Rwbecca Maynard Spoke at our Club recently.  Rebecca teaches honors biology and AP Environmental Science at Framingham High School and is a Co-Advisor of the school's environmental awareness club. She recently received the prestigious Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship made possible by National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions. 

As Co-Advisor of the Environmental Awareness Club, Rebecca worked with the Framingham Rotary Club in acquiring 20 rain barrels which were painted by the environmental club members and will be given away to registered participants.  Please see the following page to register.

   

 

 

Paul Surapine is the founding director and the artistic director of the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra in Milford; he is a Past President of the Milford Rotary Club and remains active in Rotary activities.

Paul started playing the clarinet at age 9 (1968), studied in New York and moved to Milford in 1992. Milford has a great history in music, having an Opera House that hosted Caruso and the Vienna Boys Choir. I

Historically, there was a Framingham-Milford Concert Band which became the Milford Concert Band in 1993. Paul joined and became Concert Manager in 1996. This has evolved into the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra now celebrating its 25th year!! They now play to virtually full houses for each performance. Claflin is an opportunity to perpetuate great music to successive generations.

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

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. 

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.

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.

 

Great combined Framingham / Natick Rotary Club meeting with District Governor Joyce Graff as the guest speaker!

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

 

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 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.

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.

 

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!!

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.