"Service Above Self" |
We meet Every Monday at 12:15 PM
Ken's Steak House 95 Worcester Road
Route 9
Framingham, MA 01702
United States
Come join us!
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Our guest today included Serge Goussaert from Belgium….a small town outside of Burge. He presented our club with a banner from his club.
Kristen, our exchange student from Denmark, returns home
this week and stopped in to thank the club and say good-bye.
We joked with Kristen that her jacket wouldn't get through security at the airport with all the metal Rotary pins and buttons on it.
It was a bittersweet part of the meeting. Kristen has been part of our club's support and family for nearly a year and while she was anxious to get back home to family and friends, we will miss her and she will miss all the friends she has found here during her stay here.
Alaa Abusulah, Citizen Participation Officer for the city of Framingham spoke of the purpose of her function – to be a visible link to the city government for community 
engagement to be able to resolve issues. Part of the role is to bridge the concerns of citizens and build trust with city officials in preparing for the 2020 Census. Luara Medrano spoke of the importance of getting an accurate census since public funding is tied to the census data yet estimates are that 30% of the people for some segments of the city will not respond. And these are not just immigrants but some people who just do not want to provide info. The Framingham Census office has developed a multi-step program to notify and follow up with residents to respond to the Census.
engagement to be able to resolve issues. Part of the role is to bridge the concerns of citizens and build trust with city officials in preparing for the 2020 Census. Luara Medrano spoke of the importance of getting an accurate census since public funding is tied to the census data yet estimates are that 30% of the people for some segments of the city will not respond. And these are not just immigrants but some people who just do not want to provide info. The Framingham Census office has developed a multi-step program to notify and follow up with residents to respond to the Census. Sherrie Whittemore introduced four of the Club’s eight 2019 RYLANs who were in attendance at the meeting today: Ashley Wojcik, (Hopkinton); Alexa Hughes, (Framingham); Jessica Franks,
(Hopkinton); and Fariha Fardin, (Hopkinton). The students shared their perspective from the RYLA experience. All were very positive about the event and used words like “life changing” and “best experience” and “love” to describe what and how they felt.
(Hopkinton); and Fariha Fardin, (Hopkinton). The students shared their perspective from the RYLA experience. All were very positive about the event and used words like “life changing” and “best experience” and “love” to describe what and how they felt.They discussed their intent to continue to support Rotary and Community Service activities and spoke of creating Interact clubs in their school. In fact they shared their ideas for community service projects they would like to pursue including: sending letters of encouragement to people in rehab; assembling school “survival packs” that would include supplies of health and hygiene products for high school students; creating dog and cat toys for animals in shelters; and Operation Baby Blanket – to refurbish donated blankets – and provide them to mothers and babies in need.
The June 10th meeting was held at the Old Academy Museum of the Framingham History Center where members heard the details of the city's history and key milestones.
Framingham Rotary Club President Javier Cevallos, at Concerts on the Common July 9, presented a check for $998 to Framingham Veterans Services and the Framingham Medical Reserve Corps.
The award, which originates in the Rotary club’s Random Acts of Kindness program, will be used to acquire a diagnostic device used by nurses treating veterans to help measure the pulse rate in their feet, a health indicator. The specific targets are homeless and at-risk veterans being helped by the Medical Reserve Corps. The device they use now is over eight years old and needs to be replaced.
The June 24th meeting was held at Simpson Park - Attendees enjoyed the park setting and a picnic box lunch. The Park sits on the Sudbury River and offers a shady area to relax and enjoy the river and the fellowship of friends.
June 15th was MetroFest and the Rotary members supported two activities – the Duck Pluck and the Playhouse build for a veteran’s children.
The photos show the crew building the playhouse that included members of ERA Realty, Rotarians and family members. The Veteran and his family were thrilled with the playhouse and the kids could hardly wait to jump in and start playing in it.
The annual Rotary Club Installation and Awards Dinner was held at the Framingham Country Club.
Javier Cevallos was sworn in as the Club President for 2019-2020 by District Governor Steve Sager.
The award for Organization of the Year was given to Medical Reserve Corps Region 4A
Jim and Cherly Stockless received the Citizens of the Year Award. They provided a home away from home for our foreign exchange student from Denmark, Kristine, for the entire 2018-2019 school year. ).
The Rotarian of the Year award was given to Ken Erdelt (Cog Editor)
The Rotarian of the Year award was given to Ken Erdelt (Cog Editor)
A special award was given to Rotarian Tim Sullivan for his generous donations to the Framingham Rotary Education Foundation and the Random Acts of Kindness program
We also introduced O'Mara Taylo.r who was awarded a grant from Rotary International for graduate studies at Oxford University in England. 
Rotarian Florence Nagadya, from a Rotary club in Kenya, visited us today.The Rotary Club visited the Framingham History Center Museum to see artifacts and hear interesting facts and stories about Framingham. The Center is three filled floors of history that can be viewed by appointment.
On May 24th, Ashland High School, conducted it’s first ever Financial Literacy Fair (Reality
Fair) at the Ashland High School gymnasium. Ten volunteers from the Framingham Rotary Club joined about 40 other volunteers from the Ashland community to help staff the booths for the Fair. Approximately 180 students were scheduled to attend the Fair which gave students a “taste of reality” in trying to live within a budget and having to consider alternatives to make things balance out. Of course, the Wheel of Misfortune always throws a few curves into the process. The feedback from the attendees, the volunteers and the parents in the community has been universally positive.
Fair) at the Ashland High School gymnasium. Ten volunteers from the Framingham Rotary Club joined about 40 other volunteers from the Ashland community to help staff the booths for the Fair. Approximately 180 students were scheduled to attend the Fair which gave students a “taste of reality” in trying to live within a budget and having to consider alternatives to make things balance out. Of course, the Wheel of Misfortune always throws a few curves into the process. The feedback from the attendees, the volunteers and the parents in the community has been universally positive.
Annual Scholarship Event: on May 20th, ten outstanding high school students each received a $3000 scholarship from the Rotary Club Education Fund of Framingham to help pay for studies at various colleges in the region. The awards—presented by the President of the Rotary Education Fund, Framingham 
State University President Javier Cevallos—who is also a Framingham Rotarian—took place in the student-staffed East Room Restaurant of Keefe Technical High School. The total value of the annual scholarships given by the club since the program’s inception is now over $1 million.
State University President Javier Cevallos—who is also a Framingham Rotarian—took place in the student-staffed East Room Restaurant of Keefe Technical High School. The total value of the annual scholarships given by the club since the program’s inception is now over $1 million.Representatives of the students’ home Districts read citations from the State House of Representatives and presented them to each winner. The legislators present included Jack Patrick Lewis, Maria Robinson, and Carmine Gentile. Rep. Carolyn Dykema, who was not present, signed the citations, while Susan Nicholl, District Representative of Sen. Karen Spilka, presented separate citations to the students on behalf of Senate President Spilka.
New Member:
Vance Williams is the newest member of the Framingham Rotary Club. Vance has been a consistent visitor and guest at the last several meetings and has participated in a number of Rotary events leading up to his induction. Congratulations, Vance!
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Robyn Settoin, Roz Rubin and Veronika Mitchell welcomed as new members of the Rotary Club of Framingham.
Dick Manelis gave a quick update on the District project to install 100 stoves in homes residents in a village in Guatemala. Many homes lacked cooking stoves and the members of the households were breathing in harmful fumes due to lack of adequate ventilation. Rotary has taken on the stove project to help alleviate the risks.
Claire Kincaid spoke to the Club about her experiences with a project known as the Queen Tech Initiative in Ghana. Claire explained that the initiative was begun several years ago to improve and commercialize the production of a staple food crop that is essential to the people’s diets in both South America and Africa. The crop (a large tuber) requires a long, manual process to harvest and process into an edible food. The tuber contains a high degree of cyanide that dissipates in the production process to make it safe. Although the Initiative has made strides in its goal to improve and commercialize production, it has not achieved the level needed so work continues.Dr Koualmanda, of Beth Israel Deaconis Medical Center provided an excellent overview of her work on Diabetes, as well as the history and evolution the treatment for the 
disease. There are many types of diabetes including Type 1, Type 2, Gestational and others but the most destructive is Type 1. The incidence of diabetes has grown dramatically since the mid-1990's to about 27 million cases or about 10% of the US population and there are approximately 79 million additional people considered as pre-diabetic - it has reached epidemic proportions. Most of the root causes point to diet and a lack of exercise with other factors such as age, ethnicity and family history contributing to the overall rise in cases. Dr. Koulamanda recommended we try moderate exercise 3-4 times per week and adopt more of the Mediterranean diet - (more seafood, less meat), avoid sugary soft drinks and drink water and red wine.
disease. There are many types of diabetes including Type 1, Type 2, Gestational and others but the most destructive is Type 1. The incidence of diabetes has grown dramatically since the mid-1990's to about 27 million cases or about 10% of the US population and there are approximately 79 million additional people considered as pre-diabetic - it has reached epidemic proportions. Most of the root causes point to diet and a lack of exercise with other factors such as age, ethnicity and family history contributing to the overall rise in cases. Dr. Koulamanda recommended we try moderate exercise 3-4 times per week and adopt more of the Mediterranean diet - (more seafood, less meat), avoid sugary soft drinks and drink water and red wine. The African Exchange program that has been underway for about 15 years to help with school, water and public improvements in a village in Tanzania. Rob Schadt, who is the Chairman of the project noted it was started as mission for a Lutheran Church in Framingham started for education programs and quickly expanded to work on water wells (now up to 43 wells) that are able to provide fresh safe water. He attributes the reduction in infant mortality rates (down to 0%) to the work on wells and health care in the village. In addition, they were able to build and staff kindergarten and other schools. Spora then spoke about the secondary school program to teach both English and Swahili for 12-18 year-olds in both Private and Public schools. The Private school and boarding are funded by the Lutheran Church but both have challenges with large class sizes, shortage of books and of certain topics like science. Wingred spoke about the challenge with the sciences - namely that there is really no effective way to learn science with the current shortages. He spoke about the approach to sciences noting that the government is trying to help with funding expansion of facilities.
Ray Pfau, member of the Nashoba Valley Rotary, was our guest speaker and gave us an interesting presentation on the Repair Cafe - a service that helps guests repair various household items and return them to service-ability. Guests pay for parts 
that might be needed and participate with volunteers to help with the repairs. And the neat part is that not only does this concept save money by making products last longer, it keeps repairable items from being tossed into the landfills.
that might be needed and participate with volunteers to help with the repairs. And the neat part is that not only does this concept save money by making products last longer, it keeps repairable items from being tossed into the landfills.
Paul Joseph, President of the Metrowest Chamber of Commerce, was our guest speaker today. Paul explained how he became involved with the Chamber about 3 1/2 years ago - his goal in
taking on the President role was to grow the market for businesses in this area and make the "Power of Connections", the tag line for the Chamber, a meaningful Mission. He recognized the opportunity to close the gap between worker availability and growth demands for resources. the Chamber has been active in programs to help align the workforce with the needs of companies in innovative ways.
taking on the President role was to grow the market for businesses in this area and make the "Power of Connections", the tag line for the Chamber, a meaningful Mission. He recognized the opportunity to close the gap between worker availability and growth demands for resources. the Chamber has been active in programs to help align the workforce with the needs of companies in innovative ways. 
Susan Peghiny, District Assistant Governor, presented the Rotary Presidential Citation to the Framingham Rotary in recognition of the Club's good work last year across the served communities of Framingham, Ashland, Hollison, and Hopkinton. Accepting on behalf of the Club was Dick Manelis, Club Co-President. Joyce Graff, Brookline Rotarian, gave an account of her trip to India this year as part of the Polio Plus 
initiative. She recapped the Rotary's involvement with the program to eradicate polio which started in 1985 in the Philippines. Rotary was later joined by the World Health Organization in 1988. There has been great progress since then to reduce the number of active cases from a high of 1000 new cases/day in 1988 to just 37 total cases worldwide in 2018. But Joyce emphasized that the fight is not over. While India has been polio-free since 2016 - many infectious diseases, including polio, are only a train- or plane-ride away. India is bordered by Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh where active cases remain. The flight to eradicate Polio continues.
initiative. She recapped the Rotary's involvement with the program to eradicate polio which started in 1985 in the Philippines. Rotary was later joined by the World Health Organization in 1988. There has been great progress since then to reduce the number of active cases from a high of 1000 new cases/day in 1988 to just 37 total cases worldwide in 2018. But Joyce emphasized that the fight is not over. While India has been polio-free since 2016 - many infectious diseases, including polio, are only a train- or plane-ride away. India is bordered by Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh where active cases remain. The flight to eradicate Polio continues.Once again this year, the Rotary Club hosted about 50 children from the Framingham schools for a Children's Holiday Party. The children were treated to a chicken finger and tater tots lunch with Rotary members and each child received a gift bag with treats assembled by the Fuller Interact Club a couple of weeks ago. The children were so very grateful and gave the Rotary a hand-made card to express their appreciation. As the children were being entertained by a magician, news reached them that a special guest had arrived. Santa had made arrangements to make a special trip down from the North Pole to visit with the children and hand out the presents. The kids were ecstatic to see Santa. What a great event!!
The Rotary Club of Framingham presented its second Random Act of Kindness (RAK) award in early December to a little girl suffering from a number of serious physical and developmental problems, including severe breathing difficulty stemming from a mutation of the pign gene. The club’s provision of a portable oxygen concentrator for the two year old, will make travel with her mother to doctors and hospitals for treatment much easier than with the very heavy, bulky unit they have been using.
