Rotary Day of Service 2023Saturday, May 20th, 2023 served as the Day of Service, a multi-district initiative for clubs to conduct service projects on the same day. Westfield Rotarians partnered with the Purple Heart organization to replace 1,700 American flags at the gravesites of known Veterans at Pine Hill Cemetery. Members from the Springfield Rotary Club and St. John's Lutheran Church also provided assistance.   |
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2023 Grant and Scholarship ApplicationsThe Westfield Rotary Club is poised to again award cash grants to local organizations and students. Two categories of grants will be awarded - one to organizations which help the community and one to local students pursuing higher education. Jennifer Gruszka, president of the Rotary Club of Westfield, said “We are happy to be able to continue our long history of providing assistance to the many persons and organizations who try to make Westfield a better place to live and grow” Gruszka said. She went on to say “our youth are, of course, our future and we are pleased to help them reach their educational goals.” Gruszka announced recently that grant applications will be accepted until the end of the month “from Westfield-based non-profit organizations that benefit the greater Westfield community.” Funds awarded will not exceed $1,500 and may be used for “any capital improvement project related to their mission, which follows the principles and ideals of the local Rotary Clubs as well as Rotary International.” In addition, the Westfield club will award three $1,000 scholarships to assist city residents graduating from any of the city’s four high schools to pursue their higher education goals. The local Rotary Club meets on Mondays (except the first Monday of the month) at the Bubble Mug Cafe in The Pottery Cellar at The Mill at Crane Pond. Guests and prospective members are always welcome. |
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Rotary Youth Exchange After a two-year pause, the ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE (RYE) is back! Rotary Youth Exchange is an international student exchange program run by Rotary. It is one of the largest and most respected international exchange programs that students and your Club can be a part of. This International Exchange helps our youth, our Clubs and OUR communities better understand other cultures, gain new perspectives, and foster friendship and peace. The benefits are tremendous and life changing for our outgoing and incoming students. District 7890 is looking to send several students in our district to study abroad for one school year. These students should be enrolled in High School (Age 15 – 18 ½ at the time of their departure). The process for accepting applications starts September 1st and ends October 30th, for students leaving next summer, 2023. Your Club would need a 3-person committee to help find and recommend candidates from your local school district to encourage them to apply. They would also need to find 3 host families in your community (they do not need to be Rotarians) who would share hosting duties for an incoming international student in their home, for 3-month terms. Your Club would also assist the incoming student with monthly check-ins, club visits and a nominal monthly stipend. Comprehensive RI Youth Safety protocols will be in place for both outgoing and incoming exchange students. For more information, or if your Club would like to participate in this program, please contact Brendan Goodrich, District Rotary Youth Exchange Chair, by September 15th. Brendan can be reached: p 860-773-3652 | c 860-883-2328 or bgoodrich@ionbank.com |
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Photos from Jazz Brunch |
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Westfield Rotary Jazz BrunchWestfield Rotary Jazz Brunch Join us on Sunday, May 1, 2022 for our first Jazz Brunch! This festive event will take place at Tekoa Country Club. Enjoy a delicious brunch, followed by the cool sounds of Wolf Pit Jazz with Dr. Ed. Proceeds benefit the Westfield Rotary Scholarship Program. Attendees will meet three recent Westfield scholarship recipients. Paul Harris Recognitions, given to those who exemplify Rotary's motto of Service Above Self, will also be awarded to Mary Boscher and Lisa McMahon. Tickets are $50 per person. Click here to purchase tickets.  |
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Rotary Offers Service GrantsOne aspect of the Rotary Club of Westfield’s long history of service to the Westfield community is a program of service fund grants and the club is ready to offer this year’s direct grants to local non-profit entities. The club’s grants committee has announced that applications for 2021 grants will be accepted during December. The grants are open to non-profit agencies with 501c3 status and missions which follow the principles of Rotary International and local Rotary clubs. Grants are available for capital improvement projects in support of the applicant organization’s mission in amounts not to exceed $1,500. Applicants should submit an application prior to Dec. 31 with an accompanying narrative describing the purpose of the funding request. Application forms can be found on the club’s website, westfieldrotary.org, and should be mailed (with the accompanying narrative and a copy of the organization’s 501c3 status) to the Grants Committee, Rotary Club of Westfield, P.O. Box 754, Westfield, MA, 01086. For more information about these grants, or any other aspect of Rotary, interested parties may contact the club’s president, Carl Hartdegen, at 413 562 8557. The club meets on Mondays at noon at the Bubble Mug Cafe in the Pottery Cellar on the ground level of the Mill at Crane Pond. Visitors and prospective members are always welcome. |
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Westfield Rotary helps St. Vincent de Paul SocietyA grant from the Lynn Boscher COVID Relief Fund of the Rotary Club of Westfield has helped the St. Vincent de Paul Society continue it’s mission to help the hungry and financially challenged residents of the city. The non-denominational society operating from St. Mary’s Church offers monthly donations of food, as well as financial support, to those in need and was the recipient of one of several $1,000 grants provided recently by the fund created in memory of former Rotarian Lynn Boscher by his widow, Mary Boscher. Lynn Boscher, who died in 2019, had been a prominent resident of the city, serving on the City Council, the Westfield Chamber of Commerce and supporting (among other organizations) the Boys and Girls Club, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts and the St. Mary’s PTO. His widow established the fund in his memory with a $5,000 donation to the Rotary Club of Westfield, asking that the money be used to help persons affected by the COVID pandemic. The Rotary club more than tripled the assets of the fund and, to date, has made grants to several city organizations including the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Kate Taibbi, president of the the Westfield chapter of the society, explained that the funds bolstered the society’s effort to help struggling city families. She said that the society provides food bundles to about 50 local recipients each month who have registered for assistance by calling the society at 413-568-5619. The bulk of the food support are staples provided largely by the Western Massachusetts Food Bank, churches such as St. Mary’s, Holy Trinity and St. Peter’s and St. Casimir’s, as well as generous support from both the Big Y and Stop and Shop supermarkets. Niamh Matthews, a volunteer helper from the Key Club at St. Mary’s High School, pointed out the the bundles often also include “fun items” such as popular breakfast cereals, cookies, snacks and chocolates provided by individual parishioners. Taibbi said that cash donations, such as the grant from the Rotary club’s Boscher Fund, allow the society to help struggling families pay for their rent, utilities and other basic necessities. “It takes a village”, she said, saying that she is grateful for all the help the society gets from the community.
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Westfield Rotary accepting scholarship applications
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Westfield Food Fest - 2020 HiatusRotary Westfield Food Fest - No Fest for 2020
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Rotary helps protect senior citizen lives The Westfield Rotary Club helps the Westfield Senior Center with the installation of lockbox's.
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Westfield Rotary Club Helps Fund Community Center in NicaraguaWestfield Rotary Club Helps Fund Community Center in Nicaragua  .jpg) .jpg)  Twenty-three students and two faculty members from Westfield State University travelled to Granada, Nicaragua at the beginning of January as a service learning course. Within two weeks, they worked alongside local builders to help construct a community center for the residents in a village outside of Granada. In addition to building, the members immersed themselves into the culture and community they were working in, through various activities such as exploring local markets and planning lessons to teach children in the area. On the last day, the builders, children, families and the Westfield State group got together to celebrate the new community center. The Rotary Club of Westfield supported this project with a building materials grant to the Institute for Central American Studies in the amount of $1,500.00 which we presented on December 4, 2017. |
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Global Grants The members of the Rotary Club of Westfield were visited at their regular Monday meeting by members of the West Springfield Rotary Club, Bob MacDonald and Dan Marini (President), who thanked the Westfield Rotarians for their support of project to help schoolchildren in India.
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Rotary Social is engaging |
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Captain John Velis speaks about North Korea |
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Rotary Grants support 2 OrganizationsThe Westfield Rotary Club has awarded two grants to local agencies to help them succeed in their mission. .jpg)  |
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2017 Food Fest Car Show |
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2017 Food Fest Traffic Notice |
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2017 Food Fest |
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Car Show at Food Fest |
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Westfield Rotary Installation 2017 |
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Food Fest 2017 Rotary Club of Westfield presents 3rd annual Food Fest Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26, 2017 |
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DopaFit |
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Westfield Technical Academy host Westfield Rotary |
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Rotary donates to the Westfield Food Pantry |
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A hard days workI want to thank all that helped make the Santa's Pavilion a special place for many young children these past three Saturdays, especially Carl Hartigan who played the role of Santa for each Saturday.
This past Saturday was the most difficult due to the weather, however it did not go wasted as one lovely little girl showed a lot of excitement when she saw Santa did make it through the storm allowing her to make her Christmas request.
Santa even spent some time greeting those that braved to drive through the weather. (Picture to be posted on Rotary Website)
Again....thank you to all that helped.
Tim
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Santa arrives on the Green 2016Santa Claus arrived on Westfield's Park Square on December 3, 2016
You can visit with Santa on Saturdays from 10:00am until 2:00pm until December 17
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House Numbers for Senior Citizens The Westfield Rotary Club and the Westfield Senior Citizen Center partnered on a project to keep our senior citizens safe. The Rotary Club installed house numbers on homes to make it easier and quicker for First Responders to locate the residences by placing them in a highly visible area. This project followed last year's battery replacement for smoke and fire detectors. Rotarian Jennifer Gruszka places a number on a residence.
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Food Fest Acoustic Stage |
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Thank you to our Food Fest Sponsors!.jpg) |
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Food Fest 2016 |
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Welcome new member, Justin Glaze Rotary welcomes new member, Justin Glaze. Justin is the Director of Operations at Hampden Village in Westfield.
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Amelia Park Childrens Museum gets an Outdoor Movie Theater The Amelia Park Children's Museum received an Outdoor Movie Theater from the Rotary Club of Westfield.
Children of all ages will be able to enjoy movies al fresco - or inside - once the Amelia Park Children’s Museum starts to utilize the outdoor movie system the Rotary Club of Westfield gave them recently.
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Westfield Rotary donates backpacks for homeless high school studentsThe Rotary Club of Westfield has stepped up to help homeless children at the city’s high school by providing them with some of the supplies that most of their classmates take for granted.
For more pictures please visit our Photo Album
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2016 Chili, Chowder and Chocolate CookoffThe Rotary Club of Westfield wins its 3rd 1st Place in a row Chili Cookoff and adds its 1st win in the Chocolate category.
   Chili Champ - Chris Carey Chocolate Champ - Rick Teodore
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Rotary supports policeThe Westfield Rotary Club was visited by Sgt. Jeffrey Baillargeon, the commander of the Westfield Police Department’s Special Response Team. He attended the club’s regular weekly meeting on Monday, February 22, 2016, and spoke about his team’s mission and their capabilities to meet whatever threats they encounter.
Baillargeon has been an officer with the Westfield Police Department since 1995 when he was released from active duty in the U.S. Army. At the department he has served as a patrol officer, patrol supervisor, firearm instructor, Taser instructor, Field Training Officer Program coordinator, and SRT commander. He also established a school safety program for the city’s public schools and St. Mary’s parochial schools. In addition, he advises private businesses on how to protect against workplace violence. The SRT in Westfield is what would be in many cities (and virtually all television shows) would be called a SWAT. The team was first established in 1999 by Baillargeon and Lt. Paul Kousch and operated with 10 officers. The team has evolved and expanded since that time and is currently made up of 12 exceptional officers from all bureaus of the police department.
The SRT’s mission is to provide special services to the department in critical situations. The officers on the team are trained in weapons, tactics and techniques that exceed the capability of other units in the department. Each officer has received training to respond to situations including barricaded suspects, hostage rescue, search and rescue, high risk warrant service, narcotics raids, vehicle and bus take-downs and active shooter situations with the ultimate goal of bringing any situation they encounter to a peaceful conclusion. Each officer is also trained to render more advanced first aid than rank-and-file officers.
To perform their special services, the members of the team require special equipment. Officers on the team have been assigned both a service handgun and a rifle. They are equipped with a ballistic helmet and a heavy tactical ballistic vest. The team also utilizes breaching gear, ballistic shields, video surveillance equipment, and other specialized tools. However, much of the equipment used by the officers is more than 15 years old.
The tactical ballistic vests are long past their 5 year manufacturer-suggested replacement date and fortunately the department has recently purchased new vests, as well new helmets. The new vests, however, are without ballistic plates. The normal vest worn by officers daily only protects from handgun munitions but ballistic plates protect officers from ‘special threat munitions’ such as rifle rounds. Many shootings are done with rifles which the off-the-shelf vest does not protect against. Due to the mission of the SRT and the dangerous situations it routinely faces, the ballistic plates are essential to the safety and survival of the SRT officers.
The Westfield Rotary Club has an interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the community and is pleased to have an excellent relationship with the city’s police so the members are pleased to be able to assist the SRT. Due to the support the club received from community members and sponsors when it hosted a Food Fest in August 2015, the Rotary Club of Westfield members are honored be able to purchase 26 ballistic plates for the Special Response Team. President Jennifer Gruszka presented a check in the amount of $3,614 to Baillargeon for this purchase.
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Visit from Keith HarrisRotarian Keith Harris of the Ipswich, MA Club visited the Westfield, MA Rotary Club on Monday, February 1, 2016. Keith discussed his cross-country bicycle ride, completed in 2014, during which he raised over $42,000 for The Rotary Foundation. More information about his journey can be obtained by visiting his website www.pedalingforapurpose.com.
Keith surprised Westfield's President Jennifer Gruszka with a Paul Harris Fellowship Recognition in appreciation for her facilitation efforts during his journey and for the continued friendship between the two clubs. .jpg) .jpg) .jpg) |
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50 Years of MembershipThe Rotary Club of Westfield honored Dr. Gary Gover for 50 Years of active membership at it recent Stewardship Awards Dinner
.JPG) President Jennifer Gruszka, Past Presidents Dr. Gary Gover and Robert Goyette, Priscilla Gover, Susan Collins
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1st Rotary Stewardship AwardsThe Rotary Club of Westfield honored two local companies for their commitment to the Westfield community with the first Rotary Stewardship Awards. The honorees are Westfield Bank and the Westfield Gas and Electric.
Rotary and other civic organizations would not be able to have the success they have had without their support and commitment. The Rotary Club of Westfield thanks you both for all you have done for our club and the Westfield community.
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Rotary Welcomes John SlatteryThe Rotary Club of Westfield welcomes their newest member, John Slattery, Executive Chef of Papps Bar and Grill. Welcoming John is Jennifer Gruszka President and Tim Flynn, President Elect.
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Speaker Susan CanningRotary President, Jennifer Gruszka presents a symbolic whip to Susan Canning after her recent presentation on KEVS Foundation. KEVS Foundation facilitates FREE youth heart screenings, helps to provide program resources for public access defibrillator programs and teaches the importance of early bystander CPR/AED education and awareness in our communities.
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Exchange Student returns after 27 years.JPG) Sofie Goetke returns after 27 years to visit the Rotary Club of Westfield.
Check out the Photo Album Page
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Use of Rotary Signs
Any organization that wants to use the Rotary gateway signs, must complete an application. The applications are available in the left column of the home page under Downloads. If you have any questions regarding the use of these signs, please contact Dawn Thomas.
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