President Jim Stone cuts the ribbon at the dedication of the Fly Zone at the RFK Center in Lancaster
 
 
Guests:
  • Jody Marchand, speaker, Live for Liv
  • Carol Aguiar, president, Live for Liv
Announcements:
 
This was the first meeting conducted by our new president, Jim Stone.
 
He began by giving thanks to everyone who came to last Saturday's dedication of the Fly Zone at the RFK Children’s Action Corps Center in Lancaster, with a special thank you to the organizers, Mary Ann, Yvonne, and Jackie. The Fly Zone is partially funded by a Rotary District Grant.
 
Wings and Wheels has been successful so far this summer and has been well supported by our club members, thanks to volunteer coordinator, Brian Burke.
 
The 3rd annual Spirit of Hudson Food & Brewfest will be held on August 15; a signup sheet will be coming soon. Brian is doing a tremendous job of setting up the booklet, which is being printed by Action Unlimited.
 
We’re losing Cyndi King as a member, who is moving away July 30. There will be a farewell party for her on July 24th at 6 pm at Crossroads Cafe in Acton.
 
Finally, there was an announcement about member dues. They’re past due! Dues, however, only cover the club's operating expenses. It is recommended that Club members also contribute to The Rotary Foundation, from which we’ve received $90,000 in matching grants over the past two years for our international and local service projects.
 
Speaker:
 
Our speaker was Jody Marchand, founder of Live for Liv. Liv (Olivia) was a teenager who was shot and killed in a domestic violence incident. The organization now sponsors a run/walk/bike ride and kids’ events, to raise money to help victims of domestic abuse and to prevent it from happening in the first place.
 
Jody explained that she first met her husband when she was 19, and he was 28. They married 7 years later, and  6 years after that, Liv was born. Gradually, however, they grew apart. She became the butt of many of his jokes, to the point that she felt emotionally abused. He exercised total control, and one evening in a rage he began choking her. She dialed 911; he went to get his gun, and just at the moment that he fired, their daughter walked in, who was killed; then he shot Jody.
 
The signs of domestic abuse are many, and a broader definition than physical acts of violence is needed. In this case, until the last day, he was never physically violent, but his emotional abuse became intolerable. So the organization’s purpose is education, including children as young as 7 years old; they may see something that can, if exposed, cause the abuse to cease.
 
Signs of abuse are isolation, placing blame, jealousy, criticism, anger, control, and sabotage, increasing in intensity. The cure: equity in respect, economic parity, division of labor, mutual affection, negotiation, support, communication, and true companionship.
 
They donate funds to Alternative House in Lowell, a refuge for women in situations of domestic abuse. How to raise money was the biggest obstacle for them, when Karin (a member of our Rotary club) suggested the idea of a bike ride, which has grown into its current form of a bike/walk/run for Liv.
 
Next meeting
 
There will be no formal meeting on July 16. Instead, please come to Minuteman Air Field in Stow for the next Wings and Wheels. Our next official meeting will be in the evening on July 23 at the Houghton Building, 697 Main Street, Bolton. The meeting will include an All Girls Challenge. Join us to find out more! All are welcome.