Amber Pacheco spoke about the Assabet Village Food Co-op.


 

 

Did you know that Maynard has no grocery store?  During the summer, Maynard has a farmers’ market, so residents know how good it is to have a convenient source of local foods.  To make this a year round experience, a group of people are working together to establish the Assabet Village Food Cooperative in Maynard.  Amber explained that a food cooperative is a business owned and governed by the people who use it (the members).  The first food cooperatives began in England during the mid-1800s by people who were displaced by the industrial revolution.  Cooperatives share the following values: self-help, openness, social responsibility, self-responsibility, equality, equity and solidarity.  Amber stated that the principles of cooperatives parallel with Rotary values.

          The effort to establish the Assabet Village Cooperative began in May 2012 when over 100 people attended a community meeting at the Maynard Public Library.  In September 2013 they received a $10,000 matching grant from the Food Co-op Initiative that will be used for a market study and feasibility study.  Their goal is to open the store by Spring 2015. A membership drive is underway to sign up 1,000 new members.  There is a $200 fee to become a member.  People can invest additional funds in the Assabet Village Food Cooperative by purchasing preferred shares.  To join the Assabet Village Food Cooperative or follow its progress, go to assabetvillagecoop.com.

 

Next meeting on November 14 Nancy’s Air Field Café in Stow, 5:45 p.m., Margaret Koch speaks about the Healing Garden.

 

Guests:

  • Jane Brown, Hobbyland store in Stow
  • Arthur LaPointe, Hobbyland store in Stow
  • Sibain Mitchell, Assabet Village Food Co-op
  • Amber Pacheco, Assabet Village Food Co-op

 

Rotary and Club Announcements: (Capitalized events earn points for our club!)

  • The Rotary Leadership Institute was held on October 26 in Boxborough and Richard, Fatima, Barbara and Laura were in attendance.  They learned about Rotary and got ideas about teamwork, morale and membership.
  • U.N. Day was on November 2 and Bob, Carol, Rich, Mary, Chris, and Laura made the trip to NYC for this event.  There was a wide assortment of speakers from both Rotary and the U.N.  At breakout sessions they learned more Rotary’s progress with ending polio and bringing clean water to people in third world countries.
  • At our club’s November 4 Board meeting the following actions were taken:

o    Our bylaws were updated

o    A sister club request was approved Sister for Rotary Club Aurangabad West, which is located in India: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rotary-Club-Aurangabad-West/138471989511905,

o    We received two tickets to an upcoming arts event at Nashoba Regional High School in return for advertising in their event programs.  Anyone interested in using these free tickets should contact Laura!

o    A $250 donation was given to the Raise the Roof project that will use the funds to put a new roof on an elderly Bolton couple’s house.  If you would like to donate to this effort, go to https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/kw93/raise-the-roof

o    We Are One – RichardS reported that we are waiting for the $50,000 grant from the Rotary Foundation.

o    Boost for Hope – This event raised $1,175 for Domestic Violence Services Network’s Lawyer for a Day program.

o    Dictionary project – The dictionaries arrived and were delivered to the Mary Rowlandson School on November 1.

o    Purple Pinkie Day – Students and their families from schools in Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow contributed generously to Rotary’s End Polio Now project.  The contributions are still being received and it looks like we will raise more money than last year!

o    Natascha is sponsoring a spa day on November 23 from 1-5 p.m. at Bolton Essentials to brainstorm project ideas in honor of the 25th anniversary of admitting women into Rotary.  Please let Natascha know if you plan on attending this event.

o    Warm Hearts of Stow – Families in Stow can use our support with the approaching holiday season and colder months.  Laura distributed envelopes to contribute gift cards for basic necessities as well as family activities.  Donations are due by December 15.

  • Rotary Minute – RichardS gave us a quick explanation about how money we raise for local and international projects is matched by the Rotary Foundation.  The money we donate to the Rotary Foundation is used very efficiently which is why the Rotary Foundation has received Charity Navigator’s highest rating.
  • Laura has posted the Best Club award criteria and the updated 2013-2014 Calendar of Activities on our website www.nashobarotary.org.
  • Rotary International’s new website requires a new user account.  Go to http://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/home to register for a new user account.

 

Nonclub/public announcements:

  • First Parish Church of Stow and Acton is collecting care kit contents for RIA House, an organization that helps women who have been trafficked and sexually exploited. Items needed: bubble bath, body lotion, mascara. Contact Laura before November 7.

 

Birthdays:

  • November 3 – Karin Gaffney

 

Happy/Sad Fines:

  • Laura had a busy week including her and Chris’ 24th anniversary of moving to Stow, serving as a Town Meeting deputy moderator and not falling flat on her face, her 25th wedding anniversary, Chris’ birthday, Halloween, and a weekend trip to NYC for UN Day.
  • Chris had a wonderful weekend in NYC.
  • Catherine was happy about the successful Purple Pinkie Day.
  • Ron’s daughter is turning 14 and is going to NYC to visit, Ron is taking his son to a Bruins game
  • Mary Ann was happy to be here.
  • Carol was happy that her Mom went home after being at the Life Care Center.  She was also happy about attending UN Day.
  • Jane Brown was happy to be at the meeting and was happy about the opening of the Hobbyland store in Stow on November 2.
  • Fatima was happy to be at her first morning meeting. She was happy that her daughter is expecting her third baby.  She was also happy about being part of Rotary.
  • RichardS was happy that Fatima attended the morning meeting.  He was happy that his daughter and grandkids are coming for Thanksgiving.  He was also happy about the We Are One implementation meeting that was held last night via Skype.
  • RichG was happy about UN Day.  He was also happy that his daughter has a second interview for a job.
  • Bob was happy about UN Day.