Did you know that the District Conference is in Boston this year? Not only in Boston, but an event that does not include any training, only celebration. Starting with the Conference Mystery Dine Around (a la carte) on Friday night, we’ll be having fun and friendship on the roof of Fisher College, followed by dinner at four star restaurants with folks you may not know but would love to meet! Transportation will be provided from Fisher College to the restaurants and back. Don’t want to mingle? Don’t go for this one!

On Saturday there will be a service project open to all District Rotarians. While the location is yet to be determined, the event is packing meals for End Hunger New England. We hope to pack 30,000 meals to be distributed here in our District by an organization that truly embodies “Service Above Self”, making every effort to End Hunger Now! The service project is followed by a joint luncheon in Harvard Hall at the Harvard Club uptown. Nestled on Massachusetts Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue, this historic venue will be the site not only for the Conference but also for the District Assembly.

 

Every year we look forward to attending the World Peace & Understanding dinner. It is always one of my favorite district events each year. This year proved once again how incredible it was. How proud it made me feel as a Rotarian! Being part of team that truly makes a difference in so many lives!

I want to thank Christina and Keith Harris as well as the rest of their committee for this powerful event. As you know, we have decided as a district to tackle the issue of homelessness, hunger and poverty as well as other initiatives such as our Veteran's outreach and the opioid crisis this Rotary year and I am proud and thankful for Sheryl Meehan, Dave Gardner and Bob Wood for committing to continue these initiatives. 

These issues were highlighted on February 10 at the World Peace and Understanding Dinner. We were transformed by real-life situations. We were children, parents, elderly, veterans, people with disabilities and people without homes. We stepped out of our comfort zone right from the beginning. We experienced what it is about to face these life-threatening situations. How do we find a job? How do we find shelter - in apartments, motels, shelters? In the streets?? 

How will I find a job to support my family? We experienced what it was like to scavenge for food. Or if we could afford a blanket or hat to survive the harsh condition/weather in the streets. Many of us in this simulation did not survive.

We wanted our members to feel this. Be exposed to what so many of our friends, neighbors or even our families, perhaps whatoOur fellow human beings experience daily.

 

On Tuesday, February 23, Sergeant Dic Donohue will be the featured speaker at the Rotary Club of Stoneham's lunch meeting beginning at 12:15PM at Montvale Plaza, 54 Montvale Ave in Stoneham. If you are interested in attending, send a message to the Stoneham Rotary on the Contact link on this page.

Sergeant Richard “Dic” Donohue is a native of Winchester, Massachusetts. He has worked in law enforcement as a member of the MBTA Transit Police Department since 2010. Donohue is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and holds master’s degrees from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, and the University of Limerick, Ireland. Prior to a career in law enforcement, Sergeant Donohue worked in the hospitality industry and served as an officer in the United States Navy.

In the early morning of Friday, April 19th, 2013, Donohue, then a patrol officer, responded to back up local law enforcement officers in Watertown, Massachusetts. A gun battle ensued with two suspects who were later identified as the Boston Marathon bombers. A bullet severed Donohue’s femoral artery and he suffered severe blood loss on site. He was given immediate lifesaving care, prolonged CPR, and received multiple blood transfusions.

 

 

Join us for a great, affordable night of candlepin bowling on Sunday, March 20th! $10 per person includes two hours of bowling and rental shoes.

 

We invite all clubs, EarlyAct members, Interact members, Rotaractors, ElderAct members, Assistant Governors, committee chairs and all members to consider making a team of 4 or 5 and join us at Metro Bowl in Peabody!

 

 

Contact Amy Luckiewicz at rotary7930publicimage@gmail.com with questions or register for Family Fun Day here!
 

 

Have you ever been involved with Boy or Girl Scouting? I bet that the odds are 50% that either you, your son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter have been at one time or another, part of the Scouting program. With such a similar code of conduct and mission, it would be no surprise for this to be true. Even at the Mid-Year Presidents Meeting, when the attendees were asked this specific question, about half of the most committed Rotarians raised their hands.

 

The Scouting and Rotary Initiative has been introduced, and the mission is to enhance the collaboration between our organizations through mutual support of our programs. The first step is to find a Scouting Champion in every club that chooses to participate in this initiative. Could this be you or someone you know? At the recent committee meeting, chaired by John Halsey, it was determined to focus on a few relatively easy ways in which to begin this journey. Here are the four goals for this year:

 

Why is this important? Scouts would make great Rotarians as they emerge to adulthood, but even more importantly their parents would be ideal members of our clubs today. Their similar commitment to service is what ties us together.

 

If you are interested in fulfilling the role of your clubs Scouting Champion, please email John Halsey and express your interest. In the near future we will be able to provide a toolkit to make this a very easy yet highly beneficial program that will enhance both Rotary and Scouting. 

 

The Rotary Club of Rockport will be hosting their annual “Wine Testing” event at the Shalin Liu Reception Hall in Rockport on March 4!

 

Friday, March 4, 2016 - 6-8:30 pm
Shalin Liu Reception Hall
37 Main Street, Rockport

 

Come join us for this great event, sample some wines, enjoy some great food and have some fun!

Want to have some fun and help raise some money while pitting your wits against other Rotarians and friends?

 

Come join us for our Trivia Night on February 25th at JJ Brannelly at  4432 Washington Street in Roslindale. Registration starts at 6:00-6:45 and the trivia begins at 7:00pm. Orgainzie your team up to six players, pay your $60.00 per team registration and be prepared to have some fun and compete for either the first or second place prizes.

Proceeds go to help the West Roxbury/Roslindale Rotary Club 

Come out for a great cause to raise money for the local neighborhood. Plenty of free parking and there will be a cash bar!

 
Pre-registration available online at www.westroxburyclub.org.

Tickets for the event can be purchased for a donation price of $80.00 per person by phoning club member Jorge Andrade at 978-720-5161. Meal reservations must be made by March 18th.

Meal reservations must be made by March 18th. There are “standing room” tickets available at a lower price at the door for those who do not want to participate in the catered meal. Hot dogs, popcorn and fruit drinks will be available for purchase by those attendees.