID: 858 1644 8117 Passcode: 033579.
Please drop in to ask your questions. In addition, if you have questions, you can always reach out by emailing the PI Committee or to PI Chair Tim Kelley.
PI Committee members are also available to visit your club or by Zoom to go over specific questions, resources or practices.
We are inviting all clubs to organize a local Polar Plunge in their community (hence Distributed). Pick any date this winter (i.e. between now and Opening Day at Fenway Park). Plunge any way you want (ocean, dunk tank, swimming pool, jacuzzi, etc.)
Your club can do it alone or partner with other clubs around you. The Belle Isle Rotary and Parkway Rotary Clubs are organizing a joint event on Saturday, February 1, 2025. The doors will open at 11 am and the plunge will take place at 1 pm (which is high tide and there is a ramp we walk down and plunge from!) Come and plunge with Governor Tom!
The Belle Isle Rotary and Parkway Rotary are teaming up again for the 3rd Annual Be Bold Get Cold Plunge to be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at the East Boston Yacht Club.
Doors open at 11 am where you will be nice and warm, complimentary buffet and hot coffee/cocoa - cash bar and LOTS OF FUN! 'Plunge (walk/run down a boat ramp into the ocean) will be at 1 pm to coincide with high tide. Belly flop contest and raffles galore! Come on down and join in the fun!
The Frigid Fiver 5K is back! Sunday, February 2, 2025, 11am at RiverWalk Brewing Co. Come join the Rotary Club of Newburyport and Joppa Flats Running Club to stretch those muscles and have some time with friends! Race proceeds go back into our communities.
Register at this link. The cost is $27 for pre-registration and $35 on the day of race. The first 200 registered participants will receive a long-sleeved shirt, in addition to prizes for the winners, and of course, good food and beer at RiverWalk!
The Rotary Club of Newburyport supports our community through popular events and fundraising. It is because of your support that our Rotary Club has accomplish so much! We hope people know that when one supports the Rotary Club of Newburyport, they are in turn supporting a myriad of other community-oriented initiatives.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently contributed $500 to the Scholarship Fund of Wakefield, kicking off its annual Youth Support Campaign. This donation is one of many that the club intends to make to support scholarship, youth development and vocational training this year. Club President Wendy Maguire explained, “Each month, our Board reviews a comprehensive list of programs we hope to support this year that benefit Wakefield youth. We’re very happy to continue to support Wakefield students.”
The club also contributes scholarships to a graduating Wakefield High School senior through the Bob Crawford Unsung Hero Award and a vocational tool scholarship to a Northeast Metro Tech graduating senior. “This year we’re offering more support than ever,” Maguire said. “In addition to this recent donation, the club Board voted to support an event at Northeast Metro Tech that focuses in on girls who wish to work in non-traditional trades.”
The District Rotary Foundation Committee is looking for additional volunteers to join our committee. Specifically, we're looking for people with an active interest in our Rotary Foundation, and we currently have openings on the following sub-committees: Annual Fund, Major Donors, and Paul Harris Society.
The Foundation Committee meets monthly on Zoom on the first Monday of each month at 8:00 PM. More information about the work of the Foundation Committee can be found here on our district website: https://rotary7930.org/sitepage/rotary-foundation
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. If you are able to help, please contact PDG Alexander Falk.
Here Is our team from the 2015 Mission led by PDG Bob Wood, and you now have the opportunity to join us on our 2025 mission. We have just had two volunteers step off the upcoming Rotaplast Mission to Cebu departing on March 8 through 23. We need volunteers to fill the positions of Historian/Photojournalist (which includes taking photographs of the mission and blogging to the Rotaplast website) and Recreational Therapist (which is manning the pre-op room as the patients await their surgeries, handing out the homemade quilts, watching cartoons, and playing with the children). Full job descriptions are below. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Terry Curran immediately at 617-501-3521 or TerryCurran7930@gmail.com for more information.
As always, we are still looking forward donations to support this mission. Please send checks to our Rotaplast Treasurer at Eagle Bank, Attention: Stephen Miliotis, 350 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149.
Governor Tom Hankard introduced this year's One by One Membership Initiative at the District Installation celebration. He challenged all Rotarians to invite one person to a Rotary meeting, event, or service project during this Rotary year.
Now is a good time to ask ourselves how we are doing on this challenge. Have you completed the challenge?
The goal is to increase your club's net membership by one member. If every club in our District increases membership by one net member, we will have the most growth in decades.
One way to grow our membership is by enhancing our relationships with or finding new partners for our clubs to work with. When we find new ways to serve our community, our impact as an organization increases, and our community recognition grows.
The devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area have moved so many people to want to help. Two Rotary Districts serving the Southern California affected by the fires have established relief funds to help support those in need.
The fund established by Rotary District 5280 can be found here. This includes Los Angeles, Long Beach, Malibu.
A fund established by Rotary District 5300 can be found here. This District is east of the other District and includes Altadena and Pasadena.
People often look to Rotary to find trusted stewards to accept donations during disasters. Thank you to all the Rotarian and other helpers serving that area during this catastrophe.
Every Rotarian has a personal reason for joining. The thing we have in common is our strong commitment to making a difference. We are generous with our ideas, our energy, and our contributions to community causes. Whether large or small, every donation to the Annual Fund-SHARE is meaningful and important.
You leverage and amplify your individual impact by joining with other Rotarians to support “Every Rotarian Every Year”. Consider what your gift can do!
Here is an update from one of our Outbound Global Scholars, Acadia Thielking. Acadia is pursuing a Masters in Epidemiology at the Imperial College in London. She is a 2024 Global Scholar in the Rotary Foundation’s Area of Focus of Disease Prevention and Treatment
Acadia recently wrote to Bob Mansfield, our District Outbound Global Scholar Chair:
Hi Bob, I hope all is well with you! I’m just finishing up my first term and wanted to send over some highlights 😃
I attended the Southeast Rotary Conference in Eastbourne (little city by the sea) with Nolene and some other London scholars! It was great to meet so many new people and we went on a hike nearby which was beautiful!
On Friday, December 20th, not even the snow could stop about 30 Andover Rotarians, family and friends from ringing the bell in front of Andover Old Town Hall for the Salvation Army of Lawrence.
For seven consecutive years, the Andover Rotary had collected the most amount of donations in one day for the Salvation Army. This year, we almost beat our rival, Free Christian Church, but fell short coming in at second place raising over $1550. We are a bit disappointed for not being able to defend our title but overjoyed that so many generous individuals stopped to make a donation.
Or ... were they stopped by Andover Rotarian Doug Mercurio who jumped into traffic with his snow brush to clean off windshields and then ask for a donation? Doug truly embraces our motto of "where doing good is serious fun."
Calling all Presidents Elect, Assistant Governors, Facilitators and all others participating in NEPELS. NEPELS is Northeast President Elect Learning Seminar (formerly called PETS).
NEPELS is March 6, 7 and 8 at the Framingham Sheraton. All clubs need to have your PEs register and reserve your lodging immediately. Due to renovations at the hotel, rooms are limited. Please act today!
As of today, very few D7930 participants have registered.
Did you hear the news? The monarch butterfly is in trouble. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed listing the monarch as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
This is good news! We still have time to act and the ESA has a history of mobilizing resources to save at-risk species.
You can help save the monarchs. By planting native milkweed and nectar plants, you'll provide critical habitat for monarchs and other pollinators.
Together, our community has already planted 30,000+ native milkweed plants all across the country.
On December 14, Ipswich High School Interact held the 15th annual Jingle Walk community-building fundraiser. This event, begun in 2009 by the then ‘Ipswich Rotary Club,’ has been organized and sponsored by Ipswich Interact since 2011. This much anticipated annual event has become a town tradition which aims to connect the community and lift everyone’s spirits during the holiday season!
The Jingle Bell Walk begins with Santa’s arrival at town wharf and ends at Town Hall where the celebrants enter ‘Santa’s Village’ of food, games, face painting, cookie decorating, and photos with Santa. The Ipswich High School String Quartet provided entertainment. A major part of the fundraiser involves raffles where baskets and gift cards, generously donated by local businesses, are given out.
"We are extremely grateful to our sponsors and donors" said Interact President Jenny White. "This event would not be possible without the incredible support of these local businesses, which consistently give back to our community."
You are invited to join us at the White Mountain Hotel & Resort in No. Conway, NH from Friday, Feb. 28th to Sunday, Mar. 2nd for our Winter Getaway. Rotarians, their families and friends are all invited.
We will enjoy two and a half days of fun, food and fellowship. There will be options to ski, shop, dine, relax and maybe even karaoke.
On December 17, 2024, the Burlington Interact Club hosted their annual Christmas Party, a festive event filled with joy, laughter, and the spirit of giving. Held at Burlington High School, the party brought together community members, including the Burlington Pride basketball team and participants from Echo Enrichment, for an evening of celebration and camaraderie.
Rotarians from the Burlington Rotary Club were on hand to support the festivities, lending their time and energy to ensure the event's success. They worked tirelessly to serve a delicious spread of pizza, calzones, and delectable desserts, creating a warm and welcoming environment for all attendees.
The highlight of the evening was a special visit from Santa Claus, who distributed gifts to the guests, much to their delight. The room was filled with excitement as recipients unwrapped their presents, their faces lighting up with smiles.
The Burlington Pride basketball team and Echo Enrichment participants were particularly grateful for the thoughtful gifts and the opportunity to come together as a community during the holiday season. The evening was not just about receiving but also about sharing happiness and building connections.
Thank you and congratulations to the Gloucester High School Interact Club for bringing back their annual Pathways Children's Holiday Party! The party provided fun, games, goodies, lunch, and a visit from Santa to the children served by Pathways for Children. An annual tradition for many years, the children's party was cancelled for several years due to the pandemic.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea had as a recent guest speaker Laura Cardona, Executive Producer at NBC10BOSTON and TelemundoNI.
Laura produces the morning news programs. She explained how it is determined what news stories are included in each newscast. Laura also described how the stories are developed. Laura also related how she became interested in the reporting of news and her experiences prior to joining NBC10BOSTON.
Included in the picture are David Jimenez-Granada, Laura Cardon and Madelyn Garcia, Club President.
In November, the nomination committee selected Tim Kelley, from the Reading Rotary Club as the District Governor Nominee Designate (DGND). An email announcement went out to the entire District in November indicating his selection and asking for any challenges. No challenges were submitted by any club in our District by the December 31st deadline.
Therefore, we are excited to announce Tim has been elected to be the DGND for District 7930 and will serve as our District Governor 2027-28!
Congratulations Tim!
Tim Kelley has been an active member of Reading Rotary in Reading, Massachusetts since 1994. He has served as Club President three times, multiple years as Secretary, Board Member and served on many fundraising and service project committees including Reading Rotary Auction, Reading Fall Street Faire, Snack Shack, Rotary Readers Literacy Project and the Circus Committee. Tim was raised in Reading and practices law there. He believes Rotary provides uplifting and exciting opportunities to contribute to the local community and beyond.
At a recent “Breakfast of Champions,” hosted by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor, representatives of the extensive Marblehead sailing community and leaders in the effort to improve the environment were honored. Featured speaker was Maureen McKinnon, the Paralympic sailor who won gold in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. (The actual medal is an exquisite circle of jade.)
Paralyzed and in a wheelchair on land, Maureen found freedom and a passion for Olympic racing on the water, culminating by being the first U.S. woman to win gold with her sailing partner, the late Nick Scandone. Also honored at the catered breakfast were Marblehead sailing legends Dave Curtis and Joan Thayer. The environmentalists recognized were Lynn Nadeau, Harbor Rotary member Judith Black and the non-profit Sustainable Marblehead. Their collective work on educating the public about the importance of recycling, reusing, and repurposing has been invaluable to the town and its citizens.
All Rotary members should make promoting Rotary's Public Image a priority. Promoting PI is a proven strategy to increase your club's impact and add members.
Wakefield Rotary has issued a Club Public Image Challenge to its members. Wakefield's PI Committee, headed up by Amy Luckiewicz, has instituted this challenge to encourage members to participate in sharing on social media.
This is how Wakefield's PI Challenge works:
For each event or program our club runs, send club members marketing tools.
For every post you make on any social media platform (even repeat posts or professional boards), you will earn a raffle ticket.
For every flyer or poster you post or get posted in the community, you will earn a raffle ticket.
You MUST use the marketing sent to you to ensure proper branding, but may use your own words in text.
You MUST tag @WakefieldRotaryClub or #WakefieldRotaryClub to earn points. If we have community partners, you will be asked to tag them also.
A winner is pulled every month for a prize!
Kudos to Wakefield for this innovative idea to make increase promotion of your PI and making it fun. What creative ideas does your Club have to get the word out about your events and service projects?
At Beverly Rotary's last meeting in December, we had a wonderful atmosphere when the Beverly High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Adam Costa, came to add joy to our meeting. They played so many wonderful songs. We even got to sing-along! This is an annual tradition at our Club. We presented Adam with a $500 check towards expenses of the Jazz Club.
Two days after that, a great group of 55 Rotarians stood at 4 locations, ringing their bells for donations for the Salvation Army. This is an annual event started by Jack Good many years ago.
The Salem Rotary Club hosted its annual Department of Children and Families (DCF) Holiday party at Kernwood Country Club, bringing joy to foster families across the North Shore. The event featured entertainment including a visit from Santa Claus himself.
Club President Carolyn Shapiro emphasized the significance of this cherished tradition, noting how Rotarians find fulfillment in bringing happiness to community families. The celebration provided over 65 children with holiday gifts and activities while enabling foster children to spend quality time with siblings who may live in separate foster homes.
Rotary members collaborated with DCF Family Resource Worker Carla King to organize the event, managing gift wrapping, transportation, setup, and cleanup.
Promote your Rotary’s Public Image. A strong and vibrant Public Image is one of 2 proven key tactics for successful and growing clubs -- the other is a large number of service projects. Effective Public Image helps expand your reach and artfully tell compelling stories that demonstrate Rotarians as people of action. The Public Image Committee’s role is to help clubs to have a robust media and social media strategy, an up-to-date website and an engaging online presence in their local communities.
We suggest all clubs engage on social media to boost your Public Image. Social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.) provide streamlined opportunity to get your stories out there. The various platforms can provide a direct way to push your news to the public. Here are some tips to think about.
The Zone Membership Webinar Series continues January 6, 2025, at 7:30 pm.
Would you like to grow your club? Rotary throughout North America sees many clubs struggling to increase membership. All volunteer organizations are facing the same challenges. Sign into this webinar to learn strategies to help your club.
Oiling the Squeaky Parts: Strategies to Increase Your Club’s Ability to Adapt. The perfect webinar for District and Club Membership Chairs and all Rotary members interested in expanding Rotary membership!
Each year Reading Rotary partners with ReadingCares and the Town of Reading to run the Adopt-a-Family project at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Christmas distribution day was December 19. These community partners coordinate this long-standing community giving program. Receiving families are matched anonymously with donor families and/or groups to provide meal and gifts at Christmas and meals at Thanksgiving. Donors drop off in the first shift, then recipient families pick up their food and gifts during a later shift.
This year there was increased demand and 100 families in need and donor families/groups were matched to provide Christmas gifts and holiday meals to these families anonymously. Reading Rotary’s efforts were coordinated by Rotarian Sasha DiPietro. Special thanks to Betsy Schneider of ReadingCares and Kerry Valle of Reading’s Elder and Human Services Department for their work in organizing this program.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently announced the election of its new officers and directors at its Annual Meeting. The club elects new leadership each year in accordance with its by-laws. The 2025-2026 Board of Directors include Margie Daniels, Joie Gerrish, Mike Sullivan, Jill McWilliam, Craig Calabrese, Wendy Maguire (Immediate Past President) and Amy Luckiewicz (Past Presidents’ Representative). Suzanne Bowering will serve as Club Secretary, Barbara Worley as Club Treasurer and Frank Fiorentino as Sergeant-at-Arms. Paul Adams was elected Vice President/President-Elect and Kathy Boyle will serve as President for the 2024-2025 term.
President-Elect Kathy Boyle has most recently served as Program Chair and served on the Board of Directors. Kathy has aimed at incorporating more youth programming into the club’s aims. “I’m looking forward to the club continuing our tradition of local community service,” she said. “I invite the community to consider joining us so we can do even more.”
The new leadership team will begin on July 1, 2025, and serve until June 30, 2026.
Wakefield Announces Officers & Directors for 2025-26
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is delighted to announce that Chris Moore and Steele Sartwell have joined Rotary, where we achieve more together than we can alone.
A resident of Ipswich, Chris Moore is Director of the Crane Estate. Previously, he served for several years as the Business Manager for the Trustees. In his capacity as a local non-profit leader, Chris has extensive experience working with local community and business leaders, as well as with town administrators. As might be expected, Chris enjoys outdoor recreation, especially fishing. Club President Tom Murphy is the sponsor and mentor for Chris.
Steele Sartwell of Ipswich is a Vice President of Business Banking at Citizens Bank. He is a member of both the Newburyport and Amesbury Chambers of Commerce and serves as a mentor, educator and presenter at the American Corporate Partners Veterans Organization. His volunteer activities have included the Manchester, NH Foodbank. Steele is a lifelong resident of the North Shore and previously volunteered and organized fundraisers for Action, Inc., GHS Sail, and HAWC. Drawing on his skills as an experienced relationship manager, Steele looks forward to assisting Rotary in its mission and engaging more area residents in community service. Membership Chair Deborah Mahoney is Steele’s sponsor and mentor.
We welcome Steele and Ashley, Chris and Rachel to the Rotary family.
This holiday season, the Winchester Rotary Club and Winchester High School’s Interact Club joined forces to deliver joy and warmth to our community. Together, they provided over 100 holiday meals to senior citizens residing at the Winchester Housing Authority.
The initiative brought smiles, comfort, and a sense of connection to Winchester’s senior residents, ensuring that no one felt alone during this festive time of year. The Rotary and Interact Club members worked hand in hand, embodying the true spirit of giving and community service.
Pictured here are Interact members delivering meals.
With the conclusion of the 2024 Council on Resolutions (COR), I am pleased to provide you with the Report of Action. For the Report, click here.
In this report, you will find: • A letter from Council Services • Resolutions that were adopted • Vote tallies for the adopted items
Voting results for all 2024 resolutions can be found on My Rotary.
Please note that the deadline for submitting resolutions to the 2025 COR is 30 June 2025. A link to the submission form, plus helpful resources, can be found on the Council's page of My Rotary. If you have any questions about the report or the COR, please let me know.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea had as their guest speaker at a recent meeting, WBZ Meteorologist Jacob Wykoff. Mr. Wykoff gave a background on how he got into the weather forecasting profession, how weather is forecast, the expected accuracy rate and why the weather varies within the eastern Massachusetts region. He took questions for 15 minutes and answered most. Also hosted as guest of the Club were the 2024 -2025 officers of the Chelsea High School Interact Club.
Stephen E. Riley, a Lynnfield Rotarian, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. He was 57 years old.
Born on April 4, 1967, in Everett, Stephen was the son of the late Joseph E. Riley, Jr. and Marilyn Louise (English) Riley. He was a proud alumnus of UMass Amherst and demonstrated a strong commitment to his community throughout his life in Lynnfield. Stephen actively participated in various local organizations, including the Lynnfield Rotary, youth sports programs, and the finance committee.
In addition to his community involvement, Stephen was a member of the Masons and the Elks. A passionate sports fan and golf enthusiast, he also had a fondness for western movies. Above all, he cherished the time spent with his family.
He was the loving husband of Michelle L. (Wasak) and the adoring father of Spencer J. Riley and Vanessa B. Riley, both of Lynnfield. He was the brother of Kathi Yergin and her husband Jerry of Lison Falls, ME and Richard Riley and his significant other Julie of Peabody. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Stephen's memory may be made here. Stephen's full obituary may be found here.
Twice a year the Rotary Club of Woburn takes over the kitchen at the Woburn Senior Center and cooks a hot breakfast for about 65 senior citizens. Lead by Rotarian and chef Jim Major, the Rotarians make scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes and strawberries while the seniors are entertained by the Irish/American musician Mossie Caughlan. Dunkin' helps to sponsor the event by providing coffee. It's always a fun time and the seniors appreciate and enjoy the morning with breakfast and sing-along favorite tunes by Mossie.
Pictured here left to right: Gardy Jean-Francois, Mina Gizzi, Amanda Harvey, Jim Major, Art Duffy, Mayor Concannon, Rob Toro, Lou DiMambro, Marie Lingblom and Harmayne Gordon. Missing from photo are Brian Ouellette, Susan Hartmere and Rotary President Bill Balboni.
Our Rotaplast Mission is still in need of financial support. The Rotaplast Mission to Cebu, which we had sponsored for many years, is scheduled for March 2024. Rotaplast sends multidisciplinary medical teams to provide free reconstructive surgery, ancillary treatment, and training for the comprehensive care of children with cleft palates/lips and other deformities.
The cost of the mission is $88,000 to be raised throughout the district. Sponsoring clubs should contribute at least one surgery ($800) or raise the equivalent. Donations from individuals will also be gratefully accepted. If you have questions, please contact Terry Curran at 617-501-3521 or TerryCurran7930@gmail.com.
Terry is available to visit your club and make a presentation, please reach out. Checks can be made payable to Rotaplast and sent to our Rotaplast Treasurer at Eagle Bank, Attention: Stephen Miliotis, 350 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149.
Social media can connect your club with current and past members, prospective members, donors, and friends. Using it is also an effective way to increase your community’s awareness of your club and its activities.
Getting started. Make social media a part of your communications toolkit, along with email, newsletters, and your website.
Create a social media plan to help you determine what you want to achieve through social media, which platforms are right for your club, and what you want to communicate to your online community.
Step 1 – Setting goals
After you decide what you want to accomplish through social media, set goals to track your progress. Keep your goals specific and measurable. When you’re writing or sharing a post, ask yourself, “Will this help us reach our goals?”
Santa Claus is coming to town at 11 am on December 14. Gather with your family at Ipswich Town Wharf on East Street to greet Santa as he arrives with a little help from his friends at the Ipswich Fire Department. Then accompany the Jolly Elf, the Grinch, Buddy the Elf, and the Interact elves for a joyful Jingle Bell Walk on Water Street along the scenic Ipswich River to Town Hall.
At Town Hall, Interact will host Santa’s Village, full of fun, prizes and auctions. The youngsters can visit Santa, and everyone can bring joy to other children by donating an unwrapped toy to North Shore Kids. Entertainment also will be provided by the Ipswich High School String Quartet. And for a small fee you can enjoy yummy food served by Rotarians and Interactors in the Council on Aging cafeteria.
For the 14th year, this annual community celebration of the season is produced and hosted by the Ipswich High School Interact, a community service club sponsored by Ipswich-Rowley Rotary and the Ipswich Public Schools. The event also benefits Wellspring House in Gloucester.
Amesbury Rotary’s Title Town Sports Raffle drawing is coming up on December 17th. Get a start on your holiday shopping and help support the work Rotary does in our community, awarding college scholarships to Amesbury High School students.
$20 raffle tickets (3 for $50) for the 3 Celtics Tickets, 2 Patriot tickets, and 2 Bruins tickets (plus other wine and gift card prizes) are still available - to purchase through Venmo, use the QR code in our flyer (@Amesbury-Rotary) or contact Cathy Toomey via at 978-609-3970, or by email at cathyt@stoneridgeproperties.com.
The 102nd annual pre-Thanksgiving Football Luncheon, hosted by Lynn Rotary, was held on Tuesday, November 26 at the Lynn Knights of Columbus. The luncheon is to get the Captains from the five Lynn High School football teams together for a friendly gathering before the Thanksgiving games. Also included were the Cheerleader Captains and the Band Director. The event Chairperson, State Representative-Elect Sean Reid, Classical alumnus and Rotarian, said: “It’s such a unique environment with so many teams. As a community, we want to highlight it.”
This year marks the 110th Thanksgiving game between Classical and English. This luncheon was started in 1920 when only Classical and English High Schools existed, now there are five High Schools: Classical, English, Technical Vocational, St. Mary’s, and KIPP Academy. It is thought that some of the boys at the first luncheon had fathers who did not survive World War I, and it was a way for Rotary to remember them. This year marked the 102nd gathering. Mayor Jared Nicholson spoke about how the players will look back at the game with fond memories, win or lose, he said, “These moments are so special for all of us.” He thanked the Rotary Club for hosting the event for 102 years.
This week is the last chance to sign up to go on our Rotaplast Mission to Cebu in the Philippines. We will begin assigning positions this week and we will be needing to make our flight accommodations soon. If you are thinking of joining us and need more information please contact Terry Curran immediately at 617-501-3521 or TerryCurran7930@gmail.com.
We are still in need of contributions to make this Mission a success. If you need me to visit your club and make a presentation, please reach out. Checks can be sent to our Rotaplast Treasurer at: Eagle Bank, Attn: Stephen Miliotis, 350 Broadway, Everett, MA 02151.
Last Chance to Volunteer for Cebu Rotaplast Mission
The Rotary International Convention in Calgary will be a magnificent event. Take part in this transformative, one-of-a-kind event and experience the Magic All Around at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada 21-25 June 2025.
A limited number of hotel rooms are available in the low-cost District 7930 booking. Contact DG Tom Hankard to make a reservation in our room block.
Embark on an exhilarating journey of connection and inspiration at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary! Engage in riveting discussions, learn from distinguished speakers, and explore enlightening breakout sessions against the backdrop of Calgary's picturesque beauty nestled amid the Canadian Rockies. Fueled by friendship and a spirit of collaboration, exchange best practices, ignite innovative projects, and form lifelong connections with fellow changemakers the world over.
The Gloucester Rotary has published a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2025, featuring the photography of several local photographers. In addition to the beautiful photography, each calendar includes a raffle ticket for a $50 weekly raffle drawing throughout the year. The calendars are $25 each and proceeds from sales will be used for the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities.
The calendars are available for purchase at the Weathervane Gift Shop, located at 153 Main Street in Gloucester (phone 978-281-1227), at BankGloucester, located at 160 Main Street in Gloucester (978-283-8200), and from any Gloucester Rotary member. Calendars may also be purchased online at https://gloucesterrotary.org/page/calendar.
A major initiative of Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is helping The Open Door food pantry bring joy to area families in need of assistance.
At last week's meeting, President Tom Murphy presented Executive Director (Gloucester Rotarian) Julie LaFontaine, center in photo, and Director of Operations (Ipswich-Rowley Rotarian) Jen Perry with a $2000 donation. Julie commented, "The Open Door is powered by the community to meet the needs we have." This year alone, she has seen a 30% increase in the number of people seeking assistance. Jen added that "The Open Door has been collecting food items at area markets including Shaw's in Ipswich and Market Basket in Rowley. Holiday baskets will be assembled and distributed next week."
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary recently honored long time member Nat Pulsifer for his immense contributions to our club and community. His imagination, kindness, and devotion to community made Ipswich a better place for us all. Those of us in Rotary were honored to serve with him!
Last Thursday morning, dozens of Rotarians - past and present, friends, and neighbors packed our meeting room at the Village Pancake House and donned 'bowties' to celebrate Nat and his devoted wife Holly. Many of those present participated in a fun but respectful roast of our departing hero, as can be seen in the collage.
Nat and Holly, best wishes for your new life in Maine.
Winchester Rotary Club came together for a meaningful service project: packing Thanksgiving baskets for the Council for Social Concern.
With the holiday season upon us, it was heartwarming to see the dedication and teamwork of our members as we assembled baskets filled with essential holiday items. These baskets will be distributed to local families in need, ensuring they can enjoy a festive and comforting Thanksgiving meal.
We are wishing everyone a joyful and generous holiday season!
The ClubRunner Mobile app allows you to view your member directory, contact your members and executives, read the latest articles posted to your website, learn more about your upcoming events and speakers, view your club meeting details and track your attendance statistics, right from your smartphone or tablet.
Member Directory: Immediately view the most up to date member directory, upon login. You can browse your member profiles which give you the necessary contact information you need to connect with just one click. Make a call to any of their phone numbers, email them directly from your device, or even add them to your contacts list.
View posts on your website: View the latest feed of home page stories that are on your website, directly on your phone, so you never miss any information, including events and speakers!
New Features: New features are being added including Message Broadcasting, ability to edit profiles on the app, updated navigation menu and member search and Foundation Recognition information.
To download the app from the Apple App Store or from Google Play, simply type in 'ClubRunner' in the search bar.
For more info click here (ClubRunner login required) or contact the District Public Image Committee. Take advantage of what is available to your club through your ClubRunner subscription!
How do you spend your Friday nights this fall? Reading Rotarians are busy running the Snack Shack for Friday night high school football games at Reading Memorial High School. Since 2015, Reading Rotary has run the Shack, selling burgers, hot dogs, pizza, pretzels, popcorn, candy and hot and cold drinks to the crowd.
Reading High's Shack Shack had been operated by the Reading Boosters Club but as their numbers dwindled, the Town of Reading asked Rotary to take on its operation. The Shack provides opportunities as both a public service and a fundraiser.
Running the Shack Shack at such crowded sporting events also allows Rotary to highlight our presence in the community and to publicize Rotary’s mission. Rotary has signage and informational literature displayed at each Snack Shack game.
This season has included six home games under the lights so far. On this night, our Global Scholar Annalena came out to join the fun and lend a hand.
Boston Rotary Club is collecting Winter Essentials to benefit Victory Programs. You can spread the warmth by buying such items as hats, gloves, scarves, sweatshirts and jackets.
Victory Programs operates various programs throughout Boston, including housing, recovery and prevention.
Please contact Kathleen at 617-347-2657 for pickup or drop off. Donations needed by December 14.
The annual joint lunch hosted by the Woburn and Winchester clubs brought the clubs together in anticipation of the 133rd Thanksgiving High School Football game. With the historic rivalry tied, excitement is at an all-time high. This cherished tradition featured captains, cheerleaders, and coaches from both schools. They joined us for a festive Thanksgiving feast to honor their teams and celebrate the spirit of competition and camaraderie.
Buy Tickets for 21st Taste of the North Shore Gala
Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 6-8 pm, Danversport Yacht Club
* Biggest annual food sampling event in North Shore. * Attracts hundreds of customers from North Shore and beyond. * Most important annual fundraiser for Peabody Rotary Club to provide scholarships for high school students, serve food-insecure families, support YMCA and help many more non-profits.
TICKET OPTIONS $50 General Admission Ticket
• Includes food and drink samples at all 25-30 tasting stations from highly rated North Shore restaurants and food vendors. • Much more than enough food for a full meal!! • Wine, Beer, and Bourbon raffles, Gift basket raffles, and Silent Auction raffle. • Buy Mystery Bag with $25 minimum value for $20.
$100 Ticket for General Admission and $10,000 Cash Prize Raffle Entry
• Includes all General Admission ticket perks, entry in $10,000 Cash Raffle, and option to buy one General Admission guest ticket for $25 instead of $50 • No more than 300 tickets will be sold
Great Winter Holiday gift for family members and friends!
This week, members of the Rotary Club of Salem volunteered to provide dinner at LifeBridge, a nonprofit organization located in downtown Salem. LifeBridge North Shore is committed to supporting homeless and vulnerable individuals in the local community by establishing access to valuable resources that promote physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing.
Believing in the fundamental worth and dignity of every person, LifeBridge aims to offer shelter, housing, meals, and drop-in services to those in need. Through these services, they strive to provide their clients with acceptance, structure, opportunity, and the tools to make healthy decisions tailored to their individual circumstances and requirements.
The Rotary Club volunteers cooked and served a hearty meal of chili and corn pudding for the LifeBridge clients. This was part of the club's ongoing partnership and commitment to support the important work of LifeBridge. The Rotarians plan to return to LifeBridge in January to prepare another delicious community meal for those accessing the organization's vital resources and programming.
Amesbury Rotary’s Title Town Sports Raffle is coming up on December 17th. Get a start on your holiday shopping, and help support the work Amesbury Rotary does in our community; awarding college scholarships to Amesbury High School students, Bike Safety Day, supporting the Council on Aging and several Amesbury community based non profit organizations, Veteran’s Day lunch, and much more.
$20 raffle tickets (3 for $50). First prize of 3 Celtics Tickets, 2 Patriot tickets, and 2 Bruins tickets second prize of $250 of wine, and third prize a $150 gift certificate to Crave in Amesbury - to purchase tickets through Venmo, using the QR code in our flyer, or by cash, check or credit card; contact Cathy Toomey at 978-609-3970 or via email at catht@stoneridgeproperties.com.
Over its 102-year history, the Wakefield Rotary Club has hosted many events and celebrations to honor veterans. In the most recent years, the club has honored its members who are veterans by posting vignettes highlighting their military photos and hosted the POW/MIA recognition table. In addition, the club befriended author Lawrence “Larry” Kirby, USMC (ret). Kirby often spoke at club meetings about his WWII memories from Iwo Jima and recounted tales from his book Stories from the Pacific: The Island War 1942-1945.
Photo left to right: Rick Hartman, TJ Tedeschi, Greg Rocco, Jay Curley, Tom Stapleton, Bill Veno, and Judy Gordon
On October 20, Burlington Breakfast Rotary participated in the Miles for Mental Health Walk at Marshall Simons Middle School track.
The 5K walk was sponsored by lululemon athletica, and Kris Fabbri of Sh;ft, a new fitness club focusing on mental health. Burlington Breakfast Rotary also sponsored the awesome t-shirts for the walk in partnership with Christine Conceision, District Director of Mental Health for Burlington Schools! Can't wait to participate again next year!
Burlington Breakfast participates in Miles for Mental Health Walk
Members of the Rotary Club of Salem recently volunteered their time at the Salem Pantry, helping out in the organization's warehouse. The Rotarians assisted with a variety of tasks aimed at supporting the Pantry's food distribution efforts.
During their time at the Salem Pantry, the Rotarians participated in several key activities. They helped prepare bags for home delivery, ensuring those in need would receive the necessary food items. The volunteers also worked on putting together pallets of food for The Market, the Pantry's on-site shopping experience for clients. In addition to the hands-on work, the Rotarians were able to take a tour of the Pantry's facilities and get their questions answered about the organization's operations and community partnerships. This provided valuable insight into how the Salem Pantry is fighting food insecurity in the local area.
This Thursday, November 14th will be our upcoming ROBERT C. WOOD MEMORIAL HEROES foundation dinner event, named in honor and memory of our friend, the late Past District Governor Bob Wood (2018-19). Tickets are still available! The evening will include a social hour, silent auction, dinner, and Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) presentations.
The Wakefield Rotary Club certainly enjoys the occasional themed party. This year at the club’s Halloween Party, co-hosts Jay Curley and Amy Luckiewicz invited members to dress up and enjoy some haunted games.
After the weekly lunch, participants and guests gathered to play Match-the-Phobia, Candy Slogans and more, all for fun Halloween-themed prizes. Club President Wendy Maguire noted, “It’s important that we’re not all business all the time.
We definitely love to plan and execute service projects, but our club loves the camaraderie and friendships we make too. These themed days really help with that.”
In the photo, Wakefield club members got into the spirit.
Winchester Rotarians, Winchester High School Interactors, Community Members, and Intactors from Woburn joined together to pack 10,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger. Thanks to all who participated as we do our part to fight hunger in troubled spots around the globe.
In the photo, Winchester Rotarians at the Rise packing event.
Wilmington Rotary’s Annual Live Auction and Raffle is coming up on November 15th at the Knights of Columbus in Wilmington. Preview is at 6PM and the live auction starts at 7PM. Come enjoy a fun night out, get a start on your holiday shopping, and help support the work Rotary does in our community, including awarding over $750,000 to date in college scholarships to Wilmington students.
$100 raffle tickets for the $10,000 Raffle (plus other cash prizes) are still available - to purchase, contact Hannah Roberts via email at HannahPsychNP@gmail.com.
There are two ways you can support our upcoming Rotaplast Mission to Cebu in March.
ONE: You can make a personal donation or encourage your club’s Board of Directors financially to support our Mission. Checks can be sent to our Rotaplast Treasurer payable for Rotaplast: Eagle Bank, Attn: Stephen Miliotis, 350 Broadway, Everett, MA 02151.
TWO: You can sign up to volunteer on this mission as we still have a few open positions available. The mission departs from Boston to San Francisco on March 8 and returns to San Francisco on March 23. You must travel with the group on this portion of the trip so that the equipment boxes can be counted as your second piece of luggage. This is done as a group booking through Rotaplast and will cost approximately $1,200.
For more information on the event and for ways to donate, contact Mission Chair, Terry Rezendes Curran at terrycurran7930@gmail.com.
We Urgently Need Help to Support Philippines Mission
On Monday, October 28, more than a dozen Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians turned out to serve more than 150 local residents at the weekly Ipswich Dinner Bell. Rotary provides this service four times each year and is among several community organizations who volunteer to fund, prepare, and serve free hot meals.
Our chef once again was longtime Dinner Bell volunteer Denny Drislane. Rotarians assisted him by plating and serving food and beverages, setting and decorating tables, and cleaning up. As always, a great time was had by all.
In addition to our chef, special thanks go to our Community Service Chairs Chris Davis and Diane Herth. The photos were taken by Diane.
Mark your calendars! We are excited to share RYLA 2025 will be taking place May 16th-18th at Camp Rotary in Boxford, MA. This year’s group of students will experience a full weekend of learning, discovering, and connecting with each other. With how busy the end of year can be, make sure to save the date for RYLA 2025 before everyone's schedules fill up!
Please share the date with your Interactors and other students now as the spring can be a very busy season for them.
For more information or any questions, please reach out to RYLA Lead Christina Harris.
The Succession Planning Summit on November 2 will be rescheduled in 2025. Information on a new date will be coming out later.
This is an important topic vital to the health and vitality of your club. We hope that all clubs will participate when we are able to schedule a new date and time.
Rotary International will soon change the member lead procedure that when someone indicates their interest at rotary.org/join, their information becomes a membership lead. The current system assigns leads to the District where the person submitted their interest. The District Governor and District Membership Chair are asked via email to assign the lead to a Club that fits the membership leads needs and interests, and it’s then the Club’s role to contact the lead.
A new lead process will soon be implemented whereby all prospective members will be able to select the Club they find most interesting and suitable based on the information presented about it, such as location and meeting time. Rotary International will notify a Club’s President, Membership Chair, Secretary, and Executive Secretary will then be asked to connect with the prospective member and report on their progress.
Lexington Rotary announces its Annual Cash Raffle 2024. Drawing will take place on November 15, 2024, 6:30 PM. To benefit Rotary scholarships and community projects fund. Help Lexington Rotary fulfill its ongoing commitment to our community and buy a raffle ticket!
$100.00 per ticket- ONLY 300 SOLD - 1 in 30 chance to win!
Join us in person and enjoy complimentary hot appetizers during the drawing. Additional bucket raffle items will be available the night of the drawing. You do not need to be present to win!
In conjunction with the Cash Raffle Drawing, the Rotary Club of Lexington together with the Rotary Club of Concord is sponsoring a Holiday Care Packaging Event for Troops deployed overseas from Hanscom Air Force Base. We will be filling 30 Care Packages on November 15. Please sign up here on Signup Genius to attend and indicate what items you will be bringing.
For questions, please email Spencer Betts at Spencer.Betts@Bickling.com. Let Spencer know if you would like to participate in the cash raffle.
The Marblehead High School Interact Club started the year strong with 100 members and counting. The dynamic leadership is planning a full year of service and fundraising projects both locally and internationally.
Advisors Jim Nye and Jack Attridge are excited to work with the very motivated class of 2025 during this school year.
Recently at a Lynn Rotary dinner meeting Julie Gerraughty the Director of Development for the North Shore chapter of HAWC (Healing Abuse Working for Change) spoke about its mission. For almost 40 years HAWC has been helping the abused in the North Shore area of Massachusetts. Whether we know it or not, we all know someone who is or has been abused. Prior to the meeting she asked members if we could donate items frequently needed by abused who make use of a safe house. Items such as: sheets, pillowcases; towels; and fleece throws. All items their clients can use when they no longer need the services of HAWC. Rotary members were quite generous.
She shared the following with the members:
Their Mission is to create social change by taking action against personal and societal patterns of violence and oppression.
HAWC provides services to survivors of domestic abuse residing in 23 cities and towns on Massachusetts’ North Shore in order that they may make informed, independent decisions about their futures.
Everyone is invited to join us on Tuesday, November 12th at 12:30 pm for lunch or 5:30 pm for dinner at the Chateau on River Road in Andover. 20% of the total sales (before tax) will benefit the Andover Rotary Charitable Trust.
If you are unable to join us for lunch or dinner, any purchase on this day from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm (dine-in on your own time, take-out or online orders) will qualify. Mention "FLAG YOUR CHECK" to the server or phone rep or if placing an online order, add the item "Fundraiser" to your cart and "Rotary" under special instructions.
For the past two years, Andover Rotarians have been volunteering to help at The Andover Farmers Market (Market) which is held mid-June to mid-October at South Church in Andover. The Market is more than just fresh food, it’s a vibrant hub connecting local farmers who practice sustainable farming, artisans and the community through the joy of local food.
In addition to the weekly vendors, they also host rotating vendors and community partners who showcase their specialties, feature entertainment and support local food pantries by displaying a donation bin. In addition to food donated by market patrons, vendors often donate the leftover produce at the end of the market day.
Andover Rotarians help with set up, greeting patrons at the welcome booth, answering questions at the information booth, distributing SNAP benefits and assisting with the breakdown. The Andover Rotary Charitable Trust also assists the Market through a grant to the SNAP Market Match program which provides SNAP customers with a match of up to $25 per week.
In commemoration of World Polio Day, October 24th, Marblehead Rotarians organized fun and exciting activities for the whole month of October, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and global efforts to eradicate Polio. An essential part is to raise funds to continue the work that Rotarians have been dedicated to since 1985.
For the "Purple Pinky" campaign, we had Millie, our favorite middle schooler, doing the manicure! Themed purple accessories, be it purple wigs, boas, turtlenecks, shades, or tattoos, are our fashion statement. And our pièce de résistance, Purple Polio Pig Pie. Yes, it is a chance to pitch a cream pie to your favorite Rotarian's face. A pie fight for a cause. Every Marblehead Rotarian can petition to pitch a pie to anyone they fancy. Every pitch costs $20 and will be matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Lastly, to bring this event to a full circle of why we are doing this in the first place, we had a Polio survivor, Philip Wilson, of the Danvers Rotary Club, speak of the devastating impact of Polio and why ending it is a service to humanity.
After over a five-year absence, our Membership-Foundation-Public Image Forum successfully returned to District 7930!
We were extremely fortunate to be joined by Tom Gump. Tom is a Past District Governor from District 5950 and a member of the Rotary Club of Edina Morningside, Minnesota. Tom is known the world over as an expert in Rotary membership recruitment, club formation, and membership retention.
PDG Tom was also a part of the group who is bringing the RI Convention to Minneapolis in 2028 (moved up from 2029)! See YouTube link here.
Rotarian participants engaged in an open dialogue, shared ideas, and learned new ways to grow and strengthen our clubs.
Attendees of the Forum will receive Tom's PowerPoint presentation and District Rotary Foundation Chair Alexander Falk's Foundation slides. A special thank you to District Membership Chair Peter Majane for presenting on Membership and securing our keynote speaker and Public Image Chair David Deutsch for his PI talk.
October 24 is World Polio Day. It is a great time to join the PolioPLUS Society (PPS).
Originally started in our district by PDG Alexander Falk, PDG Joan Arsenault and PDG Ingrid Brown, the PPS now enters its fourth year in our district under the leadership of DG Pooja Singla and DRFC Anne Lewis, and we invite you all to join this year to help in our new PolioPlus Society Challenge that we have begun together with a dozen other districts in the Northeast.
What is the PolioPlus Society?
In an effort to increase sustainable giving, the PolioPlus Society was formed to encourage Rotarians to commit to a minimum of $100 per year to the PolioPlus Fund until polio is eradicated from the face of the earth. Society members receive a special PolioPlus Society pin and a certificate.
Joining the PolioPlus Society is just one way Rotarians can show their support for Rotary’s largest initiative.
Currently our District 7930 weekly newsletter is called the eBulletin. DG Tom would like to re-name it to something more memorable. Here are some suggestions we have had so far:
Rotary 7930 Connect; The Rotary 7930 Pulse; Service Spotlight; the Compass; District Dispatch; Rotary 7930 Roundup; the 7930 Voice; The Beacon; Rotary 7930 Horizons; the Chronicle; the Chowda; Wicked Good News; Service with a Side of Lobstah; Round the Hub; Pahk the News Heah; Rotary 7930 Review; and Rotary 7930 Family Diary.
Trademark consideration. An important consideration is that our newsletter name must comply with Rotary trademark and branding requirements. If using “Rotary” in the title, we must also include our district number. When used by itself, the word "Rotary" normally refers to the entire organization, Rotary International. Using "Rotary" without identifying our district implies that Rotary International is producing the newsletter. All submissions considered will have to be in line with Rotary International trademark standards.
Join Woburn Rotary for a fun night of comedy starring Woburn's native sons Dave "Andrews" Ottariano and Teddie Barrett. The night will feature three great comedians, raffle prizes and fun games.
Saturday, November 9, doors open at 7 pm at the American Legion Hall, Woburn.
For tickets contact Susan Hartmere at 781-568-9688 or Bill Sullivan 781-686-0317 or register here.
Newburyport Rotary Trivia Night is fast approaching! Grab your brainiac friends (or just friends who like to eat pizza) make a team and sign up today! Join us Thursday, October 24 at the Elks Club for a night of trivia hosted by Jeopardy! Champion Jill Santopietro-Panall! Pizza and drinks will be available for purchase. The laughs are on the house!
Proceeds will support three Newburyport Rotary Club college scholarships for local students and every 3rd grader in Newburyport and Salisbury schools receives the gift of a dictionary/atlas.
Be crowned the Smartest Team on the Seacoast! The game will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at the Elks Club on Low Street in Newburyport. Doors open at 6:30 and at 7:00 let the games begin! Jill and her team have prepared questions that will span many categories, so everyone has an opportunity to showcase his or her unique knowledge
Marblehead Rotary's annual 5K Run/Walk will be held on Sunday, November 3 at 11 am. Please bear in mind, daylight savings time ends, don't forget to change your clocks!
The run begins at the Boston Yacht Club parking lot at One Front St., Marblehead. The race will end at Crocker Park and then everyone is invited to walk down the hill to the Boston Yacht Club clubhouse for hotdogs, chowder and cookies and the award ceremony.
The proceeds from this event allows our Rotary club to support some wonderful projects. One of these projects is we provide a mindfulness program called "Inner Explorer" to all the schools in Marblehead. This program teaches the kids a set of life skills to deal with anxiety, stress, and depression. This program is used in over 5000 school districts in the country.
If this program is used regularly, it has proven measurable results in better attendance, better test scores and
Rotary is hosting a 60-minute webinar called Ethical Storytelling on Wednesday, 9 October.
Stories are one of the most powerful tools we possess to talk about the work we do in Rotary. They can be used to raise money for a project, celebrate member achievements, and demonstrate the way we are making a difference around the world. But how do we make sure the stories we tell show the whole picture, and don’t inadvertently cause harm by reinforcing bias, stereotypes, or leaving out details that are important to the subject of our story? Using the principles of ethical storytelling, we can begin to understand how to make sure our stories are told with empathy and respect.
This webinar will feature experts from around the world who will help us identify the characteristics of ethical storytelling, consider the importance of ethical storytelling for Rotary, and brainstorm ideas for incorporating these principles into our communications. Register here.
Register now for the 43rd Annual Rotary Club of Topsfield, Boxford and Middleton Fall Foliage Classic, Sunday October 20th, 11:00 am at the Proctor Schooo, 60 Main Street in Topsfield.
Professionally timed 5 mile and 5K Run-Walk. Day of race registration opens at 9:30 am.
Prizes, Food & Raffles. Supporting local food pantries, the Community Giving Tree as well as local and international community service programs.
Hurricane Helene has caused widespread devastation in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, leaving countless families in need of urgent assistance. Rotary Zones 33 and 34 are responding swiftly, and your support is crucial in helping the hardest-hit areas. Please use the donation link below to contribute to recovery efforts.
Your involvement is vital in bringing relief and hope to those affected by this disaster. Together, we can make a real difference!
Rotary Zones 33-34 Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Donations may be tax deductible for U.S. residents, in accordance with IRS regulations.
Come party & dance with us on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Live music featuring the The GemsTones!! The GemsTones are a youthful 5-piece retro-rock band of brothers specializing in a mix of nostalgic originals and hits from America’s decade; rockabilly, blues, country & rock‘n’roll of the 1950s! They bring new energy to unforgettable songs by legendary artists like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly & Johnny Cash.
Light refreshments, Silent Auction, Cash Bar; $40 per person. Byfield Community Arts Center; 7 Central Street; Byfield , MA. And bring new socks which will be donated to a local shelter!!!! Hope to see you there!!! 50's attire optional!
Posted by Eric Denu, End Polio Now Coordinator on Sep 29, 2024
On Wednesday, October 2, join World Polio Day experts to learn more about Rotary’s fight against Polio and get ready to share with anyone who will listen on October 24, 2024. Register here.
Your experts include:
Clare Monroe, Rotary International PolioPlus Fundraising Specialist
Duncan Conrad, End Polio Now Co-ordinator, Zone 28 Eric Denu, End Polio Now Co-ordinator, Zone 32
Mary Lou Harrison, Rotary Public Image Co-ordinator, Zone 28
This event is for:
People/clubs with existing World Polio Day (WPD) events who are interested in learning about the 2024 toolkit/resources available at EndPolioNow.org;
People/clubs who say - Yikes! It's October 2. What can I do for WPD 2024?;
Anyone would like an update about the state of Rotary’s fight against Polio and how they can help!
Sign up here today and please share the news of this essential pre–World Polio Day event. World Polio Day is coming! We’ll help you be ready!
Are you passionate about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging?
Do you like to organize programs bringing people together to learn about diversity equity and inclusion to better support one another and the communities we serve?
If you answered YES then please reach out to PDG, Lori at lori.karas@outlook.com by October 18th.
As a Rotary leader, you understand how important it is to help others understand who we are and how we make a difference as people of action. In the improved Brand Center, you’ll find the tools and resources to help you publicize the work of your club or district and share the impact you make. These efforts help attract members, volunteers, and donors and strengthen Rotary’s brand. Thank you for making public image a priority! Don't reinvent the wheel. Use the available, easy-to-use resources in the Brand Center.
New event templates: It’s never been easier to create a flyer or social media graphic to help promote your events! Six new customizable templates for Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact events have been added to the Brand Center. These templates can be formatted with your club or district’s text, photos, logo, as well as sponsor or partner logos. Find them on the Brand Center and use them to promote service projects, guest speakers, meetings, and more.
Burlington Breakfast Rotary in partnership with Northeast Financial Center presents a Financial Literacy Program. You can join in person or on zoom. Download flyer here.
Each Monday (excluding Oct. 14)
Sept. 23 - November 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The Rotary Club of Burlington is hosting "Build a Bed" with the non-profit, A Bed For Every Child non-profit.
We are going to be building 10 beds for kids that do not have a bed. All materials and tools are provided by Build A Bed. We will be guided by the Build A Bed team to put the beds together.
The Melrose Rotary Club is hosting another of its popular "Left-Right-Center" tournament fundraisers on Friday October 18th! This is the most fun you will have playing a game that takes less than 3 minutes to learn!
Tables of 10 are available, but singles and small groups can certainly join in the fun, and you'll make new friends in this fun and only very slightly competitive game. This fall event will be held at the Melrose Knights of Columbus Hall (23 W Foster St Melrose). There is a cash bar, and popcorn, snacks, and other food for sale, and multiple raffles to win. The tournament offers three cash prizes, too!
Doors open at 7pm, and games start at 7:30pm. Tickets are only $25 per person, or a table of 10 for $250. Get tickets online at this link: www.melroserotary/org/lrc. We hope to see you there!
The three bedrocks of Rotary are our members, our Foundation that benefits the World, and spreading the word of all the good things we do to positively impact our communities.
Join us October 8, 2024, at the Four Points Sheraton in Wakefield, for an interactive session focused on these three important Rotary topics with information you can take back to your Club and use immediately, dinner with fellowship, and a keynote speech from PDG Tom Gump from Rotary District 5950 in Minnesota.
Tom has founded multiple innovative Rotary Clubs, is a member of RI's Membership Growth Committee, has spearheaded local and large international grants, and is currently Aide to our Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick.
All clubs are strongly encouraged to have Officers, Directors and committee chairs or representatives from Membership, Foundation and Public Image participate. This will be a fun, informative and interactive learning forum. We hope to have all clubs in attendance.
Calling all Heroes! Save the date of Thursday, November 14, 2024, for the return of our Heroes Celebration.
As in past years, Clubs will nominate a person in their community who isn't always recognized for their extraordinary service to others.
Our event will be held at Danversport Yacht Club. Watch for more info to follow -- but be on the lookout for a deserving nominee. I encourage each Club to honor a Hero in your community.
Let's celebrate some great people, be astonished by their contributions, and celebrate the Magic of our Rotary Foundation.
Burlington Rotary's See’s Candies Fundraiser has officially begun! Indulge your sweet tooth while supporting a great cause. From chocolates to holiday treats, there's something for everyone!
5th Annual Belle Isle Rotary's Fall Fair put on for the children and families of East Boston, Revere & Winthrop. There will be lots of food, prizes & fun for all ages, face painting, pumpkin decorating, games/prizes and yummy fall foods all for free.
A lot of the families in the Belle Isle Rotary area cannot afford or get to the Topsfield Fair- we are so proud to be able to bring the flavors and fun of a Fall Fair to them! The event includes Goat Pebble Bingo, winner will win $1000!
Saturday, Oct., 5, 2024. 10 am to 12 pm (rain or shine)
Salesian Boys and Girls Club, 150 Byron St., East Boston
Contact Vera Carducci with questions. There will be lots of free food, prizes, and fun for all ages. Small animal petting zoo, face painting, pumpkin decorating all free of charge.
I joined the Rotary Club of Peabody in September 2023 and it has been a wonderful uplifting experience. I think of myself as a ”Rotarian for Rotarians,” providing life-saving health education virtual presentations to Rotarians in all Eastern and Atlantic time zones in the U.S. and Canada.
I’m also founder and president of the nonprofit Melanoma Education Foundation that was created in 1999 to educate high school wellness teachers and their students about early self-detection and prevention of melanoma skin cancer.
Prior to the Covid pandemic over 1700 schools in all 50 U.S. states and Canada were using our free online lessons, resulting in saved lives of students, teachers and their loved ones.
Embark on an exhilarating journey of connection and inspiration at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary! Engage in riveting discussions, learn from distinguished speakers, and explore enlightening breakout sessions against the backdrop of Calgary's picturesque beauty nestled amid the Canadian Rockies.
Fueled by friendship and a spirit of collaboration, exchange best practices, ignite innovative projects, and form lifelong connections with fellow changemakers from around the world.
Take part in this transformative, one-of-a-kind event and experience the Magic All Around at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada 21-25 June 2025.
Let's 'Raise For Rotary' and help our District 7930 to be represented at the Rotary International's Zone 28 & 32 event.
A minimum of $1000 raised will enter one person in the Zorb competition. IPDG Lori Karas gracefully volunteered to represent our District 7930 at this event. Therefore, it's time for us to help raise $1000 for our District's representative at the Zone. Please donate before September 17 to get Lori into the Zorb competition.
The competition is on the 18th of September at the Zone Leadership Conference in Toronto.
Put your giving to the Rotary Foundation on autopilot: Enroll in Rotary’s recurring giving program, Rotary Direct, which makes giving easy, fast, and secure. You can schedule a monthly, quarterly, or annual donation from your credit card that empowers Rotarians to change lives in communities around the world.
You can sign up online, using this link, or by scanning the QR code in the image. Or, if you prefer a more traditional paper-based route, you can print and fill out this form, and then mail it to Rotary International in Evanston.
Either way, you'll be doing good in the world and will support the many wonderful projects that the Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to do.
For the past several years Lynn Rotary and the Salvation Army (SA) joined forces to assist with the annual backpack distribution to Lynn School children. Prior to the actual distribution, Lynn Rotarians were on duty at the local Walmart, donating and collecting school supplies from entering customers. Walmart and Fox 25 TV in Boston made significant donations of the supplies.
The Lynn Rotarians spent two days at the Lynn SA in late August 2024. The first day they “Stuffed the Packs” with the donated supplies, several Rotarians donated their time to sort and fill the backpacks. The enclosed picture shows from back to front: Steve Upton, Pat Gill, John McCarthy, Ray and Mackie Bastarache, Eileen McCarthy, and Cindy McCarthy. All Rotarians.
The second day, August 29th, about a dozen Lynn Rotarians, were on duty at the SA helping to distribute the backpacks to about 700 well deserving students. The students receiving the backpacks generally had to be prequalified, based on income.
Public Image is important to get Rotary's message out. Here are some resources to enhance your PI and expand your club's reach.
Brand Center: New resources are always being added to the Brand Center. You can now find an event template for promoting your fundraisers, service projects, or social gatherings. No need to create something from scratch, and your flyers will automatically be brand compliant.
Tell your People of Action stories to your local community and to us! We're always looking for good stories to share across Zones 28 and 32. Contact us with your stories and learn more on Brand Center.
The Boston Rotaract Club had its installation on the 25th of August 2024. The District Governor graced the event with his presence. The event started with light starters and welcome of the DG Tom Hankard, Rotarians Pooja, Keith and Christina, Rotaractors, Interactors, and their friends and family. Vice president Sam welcomed everyone with a quick speech followed up with icebreakers. Sofie and Yuvraj hosted the event where the Immediate past president Rishabh and past secretary Shagun reflected on the events and achievements of the previous Rotary year. The DG shared his words of encouragement and helped with the oath-taking of the new board members for the year 2024-25. Followed up by a short speech from the new president Arunima and the secretary Usha. After some light dinner, a potluck party, we ended the night with fun games, bonding and many memorable pictures.
The Rotary Club of Peabody has continued its work in partnership with the city to refurbish the Independence Greenway Bike Path, Club Co-President Cindy Moore said.
The Rotary Club’s motto is “Service Above Self,” and Moore said the goal of members is to help the city’s community.
The club has helped install water fountains, new signage, and “beautify” the path over the past three years, she said.
“It’s just one of the ways that we work to help make our community a better community,” Moore said.
The final project related to the path is installing informational signage at the trailhead near the Lahey Medical Center and Northshore Mall, which will happen in September, she said. Afterward, the club will help with upkeep on an as-needed basis.
Club member and Peabody Community Development Director Curt Bellavance and Club Treasurer Dan Vassallo have had a “crucial” role in this project, she said.
“If there are any other things in the city that we can help look nicer or beautify, we are here to help the City of Peabody and to do things to help our community,” Moore said.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently completed its multi-year project to collect and donate school supplies to benefit a Caribbean school. This year, the club selected the Sandy Point Primary School on St. Kitts.
In just three weeks, Wakefield and Lynnfield Rotarians, friends and family collected school supply items to be hand-delivered to the school. Wakefield Rotary Club Secretary Suzanne Bowering reported that over 700 pencils, 400 pens, 60 notebooks, and hundreds of other supplies were collected totaling approximately 140 pounds of school supplies. Last year, the club collected 230 pounds of supplies for the Dominican Republic with a match going to the Boys and Girls Club.
School supplies were packed into three suitcases and delivered to the island by hand in late August by Bowering, Wakefield Rotary Past President Lisa Roderick and Lynnfield Rotarian Janice Casoli. Bowering commented, “One of the joys of being part of Rotary International is participating in international service projects. It’s also great that we could collaborate on the project with our neighbors at Lynnfield Rotary.”
The three bedrocks of Rotary are our members, our Foundation that benefits the World, and spreading the word of all the good things we do to positively impact our communities.
Join us October 8, 2024, at the Four Points Sheraton in Wakefield, for an interactive session focused on these three important Rotary topics with information you can take back to your Club and use immediately, dinner with fellowship, and a keynote speech from PDG Tom Gump from Rotary District 5950 in Minnesota.
Tom has founded multiple innovative Rotary Clubs, is a member of RI's Membership Growth Committee, has spearheaded local and large international grants, and is currently Aide to our Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick.
It is with great sadness to announce the untimely passing of Rotarian Andrew P. Maddox.
A dedicated member and past president of the Rockport Rotary Club, Andy lost a short battle with cancer last week. He was a friend to many of us and served his club with distinction. For District 7930, Andy served as chair of our District Public Image Committee and held a passion for youth services; serving on our Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Committee and volunteered with our comprehensive Youth Exchange Program.
Personally, I will remember Andy as a man of great chracter and dedication to his wonderful wife Lisa and family, his career, his community, and the organization that unites us all, Rotary.
Andy's death notice is below, a Celebration of Life for him will be held in the future. Donations in Andy's memory are to be directed to the Rotary Foundation; a fitting tribute to a devoted Rotarian so that Rotary programs can live on into perpetuity in Andy's memory.
In Rotary year 2013-2014 then District Governor John Hall brought Visioning to District 7930. For the next several years over half the clubs in the District went through the Visioning Process. You may ask, “What’s the Visioning Process?” Clubs that want to redefine their goals and vision for the future can, with the Districts’ help, have an evening where they explore where they want to see their club in the future. Interest has again risen within the District to do Club Visioning.
We are looking for Rotarians to join a newly formed Visioning Committee. There will be a training on-line, but the actual sessions are done in person, so a commitment is needed to go to another club and facilitate the process. The sessions are designed to take place within a 3 hour period and the hosting club provides dinner for all. If you are interested in joining in, please contact PDG Terry Curran at 617-501-3521 or email to, TerryCurran7930@gmail.com.
Introducing the Service Project Center, our new project management platform! Enhancing Engagement – a part of Rotary’s Action Plan - IREA!
The Service Project Center, Rotary’s new hub for everything related to service, is now live. It gives you a better way to manage and share information about your service projects.
With service networking moving to this new platform, Rotary Showcase has been retired. All Rotary and Rotaract projects that were posted on Rotary Showcase have been migrated to the Service Project Center, which is being released in phases.
The initial features include:
Improved speed and performance
A more consistent user experience across different devices and screen sizes
The ability to collect more accurate project location data
The Rotary Club of Salem, MA partnered again this year with the Salem Council on Aging to host a fabulous Hawaiian Luau this year. Filled with music and dancing, good food and laughter, there were more than 125 people in attendance. It was a huge success!
Special thanks to the Council on Aging for their partnership each year. Together, we create "magic!"
On Saturday, August 24, outside the Swampscott Senior Center, the Swampscott Rotary Club held our 42nd annual cookout for people with limited abilities from the North Shore.
We coordinate with NE-ARC and Bridgewell and we served 100 guests as they also enjoyed games and music, provided by our 42-year DJ, Rotarian David Legere.
Besides Rotarians, friends and their family members we were greatly assisted by members of the Swampscott/ Marblehead Elderact Club.
Reading Rotary is proud to present the 16th Annual Reading Fall Street Faire on Sunday, September 8. Drawing thousands every year to downtown Reading, it’s one of the most beloved and largest events in the area.
Many volunteers are needed to pull off this event. Any neighboring Rotarians and friends who can lend a hand will be greatly appreciated. If you can, please sign up to help. We will have well over 100 booths, entertainment on 3 stages, lots of amusements, food, beer garden, children's activities, and lots of fun.
Nishant Patel, a dedicated Rotaractor from the Rotaract Club of Boston, recently attended the Ascension Conference (AscenCon 2024) in Chicago, held during the second weekend of August 2024. This gathering, known as Ascension, is a Multi-District Information Organization (MDIO) where Rotaract Clubs from the mid-northeast of America, alongside several South American countries and the Caribbean Islands, come together to exchange insights on Rotaract operations, changes, and goals. The MDIO directly reports to Rotary International, making it a significant platform for fostering collaboration and innovation among Rotaractors. Rotaract is Rotary for members aged 18 to 35. D7930 has two Rotaract clubs: Boston Rotatact and Endicott Rotract.
Rotaract District 7930, represented by Nishant, proudly announced its successful application to join the Ascension MDIO Rotaract Network. With this approval, Nishant will soon coordinate an onboarding call with the Ascension team to formalize their participation.
AscenCon 2024 was a vibrant and inspiring event filled with opportunities for learning, networking, and cultural immersion. Nishant had the privilege of connecting with passionate Rotaractors and Rotarians, learning from distinguished speakers, and engaging in interactive discussions that enriched the collective experience of all attendees.
The Belle Isle Club, home of DG Tom Hankard, was so impressed with the vision and details of the upcoming Rotaplast Mission presented by DG Tom and Past DG Terry Rezendes Curran that they easily proposed and passed a motion to donate $2000 towards this most noble endeavor.
The Belle Isle Club considers itself the "Little Engine That Could", we are not the biggest Club in District 7930, but we are ALL HEART and if WE can do it the rest of the Clubs in District 7930 can do it too! Let's get it done!
Burlington Breakfast Rotary proudly reports that Past President and current Co-President Rita Shah has been recognized by President Biden with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service.
Anshu Bakshi, former Director of Friends of Indian Senior Citizens (FISCO), recently informed the members of BBR:
We are writing this message to inform our Indian community and to express my heartfelt congratulations to our esteemed founder, Ms. Rita Shah, for being awarded the President Volunteer Service Award. This prestigious recognition is a testament to her hard work, dedication and passion in the field of social work.
Ms. Shah's contributions have made a significant impact on society, and her tireless efforts have been felt by many. She has worked diligently at Saheli, Burlington Rotary, and founded the Friends of Indian Senior Citizen organization, which aims to bring together the Asian senior community with compassion. Her selfless service, vision, and leadership have inspired countless individuals and advanced the field of social work in many ways.
Things you should know. The mission departs from San Francisco on March 8 and returns to San Francisco on March 23. You must travel with the group on this portion of the trip so that the equipment boxes can be counted as your second piece of luggage. This is done as a group booking through Rotaplast and will cost you approximately $1,200. You are responsible for your flights to and from San Francisco, you can use airline or credit card points if you have them, the cost is anywhere from $400 to $900 depending on when you book. You are welcome to add time before or after the trip. The hotel is included for double occupancy. Single rooms run about $850 for the 10 days. A breakfast buffet is included at the hotel daily, and lunch and snacks are provided at the hospital daily. There is a hospitality room at the hotel, a contribution of approximately $50 is suggested to provide evening snacks.
For over a quarter of a century, Brian Magrane served as President of Youth Services Managers Inc., the operating arm of Camp Rotary in Boxford, Massachusetts. Among his many accomplishments, he guided the camp through the building of its new state of the art dining hall and modern kitchen. On Monday, July 22, 2024, Board members, campers, family, and friends, joined together for the dedication of “Magrane Overlook” to honor his unwavering passion and commitment to Camp Rotary.
Overlooking the beautiful Stiles Pond, “Magrane Overlook” provides a beautiful space for campers to reflect on the beauty of the waterfront while learning about nature. As Brian Magrane steps down from his role of President, his legacy and contributions will be remembered for years to come. The Camp Rotary Board extends its deepest gratitude for 25 years of exemplary service and leadership.
Danvers Rotary is stepping forward again for the greater good as they have spent weeks with much-needed trimming and cleanup of the traffic island at the corner of Poplar and Maple in Danvers.
This landscaping task is headed by Danvers Rotarians, Jim Jezowski, President of AcuLab Measurement Standards, Inc, Beverly and Rob Della Croce, AVP at Metro Credit Union, Chelsea. Together, they have a combined rotary membership in Danvers for almost 2 decades.
“We both passed by this island every day and decided to take on the cleanup project to improve the appearance of the intersection”, says Jezowski.
Parkway Rotary is looking for players to join us in our battle with Kiwanis in support of the Jason Roberts Challenger League next month. Please contact Ray Fitzgerald, Club Secretary and Team Manager if you can join us.
The softball game is Wed., Sept., 11th, 6 pm at Ohrenberger School Field, 175 West Boundary Rd., West Roxbury. Rain date is Sept. 12.
Tickets $25.00 can be purchased by Venmo @RosWestRoxKiwanis (phone confirmation number 4124) or by check or cast at Hennigan Insurance Agency, 1766 Centre, St., West Roxbury.
Tickets include T Shirt and Chef's Cookout Dinner: sirloin cheeseburgers, gourmet hot dogs, potato chips, sodas, cookies and brownies.
The Manchester-Essex Rotary Club held their annual Red White & Blue Breakfast on June 29th 2024, at Tucks Point stating at 7:30 am to 11:30 am. In addition to the pancakes there were, pony rides and face painting for the kids, musical entertainment by the Old Salts Jazz Band, and the very popular water taxi to shuttle guests from the Manchester town center to Tucks Point.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this yet another great Red White & Blue Breakfast! This year's club co-president Ken Riehl says it here; "As our first new presidents' message to the Club, we begin by thanking you sincerely for your terrific support of our marquee community event - the Red, White & Blue Breakfast this past Saturday. Albeit a bit chilly, it was a fantastic morning with 1,100 in attendance including many families and kids who loved the delicious food, the fun music, facepainting and pony rides. We also did well in both our $5,000 drawing and 50/50 raffle."
Nominations for District Governor for 2027-2028 are being accepted starting August 12, 2024. Deadline to submit nominations: Monday, October 14, 2024.
This important individual leads and supports the clubs in the district by inspiring and motivating them to Do Good in the World! All clubs are encouraged to propose suitable candidates who meet the qualifications to serve. One of these requirements is that at the time of taking office, must have been a past president of a club, completed seven years of membership in one or more clubs, and to have attended governors-elect training seminar and International Assembly. If you feel that your club has such a leader among your members, please consider nominating them to help fulfill Rotary's ongoing missions.
The nomination form can be downloaded here. In addition to the nomination form, please include a Rotary-focused resume of the candidate, as well as the candidate's vision statement of what they would like to accomplish for our district in their year as district governor. Completed nomination forms and the additional documents should be sent to DG Tom Hankard at tomhankard@yahoo.com.
The Zone Membership Webinar Series continues August 12. It's the second Monday of August (because the first Monday was a holiday in many places). "Open Mikes" - Mike Gibson and Mike Huie will share some of the magic that allows them to attract ~20 members in a year! You will learn about a 5 step plan to grow your club and about how follow-up tools in ClubRunner have been used effectively. Share, share, share!
As ShelterBox approaches our 25th year in global disaster relief, we would like to invite you and all club members and associates in District 7930 to our “ShelterBox All-Hands Rotary Roundup,” on Wednesday, August 28th at 12 pm PT / 3 pm ET via Zoom.
This 30-minute session will focus on the power of our partnership with Rotary and will feature ShelterBox USA President, Kerri Murray, a member of the Rotary Club of Montecito, Ca. and ShelterBox Response Team member, Brian Glenn, from the Rotary Club of Denton-Lake Cities, Texas.
Sangkoo Yun, from the Rotary Club of Sae Hanyang, Seoul, Korea, has been selected as the Rotary International President for 2026-27. His nomination will be confirmed on September 15, if unchallenged.
Yun holds degrees from Syracuse University and an honorary doctorate from The University of Edinburgh.
He is the founder and CEO of Dongsuh Corp. and President of Youngan Corp., with significant involvement in civic organizations and cultural heritage preservation.
A Rotary member since 1987, Yun has held numerous roles including director, trustee, and RI learning facilitator. He co-chaired the Keep Mongolia Green Project for eight years and served on several RI committees.
Yun received The Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award and honors from Queen Elizabeth II and the presidents of Mongolia and Korea.
He is a Republic of Korea Army veteran and an elder at Andong Presbyterian Church. Yun and his wife, Eunsun, are major Rotary donors and have two children.
RAGBRAI, Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is more than just a bike ride, it is an epic eight-day rolling festival of bicycles, music, food, camaraderie, and community. It is the oldest, largest, and longest multi-day bicycle touring event in the world. On May 21st of this year, a large and destructive tornado struck cities and communities in Iowa reaching its peak intensity in Greenfield, Iowa leaving four residents dead and over 200 homes, the hospital and the fire department destroyed. The community is raising funds to help rebuild Greenfield, Iowa.
On Tuesday, July 23rd, Greenfield welcomed RAGBRAI riders to their town. The RAGBRAI route took riders through areas that were affected by the storm. It was hoped to have been under better condition, but the bicycle riders were welcomed, nonetheless.
The PolioPLUS Society provides consistent funding for polio vaccination programs and improvements in health practices, sanitation, nutrition and the prevention and treatment of other diseases such as yellow fever, malaria, Ebola, etc. whose unchecked presence cultivates opportunity for the spread of highly contagious polio virus mutations. As a Rotarian, your participation in PolioPLUS is critical fuel for the engine of Rotary's decades-long polio eradication effort.
Join Up Now!
In 2022, D7930 launched the District's PolioPLUS Society. If you are a Charter Member, please remember to make your annual $100 donation to PolioPLUS now: https://my.rotary.org/donate
And if you haven’t done so before, you can join the PolioPLUS Society now by pledging to donate a minimum of US$100 each year until the world is certified polio free. Enrolling is easy: https://fa.lk/PolioPlusSociety
This first-hand account of the wildfires in Jasper, Alberta, Canada comes from District 5370 Governor Brian Edwards.
Hello Rotary family,
We are devastated that large sections of the town and park of Jasper, our jewel in the mountains, have suffered such fire damage. The town has lost about 1/3rd of the structures, mainly residences. It is currently shut down, without water or power.
Approximately 10,000 town residents and 15,000 park visitors were successfully evacuated, with no known injuries. We thank the firefighters who put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe, the police, first responders, town and park officials and no doubt many others who calmly look after us. And the members of the Rotary Club of Jasper, who provided traffic control support in this time of crisis. All are safe and accounted for, although dispersed across Alberta and British Columbia.
The Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award honors one Rotary member each year, regardless of gender or length of Rotary membership, for actively working to advance women in Rotary.
The award was established by a group of Rotarians in 2017 and is named for the first female Rotary club president, who went on to lead change for women and girls around the world through Rotary.
Any member can nominate another member in good standing for this award during August. Write to riawards@rotary.org with questions.
Posted by Peter Majane, District Membership Chair on Aug 02, 2024
With the month of August upon us, we recognize Membership and New Club Development Month. In order to grow Rotary and increase our impact, we need “all hands on deck” to share the gift of Rotary with new acquaintances, old friends, co-workers and neighbors, and all who are interested in service and want to be a part of an organization that is doing good in the world.
The second strategic priority of our Rotary Action Plan is Expand our Reach. If more people affiliate with Rotary as members, participants and partners, we’ll grow our capacity to make a greater impact. This priority focuses on how we can share our values with new audiences, create new ways to bring people together to experience the power of Rotary, and prove we are an organization that’s inclusive, engaging, compassionate, and ambitious on behalf of the world. Please take a couple of minutes to view this video with Director Chris Etienne and Bina Ahmad sharing the success of growing Rotary in District 7230 (NY city area).
August is Membership and New Club Development Month
The Wilmington Rotary Club is pleased to announce that the next Community Ice Bucket Challenge will be held at Rotary Park on Saturday, August 24. Starting at 10:00 AM, everyone is invited to enjoy the pleasure of dumping ice water over their head!
As in years past, all donations in any amount will be forwarded to the Angel Fund of Wakefield. The Angel Fund is an organization committed to finding a cure for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Through the work of Dr. Robert Brown at the UMass Medical Center, progress has been made but the cure hasn’t yet been achieved and additional funds are still needed. As in past years, ALL monies donated are fully donated to further this important research.
World Polio Day is just twelve weeks from now - 24 October 2024 ...what is your club doing to END POLIO NOW? Whether you're planning a plunge, pizza for polio or another fun activity to raise awareness of eradicating polio, let's get the word out! Perhaps you might want to share your creative ideas with our District Newsletter so that others may benefit and help make this the year that we eradicate Polio.
And if you are looking for ideas, the Marblehead Rotary Club has had great success with a rather simple idea: Purple Pigs for Polio! Each week Purple Piggy Banks adorn our luncheon tables, and Rotarians and guests are invited to feed them with spare pocket change and/or green, leafy bills. You would be surprised how much these pigs can consume! Last year alone, their bellies were filled with almost $4,000 from weekly feedings and Happy Dollars during the month of October. With the Gates Foundation, 2:1 match, that's almost $12,000 raised to continue our global polio eradication effort. If you're interested in Purple Piggy Banks for your club, Amazon links where you can find purple pigs in various sizes (we use the larger pigs on our tables) follow:
Rotarians from around the district, along with their friends and family, are invited to Melrose Rotary Club's new Second Monday Social. Each "Second Monday" club members, along with their guests, meet at JJ Grimsby's restaurant at 301 W. Wyoming Ave, Stoneham, MA from 5:30-7:00 for a social get together. The next Second Monday Social is August 12.
"It's a great way to meet members from other clubs, chat with new and old friends, and the food and drinks are great, too" says club co-president, Don Putney. In addition to the opportunity to gather socially, there is an opportunity to financially support a worthy cause and vote for the organization to receive the donations. The current "Vote Your Charity" options are aid to Ukraine, a school in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and a local area food program. All of the donations collected at the Second Monday socials will be awarded at our December social to the cause that received the most votes at our July thru December gatherings.
Co-presidents Don Putney and Mark Hutchinson hope that you'll us at our next social on Monday, August 12th!
Earlier this spring, the Rotary Club of Andover in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Cherkasy, the Rotary Club of Kyiv-City, Ukraine, and the Cambridge-Isanti Rotary club coordinated and donated an Olympus endoscopic surgical system at a cost of $16,900 to Yemilchnye Hospital in Ukraine.
Endoscopy, often referred to as gastroscopy, is a medical procedure that allows a doctor to observe the inside of the body and perform less invasive surgery without major incisions.
The system was purchased and shipped by Andover Rotary with a grant from the Andover Rotary Charitable Trust, a Rotary District Matching Grant, and donations from club members.
Come for the Pancakes, Stay for the Waterfront Festival!
Saturday, August 17, 2024, Stage Fort Park
Dig into a fresh stack of blueberry pancakes at this year’s Gloucester Rotary Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser at Stage Fort Park on Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
This community-friendly tradition brings people together for a good cause and offers a hearty al fresco breakfast with stunning views from the bandstand. Finish up a plate of pancakes and head down the hill to the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, sponsored by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, running on Saturday-Sunday, August 17-18. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees. For information on Gloucester attractions, visit www.capeannvacations.com.
Tickets for the Pancake Breakfast are $10 per person, $6 for children six and under, and are available in advance online (https://gloucesterrotary.org/page/pancake-tickets) or from any Gloucester Rotarian. Tickets will also be available on the morning of the breakfast. Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast will benefit local projects that support people. The Gloucester Rotary has served Gloucester and the world beyond for 100+ years.
Posted by RI Membership Development Team on Jul 26, 2024
Rotary is a membership organization. That means that the unique skills and contributions of our members are the driving force behind everything we do. To accomplish everything we want to do, we need our club, district, and zone leaders to commit to growing Rotary and Rotaract. That’s why growing our membership is one of our top priorities.
Register now for the upcoming webinar The State of Membership on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at Noon EDT. A recording will be available to everyone who registers.
During this 45-minute webinar, we will:
Review the current state of our membership as of 1 July 2024 Discuss the recent research findings from the all-member surveys Share ideas about how club and district leaders (YOU!) are improving the club experience for members. All ideas generated will be shared with everyone who registers.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions.
Most attacks happen when you are not aware of what is going on around you. Come learn how to REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM.
This seminar, taught by Andover Sportsmans Club members, Steve Cooper, Allan Arena and Cheryl Crawford, will cover awareness tips and techniques to keep you safe in your living quarters (home, dorm room, apartment, etc.), when in public, during transportation and while using technology. It is not a hands-on self-defense class.
When: Aug. 14th, 5-6:30 pm Where: South Church, 41 Central St., Andover Who: Teens ages 15 plus and college-bound students. Adults/parents are welcome. Cost: $15 per person or $40 per family
Questions? Email Diana Kiesel, Event Coordinator. Co-Sponsored by: Rotary Club of Andover and the Andover Sportsman's Club. Space is limited, please pre-register to guarantee your spot. Net proceeds will benefit the Rotary Club of Andover Charitable Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Download event flyer here.
District Governor Tom is pleased to announce that we have secured the sponsorship for the next Rotaplast Mission to Cebu in the Philippines.
We will be departing on March 8, 2025, and returning on March 23, 2025. Rotaplast is a Rotary adjacent organization, started and supported by Rotarians worldwide. Their mission is to alleviate the suffering of children with facial deformities in low-income countries through free corrective plastic surgeries (cleft lip and palate).
This is a great opportunity for clubs to be part of an international service mission. We hope that all clubs will contribute to raising our goal of $85K. We also need volunteers to come with us. Contact PDG Terry Curran at TerryCurran7930@gmail.com or call at 617-501-3521 if you are interested or have any questions.
As a part of this year's One by One Membership Initiative, introduced at our District Installation, all Rotarians have pledged, during the next Rotary year, to invite one person to a Rotary meeting, event, or service project.
The goal is to increase your club's net membership by one member. If every club in our District increases membership by one net member, we will have the most growth in decades.
One way to grow our membership is by enhancing our relationships with or finding new partners for our clubs to work with. When we find new ways to serve our community, our impact as an organization increases, and our community recognition grows.
Now is the perfect time to brush up on your Rotary knowledge base at the Learning Center. The Learning Center has seen a lot of activity in the last two months of the year. Members from 49% of clubs visit the Learning Center! That's a 9% increase compared to what was shared in May. Is your club in the 51% that have not visited The Learning Center?
What do you do when looking for answers to questions about all things Rotary? Well, you are in luck. Rotary International’s Learning Center offers many online courses/modules with information about all aspects of Rotary.
All these courses are E-Learning. They consist of videos that you can review from the convenience of your computer. Catalog areas include: About Rotary; Club & District Leadership; Membership; Professional Development; Public Image; Service; The Rotary Foundation. Special shoutout to new courses on Public Speaking created in partnership with Toastmasters. Check it out. You will be glad you did.
The Rotary Club of Newburyport is proud to announce our 2024 college scholarship recipients! We provide $15,000 in scholarships annually to local graduating seniors. Each student receives $5,000.
The club is greatly impressed with the following three outstanding scholarship recipients. Anna Romano from Triton received the Norman Russell Memorial Scholarship and will be attending Assumption University. The George A. Cashman Community Service Scholarship was presented to Simone Chabot from Newburyport who will be attending Providence College. Jeremy Barry from Newburyport received the Norman Russell Memorial Scholarship and will be attending the College of William and Mary. We look forward to hearing about their future accomplishments.
Pictured left to right are Salisbury Chief of Police and scholarship committee member Tom Fowler, scholarship recipients Simone Chabot, Jeremy Barry, and Anna Romano, Newburyport Public Schools Superintendent Sean Gallagher, scholarship committee member Susan Viccaro, and scholarship committee member Guillermo Molina.
The Rotary Club of Rockport celebrated the 4th of July in style! The day always begins with the reading of the Declaration of Independence in Dock Square at 10:00am. The crowd is instructed to respond with a “Huzzah” when something good is read, or a “Fi” when something reprehensible occurs! Rotarians are dressed in period costumes and encourages audience participation.
Later in the day, festive club members participated in the parade on a float decorated with the Statue of Liberty and signs inviting new members.
Reading Rotary is proud to present the 16th Annual Reading Fall Street Faire on Sunday, September 8. It will be bigger and better than ever! Drawing thousands every year to downtown Reading, it’s one of the most beloved and largest events in the area. If you want to be a part of it, now is the time. Sign up before it's too late!
Vendor registration has opened online at readingfallstreetfaire.com. More details of the event are on the website.
Sponsorship opportunities still available including: Inflatable Zone; Acoustic Corner; Family Fun Zone; Beer Garden; Lamp Post Banners; and more. Sponsorship inquiries may be directed to sponsorsforfallstreetfaire@gmail.com for further information.
This year’s Fall Street Faire will include:
Live entertainment on three stages
Local vendors, clubs, and non-profits
Dedicated children’s area with games and activities
Amusement zone with inflatables
Delicious food choices
Beer garden and tailgate area to watch the NFL on a big screen
Support this beloved community event. See readingfallstreetfaire.com for more details. Questions can be directed to Tim Kelley. We hope to see you there!
Reading Calls Vendors and Sponsors to its Fall Street Faire
At a recent meeting, the Rotary Club of Woburn presented a Paul Harris Fellow to David Frizzell. David is a retired Fire Chief from the town of Belmont. Dave received this awarded for his dedication to the youth in Boy Scout Troup 502 currently sponsored by the George A. Campbell Post 101 in Woburn. He has mentored over 15 boys in their attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout. The prestigious Eagle Scout rank is highest rank that a young man or woman can a attain in Scouting. In addition, he has assisted in many of the administrative functions and training of adult leaders. Also in attendance at the Rotary Luncheon meeting were 4 Eagle Scouts. Presenting the Paul Harris Award to David Frizzell was Rotary Club of Woburn Past President and Paul Harris Fellow, Bill Sullivan.
Pictured here from left to right ar Zach Bates, John Juliuson, Rotary Past President Bill Sullivan, Paul Harris recipient David Frizzell, Matthew Frizzell, and David Mullally.
On July 7, the Boston Rotaract 2024-25 tenure commenced with a memorable hike to Middlesex Fells Reservoir. About a dozen Rotaractors turned out for this fun event. What began as a planned 3-hour trek from Oak Grove to the reservoir turned into a rewarding 6-hour expedition, underscored by the initiative to collect trash along our return route.
Upon reaching the picnic spot, participants enjoyed a cultural exchange showcasing diverse Rotaracting styles and traditions from around the world. Highlights included performances of dances and songs, as well as sampling snacks from countries such as Nepal, the United States, Mexico, Iran, and India. Everyone was thankful for hosting the event and looking forward to more of this.
Acadia Thielking, who graduated from Wesleyan University in May 2021, was chosen to represent District 7930 as the 2024 Global Scholar in the Rotary Foundation’s Area of Focus of Disease Prevention and Treatment.
Acadia, who lives in Somerville, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Science in Society from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She is passionate about using mathematical modeling to improve infectious disease health outcomes and address the growing threat of drug resistance worldwide. Her goal is to bridge the gaps between community-driven research, mathematical modeling, and policymaker decision-making to improve large-scale health outcomes.
Winchester Rotary continued its annual scholarship awards and celebrated five graduating seniors' academic and service achievements by awarding $22,000 for their college education.
This year's winners were Adam Lubomirski, UMass Amherst; Ila Stanley, Middlebury College; Devon Headley, Babson College; Jonathan Christmas, Cornell University; and Edward Cutting, University of Michigan.
The Gloucester Rotary will publish a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2025 as a fundraiser. All profits will go to the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities.
The 2025 calendar theme will be Flowers of Cape Ann. In Order to publish a beautiful calendar, the Club is requesting high quality digital photos that reflect the natural beauty of Cape Ann throughout the year. As we will be featuring one photo per month, we need images from each season: winter, spring, summer and fall. Photographs from Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester will be accepted.
Full contest rules and requirements are available online at www.gloucesterrotary.org. All entries must be received by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, 2024. Contest contact: Matt Langis, 978-381-2500, photocontest@gloucesterrotary.org.
Rotary Showcase, our service project management platform, is undergoing a major upgrade that will enhance your ability to track service projects and yearly service goals.
In the coming weeks, Rotary Showcase will be retired, making way for the Service Project Center (SPC), a dynamic and feature-rich hub for all service projects. You’ll find better tools to manage your projects, improved speed, and streamlined processes with the new platform.
Below are the key updates and the actions you should take before 30 June:
1. Platform Update:
• Our current platform, known as Showcase, will undergo a significant update.
• It will be replaced with a new platform called the Service Project Center.
• To ensure a smooth transition, update service projects in Showcase before 30 June.
Danvers Rotary Club purchased a new double door commercial freezer for the Danvers Food Pantry. The $6,800 donation provides additional freezer storage for food donations which arrive weekly from various sources including the Greater Boston Food Bank and Stop & Shop. The Danvers Food Pantry serves on average 240 families each month with 344 families actively receiving services this year. By year end a 25% increase is anticipated over last year. Through May 2024 the Pantry distributed 72,000 pounds of food.
Recently a group of Danvers Rotarians visited the Food Pantry to thank the volunteers and view the new freezer. The Danvers Food Pantry was started 30 years ago and is staffed by over 30 volunteers who coordinate collection and distribution of Pantry supplies to serve needy Danvers residents.
Tickets are now available to the annual Gloucester Rotary Comedy Night, featuring Brad Mastrangelo, Jody Sloane, Jeff Koen, and Boston's Dave Rattigan on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square on Gloucester's harborfront. Doors open at 7 pm and the show starts at 8 pm.
Don't miss this evening of fun and laughter! Tickets are $30 each and are available from any Gloucester Rotarian or contact Mark Vadala (978-490-0939).
For those of us who have experienced Rotary in action, we know the "Magic" Rotary has given to the World started in 1905 in Chicago by some guy we know by the name of Paul Harris.
Our new Rotary International President, Dr. Stephanie Urchick, was inspired to create this year's theme while she was on a water project mission in the Caribbean.
Happy Rotary New Year! We had a fantastic District celebration, ushering in the Magic of Rotary. In the words of new RI President Stephanie Urchick, "You create the magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member."
Nearly 300 District 7930 Rotarians celebrated New Year's Eve with their new club presidents, assistant governors, district leadership, and Rotary International Director and Treasurer Drew Kessler!
Thank you all who were there to share in the magic. Rotarians heard from speakers and guests reinforcing the need for Rotary in our communities. Over 46 Rotary and Rotaract Club Presidents and 16 Assistant Governors were installed by Drew Kessler, truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The Rotary Club of Lynn awarded six scholarships to outstanding high school seniors on June 20, 2024 at Old Tyme Italian Cuisine. There were over 35 very qualified applicants, and those were narrowed down to these 6. It is a difficult task to eliminate applicants, and this year was made more difficult due to the lack of FAFSA information. The lack of FAFSA was due to a change by the Federal Government concerning the process. The Scholarship Committee had to make decisions without reviewing the financial ability of the family to pay the tuition.
From L to R: Joselyn Armas, Lynn English; Marianna Garcia; KIPP; Lewis Hopkins, St. Mary’s; Judith Gomez, Lynn Vocational Institute, and Angel Frias, KIPP. Absent when photo was taken Fadilat Amisu, Lynn English.
Question of the month: Why should I update my club's Rotary logo? I like the old one better.
Consistency in voice and visual identity, including the Rotary master brand or logo, is important for highlighting Rotary's impact and gives value to our work. This consistency helps reinforce the message of Rotary's mission and the effectiveness of our initiatives. Your club can help build brand recognition by using our logos correctly and consistently. Always use your customized club, district, or zone logo when promoting your club or other Rotary entity or its activities. Please do not use the Rotary logo without your club identifier. Otherwise, it implies that the promotional activity is from Rotary International and not your own Rotary club.
The Salem Rotary Club has been making Salem a better place for local residents and has contributed to communities around the globe for over 100 years. The largest impact they make each year, however, is to local Salem high school-aged students. This spring, the Salem Rotary Club was pleased to present $50,000 in Scholarship and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Awards to senior students from Salem.
Last week, the Club held their annual Salem Rotary Scholarship luncheon where they awarded $40,000 in scholarships to 14 Salem seniors.
“This is the most special meeting we hold each year, and it is a joy for our members to meet students and their families whose lives are positively impacted by these awards,” said Jennifer Close, Salem Rotary Club President.
Beverly Rotary Club members took on the task of cleaning out and planting colorful flowers and plants on the rotary near the Montserrat Station in Beverly. The Club sponsors that location each year to keep Beverly beautiful . It ends up being a fun event, with cars going by happily honking at the Rotarians as they take care of the garden. Following the afternoon planting, a social is held at a Rotarian's house around the pool. The saying, "Good deeds get rewarded" is surely true in this case!
The Wakefield Rotary Club hosted its annual Father’s Day Fishing Tournament at Lake Quannapowitt on Sunday, June 16th. The free event, open to all ages, welcomed about a dozen families fishing for various top spots. Wakefield Rotary Event Coordinator Gene Mullen explained, “The weather this year held up great.” He added, “This family event is really a highlight for our club each year.” Loaner rods were made available thanks to Mass Wildlife and bait was donated by Boats & Motors on North Avenue in Wakefield.
The patient anglers began to see lots of action as kids, parents, grandparents and relatives reeled in sunfish, yellow perch and bass. The fish, once measured and recorded by our judges, were released back into the lake. The event concluded with awards for the largest fish caught by category presented to Connor for his 7-inch sunfish and a tie between Logan and Hazel who each reeled in a 9” yellow perch.
Rotary International Director and Treasurer Drew Kessler will join us and install our incoming Club Presidents at our District Installation on June 27! The opportunity to meet a sitting Rotary International Director does not happen often.
Tickets are still available for our Happy Rotary New Year Celebration at Danversport Yacht Club. The fun starts at 6 pm on Thursday, June 27. Along with fun and laughter, a full Chinese food buffet will be served.
Do not miss out on the celebration! Register here. Registration is still open!
RI Director Drew Kessler is Special Guest at our District Installation
Posted by Peter Majane, District Membership Chair on Jun 21, 2024
When you help new members feel valued and connected to a club from the beginning, they’re more likely to stay and be part of the club’s growth. Here are four ways you can keep new members engaged:
1. Introduce newcomers to the rest of the club using the club’s website, newsletter, or email. You can also highlight new members at meetings or service activities (ask them first!) or organize small get-to-know-you sessions. Encourage current members to make them feel welcome.
2. Learn about new members. The member interest survey will help you understand their background, interests, and what they’re most excited to do with the club. Be ready to recommend Rotary activities that match their interests.
3. Pair new members with mentors who can help them feel comfortable and welcomed. Mentors can teach new members about the club and its activities, answer questions about Rotary, and suggest ways they can get involved. A mentor can also introduce them to members who share their interests.
4. Create an inclusive club experience for everyone by considering how different members are able or prefer to engage. Do people use captioning apps, need an accessible website, or want translations? Learn what your members need and make it easy for them to participate.
Incorporating these strategies in your orientation process will help new members feel welcome, supported, and valued. Doing this can lead to long-term growth and success for your club.
If you have questions or would like support with Membership, contact Peter Majane.
On Thursday June 6, the Rotary Club of Woburn celebrated 100 years of giving back to the City of Woburn with a Gala celebration held at the Woburn Elks. The evening included a delicious buffet by Chef Jason, Raffle prizes, live cover band "3 Floors Up," recognition and Citations from Mayor Michael Concannon’s Office, State Representative Rich Haggerty & Rotary District Governor Lori Karas.
Through a generous grant from the Cummings Foundation, the Rotary Club of Woburn has been able to financially support important programs to make the City a better place to live & work. These programs include:
Burlington Breakfast Rotary collaborated with Sunrise Senior Living in Burlington to create a vegetable garden for seniors. Sunrise Senior Living is an assisted living community that offers a range of living options with services.
Pictured are People of Action Burlington Breakfast Rotary at work.
Danvers Rotary Club purchased a new double door commercial freezer for the Danvers Food Pantry. The $6,800 donation provides additional freezer storage for food donations which arrive weekly from various sources including the Greater Boston Food Bank and Stop & Shop. The Danvers Food Pantry serves on average 240 families each month with 344 families actively receiving services this year. By year end a 25% increase is anticipated over last year. Through May 2024 the Pantry distributed 72,000 pounds of food.
Recently a group of Danvers Rotarians visited the Food Pantry to thank the volunteers and view the new freezer. The Danvers Food Pantry was started 30 years ago and is staffed by over 30 volunteers who coordinate collection and distribution of Pantry supplies to serve needy Danvers residents.
This past year, the Rockport Rotary Club built a classroom for Ugandan children with the support of a district grant. This comes as a result of the club's strong partnership with an organization called Village2Village Project, which focuses on serving vulnerable children in an impoverished area in rural northeastern Uganda, East Africa. The mission of Village2Village Project is to provide comprehensive, empowering, respectful, and compassionate care for vulnerable children and their families, one life at a time. The project provides basic needs support and education to over 225 children, most of whom have lost one more parent due to HIV/AIDs or violence.
On May 25, Burlington Breakfast Rotary participated in the Stoneham Memorial Day Parade. Our late Rotarian, Don Tocci, was the Posthumous Grand Marshall of the Parade. He was honored for his "Service Above Self" activities to his community, the Rotary community, to Veterans, and everyone who was fortunate enough to meet him. Our founder, Kevin McKelvey, gave a moving speech about Don. We are honored to have been part of this parade.
To celebrate their 100th Anniversary in 2023, the Gloucester Rotary chose to install new playground equipment at Stage Fort Park as their centennial gift to the City of Gloucester. This was an expansion of their playground project, which recognized Rotary International's centennial celebration in 2005.
Working with the City of Gloucester, the Gloucester Rotary purchased and gifted playground equipment to the City. The equipment was installed this spring and children have been flocking to the improved playground in the past several weeks.
Rotary International’s Council on Resolutions meets each year to vote on proposed resolutions submitted by clubs, districts, the RI Board, and the general council or conference of RIBI and any urgent enactments proposed by the RI Board. Adopted resolutions are then considered by the RI Board or the TRF Trustees. Each district’s Council representative participates in the Council on Resolutions, and every club and district may propose resolutions. If your club or district is considering proposing a resolution for the Council on Resolutions, please click on this link to download the guidelines.
Proposed resolutions from clubs and districts for the Council on Resolutions must be received by Rotary International on or before 30 June prior to the Council on Resolutions, including the governor’s confirmation of endorsement. There are no exceptions to the deadline.
RI Council on Resolutions Submission Deadline June 30, 2024
The Wakefield Rotary Club will be again sponsoring the Father’s Day Fishing Tournament at Lake Quannapowitt. The fun-filled morning is free and open to all ages on Sunday, June 16th. Wakefield Rotary Past President Gene Mullen announced, “Anglers, mark your calendars and prepare your tackle boxes! The much-anticipated Fathers Day Friends and Family Fishing Derby is back, promising a morning filled with fun, excitement and of course, plenty of fish tales.”
On May 30, 2024, the Rotary Club of Lynn continued with its 30+ year tradition of recognizing 8th grade students from Lynn Middle Schools. These are students who have struggled with some adversity during the school year or have shown empathy toward others in an outstanding way. This recognition meeting, at the Old Tyme Italian restaurant was the third and last such meeting for the current academic year.
I am pleased to announce that the Zone Mental Health Affinity Cohort is hosting another Zone-wide webinar on mental health on Tuesday, June 11th, at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT. This webinar will focus on self-care for Rotarians.
Posted by Richard Spalding, D1110 AG on Jun 03, 2024
By Richard Spalding, Assistant Governor of District 1110, and member of the Rotary Club of Winchester, UK
Five Rotary clubs that share a name, Winchester, met online together for the 23rd time on 18 March. What started during the pandemic has continued into a cherished tradition that is enriching each of the clubs. These include the Rotary Club of Winchester, UK; and the United States clubs of Winchester, Kentucky; Winchester, Massachusetts; Winchester, Tennessee; and Winchester, Virginia.
Yearly, Marblehead Rotary awards four to six students a one-time scholarship and one a four-year scholarship for excellence in academics, leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities. This year, we are proud to announce five outstanding awardees.
Parkway Rotary is having its annual softball game against Kiwanis to raise funds for the Jason Roberts Challenger League (baseball league for kids with various disabilities) on Wednesday, September 11th (rain date Thursday, September 12th) at their field at the Orenberger School in West Roxbury. Time TBD. There will be food and drinks at the game. More information to follow.
Most importantly, we need players! We are calling all you Rotarian ballplayers. If interested in playing and/or attending please contact Ray Fitzgerald, Club Treasurer (and Team Coach).
Identifying potential club leaders and re-energizing long-time members are important aspects of a club President’s responsibilities. Many incoming 2024-2025 club Presidents are now setting their budgets for the coming year. Please consider a budget line item of $80-$100 to either partially or wholly subsidize at least one of your club leader’s participation at Rotary Leadership Institute, April 26, 2025, location to be determined, but within District 7930 commute.
A highly interactive and informative one-day session on the organization, goals, and possibilities of Rotary, it is led by experienced faculty, and it is not necessary for participants to be currently serving club officers.
More info on curriculum? Go to www.rlinea.org or email Linda Doliber, District 7930 Site Chair. “The Magic of Rotary” will happen at the club level guided by strong leaders! Invest in yours!
You don't want to miss the chance to win the Amazing Raffle Prizes at the negligible cost. Grand Prize is '2 Tickets for a Red Sox Game' and 10 more equally attractive prizes Burlington Breakfast Rotary (BBRC) has extended it's Raffle drawing date from June 6th to June 20, 2024 in order to expand it's reach to all. The club looks forward to the mutual support of our fellow Rotarians in the District to help BBRC support the community! $10 per ticket, 6 for $50.
Also, the recording from the first session is on the Zone site. Clubs should consider using the first 25 minutes as a program. The recording starts at the beginning of the presentation and it lasts 25 minutes. The Q&A are part of the recording but for a club program, just stop after 25 minutes. Great for those days when there is no speaker. Or if you want your club to become irresistible.
Our Rotary Foundation Annual Fund SHARE Fundraiser for District 7930 is underway! Get your tickets today!
• 50% of the money raised will be donated to the Annual Fund SHARE of the Rotary Foundation.
• 50% of the money raised will go to one lucky winner of this 50/50 raffle.
Our Annual Fund SHARE needs your help so that we can provide additional funds for our club projects. Our goal is to raise $40,000 through raffle ticket sales which would mean $20,000 to the Annual Fund SHARE and $20,000 to one very lucky raffle winner.
$30 per ticket. Winner will be chosen on June 15, 2024. You do not need to be present to win.
Our Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is celebrating the heroes from our nation, our community, our relatives, and our friends, by commemorating a flag to them, from May 24 to June 8.
Mary Gallivan was recently inducted into Ipswich-Rowley Rotary. Mary currently serves Ipswich as Assistant Town Manager and Human Resource Director. A dynamic and innovative human resources leader, her strong community service commitment extends well beyond her official duties and includes, among others, volunteering at the Ipswich Council on Aging, Ipswich Illumination, and the Ipswich Food Pantry (The Open Door). Throughout her life, Mary has sought opportunities to assist those who are suffering, in need or in crisis; as a town leader, she encourages other employees to help.
Her personal interests include participating in community events, running, horseback riding, and walking our beautiful community trails. Mary enjoys relaxing with her family, spending time at the beach, and reading.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is thrilled to welcome Mary to the Rotary family, where we achieve more together than we can alone.
From left President Ann Witzig, Mary Gallivan, and her sponsor President Elect Tom Murphy. (Bob Snow photo.)
The Rotary Club of Rockport is kicking off summer with its second annual Lobster Raffle! We have partnered with a local seafood restaurant to provide our 4 raffle winners with 20 pounds of fresh lobster meat! Nothing says summer like "lobstah" from Rockport!
Tickets available from any Rockport Rotarian or at:
Tuck's Candy & Gifts, 15 Main St., Rockport
Wharf Rat, 1 Dock Sq., Rockport
Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, 24 Harbor Loop, Gloucester.
Winners will receive gift certificate for 20 lbs of live lobster, redeemable at Roy Moore Lobster Co., 39 Bearskin Neck, Rockport.
This Memorial Day we honor and remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
From May 25 to 29, Rotary International is offering a super early bird pricing rate of USD $475 for the Calgary Convention to be held on June 21 to 25, 2025.
With an International Convention so close to us, now is the time to experience Rotary on a whole new level! Calgary is a beautiful place and we will all be "white hatted," the highest honor the City of Calgary bestows.
If you are interested in participating in a District 7930 hotel block at Doubletree Calgary North, $119 per night USD, email DGE Tom Hankard, so we can get you on a list!
The price will go up on May 30, save money and register now! Registration link.
Early Bird Registration Opens for Calgary Convention
What an incredible RYLA weekend! It was awesome to see these young leaders step out of their comfort zones, make new friends, and gain invaluable skills. Despite the rainy and chilly weather, the enthusiasm and engagement of 50+ teenagers from all across our District and 7950 was inspiring (and we loved having 7950 join us)!
We are all so proud of our returning RYLA Alumni - they trained for 4 hours a month for 6 months to prepare - they absolutely crushed it as Family Leaders!! The RYLA Lead Team, Rotaractors, Rotarians and other volunteers worked so hard to provide a fun, engaging and safe environment for growth to happen - you all inspire me by your hard work, wisdom, dedication. You are AWESOME (and for the record, I’m really going to miss seeing each of you on a regular basis!!). Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Don't delay, register today! Registration closes June 23!
Celebrate and support your incoming Club President and others at this year's District 7930 Installation!
Join us on Thursday, June 27 at 6 pm at Danversport. Cocktail hour will be on the deck (weather permitting) and enjoy a night of fun and friends and a Chinese food buffet.
As we take time this weekend to remember all of the brave men and women who have served our country, it is a good time for Rotary to look ahead for opportunities in your club to engage and support the individuals and families of anyone who has served or is still serving our great nation.
Over the last year the District Membership Committee has been working to gather stories of club activities focusing on the Veteran community and share ideas for clubs to engage with local Veterans in their respective towns and cities.
On Wednesday, June 5th, 12 pm, the District Veteran's Committee will host a Zoom call for anyone looking to share a success story or looking to get some ideas on what they do within their club in the upcoming year.
Monday Membership Meetup for June! Mark your calendar for the first Monday of every month. It will be Magical! Keep the alliteration going. Next session is June 3 at 7:30 pm.
This one will prompt you to Rock the Boat...on purpose.
On April 25, the Ipswich Housing Authority (IHA) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the creation of an outdoor community space centrally located within its property at 95 County Road. The area abuts Bowen Hall which houses The Open Door/Ipswich Food Pantry. The project is partially funded by Ipswich-Rowley Rotary as part of its Centennial anniversary gift to the town. Several years ago, the club also played a major role in restoring Bowen Hall for the food pantry.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians present for the groundbreaking were President Ann Witzig, Centennial chair Martha Mauser, IHA liaison Chris Doktor, Open Door Director of Operations Jen Perry, and Events chair Lisa Shanko. Open Door CEO, President and Gloucester Rotarian Julia Hazen LaFontaine also is seen in the photo.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary's Scholarships Chair Kathy Frederick presents a check for two Ipswich YMCA youth camp scholarships to Ipswich Y Executive Director and fellow Rotarian Chris Bevilacqua. Looking on are President Ann Witzig and Director Dr. Doug Shealy.
These scholarships will provide for two campers from Ipswich and/or Rowley to attend the Y’s Cedar Mill Camp in Rowley this summer.
The club also held a cleanup project at the camp this past weekend.
Did you miss the ClubRunner Nova preview? ClubRunner first announced its new version in February with huge changes underway -- ClubRunner Nova. ClubRunner staff previewed ClubRunner Nova on a live webinar on May 13. If you missed it live, the video of the webinar is now available here. Club are encouraged to have at least one member view the recording to get a view of the new platform and its capabilities.
New updates to your ClubRunner subscription will include:
Universal log in: You can now log in directly to your club or district website directly from www.clubrunner.com.
Rotary International is focusing on the use of the Rotary Action Plan as a planning tool to help grow Rotary at the club level. RI President Elect Stephanie Urchick is encouraging Districts and Clubs to use the Action Plan resources to bolster the health of Rotary.
Rotary's Action Plan. People of Action know that achieving any vision, big or small, requires a plan.
We pioneered a model of service leadership more than a century ago based on person-to-person connections. That model is just as powerful today as ever. Except now, those individual connections span the globe. Today's Rotary doesn't just reach out to act on communities' needs close to home; we transcend borders, generations, languages, cultures, and historic differences to create hope for a better world.
When we imagined where Rotary is going in the next 100 years, we developed a plan built on four priorities: increasing our impact, expanding our reach, enhancing participant engagement, and increasing our ability to adapt.
When Irene Cowdell first heard about a new Rotary initiative called “Buddy Bench/Happy to Chat Bench,” she exclaimed to her fellow Rotarians, “I know exactly where Lynn Rotary should put a bench like this.” The Buddy Bench initiative is an effort to encourage conversations in the community. It is thought that if a person is sitting alone on a bench, another may also sit and then initiate a conversation. Cowdell, a retired Lynn Public School teacher and administrator, identified the Fallon School on Robinson Street as the perfect place for the special bench. Fallon houses an alternative Pre-K through grade five program that provides a variety of academic and therapeutic supports for its students. The school utilizes a strength-based behavior management system to help reintegrate its students back into regular programs.
“Our goal has always been the same,” said Fallon Principal Nancy Takis-Conway. “We strive to create a positive learning collaborative that fosters respect and compassion. I’m so thrilled to have this bench for our students. Many of our children have the perception that they’re not popular; have no friends and simply feel isolated. Our students know what to do now when they see one of their classmates sitting alone on Buddy Bench. They come over and engage in conversation or asked them to join in the game.”
Joining Principal Takis-Conway Wednesday were several Fallon teachers, along with Rotarians Steve Upton, President Jean-Marie Minton and Deputy Superintendent Deb Ruggiero.
I realize we're halfway through the month already, but I want to address No Mow May as it seems like such a good idea. Just one bullet point from many I've been reading says:
In May, there are many other plants in bloom and the flowers in the lawn will not provide any additional food resources for pollinators. Clover and dandelion flower even with a consistently mowed lawn.
If you want to use No Mow May as an excuse not to mow, go ahead, but to attract pollinators to your garden, plant natives. The recommendation from The Monarch Gardner is "Mow Less Summer". Plant native plants and watch the pollinators thrive.
For more information contact Andrea Lacroix with the District Environmental Committee.
On May 2nd, 2024, the Lynn Rotary and the Reading Cooperative Bank hosted 468 Special Needs students for the 54th annual Special Games. Virtually all the Lynn students in Special Needs classrooms, if they are able, participate in this activity.
Many Rotarians and dignitaries attended the games. They all greeted the Lynn Police who ran from the Police Station (about 1.5 miles) to Manning Bowl. Prior to the official start, the students passed through a “Lane of Honor” consisting of Rotarians, Reading Cooperative Bank volunteers, Police, dignitaries, School Officials, Firemen and others. Ms. Kerry Ranieri, VP Community Banking & Development Officer, Reading Cooperative Bank started the games with a shout out of “Let the games begin.”
It speaks to the involvement of the leaders of Lynn who attended the Games, including Mayor Jared Nicholson; Deputy School Superintendent, Debra Ruggiero, Fire Chief Dan Sullivan; Police Chief Chris Reddy; State Representative Brendan Crighton; and numerous City Council members and School Committee members.
Lynnfield Rotary is ready to build more beds on Saturday. Join us on May 11, 2024, at 9:00 AM in Market Street, Lynnfield, in the plaza by Starbucks, Panera and Otto Pizza. In case of inclement weather, we will meet in the cafeteria of Lynnfield High School. Download Build A Bed flyer here.
Lumber, hardware, tools, and expert instruction to construct the bed frames will be provided. People will work in groups of up to four builders. Volunteers are welcome to join us-individuals, families and organizations may participate. Children are invited with adult supervision.
The event is fully booked. All available beds have been claimed, but we need more builders. Thank you to our community for your wonderful support. You are providing beds for 30 children in Massachusetts an undoubtedly changing their lives.
Please share this information with friends, family, and business associates.
Hello District 7930 community! On Saturday, April 27th from 10-12 the District Interact Council of 7930 held their very first service project; The Green Hunt! The event was a fun and unique competition between neighboring Interact clubs to accomplish the goal of reducing litter within a community. It was held in Stoneham, on a warm sunny day and we were excited to see Stoneham Interact and Rotary along with Lynn Interact, as well as members from the North Reading and Wilmington clubs there! We accomplished our goal of reducing litter with a friendly competition and were excited to see how enthusiastic our fellow Interactors were!
The District Interact Council of 7930 is completely student run, and created the Green Hunt to motivate both Interact and Rotary into engaging with each other through an environmentally friendly competition. It was electric during the competition as each Interact club scrambled to their assigned sites and rushed to clean up litter during the allotted 1 hour and 15 minutes they were given. In the end, Lynn Interact claimed the victory and won a three-hundred-dollar prize. It was a fantastic experience!
Rotary is one of the world’s greatest secrets, and Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) is an even bigger secret. But RYE is one of the best programs in Rotary that serves both the local and international communities. The U.S. needs to improve and broaden the education that we provide to our children. RYE allows a high school student to grow and thrive through a challenging international experience. That experience involves our students going on exchange to a foreign country, and foreign students coming here, for a full academic year. Exchange students are totally immersed in the culture, language and family life of a teenager in their host country. Host families play a significant role in the exchange student’s life, while bringing their exchange student’s experience into their homes for their own children to experience and to be encouraged to take on the challenge themselves.
Last week Rotary Club of Woburn completed a service project by presenting the Woburn Senior Center with a donation for Smoke/CO Detectors for Woburn residents that either don't have them or need replacements. Members of Rotary Club of Woburn join the Woburn Fire Department to help install the detectors. Amy O'Brien from the Woburn Senior Center accepts the check from Rotary Club of Woburn President Brian Ouellette. Thanks to Cummings Foundation for a grant that makes this possible.
Host an Inbound Global Scholar? What does that mean?
Being a host means looking out for the scholar as they plan to come to the U.S. and while they are here. Scholars live on, or off, campus at the University that they are studying with. Scholars are graduate students coming here to further their studies to gain a Master’s or Ph.D. here in the U.S. Some even come to the U.S. with their families!
As a host, you can help them navigate the area, connect with groups in the area and figure out how to do things while they are here like taking the bus to NY or visiting the Cape and New England. Being away from home can be tough and having a host family here for you can make a big difference.
In addition, scholars make GREAT speakers for your club! They all have very interesting stories and are inspirational speakers.
If you'd like to host a scholar this year, please contact AG Lori Becker at Lori@cfefitness.com to be placed on our "Yes! I want to host" list.
Carole Sharoff will be presented with the Gloucester Rotary’s Paul Harris Distinguished Service Award at a special dinner on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square in downtown Gloucester. The Paul Harris Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Gloucester Rotary and recognizes Ms. Sharoff’s many contributions to the community at large as well as to Rotary as a former club board member, secretary, and President.
Carole is the founder and CEO of Atlantic Vacation Homes and AVH Realty, Inc. and was recently awarded the vacation rental industry’s Pioneer Award with the notation that “This entire industry owes her a debt of gratitude for everything she has done.” She served on the Vacation Rental Management Association’s Board as Secretary and on the Executive Committee. She was a Presenter at the Annual Million Dollar Women’s Symposium at Salem State University Enterprise Center. Locally, she serves on the board of Action, Inc., has been a board member of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Discover Gloucester and was copresident of Temple Ahavat Achim when it was destroyed in the tragic fire of December 2007. Under her leadership, a new Temple rose from its ashes at its original site on Middle Street. In all areas of her service, Carole focuses on improving the organization’s approach to Diversity and Inclusion.
We invite you to join us in celebrating the Somerville Rotary Club is 100 Year Anniversary. The 100 Years of Service celebration is taking place on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the George Dilboy Post, Davis Square, Somerville. Ticket information can be found here.
This event will highlight the Somerville Rotary Club’s accomplishments over the years and its plans going forward. The District Governor and Mayor of Somerville will attend. The Club will celebrate several people and organizations that have made an impactful contribution to many families and individuals at risk of food insecurity, homelessness, domestic abuse, and other life challenges in our community. These special people have long partnered with the Somerville Rotary Club and have together worked toward meeting Rotary’s “Service Above Self” goals.
We hope that you will join us and our celebration of service to our community. Rotary is service and service helps make our community.
Sincerely,
Celebration Committee: Gene Brune, Gene Ferraro, John Keegan, Ann Kirby, Gilda Nogueira, David Worzala
Posted by Cindie Kish, Zone Membership Coordinator on Apr 26, 2024
We’re excited to announce a series of webinars starting May 6, 7:30 PM Eastern. Join us each month for dynamic, fast paced sessions full of concrete strategies you can use to grow your clubs!
Our May 6 kick off session: Simply Irresistible: Keys to building a thriving club.
Everyone is welcome! District and Club leaders are encouraged to attend. Spread the word!
For Zoom link click here. We’ll have more details to share with you over the next few weeks.
Help us Expand our Reach on social media. We had to start a new D7930 Facebook Page. Our original Page is currently out of commission. We ask all Rotarians and friends to Like and Follow our new Page. Please invite your FB friends to like and follow. Our original Page had over 1000 followers. Our new page now has just over 160 followers. We need Rotary members to take part in increasing the impact and reach of Rotary's Public Image.
We ask all Rotarians on Facebook to help Expand Our Reach by inviting your contacts to Like and Follow our new Page.
I also want to note that our District also has a D7930 Facebook Group. What is the difference between our Page and our Group?
Arlington Rotary announces Flags for Heroes 2024. Community members have the opportunity to sponsor a flag in memory or honor of the men and women who are serving or have served as members of the Military, Police Officers, Firefighters, First Responders, Parents, Teachers, Coaches, Mentors, Community Leaders, and fly for all the people who have made a difference in their lives.
Arlington Rotary has dedicated this year's installation in memory of George Reynolds Jr., longtime Arlington resident and Rotary member for 62 years who died this year.
Flags for Heroes is a way to honor people who are your heroes. They may be men and women who are serving or have served as members of the military, first responders, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, community leaders or other heroes. You may sponsor as many heroes as you want, and a flag with the name of your heroes will be flown at Park Circle Water Tower on Park Ave in Arlington.
Grab a ticket, or buy a table and join Rotary Club of Burlington for an awesome FUNdraising event! It's a combo of bingo + DJ + prizes + dancing + raffles.
It would be GREAT to see some friends at this event & help kickstart our fundraising in a big way. This event will really help out the Burlington community and our scholarship fund for high school students. If you can, please come!
Will our Club President, Lori Becker, be hula-hooping? It's HIGHLY likely.
Please join us for fun night as Rotary Club of Woburn celebrates 100 years of "Service Above Self". There will be a live cover band, catered dinner, raffles, fun and fellowship!
The deadline for RYLA 2024 Applications has been extended to April 30. Why? Because we want to IMPACT more kids and we cannot do it without your help!
Please reach out to your schools, your Interact Clubs, your Rotarians, even your neighborhoods. The RYLA experience is not just about leadership. It is a prefect antidote for young people who want desperately to reconnect. It can help them pick up some of the social ground they lost during the COVID experience, and regain desperately needed self-confidence.
We believe there are at least another 20 students on the North Shore ready for RYLA - they just don’t know it yet! Here is a link to a great teaser video from Allie Foley.
RYLA 2024 will be held May 17–19, from Friday at 3 pm to Sunday at 3 pm at Camp Rotary in Boxford.
Reading Rotary just completed its Rotary Readers project during the Read Across America month of March. Rotary Readers is an annual literacy project where reading books and a backpack are given to each Reading Public Schools student in kindergarten. This year over 300 literacy bags were delivered by Rotarians to local elementary schools. In addition, Rotarians read to each Kindergarten class as part of Read Across America.
This literacy project has been adapted from Rotary’s previous dictionary and thesaurus giveaways. Teachers expressed their preference to have the younger students receive reading books. Basic Education and Literacy is one of Rotary International's Areas of Focus. This particular project was adapted from a Girl Scout Gold Award literacy project by Mary Kate Kelley, who is a Past President of RMHS Interact and one of its Charter Members.
Pictured here is Rotarian Margaret O'Sullivan with happy kindergartners.
Come Celebrate the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Somerville Rotary Club and its contributions to the city over the past century. The event will highlight the Rotary motto Service Above Self. We will applaud people and organizations that epitomize service to the community. It will also be a fun evening of food, music, and fellowship.
New deadline is April 26. Make it a family event. Children 12 and older may attend.
District Conference May 4. Join us at the Boston Museum of Science! Celebrate a Rotary year of Creating Hope in the World.
Start your conference experience at 3:00 pm with Watson Adventures' Scavenger Hunt through the Musuem of Science by working in teams of 6. You can create your own team of 6 or be joined with others.
At 5:00 pm when the Museum, closes we'll be escorted to a private room for hors d'oeuvres, dinner and awards. Plus a special presentation - D7930 Creating Hope in the World.
Price is $225 per person - includes parking at the museum garage, admission, scavenger hunt, food and awards. Cash bar will be available. Register here. I look forward to seeing you there! Don't delay!
ClubRunner first announced its new version in February with huge changes underway -- ClubRunner Nova. ClubRunner staff will share some exciting updates and showcase ClubRunner Nova with an early preview! Join the CR Nova preview webinar May 13 at 6pm to get a sneak peek of the new platform and its capabilities.
In case you missed their announcement webinar where we unveiled our exciting vision for ClubRunner, you can watch the recording and explore the Q&A here.
Discover the latest additions to your ClubRunner subscription:
Universal log in: You can now log in directly to your club or district website directly from www.clubrunner.com.
Cloud events: Elevate your event management with advanced features such as tickets, product sales, optional donations, custom registration forms and more.
Donations: Set up fundraising campaigns connected to their own bank account and invite your community to donate online.
Mobile Message Broadcasts: Send push notifications from the club or district level to members through the mobile app. Great for important reminders and last-minute updates!
Winchester Rotary and WFEE (Winchester Foundation for Educational Excellence) donated Wonderbooks to Winchester Public Schools's five elementary libraries. A Wonderbook is a book with audio built in, which allows readers to read along while listening to a professional narrator. This models fluency for all students, including striving readers, language learners and vision impared students. The libraries are excited that these books will make them more inclusive for all students and will build their love of learning.
Attention, Golfers! Winchester Rotary looks forward to our 35th annual golf tournament on Monday, May 20, 2024, and expect another great event again this year at the Winchester Country Club. We expect to sell out again this year. Registration is now open!
On Wednesday, April 10th, the Arlington Rotary Club hosted visiting Rotarians from Yokohama and Kanagawa Rotary of District 2590 in Japan. The Japanese Rotarians were here to visit Global Scholars studying in Boston. Arlington hosted the visiting Rotarians for breakfast. Our District Governor Lori Karas and DG Akira Higuchi of Rotary District 2590 exchanged flags.
Two inbound Global Scholars from Japan already in Boston area - one a neurosurgeon at MGH and another pursuing Music degree -- also joined the meeting.
DGN Pooja Singla and AG Lori Becker was also in attendance for the festivities.
Boston Rotaract recently sponsored a bonding event. Rotaractors gathered to ice skate at the Rink at 401 Park. It was a great success as the club is building up its membership.
Rotaract brings together people ages 18 and older to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through service.
The Wakefield Rotary Club has recently grown to welcome five new women into its ranks. The growth inspired incoming Club President Wendy Maguire to launch a new speaker series with the aim of getting to know our members on a more personal level. “We all know what each other do for work. But I’m really interested in getting to know our members more,” Maguire explained. “What are their interests? Do they have any secret talents? What motivates them?” In an effort to accomplish just that, Maguire launched a new speaker series called “I Have a Story” earlier this week during the club’s regular lunch meeting at Brightview. Members and guests are invited to volunteer to speak on their interests, rather than just their work.
The first to volunteer was Wakefield Rotarian Paul Adams. Adams joined Rotary in 2017 and is a past Wakefield Rotary Board member. “I’ve been playing the banjo for about 15 years. I’ve never mentioned that at Rotary,” he said. Fitting the bill for Maguire’s speaker series, Adams stepped up to the microphone this past Tuesday to speak about the banjo, its roots in Africa and the Caribbean, share some of his favorite bands, and even perform himself. “I really enjoyed sharing that part of me,” he said. “It’s something that I’ve always been interested in and I was glad to share it with the club.”
The Stage Fort Park Playground Improvement Project-- Gloucester Rotary's 100th Anniversary Gift to Our Community-- has moved forward another step!
In March, old equipment was removed and the new playground equipment was installed! More work is to be completed before the project is finalized, but this was a major step.
Important note: The equipment is not yet open for children to use. Please respect the caution tape surrounding the new equipment.
Learn more about this project--including how you can support it-- by clicking here.
The Environmental Committee wants you! Please join us on April 24th at 6pm to share what your club is doing, especially as we celebrate Earth Month.
Don't forget to book me to speak to your club about Plastics. The talks I've done so far have been received very well and has sparked numerous discussions about all aspects of plastics. Plus I have free giveaways when you invite me in.
Please email Andrea Lacroix for the zoom link for the April 24th meeting.
The Rockport Rotary Club hosted an International Potluck for Polio and we encouraged people to come in the costume of the country they were representing. The variety of foods and drinks that the Rotarians prepared was awesome, some did come dressed, and we raised over $800 for the children of the world!
District Conference May 4. Join us at the Boston Museum of Science! Celebrate a Rotary year of Creating Hope in the World.
Start your conference experience at 3:00 pm with Watson Adventures' Scavenger Hunt through the Musuem of Science by working in teams of 6. You can create your own team of 6 or be joined with others.
At 5:00 pm when the Museum, closes we'll be escorted to a private room for hors d'oeuvres, dinner and awards. Plus a special presentation - D7930 Creating Hope in the World.
Price is $225 per person - includes parking at the museum garage, admission, scavenger hunt, food and awards. Cash bar will be available. Register here. I look forward to seeing you there! Deadline to register is April 18 so don't delay!
Parkway Rotary is looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to assist us in serving meals to homeless veterans at New England Center and Home for Veterans on Court Street in Boston around the corner from City Hall. It will be April 25 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. Please contact either Brunna Cunha, Club President, or Ray Fitzgerald, Club Treasurer if you can help us out. Thank you.
Volunteers Needed for Boston Veteran Center April 25
The Rotary Club of Chelsea is holding a Chelsea Rotary Derby to raise funds to support their local scholarship program and send twenty Chelsea youth to Camp Rotary for a week. The event will be held Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Anthony’s in Malden. Tickets for a chance to be a horse owner are $100. Four tickets will be drawn to represent each of the four horses in the 1st race, twelve tickets will be drawn to represent each of the six horses in the 2nd and 3rd races. The race will be 10 “furlongs” in length. Betting on individual horses will be conducted. There will also be numerous door prizes. Dinner tickets are $60 and are separate from the $100 race tickets. Corporate sponsorships are available for $1,000 and include four race tickets, four dinner tickets. For race or dinner tickets please contact Bruce Mauch at 857 544-9041. Checks should be made out to Rotary Club of Chelsea Charitable Foundation. You can also Venmo the funds to Douglas-Mauch, scan the QR CODE on the flyer or click here.
Our District 7930 Rotary Foundation Committee is looking for additional new volunteers for the coming Rotary year 2024-25. If you are passionate about doing good in the world through the many projects supported by our Rotary Foundation, please consider joining this important district committee. We have several different working groups on the committee, focused on areas such as global grants, district grants, polio eradication, annual fund, Paul Harris Society, global scholarships, endowment, and major donors. If you are potentially interested in joining the committee and would like to learn more, please reach out to incoming District Rotary Foundation Chair 2024-27 Alexander Falk via email at al+7930@falk.us - thank you!
Rotary Foundation Committee is looking for volunteers
The deadline for RYLA 2024 Applications has been extended to April 12. Please encourage any prospective students to get their applications submitted.
RYLA 2024 will be held May 17–19, from Friday at 3 pm to Sunday at 3 pm at Camp Rotary in Boxford.
Applications for RYLA can be found on this year’s Linktree page. See the fabulous RYLA 2023 Video here. This year, we are excited for the first time to join forces with District 7950 and their students and are welcoming up to five students from every town, until spots fill up. So be sure to have students apply soon!
If you have any questions, please email me, Christina Harris, or call me at 978.270.6706. Thank you again for your support of the RYLA program!
Thanks to generous donations from the Gloucester and Manchester & Essex Rotary Clubs, a District 7930 Managed Grant, and private non-Rotary donations, a $45,000 generator was purchased for Kivu Hills Medical Center in 2023. The generator finally arrived in February after contending with massive rainstorms, which led to treacherous potholes and mudslides. It was an extreme challenge for the truck carrying this generator. Thankfully, the road will be paved soon.
There is currently no medical clinic locally for the 30,000 rural residents of Boneza, and the Kivu Hills Medical Center will also provide services to millions of people in the surrounding regions when it opens its doors later in 2024.
Is there a hero in your life, past or present? Why not honor them by sponsoring a flag in their name at this wonderful community event? The honoree could be a veteran, an active-duty service member, a first responder, police, firefighter, EMT, teacher, coach, an essential worker, a family member, humanitarian, or best friend. Your hero's name will be personalized on a medallion, which will be attached to a full-size American flag and will be given to you as a remembrance when the display is taken down.
Flags will be proudly displayed at the Amesbury Servicemen's Memorial Honor Roll on Main Street (across the street from Amesbury Middle School). Flags will be on display starting Memorial Day, May 27th through Flag Day, June 14th. You can recognize your hero by sponsoring a flag for $75.
Sponsorships are available for business and community groups. Each sponsor will receive the number of flags list below, in addition to special recognition on Amesbury Rotary's website and all publications. Sponsorships rates and benefits are as follows:
Come to an evening of song, dance and fun!!! The event is on April 12th at Danversport Waterfront, 6:00 pm-10:30 pm. Proceeds will benefit the charitable causes of Beverly Rotary Club Foundation, including local scholarships. When you come to a Beverly Rotary event, it's always lively. We have music by the famous "Spike the Punch" band. It's casual dress because we want you to let your hair down to dance, eat, drink and have fun!
Tickets are $85 which includes admission, food (appetizers, food station, dessert and coffee/tea), silent auction, live auction, 50/50 raffle, tower of gifts game, putting contest and beer/wine raffle. There's also a Dance Contest for the most memorable dance! For info how to purchase tickets, sponsor or preview auction items, click here. Download event flyer here.
Calling all Presidents-Elect, Club Treasurers, Club Secretaries, Public Image, Membership, and Foundation Chairs -- and all Rotarians!
Our 2024 District Learning Assembly takes place Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Four Points Sheraton, 1 Audubon Road, Wakefield!
Important learning sessions start at 5 pm, followed by fellowship, our District Managed Grant Qualification, and a special presentation regarding Rotary's new Action Plan.
This is an important and worthwhile session for all Rotarians. Register today. A buffet dinner will be served and a cash bar will be available during fellowship and dinner. Click here to register. Registration deadline: April 4 at 9:00 am.
SAVE THE DATE! Rotary Club of Woburn will be celebrating 100 years of service to the community on the evening of June 6th, 2024. The celebration will feature a live cover band, raffles, a catered buffet meal, cash bar, dancing and special announcements. Registration will be opening soon. Come celebrate with us! It will be a fun night!
Rotaplast is back up and operating and our District is exploring sponsoring a mission in the Rotary Year 2024-2025 with District Governor Tom Hankard. They have already done a mission to Columbia, with Chelsea Rotarian Juan Gallego as the mission leader. The Cebu Mission, which we had sponsored for many years, has been moved to March so we are investigating other missions. Rotaplast sends multidisciplinary medical teams to provide free reconstructive surgery, ancillary treatment, and training for the comprehensive care of children with cleft palates/lips and other deformities.
In the meantime, there is an opportunity for Non-Medical Personnel to volunteer for an upcoming mission to Vietnam. Rotaplast is looking for non-medical volunteers to join a surgical trip from June 30 - July 12, 2024.
Twice a year for the past eight years Rotary Club of Woburn has provided Birthday Party Bag Kits to the local food pantry at the Council of Social Concern. Last week about 30 kits were assembled with $20 worth of goodies each. The bags contain cake mix, icing, candles, party plates, napkins and flatware for struggling local families.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary successfully completed its annual food drive to benefit The Open Door’s Ipswich Food Pantry and is pleased to announce that 1230 pounds of food was collected in February at seven locations in Ipswich and Rowley. The Open Door staff said they appreciated both the quantity and the quality of the food donated.
Since Valentine’s Day falls in February, the theme for this year’s drive was “Share the Love” for our neighbors in need. Rotary is grateful for the support of our participating drop off locations and to our friends and neighbors who donated food this year. Donations were collected at the Ipswich offices of The Institution for Savings, BankGloucester, Brookline Bank, the Ipswich YMCA, the Ipswich Public Library and North Shore 24 Fitness in Rowley.
Hundreds of Rotary leaders assembled in at the Marriott in Newton March 7 through 9 to take part in President Elect Training Seminar or PETS. Our District joined with six other Rotary Districts for Northeast PETS (NEPETS). These Districts cover Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and parts of Maine and Quebec.
PETS is training for Presidents and Assistant Governors (AG) who will begin their roles on July 1.
Every Rotary year there are new Club Presidents, District leaders and leadership in Rotary International. Our new leaders came to learn about and discuss Rotary's Action Plan, new emphases and projects that your Club will be part of in the coming year. The President’s curriculum included sections on Vision and Action Plan, DEI, Membership, The Rotary Foundation and Public Image. There was also great opportunity to network with other Club Presidents to gain connections and inspiration from the countless service opportunities in the Rotary world.
Tomorrow (March 19) is the day! Rotarians, their friends and families are all invited to the area's culinary spotlight: Peabody's Taste of the North Shore. The event will begin at Danversport at 6 pm. Join us for a celebration worthy of our 20th anniversary! We have a record number of restaurants (30!), a growing list of sponsors, and fantastic activities (grab bags, raffles, silent auctions) throughout the night working together to make this best Taste yet.
Don't have your ticket yet? Go to peabodyrotarytaste.com. Admissions will be sold at the door, but if we sell out of raffle tickets (we did last year), you won't be able to purchase them upon arrival. Don't miss out on your your chance to win $10,000. Purchase one of only 300 raffle tickets sold for the grand prize, today!
We hope you'll join us tomorrow night for food, fun and fellowship as we raise money for scholarships supporting the next generation of Peabody leaders.
With pride and excitement, on behalf of myself DGE Tom Hankard, along with DGN Pooja Singla and DGND Terry Rezendes Curran, Immediate Past District Governor Alexander Falk has been appointed District 7930 Rotary Foundation Chair starting 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027.
The mission of The Foundation of Rotary International is “to help Rotary members advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.” Alexander Falk has shown he epitomizes our Foundation mission in word and deed. The incoming District Governor track look forward to and will depend on his leadership.
Applications for RYLA (May 17-19) can be found on our Linktree page. This year, we are excited to join forces with District 7950 and their students for the first time. Be sure to have students apply soon, as spots will fill up.
There's no better way to learn more about RYLA than by hearing from those who have experienced it! Below you'll find RYLA Alumni share their valuable lessons and what they have gained from attending our weekend.
"RYLA not only provided me a sense of community among like-minded peers but encouraged me to pursue a career that allowed me to continue participating in those same passions." - Alissa Smith
"In just three days, I developed my leadership skills all while making meaningful connections with the members of my RYLA family. There is simply no other experience like it!" -Maddie Cass
On March 12 the Somerville Club welcomed Eileen Ryan, Founder of Beyond Plastics Greater Boston. Eileen gave an excellent and animated presentation on current and future environmental issues with plastics. She updated the Club on proposed bills in the Massachusetts Legislature and provided materials for members to become active in the process. The Club looks forward to following up with Eileen and Andrea Lacroix, the District Environmental Chair.
Pictured here left to right are Sylvia Walker, Co-President; Gene Ferraro, incoming Co-President; Eileen Ryan, Beyond Plastics Greater Boston and Gilda Nogueira, Somerville Member,
Through a Rotary connection, I have heard that an Interactor from Brazil, District 4540, is honored to be taking a course at Harvard mid-April and is unable to afford housing. She and her Rotary network are asking if anyone is generous enough to host her for one week: April 17-22.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea recently had as their guest speakers the project managers from the Northeast Metro Tech DECA Chapter. DECA is a non-profit student-run organization that prepares high school students in business, marketing, finance and hospitality. The student members participate in various business events and competitions to advance their knowledge and leadership skills.
In thispicture are Michelle Broome, Chapter Advisor, Lilliana Mendez, Project Manager, Julianna Arevalo, student, Almi Abeyta, Chelsea Public Schools Superintendent, Iliana Reyes, Project Manager and Jennifer Hassell, Executive Director Chelsea Chamber of Commerce.
The Rockport Rotary Club is hosting an International Potluck For Polio on Thursday, April 4th, starting at 5:30. Entrance cost is $25 per person and it will all go to Polio! If you would like to join us please contact Ingrid Brown and let her know if you’ll be bringing an app, salad, main meal, dessert, or beverage to share, what country you are representing, and we are encouraging costumes.
For World Polio Day last year more than $836,000 was raised online. Let’s add to what D7930 can add to our donations by June 2024!
Salem Rotary presents A Night at the Speakeasy Annual Auction, March 20, 6 pm at Historic Hawthorne Hotel. Please save the date and get your tickets today!
Your $125 ticket includes creative food stations, a silent auction and raffles as well as a fabulous, good time!
We hope to see you at the Speakeasy! Creative attire suggested but not required!
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary recently inducted Gordon Harris as a new member. Gordon is a semi-retired carpenter and, since 2014, the official Ipswich Town Historian. This is a significant responsibility since the Ipswich Town Seal commemorates the town’s unique distinction as the ‘Birthplace of American Independence,’ stemming from the resistance in 1687 of town leaders and citizens to burdensome taxes imposed by the British Crown. In his capacity as our official historian, Gordon is a prolific researcher and author of new and interesting articles about the town’s colorful past. As a carpenter and historian, he also assists homeowners in researching their historic homes.
The Rotary Club of Peabody recently presented a check for $1,000 to the Peabody Veterans Services Department. The club held a "Walk For Veterans and a Day of Service" on Veterans Day 2023 to recognize veterans and raise funds for Peabody's Veterans Services Department. That department helps veterans with disability claims, making appointments, rides to those appointments, financial assistance, education and other veterans' benefits, as well as the bi-annual Veterans Day breakfast. The day of service was led by Peabody Rotary Service Coordinator Stephanie Johnson, as the club cleaned up the area around the Soldiers and Sailors monument in Peabody Square. We also encouraged Peabody residents to do service for veterans, yardwork, errands, rides, etc.
Pictured at the presentation are Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt, Peabody Rotary President Cathy Gravel, Peabody Veterans Agent Steve Patten and Peabody Rotarian and veteran Herb Harris.
The 20th anniversary of Rotary Peabody's Taste of the North Shore is almost here! We invite all Rotarians and their friends and families to enjoy a record-breaking 30 restaurants serving food, desserts and beverages. Join us at Danversport on March 19th at 6 pm for an evening of food, spirits and fellowship.
There are still a few tickets for our $10,000 grand prize raffle still available. Raffle tickets sold out last year; don't miss out on your opportunity to win! Go to peabodyrotarytaste.com to purchase your ticket. More admission options are available on the site.
In addition to food and beverages, there will be a limited amount of grab bags, silent auctions and our very popular wine, beer and bourbon raffles.
Just One Week until Peabody's Taste of North Shore
Citizens Who Care & Educator of the Year (CWC-EOY) is the Rotary Club of Andover's longest running program that honors outstanding community volunteers. Since 1996, we have honored people each year who have contributed to the local community through their extraordinary volunteer contributions. Those chosen exemplify what it means to be an "unsung hero."
2024 Citizens Who Care honorees include:
Peggie Ritzer & Kristen Walsh
Martha Tubinis
Steve Cooper
Andover TV (Wess Murphy, Sean Murphy & Sara Antonakos)
Medford Rotarians are sponsoring our First MEAT Raffle! $20 per ticket. 1st prize $500 worth of meat from Dom's Sausage 2nd prize $250 worth of meat from Dom's Sausage 3rd prize $100 Gift Card to Pearl Street Station Restaurant
The Medford Rotary Club gathered at the Medford Public Library to celebrate our 100th anniversary. Many memories, photos and laughs were shared with long-time members 50 years+ and former members. A great time was had by all! We are honored to be in service to the Medford community and we will continue to cultivate, collaborate and support the needs of others in the spirit of Rotary's motto - Service Above Self.
At a recent lunch meeting Reading Rotary hosted members from their affiliated Interact Clubs. Reading sponsors one Interact at Reading Memorial High School, another at Austin Preparatory School in Reading and also one at North Reading High School. All three clubs sent students to RYLA last year and are working on building up their membership post pandemic.
The RMHS, AP and NRHS Interacts each have members participating in the District Interact Council. It was great to have so much young energy present.
The Woburn Memorial High School Interact Club recently held their annual fundraiser: "The Dating Game." The fundraiser was a success and the funds raised will help support the Council of Social Concern's food pantry and Woburn Dollars for Scholars. Over $1,000 was raised. Adrian Caruso, Emily Kline, Caden Fleming and Dawson LeBlanc of the Interact Club attended a recent Rotary Club of Woburn lunch meeting to talk about the fundraiser.
Have you ever wanted to try making your own charcuterie board? Bring a friend and learn how to create a beautiful and delicious appetizer display. Our talented chef Cara, of Cara's Creative Charcuterie, will walk your through step-by-step and you will build your charcuterie on a custom board that you get to keep.
Join the Rotary Club of Burlington for our fundraiser on Saturday, March 30 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM at Grand View Farm, 55 Center Street Burlington, MA. Space is limited. Register here.
Registration Fee: $60 Register By: Saturday, March 23
On February 15, President Darshana Thakkar and Assistant District Governor/District Governor-Elect Pooja Singla of Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club (BBRC) were interviewed by Burlington Cable Access Television regarding the installation of a Buddy Bench at Fox Hill Elementary School. This project is a successful collaboration between District 7930 and the BBRC team.
The Buddy Bench is available for this year’s 500 students to experience a safe space for talking, making new friends, celebrating achievements, discovering, and connecting with each other.
At a recent lunch meeting, Reading Rotary welcomed two new members, Margaret O'Sullivan and Tom Seyffret. President Sheila Clarke did the honors of installing them. Margaret is a realtor with William Raveis in Reading Square. Tom is a manager with North Shore Bank's Reading location also in Reading Square. Both Margaret and Tom have long time ties to the Reading community.
Salem Rotary presents A Night at the Speakeasy Annual Auction, March 20, 6 pm at Historic Hawthorne Hotel. Please save the date and get your tickets today!
Your $125 ticket includes creative food stations, a silent auction and raffles as well as a fabulous, good time!
We hope to see you at the Speakeasy! Creative attire suggested but not required!
The Winchester Rotary is raising funds to end polio with a "Pints for Polio" event at Lord Hobo, 5 Draper Street in Woburn, MA, on March 21st, 6:30 to 9:30 pm.
We have had to start a new D7930 Facebook Page. Our original Page is currently out of commission. We ask all Rotarians and friends to Like and Follow our new Page. Please invite your FB friends to like and follow. Our original Page has over 1,200 followers. Our new page has just over 100 now. We ask for your help. We all need to take a part in increasing the impact and reach of Rotary's Public Image.
We ask all Rotarians on Facebook to help Expand Our Reach by inviting your contacts to Like and Follow our new Page.
I am back from Sarasota where I attended the very first ESRAG Projects Fair. It stands for Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group. I met a handful of very interesting Rotarians doing GREAT things for the environment. You can't leave a Rotary conference without doing a service project. This picture is at a Micro Forest where we helped right trees that were leaning after a large storm and cleared paths. It was fun until I was attacked by red ants! Thankfully we were wrapping up as that happened and I caught the ants climbing up my leg before any damage was done.
Here is the list of projects presented: Susquehanna Watershed Project Cape Cod Watershed Institute Coastal Ecology Sustainability Camp Kawartha Environment Centre Lunch out of Landfills Ottawa Youth Rotary Forest Ipswich Watershed Grant Rotary Environmental Innovators Fund (REIF) Every Club Climate Friendly
Time is running out to get your tickets to the 20th anniversary of Rotary Peabody's Taste of the North Shore! Our tickets sold out last year; don't miss your chance at the $10,000 grand prize! Tickets are $100 each and include 1 admission and an entry into our grand prize raffle - a maximum of 300 tickets sold. Join us on March 19th, 6PM at Danversport.
We also have a celebration worthy of our 20th anniversary with a record number of participating restaurants. Sample dishes from 30 area restaurants ranging from pasta, charcuterie, short ribs, mac and cheese bar, truffle mashed potatoes, spinach pie, pastries, beer, spirits and so much more! For details go to: peabodyrotarytaste.com for up-to-the-minute details.
We will also have our popular grab bags ($20 each, minimum $25 value), beer, wine and spirits raffles and additional raffles with exciting prizes. Don't miss out on the fun, food and fellowship with your fellow Rotarians. Go to peabodyrotarytaste.com for more info. We hope you'll join us at Danversport on March 19th.
Rockport Rotary Club hosted its annual Valentine’s Luncheon for the seniors in town at the Fish Shack. They received a haddock dinner, chocolates, red carnations, a Valentine made by the elementary school kids, and were entertained by the High School Chorus. Such a fun and appreciated time!
The audience helps pick the winner! Over $2000 in cash prizes!!
Doors open at 7PM, Performance from 8PM-10PM - Cash Bar for Cocktails & Complimentary Hors d’oeuvres - Tickets: $50 for Adults; $25 for Students under 18; under 12 FREE. (Proceeds to fund Rotary Club of Lexington’s High School Scholarship program)
Apply for tickets here, (let us know how many adults and how many students) we will send you a bill. Or you can pay via Venmo: @Daniel-Busa
Planning and training for RYLA 2024 (May 17-19) is well underway. We had two Family Leader Training sessions at our new location at the Stoneham Teen Center. We did lots of team building activities as well as a deeper discussion of our RYLA weekend! We are excited to have such a great group!
Family leaders for RYLA are what makes our weekend so special. Some of the answers of this year’s Family Leaders were just so meaningful that I thought I would share them with you so you could see the impact you are having by sponsoring students for RYLA. These kids are AMAZING!
Applications for RYLA 24 will be live early to mid-February, so stayed tuned! In the meantime, we are ready to start visiting clubs to share the new video! Please email me, Christina Harris, or call me at 978.270.6706. Download the attached flyer here. Thank you for your support of the RYLA program!
Friends of Rotary Club of Amesbury, Massachusetts, we're kicking off our biggest fundraiser in a number of years. One lucky winner will win $5,000.00. We're only selling 100 tickets so your chances are good. Raffle ticket only is $100. Admission to event only is $25 per person. Drawing event is March 11 at Ristorante Molise in Amesbury.
You can buy your chance for the big prize or by clicking on this link or order and pay by check in the amount of $100.00 for each raffle ticket you are ordering, plus $25.00 per person for the number of people who will be attending Raffle night in person; made out to Amesbury Rotary, with Raffle Royale written in the memo line, and include your contact information, and the number of raffle tickets and raffle night admission tickets being ordered. Then mail to Amesbury Rotary, PO Box 554, Amesbury, MA 01913, or drop it off at Stoneridge Properties, 20 Market Street, Amesbury.
The evening of the drawing we are also going to have grab bags and a drop bucket for those who attend in person (only $25). Get your tickets today and enjoy a fun evening with good friends, and good food. Any way you look at it, you're a winner.
This week, Woburn Rotary's annual defibrillator donation was presented to the Woburn Public Library. Library Director and Honorary Rotary member Hermayne Gordon was there to accept the donation.
Also, Rotary Club of Woburn President Brian Ouellette presented a short film he filmed and directed about the library titled "The Renovation & Expansion of the Woburn Public Library". The film documents the construction of the library addition from 2016 - 2019 using drone footage and rare construction footage of inside the library. The film was co-directed by Susan Thifault and written and narrated by former library director Andrea Bunker. Special thanks to former long-time library director Kathy O'Doherty and President of Library Trustees Richard Mahoney for their input on the film.
I am Sophie Saquet, a current senior at North Reading High School, and 2024 Miss North Reading. I am a finalist competing for the Miss Massachusetts USA title this March and I wanted to invite you to take part in this journey! Outside of my passion for pageants, I am member of the North Reading Interact Club, as well as serve as Vice Governor for the District 7930 Interact Council. I love to support the community I represent and to bring to life great opportunities for growth. For this reason, I established a GoFundMe that will not only support the finances required for me to compete in Miss Massachusetts, but half of the amount donated will go directly to suicide prevention. I hope you consider donating to this fund, as this cause is very important to me. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. Download a flyer with details here.
At their weekly breakfast meeting, Marblehead Harbor Rotary members assembled Valentine’s Day cheer packs for 47 clients of a local rehabilitation and skilled nursing home. The tiny arrangements contained faux rosebuds and were designed to give lasting happiness in smaller spaces like a bed table or bureau top. A card of good wishes accompanied each bud vase.
Lynn Rotary recently received an update on all the activities of the Lynn Classical Interact Club. Lynn Classical Interact Club Faculty Advisor and English teacher Lauren Jenkins reported as follows:
The Interact Club has been doing a fantastic job of keeping up with community happenings.
Our students ran a Turkey Box fundraiser, and we received 18 paper boxes that we filled with everything but the turkey. Students at Lynn Classical, who were identified by our family liaison, were able to take these boxes home to their families. We also received almost $600 in donations, so we were also able to give families gift cards to Market Basket. It was a huge success.
Past District Governor Ingrid Brown celebrated Rockport’s inbound Rotary Youth Exchange student Lila Michaux’s sixteenth birthday. Also attending was one of District 7930's newest outbound students, Mari Penaloza, who will be going to Italy for the 2024-2025 school year. Such a great program!
As we cap off our Get Movin' to End Polio fundraising - let's join together to learn the latest information from Rotary International Polio Society Chair, Mike McGovern on where we really are with Ending Polio! February 7, 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Zoom.
Mike McGovern is Past District Governor of District 7780 and a member of the Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth, Maine. He currently serves as chair of the International PolioPlus Committee.
The Winchester Rotary volunteered at the Greater Boston Food Bank on Saturday, January 27th, and helped package 20,000 meals for our neighbors in Massachusetts.
The Greater Boston Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. GBFB works to increase food distribution to provide three meals a day to every person in need in Eastern Massachusetts while supporting healthy lives and healthy communities.
For more information or to get involved with GBFB, click here.
Save the Date – Lynnfield Rotary’s Build A Bed - May 11, 2024, 9:00 am, Market Street
Build A Bed is returning to Market Street in Lynnfield on Saturday, May 11, 2024. In 2022 Lynnfield Rotary hosted its first Build A Bed project producing ten beds for children in Massachusetts. Last year ninety-one volunteers built twenty-two beds, exceeding our goal. We are optimistic for 2024 to be our best year.
Lumber, hardware, tools, and expert instruction to construct the bed frames will be provided. People will work in groups of up to four builders.
The beds cost $350 each. Upon completion, a mattress will be added, and the finished product will be delivered to the child’s home.
Individuals, families, and organizations can participate as follows:
One or more beds can be purchased for $350 each. This allows your team to attend the event and build the frames. If you prefer, your donation will allow a bed to be constructed by our volunteers in your name.
DEI DISCUSSION SERIES #4, February 21, 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
An Inspirational Presentation by Rotarian James Norris, Founder/Owner/Executive director of Handi Capable Fitness helping Handi Capable community and training Handi Capable athletes. James will share his life's experience!
Handi Capable Fitness is dedicated to encouraging people to get out, be active, and be proud of the life they live. On this journey, bodies become stronger and able to push harder. A Handi Capable athlete is someone who sees beyond their challenges and has the courage to be active. It’s not about whether you win the race. Being a Handi Capable athlete is about getting out and taking action, no matter what.
James is also an author of many books such as Feeling Left Out: The First in a Series Children's Books and Feeling Accepted: Coast to Coast: The second in the series.
WHO: For any Rotarians who want to learn more about Rotary’s structure, programs, leadership styles, fundraising, and service opportunities. It is not necessary to be on a club leadership track to participate.
REGISTER NOW AT:https://rlinea.org/ and then on the left side click on More Info under the heading "RLI NEA Seminar - Dist 7930-Wakefield, MA-Virtual; February 27th 2024"
Greetings everyone! Salem Rotarians will participate in the upcoming "Frozen Flamingo Frolic" - an icy plunge into our cold Salem ocean waters! One of Rotary's primary initiatives is a commitment to ending Polio in the world. Our local Frolic is Salem Rotary's contribution to this effort with Plunge proceeds going to this important worldwide initiative. Note that Salem Harbor Master has advised us to change the original location due to the tide.
Wear water shoes of some kind to protect your feet from rocks, debris, etc.
The area has been icy, so take your time getting down the ramp.
No jumping off the dock or surrounding area; You must enter from the boat ramp.
Be advised that health issues from plunging can occur well after you get out of the water as your blood tries to warm your extremities. If you feel off 15 – 20 minutes after you get out of the water, get checked out to make sure nothing serious is occurring.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea welcomed its newest member, Allison Gamble. Allison works for North Suffolk Community Services in Advancement and Grants. She was sworn in by Past President Allan I. Alpert and welcomed by President Almi Abeyta.
The Winchester Rotary capped off a year of support for Mission of Deed in December with a winter coat drive contributing over 75 coats and our annual linen and bedspread donation of over $2000. The club volunteers monthly to assist new clients as they receive new beds, furniture, linens, and kitchen supplies for clients on the north shore.
Winchester Rotary has a long history of supporting the Mission of Deeds, going back to its founding by a Winchester Rotarian. The Mission of Deeds has served over 16,500 clients through local donations and grants since its founding. Consider donating your used furniture to them or joining one of their upcoming fundraising events. www.missionofdeeds.org
In our latest fundraiser, the Beverly Rotary Club conducted an online auction, raffling off only one item: a trip to LA to see the Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre, with a 2-night hotel stay. The winner at two minutes before the closing time was Jen Lapan. She bid on it for her daughter and roommate, who are studying in the theatre department in college. The two girls took off on their adventure and stayed in the hotel right near the Peacock Theatre. Reports from mom to us are that they had a blast. They hobnobbed with the stars on the Red Carpet. They did some sightseeing and visited Hollywood emmy museums. The city life at night was great too. Our club obtained the tickets from a member's son who works in Los Angeles. Thanks to him, we were thrilled to bring happiness to these young ladies, and simultaneously we raised money toward our projects this year. You can tell from the photo below that it was a trip to remember! And the winner is.......everyone!!!
The Belle Isle Rotary and Parkway Rotary Clubs are very excited to be gearing up for our 2nd Annual Be Bold-Get Cold Plunge to be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024. The doors will open at 9am and the plunge will take place at 11am (which is high tide and there is a ramp we walk down and plunge from!)
Like last year, which was a rousing and fun success bringing together many Rotary Clubs in District 7930, the event will be held at the East Boston Yacht Club, 1 Rice Street, East Boston, MA 02128. There is plenty of parking and of course there will be plenty of refreshments and fun for all. Hope to see you there!
Come to plunge or just to cheer. Lots of food (potluck) and fun. Drinks/mimosas (cash bar). Grill to be fired up. Raffles and prizes.
They say, "One person's trash, is another's treasure." Recently, the Wakefield Rotary Club put that idiom to the test during the club's Second Chances Auction. The internal fundraiser invited members to bring gently used or unwanted items in for donation. Other members can then bid on them, generally starting with a bid of just five dollars.
Rotarian Wendy Maguire explained, "We've all gotten something for our birthday or holiday that just isn't quite what you'd want or use. That's the stuff we wanted for the auction!" The meeting began with a reflection by Past Rotary President Jim Fitzgerald who reminded the club that Rotary is all about giving second chances...to people, to projects, and to ideas. He ended his reflection with a clip from the song "Second Chances" by Gregory Alan Isakov.
The main event at the recent Rotary International's International Assembly attended by District Governor-Elect Tom Hankard in Orlando, Florida, is the unveiling of Rotary's annual theme.
International President-Elect Stephanie A. Urchick announced "The Magic of Rotary" is our theme for next year.
Stephanie recalled how on a service trip, to the Dominican Republic a boy who saw clean water coming out of a new water filter called out to Stephanie for her to show him that "magic" again. Watch a short video of the announcement.
The Magic of Rotary will also be the final annual theme as Rotary International transitions to multi-year themes for both internal and external use.
In a 2019 article "Socks Are A Critical Component of Our Health" by Harold Cox, the Associate Dean for Public Health Practice and Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at Boston University School of Public Health, most homeless people face foot care problems because they often lack resources to buy well-fitting, adequate footwear. Many homeless people have a condition called polyneuropathy, in which they lose nerve function and cannot feel irritations of the feet. The thickened skin can then break down to an ulcer and become infected, causing sepsis or even deep bone infections. Lack of access to quality health care can exacerbate these problems. All of this can be mitigated with proper foot care, including access to clean socks.
It is with a heavy heart, that we are reach out to share the news that Al Fay, our friend and longtime member of Burlington Rotary, has passed away.
Al was a model Rotarian and, more importantly than that, he was the best example of a good citizen, neighbor, friend, family man, and, simply put, person. He is a true role model of what a community leader should be. Al Fay joined Rotary 12/3/2010 and was a member until his passing. He leaves behind an amazing legacy.
Every conversation with Al was interesting and full of countless stories about his time as Fire Chief, Selectman, early resident of Burlington and more clubs and activities that we can note here.
Please keep Al, his wife Joyce, and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Al was truly an amazing person. Burlington will not be the same without him. Our club will miss him terribly.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Al’s name may be made to the to the Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation c/o Brian Curtin 35 Center Street, Burlington, MA 01803
Posted by Ingrid Brown, District Polio Chair on Jan 19, 2024
Here's your a reminder to get your donations and get fit for 2024! It’s up to you to make the difference for the children of the world, so let’s do this together!
Time to get moving, put on those new exercise outfits and sneakers, and let’s all make some healthy New Year’s resolutions, and raise some serious funds for the eradication of polio! You can choose your own dates, so no excuse about scheduling!
How do you move: (@$25-$50 per hour?)
Clean your house; food shop; yoga or exercise class; ride a bike; ski (if you can find snow); Polar Plunge alone or with a group; join in one of the district events; use your imagination – anything goes!
How do you raise donations:
Ask family members; ask club members; ask co-workers; support yourself
Either set up a Raise For Rotary page or collect $$/checks and have your club send to Rotary End Polio.
It’s that time of year again! We are excited to share RYLA 2024 will be taking place May 17th-19th at Camp Rotary in Boxford, MA. We are ready for this year’s group of students to experience a full weekend of learning, discovering, and connecting with each other. With how busy the end of year can be, make sure to save the date for RYLA 2024 before your schedule fills up!
For more information or any questions, please reach out to RYLA Lead Christina Harris or view the RYLA page on our website.
Lynnfield Rotary in collaboration with a local community partnership, A Healthy Lynnfield, is offering an 8 hour certificate training in Mental Health First Aid. This is a practical skills based course to teach the public how to respond appropriately to someone that exhibits signs of mental illness or substance use. There are only a few seats left. Rotarians are welcome to register for this nationally renowned program. The deadline is Friday 1/19. Participants are required to attend both sessions.
Where would you go if you could dine anywhere in the world with no limits on how far you travel?
The Wakefield Rotary Club is hosting its fifth chance that offers the winner a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Dine Anywhere in the World Contest offers one lucky winner and a guest the opportunity to win a trip to any destination in the world of their choosing! The winner will receive round-trip airfare for two, an overnight in a 4-star or better hotel and a gift certificate for dinner to the restaurant of their choosing!
On January 10, 2024, the Rotary Club of Lynn continued with its tradition of distributing dictionaries to 3rd graders in the 18 public elementary schools in Lynn. Since 2008, the Rotary Club of Lynn has presented over 1,200 dictionaries annually to third-grade students in the Lynn Public Schools. This year marks the 15th consecutive year of this service project for the club and a distribution of over 19,000 dictionaries since its inception!
The Reading Cooperative Bank continued with its financial support of this project by funding the purchase of the dictionaries. Additionally, the bank supported the project by providing the assistance of at least 11 staff members to aid in the distribution.
In addition to the bank assisting the Lynn School District had 15 volunteers to assist in the distribution. The Superintendent, Evonne Alvares, the Deputy Superintendent Debra Ruggiero were among the staff members who contributed their time.
Pictured here with Lynn 3rd graders are Rotarian Ray Bastarache, Lynn School District, Tina Hooufnagiel, and Reading Cooperative Bank's Tess Cunha and Maria Santa.
The Swampscott Rotary Club has been delivering Holiday Fruit baskets for over 40 years. These go to Swampscott and Nahant Senior Centers, Town Departments, senior citizens, widows and widowers and others who may be ill or need extra support.
Over the last several years we average about 80 baskets delivered each year.
Every year we receive numerous thank you notes and cards, but none more interesting (or impressive) as the attached thank you from Nahant resident, Calantha Sears, age 102!
The Frigid Fiver 5K is back! Sunday, February 4, 2024 11am at RiverWalk Brewing Co. Come join the Rotary Club of Newburyport and Joppa Flats Running Club to stretch those muscles and have some time with friends! Race proceeds go back into our communities.
Register at this link. The cost is $25 for pre-registration and $30 on the day of race. The first 200 registered participants will receive a long-sleeved shirt, in addition to prizes for the winners, and of course, good food and beer at RiverWalk!
The Rotary Club of Newburyport supports our community through popular events and fundraising. It is because of your support that our Rotary Club has accomplish so much! We hope people know that when one supports the Rotary Club of Newburyport, they are in turn supporting a myriad of other community-oriented initiatives.
The Rotary Club of Peabody is inviting everyone to get moving to end Polio with yoga! On January 25, 2024 @ 6PM, we will proudly join Rotary International and Rotary District 7930 in their efforts to “Get Moving” eradicate polio. Rotary Peabody’s goal is to raise more than $500 There will be two ways to support the Rotary Peabody: get moving at our yoga class or sponsor a Rotary Peabody team member who will be participating in the class.
Ipswich High School Interact leaders of the 2023 Jingle Bell Walk met with Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians last week to announce the revenue from their event, Jingle Bell Walk, nearly doubled from the previous year. They were on hand to present Ipswich Caring with a check for $1,500. Additional proceeds will fund their micro loan projects with Kiva.
For more than 40 years, non-profit Ipswich Caring has assisted Ipswich families in need. With the help of over 200 volunteers, "Ipswich Caring provides financial and in-kind support to youth, adults and families through a variety of programs and services." Like Rotary, this group is dedicated to Service Above Self.
Join in on the P is for POLIO FUN-raiser to help eradicate Polio worldwide, January 28th 5:30-8 pm. Sign up with your family, sign up with your friends. Click the link and pick an activity or two. Pool space is available for plunging with families as well. $25/person suggested minimum donation to join in the fun.
Yes! Polio still exists, which can severely disable children and is not curable. Vaccinations prevent Polio. Rotary has significantly contributed to eradicating Polio in 99.9% of the world. Unless we eradicate polio, within 10 years, as many as 200,000 new cases could occur around the world each year. In the past few years, only two countries have reported cases of polio caused by the wild virus, but no child anywhere is safe until we’ve vaccinated every child.
Click and sign up to reserve your activities and times at the Ipswich YMCA. Thank you to the Ipswich YMCA for donating the space for this important fundraiser. If you are not a member, please bring your entrance fee payable to Ipswich Rotary Trust or in cash.
The Wakefield Rotary Club is pleased to announce its newest member, Patricia Birchem. Birchem was recently installed into the club earlier this season by Wakefield Rotary Past President, Lisa Roderick and her sponsor, Past President Amy Luckiewicz.
Birchem is most interested in developing economic and community development projects along with scholarships and youth programs through her membership in Rotary. She explained her interest in joining the club, “I was drawn to the guiding principles of truth, fairness, goodwill, friendship and giving back to those in need.” She added, “I’m looking forward to making lasting change in the world and our local community by taking action through service.”
Birchem is a realtor with Leading Edge Real Estate. She grew up in Medford and now resides in Wakefield with her husband Mark. The couple has two children, Isabella and Caleb.
Pictured here is Patricia Birchem at her Installation with Lisa Roderick.
The District Environmental Committee is up and running and wants your suggestions! If your club has an environmental committee, let's talk and discuss what you are doing and how we can work together to take your projects further.
Water plastics and pollinators... these are the issues the Ipswich-Rowley Club are working on. The Ipswich-Rowley Club has a Global Grant focused on Water Conservation. We have partnered with the Ipswich River Watershed and are seeing positive results. I will be attending the ESRAG Projects Fair at the end of January to showcase this grant.
Is your club looking for a speaker? Please contact me, Andrea LaCroix. I have been making the rounds at many Rotary clubs delivering a very informative talk on plastics. I am available to speak at your club, will have giveaways to distribute and am very excited to come give in-person presentation soon!
May seems like it's far away, but we will begin promoting No Mow May in March.
Due to a scheduling conflict, the next District Environmental meeting will be January 24th at 6pm. Please email me for a zoom link.
In November, the nomination committee selected Terry Curran, from the Parkway Rotary Club as the District Governor Nominee Designee (DGND). An eBulletin went out to the entire District in November indicating her selection and asking for any challenges. No challenges were submitted by any club in our District by the December 31st deadline.
Therefore, we are excited to announce Terry has been elected to be the DGND for District 7930 and will serve as our District Governor 2026-27!
Congratulations Terry!
Terry joined the Parkway Rotary Club of West Roxbury, Roslindale and Jamaica Plain in 2007 and served as President of the Club multiple times from 2011-2013, 2014-2015, and 2016-2018. She proudly served on the Club’s Board of Directors for ten years and also served as Club Membership Chair, Public Image Chair, Webmaster and Foundation Chair a position she still holds.
Happy New Year! Cheers to a new year and new opportunities for Service Above Self.
Wishing all Rotarians, partners, friends and neighbors happy and healthy New Year!
Thank you to all who for your story submissions for the eBulletin and website. It is so inspiring to see the work and fun from throughout our District. The link for submitting stories can always be found on our website or find it directly at this link.
May the new year bring you joy, peace, and happiness.
Posted by Ingrid Brown, District Polio Chair on Dec 29, 2023
Are YOU ready?? Time to get off your duff, put on those new exercise outfits and sneakers, and let’s all make some healthy New Year’s resolutions, AND raise some serious funds for the eradication of polio! You can choose your own date(s) so no excuse about scheduling!
How do you move: (@$25-$50 per hour?)
Clean your house; food shop; yoga or exercise class; ride a bike; ski (if you can find snow); Polar Plunge alone or with a group; join in one of the district events; use your imagination – anything goes!
How do you raise donations:
Ask family members; ask club members; ask co-workers; support yourself
Either set up a Raise For Rotary page or collect $$/checks and have your club send to Rotary End Polio.
March 19th, 2024 will be the 20th anniversary of Rotary Peabody's popular and biggest fundraiser of the year. We're inviting all Rotarians to join us to enjoy the best flavors the North Shore has to offer. Our $10,000 raffle (only 300 tickets sold), wine and beer raffle, $20 grab bags (value of $25 or more) will once again be a part of this event. This event supports deserving high school students with scholarships, helps feed food insecure families and funds the service projects we perform year-round to make our community stronger. For more information go to www.peabodyrotarytaste.com to purchase tickets and get more information about sponsorship opportunities. We hope you'll join us!
Promote your Rotary’s Public Image. A strong and vibrant Public Image is one of 2 proven key tactics for successful and growing clubs -- the other is a large number of service projects. Effective Public Image helps expand your reach and artfully tell compelling stories that demonstrate Rotarians as people of action. The Public Image Committee’s role is to help clubs to have a robust media and social media strategy, an up-to-date website and an engaging online presence in their local communities.
We suggest all clubs engage on social media to boost your Public Image. Social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.) provide streamlined opportunity to get your stories out there. The various platforms can provide a direct way to push your news to the public. Here are some tips to think about.
Save the Date! RYLA is coming May 17-19, Camp Rotary in Boxford.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary International’s leadership training program for young people. Rotary District 7930 has a long-running annual program for high school students.
High school, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are invited to attend a weekend-long event, where they learn life and leadership skills including goal setting, cultural understanding, problem solving, communication, public speaking, networking, community building, team building and more!
Ingrid Brown from Rockport Rotary celebrated an International Holiday Lunch at a Turkish restaurant with her former Global Scholar, Makiko Ueda, from Japan and current French Youth Exchange student, Lila Michaux.
Maki’s parents just arrived from Japan to celebrate Christmas with the whole family.
The Salem Rotary Club recently hosted its annual Department of Children and Families Holiday party. This event supports children throughout the North Shore region and allows foster children the opportunity to celebrate the holidays with their foster families and often their siblings who are not able to be housed in the same foster home. Hosted at the beautiful Kernwood Country Club in Salem, this fun afternoon provided fun activities, a magician, stories with Elsa and Anna, good food, gifts, and a visit from Santa Claus himself.
"The Salem Rotary Club is proud to support DCF at this annual event,” said Club President Jen Close. “This event is something we look forward to every year, and Rotarians have just as much fun bringing joy to families in our community as the children who attend."
Wishing all Rotarians, community partners and friends the happiest Season's Greetings and Happy New Year. Thank you for all you do for your Rotary club and community. We appreciate all you do!
We hope you all are able to take time to spend time with family and friends during this time.
Best Wishes to All and continue to Create Hope in the World!
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently announced the election of its new officers and directors at its Annual Meeting. The club elects new leadership each year in accordance with its by-laws. The 2024-2025 Board of Directors include Margie Daniels, Joie Gerrish, Mike Sullivan, Jill McWilliam, Steve Skory, Glen Duffy (Immediate Past President) and Amy Luckiewicz (Past Presidents’ Representative). Suzanne Bowering will serve as Club Secretary, Barbara Worley as Club Treasurer and Frank Fiorentino as Sergeant-at-Arms. Kathy Boyle was elected Vice President/President-Elect and Wendy Maguire will serve as President for the 2024-2025 term.
Members of the Chelsea Rotary Club helped the Chelsea Salvation Army raise funds for the holiday season by ringing the kettle bells at the Chelsea Market Basket. The Rotarians rang the bells at both entrances from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Rotary Club has been supporting the Salvation Army by ringing the kettle bells for over 20 years.
It's that time of the year again where the Rotary Club of Andover is reaching out to our friends and community for nominations to recognize those unsung heroes among us for the title 2024 Citizens Who Care. To be recognized are Citizens Who Care, Educator of the Year and Student of the Year.
Nominations are being accepted through January 15, 2024 and information can be found on the club's website.
Thank you for the time, energy, and financial support you give to Rotary’s mission. Consider showing this great video at your next club meeting:
The Rotary Foundation plans for the future, not just for today, and helps members put ideas into action. In the words of Arch Klumph:
“Rotary has assumed a great obligation to the world … . Its opportunities are limitless, but its income today and of tomorrow will never permit it to do the many things which it could and should do. Let me remind you of these three facts: (1) money alone does little good, (2) individual service is helpless without money, (3) the two together can be a godsend to civilization.”
Thank you for the time, energy, and financial support you give to Rotary’s mission.
Many members of the Rotary Club of Woburn recently participated in an event to cook and serve breakfast at the Senior Center on School St. in Woburn. The senior guests were served scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage patties and strawberries along with orange juice and coffee that was donated by a local Dunkin' franchise. The senior guests were also entertained by a local Irish American entertainer, Mossie Coughlan. Mossie had the guests singing classics such as "Oh Danny Boy" and even got some of them up to dance.
Members of the Greater Salem, NH Club participated in our annual Salvation Army bell ringing.
For over two decades we have been collecting donations for those in need, the Club matching every dollar we collect.
We continue to engage in the community findings ways to help others and make a positive difference, as we stand by our Rotary motto “Service Above Self.”
View the recording of the special webinar hosted by our DEI Committee on December 6. Our DG Lori Karas joined with Israel's D2490 DG Bashir Nusair from District 2490 on how everyday life has changed in Israel since October 7, 2023.
Hear the firsthand accounts from Rotarians on life with warning sirens and rockets. Learn what they are doing to support one another and the community.
You can support The Rotary Foundation all year by making a recurring gift with Rotary Direct. Choose how much and how often to give, using this simple and secure tool to make a big impact.
The Wakefield Rotary Club completed its annual Autumn donation of dictionaries to every third grader in Wakefield. 314 copies were hand-delivered to all Wakefield public schools as well as Odyssey and St. Joseph’s School. Diligent Rotarians Suzanne Bowering, Barbara Worley, Tom Stapleton, Joie Gerrish, Paul Adams, Wendy Maguire, Lisa Roderick, and Jill McWilliam visited each school and walked students through some of the resource’s highlights including how to look up the word “volunteer,” the American Sign Language alphabet, and historical information all included in the book.
The project has been going on decades. And although it may seem dated, there is evidence that hard copy dictionaries still have meaning. In a recent article, “Hold Onto Your Paperback Dictionaries, Don’t Throw Them Away,” Third Grade Teacher Heather Stamps highlighted several reasons for their relevance including exposure to new vocabulary and organization. She added, "Paperback dictionaries provide elementary school students with repeated exposure to the alphabetization method of information organization at a fixed cost." Fueled by this article, the feedback from Wakefield teachers and students’ smiles, the Wakefield Rotary Club looks forward to continuing this project for years to come.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently contributed items to the Wakefield Interact’s Care Closet. The Care Closet is accessible to high school students and contains free clothes and other necessary toiletries for students in need. Rotarians donated items to kick start the closet including items for students as well as hangers and containers for storage. Interact Advisor Bridget Hagerty and Interact leaders Ahmen Othman and Riya Patel visited the club this week to pick up the items.
The Care Closet is still seeking items including teenage clothes, coats, winter boots, toiletries (deodorant, body spray, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo, conditioner, soap, feminine products, etc.), laundry detergent, or monetary donations to purchase these items. To make a donation, please contact Wakefield Interact Advisor Bridget Hagerty at the Wakefield High School.
Please join us for the next District Wide Environmental Committee meeting on Dec. 27th at 6 pm. Please email Andrea LaCroix for the Zoom link.
In the meantime, here are tips for a Plastic Free Holiday Season:
1. Choose Plastic-Free Gifts That Prevent Waste. Looking for the perfect practical gift? Reusable metal, glass, or ceramic water bottles and travel mugs are plastic-free gifts that will also help the recipient to reduce future waste! Other zero-waste gifts include bamboo utensil sets, stainless steel straws, loose tea and tea strainers, beeswax food wrap, Swedish reusable cloths, a stainless-steel tiffin (perfect for bringing lunch or keeping in your car to have handy if you go out to eat to bring leftovers home in), reusable bowl covers, reusable cotton tote bags, stainless steel or ceramic compost bins for your kitchen, and so much more.
Rotary Club of Lexington began their annual Sand for Seniors event. Dropping off ice melt to seniors ahead of the snowy season.
Sand 4 Seniors is a volunteer program provided by the Lexington Rotary designed to increase safety during the winter months and help reduce the risk of falls. This program was created for eligible seniors who are either physically or financially unable to acquire their own bucket of an ice melt product.
This program is available to Lexington residents 60 or over, live in their own home and are physically or financial unable to get ice melt themselves.
The Medford and Malden Rotarians again hosted the seniors of their respective football teams for their annual Thanksgiving Football Rally luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 16th at Pearl Street Station in Malden. President Paul Solano of Malden and Past President Paul Bardaro of Medford were the emcees. Also invited were the Senior football players and captain, the Senior cheerleaders and the coaching staff of both schools. The Superintendent of both Malden and Medford along with the school Principals and other school administrators.
Rotarians from both Medford and Malden Clubs were in attendance along with several Medford Alumni players who were invited to join us.
The Massachusetts high school football rivalry between Malden and Medford dates back to 1889, making it the second-oldest continuous high school football rivalry in the country!
A good time was had by all. Go Mustangs! Go Tornados!
You can honor a loved one in a meaningful way with a contribution to The Rotary Foundation that helps sustain our efforts around the world.
The easiest way is to start at rotary.org/donate and select the option to make a donation in honor or in memory of someone. You can contribute to the Annual Fund-SHARE, the World Fund, the Endowment, PolioPlus, the Disaster Response Fund, a specific area of focus or a global grant.
As the donor, you’ll receive gift credit and a tax receipt (where applicable). The person you’re honoring or their family can be notified of your gift by email, or you can choose to print a notification and deliver it yourself.
Consider making a gift to the Foundation today to honor someone you love.
You’ve seen the show on TV. Did you ever imagine being there? Well, here’s your chance to be among the stars at the 75th 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California on January 15th, 2024! What a great event sponsored by the Beverly Rotary Club to support our students so they can become STARS!! TICKETS ARE NOT SOLD FOR THIS EVENT. They are PRICELESS! You get a souvenir book with all the categories and photos in it. You see your favorites walking down the Red Carpet that YOU just walked down. They even stop to take photos and some with just you! You are there as they show it live on television. This is an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime event! This package includes a two-night stay at the Wayfarer Hotel by Hilton, which is minutes from where the Emmys Awards will be held. What an incredible memory you’ll be making!
May I have the envelope please? And the winner is...YOU!!!!
START BIDDING NOW! Auction ends 6pm December 19, 2023.
As the District representative on the Council of Legislation (COL) I wanted to let you know the results of the recent meeting. Twenty six resolutions were transmitted to the Council and 7 resolutions were adopted, all of which were recommendations to the RI Board. TheRI Board will consider these items at its upcoming meetings. The Report of Actions can be viewed here.
Voting results for all 2023 resolutions can be found on My Rotary here.
Should you have any questions about the Council on Resolutions or the adopted items, please contact Council Services at council_services@rotary.org. The deadline for submitting resolutions to the next Council on Resolutions is 30 June 2024.
On Wednesday, November 22, the Austin Prep Interact Club served pre-Thanksgiving meals at the Salvation Army Cambridge Corps Community Center.
The Interact was accompanied on this service project by Advisor and Reading Rotarian Lisa Simmons. Lisa serves as Assistant Admissions Director at Austin Prep. The Austin Prep Interact is sponsored by Reading Rotary.
Austin Prep is an independent Augustinian Catholic school in Reading serving boys and girls in grades 6 through 12.
Donations to the Foundation are essential to securing and expanding our programs throughout the world. We recognize with gratitude clubs that make extraordinary contributions.
100% Paul Harris Fellow Club: These are clubs in which all dues-paying members are Paul Harris Fellows. The club receives a banner. This is a one-time recognition, but the intent is that the club will maintain its status.
100% Foundation Giving Club: This banner is given to clubs that have an average of US$100 in per capita giving and in which every dues-paying member donates at least $25 during the year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, the Endowment, or approved global grants.
Every Rotarian, Every Year Club: This banner is awarded to clubs that have a minimum Annual Fund contribution of $100 per capita during the year and in which every dues-paying member personally contributes at least $25 to the Annual Fund in that time period.
Top Three Per Capita in Annual Fund Giving: These banners are presented each year to the three clubs in each district with the highest per capita Annual Fund giving.
100% Paul Harris Society Club: This banner is awarded to clubs in which every dues-paying member contributes at least $1,000 during the year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved global grant.
100% Rotary’s Promise Club: These are clubs in which every dues-paying member supports the Endowment with an outright gift of $1,000 or more or a commitment of at least that amount in an estate plan. These clubs receive a certificate upon request.
The 101st annual pre-Thanksgiving Football Luncheon, hosted by Lynn Rotary, was held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at the Lynn Knights of Columbus. The luncheon is to get the Captains from the five Lynn High School football teams together for a friendly gathering before the Thanksgiving games. Also included were the Cheerleader Captains and the Band Director. The event Chairperson, Sean Reid, said: “Even though there is this tremendous long-standing rivalry we are still one Lynn.” This year marks the 109th Thanksgiving game between Classical and English!
Giving Tuesday, November 28th, is a great time to promote Foundation giving. Support our Foundation on Giving Tuesday, November 28th. Make a gift to the Foundation and share your support on social media. The top clubs in fundraising, participation, and online giving will be featured on My Rotary. Read about last year’s honorees.
2. Other ideas to promote the Foundation
a. Share our impact. Take time during a club meeting to show members how the Foundation transforms gifts into service projects that advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by fighting disease, improving the quality of education, protecting the environment, alleviating poverty, and doing even more. Invite a Foundation scholarship recipient or a community member who was involved in or benefited from a grant project to speak about the Foundation’s impact on their life.
Tracey Scherrer Friedman, Executive Director of The Haven Project, along with her colleagues Jamie Ayer and Angelica Perez Baez, presented on November 16 to Lynn Rotary information concerning their nonprofit and what they do to help homeless young people in Lynn.
Tracey explained that The Haven Project was the first organization north of Boston dedicated specifically to providing age-appropriate services to a growing, vulnerable 17 to 24 year old homeless young adult population. Since 2011, they have been implementing their mission through six essential focus areas: basic needs, employment, housing, education, health, and community engagement.
Past RI President Jennifer Jones informed Past District Governor Alexander Falk today that our District 7930 was one of only 53 districts in the world to receive the District Citation for the previous 2022-23 Rotary year.
This citation is awarded to districts where at least half of the Rotary Clubs have achieved the Rotary Citation for the prior year.
IPDG Alexander Falk is presently scheduling visits to those clubs to present them with their framed Citation certificate at some point in the next 2-3 months and to recognize the great work that those clubs and their presidents have accomplished in the previous Rotary year.
Click on Read more... to read the letter from PRIP Jennifer Jones.
Please join us for a special webinar hosted by the DEI Committee - Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at 7:30AM
Topic: Everyday life changed on October 7, 2023, in Israel.
Join District Governor Bashir Nusair from District 2490 in Israel, Rotarians from Israel and our District Governor Lori Karas.
During this meeting you will hear firsthand accounts from Rotarians on life with warning sirens and rockets. Learn what they are doing to support one another and the community. We’ll also talk about how we can help, too. Register here.
Having enough time is always a challenge so at the Rotary Club of Andover, we wanted to remove that challenge from our membership options. A weekly meeting/commitment may be a deterrent for some who want to become involved in a service organization so about 7 years ago, our club added a Service Membership in addition to our Regular (aka Traditional) and Corporate/Family Membership options.
A Service Member at our club can participate in all activities (volunteer opportunities, committees, club and district events, etc.). The quarterly dues are $100 and include one breakfast meeting per month. Additional breakfast meetings are encouraged and incur a nominal fee.
The Gloucester Rotary has published a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2024, featuring the photography of several local photographers. In addition to the beautiful photography, each calendar includes a raffle ticket for a $50 weekly raffle drawing throughout the year. The calendars are $25 each and proceeds from sales will be used for the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities.
The calendars are available for purchase at the Weathervane Gift Shop, located at 153 Main Street in Gloucester (phone 978-281-1227), at BankGloucester, located at 160 Main Street in Gloucester (978-283-8200), and from any Gloucester Rotary member. Calendars may also be purchased online at https://gloucesterrotary.org/page/calendar.
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.
On November 8, the Andover Interact Club hosted the District-wide InteractCafe event which included Interactors from Haverhill, Lawrence and North Andover. At the Cafe, which is a workshop that explores initiatives for interact across the district, Andover interact Club President, Annabel Pierce presented Alan Michel with a check for $500. They raised the funds from the Chamber of Commerce, while volunteering for Andover Days. The funds will be used to match the Andover Rotary Club grant that we are receiving from the Rotary District to purchase the Buddy Bench. Chamber member Bob Lavoie presented the check to Interact President Annabel Pierce. In the photo from left to right are Chamber Member, Bob Lavoie, Interact President Annabel Pierce and interact members Saoirse Daly, Silvia Storch, and Savannah Ross.
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.’
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 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.
Paul Harris Fellow recognition is given to anyone who contributes at least US$1,000 to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved global grant. This recognition, which consists of a certificate and pin, can also be given on behalf of someone else.
More than 1.85 million people have become Paul Harris Fellows since 1957, including notable figures such as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, and polio vaccine developer Dr. Jonas Salk.
Are you ready to become a Paul Harris Fellow and support The Rotary Foundation at this level? Read about the History of the PHF Recognition.
Yours in Rotary, D7930 Foundation Committee
Looking for a speaker? Contact Joan Arsenault to arrange for a talk on our member benefit The Rotary Foundation!
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.”
Marblehead Rotary and the Marblehead community again came together to raise funding for "Inner Explorer," a mindfulness platform designed to support mental health and well-being in schools and centers across Marblehead schools. The annual 5K run attracted 90+ runners on a sunny, mild November morning. Winding through the town's historic alleys and finishing for a relaxed celebration at the Boston Yacht Club over foot-long hot dogs and delicious New England Clam Chowder, it was a smashing gathering of families and friends. Congratulations to Adam Kingsbury of Rose Valley, PA, Ist Male Overall, and Kylynn McKinley of Marblehead Ist Female Overall winners. Cheers to the participants, families, friends, volunteers, sponsors, and contributors, and a big shout-out to our chair, Nancy Gwin, for spearheading this successful event! For a complete list of winners, see https://my.raceresult.com/268500/.
We are pleased to announce the recent dedication of the Community Center Billiard Room in remembrance John "Jack" Maloney. Jack made many significant contributions to the community throughout his lifetime and the Rotary Club of Lexington wanted to honor his legacy. Jack was very active in Rotary International, as President of the Lexington Rotary Club 1975-1976, and as District Governor (1980-1981) of district 7930. Jack was also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He belonged to the Lexington Chamber of Commerce. He was a Town Meeting member for many years and was appointed to many committees in Lexington. Jack was the former President and Chairman on the board of Depositors Trust Company in Medford and Lexington. Jack was also the recipient of the Lexington Lion's Club White Tricorne Hat in 2003 for his outstanding contributions to the Town of Lexington. He also served on the Boards of North Cambridge Catholic in North Cambridge as well as Cristo Rey High School. For many years he served on the board of the Josiah Hayden Recreation Center in Lexington, serving as Treasurer for 10 plus years.
The Swampscott Rotary Club and President Philipp Zeissig welcomed District Governor Lori Karas, AG Martha Mauser, and PDG Alex Falk. It was our honor host them and have Lori update us on district activities and plans and programs.
During our meeting we also recognized a couple of our extra hard working Rotarians:
Diane O'Brien is our incoming vice president. She is a tireless worker for the town and Swampscott Rotary. Along with several other volunteer organizations she in which she is active Diane also helped found, and now heads, our local Anchor Food Pantry. She organized and ran our October Danny Cahill/Anchor Food Pantry 5K Race which netted $10,000 for our food pantry and a Dan Cahill scholarship. For all her volunteer efforts we recognized Diane with a Paul Harris Award.
For the past three years Doug Dubin Has been president twice, volunteering for whatever we are doing, and always there to fill in if needed. For his great spirit and efforts we recognized Doug with a Paul Harris Award—his third!
Swampscott Rotary again sponsored the food for our town's Veteran's Day breakfast at the Senior Center with a donation of $350.
DG Lori Karas Visits Swampscott and Other Happenings
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is partnering with the Ipswich Council on Aging to bring conversation and companionship to senior members of our community isolated or lonely in their homes. We will first receive training from both the COA and professionals in this field before meeting our senior companions.
Posted by Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis on Nov 09, 2023
On Saturday Oct 28 the Melrose Rotary Club hosted their third game night fundraiser. The Spooky Halloween themed event was a replay of our popular LEFT RIGHT CENTER game with winners taking home over $800 in prizes! Melrose Rotarians and their businesses stepped up to sponsor the prizes.
Our generous sponsors included: Mark Robinson - Robinson Funeral Home; Mark Hutchinson - Brad Hutchinson Real Estate; Rosylene Forgione - Melrose Eastern Bank; John Gately - Gately Funeral Home; and Judy Clark-Sullivan & Clark Attorneys.
Raffle prizes and best costume prizes completed the fun evening netting Melrose Rotary $4000, part of which will fund our Happy to Chat Bench and our donation of 125 dental supply toiletry bags to Housing Families, a Malden based 501(c)(3) serving housing insecure families in the Melrose Malden Everett area.
Our next round of Left Right Center will be held on April 6, 2024, at the Melrose Knights of Columbus. Mark your calendar now and watch the District newsletter for ticket details!
The Wakefield Rotary Club brought some in-meeting fun to its Halloween meeting on October 31st. Long-time Rotarians Jay Curley and Amy Luckiewicz hosted a three-part trivia game centered on the holiday. “We love our meetings, but having a theme really brings a change of pace,” Luckiewicz said.
Rotarians and guests in attendance, several in costumes, were divided into 5 teams. The first round cenetred on Halloween trivia. “It included history, geography, and questions that didn’t mean you had to be a Halloween expert,” Luckiewicz added. Round Two was a Halloween, horror and suspense movie picture round. The final round was based on the actors and movie trivia featured in the picture round.
The Peabody Club had lots to celebrate last week. They received a citation for 20 years of being Chamber of Commerce members during a Chamber event. Then Past DG Alexander Falk visited to present the Club with 2 awards:
Achieving at least half of the club goals during the 2022-2023 presidential year; and Being the #3 earner in the District for Foundation donations.
Peabody Rotary sends out extra thanks to Immediate Past Presidient Rob Lowell for guiding them through such a great year.
A Sustaining Member is someone who contributes US$100 or more each year to the Annual Fund. These contributions count toward several different kinds of individual recognition and club recognition banners.
For about US$10 a month, you can be a Sustaining Member and help provide life-changing opportunities for people on a yearly basis!
Just after October 25, 2023 – I reached out to my classmate Tina Champman District Governor of D7790 to inquire what was needed for those in the Lewiston, Auburn, Bowdoin and Winthrop areas, as they lost 18 members of the community. Due to the lock down and the community taking some time to digest all that occurred I’ve received word. The Governor of Maine has posted to their website the names of vetted and reputable organizations. Please visit Healing Together: Supporting Victims and Families of the Tragedy in Lewiston | Office of Governor Janet T. Mills (maine.gov).
This incident, the scores of news reports of people being murdered both locally and afar, remind us of the need to focus on mental health and wellness. Please take care of yourself, family, your fellow Rotarians, neighbors, and community. If you know someone in need of help - please go to www.masshelpline.com.
It's the time of the year again for the most awaited Annual Fundraiser of Wilmington Rotary!
Grand Prize: $10,000.
Other prizes: $1000, $500 and $250.
A Tax-Deductible Donation in the amount of $100 will enter your name in the Raffle Drawing. (Friends and family can also combine their donations to make up to $100). The Drawing will be in the First Named Person on the raffle ticket. Only 350 tickets will be sold.
What: Raffle Drawing of Wilmington Rotary Annual Auction
Where: Knights of Columbus Hall, 112 Middlesex Ave., Wilmington
When: Friday, November 17, 2003, 7:00 pm
Live Auction! Silent Auction! Raffle and Fun!
Please contact Wilmington Rotary Past President Greg Sadowski at 978-657-6167 (office) or 978-808-2681 (cell) or email gregory.sadowski@edwardjones.com for more information.
The District Interact Council is pleased to invite you to join us for one of our exciting InteractCafes this fall. Student run, these great events are designed to support our Interact clubs and educate Rotarians about their critical support role. Note the location change for the 11/15 Cafe.
November's InteractCafes are.
Ipswich HS - Nov. 1
Andover HS - Nov. 8
Wilmington HS - Nov. 15 (note location change)
The updated dates and locations are also on the flyer downloadable here. There is one in each region of the District. While club presidents and Interact coordinators will be invited directly, it is also important that our District leaders have an opportunity to experience the joy of Interact firsthand. It is also a chance to lead by example - to show these young people that we do indeed believe in them and are committed to supporting them in their efforts.
The Rotary Club of Peabody will hold a Walk For Veterans immediately following the Veterans Day ceremonies at City Hall on Saturday, November 11. At the end of the short walk, Rotarians will spend the afternoon cleaning the area around the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and the monument itself, at Courthouse Plaza. In the spirit of Rotary's motto “Service Above Self,” we are indebted to those who served for us. Rotarians will assist those veterans who are in wheelchairs.
Members of the District 7930 community are encouraged to join Rotary on the walk. We also ask that donations to the Peabody Veterans Department be made at peabodyrotarytaste.com. In the message area, please enter “Veterans Walk.” Additionally, we ask that our fellow Rotarians spend some time that afternoon (and every day) assisting veterans by doing chores around their homes, running errands or just keeping them company.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! A proclamation from Governor Maura Healey's office announcing the good news: October 24 is World Polio Day! Marblehead Rotary's Linda Sullivan, the chair of our club's End Polio Now campaign, successfully lobbied the governor's office to declare October 24 as World Polio Day - affirming our district's and the state's Rotary clubs' commitment to keep the promise alive in eradicating Polio. The proclamation:
The Rotary Club of Chelsea recently had a special dinner to celebrate the offficers and directors for the 2023-2024 Rotary Year. At the dinner the Rotary Club presented PHF certificates and pins to seven new PHFs. The new PHFs are Joan Cromwell, Stacey Gurska, Amanda Alpert, Gail Mauch, June Vinard, Kathy Webber and Marilyn Garcia. A PHF pin and certificate will be presented to Helen Zucco at a future Rotary meeting as she was not able to attend the dinner.
The Beverly Rotary Club presents its famous North of Forty Turkey Raffle … and the Gizzard of Oz promo video. You can purchase a ticket for $20 and you might win a 40 lb. turkey!!!
The dressed, locally grown 40 pounds plus turkey will be delivered to the winner's home three days before Thanksgiving with an industrial-sized roasting pan, which will be engraved with the winner's name.
The drawing will be held on Thursday, November 9. You do not have to be present to win. You can purchase tickets for $20 each by contacting Brian Murphy at 978-927-8689 or moiph@comcast.net or by paying online at this link. A copy of your ticket stub will be sent to you via email.
For a good laugh view our video to promote the raffle by clicking here.
We need your blood! Well actually only a pint of it. As everyone knows their is a blood donation shortage in the Boston area so we are sponsoring a blood drive in conjunction with the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women’s Hospital) on November 28th from 11 AM to 5:30 PM at the Edelweiss Village on 2220 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132. Appointments can be done by logging on to this link.
October 24th marked World Polio Day, a day to recognize the 35-year fight to end polio world-wide. This year, the Wakefield Rotary Club re-committed to helping eradicate the disease after raising thousands of dollars over the past ten years by raising awareness and education through a press and social media campaign.
The campaign includes using articles, letters, hashtags and social media clips from EndPolio resources.
Recently, six Wakefield Rotarians, one Lynnfield Rotarian and a prospective member met up for the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce's Women in Business Luncheon at the Quannapowitt Yacht Club. October's guest speakers were three of the Wakefield Police Department's female officers: Officer Kelly Tobyne, Officer Meaghan Roberto, and Officer Micayla Botelho. The women spoke about their different roles in the department and what it is like being a police officer.
Pictured left to right are Suzanne Bowering (Wakefield Rotary), Officer Roberto, Officer Tobyne, Officer Botelho, Janice Casoli (Lynnfield Rotary), Barbara Worley (Wakefield Rotary), Amy Luckiewicz (Wakefield Rotary), Joie Gerrish (Wakefield Rotary), and prospective member Patricia Birchem. Missing from photo was Kathy Boyle (Wakefield Rotary).
Recently, four leaders of Ipswich High School Interact took the reins of our weekly Ipswich-Rowley club meeting. In addition to collecting Happy Bucks, making announcements, and coordinating our weekly celebrations, the officers used PowerPoint to update us on their second annual summer camping retreat at Green Meadow Campground in Glen, NH. The event is designed to energize and organize the leadership team for the coming year.
Dubbed ‘Leadership in the Woods’, the chaperoned event lets 13 Board members step outside their comfort zones to plan and budget meals and gear, organize fun activities, and share event duties. Following a fun filled hike on nearby Black Cat Mountain, a guest speaker from RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) introduced a learning and organizing game that uses a color test to help identify personal leadership styes. The group then separated according to their dominant color: red (fiery) do more, blue (cool) do it right, green (earth) do it fairly, and yellow (sunshine) do it together. Each group picked 5 or 6 goals from the Interact Presidential Citation list.
Stoneham Rotary 50/50 Raffle Golf Ball Drop on October 24 at 1 pm.
Help us help graduating seniors; you could win up to $2,500. Scan either of the QR Codes or visit stonehamrotaryclub.org and click on Order Tickets in the story about the Golf Ball Drop. You will know by next Tuesday whether you are the lucky winner. In any case, an exceptional student will receive a scholarship to help them in their first year of college.
Shower us purple, aubergine, lavender, mauve, violet! October 24 is World Polio Day, Marblehead Rotary kickstarted their fundraising event last week with inspired purple everything: pinkie stamps, piggy banks, petals, crocuses, boas, and M&Ms!
Marblehead Rotary plans to continue fundraising for polio throughout the year with weekly banking coins on our purple piggy bank, selling purple flower of the season, and joining with Marblehead Interact clubs for various projects to fundraise for polio.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea celebrated Hispanic Heritage at a recent meeting. The guest speaker for the meeting was Ramiro Torres known as the “freaking Puerto Rican” on his radio show GetUp Crew on HOT 96.9. Born in Everett, Massachusetts and one of the original young Latino influencers, Ramiro Torres has been the voice of morning radio for millions in Boston for over 20 years. Attending the meeting were several students from Chelsea High School and the newly appointed Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez.
In his World Polio Day message, Rotary International President R. Gordon R. McInnaly explains why we still need your support for our efforts to eradicate polio.
Want to learn exciting news and updates as Rotary seeks to cross the Finish Line to Ending Polio? Stay tuned for our District’s push Get Movin’ to End Polio to be held Monday, January 1, 2024 – Saturday February 3, 2024. Dust off your sneakers, shake the wrinkles out of your work-out outfits, and plan to join us at several fitness organizations – locations to be announced shortly, and let’s get this done!
And a reminder (and thank you) to our Polio Plus Society Charter Members – October is your re-up month to continue your pledge, so go online and continue your commitment to the children of the world.
The Newburyport Rotary Club’s 100th Birthday Party was a rip-roaring, rocking good time, with lively conversation and dancing! Consistently rated one of the best show bands in New England, Decades by Dezyne’s uniquely engaging performance thrilled the audience. Many attendees were inspired to put their dancing shoes to good use.
Senator Bruce Tarr was introduced by Rotarian Louis Rubenfeld. The Senator offered Co-Presidents Nikki Misenheimer and Kimberly Bohlen, and Immediate Past President, Dan Hartman, an official Senate Resolution commending the good works and social aspects of Newburyport Rotary.
Speakers were fabulous and funny! Rotary Foundation Chair Liz Cullen regaled us with the history of Rotary, including some hysterical historical club shenanigans. Past President Claudia Harris introduced Foundation Chair Liz Cullen. Liz and Presidents Nikki and Kim presented Paul Harris Fellow pins to President-elect Lisa Darke and to Jill Moran, Newburyport HS Interact Advisor. Jan Lorrey Flowers’ Rotary blue and gold centerpieces were gorgeous. Of course the Blue Ocean Event Center food and service were amazing, along with the view. It was a fitting way to celebrate Newburyport Rotary’s 100 years!
The District Interact Council is pleased to invite you to join us for one of our exciting InteractCafes this fall. Student run, these great events are designed to support our Interact clubs and educate Rotarians about their critical support role.
There will be 4 events.
Stoneham HS - Oct. 18
Ipswich HS - Nov. 1
Andover HS - Nov. 8
Burlington HS - Nov. 15 (note Burlington date change)
The dates and locations are also on the flyer downloadable here. There is one in each region of the District. While club presidents and Interact coordinators will be invited directly, it is also important that our District leaders have an opportunity to experience the joy of Interact firsthand. It is also a chance to lead by example - to show these young people that we do indeed believe in them and are committed to supporting them in their efforts.
Recently at our Zone 28 and 32 Learning-to-Lead Training DGE Tom Hankard and DGN Pooja Singla, along with DG Lori Karas, Foundation Chair/PDG Joan Arsenault and PDG Terry Rezendes Curran engaged with Rotarians from around Canada, the United States, French Guyana, and Bermuda!
DGN Pooja was enrolled in GNTS, Governor-Nominee Training Seminar and DGE took GETS, Governor-Elect Training Seminar, and graduated from official training.
Other sessions ranged from videotaping club and district events, DEI, membership, and public image There were many plenary speakers including a keynote address discussing being gay and a Rotarian from Rotarian Brian Rusch.
Reading Rotary has been serving the community of Reading for 100 years. Rotary will hold a 100th Anniversary Celebration at Meadowbrook Golf Club on November 2 at 6:00. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at www.readingmarotary.org or at this link by October 26.
President Sheila Clarke is delighted to announce that Reading Rotary will make a special Paul Harris Fellow presentation to Reading native General Jack Hammond, US Army Ret., Executive Director of Home Base. Home Base is a national nonprofit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans of all eras, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen through world-class, direct clinical care, wellness, education and research – all at no cost to them – regardless of era of service, discharge status or geographical location. Home Base organizes the Run to Home Base – Red Sox Foundation event at Fenway Park. President Clarke said, “Home Base provides amazing support to Veterans in need. We are so happy to be able to honor General Hammond at our Gala. His service and leadership are so inspirational. You won’t want to miss it.”
The Rotary Club of TBM’s 42nd Annual Road Race will be held on Sunday, October 15th. The Race starts at 11:00 am . There are certified 5k and 5 mile courses through the beautiful foliage of the quintessential New England Topsfield course. The races begin and end at the Proctor School, 60 Main Street, Topsfield. Registration is open online and in person the day of the race. Proceeds will benefit local food pantries and other TBM projects.
Happy Halloween from Rotary Youth Exchange student Lila and her counselor PDG Ingrid Brown! Lila is visiting from France and is off to a great year in Rockport.
The Wakefield Rotary Club is pleased to announce its newest member, Joie Gerrish. Gerrish was recently installed into the club earlier this season by her sponsor, Past President Barbara Worley.
Gerrish said, “I was encouraged to join Rotary by a friend and fellow Rotarian. I volunteered to help at Rotary's Build-a-Bed Project. The positive vibes of this group's energy as they strive and work to support projects like this and many others is the catalyst that helped make my decision to accept their invitation to join them.”
Gerrish has lived in Wakefield her entire life, attending Wakefield Public Schools. She has served as a Wakefield Adult Mentor (WAM) since 2002 as a “Big Sister.” Currently, Gerrish serves as the President of the Wakefield Alliance Against Violence (WAAV) and has been a volunteer since 2008. Wakefield Rotary Club President Glen Duffy commented, “Joie has a proven record of volunteering and commitment to the community. She already has jumped right into projects that impact Wakefield and beyond.”
Pictured here are Past President Bob Kimball, Joie Gerrish, and Past President Barbara Worley.
In 2022-23, OUR Rotary Foundation (unaudited numbers*):
• Awarded 1,098 global grants totaling US $68,681,428.*
• Provided 473 district block grants totaling US $27,877,138.*
• Dispersed US $14,788,668 in Disaster Response grants.*
• Trained 100 new Rotary Peace Fellows at Centers around the world and announced the formation of a new Peace Center in Turkey.
• Announced the third Program of Scale Grant, United to End Cervical Cancer in Egypt.
• Estimated that the number of people walking due to the polio eradication efforts of Rotary International and its partners reached 20 million.
YOUR significant support of OUR Rotary Foundation helped make all this possible. We wish to thank you for your continued generosity and choosing OUR Rotary Foundation as one of your philanthropies of choice! Contact Joan Arsenault to arrange for a talk at your club on The Rotary Foundation.
While at the Zone Learning to Lead Conference in Toronto, I met a District Governor from D6380 who told me about a mental health toolkit developed by Rotary Action Group (RAG) on Mental Health Initiatives for school or youth group leaders. This toolkit is a train-the-trainer resource for ages 12 and older plus a framework for referrals and increasing providers. The primary resource is the Boston's Children's Hospital 'Break Free From Depression' (BFFD).
It is with great pleasure that the Stoneham Rotary Club reports on its extremely successful literacy project for Stoneham Kindergarten students. Through a generous donation from Stoneham Ford, the club purchased three titles focused on the experiences new students have in their first days going to school through Book Oasis, our local bookstore.
Eighty-six books of each title were delivered to three different schools, including South School, Colonial Park School, and the Robin Hood School. Each school received one title, and when the students complete their title, the books will rotate to the next school until all three books have been read.
When the books have been fully circulated, a portion of the three titles will be distributed to each school and to the public library. The books have all had bookplates placed so future students will know that the Rotary Club of Stoneham is an advocate for learning to read and we hope that this project becomes an annual program. Over 100 students will have the opportunity to read each of these selected titles.
The response was amazing as seen in the photographs and we hope it builds their interest in reading and ultimately has a positive impact on their reading enjoyment and ability.
Thanks to Craig Celli for his collaboration with the teachers, getting the books ordered, and distributing them to each of the schools with Club President Rosanna Rodriguez.
Lace up your running shoes and join Swampscott Rotary for the Cahill 5K and 1-Mile Walk, a community event aimed at honoring the memory of Danny Cahill. The event will support two causes dear to his heart: the Danny Cahill Rotary Scholarship and the Anchor Food Pantry.
The race is scheduled for October 22nd, 2023, at the picturesque Linscott Park in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Registration and sign-in will begin at 7:30 AM, with the race officially commencing at 9:00 AM.
Danny Cahill, a lifelong resident of Swampscott, was not only a dedicated member of this community but also someone who embodied the Rotary motto "Service Above Self." He lived his life with a passion for helping others and making a difference in the lives of those around him.
Creating successful and sustainable eco-tourism and micro enterprise among extremely poor mountain villages. Build on proven initiatives started in eastern and other parts of Nepal over the past 20+ years, harnesses a proven Appreciative Planning and Action (APA) development methodology along Nepal’s 1000 mile Great Himalaya Trail (GHT)—spanning East to West Nepal.
This Economic Development International Project, supported by District 7930 and Amesbury Rotary, is being managed by Amesbury Rotarians Malcolm (Mac) Odell, Mark Bean, and Sandy Carlisle, who would love to present this project to your Rotary Club with an awesome PowerPoint presentation. The Great Himalaya Trail Project is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax exempt NH corporation. To learn more about the project please click on this link.
Please contact Mac Odell via email malcom.j.odell@gmail.com, or to talk or text at 603-770-6006 to set up a date that fits your club’s program schedule.
The Winchester High School Interact club has started the school year by recruiting over 60 new members. The leadership team has a full year of activities planned. Including the upcoming Interact Cafe and volunteering at the Rotary Club's Rise Against Hunger meal packing on September 28th, where the club and community will pack over 10,000 meals.
Register here for the September 28th meal packing event.
Please join us on Saturday, October 21st for this fun night of Irish American music, dinner, raffles and silent auction items. This Fundraiser will help Woburn Rotary fund service projects throughout the year including CSC Food Pantry, Woburn Veterans, Fire Safety House, Smoke/CO Detectors for seniors and more.
The weather was a fitting compliment to 48 enthusiastic registrants who teed it up for the Annual Lynnfield Rotary Golf Tournament at Reedy Meadow Golf Course on Friday September 22. The Golf Committee lead by Committee Chairman, Tom Adamczyk, exceeded all expectations to make this a memorable event.
Although the wind kept safe the Hole in One $5000 prize on the 9th hole, it didn’t prevent the A. A. Dority Team, from taking first place once again with a score of 57. Congratulations to their team of Phil Crawford, Allen Schweitzer, Paul DeVincenzo, Phil Anderson.
They were followed by 2nd place finisher - Ironside Financial Team with a score of 59. Their team consisted of Steve Riley, Vanessa Riley, Chuck Cotting & Christine Cataldo. In 3rd place was Lynnfield Psychological Team with a score of 60. Duffers Tom Adamczyk, Gil Stringer, Mark Braga, & Tony Carangelo rounded out their team.
Hello, my name is Becca Harris and I am a proud member of Arlington Rotary, District Registrar, and a member of the recovery community. I am grateful for the support of family, friends, and especially my rotary family. September is National Recovery Month and I think it is very important to raise awareness surrounding mental health, addiction education and recovery.
Did you know?????
• 6.34% of youth and 15.35% of adults in the U.S. reported a substance use disorder in the past year.
• 11.2% of overdose deaths are aged 15 to -24 years old.
• The rate of substance use and related overdose deaths have increased exponentially during the pandemic
The rain gods held off on September 23, enabling members of the Marblehead Harbor Rotary to volunteer with SPUR and Sustainable Marblehead for an area beach and parks cleanup. The Marblehead Harbor contingent was assigned a woodland trail area with adjoining harbor side conservation land; and they collected a variety of items, including the usual empty cigarette boxes, nip bottles, paper and plastic bags, metal pieces and even one sneaker!
We have found that partnering with local service organizations on volunteer projects improves our impact in the community.
Pictured left to right are Francie King, Bob Erbetta, Judy Gates, and Marblehead harbor Rotary Co-president Linda Doliber.
We want to hear from you and what projects you are interested in. With so many ways to support the environment, let's discuss the ONE thing most important to you.
On September 12th, the Club Presidents were invited to attend the first-ever combined meeting with the Assistant Governors. DG Lori has made a commitment to keep the Presidents connected throughout the year and her suggestion was to invite them to attend a combined meeting four times a year with the AG's and other district leaders. The goal is to have them share their successes and their struggles with each other and the team that is here to serve them.
There was a great exchange of ideas from our 24 Club Presidents and the majority of Assistant Governors who attended the one-hour meeting. Many ideas to support membership, enhance public image, and focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion were shared and it is obvious that our district is in good hands with our Club Presidents.
The transcript of the meeting and the presentation were emailed to the entire Presidential class and the district leaders who are ready to provide any assistance the clubs need.
Future meeting topics will be assessed via a survey and those ideas or concerns will be the agenda for the next meeting scheduled for December.
The Problem -- Making sure there is enough clean, plentiful water to support wildlife, homes, and businesses on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Did you know that the Ipswich River provides drinking water for 14 communities and more than 350,000 people?
The Solution -- Water conservation in all of our communities.
Rotarians - Here’s our three-step ACTION PLAN for water conservation plan. Help us by inviting either Ann Witzig (aswitzig@gmail.com) or Joan Arsenault (joan@massteximaging.com) to speak at your next meeting!
Lynn Rotary will be having the 2nd Annual Cornhole Scholarship Fundraising event on October 1st.
If you can’t attend, donations to the Scholarship fund will be greatly appreciated. Any Lynn resident who is a senior is welcome to apply for a scholarship in the spring of 2024.
We would love to have you attend the event. Hopefully we will have a showdown between the Fire Chief and the Police Chief for all the marbles!
Donations may be sent to: P O Box 8100, Lynn MA, 01904. Checks payable to Lynn Rotary Charitable Corp. However, we would like to have you and your friends at another great event.
The Rotary Club of Woburn recently celebrated Susan Hartmere's 30 years of Rotary service. Susan joined Rotary in 1992 and became the first woman to be president of the Woburn Club in 1996. She was also president again in 2018. Susan, a Paul Harris Fellow, was presented with a commemorative clock by current president Brian Ouellette with a plaque that reads, "Susan Hartmere: Thank you for 30 years of Rotary Club of Woburn service. You represent a true example of "Service Above Self."
On Friday, September 29th at the Zone Learning to Lead training in Toronto, Lori Karas, our District Governor, will Bounce for the Foundation!
This event raises money for the Rotary Foundation and supports the good work we do locally and around the globe. Help Lori raise the $1,000 needed to register and participate. You can donate by clicking here.
Of course, every donation to the Rotary Foundation is tax deductible and, if you're a Rotarian, will earn you Paul Harris points.
The Things a District Governor will do to Raise $$ for the Rotary Foundation!
Thank you to all who participated and or contributed to our successful Ice Bucket Challenge on Saturday, August 26 and the subsequent Ice Bucket #2 last week at the High School when the Football Team and both the girls and boys Soccer teams were able to participate.
Shout-outs also go out to the Boys and Girl's Cross Country and Girl's Field Hockey Teams who joined us on August 26th along with Legacy Dance Studio and many of our local families, the Lydon family, past supporters and local residents. The participation of the athletic teams really make this a fun and entertaining experience.
Thanks to Mike Burns, for his continued involvement and organization, the High School Interact Club, the High School Custodial staff, our ice humpers, George Hooper, Jim Fennelly and Greg Sadowski, and the Fire Department for their assistance. Special thanks to Tom Pazyra for taping and editing the programs. Two short You Tube videos here should bring a smile to your face. Video 1. Video 2.
Chalk on the Walk is The Rotary Club of Cambridge’s Annual Fundraiser. It is the Harvard Square version of an Italian street painting festival. The event is at Harvard Square's Oktoberfest on October 8th.
We are looking for artists to do a chalk street drawing. Participation is FREE. Families, kids individuals or teams can participate. It's about having fun. All talent levels are enthusiastically welcomed!
The 34th Annual Winchester Rotary Golf Tournament is October 16th at the Winchester Country Club. This tournament is held to benefit the Winchester Rotary Charitable Foundation. The fund supports numerous local charitable organizations and the national and international works of Rotary International.
The Rotary Club of Gloucester has a long history of supporting and maintaining the playground at Stage Fort Park. In 2005, we celebrated the Rotary International Centennial Anniversary by rebuilding the children's park. In 2023, for our centennial anniversary, we have entered phase 2 of the project--at a cost of $200,000!
The Marblehead Harbor Rotary welcomed District Governor Lori Karas to its September 5 meeting for her official visit. In addition to bringing her enthusiasm and passion for “Creating Hope In The World” to the Harbor Rotary, DG Lori honored the club by inducting two new active members, Amy Hart, Vice-President of Lending at Marblehead Bank and Lesley Tracy, Owner of Changing Behaviors Consulting, plus a new service member, Elaine Leahy, President of Sustainable Marblehead.
The Marblehead Harbor Rotary meets Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. at the Masonic Hall, 62 Pleasant St., Marblehead. Visiting and prospective Rotarians are welcomed. See www.rotaryclubofmheadharbor.org
Pictured here are Co-President Linda Doliber, District Governor Lori Karas, Lesley Tracy, Amy Hart and Elaine Leahy.
The Wakefield Rotary Club has made a $1,000 contribution to the Wakefield Youth Action Team’s Amigos program. Amigos, due to launch this semester, is a mentoring program between English Language Learners (ELL) at the Galvin Middle School and older students at Wakefield Memorial High School. The program seeks to help facilitate connections between ELL students and the broader Wakefield community through forging connections, field trips, and social events.
$500 was donated from Club funds and an additional $500 was donated by Past President Barbara Worley in honor of her mother.
DG Lori has set aside DDF funds to support a district wide initiate to improve mental health. This grant opportunity is to purchase "Buddy Bench/Happy to Chat Benches" to help decrease loneliness and supports well-being in children and adults.
A buddy bench or friendship bench is a seat in a school playground or area where a child can go when they want someone to talk to. "Happy to Chat" benches encourage people to start conversations and talk to each other, rather than being isolated and sometimes lonely.
DG Lori has set aside $10,000 in matching funds for any club wishing to participate in this district managed grant. The cost of a bench is $1000. Just like any district grant, the club would put forth the initial $1000 and once the grant is complete, the club will receive $500 in reimbursement from District Designated Funds or DDF.
There are 20 benches available to district clubs on a first come first serve basis. Deadline to apply is OCTOBER 1th. One bench per club will be reimbursed. You can order either a Happy to Chat Bench or a Buddy Bench. Happy to Chat Benches are appropriate for libraries or other public places and Buddy Benches are for schools. If your club wishes to order more than one bench, that is ok, however only one bench will receive $500.00 in reimbursement from the grant and you will be responsible for the shipping costs.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently completed its One-and-One School Supply Drive to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Stoneham and Wakefield and a school in the Dominican Republic.
This summer, the community was asked to donate two school supply items, one to be kept locally and one to be donated internationally. Wakefield Rotary Club Secretary Suzanne Bowering reported that approximately 230 pounds of school supplies were collected in total including over 250 packs of crayons, 36 reams of paper, 288 notebooks, hundreds of pencils and more.
School supplies were then divided up, with half of them packed into two suitcases headed to Caribbean. “We had planned on hand-carrying two suitcases to the Dominican Republic and filling them to the brim. We hit that goal,” Bowering said. Shortly after the pack up, the Boys & Girls Club supplies were delivered by Rotarian Anthony Guardia to the club. Bowering and Rotarian Amy Luckiewicz brought the two suitcases of supplies to the Dominican Republic and handed them off to a local contact. The Dominican school children will return to school in the next week and the items will be delivered to the teachers.
Rotary only runs on the strength of our volunteers. Our group of District volunteers always can use new blood with fresh ideas and enthusiasm.
Please join us for on Sept. 14, at 6:30 pm for a webinar featuring Chairs from our District Committees. You will learn about the important work each group does and be able to ask questions of the Committee Chairs. You will have the opportunity to see what they do and whether you may be suited to join one.
The following Committees will participate:
DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
Membership
Foundation
Public Image
Environmental
Assistant Governors
Also, calling Club Past Presidents to learn more about the role of Assistant Governor.
Register here. You'll get the Zoom link after you sign up.
Co-President of Lynnfield Rotary, Christine Travers welcomed Lori Karas the new Rotary 7930 District Governor to the recent Thursday member luncheon meeting. After her introduction, Lori outlined her plans for the Rotary 2023-2024 year. She echoed the theme of RI President Gordon R. McInally, which is Create Hope in the World. This year Lori’s focus will be on Mental Health and Well Being. Lori stated: “Lending an ear to friends” can be more than superficial. One concrete example that she hopes will encourage dialogue is having local Rotary organizations sponsor “Let’s Chat Benches or Buddy Benches” that will be placed in public areas. The aim of the benches is to reduce isolation by fostering safe areas for friendly one on one conversation. She is asking that local area clubs engage in a partnership to help meet the challenge of Mental Health and Well Being.
She went on to invite member participation in District events that will highlight how Rotary can participate in Mental Health and Well-Being activities. She ended her remarks by briefly summarizing a calendar of events that will feature Rotary’s continued commitment to ending Polio and Rotary’s ever-present interest in fostering world peace.
Meet Don Dowling, the newly installed president of Marblehead Rotary. A fun-loving, hardworking, no-nonsense father of two, he brings fresh vitality to our club as one of our youngest members, spicing up our meetups and events with his infectious positive energy and winning attitude. He has led our club to competitive sports events to raise funds for our signature projects. A natural athlete, he was captain for many years of our yearly Polar Plunge to End Polio campaign. He was the perennial crew leader in the duck-tape regatta race to benefit the clean water project in Burkina Faso and co-captain for our Marblehead team in the district softball championships. Described as the point man and the "glue" in handling the complex logistics of our yearly scholarship fundraising project, the Lobstah Raffle, Don could be seen shuffling around town in his big truck, working tirelessly during the Fourth of July celebration.
RI President Gordon McInally has stated that mental health projects are deeply personal to him and has asked all to prioritize mental health projects in their district this year. Given this directive, DG Lori is launching a "Buddy Bench/Happy to Chat Bench" District wide grant opportunity that will help decrease loneliness and supports well-being in children and adults.
A buddy bench or friendship bench is a seat in a school playground or area where a child can go when they want someone to talk to. "Happy to Chat" benches encourage people to start conversations and talk to each other, rather than being isolated and sometimes lonely.
If your club is interested in this District Managed Grant, email Joan Kelly Arsenault.
All Rotary clubs in District 7930 are challenged to complete in the Cornhole Tournament Reading Fall Street Faire on September 10. The RFSF is a Reading Rotary event.
Grab a friend to enjoy our new beer garden and entertainment during the best event in Reading! Register here.
Bags Fly at 2 PM
$60 Per Team
Cash Prizes Top 2 Teams (but it's really about bragging rights)
Haven Street, Reading.
You can also order a custom cornhole board with your company or personal design to use during the event and take home and keep. Contact Sheila Clarke for details.
Definition: “Tabling” – District 7930 Rotarians and IRWA advocating for WATER CONSERVATION at our local Garden Centers, Street Fairs, and Town Festivals.
• Sunday, Sept 10: Reading Fall Street Faire (Tabling) • Sunday, Sept 10: Wolf Hill Garden Center, Ipswich (Tabling) • Saturday, Sept 16: Boxford Apple Festival (Tabling) • Sunday, Sept 17: North Reading Town Day (Tabling) • Sunday, Sept 24: Wolf Hill Garden Center, Ipswich (Tabling) • Thurs. – Sat., Oct 5-7: Ipswich Illuminations (Tabling) Hours – flexible, 2-hour shifts.
The Winchester Rotary is a proud sponsor and volunteer at Mission of Deeds in Reading. One of our members was a founder of the organization which gives beds, furniture, and household items, free of charge, to people in need. They help people throughout Middlesex and Essex Counties.
David McIsaac, Executive Director of Mission of Deeds, recently spoke at our club to share all the good work the organization is providing. The Winchester club volunteers monthly to help clients pick up furniture and yearly donates over 100+ comforters and sheets during the holiday season.
Our Rockport Long Term Youth Exchange student, Aili Mattson has finally made it to Brazil. She will be spending the year in Pedeneiras which is in D4510 in the state of Sao Paolo in Brazil!
Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program presents opportunities for students to advance their knowledge and world understanding by allowing them to visit a different country - either for a few weeks in the summer or for an entire year of high school. Participating students live with host families in their target country for about 3-4 weeks in the summer (short-term program) or for about 3 1/2 months during the school year (the long-term program relies on three host families, each hosting the student for a third of the school year) under the sponsorship of a local Rotary Club.
For more information about District 7930's RYE Program, click here.
A relief fund for victims of the devastating wildfires in Maui has been established through the Rotary District 5000 Foundation as we come together to recover and rebuild. Please consider donating to this special fund and sharing the opportunity with others to help.
From Hawai'i Rotary District Governor Mark Merriam, August 9, 2023:
Today has been a tragic day for our Rotarians, families and friends on the Island of Maui. The fires across the island have changed lives forever. Truly devastating. Our sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted.
As people of action, we can take immediate action. As we come together to recover and rebuild, we need to support each other. We need to Create Hope for Maui.
On August 17, 2023, Eric Daniels spoke at a Lynn Rotary meeting about a book he and his daughter Jessica wrote about his longtime friend and mentor, Two Star General Bernard Loeffke (Ret.) The book, published in 2018, is: Our General Our Friend, Lessons in Leadership, Friendship, and Service from a Master: Major General Bernard Loeffke (ret). In addition to being an author, Eric became a Funeral Director upon leaving the military.
Eric spoke about the General’s military record and how they met. A 1957 graduate of West Point, he fought in and was wounded during the Vietnam War. The General later served as the commanding general of U.S. Army South. The General retired in 1992. During his career he was awarded four Silver Star Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, five Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart and four Air Medals
August 9, 2023, was a tragic day for our fellow Rotarians, their families and friends on the Island of Maui. The fires across the island have changed lives forever. The Marblehead Harbor Rotary is sending our love and support to all of those impacted by the devastating wildfires.
As people of action, we are following suit with many others and taking immediate action. We need to Create Hope for Maui.
Through the Rotary District 5000 Foundation, a relief fund has been established. Foundation President Dave Hamil and Treasurer Sharon Amano will handle all donations.
A committee will be organized shortly to find the greatest needs for distribution of monies. A single fund will be the most helpful over time to provide the most significant benefits.
From August 23 - September 23 the Marblehead Harbor Rotary will be donating all club "happy dollars" to the Maui Fire Relief Fund and encourages all who can, to also make a contribution, in any amount.
Several City dignitaries including Mayor Briana Longo, Fire Chief John Freedman, and Acting Police Chief Covino attended a dinner and presentation by Medford Rotary of scholarship awards to high school seniors from Medford. The students and their parents attending included Alyssa Cassarino, Nailah Chowhury, Brendan Chrowley, Emma Gibbons, Zoe Kalaw and Grace Kallberg. The presenters included Past Presidents, Eric Ghewalla, Tony Giamberadino, and John Hackett, and current President Paul Bardaro. A great evening was had by all.
Mayor Longo urged the students to remember their hometown and to get involved at school to give back in some way. President Paul Bardaro said he would love to welcome the parents to become part of Medford Rotary and for the students to seek our Rotaract Club at their college. Good Luck in your freshman year!
Help make Rotary's Public Image a priority! A strong and vibrant Public Image is one of 2 proven key tactics for successful and growing clubs -- the other is a large number of service projects. They go hand-in-hand. Promote your service projects before and after the event. Invite the public to participate. During the event, use banners and signs to promote you as sponsors, and have club brochures or handouts available for participants and passersby. Make sure you have a call to action so that they can communicate with you.
Always include a Call to Action in all of your promotions: that is, what do you want people to do? Send email? Click on a web link? Register for an event? Learn more from an informational email address, your club's website or Facebook page, or a specific club member's contact information?
Posted by Grace Brogan, Stoneham Interact Club on Aug 09, 2023
My name is Grace Brogan, I'm from Stoneham Interact Club and was recently given the title of District Interact Governor of 7930. Both Keith Harris and I have worked to create a District Interact Council for 7930.
The new District Interact Council of 7930 came together on August 6th for an important meeting in Stoneham. Inspiring ideas and conversations filled with motivation sprung up. We began planning the Interact Cafes. With each new perspective, idea, and opinion, our spirits rose as we understood the future being set in motion. Governor Lori Karas made an appearance and shared with us her Rotary story. We were honored to hear about her values and goals and hope to continue working with Governor Lori in the future. The District Interact Council discussed its first service project, one of many more to come. Our ambition stems from and is centered around mental health, and everyone contributed in the planning. Our sole purpose is to enable growth within communities and between the people. We strive for a better future, so join hands with us!
On July 26th from 6 -8pm, Wildfire served up a smorgasbord of tunes ranging from ABBA's Dancing Queen to Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA for an enthusiastic crowd on the final night of the Lynnfield Rotary Concert series. The talented vocalists of the group led the way with a wide-ranging repertoire of songs including Simply the Best by Tina Turner, Gloria by Laura Brannigan, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, Giver Me Some Lovin’ by Richie Valens, Old Time Rock ‘n Roll by Bob Seger and many more, to the delight of the largest audience of the year.
The weather couldn’t have provided a better backdrop for Lynnfield Rotary's final Concert. The energy was exhilarating as young and old enjoyed the inviting evening atmosphere with family and friends.
Lynnfield High's Interact handled food and beverages and were so busy they asked that the food and beverage tables remain up until after the final song.
Nominations for District Governor for 2026-2027 are being accepted starting August 6, 2023. Deadline to submit nominations: Saturday, October 14, 2023.
This important individual leads and supports the clubs in the district by inspiring and motivating them to Do Good in the World! All clubs are encouraged to propose suitable candidates who meet the qualifications to serve. One of these requirements is that at the time of taking office, must have been a past president of a club, completed seven years of membership in one or more clubs, and to have attended governors-elect training seminar and International Assembly. If you feel that your club has such a leader among your members please consider nominating them to help fulfill Rotary's ongoing missions.
The nomination form can be downloaded here. In addition to the nomination form, please include a Rotary-focused resume of the candidate, as well as the candidate's vision statement of what they would like to accomplish for our district in their year as district governor. Completed nomination forms and the additional documents should be sent to DG Lori Karas at lori.karas@outlook.com.
You are cordially invited to Zone 32's first workshop on Foundation Fundraising moderated by Annual Giving Officer Rebecca Silber and Major Gifts Officer Celeste Herbert. This session is open to District Leaders including AGs, District Foundation Chairs and Committee members, Club Leaders and Club Foundation Chairs or anyone who would like to learn more about the Foundation.
* Rotary Foundation ABCs: Advance Planning for Long Term Success
August 8, 5:00 PM-6:00 PM EST
Learn how data-informed goals can enhance your Rotary Foundation plans, to help your club/district achieve success with fundraising and Foundation engagement. Register in advance for this meeting by clicking here.
Rotary Foundation ABCs
Eileen Rau, Rotary Regional Foundation Coordinator
On July 27 Lynnfield Rotary had the honor of welcoming as speakers Kristen Vogel, Lynnfield’s new Superintendent of Schools, as well as Rotary Scholarship winners from last year and the award winners for this year.
Ms. Vogel stressed her commitment to literacy, inclusion and competence for this coming year and throughout her tenure. She is eager to add her imprint to the excellent school system that she has inherited. During the Q&A period, she fielded questions about building suitability and adequacy for the future and the safety issues that would protect our children more effectively.
Co- President Christine Travers thanked Ms. Vogel for coming and then introduced the Scholarship winners. Evan Fair and Laura Lim were the Lynnfield High School scholarship winners for 2022. They returned to receive the balance of their $2000 award.
Join us August 31 at 6 pm for a viewing of Apple TV’s presentation of the hit musical Come From Away with keynote speaker Kevin Tuerff.
Tickets required, available online through EventBrite, suggested donation $10.00 per ticket.
GET TICKETS. For additional information click here. Melrose Rotary is a Silver Sponsor of this wonderful community event.
On 9/11, 38 planes, carrying 7,000 passengers were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada when US airspace was shut down. Kevin Tuerff was one of those passengers. The kindness and compassion he experienced shaped his life’s purpose from that point forward. We are honored to have Kevin speak at our community viewing of Come From Away.
In 2002, Kevin began an annual tradition to honor the lives lost in the 9/11 attacks, and also pay tribute to the heroes of Newfoundland, Canada, who showed the world their kindness in 2001. To learn more, visit Kevin’s website Pay It Forward 9.11.
To celebrate its Centennial Anniversary, the Gloucester Rotary will host a free Community Concert with musical guests Captain Jack & The Strangers (The Northshore's Premier Billy Joel Tribute Band) and opener Brandon Blatchford & the Wannabe Teenagerson on Friday, August 11, 2023, 6-10 pm at the Antonio F. Gentile Bandstand in Stage Fort Park.
The celebration will include food and beverages for purchase from 5 Star Phresh-Phood and Harbor Tap Trailer!
On Thursday July 27, 2023, the Rotary Club of Lynn gathered at the Old Tyme restaurant to fill Bags of Hope with personal care items. The collection of bags is for the Jasmine Grace Outreach program, the items are primarily for women.
Women who are living on the streets or in programs throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire are given Bags of Hope filled with basic items that we take for granted every day. In collaboration with programs serving women affected by trafficking, prostitution, addiction and homelessness, Bags of Hope is driven by the community. Many different groups of people are donating the items, filling the bags and handing them out! By doing this we let the women know there is a better way, they are treasured people, and that we are here to help.
Tickets are now available to the annual Gloucester Rotary Comedy Night, featuring Carolyn Plummer, Jim Colliton, Jimmy Cash, and Boston's Dave Rattigan on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at Cruiseport Gloucester (6 Rowe Square, Gloucester). Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.
Don't miss this evening of fun and laughter! Tickets are $30 each and are available from Ruth Pino (ruth@ruthpino.com, 978-764-6710).
Reading Rotary is proud to present the 15th Annual Reading Fall Street Faire on Sunday, September 10. It’s back and better than ever! Drawing thousands every year to downtown Reading, it’s one of the most beloved and largest events in the area. If you want to be a part of it, now is the time. Sign up now before it's too late!
Sponsorship opportunities still available including: Premiere Sponsor; Inflatable Zone; Acoustic Corner; Custom Cornhole Boards; Amusement Park; Family Fun Zone; Beer Garden; Lamp Post Banner; and Street Faire Fan Signage for Business and Residents. Sponsors should contact Jenniffer Rogers for further information.
Save our Waters: State of the Rivers in District 7930. Supported by Ipswich-Rowley Rotary’s Global Grant, “Save the Ipswich River & Watersheds: The Lifeblood of Our Communities.” Join the webinar on August 24 from 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
Did you know that our water supplies on the North Shore are at risk due to overuse? Want your garden and your community to be prepared for the next drought? Join Ipswich-Rowley Rotary and the Ipswich River Watershed Association for an interactive webinar on the state of our rivers in northeastern MA and southeastern NH! We’ll discuss the current state of the Ipswich River, which provides water to over 350,000 individuals and businesses on the North Shore. Explore our toolkit for water conservation and advocacy, and learn more about how to get involved in saving our rivers! Members of the public are welcome and strongly encouraged to attend. Be a part of the solution!
Beer and Bites returns to the Tannery during the bed race on Thursday, August 3, 2023, from 5:30 to 7:30! Come on down to the Rotary Club of Newburyport’s annual Yankee Homecoming event. Enjoy new food options from Rosita’s Cocina and Kona Ice. You will also find fan favorite Riverwalk Brewing, including their pizza. We are featuring a return of the band Unnamed Colors, that is carving a new niche in rock with fiery progressive songwriting, engaging performances, and a powerful sound all their own. Band members include Sierra Partlan - vocals & piano, Andrew Aghababian – guitar, Jay Partlan – drums and Michael Martel – bass.
All proceeds from the event are returned to the community through non-profits and college scholarships. For more information about the Rotary club, please contact Co-President Kimberly Bohlen at kmbohlen123@gmail.com.
The Wakefield Rotary Club will again be hosting a Red Sox ticket chance at the WCAT Movies by the Lake. Thanks to a generous donation from Wakefield Rotarian Frank Fiorentino and Mahoney, Fiorentino, and Co., PC, raffle participants can win a pair of tickets for the Red Sox take on any remaining 2023 home game opponent.
Club Treasurer Barbara Worley said, “These tickets are amazing, and this is an easy way to win some great Sox seats and support local causes through Rotary.” The previous raffle drew in over $2,000 which was donated back to the community throughout the year.
The Ipswich-Rowley club on Saturday, July 22 had a table at Northern Lights Farm Stand, 243 High St, Ipswich 10 am - 12 pm to advocate and educate on the need for conservation of water in our lawns and gardens.
This is part of ongoing work funded by the global grant Save the Ipswich River: The Lifeblood of Our Communities to create an advocacy toolkit to save our river. You can access the Rotary Grant Toolkit here. Stay tuned for the launching of a district wide training on how you can spread the word on water conservation at garden centers near you!
Winchester Rotary awarded seven Winchester High School graduates over $25,000 in scholarships for the upcoming college year. The winning students were Claire Lupien, Dorothy McCarthy, Claire Kutylo, Lucy Patalano, Kaitlyn Donato (all pictured above), Ayesha Ghosh, and Inaam Bhanji (not pictured). Rotarians Kurt Heisler and Brian LaPointe, Co-Presidents (Pictured).
The Winchester Interact Club welcomed six new officers for the coming school year and thanked the outgoing leaders for their leadership and a successful year. The club was proud to support three students for RYLA this year.
The Wakefield Rotary Club is collecting new school supplies for students in Wakefield and the Dominican Republic. The public is invited to donate two new school supply items. One item will stay local and given to the Wakefield Boys and Girls Club. The second item will be donated to a school/orphanage in the Dominican Republic.
Wakefield Rotary Club Secretary Suzanne Bowering explained, “We know kids here in Wakefield need school supplies and the Boys and Girls Club is positioned to know which kids need the most. We’re thrilled to partner with them to distribute the supplies locally.” She added, “And as part of Rotary’s mission abroad, we know that kids in the Dominican Republic also need supplies, so we’re asking people to donate to those kids too. This way, one item is kept local, and one item is going abroad.”
Immediate Past District Governor Alexander Falk's tenure as DG was the featured subject of an article published on July 12 in the Marblehead Current. You can find the complete article here.
The article highlights Alexander's accomplishments in the role. "Falk’s term was marked by strong operations, including thorough training for incoming presidents, secretaries and treasurers, promoting environmental causes, fundraising for the Rotary Foundation and advocating the district’s commitment to eradicating polio worldwide."
Thank you, Alexander, for your steady, wise and inspirational leadership!
Burlington Breakfast Rotary is holding its Semi-Annual Raffle.
Tickets are $10 each or a book of 6 tickets for $50. The drawing will be held at the Woburn Bickford’s on July 27. BBR members will be setting up a table at the Burlington Shaw’s on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to sell tickets.
To purchase tickets, please email Fran Fazio at franpf@verizon.net or mail a check to 6 Bruce St., Burlington, MA 01803.
Prizes include: Personal training (value approximately $1500), auto detailing, jewelry, gift cards and scratch tickets. Proceeds to benefit National Ataxia Foundation, People Helping People, Mental Health Awareness and other non-profits.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently installed its new officers and directors during a luncheon event earlier this week at Brightview. In accordance with its by-laws, the service club elects new leadership annually. Club President Glen Duffy was sworn in as President for the 2023-2024 Rotary Year and Wendy Maguire will serve as Vice President/President-Elect. “This club has been so welcoming since I joined a few years ago. I’m thrilled to serve in this position as we begin our one hundred and first year of service.”
In addition, the club installed its incoming Board of Directors including Margie Daniels, Ed Harding, Michael Sullivan, David Hayden, and Amy Luckiewicz. Suzanne Bowering will serve as Club Secretary, Barbara Worley as Club Treasurer and Frank Fiorentino as Sergeant-at-Arms. The new leadership team took office on July 1, 2023, and serve until June 30, 2024.
The club also presented Paul Harris Fellowship awards to Jim Fitzgerald, John Tramontozzi, and Norm Theriault for their support of the Rotary Foundation.
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 19, 2023, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 19-20, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees.
Tickets for the Pancake Breakfast are $9 per person, $5 for children six and under, and are available in advance online at https://gloucesterrotary.org/page/pancake-tickets, from any Gloucester Rotarian or at the following Gloucester locations: Bank Gloucester, 160 Main Street, Gloucester, MA Cape Ann Savings Bank, 109 Main Street, Gloucester, MA
Tickets will also be available on the morning of the breakfast.
Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast will benefit local and international projects of the Gloucester Rotary Club.
Having forty-seven guests at the 2023 Installation and Awards Dinner for Stoneham Rotary was exciting. It was a great year: back to in-person meetings with speakers, two new members and an incredibly active youth program. Oh, and it was also our club's 100th Anniversary of Service Above Self.
The club members sponsored three RYLA attendees, sweatshirts for our Interact members, and financial assistance with airfare for Nicole, the Interact President, to travel to Belgium for a short-term exchange.
Five Paul Harris Awards were presented; three to Rotarians and two to Interactors. Congrats to Janice Houghton (+3) for her superb work as secretary, Craig Celli (+1) for his unfailing effort in membership and planning service projects, and finally, Adam Rodgers (+1) for his exceptional work with RYLA and Interact. The amazing truth is that every one of these Rotarians serves the community in so many other roles.
It’s with a heavy heart I bring to you the passing of Past District Governor, Mary Valentine Callahan - “Val Callahan,” as she was known. For over 30 years Val had been a Rotarian, beginning in District 7910, where she was Club President, Foundation Chair, GSE leader, Assistant Governor and District Governor 2014-15. When Val moved to Boston, the Boston #7 club welcomed her. She became the club’s Foundation Chair. Val was a Major Donor, Sustainer and Bequest Society Member.
She will be missed by Rotarians both near and far. Val leaves behind her husband, Rotarian Mohamed Elhanash, her two grown children and their families.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, at 10:00AM on August 26, 2023, at Trinity Church, 206 Clarendon St, Boston, MA 02111.
Earlier this year, District 7930 advanced the idea of creating a Club designed to attract veterans and active or retired military looking to serve in their local communities. There are already a number of great groups that are serving the needs of these individuals, but we thought with Rotary's vast network and commitment to service that there could be a way to be a resource.
The 1st goal was to identify any current members who are veterans to give us feedback and to learn what clubs are already doing to support their local veterans. We received responses from about 20 clubs that have 80+ veterans serving in Rotary in our district. Service projects range from Flag of Heroes celebrations to food service to homeless Veterans.
If your club did not get a chance to reply to the survey please take a few minutes to complete via this link https://forms.gle/1AnUjnZ7QuGCF4jv6
The Gloucester Rotary will publish a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2024 as a fundraiser. All profits will go to the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities.
In Order to publish a beautiful calendar, the Club is requesting high quality digital photos that reflect the natural beauty of Cape Ann throughout the year. As we will feature one photo per month, we need images from each season: winter, spring, summer and fall. Photographs from Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester will be accepted. Full details here.
Last week, Rotary Club of Woburn's treasurer Bill Balboni presented Woburn Veterans Agent Bob Davis with $1,000 worth of gift cards for Woburn veterans. The donation was made possible by a grant from Cummings Foundation.
Pictured here is Bill Balboni presenting Market Basket gift cards Bob Davis.
District Managed Grant are short-term project, either local or international, that supports one of Rotary’s 7 areas of focus. Funding requests are on a first come first serve basis and open July 1. Grants close October 31, 2023. Your club must be grant qualified to receive grant monies.
Matching grants are available of up to $3000 with a minimum match of $500 for local projects and $5000 for international projects with a minimum match of $2500. Remember that district managed grants are reimbursement grants! The club must first up front the money and complete the project and final report before reimbursement occurs. Reimbursement typically occurs in May/June of the following year as RI must approve all grants. After the grant application process is closed, the district sends a spending plan to RI for approval. Once the spending plan is approved, monies are transferred to the district’s foundation account.
On Saturday, June 24th, Town of Ipswich staff and Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians joined Ipwich River Watershed Association (IRWA) at Wolf Hill Garden Center to spread the word about how to conserve water in lawns and gardens. This is part of ongoing work funded by the global grant Save the Ipswich River: The Lifeblood of Our Communities to create an advocacy toolkit to save our river. You can access the toolkit at https://pie-rivers.org/portfolio-item/rotary-grant-funded-toolkit-for-water-conservation-and-advocacy/. Stay tuned for the launching of a district wide training on how you can spread the word on water conservation at garden centers near you!
Posted by Christine Rhoades Travers on Jun 29, 2023
The evening of Jun 19th at Gallina’s at MarketStreet was the site of the Lynnfield Rotary 60th Anniversary celebration reception and Presidential “gavel pass” installation.
Lynnfield Rotary Members, Interact members (young Rotarians), and guest enjoyed delicious, assorted food choices as President Christine Travers gaveled the celebratory meeting to order. After welcoming comments and a brief outline of the night’s agenda, President Christine introduced the first of the evening’s speakers, Luke Kimball, Lynnfield Rotary Past President and third generation Rotary member who represented a family steeped in Lynnfield Rotary history.
Members and guests of the Marblehead Harbor Rotary recently welcomed PDG Joan Arsenault and Erin Bonney Casey for an update about efforts to restore the Ipswich River to its former vibrancy. Joan spoke briefly about the assistance that is being supplied by a significant Rotary grant. Erin, Planning and Resiliency Program Manager for the Ipswich River Watershed Association, covered the 40+ mile long makeup of the cities and towns that draw water from the Ipswich River, the fact that the river has been identified as one of our country’s most endangered rivers, and the challenges ahead to educate the public on conservation methods that, if implemented, will ensure the river’s healthy future. While Marblehead does not draw its water from the Ipswich, the conservation information imparted by Joan and Erin was invaluable to the members, as that information applies to communities, both adjacent to the Watershed and outside its boundaries.
Pictured below, l to r: Linda Doliber and Jessica Barnett, Harbor Rotary Co-Presidents; Elaine Leahy, President of Sustainable Marblehead; PDG Joan Arsenault; Erin Bonney Casey, Manager of Planning and Resiliency for the Ipswich River Watershed Assoc.
Marblehead Harbor Gets Updates on Ipswich Watershed
Attention all Club Treasurers! Here is the video of Club Treasurer training from NEPETS. It features Arthur Schwartz, our District Treasurer from Marblehead Rotary.
Yearly, the Marblehead Rotary Club awards four to six students a one-time scholarship and one student with a four-year scholarship for excellence in academics, leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities. Congratulations to the six outstanding awardees: Stella Monico, Cait Mullins, Teaghan Kay, Yasen Colon, Clair Davis, and Matthew Schricker.
(From left to right, front row) Scholarship recipients: Stella Monaco, Matt Schricker, Claire Davis, Cait Mullins, and Yasen Colon. Not in the picture, Teaghan Kay. (Back row) Rotarians Ed Nilsson, Brian Snell, co-presidents Nancy Gwin, and Blair Lord.
Rockport Rotary will celebrate the Fourth of July with our annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. Our role players will be out in full force and in full costume to hear our Town Crier present the newly ratified Declaration, fresh from Congress. Meet us on July 4th at 10AM in Dock Square—right in the heart of downtown Rockport—to cheer on our new nation.
To the 300 people who attended the District Installation on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 – Thank you for joining us! It was an evening filled with tradition, glitz, glam and fun. From the beautiful remarks from DG Alexander to the passing of the gavel/ digging stick, to the Presidents receiving a “Paulie” award in honor of their incoming year as Club President. In keeping with the Red Carpet theme of the evening, there was a PowerPoint of Coming Attractions – which you can access here. Enjoy, as we look forward to the new Rotary year ahead, beginning on July 1, 2023.
The Peabody Club took steps towards their DEI goals this year using their District Grant funds to diversify classroom libraries in Peabody's public elementary schools. The Club feels strongly about representation being an important part of a child's education, and offered to supplement classroom libraries in grades 2 and 3. Through a collaborative effort with the teachers and Club members, we presented each classroom with 2 boxes filled with books representing children of all races, backgrounds, religions, abilities, etc. We were thrilled to present these books to each classroom and read selections from the books to the class. The enthusiastic teachers have assured the Club that the books will be well utilized.
District Governor Alexander Falk was honored with the Barry Weed Award for Service on June 13 at the Marblehead Harbor Rotary’s installation breakfast. Given in memory of the late Barry Weed, a charter member of the Harbor Rotary who also served as the District’s assistant treasurer, the award represents the caring, dedicated, community-oriented service for which Barry was known during his tenure as president of Marblehead’s National Grand Bank. With his solid grasp of Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” and a stellar year leading District 7930’s 40+ Rotaries, Alexander was the Harbor Rotary’s clear choice for the special recognition.
Pictured here is DG Alexander receiving the Barry Weed Award for Service from Jessica Barnett, President of Marblehead Harbor Rotary.
The following is a letter written by the Medford Interact Club. They are looking for help finding a new advisor. Please respond to the email below if interested or think you can help them with their search.
Dear Medford High School Faculty and Staff,
Originally known as the Ambassadors for Change, Interact Club has been empowering students at MHS for over fifteen years. You might not know what Interact Club is or what it does. As a more ‘lowkey’ club, you may not have seen Interact in the spotlight at school like other clubs. However, if you have ever seen a sticky note with an inspirational quote, received a small gift in your mailbox or delivered to you by students, voted on your favorite Halloween costume contest, got your car washed, bought a cup of hot chocolate in support of charity, participated in basketball tournaments, you have seen Interact Club working, and hopefully it had left a positive impact on your day.
Interact is a student-led organization that actively works to promote the belief that everyone at Medford High School deserves to feel recognized, empowered, and involved. We strive to strengthen the community within MHS by embracing the diversity seen throughout the school. Interact is a safe space for students to bring each of their special gifts to the table and use them toward bettering the community. Each month new projects created by the students themselves are initiated based on the premise of Interact’s motto, “Service Above Self.” Over these past fifteen years, Interact Club has been truly fortunate to have Ms. Amie Saulnier as its club advisor. As the one who helped Interact to bloom here in Medford so many years ago, she has always encouraged us and we cannot be more grateful for what she has done here at the MHS. Her unwavering support and trust in Interact’s students has been instrumental to the success of this club and has shaped it into what it is today. Her selflessness and dedication to us has allowed us to thrive, letting us realize our ideas and considering even the most absurd ones we come up with. She has created an environment within her classroom of creativity and inclusivity, pushing us to make a difference in our community. Unfortunately, this year marks Ms. Saulnier’s last year teaching in Medford to work with multilingual learners in the town her own kids go to school in.
It's been a true privilege, honor, and great pleasure to be the District Governor 2022-23 for Rotary District 7930 and to serve our 44 Rotary Clubs, 2 Rotaract Clubs, and 1,550 Rotarians in Northeastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.
Wednesday, June 21st, was our District Installation event where our incoming Club Presidents, Assistant Governors, and District Governor as well as other District Officers got installed, and they will all take over in just a few days on July 1st, when we transition from #ImagineRotary to #CreateHopeInTheWorld
I know our district will be in good hands under future leadership and I am thankful to all current AGs, District Committee Chairs and Members, District Leaders, and Club Presidents for all the amazing things that we've accomplished this year!
And a big shout-out to RI President Jennifer Jones and Trustee Chair Ian Riseley for this fabulous year, too!
The Rotary Club of Newburyport recently announced its scholarship recipients.
The club provides $9,000 in scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors. A recipient graduating from Newburyport High School and another from Triton Regional High School received the Norman H. Russell Memorial Scholarship.
A Newburyport graduate received the George A. Cashman Community Service Scholarship. The value of each scholarship is $3,000. The scholarships are funded with money raised at Rotary events.
Kellan McDermott of Newburyport High will attend UMass Amherst and study business and computer science. He was co-captain of the undefeated soccer team that won a state championship. McDermott is a member of the student council and involved with Special Olympics.
On Sunday, June 11, Ipswich High School Interact held a special meeting that was attended by their families and some friends from the sponsoring Ipswich-Rowley Rotary club. In addition to celebrating their achievements and installing new leaders, the club created this event to strengthen their connections with parents, school administrators and the Rotary club. Supported by Rotarians, Interact is driven by the children and enabled by the parents who raise them and shape their values.
Following dinner, Rotary President Martha Mauser shared a bit about Rotary and our annual Youth Exchange program. The club then presented a year-in-review slide show, beginning with a leadership camping trip in August and running through each club event. Interact runs a number of events during the year to raise money for charitable organizations. Their Jingle Bell Walk just completed its 10th year in Ipswich and has become an annual town tradition. This year, the club also raised money to fund Kiva revolving micro loans to small businesses in developing countries. Many of these loans already have been repaid and reissued as new loans.
Rotary Life on Land Symposium - Connecting the World through Sustainability
August 31, to September 3, 2023 Rotary International Zones 28/32
How does sustainable living benefit humanity? Nature has a finite capacity to regenerate itself in the face of pressures on its land, water, and air resources.
Our speakers will address sustainability and solutions, both in the Arctic as well as from a worldwide perspective.
Speakers include: RI President-Elect Gordon McInally, RI Director Drew Kessler, RI Director-Elect Chris Etienne, Christopher Puttock, and Dr. Michele Devlin.
As our Rotary Year 2022-23 is about to enter into its final month, there is still enough time for your club to achieve one of our two available District Governor's Citation programs:
As well as the Rotary Citation that your club can get from Rotary International.
All three programs are similar in that they define 25 potential goals or suggested action steps, and to achieve the citation your club must achieve more than half of these, i.e. 13 or more of the respective goals or action steps must be completed. Furthermore, all three programs are based on an online submission process: for the two District Governor's Citation the online form is on our district website and can be found through the links above. And for the Rotary Citation from Rotary International, the goals can be found in the goals section on Rotary Club Central.
Most Clubs have found that when they review the Citation requirements that the Club often has already achieved some of the action steps. So it may only take an additional push to complete and document the remaining steps to achieve the goals and earn the Citation! And if your club achieves either one of the two available District Governor's Citation programs, you will receive pins for all your club members to celebrate the achievement!
The Winchester Rotary celebrated Town Day on June 3rd by hosting our Pancake Breakfast. We served over 350 people with the support of over 35 sponsors. It was a huge success.
The Rotary District 7930 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee hosted a discussion on Cultural Awareness presented by Dr. Shamaila Khan, Ph.D. on May 17th, 2023.
Dr. Khan (she/her) is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Clinical Associate Professor at the Boston University School of Medicine / Boston Medical Center (BU/BMC). She is additionally the Training Director of the Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology, and the Director for the Center for Multicultural Mental Health at BU/BMC. Dr Khan is also the Co-Chair for the DEI Committee at BMC, the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council at BUSM, and the Diversity Champion for the Department of Psychiatry at BMC. As such her expertise is in the domain of multiculturalism, diversity, equity, and social justice.
Manchester-Essex Rotary is excited to announce that the Annual Red, White and Blue Pancake Breakfast will take place at Tuck's Point on Saturday, July 1st, 7:30 a.m. to Noon.
Free Water Taxi from Town Hall and Reed's Park to Tuck's Point 8:30 to 12:30!
Free face painting and pony rides!
Manchester Summer Stage will be performing selections from "School of Rock"
State Senator Bruce Tarr and Former State Representative Brad Hill will be on hand flipping pancakes.
Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, children ages 4-8 are $5, children three and under free.
Use the "Donate Button" on our website www.manchesteressexrotary.org to purchase with a credit card or purchase at the door, or pay via the event registration in the calendar.
Impressions of the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne from Yoland Li, President of Cambridge Rotary.
It’s my first time attending the Rotary International Convention. I highly recommend Rotarians to join the next year’s convention in Singapore. I signed up already.
Here are some of the highlights and photos from Melbourne.
1) The House of Friendship provided all the details about Rotary projects and Fellowship details. They even had a Shelter Box.
2) I joined the general sessions every day. I really enjoyed the End Polio Project update and the partnership with Global Citizen.
The District Installation will be Wednesday, June 21 from 6 pm to 9 pm at Danversport Yacht Club. Please come one, come all to welcome in and support your new District and Club leadership.
Question: Why should we care about using the "new" Rotary logo?
Answer: Some brands are recognized around the world just by their logos. When people see the logo, they instantly know what it means and what to expect. That visual recognition comes from years of using a logo widely and consistently.
Rotary also benefits from having a strong, recognizable brand that is legally protected. District and clubs are allowed to use the Rotary logo when you add your own identifier with no additional imagery. Additionally, when people see our logos in print, online, or on social media, they should immediately recognize them both as representing Rotary and as symbols of an organization that takes action to make the world better.
You can strengthen Rotary not just in your community but all over the world by using our logos correctly and consistently. This reinforces to the public who we are and what we do.
Furthermore, based on a membership study that ran across Zones 28 and 32, clubs with a membership growth culture have a strong public image and are well known in their communities. Having a consistent brand helps contribute to membership growth.
Here are my first quick impressions of the 2023 RI Convention in Melbourne:
1) Seeing the House of Friendship in its full form. So many inspiring projects I am now excited about.
2) Connecting with current club presidents, who have been incredibly helpful in advising me for my year. I now feel much more prepared to lead Boston 7. Also, being able to connect with our sister club, Rotary Club of Melbourne - we have already started brainstorming for a project together!
3) Incredibly fun fellowship-building events that have helped me connect with Rotarians from all over the world, who share many of my interests. There have been several "cheeks hurt from smiling" moments!
The 2023 RI Convention has come to a close last week and Nora and I are traveling back to District 7930 this weekend. We will be landing at Boston Logan Airport at 2:15 PM on Monday, June 5th.
You can now watch some of the highlights of the RI Convention from the convenience of your own home or office. These are the opening and general session speeches delivered by our Rotary senior leaders:
During May 2023 the Lynn Rotary truly lived up to the motto of SERVICE ABOVE SELF. Please see the following examples.
On May 3rd, the Lynn Rotary sponsored the Lynn Special Games for the 53rd year. This year the Reading Cooperative Bank was a cosponsor. Over 500 t-shirts were purchased for the students, their teachers, para-professionals, and high school student volunteers. Medallions were also provided. Over 20 Rotarians joined the program and cheered the students on as they entered Manning Bowl for the Games.
On the weekend of May 13/14 two Classical High Interact students were sponsored by Lynn Rotary so they could attend RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) at Camp Rotary in Boxford, MA. Ray Bastarache said, “I’ve been a Rotarian for a number of years, and these are the first two students that I remember which the Club supported.”
On Monday, May 22, the scholarship committee awarded six scholarships to high school seniors who are Lynn residents. A very good crowd of Rotarians were there to congratulate the winners. The committee had over 30 applications they had to review and come to a consensus on the 6. It was a time consuming and difficult process as there were plenty of deserving candidates.
In honor of Rotary’s Year of the Girl, the Rotary Club of Cambridge partnered with local nonprofit Science Club for Girls. The organization’s mission fits squarely with Rotary’s areas of focus: “At Science Club for Girls, we believe in long-term investment in a girl's STEM education. We know this is the only way to address the systemic, root causes of the lack of diversity in STEM and move the needle towards a more equitable, diverse, and innovative STEM ecosystem. The trajectories of our alumni show the impact of this investment, and we all, as a society, reap the benefits.” In addition to volunteering with Science for Club for Girls to assist with their inventory review for next school year, with monies from our District Grant, our Club purchased much needed desks, computer stand and other supplies for their new office space.
Cambridge Rotary's District Grant Supports Science Club for Girl
At the Arch Klumph Society Preconvention Ceremony on May 27, District Governor Alexander Falk delivered the following remarks in Melbourne, Australia, while on stage with Rotary International President Jennifer Jones, CEO and General Secretary John Hewko, and Trustee Chair Ian Riseley (an avid Red Sox fan):
"Nora and I are privileged that we were able to increase our contributions to The Rotary Foundation during my year as District Governor for Rotary District 7930, which includes Boston, Northeastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Our district also includes Fenway Park – home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, of which some on this stage are rumored to be fans.
It is always wonderful to see how the funds we provide as donors are amplified by the amazing work that Rotarians do around the world to implement these projects, from clean water and sanitation to literacy and from child and maternal health to community economic development.
Something that RI President Nominee Stephanie Urchick said in her address at the Dinner with the RI Presidents really resonated with me: 'We always say that Rotary is not a political organization, but shouldn’t we really say that we are not a partisan organization?'
Because Peace and Healthcare and Women’s Rights and the Environment are inherently political topics - and we do have an agenda in all these areas expressed so succinctly through our seven areas of focus.
So here is a provocative question: what are we going to do about child and maternal health in the United States in the coming years? This is something we as Rotarians have to figure out if we want to stay true to our beliefs in basic human rights."
CEO John Hewko subsequently referenced these remarks in his statement and called it a necessary question, not a provocative one.
Reading Rotary is deeply appreciative to the Town of Reading for its appropriation of $25,000 in ARPA funds toward expenses of the Reading Fall Street Faire. Reading Rotary runs the annual event, having taken on its management seven years ago. The 15th annual RFSF will be held on Sunday, September 10 from noon to 5 pm in Reading’s downtown area.
The Reading Fall Street Faire is the largest annual event in Reading and draws vendors, community organizations, food sellers and fair goers from all around the region. Reading Rotary expects up to 15,000 people to attend.
According to Reading Rotary President Sheila Clarke: “The Fall Street Faire offers so much excitement and fun for the community. This year we will be unveiling some changes to keep things fresh.” The RFSF will continue many great traditions including community organizations and vendors for food, goods, services; live performers on three stages; children's area with games; large area with amusements; NFL tailgate; and Corn Hole Tournament.
Pictured here is the Reading Rotary Board accepting the ARPA funds from Town officials. From left to right are Phil Stewart, Tim Kelley Sheila Clarke, Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Select Board Member Chris Haley and daughters, Select Board Member Mark Dockser, Kathy Kinney and Lisa Gibbs.
Town Allocates $25K to Reading's Street Faire Expenses
Rotary Peabody coordinated a City-wide cleanup day on Saturday, May 6th. Rotarians put on gloves and hauled bags while they cleaned up parks, sidewalks and more. The Bishop Fenwick Interact division, mulched and planted flowers for their campus. Both projects were part of the Club's continuing commitment to keeping its City clean and welcoming.
The Wakefield Rotary Club will be again sponsoring the Father’s Day Fishing Tournament at Lake Quannapowitt. The fun-filled morning is free and open to all ages on Sunday, June 18th. Wakefield Rotary President Gene Mullen explained, “We had such a fun time the past few years with this event. We hope it grows even bigger this year.”
Registration will be held on Veteran’s Field on North Avenue from 8:30am-10:00am. Registration is required to compete, and bait will be provided while supplies last. The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game will also provide a limited amount loaner fishing rods upon request. The derby competition will be open from 8:30am-11:00am. Trophies will be provided for largest fish by category at the 11am ceremony.
Lynn Rotary and Lynn Vocational Tech are co-sponsors of a blood drive, Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 8:30 am to 3 pm. The drive will be organized by Boston Children's Hospital at the Lynn Tech Campus, 80 Neptune Blvd. in Lynn.
If you are in the area, drop by and give a drop, or a few to fill a bag!
We now have a new video library on our district website that contains a collection of all recent webinar and event recordings as well as training content from the most recent couple of years. Please feel free to refer to this library often and utilize the content during your club meetings or for training new members.
There are also links from the various district committee pages on this website to the respective section of the video library that is relevant to those committees. We will be expanding the library as more video recordings are being made available going forward.
The following directory can be used to directly access a particular section in the video library:
Congratulations to the Marblehead Rotary Club for achieving 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club status on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary!
This recognition is presented by the Rotary Foundation to a club in which all members are Paul Harris Fellows. This is a one-time recognition, and thus the banner shows the Rotary year of achievement.
On May 9, 2023, Lynn Rotary again co-sponsored, with the Reading Cooperative Bank, the Special Games for special education students of Lynn Public schools. Many Rotarians and dignitaries attended the games; they all greeted the Lynn Police who ran from the police station (about 1.5 miles) to Manning Bowl. After everyone sang the National Anthem, the police followed a color guard and led the students around the oval ¼ mile track before the official start of the games. The students passed through a “Lane of Honor” consisting of Rotarians, Reading Cooperative Bank volunteers, Police, dignitaries, School Officials, Firemen and others. The students, many of whom carried the banner of their school, marched in procession prior to the start of the games, smiling and welcoming the applause for them. Ms. Julie Thurlow, President and CEO of Reading Cooperative Bank gave the official start to the games with a “Let the Games Begin” shout-out!
At the 100th Anniversary Party of seven clubs in our district a video was displayed during the cocktail reception and dinner, featuring photos, videos, and projects from each of the seven clubs - Danvers, Gloucester, Ipswich-Rowley, Marblehead, Newburyport, Reading, and Stoneham.
Isn't it a beauty? Marblehead Rotary donated a 10 and a half foot, two-faced clock, in classic black and gold trimmed art regency style, to commemorate our 100th Anniversary. The unveiling was attended by Town Selectmen, civic leaders, Rotarians, and locals. The dedication was held precisely on the 100th-anniversary date of May 11. We are grateful to have received incredible feedback and goodwill from Marbleheaders! Here's to another 100 years of service.
Posing before the clock are from left to right: Police Chief Denis King; Thatcher Kezer, Marblehead Town Administrator; Jack Attridge, Town Moderator; Moses Grader, Selectmen; Nancy Gwin, Rotary President; Alexander Falk, District Governor and Marblehead Rotarian; Pooja Singla, District Governor Nominee Elect, and Jim Nye, President & CEO of National Grand Bank, Marblehead.
Mark your calendars. The District Installation will be Wednesday, June 21 from 6 pm to 9 pm at Danversport Yacht Club. Please come one, come all to welcome in and support your new District and Club leadership.
On Wednesday, May 10, 2023 the Public Image and Technology committee presented a webinar on the Proper Use of Rotary Logos.
Correct branding is important to every global brand. Rotary is no different and like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Nike, and UNICEF, we must protect our name and intellectual property. It is how we can grow our organization, increase our impact, and maintain our reputation as an organization that can be trusted. Learn how to use our logos and other brand assets properly in this one-hour webinar.
The Gloucester Rotary has named Tracy Arabian as a Paul Harris Fellow, the prestigious award named after the Chicago lawyer who founded Rotary in 1905. Tracy was selected by a committee of previous recipients of the award and will be honored at a special dinner on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square in Gloucester. The social hour will begin at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6:30pm.
Tracy Arabian was born and raised in the southwest U.S. The daughter of a career Marine, Tracy grew up in southern California, Hawaii, and Arizona—graduating from high school in Phoenix, Arizona. She then joined the U.S. Army, where she was trained as a Russian linguist. Her seven years in the service saw her stationed in Missouri, California, Texas, Washington DC, Kansas, and Berlin, Germany.
Tracy married a fellow soldier she met in Berlin and moved to Gloucester, where she was welcomed warmly into the large Gloucester Doucette/Jenkins/Klopotoski/Arabian family. Tracy fell in love with the Cape Ann area quickly. In 1997, she accepted a position at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and learned firsthand the importance of community service. She met business leaders who commit to the betterment of their community through their service as little league coaches, scout leaders, Chamber volunteers, members of local service organizations, and more. Tracy now works at SeniorCare, a non-profit human services agency that serves nine communities on the North Shore.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is happy to announce that Doug Brendel and Stephen Crane have joined the Rotary family. Doug and Stephen bring with them long track records of community engagement and service.
Doug Brendel is well known in Ipswich and the North Shore. He truly is a renaissance man – novelist, essayist, actor, speaker and humanitarian. His amusing and highly readable “The Outsidah” column about life in a small New England town is a popular weekly feature in the Ipswich Local News. He is an accomplished actor with numerous theater credits to his name. A former clergyman, Doug and his wife Kristina created a non-profit called NewThing.net in 2002 to provide health and support services in Belarus. They also actively support the Trustees of Reservations.
Stephen Crane came to Ipswich in September when he was hired as our new Town Manager. He brings with him 22 years of municipal job experience, including 14 as a municipal manager. His portfolio includes having served for six years as Town Manager in Longmeadow where he succeeded Robin Crosbie, herself a former Ipswich Town Manager and Rotarian. Stephen tells us that, as a town executive, he really enjoys community involvement and is helped by his sense of humor. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, reading, and the arts.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is thrilled to welcome Doug and Stephen to the Rotary family. We know that their energy, skills, creativity, and compassion and will fit very well with our core missions of service and environmental sustainability.
Pictured from left: President Martha Mauser, Stephen Crane, sponsor Nat Pulsifer, Martha and Doug Brendel. Doug was sponsored by Joan Arsenault.
Community members have the opportunity to sponsor a flag in memory or honor of the men and women who are serving or have served as members of the Military, Police Officers, Firefighters, First Responders, Parents, Teachers, Coaches, Mentors, Community Leaders, and fly for all the people who have made a difference in their lives. Arlington Rotary has dedicated this year's installation in memory of Maria Krepelka, longtime town employee and Rotary volunteer who died last October.
Flags for Heroes is a way to honor people who are your heroes. They may be men and women who are serving or have served as a members of the military, first responders, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, community leaders, or other heroes. You may sponsor as many heroes as you want, and a flag with the name of your heroes will be flown at Park Circle Water Tower on Park Ave in Arlington.
Your donation of $40 will go directly to Rotary Club of Arlington's scholarship program.
Rotary Club of Medford, MA is hosting a Comedy Night FUN raiser for the benefit of our Medford Rotary charity endeavors.
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 - Doors open at 6 PM.
Prince Pizzeria Giggles Comedy Club 517 Broadway, Saugus, MA Tickets are $40 per person, $35 per person for groups of eight or more... includes pizza dinner and comedians!!!
Contact Justin Lasko for tickets 781.905.1537 A scratch ticket raffle and raffle/auction of various prizes will also be held.
We honored James Maloney for his 50 years of service to the Methuen Rotary Club and presented him with his 2nd Paul Harris which is the highest honor a Rotarian can receive. In January we held a brunch in his honor and many local city leaders attended to celebrate James. He was the City Clerk in Methuen for many years, served as Methuen Board of Trade President, and was involved in many different service areas within the Merrimack Valley. He also served as President of Methuen Rotary Club which is where his heart truly remained.
To quote his wife Louise Rotary was always a very important part of his life and has given him some wonderful memories. I remember when he was still active in the Club I could never schedule anything on a Friday from 12 to 2pm. He still likes to talk about all the good times the Club provided, and the good the Club does for various organizations.
It was our honor to celebrate him and thank him for his years of service. James truly exemplified the Rotary Motto “Service Above Self”
Host an Inbound Global Scholar? What does that mean?
Being a host means looking out for the scholar as they plan to come to the U.S. and while they are here. Scholars live on, or off, campus at the University that they are studying with. Scholars are graduate students coming here to further their studies to gain a Master’s or PhD here in the U.S. Some even come to the U.S. with their families!
As a host, you can help them navigate the area, connect with groups in the area and figure out how to do things while they are here like taking the bus to NY or visiting the Cape and New England. Being away from home can be tough and having a host family here for you can make a big difference.
If you'd like to host a scholar this year, please contact Anne Lewis at car4forever@gmail.com or Lori Becker at Lori@cfefitness.com to be placed on our "Yes! I want to host" list.
Note: Our current scholars are being hosted by Cambridge, Ipswich, Danvers and Somerville and we'd love to place this year's group in even more clubs!
Christina Brown, LMHC, joined the Burlington Rotary Club as guest speaker last week. She came to talk about her book Therapy and Other Drugs. The group talked about the stories in her book, the publishing process and mental health. The conversation was flowing, and it was nice to be able to hear from a professional about how to help people that are struggling.
About the Author: Christina Brown is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, specializing in working with adults diagnosed with substance use disorders. During her time as a therapist, she has treated hundreds of patients. Christina’s extensive professional and personal experiences have shaped her debut as an author with: Therapy and Other Drugs. She is also recently married to Club President Todd Bettinson.
If you'd like to reach Christina about speaking at your club, please contact her at cmbrownwhs@gmail.com.
Author Christina Brown Speaks at Burlington Rotary
Rotary Club of Lexington presents its annual comedy / music night on June 16, 2023, at Cary Memorial Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02420, featuring host Tony V and introducing Billy Joel cover band Heart Attack Ack Ack Ack Ack. Tickets are $69 each (65 or older $65 each). Click this link to purchase tickets.
Wilmington Rotary is holding a Fun Filled, Fundraiser Event: ROTARY TRIVIA NIGHT! Where: WILMINGTON KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 112 Middlesex Avenue, WILMINGTON, MA 01887 When: Friday, June 9, 2023 Doors Open: 6:00 PM
The event is capped at only 50 teams of 4 at the low price of $100/Team. The fun night of fellowship, friendship, networking includes but not limited to A Comedian who will be the Trivia Master on that night. Wilmington Interact Club's 6-7 members helping direct the guests to their respective tables 50/50 Raffle
All (100%) proceeds will go towards the Rotary Scholarship Program sponsored by the Wilmington Rotary Club.
Please Contact for tickets: Greg Sadowski: 978-657-6167; John Doherty: 339-927-7099 Jack Cushing: 978-604-2443; Chris Neville: 978-479-1500
In honor of Earth Day this past weekend, Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians planted 15 trees at two Ipswich Housing Authority properties, on County Road and at Caroline Avenue. This effort began last year, when Rotarians noted the lack of natural shade while installing air conditioners. Rotary then contacted Corliss Brothers Nursery who generously donated the trees planted this year. We also are grateful to the Ipswich Department of Public Works, who transported and installed the trees. On Saturday, and again Monday, Rotarians returned to add water bags, known as gaiters, and mulch, and to water the trees.
The donated trees are native species and part of our Centennial giving project, recognizing the club’s 100 years of service to the community. Additional trees were donated by the Ipswich Shade Tree and Beautification Committee.
The planting is part of a major renovation of the Southern Heights area by the Housing Authority that will enhance the appearance of their grounds and improve the quality of life for residents living there. Going forward, the Housing Authority intends to encourage resident volunteers to water and help care for the trees. This project truly is a collaborative effort.
Chris Davis, Chair of Rotary’s Community Service Committee, coordinated the project for Rotary. The other Rotarians who volunteered were Sr Leonore Coan, John and Diane Herth, Cindy Quinn, and Jim Tedford.
Even if you don't have a lawn, you can help District 7930 and our Environmental Committee spread the word about No Mow May!
Download and post this graphic to your social media pages and let everyone you know you support pollination along with Rotary's newest Area of Focus, The Environment!
Reading Rotary will host a fun filled Kentucky Derby event to benefit Pep's Peddlers and Pan Mass Challenge. So, corral all of your friends, put on your best Derby attire, and trot on down to the Wakefield Elks. Pep’s Peddlers is a local bicycle team that fundraises for multiple sclerosis. Riders in the Pan Mass Challenge raise funds for Dana Farber.
The afternoon event on Saturday, May 6th will include DJ, streamed races, derby themed games, best hat/attire prizes, raffles & more. Doors open at 3:30. Races begin at 4:00. There will be appetizers and a cash bar. Register online here.
Please continue to help us with our last push for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA).
Please donate. We have 4 students without sponsoring clubs. If you can fund one or more of these students, please contact Christina Harris. We still need additional funding for the RYLA weekend. We are asking Clubs or individual Rotarians to donate to make up our shortfall. The cost of one student is $350. If Clubs that are not sending any students were to make a donation of $350, we will cover the costs of this vitally important event. Donations of any size will be greatly appreciated. Donate via Square here.
This year’s RYLA Conference will be held from May 12-14 at the Camp Rotary in Boxford, MA. The Annual RYLA Conference offers participants an opportunity to live, work and interact together in an atmosphere of cooperation and growth. The entire cost of the program, aside from a $25 application fee provided by applicants, will be covered by the Rotary Club in your area.
This past Friday, April 21, 2023, the Lynn Police and Rotarians distributed over 250 Brown Bags filled with groceries primarily to those experiencing food insecurities. However, anyone can receive them. The bags include both shelf-stable and fresh items. There are no age or income requirements for the program and there is no application process. Just sign up over the phone or in person when you come to the event. To learn more or to sign up, please call 781-599-0110 and ask for the Nutrition Department.
On the third Friday of each month from 9 to 11 A.M., residents of Lynn, Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus, and Swampscott can pick up a bag of free groceries as part of Greater Boston Food Bank’s Brown Bag/Mobile Markets Program.
“As a RYLA Alumni from 2019, I can say with high confidence that it has been one of, if not the most rewarding leadership experiences I have done. Helping others is something that I have strong passion for. RYLA not only provided that for me, but it gave me many other opportunities. I am so glad I attended RYLA, and I look forward to helping others have the same experience I had.” - Alyssa Louise
Thanks to all who visited the RYLA booth at the District Conference House of Friendship. Congrats to basket winner, 7890's DGE Christine Burns. We raised some of the funds, but we are still short of fully funding this important youth program. We ask you to consider donating to close the gap.Donate via Square here. For more info, contact Christina Harris.
Our keynote speaker, Evan Burrell, learned a lot of new words during his stay in New England, including the proper words to describe our 2023 District Conference: it was "wicked pissah!"
If you weren't there this weekend, you really missed a lot:
Pickleball, Wine Fellowship, Tutudesks, Microfinance, Rotaract, RYLA, Interact, Polio Eradication, ESRAG, Climate Action, Human Trafficking, Video Storytelling, Rotaplast, No Mow May, a new Rotary Club for Military Veterans, Juggling District Governors, wild (and unconfirmed) stories about a Tesla stuck in a snow drift, and much more...
Speaker Opportunity: Advocacy Toolkit for Water Conservation. Funded by RI Global Grant Saving the Ipswich River & Watersheds: The Lifeblood of Our Communities.
The Ipswich River is one of the most Endangered Rivers in America, threatened by over-use of its limited flow. The Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA) and the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club are partnering on work funded by a Rotary International grant to reduce water use in communities across the North Shore. This grant funds the development of an advocacy toolkit and a new initiative to engage community members to spread the word about water conservation around the North Shore.
IRWA Planning and Resiliency Program Manager, Erin Bonney Casey, would love to speak with your club on the advocacy toolkit and provide a brief training for Rotarians interested in tabling at local garden centers and community events to educate the public about the water challenges facing us and the individual actions you can take to conserve water.
Contact Joan at joan@massteximaging.com to set up this incredible presentation/opportunity for your club.
Speaker Opportunity: Advocacy for Water Conservation
The Rotary Club of Chelsea is holding a Chelsea Rotary Derby to raise funds to support their local scholarship program and send twenty Chelsea youth to Camp Rotary for a week.
The event will be held Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Anthony’s in Malden. Tickets for a chance to be a horse owner are $100. Six tickets will be drawn to represent each of the six horses in the race. The race will be 10 “furlongs” in length. The payouts will be; Win; $2,500, Place: $1,500; Show: $1,000. Betting on individual horses will be conducted. There will also be numerous door prizes. Dinner tickets are $60 and are separate from the $100 race tickets. Corporate sponsorships are available for $1,000 and include four race tickets, four dinner tickets and a banner at the finish line.
For race or dinner tickets please contact Bruce Mauch at (857) 544-9041. Checks should be made out to Rotary Club of Chelsea Charitable Foundation, or you can Venmo the funds to Douglas-Mauch.
The Burlington Lunch club turned their lunch meeting into an "all hands on deck" service project & lunch last week. It was the first service project that they've done in a while and the club's support was awesome! Members helped make kit boxes, fill and label them. The goal was far exceeded and the final donation was for 60 kits!
Connor's Kindness Project is an organization started by then 12 year old Connor to provide Kindness Kits to kids. A Kindness Kit is a box of carefully thought out items selected by Connor himself. The kits are delivered to children in hospitals and shelters and are meant to be entertaining, comforting and fun for children in challenging situations.
Prior to this lunch, Connor and his partner Sharon Marrama (also his grandmother) spoke to the club about his idea and what their plans are for the upcoming year. If you'd like to put together a speaking event and/or service project, please contact Assistant Governor, Lori Becker of the Burlington club for more information.
Our 3DistrictConferenceis coming up in five days already, next Saturday, April 22nd, at the Burlington Marriott and we are so excited to share this amazing program with you! This event is open to all Rotary Club members and guests and it is going to be an inspiring and educational event that no Rotarian is going to want to miss. Please see below (or click Read More) to read about our awesome program, which includes TutuDesks, Human Trafficking, Climate Action, MicroFinance, Rotaract, RYLA, Operation Pollination, Global Grants, Video Storytelling Skills, our keynote speaker Evan Burrell from Australia, and so much more!
Monday, April 17th is Patriots’ Day and this is the LAST day to register for the conference:
The full-day conference package includes coffee & snacks, business meeting, award luncheon, afternoon breakout sessions, house of friendship, cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres, and dinner with keynote speaker Evan Burrell and is $199 per person.
NEW: Based on recent feedback and many requests received, we are now also offering two HALF-DAY packages!!!
Lunch-only option w/ half-day conference - $99
Access to the conference for the first half of the day, including coffee & snacks, business meeting, lunch, breakout sessions, house of friendship.
Dinner-only option w/ half-day conference - $109
Access to the conference for the second half of the day, including breakout sessions, house of friendship, cocktail hour, and dinner with keynote speaker Evan Burrell.
As Alexander Falk's District Governorship draws to a close in a few months, he recently looped back to his home club, Marblehead, to reacquaint himself with long-time and new club members by diving deep into his professional and personal life in the form of a “re-classification talk”. Of course, we know this all-star leader as an avid skier, a fervid Red Sox fan, and a die-hard Rotarian, but here are five interesting random fun facts about him:
Fact 1: His childhood idol was Star Trek's Mr. Spock. So next time you see him, test his Vulcan salute.
Fact 2: He knows how to juggle and ride a unicycle. Next time you see him, throw him some plates to see how well he does with those.
Fact 3: He has already seen two total solar eclipses (and traveled to a perfect location to see them) and is currently planning the family trip for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse.
Fact 4: In a Red Sox uniform, he once played a baseball game in Fenway Park. That explains the accompanying picture.
Fact 5: He and his wife, Nora, got married in a shopping mall in Vienna! Why? You have to ask him this one yourself.
Reading Rotary has exciting news. We are joining forces with the Rotary Amman Citadel in Jordan in an International Project to combat the increasing problem of obesity in Amman.
Two decades ago the obesity rate in Jordan was 27%. Currently, the obesity rate in Jordan is at 35.5% and growing. This represents the largest increase in obesity rate of any country in the world. It has also led to a 15.4% rate of diabetes and other health issues that their country is unequipped to handle. Combined with very little emphasis on physical activity and a lack of sporting facilities, the issue is real and trending in the wrong direction.
The Rotary Club of Amman has designed a project that addresses the growing problem and will have a sustainable effect on their youth. This project starts with a healthy living awareness campaign which includes social media, posters, flyers, workshops and lectures. It also includes the organization of local sports and activities. The final step is to construct a public, open-air sports facility or playground complex for local children to play outdoors.
Reading Rotary is hosting this fun-filled event on behalf of Pep's Peddlers and Pan Mass Challenge. So, corral all of your friends, put on your best Derby attire, and trot on down to the Wakefield Elks. Pep's Peddlers' cause is multiple sclerosis. The Pan Mass Challenge raising funds for cancer.
Saturday, May 6th at the Wakefield Elks Club, 63 Baystate Rd., Wakefield, MA 01867. Doors open at 3:30. Races begin at 4:00. Appetizers and Cash Bar.
Afternoon to include DJ, streamed races, derby themed games, best hat/attire prizes, raffles & more!
Recent Rotary research confirms that the single most important factor in membership satisfaction is the club experience.
Using our Membership Assessment Tools guide, which includes the Member Satisfaction Survey, can help you craft an experience that reflects your members' interests and needs.
“I loved RYLA so much that I am still involved with the program in another Rotary District! RYLA allowed me to meet so many new people and cultivate new leadership skills. I was able to overcome my greatest fears and grow from it in a safe and supportive environment.” - Michael Woo
Paul Tucker, Essex County District Attorney, was the guest speaker at the Lynn Rotary Club on April 6, 2023. He shared with the Club his path in becoming the District Attorney. He started in law enforcement as a campus police officer at Salem State University. He soon joined the Salem Police department as a patrol officer. He came up through the ranks as detective; chief of detectives; and finally chief of police in 2009. Along the way he earned a master’s degree in criminal justice as well as a law degree and passing the bar on his first attempt. In 2014 he left the chief’s position and was elected State Representative, which was followed in 2022 by his election to Essex County District Attorney.
He also shared with the Club some anecdotes from his career with the Salem Force; among them was in 1998 when he was involved in a shoot-out and a hostage situation, stemming from a bank robbery. Thankfully that situation ended with a release of the young children held hostage and only the robber being injured with a gunshot to the leg.
"It’s been almost 10 years since I first attended RYLA, and I can say with confidence that it has been an integral stepping stone in my journey thus far. I have always loved volunteering, caring for others, and generally being helpful to those around me. RYLA not only provided me a sense of community among like-minded peers but encouraged me to pursue a career that allowed me to continue participating in those same passions." - Alissa Smith
"Six years later and I still think about the memories I made at my very first RYLA as a junior in high school. In just three days, I developed my leadership skills all while making meaningful connections with the members of my RYLA family. The weekend’s activities included the Culture Walk, which still stands as one of the most impactful experiences I have truly ever been a part of. RYLA is an opportunity to not only meet people and craft lifelong friendships, but also to learn more about communities and cultures beyond your own. There is simply no other experience like it!" -Maddie Cass
Soon after Governor Alexander took office, he challenged the Assistant Governors to take some courses in the Learning Center. Some of us took on the challenge, and this is the result!
Since I had just finished my term as District Governor, but still had paperwork to do, I started with Governor Basics. I found lots of useful information and clarity to the reasons we do things certain ways. From there, I went onto Governor Intermediate and then Advanced courses where I found answers to some of my last questions on my paperwork.
As I now rejoined the Assistant Governor group and this tool was not available when last I was an AG, I decided to start there with AG basics and follow through with the Intermediate and Advanced courses. Again, I found a plethora of information! These are great courses for anyone who thinks they want to be an Assistant Governor before they actually jump into the role.
On Saturday May 13, Lynnfield Rotary will host a community service event to build beds for children in need. Rotary clubs and community organizations across the District are welcome to join us. A Team of 4 people and a contribution of $350 is all it takes to register. All the tools and materials are provided. The event is outside at Lynnfield Market Street, 10 am to 12 pm on Saturday May 13. Indiviuals can join an existing team for $50. For more information or to register a team, contact Christine Travers or Ron Block. See www.lynnfieldrotary.com for more information.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) needs your Club’s help!
We need more students. So far, we are only 1/3 full, so please continue to spread the word. Reach out to prospective high school candidates.
We need donations. We need additional funding for the RYLA weekend. We are asking Clubs or individual Rotarians to donate to make up our shortfall. If your Club is not sponsoring a RYLA student, please consider making a donation. The cost of one student is $350. If Clubs that are not sending any students were to make a donation of $350, we will cover the costs of this vitally important event.
Tips to find more candidates. Connect with Interact Clubs or other service organizations at the High School; National Honor Society; Trade schools in your communities; home school organizations; Scouts. We need your help to bring in more students as we reboot RYLA post pandemic.
Districts 7930, 7910 and 7780 - Let’s join together with friends, family and community members for peace and make an impact!
Volunteers are needed to plan an exciting event that will celebrate Rotary’s new Peace Center, scheduled to open in 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey. Peace Centers are located at universities across the world – there are seven now and Istanbul will be the eighth. Rotary Peace Centers offer specially designed curricula to train individuals devoted to peacebuilding and conflict resolution. To date, more than 1,500 people have been trained and serve in governments and NGO’s throughout the world.
This project, spearheaded by District 7930’s District Governor Elect Lori Karas, was inspired by a group in Israel who produces musical events. They create a three-part harmony by bringing people together in a large space and dividing them into various parts to sing. See https://youtu.be/XqvKDCP5-xE as example of the program we are planning.
On Wednesday, March 29th the Public Image Committee hosted an informative webinar on the use of the Rotary Brand Center. The Brand Center is available to all Rotary Clubs and all Rotarians and is your source for graphic materials that comply with the Rotary brand guidelines.
A brand is more than just a logo, but a logo is a big part of our visual identity. When the public sees it throughout their community, they begin to think of Rotary members as people of action. Using the same visual elements unites Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact and allows us, as a diverse global organization, to tell our story with one voice.
We concluded the webinar with a Q&A session, where people could ask the Public Image committee anything! And we did indeed get questions about Zoom backgrounds, etc.
On March 30, 2023, the Rotary Club of Lynn continued with its tradition of recognizing 8th grade students from Lynn Middle Schools. These are students who have struggled with some adversity during the school year or have shown empathy toward others in an outstanding way.
The students are nominated by their teacher or guidance counselor, someone who knows the student very well. The students are invited to a luncheon meeting of the members and are individually presented with a gift certificate to a local bookstore, a Certificate of Achievement, and a $25 gift certificate to open an account at the River Works Credit Union, the program sponsor. During the individual presentations a narrative is read by the Club President or his designee enumerating the various situations the students struggled with and how they were overcome. During the program Dr, Raymond Bastarache, former past Club President and former Deputy Superintendent of Schools, spoke on the importance of this program. He said: “one can tell how valued this program is to the City of Lynn by the people in attendance.” He then went on the introduce the Chief of Police, Chris Reddy, the newly appointed Fire Chief, Dan Sullivan, and the current Superintendent of Schools, Debra Ruggiero.
Congratulations, Wilmington Rotary Club on such a Successful Polar Plunge Event on Saturday, March 25, 2023!
Thank you to all of our Wilmington Rotary Members, our Rotary Interact Members, and their families, friends and neighbors who came out in such great numbers for Saturday's Polar Plunge at Silver Lake to benefit District 7930's Polio Plus Fundraiser.
Seventeen Interact Members and two Adults, including President Greg and a friend whom he challenged, participated in the plunge which has so far raised $1,750 on our Go Fund Me page, and our Rotary Club will be making an additional donation of $475.00, pushing us to at least $2,225.00! We don't have a tally as yet on any Venmo or Mail-in payments but we will keep the GoFundMe link up for a few more days. It would be great if we can push that total over $2,500!
Several leaders of the Ipswich High School Interact Club were on hand last Thursday morning, at the regular meeting of the sponsoring Ipswich-Rowley Rotary club, to update the Rotarians on their 2022-23 projects. During the meeting, Interact presented a check to 'The Open Door' food pantry, which serves the Cape Ann region from their locations in Gloucester and Ipswich.
The club also informed us of their progress in providing micro-loans to small business operators in developing countries in Africa and South America. We learned that the micro loan project is administered through Kiva, a non-profit organization that “allows people to lend money to low-income entrepreneurs and students in 80 countries. Kiva’s mission is to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive.” These loans are slowly paid back over time, enabling the club to help more people.
On Thursday, March 23, the Beverly Rotary Club presented a $2,500 grant each to the Beverly Police Department and the Beverly Fire Department for a total of $5,000.
On hand to receive the checks were Lt. Brad Saunders and Firefighter Scott Perkins of the Fire Department and Chief John LeLacheur of the Beverly Police Department. Also attending the ceremony was Mayor Mike Cahill and City Council President Julie Flowers.
Presenting the check on behalf of the Rotary Club was President Mike Jones.
On Thursday, March 23, Burlington Breakfast Rotary was pleased to donate 20 copies each of three books on mental health awareness to Christine Conceison, District Director of Mental Health for the Burlington School System and the Burlington Public Library. These three books, What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan, The Deepest Well by Nadine Burke Harris, and My Living Will, A Father’s Story of Loss & Hope by John Trautwein, will be the subject of discussion at a book club being held at the Burlington Public Library in April, May and June. Our club is honored to be a part of addressing this important issue.
Over 24 years of being a Rotarian, I have been given (sometimes in multiples) Rotary theme pins from 2007-08 through 2021-22 with only a couple of years missing. I just kept adding them to a long ribbon as each year passed and another theme was introduced.
Now I’m 73 and trying to simplify my life a bit by happily letting go of things I don’t use, no longer want, and don’t want to pass along to our kids...
If anyone would like this collection of Rotary theme pins, please contact Linda Doliber at ldoliber@hotmail.com. A donation to the Rotary Foundation would be appreciated as a thank you.
Rotary District 7930 is actively searching for qualified high school sophomore, junior and senior candidates to attend this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference, which will be held from May 12-14 at the Camp Rotary in Boxford, MA. The Annual RYLA Conference offers participants an opportunity to live, work and interact together in an atmosphere of cooperation and growth. The program is designed to challenge participants to utilize and improve their skills and accept the responsibilities of leadership. The entire cost of the program, aside from a $25 application fee provided by applicants, will be covered by the Rotary Club in your area.
Participants will be selected who have exhibited leadership abilities and who are currently in their sophomore, junior and senior years of high school. RYLA is now contacting high school Interact clubs, Rotary clubs, guidance counselors, youth organizations and other sources for nominations of conference participants.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where students develop their skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.
Here’s what students experience at RYLA…
Explore and practice new concepts of leadership and citizenship
Discover creative approaches for resolving family, social and professional conflicts
Experience the joy and the value of learning teamwork to get an advantage for the future
Challenge participants to exhibit “Service Above Self” in their communities and lives
On Saturday, April 22, 2023, Rotary Districts 7890, 7910, and 7930 will come together at the Burlington Marriott for a 3 District Conference with Keynote Speaker Evan Burrell who's come all the way from Australia to talk to us.
The conference begins at 9:00 AM with registration, coffee, and snacks, followed by the business meeting at 10:00 AM. Our Paul Harris Recognition & Awards Presentation Luncheon will be at noon. Twelve afternoon breakout sessions will be presented in four parallel tracks from 2:00 - 5:00 PM. Fellowship, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be at 5:00 PM, followed by a festive dinner with keynote speaker Evan Burrell.
Water is something we all need, and it’s essential for people to survive. But about 770 million people around the globe don’t have access to safe, clean water. That’s 1 person in every 10. Today, on World Water Day, we want to raise awareness about that and raise funds for projects to change it.
You can help The Rotary Foundation support member-led projects and activities that give people access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education and promote healthy societies.
What impact can your gift have? Donors like you have supported these sustainable, life-changing projects around the world:
Improving access to safely managed water in the Navajo Nation
Installing and expanding access to water and sanitation in Tanzania
Distributing clay water filters to communities in Brazil
Installing water filtration systems for schools in Lebanon
Your gift will help people gain access to clean water and better sanitation facilities in communities that need them. You can also enroll in Rotary Direct to support our Foundation’s work throughout the year. You can choose how much and how often you want to give, and you can manage your gifts online through Donor Self-Service on My Rotary. It’s a simple and secure way to make a big impact.
Together, we can make sure communities around the world have the clean water they need.
Invite your family and friends to our International Women's Day event on Saturday March 25th (see flyer) to spread the word about Rotary International's commitment to girls' empowerment. Rotary sponsors countess initiatives to support the education and well-being of women and girls. This is the "year of the girl."
Cambridge Rotary has invited two special groups to showcase their work. The event will highlight the theme – Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality. Lean about the STEM programs offered to low-income girls at the Science Club for Girls in Cambridge and computer training offered to children rescued from illegal labor at Distressed Children and Infants in Dhaka Bangladesh to ensure a promising future.
We are also excited to hear from Sarah MacDonald, Director of Life Science Cares, a community service organization for people working in the biotech field. Their group supports the community, including a paid internship program for students from diverse backgrounds through Project Onramp. We will award a woman making a difference in technology.
Be inspired, have fun and meet new people who care about making a better future for half the sky.
This event is free, please register at Eventbrite link below. We welcome any donation which will go to our Ed Fund supporting Science Club for Girls and DCI. https://Cambridgerotarywomensday2023.eventbrite.com
As Senior Project approaches and the Marblehead High School Interact Club readies their election to bring in new leadership for the coming year, we are very proud to reflect on our accomplishments and share them with you.
Our club, connecting our local Rotary International Clubs to the high school level, known as Interact, has been active for about 20 years. We work annually to bring a sense of global and local needs to light and do our best to learn about and assist in any way that we can.
This year, we have given almost $1,000 to Kiva Loans. Kiva is a micro loan application that we have been using for close to 10 years and we give small loans to the collaborative efforts to fund the needs of small communities around the world. We have also donated 2 Shelter Boxes, which are just as they sound, a large box which is deployed to disaster areas, with enough supplies to shelter and supply a family for an indefinite amount of time. To date, Shelter Box has helped over 37,000 people just in the Ukraine War alone.
The goal of No Mow May is to allow grass to grow un-mown for the month of May, allowing wild flowers to come through and creating habitat and forage for early season pollinators. This is particularly important in urban areas where floral resources are often limited.
This spring, we are inviting all Rotary Clubs to participate in our No Mow May campaign by producing and distributing lawn signs that contain the Rotary logo, the name of your Rotary Club, and the friendly and playful call-to-action Let's Pollinate! Our District 7930 Environmental and Public Image Committees have cooperated on this effort and have created two templates that you can easily customize for your own Rotary Club.
Similar to what we did for the new Membership Brochure, Public Image Committee Chair Andrew Maddox has created an online design tool that allows you to easily customize this lawn sign for your Rotary Club.
Rotary Peabody’s Taste of the North Shore at Danversport is rescheduled to March 21 from 6-8 pm. Our “menu” of restaurants and sponsors is growing. If you see anything you like, we encourage you to buy a ticket! A $100 raffle ticket for the $10,000 grand prize includes 2 admissions to enjoy all the spectacular food and drinks during the evening. If you’re a Club looking for ways to support another Club, consider purchasing a ticket (or more!) for the event for your members to make our event more accessible to even more people. We look forward to seeing you there!
To help better prepare incoming Club and District Officers for the new Rotary year, ClubRunner is holding a series of free webinars from April 14-23 to help you brush up on your ClubRunner skills and knowledge. Hosted by expert Product Specialists from the ClubRunner team, they will be presenting webinars based on roles, club or district versions, and in-depth module deep dives. There will be live Q&A available during and after the webinar!
On International Women's Day this Wednesday, we featured three dedicated Rotarian women in our district on our social media platforms.
Becca Harris, a Past President and future Co-President elect of Arlington, MA Rotary Club. She says, "the best way I know how to uplift women is to make sure that the conversation and action of equality for every person on earth no matter gender, race, sexual orientation, and ability are on the forefront of my communities and friends." Through Rotary's service, education and action in the community, she believes Rotary is working towards achieving equity.
When asked how she is celebrating women this month she said, "I am celebrating by sharing stories of women, especially women of BIPOC communities. I am also making sure I thank my mentors and other strong women in my life."
Arlington Rotary was proud to present our Interact Club with $700 to help complete their funding to gift beds to children in need. Interact raised the rest of the $1750 needed to build 5 beds. Rotarian Bill Hayney and President Paul Buckley delivered the check.
We also discussed RYLA with the Club and we will now be sponsoring a few participants!
Cambridge Rotary turned 100 years this May and has an ambitious goal of a service project every month this year. January seemed like a good time to clear out the bookshelves. Our club sponsored its 5th joint book donation drive with the Center for Astrophysics Wolbach Library in Cambridge to support children exiting the foster system and other challenged youth (MTwyouth.org) to run a bookstore and earn funds for college and counseling.
150 books were collected and more were promised on the day of the book pickup. Cambridge Rotary thanks librarian Daina Bouquin for her readiness to help and promote the book drive through emails and support. "With the support of local partners, Cambridge Rotary can expand its outreach and awareness of its community service efforts," explains Natascha Finnerty, member and organizer of the drive.
Cambridge Joins Center for Astrophysics Book Drive
James Norris is the Founder and President of Handi Capable Fitness and author of “Feeling Left Out”. "Feeling Left Out" is the first in a series of four (4) Children's Books. In his own forthright style, Author James Norris provides us with the message that it is our hope that we continue to convey and inspire the messages that everyone deserves to live a life they are proud of; No challenge can stop you from doing the amazing things you want to; Physical activity strengthens both the mind and body; and Encouraging others to get out and be active is part of improving your own life.
See the video here of James ringing the Finish Bell at the Boston Bruins Foundation BFit Challenge at the TD Boston Garden in early February.
James Norris is the Founder and President of Handi Capable Fitness, Inc. (HCF). HCF is a 501(c)(3) Organization headquartered in Malden, Massachusetts. Its Website Address is www.handicapablefitness.com. Mr. Norris is a nationally known Handi Capable Athlete and Motivational Speaker who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy just before his second birthday. James has a very strong Social Media presence across many Platforms and is a popular sought-after National Speaker. Mr. Norris is currently in his later thirties. HCF supports the health and wellness of all adaptive athletes nationwide, encouraging them to step out of their box, and face adversity with strength, courage, and resilience. Through scholarship funding, HCF is able to provide much needed funding for fitness memberships, athletic equipment, and travel for its adaptive athletic community.
You can support James and HCF by purchasing his book, Feeling Left Out, on Amazon or Author House.
Malden Rotarian James Norris: Author and Inspiration
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is happy to announce that Chase Delano has joined the Rotary family.
A recent addition to the local scene, Chase already is making a significant impact on Ipswich and the wider community. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development, and currently serves as Executive Director of the Ipswich Partnership to which she brings broad experience in marketing, strategic partnerships, community building, and organizational development.
Chase is very engaged in the community as a member of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, the Essex County Beekeepers Association, the Ipswich Garden Club, and MAC Tennis (USTA league). She also volunteers at the Three Sisters Garden Project.
Danvers Rotary announces a fundraiser for April 2023. The calendar offers a prize or prizes for each day of the month in April. Purchase a calendar for $10 and you have 30 chances to win. The more tickets you purchase the more chances to win some great prizes. Each date offers cash or gift cards.
The Beverly Rotary Club is having its Spring Fundraiser, "Follow Us to the Moon!" on Friday, April 28th from 6:00 to 10:30 pm at Danversport Waterfront. This event is featuring HOWL 2GO, dueling pianos. This is an evening of song, dance and fun. Specific details are on the flyer. Proceeds will benefit the Charitable causes of the Beverly Rotary Foundation. This includes scholarships to high school seniors. The tickets are $70 each which includes admission, heavy hors oeuvres, dessert and coffee. There will be silent and brief live auctions, cash bar, raffles, a putting contest, and other special attractions.
Join us at the Boston Marriott, Newton, MA on Friday, March 10, 2023! Hear first-hand from Rotary International President Elect, R. Gordon McInally.
NEPETS presents: Dinner with Rotary International President Elect, R. Gordon McInally and his partner, Heather. Friday, March 10, 2023 Cocktails at 5:00PM. Dinner at 6:00PM. Boston Marriott, Newton, MA https://nepets.ticketspice.com/ne-rotary-pets-2023-friday-dinner
Everyone who is interested in attending who is not already registered for NEPETS or anyone who is inviting a guest/partner/spouse to join them Friday night MUST register and pay online by 1PM on Friday March 10 -- no exceptions.
Join Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians and other supporters of our Ipswich River watershed in a Legislative Breakfast, Tuesday, March 14, 8:30 a.m., at the Fernwood Country Club, Middleton, MA. Past Trustee Julia Phelps will be speaking on behalf of TRF.
Our new Global Grant, Saving the Ipswich River and Watersheds is sponsoring this unique event. Join us to discuss water and climate resiliency issues facing our watershed and communities. State legislators from around the watershed will share their ideas about how to protect our rivers. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of their legislators about these important topics.
Rotary Peabody ended its month-long celebration of Black History month with speaker Nicole McClain, founder and President of the North Shore Juneteenth Association, Inc. Her organization's mission is to spread awareness about the Juneteenth holiday, sharing positive images of Black American culture with the community and joining the fight to dismantle racism using events and programming as a tool for change. Her informative, revelatory talk renewed the Club's dedication to its DEI efforts, including plans to celebrate Black Americans and other BIPOC and marginalized groups throughout the year.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea held a special evening meeting to celebrate Past President Allan I. Alpert’s 50 years as a Chelsea Rotarian. Joining Rotary in January 1973, Allan was the youngest member to join Rotary, three months short of his 24th birthday. After serving as Sergeant-at-Arms and Vice President, he was elected Club President, serving for the 1977–1978 Rotary year as the youngest President in the Club’s or District’s history. Coincidently, during Allan’s tenure as president, Chelsea Rotary celebrated its 50th anniversary at the former Caruso’s Diplomat in Saugus with over four hundred guests attending.
Allan, a three-time Paul Harris Fellow, was joined at the meeting by his wife Laraine, a Paul Harris Award recipient, son, daughter and two grandchildren, while two other sons and families joined us on Zoom.
Pictured here are President Rick Gopen and celebration chair, PP Juan Gallego, presenting Allan with a citation from the City of Chelsea celebrating his 50 years as a Chelsea Rotarian and his service to the community. The Club also presented Allan with a plaque and gavel commemorating his fifty years as a Rotarian.
The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor has inducted two new members, Julie Hahnke and Francie King. Julie is CEO of Cecropia Strong, a non-profit that assists people with physical disabilities to lead full lives. Francie is a published author and editor who has recently joined the leadership team of The Marblehead Current, Marblehead’s non-profit weekly newspaper. Both Julie and Francie transitioned from the club’s Service Membership to Active.
Pictured here are left to right: Don Doliber, Club Secretary; Julie Hahnke; President Jessica Barnett and Julie’s sponsor; Francie King; and Bob Erbetta, Francie’s husband and sponsor.
The Belle Isle Rotary Club and the Parkway Club are hosting a polar plunge Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the East Boston Yacht Club, 1 Rice Street, East Boston, MA 02128. Doors open 10am, plunge at 11am and good times, hot food, cash bar, raffles and prizes in a cozy yacht club on the water with a beautiful Boston skyline view to follow! The grill will be fired up and the music will be playing. Plenty of parking.
Don't want to plunge? Don't worry; come by anyway and join in on the fun. We'd be thrilled to have you join us.
On Saturday, February 11 the Salem Rotary Club along with the EarlyAct Club from the Phoenix School built 10 twin beds for children in need of their own bed. The Salem Club was able to increase to 10 beds using District Grant funds.
At A Bed for Every Child, they believe sleep is just as essential as food, water, shelter, and clothing – and that all children deserve space to dream. If interested in learning more, check out abedforeverychild.org.
On Saturday, January 28th members of the Arlington Rotary Club held its 3rd Annual Polar Dip at St. Camilla's Church lot. With no centralized Polar Plunge hosted by the District, Clubs are encouraged to create their own event to raise funds for polio eradication.
Four brave dippers plunged into the icy dunk tank. The club raised more than $2000, which will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to help provide every child with the polio vaccine, and bring us closer to a polio-free world.
Rockport Rotarians and senior citizens were ecstatic to enjoy the annual Valentine’s Luncheon for seniors once again! The event, in partnership with Rockport’s Fish Shack restaurant, had taken a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. This year included a delightful performance from Rockport High School’s Madrigals, handmade cards from Rockport Elementary School students and chocolates from Tuck’s Candy. The lunch is presented as a gift of love and community service from Rockport Rotary to the town’s seniors. According to club Co-President Janelle Favaloro, “the event was a great success and fun was had by all involved.”
Rotary Peabody's biggest fundraiser is just weeks away! We've booked more than 20 vendors so far for our Taste of the North Shore. Your raffle ticket includes 2 admissions, allowing you and a guest to enjoy an expansive array of food, beer and spirits - the best the North Shore has to offer! We sell no more than 300 raffle tickets to keep the odds in your favor. For information on the participating restaurants, our generous sponsors and how to purchase tickets, please click here. You can download the flyer here.
Join us at Danversport on Tuesday, March 14th @ 6PM to enjoy an evening in great company and even greater flavors!
In the wake of our recent successful World Peace & Understanding Event, we are excited to announce a new DG District Grant to fund at least one, but possibly even two full production runs of 1,000 TutuDesks each. In the district grant spending plan that we just submitted to The Rotary Foundation, we've allocated a total amount of $10,000 for matching club donations to the TutuDesk Campaign.
All the funds already collected via the webinar registration as well as via the separate online donation link will be counted as club contributions and will be matched 1:1 with DDF (District Designated Funds).
In addition, we are asking Rotary Clubs that have already collected monies for TutuDesks to inform DG Alexander Falk and DRFC Joan Arsenault about the amounts you have raised, and to send those funds via check to District Treasurer Arthur Schwartz. For those clubs that have not yet decided to make a contribution: you can still get onboard and participate. Please make sure you inform us about the funds raised and send your contribution check no later than March 15th.
We are very excited to hear from you and hope that by using this DDF match we can make a huge positive impact on the lives of many children in sub-Saharan Africa!
Announcing a new DG District Grant match for TutuDesks
The Rotary District 7930 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee hosted a webinar on Unconscious Bias aka Implicit Bias on January 18, 2023, with Topic Expert Lt. Glen Mills of the Burlington Police Department. The presentation was about Unconscious Bias, also known as Implicit Bias. Implicit Bias is a bias or prejudice that is present but not consciously held or recognized. All people have biases and some of these subconscious biases can go against what we consciously believe in. These implicit biases can influence our decision making and can lead to assumptions that are inaccurate or unfair, or to make decisions that are wrong. The presentation included an explanation of what implicit bias is, what research on the topic suggests, identifying one's own biases, and strategies to avoid bias-based decision making.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary International’s leadership training program for young people. Rotary District 7930 has a long-running annual program for high school students.
High school, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are invited to attend a weekend-long event, where they learn life and leadership skills including goal setting, cultural understanding, problem solving, communication, public speaking, networking, community building, team building and more!
The cost for RYLA this year is $325 per student (typically paid by sponsoring Rotary Clubs), plus a $25 application fee (paid for by students).
Do you have a passion for numbers? Do you have experience in cash handling, collections, accounting, and financial and tax reporting? Then you may be a great candidate to learn and assist our current District Treasurer, Arthur Schwartz! Here is the full job description and how to apply to this role.
HELP WANTED – District 7930 Registrar 2023-2024
Are you a wiz with ClubRunner? Are you excited by putting together the registration and marketing for events within your club? Do you like to attend and welcome those who attend the event? Then you may be just the person we’re looking for to be the Registrar for the 2023-2024 Rotary year. Please reach out to Lori Karas, DGE at lori.karas@outlook.com.
Join Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians and other supporters of our Ipswich River watershed in a Legislative Breakfast, Tuesday, March 14, 8:30 a.m., at the Fernwood Country Club, Middleton, MA.
Our new Global Grant, Saving the Ipswich River and Watersheds is sponsoring this unique event. The cost for breakfast is $25. Here is a link to register.
Saving the Ipswich River & Watersheds Legislative Breakfast
February is World Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month. Our annual World Peace & Understanding event on February 8th has featured the TutuDesk Campaign. As I have visited all the clubs in our district, the one theme from my DG visit presentation that resonated the most with Rotarians all over the district was the TutuDesk Campaign, so it seemed appropriate to focus our World Peace & Understanding event on this topic.
The speaker lineup included Charlie Milner of the Marblehead Rotary Club, DG Randell Barclay of Rotary District 7870 (Southern VT & NH), as well as PDG Francis Callard from South Africa.
And we had a surprise visit from Rotary International President Jennifer Jones joining us for this amazing evening! What a treat!
The Rockport Rotary Club really thought outside the box and had a Martini and Manhattan Dunk for Polio. It was well attended by the Club and a few District dignitaries.
We raised $1019 to help towards fulfillment of our promise to the children of the world that they will never get this horrible disease!
We have all been devastated by the images emerging from Turkey and Syria in the wake of these earthquakes that have, by the latest count, killed more than 21,000 people. This is one of the most important humanitarian crises of this new year 2023!
And Rotarians are asking:what can we do?
At his point in time, we have two ways for you to directly contribute - please pick whichever one make most sense to you:
1. You can give directly to our Rotary partner ShelterBox, who is mounting a massive emergency shelter response program in the area: https://shelterbox.org/turkey-earthquake/
2. You can give to the Rotary International Disaster Response Fund, which will soon be targeting Turkey and Syria as designated areas for help: https://my.rotary.org/en/disaster-response-fund
No matter which way you decide to give, your contributions are greatly appreciated and will help the people in those affected areas. Thank you for opening your heart to helping the people affected by those earthquakes!
Is your club looking for a way to raise funds for Polio? Look no further. Join the Belle Isle and Parkway Rotary Clubs at the East Boston Yacht Club on March 4 at 11:00 am to go down the ramp into the Boston Harbor "Bay of Pigs."
I don't know how the yacht club got this name, perhaps it's the Cuba Libres and Pina Coladas they serve. We'll be serving hot coffee and cocoa after the dunk. We'll also be having a potluck so we can socialize with the other Rotarians and Interactors.
Burlington Breakfast Rotary made a donation of much needed toiletries to People Helping People on Monday, Feb. 6. Many boxes of shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, body wash, toothpaste, toilet tissue, tissues and baby wipes were brought to their new facility on Murray Ave., Burlington.
People Helping People is a nonprofit organization that oversees the Burlington Community Food Pantry, the Burlington Covenant for Basic Needs and the Holiday Program. Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club supports this worthy cause throughout the year. What a wonderful service People Helping People gives to those in need in our community!
Burlington Breakfast Donation to People Helping People
On February 2, 2023, Alex Pedro, owner of Plants by Pedro, spoke at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Lynn. He spoke about the various pollinators in our environment and the need to “help” them survive. He said: “We are all familiar with the common bee, yet there are numerous other pollinators. Basically, any insect that flies can be considered one.” If an insect is attracted to a flowering plant, then it is considered to be a pollinator.
One way we can help them survive is to allow our lawns to grow without cutting it or treating the lawn with harsh chemicals. By not cutting or treating the lawn, we allow it to grow longer and let flowering weeds grow, or wildflowers. This allows the pollinators to help the flowers grow which can help the vegetable, and fruit plants to grow to maturity. Without the pollinators in the environment, we would not have as many fruits and vegetables. We have all heard of the need for apple orchard owners to rent beehives to help with the pollination. The need to rent the hives is because of a bee shortage.
During his talk he stressed that people should live by the motto of: No Mow May! If we all did that it would help the environment! Why No Mow May? Because when you mow the lawns of your homes in May (in northern climates), it removes habitat and nutrients for bees and other pollinators that are emerging from underground winter homes. He left us with this closing message: “Keep in mind that there are four simple ways to protect pollinators: Grow pollinator friendly flowers; Provide nest sites; Avoid pesticides; and Spread the word”.
We're happy to share our wonderful turnout for the first meeting of the new year. As we are a group of young adults, aged 18 and up, we attract passionate undergrad students to our club. At our meeting we had students from multiple schools in the Boston area and some who are studying abroad right now. Most have volunteered with Rotary in some way before (Interact, Rotaract, or a Student Exchange program). Since we're always looking to build membership, we would appreciate you spreading the word about our club. Please share about the club with your neighbors, friends, and colleagues.
Our next meeting is set for Tuesday, February 7th at 7 p.m. at the Star Market next to the TD Garden on Causeway Street, Boston. If you're interested in more information, please email bostonrotaract.membership@gmail.com.
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!
The Somerville Club hosted Rotary Global Grant Scholar Yumeka Kawahara at its meeting in January. Her talk was titled “How Refugees in the US learn about American Racism.” It was very informative and sparked a great conversation among members of the club.
Consistent with the Rotary focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Ms. Kawahara’s presentation reminded us that many refugees to this country have little knowledge of US diversity, racial and ethnic relations, or racism prior to arrival. Once here, schools, social media, and workplace experiences were the primary places that people learned about diversity. While the study identified shortcomings in how we educate newcomers about American society, nearly all of the participants in the study viewed the United States as the “land of opportunity.”
As a Rotary Global Grant Scholar, Ms. Kawahara was sponsored by the Sapporo East Rotary Club of Japan and hosted by the Somerville Rotary Club. She will graduate from the Fletcher School of International Relations in May and undertook the study as part of her graduate degree.
The purpose of the Rotary Global Grant Scholar program is to further international understanding and peaceful relations among people of different international backgrounds. The Somerville Club is proud to have coordinated with the Sapporo club, and other clubs worldwide, to sponsor many students over the years.
Pictured here are Global Grant Scholar Yumeka Kawahara and Somerville Rotary President David Worzala.
Somerville Sponsored Global Grant Scholar Shares Research
District Governor Alexander Falk visited the Manchester-Essex Rotary Club today, February 1st, 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!
On January 26, 2023, the Rotary Club of Lynn continued with its tradition of recognizing 8th grade students from Lynn Schools. These are students who have struggled with some adversity during the school year or have shown empathy toward others in an outstanding way.
The students are nominated by their teacher or guidance counselor, someone who knows the student very well. The students are invited to a luncheon meeting of the members and are individually presented with a gift certificate to a local bookstore, a Certificate of Achievement, and a $25 gift certificate to open an account at the River Works Credit Union, the program sponsor. During the individual presentations a narrative is read enumerating the various situations the students struggled with and how they were overcome.
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.
As our Rotary Year 22-23 hit the mid-point you still have time to submit your Club’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion citation and score sheet.
Most Clubs have found that when they review the Citation requirements (25 suggested action steps, Club must achieve 13 of the 25 for certification) that the Club has already achieved some of the action steps.
Your Club has until June 30, 2023, to review and submit your DEI Citation score sheet for certification. Please fill out your scoresheet and email to David Hart DEI Committee Chair and District Governor Alex.
DEI Citation and Score Sheet documents are available on the District 7930 DEI web page.
If you would like someone from the DEI Committee to come and speak to your Club, please contact David Hart, DEI Committee Chair at davidhart4251@gmail.com to arrange a date and time.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact David Hart at davidhart4251@gmail.com or at 781-718-7799.
Arlington Rotary recently purchased a drone for the Arlington Police Department. The donation was funded in part with a grant from Rotary District 7930.
The DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Series drone will be used by officers for emergency calls for service such as water or ice rescues and to search for missing persons. Arlington Chief of Police Julie Flaherty said: “We are grateful to President Buckley and the District 7930 Arlington MA Rotary Club for this donation to the department and to the town. Drones are a valuable asset to a police department for many purposes, and we will put the equipment to good use. The Arlington Police Department has had many valuable experiences with the Rotary Club, and their support of their community is inspiring and appreciated.”
Arlington Rotary President Paul Buckley stated: “Arlington Rotary is proud to be donating a Mavik 3 Thermal drone to the Arlington Police Department to assist them in keeping our town safe. The drone will allow them to monitor and search areas in a more efficient and safer manner. We were able to do this as part of a Rotary District Grant. With past search issues on land and in water, it will be good to know our police have modern tools to assist them.”
The Melrose Rotary Club is hosting another Left-Right-Center Tournament on Saturday evening, March 11th at Melrose's Memorial Hall Building, 590 Main St., Melrose. If you've played the game with friends or family, you know how much fun it can be! If you've never played before, it takes under 3 minutes to learn, and no skill is required - just a willingness to have lots of fun and hope for a good roll of the dice!
Our event last September was a huge success, and members from other clubs also came to see what it was all about! Tables for this next tournament started selling as soon as we announced the date! The entry fee is only $20, so bring a full table of 10 and have a great night out with your friends or come and make new friends! In addition to cash prizes, a cash bar & food are available, and we'll have some super raffle baskets, too. See the attached flyer for information. Use the link or the QR Code on the flyer to get your tickets. Or click here for tickets.
Marblehead Rotary's Charlie Milner recognizes that education is the pathway to economic mobility and a proven tool for solving global poverty. This outlook has been the focus of the Lillydale Literacy Project, a nonprofit organization; he and his wife, Toby, have invested 24 years of community service in furthering education in South Africa's rural communities.
So, imagine Charlie's excitement when he came across a TutuDesk! The learning environment influences the quality of education a child receives. And a healthy learning environment means adequate school supplies, sufficient learning materials, such as books, pencils, and writing pads, and a roof where education can happen. But what does a desk have to do with delivering effective education? 95 million children in sub-Saharan Africa need a working desk at school. Unfortunately, most of these schools have little to nothing. If children had desks to use while studying, it would be much easier to pay attention to the content, do their homework, and more. Charlie explained, "the lack of basic resources like desks holds learners back from achieving even a basic education."
Registration is now open for the Virtual Winter Rotary Leadership Institutetwo-night session February 28 and March 2, 6-9 p.m.
Do you want to enhance your Rotary experience and learn how expand your service to be a more effective member? Parts I, II, III and Graduate will be offered (and must be taken in order). Sessions are open to all Rotarians and Rotaractors...whether or not they are currently serving as club officers or on the club leadership track.
Led by a select group of trained facilitators, sessions are focused on the interplay of participant comments and not offered via a lecture format. RLI is also open to Rotarians from outside our District. Register early in anticipation of an energetic, exciting exchange of ideas and information from a wide group of new, as well as “experienced,” Rotarians.
RLI’s dynamic curriculum and the registration page can be found on the RLI website, rlinea.org.Cost for the two-part session is $25.
To register, please go to rlinea.org and look at the list of Upcoming Classes on the left side, then click on "More Info" under the RLI NEA Seminar - Dist 7930-Wakefield, MA-Virtual (2 evenings) event.
We are looking for local businesses in our district to sponsor the upcoming 3 District Conference on April 22 at the Burlington Marriott. This is a great opportunity to get your name not just in front of Rotarians in our own district, but spread your reach into Rotary District 7910 (Central Massachusetts) and Rotary District 7890 (Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut).
On Saturday, January 28th members of Arlington Rotary will be hosting its 3rd Annual Polar Dip. Your donation helps Rotary and its partners reach every child with the polio vaccine. Thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, your contribution will be tripled, getting us even closer to a polio-free world.
If you or your club are interested in joining the dip please reach out to Paul Buckley at arlingtonrotary6603@gmail.com.
After almost 29 years serving the city of Lynn in the Fire Department, Chief Steve Archer has decided to retire. He was sworn in as Chief in February 2018, and gave the city 5 years as Chief. During that time, he started a Youth Fire Academy to introduce to the young people of Lynn to the possibility of becoming a Fire Fighter.
He is turning over to his replacement, Chief Daniel Sullivan, a very solid fire department. As an aside, his brother Graham is Fire Chief in Swampscott. It was the only situation in Massachusetts where brothers in adjoining communities held the position of Fire Chief simultaneously.
Chief Stephen Archer will continue as a Rotarian with the Lynn Club, he wants to continue to serve the community. He has committed to be the Chair of the Dictionary Project for the Club. The past Chair, James Harris, has retired and moved to New Hampshire. Stephen and his wife Susan have been regular volunteers with the Club since becoming a Rotarian a few years ago.
The Winchester Rotary Club designated Mission of Deeds in Reading as their holiday charity. We held a virtual coat drive that delivered over 100+ coats, and our blanket drive purchased 22 blankets, 53 comforters, and 59 sets of sheets.
Mission of Deeds gives beds, furniture, and household items, free of charge, to people in need. They help people throughout Middlesex and Essex Counties, Massachusetts as well as in the Suffolk County communities of Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop.
In addition, this holiday season Members and Interactors delivered holiday dinners to the Winchester Housing Authority.
Winchester Supports Mission of Deeds and Housing Authority
Peabody Rotary's biggest fundraiser of the year returns at Danversport on Tuesday, March 14th. We invite everyone to enjoy some of the best food and drinks the North Shore has to offer while helping us support our community and its students. Tickets are $100 and include 2 admissions to the event and one entry to our limited raffle for a grand prize of $10,000.
Funds raised will provide scholarships to deserving students and community improvement projects (see www.rotarypeabody.org for more info). Join us knowing you can do good while having a great time!
The Peabody Rotary Club partnered with North Shore Women in Business to donate to the Ellis Square Friends in Beverly. NSWiB matched all contributing donations, which, when combined with Peabody's donation and other raised funds, gave $1,084 to the Ellis Square Friends. This money will feed 200 people who are in need of food during the winter months.
Ellis Square Friends is based in Beverly and works to provide food and supplies to those experiencing homelessness or great need in the area of Ellis Square.
Rotary Peabody Joins Forces for Ellis Square Friends
Our Rotary District 7930 Membership Committee is contemplating the potential creation of a District Wide Military Veterans Club, and we are trying to gauge the level of interest in this project amongst the Rotarians in our district. This club would serve Military Veterans and Non-Veterans who want to both assist veterans and participate in humanitarian projects.
A potential mission statement for this club could read: "Serving past & present members of the armed forces and their families by identifying their unmet needs and participating in other humanitarian projects locally, regionally and internationally and to advance goodwill and peace around the world."
If you are interested in this idea or would like to be part of a committee that further explores this idea, or would like to join such a club, or have friends or family members whom you think might want to join such a club, please contact District Membership Committee Co-Chair Peter Majane.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is happy to announce that John Herth of Rowley has joined our club, joining his wife Diane who sits on our Board of Directors. Before moving to Rowley in 2020, John was a member of the Cohasset Rotary Club.
While a member of the Cohasset club, John’s primary focus was in heading up the course setup and breakdown for the ‘Cohasset Road Race by the Sea’, an annual fundraising event that attracted over 1000 runners. In Ipswich, he regularly delivers free meals to struggling families as part of our club’s quarterly ‘Ipswich Dinner Bell’ service.
John has been and continues to be an active church leader. For several years while in Cohasset, he cooked meals monthly for a church project that prepares and freezes food for distribution to those in need on the South Shore. He also has served as a Trustee for his condo associations in both Cohasset and Rowley.
Rotary International President-elect R. Gordon R. McInally called for members to capture the world's attention and lead the way toward possibilities far beyond our current expectations.
McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, West Lothian, Scotland, revealed the 2023-24 presidential theme, Create Hope in the World, during the Rotary International Assembly in Orlando, FL on January 9th. He urged members to promote peace in troubled nations, help those affected by conflict, and maintain the momentum of initiatives begun by past leaders.
"The goal is to restore hope — to help the world heal from destructive conflicts and, in turn, to help us achieve lasting change for ourselves," McInally said at Rotary's annual training event for incoming district governors.
On January 6th, the District 7930’s Public Image and Technology Committee hosted a webinar on ClubRunner Essentials open to all clubs in our District (whether you currently use ClubRunner or not).
A representative from ClubRunner shared tips on how to save time on administrative duties, increase communication and engagement, and build a stronger membership culture, all within the ClubRunner platform.
The webinar was recorded and is now available to all interested participants, but we especially encourage Club leadership, secretaries, and webmasters to watch:
Are you looking for an interesting speaker? Reach out to one of 7930’s Inbound Global Scholars today!
Did you know that we have five Inbound Global Scholars in our District?
We do! They are ready to come to your club to talk about their experiences and lives at home and abroad! Our scholars are here on Global Grant Scholarships which are funded by The Rotary Foundation.
Which colleges are the scholars attending?
Our current group is enrolled in graduate programs at Harvard Law School, Tufts University, Fletcher School at Tufts and Harvard Medical School.
What are they studying?
Their areas of expertise are really interesting and include International Relations, European Law, Refugee Integration and Global Governance and The Impact of Environmental Factors on Women’s and Men’s Health.
The Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee is hosting a discussion on Unconscious Bias A/K/A Implicit Bias.
Wednesday January 18, 2023
7:00PM – 8:30PM
On Zoom
Topic Expert: Lt. Glen Mills, Burlington Police Department
The presentation will be about Unconscious Bias, also known as Implicit Bias. Implicit Bias is a bias or prejudice that is present but not consciously held or recognized. All people have biases and some of these subconscious biases can go against what we consciously believe in. These implicit biases can influence our decision making and can lead to assumptions that are inaccurate or unfair, or to make decisions that are wrong. This presentation will include an explanation of what implicit bias is, what research on the topic suggests, identifying one's own biases and strategies to avoid bias-based decision making.
In November, the nomination committee selected Pooja Singla, from the Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club as the District Governor Nominee Designee (DGND). An eBulletin went out to the entire District in November indicating her selection and asking for any challenges. No challenges were submitted by any club in our District by the December 31st deadline.
Therefore, we are excited to announce that Pooja Singla has been elected to be the DGND for District 7930 and will serve as our District Governor 2025-26!
We are excited to have you join the team!! Congratulations Pooja!
BIO:
Pooja Singla is a Management Consultant since 2017 helping Non-Profit organizations in Metro Boston area. She has several years of working experience in multidisciplinary domains of non-profit environment, banking, healthcare, higher education institute and government offices, in the areas of administration, management, marketing, Information technology, and research and development (R&D). Pooja has a track record of developing successful programs and maintaining strong relationships with internal/external clients. She has also been recognized for her team work. She is the Chairperson of her organization’s Technology Committee and is a member of the Marketing Committee as well. She trains the consultants onboarding for their technology needs.
February is World Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month. The annual World Peace & Understanding event on February 8th has been moved to a Zoom webinar and our topic will be the TutuDesk Campaign. As I have visited all the clubs in our district, the one theme from my DG visit presentation that resonated the most with Rotarians all over the district was the TutuDesk Campaign, so it seems appropriate to focus our World Peace & Understanding event on this topic. The speaker lineup includes Charlie Milner of the Marblehead Rotary Club, DG Randell Barclay of Rotary District 7870 (Southern VT & NH), as well as PDG Francis Callard from South Africa.
Registration is open for this event - please click here to register - and even though the event is online, there is a $20 registration fee, which coincidentally is the price of one TutuDesk. Simply put, by attending the event you are providing one TutuDesk to a child in sub-Saharan Africa.
World Peace & Understanding: TutuDesk Campaign
The Rotary Club of Chelsea presented the Robert C. Wood Memorial Heroes Award to Shelagh Mahoney and Joe McNamee of Eastern Minerals Inc. Rotary District 7930 Governor Alexander Falk recognized Shelagh and Joe for being “Heroes Among Us” and presented them with a Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) recognition certification and pin. Assisting Alexander with the presentation was Chelsea Rotary Club Past President Joe Vinard and current President Rick Gopen.
Chelsea Presents Robert C. Wood Memorial Heroes Award
Rotary Peabody's growing annual tradition of putting together gift bags for NSCAP (North Shore Community Action Programs) continued this year as they spent one of their regular December meetings stuffing gift bags filled with warm-weather essentials and more. For the past 6 years the Club has been donating items, filling bags and giving them to NSCAP to their program participants. As the need grows, so has the Club's efforts. Starting at about 25 bags, the Club stuffed and donated nearly 50 bags to help senior citizens get through the winter this year.
Each year Reading Rotary partners with ReadingCares and the Town of Reading to run the Adopt-a-Family project at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Christmas distribution day was December 21. These community partners coordinate this long-standing community giving program. Receiving families are matched anonymously with donor families and/or groups to provide meal and gifts at Christmas and meals at Thanksgiving. Donors drop off in the first shift, then recipient families pick up their food and gifts during a later shift.
This year there were approximately 60 families in need and donor families/groups were matched to provide Christmas gifts and holiday meals to these families anonymously. Reading Rotary’s efforts were coordinated by Rotarian Sasha DiPietro. Special thanks to Betsy Schneider of ReadingCares and Kerry Valle of Reading’s Elder and Human Services Department for their work in organizing this program.
This is a truly inspirational and humbling event to see the community come together to help others. The generosity of the donors is overwhelming as evidenced by the many smiling faces as well as some tears of thanks. Reading Rotary is proud of and grateful for its partners ReadingCares and the Town of Reading in this community giving event. A huge thank you to all the donor families and groups. Their generosity makes this all possible. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Pictured here are volunteers from ReadingCares, Reading Rotary, the Town of Reading at the December Adopt-a-Family pick up at the DPW garage.
Housing is sought for a Ukrainian refugee family. They are currently staying temporarily with a Brookline Rotarian and seek permanent housing.
This is a young couple who have been sheltering in Austria for the last year. They have a 3-year-old daughter with special needs. They are looking for a house or apartment on the first floor (or in an elevator building), preferably with few or no stairs to get into the building, because the special orthopedic stroller for their daughter is very heavy.
They also have a small, well-behaved dog, under 30 pounds. And they do have a car.
They will be going to Children's Hospital and possibly also Spaulding Rehab for medical services and physical therapy for their daughter.
Their budget is $3000 per month.
Please contact Joyce Graff for more information or with any leads.
Lynnfield Rotary invites you to a program on genealogy on Jan. 26 at 6 pm at Sheraton Four Points. Features is nationally known professional genealogical researcher Michael Brophy. Dinner will be served at $35 per person. Click here to register to attend. Email info@lynnfieldrotary.com for more information.
Michael Brophy MBA is a nationally known, professional genealogical researcher, heir search specialist, and lecturer from the Boston area. He has served as Program Director and Publicity Director for the Massachusetts Genealogical Council. He was the first Treasurer of the New England of Association of Professional Genealogists. Mike earned an MBA degree from Suffolk University and a BBA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Mike was featured on the Irish TV series Dead Money, a genealogy TV show about heir searchers. In 2010, Mr. Brophy was hired to conduct research for the NBC television program "Who Do You Think You Are?" on an episode dedicated to the family history of actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Mike has lectured on a wide variety of genealogy subjects worldwide and specializes in New England and Irish genealogy subjects. His genealogy education includes seven certificates from the Institute of Genealogy and Historic Research (IGHR) and certificates in Private Investigation and Advanced Forensic Genealogy from Boston University.
Members of the Chelsea Rotary Club supported the local Salvation Army by ringing the bell at the Salvation Army Kettle located at the local Market Basket.
The Salvation Army relies on money raised in the Kettles to service more than 25 million people in need per year.
On Thursday, December 8, Lynnfield Rotary hosted its annual Holiday Luncheon at the Colonial Sheraton. Guests and new members were treated to a performance by the Lynnfield High School choral group under the direction of Douglas Hodgkins. The crowed enjoyed a medley of holiday music well sung by these talented students! Rotary used the special occasion to invite guests and new members to the club and to discuss service projects for the spring.
Lynnfield Rotary hosted its annual pre-Thanksgiving dinner at the Salem Country Club for the rival football teams of Lynnfield and North Reading. Shown here are the football captains, cheer captains, band and Rotary Interact Club members from both schools. The dinner recognizes the time-honored, good-natured rivalry between the two schools. Sportsmanship, camaraderie and service is the model of the day. Both teams were sent off to the field with good wishes for all, and the cheer squad and band members set the spirit for the day! Congratulations to both teams for a game well played.
The Lynnfield Rotary Club had a successful 5k Turkey Trot fundraiser on November 20, 2023. In fact, this year we partnered with the Lynnfield Moms Group (LMG) to honor the memory of their friend Julie Routhier, who passed away in September after a brief battle with a very aggressive cancer. She left behind a husband and three young children. Their hope was to raise funds to help other such families in the community that face the devastating loss of a loved one so suddenly. Over 300 community members turned out to run/walk and a good time was had by all. Our President, Christine Travers, even wore a Turkey Costume in honor of the race's namesake. Lynnfield Rotary would like to thank all the volunteers and families that came out to support our efforts as well as our sponsors and donors.
At a recent luncheon, Marblehead Rotary members were honored to be in the presence of several veterans who served respectively in Vietnam, the Gulf, and Afghanistan. This band of brothers came out to support our speaker, David D. McKiernan, retired United States Army four-star general who served in Afghanistan as Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
McKiernan briefly outlined the challenges of our military but also highlighted his connections with the town of Marblehead and Rotary. Did you know his uncle was the late Marblehead artist Thomas D. McKiernan? Although Tom held a long career in Foreign Service, he was an oil and watercolorist, active in Marblehead as a member of the art guild who painted our local architecture and harbors. Through this association, David had fond memories of his visit to our town, which he, and his wife, Carmen, now calls home! In addition, he acknowledged the good work of Rotarians—her daughter was a recipient of a Rotary scholarship to St. Andrew's University in Scotland. For years, academic and performing arts scholarships have been Marblehead Rotary's primary giving to our community and students. It was a delightful afternoon. We wish our veterans the best in their retirement to civilian lives and thank them for their years of service.
The Arlington Rotary helped the Arlington Chamber of Commerce distribute cookies, hot chocolate, and glow sticks to hundreds of attendees at Arlington's First Light celebration on the evening of Thursday December 1st. In addition, Arlington gathering donations of mittens, gloves, socks, and other articles of warm clothing to be donated to local charities.
Pictured here are Rotarians and Chamber members gathering donations at the event.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary mourns the loss of two friends and long-time Rotarians who departed us in 2022, Bill Nelson and Paul Tardiff.
Paul Tardiff joined Rotary in 1979 and served as club President in 1982-83. Paul was very active during his Rotary years, attending our meetings and events regularly, serving on committees, and contributing generously to the Rotary Foundation, where he was a Major Donor. Friends remember how he always brightened the room with his infectious smile and good humor, and that he was a leader in the club during the 1980’s and 90’s when he served regularly on the club’s Board of Directors. Paul was a multiple Paul Harris Award recipient, which recognizes his service and generosity to the Foundation.
Paul was an avid car collector and restorer, winning many awards as a member of the North Shore Corvette Club. Following graduation from Bishop Fenwick High School, he was inducted into their athletic hall of fame. Paul served in the Naval Reserve and was an avid skier. His beloved wife Beverly, to whom he was married for 54 years, was a frequent participant at club events.
District 7930 is excited to announce that RYLA is back, live and in person, on May 12-14 at Camp Rotary in Boxford. COVID forced cancelation of the traditional RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) since 2020. RYLA is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where young people can develop leadership skills while having fun and making connections.
The RYLA leadership team including RYLA Alumni have been meeting and planning the re-launch of RYLA as the traditional weekend retreat. In addition, RYLA will be returning to Camp Rotary after its renovation (which had required temporary relocation to New Hampshire.)
At their meeting on December 5, Reading Rotary was delighted to hear a presentation from Reading Community Garden steering committee member Cathy Zeek and Reading Food Pantry Board Member Simone Payment. The women shared plans for a planned expansion of the Community Garden on public land at the Mattera Cabin site on north Main Street next spring. Rotary is donating $6,000 to the creation of the Food Pantry's Community Garden plot. District 7930 will also support this project as one of its approved District Grants.
The presentation focused on the creation of a large garden that will produce vegetables dedicated to clients of the Reading Food Pantry. This garden plot will be tended by local volunteers and all produce will be given away to residents struggling with food insecurity.
Reading Rotary Co-President Sheila Clarke says, “This is such an exciting project for Rotary to be part of. We are thrilled to have a meaningful impact on improving access to healthy, fresh food for all residents.” Co-President John Douglass agrees: “The Rotary Club not only plans to support this project financially to buy supplies and materials, but our members will also be out there this spring getting our hands dirty actually building the garden.”
Pictured here are Reading Rotary Co-Presidents Sheila Clarke and John Douglass, Cathy Zeek from Reading Community Garden Steering Committee and Symone Payment, Reading Food Pantry Board.
Have you ever asked yourself where you can find out answers to many questions about all things Rotary?
Well, you are in luck. Rotary International has a Learning Center which offers many online courses/modules with information about all aspects of Rotary.
All these courses are E-Learning. They consist of videos that you can review from the convenience of your computer. Catalog areas include: About Rotary; Club Leadership; District Leadership; General Membership; Professional Development; Public Image; Service; Rotary Foundation; Trainer.
The 100th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Football Luncheon, hosted by the Lynn Rotary Club, was held on Tuesday November 22, 2022, at the Lynn Knights of Columbus. The luncheon brings together Captains from the five Lynn High School football teams for a friendly gathering before the Thanksgiving games. Also included were the Cheerleader Captains and the Band Director. The event Chairperson Sean Reid said: “Even though there is this tremendous long-standing rivalry we are still one Lynn.” This year marks the 108th Thanksgiving game between Classical and English! In 2021 Classical won the game on the last play of double overtime with a field goal!
This luncheon was started in 1920 when only Classical and English High Schools existed, now there are five High Schools: Classical, English, Technical Vocational, St. Mary’s and KIPP Academy. It is thought that some of the boys at the first luncheon had fathers who did not survive World War I, and it was a way for Rotary to remember them. There would have been 100 continuous luncheons in 2020 if it were not for COVID.
Over 70 people joined the Winchester and Woburn Rotary Clubs' annual Football Captains' Lunch to celebrate the high school football game on Thanksgiving. Mark Ockerbloom from Channel 25 Fox was a great guest speaker. This 121st edition of the "Rivalry" was great to celebrate with Woburn winning this year!
The Gloucester Rotary has published a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2023, featuring the photography of several local photographers. In addition to the beautiful photography, each calendar includes a raffle ticket for a $50 weekly raffle drawing throughout the year. The calendars are $25 each and proceeds from sales will be used for the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities.
The calendars are available for purchase at the Weathervane Gift Shop, located at 153 Main Street in downtown Gloucester (phone 978-281-1227), at BankGloucester, located at 160 Main Street in downtown Gloucester (978-283-8200), and from any Gloucester Rotary member. Calendars may also be purchased online at www.gloucesterrotary.org.
The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
At its regular meeting on November 17, the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club welcomed our newest member, Christina Manikas. Christina was inducted by co-President Cushing Titcomb and her Rotary sponsor, Christina Harris. Rotary just can’t get enough good Christinas. Christina joins over 70 area professionals and community leaders who are dedicated to sharing ideas and taking action.
Christina lives in Groveland and is employed as a teacher in the Peabody Public Schools, where she improves the lives of young scholars every day. She also serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors at Opportunity Works, a North Shore non-profit with a large staff of professionals with a broad range of experience working with people with disabilities.
Christina gives back to her community in many ways. She also serves on the Board at her church, chairing the Palm Sunday Luncheon. While living in Biddeford, Maine, she was a member of the Planning Board. In short, she loves being involved and making a difference.
In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading, and being outside – especially with her beloved dogs.
The Rotary Club is thrilled to welcome Christina; we know that her skills and passions will fit very well with our core missions of service and environmental sustainability. Together we will achieve more than we can alone.
Rockport Rotary's 2022 raffle calendar was a sellout and travelled around the globe, reaching a family in India who loved the beautiful photos of our iconic town. Our 2023 raffle calendar is now on sale and going fast! A drawing will be held each week of 2023. Winners in the first week of July and the first week of December will receive $250; all other winners will receive $50. Winning tickets will be reentered for future drawings. We only have a limited supply left for holiday gifts for your family and friends. Please contact Anne Lewis at car4forever@gmail.com or any Rockport Rotarian to reserve a copy.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea celebrated Veterans Day by hosting 15 veterans from the Chelsea Soldiers Home at their November 8, 2022, luncheon meeting. Guest speaker for the luncheon was Chelsea Rotarian Cheryl Poppe, Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Services.
Let's kick off December with a great night out at Flatbread Company on 213 Burlington Rd, Bedford. A portion of the proceeds from every flatbread pizza sold from 5-9 p.m., both in-house and take-out, will be donated to Burlington Breakfast Rotary. By enjoying a delicious pizza at Flatbread Company, you will be donating to the charitable causes supported by Burlington Breakfast Rotary. Bring your family and friends on December 1. Hope to see you there!
Burlington Breakfast Rotary Fundraiser at Flatbread Company December 1
DG Alexander Falk in conjunction with the District Managed Grant (DMG) Foundation Committee have approved the start of Phase 2 of the District Grants submissions with the new deadline beingDecember 31st!
While we have received wonderful grant applications in Phase 1 by the original October 31 deadline, these grants have not yet exhausted the available District Designated Funds (DDF) for district grants, and so we are inviting clubs to submit more grant applications between now and the end of the calendar year.
We unfortunately had to reject some grant applications from Phase 1, because of incomplete applications where additional data was not provided even after multiple email requests. If your grant was rejected in Phase 1, please feel free to reapply in Phase 2, but please make sure to submit a complete grant application. You have to fill out all the tabs in the grant application - especially the Details, Application, Budget, and Documents tabs! If your application was rejected, then it was likely because you did not fill out all the required information…
We are pleased to recognize the Charter Members of our new PolioPLUS Society in District 7930, who have committed to donating $100 per year to the PolioPLUS fund of the Rotary Foundation until we have achieved mission success and declared the world to be polio-free. Thank you for your contributions and for your commitment to uphold Rotary's promise to the children of the world!!
We are happy to report that our Robert C Wood MemorialHeroes Celebrationthis past week was a very successful event for our district and for raising funds for The Rotary Foundation. In addition to honoring community heroes nominated by our Rotary Clubs with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition, we also conducted a PHF Points Balloon sale and a silent auction. The total raised through the balloons and silent auction, which was directly promised to the Foundation, was $4,050. In addition, our current financial projection shows that the event actually produced a net profit - thanks to the many sponsorships we had received this year and thanks to all the advertisers in the program book. As a result, our district will be making a total donation tothe Rotary Foundation in the amount of $11,000!!
Here's a huge thank you to all the Rotary Clubs who participated and nominated community heroes, to all Rotarians who attended, to the sponsors and advertisers, to everyone who bid on auction items or bought balloons, and especially to the event organizing committee, who had worked on planning this event since July: DG Aide David Deutsch, DRFC PDG Joan Arsenault, IPDG Terry Curran, DGE Lori Karas, DGN Tom Hankard, and District Treasurer Arthur Schwartz. A big thank you also to Liz Cullen for the balloon sales, and to Bob Arsenault for assisting with the balloons as well as organizing the bell and backdrop. Last, but no least, a big thanks to all the Assistant Governors for helping with the running of the event, including setup, check-in, etc.
Robert C Wood Memorial Heroes Celebration a smashing success
We need your help, as a Rotarian, to raise funds and awareness for The Rotary Foundation this Giving Tuesday,November 29th. This global day of generosity is an opportunity for all Rotary members to make a big impact with a gift of any size to our Annual Fund-SHARE. Last year, we raised more than ever before — over US$1 million! We’re asking you to help us surpass that this year, so that we can do even more good together.
The Foundation will again recognize the top three clubs in fundraising, donor participation, and online giving. Find out which clubs made the list last year and set a giving goal for your club this year. Just make sure that the gifts are made on November 29.
Thank you for your leadership and support. We know that with your help, Giving Tuesday will be a bigger success than ever.
On Thursday November 3rd 2022 the Rotary Club of Lynn gathered at the Old Tyme restaurant to fill Bags of Hope with personal care items. The collection of bags is for the Jasmine Grace Outreach program, the items are primarily for women.
Women who are living on the streets or in programs throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire are given Bags of Hope filled with basic items that we take for granted every day. In collaboration with programs serving women affected by trafficking, prostitution, addiction and homelessness, Bags of Hope is driven by the community. Many different groups of people are donating the items, filling the bags and handing them out! By doing this we let the women know there is a better way, they are treasured people, and that we
are here to help.
Members of the Club donated enough items to fill 40 Purple Bags of Hope. And there were enough items left over to fill four large shopping bags, which were given to the woman running the program in Lynn. The Purple Bags are sort of a trademark for the program. One of the Club members was checking out at a local store and she was asked why she was buying 5 each of a multitude of items. When she explained about the Purple bags, the cashier told her that several years ago she received one of the bags and she was most grateful for the items in them. You never know who you might be helping when participating in something like this.
The Paul Harris Society recognizes people who commit to contributing US$1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved global grant. The society’s purpose is to honor and thank people for their generous and ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation.
Paul Harris Society contributions count toward several different kinds of individual recognition, and members receive a chevron-style pin and a certificate. Members are also listed in the Paul Harris Society Report.
How do you spend your Friday nights this fall? Reading Rotarians are busy running the Snack Shack for Friday night high school football games at Reading Memorial High School. Since 2015, Reading Rotary has run the Shack, selling burgers, hot dogs, pizza, pretzels, popcorn, candy and hot and cold drinks to the crowd.
Reading High's Shack Shack had been operated by the Reading Boosters Club but as their numbers dwindled, the Town of Reading asked Rotary to take on its operation. The Shack provides opportunities as both a public service and a fundraiser. Running the Shack Shack at such crowded sporting events also allows Rotary to publicize Rotary’s mission to the Town folk. Rotary has signage and informational literature displayed at each Snack Shack game.
Reading Rotary’s Snack Shack will be open again this Thanksgiving morning for the traditional Reading-Stoneham game. Pictured here are Co-President John Douglas and Richie Lombardo on the grill at a recent game.
Only two left. Interactors, Rotarians and Faculty members around the district are engaging in a series of workshops - InteractCafes. There is a saying in business: Success leaves clues. It means that success isn't accidental, in business, in Rotary, in life.
Visit one of the remaining Cafes — let them know how much they matter to us! All InteractCafes start at 6 and end at 7:30.
Lynnfield HS - Nov 2
Marblehead - Nov 3
It's no coincidence that the Interact clubs that participated in the Cafes in 2019 remained strong, vibrant and active through the pandemic.
There is another saying. A house that can withstand a hurricane is indistinguishable from one that can't -- until after the hurricane. Our Interact houses have been through the toughest hurricane they've faced since the program began in 1962!
What makes Rotary a people's club? It is by being a link in the extended community of like-minded individuals supporting each club's service projects and activities. So, when Rotary Club of Rockport’s Nikki Marin and Ann Lewis heard that Marblehead is currently hosting a Youth Exchange Student from Uganda, it linked right to their long-standing involvement in the poverty alleviation program in Uganda. Marblehead Club members were all ears as Nikki Marin, who sits on the board of Village2Village Project, presented their long-term commitment to uplifting impoverished Ugandans, meeting their needs, and building educated leaders to continue the work for years to come.
Pictured here left to right are Marblehead Rotary Co-President Nancy Gwin, Rockport Rotary's Ann Lewis and Nikki Marin, and David Deutsch, Assistant to District Governor Alexander Falk and Marblehead Rotary member.
The Greater Salem NH Rotary was pleased to contribute $14,000 toward the necessary renovation of the Pleasant Street Church kitchen. This kitchen is where Greater Salem Rotary prepares monthly community meals for those in need.
Pictured here are Mark McGinn, Pastor Ben Daggett-Gonzalez and John Pappalardo.
The Belle Isle Rotary Club had their 3rd Annual Fall Fair and Goat Pebble Bingo event on Saturday Oct 1, 2022.
Belle Isle Rotary members all pitched in and worked hard to make this event fun and successful. Many families in our area do not drive nor do they have the funds to partake in an event such as the Topsfield Fair. We were able to offer the children and families in our area of East Boston, Winthrop and Revere a FREE alternative to the expensive Topsfield Fair. The children had hands on experiences with small animals, crafts and delicious fair foods. The winner of the Goat Pebble Bingo was a generous neighbor that purchased a few tickets to the Goat Pebble Bingo and she was thrilled to find out she was a winner.
Fall Faire and Goat Pebble Bingo a Wild Success for Belle Isle
The Somervile Rotary Club held its semi-annual Food Drive on Saturday, September 17. This event collects non-perishable food items, diapers, personal care items, Gift Cards and cash. Beneficiaries include local food pantries, shelters, a local senior organization and an elementary school.
The Somerville Club has had a long-term focus on food insecurity issues in the city. The cause has expanded to include much needed toiletries for vulnerable populations in shelters and schools. There is also a big push to secure diapers since they are so difficult for disadvantaged families to secure.
Star Market Porter Square has been a great partner in this event.
Pictured from left to right are Sylvia Walker, Chair of the event and Ibrahim Hachem, Club member.
During the last few years Boston Rotaract has had many different meeting spaces, though usually we have rented an office space or a conference room. We meet on Monday nights, twice a month, pretty regularly, but without having a meeting space to call our own recently, we have had to meet in restaurants/bars, which of course is loud and has no privacy. We are a small, mighty team as of now, since losing a few members during the pandemic due to students graduating and moving out of Boston, or young professionals shifting jobs and states. While we are back up and running, we are looking for a new meeting space. As an organization that mostly does in-person volunteering, and less fundraising, we don't have too much in the budget to spend on a space.
If you know of anyone who is available to host us, please let District Rotaract Chair, Sarah Furie at sarah.furie@gmail.com, know so we can talk about an arrangement.
Are you interested in Pollinators and Pollinator Gardens?
There is an ongoing 5 part webinar series from the Ohio State University that you might be interested. Whether you are interested in doing a grant for a full scale garden or just looking to bring more butterflies and hummingbirds to your home garden.
The series takes place at 10 am on Fridays for the next three weeks. The first two lectures are available on the website under the “Recordings” tab at go.osu.edu/ph101. You can still register for these last three live webinars or watch the recordings on your own schedule. Register here for any/all sessions: https://go.osu.edu/registerPH101. Find readings, links and resources for each session under the Learn With Us tab.
A polio-free world is possible, but we can achieve it only by taking action together. Join with @Rotary this #WorldPolioDay to @EndPolioNow: endpol.io/wpd
The Rotary Club of Peabody sponsored two Halloween events for families in DCF. Our INTERACT group coordinated and ran a Halloween Costume Shop for kids who may not have otherwise been able to get costumes. The event, made possible by donated costumes and these dedicated Rotary teens, was an enormous success. This was followed by a Halloween Party for DCF families who may not otherwise be able to see their siblings during the year. This year's event tripled in size with happy reunions, food, costumes and activities generously donated by the community.
Reading is experiencing trash collection woes, with its trash contractor missing many pick-ups since the beginning of October. Some residents had missed pick-ups for 2 or 3 weeks. The Town has had to scramble to try and fix the bad situation. Town workers have stepped in to collect trash. They have been working overtime to pick up what has been missed by the contractor.
Representing Reading Rotary, Jeanne Borawski and John Douglass delivered refreshments to the DPW in appreciation for all their extra effort and work. Jeanne was interviewed by WBZ TV.
Rotarians offer a helping hand in times messy times.
Burlington Breakfast Rotary is currently holding their Semi-Annual Raffle featuring 12 exciting prizes. First prize is a pair of tickets to the Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game on January 1, 2023. An equally amazing second prize is a $500 gift certificate to Princess Diamonds. See photo for 10 additional fantastic prizes. Only 500 tickets will be sold.
This raffle will support local charities including Ataxia, Burlington Public Schools Mental Health Awareness, People Helping People and other local non-profits.
Please contact Fran Fazio at franpf@verizon.net for tickets. You can mail checks to Burlington Breakfast Rotary, 6 Bruce Street, Burlington, MA 01803.
Newburyport Rotary's annual Trivia event is being held Thursday, October 27. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Game starts at 7 pm. Elk's Club, 25 Low St., Newburyport.
Hosted by Jeopardy winner, Jill Santopietro-Panall. Food and drink available. $25 per person; up to 5 people per team. 1 table per team.
Sign up early to reserve your table. Register at newburyportrotary.org or scan the QR code.
Swampscott Rotary is pleased and proud to announce that it awarded over $25,000 in scholarships in 2022. These includes four college scholarships for $5000 each and five McCarriston Trade School Scholarships.
Swampscott Rotary's college scholarships, awarded to new graduates, have gone to Ana Lambiase (UMass), Neirit Mahabub, Alhassan Bangura (Syracuse) and Ayman Alzaeem (UMass Boston).
McCarriston Scholarships have gone to Brian Ferullo, Jeremy Swiniuch, Alen Constantino, Kyle MacGilvray and AJ Luciano.
Pictured here are Doug Dubin, Debra Goldberg and scholarship recipient Ayman Alzaeem.
Burlington Rotary Club is putting on a Comedy Night October 28th from 7-10 PM at the Woburn Elks. Some really great comedians are lined up: Tony V, Lamont Price, Kathe Farris and Scott Oddo.
Table of 10 for $450. Single tix $45. 50/50 Raffle. Refreshments and cash bar.
To benefit BRC's High School Scholarship Program.
For table reservations or more info contact Lori Becker.
Marblehead Rotary 5K is Sunday, November 6th, 2022, at 12 Noon.
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body! Marblehead Rotary 5K is raising awareness and support to benefit Marblehead youth's mental health and well-being. Proceeds will deliver the Daily Mindfulness Program created by Inner Explorer, a series of audio-guided practices used in 7000 schools that is simple and provides measurable results.
The Race begins at the Boston Yacht Club (BYC), One Front Street, Marblehead. Afterward, runners will go through Old Town and finish back up at the BYC with a hot dog and chowder!
Ray Morley will be remembered for his service, compassion, and generosity. As the members of the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club mourn the passing of our beloved sitting President, we do so with the memory of what he represented both in Rotary and to the community. Generous to a fault, Ray didn’t know how to say no; he freely helped anyone, in any way he could. He epitomized the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’.
As a former Selectman, service organization leader, local entrepreneur and Chef, Ray was well positioned to help his community. For many years before becoming our 99th club President in July, he was a reliable and indispensable supporter of club hosted events, preparing most of the food we served and often donating the facilities of his Inn. Following the disastrous Mother’s Day Flood of 2006, the club honored Ray with its ‘Person of the Year’ award to recognize his tireless efforts and extreme generosity in supporting displaced families and heroic relief workers.
Join us for an interactive evening with PDG Mike McGovern, Chair International PolioPlus Committee at Rotary International & represents Rotary on the Polio Strategy Committee of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The Zoom webinar is on October 13 from 7 to 8:15 pm. Our need to remain committed to eradicating polio in the world could not be more at the forefront due to the recent state of emergency in New York following a reported polio case and the detection of polioviruses in multiple wastewater samples in New York and London.
We will hear about the vaccine-derived case in New York, the state of polio in the world, and the latest advances in polio vaccines. The webinar will also focus on how your club can use the district's fundraising platform to raise monies and ideas for fundraising for this most important issue.
Manchester-Essex Rotary's 20th Anniversary Dinner was a huge success. Current members had the chance to meet past members and hear the accounts of how the club pulled through time and again raising funds for the local community and projects offshore. There was quite a bit of comedic content from the speakers including past president Chris Costello, Master of Ceremonies Don MacQuarrie, past presidents Chet and Debbie Marcus, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer and last but certainly not least past president Paul Sullivan who regaled us with what the breakfast meetings and auction were like back in the day.
State Senator Bruce Tarr, former State Representative Brad Hill and club members Dot Sieradski, Michael Grey and Marcia Hubbard all received Paul Harris Awards. Bruce and Brad gave heartfelt speeches about what the club has done for the community over their 20 years of involvement - even before the club took over the Red White and Blue Breakfast they were serving when it was hosted by the Lions!
Special thanks to Jennifer Doane, Don MacQuarrie, Christopher Shea, David Ray, Joanne Donnelly, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer, Judy Laspesa, Deborah Marcus and Stacey Scott who put the event together. This was the best event ever to witness the community effort that has drawn together the Manchester-Essex Rotary Club for 20 years, bravo to all!
Pictured above from left to right are Michael Grey, Dot Sieradski, Club President Jack Costello, Marcia Hubbard, State Representative Bradford Hill and State Senator Bruce Tarr
The Rotary Club of Lynn held a Cornhole Tournament fundraiser Sunday, October 2nd at the Old Tyme Family Cuisine. The purpose of the event was to raise money for college scholarships for Lynn seniors. There were 21 two-person teams in the tournament which included Lynn Rotarians, Acting Superintendent of Lynn Public Schools Debra Ruggiero, and Lynn Fire Chief Stephen Archer.
In addition to scholarships, Lynn Rotary is the longtime sponsor of the annual Special Games. Rotarians also distribute dictionaries annually to all LPS third graders. Its signature initiative is the Eighth Grade Recognition Program held in January, March and May. In addition to those, the Club hosts the annual pre-Thanksgiving football luncheon for Lynn High School captains, coaches and others associated with the football program.
The District 7930 Membership Committee is pleased to announce its new Membership Committee Citation!
Your Rotary, Rotaract, or Interact Club can now earn a District 7930 Membership Committee Citation for achieving goals that actively work toward enabling your club to grow its membership.
To achieve the Citation:
1. Review the list of 25 possible action steps that are based on best-practices:
In return, your Club will receive a written Membership Committee Citation certificate signed by the District Governor and the new District Membership Committee Citation Pin for all your club members (see image on the left).
This important individual leads and supports the clubs in D7930 by inspiring and motivating them to Do Good in the World! All clubs are encouraged to propose suitable candidates who meet the qualifications to serve. One of these requirements is that at the time of taking office, they must have been a past president of a club, completed seven years of membership in one or more clubs, and to have attended governors-elect training seminar and International Assembly. If you feel that your club has such a leader among your members, please consider nominating them to help fulfill Rotary's ongoing missions.
By now, you will have either keyed in or hand-marked your calendar with February 28 and March 2, Virtual Rotary Leadership Institute evening sessions!
Parts 1, 2, 3 and Graduate must be taken in order. Registration, $25 for members; $15 for Rotaractors.
DISCUSSION TOPICS…..
Part 1: Character of Leadership; Purpose of Rotary, Understanding Rotary’s Organizational Structure and Core Values; Ethics and Vocational Service; Basic Goals and Programs of the Rotary Foundation; Engaging Members; Creating Service Projects
The Belle Isle Rotary is gearing up to bring all the greatness of a Fall Faire including baby goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits, face painting, cider donuts and games/prizes to the children of East Boston, Revere and Winthrop. This is our third year of our Club members working together to bring this event to our area and we cap off this fun day with an exciting game of chance called Goat Pebble Bingo! $20 ticket can win you $1000 if the goat leaves pebbles on your square!
Belle Isle Rotary Fall Fair & Goat Pebble Bingo
Sat., Oct. 1 at 10AM (rain date Oct. 8) Salesian Boys & Girls Club, 150 Byron St., East Boston
There will be lots of food, prizes and fun for all ages! Small animal petting zoo, face painting, pumpkin decorating!
How to play: Pay $20 and buy a numbered ticket. On Friday Sept 30, 2022, the ticket numbers will be randomly assigned to a land parcel/square. The first land parcel that our visiting goat opts to drop some pebbles in WINS!
Chalk on the Walk is The Rotary Club of Cambridge’s Annual Fundraiser. It is the Harvard Square version of an Italian street painting festival.
All levels of artists are welcome! They are paired with local businesses and individuals who are sponsors. Kids and families are all encouraged to participate. Most of all it is about having fun! The top three artists are awarded prizes along with the “people’s choice” award.
Proceeds fund the Cambridge Rotary Club's annual college scholarships, local literacy and education programs, programs for the homeless and refugees, and many other Rotary Club of Cambridge’s service projects.
Thursday, November 10th will be our annual Rotary Foundation event, but this year we are renaming it the “ROBERT C. WOOD MEMORIAL HEROES CELEBRATION” in honor and memory of our friend, the late Past District Governor Bob Wood (2018-19). This event will be starting at 5:30 PM at the Danversport and we hope that many of you will be attending. The evening will include a social hour, silent auction, dinner, and Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) presentations.
Join our zoom webinar on October 13 from 7 to 8:15 to disucss PolioPLUS. Learn how to use the district's fundraising platform, hear ideas for fundraisers, hear about the PolioPLUS Society, the recent detection of vaccine-derived poliovirus in NY, the new vaccine & more!
The time for urgent action is now. Hope to see you at our webinar on October 13.
"The women of Rotary that have inspired me are compassionate, powerful do-gooders. While I can't name them all, I can talk about the very first. I met Patricia Doyle when I was 15 as an attendee of RYLA. It was a truly transformative experience with Pat at the core of the program. I was so inspired that I attended the conference as a facilitator the next two years and again as a volunteer every year since then. But Pat is so much more than RYLA. Over the past two decades, she has taught me what it means to be a leader, both in and out of Rotary. As a teacher herself, I was inspired to take up the profession with her as my role model and mentor. When she became the District Governor alongside her husband, Skip, I took note of her studious diplomacy mostly due to her ability to remember everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, she has ever met. And not only remember them, but care for them."
Kelsea Lawler, Parkway Rotary Club President
Why are you happy that there is more female leadership in Rotary International? Email us your quote and photo at rotary7930publicimage@gmail.com.
After a two-year COVID pandemic absence, the TBM Fall Foliage Classic returns for its 41st Running on Sunday, October 16th at 11:00 AM. The races start at Proctor School in Topsfield and follow a most picturesque route through the countryside of Topsfield and Boxford to the finish line at Topsfield Town Hall. Register for the 5-mile, 5 k or fun run or 3-mile walk. Long sleeve heavy-weight shirts will be presented to the first 200 registrants. Individuals and Teams of all ages are welcome to participate. This year's event will support the Food Pantries in Topsfield, Boxford and Middleton.
The Rotary Club of Cambridge Welcomes Global Scholar Sara Fattori. Cambridge Rotary Club is hosting Sara Fattori from Bologna, Italy. Sara will be studying for her Master’s Degree in International Relations at Tufts' prestigious Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
The Greater Salem NH Rotary's Annual Commemoration of 9/11 was held at the Salem NH Fire Station. The tribute this year was a reflection of 9/11 and supporting families to realize peace-of-mind. Our speaker was John Beland who shared stories on the development and rewarding experiences of the 9/11 Lakes Region NH Respite Program. The Respite Program is a safe haven for families of individuals connected to the 9/11 catastrophe to mend in a serene environment.
On August 27 the Swampscott Rotary Club sponsored and held our 37th annual picnic for North Shore residents with disabilities behind Swampscott High School. Our picnic is coordinated with Bridgewell and the North Shore ARC.
We had a beautiful day, mostly sunny and not too hot. Hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, drinks and cake was served and over 80 guests attended. During the day we were all entertained by music from our long-time volunteer DJ, David Legere.
The day was enjoyed by all. It has been our privilege and pleasure to hold this great event for many years!
Many Rotarians, family members, and Swampscott High School students also help setup, cook and serve and interact with our guests.
We continue to be proud to uphold our Rotary motto of " Service above Self."
Pictured here from left to right are exchange student Sebastian Sanchez, Bryan Cousin, Vicktor and Philipp Zeissig, Joe Caponigro, Fran Peralta, Doug Dubin, Debra Goldberg, Scholarship winner Ayman Alzaeem & Peter, Buck Weaver.
Swampscott's Annual Cookout for Residents with Disabilities
Join Zone 32 Foundation Team learn best practices how to create and submit your lifesaving Disaster Response Grant. Presentations by RI Grant Managers, experienced grant writers & expert panel of Rotarians. Wednesday Sept 14 at 10:00 am EST.
Save the Ipswich River & Watershed: The Lifeblood of Our Communities Global Grant has been approved by RI. It couldn't have come at a better time. The Ipswich River is rated one of the top 10 endangered rivers in the US. Currently the river is facing its worst drought ever. “To be blunt, the river is dead,” said Wayne Castonguay, executive director at the Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA). As of Aug. 30, the river plummeted through all previous drought records when it reached zero flow. Last week, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded a mere trickle at 0.07 cubic feet per second. “Basically at zero,” Castonguay said.
Is your club interested in participating in the Fall Mini Grants that have just opened? The new Environmental Committee suggests you plan now to participate in the “No Mow May” initiative this spring.
We are working on a template for lawn signs. You customize it with your Club name and they are ready to print. We also have flyers that explain “No Mow May” for you to print and disperse and a template to pledge to support “No Mow May”.
For further information and templates contact Environment Committee Chair Terry Curran at TerryCurran7930@gmail.com.
Peter E. Simonsen, 72, passed away September 5th at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers after a lengthy battle with kidney disease. Born in Malden, he was the son of the late Aage A. Simonsen and Edna A. (Dauphinee) Simonsen. He was the beloved husband of Diane Humphries Simonsen for 49 years.
Peter attended Saugus High School and was a graduate of Northeastern University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Insurance. Peter held senior financial positions for over 45 years mainly as Chief Financial Officer at Cape Ann Bank and Trust, Beverly National Bank and ending his career at SeniorCare Inc. in Gloucester.
Peter joined Rotary in 1991 as a charter member of the Rotary Club of Hamilton Wenham. He was president of the club in 1996-1997. Over the years he held many positions in Rotary District culminating with serving as District Governor in 2014-2015.
As the Rotary International President, Jennifer Jones is already proving, 'Skies are the limit' once the glass ceiling has been broken. She is already setting the bar high and motivating all of us to think out of the box with her theme 'Imagine Rotary!'
Pooja Singla, one of the Assistant Governors for District 7930 this year, said she cannot imagine herself in Rotary without two specific women.
"When I was promoted to be the president elect with the support of my club's members, I was really nervous if I would be able to fulfill those responsibilities that I was committing to. No one could hear my voice across the table. I was so shy of speaking. Then I met Joan Arsenault, in March 2019. She was going to be the DG when I was starting as President.
Greater Salem NH Rotary members helped with the cleanup and beatification of the ADA accessible pathways at Sunset Hill Educational Institute (SHEI) and the Wheelchair Health in Motion (WHIM) Bradford, NH. SHEI has over 2,000 feet of hard packed gravel pathways with ADA bathroom accommodations. SHEI is a safe space in a private setting for individuals of all walks of life and disabilities to gather and embrace the peaceful countryside and spectacular vistas.
To learn more about this rare find check out www.sheinh.org.
A 12-month Gloucester photo raffle calendar will be sold through the Gloucester Rotary that includes a raffle ticket. A winning number will be chosen each week in 2023. All profits from the calendar sales will go to the Gloucester Rotary’s efforts to raise money to support the many community and international activities in which the group is involved.
In my monthly District Governor email a few days ago I had invited Rotary Clubs to do a project during Basic Education and Literacy Month (September) and perhaps build a "Little Library" in their community:
"September is Basic Education and Literacy Month. If your club has not done a District Managed Grant this year you might consider this area of focus. Build a “Little Library” with your Interact Club or your local scout troop and stock it with books. Do a project with your local library or school library, even set up a reading club or afterschool program. Consider purchasing books in languages other than English to donate. Many libraries only have a limited supply."
I want to follow up on this invitation with an offer. In recent months, Nora and I have gone through our library and removed a whole series of duplicate books that had accumulated over the years. We'd be happy to donate these books to any Rotary Club who actually wants to build such a "Little Library". It's about 250 books, mostly English and German, about evenly split 50:50.
Past Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta has announced those clubs who have fulfilled the requirements to be awarded the Presidential Citation for the Rotary year 2021-2022.
Congratulations go to the following clubs in District 7930:
Burlington
Cambridge
Lawrence
Lynn
Lynnfield
Newburyport
Parkway
Reading
Wakefield
Clubs will have received an email with this certificate. Any club that wants their certificate presented to last year's President, should contact IPDG Terry Curran at TerryCurran7930@gmail.com.
Q: How are you impacted by seeing a woman Rotary International President?
A: I am incredibly pleased that Jennifer Jones is appointed as our first woman Rotary International President. I believe that you cannot be what you cannot see, and this is an especially key step in Rotary demonstrating their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am motivated to carry out her mission to create peace and unity, despite our differences, as I lead the impact of the Rotary Club in my community.
-Sheila Clarke, Reading Rotary Club President, 2022-2023.
Why are you happy that there is more female leadership in Rotary International? Email us your quote and photo at rotary7930publicimage@gmail.com.
Today, September 1st, we will start accepting applications for Mini-Grants and I want to invite all Rotary clubs to do a project in one or more of the areas of the Environment, Membership, Public Image, or Diversity/Equity/Inclusion. Projects that touch multiple areas are encouraged!
The grant is a reimbursement grant with a $200 maximum to each club and only one grant per club. Grants are available on a first come, first served basis until the $3,000 district budget for mini-grants is exhausted.
If you want to know why our District Governor cares about pollinator habitat restoration, the answer is very simple: over the last 50 years we have already lost 45% of pollinators worldwide! That is a staggering number!
We all need to come together to help with pollinator habitat restoration, and our DG not only turned his backyard into a pollinator habitat and Monarch butterfly waystation, but he became a beekeeper himself and created an apiary with two beehives in his yard. The location on the Atlantic coast is not ideal, but the two hives are somewhat shielded behind the house and have been thriving this season.
Today, August 31st, was the first day we harvested honey from the hives. We took only 4 frames - because we want the bees to have enough honey to survive the brutal New England winters - and extracted honey from them, yielding about 17 jars of honey.
Shown in this picture is a jar of honey harvested today, with the pollinator habitat in the background.
Rotary District Youth Exchange Chair Robert Ford welcomed our four inbound Youth Exchange students for the 2022-23 high school year at our annual Welcome Picnic at Camp Rotary on Sunday, August 28th, where Rotary Youth Exchange program leaders, host families, and students got together to welcome the students to our district and to conduct an initial training session.
District Governor Alexander Falk delivered remarks on the importance of the Rotary Youth Exchange program for Peacebuilding in the World and presented all students with Rotary 2022-23 theme backpacks, as well as baseball caps and Rotary 4-way test coins - encouraging them to use the coins as conversation starters when other people ask them about Rotary.
Our four inbound students this year are (left to right in the photo):
Sebas from Colombia hosted by the Swampscott Rotary Club
Rasmus from Finland hosted by the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club
Talia from Uganda hosted by the Marblehead Rotary Club
Ada from Switzerland hosted by the North Andover Rotary Club
We are grateful to those four Rotary Clubs for hosting our students and to all volunteers and host families in the Rotary Youth Exchange program in our district!
Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) 2023 Dates Announced
Happiness reigns in most homes whenever a Save the Date announces a happy upcoming occasion. So, to all District 7930 current members and future leaders: Be happy and.....
SAVE THE DATES February 28 and March 2, 2023 6:00-9:00 p.m. Special Two-Evening Virtual Session
Watch upcoming eBulletins and District Newsletters as well as the district website for more information as we get closer to those dates!
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about Rotary plus interact and share excitement and ideas with Rotarians, both from our district and outside 7930.
On August 25, 2022, Lynn Rotarians met at the Old Tyme Restaurant to gather together school supplies for donation to the Salvation Army. The Rotarians organized supplies by category to make it easier for Salvation Army Captains Kevin and Helen Johnson to put in backpacks for children.
At the end of the evening there were at least 15 heavily laden bags of school supplies, primarily for elementary age students. The supplies will be provided to the students at a Salvation Army distribution later in August. The Salvation Army is accepting donations at its headquarters at 1 Franklin St., Lynn Monday thru Friday.
More than 150 local businesses, clubs, and non-profits
Antique car show
3rd Annual Cornhole Classic Tournament
Dedicated children’s area with games and activities
Amusement zone with inflatables
Delicious food choices
Beer garden and tailgate area to watch the Patriots play on a big screen
If you want to be a part of it, now is the time. Sign up now before it's too late!
Sponsorship opportunities still available. Support this beloved community event. The Reading Fall Street Faire is offering corporate sponsorships at various contribution levels. See fallstreetfaire.com for details.
When asked about female mentorship, Lori Karas, District Governor Elect of District 7930, said:
"There are two women in Rotary who stand out. Joan Arsenault and I met at NEPETs when I was preparing to become President of Boston #7 in March 2017. I was still a relatively new Rotarian – just about 1.5 years. Through our discussion she then asked, 'do you know who your AG will be?' I didn’t. She immediately said, 'I will be your AG and help you take what you’ve learned at NEPETs and help you navigate Rotary.'
"One month later at the District Assembly, Joan introduced me to PDG Ingrid Brown. As the three of us spoke, Ingrid was incredibly encouraging, supportive, and felt I had what it took to make a difference.
"Now in order to lift up other women," Lori says she "makes introductions and opens doors and windows."
Why are you happy that there is more female leadership in Rotary International? Email us your quote and photo at rotary7930publicimage@gmail.com.
Melrose Rotary Club will host its first ever Left-Right-Center tournament on Friday September 23rd at Melrose's Memorial Hall (590 Main St., Melrose). If you've never played before, it's the most fun you'll have playing a game that takes under three minutes to learn! There will be cash prizes, raffles, 50/50, side games, a cash bar (beer/wine) and pizza & popcorn! Tickets are $20 per person, and tables of 10 are selling quickly. Bring your friends and family and fill a table for this 21+ event. Tickets at www.melroserotary.org/lrc or contact us at melroserotaryclub@gmail.com.
A recording of this webinar is now available on YouTube, and you can access the entire webinar through the following link, or you can click on any of the three segments above and directly jump to that portion of the recording: https://youtu.be/v-mYKheYxVo
Rotary Peabody is excited to operate a booth again this year at Peabody's annual International Festival on Sunday, Sept 11th. We're continuing our successful partnership with the Chamber of Commerce to add a sangria experience to the Beer Garden. All purchases directly benefit Rotary Peabody's scholarships and other service projects to improve our community. Stop by our booth to have some refreshing sangria and say hi to fellow Rotarians!
Greater Salem NH Rotary Serving towns of Salem, Pelham, Windham, Atkinson, & Hampstead
Standing outside the supermarket encouraging shoppers to purchase a little extra to contribute to our food drive was rewarding as we filled carriage after carriage. Thanks to our members and all those who contributed to make this food drive a success.
Our Third Annual Cornhole Tournament was a fun night for all who attended. Thanks to our tireless members who organized the tournament, our sponsors, and participants, we were able to raise 10,000 to distribute to food pantries within our five communities.
When asked what she thinks about Rotary finally having a woman as the International President for 2022-23, Marnee Walsh says, "Jennifer Jones has already demonstrated her commitment, as early as the late 1980's, by being actively involved in the numerous Rotary roles and activities she has held on her path to the Presidency. She has already made a significant difference and will continue to do so.
"The Rotary International Glass Ceiling has been broken!
"Additionally, her presidential theme 'Imagine Rotary' opens the door for powerful, creative, dedicated, diverse leadership that is so representative of her open-ended commitments. Let's hope this is a start for more females in the Rotary leadership ranks and let us all support President Jones in every way we can."
Marnee Walsh is an Assistant Governor of Rotary District 7930, the District Community Services Committee Chair and a member of the Winchester MA Rotary Club.
Why are you happy that there is more female leadership in Rotary International? Email us your quote and photo at rotary7930publicimage@gmail.com.
Posted by Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis on Aug 16, 2022
Luis Lopez de Rivera arrived from Monterrey, Mexico in Melrose in the frigid days of January to stay with hosts Mary Beth & Michael Margolis while he completed a DEDP Master’s program at MIT. The program included many international students with its main focus being to equip high-potential young professionals from all around the world with the right tools to produce rigorous evidence-based policy to fight global poverty and inequality.
Mary Beth is a past President of the Melrose Cub, Past Assistant Governor and District Governor Aide, and member of the Paul Harris Society. But her Rotary passion has been the Rotary Youth Exchange Program the District began almost 15 years ago, helping coordinate and manage the many high school students who have visited District 7930 and those outbounds who left us to travel abroad. Luis was kind enough to stay and mind Oliver the cat while Mary Beth & Michael went to Florida in February. He was introduced to the Melrose Club and found the members to be quite helpful in getting him settled, including acquiring warm clothing. He was able to attend a few District events with the current Global Scholar Fransisco with whom he became close friends and found they share the same home town, Monterrey! Our friendship will continue for many years to come thanks to Rotary!
Now Francisco's sister Regina is looking for a family to host her this coming year at Simmons College where she'll be doing a Masters in Nutrition. Mary Beth and Michael are considering hosting her in the 2nd semester but Regina would love to find a family in the District for her start of school in mid September. She is a frequent volunteer at home in Monterrey and wants to continue her service to others. Please consider this wonderful opportunity to expand your service to Rotary and the world by offering to host Regina. You may contact Mary Beth at margateer@verizon.net or Kelsea Whittemore at kelsea.whittemore@gmail.com for more details.
Jennifer Jones has inspired women all over the Rotary world. How are you impacted by seeing a woman Rotary International President? Why are you proud there are more females in Rotary leadership? We would like to highlight the women of Rotary District 7930. If you'd like to participate, please email us your answer and a photo to rotary7930publicimage@gmail.com for possible inclusion in our social media campaign, website, and e-bulletin.
Stephanie A. Urchick, a Rotarian since 1991, representing the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania has been selected as Rotary Internation President-Nominee.
If no other candidates are nominated by 1 October, Stephanie will be elected by acclimation and will serve as RI President for Rotary year 2024-25.
Stephanie has traveled around the world in the name of Rotary to such countries as Vietnam and Dominican Republic. She served as an RI Director as well as RI Foundation Trustee and is a Major Donor and member of the Bequest Society.
Please join me in congratulating Stephanie, as she will be only the second woman in history to lead us as Rotary International President.
Recently at the luncheon at the Boston Yacht Club, the team of Marblehead Rotary Service Dog Project and its partner, Chelsea Rotary's Maureen Foley (1st row, third left), welcomed the Bachours family: Gabriel (fourth left), his mother, Angelica (seated second from left), younger brother Simon (third row). After a hiatus of two years because of the pandemic, the membership finally met the family's service dog rockstar, Kacey, the dependable black Labrador and companion to Gabriel. Marblehead Rotary and Chelsea Rotary clubs pulled together their resources to fundraise for NEADS on behalf of Gabriel. The 40-year-old charitable organization, NEADS, offers a wide range of Service Dogs and Assistance Dogs to meet the needs of people with a variety of disabilities or hearing loss. It was a lively visit tempering the summer heat into an enjoyable occasion!
Our district has applied for a 25K Disaster Response Grant to provide shelter for internally displaced peoples in Ukraine. This grant will provide beds, mattresses, and other items needed to provide housing. The grant is in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Kyiv International. Your generous support of our Foundation's Annual Fund allows grants like these to help support those in need. Please continue to give!!!
DG Alexander Falk in conjunction with the DMG District Foundation Subcommittee have approved that more than one grant can be awarded per club: one international grant (up to $10,000 for the grant with $5000 reimbursed) and one local grant (up to $6000 for the grant with $3000 reimbursed).
Grants are approved on a first come first serve basis so get your applications in soon. Deadline to submit grants is October 31, 2022.
Want more information? Contact Joan Arsenault or Martha Holden. We would be happy to help you in this process.
The Beverly Rotary Club presented the City of Beverly and Mayor Cahill with a check for $50,000 to go towards repairing and maintaining the Gazebo on the common. It was originally built by the Club in 1997. The Club over two years and two Presidents, Marshall Handly and Diane Howard, raised this money to repair and provide upkeep for this beauty. It sits in the common across from the Beverly Public Library and right next to Montserrat College of Art. It is a wonderful structure that the community uses, but it is in need of repair. The fix-up has started and will continue so that the structure is safe for use. Thanks to the members of our Club and the community who helped to raise this money. Looking forward to a spruced-up Gazebo soon!
It took only 16 years for Rotary to appear in the dictionary. On the inside front cover of the 1921 Old Farmer's Almanac was an ad from the G. & C. Merriam Co for their new edition of 'Webster’s New International Dictionary.' The ad opens by asking ‘have you and yours mastered these new words.’ One of the new words was ‘Rotarian.’
We are saddened to inform you that Past District Governor 2008-09 Thomas R. Elliott, formerly of the Danvers Rotary Club, has passed away this week. There is not going to be any service in the immediate future.
The family is going to work with the town of Danvers to have a memorial bench put in at the Pavilion that was the Rotary Club’s Centennial gift to the town. The intention at this time is to have a ceremony when that happens, a celebration of his life and a dedication of the memorial bench.
Our condolences go out to Carol Elliott, and their family.
Rotarians who want to, can make a donation to the Danvers People to People Food Pantry. This was a cause that Tom and Carol strongly believed in.
The Parkway Club is looking for an individual or individuals to house a graduate student who will be attending Simmons College in September. The incoming student is our last year's scholar, Fransisco's sister. She has received funding for tuition but not for housing. Please contact us as soon as possible if you can host her for a month, a couple of months, or the full year.
In-person exchanges are back this year! To celebrate, Rotary Youth Exchange has unveiled a new video that showcases the life-changing experiences students, families, and volunteers can have through Rotary Youth Exchange.
We hope this video inspires you — whether you’re a Rotary member, a volunteer, or part of the next generation of Rotary Youth Exchange students — to create lasting change through peacebuilding exchanges that span the globe.
And if Rotary Youth Exchange has made a positive impact on your life, or if you’re excited about participating in the future, please share this video to let others know about this transformative program.
Each year we in the Greater Salem NH Rotary notify the high schools in our five communities of Salem, Pelham, Windham, Atkinson, and Hampstead requesting applicants for our Scholarship Awards.
This year we chose eight applicants based on their scholastic achievement and their community service. We had the pleasure of presenting the award in person to six of the students who were available to attend out meeting.
The selected students demonstrated their ability to achieve a high level of accomplishments in studies, leadership, interest and service in their communities, and some extended their compassion to a third world country.
Our best wishes to our future leaders as they enter a new chapter in their life by attending the college of their choice. Pictured here scholarship recipients Donovan Homsey, Jordan Krahn, Gabrielle Driggers, Mahi Patel, Katrina Souter and Kyleigh Walker
Want to have fun sharing wine with fellow Rotarians from D7930 & D7790? Consider joining the Corks & Caps Local RWAF Chapter Sunday July 31 from 6-7 pm on Zoom. For this tasting, choose a bottle of Chardonnay & a bottle of Pinot Noir. Email Joan Kelly Arsenault for the invite. All levels of wine lovers welcome!
This month, PDG John Kramb, co-owner of Adams County Winery in PA, will be our guest speaker. Adams County Winery opened its doors in 1975 in Orrtanna, PA and is currently Pennsylvania’s fifth oldest operating winery. The Farm Winery sits on 40 beautiful acres of never-ending rolling hills and farmland. The vineyard is home to five different varieties of grapes, spanning over 12.5 acres.
The Rotary Club of Woburn had the pleasure of organizing, cooking and serving a breakfast at the Senior Center on School Street in Woburn on Tuesday, July 19th. We were able to provide over seventy of our well-deserved seniors a delicious breakfast as well as live music from Irish Entertainer Mossie Coughlan. It was a great morning of fun and fellowship.
The Rotary Club of Woburn is dedicated to serving our local community in any way we can. If you are interested in being part of an organization that makes a difference and a positive impact on your local and global community, please contact us. We're always looking for good people that want to do good things!
DG Alexander Falk, DRFC Joan Arsenault and PolioPLUS Chair Ingrid Brown are excited to announce D7930 will be launching the PolioPLUS Society in our district.
Join this new society by pledging to donate a minimum of US$100 each year until the world is certified polio free. Everyone who joins before World Polio Day, which is October 24, 2022, will be considered a charter member of D7930’s Polio Plus Society.
2nd Step, make your donation. You can choose to donate in various ways, either by credit card online, or by check. If you choose to donate by check, make the check out to “The Rotary Foundation” with “PolioPlus” in the memo section and submit to your club’s Foundation Chair. If you choose a credit card, go to my.rotary.org, click on donate and choose “Polio Fund.” (To donate online, make sure you have registered on myrotary.org for a My Rotary account for you and your club to receive proper credit. Signing up is quick and easy). You can then:
• Make a onetime donation of $100 (or more) with your credit card by clicking on the “One-time donation” button and choosing the appropriate amount from the boxes below. Remember to donate again next year if you choose this option.
The Wakefield Rotary Club will again be hosting a Red Sox ticket chance at the WCAT Movies by the Lake. Thanks to a generous donation from Wakefield Rotarian Frank Fiorentino and Mahoney, Fiorentino, and Co., PC, raffle participants can win a pair of tickets for the Red Sox versus the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. Club President Gene Mullen said, “This is an easy way to win some great Sox seats and support local causes through Rotary.” The previous raffle drew in over $2,000 which was donated back to the community throughout the year.
Ticket chances cost twenty-five dollars and the prize includes two seats at Fenway between the visitor on-deck circle and home plate. The value of the pair of tickets is about $275. Last year’s ticket winner, Jonathan Chines said, “I’ve never sat so close to home plate! The seats were amazing, and we had a great time.”
Tickets are on sale during the Movies by the Lake on the Common. Visit the Rotary table to grab your chance to win. Tickets are also available at WCAT (24 Hemlock Road) and from any Wakefield Rotarian. You can also Venmo the club @wakefieldrotaryclub. Indicate “sox raffle” in the memo and provide your contact information. The winning ticket will be pulled at 8:00pm on Thursday August 4th at the Movies by the Lake event.
Picture here is 2021 winner Jonathan Chines and his son at the Sox game.
Marblehead Rotary's annual fundraising and summer favorite, Lobstah Raffle, is a blockbuster hit! Since 2002, Lobstah Raffle has raised thousands of dollars for scholarships and camperships for Marblehead Youth and Children. For twenty years, and held every Fourth of July weekend, Lobstah Raffle kiosks located all over downtown have been an iconic presence during our Festival of Arts weekend for returning visitors, locals, and community members! This week, we have drawn four winners of 20-pound live lobsters. This year has been a record year, with over 25K raised! Sold-out tickets went for $5 for one ticket or $20 for 5 tickets.
Pictured from top left clockwise: Lobstah Raffle chair Marsha Christensen (far left), co-chair Aviv Hod (middle), and volunteer and Rotarian Linda Sullivan. Next are photos of children and furry friends participating in the fun during the festival.
Rotary Club of Stoneham President David Gardner (Boyd’s Direct) recently announced Rotary International’s theme for the 2022-2023 year – Imagine Rotary.
President Gardner notes that the intent of this powerful messaging is for individuals to consider what impact they could have locally and around the globe if they invest their time, talent, and treasure to find ways to provide meaningful service to others who need help. For Rotary members, that could involve any of the Five Avenues of Service - Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, International Service, or Youth Service, or it could overlap one or more of these areas. He also noted that the seven dots surrounding the Rotary circle in the middle of the logo signify the Rotary ‘s Seven Areas of Focus – peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention & treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development and supporting the Environment. These seven areas suggest the areas in which the Five Avenues of Service might find opportunity.
Spend a beautiful day in Gloucester! Start with pancakes and then visit the Waterfront Festival and Gloucester's many attractions.
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 20, 2022, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 20-21, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees. For information on Gloucester attractions, visit www.capeannvacations.com.
Tickets for the Pancake Breakfast are $8 per person, $5 for children six and under, and are available in advance online or from any Gloucester Rotarian. Tickets will also be available on the morning of the breakfast.
The Scholarship Winners have been announced! Thank you to Judy Laspesa and the scholarship committee for their efforts in soliciting applications and selecting the winners. Here is the excerpt from our press release:
The Manchester-Essex Rotary Club is pleased to announce the 2022 "Service Above Self" scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to students demonstrating leadership, integrity, and academic success. Graduating high school seniors must either attend Manchester-Essex Regional High School or have parent(s) or legal guardian(s) residing in Manchester or Essex, Massachusetts. Students must be enrolling in a certificate or degree-granting program in the fall of 2022.
Congratulations to this year's recipients who are both attending Suffolk University in Boston. Jacob Brown will be studying Business and Law. Isabella Thurlow will be studying Psychology, Criminal Justice and Law.
The first group of ten Chelsea children preparing to attend a week at Camp Rotary in Boxford MA. The Chelsea Rotary Club annually sends twenty deserving Chelsea children to Camp Rotary. The children are chosen from essays they write as to why they should be selected to attend Camp Rotary. They are sent in groups of ten children each week for the first two weeks of camp. The Chelsea Rotary Club covers all the costs for attending Camp Rotary for the twenty children. Transportation to and from camp is provided by volunteers from the Chelsea Police Department.
The Belle Isle Rotary Club had the pleasure of presenting three graduates from Winthrop with Academic Awards as they leave high school and go on pursue higher education.
We were also pleased to continue with the tradition of presenting an Academic Award for the Salesian Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year, a student from Lynn, MA that has dedicated herself to work with young children from the East Boston community.
Pictured are two recipients from Winthrop and the Salesian Youth of the Year.
The Parkway Club is looking for an individual or individuals to house a graduate student who will be attending Simmons College in the fall. The incoming student is our last year's scholar, Fransisco's sister. She has received funding for tuition but not for housing. Please contact us as soon as possible if you can host her for a month, a couple of months, or the full year.
As the gavel was passed from outgoing President Audrey Gordon to incoming President Rob Lowell, Rotary Peabody commemorated 100 years as a club. Club members gathered in celebration with Representatives Tom Walsh and Sally Kerans and State Senator Joan Lovely. A time capsule with the club's history and narratives of moments of our current time was buried for future Rotarians to find.
Many thanks to the time capsule committee members Tom Griffin, Emily Cooper, Martha Holden, Peggy Pedro, Loring Merrow, Stephanie Johnson, Dan Vassallo and Cathy Gravel for their hard work and research. The club is looking forward to another 100 years of Service Above Self!
At its regular meetings in June, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary welcomed two new members, Andrea LaCroix and Susanne Pedersen.
Andrea is well known in our area as a realtor with Churchill Properties who serves on the committees of both the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and North Shore Realtors. She considers herself an environmentalist and hopes to support club initiatives that focus on sustainability. Andrea donates her time and talent to numerous conservation initiatives, including the Ipswich Waste Reduction Committee and the Open Space Committee, and has organized town-wide cleanups in Ipswich.
The Manchester-Essex Rotary Club held the annual Red White & Blue Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, July 2nd. I was a record-breaking success. We served over 1,200 breakfasts while offering free pony rides and face painting. The new addition to this year's event was a free water taxi from Manchester town center to the event location at Tuck's Point. Not only did it alleviate the traffic backup and parking, but it was also fun for our guests. One person who had lived in Manchester 20 years was overheard to say they had never been out on the harbor before.
Pictured here are guests in their patriotic attire enjoying pancakes at the Red White & Blue on July 2nd in Manchester.
Manchester-Essex Red, White & Blue Breakfast a Huge Success!
On June 30, District 7930 gathered at Danversport Yacht Club to celebrate installation of District Governor Alexander Falk and new Club Presidents for 2022-2023. Taking the helm at Rotary International is Jennifer Jones, RI's very first female President. This year's Presidential Theme is Imagine Rotary.
Peabody Rotary's Source-to-Sea Run on June 18th successfully completed by champion marathoner and Peabody Rotarian Dan Vassallo, raised over $4,000 for the Ipswich River Watershed Association (https://www.ipswichriver.org/), $1,000 over our goal!
The run raised awareness about the watershed, a local environment that is essential for clean water and for sustaining the life that gives our ecosystem its richness, which can help combat climate change. Clean water and environmental protection are two primary tenets of what Rotary stands in service of and we are thrilled to have had such a successful event to support these goals. For more about what our club does visit: rotarypeabody.org.
The Rotary Club of Peabody proudly supports 7 students going on to college next year with our annual scholarships. This is the culmination of the Club's yearlong fundraising efforts (including the perennially popular Taste of the North Shore) allowing us to award a total of $12,000 to these deserving students who understand what it means to put Service Above Self.
Congratulations to: Madeleine Scacchi (Sam Berns Scholarship)
Service Above Self Scholarship:
Josh Comito
Jacob Palhares
Emma Bloom
Julia Malionek
Jacquelyn Scopa
Ketsia Kabeya
Pictured here from left to right: Josh Comito, Emma Bloom, Jacquelyn Scopa, scholarship recipients and our guests at our June 16 morning meeting. More information about our scholarship efforts can be found at our website: www.rotarypeabody.org.
A lot was happening on Monday, June 27th at the Rotary Club of Lexington's annual Installation Luncheon Meeting. President Cleve Coats handed the gavel over to incoming President Veronica Caira. Veronica was also presented with her first Paul Harris Fellow Award.
President Cleve also received his third PHF from Lexington Past President and Treasurer Dan Busa and Concord Past President Sharon Spaulding. Sharon recommended Cleve to the Lexington Club and Past President Dan was his sponsor. Also, on his last meeting as president, Cleve together with Membership Chair Domenic Sicari inducted the Club's newest member, Ibn Insan Sauti.
DG Terry Rezendes Curran and DGE Alexander Falk are proud to announce that our District has been designated HERO recognition for Rotary Year 2021-2022 from ShelterBox USA. District 7930 will be listed at the end of the Rotary Year your club will be listed on ShelterBox's HERO page.
ShelterBox is a cutting-edge charity that hand-delivers emergency shelter for families devastated by natural disaster and conflict. Its ShelterBoxes and ShelterKits contain the tools to transform lives and rebuild communities in the aftermath of disasters.
ShelterBox has provided aid to over 2.2 million people since 2000. It could not have been reached them without our help.
Please join us as we celebrate the Installation of District Officers & Club Presidents in Rotary District 7930 on June 30th, 2022, at 6:00 PM at the Danversport, 161 Elliott St, Danvers. Since we are a little bit later than usual with the date of our installation, the theme for this year’s event is “It’s Almost the Fourth of July”.
Accordingly, we will have a summer cookout style dinner buffet with Danversport's own New England Clam Chowder, Warm Dinner Rolls, Strawberry Salad and Caesar Salad, Quinoa and Vegetable Salad, Watermelon Salad, Grilled Steak Tips, Chipotle BBQ Chicken, Hardwood Smoked Pulled Pork, Herbed Potato Salad, Corn on the Cob, and we will finish the evening with Blueberry Tarts and coffee/tea.
Doors will open at 5:30 and we will have cheese platters, vegetable crudites, and a cash bar for fellowship from 6:00 – 6:45 PM. A brief opening ceremony will be held from 6:45 – 7:00 PM followed by dinner starting at 7:00 PM. At 7:45 PM we will begin the installation festivities. The dinner cost per person is $65.
The current total donations to the End Polio Now campaign as of June 25th are $66,423. Congratulations to the following Clubs who will receive the End Polio Now Certificate for donations to Polio over $1,500. Marblehead $20,991; Gloucester $4,964; Lexington $4,274; Winchester $3,550; Peabody $3,367; Wilmington $3,000; Woburn $2,521; Arlington $2,335; Wakefield $2,250; Reading and North Reading $2,046; Rockport $1965; Parkway $1,706.
Donations were also received in the following amounts from clubs around the district. Lynnfield $1,375; Lynn $1,100; Manchester-Essex $1,008; Chelsea $1,000; Somerville $975; Andover $804; Burlington $718; Danvers $625; Amesbury $600; Greater Salem, NH $515; Medford $500; Stoneham $500; Swampscott $500; Newburyport $475; Belle Isle $450; Ipswich-Rowley $428; Beverly $406; Boston #7 and Evening $400; Hamilton-Wenham $398; Salem $275; Cambridge $200; Burlington Breakfast $100; Melrose $100.
There is still time to send in those donations from the Polar Plunge or activities you did in your club or with your Interact Club.
Celebrating its 99th anniversary in 2022, the Gloucester Rotary has provided $32,428 to local projects, donated $10,825 to international causes, and awarded $5,350 in scholarships to local students since July 1, 2021. The Gloucester Rotary is a diverse group of civic-minded business and community leaders joined in a mission to support the community and the world beyond the North Shore.
“The Rotary motto ‘Service Above Self’ brings us together to make meaningful investments at home in our community and across the globe,” said Gloucester Rotary President, Tracy Arabian, who credits the generosity of spirit shared by the Rotary’s 56 members for making this possible. “These amazing people donate their time, their money, and their knowledge to make the world a better place. It has been a highlight of my life to have served the Rotary this past year as President.”
Although it is just the beginning of summer, Reading Rotary is gearing up to host the 14th annual Reading Fall Street Faire on Sunday, September 11. Members of this committee are hoping to host the biggest, best Fall Street Faire yet.
Under the leadership of YMCA Executive Director, Rotarian and Fall Street Faire Chair John Feudo, the fourteen-person committee has already started meeting and planning for Reading's biggest annual event. According to Feudo, “This would be way too much work for one person to do alone. We have an incredible team. Some of the members are relatively new and bring great energy and enthusiasm. Some of the members have been doing this for years and just know how to get the job done. At the end of the day, we’re all proud to be able pull off an event of this scope for the whole town to enjoy.”
The Wakefield Rotary Club hosted its second Father’s Day Fishing Tournament at Lake Quannapowitt on Sunday, June 19th. The free event, open to all ages, welcomed about 25 families fishing for various top spots. Wakefield Rotary Vice-President Gene Mullen explained, “We were thrilled with the turn-out, despite the gloomy weather.” He added, “It was great to see kids with their extended families.” In fact, for many families, this event was their first fishing experience and the perfect opportunity to learn safe and responsible fishing techniques before casting their first line.” Loaner rods were made available thanks to Mass Wildlife and bait was donated by Boats & Motors on North Avenue in Wakefield.
The Rockport Rotary Club used a District 7930 Matching Grant to complete Phase One of the construction of the Kateta House of Joy. It is a kitchen and dining hall on the second campus of the Village2Village Project in a very remote area of northeastern Uganda. The Village2Village Project is a charitable organization based in Indiana. It serves children in an area of Uganda where four out of five families live in devastating poverty. The second campus had only had a latrine and main office. It had no place for eating, teaching or meeting. Instead, children had to walk up to 20KM for activities on the main campus.
This project will ultimately benefit up to 150 children and their guardians. But even unfinished, the building has allowed 56 children to have their daily activities in their own local area. This area of Uganda is food insecure. Children are used to having only one meal per day, often lacking in nutrition. Now they will have regular meals and participate in their lessons on the local campus.
The Kateta House of Joy is well on the way to becoming a place not only to eat but to learn, sing, dance and grow.
The Marblehead Rotary Club congratulates the students who have been awarded its 2022 scholarships in academics, leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities. These scholarships support one of Marblehead Rotary Club's most important goals: assisting local students in pursuing their studies at higher education institutions. Yearly, Marblehead Rotary awards four to six students with a one-time scholarship and one with a four-year scholarship. There are six outstanding awardees: Sophia Nickolas, Tariq Abdelkahlek, Benjamin Kahn, Alexis Earp, Grace Miller, and Owen Murphy.
At its June 7th lunch meeting at Gaetano’s Ristorante, Rotary Club of Stoneham members hosted four students from the Stoneham High School (SHS) Interact Club and their Advisor, SHS teacher Kim O’Connor.
This year, the Stoneham High School Interact Club - which has about 20 students - with their Advisor Kim O’Connor, engaged in several service projects, including gathering and sending clothing to Ukraine, collecting over 200 new children’s books to deliver to children in local hospitals and soliciting and delivering hundreds of packages of Pop Tarts to be distributed to Boston’s homeless population. The group meets regularly prior to the beginning of their school day. Rotary Club of Stoneham member Craig Celli has been the club’s liaison to the SHS Interact Club.
Rotary Interact Clubs welcome young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills as they come to understand the importance of Service Above Self, a Rotary motto. Clubs are encouraged to organize at least two service projects a year, one focused on their school or community and the other promoting international understanding. Currently there are 14,911 Interact Clubs in 145 countries around the world.
As our Rotary Year 21-22 ends you still have time to submit your Club’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion citation and score sheet.
Most Clubs have found that when they review the Citation requirements (25 suggested action steps, Club must achieve 13 of the 25 for certification) that the Club has already achieved some of the action steps.
In what turned out to be a very busy week for Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians, the club hosted its annual lunch for senior citizens on May 26. This popular annual gathering could not be held the past two years due to the pandemic.
Co-sponsored by the Ipswich Council on Aging, the event featured entertainment and a delicious lunch prepared by Rotarian and Chef Ray Morley. Also assisting and cheerfully greeting the senior citizens were students from the Ipswich High School Interact Club.
A great time was had by all. We also are grateful to fellow Rotarian, the Rev. Brad Clark, and Ascension Church for making their beautiful hall available.
The Rotary Club of Woburn hosted their annual Student Government Day Luncheon last week. Twenty-six high school students shadowed twenty-six city department heads as part of a civics project for Woburn Memorial High School. Winners were selected based on their Civic Action Project portfolio. Woburn Mayor Scott D. Galvin was on hand to speak to the group and congratulate the winning students by awarding each with a commemorative city coin. Woburn Rotary also awarded the students with a commemorative Rotary coin.
We are excited to announce that the Annual Red, White and Blue Pancake Breakfast will take place at Tuck's Point on Saturday, July 2nd, 7:30 a.m. to Noon.
Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, children 8 and under are free.
Pony rides, live music, face painting, all right on the beautiful Manchester Harbor at Tuck's Point, Manchester MA.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.manchesteressexrotary.org. Use the Pay/Donate button or go to the event page.
We will also be drawing our prize winners for the RWB Raffle, $10,000 in prizes. For raffle tickets email info@manchesteressexrotary.org
Annual Manchester Red, White and Blue Breakfast July 2
Peabody Rotary is thrilled to partner with many other District Clubs in support of the Ipswich River Watershed Association (ipswichriver.org). On June 18th, Peabody Rotarian and marathon-winning runner Dan Vassallo will be running the 30 MILE length of the Ipswich River from "source to sea" to raise money and awareness for the Ipswich River Watershed Association.
This is a perfect Rotarian project because it supports the original Rotary tenet of supporting clean water and the newest tenet of sustaining a healthy environment. Would you or your club like to get involved? We’d love to have you!
You can get more info and donate at bit.ly/IpswichRiverRotary. We would also love other Rotarian’s to cheer on our marathon-winning runner Dan Vassallo as he runs the 30 miles source to sea to raise awareness for this great cause.
The Gloucester Rotary has named Tony Corrao as a Paul Harris Fellow, the prestigious award named after the Chicago lawyer who founded Rotary in 1905. Corrao was selected by a committee of previous recipients of the award and will be honored at a special dinner on Monday, June 27, 2022, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square in downtown Gloucester. The social hour will begin at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6:30pm.
Corrao, perhaps better known as Uncle Tony, was born and raised in West Gloucester. He graduated from Gloucester High School with the Class of 1977, and then spent 3½ years in the Army—serving at NASA’s Space Center in Alabama, Homestead, Florida, and Fort Bragg in North Caroline with the 82nd Airborne Division.
Upon his return to Gloucester, Tony founded Precision Roofing Services of New England in 1984. The company has been an important part of the Cape Ann economy for almost 40 years, providing solid jobs to several generations of laborers. In 2007, Corrao was the recipient of the Northeast Roofing Contractors’ Association President’s Award. After being nominated by his staff, he was named “Best Boss” of the year by the National Certified Contractor’s Network.
The Lynnfield Rotary hosted “Build A Bed” on Saturday, May 21, District 7930’s Day of Service. We worked with “A Bed For Every Child,” a Lynn based initiative of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless providing beds for needy children in Essex County.
Over forty volunteers took part in an event which produced ten beds for the community.
Bed building teams were provided with lumber, hardware, tools, varnish and detailed instructions to produce the beds. After 2 hours they proudly displayed the beds that were constructed. Everyone had a wonderful time and went home knowing that ten children were going to have a bed of their own.
We wish to thank all of those who sponsored the building of a bed as well as the “builders” who joined us for this project as well as our fellow Rotarians from Ipswich, Methuen, Somerville and Wakefield for your support of this project. Special thanks to Lynnfield Fire Chief Glenn Davis for assistance with the use of the Firehouse parking area.
A Bed For Every Child receives about 250 requests per month for beds for children.
The Lynnfield Rotary Club, established in 1963 has a history of active service in our community and around the world.
The Rotary Club of Lexington held its annual scholarship luncheon on May 23rd, at the Minuteman High School in Lexington. Twelve deserving seniors from Lexington High School, Minuteman High School and Lexington Christian Academy received the annual awards. We were also joined by senior officers of the Lexington Interact Club in Minuteman High School who were awarded an appreciation plaque for their fundraising efforts for the Polar Plunge. Interact sent 27 plungers to the event.
Citizens Who Care is the Rotary Club of Andover's longest running program that honors outstanding community volunteers. Since 1996 our club has honored 10 people each year who have contributed to the local community through their extraordinary volunteer contributions. In 2009, the Club added the Educator of the Year and Student of the Year awards to Citizens Who Care. Those chosen to exemplify what it means to be an "unsung hero." They come in all ages and professions.
This year we saluted members from various organizations and groups for their outstanding work to our community. Whether it be working with our youth, creating environments for our elders to gather, or influencing the positive growth of Andover, our honorees have all made our world better.
The Rotary Club of Lynn Scholarship Committee recently reviewed some 30 applications from area high schools where Lynn seniors attend before finally coming to consensus on five truly outstanding students.
Lynn English seniors Vatana Chen and Nantenen Kiata along with Abigail Constine from St. Mary’s, Lynn Classical’s Prisila Romero and KIPP Academy’s Stacey Munoz Arreaga emerged as the recipients of Rotary’s Richard Maloney & Robert Hastings Memorial Scholarships. Pictured here from left to right: Nantenen Kiata, Stacey Munoz Arreaga, Vatana Chen, Prisila Romero and Abigail Constine.
“I know I can speak for the committee members when I say how the selection process gets more challenging every year,” admitted Ray Bastarache, a longtime Lynn educator and committee chair. “Vatana, Nantenen, Abigail, Prisila and Stacey had an average GPA (Grade-point average) of 4.25, with a total of 35 Advance Placement or honors level course over their last three years of high school. They captained sports teams, led school clubs and organizations, and all five were very involved in community service. The Lynn community has a lot to be proud of.”
Flags for Heroes is a fund-raising activity sponsored by the Rotary Club of Arlington. People have sponsored a flag in memory of the men and women who are serving or have served as members of the Military, Police Officers, Firefighters, First Responders, Parents, Teachers, Coaches, Mentors, Community Leaders, and fly them for all the people who have made a difference in their lives.
You may sponsor as many heroes as you want, and a flag with the name of each hero will be flown at Park Circle on Park Avenue from May 25th through June 15th.
The public dedication will be on June 5, 2022, at 1 pm at the Park Circle Water Tower. The installation will be dedicated to the teachers and educators that serve the Arlington community.
We will follow whatever Covid-19 restrictions that are in effect at that time.
Posted by John Muldoon and Bob Wicks on May 23, 2022
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary members got a workout on Friday when they hit the South Green in Ipswich to place holders for 200 American flags.
The flags, which are on 10-foot poles, will be installed shortly as part of the Flags for Heroes project. Rotary placed 100 on the green last year but enlarged the Ipswich display this year — and expanded to Rowley, where 100 flags will be placed on the town common.
People can sponsor a flag for $50 to honor a personal hero. “The hero may be a veteran, teacher, medical professional, mentor, or any person you would like to honor for their contribution to your life, the community, or the world,” organizers said.
Sponsorships are still available online, or by visiting the Institution for Savings and Bank Gloucester branch offices in Ipswich.
Display dates are May 27 to June 18 in Ipswich, and June 18 to July 9 in Rowley.
Proceeds from the volunteer-run organization will be used to fund scholarships and service projects in the two towns.
Story and photo by Rotarian John Muldoon, Editor/Publisher of The Ipswich Local News.
The Gloucester Rotary Club is taking steps to expand the diversity, equity and inclusion within our club and our community. We have partnered with "Art for Equity" to purchase books that promote DEI. These books will be donated to local and school libraries. Anyone wishing to support this DEI fundraiser may make a donation at https://gloucesterrotary.org/page/dei.
Art for Equity is a student run art collaborative, working to creative more equitable educational spaces within the Gloucester Public School district, one book at a time.
The Wakefield Rotary Club will be again sponsoring the Father’s Day Fishing Tournament at Lake Quannapowitt. The fun-filled morning is free and open to all ages on Sunday, June 19th. Wakefield Rotary Vice-President Gene Mullen explained, “The pandemic put a hold on the past two years, but we’re really excited to bring this event back to the community.”
Registration will be held on Veteran’s Field on North Avenue from 8:30am-10:00am. Registration is required to compete, and bait will be provided while supplies last. The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game will also provide a limited amount loaner fishing rods upon request. The derby competition will be open from 8:30am-11:00am. Trophies will be provided for largest fish by category at the 11am ceremony.
The Father’s Day Fishing Derby is part of the Club’s on-going efforts to focus on local support during its 100th Year Anniversary celebration; the club will celebrate its centennial on September 28, 2022. Mullen added, “This year is special to us as we approach our club’s 100th year of service to Wakefield and the global community. This local event fits right in.”
In addition to the fishing derby, the club will have resources on environmental sustainability, an area of focus for Rotary International. Wakefield Rotary respects the nature and beauty of our natural resources and we encourage all participants to fish responsibly. Mullen noted, “We strongly support catch and release and ask that all participants use good judgement in deciding if your fish is of competitive size or should be released immediately.”
Wakefield Rotarian Judy Gordon recently visited the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library's Children's Librarian Annie Hochheiser to donate several books related to environmental awareness. Recently, Rotary has added supporting the environment as an Area of Focus. The books were donated in honor of the club's 100th Anniversary which is being celebrated all year.
Pictured here: Wakefield Rotarian Judy Gordon delivering titles to Beebe Library's Children's Librarian Annie Hochheiser. Judy was the club's first female Club President in 1996-97.
Wakefield Donates Books in Honor of 100th Anniversary
Looking for Rotarians interested in the Environment
As you may have heard, Rotary added the Environment as our seventh ahead of focus and our district is now looking into forming a new District Environmental Committee that will look into what environmental projects we can do locally within our own district, and also what other options may exist to participate in or start a new global grant in our seventh area of focus.
Possible local projects we may want to look into include pollinator habitat restoration (bees, monarch butterflies, etc.), beach cleanups, plantings in parks and on traffic islands, river/watershed restoration, etc. We are also going to be joining Operation Pollination and partnering with the National Park Service and National Heritage Areas in our region.
Our goal is to ideally have the new District Environmental Committee begin forming this spring and then start their work at the beginning of the new 2022-23 Rotary year on July 1st. If you are interested in participating on this committee, please contact DGE Alexander Falk.
The Lynnfield Rotary Club is hosting “Build a Bed” on Saturday, May 21 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Lynnfield Fire Dept., South Station, 600 Salem St., Lynnfield, MA. We are working with “A Bed For Every Child,” a Lynn based group providing beds for needy children in Essex County.
At this event, all materials will be provided to teams of four. You will construct a bed with lumber, tools, and hardware (and expert instruction) being provided. It will be a wonderful experience for you and a significant resource for the children.
We welcome your financial support and would be pleased to have any or all of you join us for the construction event. The cost to build a bed is $350. Register a team of 4 or more to build a bed for $350. Sponsorships of $350 are also accepted.
The Lynnfield Rotary Club, established in 1963 has a long history of active service in our community and around the world.
This Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 7:45am, the Gloucester Rotary is hosting members on the Boneza community on a zoom call during our weekly meeting. Gloucester Rotarian Dave McKechnie -- who introduced us to Boneza and the Kivu Hills Academy -- is visiting Boneza and will be on the zoom call from Rwanda.
Since 2017, the Gloucester and Rockport Rotary Clubs have partnered and obtained grants to support the community of Boneza, Rwanda. This community is roughly the same population as the combined residency of Rockport and Gloucester. But, unlike those of us fortunate enough to live on Cape Ann, there is little infrastructure support in Boneza.
Rotary Peabody is proudly partnering again with the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce for our annual Torigian Golf Classic. Golfers and sponsorships are still available. Proceeds go back into the community for scholarships for local students. Join us for a morning of golf, food and fun!
The members of Medford Rotary Club wish to congratulate Vin Frattura for being chosen by the Medford Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year! Vin has been a member of the Medford Rotary Club for 29 years. He served as Past President and has been on the Board of Directors many times.
Vinny was chosen by the past recipients of the Citizen of the Year Award and truly exemplifies the Rotary Motto of "Service Above Self," which he referenced in his speech upon accepting the Clippership Award. Vinny is a "doer" and a "giver." You ask him and he is there with his time and energy. Our membership gives a resounding thumbs up to the Chamber for nominating and voting Vinny as their "Citizen of the Year."
Pictured here is Chamber President Maury Carroll presenting Medford Citizen of the Year Award to Vinny Fratura.
As of last Thursday, May 5th, Beverly Rotary Club has inducted a total of 15 new members this year into our club. We feel this is quite a feat! Our membership is now up to 114 members. One of the new memberships is a corporate one, bringing our corporate total to five. Having the ability to have a corporate membership available, has enticed some places to join our club. We will continue in this vein actively to recruit new members into our vibrant club for the next year!
The New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV) is excited to announce that our Community Volunteer Program is resuming with weekday lunch and dinner meal services.
In light of the positive developments of the last two months, the NECHV is looking forward to re-commencing a scaled program of community volunteering here at the Center. The Veteran residents are eager to open up their home as well.
Thank you for all your past engagement and support, and for your continued interest in volunteering to support Veterans at the NECHV. It has been a challenging past two years of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and our focus here at the Center has been protecting the health and wellbeing of Veterans.
Now is the time to get your club qualified for participating in district and global grants for the coming 2022-23 Rotary year. For a club to get qualified you have to have at least two members who have taken the district grant management seminar, and the club's current president for 2021-22 as well as the incoming president for 2022-23 both have to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the district and the club. The signing process is fully electronic, and you can click this link to find the e-signing instructions for Presidents.
Any club member who has already attended the District Assembly on April 27th has already taken the grant management seminar and is already qualified. Those who have missed the assembly, or if you have additional members in your club who want to be qualified to access the grants module in ClubRunner, the grant management seminar is now available online on the district website. If you follow this link you can watch the seminar in a 20 minute YouTube video and then all you need to do is complete a short online quiz.
This spring, the Lynnfield Rotary Interact Club hosted a recycling event for the community. Data Recycling of New England partnered with Interact students to host an event at Town Hall in which Lynnfield residents could safely recycle their electronics, preserving the environment, and providing parts that can be refurbished for future use. The club made a portion of the recycling fees collected, raising over $3,000 to support future community service and Interact Club activities. Kudos to the Lynnfield Rotary Interact!!
The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor will be holding a two-day yard sale at 217 Humphrey Street in Marblehead on Saturday, May 14, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sunday, May 15, from Noon to 4 p.m.
In case of rain, the sale will be conducted on the better of the two days.
The venue is located on the 441/442 bus line at the Humphrey Street / Ruby Avenue bus stop and there is plenty of on-street parking.
Featured items include costume jewelry, small furniture items, artwork, rugs, dishes, holiday décor, clothing, toys, books and more.
All proceeds will benefit the club’s scholarship program and philanthropic projects.
Hobbs Playground will soon undergo a makeover. The new layout and updated equipment will guarantee access to children of all abilities. Leading the way to these improvements is Laney Dowling (center), Marblehead Family Fund's (MFF) Chair, who presented the playground’s final plans to Marblehead Rotary members. The MFF’s mission, since it started as a grassroots organization in 1988, has been to improve Marblehead's playgrounds, parks, and open spaces.
Marblehead Family Fund’s efforts were strengthened by individuals, families, businesses and civic organizations who managed to collectively raise $300,000, in the midst of lockdowns, to make this new playground a reality. The Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Improvement Project Grant contributed $62,000. Marblehead Rotary capped the goal with a $25,000 sponsorship and also gave contributors an opportunity to benefit from the organization's charitable foundation status, encouraging more generous giving with tax exemption.
Come join us and celebrate the emergence of our clubs from the pandemic. Friday, May 6. We are going to have a special Paul Harris Luncheon where we recognize all those who have generously donated to the foundation over the past year.
The 2022 Rotary International Convention is now just two months away so if you would like to attend, the time to register is now! We are pleased to announce that the Rotary International Board of Directors has confirmed that the 2022 Rotary International Convention will be an in-person event in Houston, TX, June 4th-8th. For more information see also this flyer from Zones 28&32.
There will also be a special District 7930 TexMex dinner on Monday, June 6th, at 7:00 PM local time, at The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation Street in Houston so please make sure to register for that dinner as well.
Returning from a two-year hiatus the Manchester-Essex Club is thrilled to host the 7th Annual Kentucky Derby Party and Auction on Saturday, May 7 from 5 to 8:30! This event brings items from all corners from golf outings and beach barbecues to fine clothing and complete wine cellars. There is a silent auction for smaller items. The live auction features State Senator Bruce Tarr as auctioneer for the big-ticket items, including an 80-inch smart television!
We will watch the Derby race live. There will be a non-betting lottery on the outcome, a hat contest for best women's and men's hats for prizes of a bottle of real Kentucky bourbon and a bouquet of roses. An excellent buffet dinner will be served throughout the evening, cash bar (yes, mint julep). Best of all we are raising money for local scholarships, food banks and international projects.
So, put on your Derby hats and be ready to have a fun time with fun people. Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $30 or at the door for $35.
Join Fellow Rotarians on May 21 on the Ipswich River for a Day of Service. Two Volunteer service opportunities are available:
1. 9am to 12pm Spring 2022 Rotary Club Ipswich River Landings Work Day: approximate teams of 4 people per site. The goal of this project will be to support our River Warden program by helping to prepare canoe/kayak landings on the Ipswich River for the paddling season via picking up trash, pruning and cutting back vegetation, and checking the condition of kiosks and signage at the following landings:
Brookline Rotary is sponsoring an on-line auction as a spring fundraiser. Among the items are tickets for the US Open being held in Brookline June 16- 19, 2022. Other items include gift cards for local restaurants, services such as tutoring and legal, and special opportunities like a luxury Mexican vacation. Enjoy yourself while supporting Rotary.
Join with Rotary to promote the power of vaccines to protect children and save lives
During World Immunization Week, 24-30 April, let’s advocate for polio eradication and the importance of vaccines to the health and well-being of our communities.
So far this year $44,853 has been raised within the district to End Polio Now. That is matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at a 2:1 ratio for $89,706 additional going to Polio Eradication. This means that this year a total of $134,559 is earmarked to provide 224,265 vaccines so far this year. Let's keep collecting our pledges to reach our goal of $100,000.
The District Assembly is our next step in the journey of training incoming club leaders for the upcoming Rotary year 2022-23, including the Grant Qualification Seminar, which is open to all club members. This year we will be in-person again and will be meeting at the Four Points Sheraton in Wakefield on Wednesday, April 27.
For the Grant Qualification Seminar we recommend that each club send at least two members to attend - but there is no limit. If your club grant committee includes multiple members, it would be ideal if they could all attend and get qualified. The District Assembly is open to all Rotarians in our district!
The evening will begin at 6:00 PM with five parallel tracks for: Presidents-Elect, Secretaries, Treasurers, Foundation Chairs, as well as a fireside chat with DG Terry Curran (for all Rotarians who don't fall into any of the previously mentioned four roles).
At 7:00 PM we will be serving a soup & sandwich buffet and continue the evening with a working dinner meeting for all groups together, which includes the District Qualification Seminar and the presentation of the District Budget.
Inspired by the District's Homelessness and Hunger Initiative years ago, the Wakefield Rotary Club made strong connections with the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry. This year, the Club decided to donate half of the income from the Dine Anywhere in the World Raffle to the organization. This past week, we were delighted to present the Wakefield Food Pantry a "big" check. Food Pantry board members and volunteers sold 30 of the 200 tickets. Doreen McGowan, Food Pantry Board President, accepted the check and hopes she can find a big ATM.
Pictured here Wakefield Rotary Club President Bruce Donovan, Food Pantry Board President Doreen McGowan, Club Secretary Suzanne Bowering and Club Treasurer Barbara Worley
We are very excited that our first-ever Advanced RYLA will be held at Camp Glen Brook in Marlborough, NH on May 14–15.
The purpose of this weekend is to support RYLA alumni who wish to continue their leadership journey and to have them help with the relaunch of RYLA for 2023. Since we have not held a traditional RYLA since 2019, we are without student leaders, so we are enlisting the alumni to help!
We are reaching out to RYLA alumni, going back more than 10 years, through Facebook, texts, calls, emails and Instagram. If you are in contact with any RYLA alumni, please feel free to share this information with them and encourage them to visit the Facebook page from their RYLA year or they can reach out to Christina at christina@PartnerWithChoice.com or 978.270.6706.
Our meeting started out as usual, with members trickling in at first to check in. President-Elect Mike Jones gave me a make-up slip which was signed Mickey Mouse from the Lake Buena Vista club. I had remembered that he was at Disney World, so I thought it was a cute joke on the part of the Florida club. Next came in Past-President Marshall Handly, who gave me a make-up slip from Athens, Greece. He went on and told me all kinds of details of his trip and I was telling him how I wanted to go there so badly. A few more members came in and then SEVEN other make-up slips were turned in. It dawned on me that they were all the same style of make-up slip. When I read one of them closely, my suspicions were validated. This one was signed by Glinda Witch, from Oz, Kentucky Rotary Club. Weren't our members from Beverly something else? I had slips from Key West, Berlin Bunker, and the Bowery, New York. They got me good!
Saturday, April 2, Gloucester Rotary put on a hugely successful Polar Plunge. Approximately 200 Rotarians from the District's 45 clubs plunged into the water at Long Beach in Gloucester. In addition to the Plungers were many supporters, on lookers and cheerleaders. The sun was out, but the water and air temperatures were both approximately a chilly 40 degrees.
Gloucester Rotary assembled a command center at the Cape Ann Motor Inn. Gloucester President Tracy Arabian addressed the crowd right before the 11 am plunging time to emphasize that all donations made will be double matched by the Gates Foundation to End Polio.
The Wakefield Rotary Club will be honoring the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day, recognized annually on the last day of April, with a free raffle to win a tree valued at $300 in support of the Town of Wakefield’s CommuniTREE Program. Wakefield Rotary and the Beebe library will have an Arbor Day display with the raffle tickets from April 15th to May 1st. Community members may visit the library during regular hours and register to win. The drawing for the tree is April 29th at the library. This year also marks the club’s 100th year of service to Wakefield and the global communities. Project Chair Gene Mullen noted, “This project falls right in alignment with our club’s 100th anniversary as it fits one of our seven areas of focus.” In addition to the raffle, the Rotary Club will contribute another $300 to the CommuniTREE Program to sponsor a new tree planting on the Beebe Library grounds.
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
Corks & Caps Local Chapter of Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship (RWAF) was founded by two Rotary District Governors during the COVID-19 crisis in May 2019: DG Joan Arsenault (D7930) and DG Suzanne Uhl-Melanson (D7790). Joan and Suzanne share a passion for wine, Rotary and the desire to extend this appreciation to fellow Rotarians and non-Rotarians.
Our objective is to learn more about wine, wine and food pairings and any other topics related to the appreciation of wine so that our own appreciation of good wine will be enhanced.
Join us to learn more about wine and have fun at the same time!! Meet fellow Rotarians and non-Rotarian wine lovers across two districts, two countries and three plus states. We have members from MA, ME, NH, CT, LA, VT, Cananda and FL.
We meet the last Sunday of the month from 5-6 pm on zoom. Email Joan at corksncapswine@gmail.com for more information. All Welcome regardless of wine knowledge!!!!
BE INSPIRED BY ROTARY! BE PART OF A ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IN THIS DISTRICT...
When: April 30, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Where: Sheraton Four Points, Wakefield, MA
Who: Rotarians from our district and surrounding New England districts. New Rotarians and "Experienced" Rotarians who want to learn more and be re-energized for service
What: Parts I, II, III: A discussion-based, participant-centered curriculum that focuses on the structure of Rotary, implementation of proven leadership skills and methods, and the spirited interchange of ideas for planning and implementing club growth, membership retention, acquiring leadership skills that work! Graduate course will cover the 7 Areas of Focus; Facilitator Training also offered (must have District Governor recommendation and pre-approval).
Fee: $95 Rotarians; reduced fee for Rotaractors. Covers continental breakfast, mid-morning coffee, all curriculum materials, and buffet luncheon. All at a convenient conference center easily accessible via Route 128. Dist. 7930 registrants for Part I and II will receive a $50 reimbursement from Dist. Gov. Terry upon completion. Special rate of $139/night if making a weekend of it (good for two days before 4/30 to two days after. Specify RLI when making the reservation).
How: REGISTER TODAY at www.rlinea.org. Past Institute attendees have given this course rave reviews!
This spring Lynnfield Rotary enjoyed a special presentation on Connor’s Kindness Project (CKP) as part of our Rotary Club lunchtime speaker’s series. Connor Wright, the innovative founder of CKP, is a 12- year-old from Lynnfield MA who is often balancing his academic life, his passion for playing hockey, and his dedication to his successful business venture. Connor’s Kindness Project is about making “Kindness Kits” to help improve the lives of local children who are emotionally, physically, or financially in need.
“When Covid-19 hit things changed for all of us” Connor explained. He decided to launch a non-profit, Connor’s Kindness Project. He started with delivering Covid Care Packages, bags of thoughtful presents, to hospital workers on the frontlines of the Covid pandemic. From that success came Connor’s Kindness Kits.
Connor has delivered boxes for the Woburn police department, local health care centers and for people near and far (Alabama) helping families with chronically ill children. Connor’s Kindness Project starting small but now plans to deliver 2000 Kits!
To support Connor in his mission Lynnfield Rotary donated $1000.00 to his cause.
Pictured here are Sharon Marrama and Connor Wright, from Connors Kindness Project with Lynnfield Rotary President Jack Moynihan.
The Rotary Club of Peabody has put in sweat equity for Habitat for Humanity, working two different projects helping get homes ready for families to move in. These projects are based locally in Peabody and the club is thrilled to give back to their immediate community in such a tangible way.
Pictured here are Peabody Rotarians on their Mar 26 build day. #RotaryInAction
Reading Rotary just completed its Rotary Readers project. Rotary Readers is an annual literacy project where reading books and a backpack are given to each Reading Public Schools student in kindergarten. This year approximately 300 literacy bags will be delivered by Rotarians to the five Reading elementary schools. In addition, Rotarians read to each Kindergarten class as part of Read Across America. It was exciting and fun to be able to read in person this year after doing virtual reading in 2021.
This literacy project has been adapted from Rotary’s previous dictionary and thesaurus giveaways. Teachers expressed their preference to have the younger students receive reading books. Basic Education and Literacy is one of Rotary International's Areas of Focus. This particular project was adapted from a Girl Scout Gold Award literacy project by Mary Kate Kelley, who is a Past President of RMHS Interact and one of its Founding Members.
After a recent fundraiser, the Interact Club at Woburn Memorial High School donated proceeds to the Woburn Dollars for Scholars program. Here, Interact Club President Emily Sullivan presents a check to WDFS Committee President Rosemary Donovan.
The Downtown Boston Rotary is proud to host the Ukrainian Cultural Center of New England at their next speaker meeting on April 5th.
The UCCN has organized various fundraisers for the people of Ukraine during the current war in their country. They have also provided information on the many other organizations helping Ukraine during this conflict and directed many in the Boston-area towards appropriate ways to donate funds and supplies to the people of Ukraine.
The DBRC is thrilled to welcome Ukrainian Cultural Center of New England to discuss the war in Ukraine and what we can do to help, and we hope Rotarians from around the district will join us. The meeting will be taking place downstairs at Elephant & Castle on Tuesday, April 5th, doors open at 6 PM and the meeting will begin at 6:30 PM.
Downtown Boston Hosts Ukrainian Cultural Center of NE
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Polar Plunge on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 11am at the Cape Ann Motor Inn on Long Beach, located at 33 Rockport Road in Gloucester.
Anyone wishing to support the #EndPolioNow campaign may make a donation online at my.rotary.org/en/donate. Please be sure to select the “Polio Fund.” Each of the D7930 clubs are invited to participate and may register their participation by clicking here.
The Polar Plunge is this coming Saturday in Gloucester. I look forward to seeing you all at the beach. Once a club has donated a minimum of $1500 it qualifies them to receive the End Polio Now Certificate from Rotary International. Last year only four clubs in our district reached that benchmark. I’m pleased to say that the top seven clubs above have already surpassed that level. Let’s try to get our District back to more participation throughout the clubs.
Year to date we have raised $36,734.01 of our $100,000 goal, that’s over one third of the way there. I have heard from many clubs that they are submitting their donations after the plunge, so I will continue to list the clubs as we head toward our goal.
“To support and ensure sustainable long-lasting safe water, sanitation and hygiene programs to communities in need.”
To further this cause, WASH-RAG’s Board of Directors is delighted to announce a one-time, special grant of $25,000 to encourage Rotary Districts and clubs to become active participants in a WASH project. Better still – that $25,000 will be eligible for a dollar-to-dollar match from DDF and/or cash contributions to the Global Grant.
Eligibility
All Rotary Districts and Clubs qualified to participate in The Rotary Foundation’s Global Grants Program can apply for the grant. Clubs who have participated previously in a small WASH project, funded by a District Grant are encouraged to apply.
Danvers Rotary is excited to announce our 2nd Spring Raffle is off to a great start as we approach the first draw date on April 1.
Every day in April a new winner will be drawn at the Danvers YMCA.
Prizes include gift certificates for restaurants, coffee shops and local services and there are also cash prizes of $750 to be won. Tickets are on sale now and through the drawing period for just $10 each and remain in the pot until drawn!
Contact any Danvers Rotarian or call the Danvers YMCA (978-774-2055), 34 Pickering Street, Danvers, MA 01923 to enter. Any questions, please call 978-774-2055 or email DanversRotary@gmail.com.
Raising money for scholarships is one crucial cornerstone activity for Marblehead Rotary Club. Last week, with close to 150 spectators, Marblehead’s Got Talent 2022 was a roaring success at its new venue at The Cabot Cinema in Beverly. Congratulations to the talented winners!
Senior Colby Kramer took in $6,000 first place of scholarship winning. He played Scherzo No. 2 Op. 31 by Frederic Chopin. As second-place winners, Junior Charlie Smith and Sophomore Mona Gelffgatt won $4,000 with an original song titled “Will Get Past This.” Freshman Brady Weed came in third place with $3,000 for his rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire.” Junior Griffen Collins and seniors Olivia Gardener, Audrey Jones, and the duo of Nora Bekkai and Kasey Louden took home a scholarship for fourth place with $500 each.
Dr. Philly Karani, brother of Burlington Breakfast Rotary member Zareen Karani Araoz, has received the Rotary International Service Above Self Award for 2021-22, the highest recognition from Rotary International.
Dr. Karani dedicated much of his life to serving through Rotary. He was the District Governor and also served on the RI Rotaract Committee, among others. He was very loved by the members of the Club he founded in Pune, India. He did and inspired hundreds of projects there, uplifting the condition of many and transforming lives, leading a long-term project to adopt a village and bring all amenities to it.
He continues his good work in New Zealand, since the past 8-9 years. He has attended one of our District Inauguration dinners during one of his visits here. Dr. Karani would welcome meeting and helping any Rotarian from our District visiting New Zealand! Congratulations Dr. Zarani! You are a true inspiration!
Dr. Philly Karani Receives Service Above Self Award
The Arlington Rotary Club is excited to celebrate Earth Month! On April 30th Arlington Rotary Club is teaming up with our new Arlington Catholic Interact Club to hold our 1st Mystic River Clean Up.
10-12pm Mystic River Arlington. Please park on side streets of Webster, Palmer and Beacon.
We are challenging other district clubs along the Mystic River to join us in keep the Mystic River Watershed clean and healthy! If you are not located on the Mighty Mystic, please consider picking a day in April to clean a watershed area in your community.
Thank you to the Greater Salem, Woburn and Salem clubs who have started adding their donations through MyRotary. Donations to this year’s Polar Plunge are being directly made through the donate button in MyRotary or through your club’s Foundation Chair. Once a club has donated a minimum of $1500 it qualifies them to receive the End Polio Now Certificate from Rotary International. Last year only four clubs in our district reached that benchmark. I’m pleased to say that the top six clubs above have already surpassed that level. Let’s try to get our District back to more participation throughout the clubs.
Year to date we have raised $35,559.01 of our $100,000 goal, that’s one third of the way there. There are 15 clubs in the district who have not started making their donations to Polio through MyRotary and I have got questions from many of them and some are planning to attend the plunge in Gloucester and then add their donations in. We cannot count donations and add your club to the list, if your club doesn’t record them through the RI website.
Last week Woburn Rotary donated a defibrillator to Nexus, Inc. Nexus provides residential alternatives for developmentally challenged individuals that promote the highest quality of life possible and opportunities for full integration into the mainstream of life in their home.
Executive Director Greg McGowan was on hand to receive the donation and spoke about Nexus currently serving individuals in Woburn and surrounding cities.
Winchester Rotary club has been blessed with a wonderful core group of members who have help me as President over the past two years to maintain and grow our Club. We are adding four new Service members along with two new Corporate members will be joining us shortly. Thank you, Kurt Heisler, Co-President Elect. What a great way to start off 2022! Keep all members moving forward and engaged!
Rotary International President-Elect Jennifer Jones recently addressed all our Rotary Club Presidents-Elect at the Northeast PETS (President Elect Training Seminar) in early March. Her powerful speech referenced her presidential theme - Imagine Rotary - and also related a story from her first few days in the RI PE office in Evanston and the power of connections across the Rotary world.
Her message is not only inspiring for Presidents-Elect, but for all Rotarians. You can now watch her speech and the following Q&A here: https://youtu.be/Aur2YZXoRNI
Donations to this year’s Polar Plunge are being directly made through the donate button in MyRotary or through your club’s Foundation Chair. Once a club has donated a minimum of $1500 it qualifies them to receive the End Polio Now Certificate from Rotary International. Last year only four clubs in our district reached that benchmark. I’m pleased to say that the top six clubs above have already surpassed that level. Let’s try to get our District back to more participation throughout the clubs.
Year to date we have raised $33,225.01 of our $100,000 goal, that’s one third of the way there. There are 7 clubs in the district who have not started making their donations to Polio through MyRotary. I have got questions from many of them and some are planning to attend the plunge in Gloucester. We cannot count donations and add your club to the list, if your club doesn’t record them through the RI website.
Belle Isle Rotary Club is set to have our Trivia Nite on Friday April 1, 2022, to be held at the Salesians Boys & Girls Club. We are gearing up to have a night full of fun competition with prizes and of course, bragging rights and awards for the winning team.
Friday, April 1. Doors open at 5 pm.
Salesian Boys & Girls Club, 150 Byron Street, East Boston, MA 02128.
Complementary make your own nachos bar. Cash Bar. Prizes and Raffles. Donation/ticket price $25 per person
For info about the event, tickets or sponsorships please contact Joe Steffano (617) 909-5382, Steve Miliotis (781) 731-3057, Vera Carducci (617) 909-5384 or Mike Triant (617) 913-1531.
Dear Rotary Friends, The President of the Rotary Club of Lviv, Ukraine spoke to the NYC Rotary Club today and I was invited to join. Please accept this report on happenings live from the devastation.
-Amy Luckiewicz, Wakefield Rotary Club
The Rotary Club of Lviv International
The Lviv RC is made mostly of international business people and they commonly speak English. Lviv is the largest city in western Ukraine. Lviv Rotary Club President James Joeriman is American and he was the primary speaker. He is currently sheltering in Warsaw, Poland with his wife and small children. He's working through RC networks to raise money for consumable supplies for the military hospitals. $1.2 million Euros has led to 10 trucks of supplies and they are fully stocked at the moment. Overflow is managed by Lviv defense forces and distributed by priority need to Lviv and the entire country. Supplies are sourced from Poland and Germany; he is unaware of any supply shortages. Lviv Rotary is focused on supplying medical aid, not military equipment.
Lviv Rotary Club (in particular his English-speaking club with international members), are utilizing their international networks to maximize effective response. To his knowledge, the other Lviv Rotary Clubs, Ukranian speaking clubs, are still operating.
Donations to this year’s Polar Plunge are being directly made through the donate button in MyRotary or through your club’s Foundation Chair. Once a club has donated a minimum of $1500 it qualifies them to receive the End Polio Now Certificate from Rotary International. Last year only four clubs in our district reached that benchmark. I’m pleased to say that the top six clubs above have already surpassed that level. Let’s try to get our District back to more participation throughout the clubs.
Year to date we have raised $33,550.01 of our $100,000 goal. That’s one third of the way there. There are still 18 clubs in the district who have not started making their donations to Polio through MyRotary. We cannot count donations and add your club to the list, if your club doesn’t record them through RI.
Club officers, “experienced” Rotarians, new and newer members of Rotary...This message is for you! RLI sessions are offered in both internet and in-person venues this year. Meet other Rotarians from different districts and enrich your Rotary experience by sharing leadership styles and program ideas.
Virtual:
March 12, D7870, Southern NH and VT
March 19, D7430, Southeastern PA
April 19, D7475/7490, West Orange, NJ
In-person:
March 26, D7950, Southeastern MA, Cape Cod, RI at Upper Cape Tech, Bourne, register by March 16
OUR HOME DISTRICT... April 30, D7930, Sheraton Four Points, Wakefield (all parts plus Graduate and Facilitator Training). We will be offering Sessions 1, 2, and 3 and also an advanced class and a class for facilitators. Cost for this day (which includes a continental breakfast and lunch) is $95. Those D7930 Rotarians taking Session One or Session Two will receive a $50 refund after attending the session from the District.
Want to complete all three parts in one year? Register for both virtual and in-person Parts I, II, and III at www.rlinea.org.
Leaders know there is always more to learn!
Multiple Opportunities at Rotary Leadership Institute
Rotary Club of Topsfield Boxford Middleton invites you to join them for a fun evening of St. Patrick's Day- themed virtual MUSIC B-I-N-G-O for a great cause!
Sunday, March 13, 2022, 6:00-7:15 PM. Online from your Computer, Phone, or Tablet. Entry id $25.00 per computer.
Proceeds will benefit NEADS. NEADS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Princeton, MA that provides highly skilled Service Dogs for people who have a disability.
As in year’s past it would be wonderful if you would bring your club banners to hang over the railings on the back of the motor inn. We have revised the registration sheet so that you can add all who are coming to cheer you on. So, if you are the only member of your club plunging, but you are bringing 5 members/friends/family with you, please go back into the following link and re-register your club. Clubs can register their participation by clicking here. Currently, we have approximately 100 Rotarians, Interactors and friends coming to the beach.
District 7930 District Equity & Inclusion Committee Discussion Series
Join Us for a discussion on Privilege & Belonging.
Guest Speaker: Ricky Meinke
Associate Director of Student Involvement at Berklee College of Music, Ricky is an educator, Community organizer and advocate for change. Ricky’s experience working in cultural and student centers across Higher Education has shaped his goals of creating inclusive environments and breaking down barriers that disrupt communities. Ricky does this by addressing inequity in various ways through critical research, building active collaborations across communities, and targeting toxic elements that lead to disparaging dynamics for community members.
We promise to inspire Presidents-Elect to lead their clubs and to empower them to achieve success as we Imagine Rotary!
This year’s keynote speakers include RI President-Elect Jennifer Jones, Evan Burrell, Dr. Tunji Funsho, and Carolyn Jones. They will aim to inform and reinforce our program and our conversations, inviting us all to consider concepts like “thinking out of the box”; becoming a change agent; leading your club to be more project-oriented; collaboration and flexibility. You will leave this PETS program feeling “fired up” and eager to begin the amazing year ahead as your club’s President!
The Northeast Presidents-Elect Training Seminar (NEPETS) is Rotary’s training program for club Presidents-elect and Assistant Governors throughout New England and parts of Canada. The goal of NEPETS is to prepare Presidents-elect and Assistant Governors for their upcoming roles through provocative plenary speakers and discussions with peers from various districts during breakout sessions. NEPETS is a collaborative effort of seven Rotary districts and includes the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, southern Maine, and southern Quebec.
Even if you are not a President-Elect or Assistant Governor, we invite you visit the NEPETS Virtual House of Friendship to learn more about Rotary Fellowships, Action Groups, and the amazing projects being conducted in our seven districts.
Over 950 Runners have already registered for the Malden Half Marathon + 5 Mile Race being held on Sunday, March 13. The Half Marathon begins at 8:00 am and the 5 Mile Race kicks off at 9:30 am.
The Malden Rotary Club is respectfully asking for volunteers to assist with some Race Day activities that will begin at 7:00 am. Volunteers will receive a shirt, libation, and meal at the Post Race Party circa 11:00 am, right in the heart of Malden's vibrant Downtown Dining and Gaming District.
Please contact Malden President Paul Solano at psfinserve@aol.com or 617-240-4130 by Friday, March 11 to provide the name or names of your volunteers.
We will be most happy to sign off on any Community Service hours! Thank you!
The Gloucester Rotary invites the public to attend their FUNdraising event – “A Night at the Races” on Friday, March 18, 2022, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe’s Wharf in Gloucester. Doors open at 6:30 pm. All proceeds from this event will support local and international programs of the Gloucester Rotary.
A Night at the Races is a fun-filled evening for adults with all the suspense and excitement of being at the racetrack. High quality, video-taped horse races are narrated from start to finish by lively announcers. During the evening there will be complimentary hors d’oeuvre, a cash bar, and variety of raffles. At various points during the evening, betters will be able to use their winnings to bid on merchandise and services that have been donated for the event. For the most fun, reserve a table – bring a group.
Gloucester and Rockport Rotaries partnered together, along with funding from a District Managed Grant and several additional individuals and organizations, to purchase and install a standby power generator for Kivu Hills Academy in Boneza, Rwanda. Boneza is a community similar in size to the combined population of Gloucester and Rockport and has limited infrastructure. In the past several years, Gloucester and Rockport have worked with the Arise Rwanda organization to support the installation of a kitchen at Kivu Hills Academy and a well for the citizens of Bugarura District. The well project was also supported with a District Managed Grant.
Arise Rwanda is a multi-dimensional education, community building, and infrastructure improvement organization. They facilitate project selection and completion based on community members' expressed needs and the community's own priority setting. Education has been a leading and pressing need in the region. As a result the Kivu Hills Academy, an accredited Technical and Vocational Secondary School, was founded in 2016 and now serves a student body of 273 high school students. (Kivu Hills Academy is the only high school in the region.) Kivu Hills Academy offers academic programs in Masonry, Computer Systems Technology and Networking, and Tourism.
Consistent electric power is required to maintain the productivity of the academic environment, power the pumps bringing water to the school, provide safety and lighting, and prevent power surges that can destroy expensive computer equipment. The generator installed this winter will meet this need of a stable electrical supply.
Thank you to Gloucester Rotarian David McKechnie for bringing this opportunity to our attention. Thank you also to the District Grants Team for your support with these important projects.
We’re back! In-person Rotary Leadership Institute, Saturday, April 30, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Four Points, Wakefield, MA. Located just off Route 128 and near the shops of Lynnfield’s MarketStreet, The Four Points is one of the premier conference centers north of Boston and offers ample parking, comfortable meeting rooms, and hotel-wide Wi-Fi for break periods. Parts I, II, III, Graduate and Facilitator training will be offered. The registration fee for the day is $95 which will cover a continental breakfast, all curriculum materials, a mid-morning coffee break, and buffet luncheon. Participants do not have to be club officers – All Rotarians are leaders in their communities and businesses! All leaders know that learning never stops! Rotarians participating in Session 1 or Session 2 will receive a $50 reimbursement after attending from the District.
Mark your calendars and register today at www.rlinea.org. Guided by experienced facilitators, the day will be full of Rotary fellowship and stimulating, challenging discussions about Rotary’s organization, resources for Rotarians about membership, strategic planning, club communication, fundraising, and a host of other subjects. (Curriculum content is available at rlinea.org).
Fellow Rotarians… The first (that I know of) plunging has taken place at St. Camillus parking lot in Arlington, where the Arlington Club members have been plunged into a dunk tank. Don’t think that the dunk tank had any heated water in it. No, on the contrary, these brave Rotarians and friends plunged down into the icy water with President Becca losing her glasses on her tumble. Thankfully one our senior members had their “grabber” handy and was able to fish them out of the tank. If your club is also doing a separate “Plunge,” let me know and I’d be happy to join you, if I’m available.
As in year’s past, it would be wonderful if you would bring your club banners to hang over the railings on the back of the motor inn. We have revised the registration sheet so that you can add all who are coming to cheer you on. So, if you are the only member of your club plunging, but you are bringing 5 members/friends/family with you, please go back into the following link and re-register your club. Clubs can register their participation by clicking here.
Donations to this year’s Polar Plunge are being directly made through the donate button in MyRotary or through your club’s Foundation Chair. Once a club has donated a minimum of $1,500.00, it qualifies them to receive the End Polio Now Certificate from Rotary International. Last year only four clubs in our district reached that benchmark. I’m pleased to say that the top five clubs below have already surpassed that level. Let’s try to get our District back to more participation throughout the clubs.
The list below includes your donations made to PolioPlus from July 1, 2021, as of February 19, 2022. But this is just a list of the TOP TEN. Year to date we have raised $29,250.01 of our $100,000 goal. There are still 20 clubs in the district who have not started making their donations to Polio through MyRotary. We cannot count donations and add your club to the list, if your club doesn’t record them through RI.
If you are planning to go to the RI Convention in Houston, please join us for an evening of relaxation and fun and some awesome Tex-Mex food at The Original Ninfa's on Navigation!
Monday, June 6th, 2022, at 7:00 PM (local time) we will gather for a family style "Fajita Fiesta” meal at a cost of 35.00 per person plus 8.25% tax and 18% gratuity. So we are collecting a $46 per person as a registration fee, which includes tax, gratuity, and the credit card processing fee. Payment is required at the time of registration, and we can only accept credit card payments (sorry, no checks!).
Drinks will be on individual tabs and will be separate.
Seating is limited, so we can only accommodate 40 people at this event. Please click here to register to reserve your spot! We will be opening the registration to friends in other districts in 1-2 weeks, so please register ASAP before the event fills up...
And if you have not registered for the RI Convention in Houston yet, please use this link to learn more. The special low registration rate of $495 is only available until February 28th!
In February 2020, the Interact Club of Marblehead started a fundraising project to build toilets for individual homes in Mewat in the Nuh district, 2 hours south of New Delhi, India. Predominantly populated by Meos (indigenous Muslims), Mewat lags on almost every developmental measure, where sanitary facilities such as toilets and clean drinking water are persistently lacking in homes and schools.
As a result, Mewat is a hot spot for international development assistance. It is also a go-to site for National Immunization Day (NID) in the Delhi region for Rotarians from many parts of the world. The latrine project addresses the multiple issues endemic to poverty-stricken villages like Mewat, in which women often bear the most. Girls have suffered from higher dropout rates, poor maternal health, high infant mortality, and violence when they try to relieve themselves in the open without a closed-in structure.
When the lockdown hit in March 2020, activities across non-essential organizations, schools, businesses came to a standstill. However, as the new virus spread globally, the sponsoring club for the latrine project in India, the Rotary Club of Delhi South Metropolitan, and its lead US partner, Rotary Club of Morgan Hill in California, were committed to seeing this project through. More than ever, it became urgent to build these toilet stations as these communities were reporting an unprecedented spike of Covid 19 cases. As a result, the fundraising efforts for this project took on a pressing turn.
It's 2022, and Marblehead's Got Talent (MGT) is back with $15,000 in performance art scholarships for Marblehead students.
Every year, Marblehead Rotary awards scholarships to qualified students who compete for the top three prizes: $6,000 for first place, $4,000 for second place, and $3,000 for third place. With an additional four runner-up winners of $500.00 each. More and more financial scholarships for the performing arts are hard to come by. But we made it a goal to recognize our talented high schoolers through healthy competition to foster their development in the performing arts and help them pay for college.
As our year-long celebration comes to a end, we reminisce on the past and look forward to the future. We are having our culminating event on the very date that the Beverly Rotary Club was started 101 years prior!
Join us for a fun time of socializing, hors d’oeuvres, dancing to live music and examining our time capsule! The details are on the invitation posted. Click here for the link to purchase tickets. Maybe you’ll join us?
A Ukrainian 12-yr old boy with electrical burns over 90% of his body was recently airlifted from Ukraine and brought to Shriners Hospital (Mass General) in Boston. This was done with assistance from Ukraine Rotary Club Kyiv-Sophia and Rotary Clubs in our neighboring District 7910. Dr. Gennadiy Fuzaylov, who is treating the boy advised that his mother Oksana is staying in Mass General Hospital "parent apartment" available to her only while her son is in the hospital for treatment. However sometime in the next 3-weeks Taras will be released and both mother/Oksana & Son/Taras, who do not speak English, will need a place to stay near Massachusetts General Hospital as Taras needs to receive follow up treatments for up to 6 Weeks then needs to return to Ukraine.
Fellow Rotarians… I hope that you and your club are planning to join us on April 2nd in Gloucester for the Polar Plunge. As in year’s past it would be wonderful if you would bring your club banners to hang over the railings on the back of the motor inn. We have revised the registration sheet so that you can add all who are coming to cheer you on. So, if you are the only member of your club plunging, but you are bringing 5 members/friends/family with you, please go back into the following link and re-register your club. Clubs can register their participation by clicking here.
Donations to this year’s Polar Plunge are being directly made through the donate button in MyRotary or through your club’s Foundation Chair. Once a club has donated a minimum of $1500 it qualifies them to receive the End Polio Now Certificate from Rotary International. Last year only four clubs in our district reached that benchmark. I’m pleased to say that the top four clubs below have already surpassed that level. Let’s try to get our District back to more participation throughout the clubs. The list below includes all donations made to PolioPlus from July 1, 2021, as of February 12, 2022. Year to date we have raised $27,950.01 of our $100,000 goal. There are 20 clubs in the district who have not started making their donations to Polio through MyRotary. We cannot count donations if your club doesn’t record them.
1. Marblehead
2. Rockport
3. Arlington
4. Reading
5. Lynn
6. Chelsea
7. Wakefield
8. Parkway, Swampscott, Amesbury and Gloucester are tied
The Rotary Club of Lynn held its Eighth Grade Recognition Program Thursday, February 10th, at Old Tyme Family Cuisine. This signature program, a staple on Rotary’s annual calendar, seeks to recognize young middle school students from Lynn who, each in their own way, has overcome an obstacle in their lives to achieve success both inside and out of the classroom. This is the first recognition since the start of the pandemic. The Club will have two more before the end of the school year. The program's longtime sponsor is RiverWorks Credit Union.
Seated from L - R: Daniel Brown, North Shore Christian School; Sindy Carbajal Santos, Thurgood Marshall Middle School; Tyler Desmond, St. Mary’s, Marian Division; and Aysia Olaes, Breed Middle School. Back row, Dick Ruth, Rotarian and Program coordinator; Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, Rotarian and Superintendent of Lynn Public Schools; Peter Kopoulos, Chief Financial Officer for RiverWorks Credit Union, and Dr. John Dolan, Rotarian and Head of School at St. Mary’s High School. Absent when photo was taken but recognized for her outstanding achievement was Jazlene Ledesma, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, Discovery Program.
Increasing Access to Clean Drinking Water for the indigenous Wayuu people
The Chelsea Rotary Club is cooperating with the Fonseca Club in La Guajira, Colombia on a new global grant to bring clean drinking water to the villages of the indigenous Wayuu people on the Guajira peninsula. The area where the Wayuu live is a desert climate and there are over 350,000 indigenous people in this northern peninsula in Colombia. Over 5,000 indigenous children have died in the last few years from lack of water and other diseases derived from lack of water.
Our objective is to build 24 wells that will serve around 7,000 indigenous people, including children. Children and their mothers are the ones who are searching for water, on an everyday basis, they have to walk, ride mules for miles in search of water.
Donations to this year’s Polar Plunge are being directly made through the donate button in MyRotary or through your club’s Foundation Chair. Once a club has donated a minimum of $1500 it qualifies them to receive the End Polio Now Certificate from Rotary International. Last year only four clubs in our district reached that benchmark. I’m pleased to say that the top four clubs below have already surpassed that level. Let’s try to get our District back to more participation throughout the clubs. The list below includes all donations made to PolioPlus from July 1, 2021 as of February 5, 2022. Year to date we have raised $27,716.01 of our $100,000 goal. There are 21 clubs in the district who have not started making their donations to Polio. Please register with the Gloucester Club to let them know the number of participants. Clubs can register their participation by clicking here.
The Greater Salem, NH Rotary Club recently distributed more than $16,000 to area gas and oil companies to support over 60 families in need in its service area with their heating costs. This is the second year the club has offered this Fuel Assistance Program. Special thanks to our partners: B & H Oil, McLean Oil, Palmer Gas & Oil, and Murphy & Sons.
Deb Whitten, Credit and Collections Manager of Palmer Gas & Oil said, “Families continue to struggle during this pandemic and this donation will help tremendously. This is the second year that we have received this extraordinary gift from the Rotary Club, and we could not be more thankful.” Adds John Lilly of the Greater Salem Rotary Club, “This has become one of our major service projects and we are thrilled to work with the Ermer family and Palmer Gas & Oil long with B & H Oil, McLean Oil, and Murphy & Sons.”
Pictured here: John Lilly and Jeanne Geisser of Greater Salem Rotary Club present a check to Deb Whitten of Palmer Gas & Oil.
The Rotary Club of Peabody is hosting its biggest fundraiser of the year "Taste of the North Shore" in person again this year! This popular fundraiser promised an evening of fun, prizes and, of course, delicious food from some of the best restaurants to be found on the North Shore. All proceeds benefit scholarships for Peabody High School children and our other community projects throughout the year.
Join us at 6 pm at the DoubleTree in Danvers on March 1. Raffle tickets for our $10,000 grand prize includes 2 admissions to the event and cost $100. Business sponsorships are still available. For tickets and more information click here.
*Full vaccination or negative COVID test required. Masks will be required at all times, except for eating.*
While we wish it was safe to hold an in-person RYLA for high school students in 2022, we don’t believe we are there yet! Because of that, D7930 will hold an Advanced RYLA for a small group of students who have already participated in RYLA.
The purpose of this weekend will be to continue to develop alumni who wish to continue their journey of leadership development and to support the RYLA program going forward. While RYLA students currently lead families and participate in some of the planning, the event is primarily led by a group of Rotarians. The longer-term goal is to have the weekend be more alumni/student led.
We are hopeful that the weekend will be held at Camp Glen Brook in Marlborough, NH, tentatively on Saturday-Sunday, May 14-15. We are returning to Camp Glen Brook to be good stewards of our resources as we have a deposit there from 2020, when we had to cancel due to the pandemic.
The Gloucester Rotary Club invites the public to attend their FUNdraising event – “A Night at the Races” on Friday, March 18, 2022, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe’s Wharf in Gloucester. Doors open at 6:30 pm. All proceeds from this event will support local and international programs of the Gloucester Rotary.
A Night at the Races promises to be a fun-filled evening for adults with all the suspense and excitement of being at the racetrack. High quality, video-taped horse races are narrated from start to finish by lively announcers. During the evening there will be complimentary hors d’oeuvre, a cash bar, and variety of raffles. At various points during the evening, betters will be able to use their winnings to bid on merchandise and services that have been donated for the event. For the most fun, reserve a table – bring a group.
This year our district is hosting six Global Scholars who are here to further their studies in their chosen fields: Deborah Kang (Korea) in Public Policy and Urban Planning, Makiko Mitsunami (Japan) in Maternal and Child Health, Paul Schmidt (Germany) in Bioelectronics, Yumeka Kawahara (Japan) in Refugee Integration, Yusuke Yoshikawa (Japan) in Public Health and Francisco Barrera (Mexico) in Epidemiology.
These scholars all have extensive backgrounds in their specialties and would be delighted to share their knowledge and cultures with you. Please reach out and arrange for them to speak to your clubs. You can access links to their biographies and email addresses on our district website (rotary7930.org), under Our District/Rotary Foundation/Global Scholars.
Our German friends from our Inter-Country-Committee Austria-Germany-USA, for which our district 7930 is a founding member, have organized a great virtual event with Thomas Neubert, Senior Director Strategic Incubation & Innovation, Intel Corp./Silicon Valley as keynote speaker. Please see the attached invitation PDF for more details, including the Zoom link (requires login).
The Inter-Country-Committee Austria-Germany-USA invites you to an emotional and informative presentation via ZOOM on February 9th, 2022, 12:30 PM EST (06.30 PM CET).
Thomas Neubert has lived in Silicon Valley for 30 years and will deliver an inspiring keynote speech "Life lessons - The glass is always half full", which will be held in English. We look forward to welcoming guests from Germany, the USA and Austria.
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Polar Plunge on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 11am at the Cape Ann Motor Inn on Long Beach, located at 33 Rockport Road in Gloucester. Anyone wishing to support the #EndPolioNow campaign may make a donation online at www.Rotary.org/donate. Please indicate that your donation should support the “Polio Fund.”
The Annual World Peace and Understanding Event on February 3 featured two movies this year. The evening started with the Premiere of a documentary, by Sarah Furie, a member of Boston Rotaract, titled “The Talk With My Black Sons.” This was followed by a lively question-and-answer session with the director. If you missed the event, you can watch the documentary here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JuG2CusHaJo
The second movie was a compilation about the fruits of our Interact MicroFinance grant through the eyes of the Interactors and other young adults; building compassion and understanding around the world and within the students themselves. Our district has provided ten Interact Clubs and other youth organizations with $500 in seed funds each to begin doing Microloans on the Kiva platform. Four of the clubs recorded short video segments of the young adults choosing a microloan to support and explaining why they picked that particular project. You can watch the video here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9F7rx4BXyNA
Building Peace and Understanding in our Communities and Around the World
The Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club is holding its annual “25 Days of Kindness” food drive this month to help address food insecurity in its communities. Rotary is partnering with The Open Door’s Ipswich community food pantry and local businesses to collect food items for neighbors in need.
“Food needs often increase after the holidays, especially among our fellow citizens whose livelihoods are impacted by the ongoing COVID pandemic,” said a Rotary statement.
Donations will be accepted through February 3 at the Ipswich branches of Brookline Bank, BankGloucester, and the Institution for Savings, as well as at the Ipswich Community YMCA.
The most-needed food items include peanut butter, canned meats (tuna, chicken, and turkey), break- fast cereal, hearty soups, canned fruits and vegetables, spaghetti sauce, boxes of macaroni and cheese, rice, noodles, pasta, and pancake mix.
The donated food will be delivered to the Open Door in early February and distributed to clients of the Ipswich food pantry.
Rotary International President-elect Jennifer Jones wants members to imagine the possibilities in the change they can make to transform the world.
Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, revealed the 2022-23 presidential theme, Imagine Rotary, as she urged people to dream big and harness their connections and the power of Rotary to turn those dreams into reality.
“Imagine, a world that deserves our best,” Jones told incoming district governors on 20 January, “where we get up each day knowing that we can make a difference.”
Jones, who will make history on 1 July by becoming Rotary’s first female president, gave a live online address to precede Rotary’s annual training event for district governors from around the world, the International Assembly. The assembly was rescheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and will now be held virtually 7-14 February.
The Salem Rotary Club is thrilled to present our first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training at our Rotary meeting on January 25th. Our training will be conducted by Human in Common. Human in Common is an innovative team of experienced diversity consultants who specialize in providing professional diversity and ethical upstander training for nonprofits, municipalities, businesses and schools.
Members of the Human in Common team who will join us include:
Deborah Cohen, M.Ed. (pronouns: she/her) is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Human In Common. She is the creator of Ethical Upstander training -- a compassionate, experiential model of teaching active bystander intervention skills. For 30 years, Deborah has worked as a social justice educator, integrating community organizing and collaborative arts projects as a vehicle for amplifying diversity, equity & inclusion.
Robert Gordon, B.A. (pronouns: he/him) is a Diversity Specialist at Human in Common. He has a background in organizational planning, education, and multicultural recruitment. His expertise lies in bringing people together across organization levels to develop and strengthen a sense of belonging among people of color within the workplace or community. Robert collaborates with clients to identify and break down systemic barriers, increase cultural humility, and empower people from marginalized backgrounds.
Pictured here is presenter Robert Gordon.
Salem Presents Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training
Camp Rotary is pleased to announce that tickets are now available to our Centennial Gala Celebration! The event will take place on site at our camp in Boxford, in our new dining hall, on the evening of June 11, 2022 from 6 – 11 PM. The committee has planned this event to be a touch of elegance as a formal way of recognizing the achievement of providing 100 summers of camp for generations of children from the North Shore and beyond! The gala is geared towards adults only (21+) with cocktails, dinner and dancing on the agenda. With only 200 tickets available, the event is expected to sell out, so if you are planning on attending, we advise you to purchase your tickets quickly.
Winchester Rotary Club combined with our Interact Club to deliver 85 meals to our Local Housing Authority residents. Then we all gathered for some Christmas Cheer at Sons of Italy for some food and drink and wonderful song from our very talented INTERACT members!
Happy New Year and hoping for a very productive 2022! We kickoff with a big FOOD DRIVE ON 1/22!
Rockport Rotary President Rob Audano and Rotarian Anne Lewis present a check for $50 to Lynne Anderson, the winner of the raffle drawing on January 6. Rockport Rotary’s 2022 Calendar features 13 photographs of the Rockport area selected from over 200 submitted to their photo contest. Every calendar has a raffle ticket that will be entered into a drawing each week of 2022 with winners in the first week of July and the first week of December receiving $250 and all other winners receiving $50. Winning tickets will be reentered for future drawings.
There are a few more calendars left for purchase by contacting Anne Lewis at car4forever@yahoo.com or 603-721-1038.
Donations to this year’s Polar Plunge are being directly made through the donate button in MyRotary or through your club’s Foundation Chair. Once a club has donated a minimum of $1500 it qualifies them to receive the End Polio Now Certificate from Rotary International. Last year only four clubs in our district reached that benchmark. I’m pleased to say that the top four clubs below have already surpassed that level. Let’s try to get our District back to more participation throughout the clubs. The “Official” Polar Plunge has been scheduled for April 2nd and is being sponsored by the Gloucester Club. Again we will meet at the beach at the Cape Ann Motor Inn. More information on whom to contact in the Gloucester Club to apprise them how many people will be joining them, and information on how to make reservations at the Cape Ann Motor Inn will be forthcoming. The list below includes all donations made to PolioPlus from July 1, 2021, as of January 14, 2022. Year to date we have raised $24,906.01 of our $100,000 goal.
It's 2022, and Marblehead's Got Talent (MGT) is back with $15,000 in performance art scholarships for Marblehead students.
Every year, Marblehead Rotary awards scholarships to qualified students who compete for the top three prizes: $6,000 for first place, $4,000 for second place, and $3,000 for third place. With an additional four runner-up winners of $500.00 each. Marblehead Rotarian David Deutsch explained, "More and more financial scholarships for the performing arts are hard to come by. But we made it a goal to recognize our talented high schoolers through healthy competition to foster their development in the performing arts and help them pay for college."
How to join? It is open to all Marblehead High School. Send a video audition to us by midnight on January 24. The audience will choose semi-finalists on Thursday, February 3, at the Marblehead High School Auditorium, and then capping the event in the grand finale at Cabot Theatre in Beverly on Thursday, the 17th. For more information and to get an application online, visit: www.marbleheadsgottalent.com.
On January 12, 2022, the Rotary Club of Lynn continued with its tradition of distributing dictionaries to 3rd graders in the 18 public elementary schools in Lynn. Since 2008, the Rotary Club of Lynn, MA has presented over 1,200 dictionaries annually to third-grade students in the Lynn Public Schools. This year marks the 14th consecutive year of this service project for the club and a distribution of nearly 18,000 dictionaries since its inception!
This year the Reading Cooperative Bank (RCB) funded the cost of the dictionaries. The prior sponsor, the Coastal Heritage Bank branch in Wyoma Square was purchased by RCB in 2021. Tess Cunha, VP and Branch Administrator for RCB was more than happy to step-up and sponsor the project. In 2021, due to Covid 19 restrictions, the dictionaries were distributed by the teachers, but this year the Rotarians and employees of RCB were able to personally distribute them.
The deadline to submit a District Managed Grant for either local or international projects is January 31, 2022. Your club must be grant qualified to apply for a grant. District Designated Funds (DDF) can provide 50% of funding up to $3000.00 for local grants and $5000.00 for international grants. For example, if your club contributes $6000 for a local project, then DDF match would be $3000.00. DDF monies are available to distribute once grant applications are closed, our spending plan is approved by RI and monies received. Once the district receives the funding and after your project is completed, you will receive the grant distribution. Please note: due to reduced giving to the Annual Fund Share in year 2018-2020, (Annual Fund Share giving provides our grant monies 3 years later), only one grant is able to be approved per club.
Seven Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor rang in 2022 by cooking and serving a New Year’s Eve dinner to over sixty clients and staff members at Lifebridge, a shelter in the center of Salem, MA. The menu included baked glazed ham, sweet potato, roasted vegetables, and rolls...But the best was left for last...brownie sundaes with homemade chocolate sauce.
Pictured cooks, l. to r., Don and Linda Doliber, Heidi Whear, Judith Black, Mike Elkin, and new Service Members Greg and Jean Cassanos. Not pictured but appreciated for their cooking skills and contributions, President Patricia Sullivan and President Elect Jessica Barnett.
As you all know the Polar Plunge has been scheduled for April 2nd this year in Gloucester, however you can plunge when and where you choose. All Rotarians and their sponsors are donating directly to Polio Plus through the donate button in MyRotary or through your club’s Foundation Chair. This list includes all donations made to PolioPlus from July 1 as of January 7. Year to date we have raised $24,772 of our $100,000 goal.
Join the Party and Raise Money for the Rotary Foundation!!! You are invited to the Gala Fundraiser for the Rotary Foundation with Fellow Rotarians from Zones 28 & 32.
Wednesday, 23 February 2022, 8:00 pm ET. With District 7930’s Pre-Gala Event 7-7:45 pm ET hosted by DG Terry & DGE Alexander
Don’t Miss this Event!!!
Your ticket gets you into the Zone Event as well as the Pre-Gala Event & Matching Points Click this link for detailed program information & ticket pricing: Registration/Tickets for Zone Virtual Foundation Gala. FYI, you will receive a separate Pre-Gala Event Link close to the event.
Because the Coronavirus and its variants have again become more active, I have moved the next two district events back to Zoom.
First is the Mid-Year Leadership and Pre-PETS meeting scheduled for January 27th. This is for all Presidents, Presidents-Elect and future Presidents for the following two years. This meeting is now open for registration at https://rotary7930.org/event/mid-year-leadership-meeting-1/. The agenda is for a welcoming statement and then to breakout rooms with your respective Governor, DGE, DGN or DGND. Each room will have their own agenda with the DGE staying in the main room to have his Pre-Pets presentation with the Presidents-elect.
The second half of the Pre-PETS presentation for the Presidents-Elect is scheduled for February 12 from 3:00 to 4:30pm. Registration is open for this event at https://rotary7930.org/event/pre-pets-part-2/.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently announced the election of its new officers and directors at its Annual Meeting. The club elects new leadership each year in accordance with its by-laws. The 2022-2023 Board of Directors include Paul Adams, John Dale, Margie Daniels, Wendy Maguire, Jill McWilliam, Bruce Donovan and Amy Luckiewicz. Suzanne Bowering will serve as Club Secretary, Barbara Worley as Club Treasurer and Frank Fiorentino as Sergeant-at-Arms. Glen Duffy was elected Vice President/President-Elect and Gene Mullen will serve as President for the 2022-2023 term. Mullen commented, “I've been so impressed with the meaningful work that our club members have been able to accomplish over the past several years. I’m thrilled to be elected as President in 2022!”
The Belle Isle Rotary typically donates Market Basket gift cards during the Christmas season. Working collaboratively within our community, this year, we decided instead to give five (5) $100 Target gift cards to the Revere High School guidance department and five (5) $100 Target gift cards to the Revere Seacoast Alternative High School guidance departments to be disbursed based upon the needs of their students/families.
The teenage group is often looked over or last thought of when it comes to Christmas generosity by local resources. We wanted to do something in our little corner of the world for these kids. Our newest member John Kingston of the Revere City Credit Union and Revere's newest school committee member was gracious enough to deliver the gift cards for us!
This November and December the Arlington, MA Rotary Club has been busy! The club supported The Salvation Army of Cambridge, Massachusetts by serving Thanksgiving Lunch with students from Arlington Catholic, raising over $400 bell ringing, donating over 100 pairs of socks and creating 20 family game night bags for families in need.
We honored Peter Lundstrom, Lead Teacher of the AHS Alternative Education Program, as a Paul Harris Fellow at Rotary District 7930's Heroes Dinner.
We collected toiletries for a drive set up by one of our members kids through the Martin Richards Foundation.
The club sponsored 10 children and teens engaged with the MA Department of Children and Families through the Wonderfund MA.
Each year Reading Rotary partners with the community for the Adopt-a-Family project for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Christmas distribution day was December 22. Rotary works with the local organization ReadingCares and the Town to coordinate this long-standing community giving program. Receiving families are matched anonymously with donor families and/or groups to provide meal and gifts at Christmas. Donors drop off in the first shift, then recipient families pick up their food and gifts during a later shift.
This year there were approximately 60 families in need and donor families/groups were matched to provide Christmas gifts and holiday meals to these families anonymously. Reading Rotary’s efforts were coordinated by new Rotarian Adam Sandberg.
This is a truly inspirational and humbling event to see the community come together to help others. The generosity of the donors is overwhelming as evidenced by the many smiling faces as well as some tears of thanks. Reading Rotary is proud of and grateful for our partners ReadingCares and the Town of Reading in this community giving event. A huge thank you to all the donor families and groups. Their generosity makes this all possible! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Despite the gray weather, everyone had a festive time on Saturday as the Ipswich community celebrated the annual arrival of Santa Claus. The Jolly Elf arrived at town wharf at 11 am and was escorted by children of all ages, and by the host Ipswich High School Interact elves, along Water Street to Santa’s Village at Town Hall.
At Town Hall, Santa held court to meet the children, who also enjoyed seasonal games provided by Santa’s Elves. Christmas Trees were auctioned off, and the Marines collected 6 boxes for ‘Toys for Tots”. Downstairs at Town Hall, additional elves from the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club were on hand to prepare and serve food. Even the Grinch had two green thumbs up for this fun event.
The ‘Jingle Bell Walk’ is an annual gift to the town from Ipswich High School Interact, a school-based club of community service minded young leaders that is supported by the Rotary Club and Ipswich High School. The event also benefits from strong community support and the generous sponsorship of many local businesses.
Beverly's beloved Rotarian Jack Good passed away last year. The project of bell ringing for the Salvation Army was his baby. The tradition carries on and we know that Jack is with us. Rotarians were stationed at two Stop ’n Shops and a Walgreen’s in Beverly. There were shifts throughout the day, organized by Alan Temkin, who has assumed Jack’s job for this project. Some Rotarians wore costumes and were chatting with all the customers going in and out of these businesses. Needless to say, we are a merry group! The question now remains: which location collected the most money......? Time will tell. Thanks to all of our Beverly Rotarians who were part of this project!!!! Happy Holidays!
Manchester-Essex Rotary Club is donating $6,000 to Black Earth Compost, a local food composting facility.
One of the major existential crises we face today is climate change. Whether this is a manmade issue or a global cyclical issue, greenhouse gas emissions are a substantial contributing factor to the warming of the planet. Scientists today are realizing that the predictions of this global warming trend have a much shorter timeline than originally thought and unless we figure out how to produce fewer greenhouse gasses and recapture them resulting in lowering their concentration in our atmosphere there will be catastrophic results to our climate, food and water availability and sea level changes. In response to these issues, the Manchester-Essex Rotary club has submitted a grant to support the Black Earth Composting project.
One of the ways we can contribute to the solutions of this complex issue is composting. Compost reverses global warming through deep carbon storage and reinvigorates our ability to grow food. A major challenge being in Massachusetts, a vast amount of food we eat comes from outside New England. So, we are net importers of nutrients. It is not cost effective to ship compost out of the area. Compost is a nice carbon sink, it stores carbon long term in the soil, and it pulls CO2 out of the air, so it has a net negative impact on the emissions. It’s just the simplest thing people can do right now to have an impact on solving this problem.
This a great opportunity to engage or re-engage your interact advisors and students. The project is simple. I am having one of the clubs put through a District Managed Grant for $6,000, which the District is funding. We are going to use Kiva as a microfinance platform, because we've already had great experience with it both with some Rotarians in our district using it, as well as the Marblehead Interact Club using it successfully for many years. We plan to create separate accounts on Kiva for each Interact Club that wants to participate. The accounts will be set up in the Rotary Club's name but you should provide the Interact Club with the login information and let your Interactors decide which projects to fund. As the loans are repaid over time the funds go back into your account and are available to be re-loaned.
Rotary Clubs need to apply by December 30th to participate in this program. There is an online application here and clubs and interactors should watch the MicroFinance YouTube video on our District Website or by clicking here.
Once we know how many Rotary/Interact Clubs will be participating we will divide the grant money equally and set up the accounts.
District Governor Terry Curran showered our club with recognition in many areas of contributions to Rotary Foundation 2020-2021. Among them: Marblehead Rotary is one of the handfuls of clubs to achieve the district's top three highest per capita on annual giving and for individual member participation. In addition, the Marblehead Rotary was recognized as one of the top contributors to the district’s campaign for the Rotary Foundation’s “End Polio Now” fund-raising campaign.
Accepting these citations is the past 2020-2021 president, Arthur Schwartz (right), whose leadership steered the club in staying the course during the challenging year of the pandemic, and Blair Lord (left) the 2021-2022 club president.
After a recent fundraiser, the Woburn Memorial High School Interact Club presented Woburn Veterans Agent Larry Guiseppe with gift cards for Woburn Veterans.
From left to right: Guiliana Long, Interact Club VP Cece Allen, Interact Club Advisor Devin McDonough, Woburn Veterans Agent Larry Guiseppe, Interact Club President Emily Sullivan, Maelle Pierre, Macayla Hamilton, Caden Fleming and Dawson LeBlanc. (Missing: Rebecca Michel)
The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor purchased materials for, and is distributing, buckets of sand and pet-friendly ice melt and scoops to local senior citizens. Prevention of falls and serious injuries is a serious issue for the senior population. The Club partnered with the Marblehead Council on Aging, which is delivering buckets via its bus to those seniors who cannot pick them up at the Community Center.
Pictured are two of the several club volunteers, Linda Doliber and Cyndi Kilbarger. Missing from the photo are volunteers Club President Patricia Sullivan, Judith Black, Donald Doliber and Tim Shotmeyer.
Belle Isle Rotary Club has submitted a District Managed Grant to support campers from East Boston to Camp Rotary.
For those Clubs without Interact Clubs (or even for Clubs with Interacts), please consider supporting the District Managed Grant from Belle Isle Rotary Club. It will support 10 students from the Salesian Boys & Girls Club in East Boston to go to Camp Rotary for a week this summer. This experience will make a lasting impact on these children, who otherwise will never experience summer camp. It will also support Camp Rotary as it enters its 100th year.
Donations to support this can be sent to Belle Isle Rotary c/o Tom Hankard, 14 Edgehill Road, Winthrop, MA 02152. Please add Camp Rotary to the memo line.
The Rotary Club of Lynn welcomed seven new members into its ranks at Thursday’s monthly meeting Old Tyme Family Cuisine.
From L to R: Dr. John Dolan, Head of School at St. Mary’s High School; Claire Price, Department Head at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute; Dianna Chakoutis, Ward Five counselor and manager of Old Tyme; Stephen Archer, Lynn Fire Chief; Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, Superintendent of Lynn Public Schools. Administering the oath of office was Rotary President Ray Bastarache. LVTI vice-principal Kerry Hayward, and Asst. secretary for Housing & Urban Development, Danielle Bastarache, were unable to attend due to prior commitments.
On November 18, the Lynnfield Rotary Club hosted its annual Thanksgiving Luncheon at the Salem Country Club. Unique to this event is the celebration of the athletic rivalry between the North Reading and Lynnfield High School football teams prior to the annual Thanksgiving Day Game. Captains of both teams, as well as Captains of the Cheer Teams and the North Reading Band joined the festivities. A letter about sportsmanship written by our Rotary Unsung Hero, Linda Naccara, from the Lynnfield Council on Aging, was read to the group of aspiring young leaders. Coaches from each team spoke about the outstanding camaraderie and growth of student athletes throughout their varsity careers.
In addition, special to this occasion, the Lynnfield Rotary Club gave a check of $5,000 to the Rotary Foundation to support international service projects across the globe. District Governor Terry Rezendes Curran accepted the donation and spoke about the wonderful work of the Rotary Foundation. The young adults at the luncheon got to hear how "Service Above Self" is put into action through Rotary.
The District Governor would like to support the revitalization of our Interact Clubs this fall. To that end we have put together a $100 mini grant for clubs to use to assist their Interact Club in doing a service project. Applications are now available online and close on January 30th. Start talking to your Interact club now and plan a service project with them. This can also include a service project to celebrate World Polio Day on October 24. We are asking all Interact Clubs to plan a project to celebrate our progress towards Polio Eradication.
Mini-Grants for Interact: Deadline Extended to Jan. 30
The Rotary Club of Chelsea is holding a Sports Raffle to benefit its Charitable Foundation. Proceeds from the raffle will support the amazing work the Rotary Club does in Chelsea and the surrounding communities including sponsoring Chelsea students at a week of overnight camp each summer, scholarships to graduating high school seniors, support of the Jordan Boys and Girls Club, HarborCov, ALS Walk and so much more. There are 9 amazing prizes with the Grand Prize being a trip for 2 to Patriots vs Dolphins on Jan 6-10, 2022. Thanks to our President Dan Pranka for organizing such amazing prizes. Tickets are $50 each. Drawing will be held December 14th. Do not need to be present to win. For tickets please contact Bruce Mauch Secretary Rotary Club of Chelsea at dgmauch@comcast.net or 857 544-9041.
Ipswich, MA – “Jingle Bell Walk” Saturday, December 18 2021, 11:00 am to 2 pm
Join us for a day of holiday festivities and cheer! Greet Santa as he arrives at the Ipswich Town Wharf. Sing carols with Buddy the Elf as we await Santa’s arrival! Jingle bells will be available for purchase. Jingle your bells and follow our honored guest and Buddy the Elf on a festive “Jingle Bell Walk” to the Ipswich Town Hall at 45 Green Street. Keep a sharp eye out for the “Grinch”!
Once Santa arrives at Town Hall, he will receive children, 11 and under to take photos with. Parents are urged to bring a camera! Each child will receive a gift bag from Santa as well. Following their visit with Santa, the children can have their faces painted, play festive games, and create holiday crafts. The Rotary Club will serve pizza, hot cocoa, cookies and more in the cafeteria.
Tickets will be available for purchase in order to enjoy delicious food, face painting, and crafts. There will be free games to play as well as raffles for Christmas trees and other great items!
Attendees are encouraged to bring unwrapped gifts fit for a child to support the Marines in their organization, Toys for Tots! For more information go to www.ipswichrotary.org. Proceeds from the Jingle Bell Walk will be donated to local business and we are working towards funding an international project!
As we close out Foundation Month, I wanted to remind you that #GivingTuesday isthis Tuesday, November 30. This global day of giving is an opportunity for all Rotary members to make a big impact with a gift of any size to our Annual Fund-SHARE. Last year, we raised more than US$800,000 — and we’re asking you to help us raise even more this year! Watch and share our Giving Tuesday video from the Rotary Foundation.
The Foundation will again recognize the top three clubs in fundraising, donor participation, and online giving. See last year’s top performers and set a goal to be on this year’s list.
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep you informed and educated on ways to support The Rotary Foundation, we are pleased to share information on a new initiative that is launching in Rotary District 7930. The 70+ initiative is a district-wide effort to encourage Rotarians to consider the benefits and opportunities of a charitable gift via their IRA.
Starting at age 70 1/2, the IRS allows individuals to make a tax-free distribution or qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from their IRA directly to a charity of their choice. And in the year you turn 72, you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD), which is required annually when you reach this age.
Each year Reading Rotary partners with the community for the Adopt-a-Family project for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Rotary works with the local organization ReadingCares and the Town to coordinate this long-standing community giving program. Receiving families are matched anonymously with donor families and/or groups to provide meals for Thanksgiving and meals and gifts at Christmas. Donors drop off at the DPW garage in the first shift, then recipient families pick up during a later shift.
Reading Rotary thanks one of our newest members, Adam Sandberg, for coordinating our work with Adopt-a-Family. Along with Reading Cares and the Town of Reading, our goal is to make sure every family in town has a happy Thanksgiving. Pictured here are Rotarians and other volunteers at the Thanksgiving Adopt-a-Family on November 22.
A millennial, two young professionals, two retirees, and three returnees to Marblehead Rotary with a combined 115 years of Rotary experience are among Marblehead Rotary’s new additions. These new members share one common thread: the Rotary brand made a strong impression on them as a touchpoint to make a difference. In addition, they have an enduring connection to the town of Marblehead. “We'll continue to adopt innovative ideas to make our members even more engaged and hope to attract more new talents,” says Blair Lord (top right), our club president. Meet the new team…
(First Row, from Left to Right)
Wilson Lautner grew up in Marblehead through sophomore, moved out to Sonoma Country in California, where he finished high school. Recently, he moved back to Marblehead to begin a career in residential real estate. His mission is to build partnerships with non-profit organizations to bring new opportunities to elevate and extend fine arts' reach to Marblehead.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea recently installed Dr. Aaron Jennings as its newest member. Aaron is the Equity, Diversity and Excellence Officer for the Chelsea Public Schools. Pictured with Aaron is Dr. Almudena Abeyta, Superintendent of the Chelsea Public Schools and Aaron’s sponsor, Allan I. Alpert, the Installing Officer and Richard Gopen, President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Chelsea.
On November 18th our Rotary District 7930 held a webinar to look into Microfinance and how we can easily come together to help to empower people around the globe to lift them out of poverty by providing them with small loans to support them in buying chickens, buying a sewing machine, fabrics, seeds, and many other things that enable them to be more productive members of their societies.
As an example we looked, in particular, at the non-profit organization Kiva that provides a platform to connect borrowers around the globe - via field partners in their home countries - with lenders in the US and Europe who come together to support those loans via crowd-funding.
Microfinance is also a great tool for Interact Clubs: the club can raise some money and then decide which loans to give out and follow those borrowers and their progress. The Marblehead Interact Club has been doing this for many years. This would also be a great opportunity for Rotary Clubs to apply for a Mini-Grant for their Interact Club. Mini-Grants for Interact are still open until December 15...
Posted by Tracy Arabian (she, her) on Nov 16, 2021
The Gloucester Rotary has produced a beautiful 2022 calendar, featuring scenic photography from local artists. In addition to the calendar, each purchase enters the buyer into a weekly raffle. $50 prizes will be drawn each week with two bonus prizes-- a $250 prize in June and a $500 prize in December. Calendars are $25 each, and proceeds from the sale of calendars will be used to support the many projects of the Gloucester Rotary. The calendars are available for purchase online (link: https://gloucesterrotary.org/) or in person at the Weathervane Gift Shop, located at 153 Main Street in downtown Gloucester (phone 978-281-1227), at BankGloucester, located at 160 Main Street in downtown Gloucester (978-283-8200), and from any Gloucester Rotary member.
On Thursday, November 11th the district held our annual Rotary Foundation event “A Celebration of Our Heroes” starting at 5:30 PM at the Danversport. The evening included a social hour, silent auction, dinner, and Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) presentations from 25 Rotary Clubs honoring 43 community heroes for their work during the pandemic.
This video is a compilation of just a few of the things we have done in our 100 years. Our Rotarians are featured in the video, with some beautiful birthday wishes from our sister clubs.
Thank you to them for being a part of our celebration!
The North Reading Rotary Club is proud to announce a new project with a mission of making this an annual or semi-annual event. Volunteers of all ages are invited to come together for a common purpose of taking responsibility for our town in order to help create a clean, green, litter-free place to live, work and play! While North Reading is a beautiful town, when you start looking for litter, you will see it everywhere – in neighborhoods, parking lots, sidewalks, buried in the woods and along the Ipswich River. From soda bottles to pizza boxes, beer cans and alcohol containers, amazon boxes and bubble wrap, plastic bags and old masks, there is an abundance of trash in our natural habitat.
This video is a compilation of just a few of the things we have done in our 100 years. Our Rotarians are featured in the video, with some beautiful birthday wishes from our sister clubs.
Thank you to them for being a part of our celebration!
This week, Woburn Rotary celebrated Harris "Harry" Cohen who has been a Rotarian for 50 years! Harry joined Rotary Club of Woburn in 1971 and is a Paul Harris Fellow +3. He also served on the Board of Directors for a number of years and has volunteered many hours of service to Woburn, included organizing the annual pancake breakfast. Harry continues to be an active member of Rotary Club of Woburn and comes to almost every weekly lunch meeting. Harry was presented with a proclamation from State Representative Richard Haggerty and a proclamation from Woburn Mayor Scott D. Galvin.
Picture here is Past President Susan Hartmere present presenting Harry with a commemorative clock to celebrates his 50th anniversary as a Woburn Rotarian.
The Wakefield Rotary Club hosted it’s Purple Pinkey event at the Fall In Love With Wakefield event last month. Club Secretary Suzanne Bowering explained, “Our Purple Pinkey event is designed to raise awareness of Rotary’s efforts world-wide to eradicate polio.” She continued, “In countries that experience technology challenges and in some rural areas, children have their pinkey fingers dyed purple to indicate they received a polio vaccine on their immunization day.” Rotary has been a global leader in the eradication of polio worldwide since 1985. Today, 99.9% of the world is polio-free. To learn more, visit endpolio.org.
Thursday, November 11 will be our annual Rotary Foundation event “A Celebration of Our Heroes” starting at 5:30 PM at the Danversport. The evening will include a social hour, silent auction, dinner, and Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) presentations.
Registration closes Monday, November 8, at 5PM!
Registration is required for this in-person event. There will be no walk-ins permitted!
We will be adhering to all current Covid-19 regulations to make sure this is a safe event for all Rotarians. Any person not vaccinated will be required to wear a mask, and you may choose to wear a mask even if you are vaccinated, if you are concerned about gatherings in indoor spaces. As you know, the Danversport facility has a very large ballroom, so we are confident that we can have people spaced out sufficiently to ensure a safe dining experience.
Newburyport: Come topple the smartest trivia team in the area! The Rotary Club of Newburyport invites you to test the trivia waters, as Newburyport resident and business owner Jill Santopietro Panall hosts and shares her Jeopardy!® expertise with those brave enough to play a local version of the popular quiz show. The games will be held on Thursday, November 18, at the Elks Club on Low Street in Newburyport. Doors open at 6:30 and at 7:00 let the games begin! Jill and her team have prepared questions that will span many categories, so everyone has an opportunity to showcase his or her unique knowledge.
Proceeds will support college scholarships for local students. According to Newburyport Rotary Club President Dan Hartman, “The club contributes up to $9,000 per year in scholarships to local graduating seniors. We are proud of our students and happy to help them. Your continued support is so important!”
Our generous major sponsor again this year is the Institution for Savings. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available, including multiple round sponsorships at $100 each.
It gives me great pleasure to announce the results of the Nominating Committee, who met on November 4th. 2021. After interviewing candidates. the decision was made to nominate Thomas Hankard , past president of The Belle Isle Rotary Club of East Boston, Revere, Winthrop, as the District Governor for Rotary Year 2024-2025.
According to the By-Laws of District 7930, if there are no dissensions by December 31, 2021, Tom will be considered elected by acclimation.
The Beverly Rotary Club is once again having its Turkey Raffle. You can purchase a ticket for $20 and you might win a 40 lb. turkey!!!
The dressed, locally-grown 40 pounds plus turkey will be delivered to the winner's home three days before Thanksgiving with an industrial-sized roasting pan, which will be engraved with the winner's name.
With proceeds from the North of 40 Turkey Raffle, we are partnering with Rotary Clubs around the world to END POLIO NOW.
And, we are also working with local Rotary Clubs to protect the Ipswich River and adjacent watersheds -- the lifeblood of our North Shore communities.
Do you have dinner plans for Tuesday, November 9th? No? Great! Grab a flatbread and enjoy some bowling from 4-10 p.m. at American Flatbread in Somerville.
Boston Rotaract will be holding a fundraiser there. $4 of every large flatbread and $2 of every small flatbread sold that night goes to supporting Afghan Immigrants and Refugees coming to Boston via partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies. Spread the word!
Service during COVID is alive and well! Greeted by CEO Janet Nittmann of Windrush Farm, North Andover, members and friends of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor were joined by Marblehead High School Interactors in spending a day of fellowship and service spreading cushioning mulch on bridle trails, performing light carpentry work, and cleaning out and hosing down the barn.
Windrush, which depends on volunteers to perform many upkeep duties, offers therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with disabilities and also offers services to veterans dealing with the effects of PTSD. An added plus at the end of the day for the Rotarians and Interactors? They were invited to meet and greet Windrush's handsome horses in their paddocks.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently completed its annual donation of dictionaries to every third grader in Wakefield. 253 copies were hand-delivered to all Wakefield public schools as well as Odyssey and St. Joseph’s School.
The club would like to thank the following Rotarians for their diligence in delivering the books: Suzanne Bowering, Jim Fitzgerald, Jill McWilliam, John Tramontozzi, Tom Stapleton, Barbara Worley and Catherine Dhingra.
Is your club planning a great community project this year? Consider applying for matching funds from D7930! In the current funding round, the District has approved funding for six projects to support projects that address literacy and education both locally and internationally, and support local food pantries. These projects provide great benefit to our communities, enhance the visibility of Rotary on a local level and provide the opportunity for clubs to demonstrate Rotary "ideals in action" for the benefit of attracting valuable new club members.
Projects are required to fall into at least one of the 7 Areas of Focus, must be a new project for your club, involve broad participation by members, and will be complete by May 15, 2022. If you are considering a project that meets these criteria, you may want to consider this matching grant opportunity. The application can be found here.
Beautiful, crisp, sunny weather was the setting for the PUMPKIN PAINTING IN THE PARK in Beverly Common. The event was hosted by the Beverly Rotary Club in partnership with Beverly Main Streets. 100 children registered to paint their pumpkins at the Gazebo. All of the pumpkins were donated thanks to the State Sheriff’s Department, Smolak Farms and Dr, Bill Beckman. Tables were set up with paint and decorations. After the children finished painting, their pumpkins were photographed for a montage of pumpkins.
Beverly Rotary continues to celebrate its Centennial Celebration with special events happening each month! Happy Birthday all year to the Beverly Rotary Club and its 112 members, serving the community!
Rotarians from Ipswich, Rowley and Wakefield, together with 12 high school students from St. Johns Prep, Danvers, joined Rachel Schneider, Ipswich River Watershed Association, Sat. Oct 23, for an outstanding hands-on training for Keeping Water Clean Day, a Greenscapes program.
Our inter-generational volunteer teams learned about the intricacies of the water cycle through a terrarium-like model, explored the cleaning of drinking water in a wastewater treatment plant, followed the polluting of water within our communities using a model of the local landscapes, and defined our watersheds within the different towns. We are ready to train more volunteers, and put our skills to action in our communities. Contact Ann Witzig, aswitzig@gmail.com.
Learn more about wine and have fun at the same time!! Meet fellow Rotarians and wine lovers across two districts, two countries and three plus states. Monthly tastings are themed and many feature special guests and presenters. We meet every last Sunday of the month from 5-6 pm on zoom for a tasting of two wines -- typically one white and one red varietal. Rotary Fellowships are open to fellow Rotarians and non-Rotarians. There is currently no cost to join our local chapter but we encourage you to join the Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship (RWAF). Next meeting October 31. For more information contact Joan at corksncapswine@gmail.com.
D7930 & D7790 Corks & Caps Wine Fellowship
Methuen Rotary Club held its 4th Annual June Jubilee. We choose non-profits that we feel their values align with the mission of Rotary and give away $1,000.00 per week every Friday in June.
This year one of the organizations we chose was On The Move INC. The mission of OTM is First, to promote literacy for children in need, so that they achieve 3rd grade reading proficiency by the end of third grade while simultaneously sparking their interest in reading as one step to becoming life-long learners. Second, to encourage a healthy lifestyle, for these same children, by providing them with bikes to stimulate their bodies as well as their minds. For more info visit www.otminc.org.
Pictured here: Rotarians James Savarino & Erica Hadley & William Haddad BOD from OTM INC.
Dr. Patrick Tutwiler is starting his fourth year as the Superintendent of the Lynn Public School District. Lynn is one of the five largest school districts in Massachusetts with over 2200 teachers and staff, 25 buildings to maintain and nearly 17,000 students to educate. To say he has a lot on his plate would be a massive understatement. However, when he was recently asked by three Lynn Rotarians and former LPS educators, Steve Upton, Dick Ruth and Ray Bastarache, to consider a Rotary Corporate Membership for his school district, he responded with a smile, “Absolutely! Why wouldn’t we team up with Rotary?”
Tutwiler has seen firsthand the many benefits this partnership between Lynn Rotary and the school district has delivered to Lynn students. These include: multiple college scholarships to high school seniors; eighth graders, who have overcome challenges, are recognized three times a year with a special lunch, a citation, a certificate of deposit at a local credit union, and a gift card to Barnes & Noble. In the 18 Lynn elementary schools, over 1300 dictionaries are distributed annually to all third graders through Rotary International’s Dictionary Project, as well as the Club’s 50-year sponsorship of the “Special Games” for the many Lynn elementary students who are challenged by physical or learning disabilities.
Are you a business owner? Do you want to show your creativity and Holiday Spirit? Methuen Rotary Club is holding the 2nd Annual LIGHT UP METHUEN this Holiday Season. December 4th - January 1, 2022 trees will be lit up all over the City.
A google map will be posted on our website and Facebook page with all the tree locations throughout the City. We will ask viewers to vote on the best displays and there are prizes for the TOP 3! Help us and decorate the Downtown, too. Limited number of spots available. Contact methuenrotaryclub@gmail.com or call Julie at 978-835-2819.
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault, PDG on Oct 23, 2021
In celebration of World Polio Day, District 7930 hosted “PolioPLUS and its Impact on Covid & Viral Outbreaks” on October 20th from 7-9 pm via Zoom. The featured speakers were Nancy Barbee, Ina Pinkney, and Michael McGovern. This event also set the stage for the return of our Polar Plunge with details forthcoming by DG Terry Curran.
The Belle Isle Rotary Club will hold their Annual Comedy Nite on Wednesday Nov. 3, 2021. Doors open at 6 pm at
Giggles Comedy Club 517 Broadway (Rt 1 S), Saugus, MA 01906.
All You Can Eat Pizza – Cash Bar Prizes and Raffles 3 Great (and different!) talents on the stage
Donation/ticket price $35.00 per person
Venmo Belleisle-rotaryclub or Paypal Rotary Club of Belle Isle Foundation.
Got questions about this event or to purchase tickets, please contact Joe (617) 909-5382, Steve (781) 731-3057, Vera (617)-909-5384 or Mike (617) 913-1531.
The Wakefield Rotary Club is hosting its third contest that offers the winner a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Dine Anywhere in the World Contest offers one lucky winner and a guest the opportunity to win a trip to any destination in the world of their choosing! The winner will receive round-trip airfare for two, an overnight in a 4-star or better hotel and a gift certificate for dinner to the restaurant of their choosing!
Tickets cost $100.00 each and a limit of 250 tickets will be sold. 10-packs of tickets are offered at a reduced rate of $750.00 and are available to a single entrant, not groups. The winning ticket will be pulled on Tuesday, February 15th at the club’s regular meeting at Brightview Senior Living in Wakefield.
You can purchase your tickets now by visiting Holiday Travel of Wakefield, calling (781) 245-5131 or purchasing online at www.wakefieldrotaryclub.org/raffle-2021. Wakefield Rotarians also have tickets available for sale.
Bring a team of up to five players, or we can create a team for you. Topple last year's smartest team on the seacoast and vie for cash and other prizes! Hosted once again by our local Jeopardy!™ winner Jill Santopietro Panall, the evening promises interesting questions, odd historical facts, and lots of friendly competition!
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Elk's Club, 25 Low St., Newburyport
Doors open @ 6:30, Game starts @7:00 pm.
Food and drink available for purchase.
$125.00 per team; up to five people per team. Or $25 to register as a single. Grand Prize for the winning team is $250. Other fun prizes are on tap, too.
Newburyport: Are you as smart as a “Jeopardy!” champ?
Proceeds will support college scholarships for local students. According to Newburyport Rotary Club President Dan Hartman, “The club contributes up to $9,000 per year in scholarships to local graduating seniors. We are proud of our students and happy to help them."
Our major sponsor again this year is the Institution for Savings. Round sponsorships are available for $100 each.
In light of our commitment to support the environment, Marblehead Rotary has been working in partnership with Bike Marblehead and Sustainable Marblehead to provide bike racks throughout town. We were able to fund the project with a matching district grant.
"Installing bike racks sends out the message that we are serious about the reduction of carbon emissions, as well as the personal wellness and health of our community," said Linda Sullivan of Marblehead Rotary. Furthermore, what is a better way to promote and enhance the cycling culture of our town?
Previously, riders would secure their bikes on signposts, fences, or trees, too often causing damage to the makeshift rack. For years, we’ve had the bike path and now we have accessible racks to encourage people to use the path more. We’ve installed the first racks at Shubie’s Marketplace, Beach Bluff Park, Upper, and Lower Stramski Way and at Abbot Hall.
Pictured here are Linda Sullivan of Marblehead Rotary and Ed Futcher of Sustainable Marblehead inspecting the bike rack at Clifton Improvement Association's Beach Bluff Park.
The Board of Directors of Senior Care, Inc, a Gloucester based senior citizen services organization, has awarded Ipswich Rotarian Nat Pulsifer their 2021 ‘Myra L. Herrick Outstanding Older American Award’ for his contributions to the safety and well-being of North Shore citizens, especially in his home town of Ipswich.
According to Scott Trenti, CEO of Senior Care and a Gloucester Rotarian, Nat was recognized for repeatedly volunteering at ‘the COVID-19 vaccination on-site in Ipswich, greeting the participants in the first two waves of vaccinations. He knew most of the people coming in, and welcomed everyone with genuine warmth and efficiency’.
According to Trenti, ‘the Myra L. Herrick Outstanding Older American Award is given yearly to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the welfare of elders in an innovative, creative, or dedicated way, or who is a role model for continuing to live an active, healthy, and purposeful lifestyle.’
One of several recipients recognized this year, Pulsifer has long been an active supporter of numerous environmental and humanitarian non-profit organizations and charitable events in Ipswich and the North Shore. Congratulations Nat on this well-deserved recognition!
In the photo, Scott Trenti presents the award to Nat in front of the Pancake House in Rowley following a recent Rotary club meeting.
The Burlington Breakfast Rotary is taking Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta’s message “Each One, Bring One” to heart. In just 4 months, we have added 4 new members.
Sometimes it is just a matter of being present at an event. We had an opportunity to have a table promoting the Burlington Breakfast Rotary and what we are all about at both the “Celebrate Burlington” event and the “Diwali Festival” on the Burlington Common. We had a poster and flyers with our recent projects and our Banner prominently displayed. We also had a Cornhole game for the children at Celebrate Burlington. Members took different shifts to take charge of the table and share with interested persons how our club “enriches Burlington.” From these two events, we attracted 3 new members.
Recently, new neighbors moved into our area. As we spoke to them during the past few months, my husband and I mentioned that we are Rotarians. They told us that they used to be Rotarians. We invited them to a complimentary breakfast at one of our meetings and to learn about our Club. Next week, our neighbor is being inducted into our “Small but Mighty” Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club!
So be present, spread the word, and “Each One, Bring One” or two, or three! Can’t wait to see what the next 8 months will bring!
On Thursday, September 30th, members of the Lynn Rotary Club gathered at the Old Tyme restaurant for one of its regular meetings. The Club choose to do a service project prior to conducting a regular club meeting. The project was to put together 50 brown bag lunches for My Brother’s Table. The lunches consist of 2 PB&J sandwiches, a drink box, and a nourishing snack. This is an ongoing need at My Brother’s Table. Especially since they are restricted in how they can feed those in need.
Since the Covid pandemic restrictions began, back in March 2020, the Table has relied on volunteers to make and deliver to the Table the brown bag lunches. Since that time members of the Rotary Club of Lynn have made well over 5,000 sandwiches.
If you are interested in helping the Table, please feel free to contact Meredith Nash at: Meredith@mybrotherstable.org. If you would like to join the Rotary Club of Lynn please send a note to: lynnrotaryclub@gmail.com.
Pictured here are various Rotary Club members hard at work making the 100 sandwiches for the bag lunches.
Lynn Club Makes PB&J Sandwiches for My Brother's Table
Posted by Leila Brandao dos Santos on Oct 09, 2021
Boston Rotary #7 members are taking their fight against polio to Club Cafe during the Pints for Polio 2021 fundraising event set for the month of October.
Pints for Polio is an annual fundraiser that raises money to help in the global fight against polio. For every pint purchased, $1 will be donated to Rotary International’s Polio Plus campaign.
Club Cafe is located at 209 Columbus Avenue in Boston's Back Bay/South End.
Rotary International and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, at a time when there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. Since then, Rotary has been internationally recognized as a leader in eradicating polio across the globe, and cases have been reduced by 99.9%. Just two countries continue to report cases of wild polio virus — Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Creating successful and sustainable eco-tourism and micro enterprise among extremely poor mountain villages. Build on proven initiatives started in the Makalu and other parts of Nepal over the past 20+ years, harness a proven Appreciative Planning and Action (APA) development methodology along Nepal’s 1000 mile Great Himalaya Trail (GHT)—spanning the entire 500 miles from East to West Nepal.
This proposed Economic Development International Project, supported by District 7930 and Amesbury Rotary, is being designed by Amesbury Rotarians Malcolm (Mac) Odell, Mark Bean, and Sandy Carlisle from the Amesbury Rotary Club, who would love to present this project to your Rotary Club with an awesome PowerPoint presentation.
On October 23, 1-4 pm, Ipswich / Rowley Rotarians are looking for volunteers to help work hands-on-science activities that support watershed education for 5th graders. This Greenscapes program was cancelled last year due to COVID - https://greenscapes.org/your-school/ .
The Ipswich River Watershed Association is offering, instead, an afternoon of family activities developed for 5th grade classrooms across the county. Volunteers are needed to lead / direct a table (total of 8 tables) that has a Greenscapes hands-on watershed activity.
Please email Ann Witzig at aswitzig@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering Oct. 23, 1 pm-4 pm. The location will be determined shortly.
Looking for Volunteers! Imagine a Day without Water.
This is a fun suggestion for all the clubs in our District:
On Sunday October 24th, which is World Polio Day, organize a Paws For Polio walk in your town! This can be a simple but fun event, and won’t take a lot of planning. Find a starting point, take donations for Polio, give out some dog treats and take a walk with friends! This will be good exercise for you and your dog (s), and raise community awareness for Rotary’s mission to eradicate Polio world wide all in one easy package!
The Belle Isle Rotary had a Fall Fair event for the children and families of East Boston Revere and Winthrop. We aimed to bring some of the highlights of the Topsfield Fair to our neighbors that may not be able to go to Topsfield for a variety of reasons, we helped subsidize this event by selling squares for Goat Pebble Bingo and the lucky winner was John Francis.
We had baby goats, baby pigs and bunnies as well as a two chickens and two ducks The kids had a great time hand feeding and getting to sit down and spend time with the small animals, hold them and learn about them.
We also offered treats hot dogs, hot apple cider donuts, popcorn and chocolate milk and lemonade from Peabody's own Dujanski Farm. It was a real joy to be able to bring a little bit of Fall Fair to our friends and neighbors in the Belle Isle Rotary region and we look forward to having this event again next fall.
Did you know that we have a gem right here in District 7930? Camp Rotary, located on Stiles Pond in Boxford, MA, is the longest running, consecutive service project of any club! It started back in 1921 when several members of the Lynn club were approached by the secretary of the Lynn YMCA (who happened to be a past president of the Lynn club) with the idea to purchase land that could be used to open up camping opportunities for boys from the Lynn area.
Over the past 100 years, much has changed (the camp is coed; cabins have replaced tents; the facility has continuously been upgraded – most recently with a new, spacious dining hall) but through it all, the club has ensured that the vision of those original founders would continue. This year, after being forced to close for a summer due to COVID, the camp reopened and nearly 1000 campers enjoyed part of their summer making new friends while experiencing a sheltered independence, personal growth and a lot of fun!
The camp’s board of directors have planned a gala event for June 11, 2022 to celebrate the 100th year anniversary. More information on that event, as well as other centennial activities will be coming over the next few months.
In May, as the state relaxed COVID restrictions, the Reading Rotary was met with a challenge. Could they pull of planning the Fall Street Faire in just three months? Fall Street Faire Co-Chair Gregg Johnson explains, “It was never a question of what we wanted to do. Of course, we wanted to hold the Faire. But it usually takes six months of planning and organization. We were all aware that trying to do it in three months would be hard. But we decided to just go for it and try to pull it off.” The Faire was held on September 12 from noon to 5 pm.
The team of more than 20 Rotarian and other volunteers mobilized, set up the website, got the word out to vendors and sponsors, and worked with Reading Town officials on logistics. John Feudo, Fall Street Faire Co-Chair said, “We’re lucky that this event was well supported by the Town. We have a long history of working well together. We couldn’t do this without their support and coordination.”
The Belle Isle Rotary Club is gearing up for their annual Goat Pebble Bingo Bash on Saturday Oct 2, 2021 to be held at the Salesian Boys & Girls Club, 150 Byron St East Boston, MA.
The goats will be arriving and be let loose on the bingo squares and a lucky $20 ticket holder will win $1000!
We will have a petting zoo, Fall Fair treats, face painting and pumpkin decorating.
Every week you read this newsletter learning new and wonderful things about Rotary. Some members feel comfortable in their local group, some seek more from the district and other can’t stop until they’ve circled the globe again and again. Regardless of the depth or the topic, Rotary International offers a remarkable amount of information.
Start by clicking https://my.rotary.org/en/news-media/newsletters log into “MyRotary,” and then click on the blue “Manage Subscriptions” button to subscribe. Here are a list of some of our current newsletters:
The Belle Isle Rotary had a wonderful night Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at the Marina Wharf Restaurant in Revere presenting member and Past President Ashley Melnik with a Paul Harris Fellow. Many Rotarians including DG Terry Rezendes Curran were in attendance as well as many of Ashley's friends and family. In addition, Ashley Melnik was recognized as an Unsung Heroine Award in June 2021 presented at the State House for her community of Revere where she works as City Clerk and does a lot of good deeds for local Veterans.
Posted by Bill Tobin, ShelterBox USA on Sep 17, 2021
Here is an update of current ShelterBox response work. Except for Haiti, all our current response work is due to people displaced by conflict. Our work in areas of conflict displacement has twice earned the Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Shelter is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone for peace. At ShelterBox, we work tirelessly each day to provide displaced families with shelter and basic household items. We have also implemented COVID-19 mitigation items in our aid packages. Items such as soap, wash basins and face coverings are helping to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Let this sink in…There are over 3 times as many Rotarians in District 7930 than in the entirety of any of the countries covered in this report. You can help us extend Rotary’s reach.
We are available for online meetings to clubs, and district leaders. We have a critical need for funding, your support is very much appreciated. www.shelterboxusa.org
HAITI – Earthquake
ShelterBox has a team in Haiti after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the country on Saturday 14 August. Buildings have been flattened and hospitals already under strain from COVID-19 are overwhelmed. Days later, Tropical Storm Grace dumped more than a foot of rain over some of the worst affected areas. Families face an impossible choice: shelter in their damaged, dangerous homes, or shelter outside at risk of rains and floods. We are partnering with Habitat for Humanity Haiti, who have strong local connections and knowledge of communities. They will help us identify the most vulnerable people in the local communities who need support, and who are not being served by other agencies. We have a ShelterBox team in country who are working closely with Habitat for Humanity Haiti to coordinate assessments, practical training, running distributions and post distribution monitoring activities. Our aid has arrived in Haiti, has passed through customs, and distributions will take place imminently.
Rotary International requires Rotary Clubs to segregate their financial activity between Operations and Charitable Activities. At a minimum, this should be done by utilizing separate bank accounts for operating funds (dues, meal income and expenses, etc.) and charitable activities (donations received and project expenses incurred). However, even with this clear segregation between operations and charitable activities, donations made to Rotary Clubs are generally not tax-deductible, because Rotary Clubs are organized under chapter 501(c)4 of the IRS code.
For this very reason, several Rotary Clubs have successfully created a separate second legal entity, typically called the "Rotary Club of XXX Charitable Foundation" and then applied for section 501(c)3 status with the IRS for that second entity. This setup then allows Rotary Clubs to fund-raise for charitable projects through this charitable non-profit organization and thus provide their donors with the benefits of those donations generally being tax-deductible.
On September 16th, District 7930 hosted a Zoom webinar where we discussed in more detail what a 501(c)3 charitable / non-profit entity is, what the minimum requirements are to operate one, and how to set one up. Our speakers, Elizabeth Roth, Esq. and Ed David, CPA - members of the Rotary Club of Greater Salem, NH - are experienced in the process of setting up such entities and consulting with non-profit organizations. We also had members of Rotary Clubs attending, who have set up their own 501(c)3 charitable entity in the past, and spoke about their experience and results.
My name is Anne Lewis of the Rockport Club and I am pleased to be serving as your D7930 Global Grants Chair this year, working with Foundation Chair Joan Arsenault and DG Terry Curran. I would be glad to help with any of your application, implementation and reporting questions.
Links to many excellent Global Grant resources will be posted on our district website soon but in the meantime, a good place to start is with “A Guide to Global Grants”. To find the link, just go to rotary.org, My Rotary, The Rotary Foundation, Apply for Grants and then Global Grants.
Please be sure to contact me early in your application process to discuss funding and the availability of DDF (District Designated Funds). Only Global Grants that originate within our district will be eligible for DDF this year. There have also been other changes in the funding model from Rotary International that we can discuss.
On Tuesday, October 5th the Rotary Club of Arlington will hold its Annual Paul Harris Fellow Award and Community Persons of the Year recognition banquet at St. Eulalia's Church, 50 Ridge St. Winchester. Cocktails start at 5:30 followed by dinner and program.
We welcome you to join us in celebrating the outstanding service that each of our award recipients have contributed to our community. (See attached invitation for all the details.)
Our water sources, the Ipswich River and adjacent watersheds, the Parker and the Essex, are threatened and may disappear if conservation action is not taken.
Please join us on September 30th on Zoom, 7-8 pm to hear about the In-District Global Grant “Save the Ipswich River and Watershed: The Lifeblood of our Communities”. Find out how you and/or your club can participate in this grant including a District Rotary Day of Service. This global grant is the second In-District Global grant that our district has ever undertaken. Be a part of this historic moment and help us save our River and water supply!!! Registration required in order to receive the zoom link, which will be sent the day of the event. Questions? Contact Joan Arsenault (joan@massteximaging.com), Ann Witzig (aswitzig@gmail.com) or Ingrid Miles (ingridmiles@kw.com).
The Manchester-Essex Rotary Club is pleased to honor two great residents from Manchester-by-the-Sea: Sue Thorne and Tom Kehoe.
Most recently, this impressive pair were the Co-chairs of the town's 375 Committee starting in 2019 that is still working together in 2021. Their skill and dedication to this milestone celebration has been exemplary. They brought together a cross section of town citizens to their 375 Committee that produced and excellent program of events, fundraising, gatherings and historical updates and education.
The District 7930 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee is proud to announce that seven (7) Clubs have achieved the District 7930 Governor’s 20-21 DEI Citation.
The following clubs achieved at least 13 of the 25 action steps are:
Burlington Breakfast
Cambridge
Lynnfield
Malden
Manchester/Essex
Marblehead
Peabody
When told about the achievement of the seven clubs, PDG 20-21 Betsy Manzelli remarked “I am very proud of the efforts of the seven clubs; not only the achievement the DEI Citation but also that their efforts highlight the work they perform in their communities.”
Over the next several weeks PDG Manzelli and District 7930 DEI Committee Chair will be visiting the above seven clubs to present their District 7930 DEI 20-21 Citation.
Ipswich Rotarian Keith Harris will soon hop up on his bicycle and tow his faithful dog around 70 scenic miles west of Boston.
Owner of Harris Graphics in Rowley, Keith and doggie Cheyenne will cycle through Lincoln, Sudbury, Acton and Concord to raise money to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS.
“If anyone else is so inclined to join as a rider, the course is gorgeous,” Harris said of the Sept. 19 event.
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault, PDG, DRFC on Sep 07, 2021
Support Rotary’s Foundation year-round by making an automatic recurring gift with Rotary Direct. You choose how much and how often to give. It’s a simple and secure way to make a big impact!
Online credit card contributions can be made monthly, quarterly, or annually, with a US$10 transaction minimum. Donors can also enroll using the Rotary Direct enrollment form, The Rotary Foundation Contribution Form, by calling the Support Center at +1-866-9ROTARY, or by going online here.
Donors can change or cancel their recurring giving online at any time through My Rotary. After you sign in, go to Account Settings by following the link in the upper right. Then choose the Donor Self Service tab. Rotary Direct is safe, secure and easy… Sign up today!
Rotary International has recently updated Rotary's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with this new DEI statement that was just released this summer:
At Rotary, we understand that cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is essential to realizing our vision of a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.
We value diversity and celebrate the contributions of people of all backgrounds, across age, ethnicity, race, color, disability, learning style, religion, faith, socioeconomic status, culture, marital status, languages spoken, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity as well as differences in ideas, thoughts, values, and beliefs.
Sign up now for The Rotary Club of Cambridge’s annual event Chalk on the Walk. Chalk on the Walk is the Cambridge version of an Italian street painting festival.
This year’s event will be held at Oktoberfest on October 10th in Harvard Square. We are looking for artists who will have the unique opportunity to draw their work right on the street in designated squares. Artists can choose to reproduce existing artworks or create their own. This event is lots of fun! Both individuals and families with no training in art are especially encouraged to participate. It can be a great team building exercise as well.
With the help of a District 7930 Managed Grant, the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor purchased a commercial refrigerator for North Shore Families Together Food Pantry in Lynn.
Since March 2020, after specific food insecurity was brought to their attention, North Shore Families Together has been providing food to local families in need. The refrigerator will enable the organization to extend and expand the storage of perishable foods including fresh vegetables, fruits and dairy items.
The refrigerator is a double-glass-door, full-height commercial unit manufactured by True Appliance. Tom Kulevich and Rick Cohen of Tri-City Sales in Salem facilitated the purchase. Tri-City Sales, a third-generation, family-owned discount appliance store, has been a landmark in Salem since 1959 with a second location in Ipswich, serving customers throughout New England.
Salem Rotarian Bruce Whear, founding president and owner of Wire 4 Hire in Salem, was a consultant on the project.
The Marblehead Harbor Rotary Club has made food insecurity its primary focus during COVID-19 by helping to support the work of The Marblehead Food Pantry, Casa Mariposa in Lynn, and Salem State University in addition to securing the refrigerator for North Shore Families Together.
Club Foundation Chair Linda Doliber and Maestro Dirk Hillyer received the delivery of the refrigerator to North Shore Families Together. Proceeds from the club’s annual Holiday Pops conducted by Hillyer funded the club’s contribution to the purchase.
Marblehead Harbor Receives District Managed Grant for Commercial Fridge
Posted by Joan Kelly Arsenault, PDG, DRFC on Aug 31, 2021
The Paul Harris Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who elect to contribute $1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, or approved global grants. The purpose of the Paul Harris Society is to honor and thank individuals for their generous, ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation.
Paul Harris Society contributions also count toward Sustaining Member (Annual Fund contributions only), EREY (Annual Fund contributions only), Paul Harris Fellow, and Major Donor recognition. Paul Harris Society members are listed in the Paul Harris Society Report. Recognition consists of a chevron style pin and a certificate provided by your District Paul Harris Society Coordinator Maria Bertolone.
Medford Rotary members are very generous when it comes to helping those with food insecurity. Every year for more than 40 years they give away 200+ food baskets to families in Medford with all the fixings for a Holiday dinner; including the turkey. Even last year, the committee decided the pandemic wasn't going to stope their efforts. So $50 gift cards were given to 226 local families in lieu of the actual basket.
The committee again wanted to do something to help those still in need. So it was decided to help others through 4 of the pantries housed in Medford. A check for $2500 was presented to: Community Cupboard located @ the Unitarian Universalist Church on High St., Saint Raphael Food Pantry on Boston Ave., W Medford, Mystic Community Market on Mystic Ave and Bread of Life, Malden, who serves the Medford, Malden & Everett Communities
Attention Professional and Recreational Photographers Gloucester Rotary 2022 Raffle Calendar Submissions
The Gloucester Rotary is looking for photographs to include in our 2022 calendar. A raffle ticket will be attached to each calendar and a winning number will be chosen each week in 2022. All profits from the calendar sales will go to the Gloucester Rotary Club’s efforts to raise money that supports the many community and international activities in which the club is involved.
Thursday, November 11 will be our annual Rotary Foundation event “A Celebration of Our Heroes” starting at 5:30 PM at the Danversport. The evening will include a social hour, silent auction, dinner, and Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) presentations.
All Rotary Club have been invited to nominate a hero from their community to present them with a PHF recognition at the event. Candidates could be doctors, nurses, teachers, crossing guards, emergency services personnel, veterans, or anyone else whom the Rotary Club believes to be a community hero. The online nomination form has been sent to Club Presidents earlier this summer, and the nomination deadline is October 11th.
We would also like to ask all Rotary Clubs to start thinking about silent auction items: we would ideally like to see items with a minimum value of $100, so that people will be eager to bid high! All monies raised in the silent auction will directly go to The Rotary Foundation! Details about how to submit the silent auction items will be announced in September.
Program Book Ads can now be purchased
There will be a program book for the event that will contain the photo and bio for each hero as well as ads from event sponsors and local businesses to help reduce the cost of the event and to support our foundation fund-raising efforts. Sponsorship and program book ad details are now available, and we hope that many of you who run businesses in our communities will consider putting in an ad for your business to help support this event. Please click on the Read More button (or see further below, if you are already on the detailed article page) to learn about sponsorship and ad options.
The Parkway Rotary Club will be packing and distributing back to school supplies to local elementary students in West Roxbury and Roslindale. The club has partnered with the local food pantry, Rose's Bounty and the Chittick Elementary School to provide kids with things they want, but can't afford -- stickers, cool erasers, key chains, scrunchies. You know, the exciting stuff that makes young kids feel special when they return to school. Our goal is to not only provide those supplies, but also to draw families into the food pantry to eliminate their food insecurity.
We would be ever so thankful if you were able to donate to the project.
You can send monetary donations to our PO Box 320552, West Roxbury, MA 02132.
Or you can order directly from our Amazon wish list here: tinyurl.com/ParkwayBacktoSchool2021 Make sure to select "add to cart" directly from the list. If you click on the item first, it will ship to your house and not Rose's Bounty.
The club will be accepting donations until Saturday 9/4. Thank you for supporting Boston kids in need.
During Beverly Rotary's 100th anniversary celebration year, we are doing activities each month especially connected to our community. August is absolutely no exception.
The Beverly Rotary Club was a part of the Arts Fest event held in downtown Beverly this past weekend. We set up our tent and had a day filled with volunteers from the club to facilitate children painting T-shirts to take home. This is always a happy event but it was extra special this year because the weather cooperated with us and we had a beautiful crowd appreciating what we do! We also distributed ice cream to senior citizens at Homecoming! We love our community!
August is Membership and New Club Development Month.
On August 19 we held a Membership Forum on Zoom. In case you missed it, we invite you to view the recording on YouTube to help you grow your Rotary clubs. We had three speakers present on August 19, 2021, and you can find links to their presentations here:
Alexander Falk, DGE, presented the new fillable membership brochures created in cooperation between the District Membership and Public Image committees.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Haiti on Saturday, August 14, 2021, causing widespread destruction in the Caribbean country, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The death toll has risen to more than 2,000 as search and rescue teams are racing to find survivors in collapsed buildings and rubble. At least 6,000 are injured and many more are still missing.
Many Rotarians have asked how they can help, and Rotary International is coordinating global relief efforts through Rotary District 7020, which includes Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Barth, St Maarten, St Martin, The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, US Virgin Islands, and Haiti. District 7020 - in cooperation with the Disaster Network of Assistance Rotarian Action Group - has set up the Haiti Earthquake Disaster Recover Fund and is asking for donations. You can donate via PayPal, Credit Card, by wire transfer, or by sending a check. Please click on the flyer on the left for detailed instructions for wire transfer or for mailing check.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently returned to his “home” at Brightview Senior Living on Crescent Street. On Tuesday, August 17th, the club moved offline and returned to in-person meetings after over a year of online meetings. Although there were less handshakes than usual at a meeting, club members were thrilled to see each other in person. Past President Mario Portillo shared, “After a year and a half of Zoom meetings, which I was grateful we did to stay active, it was wonderful to meet face to face again, share a meal and discuss how we can be of more impactful service during a time of great need.”
In preparation for the transition back, Wakefield Rotary Club President Bruce Donovan met with Brightview staff to establish safety protocols. Each fully vaccinated member is allowed to meet in the meeting room after providing their vaccination card, an arrival check-in, and a temperature check. Masks will remain in place in common areas of the facility.
The Lynnfield Rotary Club recently held their annual (except for last year during COVID) Concerts on the Common. In addition to bringing in some terrific musicians for everyone to enjoy, the club also awarded two $2,500 cash prizes to local nurses as part of a raffle fundraiser that raised over $14,000.
As club President Jack Moynihan shares “Lynnfield Rotary created the raffle in order to honor the first responders, doctors and nurses that have served our communities selflessly over the past year. We are thrilled that two nurses won. They deserve every accolade we could give them.”
Lynnfield Sponsors Concerts Honoring First Responders
Several Lynn Rotarians, as well as Assistant Governor Peter Majane, supported Lynn’s Salvation Army Captain Kevin Johnson with its drive for school supplies for students returning to school in the fall. The annual campaign is known as Stuff the Bus! The drive was conducted August 6th thru the 8th. This is the third year that the Lynn Club assisted in this project.
The Rotarians distributed flyers to people entering Walmarts in Lynn and Saugus asking if they could buy much needed schools supplies and donate them to the Salvation Army. There were bins at the store exit where they could place the items. In one three hour shift of distributing flyers, 6 large storage bins were full of donated supplies. The Rotarians were there for 4 three hour shifts and similar results were seen in all shifts. It helped that Walmart had several aisle of supplies available, many at a discounted price. The donated supplies will be put in backpacks and distributed to school children later in August; it is an annual event the children look forward to.
If you were unable to donate supplies, you may contribute funds to the Salvation Army by mailing a check to 1 Franklin Street, Lynn Mass. 01901
The Rotarians assisting in the distribution were: Pater Majane, Rotary District 7930 Assistant Governor; Ray Bastarache, Lynn Rotary Club President; Alex Sanchez and Bill Reilly both members of the Lynn Club.
Pictured here is Lynn Rotary President Alexandra Sanchez.
Lynn Partners with Salvation Army on School Supply Drive
Join us on September 17th, (7-11pm) at Woburn/Stoneham Elks #908, 295 Washington St. Woburn for a fundraiser featuring Irish/American Entertainer Mossie Coughlan. Tickets are only $40 per person and includes dinner: Garden Salad, Pasta and Meatballs w/house made sauce, Chicken stir fry w/white rice, cookies/brownies, Coffee from Dunkin', Cash Bar and dance floor. There will also be silent auction items to bid on and a 50/50 raffle. Fun for the whole family! Contact Bill Sullivan for tickets: Email: sully1980@comcast.net Phone: (781) 686-0317. Woburn Rotary fundraisers benefit Council of Social Concern, Woburn Student Government Day, Veterans, Seniors, etc.
Ipswich Rotary is seeking Club/individual contributions for Global Grant 2229621 “Saving the Ipswich River & Watershed: The Lifeblood of Our Communities.”
This global grant is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ipswich East, Ipswich England in District 1080 and hosted by the Rotary Club of Ipswich, in District 7930. With a budget of $34,000.00 all Rotary Club and individual contributions will be impactful in raising the funds needed to finance this in-district global grant.
The Ipswich River is the lifeblood of our region providing drinking water to 350,000 people and businesses daily, including 30 communities within Rotary District 7930.
The Wakefield Rotary Club is pleased to announce that it completed 421 hours of community service, 9 service projects and donated over $16k last Rotary year, which ended on June 30, 2021. Immediate Past President John Tramontozzi commented, “During the pandemic, we’re especially thrilled that we were able to remain active and impactful as a club.”
Projects were completed using social distancing with a priority on safety, allowing Rotarians who chose to attend in-person projects to feel safe. Projects included writing cards for the veterans of Wakefield, creating blankets for the Special Care Nursery at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, and packaging party-to-go bags for the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry. Club Service Chair Judy Gordon noted, “These projects helped others and lifted our spirits during a very challenging time for everyone."
With limited opportunities for in-projects, the club focused its donations on impactful projects. Locally, gifts were made to the Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, the town’s virtual Mental Health Community Forum, and supporting holiday gifts for Wakefield families to name a few. The club also contributed funds to the Rotary Foundation’s efforts towards disease prevention and treatment, supported a project to buy respirators for India’s COVID patients and the Chelsea Rotary Club’s trip to Texas to assist with a winter storm’s damage to water service.
The club will be returning to in-person meetings full time starting August 17, 2021 with safety rules in place.
The Belle Isle Rotary members (Sterling Sobey, Joe Steffano, Mike Triant, Tony Zambuto Tom Hankard and Vera Carducci) and the great staff from the Salesian's Boys & Girls Club (Zoe Bakos and Damian Salgado) collected food items at Market Basket in Revere to donate to the East Boston Salesian's Boys & Girls Club camp to help offset their summer camp food budget. Belle Isle Rotary is so grateful to Market Basket Revere for letting us collect the food items at their store and we were blown away by the generosity of the shoppers on Friday July 16th 2021.
Belle Isle Teams up with Camp Staff for Food Collection
Reading Rotary is holding the 13th annual Reading Fall Street Faire, as extremely popular event that brings together local restaurants, retail businesses, and community groups for a fun-filled, family-friendly day.
Downtown Reading streets will shut down for the public to stroll and enjoy local shops, restaurants, musical and dance performances, and community group booths. Planned events include a tailgate area, cornhole tournament, children’s activity area, a vintage car show, and three stages with performances going throughout the afternoon. There is something for everyone.
The Reading Fall Street Faire Committee is looking for help! Here’s how you can show your support:
Sponsor: The Fall Street Faire is an enormous undertaking. It wouldn’t be possible without the sponsorship of local businesses and organizations. This is an opportunity to get your business in front of thousands. Many sponsorship levels are offered, to ensure all local businesses can participate. See fallstreetfaire.com or contact Jenniffer Rogers for more information.
District 7930's RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) program is a two-year program. High school students attend the RYLA weekend as first-time attendees--participating in several leadership development activities and discussions. The following year, selected participants are invited to spend 20+ hours over five months training to be Youth Facilitators at the next RYLA weekend. Young adults who participate in both years come away with an amazing skill set and great friends from among their peers and from the Rotarians who help guide the program!
Due to COVID, RYLA was certainly different this year! Instead of inviting Sophomores and Juniors in High School to attend, we invited back our RYLA Alumni. The program was held over two weekends. In late July, a Zoom session with special speaker Tisha Hood was held. Last weekend, an all-day in-person RYLA day was held with twenty young adults and the D7930 RYLA Committee. The day started with a paddle on the Ipswich River, various leadership activities and sessions, special guest speaker, a BBQ, and campfire at Camp Cedar Mill in Rowley. Our guest speaker was the extraordinary endurance athlete Katie Spotz, who inspired the entire group with her efforts to raise funds and awareness of the issue of clean water around the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katiespotz.com.
The RYLA Reunion was a wonderful success. All who attended were inspired to continue to serve their communities and the world beyond, and several of the attending young adults agreed to help with RYLA in the coming year!
A special Thank You to the Rotary Clubs of Malden and Ipswich for their support of our impactful day!
Wakefield Rotarians have been hosting a table at the Wakefield Movies By The Lake. The group has been promoting memberships as well as their Red Sox Raffle to raise funds for their local projects. To learn more about the Red Sox Raffle, visit
The drawing is Thursday, August 5. Get your tickets today.
Back row: President Bruce Donovan, new member Susan Hubbard, our first female President Judy Gordon, Past President Tom Stapleton, Past President Anthony Guardia. Front Row: Past President Barbara Worley and President-Elect Gene Mullen.
On August 5th we will be having a District Business Meeting, on Zoom, to take care of administrative tasks. All club Presidents and Secretaries have been emailed the credentials for electors for their clubs and asked to return them to Tom Hankard, Chair of the Credentials Committee at TomHankard@yahoo.com. Any member of the District is welcome to attend this meeting and learn more about the state of the District.
Also sent to the Clubs was a revision to the existing ByLaws of the District which will need to be approved by the majority of Electors present. We will also be confirming the appointment of Lori Karas as District Governor Nominee, and the positions of Assistant Treasurer, Secretary and Assistant Secretary as well as a new member of the Permanent Fund.
The Zoom link will be sent out on August 5th to all those who have registered on the district homepage in ClubRunner at:
The Medford Rotary Club recently presented $11,500 in scholarship awards to graduating seniors from the City of Medford. The students were recognized for their academic achievement, community service and leadership. Congratulations to our recipients for their hard work, leadership and dedication to our community. Ed Hackett and his committee diligently reviewed all of the applications and chose the following recipients:
Leo McCabe Memorial Scholarship – Ruby Piscatelli
John C. Kirwan Memorial Scholarship – Jack Benoit and Rian Benoit
Joe Carr “Spirit of Life” Scholarship – Josephine Rizzo
Medford Rotary Leadership Award – Amy Orcutt
Mark Egitto “Service Above Self” Scholarship – Talia Ritchie
The Medford Club welcomed District Governors of District 7930.
Pictured here from left to right Marnee Walsh, Asst. District Governor, Alexander Falk, District Governor Elect, Terry Rezendes Curran, District Governor and Doug Shoop, President, Medford Rotary Club.
Terry greeted the members of the Medford Rotary thanking them for all their hard work and service over the past 18 months, especially during the Pandemic. She encouraged them to "keep helping" others through the many service projects that we undertake annually. The club is currently planning their annual Dictionary Giving, where they provided each 3rd grader in Medford with a student dictionary. Also in the works is their Annual Charter Night to celebrate their 98 anniversary as a Chartered Rotary Club.
Reading Rotary’s Reading Fall Street Faire will return on Sunday, September 12 from noon to 5 pm in Downtown Reading.
The 13th Annual RFSF, hosted and coordinated by Reading Rotary, is an annual community event bringing together local restaurants, retail businesses and community groups for a fun-filled, family-friendly day. The Faire route will feature numerous vendors and community group booths to visit. This is always a fantastic day to celebrate community and to meet and mingle with friends and neighbors.
The Faire also features: Children’s Area, Kids’ Zone, performances on three stages, a Car Show, Football Tailgate, Cornhole Tournament, dunk tank, food, fun and much more.
This is Reading Rotary’s biggest event and fundraiser of the year and the Town’s biggest community event.
Event Chair John Feudo says of this year's Faire: “After we have had to cancel or change so many community events, it is so exciting that we can put on the traditional Faire in the Downtown. We are faced with the difficult task of cramming 6 months of planning into about 2 months, though. So we hope vendors and sponsors will sign up in force!”
The Greater Salem NH Rotary Club committed to a multi-year program to support dental care through the Children’s Dental Network.
According to Dianne Powers, Program Director of the Children’s Dental Network, the program provided care to 142 Salem, NH students in Pre-K through Grade 12 towards the end of last year.
The program’s success is a result of the tremendous support provided by Dr. Michael Delahanty, Salem NH school superintendent. It should be noted that Dr. Delahanty is a also a member of the Greater Salem, NH Rotary Club.
The program enhanced its infection control protocols to operate safely. It is estimated that the value of services, not including the network's education piece was $45,458.52.
This effort covers 8 schools in Salem. In addition to the Greater Salem Rotary Club it is supported by other local community groups. In addition, the program is highly grateful for the dentists and their staffs who donate their time and expertise to this important health effort.
The Children’s Dental Network has functioned for 13 years. It provides dental care to children who don’t have access to dental coverage.
New Manchester-Essex Rotary President Jennifer Doane comes from a Rotary family. Her parents, Tom and Barb Guebert are lifelong Rotarians and both are past Presidents of the Carlyle, IL Rotary club. Tom is a past District Governor (2015-2016) of Southern IL, District 6510. They reside in Griffin, GA. Jennifer was a Rotary International Exchange Student in 1988-89, and spent her junior year of high school studying in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Jennifer in married to Michael Doane and has two children, Finn and Ava and is a resident of Manchester.
On June 29th the District 7930 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee hosted our final event for the 20-21 Rotary year: a panel discussion about how your Club and/or District can start or enhance DEI initiatives.
The DEI Committee had secured four great panelists and DEI subject matter experts, who shared some great ideas and initiatives.
The four Panelists were:
Lexi Kantor – District 7930 DEI Committee Member, Boston Rotaract Club member and Human Resources professional for Ovia Health.
Bill Paulson - Rotary Club of Needham member, Past President, and Chair of the Rotary District 7910 Social Equity Task Force.
Earl Miller - Greater Newburgh Rotary Club member, past President, past Assistant Governor and currently leads the Rotary District 7210, “Think Differently,” DEI Team.
The recording only includes the panel discussion of the evening, and does not include the Q&A session to preserve the privacy of the attendees and allowing them to ask questions in a safe space.
The Wakefield Rotary Club will be hosting a Red Sox ticket raffle at the WCAT Movies by the Lake. Thanks to a generous donation from Rotarian Frank Fiorentino and Mahoney, Fiorentino, and Co., PC, raffle participants can win a pair of tickets for the Red Sox versus Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, August 11, 2021. Club President Bruce Donovan explained, “These tickets are a great way to support our local projects and enjoy our first place Sox. Your twenty dollar donation can win you great seats between the visitor on-deck circle and home plate and all proceeds will benefit our humanitarian projects.”
Project Coordinator Barbara Worley added, "We are excited to have the ticket donation from Rotarian Frank and his firm to kick off the Wakefield Rotary year with a fun and easy fundraiser. It's a good warm up to get in the swing of bringing in funds for local Rotary projects."
Tickets are on sale during the Movies by the Lake on the Common on July 8th, July 22nd, and August 5th. Visit the Rotary table to grab your chance to win. Tickets are also available at Holiday Travel (402 Main Street) and at WCAT (24 Hemlock Road). You can also Venmo the club @wakefieldrotaryclub. Indicate “sox raffle” in the memo and provide your contact information. Only 120 chances will be sold and the winning ticket will be pulled at 8:00p, on Thursday August 5th at the Movies by the Lake event.
Rotarians, if you are in touch with any of your former RYLA participants (particularly from 2017 - 2020), please reach out to them to make sure they have heard about the RYLA Reunion!
RYLA Reunion 2021 - July 25th via zoom (with Tisha!) and in person July 31st all day!
The Rockport Rotary Club, with matching D7930 grants, has seen to completion the renovation of the House of Joy in the Village2Village Project Children’s Center in northeastern Uganda. The Village2Village Project is a charitable organization based in Indiana and serves children in an area of Uganda where four out of five families live in devastating poverty. Their House of Joy is not only a kitchen but a dining and activity center for nearly 200 children, their families and the community.
Rockport Rotary’s first district matching grant in 2019-2020 was designated for complete renovation of the ten year old building. But significant structural problems were discovered that had to be addressed. So a second grant in 2020-2021 provided funds for new countertops and cabinets, painting and the purchase of two high efficiency cook stoves, 15 tables and 150 chairs.
The House of Joy is now double the original size, more easily cleaned and structurally sound. It has enhanced lighting, arched open air windows and a new paint job inside and out. Food storage, eating and cooking are much more hygienic. The new Rocket Stoves are 90% fuel efficient and produce little to no indoor smoke.
Today the House of Joy is not only a place to eat but to learn, sing, dance and grow.
On June 14, 2021, the Town of Ipswich dedicated a field of 100 flags to honor heroes. A stunning display of large flags on ten foot poles will grace one of the main gateways of our town, the beautiful and historic South Green, until July 10.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary developed this field of honor so that citizens could remember the heroes in our lives. The field recognizes anyone who made a difference in their life, such as a first-responder, medical professional, teacher, essential worker or someone who served in the military. It is an especially poignant year to begin this annual project to honor heroes given the COVID pandemic.
The flags were dedicated during a special ceremony on Flag Day, June 14.
Spend a beautiful day in Gloucester! Start with pancakes, visit the Waterfront Festival and Gloucester's many attractions, and end your day with the District Cruise in Gloucester Harbor aboard the Beauport Princess.
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 21, 2021, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 21-22, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees. For information on Gloucester attractions, visit www.capeannvacations.com. For information on the District Cruise, visit https://rotary7930.org/event/pdg-joan-arsenault-s-district-conference/ (information and registration should be online shortly).
Tickets for the Pancake Breakfast are $8 per person, $5 for children six and under, and are available in advance online at www.gloucesterrotary.org or from any Gloucester Rotarian. Tickets will also be available on the morning of the breakfast.
The District Installation celebration at Danversport Yacht Club was a fun and inspiring night for District 7930’s first large face-to-face gathering since the pandemic hit. Congratulations to incoming DG Terry Curran, her team of District Leadership and all the incoming Club Presidents for a wonderful evening.
Cowboy hats off to DG Betsy and her team for persevering and achieving so much through a most unusual, Zoom-filled year.
It was an uplifting and promising kick off to the 2021-22 Rotary year. This year’s theme is Serve to Change Lives
Reading Rotary recently presented Boy Scout Charlie Lloyd with a donation supporting his Eagle Scout Project. Charlie is a Life Scout in Troop 702 in Reading working to complete the Eagle Scout rank. Charlie's Eagle Scout Project is to repair and replace a trail boardwalk in Reading's Town Forest. Charlie's project will add to the network of boardwalks throughout the Town Forest. Charlie had to plan with and get the approval of the Town Forest Committee, the Trails Committee and Conservation in Town.
A Boy Scout Eagle Project must help a non-profit or community entity for the improvement of the community. Troop 702 Boy Scouts have completed many Projects in the Town Forest. This boardwalk will be of service to hikers, campers, mountain bikers, dog walkers, cross country skiers, runners and many other types of people who use the Town Forest.
Reading Rotary's donation is part of an initiative to forge a partnership with Boy and Girl Scouts as there is a natural commonality of purpose in these organizations. Reading Rotary is happy to be able to help Charlie achieve his lifelong goal of obtaining the Eagle Scout Rank.
Charlie's Project is scheduled to be completed this summer.
The Rotary Foundation’s year-end is 30 June. Click below for important year-end deadlines and information on ways to give. Make sure to share these resources with your club and encourage them to use the addresses shown on the Year-end deadlines document to prevent delays in giving.
As you know while the Corona crisis in the US is getting under control and life is getting back to old norm, situation in India is getting worse and currently it is absolutely devastating! The suffering and pain of people are beyond imagination. They are fighting for life with a huge need of Oxygen Concentrators, Oxygen Generators, Vaccines and many other essential medical supplies.
JOYGURU HUMANITARIAN SERVICES and Boston Rotary #7 have taken the initiative to help hospitals in India to purchase life saving items such as:
Oxygen concentrators, Ventilators, installation of oxygen generators and other essential medical supplies.
There are so many people who are gasping for air and battling to survive. JOYGURU has already sent $50,000.00 to one hospital in Calcutta. There are two other hospitals who have requested help.
We would like bring awareness of the situation to District 7930 and to possibly join us and serve humanity.
On June 5 2021, Camp Rotary had the ribbon cutting to open its new dining hall and to start its centennial year celebration. It was one hundred years ago, in April 1921, when the Rotary Club of Lynn purchased 48 acres, including a small camp, bordering Stiles Pond in West Boxford and Camp Rotary was born. That first year of Camp Rotary a dining hall was built to provide meals for the campers. In 2020 that hall was razed and construction began on its replacement.
This year marks the centennial year of the operation of the Camp. It is believed that Camp Rotary in West Boxford is the oldest continuous Rotary Camp/project in the world. It is amazing to think that over 100 years ago a relatively new Rotary Club was formed in 1918 in Lynn. Those members of the Club had the foresight to envision a Camp which could be used to give underprivileged boys of Lynn an opportunity to experience an overnight camp in the woods of West Boxford. Some of those boys may have lost a father during the Great War.
The Greater Salem NH Rotary Club has been doing "Hybrid" meetings since August 7th. Crazy to think that was 10 months ago. Certainly there was a lot of guidance and guidelines to adhere to, as well as some trial and error. Rather than backtrack and talk about what was, I feel it more pertinent to offer considerations for groups now as they are working their way back.
Location
Our meetings are at the Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, NH. The space is large enough to allow members to have their space and respect distance. It's very important for it to feel like ONE meeting, not just those on Zoom and those in person. Then you really have two meetings and a disjointed group. The room we use has the ability to put Zoom up on multiple TV screens with a HDMI connection and use the TV audio. Members on Zoom can feel seen and interact with each other AND those who are in person. Happy "dollars" (we haven't gotten back to using cash) have a Zoom table when we go around. By tilting the computer, those on Zoom can see around the room to whoever is speaking. We focus on the flag during pledge of allegiance, crowd during meal, and podium during presentation. An unexpected benefit is our speaker ability has really grown. Speakers also have the choice of in-person or Zoom, so we've been able to get folks across the country. They can share their screen if on Zoom, or we share their presentation if in person.
Since the Governor’s announcement that “business is back to normal,” the Danversport Event Center has relaxed their COVID requirements and reopened to full capacity. What that means for us is that those incoming Presidents can invite their family, friends and fellow Rotarians to come and celebrate the upcoming Rotary year. Consider skipping your Club meeting that week and instead join us for the installation on June 24. We also want to thank those Presidents who have guided our Clubs through the pandemic this past year. Since the International Convention next year is in Houston Texas our theme will be country, so feel free to come in your jeans, cowboy boots, bolo ties and/or cowboy hats. The cost is $50.00 per person and can be paid during your on-line registration. Please don’t wait until the last minute as walk-ins will not be allowed. We need to give the facility firm numbers several days before.
In 2019, the Amesbury Rotary Club and Police Department rebooted Bike Safety Day (BSD) thanks to a District Granted supported by contributions from the Rotary Foundation. And then in 2020 the pandemic hit, and we were in lockdown. But the good news is that on a sunny Saturday in May 2021 we were able to be outside and reinstate BSD once again.
The Rotary Club provided free bike helmets and fitted all participants, conducted a free equipment check, and helped children complete a bike rodeo course. On the course, children were able to practice their skills and learn about riding their bicycle safely.
At the completion of the course, students were awarded a certificate of completion and a goodie bag. The goodie bag included information about road safety, Rotary, and a 4-Way Test coin.
As a special treat, all participants were entered into a drawing with a chance to win a bicycle; one for boys and one for girls. It was wonderful to see Bike Safety Day start again as we all begin our return to normalcy. All of this because of our contributions to the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund.
For the first time in 14 months, the Rotary Club of Lynn met in person Thursday night, May 20, 2021, for the purpose of awarding scholarships to five students.
Though all five of this year’s winners come from Lynn schools, Scholarship Committee Chairman Raymond Bastarache said that all students who live in the city, regardless of high school, are eligible to win the $1,000 grants. In addition to Ray, three other Lynn Rotarians were part of the committee and are in the picture, left to right: Jeff Weeden, Jean-Marie Minton, Ray, and Richard Ruth. The students pictured are: Thanayri Ortiz, Samantha Parker, Kevin Biv, and Noah leGal.
The winners are Noah leGal and Matthew Sanchez from Classical, Samantha Parker and Kevin Biv of English, and Thanayri Ortiz of KIPP Academy.
Thank you to everyone in D7930 who attended The Rotary Foundation Virtual Gala! The event as a whole raised $183,680 for TRF with over 1,500+ viewers. For Zone 32, our District raised the highest amount of money ($12,680) and were the second largest ticket sellers. Our pre-party was a huge success and we were able to meet new Rotary friends from D7790! Thank you again for your generous support of Our Rotary Foundation!!!
$183,680 Raised for Our Foundation at Virtual Gala
As the Rotary year 20-21 is coming to an end, I would like to remind every Club of the District Governors DEI Citation. As of May 21, four (4) Clubs have submitted their DEI Goal Tracking Sheet to Governor Betsy and myself.
Please remember that the DEI Goal and Tracker sheets are located on the District 7930 website. I know based on conversations I have had and emails I have received we have more than four Clubs out there that are working on their DEI initiatives.
Our goal is to announce to the District all Clubs that have achieved the District 7930 District Governors Diversity Equity and Inclusion Citation 20-21 by June 30th.
On Tuesday, June 29, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM the District 7930 DEI Committee will be hosting our last event for the 20-21 Rotary Year. This event called “DEI Think Tank” will be a moderated panel discussion on what otherRotary Clubs are doing to identify and enhance their DEI initiatives.
The Panel Discussion will be for approximately 20-30 minutes and then be opened up to you for questions. To register go to the District 7930 website as registration is now open.
Further information and the panelist bios will be shared in the coming weeks
Congratulations to the 13 clubs in the District who applied and executed a mini-grant this spring. Grants were available in three categories: Public Image, Membership and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Marblehead Harbor and Danvers clubs did grants in the Membership Area. They updated and published a new tri-fold brochure for one club and produced flyers, invitations and business cards in the other.
Two clubs, Gloucester and Peabody, chose to do grants in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Area. In Gloucester the $200 District Seed Grant will be used so that they may contribute to the equity initiative underway in the Gloucester School system. Mila Barry, a Gloucester HS student received a grant from Gloucester Educational Foundation this year for seed funding towards her Art for Equity project. Art for equity is totally youth-driven, and works to diversify bookshelves in the Gloucester Public School libraries by raising funds and purchasing books that empower people of color and celebrate the narratives of diverse voices. Gloucester Rotary will speak with Mila about her book wish list and then purchase books for her endeavor with the $200. So that each member of Rotary is involved in the process and not just giving money aka lip service, we will ask each contributor to buy a book whether in their name or in Gloucester Rotary name. This effort will match the seed money and give us the purchase power to make a difference in our schools libraries. When the Interact Club restarts, our next phase will be to continue this work through the Interact population.
You are cordially invited to a presentation by the Inter-Country Committee (ICC) USA-Germany-Austria on Tuesday, June 1st, 2021, from 12:00 - 1:00 PM CDT (1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT), hosted by the Rotary Club of Chicago, on Zoom. Our district 7930 is one of the founding districts of the ICC USA-Germany-Austria, which was initially established at the RI Convention in Hamburg in 2019.
Speaker: James D Bindenagel, Senior Professor, Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, Germany
James Bindenagel is a former U.S. Ambassador and career U.S. diplomat. He is currently Senior Professor and was the founding Henry Kissinger Chair at Bonn University in Germany.
One of the questions of our time is the future of the liberal order. In "Germany From Peace to Power? Mr. Bindenagel posits a new role for Germany. More than ever, the transatlantic partnership, whose core is the German-American relationship needs to re-invent itself to deal with 21st-century diplomacy. This book makes the case for Germany playing a more significant leading role in Europe.
Have you chosen a President for the next Rotary year yet? If not, the clock is ticking! Have you run through the possibilities? Will a Past President step back up? Will a few members split the year up and tackle a few months at a time? Check out this interview with Tim Kelley from the Public Image Committee and Terry Curran, the District 7930 Governor Elect. I ask them questions about what multiple club presidents look like. How do they split up the work? How do they represent their club at the district level? How would they even get started? Learn the answers to these questions and more here.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea is running a raffle to raise funds for scholarships, sending children to Camp Rotary and other community projects. Go to the Rotary Club of Chelsea website www.chelsearotary,org for raffle rules and list of prizes being offered.
Total of 77 Prizes.
75 prizes valued at $77 or more.
Prize pool to exceed $7777.
Only 777 tickets to be sold. $25 per ticket. Purchase book of 4 for $100 and receive one free ticket.
At a recent virtual meeting of the Rotary Club of Lynn, some of the Skills USA team from the Lynn Vocational Technical Institute presented a workshop to the members. The workshop presentation was entitled Building Tolerance and Inclusivity. The presenting team members were: Juan Cubides-Ramirez, Nyssa Lewis, Brian Lopez-Mejia, assisted by Alexandra Rodriquez and Ambar Rodriquez. SkillsUSA is a national partnership, with over 20,000 chapters all over the country, formed by students, teachers and industries working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. . The Lynn chapter creates dozens of programs every school year.
In this time of racial divide and the issue of White Privilege the team of students led by faculty advisor Jason McCuish and co-advisor Claire Price decided on a presentation of Building Tolerance and Inclusivity. The objectives were as follows:
1. Grow in your understanding of empathy.
2. Define: marginalization ,micro aggression, implicit bias, and privilege.
3. Engage in reflections that will support your progression toward more tolerance and inclusivity.
We are so excited to announce the plan that is underway for RYLA 2021! This year, instead of inviting new participants, we will be focused on our RYLA Alumni (initially from the past 3 years) inviting them to participate in additional leadership training (and lots of fun!) with our RYLA Reunion 2021!
The Reunion will start off with an on-line leadership training session on July 25th. This session will focus on Resilient and Adaptive Leadership and will be led by Tisha - a superstar RYLA presenter from our 2019 RYLA!
Marblehead Rotary Service Dog Project is thrilled to announce its latest success in uniting nine-year-old Gabriel Bachour with his specially trained furry friend, who will help him navigate his world. Gabriel is autistic and has special needs that impose extra challenges on his everyday routines. His mom, Angelica Bachour, learned that he could thrive with a service dog. After surmounting many hurdles, heightened by a pandemic year, and with the combined efforts of Marblehead Rotary Club and Chelsea Rotary Club, Gabriel and Kacey are ready to take on their world - or, at least, the fourth grade.
The World Class Service Dogs organization, NEADS, matched Gabriel with Kacey 8 months ago. And just two weeks ago, the two finally completed their training and held an official graduation from the program. Arthur Schwartz, Marblehead Club president, recognizes the financial challenges of bringing a well-trained service pet into a family. “But its enormous benefits to people with disabilities to improve their day-to-day function and secure their safety and well-being is well documented. So for us, it is a compelling decision.”
Reading Rotary with Reading High Senior Class Parents and volunteers planted an array of lawn signs with each graduating Senior’s picture and the message “We Love Our Seniors Reading Memorial High School Class of 2021.” The signs were arranged in front of the Town Hall and Town Hall Annex facing the Reading Common. The display is sponsored by Reading Rotary. The set up was coordinated by Senior parent Mrs. Maria Casarano. The signs were printed by Boyd’s Direct in Stoneham.
Rotarian Mike Collins, who chaired this project said: “We are so happy to be able to provide these signs for the Seniors who have faced a lot of adversity this year. It makes it worth our efforts to see so many people enjoying them.”
"Our Foundation is the Grease on the Axle to Make the Wheels of Rotary Turn Round"
Dean Rohrs, Trustee of The Rotary Foundation
Annual Fund-SHARE The Annual Fund is the main funding source for Foundation programs. Your gift empowers Rotarians to carry out sustainable service projects in your community and around the world.
At the end of each year, contributions directed to Annual Fund-SHARE from all Rotary clubs in the district are divided between the World Fund and the District Designated Fund.
The Rotary Foundation uses the World Fund to support Rotary’s highest-priority grants and programs, which are available to all Rotary districts.
Our district uses the District Designated Fund to pay for Foundation, club, and district projects the clubs in choose.
EARLY REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW instead of May 3rd as was announced earlier!
BBRC would appreciate District and other clubs participation and help in order to achieve our common Rotary Goals!
The Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club presents its first, nationwide Virtual Art Auction. The online auction will take place on “bid.marlinart.com” for one day on Saturday, May 15 at 7 pm.
Funds raised will benefit local charitable causes as the Breakfast Rotary Club continues to enrich Burlington with several community initiatives. Enjoy a lovely evening from the comfort of your home.
Share this event with friends, family, and acquaintances nationwide.
Rotary District 7930 Event at Granite Coast Brewing Company
Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 1 PM EDT – 5 PM EDT
Price: Free
Join us at Granite Coast Brewing on Sunday, May 2 from 1p-5p and help us End Polio!
All bartender tips will be donated to The Rotary Foundation’s End Polio campaign. Invite your friends, family, colleagues and clients to join you for a pint and help us end polio! Tip your bartenders well and help us inch closer to a polio-free world! Each $1 raised will be matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation!
District Assembly is coming up on April 20 on Zoom.
What is the District Assembly you may ask? It’s when we start training for the upcoming Rotary year. This year we will again be on Zoom. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. First up is the Club Secretary Training. Learn how to navigate through Club Runner and the important aspects of your job. Next is the Club Treasurer Training. One of our current club treasurers will give you tips and hints on how to keep your club up and running. Don’t remember how to get into your My Rotary account to make your donation to the Annual Fund? PDG Joan Arsenault will show you and answer any questions you may have. After that Alexander Falk and I will take you through the PowerPoint for the District Qualification for next years District Managed Grants. Everyone who is present will get credit for attending the qualification and those clubs with at least 2 members will get the memorandum of understanding sent out to them. After this session Rotarians will need to go online and view the training and take the quiz at the end of the session. The final session for the evening will be the district budget. District Finance Committee Chair, PDG Peter Simonsen will take us through next year's budget. Please note that a quorum of Presidents Elect need to be present to approve the budget. Please register to attend the assembly on the District Webpage. The morning of the assembly the Zoom link will be sent to all registrants.
Rotarians bringing skills to aid Texas Disaster Plumbing Project.
Join Juan Gallego, Chelsea Rotary, on Thursday, April 29, 7:30 a.m. to learn about his team's experiences in Texas. Juan will share his story with the Ipswich Rotary and hopefully other interested Rotarians in District 7930. Contact aswitzig@gmail.com for the zoom link.
Juan Gallego, Chelsea Rotary, financed and contributed his skills to a crew of volunteers fixing the broken plumbing created by the deep freeze in Teas. Join Ipswich Rotary Zoom to hear his story.
Join the District Membership Committee on Star Wars Day, Tuesday, May 4th, at 7:00 PM for an informative evening to discuss the results of our recent District Exit Interview Survey. In January 2021 we contacted former members of Rotary Clubs in district 7930, who left the district during 2018, 2019, and 2020. We received an amazing number of responses and will present a detailed analysis of why people leave Rotary Clubs in our district - and then facilitate a discussion on what we can learn from those answers. This evening is primarily intended for Club Presidents, Presidents-Elect, Club Membership Chairs, and Assistant Governors, but any Rotarian interested in Membership is invited to join!
As some of you may know, our district 7930 is one of the founding districts of the new Inter-Country-Committee (ICC) Austria/Germany/USA that was established at the RI Convention in Hamburg, with PDG Joan Arsenault being one of the initial signatories on the ICC's founding documents representing the USA. As part of our membership in this ICC we recently heard from our friends in Germany that the newly formed Rotary Club Leverkusen Rhein-Wupper (located in Leverkusen, Germany) is looking for an International Rotary-Contact Club to manage joint projects and to cultivate friendship across the borders.
For more information, please see this PDF Flyer, which includes website links and contact information. If your club is interested in such a partnership, please reach out to this new club directly and reference that our district is a member of the ICC Austria/Germany/USA.
Rotary Club Leverkusen Rhein-Wupper is looking for a partner club
Since the Fall of 2020, the Greater Salem Rotary Club has amped up its support of the 5 New Hampshire towns it serves. "Even though we were limited in certain activities, the Club decided that we needed to kick it up a notch with our support," said Club President Chris Adams. The Club decided to extend direct help to groups and residents impacted during the past year. This support came in the form of direct grants to provide fuel assistance, grocery store gift cards, food for the holidays and gift baskets. The Club also purchased personal protection equipment for local police and fire departments. The Club also provided 20,000 masks that were distributed throughout the community.
Importantly, these efforts involved cooperation with local groups and businesses. For example, the Club worked with local energy companies to identify people who needed fuel to stay warm. The Club also negotiated discounts with the companies so the donations had even more impact.
Each year the Wakefield Rotary Club hosts a spring and fall food drives to benefit the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry. With COVID-19 concerns still on everyone’s mind, the club got creative. Past President Barbara Worley explained, “We didn’t want to add contact points between our members and grocery store shoppers this year, so we did something a little different. Traditionally the Wakefield Rotary does a food drive at Shaw’s in March however this year we thought we might be able to make an impact another way. We created an Un-Food Drive.” In March, Rotarians were asked to make a direct financial gift to support the pantry and the results were amazing. Worley added, “We raised way more than we expected.”
Reading Rotary just completed our Rotary Readers project. Rotary Readers is an annual literacy project where two reading books and a backpack are given to each Reading Public Schools student in kindergarten and first grade. This year over 550 literacy bags were delivered by Rotarians to the five Reading elementary schools. Due to the pandemic, Rotarians delivered them to the school offices rather to each classroom. In non-pandemic times, the books and bookbags would be delivered in conjunction with a time where Rotarians would read to each class. This year the reading is being done virtually.
This literacy project has been adapted from our previous dictionary and thesaurus giveaways. We heard from teachers that they preferred to have the younger students receive reading books. Basic Education and Literacy is one of Rotary's Areas of Focus. This particular project was adapted from a Gold Award literacy project by Mary Kate Kelley, who is a Past President of RMHS Interact and one of its charter members.
Pictured here is President Elect John Douglass delivering bookbags to Killam Elementary School.
Did you know that there are 5 Rotary Clubs of Winchester in the world? Four are in the USA (Kentucky, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Virginia) and one is in the UK. The 5 Presidents of these decided it would be interesting and fun to start holding regular informal get togethers this Rotary year, hosted by the UK Club. So far, we have held 5 of these using zoom, just for the 5 Presidents, making the discussions easier. We hope these will continue into the next Rotary year, with 4 of the 5 Presidents changing and one doing a second term. We have discussed and shared a whole variety of topics such as the many different and innovative ways to fundraise, how to attract new members especially younger ones, projects and, of course, how we have all coped during the pandemic. We also managed to take a lovely screenshot photo with local landmarks for our respective backgrounds.
And a paragraph introducing each of the Clubs and Presidents:
Social media and online presence are important components of getting the word out about Rotary’s Service Above Self.
The Public Image Committee has recently reviewed the online PI of Rotary 7930’s Clubs for good examples of Club websites, Facebook and Instagram Pages. There are a lot of excellent examples of online social media, the PI Committee would like to encourage Rotarians to take a look at our top 2 ranked Clubs for website, Facebook and Instagram.
The following first and second place Clubs will receive Paul Harris Points for jobs well done.
Many additional Clubs are also doing an excellent job in maintaining a consistent and updated info online. Congrats and thanks to all Clubs who successfully promote their Public Image online.
Posted by Holger Knaack, RI President on Mar 28, 2021
In these difficult days, we are so heartened to receive such uplifting reports on the unrelenting efforts of our Rotary members who have responded in their communities against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the single question we hear time and again is, “Are we getting involved with COVID vaccination?”
The answer is yes.
This does not mean we will deviate from our commitment to eradicating polio, which remains our highest priority and continues to be our only corporate program. Polio vaccinations must continue unabated, as must our effort to raise $50 million per year for this effort.
This year, the Peabody Rotary club hosted guest speakers from the sensational group, CultureHouse. It is a non-profit which improves livability in local communities by transforming unused spaces into vibrant social infrastructure. In layman's terms, CultureHouse is an urban living room where there is free wifi, no need to pay to visit or sit awhile, and the space can be used flexibly for events, workshops, test kitchens, or play (think small trampolines for kids of all ages). Basically, in partnership we will dream it with our community members, and we will do it.
By researching the community's needs, engaging community members through advisory groups and participatory action, building spaces which foster community, and then operating those spaces to collect data for the city, they help folks and their municipalities find a path forward for continued development. The Peabody CultureHouse crowdfunding campaign launched on Monday, March 22nd and has already seen vital support from Rotarians. Please visit the crowdfunding page (https://www.patronicity.com/project/culturehouse_peabody) to help bring this lively, creative, joyful, much needed project to our district.
Manchester-Essex Rotarians volunteered their services to pack and distribute food to 160 households as part of a District Grant. Families received produce, dry goods, fish, meat, specialty items like olive oil, coffee and baking mixes. It was a fabulous spring day to be outside. Manchester-Essex Rotary Club received a matching grant from Rotary District 7930. Our $2,000 investment became $4,000 for the Open Door.
Pictured: Stacey Scott, Judy Laspesa, Joanne Donnelly and Marcia Hubbard.
After learning that the traditional district-wide Polar Plunge event to raise money for the End Polio Now campaign was canceled for 2021 because of COVID-19, the Rotary Club of Arlington decided to organize its own event. The result is the Polar Dunk, which will take place on Saturday, March 13th. Volunteers from the club will be plunged, one by one, into a carefully-scrubbed carnival-grade dunk tank filled with chilly water. The Arlington Media Center will be on hand to record the event for posterity -- which is particularly important this year, because COVID-19 restrictions do not permit the usual crowd of spectators!
If your club hasn't been able to organized its own End Polio Now fundraiser, the Arlington club invites you to sponsor one of our dunkers at the following web page: https://raise.rotary.org/Daniel-Ellard/fundraiser
March is Women's History Month and honors and celebrates the achievements and struggles American women have endured in the United States. Throughout history, American women have faced obstacles in gaining rights not only for themselves but for a variety of other under-represented and disenfranchised groups in America.
I felt it was most appropriate to celebrate the women in Beverly Rotary Club’s history, since it was a long time before women were allowed to be members of the Club and not just “Rotary Anns.”
The 1989 Council on Legislation of Rotary International vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary. “My fellow delegates, I would like to remind you that the world of 1989 is very different to the world of 1905. I sincerely believe that Rotary has to adapt itself to a changing world,” said Frank J. Devlyn, who would go on to become RI president in 2000-01. Not all of the members in the Beverly Rotary Club were happy with this RI decision, but the majority prevailed.
Our first female President, Kim Mannetta, was in office for the 2000-2001 year. Since then, we have had three more women as our Leaders and one more to take the leadership role next year: Jo Broderick, Sarah Macburnie-Liporto, Maureen Trefry and Diane Howard.
The Beverly Rotary Club is a growing club, with 113 members and 40 of them are women. What an accomplishment! So during this month of Women in History, we salute the 40 women who are a part of an outstanding, enthusiastic Beverly Rotary Club! Congratulations on being an amazing part of history!!!
Juan Gallego, Chelsea Rotarian, has sent a brief update on the great need in Texas for disaster relief.
Here is today's message. Many families are in great need of plumbing repairs. The homes we are fixing need re-piping and that takes lots of work. It normally takes us 4 to 5 hours to do one house. Lots of the homes are trailer homes, very uncomfortable to work, other homes work are attics but, attics here are very low. The main thing is we are helping these families and we are happy to do it. We are working with organizations like - 4Bresponse.org and The Fuller Center for Disaster Rebuilding (https://fullercenter.org/disaster-rebuilders/)
Will send you pics later.
Juan
If you would like to assist the Chelsea volunteers, the websites listed represent the groups organizing some of the relief efforts, and are in need of funds. Or you can donate through the Chelsea Rotary Venmo, noting that your funds are meant for the Texas Plumbing Project. Venmo account @Chelsea-RotaryClub. Please make sure to note donation as Texas Plumbing Project.
2021 Getaway Raffle: Two Nights with Dinner at the beautiful Beauport Hotel in Gloucester, MA!
Raffle proceeds will fund scholarships for graduating seniors at Newburyport High School and at Triton Regional High School!
Are you ready to break out of the everlasting winter and stay at the beach with your favorite getaway partner?
For tickets got to https://newburyportrotary.org or mail check to Rotary Club of Newburyport, PO Box 831, Newburyport, MA 01950. Your email or mailed receipt serves as your ticket.
$20 = 1 ticket. $50 = 3 tickets. Raffle tickets available between February 23 and May 1! Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9. Win and take a loved one away.
Two night stay in a Classic City view room with Sunday through Friday check-in. Includes $150 gift certificate to 1606 Restaurant and Bar. Value may fluctuate on dates. No cash value. You must call in advance to schedule. Expiration Date is May 31, 2022.
When it comes to parties, the Beverly Rotary Club sure knows how to throw them, whether it’s in person or remotely. February 24, 2021 was the 100th Birthday of our club. We had a kickoff celebration at our meeting on the night of the 25th. Every member, past and present, had a delivery of a special cupcake with our Birthday logo, a party blower and a copy of our goals this year. A wonderful video recalling the past 100 years was played at our party meeting. State Representative Jerry Parisella and Mayor Michael Cahill both had proclamations for our Club. We were honored with special guests: Betsy Manzelli, Alex Falk, Lori Karas, David Deutsch and Joan Arsenault. We had a champagne toast given by our longest serving member, John Glovsky. Lastly, we had a “workshop" about bubbly drinks at the end of the celebration. One ongoing activity for the club is to have each member perform at least 100 hours of community service this upcoming year.
We are also planning an event for each month until we have a culminating celebration next February (hopefully all together in person). Some of the monthly plans include a time capsule, scavenger hunt, 100 lights into the sky, an activity with our Interact Club and a special Literacy activity with the schools. We have more in the works but that’s just a tease.....maybe our sister clubs can join us in the fun! Happy Birthday, Beverly Rotary Club!!! Here’s to the next 100!
If you would like to see our video, go to YouTube and look for Beverly Rotary Centennial. I’m sure you will know many people in it!
On February 17th The Rotary Club of Malden, donated $600.00 to the Malden Warming Center. The Malden Warming Center is located in the Church of The Nazarene in Malden headed by Pastor Gerry Whetstone. The Warming Center provides the homeless community in and around Malden a place to get in out of the cold overnight, dinner, and breakfast (provided by local partners).
The donation came from the sale of “Malden Thanks You Essential Workers” signs to the community of Malden. The work that the Malden Warming Center does is both vital and essential to the homeless and the community.
The AHS Interact Club has been very active during the 2020-2021 school year even with Covid-19. Although we had to make several changes to accommodate the virus, we were still able to have an eventful fall/winter. We started the year by building our annual scarecrow for Andover’s scarecrow festival. We met outside Andover high school, underneath one of the open tents, to build our project. We had around 15 to 20 student participants. We made sure to take precautions as we socially distanced ourselves while we built our scarecrow.
Thanks to Rotary member, Michelle Houlihan, Interact connected with Hannah Finn from the One Wish Foundation. Together, we teamed up to organize a toy drive through the school. Due to some administrative complications, we had to run the drive outside of school. Although we had to deal with some obstacles, the toy drive was still a huge success! We were able to collect over 180 toys. As we worked on the drive with One Wish, we were also planning to make a few donations for Andover’s Seniors. Interact came together and wrote holiday letters for the Seniors at Marland Place (Assisted Living)! Aside from the letters, we donated over 200 hats to the Senior Center for the holidays. None of this would have been possible without the generous help of Jane Burns, Director of Elder Services. She was kind enough to give us another amazing opportunity to work with our seniors. Together, we are creating a student senior mentor program to help guide seniors through technology! We are planning to launch this in January of 2021. We are still working out the details. We cannot wait to work together after the new year!
International Women’s Day is held every year on March 8th, a day to celebrate the social, political, economic, and cultural achievements of women around the world. The theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 world. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted women and girls in significant ways, amplifying the inequalities they face every day. It is fundamental that women’s voices and experiences are central to national and global recovery plans. A key contributor to a more equal COVID-19 world is increasing women’s access to leadership roles. There is much to be done, in addition, we recognize the women around the world who are challenging gender bias and inequality and are changing the world as we know it. Even year on this day, we come together to celebrate achievements and to promote awareness about the importance of an inclusive world by making strides in women’s rights.
Brunswick Rotary Club met Lonnie Hackett on March 31, 2014 when Lonnie was a Senior at Bowdoin College. He brought us an opportunity to help the poorest children in Lusaka through an innovative program which trained classroom teachers as front-line health care workers.
Twelve clubs in District 7780 supported this program, now called Healthy Learners, and it has grown from serving 12,000 school-age children and will soon scale to serve a million children. The Rotary Club of Ipswich Massachusetts and Rotary Club of South Berwick-Eliot joined the Brunswick Rotary Club as International partners for a total of five Global Grants.
Join us for our virtual World Peace and Understanding event on March 3, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Our speaker for the evening will be 2018-2019 Global Scholar recipient Seamus Matlack. Seamus, a native of Boston, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2018 and went on to pursue a Master’s of Science Degree in Defense, Diplomacy and Development at Durham University in England. Rotary Foundation’s Area of Focus of Peace and Conflict Resolution. The Durham University Master’s Program provides specific expertise in conflict prevention and sustainable peace, conflict intervention, and post conflict reconstruction as well as diplomacy and peace building. The thrust of the Master’s program is how to include and incorporate diverse members of local communities into peacekeeping operations.
Posted by Joan Arsenault & Annual Fund Subcommittee on Feb 21, 2021
Did you know that our Annual Fund giving supports many local and international projects? Your member benefit is truly at work in D7930!!
Last year, we spent $58,323 on club and district projects from our district designated funds, with 85% of the grants spent locally, including $13,500 for grants specific to COVID food relief, and approximately 15% spent internationally in Bangladesh, Uganda and Columbia. 27 total Grants were awarded in total, 17 to clubs and two to the district as a whole (Service Dog & Backpacks for Wonderfund Charity).
In addition, for the first time in history our district received a $94.950.00 global grant to be used within our district for PPE for Care Dimensions and PPE/food relief for St. Francis House.
Looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon? Looking to connect with fellow Rotarians and non-Rotarians from our district, Maine, Quebec, Louisiana, the Cape and Florida? Like or Love Wine? Then D7930/D7790 Corks & Caps Wine Fellowship is for you!!
Please join us the last Sunday of the each month from 5-6 pm EST. This fellowship is open to all Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike, so share with friends and family members.
Next wine fellowship is Sunday February 28th 5-6- pm. Our varietals for tasting will be a Merlot from California and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
Chelsea Rotarian Juan Gallego is again looking to put the Rotary commitment to "Service above Self" to work. Due to the extremely cold weather in Texas and loss of electricity to heat homes thousands of Texans are living in homes with broken water pipes. There are not enough plumbers available in Texas to rapidly repair the frozen pipes. Juan is looking for support from Rotary District 7930 to raise funds to fly local plumbers to Texas to help repair repair the frozen pipes. Juan has pledged $5,000 of his own funds to incubate the fund raising and has committed to get a minimum of 20 plumbers to give one week of their time to travel to Texas. The funds raised would be used for airfare to fly the plumbers to Texas. Anyone interested in assisting Juan with this project please contact Juan at juangallego@comcast.net.
District 7930 is pleased to offer all clubs a one-time mini grant starting now!!!
Starting this week the District is offering all clubs a one-time reimbursement mini grant in the amount of $200. We are focusing on the areas of Membership, Public Image and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Just fill out the application online, and your approval will be quickly forthcoming.
What can you do? Replace those club flyers that you have run out of. Make new t-shirts for your club with the correct logos from Brand Central. Have a friendraiser, as your club starts to meet in person again later this spring, inviting them to a social to learn about Rotary. Develop and print an orientation package for new members joining your club. Sponsor a new diverse member to your club ($200 max) who might not be able to afford your regular club dues. Host a DEI training for your club... These are only a few examples, your imagination is the limit.
Spring 2021 Mini-Grants for Membership, Public Image, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
If you missed the New Member Welcome & Rotary Membership Benefits webinar that the District Membership Committee hosted on January 25th, you can now watch a recording of the event on YouTube and also download the PowerPoint slides from the event, which include many useful links to Rotary International and district website resources.
This presentation covered all the amazing membership benefits that are all included in your Rotary membership. We discussed benefits on the district level, zone level, education benefits, Rotary Foundation benefits, and benefits on the RI (Rotary International) level. Please feel free to share this information with your Rotary Club, and especially with new members who have recently joined or event prospective new members!
New Member Welcome & Rotary Membership Benefits
Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club, once again, made the Headline News of the Burlington Cable Access Television (BCAT). BBRC’s ‘Tech Assist for Seniors’ program is appreciated and is expanding.
A video with interviews was broadcast by BCAT TV on 01/20/2021.
Senior citizens in the area are benefitting from the Burlington Breakfast Rotary Technology Assistance Initiative program.
BHS student volunteers have been instructing senior citizens in the technologies imperative to keeping connected in the COVID culture.
We are excited to start this new year with great news: The Rotary Foundation has been honored with Charity Navigator's Four Star rating for the 13th year in a row.
"Your achievement and 4-star rating will enhance your organization’s fundraising and public relations efforts,” says Michael Thatcher, president and chief executive officer of Charity Navigator. "This exceptional designation sets the Foundation apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness."
Click the link below for the full story to share on Facebook, your district webpage, and wherever you reach donors.
Environmental Justice is the fair treatment of all people with respect to environmental politics and their implementation. A hallmark of environmental injustice is the persistence of geographic inequalities in the distribution of environmental burdens or amenities.
Who is our Guest Speaker?
Dr. Marcos Luna, Salem State University, Professor of Geography and Sustainability, describes the geography of environmental justice in our own backyard.
This presentation will illustrate how Environmental Justice is an important part of the struggle to improve and maintain a clean and healthful environment, especially for those who have traditionally lived, worked and played closest to the sources of pollution.
Join the Ipswich/Rowley Rotary, Thursday, Feb 25 at 7:30 a.m. on ZOOM.
Marblehead Harbor Rotary Club is proud to announce Marblehead's 100th Eagle Scout, Liam Conley. Rotary's own Don Doliber was the Chair of the Eagle Board for this momentous occasion.
Liam is a Marblehead High junior and is a mature, outstanding young man who is reliable, patient, responsible, and has an excellent sense of self. He is beginning to think about life after high school which might include enlisting in the Marine Corps.
Liam's project was to restore the public benches at Fort Sewall. Once all stakeholders were on board, the service team that he recruited needed to disassemble, sand, replace damaged boards, reassemble, and place them back into the proper location. Each of these benches provides phenomenal views of Marblehead Harbor for residents and visitors to enjoy. This project consumed a total of 230 hours of planning and implementation.
Want to read more about Liam's Eagle Scout service project or Fort Sewall, click on Read More...
Each year Reading Rotary partners with the community for the Adopt-a-Family project for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Rotary works with the local organization ReadingCares and the Town to coordinate this long-standing community giving program. Receiving families are matched anonymously with donor families and/or groups to provide meals for Thanksgiving and meals and gifts at Christmas. Donor drop off in the first shift, then recipient families pick up their food and gifts during a later shift.
There were approximately 60 families in need and donor families/groups were matched to provide Christmas gifts and holiday meals to these families anonymously. Reading Rotary’s efforts were coordinated by Gregg Johnson and John Douglass.
Rotary District 7930 received a grant from The Rotary Foundation to help with COVID relief and was able to provide St. Francis House (SFH) personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff who engage in face-to-face mental health services, and to assist with its food program. St. Francis House, in Downtown Boston, is the largest day shelter in Massachusetts, serving an average of 500 poor and homeless men and women a day, 365 days a year.
The funding District 7930 received from the Foundation was augmented by donations from a number of local Rotary Clubs, as well as from Rotary Clubs in Kyoto, which is Boston’s sister city. The other local beneficiary of the Rotary grant is Care Dimensions, which offers hospice and palliative care services throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor Presents a Free Concert For All! Virtual Benefit Concert on December 12
Dear friends near and far: this has been a difficult year, and many of our beloved holiday traditions have had to be set aside. With this in mind, the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor is offering a special gift to all music lovers who want a virtual way to celebrate the holidays. The annual Holiday Pops Concert for 2020 will be offered online at no cost. This is our way of making the season bright!
ClubRunner has done a pretty amazing job improving their mobile app this year. We highly recommend that you install the new ClubRunner mobile app on your phone so that you can interact better with your own Rotary Club as well as with District 7930.
The new mobile app now also includes all the information that you would normally look up in the printed district directory, but you can now have it all right in your pocket on your phone all the time.
Join the Peabody Rotary Club on Monday, November 23, 2020 for our 2nd Virtual Trivia Night! Kick back with a beverage or two and help the Peabody Rotary Club in supporting service projects throughout the City.
What a perfect way to kick off a week of giving thanks!
"Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast." --William Shakespeare
The Bishop Fenwick Interact Club, along with the assistance of members of the Peabody Rotary Club, provided leaf cleanup services to four homes needing assistance, where the homeowners are currently going through Cancer treatments. The Interact Club was able to assist, following all Covid-19 safe measures. Nice work BFIC!
TBM Rotary is conducting a fundraising raffle to benefit the Tri-Town Food Pantries and other community programs sponsored by the Club. The prize is a 2.1cubic foot freezer (Valued at $250) plus $250 in food gift cards. You can order your entries by email by sending a message to TBMRotary66@gmail.com. Tickets are 1 for $10 or 3 for $20. The drawing will be held live on Facebook @TBMRotary on December 20, 2020.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently hosted its second hybrid meeting since COVID-19 restrictions began. Meeting both in-person, with socially distanced protocol, and offering a simultaneous meeting online, the group gathered to greet one another and complete a double service project. Wakefield Rotary President John Tramontozzi explained, “During these difficult times, Wakefield Rotarians recognize the need and desire to connect with our members regularly. About once a month, when we perform a service project, those who are able to participate in person are welcome to do so with proposer CDC guidelines including face coverings and social distancing.”
Danvers Rotary Club recently held a ceremony at Endicott Park to donate a covered picnic pavilion to the Town of Danvers. The dedication was attended by the Town Manager, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, town employees, and Rotarians. The $78,000 project was started in the spring of 2019 and required approval from numerous town boards. Coordinated by Danvers Rotarians, the 24’ x 44’ structure was ordered from Engineered Wood Structures in Holland, Michigan and assembled by a local contractor. Park staff will rent the pavilion for family reunions, birthday parties, and other events.
If you can imagine a Winter Wonderland filled with beautiful children’s voices, holiday stories, lovely orchestral music, solos and duets, Santa Claus and Chanukah, all sprinkled with Marblehead memories and tributes, then you will begin to see what HOLIDAY POPS REIMAGINED 2020 will be. The virtual concert will take on Saturday December 12 at 7:00 pm. It’s FREE, though donations are welcome. The virtual concert can be viewed on Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor Facebook page.
This informative evening will be led by Elizabeth Davis, Rotary International Annual Giving Officer and will focus on your Annual Fund and how to use these funds to make an impact in your community and around the world!
This month’s meeting will feature guest speaker Fred Mullins, who works for VIAS Imports, a wine importer; and wine varietals from the Piemonte (Piedmont), Italy region.
The Marblehead Rotary Club and Lynch van Otterlook YMCA will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Sunday, October 25, 2020, 10am-3pm.
Advance appointments are required. No walk-ins will be accepted. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter “schedule an appointment” or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). All Successful Donors will get a free COVID antibody test.
Congratulations to all Rotarians in District 7930 for their contributions, hard work and commitment to our Foundation, with special thanks to the District Foundation Committee, the District Million Dollar Journey committee and the District Polio/Polar Plunge committee for making our year a huge success!
Ipswich High School Interact is a Rotary sponsored service club sanctioned by the Ipswich Public Schools and advised by Ipswich Rotary. Last week, the club leaders presented their plans for two new service projects at the weekly meeting of the Rotary club, currently held on Zoom.
Just in time for the holidays, the Ipswich Rotary Club has announced its new “IpswichRowley-opoly” game for $30 per game. All proceeds from the sales of the game will benefit the on-going work of the club during the pandemic.
Like its predecessor issued many years ago, this collector game board features many local businesses and professionals who generously support our club during this fundraiser. Be among the first to collect $300 when you pass “Bank Gloucester,” receive a Chamber Card from the “Ipswich Y,” or purchase the “Institution for Savings Depot Square” branch for just $200. All in play money, of course. If you enjoy “Monopoly”, you’ll enjoy playing this game with all the local fun built in.
The Rotary Club of Marblehead has been hard at work reimagining its traditional Holiday Pops Concert, to continue its long-standing tradition of community celebration at holiday time. Despite the challenges of these times. Rotary Club President Patricia Sullivan and Concert chairs Judith Black, Betty Lautner and Jessica Barnett have created a new virtual format that will be full of music, local talent, sing- a-longs and holiday memories from Marbleheaders.
Holiday Pops Reimagined 2020 will take place on Saturday evening, December 12, at 7:00 pm. Gather together with a few special friends and family to enjoy a delightful evening of holiday cheer. A donation of $50 will reserve a space for you and your group, providing access to the concert.
The Wakefield Rotary Club never stopped meeting during the COVID-19 crisis. Like many, it just moved online, and members have been meeting weekly each Tuesday. Club President John Tramontozzi commented, “I looked forward to these meetings every week. Being disconnected from people, this was a welcome interaction.” But recently the club decided to try to host a hybrid meeting, an effort to ensure safety while giving an opportunity to do a service project. Members were offered a socially-distanced in-person meeting as well as an opportunity to attend the meeting virtually via Zoom.
Please enjoy an introductory talk by Connor Lapresi, Area Director and Club President of The Last Word Toastmasters International in Burlington, MA, as well as two breakout sessions on Membership and Transitioning during the Pandemic. (click read more to skip to a specific point in video)
The Cambridge Rotary Club invites you to support local charities and showcase your artwork by participating in the virtual "Chalk on Your Walk" event. Due to COVID, the annual "Chalk on the Walk" fundraiser in Harvard Square was cancelled. However, the groups served by the Cambridge Rotary need help more than ever!
The event will showcase artwork by artists and children online. Not only will this support many local charities, it will be a great way to document this unusual time through art.
With the assistance of a special District grant for First Responders, the Rotary Club of Cambridge donated much needed disposable gloves and face masks to Cambridge's Finest.
It's time to connect again to achieve our common goals of community service projects!BBRC appreciates the opportunity of helping other Rotary Clubs in fundraising projects and now BBRC needs your help fundraising to help support-- 1. National Ataxia Foundation 2. Rise Against Hunger 3. ongoing assistance to local senior citizens, scout troops, and more
This year's Flags for Heroes Dedication Ceremony will be held on November 8 at 1pm. Arlington Rotary has dedicated this year's installment to the Corona Virus Heroes and in memory of Corona Virus Victims.
Please consider sponsoring a flag in honor or memory of your hero. They may be men and women who are serving or have served as members of the military, first responders, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, community leaders, or other heroes.You may sponsor as many heroes as you want, and a flag with the name of your heroes will be flown at Park Circle on Park Avenue from October 25th through November 11th. To sponsor a flag for $30 or more info please visit http://arlingtonmarotaryflags.org for details.All proceeds of this fundraiser will help support Arlington Rotary Club Scholarship program and other projects the club supports in Arlington.
Members of Arlington Rotary Club answered the call for donations from the Bedford VA Hospital. The club and the Arlington community came together to donate over 400 books, 400 DVDs, 100 pairs of sweatpants and 100 CDs.Thank you for club member, Paul Buckley, for spearheading this effort. The Bedford VA has provided Paul with a list of other items the hospital is in need of, if you are interested in joining the cause please contact him at arlexins@gmail.com for more info.
The Burlington Breakfast Rotary, a small but mighty Club, once again is shining brighter. BBRC is expanding and thriving. Its "People of Action" honor Rotary’s motto of "Service Above Self." As Rotarians, in our quest to make a difference in society, Rotary indeed opened opportunities by installing its first International Satellite member in India. This showcase project may present a template/model for other clubs as well in Rotary District 7930 and beyond.
The Newburyport Club has a great service project coming up Saturday, September 26, 2020. The club will be helping Operation Warming Hearts and the Salvation Army preparing, assembling and delivering 300 meals to the greater Newburyport area as well as notes and cards with positive messages, words of encouragement or even a homemade greeting card. Volunteers are needed to pick up food, prep and package food and deliver meals. Could you or your family write notes or cards? What a fun family project it could be! For information or to volunteer, contact Marion Spark at marion.spark@nemoves.com.
The Peabody Rotary Club and Granite Coast Brewing Company will host an online general knowledge trivia game on Thursday, September 24, to benefit the club’s local scholarship fund.
Teams of up to six players will use their preferred digital device to compete in several rounds of trivia from the comfort of their own home. Hosted by Crew Ryan of Captain Crew’s Question Cruise, participants will have the opportunity to discuss their answers with their teammates, even if they are not playing from the same physical location. Prizes and raffles will also be awarded.
Receiving the Rotary Citation is an honor bestowed on clubs who have achieved the goals set forth by the RI President. I am honored to announce that 24 Clubs in D7930 received the Rotary Citation from Past President Mark Maloney for Rotary year 2019-2020!
All Rotarians and friends/families are welcome to join us. Fellowships no longer require you to be a Rotarian, to join so please invite friends/family who are wine lovers!
Our September and October virtual tasting program will be led by Rotarian Gene Pellerano from Ellsworth/D7790. Gene has worked in a wine shop for 20 years and will be organizing the meetings/speaker/wine varietals. More info to follow. If you wish to join us in September please email Joan Arsenault at CorksNCapsWine@gmail.com.
The District 7930 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee will host a workshop and discussion on Diversity Equity and Inclusion featuring Dr. "Bowtie" Todd Jenkins, Founder and CEO of Bowtie Leadership and Development, Inc., a global leadership management training and coaching firm with a focus on bringing diverse people together to increase individual or organizational productivity and performance.
Although a date has not been set the DE&I Committee is anticipating late October or early November. This will be a virtual event via Zoom and all Rotarians are invited to attend. When you register for the event you may also submit any questions for Dr. Jenkins and the DE&I Committee.
Further details and information will be released shortly.
22 clubs responded to participate in the 25K Disaster Grant awarded to D7930 from RI. Each club will be reimbursed $426 for the purchase of PPE for Police/Fire Departments and First Responders. Congratulations to the following Rotary Clubs:Amesbury, Belle Isle, Burlington Breakfast, Burlington, Cambridge, Chelsea, Gloucester, Gr. Salem, Hamilton-Wenham, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lynn, Manchester-Essex, Marblehead, Marblehead Harbor, Methuen, Peabody, Reading, Boston Rotaract, Salem, TBM and Winchester.
Deadline to submit photos extended to Sunday, September 27, 2020.
The Gloucester Rotary Club will publish a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2021 as a fundraiser. All profits will go to the Gloucester Rotary Club’s many community and international activities. In Order to publish a beautiful calendar, the Club is requesting high quality digital photos that reflect the amazing communities of Cape Ann throughout the year—photos that reflect what the photographer feels “community” means to him/her, whether it is a person, place or event. As we will be featuring one photo per month, we need images from each season: winter, spring, summer and fall. Photographs from Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester will be accepted. Click here for full contest rules and requirements. All entries must be received by Sunday, September 27, 2020.
The Boston 7 Rotary Club is excited to welcome Rotary International Vice President, Johrita Solari as a special speaker to their October 7 zoom meeting at 6:30pm. Visitors are encouraged and may register for this meeting here. For information, contact Boston 7 President David Manzi at david.manzi201@gmail.com.
Johrita Solari is board chair and chief visionary officer of Solari Enterprises Inc., a property management company with 300 team members specializing in affordable rental housing. The company, which she co-founded with her husband, Bruce, was inspired by Rotary’s guiding ethical principles. “The Four-Way Test hangs in our lobby, and every team member sees it as they come into work,” Solari says.
The Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club in an effort to assist seniors and others having difficulty with technology and how to use a variety of electronic devices, is introducing a “Technology Assistance Program” This novel community service initiative is designed to connect seniors and computer challenged individuals with others via technology. This service is especially timely during this unprecedented period of the coronavirus in place of traditional, person to person meetings and get-togethers.
22nd Annual Manchester Essex Rotary / Landing Restaurant Golf Tournament Tuesday, October 6, 2020 12:30 Shotgun Start Florida Scramble or Best Ball Format The Meadow at Peabody Golf Course 80 Granite Street, Peabody MA 01960
It our pleasure to announce to you that the African region has just been certified wild poliovirus-free.
Rotary members have played an invaluable role in the effort to rid the African region of wild polio. We should be proud of all the hard work that we’ve done to eliminate the wild poliovirus throughout Africa and in nearly every country in the world.
This progress is the result of a decades-long effort across the 47 countries of the African region. It has involved millions of health workers traveling by foot, boat, bike and bus, innovative strategies to vaccinate children amid conflict and insecurity, and a huge disease surveillance network to test cases of paralysis and check sewage for the virus.
Over the last two decades, countless Rotary members in countries across the African region and around the world have worked together to raise funds, immunize children, advocate with local and national leaders, and raise awareness about the importance of vaccination, enabling the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to effectively respond to and stop polio outbreaks.
This milestone is an incredible public health achievement for Rotary members, the African region, and our GPEI partners, and a huge step forward on the road to global polio eradication. But we still have important work to do in order to eradicate wild polio in the last two endemic countries.
We have faced many challenges in our journey to eradicate polio. But we’ve made remarkable progress, and the polio infrastructure that Rotarians helped build will serve as a lasting legacy that will continue to help protect vulnerable children against other diseases for decades to come.
We are calling on you today to recommit yourselves to ending polio. We need each and every one of you to help finish this fight and continue raising $50 million each year for PolioPlus. The eradication of wild polio in the African region shows us that polio eradication is achievable, and shows how our hard work, partnerships and financial commitment continue to propel us forward, even during a global pandemic.
Thank you for your continued efforts, for achieving a wild polio-free African region, and for remaining committed to fulfilling our promise of a polio-free world.
Sincerely,
Holger Knaack President, Rotary International
K.R. Ravindran
Chair, The Rotary Foundation
Rotary International President Holger Knaack and Nigeria National PolioPlus Chair Dr. Tunji Funsho congratulate Rotarians on eradicating wild polio in the African Region. Watch here.
In 1996, the great African leader Nelson Mandela launched the Kick Polio Out of Africa campaign with Rotary International’s support, setting out a vision for a polio-free Africa. At the time, wild polio paralyzed 75,000 children each year. Today, August 25, 2020, after four years without a single case of wild polio, the World Health Organization will make an announcement during a live stream from 10am to 12pm EST.
The summer may be almost over but the BBQ is not! September lends itself to great grilling in the back yard or deck with family & friends (at a social distance) or just you and your partner. So what wines can still capture the summer magic?
For the next tasting, IPDG & wine connoisor Suzanne will lead us through a tasting of two varietals: white: Vinho Verde (Portugal) & red: Cote du Rhone. The Vinho Verde should be served very chilled and would be great with Shrimp from the grill tossed with lemon and garlic, fresh tomatoes and fresh basil. Cote du Rhone is generally lighter than many reds and accompanies most any meat from the grill (beef, pork, lamb sausages); serve preferably at about 68F.
You will hear more about these wines during our August 30th tasting at 5 PM via ZOOM. In addition, Conrad Heede President of RI RWAF will also be joining us.
The Marblehead Rotary Club hosted a special webinar for it's weekly Zoom meeting on August 11th, with guest speaker Pulitzer-Prize winner and White House Bureau Chief for The Washington Post, Mr. Phil Rucker. Mr. Rucker previously has covered Congress, the Obama White House, and the 2012 and 2016 presidential campaigns. Rucker also is co-author of "A Very Stable Genius". He joined The Post in 2005 as a local news reporter.
During the meeting, Mr. Rucker was interviewed by two local journalists, Christine Stevens of the Marblehead Reporter and William Dowd of the Salem Gazette and Swampscott Reporter. Webinar attendees had the opportunity to submit questions in advance and during the webinar. Host for the evening was Arthur Schwartz, the President of the Marblehead Rotary Club.
The webinar was recorded and if you missed it you can now watch the recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WeRmLmFwW54
Marblehead Interview with Pulitzer Prize Winner on YouTube
The Amesbury Rotary Club invites you to attend their August 26 meeting with Dr. Todd "Bowtie" Jenkins and a presentation "Moving from Diversity to Inclusive Opportunities for All." The RI 2020 Presidential theme is “Rotary Opens Opportunities” and we are charged to grow rotary and ensure it is an invitation to endless opportunities! The best way to grow, is to inspire and motivate existing members and to look for potential members who are missing. This presentation is not your ordinary diversity talk, so be prepared to get inspired, learn and have fun!
Click "Read More" for Dr. Todd "Bowtie" Jenkins bio.
The Rotary Foundation has approved D7930’s disaster response grant application for $25,000. $15,625 of the grant monies have been distributed to those who responded to a district-wide call for action for PPE last spring when COVID first hit us hard. The following agencies have received PPE for the amount of $3,125: Care Dimensions, Sunrise of Lynnfield Senior Living, SeniorCare Inc., Arlington Visiting Nurses and Community Care, and Beverly/Swampscott AFC Urgent Care.
In addition, $9,375 is slated for Police/Fire Departments and First Responders across the district. If your club is interested in supplying PPE to your local police/fire dept/first responders, please email PDG Joan Arsenault at joan@massteximaging.com by midnight of August 31, 2020 (this is a firm deadline). You will then receive information on how to proceed with this grant. Thank you. Congrats D7930!
PDG Joan
D7930 Receives RI Disaster Grant for Covid-19 Relief
Downtown Boston Rotary Club will host a virtual fundraising jazz/funk concert on Friday August 28, 2020, 6-8pm. All proceeds will go to our community partner — St. Francis House — a homeless shelter here in Boston. Our performers will be Boston-based The Kenmore Quartet.
To secure a ticket, Venmo $25 or more to @DowntownBostonRotary.
We're excited to end the summer on a high note and to show that the pandemic will not stop us from pursuing our fundraising endeavors in a perfectly safe way. Anyone anywhere can attend so please help us get the word out. We hope to see you there!
Jennifer E. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, has been nominated to become Rotary International’s president for 2022-23, a groundbreaking selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the organization’s 115-year history.
Jones will officially become president-nominee on October 1, 2020, if no other candidates challenge her.
At the last DEI committee meeting on July 30, we discussed the latest version of a draft document of how to help clubs become more inclusive and inviting to a broader audience. This will be rolled out to Assistant Governors and to clubs in the coming months. If you are interested in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Rotary, please consider attending our next call, and potentially joining the committee. More information about the D7930 DEI Committee.
Please join the Marblehead Rotary Club for a special meeting on Aug 11, 2020 at 6:00 PM that will be conducted as a webinar. Our guest will be Pulitzer-Prize winner & White House Bureau Chief for The Washington Post, Mr. Phil Rucker.
Mr. Rucker previously has covered Congress, the Obama White House, and the 2012 and 2016 presidential campaigns. Rucker also is co-author of "A Very Stable Genius". He joined The Post in 2005 as a local news reporter.
Calling all Wine Lovers! Join us on Sunday, August 30, at 5 pm for the next Corks & Caps D7790-7930 Wine Appreciation Local Chapter of RWAF. Our Wine Leader will be PDG Conrad Heede, current President of RI's RWAF. All Rotarians and non-Rotarians are welcome to attend so please invite others. If planning on joining us, email Joan at CorksNCapsWine@gmail.com. The zoom link, info on specific wine varietals for tasting and how to join our wine chapter will be provided. Hope to see you on August 30th! Cheers & Clink!
Corks & Caps D7790-7930 Wine Appreciation Meet
This important individual leads and supports the clubs in D7930 by inspiring and motivating them to Do Good in the World! All clubs are encouraged to propose suitable candidates who meet the qualifications to serve. One of these requirements is that at the time of taking office, must have been a past president of a club, completed seven years of membership in one or more clubs, and to have attended governors-elect training seminar and International Assembly. If you feel that your club has such a leader among your members please consider nominating them to help fulfill Rotary's ongoing missions. More information and application. Deadline to submit nominations: October 21, 2020.
Nominations for District Governor for 2023-2024 are Now Being Accepted
Cathy Gravel received Rotarian of the Year for the Rotary Club of Peabody 2019-2020 Centennial Year at a social distanced celebration on June 25th.Cathy is the kind of Rotarian you want in any club. The kind that always says yes. The kind that volunteers proactively to fill the gaps.
A top priority for Rotary District 7930 is growing and diversifying our membership to make sure we reflect the communities we serve and are inclusive of all cultures, experiences, and identities. To that extent, our district Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee is excited to announce that we have not only added many more (and diverse) members to our committee, but also created a new page on our district website that includes both Rotary and non-Rotary resources to help you with training, background information, and assessments regarding unconscious bias, creating an inclusive environment, and taking a clear anti-racist stance.
Five years ago, a few dedicated Rotarians got together to form the first community-based ElderAct Club in the world-- the Elderact Club of Marblehead & Swampscott. This year's annual report shows that the combined efforts of the 21 member club provided over 4,434 hours of service!
For this Wine Fellowship we have a special guest, Zahava Kraicer, Tasting Room Manager at Frank Family Vineyards.
Zahava will be talking to us about Napa Valley as a region. We will talk about soil, climate, barrels, wine labeling and the grape varietals that grow in the valley. You may download a map of the Napa Valley, which we will be referring to throughout the talk.
The Downtown Boston Rotary Club is kicking off the new Rotary year working on an international grant that will benefit up to 15,000 women and girls, and would love your support!
By partnering with Rotary clubs in Ghana and around the world, as well as experts in the field and several non-profit organizations, DBRC is working to address menstrual health management in rural Ghana, which affects women and girls who lack access to sanitary products, as well as hygienic, safe spaces in which to use them. Menstruation causes 1 in 10 young women to miss school, some dropping out altogether. Affected individuals may also face increased risk of disease and/or social stigma. Access to safe and affordable menstrual health management resources for young women in Africa is crucial for their long-term health and economic empowerment.
Throughout the past year, Boston Rotaract had a positive impact in the Greater Boston community! The club is proud of their growth and fundraising efforts for both local and international service projects.
Boston Rotaract celebrates 2019-2020 Accomplishments
The last few months have been unlike anything we have ever seen, and as a Rotarian I am proud of our ability to adapt and respond in our communities and around the world. I have presented ShelterBox to clubs in “virtual” meetings across the country and have witnessed how Rotary efforts are making a difference. It is inspirational.
Total Rotary club and individual Rotarian support for ShelterBox USA in District 7930 (through 6/26/2020) is $7,827!
Four D7930 clubs contributed $2,477 of the total donations, including the Bronze Donors Interact Club of Marblehead High School and the Rotary Club of Topsfield, Boxford, Middleton.
On my last day as District Governor, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your time, talent and commitment to your club and our district over the past year.
For me, this past year as District Governor has been an unbelievable experience and something I wouldn't trade for the world! All of D7930’s successes are yours and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have accomplished. It’s been an amazing flamingo journey and one that I’ll cherish forever!!!
Wishing my very best to 2020-2021 District Governor Betsy, the upcoming Presidents and the DG track as they continue D7930’s journey. I know they will have a stellar year!!
I’m proud to have been a part of your team. It has been a privilege!!
The Newburyport Rotary Club is proud to announce their 2020 scholarship recipients.
1. Norman H. Russell Memorial Scholarship of $3,000 goes to Bridget Lane of Newburyport from Newburyport High School.
2. George A. Cashman Community Service Scholarship of $3,000 goes to Annemarie Noe of Newburyport from Newburyport High School
3. Norman H. Russell Memorial Scholarship of $3,000 goes to Fay Paicos of Salisbury from Triton High School.
The club interviewed several students from both Newburyport High School and Triton remotely via Zoom. The committee had a difficult choice but felt these students rose to the top and deserved their support through the scholarships.
The Newburyport Club was fortunate to have the awardees attend their weekly Rotary meeting today via Zoom.
Maine native, Bowdoin College graduate and founder of the Healthy Learner project in Zambia Lonnie Hackett has been named the winner of the 2020 Rotary Zone 32 Donald MacRae Peace Award. Healthy Learners is a non-profit organization working in Zambia to deliver health care to vulnerable children by educating elementary school administrators and teachers to recognize illness in their students and provide them access to government clinics in their communities.
The award is named in honor of Halifax Rotarian Donald MacRae who first proposed that Rotary promote goodwill and peace among nations in 1918. The award is for outstanding achievement in advancing international understanding, goodwill, and peace. Zone 32 consists of more than 1000 Rotary Clubs from Bermuda to Canada as well as parts of the United States.
RI President Mark Maloney shared on Facebook today (June 26, 2020) that Rotary International has created a new area of focus: supporting the environment. This new area of focus to support the environment will give Rotarians and Rotaractors even more ways to bring about positive change in the world and increase our impact. Learn more: https://on.rotary.org/3i4zNxl
On 4 May 1987, the US Supreme Count changed the face of Rotary International forever. On that date the Court unanimously ruled that Rotary couldn't discriminate based on sex and they had to admit women into local Rotary Clubs. The Council on Legislation followed up soon after changing the by-laws and constitution of our organization.
Greater Salem Rotary Club, in connection with the owner of the Common Man Restaurant (whose owner is a Rotarian), organized MaskUpNH.com-- delivering masks over the weekend at the Salem NH High School.
Our district is down 77 members as of June 10. Please remember to add members on or before 30 June to count for the current Rotary year, 2019-20. Clubs are still inducting members, so do your best to continue to attract members during this time!! If you’re planning a virtual induction ceremony, consider having the new member induction video from RI President Mark Daniel Maloney ready to show.
In February, D7930 Rotarians were given the challenge to perform 10,000 Acts of Peace before the end of the fiscal year-- June 30, 2020. The amazing Rotarians in our district blew that goal out of the water so quickly that the goal was reset to 20,000 Acts of Peace. As of June 15, we are at 20,028 and still counting!
Now More Than Ever, Rotary Connects the World: The 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention will link you with Rotary and Rotaract members from around the world. Sign up now for this free online event that takes place 20-26 June. Our first virtual convention is open to all Rotary members and participants.
It is with great sadness that I inform you that Past District Governor Steve May, from District 7930, has passed away. He was formerly a member of the Rotary Club of Reading. Steve was District Governor from 2010 to 2011, and also served as a Club president, District Foundation Chair, and Assistant Governor. He was a Paul Harris Major Donor. Steve relocated to Florida, and is being laid to rest there.
The Rotary Club of Downtown Boston would like to thank the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie Ontario for sharing the International Rotary Fellowship with us during our club's first online meeting. We had over 50 attendees and our guest speaker of the month was Jeff Werner- former Executive Director of the New England Carpenter benefits Fund. The topics covered ranged from business planning to a nationally recognized extended care program. Despite being compelled by the current circumstances to hold our meeting virtually, we were pleased that this online medium allowed us to connect briefly with our fellow Canadian Rotarians.
In a deadly fire at a house in Burlington, the owner of the house and his mother lost their lives. BBRC Rotarians Ray Graber, Kevin McKelvey, Pooja Singla and Taufiq Sheikh of Brookline's Bank set up an account to help with the funeral services. Contribution from BBRC Rotarians, Brookline Bank and some community help, the family was presented with $750 to help with funeral arrangements. The club's efforts were truly appreciated!
At the June 10th business meeting and memorial service, Rotary District 7930 remembered all the Rotarians who have passed in the last twelve months. Even though it was an online event, it was a very moving ceremony and many members spoke out after the memorial to share their thoughts about those that have left us.
Come one, come all and join with the celebration of the wonderful job our current club President's have accomplished this year and welcome our new Presidents for the new Rotary year, 2020-21. This will be a unique and very different installation for District 7930 but we need to band together and celebrate!
D7930 announces the results of the recent vote for Council on Legislation Representative and alternate and the RI Nominating Committee Representative and alternate.
The Beverly Rotary Club has served its community for almost a century. Today, our help is needed more than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a health and economic crisis that has not been seen in our lifetimes, and our neighbors are hurting.
That’s why we created the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, and seeded it with more than $11,000 in pledges from Beverly Rotarians.
We know that money will run out quickly. That is why we are launching the Care From Your Chair fundraiser later this month. You don’t have to leave your house to help your neighbors -- you can simply log on to the internet and make a bid on any one of dozens of fun items, including: Artwork, Jewelry, Fine furniture, Gift cards, Golf outings, and Sports memorabilia.
In February, D7930 Rotarians were given the challenge to perform 10,000 Acts of Peace before the end of the fiscal year-- June 30, 2020. The amazing Rotarians in our district blew that goal out of the water so quickly that the goal was reset to 20,000 Acts of Peace. As of June 3, we are at 18,259-- only 1,741 away from our doubled goal!
Twenty-three wine lovers crossing three states and two districts, met May 31 for a wonderful wine tasting of two wine varietals: Pinot Grigio and Zinfandel. DG Suzanne from D7790 led us in tasting and tips on how to taste wines, the reason for corks versus twist caps, and what glasses are recommended for sipping white versus red wines. An overall fun, fun, fun time!
Our next Local Chapter of RWAF is slated for Sunday June 28th at 5 pm. Our very own DGND Alexander Falk will be leading the tasting of Grüner Veltliner - a grape variety that is grown primarily in Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic and Sangiovese - an Italian grape varietal that is best known for its role in Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, as well as many "Super Tuscans." We will also be sharing food pairings with these two wines. Hope you can join us. Open to Rotarians, Spouses and Friends. More info to follow via Club Runner. If interested in joining us, you can also contact DG Joan at joan@massteximaging.com.
As you know, the Annual Fund of the Rotary Foundation is where our voluntary $100 per year donation under the Every Rotarian Every Year program goes, but let's keep in mind the wonderful SHARE model of the Rotary Foundation: 50% of all the funds donated to the Annual Fund come back to our district three years later in the form of District Designated Funds (DDFs), which we can then deploy for both global grants and district-managed grants to help our Rotary Clubs do wonderful projects - both in their communities and around the world. For example, this year the following are just some of the projects we supported with DDFs: Service Dog, Backpacks for Children in Need, Covid Food Relief, as well as global projects such as toilets in India, etc.
As this Rotary year comes to an unusual end in less than a month, I wanted to ask you for your help. Think about the many Rotary District 7930 in-person events you have missed this spring, and how much money you have saved on drinks, dinners, and gas mileage... we would really appreciate it, if you could donate some of those monies to the Annual Fund of the Rotary Foundation right now: https://my.rotary.org/en/donate and make sure that Annual Fund is checked. Thank you so much!!
Let's multitask in our efforts to fight viruses! In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we still have a promise to keep to the world's children - ending the preventable scourge of polio. Please join Polio Plus Chair Michael McGovern and Rotary Foundation Trustee Julia Phelps for a Livestream on June 10th. And join us in donating at least $10 to The Rotary Foundation's PolioPlus fund during the week of June 8-17 at: https://www.endpolio.org/donate.
Those of us lucky to be working from home should consider chipping in a little of the lunch money we've been saving. Ditto the meeting meals we haven't purchased holding Rotary meetings on Zoom. And remember, every dollar we give becomes three with the Gates Foundation match!
The Rotary Club of Burlington recently donated 150 pounds of food to the People Helping People Food Pantry in Burlington. The PHP Food Pantry serves an average of 155 families per month and it spiked to 184 families in March due to the COVID 19 virus crisis. Pictured left-to-right; Roger Bell – Rotary Club of Burlington President, Jane McIninch and Cheryl Barnes - People Helping People Co-Coordinators.
Learn about the Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship (RWAF)
Join DG Joan Arsenault and DG Suzanne Uhl-Melanson for an evening of fun sipping on wine while hearing about the new RWAF Chapter being formed in our two districts. This evening we will be tasting the following wines: Pinot Grigio and Zinfandel. Purchase one of each and consider choosing a wine from these varietals that you have never tried. We will be comparing tasting notes and hearing about the characteristics of each grape variety. And of course we will want you all to share what you have brought to the tasting. You will also hear about the specifics of joining the Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship (RWAF) Chapter as well as plans for future wine events.
Partners are also encouraged to attend.
See you on the 31st for our first "sipping" adventure!
DG’s Joan & Suzanne Joan Arsenault – District Governor 2019/2020, District 7930 Suzanne Uhl-Melanson - District Governor 2019/2020, District 7790
Fellow Rotarians, I received the following email from PDG Donna Lee Rubin recently on the status of our international service mission to Cebu in the Philippines.
“I’m saddened to say that due to the global travel restrictions and the uncertainty of the spread of the pandemic, we must postpone the 2020 mission to Cebu. I have notified PDG Anton in Cebu who will communicate with the sponsoring Rotary Club , patient recruiters , hospital and volunteers. They are truly admirable, loyal and so hard working. We are so appreciative of the ongoing enthusiasm and support from the clubs and donors in my dear District 7930. You are all so special to me and I miss you…
What an impact D7930 has made globally having sponsored missions since 2001 which is when I brought Rotaplast to Massachusetts and beyond in our Zones.I was DG and went on the first district sponsored mission to Bolivia just weeks after 911 and the full Boston team all stayed on the team to join the mission. It was fabulous and was the platform for helping so many children in need globally for years to come.
Now in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be canceling missions through at least July 2021. We hope to get out on the other side of this and resume future missions. Hopefully D7930 will be there to sponsor the next mission to Cebu.
The Inter Country Committee (ICC) Austria-Germany-USA was formed a year ago at the Rotary International Convention 2019 in Hamburg, Germany, and had an online meeting conducted via Zoom on May 18, 2020. Participants from Rotary districts in the three countries collaborate to help define future projects that will be conducted in a cooperative effort between those countries. Participating from Rotary District 7930 were DG Joan Arsenault, DGND Alexander Falk, and Martha Mauser, past and future president of the Ipswich Rotary Club as well as Inbound Coordinator for District 7930 in the Rotary Youth Exchange program.
Inter Country Committee Austria-Germany-USA Meeting
On Saturday morning, May 16, Reading Memorial High School Senior Class Advisors and Parents along with Rotarians planted an array of lawn signs with each graduating Senior’s picture and the message “We Love Our Seniors Reading Memorial High School Class of 2020.” The signs are arranged in front of the Reading Town Hall facing the Reading Common. The display was set up as a surprise to students and their families and was spearheaded by Senior parent Mrs. Kathy Kinney and sponsored by Reading Rotary. The signs were printed by Art Hayden of Hayden Specialties in Wilmington
The Rotary Club of Burlington purchased and donated 7 Bleeding Control Kits to the Burlington Public School System late last year. Bleeding Control Kits are designed to provide essential equipment that empowers the general public to take action as immediate responders in stopping life-threatening bleeding caused by traumatic injuries. Pictured left to right – Rotary Club of Burlington President Roger Bell, Burlington Fire Fighter Lt. Mark Saia, Burlington Police Lt. Glen Mills, Burlington Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Conti and Burlington Police Chief Michael Kent.
Burlington Donates Bleeding Control Kits to Schools
From the Department of Many Hands Make Light Work……
Recently, the Rotary Clubs of Manchester-Essex, Gloucester, Rockport and Beverly assisted in delivering Ryan and Wood Hand Sanitizer to deserving folks in the communities.
In March of this year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bob and Kathy Ryan, owners of Ryan and Wood Distillery in Gloucester, halted their thriving spirits production to focus on making hand sanitizer. The recipe, made from their vodka distillate, hydrogen peroxide and glycerol, came from recommended guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization. Production has been brisk, with each 500 gallon batch disappearing off the shelves as fast as they’re put up. Bob and Kathy have been generously donating to medical facilities and essential organizations. Bob reached out to the area Rotary Clubs to see if they would help get the sanitizer to folks we know of in our communities who could benefit from it.
We did it! We met our goal of 10,000 Acts of Peace!
Let’s keep it going! With all of the service in our communities occurring due to COVID19, I would like to challenge us to get to 20,000 Acts by June 15th. Let’s celebrate our Acts of Peace at the Virtual District Installation on June 25th.
You are invited to an incredible evening with First Lady of Massachusetts Lauren Baker on Tuesday, May 19, at 7pm via Zoom. This amazing evening will be a fireside chat format with First Lady Lauren Baker. Hear about the Mass Coronavirus Relief Fund and its impact on our communities. There will be an opportunity for Q&A during the meeting.
Questions related to Mass Coronavirus Relief Fund are being collected prior to the webinar. To submit your question, contact Lori Karas at lori.karas@outlook.com prior to the event.
We are looking forward to you joining us. What a great opportunity about hearing what is happening in the state as well how this fund is impacting the people in areas where we work, live and serve.
This fireside chat webinar has been recorded, and you can now watch on YouTube, if you missed the live event: https://youtu.be/_tgywnGXXJc
The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor is giving $250 gift certificates to qualified applicants who lost their jobs due to Covid-19. The certificates are meant to help Marblehead residents purchase food and other basic necessities from town grocers. “Our goal is help individuals who have been laid off from ‘non-essential’ positions who may have been receiving an hourly wage and/or surviving on tips,” said club President Kathleen Murphy. “They are financially the most at risk group, struggling to pay for food and essentials.”
The Marblehead Harbor has so far raised $6,700 and continues to fundraise to provide as much assistance as possible.
Reading Rotary is delighted to announce that it recently received a donation of $1,000 from Cummings Properties. Cummings Community Giving seeks to recognize and support communities of its staff, clients, volunteers and associates. The gift was made in honor of and at the recommendation of John Bogosian of Reading. John is a much-appreciated volunteer of the Cummings Foundation.
The Rotary Club of Burlington located,obtained and distributed 2 cases of sterile gloves to the town's Public Safety front line departments today. Club President Roger Bell is pictured here with Burlington Fire Chief Michael Patterson.
On Wednesday, May 6th, CEO Scott Doll of The Global Impact Group (TGIG) discussed Rotary's relationship with TGIG and Volunteer Surge and how we can use tele-support to Reach Those Who Are Physically Isolated. This Zoom call was recorded, and if you missed the live meeting, you can now watch it here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5prBNSvxQr0
Any Rotary Club wishing to participate in a Rotary Foundation Global Grant and/or District Managed Grant must have at least two members qualified to manage grants. To qualify your Rotary Club, please follow these important three steps:
1. Watch a 16-minute Grant Management Seminar 2. Take a short Grant Qualification Quiz 3. Electronically sign the Memorandum of Understanding
Rotary District 7930 "Roared into the Twenties" last Thursday night (April 30) at our first virtual District event, as we celebrated the 100 year anniversaries of the Lawrence, Malden, and Peabody Clubs!
DG Joan led the evening with proclamations of the multitude of accomplishments each club has experienced over the past 100 years, and Rotary International President Mark Maloney presented the keynote talk, reminding us that Rotary Connects the World. Music from the twenties and a chat to catch up with friends after the formal proceeds rounded out the evening.
Congratulations to the Lawrence, Malden and Peabody Clubs on your centennial anniversary!
During this unprecedented time in history, we are reminded of the tremendous importance of essential workers in our community. This realization has sparked discussions among Rotary Clubs on ways in which they can assist and support their communities during this time of crisis. Many of these discussions have been interesting and productive.
The Essential Worker Thank You Sign program of the Stoneham Rotary Club was formed as a result of these conversations. The program offers a way to combine visual support for the workers who are not able to stay home during this critical time with financially supporting Covid-19 relief efforts. Essential workers include doctors, nurses, technicians and other hospital staff, EMTs, police officers, firefighters, transit personnel, grocery store employees, delivery drivers and more.
The Andover Rotary, Andover Cares, The Knights of Columbus, and other local civic organizations are partnering to help Fuel The Fight-The Andovers, Inc.75% of all (tax deductible) donations for Fuel The Fight made through Andover Cares will support feeding health care workers providing front-line support for citizens in our region. Any remaining donations will support this, or other local causes related to health and wellness in our community, which Andover Cares sponsors.
Our struggling local restaurants need business to help survive through the prolonged stay at home advisory period .... and Lawrence General Hospital employees working on the front line of the Covid pandemic need food because their cafeteria is closed ... and moreover, the outpouring of public support in sending meals to the hospital has been a "tremendous" emotional boost to the healthcare workers while they face Covid-19 every day.
Click here for information about this program or to contribute to this important effort.
Reading Rotary has begun placing signs around Reading to encourage those on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19 pandemic. President Mike Collins said, "It's important to recognize the service of those the health care workers, first responders and essential personnel who are doing so much for the community. We are also reaching out to the town, schools and clergy to see how our Rotary volunteers can be of service now."
Reading Rotary has moved its meetings online and is continuing to work closely with the Reading Food Pantry to help those facing food insecurity during the quarantine. Rotary makes a weekly run into the Greater Boston Food Bank for the Reading Food Pantry and members are working in outreach to RFP clients.
Capt. Kevin Johnson, who runs the Salvation Army in Lynn, is really something special. He only has 3 full time employees the rest are volunteers. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Lynn.
Kevin only has been in Lynn for about 2 years. When he and his wife came to Lynn they knew nobody. He started the Covid-19 food bank from scratch about a month ago, and now he is giving out hundreds of boxes of food daily. He gave out the 10,000th box in April! He has managed to involve a huge number of volunteers, many of them officials in the City of Lynn. In the time before the Coronavirus, he made the Salvation Army HQ available for the monthly food distribution in which many Lynn Rotarians are an integral part.
Medford Rotary donated meals to Medford Fire, Medford Police, Armstrong Ambulance, Lahey Winchester ER, Bread of Life, and Lahey Burlington ER on two dates in April. More than 250 “plated” hot meals with salad & garlic bread were donated! This also helped Avelinnos in Medford. This restaurant is very supportive of Rotary’s many fundraisers and it is our way to give back to them as well.
“I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for sending lunch to the Medford Police Department. Thanks for also choosing a well deserving Medford restaurant (Avellino's). Your consideration and generosity are greatly appreciated."
--Detective Sergeant James Benoit, Medford Police Department
“I’d like to thank you, on behalf of Armstrong, for the lunch that you dropped off for our crews yesterday. They were so grateful, and the gesture really does mean so much at this difficult time. We are all leaning on our support systems to get us through these tying period, and the Rotary certainly made everyone feel so appreciated and cared for. So we send you big thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!! Many thanks."
--Meredith A. Lambroff, Chief Business Officer, Armstrong Ambulance.
The Rotary Club of East Nassau in the Bahamas has arranged a fabulous online speaker series. Each Friday in May, there will be a Rotary leader speaking at 1pm.
This Friday, May 8, RI President-Elect Holger Knaack will be speaking. Rotarians from around the world are welcome to join the meeting.
If you are looking for something different to do (or maybe you need a club attendance make-up), please send an email to rotaryclubeastnassau@gmail.com to receive the link to join the virtual Zoom meeting. Pre-registration is required to join the call.Connect using Zoom on your computer, tablet or smartphone.
D7930 committed to performing 10,000 Acts of Peace between February 12 (the date of the World Peace & Understanding Dinner) and June 1, 2020.
What are you and your club doing right now to battle the COVID pandemic? Log your acts under Disease Prevention and help us get to our goal of 10,000 Acts of Peace by June 1.
Have you donated food/funds to a food pantry? Have you donated PPE to a human services agency? Have your members volunteered their time? Please log your Club's Acts of Peace here.
D7930 Logs 916 Acts of Peace in One Week-- going from 3,174 to 4,090!
D7930 committed to performing 10,000 Acts of Peace between February 12 (the date of the World Peace & Understanding Dinner) and June 1, 2020. What are you and your club doing right now to battle the COVID pandemic? Log your acts under Disease Prevention and help us get to our goal of 10,000 Acts of Peace by June 1.
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom - it was great seeing our friends from their living rooms! Boston Rotaract kicked off the its virtual April with a member meeting on Monday, sharing progress from the last quarter and hearing what members have been doing to take care of themselves during this time. A few special Rotarians joined the call and the club welcomes other district Rotarians to join their meetings and events. The group welcomed a Rotary superhero, Evan Burrell from Sydney, to speak about his Rotaract and Rotary journeys, as well as about the importance of personal branding and telling your digital story.
Like all of you, I've been home for over a month watching the COVID-19 pandemic unfold and feeling like I should be doing more! I'm healthy, I have food on the table, and I'm able to stay home. Not everyone can say that! And then our district had this awful virus hit us personally with the death of Beverly Rotarian, Don Kelly. Don was club president when I served as governor (2007-08). He was a great club president, and even better Rotarian, a better yet community supporter. What a loss …. Just like all the others who’ve died because of this virus.
So, here's what I've come up with .... JULIA'S COVID-19 CHALLENGE. Many of you have already given, thank you! For those of you who haven’t … here’s your chance.
I'm challenging a 200 of my friends and friends of Rotary in District 7930 to donate $25 to Rotary's Disaster Response Fund. One-thousand donations (Rotarians and non-Rotarians) will result in one COVID-19 Disaster Response grant ($25,000) being funded for a Rotary district somewhere in the Rotary world. I have almost 4,000 followers on Facebook and 150 of them have already given. We have almost 2,000 members in District 7930 and I hope that I can count on at least 10% (200) of you to rise to the challenge. If you’ve already given, thank you again!
I hope I can count on 200 of my friends in District 7930 to step up and donate. Let me know when you donate (email, PM, or on my FB timeline) so I can keep track of how we're doing.
Thank you and let's make a difference!
Julia D. Phelps, Ed.D. Trustee, The Rotary Foundation, 2017 - 2020 Director, Rotary International, 2014 - 2016
Update 4/13/2020: District Clubs have jumped onto this opportunity to help their communities! At this time, all funds have been committed. Thank you D7930 for your commitment to serving!
I would like to share with you some great news from District 7930 and the Rotary Foundation!
The Rotary Foundation recently gave districts more flexibility in using DDF money. Clubs who are grant qualified have access to apply for a District grant up to $6,000 per grant (50% Club/50% District) to be used for COVID 19 FOOD RELIEF. There are ONLY 25 clubs who qualified this year and each of those clubs/members received a separate email from me. Qualified clubs need to submit grants by May 1 and complete the project by June 1. Grants will be approved on a first come, first serve basis until the $19,000 is depleted.
D7930 committed to performing 10,000 Acts of Peace between February 12 (the date of the World Peace & Understanding Dinner) and June 1, 2020. What are you and your club doing right now to battle the COVID pandemic? Log your acts under Disease Prevention and help us get to our goal of 10,000 Acts of Peace by June 1.
How has your Club adapted to today's new reality of online meetings? What innovative ways are you continuing to support your members, your community and the world?
Please share your story with us. The District would love to know what you are doing and how you are managing.
Last Saturday's Polar Plunge was a huge success! Almost 200 Rotarians and friends plunged into the frosty waters at Long Beach in Gloucester-- raising more than $91,000 to End Polio Now! We are currently $99,000 away from raising ONE MILLION Dollars since the first Polar Plunge 10 years ago.
Thank you to everyone involved with the Plunge, including our plungers, donors, sponsors, and the many people and organizations who donated their time and resources to make the Plunge a success!
Join us at Granite Coast Brewing on Sunday, March 22, help us #endpolio! All bartender tips will be donated to The Rotary Foundation’s End Polio campaign.
Invite your friends, family, colleagues and clients to join you for a pint and help us end polio! Granite Coast is family and dog-friendly. Bring your own food to the brewery! Tip your bartender well and help us inch closer to a polio-free world! Each $1 raised will be matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation!
You're welcome to bring in your own food or Wild Fox Pierogi will host a pop up 12-4pm.
It's time to register for this year's Winchester Rotary Club's Rise Against Hunger meal packing event on Thursday, March 19, 4pm at Hadley Hall! This is an event we encourage members to bring colleagues, family, kids and friends to help us pack over 14,000 meals in less than 2 hours! There will be a pizza party after the work is done.
Please join the Methuen Rotary Club at our 10th Annual Celebration Of Achievement, where we honor students, teachers and the "Service Above Self" recipient. On April 14, 2020 at 6pm at the Merrimack Golf Course, 210 Howe Street, Methuen, MA. Our special Guest Speaker will be Donna-Lee Young Rubin, the Chief Executive Officer of Rotaplast International.
Tickets $50, includes family style dinner, coffee, dessert and cash bar. Register at methuenrotary.org.
Chris Daly, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar alumna and Associate Director at the New York Peace Institute, has been named as one of the “5 Best Mediators in New York” in this article. Photo credit: www.nypeace.org
The Chelsea Black Community celebrates Black History Month with a month long series of events promoting black history in Chelsea. As part of the celebration the CBC recognizes several local residents and business persons as Chelsea Trailblazers. In recognizing this year’s Trailblazers the CBC took into consideration ethical behavior grounded on compassion, nurture and social bonds. Ideals and convictions that pertain to human beings’ behavior toward each other and to the preferred organizations of their communities such as – historical experience, empathy and the need for integrity and harmony. This year’s honorees include Chelsea Rotarian PP Susan Gallant. Susan was recognized for commitments to the Chelsea Rotary Club and the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce. Susan organizes and coordinates the Chelsea Rotary’s project of sending 20 Chelsea children to Camp Rotary every year. She also runs the Chelsea Chamber’s annual Pot-O-Gold and Brighter Holidays Breakfast with Santa. The Chelsea City Council honored the 2019 CBC Trailblazers with resolutions at their February 10, 2020 meeting.
Although India is certified Polio free since year 2011, still there is a fear of its coming back. Hence, every year as a precautionary measure India organizes a National Immunization Day (NID) to deliver Oral Poliovirus Vaccine drops to every child under 5 years of age. This year the NID was on January 19th. 2020 in India. Invitations were sent to many Rotary Clubs in the world to come to India and have Rotarians from allover the world volunteer and participate in immunizing children by dropping those two precious drops of polio vaccines. It is a tremendously rewarding feeling to realize that you administered those two drops of vaccine and saved a child from being a victim of polio! The joy of that experience can only be felt as there is no proper words to describe that heartfelt feeling!
It was my longtime dream to participate in NID and personally deliver the polio vaccine drops and save at least a child suffering lifelong from polio. The opportunity landed this year. Past Rotary International Director, Brad Howard of California lead a program that invited Rotarians from USA to join together and participate in India’s NID on January 19th and 20th. I was so excited to get this message and immediately applied for my dream come true program. There were 49 fellow Rotarians from different Clubs of USA, Canada and Barbados joined together and went to India to experience this unique opportunity. Majority of Rotarians in our group was from USA.
Here’s your chance to meet a Rotary International President Mark Maloney close to home and go to a party at the same time! Plus, with early bird pricing you can save $20 dollars (or $40 for a couple) by registering for the 100th Anniversary Celebration before Wednesday, March 18, 2020. On the 19th of March the price goes to $100 per person.
(Click "Read More" for more information and a chance to sponsor the celebration.)
Last week's D7930 World Peace & Understanding Dinner was host to inspiring table discussions between RYLArians, Interactors, Youth Exchange students and Rotarians as they defined local community peace projects. These projects will be implemented between now and June 1st, 2020 as part of the District's commitment to create 10,000 acts of peace. These acts will also count towards PeaceJam's Billion Acts of Peace!
This year's Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) students were introduced at the Rotary District 7930 World Peace & Understanding dinner last week and participated in the PeaceJam activities of the evening.
Funny you should ask. In less than two weeks, Rotarians and friends from all over District 7930 will leap into the frosty waters off Gloucester-- all in the name of eradicating polio!
Text ENDPOLIO to 71777 to make a donation right now or to join our plungers on February 29, 2020, at Long Beach. Click here for more information.
Woburn students Adam Ghili and Lauren Tramonte spoke at a recent Rotary Club of Woburn meeting and told of their experiences at last year's RYLA weekend. Both were empowered by the challenges of those few days at RYLA and came through as more confident individuals and leaders. Both will be returning in May to be leaders to the new RYLA students and families. Congratulations to both!
The Gloucester Rotary Club will hold their annual “A Night at the Races” on Friday, March 20, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe’s Wharf in Gloucester. Doors open at 6:30 pm. All proceeds from this event will support local and international programs of the Gloucester Rotary.
A Night at the Races is a fun-filled evening with all the suspense and excitement of a racetrack. High quality, video-taped horse races are narrated from start to finish by lively announcers. During the evening there will be complimentary hors d’oeuvre, a cash bar, and variety of raffles. At various points during the evening, players will be able to use their winnings to bid on merchandise and services that have been donated for the event. For the most fun, reserve a table – bring a group. Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased online or at the door on the night of the event.
The Hamilton-Wenham Club typically meets on Friday mornings at 7:30am at the Wenham Tea House. However, this Friday, February 14, 2020, 7:30-9:30am, the Club will meet at the Gloucester House, located at 63 Rogers Street in downtown Gloucester, during the SeniorCare Valentine's Day Meals on Wheels Fundraiser Breakfast. SeniorCare provides a variety of services to seniors in nine North Shore communities, including Hamilton and Wenham.
Any Rotarian in need of a makeup or simply wanting to have a delicious meal with a fun group is welcome to join the Club Friday morning. For more information, please contact DGE Betsy Manzelli for details. Tickets for the breakfast are $15 per person, and may be purchased online or at the door during the breakfast.
Hamilton-Wenham to Visit Gloucester for This Week's Meeting
The Rotary Club of Winchester's 32nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, May 18, 2020, at the Winchester Country Club. Our tournament is held to benefit the Winchester Rotary Charitable Foundation, Inc. The fund supports numerous local charitable organizations as well the national and international works of Rotary International. We rely solely on our valued sponsors, donors, and auctions to raise the funds to support our annual charities fund.
We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the exclusive Winchester Country Club each year for our golf tournament. The WCC offers only a few non-member golf events each year. The Rotary Club of Winchester Charity Golf Tournament is fortunate still to be one of the very few to offer exclusive access to golf at the WCC.
For full information on the Tournament, including sponsorship and registration, please visit our webpage. Additional Questions can be directed to golf@winchesterrotary.org.
Funny you should ask. In just over two weeks, Rotarians and friends from all over District 7930 will leap into the frosty waters off Gloucester-- all in the name of eradicating polio!
Text ENDPOLIO to 71777 to make a donation right now or to join our plungers on February 29, 2020, at Long Beach. Click here for more information.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s biggest priority is to eradicate polio from the country, adding that the government will utilise every measure in its fight against the disease.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s biggest priority is to eradicate polio from the country, adding that the government will utilize every measure in its fight against the disease. The prime minister met with a delegation of the organization Rotary International working towards polio eradication, where he was accompanied by Special Assistant to PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.
The District has again made mini grants available to clubs to help with their Membership and Public Image goals. The deadline to apply for both types of grant is March 31, 2020.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea installed four new members in January. New members standing next to President Peter Zaksheski are Rabbi Mark Golub, Chaplain at the Hingham Harbor Senior Center, Robert Repucci, Executive Director of Winnisimett Real Estate Inc., Cheryl Poppe, Superintendent of the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea and Mary-Lou Ireland, Director of Assessing for the City of Chelsea.
The Rotary Club of Ipswich will host the 4th Annual Empty Bowl Dinner on Thursday, February 20, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at the Hellenic Center, 117 County Road, Ipswich. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Open Door Ipswich Food Pantry, which serves Ipswich, Rowley, Topsfield, Boxford, Hamilton and Wenham. Empty Bowl events are held nationally to generate awareness concerning hunger and to raise money for local hunger-relief programs. The meal is simple; soup, bread and a cookie. Guests select and keep a one of a kind handcrafted bowl of their choice. The bowl goes home as an unspoken reminder that “Somewhere – someone’s bowl is empty.”
D7930 World Peace & Understanding Dinner Wed, Feb 12, 2020 Spinelli's, Lynnfield $45 /Rotarians & Guests $20 /Rotaractors & Youth Register here Registration closes at 11:59pm on Monday, February 10, 2020
This year’s World Peace & Understanding Dinner will be interactive, and will be led by youth and PeaceJam. Young people will be working hand-in-hand with Rotarians to develop new projects that can bring peace to our local communities within the context of Rotary's Six Areas of Focus. Together, we will develop these projects and then go back to our communities and implement them as a team.
We will also be challenged to log ten thousand acts of peace as Rotary District 7930. These will be part of the PeaceJam One Billion Acts of Peace campaign, which has been nominated 8 times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
One of the main initiatives of Rotary is clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. These are the basic necessities for a healthy environment and productive life. The Rotary Club of Amesbury is focusing on this initiative locally by addressing the Combined Sewage Overflows (CSO’s) into the Merrimack River.
Over 800 million gallons of untreated sewage were released into the Merrimack River in 2018. Untreated sewage can cause life threatening disease including cholera, typhoid, dysentery and hepatitis A.
The D7930 Membership Committee is happy to share a fresh opportunity for clubs to host FRIENDraisers to attract new members and present alternative forms of membership. Clubs can apply for up to $200 reimbursement match. Partner with another club and we'll reimburse up to $300!
The purpose of this mini-grant is to encourage the Rotary clubs of District 7930 to develop their orientation process, work on club development, host a "Friendraiser" event to attract new members or to provide support for new members to pursue their Rotary passions.
Please carefully read all of the qualifications, requirements and timelines.
Reading Rotary held a New Member Open House on January 15 and inducted three new members: Jeanne Borawski, Andrea Evans Zoia and Gabe Moraga.
Membership Chair Lisa Gibbs and a team including, John Douglass, Brian Tobin and Mike Collins, organized a very successful Open House at RCTV (Reading Community Television). The Membership Committee sent out invitations to businesses and other prospects in town and encouraged members to bring at least one guest as a potential member. They also passed out some Rotary swag, a new Club brochure and applications to all visitors. We had 11 additional potential new members attend and it was a great time.
As part of the Open House, new members Jeanne, Andrea and Gabe were inducted by Vice President John Douglass.
Please join the Marblehead Rotary Club for one of our most important fundraising events of the year: The Finale of Marblehead's Got Talent on February 7, 6-10 PM, at the Boston Yacht Club, 1 Front Street, Marblehead, MA 01945. This event will include live performances by our seven finalists, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and live and silent auctions - you just have to come to see the amazing talent that is competing this year!
Marblehead's Got Talent is a Performing Arts Scholarship that is being awarded by the Marblehead Rotary Club in cooperation with the Marblehead High School Interact Club via a talent show competition. First prize is a $5000 scholarship, second prize is a $3000 scholarship, and 3rd prize is a $2000 scholarship.
Please come and join us for a fabulous evening of amazing performances, and to help us raise the monies we need to award these scholarships. Tickets are available online for $50 per person at http://marbleheadsgottalent.com/.
Rotary International President-elect Holger Knaack is encouraging Rotarians to seize the many opportunities Rotary offers to enrich their lives and the communities they serve. Read the full story here.
Please join the Wood family, the Rotary Club of Peabody, The Sheraton & D7930 for the Dedication of the Robert Wood Executive Boardroom on Thursday, January 30, 2020, 5-6 pm, at the Sheraton Wakefield Four Points. Light refreshments will be served at 5pm in the hotel lobby, and the meeting room Dedication will begin at 5:30pm. Tamara Husband, Director of Catering will deliver opening remarks followed by the blessing of the room by Sister Lenore Coan from the Rotary Club of Ipswich.
D7930 is currently accepting applications for the 2020 Rotaplast Mission to Cebu City, Philippines October 11-25, 2020. If you are interested in going on the Mission as a Non-Medical Team Volunteer, please contact DGN Terry Curran at terrycurran7930@gmail.com. Applications for this mission will close on March 31, 2020.
RYLA wants to speak to your Rotary or Interact Club! Contact Christina Harris at Christina@PartnerWithChoice.com or 978-270-6706 to schedule. RYLA Changes Lives!!
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary International’s leadership training program for young people. Rotary District 7930 has a long-running annual program for high school students. Sophomores and juniors are invited to attend a weekend long event, where they learn leadership and life skills including goal setting, cultural understanding, problem solving, communication, public speaking, networking, community building, team building and more!
Rotary Cruise Theme Song(to the tune of the Love Boat) Rotary, traditional yet new Come aboard, were expecting you Service Above Self, lifes sweetest reward Let it flow, it floats back to you District Conference - soon will be making another run District Conference - promises something for everyone Set a course for adventure, Your mind to celebrate Rotary won’t be boring anymore It’s an open smile at a friendly time Yes Rotary. It’s Rotary,
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary International’s leadership training program for young people. Rotary District 7930 has a long-running annual program for high school students. Sophomores and juniors are invited to attend a weekend long event, where they learn leadership and life skills including goal setting, cultural understanding, problem solving, communication, public speaking, networking, community building, team building and more!
Your Rotary club can support RYLA by
Asking school administrators and Interact club advisers to promote RYLA
Inviting former RYLA participants to speak about their experience at a club meeting
Budgeting to send local participants to the district RYLA weekend
Recruiting young people with leadership potential in the community to attend district RYLA
Organizing RYLA reunions or follow-up events
Contacting your district RYLA chair to find out how your club can participate
On December 17, 2019, the Newburyport Rotary Club held their holiday evening meeting at the Custom House Maritime Museum to donate $5,000 to local charities. The recipients were the Salvation Army, Pettengill House, Anchor Diaper Bank, Community Service and the Boys and Girls Club. Each received $1,000.
As we approach the end of 2019 and start a new year and a new decade, it’s a great time to reflect on your commitment to OUR Rotary Foundation and create your Rotary legacy. In March of 2019, DG Joan & DGE Betsy, with the blessing of then DG Bob, announced our district’s Million Dollar Journey to support the Rotary Foundation.
Now you might be asking, “what is a Million Dollar Journey?” The idea originated in District 5110 in Oregon in 2014 with the goal to raise a minimum of $1 Million in new donations for the programs of The Rotary Foundation with minimum donations of $10,000 from each donor in cash or a bequest. Our journey started in March 2019 and will conclude on October 15, 2020. We will celebrate our Million Dollar Journey on Thursday, October 15, 2020 by unveiling the exact amount of money we’ve raised for the Rotary Foundation during this time period. Our guest speaker for the evening is Past RI President and Trustee Chair (2020-21) Ravi Ravindran.
The Gloucester Rotary Club supported the Northeastern Conference Freshman-Sophomore Meet at Beverly High’s Henry Cabot Lodge Fieldhouse on Saturday, December 21, 2019. Students from several north shore high schools participated in this annual event.
The Polar Plunge Team wanted to share with you some important updates about our upcoming 2020 Polar Plunge...
It's not too late to register! Our 2020 Polar Plunge to End Polio is on Saturday, February 29, 2020 (snow day March 14th) and we can't wait to celebrate our 10th Anniversary with a BIG goal. Register today to participate in the 2020 Polar Plunge, a Rotary District 7930 tradition since 2009! Click to register as a Plunger.
Parking at the event will be strictly enforced. Please plan on parking at Good Harbor Beach on Thatcher Road and take the free 2-minute shuttle to Long Beach.
Room reservations at the Cape Ann Motor Inn are now OPEN! Please make your reservation directly through them by calling (978)281-2900. They sell out fast! Call ASAP if your team needs a changing room.
This year, to save on costs, we have a new participant shirt policy. If you register by February 1, 2020 AND have raised (as recorded on Mobile Cause) a minimum of $25.00, you get a free shirt. Off-line donations recorded on Mobile Cause count! If not...shirts will be $5 at the door while supplies last. You'll get your ticket for your shirt at check-in. If you are virtually plunging and not planning on attending the plunge, please contact me ASAP to reserve your shirt.
ALL participants MUST have a waiver signed and participants must be in high school or older. If students are carpooling, please ensure they bring their waivers SIGNED by their legal guardian. Rotarian advisers may not sign waivers for students. Visit our site to download a waiver today.
Sponsorship opportunity information will be coming soon!
Don't forget..friends and family are welcome to come to Long Beach in Good Harbor on February 29th to hold a towel, take pictures, scream and shout and cheer us on!
Please don't hesitate to contact Amy Luckieiwcz at (781)588-0257 or at polarplunge7930@gmail.com with any questions or to share your success stories in fundraising.
Congratulations to Megan Battinelli, Swampscott Cheer Team & Céire Rocco, Marblehead Cheer Team recipients of scholarships by the Marblehead and Swampscott Rotary Clubs. The recognition of these student athletes took place at the Rotary's annual luncheon held at the Tedesco Country Club.
Honoring both student leadership and sportsmanship is the meaning of the annual luncheon. Supporting this aim, each year, Marblehead Rotary awards its scholarship to a Swampscott athlete, and Swampscott Rotary does the same for a Marblehead athlete.
On hand to speak and to participate in the event were District Governor, Joan Arsenault and and District Governor-Elect, Betsy Manzelli.
Marblehead and Swampscott Rotary Scholarship Luncheon
The Greater Salem NH Rotary participated in the Festival of Trees in Pelham, NH. This year our “International Tree” was dedicated to World Peace. The ornaments on this tree signify a handful of the many countries Rotary reaches out to every day and is a hopeful reminder of Rotary and your connection throughout the world.
Greater Salem Dedicates International Tree to World Peace
The Peabody Rotary Club is reeling from the unexpected loss of Cara Murtagh, who died unexpectedly on Thanksgiving. Peabody TV has released a video highlighting the life of Peabody Superintendent of Schools Cara Murtagh. The nine-minute video features clips from her funeral service as well as clips from Peabody TV's archive of Murtagh speaking at various school functions and meetings. View the video here.
Want to Grow Rotary in your community? Then this is for you! Join Rotarians from across New England to learn how you can offer flexibility in membership models so more people can get involved with Rotary. There are so many people in every community who is interested in service, in volunteering, in making a difference. We will show different membership models that your club can use to appeal to more people, accommodate more life-styles, and involve more people in Rotary. Practical ideas, proven examples, real Rotarians sharing real ideas.
PeaceJam will be our speakers for District 7930 World Peace and Understanding Dinner.
For this World Peace & Understanding Dinner, we are doing something new: This will be an interactive evening led by youth and PeaceJam. We ask that you invite your Interact Clubs, Rotaractors, RYLA students, Youth Exchange Students and any other youth interested to this event.
The PeaceJam Foundation is an international organization whose mission statement is "to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates who pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody." The 'One Billion Acts of Peace' Campaign has been nominated 8 times for the Nobel Peace Prize. 14 Nobel Laureates have joined the campaign with the mission that: Everyone matters. Everyone can make a difference.
Together, we are unstoppable.
Young people will be working together with Rotarians to brainstorm about new projects that can bring peace to our local communities - in the six areas of focus that Rotary cares about. During the evening, we will develop project ideas, and then it is our goal that after this evening Rotarians and young leaders will go back to their communities and implement ten thousand acts of peace in our Rotary District 7930, that will be part of the PeaceJam One Billion Acts of Peace campaign.
The Medford Rotarians are collecting new hats, scarves, mittens and gloves for the clients of Bread of Life, Malden. The clients that come to the kitchen for meals come are out in the cold until they open with no hats and gloves. Our members are asking their friends, co-workers and clients to help in this effort. Our many bank members are placing baskets in their lobby for their customers to donate items to this worthy cause.
As you know, 2020 is a LEAP YEAR and the Polar Plunge Team has just the idea of how you can spend your extra day for good!
The 2020 Polar Plunge to End Polio will be held on Saturday, February 29, 2020 (snow day March 14th) and we can't wait to celebrate our 10th Anniversary with a big goal.
D7930 has set the goal of reaching $1 MILLION in cash gifts by June 30th and we're so close!
Don't forget-- YES! Your fundraising will be matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation YES! Your cash donations and fundraising will earn Paul Harris Credit YES! You can invite your friends, family, and non-Rotarians (in high school or older) to plunge with you YES! You can make a difference in preventing polio world-wide
The Beverly Rotary Club and the Learning Express Toy Store are pleased to announce their co-sponsorship of a seasonal toy drive for the benefit of Kennedy Kares. The drive was held at the Learning Express Toy Store in North Beverly Plaza on Dodge Street on Saturday November 16, 2019.
Kennedy Kares is an organization founded by Kennedy Steiner, now a sophomore at Beverly High School. Six years ago, at the age of eight, Kennedy responded to the unfortunate theft in Danvers of several boxes of newly collected toys scheduled to be donated to the U.S. Marine sponsored “Toys for Tots” program. When it became clear to Kennedy that many expectant and needy children would not be receiving any gifts for Christmas, she donated many of her own toys and collected 100 toys as part of MIX 104.1 WWBX-FM radio toy drive. She became committed to a course of action that such a problem should never happen again if she had anything to do with it. Following this experience, Kennedy has individually spearheaded annual toy drives reaching levels of 8,200 brand new toys in 2018 and over 30,000 toys over the past six years. These have all been donated to Toys for Tots, Beverly Hospital and Mass General Hospital.
Earlier this year, the Rotary Club of Beverly recognized Kennedy for her outstanding and sustained love for children in need, clearly distinguishing this young woman with Rotary’s most prestigious community based Paul Harris Award. The Rotary Club is now pleased to reaffirm Kennedy’s pledge to create joy and happiness for many hope-filled children during this up-coming holiday season.
Boston Rotaract is excited to announce that it surpassed its fundraising goal of $2,000, successfully raising $2,314 via two community fundraisers and donations. The money will go to Found in Translation (FiT) to support scholarships for two Language Access Fellows.
Most recently, the club raised over $900 at its “Bowling Over Barriers” fundraiser on October 29 at Flatbread Company in Somerville. It was a fun night of pizza, bowling, raffles, and fellowship. Open to the public, around 70 folks attended, although a percentage of all flatbreads purchased from 5-11 PM went to supporting Rotaract’s benefit night. This event was held in addition to “Karaoke 4 Charity” in late September, which raised near $1,400 in one night.
The D7930 Nominating Committee met on November 5th. 2019. After interviewing candidates. the decision was made to nominate Alexander Falk, past president of The Rotary Club of Marblehead, as the District Governor for Rotary Year 2022-2023.
According to the By-Laws of District 7930, if there are no dissensions by December 31, 2019, Alexander will be considered elected by acclimation.
The Foundation Dinner at Andover Country Club was an amazing event.
Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker told us about the needs of thousands of children served by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, and how the non-profit organization Wonderfund helps meet some of those needs. Then, we heard from Micaila Britto, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who suffered severe injuries in the line of duty, about her experiences with her new service dog, Rabbit, gifted to her by donations from several D7930 clubs and individuals and District Foundation monies. Rabbit took center stage and charmed everyone in the room.
Finally, several local "Unsung Heroes" were honored with Paul Harris medals. Each hero has an inspiring story that reminded all of us of the importance of Service Above Self.
Thank you to the planning committee, the dinner attendees and, in particular, the community heroes honored at the dinner.
It is with great sadness to inform you that Past District Governor Bud Curtis of the Rotary Club of Rockport passed away on November 4th.
Bud was the last surviving charter member of the Rotary Club of Rockport and served as District Governor in 1984-1985. He was the President of the Rockport Club in 1961 and served as Team Leader on Cultural Exchanges to England and India. Bud was a dedicated Rotarian and maintained perfect attendance until the last years of his life.
Bud ran Curtis News in Rockport for 40 years and was very well known and loved in his town. He will be missed.
Our thoughts are with the Rotary Club of Rockport and Bud's sons and their families.
Services for Bud were held on Saturday November 9, 2019.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to:
Rotary Club of Rockport PO Box 54 Rockport MA 01966
The Gloucester Rotary Club has produced a beautiful 2020 calendar, featuring scenic photography from local artists. In addition to the calendar, each purchase enters the buyer into a weekly raffle. $50 prizes will be drawn each week with two bonus prizes of $500-- one in June and one in December. Calendars are $25 each, and proceeds from the sale of calendars will be used to support the many projects of the Gloucester Rotary Club.
For more information on the calendars, or to purchase a calendar, please contact any Gloucester Rotarian, or calendars may be purchased online (shipping/handling fee will be applied).
The district membership forum was well received and attended, including members from D7930 New England E Club and D7910.Keynote speaker PDG Kate Sims provided an informative, interactive and inspired presentation on membership ideas.
The points of interest included: Respect, Relevance, Inclusion, Engagement, Open-minded thinking, Mentoring, Coaching, Collaboration, Service and Corporate (Group) members and other membership types, Discussing and accepting differences and having FUN while serving local communities.
Value proposition was discussed: what brings individuals together and what are member and prospective member’s passion. Is the club meeting it?
The evening ended with roundtable discussions and many great ideas were provided.
The first InteractCafe in Winchester was a big hit! The idea was simple: take motivated teens and Rotarians, bring them together, allow them to mingle and exchange ideas, and send them home with everything they need to make their clubs even stronger! It was so much fun to watch everyone meet and share with their counterparts from other clubs - everyone was so energized!
We are holding a second InteractCafe on Thursday, November 14, 2019, from 6:00pm to 7:45pm, at Ipswich High School. For information or to register, contact keith@partnerwithchoice.com.
What does this have to do with your role as RYLA Coordinator you might ask! Good question. . . there is such great synergy among all of our youth programs that we want to bring everyone together to share ideas and enthusiasm! We will have a table for RYLA Coordinators to share ideas about marketing, organization, funding, etc.. As added incentive we will be showing the new RYLA promo video - it is amazing!
We want everyone – adults and kids alike – to leave InteractCafe with a renewed energy and vision for our Youth Programs! Some marketing materials for RYLA 2020 (May 8-10 at Camp Glen Brook in Marlborough, NH) will be available at this meeting! Wait until you see the new video!
This week's D7930 Foundation Dinner will honor Micaila Britto, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who suffered severe injuries in the line of duty. The Salem News told Ms. Britto's story in an article that appeared recently. Read the article here.
D7930 will gift a Great Dane service dog to Ms. Britto to assist with the aftermath of her injuries. In addition, the District will honor several Unsung Heroes nominated by clubs. Rounding out the evening will be a special talk from our guest speaker Lauren Baker, First Lady of Massachusetts and member of the Board of Directors of Wonderfund, a private non-profit serving children of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.
Registration for the dinner closes today at 3pm. Register here.
A Big Thank You to the Rotaplast Mission Team and the Clubs and Individuals who donated and raised $65,000 to allow the District to sponsor this mission and send 8 non-medical personnel over. Another Successful Mission occurred. There were 75 patients and 85 surgeries performed.
One of the many stories of how the 2019 Cebu City Rotaplast Mission changed lives:
Reynald is a 14-year-old boy who came in to the hospital for a cleft lip repair. But before he came in, his mother had stopped at his school to notify them that Reynald would be absent for the duration of the repair. To her surprise, she learned that he hadn’t been showing up in school this year – other students were bullying him because of the way he looked with his cleft lip. As a result of the repair and care he receives from our Rotaplast mission, he’ll be able to go back to school. Saving Smiles, Changing Lives.
On the evening of May 1, 2019, Rotary of Andover Citizens Who Care recognized Steven Crowley as Student of the Year for his volunteer work in the community and with middle school kids at the Andover Youth Center – in front of about 250 Andoverites who boisterously supported him for his good work.
His brother and sister couldn’t be there that night– they were away at college – but his mom, Amy, was busy snapping photos and his dad, Thomas, was super busy just being proud dad.
Then the unthinkable happened.
Shortly after their arrival home, right after the family walked through the door, Thomas had a heart attack and sank to the floor. Steven saw this happen right in front of him yet mustered to call 911 while his mom tended to his dad’s needs. However, on this, Steven’s night of nights, Thomas, only 60 years old, didn’t make it.
Interact taps into the best that can come from a partnership between Rotarians and young people. In 7930, we want to help your club embrace that potential. We are committed to a more robust Interact experience for everyone involved. This is why we designed the InteractCafe.
The first InteractCafe was held this past week at the Winchester High School. The idea was simple: take motivated teens and Rotarians, bring them together, allow them to mingle and exchange ideas, and send them home with everything they need to make their clubs even stronger. It was also important to keep it local and relatively brief (being on a school night). Topics included membership growth, fundraising, international projects and developing closer relationships with sponsor Rotary clubs. Attendees also had time to share with each other, to meet their counterparts in other clubs. At the end of the evening, the new District 7930 RYLA video was shown for the first time - and the kids LOVED it! This event is designed to be regional, and a second InteractCafe is being planned for Thursday, November 14, on the North Shore (likely at Ipswich High School). Stay tuned for details!
District 7930 is hosting its first ever Interact Cafe--a casual evening designed to help strengthen our Interact clubs and the program as a whole--on Wednesday October 23, 2019, 6-7:30 pm at Winchester High School. This casual cafe style evening will be hosted by Rotarians and Interactors with a world of experience, there to help you connect, network and learn.
What topics will be addressed?
How can your Rotary club get an Interact club started. How can we grow our Interact club. How can your Interact club do an awesome International Project. What are other clubs doing for fund-raising?
The evening will end with a sneak peek at our brand new District 7930 RYLA video!
Please join the Everett, MA club on Thursday October 24, 2019 for our annual "Comics for College" Comedy Night Fundraiser at Giggles Comedy Club, located inside of Prince House of Pizza, 571 Broadway, Saugus.
All proceeds from the event go directly towards our clubs annual grant of 10 - $1,000 college scholarships to deserving Everett seniors. The night will feature 3 comedians, 50/50 raffle and a Basket Raffle. Tickets are $25 pp/$250 per table of 10.
Come enjoy some great laughs and good company as we raise funds to help the next generation of Everett teens go to college and leave their mark on the world!
The deadline to submit your PI Mini Grant application is this Friday, November 15, 2019.
The D7930 Public Image Committee is pleased to share an opportunity for clubs to increase their Public Image with a D7930 Mini Grant. Clubs can apply for up to $250 reimbursement match. The deadline to submit your application is November 15, 2019. Your project must be completed and all paperwork submitted by January 1, 2020. Download the application here.
Please carefully read all of the qualifications, requirements and timelines.
The Gloucester Rotary Club and Castle Manor Inn are taking action on World Polio Day to raise awareness, funds, and support to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.
There will be a Dining Fundraiser at the Sea Glass Restaurant at the Castle Manor Inn, located at 141 Essex Avenue (Rt 133) in Gloucester on Thursday, October 24, 2019, from 5pm to 9pm. The Castle Manor Inn will donate 10% of all dining proceeds from this event to the Gloucester Rotary Club’s #EndPolioNow fundraising Campaign. All funds raised at this dinner will be matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Reservations are recommended—978-515-7386. For more information about the Sea Glass Restaurant, visit their website at www.castlemanorinn.com.
It's back! The Newburyport Rotary Club presents its annual Trivia Night. Will your team take the prize as the Smartest People on the North Shore?
Come for the challenge. Come for great prizes, including cash to first place. Come out to have a great night in Newburyport, but definitely come on down to the Elks Club at 6:30 PM on Thursday October 24th. Information/registration: www.newburyportrotary.org.
Now, which comes first, our question, or your answer?
Come eat pizza and go bowling for a good cause on Tuesday, October 29, at Flatbread Company at Sacco’s Bowl Haven in Somerville! All proceeds will go to funding scholarships for Found in Translation, an organization that trains low-income, multilingual women to become medical interpreters. The cost to fund one Language Access Fellow is $1,000 -- help us fund TWO fellows this year!
Flatbread Company will donate $3.50 for each large flatbread and $1.75 for each small flatbread sold during the benefit night. You can register for the event in advance on Eventbrite: https://bowlingoverbarriers.eventbrite.com
Boston Rotaract is excited to announce the results of our Karaoke 4 Charity fundraiser!
The event, held on September 30th at Hong Kong in Faneuil Hall, was a huge success - we raised over $1,300 for Found in Translation, which teaches low-income multilingual women to become medical interpreters.
A ticket was required to enter our reserved section at the venue & appetizers were included in the ticket price. Boston Rotaract had printed materials at the event promoting our club and information about meetings so prospective members could get a quick understanding of what our club is about. We collected email addresses as well, so we can thank attendees for joining us at the event and invite them to future meetings.
The Peabody Rotary Club has partnered with Newhall Fields Community Farm in Peabody and the City of Peabody by writing a grant which will supply an irrigation system on 2 acres of land. This irrigation system will allow the farm to grow nutritious food and supply food for Peabody and surrounding communities that is accessible, affordable and nutritious.
Volunteers and recipients will have the opportunity to learn about farming, nutrition and food sustainability all within an urban area. The ability to make use of the 2 acres of land thru irrigation will greatly impact farm production and other offerings to the public.
District Governor Joan Arsenault welcomed 14 Rotarians to Part 1 of the Rotary Leadership Institute on October 5 at the Sheraton Four Points conference facility in Wakefield. In the day-long sessions, participants shared comments and experience on topics ranging from Rotary membership growth and retention, qualities of strong leaders, ethics, the Foundation, and creative fundraising.
Upcoming institute dates/locations and registration info is available at www.rlinea.org.
Helping Rotarians to be stronger leaders.
Rotarians Learn from Each Other and Enjoy Time Together
For Rotary clubs and Interact Clubs in the Winchester area, the District is hosting its first ever Interact Cafe--a casual evening designed to help strengthen our Interact clubs and the program as a whole--on Wednesday October 23, 2019, 6-7:30 pm at Winchester High School. This casual cafe style evening will be hosted by Rotarians and Interactors with a world of experience, there to help you connect, network and learn.
What topics will be addressed?
How can your Rotary club get an Interact club started.
How can we grow our Interact club.
How can your Interact club do an awesome International Project.
What are other clubs doing for fund-raising?
The evening will end with a sneak peek at our brand new District 7930 RYLA video!
This is for Interact student leaders, Rotary and faculty Advisors and club leaders that want to either start an Interact club or strengthen their existing club. While we are gearing it for the area around Winchester, any clubs are welcome to join. If this goes well, we will host one on the North Shore in November.
Meet and talk with other Interact leaders. Network, ask questions, get answers!
I hope you will join the District and be a part of the District Grant to award a Service Dog through the Service Dog Project, Inc to our recipient Micaila Britto.
Micaila is a United States Marine Corps Veteran who served for seven years before being medically retired due to injuries sustained while in service. Micaila’s Military Occupational Specialty was Aircraft Launch and Recovery with an expertise in the recovery efforts for emergency landings of helicopters and aircraft. It was the injuries she sustained during a recovery mission that forced her into medical retirement.
Micaila suffers from debilitating migraine headaches from a severe brain injury, and struggles with balance and mobility issues and chronic pain. Despite these injuries Micaila is passionately involved in Veterans Services.
Please consider supporting this Veteran with a Service Dog. Donations at the red ($250 +), white ($500+) and blue ($1000+) levels with be involved in the presentation as well as receive pins and be on a plague given to Micaila. Please send donations to: Service Dog Project, Po Box 3635, Peabody, MA 01960 or to Joan directly at 79 Old Right Rd, Ipswich, MA 01930.
Micaila will receive her Service Dog at the District Foundation Dinner on Thursday, November 7, 2019, 6-9pm, at the Andover Country Club, 60 Canterbury Street, Andover, MA. Register here.
Cambridge Rotary will be raising our glasses in a wine tasting event at the classy and magical Phillips Auditorium at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, on October 23, 2019, 6:30-9:30pm.
Mingle, enjoy wine and snacks. Live jazz, polio campaign and information about our two projects for girls in Bangladesh and Colombia will be on display, as well as mentors to our 2 STEM programs. Free parking.
The Second Annual Family Feud! will be hosted by Melrose Rotary Club on Friday, November 8, 2019, 7-10pm, at Melrose Memorial Hall, 590 Main St, Melrose, MA. Teams of 5 adults will face-off in a fun evening of survey questions, hilarious answers, and audience participation. Silent auction and cash bar. Proceeds benefit the Melrose Rotary Club Charitable Fund. Free to Watch - no ticket needed. Team entry fee is $250.
Six inbound Rotary Youth Exchange students in District 7930, hosted by the Rotary Clubs in Marblehead, Hamilton/Wenham, Rockport, Ipswich, North Andover, and Salem, NH, and one student from District 7910 hosted by Bedford had their orientation at Bretton Woods, NH, in September.
The students come from Germany, Belgium, Spain, Czech Republic, India, Chile and Brazil, and will spend a year in a US high school, living with host families. Former exchange students, called Rotex, helped to mentor and train the students on topics such as school, host families and learning how to live in the United States. The students also got to experience the Zipline and a trip up the Cog Railway to the top of Mt. Washington, with a special tour of the weather station.
There is still space available for this Friday's Trivia Night!
The Rotary Club of Gloucester will host a Trivia Night on Friday, November 1, 2019, at the Gloucester House, located at 63 Rogers Street in downtown Gloucester. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the game will begin at 7 p.m. Teams of four will compete for the title of Cape Ann Trivia Champions.
All trivia fans are invited to this fun night of knowledge and laughter. The registration fee is $100 for a team of four players. Proceeds from this event will support programs of the Gloucester Rotary Club. The night will also feature a 50/50 raffle, a cash bar, and light snacks for purchase.
The Membership Committee is happy to share a fresh opportunity for clubs to host FRIENDraisers to attract new members and present alternative forms of membership. Clubs can apply for up to $200 reimbursement match. Partner with another club and we'll reimburse up to $300!
The purpose of this mini-grant is to encourage the Rotary clubs of District 7930 to develop their orientation process, work on club development, host a "Friendraiser" event to attract new members or to provide support for new members to pursue their Rotary passions.
Please carefully read all of the qualifications, requirements and timelines.
6:30pm – 7:30pm Why Membership Matters Membership Data - Does it tell a story? Younger Members - Relevant & Meaningful What is your Value Proposition? Competitive Market, What is our Differentiator Networking, Community Service and Opportunity Friendship, Business and Connections Strategy and Goals Club Options –Flexibility
7:30pm – 8:00pm Roundtable Discussion on Membership Topics
For fun, wear your favorite flamingo clothes or bring your favorite flamingo item. Prizes will be awarded for the best outfits & items!
The Haverhill Rotary Club is pleased to host speaker Charlie Ruth Castro on Thursday, October 3, at its noon meeting at the Haverhill Country Club.
Charlie Ruth is a lawyer, innovator and a Rotarian on a mission. She was one of six Young innovators recognized during Rotary Day at the United Nations last November. Jack Rummel is hosting this speaker, promising that she’s an entertaining speaker with a powerful message.
Members of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor spent a recent Saturday morning at the local farmers' market to tell visitors what we do and how much fun we have doing it. The club hopes that spreading the word about 'service above self' will help attract new members. Members engaged with people who approached the Rotary table and invited them to come to a meeting for a free breakfast and a bit of fellowship.
Marblehead Harbor Spreads the Word at the Farmers' Market
The Rotaplast Mission in Honor of Bob Wood District Team left for Cebu City, Philippines on Sunday Sept 22. Our team members are:
Jim Stone and Julie Nelson from the Rotary Club of Ipswich
Nick Shea from the Rotary Club of Greater Salem
Ami Borovick and Susan King from the Rotary Club of Rockport
Bill and Becky Beckman from the Rotary Club of Beverly
Brian Ahern from Rotary Club of Danvers.
You can follow their blog on https://rotaplast.org/blog/. We are continuing to collect monies for this mission. New donations and previous pledges can be sent to District 7930, c/o David Boudreau, Institution for Savings, 68 Storey Avenue, Newburyport, MA 01950.
Methuen Rotary Club is holding its 7th Annual Bocce Tournament to benefit the Methuen YMCA Summer Camp program on November 2, 2019, 5:00-11:00pm. Two levels of competition, food and raffles always make this a fun time.
If you are interested in joining us, sponsoring or donating to the raffles, please visit us at www.methuenrotary.org
The Greater Salem Rotary Club is hosting its 5th Annual Golf Tournament October 4th at Windham Country Club. The tournament is "real golf" for the serious golfer, but yet lots of fun, raffles, prizes for all! This is one of Greater Salem's biggest fundraisers of the year.
The Upward Bound Second Chance scholarship is awarded annually by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor to persons seeking certificate courses and programs likely to improve employment opportunities.
Recently the club welcomed scholarship winner Skarleth Ponce who received her check and shared plans to attend North Shore Community College to become a dental assistant. That's another great example of Rotary's generosity at work. Skarleth Ponce (r) is pictured above with Club President Kathleen Murphy (l), and Scholarships Committee Steve Lipsky (c).
The Greater Salem NH Club wrapped up the 2018-2019 year, proudly with having made a difference for a number of organizations in the 5 towns we served! Food pantries were a big focus, with sizeable donations or services delivered to St. Anne's, Pleasant St., St Patrick's, & Shepherd's Pantries with cash donations or preparation of meals on an ongoing basis . The pasta lunches have been a great hit! We also gave considerable donations to Hampstead and Atkinson Libraries for furniture, childrens chromebooks, etc, Salem Children's Dental Network, Field of Dreams, 5 High School Academic Scholarships (increased from 3) and a Robotics Club sponsorship too!. Honoring the memory of those lost in battle or other events also was very special with support for the Vietnam Moving Wall, 911 Monument Project, Homeland Heroes Foundation. And so much more! We hope to make it even bigger in 2020!
Congratulations to Christine Sloss recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Christine was recognized during the Rotary Installation luncheon held on July 25th at the Eastern Yacht Club
A class leader at Marblehead High, Christine embraced her commitment to community service leadership. She was the President of the Marblehead High School Interact Club.
In the past two weeks, the Rotary Club of Lynn recognized the outstanding contributions of three longtime and faithful Rotarians with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow pin. District Governor Joan Arsenault was on hand Thursday to present pins to past President Stephen Upton and Club Treasurer Arthur Horgan while President William Reilly presented Dave Richardson with his pin at the August 29th meeting.
Richardson, a former funeral home director, first joined the Lynn Rotary Club in August, 1975, and over those 44 years he served with distinction in every administrative position within the Club.
The Rotary Club of North Reading is pleased to announce that it will now serve as District 7930's first cause-specific Rotary Club. Rotary world-wide is known for tackling humanitarian issues including the global eradication of polio, water and sanitation issues, woman’s health, literacy and more. These issues are addressed locally and globally at the discretion of the independent clubs. Recently, Rotary International voted to allow local clubs to focus on individual causes as they deem appropriate. Current North Reading Rotary President Dave O’Neill explained, “Every year our club takes a hard look at how we can help North Reading residents. It led to a lengthy discussion, bringing in experts in different fields, and completing an assessment over the summer. It was unanimous. Our members want to tackle addiction prevention.” He continued, “When you think about how many families, generations even, are affected by addiction, it’s heart breaking. We want to help.”
Join Boston Rotaract for a fun and philanthropic night at Hong Kong!
Come sing/eat/drink/socialize at Hong Kong in Faneuil Hall to raise money! All proceeds will go to funding scholarships for Found in Translation (FiT), an organization that trains disadvantaged bilingual women to become medical interpreters. The cost to fund one Language Access Fellow is $1,000 -- help us fund TWO fellows this year!
A message from Jeffry Cadorette, Rotary International Director (2018-20), Rotary Club of Media, PA (District 7450)
On Monday morning, I texted with Past RI President Barry Rassin. While Nassau was spared the full force of Dorian, and he and Esther are fine, other parts of his country are devastated having been dealt a blow with Dorian’s full fury. Dorian is now headed toward the US and other parts of our neighboring Zones 33 & 34.
Whether you want to help Barry’s District, the Bahamas, or one of the states in the southern part of the US that are awaiting Dorian, this link will give you information on how to do that.
At the bottom of the link is a form telling you additional ways you can donate. The Rotary Foundation Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is set up in North Carolina and is able to make international donations. You can designate where you would like the funds to be directed in the memo portion of the check you write. A representative from each district in Zone 33 & 34 will determine where to allocate the funds. They have experience with this DAF and process having had multiple hurricanes last year. Share this link on social media wherever you deem appropriate.
Peter Majane from the North Reading Club would love to visit your club to speak about exciting memberships opportunities:
Rotary Connects
Elderact: an innovative Rotary sponsored project that brings the model of Rotary meetings, leadership structure and Rotary Leadership Institute and community service project planning and implementation to senior centers, senior nursing facilities, and senior residences that will off numerous opportunities to collaborate
Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI): a 4-part program designed to encourage the exchange of Rotary information and ideas via a small group discussion format. Topics covered in the one-day sessions include: Membership Recruitment and Retention, Club Publicity, Creating Successful Fundraiser, Ethics, Goal Setting, and Our Foundation.
Contact Peter at peter.majane@gmail.com with any questions or to schedule a date to come speak to your club.
You can take it to the bank that on the last Saturday of each month, a group of Lynn Rotarians will gather at Salvation Army Headquarters on Franklin Street to distribute food to over 400 Lynn family members. “This is a project we took on back in 2015 when the last food pantry in the city closed,” recalled Lynn President Bill Reilly. "We started distributing food in September, 2015, in the St. Mary’s Church parking lot and did that right through the winter months. It was tough work, not just unloading the huge truck from the Greater Boston Mobile Food Bank, but also carrying out there long rectangular tables from the St. Mary’s High School cafeteria. After a couple of years we moved to Catholic Charities on North Common Street and now we’re at Salvation Army. Some of our members arrive around 6am to help unload but most are here by seven.” Front row l to R: Mackie Bastarache, Diane Reilly, Lorry Willis, Paula Clancy and Claire Price. back row: Bill Reilly, Ray Bastarache, Paul Price, Dan Cahill (Swampscott Rotary) and Steve Upton.
Two more new members from the Beverly Rotary Club took advantage of the grant offered by our club to do a project in the community on August 17. Matthew Blanchard and Connor Mooney organized an event to clean up trash floating in our ocean and washed up on surrounding beaches.The event took place at Obear Park in Beverly. About twenty people attended and had fun while cleaning up our community waters! Paddleboards and trash bags were provided, but some people brought their own paddleboards. They collected much more trash than they were anticipating. A few things they found in the ocean/surrounding beaches were a lamp, plastic chair, and sink. Great camaraderie with a great goal to help our community!
Don't wait to sign up for Rotary Leadership Institute, October 5, 7:30-3:00 at the Wakefield Sheraton Four Points. The curriculum is designed along discussion format, rather than lecture; and, the energy generated among the faculty and participants will encourage stronger leadership skills for Rotarians who are already leaders in their professions and communities.You do not have to be on your club's officer track. RLI is open to all Rotarians. Register before September 23 at www.rlinea.org. The $100 fee covers all curriculum materials, continental breakfast, mid-morning coffee break and lunch.
Members of Boston Rotaract volunteered at and ran in the annual ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) Race 4 Research on Sunday, August 18, in Cambridge, MA.
The Race 4 Research is a chip-timed 5K road race around Technology Square, as well as a separate four-mile walk and wheelchair ride along the Charles River. An after party and awards ceremony was held outside the ALS TDI office to celebrate participants finishing the race and walk.
Five Boston Rotaract members ran the 5K. In addition, seven other Rotaractors volunteered, helping the ALS TDI staff set up and break down the race areas. Volunteers also served as course marshalls during the race to help direct runners toward the finish line.
All proceeds benefit the ALS TDI, the first nonprofit bio-tech organization focused toward ALS Research. The 2019 Race 4 Research raised over $39,000, helping bring the ALS TDI closer to a cure for the disease.
The Medford Rotary Club recently installed its new officers and directors at its annual Charter Night held at Century Bank in Medford. The bank offers a beautiful view overlooking the Boston Skyline and they graciously hosted us again for this event. Annually, the service club elects new leadership. Anne Gelineau Powers, Financial Advisor at Baystate Financial was sworn in as President. Anne is serving her second term as President, she also served in 2015-16. Other officers include Chuck Mahoney, President-Elect, Cheryl Staude, Secretary, Alan Martorana, Treasurer and long time Rotarian, Bob Bates, Sargent-at-Arms.
The club’s 2018-19 Board of Directors include: Herbert Boudreau, Scott Cutler, Isabelle DosReis, Bob Kaminer, Tricia Rizzo, Doug Shoop, Pat Theberge and Richard Wolfson and John Murphy ex-officio.
The Gloucester Rotary Club will publish a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2020 as a fundraiser. All profits will go to the Gloucester Rotary Club’s many community and international activities.
Full contest rules and requirements are available online at www.gloucesterrotary.org. All entries must be received by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2019.
The Topsfield-Boxford-Middleton Club will hosst its 4oth Annual Fall Foliage Classic in Topsfield on Sunday, October 20. The event is a family friendly event and the club's major fundraiser. This year's main beneficiary is the Northshore Education Consortium.
We would argue that you will not find a more beautiful course as this race is held at the height of foliage!
The Cambridge Rotary Club is sponsoring a evening of bowling at Sacco's Bowl Haven, 45 Day Street in Somerville (Davis Sq.) from 6-8 on the evening of September 9th. Please come join us for bowling and Rotary fellowship while supporting a wonderful cause.
Boston Rotaractors raised nearly $10,000 during the 2018-2019 Rotary Year with the goal of providing sustainable clean water solutions to communities in Ghana. August 12, 2019 marked the successful completion of their long-term international service project.
In order to pursue the two-year clean water mission, the club collaborated with two organizations: 1. Pure Home Water (PHW) and 2. The Rotaract Club of Adenta Central.
PHW is an MIT-based social enterprise that creates and distributes household drinking water technologies in the northern region of Ghana. Boston Rotaract donated $8,500 to two separate PHW initiatives from 2018-2020. As a result, 222 sustainable water filters were given to families, providing access to clean water to 1,500 people across three communities in Tamale, Ghana. The project was completed in July 2019.
District 7930 is working with the Service Dog Project, Inc., located in Ipswich Massachusetts, to award a Great Dane Service Dog to a Veteran. We are pleased to announce that we have found an awardee for the Service Dog! More info to come....
If you or your club would like to participate in this service project, please send your donations to District 7930, PO Box 3635, Peabody MA 01960, Attn: Service Dog Project. Make the check payable to District 7930 and note "Service Dog Project" in the memo.
All donation amounts are accepted. However if you would like to be considered a sponsor the levels are as follows:
To date we have raised $2,000 towards the Service Dog which is a cost of over $20,000, including training of the dog and the Veteran.We hope we can count on your support!
All sponsors will be recognized at the Foundation Unsung Hero Celebration on November 7th at the Andover Country Club. Register here for the dinner celebration.
Susan Wood, her son Bradley, and daughter-in-law Anita cordially invite Rotarians, family and friends to a Celebration of the Life of Immediate Past District Governor Bob Wood on Sunday, October 6, 2019, 3-6pm, at Seaglass Restaurant, 4 Oceanfront North, Salisbury MA.
Light Hors d'oeuvre will be served, and there will be a cash bar.
Please RSVP by September 20 as Susan needs a headcount for the afternoon. Registration
The Beverly Rotary Club is giving all new Rotarians $250 in seed money for a service project of their own devising. The only rules are that it has to be a service project -- they can't simply turn around and donate the money somewhere else -- and that the project has to involve the help of other Rotarians. The idea is to help get new members into the swing of things quickly, and pair them with veteran members it might otherwise take them months to get to know.
Camp Rotary is hosting a last meal in the original dining hall on September 7, 4 - 8 PM. It is a fund raiser to help defray the cost of the new dining hall that will be built during the off season. The original dining hall was built in 1921 when the camp was founded. Camp Rotary is located at 372 Ipswich Road in Boxford, MA.
In addition to purchasing a ticket to the dinner, there are opportunities to make larger donations by being a sponsor of the dinner. Information/registration
Our district is looking for your help to honor a Veteran who would benefit from a service dog. Service Dogs cost approximately $20,000, and we are looking for your Club to donate funds to provide a Great Dane from the Ipswich Service Dog Project to a Veteran.
Great Danes are perfect service dogs to help those in need, suffering from PTSD or having balance/walking difficulty. The District will be providing $10,000 from Foundation funds, and we are asking for Club donations to support this most incredible gift.
Rotary International President Mark Daniel Maloney's 2019-20 presidential theme, Rotary Connects the World, is a powerful statement. In theme with President Mark's vision, District 7930 has established a new membership initiative: Rotary Connects. “The first emphasis is to grow Rotary — to grow our service, to grow the impact of our projects, but most importantly, to grow our membership so that we can achieve more,” Maloney said, and he believes that connection is at the heart of the Rotary experience. District 7930 also thinks so.
Rotarians please share link below with all Family, Friends and Fellow Rotarians within and outside of our District.
Rotary is going to the Holiday Pops on Friday, December 13, 2019 to END POLIO NOW!!! This will be an evening to remember with the Boston Pops live concert, a visit from Santa, and a special reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Your ticket includes a donation to The Rotary Foundation's efforts to End Polio Now and the Districts Goal of raising ONE MILLION DOLLARS during our 10 years of the Polar Plunge!!
Yes, this February we will be having our 10th Annual Polar Plunge. Over the past 9 years we have raised: $810,537.81. To reach our million dollar goal by the end of the Rotary year, we need to raise $189,462.19.
Join the Burlington, Medford, Malden and North Reading Rotary Clubs at the Greater Boston Food Bank.
On September 14, 2019, from 9:30 to 12:00 pm, the Rotary Clubs of Burlington, Medford, Malden and North Reading will host a food sorting and packing service project at the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) in Boston.
50 volunteer slots are open and are on a first-come-first- serve basis. Register here.
Congratulations to Christine Sloss recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Christine was recognized during the Rotary Installation luncheon held on July 25th at the Eastern Yacht Club.
A class leader at Marblehead High, Christine embraced her commitment to community service leadership. She was the President of the Marblehead High School Interact Club.She also worked as a coordinator for all the North America Interact Clubs in a new, joint Rotary and UNICEF program, called the Initiative Interchange. The purpose was to raise money for universal education. This past summer, Christine organized a Rotary service trip to Nepal to help deliver physical therapy to injured survivors of the earthquake that devastated the country in 2015.
Christine exemplifies the guiding principle of Rotary --- “Service above Self” -- the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life. She plans to continue her education in public administration, urban planning, and environmental sustainability
The Newburyport Rotary will be selling beer and dogs at the annual Lion's Club Bed Race on August 1, 2019, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in The Tannery Marketplace parking lot located at 75 Water Street, Newburyport.
Donna Lee Rubin, PDG 7930 & CEO of Rotaplast International, Inc informed the District that this year's Rotaplast Mission in Cebu City, Phillipines is named in Memory of PDG Bob Wood.
The Mission to Cebu City, Philippines is slated for September 22 through October 5, 2019. This will be the 14th mission sponsored by our District! I am in strong support support of our District's international mission.
My husband Bob was a participant in the 2015, 2016 and 2018 Missions. He participated in the 2015 Mission due to the passion of PDG Bob Wood and also joined the Ipswich Rotary Club due to PDG Bob Wood and this mission. As a speech pathologist, I have personally worked with children with Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate helping them eat and speak. In addition, the 2019-2020 Rotary Presidents voted to support this mission when they met at PETS.
It is our goal to perform 150 surgical procedures, bringing total surgeries sponsored by District 7930 to over 1,250! All medical equipment and supplies are shipped with the team, and the $65,000 mission ($600 per surgery) will be funded by private donations and our district’s Rotary Clubs. We are sending 8 non-medical volunteers.
I hope we can count on your club to help us reach our goal. With your club’s support, we can make a real difference in the lives of children restoring their dignity, and giving them the ability to smile, swallow, eat, breathe and speak more normally.
Checks made payable to Rotaplast, may be sent directly to District 7930, c/o David Boudreau, Institution for Savings, 68 Storey Avenue, Newburyport, MA 01950.
The Rotary Club of Gloucester MA will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 17, 2019, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 17-18.
Tickets for the Pancake Breakfast are $8 per person, $5 for children aged six and under, and are now available online or from any Gloucester Rotarian and at the offices of Horvitz & Frisch, P.C., located at 128 Main Street in Gloucester. Tickets will also be available on the morning of the breakfast.
The Rockport Rotary Club’s annual Lobsterfest is a unique outdoor dining and fundraising event at the Legion Bandstand, serving boiled lobster, clam chowder and more.
The Lobsterfest takes place on Saturday, August 10, 3-7 PM (rain or shine), at the American Legion Hall Bandstand at scenic Back Beach in Rockport, MA. Tickets are $35 and include Hot Boiled Lobster, Clam Chowder, Corn-on-the-Cob, Roll, Watermelon & Soda /Water. There will also be a cash menu of burgers, hot dogs, chips, beer & wine. Live entertainment by “Two Weeks from Everywhere.”
Advanced tickets are recommended, and are available at: John Tarr Store, Village Silversmith or from any Rockport Rotarian or visit www.rockportrotary.org.Proceeds to benefit Rockport Rotary Club Community and International Service Projects.
The Lobsterfest will be followed by Rockport Illuminations’ annual fireworks show, and festive lanterns will be displayed throughout the town all weekend for the occasion. Come for the entire weekend and enjoy the fun!
The Methuen Club kicked off the 2019-2020 Year right. At the annual Installation Dinner that took place on June 25th at Mexico Lindo , six (6) Members were given Paul Harris Fellows. Also, Connie Doto was awarded Rotarian of the Year.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea recently honored their past presidents at a luncheon meeting. Eighteen past presidents attended the luncheon hosted at the Homewood Suites Boston in Chelsea. Past President Allan I. Alpert was the most senior past president having held the office in the 1977 – 1978 Rotary year.
We have received questions about how individuals and clubs can make memorial gifts in honor of PDG Bob Wood.
Susan Wood has asked that no flowers be sent. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in the name of Robert C. Wood to the Annual Fund/Share Program of the Rotary Foundation. Checks should be sent to Liz Cullen, District Foundation Chair, 283 Wethersfield Street, Rowley, MA 01969. Please note on the check: In memory of DG Bob Wood.
A Celebration of Life will occur at the end of the summer or early fall and details will be forthcoming once known.
For nearly 40 years, Mark Daniel Maloney and his family have demonstrated that Rotary connects the world. Now the self-described 'cheerful traveler' embarks on the next phase of his life's journey: serving as Rotary International's new president.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea honored their 2019 scholarship winners and the 2019 Chelsea Public School’s Educator of the Year at a recent luncheon meeting. The Club awarded scholarships to five graduating seniors from Chelsea High School; Jocelyn Poste, Alny Herrera, Deedee Hernandez, Ivan Romero and Nildaliz Enamorado-Rodriguez. The Club also awarded a 6th special scholarship to Lizet Vasquez in memory of Rotarian Joanne Tarason who passed away recently.
Jennifer Stanford, a teacher at Chelsea’s John Silber Early Learning Center, was recognized as the 2019 Educator of the Year.
Presidential Class of 2020 Starts Their Year with Fun, Fellowship, Connection & the Flamingo Challenge at the District Installation!
A big congratulations to our Club Presidents as they start the 2019-2020 Rotary Year! The District Installation launched RI President Mark Maloney's theme of "Rotary Connects the World." This paired with the new RI vision statement "Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves." makes this coming year so inspiring and lets not forget FUN!!!
The Flamingo Challenge is on!!! Ask your fellow Rotarians what that means if you are not sure.
And don't forget Aloha!!! The RI Conference is in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii this year, from June 6-10, 2020. REGISTER early as it may sell out quickly.
My love affair with Rotary started when I was a junior in high school and was selected for a Fulbright program. One of the participants told me about Interact during the break of a preparation course for applying to U.S. colleges, and inspired me to start my high school’s first ever Interact Club, which I ran successfully with my co-president and about 10 members for a year until I graduated.
I got a scholarship to attend a college in Massachusetts and moved from my small town of Septemvri, Bulgaria. On 17 August 2009, several flights later, I found myself in the United States of America, a country where I knew nobody and no one spoke a word of Bulgarian. The moment I landed at Boston logan Airport symbolized my departure from a world that was familiar and comfortable; I realized I had left my family, homeland, and culture behind yet to discover a whole new community, country, and new friends.
The Rotary Club of Lynn’s Scholarship Committee reviewed a record number of application packets this spring from graduating seniors before awarding four Thomas P. Maloney & Robert A. Hastings Memorial Scholarships at its luncheon meeting Thursday at Old Tyme Family Cuisine.
“This is my fifth year on the scholarship committee,” said chairman Ray Bastarache,”and I know I can speak for the entire committee when I say this was the most stellar group of applicants that we’ve had. Perhaps we share that opinion every year but truth be told, this class was, in one word, exceptional!”
The Methuen Rotary Club celebrated it’s 2nd Annual June Jubilee by giving away money to deserving non –profits in Methuen. Each organization was invited to lunch and to speak about how the donation will help the people that are served in the community. President Julie Brady had the honor of presenting $1000.00 checks to each of the following organizations. Commander Curt Williams Accepted on behalf of the Methuen V.F.W. Post 8349. Larry & Eileen Giordano accepted on behalf of Merrimack Valley Foster Kids, City Councilor Jessica Finocchario and Cole Welch , President, accepted on behalf of the Merrimack Valley Prevention and Substance Abuse Project and Julia Pesek , Community Relations Director accepted of behalf of the MSPCA Nevins Farm.
Christine Sloss will be heading to Suffolk University in the fall. A class leader at Marblehead High, Sloss embraced her commitment to community service. She is the President of the Marblehead High School Interact Club (Rotary Club at the High School level) and is working as a coordinator for all the North America Interact Clubs in a new, joint Rotary and UNICEF program, called the Initiative Interchange, to raise money for universal education. This summer, Sloss organized a Rotary service trip to Nepal to help deliver physical therapy to injured survivors of the earthquake that devastated the country in 2015. Sloss plans to continue her education in public administration, urban planning, and environmental sustainability.
Christopher Gally will be attending Bowdoin College in September. During his tenure at Marblehead High, Gally was a three-sport athlete and the quarterback of the successful football team. One of his teachers called him the epitome of a student-athlete; a quiet leader who inspires others through his example. Gally is a member of the National Honor Society and is an Assisting Minister and Acolyte at his church.
A matching grant from the Rockport Rotary Club and Rotary District 7930, along with in kind donations from Emerson Swan, Inc and Breen and Sullivan Mechanical Services, has provided the Action Emergency Shelter at 370 Main Street in Gloucester with a new energy efficient air conditioning system. This system will help to keep shelter guests and staff cool all summer long and save thousands of dollars in energy costs over the long term.
On June 12, Rockport Rotarians visited the shelter to experience their grant dollars in action.
Beloved Rotarian, Robert C. Wood, originally of Darien, Connecticut, later of Cambridge and Georgetown Massachusetts, and Derry, New Hampshire, passed peacefully on June 30, 2019 at Massachusetts General Hospital. Bob served his full term as Rotary 7930 District Governor from July 1, 2018 until his death, June 30, 2019. Bob was the cherished husband of Susan for 47 years, father to Bradley and his wife Anita, grandfather to Taylor, as well as friend and mentor to many.
Bob joined Rotary in 2001 and was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Greater Georgetown and served as that club’s second president. He later joined the Rotary Club of Peabody in 2009. He served Rotary District 7930 in many capacities including District Registrar, Assistant Governor, District Treasurer, and most notably District Governor during the 2018-2019 “Be the Inspiration” Rotary Year.
Bob had a passion for the Rotary Foundation, as it was his self-proclaimed charity of choice. Further, Bob was a Major Donor as well as multiple Paul Harris Fellow. He was a strong supporter behind the scenes to over a dozen District Governors. He was instrumental in launching the Homeless and Hunger Initiative in Rotary District 7930 – a program that is well engrained in Rotary Clubs throughout Rotary District 7930.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea annually sponsors twenty Chelsea children to one week at Camp Rotary. The Club pays all expenses for the camp week including tuition, field trips, cabin pictures and canteen funds.
Camp Rotary is an overnight camp located on Stiles Pond in Boxford, MA owned by the Rotary Club of Lynn and managed by Youth Services Managers, Inc. The Rotary Club of Chelsea covers all expenses for the children sponsored. The children are chosen based upon essays submitted to the Rotary Club of Chelsea explaining why they should be selected to attend camp. Prior to camp the selected children and their parents are required to attend a pre-camp meeting held at the Chelsea Salvation Army. At the meeting camp director Dr. Rich Cowdell explains to the children and their parents what to expect during their week at Camp Rotary. He also answers questions from the children and their parents. Rotary Club of Chelsea Past President Sue Gallant is the chairperson of this Rotary project. She works with the Chelsea Public Schools to distribute the applications to Chelsea students, coordinates transportation to and from camp with the Chelsea Police Department and makes sure all the children are properly prepared to attend camp. That includes supplying each child with a backpack filled with items they will need for camp. Since 1998 the Rotary Club of Chelsea has sponsored over 350 Chelsea students at Camp Rotary thanks to the generosity of the Chelsea Club members and local businesses.
The Marblehead Rotary Club is pleased to welcome Blair Lord into the club at its weekly Thursday luncheon meeting held at the Boston Yacht Club. Marblehead Rotary Club President, Alexander Falk, presided over the induction ceremony.
Like every Rotary club we needed to increase our membership. It’s quite simple – without a sizable group, running projects becomes difficult. The same people can’t be asked to step up for each project again and again without risking burn out. Even with the best of attitudes (which all Rotarians have, right?) it gets difficult to keep diving into the pool on a regular basis.
Where do we begin? The first thought is to have a reception to showcase the club. Ok, it’s not a bad idea but many organizations run many events and the bulk are not successful. It’s a buyer’s market. You need to show your potential members how your club represents their best opportunity for volunteering. You need a story that is accurate and compelling.
State Senator Brendan Creighton of Lynn presented an Official Citation to outgoing Lynn Rotary President Brenda Peral at a recent meeting. During Peral’s tenure as president, the Lynn club grew its membership significantly, held two successful fundraisers and increased its menu of volunteer opportunities. William Reilly is the new Rotary President.
Please join us in inducting our Club Presidents, District Team and Rotaract Presidents on Thursday, June 27, at Danversport Yacht Club. Cocktail hour at 6:00pm, and the festivities begin at 6:45pm.
Wear your best Hawaiian shirt/outfit. Learn about the 2019-2020 RI theme Rotary Connects the World and the Flamingo Challenge.
I’ve been proud to be a Rotarian for a long time. But today, the Rotarian spirit in me hit a whole new level. This letter is about a lot of things, but ultimately, it’s about what Rotary is best at…connecting with people.
This story starts five years ago in 2014. Back then, I was working as the Youth Services Director in North Reading, while still a Wakefield Rotarian. That year, North Reading Rotary had an abundance of applicants for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). Two students would have to be cut, and I just knew all of the candidates deserved RYLA. I reached out to my Wakefield Club President at the time, Bob Kimball, to see if Wakefield would be willing to fund two students from North Reading. As is common with many communities at the time, RYLA conflicted with Wakefield’s prom and SAT prep so we had no candidates from that class. Bob proposed the idea to our Board and unanimously they agreed to fund two students from North Reading. Ultimately, we sponsored a Sophomore, Annie Nietzsche, and a Junior Marc Flaherty.
The Gloucester Rotary Club will host a Sunset Cruise aboard the Privateer, docked at 63 Rogers St in downtown Gloucester, on Thursday, July 11, 2019. Boarding begins at 6:00pm, and we leave the dock at 6:30pm, returning at 9:30pm.
In addition to beautiful Gloucester vistas and refreshing ocean breezes, the cruise will include sandwiches, salads and desserts, a cash bar, and fun entertainment.
Tickets are $35 each and can be reserved by contacting Brad Pierce at 978-884-9999. The Privateer can accommodate 150 guests. Last minute walk-ons are welcome, but advance reservations are appreciated.
As Rotarians are enjoying the RI Convention happening now in Hamburg, Germany, the rest of us at home can still lock in the special rate being offered for next year's convention in Honolulu, Hawaii! Register now to only pay $395 per person. Rates are also lower for Rotaractors and other guests under 30 years of age!
Click this link to register that includes detailed instructions on how to register. Some convention hotels are already sold out, so act fast!
Aloha Rotary -- Register now for RI 2020 Convention to lock in lowest price!
Julia Phelps, Rotary Club of Amesbury and Trustee, Rotary International (2017-2020), was the speaker at a combined dinner meeting of Marblehead and Marblehead Harbor Rotary Clubs. She updated the memberships on the status of Rotary's Polio Plus program and the challenges the world faces on eliminating polio from the earth.
We had a fantastic RYLA weekend May 10 - 12 with 70 kids (50 RYLArians and 20 student leaders) at Camp Glen Brook in Marlborough, NH! We had the kids going from morning until late at night. They were exhausted, but by all accounts, it was a very impactful weekend!
Here are a few quotes from the evaluation forms:
“RYLA was by far one of the best weekends I’ve ever had. I will never forget this experience, and I’ll apply what I’ve learned to my life”.
“I really enjoyed this camp and feel that I learned so many life lessons that will change me as a person forever”.
“I will be honored to come back and will make the time to attend training while in college. I swear by RYLA and use the lessons & concepts I’ve learned here on a daily basis. I want to start a Rotaract Club at my college this fall. Love all of you. You are all my big RYLA family." (A “Super Senior” (i.e., 3rd year leader))
Manchester-Essex Club hosted visiting Rotarians from Australia this spring, Peter Sutherland and his wife Sally. Peter is the president-elect of his club. They are now home again. Peter sent this message to our President, Mike Storella.
Hello Mike, Thanks again for delivering your Club Banner to me, and for having Sally and I at your meeting. We have made it home to Melbourne again and are missing The USA already. Attached is a photo of the presentation of the banner to our President at North Balwyn Rotary Club in D9800.
Peter Sutherland
Manchester-Essex Hosts Rotarians from "Down Under"
The Rotary Club of Lynn held its final Grade Eight Recognition Program Thursday at Old Tyme Family Cuisine. The program has been a staple on Rotary’s event calendar for over a decade thanks to the generosity of its longtime sponsor, RiverWorks Credit Union.
Each Lynn public and private school is asked to nominate one student from its eighth grade class for special recognition. Rotary is looking for students who have overcome challenges in their life and have a positive impact on the school and their classmates. Lynn Rotarian and local businessman Joe Coombs came up with the idea many years ago based on his personal experiences in middle school that were positively impacted by a classroom teacher. Recognized at its luncheon Thursday were: From left - right: Josilyn Flynn, North shore Christian School; Gabriel Mieses, Sacred Heart School, Sean Paul Miki-Cushing, Pickering Middle School; and Ashley Perez Lopez, Thurgood Marshall MS. Back row: Rotary President Brenda Peral, Rotarian and Master of Ceremonies Drew Russo and Program coordinator Wendy Silva.
Consider our Contacts module to be your clubs' online address book, integrated with your eBulletin and email. Besides basic information such as name, phone number and primary email address, you can also store details such as birthday, anniversary and nickname, in addition to contact information such as home and work address, secondary phone numbers and email addresses, etc.
Even import from or export contacts to Excel!
Create non-member lists to track sponsors, volunteers, supporters, prospective members and more!
Besides basic information, you can also store details such as birthday, anniversary, nickname, home or work address and more.
Create numerous groups to better manage your contacts and understand their involvement with your club. Separate them by friends, prospective members, bulletin subscribers, sponsors and more. Labels will allow you to color code and categorize each group making it easier to identify a certain set of people. This makes it easy to email just a few specific people, whether you want to send club announcements, a request for volunteers or an invitation to an event.
The Gloucester Rotary Club has named Patrick Thorpe and Danny Williamson as Paul Harris Fellows, the prestigious award named after the Chicago lawyer who founded the Rotary movement in 1905. Thorpe was selected by a club committee of previous recipients of the award, while Williamson was chosen by members of the Interact Club, the very active group of Gloucester High School junior Rotarians. Thorpe and Williamson were honored at a special dinner in May.
Please join us in inducting our Club Presidents, District Team and Interact Presidents on June 27th at the Danversport Yacht Club 6 to 9 pm with registration beginning at 5:30 pm.
ATTIRE: Wear your best Hawaiian shirt/outfit. Visit https://2020alohashirts.com if you want to order an official Rotary Hawaiian shirt.
This past weekend our District hosted a 5 District conference at the Doubletree Hotel in Danvers. It was due to our own DG Bob Wood who had the vision for this stellar weekend of fellowship & a youth focused session called "Game of Throneless" organized by Keith and Christina Harris. DG Bob Wood was present for lunch and the annual business meeting and led our District throughout the day.
Thank you again to DG Bob Wood for making our District shine!
Shout Out to DG Bob Wood for a Great District Conference!
For the past 49 years, the Lynn Rotary Club has served as the major sponsor of the Lynn Special Games. “I know this is our 49th year,” said Associate DPW Commissioner Lisa Nerich, the coordinator of the Special Games, “and I can’t recall any organization other than Rotary sponsoring this event. I doubt we could stage this without Rotary’s help.”
“Our members very much enjoy these school projects,” said President Brenda Peral. “The smiles of the children’s faces tell the reason why this project is so important to them."
The Special Games are held at the Lynn Vocational Technical Field house and brings together some 30 specialized classroom programs encompassing over 350 students with the full range of diagnosed disabilities. Teachers, classroom aids and about 100 student volunteers from LVTI work with children on the many playful activities set up around the field house. Several Lynn Police officers lead the parade of students and teachers around the facility along with Lynn School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Tutweiller and Police Chief Michael Mageary. Carolyn Cole, a former Rotarian, sang the National Anthem. Rotarians in attendance to support students were: Steve Upton, Harvey Rowe, Mackie & Ray Bastarache, Diana Moreno, Dick Ruth, Wendy Silva. Rev. Bill Simpson, Brenda Peral and President-elect Bill Reilly. Lynn Rotarian Pattie Capano coordinated the event with Ms. Nerich.
The Rotary Club of Gloucester recently collaborated with several local agencies to present a substance misuse prevention and self-care forum to every student at the Gloucester High School. Over the course of two days, the forum brought together three local organizations, the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI), Gloucester’s Health Department, and Children’s Friend and Family Services, to provide students with real stories of addiction and recovery, as well as the importance of self-care.
Three recent Gloucester High School graduates, Cody Desmond, Lilly Salah and Christian Maki, who are in recovery, gave students some insight into their struggles through addiction and journey to recovery during a guided conversation with PAARI’s Care Advocate and Outreach Specialist, Tito Rodriguez. This was followed by a presentation from Children’s Friend and Family who focused more on the prevention side of things, stressing the importance of self-care as an alternative to using substances to manage stress. Students were provided with an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists and the presentation was followed by a survey, with many students expressing how impactful the presentation was for them and also hoping that other opportunities would arise to invite the speakers back to the high school.
This forum was an opportunity for the Rotary Club of Gloucester to provide outreach and education around a topic that has profoundly impacted so many in the Gloucester community.
Gloucester Substance Misuse Prevention & Self-Care Forum at High School
Parts 1, 2, 3, and Graduate were cancelled for April 27th at the Sheraton Four Points, Wakefield, and RESCHEDULED for October 5, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., same location.
A vibrant, discussion-based learning tool for current and potential club leaders and any club member who wants to learn more about our organization, Rotary Leadership Institute covers subjects like, but not limited to, strategies for attracting and retaining members, running successful fundraisers, and understanding our Foundation.
Remember to MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW, as registrations will close 10 days before the October 5 event!
Does your club need help with issues like recruiting and retaining members, planning for the future, plus fundraising, fellowship and service ideas? RLI is open to ALL Rotarians, not just club officers. However, district-wide, as of 4/12, fewer than 10 Rotarians have submitted intention to attend the April 27 Rotary Leadership Institute day at the Sheraton Four Points in Wakefield. A minimum of 8 attendees is necessary for each level (Parts 1, 2, 3 and Graduate). DON'T WAIT to register, as, based on registration numbers, RLI will decide whether or not to run the program in District 7930 ten days before the scheduled event. Register NOW at www.rlinea.org.
Questions, call Linda Doliber, Site Chair, at 781-631-6938.
DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY for an energizing, informative experience!
The District Conference is right around the corner with opportunities for all to attend! Mark your calendars and sign up now: May 3 and 4 at the Doubletree Hotel in Danvers. Register here.
There are 5 Districts attending allowing for celebration, exploration and expansion of your rotary world. Find out what others are doing and how it can benefit your club. Make new friends while celebrating your club's year.
Consider having your club meeting at the Friday luncheon where DG Bob Wood will celebrate Paul Harris awardees. Join us at the annual business meeting in the afternoon and our memorial service. Then Dance the Night Away with the band Boston Commons.
Saturday is a program called Game of Thrones put together by our very own Keith and Christina Harris involving our youth. Don't miss out!!!
Saturday afternoon and evening join the other Districts in fun and fellowship touring Fenway Park as well as a boat cruise in Boston.
Have you been hearing the term Diversity & Inclusion and wondering how it applies to you and your club? You are invited to attend Rotary District 7930's first Diversity & Inclusion Workshop, with guest James Lopata. Learn more about this topic and how to make an impact on your dynamic club by gaining tools that will help you foster an inclusive community for every current or potential Rotarian!
Date: Thursday, April 25 Time: 7:00-9:00 pm Location: McLane Middleton, 300 Trade Center #7000, Woburn, MA 01801
The Rotary Club of Chelsea hosted the Chelsea High School Interact students for lunch after the students held their 2019 Government Day. The Interact students took over the Chelsea city government for the morning. The students assumed management and governance positions and experienced how city government works. Included in the picture are the Chelsea High School Interact students who participated and the Chelsea Rotarians who hosted them for lunch.
Student leaders have been meeting with Rotarians on Saturday mornings since December to train for their roles as Student Facilitators at this year's RYLA weekend. Training activities range from physically challenging puzzles to serious discussions about diversity and sensitivity.
As planning began for the 2019 Polar Plunge, DG Bob Wood agreed to "take a dive" for the effort, allowing a caricature to be used to follow the progress of the District's fundraising this year. As of April 4, we have raised $99,432 of the $125,000 goal set last fall. It's not too late to donate to the plunge. Contact your Club's Foundation or Polio Plus Chair for information on how you can donate to Rotary's signature program.
Doug Place, Past President of the Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club, has been nominated to receive a Community Champion award for his efforts on behalf of his community. Anyone who knows Doug and would like to vote for him, please go to https://a.pgtb.me/HQbVz2 and vote for him under the "Community" category before April 12.
Burlington Past Pres Nominated for Community Award
Camila Nagashirom, Rotary Youth Exchange student from Bolivia, swapping Rotary Club Flags with Alexander Falk.
Camilla was sponsored by Rotary Club, Grigota, Bolivia. She has been a wonderful addition to the Marblehead community we are grateful to have her with us.
The Rotary Club of Gloucester will host a Trivia Night on Friday, April 26, at the Gloucester House, located at 63 Rogers Street in downtown Gloucester. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the game will begin at 7 p.m. Teams of four will compete for the title of Cape Ann Trivia Champions.
In 2019, there will be a special raffle for Early Bird Registrations: -- Register before April 12 and receive 2 chances to win -- Register before April 19 and receive 1 chance to win
All trivia fans are invited to this fun night of general knowledge and laughter. The registration fee is $100 for a team of four players. Proceeds from this event will support programs of the Gloucester Rotary Club. The night will also feature a 50/50 raffle, a cash bar, and light snacks for purchase. Registration forms may be obtained any Gloucester Rotary Club member or downloaded at www.gloucesterrotary.org.
On April 9, 2019, we will be holding our 9th Annual Celebration of Achievement Banquet at Merrimack Golf Course 210 Howe St. Methuen MA We will be honoring both a Teacher of the Year and a Student of the Year from the Methuen Public School System and Presentation of Mary Academy, as well as award college scholarships to high school seniors who reside in Methuen and attend Methuen High School, Presentation of Mary Academy or Central Catholic High School. In addition, the Club will present its “Service Above Self” Award, honoring an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution in the Methuen Community and most exemplifies the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self. Our Special guest speaker is Larry Giordano founder of Merrimack Valley Foster Kids.
Registration is now open for District 7930 RYLA 2019, which will be the weekend of May 10-12. For information about how your club can support high school students in your community, visit the District RYLA page or contact RYLA Chair Christina Harris. Deadline for Applications is April 15, 2019.
In 2009, my addiction to Rotary began. Sponsored by my hometown Rotary club, I attended the District 7780 RYLA and after that weekend, I was hooked. I joke now that RYLA is the gateway drug to Rotary, but looking back on it, it could not have rung more true for me. The RYLA experience opened my eyes to the potential Rotarian community. In an effort to be more involved, I would become the President of my local Interact club the following year, and then receive a Rotary scholarship for my college studies. I often went back to the club that had sponsored me for both RYLA and the scholarship to share my experiences and the opportunities they had given me, and each time felt like I was walking into a family reunion rather than a room full of strangers. After college, I moved to Boston, a city that immediately felt uninviting and overwhelming to a Mainer. My remedy for homesickness? Find the nearest Rotary club. The minute I walked into the first Downtown Boston Rotary meeting, I knew that I had found a new home. I can say with one hundred percent certainty that the reason I walked into that meeting and became so involved in our club is because of that glimpse of community I received way back in 2009 through RYLA. While I may joke about RYLA as a gateway drug, it may be more a life-sustaining one as it truly is our youth programming from RYLA, to Interact, to Rotaract, that keeps the Rotary name alive. For any club looking to attract millennials is to invest in the younger generations from the ground up. You never know, the high school junior you sponsor today for RYLA may be our District President in 10 years.
The Chelsea Black Community celebrates Black History Month with a month long series of events promoting black history in Chelsea. As part of the celebration the CBC recognizes several local residents and business persons as Chelsea Trailblazers. In recognizing this year’s Trailblazers the CBC took into consideration ethical behavior grounded on compassion, nurture and social bonds. Ideals and convictions that pertain to human beings’ behavior toward each other and to the preferred organizations of their communities such as – historical experience, empathy and the need for integrity and harmony. This year’s honorees include Chelsea Rotarians Saritin Rizzuto and Bruce Mauch. The Chelsea City Council honored the 2019 CBC Trailblazers with resolutions at their March 4, 2019 meeting.
We are pleased to report that our District 7930 Rotary Youth Exchange Program has been recognized by NAYEN (the North American Youth Exchange Network) with a Bronze Achievement Award.
This is straight from the cover letter by Paul Reagan, NAYEN President 2017-19:
On behalf of the North American Youth Exchange Network, I want to congratulate you and District 7930 for the wonderful Rotary Youth Exchange Program that you support. Your program is being recognized for distinguishing itself at the Bronze Level of the NA YEN Achievement Awards. This recognition is for those districts that participate enthusiastically, conduct activities that are best practices, and strive to build strong programs.
Lawrence Rotary arranged for 6 musicians to provide musical entertainment and elves to hand out gifts. This made for both a most fun and happy celebration! Among the club members who participated were Sean Murphy, our lead elf who coordinated the distribution of gifts to the assembled kids, and Shirley Fitzpatrick and Cecilia Cuesta who dressed in their elf costumes. They also brought sugar and caffeine laden snacks to sustain the adults. Richard Rodriguez was an elf, Ron Hill was Santa, and Ron's wife Janis was the lovely Mrs. Claus. 
The Gr. Salem Rotary Club has been committed in distributing scholastic dictionaries to 3rd graders for the past 20+ years. This week the club distributed 250 dictionaries to the Golden Brook School in Windham NH one of the communities we support.
The deadline to apply for mini grants has been extended until December 15. 
WORLD PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING!
Each year, Reading Rotary works with community partners, ReadingCares, the Town of Reading and many community donors coordinate the Adopt-a-Family project for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Thanksgiving distribution day was November 24. Receiving families are matched anonymously with donor families or groups to provide meal and gifts at Christmas and meals at Thanksgiving. Donors drop off at the Town DPW garage in the first shift, then recipient families pick up their food and gifts during a later shift. 
On November 20th the Lawrence Rotary Cub enjoyed hosting District Governor Pooja Singla (far right) and District International Service Chair Maria Bertolone (2nd from left). It was an interesting and informative meeting which included both Rotary fellowship and instruction! Also pictured from left to right are Janis Hill, Shirley Fitzpatrick, Attorney Ramsey Bahrawy, Attorney Richard Rodriguez and Ron Hill.
The Rotary Club of Burlington participated in the "Name a Puppy Plus" program with 
Each year as the weather gets colder, the Lawrence Rotary Club purchases and delivers 100 coats, 100 mittens and 100 hats to young Lawrence Grammar School students. Two weeks ago, the Lawrence Rotary Club delivered 100 coats, 100 mittens and 100 hats to Hennessey Grammar School students.
Happy Thanksgiving to all our Rotarians, families and friends from District 7930 Leadership Team.
Do you remember the first ever district-wide Clothes Swap held this past September? It's a THING. National Clothes Swap Day is December 6.
Last week Woburn Rotary and Winchester Rotary joined together to have their annual combined meeting celebrating the Thanksgiving High School football rivalry at the Woburn/Stoneham Lodge of Elks #908. 
Marblehead Harbor Rotary has officially changed our meeting day from TUESDAY to THURSDAY mornings, from 7:15 to 8:30 am 
On November 12, 2025, Rotarians from across District 7930 gather to honor military veterans at the PDG Bob Wood Memorial Heroes Celebration, held at the Andover Country Club. The event recognized and celebrated veterans from throughout the district for their service and dedication to their country. Each Hero designated was presented with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition in appreciation for their service to our country.
More than a dozen districts have joined together during the 2025-26 Rotary year to increase membership in the PolioPlus Society (PPS), and ultimately eradicate Polio, once and for all!
What a wonderful week of celebrations as the Wakefield Rotary Club attended multiple celebrations of our nation's heroes. On Veterans Day, Rotarians Jay Curley (US Army, ret.), Barbara Worley, Joie Gerrish and Jim Fitzgerald attended the town's Veterans Day event and gave tribute to local heroes.
The Gloucester Rotary has published a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2026, featuring the photography of several local photographers. In addition to the beautiful photography, each calendar includes a raffle ticket for a $50 weekly raffle drawing throughout the year. The calendars are $25 each and proceeds from sales will be used for the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities. Calendars may be 
Here's a reminder that your club as a nonprofit or tax-exempt organization is required to file its annual return (Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, or 990-BL) by November 15. (This year since November 15 falls on a Saturday, the deadline is extended to November 17.) Make sure you file your return or duly file for an extension.
Our annual Halloween lunch meeting was a spirited success! More than half of our members joined in the fun by coming in costume, adding plenty of laughter and color to the day. We were delighted to welcome District Governor Pooja Singla, who arrived as Super Rotarian—cape and all!—along with our Assistant Governor Ron Block.
The Wakefield Rotary Club hosted its Halloween party at a meeting this week. Co-hosts Jay Curley and Amy Luckiewicz led several haunted games and invited members to dress up in costumes.
It was a privilege to welcome our Rotary District Governor, Pooja Singla, to the Rotary Club of Peabody. Her visit brought great energy and a clear vision for the year ahead.
In lieu of regular meeting last week, Beverly Rotary made 100 take home dinners for home bound Beverly folk. With the guidance of Brenda Mattos of Ellis Square Friends, a nutritious and delicious meal was prepared.
Make District 7930 a Leader in Ending Polio
Last week Woburn Rotary invited Assistant Scout Master Brian Grace and Scout Unit Commissioner Dave Frizzell of Woburn Scouts Pack 502 to speak about the work that the scouts do in the community and the leadership skills that are learned in the scouts. We were especially grateful for the work the scouts did for our Flags for Heroes program lead by past Rotary Club of Woburn President Bill Sullivan. The scouts helped to install the base mounts into the ground so the flags could fly in Ferullo Park in North Woburn. Rotary Club of Woburn President Danny Walbourne presented the scouts with a donation.
The District Environmental Committee is working on some exciting projects and would love to have your participation. Join us once a month for a 1-hr or less call to discuss what the committee is up to and how you can be a part of it.
oin the Gloucester Rotary at Magnolia 525 Tavern (12 Lexington Ave, Gloucester) tonight, October 20, 2025, 5-9pm.
Why is Rotary Public Image and consistent Branding important? Public Image is the opinion that people have of an organization based on its actions.
Nominations for District Governor for 2028-29 are being accepted starting September 1, 2025. Deadline to submit nominations: Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
The Greater Salem NH Rotary Club successfully completed its annual golf tournament at the Windham Country Club. This event attracted a significant number of enthusiastic golfers, all of whom enjoyed ideal weather conditions throughout the day, contributing to the overall positive atmosphere.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians continued a tradition with the Open Door of bringing cheer and laughter in a full bag of everything needed for a joyful birthday party of eight children. Birthday-in-a-Bag!
Big shout out to the Environmental Committee for hosting a very fun and successful 1st Annual Clothes and Book/Puzzle Swap. What a great way to part with clothes and books you no longer want, keep them out of the landfill, and have the opportunity to shop for new to you items for one small price. The venue was fantastic, in a great location in Danvers just off Route 95 making it easy for most of the district to get there.
Winchester Rotarians, Interactors, Lion’s Heart youth, families and friends gathered to construct fifteen beds for youngsters through the Mass. Coalition for the Homeless and funded by a District Grant. Young and old gathered to champion Service in Action on a perfect Fall day. 
Lexington Rotary continued ours annual tradition and served up BBQs to seniors in September. We lucked out with three beautiful September afternoons for our annual BBQ’s at Lexington’s senior housing communities.
Newburyport Rotary is partnering with the Rotary Club of Saco Bay in Maine and the non-profit, Crutches4Africa.
The Rotary Club of Andover is proud to commemorate 30 years of service, fellowship, and impactful community initiatives. To mark this milestone, we invite you to join us for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and high-energy fun at the NuBingo Music Extravaganza, a fundraising event celebrating three decades of making a difference in Andover and beyond.
Last week, the Wakefield Rotary Club participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge to fundraise in support of the Angel Fund. The Angel Fund aims at supporting research of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Fifteen participants represented Holiday Travel, WCAT, HD Physical Therapy, The Savings Bank, and First Financial Trust. Ten of the participants are also Wakefield Rotarians.
Whether you’re already using Rotary’s Service Project Center or are hearing about it for the first time, this dynamic resource hub supports you at every stage of your service project journey.
The Clothes and Book / Puzzle Swap are just around the corner on September 28 from 11 am to 3 pm at Danvers Art Association. We have an amazing food vendor and some great raffle prizes, so I hope you come, swap and shop and enjoy the day.
The Belle Isle Rotary Club Fundraiser - Limoncello Making Nite! Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 at the East Boston Yacht Club 1 Rice St, East Boston (plenty of parking). Doors open at 5pm for happy hour/complimentary nibbles. Limoncello making begins at 6pm. Donation is $100 and for that you get all the ingredients, equipment and instruction from Belle Isle President Peter Scolaro a 40-year Cello-tarian! So you can make your very own 4 liter batch of limoncello. This is fun to do solo, couple or as a group - you can split batches. Spectators welcome as there will be plenty of fun, food and libations.
Did you know that we have a new club in our District? We’d like to introduce you to the District 7930 E-Club. The club became an official Satellite Club in August 2025. We are sponsored by Belle Isle who has generously taken us in and given us a space to get started until we move to our own chartered club. We appreciate their help and support very much!
We are delighted to have received an overwhelming number of requests for District Managed Grants. Some funds for the Global Grants are still available.
The Wilmington Rotary Club held their annual Community Ice Bucket Challenge at Wilmington's Rotary Park on Saturday, August 24. Many brave participants, including 8 Rotarians, had the pleasure of dumping ice water over their heads to raise funds for the Angel Fund of Wakefield. The Angel Fund is an organization committed to finding a cure for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Through the work of Dr. Robert Brown at the UMass Medical Center, progress has been made but the cure hasn’t yet been achieved, and additional funds are still needed.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of our District 7930's new District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair!
This year Rotaplast has asked DG Pooja to support their Vocational Training Team (VTT) Mission in Faridabad, India from Oct 25-Nov 9, 2025. VTTs are groups of professionals who travel abroad to teach local specialists their skills in their own field. This VTT will teach the local MDs how to perform Cleft Palate Surgeries in Faridabad, India. 
Last week, the Wakefield Rotary Club hosted a FUN co-meeting with Lynnfield Rotary. Attendees were mixed into teams to play an interactive trivia featuring some Rotary questions, music, and other topics. The book "Kindness is My Superpower" will be donated to both the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library and Lynnfield Public Library on behalf of both clubs. The winning team got to sign the book plates!
Save the date for Salem Rotary's Mad Hatter's Tea Party Auction and Gala!
Long time member of Wilmington Rotary, Ernie Pearlstein, has passed away. For those of you fortunate to know Ernie, you knew that he was a great guy with an easy-going personality. He was also a clown with the Shriners in Wilmington.
All Assistant Governors are respectfully requested to attend the quarterly virtual Assistant Governor Forums on August 27, October 22, 2025; January 28, and April 29, 2026. Please mark your calendars. 
Tickets Are Going Fast—Don’t Miss This Unforgettable Night to Honor Rich Cowdell!
Amesbury Rotary celebrated its 100th Anniversary at the Amesbury Historical Museum on May 29th. President Cathy Toomey cut the cake to commemorate the last 100 years of service and to welcome in the next Rotary Century. 
The District Environmental Committee is excited to announce a District-wide Fundraiser, a Clothes and Book/Puzzle Swap. Clean out your closets and your bookcases and bring your gently used but no longer wanted items to the event (adult clothes only please). Leave empty handed, or feel free to "shop". $10 admission, food, drinks and raffle tickets available for purchase. September 28, 11 - 3pm at the Danvers Art Association - 105 Elliot Street in Danvers. This event is open to all so please invite your friends and family.
Calling Rotarian Golfers!
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 16-17. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees.
Has your club recently hosted an event or project or are you planning something in the near future that you would like to share with your fellow District 7930 Rotarians?
August is Membership Month! Join the monthly Membership webinar on Zoom. It's the first Monday of the month at 7:30 pm. 
June was a special month for Burlington Rotary Club as we gathered for one of our most meaningful events of the year — our annual Scholarship Dinner. Held in celebration of local achievement and service, the evening recognized outstanding high school seniors, welcomed new Interact leadership, and honored two of our own for their extraordinary dedication.
Four times each year, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary volunteers gather at the Masonic Lodge in Ipswich to serve nutritious meals to senior citizens and other residents. This month, a dozen Rotarians and local volunteers served over 70 “Ipswich Dinner Bell’ guests and prepared another 75 meals for delivery to those unable to attend.
The Reading Rotary proudly recognized eleven outstanding local students with the prestigious Service Above Self Scholarship at its annual Installation and Scholarship Night, held on July 21 at Café Escadrille in Burlington, MA. The evening celebrated youth who exemplify Rotary’s core value of service above self through their volunteerism, leadership, and commitment to their communities. Reading Rotary awarded a total of $11,000.00 in scholarships at this event.
The next meeting of the Environmental Committee is Thursday, July 31 at 7pm. Please email Andrea at 
The Greater Salem NH Rotary Club, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in and supported our annual Corn Hole Tournament at Tuscan Village. The success of this event is a testament to the strength and generosity of our community. From the spirited teams who filled the tournament with laughter and friendly competition, to the dedicated sponsors who made the day possible, your contributions truly make a difference.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is delighted to welcome Beth Chase to the Rotary family, where we achieve more together than we can alone.
The Rotary Club of Andover (Andover Rotary) is proud to announce the awarding of three $3,000 scholarships to outstanding graduating high school seniors residing in Andover. These one-time scholarships support students pursuing higher education in the upcoming academic semester and reflect the club’s ongoing commitment to service and community investment.
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 7:30 am to 11:00 am in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 16-17. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees.
In honor of plastic free July, I would like to share a story about a fellow Rotarian who attended one of my plastics presentations at a Rotary meeting and how it's affected her:
The following is information from District Governor Todd Smith of District 5870 where the flooding tragedy occurred. To help the victims, see the message following:
Every year the Rotary Club of Rockport gathers in the square downtown at 10:00 am and performs the reading of the Declaration of Independence in costume. It has been a tradition now for 14 years, and each year the club expands its costume closet to accommodate the growing group of participants.
The Swampscott Rotary Club has awarded over $23000 in scholarships during this past Rotary fiscal year.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea participated in the District 7930 2025 RYLA program by sending four students from the Chelsea High School.
Twenty-three teachers at Pine Grove Elementary School, Rowley, were provided workshops in grade specific environmental education curricula through an Ipswich-Rowley Rotary District grant. Each classroom, for a total of 430 students, joined their teachers for a demo outdoor lesson along the new nature trail, Trackers Trail. It elevated the entire schools awareness of the local surroundings and built sustainalbe support for environmental education in the future.
Don't miss the opportunity to make your final Annual Fund contribution this year before FY year end. Every Rotarian, please make your contribution to The Rotary Foundation's 
Please share with us and with your local news and social media networks the exciting news of your Club installation celebrations and your new leadership. Almost as important as the Service we do in the community is getting the word out about Rotary.
From June 21–25, 2025, Calgary, Canada, transformed into a global hub of service, innovation, and connection as it hosted the Rotary International Convention. With over 15,000 Rotary memberss from more than 120 countries, the event marked Rotary’s largest in-person gathering since the pandemic—bringing together changemakers to celebrate humanitarian achievements and chart a course for future impact.
The gardening shed is to support the elderly residents at Chebacco Terrace, a 40 unit elderly housing development owned by the Essex Housing Authority. Residents had expressed interest in gardening, but the housing authority has no budget for this enrichment activity.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently installed its new officers and directors during a luncheon at Brightview Wakefield. In accordance with its by-laws, the service club elects new leadership annually.
The Salem Rotary Club has been making Salem a better place for local residents and has contributed to communities around the globe for over 100 years. The largest impact they make each year, however, is to local Salem high school-aged students. This spring, the Salem Rotary Club was pleased to present $55,000 in Scholarship and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Awards to senior students from Salem.
Share stories of your Club changeover festivities!
The Rotary Club of Chelsea annually sends twenty children from Chelsea to Camp Rotary for one week. Prior to attending camp the children attend an orientation meeting in Chelsea conducted by PP Susan Gallant who runs the project for the Rotary club. At the orientation Camp Rotary Director Dr. Richard Cowdell explains what to expect at the camp. Sue and other Rotarians then help the children and their parents with filling out the required paperwork and medical questionnaires. Prior to leaving the orientation each child is presented a backpack with personal essentials they can use at camp. The Rotary Club of Chelsea has been running this project for over 15 years. 
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently donated $2,600 to the Wakefield Food Pantry. Funds were raised via the club’s Dine Anywhere chance. Wakefield Rotary Club President Wendy Maguire said, “We’ve supported this resource in our community for years and its as important as ever to continue that support.” Nancy and Lauren from the Wakefield Food Pantry visited the club Tuesday to receive the gift. 
Please make your contribution to The Rotary Foundation's 
Near the end of each month the Swampscott Rotary Club meets at the Swampscott VFW and VFW and Rotary members join to make and package peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. These and packed with fruit, a dessert and a drink in "take home" packages delivered to My Brother's Table in Lynn for their clients.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea hosted their 2025 scholarship recipients and the recipients’ advisors at a recent Rotary luncheon. Ten scholarships were given out consisting of eight from the Rotary Club of Chelsea, one from East Cambridge Savings Bank in honor of Joseph Vinard and one from Juan Gallego.
Reading Rotary presented longtime Reading Rotary member Dick Haggerty with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition at its May 12 meeting held at Austin Prep. 
The Wakefield Rotary Club offers a unique opportunity to its new members through the “Rookie Year Challenge”: each receives $100 of club funds to pursue a charitable project of their choice. The only requirement? The funds must be used in a way that allows the member—and other Rotarians—to actively serve, not simply donate.
This Memorial Day we honor and remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Again we are asking for players and/or attendees to cheer us on as we play our annual game against Kiwanis in support of Jason Roberts, a baseball league for kids with learning and physical disabilities. The festivities starts at 6 PM on Wednesday, June 11th (rain date Thursday, June 12th) cheering on the young players along with a cookout and then our game starts at 7.
At our meeting last Thursday morning, Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians and guests were treated to an unusual double speaker program. Both sessions were fun and enlightening.
Our District Committees need volunteers. Please consider participating in one of these Committees. Many hands make light work. These Committees usually meet once a month over Zoom. It is a great way to learn more about Rotary beyond your club. You can enhance your skills and learn best practices. Use your Rotary experience and enthusiasm to help other Rotarians.
The Arlington Police Department is thrilled to introduce the latest member of their team.
Flags for Heroes is a program designed to honor individuals who have made significant contributions as heroes. These heroes may include military personnel, first responders, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, community leaders, or others who have shown dedication and service.
In honor of Earth Day and our love of community, a small but intrepid group of Ipswich-Rowley Rotary volunteers braved the elements to complete our semi-annual cleanup of the two-mile segment of Route 133 between the Route 1 intersection and the Essex town line. President Tom Murphy, the club’s ‘Adopt a Highway’ Chair, was joined by President Elect Doug Shealy and Vice President Susanne Petersen.
Leo Bergeron will be presented with the Gloucester Rotary’s Paul Harris Distinguished Service Award at a special dinner on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square in downtown Gloucester. The Paul Harris Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Gloucester Rotary and recognizes Leo as a long-time local banker and community activist.
As a past District Governor of District 7930 and a strong advocate of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program, David Gardner has experienced firsthand the transformative impact the RYLA experience can have on a young person's life.
Camp Rotary, the renowned service project of the Lynn Rotary Club, has been offering life-changing experiences for children for over 100 years at its beautiful Boxford property on the shores of Stiles Pond. There are several weeks this summer where we have beds for older campers that we believe may go unused. In an effort to get these beds filled with deserving campers, for a limited time we are offering clubs the opportunity to send campers to camp at a discount. The regular cost of camp is $35 registration fee and $1025 for the week of camp. For the following select weeks, we can offer Rotary clubs the ability to send TWO campers for this cost instead of one!
Greater Salem Rotary's Public Image Chair Ashley Haseltine is officially a Boston Marathon runner. Her inspiring dedication and tireless efforts have truly made a significant impact. Her journey to becoming a Boston Marathon runner is a testament to her strength and determination. We are immensely proud of her achievements and the incredible support she has shown for thyroid cancer research with Team Mass Eye & Ear.
Incoming Club Presidents, Treasurers and Secretaries, please enroll and complete your role-based learning plans before the start of the next Rotary year. 
The Rotary Club of Winchester's 36th annual Charity Golf Tournament is on Monday, May 19, 2025, and we expect another great event again this year at the Winchester Country Club. We expect to sell out again this year.
The Rotary Club of Greater Newburyport inducted 3 new members on April 8, 2025. They have gained 10 new members since July! The club credits their success to member outreach efforts, inviting prospective members to weekly meetings and events and showing them how much fun it can be in helping others.
Attention Professional and Recreational Photographers
The Rotary Club of Rockport is proud to support financially the Rockport Farmer’s Market in their initiative to combat food insecurity. The Rockport Farmers Market has made significant strides in supporting low-income families through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 
Calling all Presidents-Elect, Club Treasurers, Club Secretaries, Public Image, Membership, Foundation Chairs, new Rotarians -- and all Rotarians!
Wilmington Rotary and Wilmington High Interact Club held their Polar Plunge for PolioPlus on March 22 at Silver Lake in Wilmington. For the first time in three years, the weather cooperated, the speeches were kept to a minimum, and all participants and attendees were invited back to Rocco's Restaurant for Pizza following the Plunge. 
Last week we welcomed Leanne Carbone, the chairperson of Woburn Memorial High School Tanner Closet. WMHS Tanner Closet is a free resource to help any WMHS students in need!
Support the Rotary Club of Lexington raise funds to support our annual scholarships given out to high school students.
Wakefield Rotary's new Pollinator Garden took its next steps this week. President Wendy Maguire, Past President Barbara Worley and Past President Judy Gordon scouted two potential locations for the garden.
As part of their weekly meeting the Manchester-Essex Club gathered on an early Spring morning with distinguished guest incoming District Governor Pooja Singla at the Historic Essex Shipbuilding Museum Schoolhouse to paint bowls in support of the Open Door Food Pantry's major fundraiser, the Empty Bowl.
The Rotary Club of Peabody received a District Grant from D7930 and partnered with Peabody Club funds and a Peabody Education Foundation grant to create a project called My First Book Club. The goal of the program was to provide every student in Grades K-2 with a book that they could own.
Woburn Interact Club President Adrian Caruso presents a check for $2000 to Woburn Dollars for Scholars liaison Catarina DeLemos Loureiro. The money was raised during a recent "Dating Game" event at the school auditorium. They are joined by the Interact Club members and Interact Club advisor Bill Sullivan. The funds raised will go to scholarship for Woburn Memorial High School.
Foundation recognition points are awarded to donors who contribute to The Rotary Foundation through the Annual Fund or PolioPlus, or who contribute to sponsorship of a Foundation grant. Donors receive one recognition point for every U.S. dollar contributed to these funds. (Contributions to the Endowment Fund are not eligible.) Donors can transfer Foundation recognition points to others to help them qualify as a Paul Harris Fellow or Multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Foundation recognition points belong to the original donor until the donor’s death, unless the points are transferred, or until the donor uses them (the surviving spouse of a Major Donor may also use the points).
The Rotary Club of Woburn recently donated a defibrillator to St. Barbara's Church in Woburn. On hand for the presentation from left to right: Past Rotary President Mike Martini, Farther Edmund Ugwoegbu and Past Rotary President Bill Sullivan. 
As its major fundraiser, the Beverly Rotary Club is having BARRY GOUDREAU'S ENGINE ROOM perform at the North Shore Music Theatre on March 29th. Former "Boston" guitarist and his group the Engine Room will be providing music from the group Boston, popular rock covers and some of the group's new music. Once you hear them you will connect and feel the music! They have a following of fans all over New England.
Join Us for Pints for Preemies!
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Community Service Co-Chair Chris Davis has announced the results of their 2025 February ‘Share the Love’ collection for The Open Door Food Pantry.
Flags for Heroes is a way to honor people who are your heroes. They may be men and women who are serving or have served as a member of the military, first responders, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, community leaders, or other heroes.
The Paul Harris Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who elect to contribute $1,000 or more each year to any combination of the following: Annual Fund-SHARE, individual Areas of Focus, PolioPlus Fund, as well as Disaster Response Funds and approved global grants.
Join Us for the Salem Rotary Club's Annual Auction
The invoices for District Dues were emailed out through Quickbooks to club officials! If you did not receive them or have questions, please reach out to District Treasurer, Rebecca Harris 
After contracting polio in 1952 at age 8, Philip Wilson was left with no use of his arms or left hand. Since then Philip has lived a vibrant and productive life, but without any functioning in his upper body limbs and left hand. He has an inspiring and remarkable story including joining Rotary in 1984, one year prior to Rotary announcing the formation of Polio Plus. Having recently moved into Brooksby Village, Philip and his wife, Jane, are new members of Danvers Rotary. Formerly, Phil had been District 7490 Chair for Polio Plus and has done extensive speaking at Rotary clubs and events. He reminds us of the devastation polio brought to America every summer prior to Jonas Salk developing the vaccine in 1955.
Have you made your contribution to The Rotary Foundation's 
Our World Peace and Understanding Event on February 26 featured an incredibly inspirational talk by John Nanni. John is a Rotarian from Middletown-Odessa, Delaware and is one of 20 million polio survivors. John contracted polio at 10 months just before the Salk vaccine became available. He was paralyzed from the neck down for six months.
Last week, Rotary Club of Woburn presented the Woburn Fire Dept. with Smoke/CO detectors. Fire Prevention Lt. Mark Smith and Rosa Lococo Head Clerk of the Fire Dept. were on hand to accept the donation by Rotary President Bill Balboni, along with Marie Lingblom COA Director of the Woburn Senior Center.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently hosted its second Rotary’s So Sweet Swap in honor of Valentine's Day. Members and guests were invited to bring a wrapped "sweet" treat. Club Members Jay Curley and Amy Luckiewicz led an interactive, and unpredictable, “sweet swap”. Some directions included to "Swap with a club Past President," "Swap with someone who can recite the 4-Way Test," and other Rotary-related instructions.
A major initiative for our Club this year has been to re-establish an Interact Club at the Manchester-Essex Regional High School (MERHS). After a couple meetings with a supportive school administration, we had a terrific introductory discussion with upwards of 25 students at a local pizza place that was informed and made more relevant with neighboring Interact student leaders from Gloucester and Ipswich - special thanks to Serena and Keith.
The Rotary Club of Rockport served its annual Valentine's lunch of baked haddock to over 70 local senior citizens at the Fish Shack Restaurant last Friday. Diners were serenaded by the high school chorus, and given carnations as they exited. Many seniors expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to get together and socialize during an especially tough winter. 
We are extremely proud to welcome one of the United States' newest citizens, Jose David Cermeño Perez. Jose came to our club back in 2012-13 as an exchange student from Venezuela, all wide eyed about Rotary. He was involved with the music and theatre department at high school, with a high point starring as Bernardo in West Side Story.
Our 
Hi, My name is Becca Harris and I am a member of the Arlington Rotary Club and serving as the District Treasurer. In my "real job" I am the Executive Director of 2nd Act which is a nonprofit that is a collective of artists and drama therapists in recovery which uses theatre, film, and drama therapy to address and educate about the impact of substance use. Our programs, including workshops, plays, drama therapy and professional trainings, are impacting the district in many ways and I would love to come to your club meeting to share more about the work we do.
The Wakefield Rotary Club visited Northeast Metro Tech (Voke) this week. The club re-located its meeting to the James Wallace Breakheart Inn at the school, a fully functioning training bakery, café and restaurant located within the Voke for the first out of four Rotary lunch meetings that will be hosted at the school in 2025.
Marblehead Harbor Rotarians recently hosted a second Breakfast of Champions. On the left, incoming club president Amy Hart offers words of welcome to representatives of the various sponsors of the club’s major fundraiser, the widely anticipated holiday opening gala, “Holiday Pops” which was held December 14.
How do you rate your club's Public Image? Is your Rotary club the best kept secret in your community? Do you have questions about ClubRunner, social media, press releases, how to get the word out about the great things Rotary does? 
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently contributed $500 to the Scholarship Fund of Wakefield, kicking off its annual Youth Support Campaign. This donation is one of many that the club intends to make to support scholarship, youth development and vocational training this year. Club President Wendy Maguire explained, “Each month, our Board reviews a comprehensive list of programs we hope to support this year that benefit Wakefield youth. We’re very happy to continue to support Wakefield students.”
Governor Tom Hankard introduced this year's One by One Membership Initiative at the District Installation celebration. He challenged all Rotarians to invite one person to a Rotary meeting, event, or service project during this Rotary year.
The devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area have moved so many people to want to help. Two Rotary Districts serving the Southern California affected by the fires have established relief funds to help support those in need. 
Every Rotarian has a personal reason for joining. The thing we have in common is our strong commitment to making a difference. We are generous with our ideas, our energy, and our contributions to community causes. Whether large or small, every donation to the Annual Fund-SHARE is meaningful and important.
Here is an update from one of our Outbound Global Scholars, Acadia Thielking. Acadia is pursuing a Masters in Epidemiology at the Imperial College in London. She is a 2024 Global Scholar in the Rotary Foundation’s Area of Focus of Disease Prevention and Treatment
On Friday, December 20th, not even the snow could stop about 30 Andover Rotarians, family and friends from ringing the bell in front of Andover Old Town Hall for the Salvation Army of Lawrence.
Calling all Presidents Elect, Assistant Governors, Facilitators and all others participating in NEPELS. NEPELS is Northeast President Elect Learning Seminar (formerly called PETS). 
You are invited to join us at the White Mountain Hotel & Resort in No. Conway, NH from Friday, Feb. 28th to Sunday, Mar. 2nd for our Winter Getaway. Rotarians, their families and friends are all invited.
Thank you and congratulations to the Gloucester High School Interact Club for bringing back their annual Pathways Children's Holiday Party! The party provided fun, games, goodies, lunch, and a visit from Santa to the children served by Pathways for Children. An annual tradition for many years, the children's party was cancelled for several years due to the pandemic. 
The Rotary Club of Chelsea had as a recent guest speaker Laura Cardona, Executive Producer at NBC10BOSTON and TelemundoNI.
In November, the nomination committee selected Tim Kelley, from the Reading Rotary Club as the District Governor Nominee Designate (DGND). An email announcement went out to the entire District in November indicating his selection and asking for any challenges. No challenges were submitted by any club in our District by the December 31st deadline.
At a recent “Breakfast of Champions,” hosted by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor, representatives of the extensive Marblehead sailing community and leaders in the effort to improve the environment were honored. Featured speaker was Maureen McKinnon, the Paralympic sailor who won gold in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. (The actual medal is an exquisite circle of jade.) 
All Rotary members should make promoting Rotary's Public Image a priority. Promoting PI is a proven strategy to increase your club's impact and add members.
At Beverly Rotary's last meeting in December, we had a wonderful atmosphere when the Beverly High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Adam Costa, came to add joy to our meeting. They played so many wonderful songs. We even got to sing-along! This is an annual tradition at our Club. We presented Adam with a $500 check towards expenses of the Jazz Club.
The Salem Rotary Club hosted its annual Department of Children and Families (DCF) Holiday party at Kernwood Country Club, bringing joy to foster families across the North Shore. The event featured entertainment including a visit from Santa Claus himself.
The Zone Membership Webinar Series continues January 6, 2025, at 7:30 pm. 
Each year Reading Rotary partners with ReadingCares and the Town of Reading to run the Adopt-a-Family project at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Christmas distribution day was December 19. These community partners coordinate this long-standing community giving program. Receiving families are matched anonymously with donor families and/or groups to provide meal and gifts at Christmas and meals at Thanksgiving. Donors drop off in the first shift, then recipient families pick up their food and gifts during a later shift.
Last week the Swampscott Rotary Club delivered over 85 Holiday fruit baskets to elderly, widowed and ill residents of Swampscott and Nahant.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently announced the election of its new officers and directors at its Annual Meeting. The club elects new leadership each year in accordance with its by-laws. The 2025-2026 Board of Directors include Margie Daniels, Joie Gerrish, Mike Sullivan, Jill McWilliam, Craig Calabrese, Wendy Maguire (Immediate Past President) and Amy Luckiewicz (Past Presidents’ Representative). Suzanne Bowering will serve as Club Secretary, Barbara Worley as Club Treasurer and Frank Fiorentino as Sergeant-at-Arms. Paul Adams was elected Vice President/President-Elect and Kathy Boyle will serve as President for the 2024-2025 term.
This holiday season, the Winchester Rotary Club and Winchester High School’s Interact Club joined forces to deliver joy and warmth to our community. Together, they provided over 100 holiday meals to senior citizens residing at the Winchester Housing Authority.
Dear Rotarians:
The Rotary Club of Chelsea had as their guest speaker at a recent meeting, WBZ Meteorologist Jacob Wykoff. Mr. Wykoff gave a background on how he got into the weather forecasting profession, how weather is forecast, the expected accuracy rate and why the weather varies within the eastern Massachusetts region. He took questions for 15 minutes and answered most. Also hosted as guest of the Club were the 2024 -2025 officers of the Chelsea High School Interact Club. 
Twice a year the Rotary Club of Woburn takes over the kitchen at the Woburn Senior Center and cooks a hot breakfast for about 65 senior citizens. Lead by Rotarian and chef Jim Major, the Rotarians make scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes and strawberries while the seniors are entertained by the Irish/American musician Mossie Caughlan. Dunkin' helps to sponsor the event by providing coffee. It's always a fun time and the seniors appreciate and enjoy the morning with breakfast and sing-along favorite tunes by Mossie. 
The Gloucester Rotary has published a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2025, featuring the photography of several local photographers. In addition to the beautiful photography, each calendar includes a raffle ticket for a $50 weekly raffle drawing throughout the year. The calendars are $25 each and proceeds from sales will be used for the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities.
A major initiative of Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is helping The Open Door food pantry bring joy to area families in need of assistance.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary recently honored long time member Nat Pulsifer for his immense contributions to our club and community. His imagination, kindness, and devotion to community made Ipswich a better place for us all. Those of us in Rotary were honored to serve with him!
Winchester Rotary Club came together for a meaningful service project: packing Thanksgiving baskets for the Council for Social Concern.
The ClubRunner Mobile app allows you to view your member directory, contact your members and executives, read the latest articles posted to your website, learn more about your upcoming events and speakers, view your club meeting details and track your attendance statistics, right from your smartphone or tablet.
Boston Rotary Club is collecting Winter Essentials to benefit 
The annual joint lunch hosted by the Woburn and Winchester clubs brought the clubs together in anticipation of the 133rd Thanksgiving High School Football game. With the historic rivalry tied, excitement is at an all-time high. This cherished tradition featured captains, cheerleaders, and coaches from both schools. They joined us for a festive Thanksgiving feast to honor their teams and celebrate the spirit of competition and camaraderie. 
Buy Tickets for 21st Taste of the North Shore Gala
Amesbury Rotary’s Title Town Sports Raffle is coming up on December 17th. Get a start on your holiday shopping, and help support the work Amesbury Rotary does in our community; awarding college scholarships to Amesbury High School students, Bike Safety Day, supporting the Council on Aging and several Amesbury community based non profit organizations, Veteran’s Day lunch, and much more.
On October 20, Burlington Breakfast Rotary participated in the Miles for Mental Health Walk at Marshall Simons Middle School track.
Members of the Rotary Club of Salem recently volunteered their time at the Salem Pantry, helping out in the organization's warehouse. The Rotarians assisted with a variety of tasks aimed at supporting the Pantry's food distribution efforts.
This Thursday, November 14th will be our upcoming ROBERT C. WOOD MEMORIAL HEROES foundation dinner event, named in honor and memory of our friend, the late Past District Governor Bob Wood (2018-19). Tickets are still available! The evening will include a social hour, silent auction, dinner, and Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) presentations.
Mark your calendars! We are excited to share RYLA 2025 will be taking place May 16th-18th at Camp Rotary in Boxford, MA. This year’s group of students will experience a full weekend of learning, discovering, and connecting with each other. With how busy the end of year can be, make sure to save the date for RYLA 2025 before everyone's schedules fill up!
The Succession Planning Summit on November 2 will be rescheduled in 2025. Information on a new date will be coming out later.
The Marblehead High School Interact Club started the year strong with 100 members and counting. The dynamic leadership is planning a full year of service and fundraising projects both locally and internationally.
In commemoration of World Polio Day, October 24th, Marblehead Rotarians organized fun and exciting activities for the whole month of October, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and global efforts to eradicate Polio. An essential part is to raise funds to continue the work that Rotarians have been dedicated to since 1985.
Marblehead Rotary's annual 5K Run/Walk will be held on Sunday, November 3 at 11 am. Please bear in mind, daylight savings time ends, don't forget to change your clocks!
Rotary is hosting a 60-minute webinar called Ethical Storytelling on Wednesday, 9 October.
Are you passionate about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging?
The Rotary Club of Burlington is hosting "Build a Bed" with the non-profit, A Bed For Every Child non-profit.
Calling all Heroes! Save the date of Thursday, November 14, 2024, for the return of our Heroes Celebration.
5th Annual Belle Isle Rotary's Fall Fair put on for the children and families of East Boston, Revere & Winthrop. There will be lots of food, prizes & fun for all ages, face painting, pumpkin decorating, games/prizes and yummy fall foods all for free.
For the past several years Lynn Rotary and the Salvation Army (SA) joined forces to assist with the annual backpack distribution to Lynn School children. Prior to the actual distribution, Lynn Rotarians were on duty at the local Walmart, donating and collecting school supplies from entering customers. Walmart and Fox 25 TV in Boston made significant donations of the supplies.
Public Image is important to get Rotary's message out. Here are some resources to enhance your PI and expand your club's reach.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently completed its multi-year project to collect and donate school supplies to benefit a Caribbean school. This year, the club selected the Sandy Point Primary School on St. Kitts.
The three bedrocks of Rotary are our members, our Foundation that benefits the World, and spreading the word of all the good things we do to positively impact our communities.
It is with great sadness to announce the untimely passing of Rotarian Andrew P. Maddox.
In Rotary year 2013-2014 then District Governor John Hall brought Visioning to District 7930. For the next several years over half the clubs in the District went through the Visioning Process. You may ask, “What’s the Visioning Process?” Clubs that want to redefine their goals and vision for the future can, with the Districts’ help, have an evening where they explore where they want to see their club in the future. Interest has again risen within the District to do Club Visioning. 
The Rotary Club of Salem, MA partnered again this year with the Salem Council on Aging to host a fabulous Hawaiian Luau this year. Filled with music and dancing, good food and laughter, there were more than 125 people in attendance. It was a huge success!
On Saturday, August 24, outside the Swampscott Senior Center, the Swampscott Rotary Club held our 42nd annual cookout for people with limited abilities from the North Shore.
The Belle Isle Club, home of DG Tom Hankard, was so impressed with the vision and details of the upcoming Rotaplast Mission presented by DG Tom and Past DG Terry Rezendes Curran that they easily proposed and passed a motion to donate $2000 towards this most noble endeavor.
Burlington Breakfast Rotary proudly reports that Past President and current Co-President Rita Shah has been recognized by President Biden with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service. 
For over a quarter of a century, Brian Magrane served as President of Youth Services Managers Inc., the operating arm of Camp Rotary in Boxford, Massachusetts. Among his many accomplishments, he guided the camp through the building of its new state of the art dining hall and modern kitchen. On Monday, July 22, 2024, Board members, campers, family, and friends, joined together for the dedication of “Magrane Overlook” to honor his unwavering passion and commitment to Camp Rotary.
Danvers Rotary is stepping forward again for the greater good as they have spent weeks with much-needed trimming and cleanup of the traffic island at the corner of Poplar and Maple in Danvers.
The Manchester-Essex Rotary Club held their annual Red White & Blue Breakfast on June 29th 2024, at Tucks Point stating at 7:30 am to 11:30 am. In addition to the pancakes there were, pony rides and face painting for the kids, musical entertainment by the Old Salts Jazz Band, and the very popular water taxi to shuttle guests from the Manchester town center to Tucks Point.
Nominations for District Governor for 2027-2028 are being accepted starting August 12, 2024. Deadline to submit nominations: Monday, October 14, 2024.
The Zone Membership Webinar Series continues August 12. It's the second Monday of August (because the first Monday was a holiday in many places). "Open Mikes" - Mike Gibson and Mike Huie will share some of the magic that allows them to attract ~20 members in a year! You will learn about a 5 step plan to grow your club and about how follow-up tools in ClubRunner have been used effectively. Share, share, share!
This first-hand account of the wildfires in Jasper, Alberta, Canada comes from District 5370 Governor Brian Edwards.
World Polio Day is just twelve weeks from now - 24 October 2024 ...what is your club doing to END POLIO NOW? Whether you're planning a plunge, pizza for polio or another fun activity to raise awareness of eradicating polio, let's get the word out! Perhaps you might want to share your creative ideas with our District Newsletter so that others may benefit and help make this the year that we eradicate Polio.
Rotarians from around the district, along with their friends and family, are invited to Melrose Rotary Club's new Second Monday Social. Each "Second Monday" club members, along with their guests, meet at JJ Grimsby's restaurant at 301 W. Wyoming Ave, Stoneham, MA from 5:30-7:00 for a social get together. The next Second Monday Social is August 12.
Earlier this spring, the Rotary Club of Andover in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Cherkasy, the Rotary Club of Kyiv-City, Ukraine, and the Cambridge-Isanti Rotary club coordinated and donated an Olympus endoscopic surgical system at a cost of $16,900 to Yemilchnye Hospital in Ukraine.
Rotary is a membership organization. That means that the unique skills and contributions of our members are the driving force behind everything we do. To accomplish everything we want to do, we need our club, district, and zone leaders to commit to growing Rotary and Rotaract. That’s why growing our membership is one of our top priorities.
District Governor Tom is pleased to announce that we have secured the sponsorship for the next Rotaplast Mission to Cebu in the Philippines. 
As a part of this year's One by One Membership Initiative, introduced at our District Installation, all Rotarians have pledged, during the next Rotary year, to invite one person to a Rotary meeting, event, or service project.
Now is the perfect time to brush up on your Rotary knowledge base at the Learning Center. The Learning Center has seen a lot of activity in the last two months of the year. Members from 49% of clubs visit the Learning Center! That's a 9% increase compared to what was shared in May. Is your club in the 51% that have not visited The Learning Center?
The Rotary Club of Rockport celebrated the 4th of July in style! The day always begins with the reading of the Declaration of Independence in Dock Square at 10:00am. The crowd is instructed to respond with a “Huzzah” when something good is read, or a “Fi” when something reprehensible occurs! Rotarians are dressed in period costumes and encourages audience participation.
At a recent meeting, the Rotary Club of Woburn presented a Paul Harris Fellow to David Frizzell. David is a retired Fire Chief from the town of Belmont. Dave received this awarded for his dedication to the youth in Boy Scout Troup 502 currently sponsored by the George A. Campbell Post 101 in Woburn. He has mentored over 15 boys in their attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout. The prestigious Eagle Scout rank is highest rank that a young man or woman can a attain in Scouting. In addition, he has assisted in many of the administrative functions and training of adult leaders. Also in attendance at the Rotary Luncheon meeting were 4 Eagle Scouts. Presenting the Paul Harris Award to David Frizzell was Rotary Club of Woburn Past President and Paul Harris Fellow, Bill Sullivan. 
Winchester Rotary continued its annual scholarship awards and celebrated five graduating seniors' academic and service achievements by awarding $22,000 for their college education.
The Gloucester Rotary will publish a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2025 as a fundraiser. All profits will go to the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities.
Danvers Rotary Club purchased a new double door commercial freezer for the Danvers Food Pantry. The $6,800 donation provides additional freezer storage for food donations which arrive weekly from various sources including the Greater Boston Food Bank and Stop & Shop. The Danvers Food Pantry serves on average 240 families each month with 344 families actively receiving services this year. By year end a 25% increase is anticipated over last year. Through May 2024 the Pantry distributed 72,000 pounds of food.
Tickets are now available to the annual Gloucester Rotary Comedy Night, featuring Brad Mastrangelo, Jody Sloane, Jeff Koen, and Boston's Dave Rattigan on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square on Gloucester's harborfront. Doors open at 7 pm and the show starts at 8 pm.
Happy Rotary New Year! We had a fantastic District celebration, ushering in the Magic of Rotary. In the words of new RI President Stephanie Urchick, "You create the magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member."
The Rotary Club of Lynn awarded six scholarships to outstanding high school seniors on June 20, 2024 at Old Tyme Italian Cuisine. There were over 35 very qualified applicants, and those were narrowed down to these 6. It is a difficult task to eliminate applicants, and this year was made more difficult due to the lack of FAFSA information. The lack of FAFSA was due to a change by the Federal Government concerning the process. The Scholarship Committee had to make decisions without reviewing the financial ability of the family to pay the tuition.
Question of the month: Why should I update my club's Rotary logo? I like the old one better.
The Danvers Club scratch ticket raffle offers a 1/100 chance to win $1000 worth of lottery tickets for just $50.
Beverly Rotary Club members took on the task of cleaning out and planting colorful flowers and plants on the rotary near the Montserrat Station in Beverly. The Club sponsors that location each year to keep Beverly beautiful . It ends up being a fun event, with cars going by happily honking at the Rotarians as they take care of the garden. Following the afternoon planting, a social is held at a Rotarian's house around the pool. The saying, "Good deeds get rewarded" is surely true in this case! 
The Wakefield Rotary Club hosted its annual Father’s Day Fishing Tournament at Lake Quannapowitt on Sunday, June 16th. The free event, open to all ages, welcomed about a dozen families fishing for various top spots. Wakefield Rotary Event Coordinator Gene Mullen explained, “The weather this year held up great.” He added, “This family event is really a highlight for our club each year.” Loaner rods were made available thanks to Mass Wildlife and bait was donated by Boats & Motors on North Avenue in Wakefield.
Rotary International Director and Treasurer Drew Kessler will join us and install our incoming Club Presidents at our District Installation on June 27! The opportunity to meet a sitting Rotary International Director does not happen often. 
When you help new members feel valued and connected to a club from the beginning, they’re more likely to stay and be part of the club’s growth. Here are four ways you can keep new members engaged: 
Burlington Breakfast Rotary collaborated with Sunrise Senior Living in Burlington to create a vegetable garden for seniors. Sunrise Senior Living is an assisted living community that offers a range of living options with services. 
Danvers Rotary Club purchased a new double door commercial freezer for the Danvers Food Pantry. The $6,800 donation provides additional freezer storage for food donations which arrive weekly from various sources including the Greater Boston Food Bank and Stop & Shop. The Danvers Food Pantry serves on average 240 families each month with 344 families actively receiving services this year. By year end a 25% increase is anticipated over last year. Through May 2024 the Pantry distributed 72,000 pounds of food.
This past year, the Rockport Rotary Club built a classroom for Ugandan children with the support of a district grant. This comes as a result of the club's strong partnership with an organization called Village2Village Project, which focuses on serving vulnerable children in an impoverished area in rural northeastern Uganda, East Africa. The mission of Village2Village Project is to provide comprehensive, empowering, respectful, and compassionate care for vulnerable children and their families, one life at a time. The project provides basic needs support and education to over 225 children, most of whom have lost one more parent due to HIV/AIDs or violence.
On May 25, Burlington Breakfast Rotary participated in the Stoneham Memorial Day Parade. Our late Rotarian, Don Tocci, was the Posthumous Grand Marshall of the Parade. He was honored for his "Service Above Self" activities to his community, the Rotary community, to Veterans, and everyone who was fortunate enough to meet him. Our founder, Kevin McKelvey, gave a moving speech about Don. We are honored to have been part of this parade.
To celebrate their 100th Anniversary in 2023, the Gloucester Rotary chose to install new playground equipment at Stage Fort Park as their centennial gift to the City of Gloucester. This was an expansion of their playground project, which recognized Rotary International's centennial celebration in 2005.
The Wakefield Rotary Club will be again sponsoring the Father’s Day Fishing Tournament at Lake Quannapowitt. The fun-filled morning is free and open to all ages on Sunday, June 16th. Wakefield Rotary Past President Gene Mullen announced, “Anglers, mark your calendars and prepare your tackle boxes! The much-anticipated Fathers Day Friends and Family Fishing Derby is back, promising a morning filled with fun, excitement and of course, plenty of fish tales.”
On May 30, 2024, the Rotary Club of Lynn continued with its 30+ year tradition of recognizing 8th grade students from Lynn Middle Schools. These are students who have struggled with some adversity during the school year or have shown empathy toward others in an outstanding way. This recognition meeting, at the Old Tyme Italian restaurant was the third and last such meeting for the current academic year.
Yearly, Marblehead Rotary awards four to six students a one-time scholarship and one a four-year scholarship for excellence in academics, leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities. This year, we are proud to announce five outstanding awardees.
Parkway Rotary is having its annual softball game against Kiwanis to raise funds for the Jason Roberts Challenger League (baseball league for kids with various disabilities) on Wednesday, September 11th (rain date Thursday, September 12th) at their field at the Orenberger School in West Roxbury. Time TBD. There will be food and drinks at the game. More information to follow.
Identifying potential club leaders and re-energizing long-time members are important aspects of a club President’s responsibilities. Many incoming 2024-2025 club Presidents are now setting their budgets for the coming year. Please consider a budget line item of $80-$100 to either partially or wholly subsidize at least one of your club leader’s participation at Rotary Leadership Institute, April 26, 2025, location to be determined, but within District 7930 commute.
You don't want to miss the chance to win the Amazing Raffle Prizes at the negligible cost. Grand Prize is '2 Tickets for a Red Sox Game' and 10 more equally attractive prizes
Mary Gallivan was recently inducted into Ipswich-Rowley Rotary. Mary currently serves Ipswich as Assistant Town Manager and Human Resource Director. A dynamic and innovative human resources leader, her strong community service commitment extends well beyond her official duties and includes, among others, volunteering at the Ipswich Council on Aging, Ipswich Illumination, and the Ipswich Food Pantry (The Open Door). Throughout her life, Mary has sought opportunities to assist those who are suffering, in need or in crisis; as a town leader, she encourages other employees to help.
As we take time this weekend to remember all of the brave men and women who have served our country, it is a good time for Rotary to look ahead for opportunities in your club to engage and support the individuals and families of anyone who has served or is still serving our great nation. 
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary's Scholarships Chair Kathy Frederick presents a check for two Ipswich YMCA youth camp scholarships to Ipswich Y Executive Director and fellow Rotarian Chris Bevilacqua. Looking on are President Ann Witzig and Director Dr. Doug Shealy.
Rotary International is focusing on the use of the 
I realize we're halfway through the month already, but I want to address No Mow May as it seems like such a good idea. Just one bullet point from many I've been reading says:
On May 2nd, 2024, the Lynn Rotary and the Reading Cooperative Bank hosted 468 Special Needs students for the 54th annual Special Games. Virtually all the Lynn students in Special Needs classrooms, if they are able, participate in this activity.
Lynnfield Rotary is ready to build more beds on Saturday. Join us on May 11, 2024, at 9:00 AM in Market Street, Lynnfield, in the plaza by Starbucks, Panera and Otto Pizza. In case of inclement weather, we will meet in the cafeteria of Lynnfield High School. 
Hello District 7930 community! On Saturday, April 27th from 10-12 the District Interact Council of 7930 held their very first service project; The Green Hunt! The event was a fun and unique competition between neighboring Interact clubs to accomplish the goal of reducing litter within a community. It was held in Stoneham, on a warm sunny day and we were excited to see Stoneham Interact and Rotary along with Lynn Interact, as well as members from the North Reading and Wilmington clubs there! We accomplished our goal of reducing litter with a friendly competition and were excited to see how enthusiastic our fellow Interactors were!
Last week Rotary Club of Woburn completed a service project by presenting the Woburn Senior Center with a donation for Smoke/CO Detectors for Woburn residents that either don't have them or need replacements. Members of Rotary Club of Woburn join the Woburn Fire Department to help install the detectors. Amy O'Brien from the Woburn Senior Center accepts the check from Rotary Club of Woburn President Brian Ouellette. Thanks to Cummings Foundation for a grant that makes this possible. 
Host an Inbound Global Scholar? What does that mean?
Carole Sharoff will be presented with the Gloucester Rotary’s Paul Harris Distinguished Service Award at a special dinner on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square in downtown Gloucester. The Paul Harris Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Gloucester Rotary and recognizes Ms. Sharoff’s many contributions to the community at large as well as to Rotary as a former club board member, secretary, and President.
Grab a ticket, or buy a table and join Rotary Club of Burlington for an awesome FUNdraising event! It's a combo of bingo + DJ + prizes + dancing + raffles.
Please join us for fun night as Rotary Club of Woburn celebrates 100 years of "Service Above Self". There will be a live cover band, catered dinner, raffles, fun and fellowship! 
Winchester Rotary and WFEE (Winchester Foundation for Educational Excellence) donated Wonderbooks to Winchester Public Schools's five elementary libraries. A Wonderbook is a book with audio built in, which allows readers to read along while listening to a professional narrator. This models fluency for all students, including striving readers, language learners and vision impared students. The libraries are excited that these books will make them more inclusive for all students and will build their love of learning.
Attention, Golfers! Winchester Rotary looks forward to our 35th annual golf tournament on Monday, May 20, 2024, and expect another great event again this year at the Winchester Country Club. We expect to sell out again this year. Registration is now open!
Boston Rotaract recently sponsored a bonding event. Rotaractors gathered to ice skate at the Rink at 401 Park. It was a great success as the club is building up its membership.
The Stage Fort Park Playground Improvement Project-- Gloucester Rotary's 100th Anniversary Gift to Our Community-- has moved forward another step!
The Environmental Committee wants you! Please join us on April 24th at 6pm to share what your club is doing, especially as we celebrate Earth Month.
The Rockport Rotary Club hosted an International Potluck for Polio and we encouraged people to come in the costume of the country they were representing. The variety of foods and drinks that the Rotarians prepared was awesome, some did come dressed, and we raised over $800 for the children of the world! 
Parkway Rotary is looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to assist us in serving meals to homeless veterans at 
Our District 7930 Rotary Foundation Committee is looking for additional new volunteers for the coming Rotary year 2024-25. If you are passionate about doing good in the world through the many projects supported by our Rotary Foundation, please consider joining this important district committee. We have several different working groups on the committee, focused on areas such as global grants, district grants, polio eradication, annual fund, Paul Harris Society, global scholarships, endowment, and major donors. If you are potentially interested in joining the committee and would like to learn more, please reach out to incoming District Rotary Foundation Chair 2024-27 Alexander Falk via email at 
Come to an evening of song, dance and fun!!! The event is on April 12th at Danversport Waterfront, 6:00 pm-10:30 pm. Proceeds will benefit the charitable causes of Beverly Rotary Club Foundation, including local scholarships. When you come to a Beverly Rotary event, it's always lively. We have music by the famous "Spike the Punch" band. It's casual dress because we want you to let your hair down to dance, eat, drink and have fun!
SAVE THE DATE! Rotary Club of Woburn will be celebrating 100 years of service to the community on the evening of June 6th, 2024. The celebration will feature a live cover band, raffles, a catered buffet meal, cash bar, dancing and special announcements. Registration will be opening soon. Come celebrate with us! It will be a fun night! 
Twice a year for the past eight years Rotary Club of Woburn has provided Birthday Party Bag Kits to the local food pantry at the Council of Social Concern. Last week about 30 kits were assembled with $20 worth of goodies each. The bags contain cake mix, icing, candles, party plates, napkins and flatware for struggling local families. 
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary successfully completed its annual food drive to benefit The Open Door’s Ipswich Food Pantry and is pleased to announce that 1230 pounds of food was collected in February at seven locations in Ipswich and Rowley. The Open Door staff said they appreciated both the quantity and the quality of the food donated.
Hundreds of Rotary leaders assembled in at the Marriott in Newton March 7 through 9 to take part in President Elect Training Seminar or PETS. Our District joined with six other Rotary Districts for Northeast PETS (NEPETS). These Districts cover Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and parts of Maine and Quebec.
Tomorrow (March 19) is the day! Rotarians, their friends and families are all invited to the area's culinary spotlight: Peabody's Taste of the North Shore. The event will begin at Danversport at 6 pm. Join us for a celebration worthy of our 20th anniversary! We have a record number of restaurants (30!), a growing list of sponsors, and fantastic activities (grab bags, raffles, silent auctions) throughout the night working together to make this best Taste yet.
With pride and excitement, on behalf of myself DGE Tom Hankard, along with DGN Pooja Singla and DGND Terry Rezendes Curran, Immediate Past District Governor Alexander Falk has been appointed District 7930 Rotary Foundation Chair starting 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027.
On March 12 the Somerville Club welcomed Eileen Ryan, Founder of Beyond Plastics Greater Boston. Eileen gave an excellent and animated presentation on current and future environmental issues with plastics. She updated the Club on proposed bills in the Massachusetts Legislature and provided materials for members to become active in the process. The Club looks forward to following up with Eileen and Andrea Lacroix, the District Environmental Chair. 
Through a Rotary connection, I have heard that an Interactor from Brazil, District 4540, is honored to be taking a course at Harvard mid-April and is unable to afford housing. She and her Rotary network are asking if anyone is generous enough to host her for one week: April 17-22.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea recently had as their guest speakers the project managers from the Northeast Metro Tech DECA Chapter. DECA is a non-profit student-run organization that prepares high school students in business, marketing, finance and hospitality. The student members participate in various business events and competitions to advance their knowledge and leadership skills. 
The Rockport Rotary Club is hosting an International Potluck For Polio on Thursday, April 4th, starting at 5:30. Entrance cost is $25 per person and it will all go to Polio! If you would like to join us please 
Salem Rotary presents A Night at the Speakeasy Annual Auction, March 20, 6 pm at Historic Hawthorne Hotel. Please save the date and get your tickets today!
Somerville Rotary announces its 100th Anniversary Celebration. Save the date, May 14, 2024, 6 pm.
Medford Rotarians are sponsoring our First MEAT Raffle!
The Medford Rotary Club gathered at the Medford Public Library to celebrate our 100th anniversary. Many memories, photos and laughs were shared with long-time members 50 years+ and former members. A great time was had by all! We are honored to be in service to the Medford community and we will continue to cultivate, collaborate and support the needs of others in the spirit of Rotary's motto - Service Above Self. 
At a recent lunch meeting Reading Rotary hosted members from their affiliated Interact Clubs. Reading sponsors one Interact at Reading Memorial High School, another at Austin Preparatory School in Reading and also one at North Reading High School. All three clubs sent students to RYLA last year and are working on building up their membership post pandemic.
The Woburn Memorial High School Interact Club recently held their annual fundraiser: "The Dating Game." The fundraiser was a success and the funds raised will help support the Council of Social Concern's food pantry and Woburn Dollars for Scholars. Over $1,000 was raised. Adrian Caruso, Emily Kline, Caden Fleming and Dawson LeBlanc of the Interact Club attended a recent Rotary Club of Woburn lunch meeting to talk about the fundraiser. 
Have you ever wanted to try making your own charcuterie board? Bring a friend and learn how to create a beautiful and delicious appetizer display. Our talented chef Cara, of Cara's Creative Charcuterie, will walk your through step-by-step and you will build your charcuterie on a custom board that you get to keep.
At a recent lunch meeting, Reading Rotary welcomed two new members, Margaret O'Sullivan and Tom Seyffret. President Sheila Clarke did the honors of installing them. Margaret is a realtor with William Raveis in Reading Square. Tom is a manager with North Shore Bank's Reading location also in Reading Square. Both Margaret and Tom have long time ties to the Reading community.
I am back from Sarasota where I attended the very first 
Rockport Rotary Club hosted its annual Valentine’s Luncheon for the seniors in town at the Fish Shack. They received a haddock dinner, chocolates, red carnations, a Valentine made by the elementary school kids, and were entertained by the High School Chorus. Such a fun and appreciated time! 
Friends of Rotary Club of Amesbury, Massachusetts, we're kicking off our biggest fundraiser in a number of years. One lucky winner will win $5,000.00. We're only selling 100 tickets so your chances are good. Raffle ticket only is $100. Admission to event only is $25 per person. Drawing event is March 11 at Ristorante Molise in Amesbury.
This week, Woburn Rotary's annual defibrillator donation was presented to the Woburn Public Library. Library Director and Honorary Rotary member Hermayne Gordon was there to accept the donation.
I am Sophie Saquet, a current senior at North Reading High School, and 2024 Miss North Reading. I am a finalist competing for the Miss Massachusetts USA title this March and I wanted to invite you to take part in this journey! Outside of my passion for pageants, I am member of the North Reading Interact Club, as well as serve as Vice Governor for the District 7930 Interact Council. I love to support the community I represent and to bring to life great opportunities for growth. For this reason, I established a GoFundMe that will not only support the finances required for me to compete in Miss Massachusetts, but half of the amount donated will go directly to suicide prevention. I hope you consider donating to this fund, as this cause is very important to me. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. Download a 
At their weekly breakfast meeting, Marblehead Harbor Rotary members assembled Valentine’s Day cheer packs for 47 clients of a local rehabilitation and skilled nursing home. The tiny arrangements contained faux rosebuds and were designed to give lasting happiness in smaller spaces like a bed table or bureau top. A card of good wishes accompanied each bud vase.
Roll on over to Methuen Rotary's 9th Annual Bocce Tournament. Saturday, March 2, 2024.
Past District Governor Ingrid Brown celebrated Rockport’s inbound 
The Winchester Rotary volunteered at the 
DEI DISCUSSION SERIES #4, February 21, 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea welcomed its newest member, Allison Gamble. Allison works for North Suffolk Community Services in Advancement and Grants. She was sworn in by Past President Allan I. Alpert and welcomed by President Almi Abeyta. 
In our latest fundraiser, the Beverly Rotary Club conducted an online auction, raffling off only one item: a trip to LA to see the Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre, with a 2-night hotel stay. The winner at two minutes before the closing time was Jen Lapan. She bid on it for her daughter and roommate, who are studying in the theatre department in college. The two girls took off on their adventure and stayed in the hotel right near the Peacock Theatre. Reports from mom to us are that they had a blast. They hobnobbed with the stars on the Red Carpet. They did some sightseeing and visited Hollywood emmy museums. The city life at night was great too. Our club obtained the tickets from a member's son who works in Los Angeles. Thanks to him, we were thrilled to bring happiness to these young ladies, and simultaneously we raised money toward our projects this year. You can tell from the photo below that it was a trip to remember! And the winner is.......everyone!!! 
They say, "One person's trash, is another's treasure." Recently, the Wakefield Rotary Club put that idiom to the test during the club's Second Chances Auction. The internal fundraiser invited members to bring gently used or unwanted items in for donation. Other members can then bid on them, generally starting with a bid of just five dollars. 
The main event at the recent Rotary International's International Assembly attended by District Governor-Elect Tom Hankard in Orlando, Florida, is the unveiling of Rotary's annual theme.
Here's your a reminder to get your donations and get fit for 2024! It’s up to you to make the difference for the children of the world, so let’s do this together! 
It’s that time of year again! We are excited to share RYLA 2024 will be taking place May 17th-19th at Camp Rotary in Boxford, MA. We are ready for this year’s group of students to experience a full weekend of learning, discovering, and connecting with each other. With how busy the end of year can be, make sure to save the date for RYLA 2024 before your schedule fills up!
The Frigid Fiver 5K is back! Sunday, February 4, 2024 11am at RiverWalk Brewing Co. Come join the Rotary Club of Newburyport and Joppa Flats Running Club to stretch those muscles and have some time with friends! Race proceeds go back into our communities.
The District Environmental Committee is up and running and wants your suggestions! If your club has an environmental committee, let's talk and discuss what you are doing and how we can work together to take your projects further.
Ingrid Brown from Rockport Rotary celebrated an International Holiday Lunch at a Turkish restaurant with her former Global Scholar, Makiko Ueda, from Japan and current French Youth Exchange student, Lila Michaux.
Members of the Chelsea Rotary Club helped the Chelsea Salvation Army raise funds for the holiday season by ringing the kettle bells at the Chelsea Market Basket. The Rotarians rang the bells at both entrances from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Rotary Club has been supporting the Salvation Army by ringing the kettle bells for over 20 years. 
Many members of the Rotary Club of Woburn recently participated in an event to cook and serve breakfast at the Senior Center on School St. in Woburn. The senior guests were served scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage patties and strawberries along with orange juice and coffee that was donated by a local Dunkin' franchise. The senior guests were also entertained by a local Irish American entertainer, Mossie Coughlan. Mossie had the guests singing classics such as "Oh Danny Boy" and even got some of them up to dance. 
The Wakefield Rotary Club completed its annual Autumn donation of dictionaries to every third grader in Wakefield. 314 copies were hand-delivered to all Wakefield public schools as well as Odyssey and St. Joseph’s School. Diligent Rotarians Suzanne Bowering, Barbara Worley, Tom Stapleton, Joie Gerrish, Paul Adams, Wendy Maguire, Lisa Roderick, and Jill McWilliam visited each school and walked students through some of the resource’s highlights including how to look up the word “volunteer,” the American Sign Language alphabet, and historical information all included in the book.
You’ve seen the show on TV. Did you ever imagine being there? Well, here’s your chance to be among the stars at the 75th 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California on January 15th, 2024! What a great event sponsored by the Beverly Rotary Club to support our students so they can become STARS!! TICKETS ARE NOT SOLD FOR THIS EVENT. They are PRICELESS! You get a souvenir book with all the categories and photos in it. You see your favorites walking down the Red Carpet that YOU just walked down. They even stop to take photos and some with just you! You are there as they show it live on television. This is an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime event! This package includes a two-night stay at the Wayfarer Hotel by Hilton, which is minutes from where the Emmys Awards will be held. What an incredible memory you’ll be making!
As the District representative on the Council of Legislation (COL) I wanted to let you know the results of the recent meeting. Twenty six resolutions were transmitted to the Council and 7 resolutions were adopted, all of which were recommendations to the RI Board. TheRI Board will consider these items at its upcoming meetings. The Report of Actions 
On Wednesday, November 22, the Austin Prep Interact Club served pre-Thanksgiving meals at the Salvation Army Cambridge Corps Community Center.
The impact donors have on The Rotary Foundation is vital. Learn how your contributions can support different Foundation funds and programs.
1. Giving Tuesday
Tracey Scherrer Friedman, Executive Director of The Haven Project, along with her colleagues Jamie Ayer and Angelica Perez Baez, presented on November 16 to Lynn Rotary information concerning their nonprofit and what they do to help homeless young people in Lynn.
Past RI President Jennifer Jones informed Past District Governor Alexander Falk today that our District 7930 was one of only 53 districts in the world to receive the District Citation for the previous 2022-23 Rotary year.
The Gloucester Rotary has published a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2024, featuring the photography of several local photographers. In addition to the beautiful photography, each calendar includes a raffle ticket for a $50 weekly raffle drawing throughout the year. The calendars are $25 each and proceeds from sales will be used for the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities.
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.
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.
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.
Marblehead Rotary and the Marblehead community again came together to raise funding for "Inner Explorer," a mindfulness platform designed to support mental health and well-being in schools and centers across Marblehead schools. The annual 5K run attracted 90+ runners on a sunny, mild November morning. Winding through the town's historic alleys and finishing for a relaxed celebration at the Boston Yacht Club over foot-long hot dogs and delicious New England Clam Chowder, it was a smashing gathering of families and friends. Congratulations to Adam Kingsbury of Rose Valley, PA, Ist Male Overall, and Kylynn McKinley of Marblehead Ist Female Overall winners. Cheers to the participants, families, friends, volunteers, sponsors, and contributors, and a big shout-out to our chair, Nancy Gwin, for spearheading this successful event! For a complete list of winners, see 
We are pleased to announce the recent dedication of the Community Center Billiard Room in remembrance John "Jack" Maloney. Jack made many significant contributions to the community throughout his lifetime and the Rotary Club of Lexington wanted to honor his legacy. Jack was very active in Rotary International, as President of the Lexington Rotary Club 1975-1976, and as District Governor (1980-1981) of district 7930. Jack was also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He belonged to the Lexington Chamber of Commerce. He was a Town Meeting member for many years and was appointed to many committees in Lexington. Jack was the former President and Chairman on the board of Depositors Trust Company in Medford and Lexington. Jack was also the recipient of the Lexington Lion's Club White Tricorne Hat in 2003 for his outstanding contributions to the Town of Lexington. He also served on the Boards of North Cambridge Catholic in North Cambridge as well as Cristo Rey High School. For many years he served on the board of the Josiah Hayden Recreation Center in Lexington, serving as Treasurer for 10 plus years.
The Swampscott Rotary Club and President Philipp Zeissig welcomed District Governor Lori Karas, AG Martha Mauser, and PDG Alex Falk. It was our honor host them and have Lori update us on district activities and plans and programs.
Wilmington Rotary will host their annual auction and raffle at Knights of Columbus Hall, on November 17, 2023 at 7:00 PM. Doors open 6:00 PM.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is partnering with the Ipswich Council on Aging to bring conversation and companionship to senior members of our community isolated or lonely in their homes. We will first receive training from both the COA and professionals in this field before meeting our senior companions.
On Saturday Oct 28 the Melrose Rotary Club hosted their third game night fundraiser. The Spooky Halloween themed event was a replay of our popular LEFT RIGHT CENTER game with winners taking home over $800 in prizes! Melrose Rotarians and their businesses stepped up to sponsor the prizes.
The Wakefield Rotary Club brought some in-meeting fun to its Halloween meeting on October 31st. Long-time Rotarians Jay Curley and Amy Luckiewicz hosted a three-part trivia game centered on the holiday. “We love our meetings, but having a theme really brings a change of pace,” Luckiewicz said.
The Peabody Club had lots to celebrate last week. They received a citation for 20 years of being Chamber of Commerce members during a Chamber event. Then Past DG Alexander Falk visited to present the Club with 2 awards:
The Rotary Club of Peabody will hold a Walk For Veterans immediately following the Veterans Day ceremonies at City Hall on Saturday, November 11. At the end of the short walk, Rotarians will spend the afternoon cleaning the area around the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and the monument itself, at Courthouse Plaza. In the spirit of Rotary's motto “Service Above Self,” we are indebted to those who served for us. Rotarians will assist those veterans who are in wheelchairs.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea recently had a special dinner to celebrate the offficers and directors for the 2023-2024 Rotary Year. At the dinner the Rotary Club presented PHF certificates and pins to seven new PHFs. The new PHFs are Joan Cromwell, Stacey Gurska, Amanda Alpert, Gail Mauch, June Vinard, Kathy Webber and Marilyn Garcia. A PHF pin and certificate will be presented to Helen Zucco at a future Rotary meeting as she was not able to attend the dinner. 
We need your blood! Well actually only a pint of it. As everyone knows their is a blood donation shortage in the Boston area so we are sponsoring a blood drive in conjunction with the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women’s Hospital) on November 28th from 11 AM to 5:30 PM at the Edelweiss Village on 2220 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132. Appointments can be done by 
October 24th marked World Polio Day, a day to recognize the 35-year fight to end polio world-wide. This year, the Wakefield Rotary Club re-committed to helping eradicate the disease after raising thousands of dollars over the past ten years by raising awareness and education through a press and social media campaign.
Recently, six Wakefield Rotarians, one Lynnfield Rotarian and a prospective member met up for the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce's Women in Business Luncheon at the Quannapowitt Yacht Club. October's guest speakers were three of the Wakefield Police Department's female officers: Officer Kelly Tobyne, Officer Meaghan Roberto, and Officer Micayla Botelho. The women spoke about their different roles in the department and what it is like being a police officer.
Rotary Club members participated in an annual tradition, holding BBQs at the three senior living communities in Lexington. 
President Matt Wigton got Club members to stand at Five Corners in the early morning and promote joining the Rotary Club of Rockport! 
Stoneham Rotary 50/50 Raffle Golf Ball Drop on October 24 at 1 pm. 
Shower us purple, aubergine, lavender, mauve, violet! October 24 is World Polio Day, Marblehead Rotary kickstarted their fundraising event last week with inspired purple everything: pinkie stamps, piggy banks, petals, crocuses, boas, and M&Ms!
Rockport Rotarians dressed for the season at our lunch meeting on October 19. A more motley crew, you will not find. 
In his World Polio Day message, Rotary International President R. Gordon R. McInnaly explains why we still need your support for our efforts to eradicate polio.
The District Interact Council is pleased to invite you to join us for one of our exciting InteractCafes this fall. Student run, these great events are designed to support our Interact clubs and educate Rotarians about their critical support role.
The Rotary Club of TBM’s 42nd Annual Road Race will be held on Sunday, October 15th. The Race starts at 11:00 am . There are certified 5k and 5 mile courses through the beautiful foliage of the quintessential New England Topsfield course. The races begin and end at the Proctor School, 60 Main Street, Topsfield. Registration is open online and in person the day of the race. Proceeds will benefit local food pantries and other TBM projects. 
Happy Halloween from Rotary Youth Exchange student Lila and her counselor PDG Ingrid Brown! Lila is visiting from France and is off to a great year in Rockport. 
The Wakefield Rotary Club is pleased to announce its newest member, Joie Gerrish. Gerrish was recently installed into the club earlier this season by her sponsor, Past President Barbara Worley.
While at the Zone Learning to Lead Conference in Toronto, I met a District Governor from D6380 who told me about a mental health toolkit developed by Rotary Action Group (RAG) on Mental Health Initiatives for school or youth group leaders. This toolkit is a train-the-trainer resource for ages 12 and older plus a framework for referrals and increasing providers. The primary resource is the Boston's Children's Hospital 'Break Free From Depression' (BFFD). 
Creating successful and sustainable eco-tourism and micro enterprise among extremely poor mountain villages. Build on proven initiatives started in eastern and other parts of Nepal over the past 20+ years, harnesses a proven Appreciative Planning and Action (APA) development methodology along Nepal’s 1000 mile Great Himalaya Trail (GHT)—spanning East to West Nepal.
The Winchester High School Interact club has started the school year by recruiting over 60 new members. The leadership team has a full year of activities planned. Including the upcoming Interact Cafe and volunteering at the Rotary Club's Rise Against Hunger meal packing on September 28th, where the club and community will pack over 10,000 meals. 
Please join us on Saturday, October 21st for this fun night of Irish American music, dinner, raffles and silent auction items. This Fundraiser will help Woburn Rotary fund service projects throughout the year including CSC Food Pantry, Woburn Veterans, Fire Safety House, Smoke/CO Detectors for seniors and more. 
The weather was a fitting compliment to 48 enthusiastic registrants who teed it up for the Annual Lynnfield Rotary Golf Tournament at Reedy Meadow Golf Course on Friday September 22. The Golf Committee lead by Committee Chairman, Tom Adamczyk, exceeded all expectations to make this a memorable event.
Hello, my name is Becca Harris and I am a proud member of Arlington Rotary, District Registrar, and a member of the recovery community. I am grateful for the support of family, friends, and especially my rotary family. September is National Recovery Month and I think it is very important to raise awareness surrounding mental health, addiction education and recovery. 
The rain gods held off on September 23, enabling members of the Marblehead Harbor Rotary to volunteer with 
ill be assessed via a survey and those ideas or concerns will be the agenda for the next meeting scheduled for December.
Rotarians are people of ACTION!
The Rotary Club of Woburn recently celebrated Susan Hartmere's 30 years of Rotary service. Susan joined Rotary in 1992 and became the first woman to be president of the Woburn Club in 1996. She was also president again in 2018. Susan, a Paul Harris Fellow, was presented with a commemorative clock by current president Brian Ouellette with a plaque that reads, "Susan Hartmere: Thank you for 30 years of Rotary Club of Woburn service. You represent a true example of "Service Above Self."
On Friday, September 29th at the Zone Learning to Lead training in Toronto, Lori Karas, our District Governor, will Bounce for the Foundation!
The 34th Annual Winchester Rotary Golf Tournament is October 16th at the Winchester Country Club. This tournament is held to benefit the Winchester Rotary Charitable Foundation. The fund supports numerous local charitable organizations and the national and international works of Rotary International.
Join us for a World Mental Health Day Live Webinar hosted by Zones 28 & 32,
Experience the beauty of Southeast Asia along with connecting with Rotarians the world over at RI's 2024 International Convention in Singapore!
The Wakefield Rotary Club has made a $1,000 contribution to the Wakefield Youth Action Team’s Amigos program. Amigos, due to launch this semester, is a mentoring program between English Language Learners (ELL) at the Galvin Middle School and older students at Wakefield Memorial High School. The program seeks to help facilitate connections between ELL students and the broader Wakefield community through forging connections, field trips, and social events.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently completed its One-and-One School Supply Drive to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Stoneham and Wakefield and a school in the Dominican Republic.
Meet Don Dowling, the newly installed president of Marblehead Rotary. A fun-loving, hardworking, no-nonsense father of two, he brings fresh vitality to our club as one of our youngest members, spicing up our meetups and events with his infectious positive energy and winning attitude. He has led our club to competitive sports events to raise funds for our signature projects. A natural athlete, he was captain for many years of our yearly Polar Plunge to End Polio campaign. He was the perennial crew leader in the duck-tape regatta race to benefit the clean water project in Burkina Faso and co-captain for our Marblehead team in the district softball championships. Described as the point man and the "glue" in handling the complex logistics of our yearly scholarship fundraising project, the Lobstah Raffle, Don could be seen shuffling around town in his big truck, working tirelessly during the Fourth of July celebration.
RI President Gordon McInally has stated that mental health projects are deeply personal to him and has asked all to prioritize mental health projects in their district this year. Given this directive, DG Lori is launching a "Buddy Bench/Happy to Chat Bench" District wide grant opportunity that will help decrease loneliness and supports well-being in children and adults.
JOIN US AT THE TABLE!
The Winchester Rotary is a proud sponsor and volunteer at Mission of Deeds in Reading. One of our members was a founder of the organization which gives beds, furniture, and household items, free of charge, to people in need. They help people throughout Middlesex and Essex Counties.
On August 17, 2023, Eric Daniels spoke at a Lynn Rotary meeting about a book he and his daughter Jessica wrote about his longtime friend and mentor, Two Star General Bernard Loeffke (Ret.) The book, published in 2018, is: Our General Our Friend, Lessons in Leadership, Friendship, and Service from a Master: Major General Bernard Loeffke (ret). In addition to being an author, Eric became a Funeral Director upon leaving the military.
Several City dignitaries including Mayor Briana Longo, Fire Chief John Freedman, and Acting Police Chief Covino attended a dinner and presentation by Medford Rotary of scholarship awards to high school seniors from Medford. The students and their parents attending included Alyssa Cassarino, Nailah Chowhury, Brendan Chrowley, Emma Gibbons, Zoe Kalaw and Grace Kallberg. The presenters included Past Presidents, Eric Ghewalla, Tony Giamberadino, and John Hackett, and current President Paul Bardaro. A great evening was had by all.
On July 26th from 6 -8pm, Wildfire served up a smorgasbord of tunes ranging from ABBA's Dancing Queen to Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA for an enthusiastic crowd on the final night of the Lynnfield Rotary Concert series. The talented vocalists of the group led the way with a wide-ranging repertoire of songs including Simply the Best by Tina Turner, Gloria by Laura Brannigan, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, Giver Me Some Lovin’ by Richie Valens, Old Time Rock ‘n Roll by Bob Seger and many more, to the delight of the largest audience of the year.
To celebrate its Centennial Anniversary, the Gloucester Rotary will host a free Community Concert with musical guests Captain Jack & The Strangers (The Northshore's Premier Billy Joel Tribute Band) and opener Brandon Blatchford & the Wannabe Teenagerson on Friday, August 11, 2023, 6-10 pm at the Antonio F. Gentile Bandstand in Stage Fort Park.
On Thursday July 27, 2023, the Rotary Club of Lynn gathered at the Old Tyme restaurant to fill Bags of Hope with personal care items. The collection of bags is for the Jasmine Grace Outreach program, the items are primarily for women.
Save our Waters: State of the Rivers in District 7930. Supported by Ipswich-Rowley Rotary’s Global Grant, “Save the Ipswich River & Watersheds: The Lifeblood of Our Communities.” Join the webinar on August 24 from 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
Beer and Bites returns to the Tannery during the bed race on Thursday, August 3, 2023, from 5:30 to 7:30! Come on down to the Rotary Club of Newburyport’s annual Yankee Homecoming event. Enjoy new food options from Rosita’s Cocina and Kona Ice. You will also find fan favorite Riverwalk Brewing, including their pizza. We are featuring a return of the band Unnamed Colors, that is carving a new niche in rock with fiery progressive songwriting, engaging performances, and a powerful sound all their own. Band members include Sierra Partlan - vocals & piano, Andrew Aghababian – guitar, Jay Partlan – drums and Michael Martel – bass.
The Ipswich-Rowley club on Saturday, July 22 had a table at Northern Lights Farm Stand, 243 High St, Ipswich 10 am - 12 pm to advocate and educate on the need for conservation of water in our lawns and gardens.
Winchester Rotary awarded seven Winchester High School graduates over $25,000 in scholarships for the upcoming college year. The winning students were Claire Lupien, Dorothy McCarthy, Claire Kutylo, Lucy Patalano, Kaitlyn Donato (all pictured above), Ayesha Ghosh, and Inaam Bhanji (not pictured). Rotarians Kurt Heisler and Brian LaPointe, Co-Presidents (Pictured).
The Wakefield Rotary Club is collecting new school supplies for students in Wakefield and the Dominican Republic. The public is invited to donate two new school supply items. One item will stay local and given to the Wakefield Boys and Girls Club. The second item will be donated to a school/orphanage in the Dominican Republic.
Burlington Breakfast Rotary is holding its Semi-Annual Raffle. 
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently installed its new officers and directors during a luncheon event earlier this week at Brightview. In accordance with its by-laws, the service club elects new leadership annually. Club President Glen Duffy was sworn in as President for the 2023-2024 Rotary Year and Wendy Maguire will serve as Vice President/President-Elect. “This club has been so welcoming since I joined a few years ago. I’m thrilled to serve in this position as we begin our one hundred and first year of service.”
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 19, 2023, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 19-20, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees.
Having forty-seven guests at the 2023 Installation and Awards Dinner for Stoneham Rotary was exciting. It was a great year: back to in-person meetings with speakers, two new members and an incredibly active youth program. Oh, and it was also our club's 100th Anniversary of Service Above Self.
Dear Rotarians: 
Last week, Rotary Club of Woburn's treasurer Bill Balboni presented Woburn Veterans Agent Bob Davis with $1,000 worth of gift cards for Woburn veterans. The donation was made possible by a grant from Cummings Foundation.
On Saturday, June 24th, Town of Ipswich staff and Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians joined Ipwich River Watershed Association (IRWA) at Wolf Hill Garden Center to spread the word about how to conserve water in lawns and gardens. This is part of ongoing work funded by the global grant Save the Ipswich River: The Lifeblood of Our Communities to create an advocacy toolkit to save our river. You can access the toolkit at 
Yearly, the Marblehead Rotary Club awards four to six students a one-time scholarship and one student with a four-year scholarship for excellence in academics, leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities. Congratulations to the six outstanding awardees: Stella Monico, Cait Mullins, Teaghan Kay, Yasen Colon, Clair Davis, and Matthew Schricker. 
Rockport Rotary will celebrate the Fourth of July with our annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. Our role players will be out in full force and in full costume to hear our Town Crier present the newly ratified Declaration, fresh from Congress. Meet us on July 4th at 10AM in Dock Square—right in the heart of downtown Rockport—to cheer on our new nation. 
The Peabody Club took steps towards their DEI goals this year using their District Grant funds to diversify classroom libraries in Peabody's public elementary schools. The Club feels strongly about representation being an important part of a child's education, and offered to supplement classroom libraries in grades 2 and 3. Through a collaborative effort with the teachers and Club members, we presented each classroom with 2 boxes filled with books representing children of all races, backgrounds, religions, abilities, etc. We were thrilled to present these books to each classroom and read selections from the books to the class. The enthusiastic teachers have assured the Club that the books will be well utilized. 
District Governor Alexander Falk was honored with the Barry Weed Award for Service on June 13 at the Marblehead Harbor Rotary’s installation breakfast. Given in memory of the late Barry Weed, a charter member of the Harbor Rotary who also served as the District’s assistant treasurer, the award represents the caring, dedicated, community-oriented service for which Barry was known during his tenure as president of Marblehead’s National Grand Bank. With his solid grasp of Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” and a stellar year leading District 7930’s 40+ Rotaries, Alexander was the Harbor Rotary’s clear choice for the special recognition.
It's been a true privilege, honor, and great pleasure to be the District Governor 2022-23 for Rotary District 7930 and to serve our 44 Rotary Clubs, 2 Rotaract Clubs, and 1,550 Rotarians in Northeastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.
As our Rotary Year 2022-23 is about to enter into its final month, there is still enough time for your club to achieve one of our two available District Governor's Citation programs:
The Winchester Rotary celebrated Town Day on June 3rd by hosting our Pancake Breakfast. We served over 350 people with the support of over 35 sponsors. It was a huge success.
Here are my first quick impressions of the 2023 RI Convention in Melbourne:
In honor of Rotary’s Year of the Girl, the Rotary Club of Cambridge partnered with local nonprofit Science Club for Girls. The organization’s mission fits squarely with Rotary’s areas of focus: “At Science Club for Girls, we believe in long-term investment in a girl's STEM education. We know this is the only way to address the systemic, root causes of the lack of diversity in STEM and move the needle towards a more equitable, diverse, and innovative STEM ecosystem. The trajectories of our alumni show the impact of this investment, and we all, as a society, reap the benefits.” In addition to volunteering with Science for Club for Girls to assist with their inventory review for next school year, with monies from our District Grant, our Club purchased much needed desks, computer stand and other supplies for their new office space. 
At the Arch Klumph Society Preconvention Ceremony on May 27, District Governor Alexander Falk delivered the following remarks in Melbourne, Australia, while on stage with Rotary International President Jennifer Jones, CEO and General Secretary John Hewko, and Trustee Chair Ian Riseley (an avid Red Sox fan):
Rotary Peabody coordinated a City-wide cleanup day on Saturday, May 6th. Rotarians put on gloves and hauled bags while they cleaned up parks, sidewalks and more. The Bishop Fenwick Interact division, mulched and planted flowers for their campus. Both projects were part of the Club's continuing commitment to keeping its City clean and welcoming. 
Lynn Rotary and Lynn Vocational Tech are co-sponsors of a blood drive, Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 8:30 am to 3 pm. The drive will be organized by Boston Children's Hospital at the Lynn Tech Campus, 80 Neptune Blvd. in Lynn.
Congratulations to the Marblehead Rotary Club for achieving 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club status on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary!
Isn't it a beauty? Marblehead Rotary donated a 10 and a half foot, two-faced clock, in classic black and gold trimmed art regency style, to commemorate our 100th Anniversary. The unveiling was attended by Town Selectmen, civic leaders, Rotarians, and locals. The dedication was held precisely on the 100th-anniversary date of May 11. We are grateful to have received incredible feedback and goodwill from Marbleheaders! Here's to another 100 years of service.
Mark your calendars. The District Installation will be Wednesday, June 21 from 6 pm to 9 pm at Danversport Yacht Club. Please come one, come all to welcome in and support your new District and Club leadership.
Rotary Club of Medford, MA is hosting a Comedy Night FUN raiser for the benefit of our Medford Rotary charity endeavors.
Christina Brown, LMHC, joined the Burlington Rotary Club as guest speaker last week. She came to talk about her book Therapy and Other Drugs. The group talked about the stories in her book, the publishing process and mental health. The conversation was flowing, and it was nice to be able to hear from a professional about how to help people that are struggling.
Rotary Club of Lexington presents its annual comedy / music night on June 16, 2023, at Cary Memorial Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02420, featuring host Tony V and introducing Billy Joel cover band Heart Attack Ack Ack Ack Ack. Tickets are $69 each (65 or older $65 each). 
Wilmington Rotary is holding a Fun Filled, Fundraiser Event:
Even if you don't have a lawn, you can help District 7930 and our Environmental Committee spread the word about No Mow May!
“As a RYLA Alumni from 2019, I can say with high confidence that it has been one of, if not the most rewarding leadership experiences I have done. Helping others is something that I have strong passion for. RYLA not only provided that for me, but it gave me many other opportunities. I am so glad I attended RYLA, and I look forward to helping others have the same experience I had.” - Alyssa Louise
Our keynote speaker, Evan Burrell, learned a lot of new words during his stay in New England, including the proper words to describe our 2023 District Conference: it was "wicked pissah!" 
Speaker Opportunity: Advocacy Toolkit for Water Conservation. Funded by RI Global Grant Saving the Ipswich River & Watersheds: The Lifeblood of Our Communities. 
The Rotary Club of Chelsea is holding a Chelsea Rotary Derby to raise funds to support their local scholarship program and send twenty Chelsea youth to Camp Rotary for a week.
The Burlington Lunch club turned their lunch meeting into an "all hands on deck" service project & lunch last week. It was the first service project that they've done in a while and the club's support was awesome! Members helped make kit boxes, fill and label them. The goal was far exceeded and the final donation was for 60 kits!
As Alexander Falk's District Governorship draws to a close in a few months, he recently looped back to his home club, Marblehead, to reacquaint himself with long-time and new club members by diving deep into his professional and personal life in the form of a “re-classification talk”. Of course, we know this all-star leader as an avid skier, a fervid Red Sox fan, and a die-hard Rotarian, but here are five interesting random fun facts about him:
Recent Rotary research confirms that the single most important factor in membership satisfaction is the club experience.
"Six years later and I still think about the memories I made at my very first RYLA as a junior in high school. In just three days, I developed my leadership skills all while making meaningful connections with the members of my RYLA family. The weekend’s activities included the Culture Walk, which still stands as one of the most impactful experiences I have truly ever been a part of. RYLA is an opportunity to not only meet people and craft lifelong friendships, but also to learn more about communities and cultures beyond your own. There is simply no other experience like it!" -Maddie Cass
Soon after Governor Alexander took office, he challenged the Assistant Governors to take some courses in the Learning Center. Some of us took on the challenge, and this is the result!
On Saturday May 13, Lynnfield Rotary will host a community service event to build beds for children in need. Rotary clubs and community organizations across the District are welcome to join us. A Team of 4 people and a contribution of $350 is all it takes to register. All the tools and materials are provided. The event is outside at Lynnfield Market Street, 10 am to 12 pm on Saturday May 13. Indiviuals can join an existing team for $50. For more information or to register a team, contact 
On Thursday, March 23, Burlington Breakfast Rotary was pleased to donate 20 copies each of three books on mental health awareness to Christine Conceison, District Director of Mental Health for the Burlington School System and the Burlington Public Library. These three books, What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan, The Deepest Well by Nadine Burke Harris, and My Living Will, A Father’s Story of Loss & Hope by John Trautwein, will be the subject of discussion at a book club being held at the Burlington Public Library in April, May and June. Our club is honored to be a part of addressing this important issue. 
Invite your family and friends to our International Women's Day event on Saturday March 25th (see flyer) to spread the word about Rotary International's commitment to girls' empowerment. Rotary sponsors countess initiatives to support the education and well-being of women and girls. This is the "year of the girl." 
To help better prepare incoming Club and District Officers for the new Rotary year, ClubRunner is holding a series of free webinars from April 14-23 to help you brush up on your ClubRunner skills and knowledge. Hosted by expert Product Specialists from the ClubRunner team, they will be presenting webinars based on roles, club or district versions, and in-depth module deep dives. There will be live Q&A available during and after the webinar!
Arlington Rotary was proud to present our Interact Club with $700 to help complete their funding to gift beds to children in need. Interact raised the rest of the $1750 needed to build 5 beds. Rotarian Bill Hayney and President Paul Buckley delivered the check.
Cambridge Rotary turned 100 years this May and has an ambitious goal of a service project every month this year. January seemed like a good time to clear out the bookshelves. Our club sponsored its 5th joint book donation drive with the Center for Astrophysics Wolbach Library in Cambridge to support children exiting the foster system and other challenged youth (
Danvers Rotary announces a fundraiser for April 2023. The calendar offers a prize or prizes for each day of the month in April. Purchase a calendar for $10 and you have 30 chances to win. The more tickets you purchase the more chances to win some great prizes. Each date offers cash or gift cards.
The Beverly Rotary Club is having its Spring Fundraiser, "Follow Us to the Moon!" on Friday, April 28th from 6:00 to 10:30 pm at Danversport Waterfront. This event is featuring HOWL 2GO, dueling pianos. This is an evening of song, dance and fun. Specific details are on the flyer. Proceeds will benefit the Charitable causes of the Beverly Rotary Foundation. This includes scholarships to high school seniors. The tickets are $70 each which includes admission, heavy hors oeuvres, dessert and coffee. There will be silent and brief live auctions, cash bar, raffles, a putting contest, and other special attractions. 
Join us at the Boston Marriott, Newton, MA on Friday, March 10, 2023! Hear first-hand from Rotary International President Elect, R. Gordon McInally. 
Join Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians and other supporters of our Ipswich River watershed in a Legislative Breakfast, Tuesday, March 14, 8:30 a.m., at the Fernwood Country Club, Middleton, MA. Past Trustee Julia Phelps will be speaking on behalf of TRF.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea held a special evening meeting to celebrate Past President Allan I. Alpert’s 50 years as a Chelsea Rotarian. Joining Rotary in January 1973, Allan was the youngest member to join Rotary, three months short of his 24th birthday. After serving as Sergeant-at-Arms and Vice President, he was elected Club President, serving for the 1977–1978 Rotary year as the youngest President in the Club’s or District’s history. Coincidently, during Allan’s tenure as president, Chelsea Rotary celebrated its 50th anniversary at the former Caruso’s Diplomat in Saugus with over four hundred guests attending.
The Belle Isle Rotary Club and the Parkway Club are hosting a polar plunge Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the East Boston Yacht Club, 1 Rice Street, East Boston, MA 02128. Doors open 10am, plunge at 11am and good times, hot food, cash bar, raffles and prizes in a cozy yacht club on the water with a beautiful Boston skyline view to follow! The grill will be fired up and the music will be playing. Plenty of parking.
On Saturday, January 28th members of the Arlington Rotary Club held its 3rd Annual Polar Dip at St. Camilla's Church lot. With no centralized Polar Plunge hosted by the District, Clubs are encouraged to create their own event to raise funds for polio eradication. 
Rockport Rotarians and senior citizens were ecstatic to enjoy the annual Valentine’s Luncheon for seniors once again! The event, in partnership with Rockport’s Fish Shack restaurant, had taken a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. This year included a delightful performance from Rockport High School’s Madrigals, handmade cards from Rockport Elementary School students and chocolates from Tuck’s Candy. The lunch is presented as a gift of love and community service from Rockport Rotary to the town’s seniors. According to club Co-President Janelle Favaloro, “the event was a great success and fun was had by all involved.” 
In the wake of 
The Rockport Rotary Club really thought outside the box and had a Martini and Manhattan Dunk for Polio. It was well attended by the Club and a few District dignitaries.
We have all been devastated by the images emerging from Turkey and Syria in the wake of these earthquakes that have, by the latest count, killed more than 21,000 people. This is one of the most important humanitarian crises of this new year 2023!
Is your club looking for a way to raise funds for Polio? Look no further. Join the Belle Isle and Parkway Rotary Clubs at the East Boston Yacht Club on March 4 at 11:00 am to go down the ramp into the Boston Harbor "Bay of Pigs."
Burlington Breakfast Rotary made a donation of much needed toiletries to People Helping People on Monday, Feb. 6. Many boxes of shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, body wash, toothpaste, toilet tissue, tissues and baby wipes were brought to their new facility on Murray Ave., Burlington. 
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 (
District Governor Alexander Falk visited the Manchester-Essex Rotary Club today, February 1st, and presented President Jack Costello and Membership Chair (and President-Elect) Tim Collins with the District Membership Committee Citation Certificate for 
Rotary Club of Stoneham’s members and their guests met at Stoneham Community Television studios for their bi-weekly luncheon meeting.
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.
Arlington Rotary recently purchased a drone for the Arlington Police Department. The donation was funded in part with a grant from Rotary District 7930. 
The Melrose Rotary Club is hosting another Left-Right-Center Tournament on Saturday evening, March 11th at Melrose's Memorial Hall Building, 590 Main St., Melrose. If you've played the game with friends or family, you know how much fun it can be! If you've never played before, it takes under 3 minutes to learn, and no skill is required - just a willingness to have lots of fun and hope for a good roll of the dice!
We are looking for local businesses in our district to sponsor the upcoming 3 District Conference on April 22 at the Burlington Marriott. This is a great opportunity to get your name not just in front of Rotarians in our own district, but spread your reach into Rotary District 7910 (Central Massachusetts) and Rotary District 7890 (Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut). 
Winchester High School Interact club kicked off January with a Belts and Bags drive to benefit Quincy C.O.P.E.
The Winchester Rotary Club designated Mission of Deeds in Reading as their holiday charity. We held a virtual coat drive that delivered over 100+ coats, and our blanket drive purchased 22 blankets, 53 comforters, and 59 sets of sheets.
The Peabody Rotary Club partnered with North Shore Women in Business to donate to the Ellis Square Friends in Beverly. NSWiB matched all contributing donations, which, when combined with Peabody's donation and other raised funds, gave $1,084 to the Ellis Square Friends. This money will feed 200 people who are in need of food during the winter months.
Rotary International President-elect R. Gordon R. McInally called for members to capture the world's attention and lead the way toward possibilities far beyond our current expectations.
Are you looking for an interesting speaker? Reach out to one of 7930’s Inbound Global Scholars today! 
In November, the nomination committee selected Pooja Singla, from the Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club as the District Governor Nominee Designee (DGND). An eBulletin went out to the entire District in November indicating her selection and asking for any challenges. No challenges were submitted by any club in our District by the December 31st deadline.
February is World Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month. The annual 
The Rotary Club of Chelsea presented the Robert C. Wood Memorial Heroes Award to Shelagh Mahoney and Joe McNamee of Eastern Minerals Inc. Rotary District 7930 Governor Alexander Falk recognized Shelagh and Joe for being “Heroes Among Us” and presented them with a Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) recognition certification and pin. Assisting Alexander with the presentation was Chelsea Rotary Club Past President Joe Vinard and current President Rick Gopen. 
Rotary Peabody's growing annual tradition of putting together gift bags for NSCAP (North Shore Community Action Programs) continued this year as they spent one of their regular December meetings stuffing gift bags filled with warm-weather essentials and more. For the past 6 years the Club has been donating items, filling bags and giving them to NSCAP to their program participants. As the need grows, so has the Club's efforts. Starting at about 25 bags, the Club stuffed and donated nearly 50 bags to help senior citizens get through the winter this year. 
Housing is sought for a Ukrainian refugee family. They are currently staying temporarily with a Brookline Rotarian and seek permanent housing.
Members of the Chelsea Rotary Club supported the local Salvation Army by ringing the bell at the Salvation Army Kettle located at the local Market Basket. 
On Thursday, December 8, Lynnfield Rotary hosted its annual Holiday Luncheon at the Colonial Sheraton. Guests and new members were treated to a performance by the Lynnfield High School choral group under the direction of Douglas Hodgkins. The crowed enjoyed a medley of holiday music well sung by these talented students! Rotary used the special occasion to invite guests and new members to the club and to discuss service projects for the spring.
Lynnfield Rotary hosted its annual pre-Thanksgiving dinner at the Salem Country Club for the rival football teams of Lynnfield and North Reading. Shown here are the football captains, cheer captains, band and Rotary Interact Club members from both schools. The dinner recognizes the time-honored, good-natured rivalry between the two schools. Sportsmanship, camaraderie and service is the model of the day. Both teams were sent off to the field with good wishes for all, and the cheer squad and band members set the spirit for the day! Congratulations to both teams for a game well played. 
The Lynnfield Rotary Club had a successful 5k Turkey Trot fundraiser on November 20, 2023. In fact, this year we partnered with the Lynnfield Moms Group (LMG) to honor the memory of their friend Julie Routhier, who passed away in September after a brief battle with a very aggressive cancer. She left behind a husband and three young children. Their hope was to raise funds to help other such families in the community that face the devastating loss of a loved one so suddenly. Over 300 community members turned out to run/walk and a good time was had by all. Our President, Christine Travers, even wore a Turkey Costume in honor of the race's namesake. Lynnfield Rotary would like to thank all the volunteers and families that came out to support our efforts as well as our sponsors and donors. 
The Arlington Rotary helped the Arlington Chamber of Commerce distribute cookies, hot chocolate, and glow sticks to hundreds of attendees at Arlington's First Light celebration on the evening of Thursday December 1st. In addition, Arlington gathering donations of mittens, gloves, socks, and other articles of warm clothing to be donated to local charities. 
District 7930 is excited to announce that RYLA is back, live and in person, on May 12-14 at Camp Rotary in Boxford. COVID forced cancelation of the traditional RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) since 2020. RYLA is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where young people can develop leadership skills while having fun and making connections.
Over 70 people joined the Winchester and Woburn Rotary Clubs' annual Football Captains' Lunch to celebrate the high school football game on Thanksgiving. Mark Ockerbloom from Channel 25 Fox was a great guest speaker. This 121st edition of the "Rivalry" was great to celebrate with Woburn winning this year! 
Rockport Rotary's 2022 raffle calendar was a sellout and travelled around the globe, reaching a family in India who loved the beautiful photos of our iconic town. Our 2023 raffle calendar is now on sale and going fast! A drawing will be held each week of 2023. Winners in the first week of July and the first week of December will receive $250; all other winners will receive $50. Winning tickets will be reentered for future drawings. We only have a limited supply left for holiday gifts for your family and friends. Please contact Anne Lewis at 
The Rotary Club of Chelsea celebrated Veterans Day by hosting 15 veterans from the Chelsea Soldiers Home at their November 8, 2022, luncheon meeting. Guest speaker for the luncheon was Chelsea Rotarian Cheryl Poppe, Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Services. 
Let's kick off December with a great night out at Flatbread Company on 213 Burlington Rd, Bedford. A portion of the proceeds from every flatbread pizza sold from 5-9 p.m., both in-house and take-out, will be donated to Burlington Breakfast Rotary. By enjoying a delicious pizza at Flatbread Company, you will be donating to the charitable causes supported by Burlington Breakfast Rotary. Bring your family and friends on December 1. Hope to see you there! 
DG Alexander Falk in conjunction with the District Managed Grant (DMG) Foundation Committee have approved the start of 
We are happy to report that our 
We need your help, as a Rotarian, to raise funds and awareness for The Rotary Foundation this 
On Thursday November 3rd 2022 the Rotary Club of Lynn gathered at the Old Tyme restaurant to fill Bags of Hope with personal care items. The collection of bags is for the Jasmine Grace Outreach program, the items are primarily for women.
What makes Rotary a people's club? It is by being a link in the extended community of like-minded individuals supporting each club's service projects and activities. So, when Rotary Club of Rockport’s Nikki Marin and Ann Lewis heard that Marblehead is currently hosting a Youth Exchange Student from Uganda, it linked right to their long-standing involvement in the poverty alleviation program in Uganda. Marblehead Club members were all ears as Nikki Marin, who sits on the board of Village2Village Project, presented their long-term commitment to uplifting impoverished Ugandans, meeting their needs, and building educated leaders to continue the work for years to come. 
The Greater Salem NH Rotary was pleased to contribute $14,000 toward the necessary renovation of the Pleasant Street Church kitchen. This kitchen is where Greater Salem Rotary prepares monthly community meals for those in need.
The Belle Isle Rotary Club had their 3rd Annual Fall Fair and Goat Pebble Bingo event on Saturday Oct 1, 2022.
Reading is experiencing trash collection woes, with its trash contractor missing many pick-ups since the beginning of October. Some residents had missed pick-ups for 2 or 3 weeks. The Town has had to scramble to try and fix the bad situation. Town workers have stepped in to collect trash. They have been working overtime to pick up what has been missed by the contractor.
Burlington Breakfast Rotary is currently holding their Semi-Annual Raffle featuring 12 exciting prizes. First prize is a pair of tickets to the Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game on January 1, 2023. An equally amazing second prize is a $500 gift certificate to Princess Diamonds. See photo for 10 additional fantastic prizes. Only 500 tickets will be sold.
Newburyport Rotary's annual Trivia event is being held Thursday, October 27. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Game starts at 7 pm. Elk's Club, 25 Low St., Newburyport.
Burlington Rotary Club is putting on a Comedy Night October 28th from 7-10 PM at the Woburn Elks. Some really great comedians are lined up: Tony V, Lamont Price, Kathe Farris and Scott Oddo.
Manchester-Essex Rotary's 20th Anniversary Dinner was a huge success. Current members had the chance to meet past members and hear the accounts of how the club pulled through time and again raising funds for the local community and projects offshore. There was quite a bit of comedic content from the speakers including past president Chris Costello, Master of Ceremonies Don MacQuarrie, past presidents Chet and Debbie Marcus, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer and last but certainly not least past president Paul Sullivan who regaled us with what the breakfast meetings and auction were like back in the day.
The Rotary Club of Lynn held a Cornhole Tournament fundraiser Sunday, October 2nd at the Old Tyme Family Cuisine. The purpose of the event was to raise money for college scholarships for Lynn seniors. There were 21 two-person teams in the tournament which included Lynn Rotarians, Acting Superintendent of Lynn Public Schools Debra Ruggiero, and Lynn Fire Chief Stephen Archer.
This important individual leads and supports the clubs in D7930 by inspiring and motivating them to Do Good in the World! 
The Belle Isle Rotary is gearing up to bring all the greatness of a Fall Faire including baby goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits, face painting, cider donuts and games/prizes to the children of East Boston, Revere and Winthrop. This is our third year of our Club members working together to bring this event to our area and we cap off this fun day with an exciting game of chance called Goat Pebble Bingo! $20 ticket can win you $1000 if the goat leaves pebbles on your square! 
Last Chance to register is Monday, Nov 7!
After a two-year COVID pandemic absence, the TBM Fall Foliage Classic returns for its 41st Running on Sunday, October 16th at 11:00 AM. The races start at Proctor School in Topsfield and follow a most picturesque route through the countryside of Topsfield and Boxford to the finish line at Topsfield Town Hall. Register for the 5-mile, 5 k or fun run or 3-mile walk. Long sleeve heavy-weight shirts will be presented to the first 200 registrants. Individuals and Teams of all ages are welcome to participate. This year's event will support the Food Pantries in Topsfield, Boxford and Middleton. 
The Rotary Club of Cambridge Welcomes Global Scholar Sara Fattori. Cambridge Rotary Club is hosting Sara Fattori from Bologna, Italy. Sara will be studying for her Master’s Degree in International Relations at Tufts' prestigious Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. 
Join Zone 32 Foundation Team learn best practices how to create and submit your lifesaving Disaster Response Grant. Presentations by RI Grant Managers, experienced grant writers & expert panel of Rotarians. Wednesday Sept 14 at 10:00 am EST.
Save the Ipswich River & Watershed: The Lifeblood of Our Communities Global Grant has been approved by RI. It couldn't have come at a better time. The Ipswich River is rated one of the top 10 endangered rivers in the US. Currently the river is facing its worst drought ever. “To be blunt, the river is dead,” said Wayne Castonguay, executive director at the Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA). As of Aug. 30, the river plummeted through all previous drought records when it reached zero flow. Last week, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded a mere trickle at 0.07 cubic feet per second. “Basically at zero,” Castonguay said.
Is your club interested in participating in the Fall Mini Grants that have just opened? The new Environmental Committee suggests you plan now to participate in the “No Mow May” initiative this spring.
Peter E. Simonsen, 72, passed away September 5th at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers after a lengthy battle with kidney disease. Born in Malden, he was the son of the late Aage A. Simonsen and Edna A. (Dauphinee) Simonsen. He was the beloved husband of Diane Humphries Simonsen for 49 years.
Deadline extended to Monday, September 19, 2022
In my monthly District Governor email a few days ago I had invited Rotary Clubs to do a project during Basic Education and Literacy Month (September) and perhaps build a "Little Library" in their community:
Today, September 1st, we will start accepting applications for 
If you want to know why our District Governor cares about pollinator habitat restoration, the answer is very simple: over the last 50 years we have already lost 45% of pollinators worldwide! That is a staggering number!
Rotary District Youth Exchange Chair Robert Ford welcomed our four inbound Youth Exchange students for the 2022-23 high school year at our annual Welcome Picnic at Camp Rotary on Sunday, August 28th, where Rotary Youth Exchange program leaders, host families, and students got together to welcome the students to our district and to conduct an initial training session.
Rotary Peabody is excited to operate a booth again this year at Peabody's annual International Festival on Sunday, Sept 11th. We're continuing our successful partnership with the Chamber of Commerce to add a sangria experience to the Beer Garden. All purchases directly benefit Rotary Peabody's scholarships and other service projects to improve our community. Stop by our booth to have some refreshing sangria and say hi to fellow Rotarians! 
Greater Salem NH Rotary
Luis Lopez de Rivera arrived from Monterrey, Mexico in Melrose in the frigid days of January to stay with hosts Mary Beth & Michael Margolis while he completed a DEDP Master’s program at MIT. The program included many international students with its main focus being to equip high-potential young professionals from all around the world with the right tools to produce rigorous evidence-based policy to fight global poverty and inequality.
Jennifer Jones has inspired women all over the Rotary world. How are you impacted by seeing a woman Rotary International President? Why are you proud there are more females in Rotary leadership? We would like to highlight the women of Rotary District 7930. If you'd like to participate, please email us your answer and a photo to 
Stephanie A. Urchick, a Rotarian since 1991, representing the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania has been selected as Rotary Internation President-Nominee.
Our district has applied for a 25K Disaster Response Grant to provide shelter for internally displaced peoples in Ukraine. This grant will provide beds, mattresses, and other items needed to provide housing. The grant is in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Kyiv International. Your generous support of our Foundation's Annual Fund allows grants like these to help support those in need. Please continue to give!!! 
It took only 16 years for Rotary to appear in the dictionary. On the inside front cover of the 1921 Old Farmer's Almanac was an ad from the G. & C. Merriam Co for their new edition of 'Webster’s New International Dictionary.' The ad opens by asking ‘have you and yours mastered these new words.’ One of the new words was ‘Rotarian.’ 
We are saddened to inform you that Past District Governor 2008-09 Thomas R. Elliott, formerly of the Danvers Rotary Club, has passed away this week. There is not going to be any service in the immediate future.
In-person exchanges are back this year! To celebrate, Rotary Youth Exchange has unveiled a new video that showcases the life-changing experiences students, families, and volunteers can have through Rotary Youth Exchange.
The Rotary Club of Woburn had the pleasure of organizing, cooking and serving a breakfast at the Senior Center on School Street in Woburn on Tuesday, July 19th. We were able to provide over seventy of our well-deserved seniors a delicious breakfast as well as live music from Irish Entertainer Mossie Coughlan. It was a great morning of fun and fellowship.
The first group of ten Chelsea children preparing to attend a week at Camp Rotary in Boxford MA. The Chelsea Rotary Club annually sends twenty deserving Chelsea children to Camp Rotary. The children are chosen from essays they write as to why they should be selected to attend Camp Rotary. They are sent in groups of ten children each week for the first two weeks of camp. The Chelsea Rotary Club covers all the costs for attending Camp Rotary for the twenty children. Transportation to and from camp is provided by volunteers from the Chelsea Police Department.
The Belle Isle Rotary Club had the pleasure of presenting three graduates from Winthrop with Academic Awards as they leave high school and go on pursue higher education.
As the gavel was passed from outgoing President Audrey Gordon to incoming President Rob Lowell, Rotary Peabody commemorated 100 years as a club. Club members gathered in celebration with Representatives Tom Walsh and Sally Kerans and State Senator Joan Lovely. A time capsule with the club's history and narratives of moments of our current time was buried for future Rotarians to find. 
On June 30, District 7930 gathered at Danversport Yacht Club to celebrate installation of District Governor Alexander Falk and new Club Presidents for 2022-2023. Taking the helm at Rotary International is Jennifer Jones, RI's very first female President. This year's Presidential Theme is Imagine Rotary.
A lot was happening on Monday, June 27th at the Rotary Club of Lexington's annual Installation Luncheon Meeting. President Cleve Coats handed the gavel over to incoming President Veronica Caira. Veronica was also presented with her first Paul Harris Fellow Award. 
The Wakefield Rotary Club hosted its second Father’s Day Fishing Tournament at Lake Quannapowitt on Sunday, June 19th. The free event, open to all ages, welcomed about 25 families fishing for various top spots. Wakefield Rotary Vice-President Gene Mullen explained, “We were thrilled with the turn-out, despite the gloomy weather.” He added, “It was great to see kids with their extended families.” In fact, for many families, this event was their first fishing experience and the perfect opportunity to learn safe and responsible fishing techniques before casting their first line.” Loaner rods were made available thanks to Mass Wildlife and bait was donated by Boats & Motors on North Avenue in Wakefield.
The Rotary Club of Woburn hosted their annual Student Government Day Luncheon last week. Twenty-six high school students shadowed twenty-six city department heads as part of a civics project for Woburn Memorial High School. Winners were selected based on their Civic Action Project portfolio. Woburn Mayor Scott D. Galvin was on hand to speak to the group and congratulate the winning students by awarding each with a commemorative city coin. Woburn Rotary also awarded the students with a commemorative Rotary coin. 
Peabody Rotary is thrilled to partner with many other District Clubs in support of the Ipswich River Watershed Association (
The Rotary Club of Lexington held its annual scholarship luncheon on May 23rd, at the Minuteman High School in Lexington. Twelve deserving seniors from Lexington High School, Minuteman High School and Lexington Christian Academy received the annual awards. We were also joined by senior officers of the Lexington Interact Club in Minuteman High School who were awarded an appreciation plaque for their fundraising efforts for the Polar Plunge. Interact sent 27 plungers to the event. 
Citizens Who Care is the Rotary Club of Andover's longest running program that honors outstanding community volunteers. Since 1996 our club has honored 10 people each year who have contributed to the local community through their extraordinary volunteer contributions. In 2009, the Club added the Educator of the Year and Student of the Year awards to Citizens Who Care. Those chosen to exemplify what it means to be an "unsung hero." They come in all ages and professions.
Wakefield Rotarian Judy Gordon recently visited the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library's Children's Librarian Annie Hochheiser to donate several books related to environmental awareness. Recently, Rotary has added supporting the environment as an Area of Focus. The books were donated in honor of the club's 100th Anniversary which is being celebrated all year.
Looking for Rotarians interested in the Environment
Fashion Show Fundraiser to benefit Newburyport Rotary. 
Monday June 13. The Meadow at Peabody. 
As of last Thursday, May 5th, Beverly Rotary Club has inducted a total of 15 new members this year into our club. We feel this is quite a feat! Our membership is now up to 114 members. One of the new memberships is a corporate one, bringing our corporate total to five. Having the ability to have a corporate membership available, has enticed some places to join our club. We will continue in this vein actively to recruit new members into our vibrant club for the next year!
Now is the time to get your club qualified for participating in district and global grants for the coming 2022-23 Rotary year. For a club to get qualified you have to have at least two members who have taken the district grant management seminar, and the club's current president for 2021-22 as well as the incoming president for 2022-23 both have to 
This spring, the Lynnfield Rotary Interact Club hosted a recycling event for the community. Data Recycling of New England partnered with Interact students to host an event at Town Hall in which Lynnfield residents could safely recycle their electronics, preserving the environment, and providing parts that can be refurbished for future use. The club made a portion of the recycling fees collected, raising over $3,000 to support future community service and Interact Club activities. Kudos to the Lynnfield Rotary Interact!! 
Hobbs Playground will soon undergo a makeover. The new layout and updated equipment will guarantee access to children of all abilities. Leading the way to these improvements is Laney Dowling (center), Marblehead Family Fund's (MFF) Chair, who presented the playground’s final plans to Marblehead Rotary members. The MFF’s mission, since it started as a grassroots organization in 1988, has been to improve Marblehead's playgrounds, parks, and open spaces.
Brookline Rotary is sponsoring an on-line auction as a spring fundraiser. Among the items are tickets for the US Open being held in Brookline June 16- 19, 2022. Other items include gift cards for local restaurants, services such as tutoring and legal, and special opportunities like a luxury Mexican vacation. Enjoy yourself while supporting Rotary.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Past District Governor Jack Maloney of Lexington. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 30 at St. Brigid Church in Lexington. 
Inspired by the District's Homelessness and Hunger Initiative years ago, the Wakefield Rotary Club made strong connections with the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry. This year, the Club decided to donate half of the income from the Dine Anywhere in the World Raffle to the organization. This past week, we were delighted to present the Wakefield Food Pantry a "big" check. Food Pantry board members and volunteers sold 30 of the 200 tickets. Doreen McGowan, Food Pantry Board President, accepted the check and hopes she can find a big ATM. 
Chelsea Rotary presents Stand With Ukraine Telethon on April 29 from 4-7 pm.
Our meeting started out as usual, with members trickling in at first to check in. President-Elect Mike Jones gave me a make-up slip which was signed Mickey Mouse from the Lake Buena Vista club. I had remembered that he was at Disney World, so I thought it was a cute joke on the part of the Florida club. Next came in Past-President Marshall Handly, who gave me a make-up slip from Athens, Greece. He went on and told me all kinds of details of his trip and I was telling him how I wanted to go there so badly. A few more members came in and then SEVEN other make-up slips were turned in. It dawned on me that they were all the same style of make-up slip. When I read one of them closely, my suspicions were validated. This one was signed by Glinda Witch, from Oz, Kentucky Rotary Club. Weren't our members from Beverly something else? I had slips from Key West, Berlin Bunker, and the Bowery, New York. They got me good! 
Saturday, April 2, Gloucester Rotary put on a hugely successful Polar Plunge. Approximately 200 Rotarians from the District's 45 clubs plunged into the water at Long Beach in Gloucester. In addition to the Plungers were many supporters, on lookers and cheerleaders. The sun was out, but the water and air temperatures were both approximately a chilly 40 degrees.
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
The Rotary Club of Peabody has put in sweat equity for Habitat for Humanity, working two different projects helping get homes ready for families to move in. These projects are based locally in Peabody and the club is thrilled to give back to their immediate community in such a tangible way. 
Reading Rotary just completed its Rotary Readers project. Rotary Readers is an annual literacy project where reading books and a backpack are given to each Reading Public Schools student in kindergarten. This year approximately 300 literacy bags will be delivered by Rotarians to the five Reading elementary schools. In addition, Rotarians read to each Kindergarten class as part of Read Across America. It was exciting and fun to be able to read in person this year after doing virtual reading in 2021.
After a recent fundraiser, the Interact Club at Woburn Memorial High School donated proceeds to the Woburn Dollars for Scholars program. Here, Interact Club President Emily Sullivan presents a check to WDFS Committee President Rosemary Donovan. 
The Downtown Boston Rotary is proud to host the Ukrainian Cultural Center of New England at their next speaker meeting on April 5th.
Danvers Rotary is excited to announce our 2nd Spring Raffle is off to a great start as we approach the first draw date on April 1.
The top ten clubs in giving this week are:
Last week Woburn Rotary donated a defibrillator to Nexus, Inc. Nexus provides residential alternatives for developmentally challenged individuals that promote the highest quality of life possible and opportunities for full integration into the mainstream of life in their home. 
Winchester Rotary club has been blessed with a wonderful core group of members who have help me as President over the past two years to maintain and grow our Club. We are adding four new Service members along with two new Corporate members will be joining us shortly. Thank you, Kurt Heisler, Co-President Elect. What a great way to start off 2022! Keep all members moving forward and engaged!
The top ten clubs in giving this week are:
Belle Isle Rotary Club is set to have our Trivia Nite on Friday April 1, 2022, to be held at the Salesians Boys & Girls Club. We are gearing up to have a night full of fun competition with prizes and of course, bragging rights and awards for the winning team. 
As our year-long celebration comes to a end, we reminisce on the past and look forward to the future. We are having our culminating event on the very date that the Beverly Rotary Club was started 101 years prior!
A Ukrainian 12-yr old boy with electrical burns over 90% of his body was recently airlifted from Ukraine and brought to Shriners Hospital (Mass General) in Boston. This was done with assistance from Ukraine Rotary Club Kyiv-Sophia and Rotary Clubs in our neighboring District 7910. Dr. Gennadiy Fuzaylov, who is treating the boy advised that his mother Oksana is staying in Mass General Hospital "parent apartment" available to her only while her son is in the hospital for treatment. However sometime in the next 3-weeks Taras will be released and both mother/Oksana & Son/Taras, who do not speak English, will need a place to stay near Massachusetts General Hospital as Taras needs to receive follow up treatments for up to 6 Weeks then needs to return to Ukraine.
The Rotary Club of Lynn held its Eighth Grade Recognition Program Thursday, February 10th, at Old Tyme Family Cuisine. This signature program, a staple on Rotary’s annual calendar, seeks to recognize young middle school students from Lynn who, each in their own way, has overcome an obstacle in their lives to achieve success both inside and out of the classroom. This is the first recognition since the start of the pandemic. The Club will have two more before the end of the school year. The program's longtime sponsor is RiverWorks Credit Union.
The Rotary Club of Peabody is hosting its biggest fundraiser of the year "Taste of the North Shore" in person again this year! This popular fundraiser promised an evening of fun, prizes and, of course, delicious food from some of the best restaurants to be found on the North Shore. All proceeds benefit scholarships for Peabody High School children and our other community projects throughout the year.
With a total of $27,091.01 raised towards our $100,000 goal this week's new listing of the top ten clubs in the district for donations are as follows:
The Annual World Peace and Understanding Event on February 3 featured two movies this year. The evening started with the Premiere of a documentary, by Sarah Furie, a member of Boston Rotaract, titled “The Talk With My Black Sons.” This was followed by a lively question-and-answer session with the director. If you missed the event, you can watch the documentary here on YouTube: 
The Salem Rotary Club is thrilled to present our first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training at our Rotary meeting on January 25th. Our training will be conducted by Human in Common. Human in Common is an innovative team of experienced diversity consultants who specialize in providing professional diversity and ethical upstander training for nonprofits, municipalities, businesses and schools.
Winchester Rotary Club combined with our Interact Club to deliver 85 meals to our Local Housing Authority residents. Then we all gathered for some Christmas Cheer at Sons of Italy for some food and drink and wonderful song from our very talented INTERACT members!
Rockport Rotary President Rob Audano and Rotarian Anne Lewis present a check for $50 to Lynne Anderson, the winner of the raffle drawing on January 6. Rockport Rotary’s 2022 Calendar features 13 photographs of the Rockport area selected from over 200 submitted to their photo contest. Every calendar has a raffle ticket that will be entered into a drawing each week of 2022 with winners in the first week of July and the first week of December receiving $250 and all other winners receiving $50. Winning tickets will be reentered for future drawings.
Seven Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor rang in 2022 by cooking and serving a New Year’s Eve dinner to over sixty clients and staff members at Lifebridge, a shelter in the center of Salem, MA. The menu included baked glazed ham, sweet potato, roasted vegetables, and rolls...But the best was left for last...brownie sundaes with homemade chocolate sauce.
Because the Coronavirus and its variants have again become more active, I have moved the next two district events back to Zoom. 
The Belle Isle Rotary typically donates Market Basket gift cards during the Christmas season. Working collaboratively within our community, this year, we decided instead to give five (5) $100 Target gift cards to the Revere High School guidance department and five (5) $100 Target gift cards to the Revere Seacoast Alternative High School guidance departments to be disbursed based upon the needs of their students/families.
Each year Reading Rotary partners with the community for the Adopt-a-Family project for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Christmas distribution day was December 22. Rotary works with the local organization ReadingCares and the Town to coordinate this long-standing community giving program. Receiving families are matched anonymously with donor families and/or groups to provide meal and gifts at Christmas. Donors drop off in the first shift, then recipient families pick up their food and gifts during a later shift. 
Despite the gray weather, everyone had a festive time on Saturday as the Ipswich community celebrated the annual arrival of Santa Claus. The Jolly Elf arrived at town wharf at 11 am and was escorted by children of all ages, and by the host Ipswich High School Interact elves, along Water Street to Santa’s Village at Town Hall.
Beverly's beloved Rotarian Jack Good passed away last year. The project of bell ringing for the Salvation Army was his baby. The tradition carries on and we know that Jack is with us. Rotarians were stationed at two Stop ’n Shops and a Walgreen’s in Beverly. There were shifts throughout the day, organized by Alan Temkin, who has assumed Jack’s job for this project. Some Rotarians wore costumes and were chatting with all the customers going in and out of these businesses. Needless to say, we are a merry group! The question now remains: which location collected the most money......? Time will tell. Thanks to all of our Beverly Rotarians who were part of this project!!!! Happy Holidays! 
District Governor Terry Curran showered our club with recognition in many areas of contributions to Rotary Foundation 2020-2021. Among them: Marblehead Rotary is one of the handfuls of clubs to achieve the district's top three highest per capita on annual giving and for individual member participation. In addition, the Marblehead Rotary was recognized as one of the top contributors to the district’s campaign for the Rotary Foundation’s “End Polio Now” fund-raising campaign.
After a recent fundraiser, the Woburn Memorial High School Interact Club presented Woburn Veterans Agent Larry Guiseppe with gift cards for Woburn Veterans.
The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor purchased materials for, and is distributing, buckets of sand and pet-friendly ice melt and scoops to local senior citizens. Prevention of falls and serious injuries is a serious issue for the senior population. The Club partnered with the Marblehead Council on Aging, which is delivering buckets via its bus to those seniors who cannot pick them up at the Community Center.
The Rotary Club of Lynn welcomed seven new members into its ranks at Thursday’s monthly meeting Old Tyme Family Cuisine.
The District Governor would like to support the revitalization of our Interact Clubs this fall. To that end we have put together a $100 mini grant for clubs to use to assist their Interact Club in doing a service project. 
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep you informed and educated on ways to support The Rotary Foundation, we are pleased to share information on a new initiative that is launching in Rotary District 7930. The 70+ initiative is a district-wide effort to encourage Rotarians to consider the benefits and opportunities of a charitable gift via their IRA.
Wishing you all the joys of the Holiday Season.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea recently installed Dr. Aaron Jennings as its newest member. Aaron is the Equity, Diversity and Excellence Officer for the Chelsea Public Schools. Pictured with Aaron is Dr. Almudena Abeyta, Superintendent of the Chelsea Public Schools and Aaron’s sponsor, Allan I. Alpert, the Installing Officer and Richard Gopen, President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Chelsea. 
The Gloucester Rotary has produced a beautiful 2022 calendar, featuring scenic photography from local artists. In addition to the calendar, each purchase enters the buyer into a weekly raffle. $50 prizes will be drawn each week with two bonus prizes-- a $250 prize in June and a $500 prize in December. Calendars are $25 each, and proceeds from the sale of calendars will be used to support the many projects of the Gloucester Rotary.
This week, Woburn Rotary celebrated Harris "Harry" Cohen who has been a Rotarian for 50 years! Harry joined Rotary Club of Woburn in 1971 and is a Paul Harris Fellow +3. He also served on the Board of Directors for a number of years and has volunteered many hours of service to Woburn, included organizing the annual pancake breakfast. Harry continues to be an active member of Rotary Club of Woburn and comes to almost every weekly lunch meeting. Harry was presented with a proclamation from State Representative Richard Haggerty and a proclamation from Woburn Mayor Scott D. Galvin. 
The Wakefield Rotary Club hosted it’s Purple Pinkey event at the Fall In Love With Wakefield event last month. Club Secretary Suzanne Bowering explained, “Our Purple Pinkey event is designed to raise awareness of Rotary’s efforts world-wide to eradicate polio.” She continued, “In countries that experience technology challenges and in some rural areas, children have their pinkey fingers dyed purple to indicate they received a polio vaccine on their immunization day.” Rotary has been a global leader in the eradication of polio worldwide since 1985. Today, 99.9% of the world is polio-free. To learn more, visit 
Gobble… Gobble… Gobble…A 40 pound turkey??!!
Do you have dinner plans for Tuesday, November 9th? No? Great! Grab a flatbread and enjoy some bowling from 4-10 p.m. at American Flatbread in Somerville.
Service during COVID is alive and well! Greeted by CEO Janet Nittmann of Windrush Farm, North Andover, members and friends of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor were joined by Marblehead High School Interactors in spending a day of fellowship and service spreading cushioning mulch on bridle trails, performing light carpentry work, and cleaning out and hosing down the barn.
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently completed its annual donation of dictionaries to every third grader in Wakefield. 253 copies were hand-delivered to all Wakefield public schools as well as Odyssey and St. Joseph’s School.
Beautiful, crisp, sunny weather was the setting for the PUMPKIN PAINTING IN THE PARK in Beverly Common. The event was hosted by the Beverly Rotary Club in partnership with Beverly Main Streets. 100 children registered to paint their pumpkins at the Gazebo. All of the pumpkins were donated thanks to the State Sheriff’s Department, Smolak Farms and Dr, Bill Beckman. Tables were set up with paint and decorations. After the children finished painting, their pumpkins were photographed for a montage of pumpkins. 
Rotarians from Ipswich, Rowley and Wakefield, together with 12 high school students from St. Johns Prep, Danvers, joined Rachel Schneider, Ipswich River Watershed Association, Sat. Oct 23, for an outstanding hands-on training for Keeping Water Clean Day, a Greenscapes program.
Methuen Rotary Club held its 4th Annual June Jubilee. We choose non-profits that we feel their values align with the mission of Rotary and give away $1,000.00 per week every Friday in June.
Are you a business owner? Do you want to show your creativity and Holiday Spirit? Methuen Rotary Club is holding the 2nd Annual LIGHT UP METHUEN this Holiday Season. December 4th - January 1, 2022 trees will be lit up all over the City.
The Belle Isle Rotary Club will hold their Annual Comedy Nite on
On Thursday, September 30th, members of the Lynn Rotary Club gathered at the Old Tyme restaurant for one of its regular meetings. The Club choose to do a service project prior to conducting a regular club meeting. The project was to put together 50 brown bag lunches for My Brother’s Table. The lunches consist of 2 PB&J sandwiches, a drink box, and a nourishing snack. This is an ongoing need at My Brother’s Table. Especially since they are restricted in how they can feed those in need.
The Belle Isle Rotary had a Fall Fair event for the children and families of East Boston Revere and Winthrop. We aimed to bring some of the highlights of the Topsfield Fair to our neighbors that may not be able to go to Topsfield for a variety of reasons, we helped subsidize this event by selling squares for Goat Pebble Bingo and the lucky winner was John Francis. 
The Belle Isle Rotary Club is gearing up for their annual Goat Pebble Bingo Bash on Saturday Oct 2, 2021 to be held at the Salesian Boys & Girls Club, 150 Byron St East Boston, MA.
The Belle Isle Rotary had a wonderful night Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at the Marina Wharf Restaurant in Revere presenting member and Past President Ashley Melnik with a Paul Harris Fellow. Many Rotarians including DG Terry Rezendes Curran were in attendance as well as many of Ashley's friends and family. In addition, Ashley Melnik was recognized as an Unsung Heroine Award in June 2021 presented at the State House for her community of Revere where she works as City Clerk and does a lot of good deeds for local Veterans. 
Here is an update of current ShelterBox response work. Except for Haiti, all our current response work is due to people displaced by conflict. Our work in areas of conflict displacement has twice earned the Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Shelter is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone for peace. At ShelterBox, we work tirelessly each day to provide displaced families with shelter and basic household items. We have also implemented COVID-19 mitigation items in our aid packages. Items such as soap, wash basins and face coverings are helping to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Our water sources, the Ipswich River and adjacent watersheds, the Parker and the Essex, are threatened and may disappear if conservation action is not taken.
Ipswich Rotarian Keith Harris will soon hop up on his bicycle and tow his faithful dog around 70 scenic miles west of Boston.
Support Rotary’s Foundation year-round by making an automatic recurring gift with Rotary Direct. You choose how much and how often to give. It’s a simple and secure way to make a big impact!
The Paul Harris Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who elect to contribute $1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, or approved global grants. The purpose of the Paul Harris Society is to honor and thank individuals for their generous, ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation.
Medford Rotary members are very generous when it comes to helping those with food insecurity. Every year for more than 40 years they give away 200+ food baskets to families in Medford with all the fixings for a Holiday dinner; including the turkey. Even last year, the committee decided the pandemic wasn't going to stope their efforts. So $50 gift cards were given to 226 local families in lieu of the actual basket.
Attention Professional and Recreational Photographers Gloucester Rotary 2022 Raffle Calendar Submissions
During Beverly Rotary's 100th anniversary celebration year, we are doing activities each month especially connected to our community. August is absolutely no exception.
Several Lynn Rotarians, as well as Assistant Governor Peter Majane, supported Lynn’s Salvation Army Captain Kevin Johnson with its drive for school supplies for students returning to school in the fall. The annual campaign is known as Stuff the Bus! The drive was conducted August 6th thru the 8th. This is the third year that the Lynn Club assisted in this project.
Join us on September 17th, (7-11pm) at Woburn/Stoneham Elks #908, 295 Washington St. Woburn for a fundraiser featuring Irish/American Entertainer Mossie Coughlan. Tickets are only $40 per person and includes dinner: Garden Salad, Pasta and Meatballs w/house made sauce, Chicken stir fry w/white rice, cookies/brownies, Coffee from Dunkin', Cash Bar and dance floor. There will also be silent auction items to bid on and a 50/50 raffle. Fun for the whole family! Contact Bill Sullivan for tickets: Email: 
The Wakefield Rotary Club is pleased to announce that it completed 421 hours of community service, 9 service projects and donated over $16k last Rotary year, which ended on June 30, 2021. Immediate Past President John Tramontozzi commented, “During the pandemic, we’re especially thrilled that we were able to remain active and impactful as a club.”
District 7930's RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) program is a two-year program. High school students attend the RYLA weekend as first-time attendees--participating in several leadership development activities and discussions. The following year, selected participants are invited to spend 20+ hours over five months training to be Youth Facilitators at the next RYLA weekend. Young adults who participate in both years come away with an amazing skill set and great friends from among their peers and from the Rotarians who help guide the program! 
On August 5th we will be having a District Business Meeting, on Zoom, to take care of administrative tasks. All club Presidents and Secretaries have been emailed the credentials for electors for their clubs and asked to return them to Tom Hankard, Chair of the Credentials Committee at 
Reading Rotary’s Reading Fall Street Faire will return on Sunday, September 12 from noon to 5 pm in Downtown Reading.
New Manchester-Essex Rotary President Jennifer Doane comes from a Rotary family. Her parents, Tom and Barb Guebert are lifelong Rotarians and both are past Presidents of the Carlyle, IL Rotary club. Tom is a past District Governor (2015-2016) of Southern IL, District 6510. They reside in Griffin, GA. Jennifer was a Rotary International Exchange Student in 1988-89, and spent her junior year of high school studying in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Jennifer in married to Michael Doane and has two children, Finn and Ava and is a resident of Manchester. 
On June 29th the District 7930 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee hosted our final event for the 20-21 Rotary year: a panel discussion about how your Club and/or District can start or enhance DEI initiatives. 
The Wakefield Rotary Club will be hosting a Red Sox ticket raffle at the WCAT Movies by the Lake. Thanks to a generous donation from Rotarian Frank Fiorentino and Mahoney, Fiorentino, and Co., PC, raffle participants can win a pair of tickets for the Red Sox versus Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, August 11, 2021. Club President Bruce Donovan explained, “These tickets are a great way to support our local projects and enjoy our first place Sox. Your twenty dollar donation can win you great seats between the visitor on-deck circle and home plate and all proceeds will benefit our humanitarian projects.”
On June 14, 2021, the Town of Ipswich dedicated a field of 100 flags to honor heroes. A stunning display of large flags on ten foot poles will grace one of the main gateways of our town, the beautiful and historic South Green, until July 10.
Rotary Club of Newburyport presents Beer and Hotdogs Fundraiser.
The Rotary Foundation’s year-end is 30 June. Click below for important year-end deadlines and information on ways to give. Make sure to share these resources with your club and encourage them to use the addresses shown on the Year-end deadlines document to prevent delays in giving. 
The Greater Salem NH Rotary Club has been doing "Hybrid" meetings since August 7th. Crazy to think that was 10 months ago. Certainly there was a lot of guidance and guidelines to adhere to, as well as some trial and error. Rather than backtrack and talk about what was, I feel it more pertinent to offer considerations for groups now as they are working their way back.
Since the Governor’s announcement that “business is back to normal,” the Danversport Event Center has relaxed their COVID requirements and reopened to full capacity. What that means for us is that those incoming Presidents can invite their family, friends and fellow Rotarians to come and celebrate the upcoming Rotary year. Consider skipping your Club meeting that week and instead join us for the installation on June 24. We also want to thank those Presidents who have guided our Clubs through the pandemic this past year. Since the International Convention next year is in Houston Texas our theme will be country, so feel free to come in your jeans, cowboy boots, bolo ties and/or cowboy hats. The cost is $50.00 per person and can be paid during your on-line registration. Please don’t wait until the last minute as walk-ins will not be allowed. We need to give the facility firm numbers several days before.
In 2019, the Amesbury Rotary Club and Police Department rebooted Bike Safety Day (BSD) thanks to a District Granted supported by contributions from the Rotary Foundation. And then in 2020 the pandemic hit, and we were in lockdown. But the good news is that on a sunny Saturday in May 2021 we were able to be outside and reinstate BSD once again.
For the first time in 14 months, the Rotary Club of Lynn met in person Thursday night, May 20, 2021, for the purpose of awarding scholarships to five students. 
Thank you to everyone in D7930 who attended The Rotary Foundation Virtual Gala! The event as a whole raised $183,680 for TRF with over 1,500+ viewers. For Zone 32, our District raised the highest amount of money ($12,680) and were the second largest ticket sellers. Our pre-party was a huge success and we were able to meet new Rotary friends from D7790! Thank you again for your generous support of Our Rotary Foundation!!! 
Have you chosen a President for the next Rotary year yet? If not, the clock is ticking! Have you run through the possibilities? Will a Past President step back up? Will a few members split the year up and tackle a few months at a time? 
The Rotary Club of Chelsea is running a raffle to raise funds for scholarships, sending children to Camp Rotary and other community projects. Go to the Rotary Club of Chelsea website 
"Our Foundation is the Grease on the Axle to Make the Wheels of Rotary Turn Round" 
Ipswich Rotary welcomes Heather McMann, Executive Director, Groundwork Lawrence,
Rotary District 7930 Event at Granite Coast Brewing Company
District Assembly is coming up on April 20 on Zoom.
Rotarians bringing skills to aid Texas Disaster Plumbing Project.
DISTRICT MEMBERSHIP COMMITTE SPRING WEBINAR
As some of you may know, our district 7930 is one of the founding districts of the new Inter-Country-Committee (ICC) Austria/Germany/USA that was established at the RI Convention in Hamburg, with PDG Joan Arsenault being one of the initial signatories on the ICC's founding documents representing the USA. As part of our membership in this ICC we recently heard from our friends in Germany that the newly formed 
Manchester-Essex Rotarians volunteered their services to pack and distribute food to 160 households as part of a District Grant. Families received produce, dry goods, fish, meat, specialty items like olive oil, coffee and baking mixes. It was a fabulous spring day to be outside. Manchester-Essex Rotary Club received a matching grant from Rotary District 7930. Our $2,000 investment became $4,000 for the Open Door. 
After learning that the traditional district-wide Polar Plunge event to raise money for the End Polio Now campaign was canceled for 2021 because of COVID-19, the Rotary Club of Arlington decided to organize its own event. The result is the Polar Dunk, which will take place on Saturday, March 13th. Volunteers from the club will be plunged, one by one, into a carefully-scrubbed carnival-grade dunk tank filled with chilly water. The Arlington Media Center will be on hand to record the event for posterity -- which is particularly important this year, because COVID-19 restrictions do not permit the usual crowd of spectators!
2021 Getaway Raffle: Two Nights with Dinner at the beautiful Beauport Hotel in Gloucester, MA!
When it comes to parties, the Beverly Rotary Club sure knows how to throw them, whether it’s in person or remotely. February 24, 2021 was the 100th Birthday of our club. We had a kickoff celebration at our meeting on the night of the 25th. Every member, past and present, had a delivery of a special cupcake with our Birthday logo, a party blower and a copy of our goals this year. A wonderful video recalling the past 100 years was played at our party meeting. State Representative Jerry Parisella and Mayor Michael Cahill both had proclamations for our Club. We were honored with special guests: Betsy Manzelli, Alex Falk, Lori Karas, David Deutsch and Joan Arsenault. We had a champagne toast given by our longest serving member, John Glovsky. Lastly, we had a “workshop" about bubbly drinks at the end of the celebration. One ongoing activity for the club is to have each member perform at least 100 hours of community service this upcoming year.
On February 17th The Rotary Club of Malden, donated $600.00 to the Malden Warming Center. The Malden Warming Center is located in the Church of The Nazarene in Malden headed by Pastor Gerry Whetstone. The Warming Center provides the homeless community in and around Malden a place to get in out of the cold overnight, dinner, and breakfast (provided by local partners). 
International Women’s Day is held every year on March 8th, a day to celebrate the social, political, economic, and cultural achievements of women around the world. The theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 world. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted women and girls in significant ways, amplifying the inequalities they face every day. It is fundamental that women’s voices and experiences are central to national and global recovery plans. A key contributor to a more equal COVID-19 world is increasing women’s access to leadership roles. There is much to be done, in addition, we recognize the women around the world who are challenging gender bias and inequality and are changing the world as we know it. Even year on this day, we come together to celebrate achievements and to promote awareness about the importance of an inclusive world by making strides in women’s rights.
LIVE!!!!! From Lusaka, Zambia!
Join us for our virtual World Peace and Understanding event on March 3, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Our speaker for the evening will be 2018-2019 Global Scholar recipient Seamus Matlack. Seamus, a native of Boston, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2018 and went on to pursue a Master’s of Science Degree in Defense, Diplomacy and Development at Durham University in England. Rotary Foundation’s Area of Focus of Peace and Conflict Resolution. The Durham University Master’s Program provides specific expertise in conflict prevention and sustainable peace, conflict intervention, and post conflict reconstruction as well as diplomacy and peace building. The thrust of the Master’s program is how to include and incorporate diverse members of local communities into peacekeeping operations.
Did you know that our Annual Fund giving supports many local and international projects? Your member benefit is truly at work in D7930!!
Looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon? Looking to connect with fellow Rotarians and non-Rotarians from our district, Maine, Quebec, Louisiana, the Cape and Florida? Like or Love Wine? Then D7930/D7790 Corks & Caps Wine Fellowship is for you!!
District 7930 is pleased to offer all clubs a one-time mini grant starting now!!!
Each year Reading Rotary partners with the community for the Adopt-a-Family project for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Rotary works with the local organization ReadingCares and the Town to coordinate this long-standing community giving program. Receiving families are matched anonymously with donor families and/or groups to provide meals for Thanksgiving and meals and gifts at Christmas. Donor drop off in the first shift, then recipient families pick up their food and gifts during a later shift. 
Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor Presents a Free Concert For All!
ClubRunner has done a pretty amazing job improving their mobile app this year. We highly recommend that you install the new ClubRunner mobile app on your phone so that you can interact better with your own Rotary Club as well as with District 7930.
Join the Peabody Rotary Club on Monday, November 23, 2020 for our 2nd Virtual Trivia Night! Kick back with a beverage or two and help the Peabody Rotary Club in supporting service projects throughout the City.
The Bishop Fenwick Interact Club, along with the assistance of members of the Peabody Rotary Club, provided leaf cleanup services to four homes needing assistance, where the homeowners are currently going through Cancer treatments. The Interact Club was able to assist, following all Covid-19 safe measures. Nice work BFIC!
TBM Rotary is conducting a fundraising raffle to benefit the Tri-Town Food Pantries and other community programs sponsored by the Club. The prize is a 2.1cubic foot freezer (Valued at $250) plus $250 in food gift cards. You can order your entries by email by sending a message to 
The Rotary International Guide to achieving the 
The Wakefield Rotary Club recently hosted its second hybrid meeting since COVID-19 restrictions began. Meeting both in-person, with socially distanced protocol, and offering a simultaneous meeting online, the group gathered to greet one another and complete a double service project. Wakefield Rotary President John Tramontozzi explained, “During these difficult times, Wakefield Rotarians recognize the need and desire to connect with our members regularly. About once a month, when we perform a service project, those who are able to participate in person are welcome to do so with proposer CDC guidelines including face coverings and social distancing.”
Danvers Rotary Club recently held a ceremony at Endicott Park to donate a covered picnic pavilion to the Town of Danvers. The dedication was attended by the Town Manager, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, town employees, and Rotarians. The $78,000 project was started in the spring of 2019 and required approval from numerous town boards. Coordinated by Danvers Rotarians, the 24’ x 44’ structure was ordered from Engineered Wood Structures in Holland, Michigan and assembled by a local contractor. Park staff will rent the pavilion for family reunions, birthday parties, and other events.
Holiday Pops Reimagined 2020
The D7930 PI & Technology Committee, in cooperation with our District Membership Committee, has published a 
Show Me the Money” 
Corks & Caps Local Chapter
The Marblehead Rotary Club and Lynch van Otterlook YMCA will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Sunday, October 25, 2020, 10am-3pm.
Ipswich High School Interact is a Rotary sponsored service club sanctioned by the Ipswich Public Schools and advised by Ipswich Rotary. Last week, the club leaders presented their plans for two new service projects at the weekly meeting of the Rotary club, currently held on Zoom.
Just in time for the holidays, the Ipswich Rotary Club has announced its new “IpswichRowley-opoly” game for $30 per game. All proceeds from the sales of the game will benefit the on-going work of the club during the pandemic.
The Rotary Club of Marblehead has been hard at work reimagining its traditional Holiday Pops Concert, to continue its long-standing tradition of community celebration at holiday time. Despite the challenges of these times. Rotary Club President Patricia Sullivan and Concert chairs Judith Black, Betty Lautner and Jessica Barnett have created a new virtual format that will be full of music, local talent, sing- a-longs and holiday memories from Marbleheaders.
The Wakefield Rotary Club never stopped meeting during the COVID-19 crisis. Like many, it just moved online, and members have been meeting weekly each Tuesday. Club President John Tramontozzi commented, “I looked forward to these meetings every week. Being disconnected from people, this was a welcome interaction.” But recently the club decided to try to host a hybrid meeting, an effort to ensure safety while giving an opportunity to do a service project. Members were offered a socially-distanced in-person meeting as well as an opportunity to attend the meeting virtually via Zoom.
Moving from Diversity to Inclusive Opportunities for All!
The Cambridge Rotary Club invites you to support local charities and showcase your artwork by participating in the virtual "Chalk on Your Walk" event. Due to COVID, the annual "Chalk on the Walk" fundraiser in Harvard Square was cancelled. However, the groups served by the Cambridge Rotary need help more than ever!
With the assistance of a special District grant for First Responders, the Rotary Club of Cambridge donated much needed disposable gloves and face masks to Cambridge's Finest.
Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club 
This year's Flags for Heroes Dedication Ceremony will be held on November 8 at 1pm. Arlington Rotary has dedicated this year's installment to the Corona Virus Heroes and in memory of Corona Virus Victims.
Members of Arlington Rotary Club answered the call for donations from the Bedford VA Hospital. The club and the Arlington community came together to donate over 400 books, 400 DVDs, 100 pairs of sweatpants and 100 CDs.Thank you for club member, Paul Buckley, for spearheading this effort. The Bedford VA has provided Paul with a list of other items the hospital is in need of, if you are interested in joining the cause please contact him at 
The Burlington Breakfast Rotary, a small but mighty Club, once again is shining brighter. BBRC is expanding and thriving. Its "People of Action" honor Rotary’s motto of "Service Above Self." As Rotarians, in our quest to make a difference in society, Rotary indeed opened opportunities by installing its first International Satellite member in India. This showcase project may present a template/model for other clubs as well in Rotary District 7930 and beyond.
The Newburyport Club has a great service project coming up Saturday, September 26, 2020. The club will be helping Operation Warming Hearts and the Salvation Army preparing, assembling and delivering 300 meals to the greater Newburyport area as well as notes and cards with positive messages, words of encouragement or even a homemade greeting card. Volunteers are needed to pick up food, prep and package food and deliver meals. Could you or your family write notes or cards? What a fun family project it could be! For information or to volunteer, 
Trivia for a Cause
22 clubs responded to participate in the 25K Disaster Grant awarded to D7930 from RI. Each club will be reimbursed $426 for the purchase of PPE for Police/Fire Departments and First Responders. Congratulations to the following Rotary Clubs:Amesbury, Belle Isle, Burlington Breakfast, Burlington, Cambridge, Chelsea, Gloucester, Gr. Salem, Hamilton-Wenham, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lynn, Manchester-Essex, Marblehead, Marblehead Harbor, Methuen, Peabody, Reading, Boston Rotaract, Salem, TBM and Winchester.
Deadline to submit photos extended to Sunday, September 27, 2020.
The Boston 7 Rotary Club is excited to welcome Rotary International Vice President, Johrita Solari as a special speaker to their October 7 zoom meeting at 6:30pm. Visitors are encouraged and may 
The Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club in an effort to assist seniors and others having difficulty with technology and how to use a variety of electronic devices, is introducing a “Technology Assistance Program” This novel community service initiative is designed to connect seniors and computer challenged individuals with others via technology. This service is especially timely during this unprecedented period of the coronavirus in place of traditional, person to person meetings and get-togethers.
22nd Annual
BBQ Wine Fellowship Tasting
The Marblehead Rotary Club hosted a special webinar for it's weekly Zoom meeting on August 11th, with guest speaker Pulitzer-Prize winner and White House Bureau Chief for The Washington Post, Mr. Phil Rucker. Mr. Rucker previously has covered Congress, the Obama White House, and the 2012 and 2016 presidential campaigns. Rucker also is co-author of "A Very Stable Genius". He joined The Post in 2005 as a local news reporter.
Moving from Diversity to Inclusive Opportunities
Virtual Jazz/Funk Concert
First Woman
The Newburyport Rotary Club is grateful to the Newburyport High School Interact Club for their hard work cleaning up the Spifford Street rotary.
Calling all Wine Lovers! Join us on Sunday, August 30, at 5 pm for the next Corks & Caps D7790-7930 Wine Appreciation Local Chapter of RWAF. Our Wine Leader will be PDG Conrad Heede, current President of RI's RWAF. All Rotarians and non-Rotarians are welcome to attend so please invite others. If planning on joining us, email Joan at 
Cathy Gravel received Rotarian of the Year for the Rotary Club of Peabody 2019-2020 Centennial Year at a social distanced celebration on June 25th.Cathy is the kind of Rotarian you want in any club. The kind that always says yes. The kind that volunteers proactively to fill the gaps.
Five years ago, a few dedicated Rotarians got together to form the first community-based ElderAct Club in the world-- the 
Lights, Smartphone Action:
Wine Fellowship
Newburyport Rotary, in partnership with Dietz and Lynch, beautify the Spofford Street rotary.
Download project summary
The last few months have been unlike anything we have ever seen, and as a Rotarian I am proud of our ability to adapt and respond in our communities and around the world. I have presented ShelterBox to clubs in “virtual” meetings across the country and have witnessed how Rotary efforts are making a difference. It is inspirational.
On my last day as District Governor, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your time, talent and commitment to your club and our district over the past year.
If you missed the event last Thursday, the D7930 2020-2021 Installation celebration can now be viewed online at 
The Newburyport Rotary Club is proud to announce their 2020 scholarship recipients.
Maine native, Bowdoin College graduate and founder of the Healthy Learner project in Zambia Lonnie Hackett has been named the winner of the 2020 Rotary Zone 32 Donald MacRae Peace Award. Healthy Learners is a non-profit organization working in Zambia to deliver health care to vulnerable children by educating elementary school administrators and teachers to recognize illness in their students and provide them access to government clinics in their communities.
Greater Salem Rotary Club, in connection with the owner of the Common Man Restaurant (whose owner is a Rotarian), organized MaskUpNH.com-- delivering masks over the weekend at the Salem NH High School.
It is with great sadness that I inform you that Past District Governor Steve May, from District 7930, has passed away. He was formerly a member of the Rotary Club of Reading. Steve was District Governor from 2010 to 2011, and also served as a Club president, District Foundation Chair, and Assistant Governor. He was a Paul Harris Major Donor. Steve relocated to Florida, and is being laid to rest there.
Online Auction to Battle COVID-19
In February, D7930 Rotarians were given the challenge to perform 10,000 Acts of Peace before the end of the fiscal year-- June 30, 2020. The amazing Rotarians in our district blew that goal out of the water so quickly that the goal was reset to 20,000 Acts of Peace. As of June 3, we are at 18,259-- only 1,741 away from our doubled goal!
D7930 & D7790 launch our Rotary Wine Appreciation Chapter (RWAF)!
Dear Rotarians,
Take Out Polio Lunch Event
The Public Image / Technology Committee is currently looking for volunteers to join our committee for the 2020-21 Rotary Year.
An Amazing Evening for D7930 & D7790
Fellow Rotarians, I received the following email from PDG Donna Lee Rubin recently on the status of our international service mission to Cebu in the Philippines.
The Inter Country Committee (ICC) Austria-Germany-USA was formed a year ago at the Rotary International Convention 2019 in Hamburg, Germany, and had an online meeting conducted via Zoom on May 18, 2020. Participants from Rotary districts in the three countries collaborate to help define future projects that will be conducted in a cooperative effort between those countries. Participating from Rotary District 7930 were DG Joan Arsenault, DGND Alexander Falk, and Martha Mauser, past and future president of the Ipswich Rotary Club as well as Inbound Coordinator for District 7930 in the Rotary Youth Exchange program.
On Saturday morning, May 16, Reading Memorial High School Senior Class Advisors and Parents along with Rotarians planted an array of lawn signs with each graduating Senior’s picture and the message “We Love Our Seniors Reading Memorial High School Class of 2020.” The signs are arranged in front of the Reading Town Hall facing the Reading Common. The display was set up as a surprise to students and their families and was spearheaded by Senior parent Mrs. Kathy Kinney and sponsored by Reading Rotary. The signs were printed by Art Hayden of Hayden Specialties in Wilmington
The Rotary Club of Burlington purchased and donated 7 Bleeding Control Kits to the Burlington Public School System late last year. Bleeding Control Kits are designed to provide essential equipment that empowers the general public to take action as immediate responders in stopping life-threatening bleeding caused by traumatic injuries. Pictured left to right – Rotary Club of Burlington President Roger Bell, Burlington Fire Fighter Lt. Mark Saia, Burlington Police Lt. Glen Mills, Burlington Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Conti and Burlington Police Chief Michael Kent.
From the Department of Many Hands Make Light Work……
We did it! 
You are invited to an incredible evening with First Lady of Massachusetts Lauren Baker on Tuesday, May 19, at 7pm via Zoom. This amazing evening will be a fireside chat format with First Lady Lauren Baker. Hear about the Mass Coronavirus Relief Fund and its impact on our communities. There will be an opportunity for Q&A during the meeting.
The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor is giving $250 gift certificates to qualified applicants who lost their jobs due to Covid-19. The certificates are meant to help Marblehead residents purchase food and other basic necessities from town grocers. “Our goal is help individuals who have been laid off from ‘non-essential’ positions who may have been receiving an hourly wage and/or surviving on tips,” said club President Kathleen Murphy. “They are financially the most at risk group, struggling to pay for food and essentials.”
Reading Rotary is delighted to announce that it recently received a donation of $1,000 from Cummings Properties. Cummings Community Giving seeks to recognize and support communities of its staff, clients, volunteers and associates. The gift was made in honor of and at the recommendation of John Bogosian of Reading. John is a much-appreciated volunteer of the Cummings Foundation.
The Rotary Club of Burlington located,obtained and distributed 2 cases of sterile gloves to the town's Public Safety front line departments today. Club President Roger Bell is pictured here with Burlington Fire Chief Michael Patterson.
Rotary District 7930 "Roared into the Twenties" last Thursday night (April 30) at our first virtual District event, as we celebrated the 100 year anniversaries of the Lawrence, Malden, and Peabody Clubs!
During this unprecedented time in history, we are reminded of the tremendous importance of essential workers in our community. This realization has sparked discussions among Rotary Clubs on ways in which they can assist and support their communities during this time of crisis. Many of these discussions have been interesting and productive.
The Andover Rotary, Andover Cares, The Knights of Columbus, and other local civic organizations are partnering to help Fuel The Fight-The Andovers, Inc.75% of all (tax deductible) donations for Fuel The Fight made through Andover Cares will support feeding health care workers providing front-line support for citizens in our region. Any remaining donations will support this, or other local causes related to health and wellness in our community, which Andover Cares sponsors.
Reading Rotary has begun placing signs around Reading to encourage those on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19 pandemic. President Mike Collins said, "It's important to recognize the service of those the health care workers, first responders and essential personnel who are doing so much for the community. We are also reaching out to the town, schools and clergy to see how our Rotary volunteers can be of service now."
Capt. Kevin Johnson, who runs the Salvation Army in Lynn, is really something special. He only has 3 full time employees the rest are volunteers. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Lynn.
Medford Rotary donated meals to Medford Fire, Medford Police, Armstrong Ambulance, Lahey Winchester ER, Bread of Life, and Lahey Burlington ER on two dates in April. More than 250 “plated” hot meals with salad & garlic bread were donated! This also helped Avelinnos in Medford. This restaurant is very supportive of Rotary’s many fundraisers and it is our way to give back to them as well.
The Rotary Club of East Nassau in the Bahamas has arranged a fabulous online speaker series. Each Friday in May, there will be a Rotary leader speaking at 1pm. 
D7930 committed to performing 10,000 Acts of Peace between February 12 (the date of the World Peace & Understanding Dinner) and June 1, 2020. 
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom - it was great seeing our friends from their living rooms! Boston Rotaract kicked off the its virtual April with a member meeting on Monday, sharing progress from the last quarter and hearing what members have been doing to take care of themselves during this time. A few special Rotarians joined the call and the club welcomes other district Rotarians to join their meetings and events. The group welcomed a Rotary superhero, Evan Burrell from Sydney, to speak about his Rotaract and Rotary journeys, as well as about the importance of personal branding and telling your digital story.
Like all of you, I've been home for over a month watching the COVID-19 pandemic unfold and feeling like I should be doing more! I'm healthy, I have food on the table, and I'm able to stay home. Not everyone can say that! And then our district had this awful virus hit us personally with the death of Beverly Rotarian, Don Kelly. Don was club president when I served as governor (2007-08). He was a great club president, and even better Rotarian, a better yet community supporter. What a loss …. Just like all the others who’ve died because of this virus..png)
Have You Logged in Your Club's Acts of Peace?
How has your Club adapted to today's new reality of online meetings? What innovative ways are you continuing to support your members, your community and the world?
Last Saturday's Polar Plunge was a huge success! Almost 200 Rotarians and friends plunged into the frosty waters at Long Beach in Gloucester-- raising more than $91,000 to End Polio Now! We are currently $99,000 away from raising ONE MILLION Dollars since the first Polar Plunge 10 years ago.
It's time to register for this year's Winchester Rotary Club's Rise Against Hunger meal packing event on Thursday, March 19, 4pm at Hadley Hall! This is an event we encourage members to bring colleagues, family, kids and friends to help us pack over 14,000 meals in less than 2 hours! There will be a pizza party after the work is done.
Please join the Methuen Rotary Club at our 10th Annual Celebration Of Achievement, where we honor students, teachers and the "Service Above Self" recipient. On April 14, 2020 at 6pm at the Merrimack Golf Course, 210 Howe Street, Methuen, MA. Our special Guest Speaker will be Donna-Lee Young Rubin, the Chief Executive Officer of 
Chris Daly, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar alumna and Associate Director at the New York Peace Institute, has been named as one of the “5 Best Mediators in New York” in 
The Chelsea Black Community celebrates Black History Month with a month long series of events promoting black history in Chelsea. As part of the celebration the CBC recognizes several local residents and business persons as Chelsea Trailblazers. In recognizing this year’s Trailblazers the CBC took into consideration ethical behavior grounded on compassion, nurture and social bonds. Ideals and convictions that pertain to human beings’ behavior toward each other and to the preferred organizations of their communities such as – historical experience, empathy and the need for integrity and harmony. This year’s honorees include Chelsea Rotarian PP Susan Gallant. Susan was recognized for commitments to the Chelsea Rotary Club and the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce. Susan organizes and coordinates the Chelsea Rotary’s project of sending 20 Chelsea children to Camp Rotary every year. She also runs the Chelsea Chamber’s annual Pot-O-Gold and Brighter Holidays Breakfast with Santa. The Chelsea City Council honored the 2019 CBC Trailblazers with resolutions at their February 10, 2020 meeting.
Although India is certified Polio free since year 2011, still there is a fear of its coming back. Hence, every year as a precautionary measure India organizes a National Immunization Day (NID) to deliver Oral Poliovirus Vaccine drops to every child under 5 years of age. This year the NID was on January 19th. 2020 in India. Invitations were sent to many Rotary Clubs in the world to come to India and have Rotarians from allover the world volunteer and participate in immunizing children by dropping those two precious drops of polio vaccines. It is a tremendously rewarding feeling to realize that you administered those two drops of vaccine and saved a child from being a victim of polio! The joy of that experience can only be felt as there is no proper words to describe that heartfelt feeling!
Roar into the Twenties & Celebrate 100 years of Rotary with the Lawrence, Malden and Peabody Clubs and Meet RI President Mark Maloney!
Last week's D7930 World Peace & Understanding Dinner was host to inspiring table discussions between RYLArians, Interactors, Youth Exchange students and Rotarians as they defined local community peace projects. These projects will be implemented between now and June 1st, 2020 as part of the District's commitment to create 10,000 acts of peace. These acts will also count towards PeaceJam's Billion Acts of Peace!
This year's Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) students were introduced at the Rotary District 7930 World Peace & Understanding dinner last week and participated in the PeaceJam activities of the evening.
Woburn students Adam Ghili and Lauren Tramonte spoke at a recent Rotary Club of Woburn meeting and told of their experiences at last year's RYLA weekend. Both were empowered by the challenges of those few days at RYLA and came through as more confident individuals and leaders. Both will be returning in May to be leaders to the new RYLA students and families. Congratulations to both!
The Gloucester Rotary Club will hold their annual “A Night at the Races” on Friday, March 20, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe’s Wharf in Gloucester. Doors open at 6:30 pm. All proceeds from this event will support local and international programs of the Gloucester Rotary.
The Hamilton-Wenham Club typically meets on Friday mornings at 7:30am at the Wenham Tea House. However, this Friday, February 14, 2020, 7:30-9:30am, the Club will meet at the Gloucester House, located at 63 Rogers Street in downtown Gloucester, during the 
The Rotary Club of Winchester's 32nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, May 18, 2020, at the Winchester Country Club. Our tournament is held to benefit the Winchester Rotary Charitable Foundation, Inc. The fund supports numerous local charitable organizations as well the national and international works of Rotary International. We rely solely on our valued sponsors, donors, and auctions to raise the funds to support our annual charities fund.
"How can I help eradicate polio from the world?"
District 7930 Conference
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s biggest priority is to eradicate polio from the country, adding that the government will utilise every measure in its fight against the disease.
The District has again made mini grants available to clubs to help with their Membership and Public Image goals. The deadline to apply for both types of grant is March 31, 2020. 
The Rotary Club of Chelsea installed four new members in January. New members standing next to President Peter Zaksheski are Rabbi Mark Golub, Chaplain at the Hingham Harbor Senior Center, Robert Repucci, Executive Director of Winnisimett Real Estate Inc., Cheryl Poppe, Superintendent of the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea and Mary-Lou Ireland, Director of Assessing for the City of Chelsea.
The Rotary Club of Ipswich will host the 4th Annual Empty Bowl Dinner on Thursday, February 20, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at the Hellenic Center, 117 County Road, Ipswich. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Open Door Ipswich Food Pantry, which serves Ipswich, Rowley, Topsfield, Boxford, Hamilton and Wenham. Empty Bowl events are held nationally to generate awareness concerning hunger and to raise money for local hunger-relief programs. The meal is simple; soup, bread and a cookie. Guests select and keep a one of a kind handcrafted bowl of their choice. The bowl goes home as an unspoken reminder that “Somewhere – someone’s bowl is empty.”
D7930 World Peace & Understanding Dinner
One of the main initiatives of Rotary is clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. These are the basic necessities for a healthy environment and productive life. The Rotary Club of Amesbury is focusing on this initiative locally by addressing the Combined Sewage Overflows (CSO’s) into the Merrimack River.
The D7930 Membership Committee is happy to share a fresh opportunity for clubs to host FRIENDraisers to attract new members and present alternative forms of membership. Clubs can apply for up to $200 reimbursement match. Partner with another club and we'll reimburse up to $300!
Reading Rotary held a New Member Open House on January 15 and inducted three new members: Jeanne Borawski, Andrea Evans Zoia and Gabe Moraga.
Please join the Marblehead Rotary Club for one of our most important fundraising events of the year: The Finale of Marblehead's Got Talent on February 7, 6-10 PM, at the Boston Yacht Club, 1 Front Street, Marblehead, MA 01945. This event will include live performances by our seven finalists, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and live and silent auctions - you just have to come to see the amazing talent that is competing this year!
RI Theme 2020-21:
Please join the Wood family, the Rotary Club of Peabody, The Sheraton & D7930 for the Dedication of the Robert Wood Executive Boardroom on Thursday, January 30, 2020, 5-6 pm, at the Sheraton Wakefield Four Points. Light refreshments will be served at 5pm in the hotel lobby, and the meeting room Dedication will begin at 5:30pm. Tamara Husband, Director of Catering will deliver opening remarks followed by the blessing of the room by Sister Lenore Coan from the Rotary Club of Ipswich.
D7930 is currently accepting applications for the 2020 Rotaplast Mission to Cebu City, Philippines October 11-25, 2020. If you are interested in going on the Mission as a Non-Medical Team Volunteer, please contact DGN Terry Curran at 
RYLA is:
Watch our brand new RYLA video!
On December 17, 2019, the Newburyport Rotary Club held their holiday evening meeting at the Custom House Maritime Museum to donate $5,000 to local charities. The recipients were the Salvation Army, Pettengill House, Anchor Diaper Bank, Community Service and the Boys and Girls Club. Each received $1,000.
D7930 Polar Plunge
As we approach the end of 2019 and start a new year and a new decade, it’s a great time to reflect on your commitment to OUR Rotary Foundation and create your Rotary legacy. In March of 2019, DG Joan & DGE Betsy, with the blessing of then DG Bob, announced our district’s Million Dollar Journey to support the Rotary Foundation.
The Gloucester Rotary Club supported the Northeastern Conference Freshman-Sophomore Meet at Beverly High’s Henry Cabot Lodge Fieldhouse on Saturday, December 21, 2019. Students from several north shore high schools participated in this annual event.
Join us in welcoming back the D7930 Rotaplast Team after their successful mission to Cebu and learn more about opportunities for next year’s mission.
Congratulations to Megan Battinelli, Swampscott Cheer Team & Céire Rocco, Marblehead Cheer Team recipients of scholarships by the Marblehead and Swampscott Rotary Clubs. The recognition of these student athletes took place at the Rotary's annual luncheon held at the Tedesco Country Club.
The Greater Salem NH Rotary participated in the Festival of Trees in Pelham, NH. This year our “International Tree” was dedicated to World Peace. The ornaments on this tree signify a handful of the many countries Rotary reaches out to every day and is a hopeful reminder of Rotary and your connection throughout the world.
The Peabody Rotary Club is reeling from the unexpected loss of Cara Murtagh, who died unexpectedly on Thanksgiving. Peabody TV has released a video highlighting the life of Peabody Superintendent of Schools Cara Murtagh. The nine-minute video features clips from her funeral service as well as clips from Peabody TV's archive of Murtagh speaking at various school functions and meetings. View the video 
D7930 World Peace & Understanding Dinner
The Medford Rotarians are collecting new hats, scarves, mittens and gloves for the clients of Bread of Life, Malden. The clients that come to the kitchen for meals come are out in the cold until they open with no hats and gloves. Our members are asking their friends, co-workers and clients to help in this effort. Our many bank members are placing baskets in their lobby for their customers to donate items to this worthy cause.
As you know, 2020 is a LEAP YEAR and the Polar Plunge Team has just the idea of how you can spend your extra day for good! 
The Beverly Rotary Club and the Learning Express Toy Store are pleased to announce their co-sponsorship of a seasonal toy drive for the benefit of Kennedy Kares. The drive was held at the Learning Express Toy Store in North Beverly Plaza on Dodge Street on Saturday November 16, 2019.
Boston Rotaract is excited to announce that it surpassed its fundraising goal of $2,000, successfully raising $2,314 via two community fundraisers and donations. The money will go to Found in Translation (FiT) to support scholarships for two Language Access Fellows.
The D7930 Nominating Committee met on November 5th. 2019. After interviewing candidates. the decision was made to nominate Alexander Falk, past president of The Rotary Club of Marblehead, as the District Governor for Rotary Year 2022-2023.
The Foundation Dinner at Andover Country Club was an amazing event.
It is with great sadness to inform you that Past District Governor Bud Curtis of the Rotary Club of Rockport passed away on November 4th. 
The Gloucester Rotary Club has produced a beautiful 2020 calendar, featuring scenic photography from local artists. In addition to the calendar, each purchase enters the buyer into a weekly raffle. $50 prizes will be drawn each week with two bonus prizes of $500-- one in June and one in December. Calendars are $25 each, and proceeds from the sale of calendars will be used to support the many projects of the Gloucester Rotary Club.
The district membership forum was well received and attended, including members from D7930 New England E Club and D7910.Keynote speaker PDG Kate Sims provided an informative, interactive and inspired presentation on membership ideas.
The first InteractCafe in Winchester was a big hit! The idea was simple: take motivated teens and Rotarians, bring them together, allow them to mingle and exchange ideas, and send them home with everything they need to make their clubs even stronger! It was so much fun to watch everyone meet and share with their counterparts from other clubs - everyone was so energized! 
On the evening of May 1, 2019, Rotary of Andover Citizens Who Care recognized Steven Crowley as Student of the Year for his volunteer work in the community and with middle school kids at the Andover Youth Center – in front of about 250 Andoverites who boisterously supported him for his good work.
Interact taps into the best that can come from a partnership between Rotarians and young people. In 7930, we want to help your club embrace that potential. We are committed to a more robust Interact experience for everyone involved. This is why we designed the InteractCafe.
District 7930 is hosting its first ever Interact Cafe--a casual evening designed to help strengthen our Interact clubs and the program as a whole--on Wednesday October 23, 2019, 6-7:30 pm at Winchester High School. This casual cafe style evening will be hosted by Rotarians and Interactors with a world of experience, there to help you connect, network and learn.
Please join the Everett, MA club on Thursday October 24, 2019 for our annual "Comics for College" Comedy Night Fundraiser at Giggles Comedy Club, located inside of Prince House of Pizza, 571 Broadway, Saugus.
The deadline to submit your PI Mini Grant application is this Friday, November 15, 2019.
World Polio Day Dining Fundraiser
Newburyport Trivia Night
Bowling Over Barriers with Boston Rotaract
Boston Rotaract is excited to announce the results of our Karaoke 4 Charity fundraiser!
The Peabody Rotary Club has partnered with Newhall Fields Community Farm in Peabody and the City of Peabody by writing a grant which will supply an irrigation system on 2 acres of land. This irrigation system will allow the farm to grow nutritious food and supply food for Peabody and surrounding communities that is accessible, affordable and nutritious.
District Governor Joan Arsenault welcomed 14 Rotarians to Part 1 of the Rotary Leadership Institute on October 5 at the Sheraton Four Points conference facility in Wakefield. In the day-long sessions, participants shared comments and experience on topics ranging from Rotary membership growth and retention, qualities of strong leaders, ethics, the Foundation, and creative fundraising.
I hope you will join the District and be a part of the District Grant to award a Service Dog through the Service Dog Project, Inc to our recipient Micaila Britto.
Cambridge Rotary will be raising our glasses in a wine tasting event at the classy and magical Phillips Auditorium at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, on October 23, 2019, 6:30-9:30pm.
The Second Annual Family Feud! will be hosted by Melrose Rotary Club on Friday, November 8, 2019, 7-10pm, at Melrose Memorial Hall, 590 Main St, Melrose, MA. Teams of 5 adults will face-off in a fun evening of survey questions, hilarious answers, and audience participation. Silent auction and cash bar. Proceeds benefit the Melrose Rotary Club Charitable Fund. Free to Watch - no ticket needed. Team entry fee is $250.
Six inbound Rotary Youth Exchange students in District 7930, hosted by the Rotary Clubs in Marblehead, Hamilton/Wenham, Rockport, Ipswich, North Andover, and Salem, NH, and one student from District 7910 hosted by Bedford had their orientation at Bretton Woods, NH, in September.
There is still space available for this Friday's Trivia Night!
The Membership Committee is happy to share a fresh opportunity for clubs to host FRIENDraisers to attract new members and present alternative forms of membership. Clubs can apply for up to $200 reimbursement match. Partner with another club and we'll reimburse up to $300!
ENGAGING THE NEXT GENERATION
The Haverhill Rotary Club is pleased to host speaker Charlie Ruth Castro on Thursday, October 3, at its noon meeting at the Haverhill Country Club.
Members of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor spent a recent Saturday morning at the local farmers' market to tell visitors what we do and how much fun we have doing it. The club hopes that spreading the word about 'service above self' will help attract new members. Members engaged with people who approached the Rotary table and invited them to come to a meeting for a free breakfast and a bit of fellowship.
Methuen Rotary Club is holding its 7th Annual Bocce Tournament to benefit the Methuen YMCA Summer Camp program on November 2, 2019, 5:00-11:00pm. Two levels of competition, food and raffles always make this a fun time.
The Greater Salem Rotary Club is hosting its 5th Annual Golf Tournament October 4th at Windham Country Club. The tournament is "real golf" for the serious golfer, but yet lots of fun, raffles, prizes for all! This is one of Greater Salem's biggest fundraisers of the year.
The Upward Bound Second Chance scholarship is awarded annually by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor to persons seeking certificate courses and programs likely to improve employment opportunities.
The Greater Salem NH Club wrapped up the 2018-2019 year, proudly with having made a difference for a number of organizations in the 5 towns we served! Food pantries were a big focus, with sizeable donations or services delivered to St. Anne's, Pleasant St., St Patrick's, & Shepherd's Pantries with cash donations or preparation of meals on an ongoing basis . The pasta lunches have been a great hit! We also gave considerable donations to Hampstead and Atkinson Libraries for furniture, childrens chromebooks, etc, Salem Children's Dental Network, Field of Dreams, 5 High School Academic Scholarships (increased from 3) and a Robotics Club sponsorship too!. Honoring the memory of those lost in battle or other events also was very special with support for the Vietnam Moving Wall, 911 Monument Project, Homeland Heroes Foundation. And so much more! We hope to make it even bigger in 2020!
Congratulations to Christine Sloss recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Christine was recognized during the Rotary Installation luncheon held on July 25th at the Eastern Yacht Club
In the past two weeks, the Rotary Club of Lynn recognized the outstanding contributions of three longtime and faithful Rotarians with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow pin. District Governor Joan Arsenault was on hand Thursday to present pins to past President Stephen Upton and Club Treasurer Arthur Horgan while President William Reilly presented Dave Richardson with his pin at the August 29th meeting.
The Rotary Club of North Reading is pleased to announce that it will now serve as District 7930's first cause-specific Rotary Club. Rotary world-wide is known for tackling humanitarian issues including the global eradication of polio, water and sanitation issues, woman’s health, literacy and more. These issues are addressed locally and globally at the discretion of the independent clubs. Recently, Rotary International voted to allow local clubs to focus on individual causes as they deem appropriate. Current North Reading Rotary President Dave O’Neill explained, “Every year our club takes a hard look at how we can help North Reading residents. It led to a lengthy discussion, bringing in experts in different fields, and completing an assessment over the summer. It was unanimous. Our members want to tackle addiction prevention.” He continued, “When you think about how many families, generations even, are affected by addiction, it’s heart breaking. We want to help.”
Karaoke 4 Charity
On Monday morning, I texted with Past RI President Barry Rassin. While Nassau was spared the full force of Dorian, and he and Esther are fine, other parts of his country are devastated having been dealt a blow with Dorian’s full fury. Dorian is now headed toward the US and other parts of our neighboring Zones 33 & 34.
Peter Majane from the North Reading Club would love to visit your club to speak about exciting memberships opportunities:
You can take it to the bank that on the last Saturday of each month, a group of Lynn Rotarians will gather at Salvation Army Headquarters on Franklin Street to distribute food to over 400 Lynn family members. “This is a project we took on back in 2015 when the last food pantry in the city closed,” recalled Lynn President Bill Reilly. "We started distributing food in September, 2015, in the St. Mary’s Church parking lot and did that right through the winter months. It was tough work, not just unloading the huge truck from the Greater Boston Mobile Food Bank, but also carrying out there long rectangular tables from the St. Mary’s High School cafeteria. After a couple of years we moved to Catholic Charities on North Common Street and now we’re at Salvation Army. Some of our members arrive around 6am to help unload but most are here by seven.” Front row l to R: Mackie Bastarache, Diane Reilly, Lorry Willis, Paula Clancy and Claire Price. back row: Bill Reilly, Ray Bastarache, Paul Price, Dan Cahill (Swampscott Rotary) and Steve Upton.
Two more new members from the Beverly Rotary Club took advantage of the grant offered by our club to do a project in the community on August 17. Matthew Blanchard and Connor Mooney organized an event to clean up trash floating in our ocean and washed up on surrounding beaches.The event took place at Obear Park in Beverly. About twenty people attended and had fun while cleaning up our community waters! Paddleboards and trash bags were provided, but some people brought their own paddleboards. They collected much more trash than they were anticipating. A few things they found in the ocean/surrounding beaches were a lamp, plastic chair, and sink. Great camaraderie with a great goal to help our community!
Members of Boston Rotaract volunteered at and ran in the annual ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) Race 4 Research on Sunday, August 18, in Cambridge, MA.
The Medford Rotary Club recently installed its new officers and directors at its annual Charter Night held at Century Bank in Medford. The bank offers a beautiful view overlooking the Boston Skyline and they graciously hosted us again for this event. Annually, the service club elects new leadership. Anne Gelineau Powers, Financial Advisor at Baystate Financial was sworn in as President. Anne is serving her second term as President, she also served in 2015-16. Other officers include Chuck Mahoney, President-Elect, Cheryl Staude, Secretary, Alan Martorana, Treasurer and long time Rotarian, Bob Bates, Sargent-at-Arms.
The Gloucester Rotary Club will publish a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2020 as a fundraiser. All profits will go to the Gloucester Rotary Club’s many community and international activities.
4oth Annual Fall Foliage Classic in Topsfield
Bowlio for Polio
Boston Rotaractors raised nearly $10,000 during the 2018-2019 Rotary Year with the goal of providing sustainable clean water solutions to communities in Ghana. August 12, 2019 marked the successful completion of their long-term international service project.
District 7930 is working with the 
The Beverly Rotary Club is giving all new Rotarians $250 in seed money for a service project of their own devising. The only rules are that it has to be a service project -- they can't simply turn around and donate the money somewhere else -- and that the project has to involve the help of other Rotarians. The idea is to help get new members into the swing of things quickly, and pair them with veteran members it might otherwise take them months to get to know.
Camp Rotary is hosting a last meal in the original dining hall on September 7, 4 - 8 PM. It is a fund raiser to help defray the cost of the new dining hall that will be built during the off season. The original dining hall was built in 1921 when the camp was founded. Camp Rotary is located at 372 Ipswich Road in Boxford, MA.
Save the Date: November 7, 2019
Rotary International President Mark Daniel Maloney's 2019-20 presidential theme, Rotary Connects the World, is a powerful statement. In theme with President Mark's vision, District 7930 has established a new membership initiative: Rotary Connects. “The first emphasis is to grow Rotary — to grow our service, to grow the impact of our projects, but most importantly, to grow our membership so that we can achieve more,” Maloney said, and he believes that connection is at the heart of the Rotary experience. District 7930 also thinks so.
Rotarians please share link below with all Family, Friends and Fellow Rotarians within and outside of our District.
Join the Burlington, Medford, Malden and North Reading Rotary Clubs at the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Congratulations to Christine Sloss recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Christine was recognized during the Rotary Installation luncheon held on July 25th at the Eastern Yacht Club.
The Newburyport Rotary will be selling beer and dogs at the annual Lion's Club Bed Race on August 1, 2019, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in The Tannery Marketplace parking lot located at 75 Water Street, Newburyport..jpg)
Donna Lee Rubin, PDG 7930 & CEO of Rotaplast International, Inc informed the District that this year's Rotaplast Mission in Cebu City, Phillipines is named in Memory of PDG Bob Wood.
The Rotary Club of Gloucester MA will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 17, 2019, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 17-18.
The Rockport Rotary Club’s annual Lobsterfest is a unique outdoor dining and fundraising event at the Legion Bandstand, serving boiled lobster, clam chowder and more.
The Methuen Club kicked off the 2019-2020 Year right. At the annual Installation Dinner that took place on June 25th at Mexico Lindo , six (6) Members were given Paul Harris Fellows. Also, Connie Doto was awarded Rotarian of the Year.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea recently honored their past presidents at a luncheon meeting. Eighteen past presidents attended the luncheon hosted at the Homewood Suites Boston in Chelsea. Past President Allan I. Alpert was the most senior past president having held the office in the 1977 – 1978 Rotary year.
We have received questions about how individuals and clubs can make memorial gifts in honor of PDG Bob Wood.
For nearly 40 years, Mark Daniel Maloney and his family have demonstrated that Rotary connects the world. Now the self-described 'cheerful traveler' embarks on the next phase of his life's journey: serving as Rotary International's new president.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea honored their 2019 scholarship winners and the 2019 Chelsea Public School’s Educator of the Year at a recent luncheon meeting. The Club awarded scholarships to five graduating seniors from Chelsea High School; Jocelyn Poste, Alny Herrera, Deedee Hernandez, Ivan Romero and Nildaliz Enamorado-Rodriguez. The Club also awarded a 6th special scholarship to Lizet Vasquez in memory of Rotarian Joanne Tarason who passed away recently. 
The Rotary Club of Lynn’s Scholarship Committee reviewed a record number of application packets this spring from graduating seniors before awarding four Thomas P. Maloney & Robert A. Hastings Memorial Scholarships at its luncheon meeting Thursday at Old Tyme Family Cuisine.
The Methuen Rotary Club celebrated it’s 2nd Annual June Jubilee by giving away money to deserving non –profits in Methuen. Each organization was invited to lunch and to speak about how the donation will help the people that are served in the community. President Julie Brady had the honor of presenting $1000.00 checks to each of the following organizations. Commander Curt Williams Accepted on behalf of the Methuen V.F.W. Post 8349. Larry & Eileen Giordano accepted on behalf of Merrimack Valley Foster Kids, City Councilor Jessica Finocchario and Cole Welch , President, accepted on behalf of the Merrimack Valley Prevention and Substance Abuse Project and Julia Pesek , Community Relations Director accepted of behalf of the MSPCA Nevins Farm.
Christine Sloss will be heading to Suffolk University in the fall. A class leader at Marblehead High, Sloss embraced her commitment to community service. She is the President of the Marblehead High School Interact Club (Rotary Club at the High School level) and is working as a coordinator for all the North America Interact Clubs in a new, joint Rotary and UNICEF program, called the Initiative Interchange, to raise money for universal education. This summer, Sloss organized a Rotary service trip to Nepal to help deliver physical therapy to injured survivors of the earthquake that devastated the country in 2015. Sloss plans to continue her education in public administration, urban planning, and environmental sustainability.
A matching grant from the Rockport Rotary Club and Rotary District 7930, along with in kind donations from Emerson Swan, Inc and Breen and Sullivan Mechanical Services, has provided the Action Emergency Shelter at 370 Main Street in Gloucester with a new energy efficient air conditioning system. This system will help to keep shelter guests and staff cool all summer long and save thousands of dollars in energy costs over the long term.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea annually sponsors twenty Chelsea children to one week at Camp Rotary. The Club pays all expenses for the camp week including tuition, field trips, cabin pictures and canteen funds. 
The Marblehead Rotary Club is pleased to welcome Blair Lord into the club at its weekly Thursday luncheon meeting held at the Boston Yacht Club. Marblehead Rotary Club President, Alexander Falk, presided over the induction ceremony.
Like every Rotary club we needed to increase our membership. It’s quite simple – without a sizable group, running projects becomes difficult. The same people can’t be asked to step up for each project again and again without risking burn out. Even with the best of attitudes (which all Rotarians have, right?) it gets difficult to keep diving into the pool on a regular basis.
State Senator Brendan Creighton of Lynn presented an Official Citation to outgoing Lynn Rotary President Brenda Peral at a recent meeting. During Peral’s tenure as president, the Lynn club grew its membership significantly, held two successful fundraisers and increased its menu of volunteer opportunities. William Reilly is the new Rotary President.
Dear Rotarians,
The Gloucester Rotary Club will host a Sunset Cruise aboard the Privateer, docked at 63 Rogers St in downtown Gloucester, on Thursday, July 11, 2019. Boarding begins at 6:00pm, and we leave the dock at 6:30pm, returning at 9:30pm. 
As Rotarians are enjoying the RI Convention happening now in Hamburg, Germany, the rest of us at home can still lock in the special rate being offered for next year's convention in Honolulu, Hawaii! Register now to only pay $395 per person. Rates are also lower for Rotaractors and other guests under 30 years of age!
Julia Phelps, Rotary Club of Amesbury and Trustee, Rotary International (2017-2020), was the speaker at a combined dinner meeting of Marblehead and Marblehead Harbor Rotary Clubs. She updated the memberships on the status of Rotary's Polio Plus program and the challenges the world faces on eliminating polio from the earth.
We had a fantastic RYLA weekend May 10 - 12 with 70 kids (50 RYLArians and 20 student leaders) at Camp Glen Brook in Marlborough, NH! We had the kids going from morning until late at night. They were exhausted, but by all accounts, it was a very impactful weekend!
Manchester-Essex Club hosted visiting Rotarians from Australia this spring, Peter Sutherland and his wife Sally. Peter is the president-elect of his club. They are now home again. Peter sent this message to our President, Mike Storella.
The Rotary Club of Lynn held its final Grade Eight Recognition Program Thursday at Old Tyme Family Cuisine. The program has been a staple on Rotary’s event calendar for over a decade thanks to the generosity of its longtime sponsor, RiverWorks Credit Union.
Consider our Contacts module to be your clubs' online address book, integrated with your eBulletin and email. Besides basic information such as name, phone number and primary email address, you can also store details such as birthday, anniversary and nickname, in addition to contact information such as home and work address, secondary phone numbers and email addresses, etc.
The Gloucester Rotary Club has named Patrick Thorpe and Danny Williamson as Paul Harris Fellows, the prestigious award named after the Chicago lawyer who founded the Rotary movement in 1905. Thorpe was selected by a club committee of previous recipients of the award, while Williamson was chosen by members of the Interact Club, the very active group of Gloucester High School junior Rotarians. Thorpe and Williamson were honored at a special dinner in May. 
Please join us in inducting our Club Presidents, District Team and Interact Presidents on June 27th at the Danversport Yacht Club 6 to 9 pm with registration beginning at 5:30 pm.
This past weekend our District hosted a 5 District conference at the Doubletree Hotel in Danvers. It was due to our own DG Bob Wood who had the vision for this stellar weekend of fellowship & a youth focused session called "Game of Throneless" organized by Keith and Christina Harris. DG Bob Wood was present for lunch and the annual business meeting and led our District throughout the day.
For the past 49 years, the Lynn Rotary Club has served as the major sponsor of the Lynn Special Games. “I know this is our 49th year,” said Associate DPW Commissioner Lisa Nerich, the coordinator of the Special Games, “and I can’t recall any organization other than Rotary sponsoring this event. I doubt we could stage this without Rotary’s help.”
The Rotary Club of Gloucester recently collaborated with several local agencies to present a substance misuse prevention and self-care forum to every student at the Gloucester High School. Over the course of two days, the forum brought together three local organizations, the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI), Gloucester’s Health Department, and Children’s Friend and Family Services, to provide students with real stories of addiction and recovery, as well as the importance of self-care. 
The District Conference is right around the corner with opportunities for all to attend! Mark your calendars and sign up now: May 3 and 4 at the Doubletree Hotel in Danvers. 
Have you been hearing the term Diversity & Inclusion and wondering how it applies to you and your club? You are invited to attend Rotary District 7930's first Diversity & Inclusion Workshop, with guest James Lopata. Learn more about this topic and how to make an impact on your dynamic club by gaining tools that will help you foster an inclusive community for every current or potential Rotarian!
The Rotary Club of Chelsea hosted the Chelsea High School Interact students for lunch after the students held their 2019 Government Day. The Interact students took over the Chelsea city government for the morning. The students assumed management and governance positions and experienced how city government works. Included in the picture are the Chelsea High School Interact students who participated and the Chelsea Rotarians who hosted them for lunch.
Registration is now open for District 7930 
As planning began for the 2019 Polar Plunge, DG Bob Wood agreed to "take a dive" for the effort, allowing a caricature to be used to follow the progress of the District's fundraising this year. As of April 4, we have raised $99,432 of the $125,000 goal set last fall. It's not too late to donate to the plunge. Contact your Club's Foundation or Polio Plus Chair for information on how you can donate to Rotary's signature program.
Doug Place, Past President of the Burlington Breakfast Rotary Club, has been nominated to receive a Community Champion award for his efforts on behalf of his community. Anyone who knows Doug and would like to vote for him, please go to 
Camila Nagashirom, Rotary Youth Exchange student from Bolivia, swapping Rotary Club Flags with Alexander Falk.
The Rotary Club of Gloucester will host a Trivia Night on Friday, April 26, at the Gloucester House, located at 63 Rogers Street in downtown Gloucester. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the game will begin at 7 p.m. Teams of four will compete for the title of Cape Ann Trivia Champions.
On April 9, 2019, we will be holding our 9th Annual Celebration of Achievement Banquet at Merrimack Golf Course 210 Howe St. Methuen MA We will be honoring both a Teacher of the Year and a Student of the Year from the Methuen Public School System and Presentation of Mary Academy, as well as award college scholarships to high school seniors who reside in Methuen and attend Methuen High School, Presentation of Mary Academy or Central Catholic High School. In addition, the Club will present its “Service Above Self” Award, honoring an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution in the Methuen Community and most exemplifies the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self. Our Special guest speaker is Larry Giordano founder of Merrimack Valley Foster Kids.
Registration is now open for District 7930 
The Chelsea Black Community celebrates Black History Month with a month long series of events promoting black history in Chelsea. As part of the celebration the CBC recognizes several local residents and business persons as Chelsea Trailblazers. In recognizing this year’s Trailblazers the CBC took into consideration ethical behavior grounded on compassion, nurture and social bonds. Ideals and convictions that pertain to human beings’ behavior toward each other and to the preferred organizations of their communities such as – historical experience, empathy and the need for integrity and harmony. This year’s honorees include Chelsea Rotarians Saritin Rizzuto and Bruce Mauch. The Chelsea City Council honored the 2019 CBC Trailblazers with resolutions at their March 4, 2019 meeting.
We are pleased to report that our District 7930 Rotary Youth Exchange Program has been recognized by NAYEN (the North American Youth Exchange Network) with a Bronze Achievement Award.