About our club
Members of the Rotary Club of the Bridgewaters with one of the recipient of the high school scholarship
Who Are We?
The Rotary Club of the Bridgewaters brings together business, professional, and community leaders from Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, and West Bridgewater who volunteer their time to strengthen our towns and support communities abroad. We meet weekly, work on hands-on local projects, and partner with Rotary International's global humanitarian efforts — because service works best when it's both local and connected to something bigger.
Our History
The story of the Rotary Club of the Bridgewaters begins in the fall of 1969, when Ray Trask of the Abington Rotary Club, serving as Special Representative to District Governor Joe Ryan of the Hyannis Club, reached out to Ken Hanson, President of the Weymouth Rotary Club, with the ambition of bringing Rotary to the Bridgewaters community. Roy Parker of the Weymouth Club was appointed to lead the organizing effort.
On January 6, 1970, the official Rotary Banner was presented to the new chapter by Vice President Lagrotteria of the Weymouth Club. By March, founding officers had been elected, led by President Edmund Godin. The club applied for its official charter on April 1, 1970, with Rotary International granting it just two weeks later. The achievement was celebrated on May 27, 1970, at a Charter Night held at the Ridder Country Club in Whitman, where District Governor Joe Ryan personally presented the charter to the club's 23 proud founding members.
Members initially met every Wednesday at 12:15 PM at the Snow Lodge in Bridgewater, before later relocating to the American Legion Hall in East Bridgewater. What began as a shared belief in service above self has since grown into decades of dedication to the Bridgewaters community.
Vision
A Bridgewaters community where every neighbor has access to opportunity, education, and support — connected to a healthier, more literate world beyond our towns.
Mission
We unite business, professional, and community leaders across Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, and West Bridgewater to serve our neighbors and advance peace, health, and opportunity abroad.
Values
- Service Above Self — we act, not just donate
- Integrity in leadership and in our communities
- Fellowship across professions and backgrounds
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in who we welcome
- Peace and international understanding through our global partnerships
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Accomplishments
For over 20 years, we've honored Citizens of the Year in Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, and West Bridgewater — recognizing neighbors whose volunteer work has shaped our towns. Alongside this, we fund scholarships for graduating seniors, including support for students pursuing vocational and trade education.
Our work reaches beyond our towns. We've supported clean water access through our Water for Cambodia project, backed literacy programs in South Africa, and hosted international delegations — including visitors from the country of Georgia and, while the program ran, Mandela Washington Fellows. For the past five years we've marked International Peace Week with dedicated programming.
Locally, members volunteer at [Father Bill's & MainSpring — confirm name] every first Thursday of the month, distribute thesauruses to fourth graders, and donate to food pantries across three towns and at Bridgewater State University. We partner regularly with local organizations and churches to extend our reach, and we're preparing to launch a Rotaract chapter to bring the next generation of leaders into service.
Interested of Becoming a member?
We welcome visitors and prospective members to join us for a meeting — no commitment required. We meet the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 AM at Life Care Center in West Bridgewater. Membership is open to business, professional, and community leaders who want to turn a few hours a month into real impact across Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, and West Bridgewater — and around the world.