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Jan Luchetti was installed as the new president of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on June 28, succeeding Mark Messina, whose initiatives injected a new vitality and energy into the Rotary Club’s activities over the past year.Messina, reflecting on the theme for his year of “participating with purpose,” was grateful that so many members engaged enthusiastically with the school communities, elected officials, and friends of Rotary to broaden the impact and awareness of the club’s diverse initiatives.
Messina feels that establishing the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) program was a cornerstone accomplishment of his presidency.
“This year, the community nominated 22 outstanding sophomores, and we recognized 12 – six each from Weston and Wayland. Those students already have figured out how to live the Rotary motto of putting ‘Service above self.’ We were excited to sponsor them to the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Conference at Fitchburg State University, a three-day conference where they learned how to be better leaders and better members of a team. Many expressed interest in joining Club Interact, the Rotary version for high school students.”
In her opening remarks as president, Luchetti said, “Just after Cindy Applebee Spencer invited me to a Rotary meeting, I jumped online to learn more. I was impressed and eagerly became a member of Rotary. It was around this time that my family lost our mother. During my introduction to Rotary, I became fully aware that the Rotary motto, ‘Service Above Self,’ epitomized who my mother was in the world. She was a true humanitarian, and I honor her memory here tonight as I start my year as the president of our club.”
Luchetti, owner of Jan Luchetti Interiors and partner in The Annex featuring classic furniture and accessories, is excited to expand opportunities for people from Wayland and Weston to pitch in on local and international Rotary projects.
Luchetti’s vision is to conduct and co-host events that are open to anyone in the community who is interested in getting involved at any level of participation.
“I’ve lived here all my life, and I would love to contribute to bringing the people of Wayland and Weston even closer together to address challenges in our communities,” she said. “I see the Antique and Classic Car Show, the RYLA program, the fishing derbies in both towns, and presenting scholarships to seniors from both high schools as tremendous opportunities for collaboration and engagement. The people we’ve met this year, and especially the students, increased my optimism about the positive impact individuals and organizations can create.”
Patricia MacNeil, a past president of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, also values the intra-town collaborations that came with the RYLA Awards program, saying “Throughout the year, the teachers, guidance counselors, principals and superintendents from both towns joined us in celebrating great students who make our communities better.”
MacNeil manages the Wayland branch of The Village Bank, which became the club’s partner sponsor for all programming for 2018 and 2019.
“We have plans to collaborate with other groups starting this month, in July,” Luchetti continued. “The Rotary Club will join in community outreach programs with the Weston Dads Foundation volunteering at Hope and Comfort located in Newton, an organization providing dignity to the underserved, distributing essential items to children and adults in greater Boston. We’ll join Land’s Sake’s Volunteer Days. Rotary will be putting together a golf foursome to support Jennifer’s Gift of Hope Charity Golf Outing and Dinner on July 29 in Northborough. This event raises funds for families to help offset the staggering non-medical expenses these families endure while a loved one is undergoing long-term treatment for cancer. Our annual Lobsterfest and Silent Auction will be on Aug. 23 and all are welcome!”
In 2018, Rotarians organized disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico, and the club is working to design a rebuilding project with the Scouts in 2019. Rotary’s “End Polio Now” campaign, recognized annually on World Polio Day, Oct. 24, is a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio.
Marilyn Gentilotti, elected vice president, reflected on the past year with anticipation of the coming year, saying, “Mark Messina’s leadership for the last year resulted in a Presidential Citation from Rotary International, the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Awards program, and a wonderfully successful 23rd Antique and Classic Car Show. On our first Arbor Day Tree Celebration, we gave 200 trees to elementary school students in Wayland and Weston. We presented $15,000 of scholarships again this year, and we inducted seven new members. Jan Luchetti will build on that with her wonderful enthusiasm, professionalism and perspective. She was a high-impact vice president and she has a great vision for her presidency. We expect a dozen more people will join the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland.”
Several residents of Weston and Wayland who recently have joined the Rotary Club in its mission include Cindy Tanny, Lucy Bradley, Peter Gentilotti, MaiLing Gaw, and Elizabeth Messina. Each has an outstanding track record of community service that will shape the Rotary Club’s initiatives and contributions in the coming years.
To learn more about the diverse initiatives of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, please visit WestonWaylandRotary.com or contact any member of the club to attend a club event, meeting or community service activity.
