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We meet every Monday at 12:15 PM
Plymouth Church Parish Hall
87 Edgell Rd.
Framingham, MA 01701
United States
COVID-19: Come ZOOM with us!
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Sandra Montesino from Daniel’s Table
Fighting Hunger a bit differently!! Simply put: Daniel’s Table is concerned with food security….defined as ensuring that all family members enjoy nutritious meals, seven days a week, WITHOUT creating debt or ignoring other essentials!!!
They partner with farms, markets schools, churches, senior centers and other community organizations to identify the need and satisfy that need. The needs of all family members are considered with the goal of nutritious food, education on purchasing and preparation. Through an interview process, age, gender and specific health needs are all considered.
Daniel’s Table offers a variety of foods dense in nutrition, low in salt and sugar, high in protein AND labeled in three languages!!!
During their intake process, the financial contribution that a family can afford is discussed and then Daniel’s Table bridges the gap to ensure great quality and ample quantity.
Recipes are provided each week. 150 households per week are served; 547 average number of meals per month and 307,000 since inception
They partner with farms, markets schools, churches, senior centers and other community organizations to identify the need and satisfy that need. The needs of all family members are considered with the goal of nutritious food, education on purchasing and preparation. Through an interview process, age, gender and specific health needs are all considered.
Daniel’s Table offers a variety of foods dense in nutrition, low in salt and sugar, high in protein AND labeled in three languages!!!
During their intake process, the financial contribution that a family can afford is discussed and then Daniel’s Table bridges the gap to ensure great quality and ample quantity.
Recipes are provided each week. 150 households per week are served; 547 average number of meals per month and 307,000 since inception
On Friday evening members and guests put blue tape down to mark out 118 craft fair booth spaces.
Members and high school students manning an entrance table to the Holiday Craft Fair.
Over 1,000 customers attended our Holiday Craft Fir.
Thank You to many of our members who participated in our Holiday Craft Fair and made it the best event ever.
Dave Podell, President of Mass Bay Community College, welcomed the Club to MassBay Community Colleg and introduced Roxana Marerra the Director of the Community Education Workforce. Roxana explained a most interesting program at the school that combines corporate partnerships for practical community education. The program provides specialized courses that individuals need to succeed in their respective workplaces.
Courses in Healthcare Training cover care for Hospice patients, medical interpretation, home health aide training, care for Alzheimer's and memory loss patients as well as training for those seeking certification. 35% of the students in this program are unemployed and 44% earn less than $25K per year.
Courses in Healthcare Training cover care for Hospice patients, medical interpretation, home health aide training, care for Alzheimer's and memory loss patients as well as training for those seeking certification. 35% of the students in this program are unemployed and 44% earn less than $25K per year.
The Foundation Dinner was a fun event with good Framingham representation. It was noted that worldwide polio cases are now well under 100…..when the polio effort started 35 years ago there were 350,000 cases annually. We were well-represented by Bob Worth – District Foundation Chairman.
Our annual Pancake Breakfast was a success, with real pancakes, real sausage, and real maple syrup serving the public and friends of Rotary.
Our Club enjoyed the fellowship of serving in the kitchen and at the tables.
We had a great tour of The Learning Center. This world-class school has had a remarkable growth curve over the past fifty-four years. Starting in 1970 on the second floor of a building owned by St. Stephen's Church with around 22 students; they held a fundraising auction in December 1972, bought a three-building complex on Central Street (one of the buildings was a barn), and have grown steadily.
The school was a pioneer in utilizing total communication for persons who were deaf: sign language, gestures, and body movements. With a dedicated staff and great leadership, it has grown to serve the entire deaf community and the campus is now the entire triangle between Central Street and Kellogg Street........complete with a full gym, swimming pools, playground, audiology department (that serves the general public as well), and a student body of around 160.
Our speaker was Eric Stout from “The Living Room,” which has been part of Advocates in Framingham since 2018. Eric is a former engineer and math team coach who originally came to Massachusetts to teach economics at Brandise.
For many people in crisis, connecting with another person with shared lived experience can be a vital factor back to mental health. The Living Room (aptly named) is a welcoming space where people can walk in and connect with certified peer support staff on the spot. It provides a 24-hour alternative to emergency department visits and/or hospitalization. No referral necessary.
For many people in crisis, connecting with another person with shared lived experience can be a vital factor back to mental health. The Living Room (aptly named) is a welcoming space where people can walk in and connect with certified peer support staff on the spot. It provides a 24-hour alternative to emergency department visits and/or hospitalization. No referral necessary.
What is significant and “says it all” is that those who come for help are considered “guests” not patients. No records are kept…….those coming for assistance can even use an alias.
It is all about peer support. The Living Room is not set up as an office or a clinic……it is a “living room”.
It is all about peer support. The Living Room is not set up as an office or a clinic……it is a “living room”.
Our speaker today was Farhana Zia, a critically acclaimed author of children’s books. Her stories blend humor and tradition, memories and contemporary moments. Her books have received international recognition: Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji (first book, 2011), The Garden of my Imaan, Child of Spring, Lali’s Feather, and Lali’s Flip Flops.
Farhana says that her writing journey documents experiences of a life lived in a multicultural, multi-religious, ethnic linguistically diverse society. Her writings are based upon nostalgia of people, places, aromas, experiences, etc…..put simply: who she is and where she came from.
Mayor Charlie Sisitshy accepting the gift of life rings to be placed at each Framingham public beach, from the Rotary Club of Framingham.
Great combined Framingham / Natick Rotary Club meeting with District Governor Joyce Graff as the guest speaker!
Our speaker was T. J. Hutton a paramedic with the 911 ambulance response team for Framingham. He is in a supervisory position and discussed the procedure after a 911 call. The providers are under contract with the city and work with the police and fire departments.
There are 4 ambulances at the main fire station and one at the Main Street location (route 9 overpass area). EMTs work 24 hour shifts.
If you dial 9-1-1, the call is answered by the Framingham Police and then, if appropriate, the information is fed to the Weymouth headquarters of the responder to dispatch the ambulance.
Our Fire Department is a part of a mutual aid group of local communities.
There are 4 ambulances at the main fire station and one at the Main Street location (route 9 overpass area). EMTs work 24 hour shifts.
If you dial 9-1-1, the call is answered by the Framingham Police and then, if appropriate, the information is fed to the Weymouth headquarters of the responder to dispatch the ambulance.
Our Fire Department is a part of a mutual aid group of local communities.
Our speaker today is Bob Evelyn, a Framingham resident, who for 20 years, has run the Annual Scholarship Golf Classic for the Greater Framingham Community Church. Every August, it raises money for scholarships to enable students to attend college. The purpose and intent of the scholarship program is to provide students with easier access to higher education. Academic excellence, community service, and student involvement in extracurricular activities are given strong consideration. Awards are historically set at between $1500 and $5000. The Scholarship Committee determines the number of awards provided based on the funds available.
Our speaker today was Laura Mattei (shown with Patti McCarthy, Club President), the Director of Conservation for the Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT). We’ve probably all heard of the SVT but few of us were aware of the scope of its activities. For over 70 years the SVT has worked to protect natural areas and wildlife. In 36 communities they monitor and protect the Sudbury, Concord, and Assabet Rivers.
Their goal is to protect nature and connect people to nature…..with the 5700 acres they oversee and 3000 more under supervision.
Their goal is to protect nature and connect people to nature…..with the 5700 acres they oversee and 3000 more under supervision.
Rear Admiral Derek Trinque spoke to us during Navy Week when Navy personnel speak to various communities regarding the Navy. He is originally from Holliston and has spent 34 years in the Navy joining when he was 18.
Jenny Cavallerano and Marybeth Fletcher from The Office of Student Development spoke to us regarding addressing non-scholastic issues that students had that prevented them for getting an education. The office connects students with resources that address their basic needs: food nutrition, financial, family issues, etc. Partnerships with government and nongovernment resources have enabled students to continue their education.
One-time financial emergencies are being addressed thanks to the Mass Bay Foundation. Support is in place for single mothers. Technology support is available for the repair of laptops, etc. Four scholarships are available for students who are homeless – encluding a meal program & housing. Textbooks and transportation issues are addressed. Period and hygiene products are readily available.
Hats Off to MassBay for recognizing that a student’s educational needs often extend beyond academics.
Spring Repair Cafe, open to the public, where repairs are made at no cost to various items including jewelry, bikes, lamps, small appliances, etc. This event is run several times a year by Transition Framingham and sponsored by Rotary Club of Framingham.
Great turnout on a rainy day to assist Keep Framingham Beautiful at Butterworth Park and a 10-block radius with many many many bags of trash.
Wonderful celebration today at Keefe Regional Technical School for our Rotary Club of Framingham Scholarship Luncheon. 12 High school graduates, selected from our four area municipalities, were granted a $4,500 scholarship for post High School education.
Matthew Paradise, financial Author and Speaker, spoke to us regarding his latest book Financially Capable. He noted that the wealth gaps in the US lead to education gaps; financial inclusion builds goodwill & better friendships; and financially healthy employees are 10 times more productive. Matthew also noted that we all have challenges in our lives – the key is to get up and be ready to make a difference in other people’s lives. Matthew tied in his presentation nicely with Rotary’s 4-Way Test and this year's Rotary motto of Bring Hope to the World.
Anna Tucker, Director of the Framingham History Center informed us that our Town/City was 136 years old; the Center runs three buildings: (1) Village Hall, built in 1834 and renovated 2018-2019 is one of the most beautiful venues in MetroWest for an event… we held our 100th Anniversary Dinner there. (2) The Academy (on the West side of the Village Green) built in 1830, houses our artifacts and is a place for research and storage.…make a reservation to view it. (3) The original Framingham Library built in 1872 has the civil war soldier in front. The Center holds various programsincluding the city’s 3rd grade students tour (been done for 49 years!!). They have periodic displays looking at Framingham’s history and its diversity; one program focused on “food” and recipes that have been handed down for generations! Stay tuned for Summer Dance Party—the Big Band Era returns to Framingham: September 20-21!!! L
Our 2024 Spring Craft Fair with 118 Crafters and Artists, attended by over 800 customers was a success. The picture above depicts members laying down blue tape marking off vendor booths and getting ready for the next day's event. We had a fun and profitable day.
Our speaker is Thais Faggion Vinhalo, a cardiac surgeon at Brigham Hospital, and a former Rotary Exchange Student. She grew up in a small city in Brazil (10,000) and was an exchange student for her senior year of high school in Matthews, North Carolina. She bonded with around 100 other Rotary exchange students and traveled to the Midwest. From 2006-2010 she attended Queens University in North Carolina, majoring in biology and doing medical projects in China and Guatemala. She has also done global mission work in El Salvador, Brazil, and Dominican Republic. She obtained a Master’s Degree in neuro-engineering and her medical degree from Yale!! In addition to her cardiac surgery, she is studying the differences in treatment often given to minority groups; minority groups tend to have a greater need for replacement surgery as opposed to repair surgery. One reason she speculates, is that minorities seek treatment (or are unable to get it) until the medical need has become more acute. Thais’ message was simply to demonstrate the ripple factor of a simple Rotary exchange! Rotary set her on her career and life path. She is still in touch with her original host family and they attended her wedding to another cardiac surgeon.
Gary & Judy Siegel were our speakers; Gary is Teri’s Banertjee'sbrother and a long-time active Rotarian….their father was a founder of the Liberty Rotary Club in New York. Among other activities, the club has set up a system for disaster preparedness in Puerto Rico.
They spoke of the Siegel Trust Enriching Arts and Music (STEAM) set up to honor their parents. It was set up to foster music and appreciation of the arts among students – bringing workshops into schools for thousands of students.
They established the John Lennon project in numerous schools (including in Ayer High School – here in our District) called the “Real Love” project and highlighted The Man, His Music His Legacy. And, have created a visionary songwriting project for elementary and middle schools.
They spoke of the Siegel Trust Enriching Arts and Music (STEAM) set up to honor their parents. It was set up to foster music and appreciation of the arts among students – bringing workshops into schools for thousands of students.
They established the John Lennon project in numerous schools (including in Ayer High School – here in our District) called the “Real Love” project and highlighted The Man, His Music His Legacy. And, have created a visionary songwriting project for elementary and middle schools.
Rev. Dr. Anthony Lloyd serves as the pastor of the Greater Framingham Community Church in Framingham. It was obvious from Rev. Lloyd presentation that the word “community” is taken seriously. Their service to the community is varied, well thought out and very impressive. Four vaccine clinics with health screenings; mental health assessment surveys; line dance classes; culinary nutritious cooking classes; Access to vaccines; distribution of food and toiletries; distribution of bikes, helmets and locks to 100 children; promotion of healthy lifestyles; tablets to families with five years of free internet; restorative justice program; distribution of clothes, blankets & toiletries to travelers; English as a second language program, assistance in Mass Health enrollment; and efforts to improve community diversity. What is almost equally impressive is the fact that for each of these efforts the Community Church partners with appropriate community offices, various organizations and local businesses, bringing them into the effort and making them aware of the need.
Jessica Roscia, Director and Curator of the Danforth Art Museum.was our speaker today. The Museum has over 3700 objects in its permanent collection covering a wide media range….much from the late 1800s. They have a wide focus on American Art with several events during the year. They can only show 50 at a time so items are rotated. The museum involves students in the selection and display decisions that are regularly made.
One room is devoted to Meta Vaux Warwick Fuller an internationally known sculptress from Framingham. Much of the display includes items donated by her family. The Fuller School is named for her.
The museum has art classes for both children and adults…….and is looking for interested persons to be volunteers and members.
Andrew Coville, an ex-marine who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan speaks about his recently published book "Summer 2009". At age 19, he and his best friend, Nick, joined the Marines. Andrew’s book is a snapshot of a portion of his life……specifically 2009 when he and his friend served in Afghanistan where Nick was killed. The book is based upon his personal journal; it is not a war story but the war experience as viewed through the eyes of a 20-year-old maturing rapidly. The book is titled: Summer 2009
Lisa Ushkurnis,Supervisor of social services at Callahan Senior Center, spoke abour a new concept about cooperative living alternatives for our seniors. Seniors who are strapped for cash due to rising prices and need housing, food and other necessities. This new project will merge seniors with other seniors who have housing but need someone to share expenses. A compatibility review team reviews both seniors habits, likes/dislikes, specific needs, etc. There are negotiations as to amount of space, sharing of household duties (cooking, cleaning, trash removal, etc.). Great concept!!
Our speaker today was Sharon Nolli, with PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. This program is geared to help those who cannot perform routine daily chores such as taking medication, dressing, making medical appointments, etc. The service depends upon the need and can include medical supplies, help in the home and transportation to medical appointments. PACE works with assisted living facilities such as Carmel Terrace in Framingham with a goal of allowing patients to maintain a quality of life outside of a nursing home. Services include: prescription drug coverage, medication management, 24-hour phone access, transportation, physical, occupational and recreational therapy, behavioral health services, specialized dementia care, nutrition evaluations and education, dental and vision care and availability of related resources. The closest PACE is with Summit ElderCare in Worcester, MA (508) 852-2026.
We had a wonderful holiday party, hosted by the Rotary Club of Charles River at Morse Tavern
Our speaker today was Christy Garcia (right). She coordinates the Entrepreneur and Innovation Center at Framingham State University. This function was first established in 2013. Its function is to cultivate innovation by promoting social interaction.; they stimulate students to look at problems as opportunities and support students who show entrepreneurial inclinations. Programs are available that focus on the needs that must be addressed in cultivating entrepreneurial activity. The Center supports and encourages local entrepreneurs.
Friday night Taping Crew
Entry Table Crew
1,000+ customers buying from 121 vendors
The first Holiday Market at Jeff’s Place was made possible by a donation from the Rotary Club of Framingham! This allowed grieving children to pick out a gift for their caregiver. This was a holiday hit!
Rotarian wrapping the gift.
Ronda Yeomans, a volunteer from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, gave an enlightening talk on this critical topic.
Rotary members join other service volunteers in preparing the annual Curtis Family Thanksgiving Dinner.
Yolanda Greaves, member of the Ashland, MA Select Board, gave an interesting update on initiatives and cooperative efforts between Ashland and neighboring towns.
Above Rotary members served an appreciation dinner to veterans on Sunday, November 12 at the Plymouth Church. Great job!
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