Foundation Report by Jim Hohman: Our donations for the 2024-2025 year are down with only about $500.00 collected to date. Leslie noted that we normally send our donations to The Rotary Foundation on June 1^st. Jim H. will give a detailed report to our members so they are aware of their Foundation giving. Our Club Foundation Goal for giving is $125.00 per member.

Jim F to send Leslie photos of our Foundation Award Banners so she can put an article in on Facebook.

 

 

Mother’s Day Flower Sale: May 10: Jim F reported that he talked to David Gagne about the possibility of us using an area at the Mall at Whitney Field. That is not possible. Alley said that she would reach out to Fidelity Bank and she is pretty sure that we can do it at one of their branches. Neil reported that we the flowers are planted and growing and we are in good shape.

 

Day of Service: Our project this year for our Day of Service will be to join in with Mayor Squailia’s Park Cleanups. The date is not yet set but Alley will keep in contact with the Fitchburg Mayor to pick a date for our club.

 

Cormier Park Cleanup: Neil is chair of this event and we should tentatively plan to do the cleanup in early June.

 

 

Left-Right-Center (LRC): Jim F noted that these are the dates that the Elks in Leominster has available for our next LRC: Friday October 10, 17, 31 and Saturday October 11, 18. It was agreed that the only date that would work for us is Friday Oct 17. Jim will follow up with the Rotary Club of Fitchburg. (NOTE: the date of 10/17/25 is confirmed)

 

Johnny Appleseed Festival: We will have a table at the JA Festival being held on Saturday Sept 20th. Maddy received the information. Our obligation is to Pay $100.00 for our spot and to write a Donation  letter to The JA Chair (Maddy will write the letter and fill out our application)

 

 

Salvation Army Bell Ringing Dinner: Jim H. reminded everyone that the Salvation Army Bell Ringing Thank You Dinner will be held on Wed 3/26/25 @ 5:30 pm at the Elks in Leominster. All club members are invited to attend as guests of the SA. Members should notify Jim H if planning to attend.

 

District Grant for 2025-2026: Neil will be Co-President for 2025-2026 and he suggested that working with “World Farmers” is a possibility. We need to know more about this program so Neil will reach out and try to get someone from World Farmers to speak at our meeting (tentative date is 4/17/25). Since this would probably be a regional project it is possible that after we have them as a speaker we could do a multi-club District Grant with Nashoba Valley and/or Littleton.Neil estimates that the World Farmers Project would be between $4,000.00 and $5,000.00.

Jim F. explained that to do a District Grant we need to have at least one member certified (2 or 3 is recommended). So far only Maddy is certified for Grants for 2025-2026 so we should have 2 more members get certified at the Grant Training Session at the District Training Assembly on 4/4/25.                                                                             

RYLA Update: Maddy reported that we will have 2 students attend RYLA 2025 and she is in good shape. The interviews will be held on 3/24/25. The students must be registered by 4/15/25.

 

Health Status of Derek Jones: Neil noted that he visited Derek and he is recovering from his back surgery. The recovery takes time so it will be a few more weeks before he can attend a meeting.

 

 

 

April 5: District Training Assembly: This will be held at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough. There will be training sessions in the morning and in the afternoon there will be a Foundation Grant Training/Certification Session and a New Member Session. (NOTE: The cost for the District Training Assembly is $30.00 but members who attend will get reimbursed by our club). To register CLICK HERE>.>> https://rotary7910.org/event/district-training-assembly-2/  Note: If you do not know your login information contact Jim Fusco.

 

May 18: District Conference (DISCON): Jim explained that at the District Business Meeting will be held at the District Conference (DISCON) at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough and we need to send a delegate. Neither Jim F nor Maddy are able to attend however Neil said that he would be at the District Business Meeting to represent our club. Hopefully we will have more members attend.

 

Awards: In order to qualify for District, Rotary International & The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Awards we should set up an Awards Subcommittee. On April 27 Alley will bring her computer to the meeting and we will fill out our 2024-2025 goals. Jim F explained that goals are entered on Club Central and we can now enter goals for 3 years. Jim F will meet with David and Neil in advance of the 3/27/25 meeting to work on goals for the 2025-26 and 2026-2027 Rotary yea

 

Upcoming Events:

March 26: Salvation Army Bell Ringing Appreciation Dinner @ Leominster Elks

April 5: District Training Assembly @ Assabet Vocational in Marlborough

May 18: District Conference @ Assabet Vocational in Marlborough

September 20: Johnny Appleseed Festival in Downtown Leominster

October 17: Left-Right-Center Event @ Leominster Elks

 

Breakfast Volunteers:

20 March: Jean Storrs

27 March: Maddy Merchant

3 April: Alley Giangrande

 

Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 10, 2025 at AOCU 20 Adams St, Leominster @ 7:30 a.m.

 

Board adjourned 8:29 a.m.

 

Minutes taken by:

Executive Secretary Jim Fusco