President Karin Gaffney spoke about our many events.


 

Guests: Andrew Keane and Matt Tucker

 

Club Announcements:

  • Reality Fair – 55 volunteers worked on this event and over 200 Nashoba Regional High School students participated.  Surveys filled out by both the volunteers and students were very positive.  Parry Graham, Principal of NRHS, told Karin that he is looking forward to more Reality Fairs.  He called it, “The start of a tradition.”  The biggest eye opener for the students was utility bills.

  • RYLA Interviews – Bob and RichG interviewed four students and will interview one more.  One of the students interviewed very well.  Bob and RichG will have to discuss who to select for the second spot and alternates.  The RYLA Leadership weekend is in June.

  • Rotary Flag – Karin showed us the final design for our club flag.  It is ready to go into production.  When we attend other Rotary Club meetings, we are supposed to give them our flag and receive their flag.  Jim attended a meeting of the Rotary Club of Westlake Bay Village in Ohio.

  • Opening Day Meals at COAs – The date for this event is April 1 at the Stow COA.  Seniors from all three of our towns (Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow) will attend this event.  Karin encouraged us to attend this event.  Usually 10 to 12 seniors from Stow attend this event.  This year, however, seniors from all three towns will attend this event so more seniors are expected.  The Stow COA would like help getting Red Sox items to help decorate the COA for this event.  Contact Jim for more information.

  • We Are One international project – Our April 4 meeting, at Nancy’s Airfield Café at 6:00 p.m., will be about this project.  Dr. Frantz Compere, a Rotarian in the Dominican Republic and a leader in delivering Dominican humanitarian health, will discuss the project’s community implementation in schools for children.  Dr. David Paul, a dental professor at the Tufts University Dental School with many years of experience in bringing free dental health to Central American children, will discuss how the project will improve children’s dental health.  (Karin would also like to get a new club photo at this event to put on our website.)

  • PETS – Laura attended PETS (President Elects Training Seminar) during the blizzard with 450 other President Elects from 8 area Rotary districts in Framingham.  There were three main breakout sessions: (1) nuts and bolts of running a Rotary club, (2) membership goals of attracting new members while engaging existing members, and (3) projects and fundraising.  Laura will be contacting us individually about our roles for the upcoming year.

  • Cruise Nights – Laura is the chair of the planning committee for this event.

  • Rotary Foundation – our club’s goal is to donate an average of $100 per member to the Rotary Foundation.  If we do not reach this level, then we do not qualify for a grant from Rotary International.  Contact Carol about ways to donate money to the Rotary Foundation.

  • Acton Boxborough Rotary Club’s Wine Tasting event – This event is on April 25 and we are selling tickets.  Our goal is to raise $1,000 for our club by selling 100 tickets.  All proceeds we receive will go toward our We Are One project.

  • Nanci is working on a fundraising event with the Rotary Club of Hudson called, “Hudson Block Party and Brew Fest.”  The event will take place on August 17 from 3 to 7PM.  Retail stores will be open and food and beer will be sold by local restaurants.  Volunteers on the day of the event are needed.  Contact Nanci to sign up!

  • Stow’s Kid Fest/Spring Fest – Bill and Barbara will work on this event.

  • Women in Rotary event – 2014 marks the 25th year that women have been eligible to join Rotary Clubs.  Karin is a member of the District 7910 committee working on this event.  Contact Karin for more information.

  • Happy birthday to RichardS and Ron!

 

Happy/Sad Fines: 

Happy Fines

  • Laura was happy about the Reality Fair.
  • RichG was also happy about the Reality Fair.  He also completed Domestic Violence Services Network Advocate training.
  • Bob was happy about the snow we had on Tuesday, March 19.
  • Barbara was happy about the carpentry work Dana did at her house.
  • Jim was happy about his new smart phone.
  • Chuck was happy about the Reality Fair.
  • Allison was also happy about the Reality Fair.  She was also happy that someone she knows is joining the East Fitchburg Rotary Club.  She was looking forward to attending DVSN’s Art reception on Saturday, March 23.  She also became a Mary Kay Director!
  • Andrew was happy that his six year old daughter received first place prizes at a gymnastics meet.
  • Nanci was happy that Matt and Andrew were at the meeting.  She was also happy about the Reality Fair.
  • Matt was happy.
  • Ron was happy about the Reality Fair.Carol was happy about Dana’s wheel of fortune that was used at the Reality Fair.  She was also happy that she had tickets for us to sell for the Acton Boxborough Rotary Club’s wine tasting event.  For each ticket we sell, our club will receive $10.  All proceeds will go to the We Are One project.  She was also happy that she will be attending another PETS conference this weekend.

 

Sad Fines

  • Ron was sad that he will miss next week’s meeting because he has to attend a conference in Arizona.

 

Non Club Announcements:

  • West Concord Give Back Day – Participating shops in West Concord donate 5% of their March 23 sales to local non-profits.  Contact the Concord Chamber of Commerce for more information (978) 369-3120 or www.concordchamberofcommerce.org.
  • DVSN’s “Art of Hope and Spirit” fundraising event – is a mixed media art show at the Concord Art Association with over 40 participating artists.  The show is open to the public from March 19 to March 23.  The festive reception and auction is Saturday, March 23 from 6:00PM to 9:00PM.  For more information and to purchase tickets with PayPal, visit DVSN’s website: www.dvsn.org.  To purchase tickets with a credit card, call (978) 318-3421.
  • Marlborough Rotary Club fundraiser – Death by Chocolate event will take place on March 22 from 6PM to 11PM at the Hellenic Hall located at the corner of Central and Cashman Streets in Marlborough.  Tickets are $25 per person.  Go to www.marlboroughrotary.org or call (508) 460-1920 for more information.
  • Concord Rotary Club fundraiser – Rotary Pops, will take place on April 12 at 8 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center located at 51 Walden Street in Concord.  The Concert Band and soloist Amanda Carr will perform.  Tickets are $25 per person or $100 for a table.  Call (508) 878-6577 for more information.
  • Friends of Troop 1 Stow – Electronics Recycling on April 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m at the Bose Corporation, 688 Great Road.  Contact Troop 1 of Stow for more information (978) 212-9175.
  • Billerica Rotary Club fundraiser – Joey’s Voices Dinner Show, April 27 at the Billerica Elk’s Lodge.  For more information go to www.billericarotary.org

Future Meetings

First, third, and fifth Thursdays:

7:15 AM to 8:30 AM

Houghton Building (across from the school)

697 Main Street, Bolton, MA 01740

(Route 117 West from I495, Exit 27)

Second and fourth Thursdays:

Nancy’s Airfield Café

302 Boxboro Road

Stow, MA 01775

5:45 PM to 7:00 PM

 

About Rotary:

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley serves the communities of Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow, Massachusetts. Our members are business, community, and professional leaders who meet weekly to plan local and international service projects; host interesting speakers on local, national, and international issues; and enjoy fellowship. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley was chartered by Rotary International on February 24, 2012, the first new Rotary club chartered in District 7910 in over a decade!

For more club information, go to www.nashobarotary.org or contact Club President, Karin Gaffney, at 978-387-5369 or karin.m.gaffney@rbscitizens.com.