Stories

ShelterBox is Responding to Turkey and Syria Earthquake Disaster

Dear Rotarians

With Credit to the Emmaus Rotary Club in Emmaus, PA https://www.emmausrotary.org/

Bill Tobin of Shelter Box shared the following message:

ShelterBox is responding after a series of powerful earthquakes devastated southern Turkey and northern Syria. We’re sending an emergency response team to carry out crucial assessments and establish how we can best help.

ShelterBox is launching an emergency fundraising appeal. Your support will contribute to our Turkey and Syria Earthquakes response as part of our general fund. We believe that the best way for us to be impactful is by staying flexible, and it is essential that we have funds available to support those affected by disasters around the world.

We’re speaking with our existing partners in Syria and Rotary contacts in Turkey to understand more about what’s needed and how we might provide support where it is needed most.

The humanitarian need in Turkey and Syria is immense and growing – it's the most devastating earthquake to hit the region in 100 years. The death toll has surpassed 5,000 and is likely to rise significantly, and thousands of buildings have been destroyed in both countries leaving people homeless, with nowhere to sleep, in the middle of a bitter winter.

A powerful 7.8m earthquake struck southern Turkey, close to the northern Syria border, at 4.17am local time (1.17am GMT) on Monday 6 February. The epicenter was about 20 miles from Gaziantep - a major city and provincial capital. Minutes later there was a strong 6.7m aftershock, followed by another major 7.5m earthquake striking hours later in the same region.

The region where the earthquakes struck is home to significant numbers of Syrian refugees.

ShelterBox provides different combinations of emergency shelter and essential household items depending on what is needed. This could be tents and shelter kits, stoves, thermal blankets, and clothing to keep people warm through the freezing winter nights. It could be cash to help people buy what they need to survive. Or it could solar lights that help people when there is no electricity.

Head of Emergency Response for ShelterBox, Alice Jefferson says: “Emergency responses to a disaster of this scale can be a huge logistical nightmare especially against the clock. Freezing temperatures and heavy rain are causing extra complications. The poor weather poses a real threat to life for people whose homes are now rubble or unsafe to return to. Access and communication are challenging and that’s why responses must be well-coordinated to make sure that the right aid is getting to the right people, in the right place, at the right time.”

Club and district support is desperately needed so we can reach survivors in the aftermath of this disaster.

ShelterBox USA

Coming Up on April 7th! Financial Reality Fair at Nashoba Regional High School Provides a Life-long Lesson for 10th Grade Students

In partnership with Clinton Savings Bank and the Guidance Office, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley will once again sponsor our annual financial Reality Fair at Nashoba Regional High School on the morning of Friday, April 7th. More than 200 10^th graders will pre-select a career and starting salary. On the day of the fair, they will receive a monthly paycheck (with deductions!) to purchase life's necessities, such as housing, transportation, insurance, clothing, and food. They will also be tempted with nice-to-have purchases such as concert tickets, vacations, and pets! Students also will take a chance to spin the wheel of fortune to reflect unplanned income or expenses that happen as a part of life. Please consider volunteering and contact Carolyn Read at carolyn.read@yahoo.com to sign up!

You can see last year's volunteer handbook to learn more about what the students will purchase and can find the 2022 volunteer handbook on nashobarotary.com in the Download section.

The End of a Service-Packed Year

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley ended its 2021-2022 Rotary year with an outdoor celebration and the installation of the 2022-2023 officers. Many thanks to Glen Bunnell, who served as President this past year. He led the club through more than 50 service projects that served our local community as well as the world. In appreciation of his service and leadership, incoming President Susan Wilkinson presented Glen with a Rotary presidential plaque, complete with gavel.

Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley Participates in Bolton Pride Parade

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley participated in the Bolton Pride Parade and Rally on June 5. The parade will was held in the afternoon, starting at the Emerson School in Bolton, MA and continued to the town common. The rally included guest speakers, local organizations such as the Rotary club, vendors, and a raffle that benefited OutMetrowest.

More Than 500 Pounds of Thin Film Plastic Recycled!

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley collected more than 500 pounds of thin-film plastic as part of the NexTrex recycling program. By you donating plastic film to NexTrex®, not only did the club help to keep thousands of pounds of waste out of landfills, it also helped Trex® to continue to make eco-friendly outdoor products. Through its donation, the club qualified for a Trex bench to be donated to the local community. Many thanks to the Bolton Bean, 626 Main Street in Bolton, MA, which served as a collection point. The club is hopeful that other community organizations will take on this challenge. For more information about the program and what plastic is acceptable, visit https://recycle.trex.com.

Donations Needed for Esperanza - Hope for the Children

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley is collecting donations for Esperanza - Hope for the Children, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that services impoverished communities in Honduras. The following items are of particular need:

Large suitcases
Laptops, tablets
Soap and shampoo
Toothpaste (including "expired" toothpaste)
Children and adult vitamins
Wheelchairs

Esperanza’s mission is to provide charitable services, including financial assistance for medical treatment and educational costs for the impoverished people living in Honduras. Its professionally-supported organization assists the Honduran people with obtaining medical care within their country, and when unavailable, traveling outside Honduras for treatment.

To coordinate a time and place to drop off donations, please contact Emily Collins at 978.808.8967 or emily@esperanzahftc.com. For more information about Esperanza - Hope for the Children, visit https://esperanzahftc.com.

20,000 meals Packaged in a Few Hours

On April 9, more than 70 people from the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, the Humanitarian Club of Littleton High School, the Nashoba Regional High School Interact club, several Rotary clubs across central Massachusetts, and the local community came together to package 20,000 meals to address hunger.

The Rotary clubs funded the cost of the meals, and Rise Against Hunger New England provided the ingredients for packaging. Every dehydrated rice/soy meal is fortified with 20 essential vitamins and nutrients. The meals are then shipped to areas around the world where the need is greatest, including within the United States. Requesting organizations must meet certain requirements to receive a shipment of meals or donated aid, including accountability, importation (the ability to cover shipping costs), storage, and distribution.

Rise Against Hunger provides food and life-saving aid to the world's most vulnerable people and works to end global hunger in our lifetime. Established in 1998, the organization has provided more than 225 million meals in 74 countries. Charity Navigator gave Rise Against Hunger 4 stars, its highest rating.

RYLA Candidates: Apply by April 27!

Rotary Offers Youth Leadership Conference Opportunity for High School Sophomores

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley seeks qualified candidates to apply for this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) conference to be held June 24 – June 26 at Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA. This annual leadership conference offers outstanding high school sophomores the opportunity to live, work, and interact together in an atmosphere of friendly competition. The program is designed to challenge participants to use and improve their leadership skills. Best of all, there is no charge to students who participate. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley will sponsor four students at this year’s conference. Applications are now due April 27, 2022 and are available from the Downloads section of this web page.

Participants will be selected from students who reside in Stow, Bolton, or Lancaster, have exhibited leadership potential, and are currently in their sophomore year of high school. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley is contacting high school principals, guidance counselors, youth organizations, and other sources for nominations and welcomes applications and recommendations from the public. For more information, contact Robert Johnson at johnson@itesafety.com, 978-875-3143.

Rotary Club Partners with NASJA for DEI Books for Nashoba Regional Schools

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley and the Nashoba Area Social Justice Alliance (NASJA) sponsored the first Diverse Book Drive for books that represent all students across the Nashoba Regional School District. They worked with The Silver Unicorn Bookstore in Acton, MA to order 141 books, which are being delivered to Center School in Stow, Florence Sawyer School in Bolton, and Mary Rowlandson Elementary School in Lancaster. The schools identified the titles of the books that they wanted for their libraries, and the Rotary Club and NASJA partnered to collect donations and handle the ordering and delivery.

Principal O'Shea from Mary Rowlandson Elementary School in Lancaster received book donations from Rotarian Catherine Hammill.

Thanksgiving Flowers for the Bolton COA

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley decorated and presented the Bolton Council on Aging with 50 sets of mums as part of the Senior Center's Thanksgiving celebrations. The club also sent holiday cards to the residents of the Bolton Country Manor where the Council on Aging is based.

DECA Mock Tournament Judging

Several members of the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley participated in a mock judging session at Nashoba Regional High School. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. More than 100 students participated in the mock session in preparation for the actual competition in mid-January. Community leaders, including club members, evaluated the presentations and provided positive reinforcement and constructive feedback on the presenters' business ideas, presentation skills, and professional appearance. The students did a fabulous job in their preparation amd presentations. They did so well that 112 of the 210 members finished in the top 6 of their categories at the district competition in January! These students advanced to the state competition in March, and several teams qualified for participating in the international competition in April. We recognize and congratulate all of the participants in this year's DECA competition!

75 Pounds of Donations for the Stow Food Pantry

In late November, at a Social/Service event, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley collected requested donations for the Stow Food Pantry. The club donated 75 pounds of food, consisting of cereal, tomato soup, and cream of mushroom soup. From the Stow Food Pantry, "Because of organizations like the Rotary Club, we are able to continue to assist over 130 families a month with food assistance."

May be an image of text that says 'Items accepted this month: Stow Food Pantry Donations •Cereal Tomato soup Cream of Mushroom Soup'

Gift Drive for Warm Hearts of Stow: It's Not Too Late

December Service Project: Toys for Clear Path

For its December service project, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley collected toys and books for families to benefit Clear Path for Veterans New England. The Clear Path team works hard to make sure families, in particular those with children, have a meal, toys, and some joy during the holiday season. This year Clear Path held a holiday celebration, complete with hot cocoa, cookies, and Santa. The toys were delivered, and families received a take-home Holiday meal kit with all the fixings for an at-home family celebration.

November Donations for Esperanza-Hope for the Children

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley is sponsoring a collection drive for Esperanza – Hope for the Children, a 501c3 non profit that provides medical treatment and supplies for the children and their families of Flores, Honduras.

Donations requested for Esperanza-Hope for the Children include:

Adult, children, and baby clothing in all sizes and for all seasons
Any size shoes: toddler-adult (shoes, sneakers, croc type, flip flops), new or gently used
Any size toothpaste: dentists donate expired, which is fine
Any size soap, hand sanitizer, shampoo, band aids, anti-bacterial ointment
Soccer balls, preferably deflated
Books in Spanish
Vitamins
Large size suitcases, carry-ons, and duffel bags
School supplies: pens, pencils, eraser, sharpeners, scissors, colored pencils, crayons

Members can bring items to the November 18 Rotary meeting. Donations can also be made by contacting Emily Collins at: 978-808-8967, emily@esperanzahftc.com. Monetary donations are accepted at esperanzahftc.com.

Purple Pinkie Day Across Nashoba Regional School District Collected Over $3000 for Polio Eradication

During the last two weeks of October, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley sponsored its annual Purple Pinkie Day in schools across the Nashoba Regional School District. In support of World Polio Day on October 24, Purple Pinkie Day is part of Rotary International’s “PolioPlus to End Polio Now” campaign. Students were encouraged to donate at least $1 to immunize children worldwide against polio. Workers Credit Union also made a generous donation of $1000, courtesy of Donna McCullen, WCU Assistant Vice-President in Lancaster, MA.All donations are matched 2 to 1 by the Gates Foundation, so each $1 donation results in $3 for polio eradication. Donations can still be mailed to Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, PO Box 322, Stow, MA 01775.

It’s called Purple Pinkie Day, because health workers typically use a purple dye to mark children’s pinkie fingers after the children are vaccinated. This prevents a double dosage. By sponsoring Purple Pinkie Day in the schools, we are hopeful the students learn more about polio and feel good about helping children elsewhere around the world.

Launched in 1985, Rotary International’s PolioPlus was the first and largest international private-sector program for a public health initiative. By partnering with the World Health Organization and other government and private groups including the Gates Foundation, Rotary International has reduced polio by 99 percent around the world.

Veterans' Day Drive-Through Lunch on November 11

To honor Stow-area veterans, for the second year in a row, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley provided a pre-packaged lunch and the opportunity to meet with town and state officials on Veterans Day, November 11. Lunch included a sandwich, chips, salad, beverage, dessert, and more, and volunteers provided the lunches to participants who will remain in their cars.

This Veterans Day appreciation lunch was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, Friends of the Stow Council on Aging, Worker’s Credit Union, Shaw’s Stow, and Honey Pot Hill Orchards.

First Hybrid Meeting for 2021!

On September 2, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley kicked off our first hybrid meeting at Emma's Cafe and through Zoom with about half of the attendees in person and the other half virtual. We plan to continue meeting in a hybrid model for now until everyone feels comfortable meeting in person. Join us at Emma's on the first, third, and fifth Thursday of each month, or contact info@nashobarotary.org for the Zoom link.

An Update on Afghanistan

Razia Jan, founder of Razia's Ray of Hope, joined our September 2 club meeting and provided an update on the schools for girls, which the organization runs in Afghanistan. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley sponsored a global grant for a midwifery program at the Razia Jan Institute, and members have been concerned about the recent events in Afghanistan and the potential impact on the students. Since its opening in 2017, 40 girls have graduated from the midwifery program.

Razia said that all of the students and staff are safe and the district has not experienced any violence. Younger students (K-6) have already returned to school, and she was looking forward to the older students returning to their classes in the coming weeks. She shared three directives with the club: Never give up, always have hope, and stay positive.

When asked what our club could do to provide continued support, Razia said that donations to the organization help fund the salaries of 31 teachers, and they are often the main source of income for their extended families. The club also is continuing to sponsor a student. The yearly sponsorship of $420 covers all costs for attending school, including all books, uniform, bus rides, and winter clothes. You can make a donation or sponsor a student at raziasrayofhope.org.

Support for ShelterBox

Wanting to do something to help with recent disasters around the world, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley made a donation to a partnering organization, ShelterBox USA. ShelterBox delivers the essential aid people need to begin rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of a disaster. Sturdy green ShelterBoxes contain family-sized tents specially designed to withstand the elements and provide people with a temporary refuge until they are able to start rebuilding their homes. ShelterKits contain all of the essential tools needed to start the repair or rebuilding process. The kits and boxes contain the items that help transform shelter into a home, like cooking sets, solar lights and activity sets for children. SheltreBox accepts donations of all sizes at https://www.shelterboxusa.org/.

Congratulations to Audrey Arsenault, our scholarship awardee

On June 11, President Carolyn Read awarded a $2500 scholarship to Audrey Arsenault, who graduated from Nashoba Regional High School. Audrey will be attending St. Anselm College in the fall.

Honors and Recognition Galore

At this year's District Conference, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley received numerous awards for our activities in the 2020-2021 Rotary year:

Best Club - Diamond award in recognition for continuous highest performance in the district for the third year in a row
Public Image - Gold
Service - Gold
Youth service - Bronze
The Rotary Foundation support - Silver
Ray Pfau, Unsung Hero
Mary Garcia, Rotary Foundation District Service
Jacky Foster, District Service as the District Secretary for Administrative Excellence
Rotary International Significant Service Award for our Stuff a Cruiser service project

It was a challenging year with virtual meetings, done-at-home service projects, and a few masked and outdoor community service projects! We appreciate all of the partnerships and support that kept this club running at top gear!

Rotary Service Project for Habitat for Humanity

In May 2021, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley cleared land for a Habitat project in Stow, MA as part of a district grant. Through this effort, two families will have access to safe and affordable housing. Donations and volunteer support build on the investment of $150,000 in Stow Community Preservation Act funds, and a modest, energy-efficient duplex is slated for construction later this year. Learn more at https://ncmhabitat.org/coming-up/.

Rotary partnered with Habitat for Humanity in 2017, based on shared values, enabling Habitat to extend its volunteer pool by tapping into Rotary’s 1.2 million members in 200 countries and regions.

See more photos at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=NashobaRotary&set=a.3898216413601064.

Packaging 23,500 Meals for Haiti

The Rotary Clubs of Nashoba Valley, Littleton, Acton-Boxborough, and Wachusetts Area, along with the Nashoba Regional High School Interact Club, the Maynard High School Interact Club, the Littleton High School Community Service Club, the Littleton High School Interact Club, and Workers Credit Union, sponsored the eighth annual Rise Against Hunger food packaging event on May 15, 2021. The goal was to package 20,000 meals in a couple of hours and for shipment to feed the hungry around the world. The group actually packaged 23,500 meals over several hours due to generous fundraising and a lot of overtime work from volunteers. The meals from that event were shipped in September in a container totaling 285,120 meals from Rise Aagainst Hunger's New York City warehouse.The meals will be received by its in-country partner Convoy of Hope in Haiti for distribution..

The meal packaging event took place at Littleton High School in Littleton, MA, held in the school cafeteria with windows open for maximum ventilation. Below are members of the Nashoba Regional High School Interact Club at work! See more photos at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=NashobaRotary&set=a.3886142144808491.

Rotary Provided Youth Leadership Conference Opportunities for High School Sophomores

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley sponsored two participants in this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) conference, held online during the weekend of June 25, 26, and 27. Our RYLA attendees were Madeline Powers of Bolton and Rebecca Emkin of Stow, shown below. The program offered an action- packed and interactive learning environment, designed to challenge participants to use and improve their leadership skills. Best of all, there was no charge to students who participated.

Robert Johnson, local Committee Chairperson, said that participants were selected from students who exhibited leadership potential and were currently in their sophomore year of high school. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley contacted high school principals, guidance counselors, youth organizations, and other sources for nominations and welcomed applications and recommendations from the public.

The conference featured thought-provoking events, including interactive Leadership Labs, exciting guest speakers, and challenging mental and physical activities. Topics included decision-making, critical thinking, communicating effectively, ethics, and public service.

For more information about the RYLA program, contact Robert Johnson at johnson@itesafety.com, 978-875-3143. Visit www.ryla7910.org for the latest information about RYLA.

Holiday Toy Drives

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley sponsored the Warm Hearts Stow annual toy drive, funding an insert for The Stow and Bolton Independent holiday edition, which was mailed to all households in Stow and Bolton, MA. You can still support Warm Hearts by sending a check made payable to "Warm Hearts Stow" to P.O. Box 10, Stow, MA 01775.

Susan Holmes, a Warm Hearts Stow organizer for the toy drive, commented," The Rotary Club has been so supportive of Warm Hearts this year - first your contributions to our Back to School Program and now sponsorship of our Toy Fund campaign insert! Given increased demands on our limited funds due to the pandemic, your generosity is especially important and appreciated at this time."

Rotary club members are also collecting holiday gift toys for Clear Path for Veterans out of Devens, MA through December 11, 2020. Clear Path is accepting new toys for girls and boys, ages newborn to 18 years old. Contact info@nashobarotary.org for more information.

#1 Club in Annual Giving toThe Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley was recognized on November 17, 2020 as the club that contributed the most in annual giving to The Rotary Foundation from District 7910 in the 2019-2020 Rotary year. Rotary District 7910 consists of 49 clubs across central and Metreowest Massachusetts, spanning from Brookline to Athol-Orange.

The club was also recognized as one the top three contributors to End Polio Now, the Polio eradication campaign of Rotary International and the World Health Organization. In 2019, donations were collected from students at all of the schools in the Nashoba Regional School District. Although this year was more challenging to support polio eradication, students from Mary Rowlandson Elementary School in Lancaster, MA participated in a 2020 "Purple Pinky Drive," raising more than $300. We thank them for their donations as well as the support from Workers Credit Union. We will continue to accept donations: Contact info@nashobarotary.org for more information.

The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.

Club Bulletin November 5 2020

Regular Club Meeting

November 5 2020

via Zoom

Guest Speaker Lianna Kushi, Executive Director of Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) in Lowell & Lawrence

Club Bulletin for October 29 2020

Regular Club Meeting

October 29, 2020

Club Assembly

Via Zoom

Thanksgiving Flowers for Senior Citizens

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley purchased potted mums and decorated them for delivery as part of a Thanksgiving 2020 dinner for senior citizens in Bolton, MA. The Bolton Council on Aging was very appreciative, as many of these seniors are house-bound and alone. The flowers are not only a lovely gesture, but they send a message that we thought of the recipients, who often feel forgotten.

Stow-Area Veterans Recognized with Drive-Through Lunch

To honor Stow-area veterans, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley provided about 40 veterans and guests with a pre-packaged lunch and the opportunity to meet with town and state officials on Veterans Day, November 11. Lunch included a sandwich, chips, salads, beverage, dessert, and more, and more than 30 volunteers provided the lunches to participants who remained in their cars.

Local dignitaries, including State Representative Kate Hogan, Selectmen Ellen Sturgis, Megan Birch-McMichael, Jim Salvie, and Chair Tom Ryan, Fire Chief Landry, and Acting Police Chief Sallese, joined Rotarians, members of the Nashoba Regional High School Interact club, and community volunteers, to greet and thank the veterans. The lunch served as an alternative to the traditional Veterans Day breakfast.

This Veterans Day appreciation lunch was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, Friends of the Stow Council on Aging, Worker’s Credit Union, Shaw’s Stow, and Honey Pot Hill Orchards.

Club Bulletin for September 17, 2020

Regular Club meeting via Zoom

Need Masks? Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley Participates in the Million Mask Challenge Tour

We still have masks! Members of the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley delivered masks to many local organizations over the past year, including public safety offices and nursing homes, and as far as Kenya as part of the Rotary Million Mask Challenge Tour. Despite the "opening up" of life in light of vaccines, many businesses, healthcare facilities, and public institutions still require masks. If you or your organization needs masks, please contact info@nashobarotary.org.

To date, we have delivered masks to:

Guidewire in Springfield (4000)
Consortium in Holyoke (2000)
Cultivate Counseling in Bolton (200)
Our Father's House in Fitchburg (400)
Athol Orange Rotary (2000)
Boston Medical Center, Boston (100)
Sullivan Optometry, Hudson (50)
Dr. Padma Jonnavithula, North Acton Dental (125)
Seth Barron, Barron Chiropractic in Acton (70)
Belknap House Homeless Shelter (200)
Habitat for Humanity NCM (400)
Comfort Zone Home Care (150)
BCF Member for refugee camp (700)
Open Table in Maynard (1000)
Bolton COA (100)
Maynard Neighborhood Brigade
Leaving the Streets Ministry in Haverhill (1000)
Stow COA
BostonSight (500)
Minuteman Arc (500)
Worcester Fellowship (400)
Integrative Family Medicine (50)
Hope for the Children (400)
WHEAT (500)

About the Rotary Million Mask Challenge Tour

In the early morning hours of October 1, 2020, a cargo ship carrying 800,000 face masks arrived at the Port of Boston as part of a Million Mask Challenge. Over the course of the next 14 days, those masks were delivered to first responders, healthcare providers, and frontline workers in cities, towns, and villages from Boston to Maine, from Massachusetts to Connecticut. This effort is a story of service and leadership. It’s a story about answering the call, working together, and saving lives. It is the story of Rotary. A tractor-trailer, emblazoned with the Rotary Million Mask Challenge Tour story, will distribute face masks to Rotary clubs throughout New England and nine major city center distribution points in six states for those in need in their communities. To date, over 200,000 masks have been delivered across central Massachusetts by numerous Rotary clubs.

Backpacks for Stow and Lancaster Students

About 100 students in Stow and Lancaster, MA are starting the school year off fully equipped with a backpack, lunchbox, and supplies. Working with Warm Hearts of Stow and the Lancaster Recreation Committee, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley ordered and delivered the needed school items to the partner organizations, who assembled the backpacks with their supplies with limited handling. The completed backpacks were safely distributed to students and their families, working with the local elementary and middle schools. Laura Friend, Principal of Luther Burbank Middle School, shared her delight with the project, "This is just wonderful news. We are so grateful!!!"

The backpack project was co-funded through a Rotary district grant from District 7910. District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in our community and communities abroad.

Feeding the Hungry in Kenya

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley recently supported the efforts of FOCUS Dream Center in providing food relief to needy families.

Founder and President Pastor Samuel Kariuki thanked the club, "I am so grateful and appreciate your support. I am happy to let you know Focus Dream Center has been working hard especially at the Covid-19 season to support and feed the vulnerable communities. We have been feeding more than 500 families week.. Your donation has arrived on time when its needed most. My prayers is for God to bless you abundantly."

FOCUS Dream Center is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization based in Worcester MA, with an aim to support sustainable community programs that targets the vulnerable members of our community. These programs provide educational, nutritional, and medical programs for orphans in Kenya as well as providing for water and sanitation for the community at large. For more information, visit focusdreamcenter.org.

50 Weeks of Keeping in Touch

To reach out to those who are more confined at this time, members of the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley sent cards and letters to the residents of the River Terrace Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Lancaster, MA for 50 weeks since June 2020. Every week, members sent hand-written messages, sharing their own pandemic activities, musings and stories, and notes of inspiration to the more than 65 residents who have been confined during the pandemic. Many of the messages included jokes, riddles, puzzles, and activities to help entertain the residents. The envelopes were sterilized before being given to the residents. In a note from the Diane Sevigney-Staples, Life Enrichment Director, "Thank you all so much for the letters and cards you have been sending to our residents and patients. It is much appreciated and thoughtful."

Additionally, the club sent cards and letters to the residents at the Bolton Country Manor, which offers supportive housing to residents in Bolton, MA. Many residents were trapped in isolation amid coronavirus. Cards and letters brightened their days! Now that Massachusetts has loosened restruction rules, it is time for the club to embrace in-person service projects!

IT Tech Support for Seniors

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley has been collaborating with the Lancaster, MA Council on Aging to provide devices and instructions on how to use video apps to communicate with loved ones during this challenging time. For more information, contact Alix at aturner@lancasterma.net.

Club Bulletin for July 30, 2020

Regular Club meeting for July 30, 2020

Meeting held via Zoom

Club Bulletin for July 16, 2020

Regular Club meeting minutes from Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley

Meeting held via Zoom

Club Bulletin June 4, 2020

Regular club meeting June 4, 2020

First-ever Virtual Repair Cafe on June 20

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, with support from Bolton Local and the Repair Cafe Foundation, hosted a Repair Café via Zoom videoconferencing on Saturday, June 20, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. (ET). Residents of Bolton, Maynard, and surrounding towns - as well as people around the world - were invited to join this Zoom session and find out what a Repair Café is all about.

The purpose of the Bolton and Maynard Repair Cafe was to offer free online advice to the public about the repair of household goods during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 10 attendees who wanted to fix items during the Zoom session needed to supply the parts and tools required to make the repairs and do the repairs themselves.

Until now, local Repair Cafes have been in-person events where volunteer fixers work with owners of broken items to make repairs. With the current coronavirus situation, we cannot safely do in-person repairs. Therefore, we are offering help in a Zoom meeting. This means owners of broken items will have to do the actual repairs with guidance from the fixers. Our fixers cannot handle or work on those items. In the meantime, we are investigatin drop-off possibilities for items that need to be repaired. Stay tuned, as we update our go-forward plans!

For more information on the Bolton and Maynard Repair Cafe, contact Ray Pfau at 978-779-5545 or ray.pfau@alum.mit.edu.

Donations of Restaurant and Food Gift Cards

The Board of Directors voted to approve the purchase of three grocery gift cards to address needs identified by the social worker for the Nashoba Regional School District.

“What wonderful news! What a very special thing to have happen - these cards will mean so much to everyone who receives one,” said Brooke Clenchy, Superintendent of Schools. “The Rotary Club is simply an amazing organization - and this is but one more example of the kind of incredible things that they do - I'm so respectful of their generosity.”

Additionally, the board and the board of the endowment fund voted to purchase $1500 worth of grocery and restaurant gift cards to donate to the needy in our communities, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The club donated gift cards to the Stow Food Pantry, the Bolton Community Fund, and WHEAT, a Clinton-based food pantry that serves Lancaster and surrounding towns. Restaurant gift cards from Emma’s, our primary meeting location, were used to pay for meals for local grocery store workers and other deserving citizens.

Since then, the board has approved additional gift cards to support our local communities. You can help by contacting info@nashobarotary.org.

Club Bulletin April 16, 2020

Club Meeting Via Zoom. 19 members in attendance.

Our Board Suspends Face-to-Face Club Gatherings Through At Least May 4

Posted on Mar 18, 2020

Updated on April 3, 2020

In response to the pandemic of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of NashobaValley has

suspended face-to-face gatherings through at least this May 4. The Board will re-evaluate the situation then, and on an ongoing basis.

Through May 4, is when Governor Charlie Baker has extended a stay-at-home advisory and a non-essential-business closure.

In the meantime, our charitable, non-profit service club, which covers Bolton, Lancaster and Stow, will virtually conduct board and club meetings through phone- and video-conferencing. Because Rotary's principal motto is service above self, the Nashoba club is exploring virtual and limited-physical services to offer to our three communities.

"Our primary concern is the health and well-being of all Rotarians, their families and the community," says Richard Simon, our club's president from January 1 through March 31. "Concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic continue to prevail, and there is no immediate solution."

Simon regards the Nashoba Valley club's action as being in alignment with Rotary's Four-Way Test, which states: "Of the things we think, say or do: Is it the truth?; is it fair to all concerned?; will it build goodwill and better friendships?; and, will it be beneficial to all concerned?"

Nashoba Valley's suspension of face-to-face-gatherings is in line with a March 16 joint statement issued by Mark Daniel Mahoney, 2019-2020 president, and Holger Knaack, 2020-2021 president of Rotary International . "In the near term," they stated, "we recommend that Rotary districts and clubs cancel or postpone meetings or events following the advice of national and local health officials."

Referring to all the technology Rotarians have at their disposal, Mahoney and Knaack also stated that "we as Rotarians can continue to reach out and collaborate on big projects with Rotary clubs, Rotaractors, and Interactors."

Recommended best practices

Congratulations, RYLA Scholarship Recipients!

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley has awarded scholarships to Madeline Powers, Kylie Nelson, Aidan Dow, and Ian Winiarski for this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) conference. Sydney Gulliver of Lancaster and Rebecca Emken of Stow were selected as alternates.

Robert Johnson, RYLA Committee Chair, said the students will be among the more than 200 Massachusetts high school sophomores who will attend the RYLA Conference at Fitchburg State University on June 26-28. To be chosen, they needed to demonstrate leadership potential and good citizenship characteristics and show a strong desire to attend and benefit from the conference.

Aimed at developing the leadership potential of young men and women, the conference will feature interactive Leadership Labs, exciting guest speakers, and challenging mental and physical activities. Additional topics will include decision-making, critical thinking, communicating effectively, ethics, and public service.

For more information or to volunteer at this event, visit http://www.ryla7910.org or contact Robert Johnson at johnson@itesafety.com, 978-875-3143.

Find more information about the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley at www.nashobarotary.org.

RYLA Candidates, Apply Now!

Rotary Offers Youth Leadership Conference Opportunity for High School Sophomores

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley seeks qualified candidates to apply for this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) conference to be held June 26 – June 28 at Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA. This annual leadership conference offers outstanding high school sophomores the opportunity to live, work, and interact together in an atmosphere of friendly competition. The program is designed to challenge participants to use and improve their leadership skills. Best of all, there is no charge to students who participate. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley will sponsor four students at this year’s conference. Applications are due March 14, 2020 and are available from the Downloads section of this web page.

Participants will be selected from students who have exhibited leadership potential and are currently in their sophomore year of high school. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley is contacting high school principals, guidance counselors, youth organizations, and other sources for nominations and welcomes applications and recommendations from the public. For more information, contact Robert Johnson at johnson@itesafety.com, 978-875-3143.

Cabin Fever Winter Festival a Success!

Posted by Steve Jones-D'Agostino on Feb 20, 2020

More than 300 hearty souls attended Nashoba Valley's first annual Cabin Fever Winter Festival, a fun-for-all-ages outdoor event that took place on Saturday, February 1 from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. on Bolton Town Common. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, our Festival was enjoyed by attendees, young and old, despite the lack of snow.

In addition to the fun and revelry, the $7,000 in net proceeds will benefit the Nashoba towns of Bolton, Lancaster and Stow.

To view event photos, click here.

To watch a Bolton Access TV video on our event, click here.

Congratulations to The Fireplace Room at the International Golf Club and Resort in Bolton for winning the Chili Challenge! It was a tough decision, as all participants provided tasty samples.

Congratulations also go to The Bolton Public Library for their winning Decorate A Snowperson entry. This, too, was a difficult decision, as all of the participants had creative entries!

To read the wrap-up news release, click here.

To learn more about our Cabin Fever Winter Festival, click here. Or, contact event Co-chair Nanci Bishop, of the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, at nanbish@yahoo.com.

Recognition for First Responders

On January 30, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley assembled plates of treats to deliver to the first responders for the towns that we serve: Lancaster, Bolton, and Stow, MA.

Club members assembled plates of cookies, cookie bars, homemade candy, and brownies as well as individually wrapped chocolates and candy and delivered them to the amazing and selfless people who serve us and our towns so well.

Club Bulletin December 19, 2019

Club Meeting on December 19 at Emma's Cafe

Club Bulletin - December 5, 2019

Posted by Catherine Hammill on Dec 12, 2019

Our Cabin Fever Winter Festival is a first-of-its-kind fundraiser, created to raise funds to meet the community service needs of Stow, Bolton, and Lancaster. This Winter Festival is designed to bring the residents of these towns and neighboring communities together for a day of family fun. Chase away the winter blues with samples of award winning chili, beer and wine tasting, hot chocolate, s'mores, and a variety of fun and unique games and activities.

Club Bulletin - November 21, 2019

Posted by Catherine Hammill on Nov 26, 2019

The “People of Action” global ad campaign is for people who do not know about Rotary or why it’s relevant to them. Rotarians share a unique passion for taking action to improve their communities and the world. Where others see problems, we see solutions. This is our chance to show others how Rotarians see what’s possible in their communities and to highlight what we can achieve when more community leaders join Rotary.

Thanksgiving Gift Bags

Help senior citizens in Bolton celebrate Thanksgiving this year with a gift bag of treats. Your help in donating to the gift bags will be greatly appreciated. We filled over 100 gift bags this year!

It's not too late to help offset the price of the bags and their contents. You can make a monetary donation through PayPal using the Donate button at the top of the home page. You can also send your tax-deductible checks to:

Nashoba Rotary Charitable Endowment Inc.

Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley

PO Box 322

Stow, MA 01775

Nashoba Rotary Charitable Endowment Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, charitable organization.

Meeting Bulletin - November 7 2019

Posted by Catherine Hammill on Nov 14, 2019

November 7th Meeting: Special Speaker Dave Kaiser, Rotary Leadership Institute.

Meeting Bulletin Addendum/Revisions Oct 31 2019

Posted by Catherine Hammill on Nov 04, 2019

One thing was left out of the meeting notes from Thursday and one needs correction:

1. Jeff Loeb's Jazz Concert should have been in announcements - See below for details and the flyer

2. Laura Spear's Thanksgiving Bag items was incorrected noted - In the story below you will see a flyer for needed items

Meeting Bulletin - October 31 2019

Posted by Catherine Hammill on Oct 31, 2019

Meeting at Emmas Cafe

October 31, 2019 - REVISED with Additional Notes!

Club Assembly to review visioning goals and progress, no speakers this week.

Bolton Repair Cafe: January 11

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, with support from Bolton Local and the Repair Cafe Foundation, hosted the Bolton Repair Café on Saturday, January 11, with a record number of 74 guests, 32 volunteers who repaired broken items for free, and more than 100 items to be repaired. We rang our bell, which gets rung when an item is fixed, many times. Click here, to view the event photos.

At a Repair Café, everything centers on making repairs. Knowledgeable volunteer help repair items such as clean and mendable clothing, knitted and crocheted items, lamps, small appliances, computers and other electronics, bikes, toys, and jewelry. They can also sharpen knives, scissors, and garden tools. You pay only for needed parts. If you know what parts are needed, please get them ahead of time and bring them to the Repair Café, to save time. The fix is free!

For more information about Repair Cafes or to start one in your area, contact Ray Pfau at 978-660-1291 mobile/text or ray.pfau@mit.alum.edu.

Bolton Repair Cafe: January 11

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, with support from Bolton Local and the Repair Cafe Foundation, is hosting the next Bolton Repair Café on Saturday, January 11, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the cafeteria at the Florence Sawyer School, at 100 Mechanic St. in Bolton. The school is located behind the Emerson School, which is on the same driveway/street. The snow date is Saturday, January 18.

Residents of Bolton and surrounding towns are invited to come and find out what a Repair Café is all about. At a Repair Café, everything centers on making repairs. Knowledgeable volunteers will help repair items such as clean and mendable clothing, knitted and crocheted items, lamps, small appliances, computers and other electronics, bikes, and toys. They can also sharpen knives, scissors, and garden tools.

You pay only for needed parts. If you know what parts are needed, please get them ahead of time and bring them to the Repair Café, to save time.

Volunteers at the Repair Café will look at all items brought in and help try to repair them. When the volunteers cannot repair something that is repairable, they will offer suggestions about where to go for repairs.

For more information about Repair Cafes or to start one in your area, contact Ray Pfau at 978-660-1291 mobile/text or ray.pfau@mit.alum.edu.

Bolton Repair Cafe: November 9

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, with support from Bolton Local and the Repair Cafe Foundation, hosted the Bolton Repair Café on Saturday, November 9, with a record number of guests: 93! The event also had a record number of volunteers with 40 people who repaired broken items for free. The most amazing fix was cutting open a safe. The fix that took the most time was hand sewing a fur coat.

For more information about Repair Cafes or to start one in your area, contact Ray Pfau at 978-660-1291 mobile/text or ray.pfau@mit.alum.edu.

Veterans Day Breakfast 2019

On Monday, November 11, Stow-area veterans enjoyed a hearty breakfast while being honored at the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton, in Stow.

The breakfast, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, featured presentations from State Senator Jamie Eldridge, State Representative Kate Hogan, and the keynote speaker, Colonel Arvid R. Hill, Director of International Affairs and Director of Plans, Operations and Readines,. Colonel Hill spoke on “Honor Veterans Today but Appreciate Them Always” and emphasized the role of the National Guard in defending our country and how that role has expanded over recent years.

Colonel Hill's positions involve strategic planning, organizational assessment, and building partner capacity with our state’s partnership program countries of Kenya and Paraguay. Colonel Hill’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal. Previous duty assignments include command of the 110th Maintenance Company in Ayer, MA and command of the 126th Brigade Support Battalion in Springfield, MA as well as multiple other duty assignments throughout the Commonwealth. Colonel Hill was deployed during 2003-2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom at Tallil Air Base in Iraq. He l is a graduate of the United States Army War College, holds two Masters Degrees, and lives in Dudley, MA with his family.

Maynard Launches Its First Repair Cafe

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, with support from Maynard High School and the Repair Cafe Foundation, hosted its first Repair Café for Maynard, MA on Saturday, September 21. More than 40 people brought knives and garden tools for sharpening, lamps for fixing, clothes and sweaters for mending, and many other items for repair, including cell phones, laptop computers, CD players, a mower and chainsaw, and even a VHS player among others. The positive response guarantees another Maynard event, targeting spring 2020.

At a Repair Café, everything centers on making repairs. Knowledgeable volunteers help repair items such as clean and mendable clothing, knitted and crocheted items, lamps, small appliances, computers and other electronics, bikes, toys, and jewelry. They also sharpen knives, scissors, and garden tools. Participants pay only for needed parts. The fix is free!

Volunteers at the Repair Café look at all items brought in and help try to repair them. When the volunteers cannot repair something that is repairable, they offer suggestions about where to go for repairs.

Unlike a "fix-it" shop, where people drop off items to be repaired and continue about their day, the Repair Café is meant to get people involved with the repair process, and create connections with others in the community. People bringing in items for repair are asked to stay while their items are being fixed. They can just watch, help with the repair, fix the items themselves with help from volunteers, or just have a snack and visit with neighbors.

The Maynard Repair Cafe was supported by 30 volunteers with skills for computers and electronics, bikes, locksmiths, furniture and carpentry, knife sharpening, sewing and mending, and more. For future reference, please bring parts that may be needed to help with your repair.

Rotary Teaches Bicycle and Scooter Safety to Extended Day Students

For the third year, members of the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley instructed about 20 extended stay students at Emerson School in Bolton, MA on bicycle and scooter safety skills. With support from Craig Kilmer, owner of CK Bikes in Harvard, MA, Rotarians taught the use of hand signals, maneuverability, and basic maintenance, and asked the students several “what if” scenarios to address issues related to safe riding.

Bulletin for July 18, 2019 Meeting

Posted by Catherine Hammill on Jul 21, 2019

Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley: Club Meeting at Emma's Cafe 7/18/19

Guest Speaker: Helena Donlevy from Wachusett Rotary Club speaking about Happy Children Happy India initiative

Installation of 2019-2020 Club Officers

On June 20, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley held its installation ceremony and celebration at the Bolton home of Jacky Foster, the club’s 2018-19 president, who will also serve a partial term as a 2019-20 co-president until September 30.

The 2019-20 co-presidents are Foster, Laura Spear, Richard Simon, and Chris Spear, who will share the duties in three-month segments. The 2020-21 president-elect is Carolyn Read, and the 2021-2022 president-nominee is Steve Jones-D’Agostino. For the 2019-20 year, Rick Burkhart is the treasurer, Catherine Hammill is the secretary, and Ron Bott is the executive secretary. The 2019-20 board members are Foster, Read, Laura Spear, Chris Spear, Jones-D’Agostino, Ron Richard, Hammill and Burkhart.

Also during the ceremony and celebration, Jones-D’Agostino was named the club’s 2019-20 Rotarian of the Year, Foster was recognized for her excellent service as 2019-20 president, and Bill Wilkinson was installed as a new member. Foster also presented “I (Heart) Rotary” ballcaps to several club members who have gone above and beyond the service-above-self call of duty this year: Nancy Bishop, Mary Garcia, Carolyn Read, Laura Spear and Catherine Hammill.

Bolton Repair Cafe Mends Again!

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, with support from Bolton Local and the Repair Cafe Foundation, hosted its eighteenth Bolton Repair Café on June 1 at Bolton's Florence Sawyer School. 59 guests attended, bringing 89 items for repair. Thanks to the 28 volunteers, about 79% of the items were repaired! Among the more interesting items for repair were a hoverboard. an electronic lawn mower that needed rechargeable batteries, and a decorative well with a broken chain for the bucket. See more photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/YtRb3guStdkH4sQg9.

Nashoba Rotary Awards Scholarships to Nashoba and Minuteman Graduates

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2019 scholarships. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley awarded a $2500 college scholarship to Collen Pokorney, who graduated from Nashoba Regional High School and will attend the University of Connecticut to pursue a degree in psychology. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley also awarded tool scholarships to Jeffrey and Tyler Benoit, who graduated from Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School. Jeffrey will continue his education at University of Tampa where he will study management. Tyler will major in marine biology with a research focus on marine micro-organisms.

These scholarships are eligible for students who have demonstrated significant community service and plan a career aligned with Rotary’s six areas of focus: promotion of peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies. Our scholarship awardees each met and exceeded the scholarships’ requirements, and we wish them well in their future studies.

Bulletin for May 30th Meeting

Posted by Catherine Hammill on Jun 04, 2019

Mary Garcia welcome new member, Susan Wilkinson. Razia Jan was our honored guest and speaker.

2021 Devens Dog and Music Festival

Clear Path for Veterans NE, along with the Rotary clubs of Nashoba Valley and Ayer, Devens, Harvard and Shirley, hosted its annual Devens Dog and Music Festival in support of the Dogs2Vets program to match service dogs with local veterans. The event was on October 31 in Devens, MA. The program, perfected in Clear Path for Veterans' center in New York state and now available in Massachusetts, involves a veteran in the canine-training process, working together with the trainer to achieve individual goals.

The 2021 Devens Dog Fest raised funds for both the dogs and the training costs associated with the Dogs2Vets program in support of local veterans. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley sponsored the Best of the Fest contests, including largest dog, smallest dog, best kisser, and best costume. The club also ran the Skyhoundz World Canine Disc competition. Congratulations to all winners and participants, and many thanks to sponsors Tito's hand-made vodka and T-Mobile.

To see more photos from the event, visit our Facebook album.

Repair Cafe in Bolton: June 1

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, with support from Bolton Local and the Repair Cafe Foundation, hosted the Bolton Repair Café on Saturday, June 1.

The Bolton Repair Café was held in the cafeteria at the Florence Sawyer School. Many residents of Bolton and surrounding towns attended with with their items to be fixed for free.

The Nashoba Valley club continued its activity for kids at this event. Children could work on taking something apart at the supervised take-apart table, to see how it works. Putting things back together and fixing things was not expected.

Volunteers Wanted: Reality Fair 2020 To Be Held on April 8

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley is conducting its eighth annual financial Reality Fair for Nashoba Regional High School sophomores on the morning of Wednesday, April 8 . We need more than 50 volunteers to bring a taste of financial literacy to the ~250 students in the Sophomore class. Contact info@nashobarotary.org if you are interested in helping!

The Reality Fair is a financial management event for the high school’s sophomores, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, Nashoba Regional High School, and Clinton Savings Bank. The objective is to give students a better understanding of the financial responsibilities they will face in the real world. Students pick a career, receive a monthly paycheck, and have to maintain a lifestyle within their budget.

“On the day of the fair, students get a paycheck based on a career that they select,” explained Richard Simon, President of the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley. “The paycheck shows their monthly salary and deducted taxes. With the remaining money, they need to pay for essentials like housing, utilities, insurance, transportation, clothing, and food. They are also tempted with “nice-to-have” luxuries, such as pets, travel, and entertainment, and they must spin a Wheel of Fortune that will help them understand life’s unexpected expenses or windfalls. It’s a real eye opener for most of them, and we can use more help for this learning experience. Besides, it’s a ton of fun!”

After students visit the various tables at the fair, they balance their budgets and review their spreadsheets with a credit counselor. The completed ledgers will be sent home to the students for further discussion. As a result, each student should gain greater financial literacy and appreciation for future financial decisions.

Reality Fair 2019 Held on April 5

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley ran its seventh annual financial Reality Fair for Nashoba Regional High School sophomores on Friday, April 5 . Over 50 volunteers brought a taste of financial literacy to the 243 students in the Sophomore class.

The Reality Fair was a financial management event for the high school’s sophomores, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, Nashoba Regional High School, and Clinton Savings Bank. The objective was to give students a better understanding of the financial responsibilities they will face in the real world. Students picked a career, received a monthly paycheck, and had to maintain a lifestyle within their budget.

“On the day of the fair, students get a paycheck based on a career that they select,” explained Jacky Foster, President of the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley. “The paycheck shows their monthly salary and deducted taxes. With the remaining money, they need to pay for essentials like housing, utilities, insurance, transportation, clothing, and food. They are also tempted with “nice-to-have” luxuries, such as pets, travel, and entertainment, and they must spin a Wheel of Fortune that will help them understand life’s unexpected expenses or windfalls. It’s a real eye opener for most of them, and we can use more help for this learning experience. Besides, it’s a ton of fun!”

After students visited the various tables at the fair, they balanced their budgets and reviewed their spreadsheets with a credit counselor. The completed ledgers will be sent home to the students for further discussion. As a result, each student should gain greater financial literacy and appreciation for future financial decisions.

Congratulations to RYLA 2019 Recipients!

Congratulations to scholarship winners Abigail Ayotte, Emma Conant, Leo Lukaszevicz and Teagan O’Connor, who were all selected to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award conference in June 2019. Robert Johnson, local Committee Chairperson, said that the chosen students will be among the more than 150 Massachusetts high school sophomores who will attend the RYLA Conference at Fitchburg State University.

Aimed at developing the leadership potential of young men and women, the conference will feature many thought-provoking events including interactive Leadership Labs, exciting guest speakers, and challenging mental and physical activities that will provide the participants with a chance to excel among and with their peers. Topics will include decision-making, critical thinking, communicating effectively, ethics, and public service.

To be chosen, the candidates needed to qualify by showing leadership potential and good citizenship characteristics, and showing a strong desire to attend and benefit from the conference. Additionally, in their individual interviews, they needed to stand out from the other applicants. We thank all applicants for this program!

Appreciation for Our First Responders

To kick off the new year, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley baked and assembled plates of goodies, which were then distributed to the police departments, fire departments, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in our three primary service towns: Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow. It was an opportunity to show our gratitude to every-day heroes that serve our community!

Razia's Ray of Hope Thanks Rotary for $58,000 Global Grant

Razia’s Ray of Hope sent the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley a thank-you note for the $58,000 Global Grant the club sponsored and awarded in 2017:

For the past two years, the Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation’s (RRH) Midwifery Program Global Grant has provided medical equipment in conjunction with education and training for future maternal and child health professionals and skilled birth attendants at the Razia Jan Institute (RJI) in Deh’Subz, Afghanistan. We are especially grateful to the Nashoba Valley Rotary Club for spearheading the grant process for the Foundation.

The Global Grant for $58,000 specifically supported medical equipment and supplies; salaries for Afghan professional services (doctors, nurses, midwives, program manager and support staff); and gas, repairs, and maintenance for a van to transport faculty and students.

The Razia Jan Institute is a tuition-free, two-year midwifery training program and educational facility emphasizing the importance of maternal and infant health while supporting health-sector employment for Afghan women. Learn more about Razia's Ray of Hope at https://raziasrayofhope.org.

Meal Packaging Moved to March 9

The Rotary Clubs of Nashoba Valley, Littleton, Acton-Boxborough, Clinton, and Wachusetts Area, along with the Nashoba Regional High School Interact Club, the Littleton High School Community Service Club, The Maynard High School Interact Club, the Assabet Marine Corps JROTC, and Workers Credit Union, are sponsoring the sixth annual Rise Against Hunger food packaging event on March 9 from 9:30 AM to 1 PM at Littleton High School, 56 King Street, Littleton, MA. The goal is to package 20,000 meals in a couple of hours. Interested participants can register at http://events.stophungernow.org/LittletonHighSchoolAndRotaryClubofNashobaValley Walk-in volunteers are also welcome.

The assembly process combines rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and 23 essential vitamins and minerals into small meal packages. These meal packages are shipped around the world to support school feeding programs and crisis relief. The food stores easily, transports quickly, and has a shelf-life of two years. Learn more at www.riseagainsthunger.org.

Youth Leadership Conference Application Now Available

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley is actively seeking qualified candidates for this years Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) conference to be held June 28-30 at Fitchburg State University. The program is designed to challenge participants to use and improve their leadership skills. Best of all, there is no charge to students who participate. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley will sponsor three students from Lancaster, Bolton, and/or Stow at this year’s conference. Applications are due March 10, 2019. More information and the application are available from the Download section of this website.

27 Founding Members Installed at New Interact Club of Maynard High School

Twenty-seven founding members of the new Interact Club of Maynard High School were inducted during a ceremony on January 28, 2019 at the public school. John Erb, who sponsored the Interact club as a member of the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, asked the members to "promise to do goodwill within your community and your country. In addition to service, you will have the benefits of strong bonds of friendship with fellow Interactors, locally and worldwide, as well as the chance to develop strong leadership and professional skills." John also led them in stating Rotary's Four Way Test. View the photo album, and learn more about this new club and its new officers: http://ht.ly/bnlW30nFVp6

Part of Rotary International, Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Learn more at https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/interact-clubs.

View Video and Photos of Bolton Repair Cafe on January 26

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley held a Bo

lton Repair Cafe on January 26, 2019 at the Florence Sawyer School in Bolton. More than 80 brought a variety of items in need of repair, which more than two dozen "fixer" volunteers sought to repair.

To view a video of this Bolton Repair Cafe, click here.

To view photos of this Bolton Repair Cafe, click here.

At the Repair Café, everything centers on making repairs. Knowledgeable "fixer" volunteers help repair items such as clean mendable clothing, lamps, small appliances, computers and other electronics, bikes, and toys. They can also sharpen knives, scissors, and garden tools. We cannot work on outdoor power equipment in the winter. You pay only for needed parts. If you know which parts are needed, please get them ahead of time and bring them to the Repair Café, to save time.

Razia Jan, CNN Hero, to Speak on February 7

All are invited to hear Razia Jan, founder and President of Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation, speak on February 7 at the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley.

Razia Jan at Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley

February 7

7:15 AM - 8:30 AM

Emma's Cafe: 117 Great Road (Route 117), Stow, MA

RSVP: info@nashobarotary.org

Razia has worked for many years to forge connections between Afghans and Americans. Her humanitarian efforts are honored in First Lady Laura Bush's 2016 book We Are Afghan Women.

Born in Afghanistan, Razia moved to the United States in 1970. The proprietor of a small tailoring business in Duxbury, Massachusetts for 20 years, she served as president of the town’s Rotary Club. In the aftermath of September 11, Razia rallied her adopted New England community to send over 400 homemade blankets to rescue workers at Ground Zero after September 11. Her efforts expanded to include sending care packages to US troops in Afghanistan. Through her involvement in the military’s Operation Shoe Fly, she coordinated the delivery of over 30,000 pairs of shoes to needy Afghan children. Her handmade quilts commemorating September 11 have been exhibited at Madison Square Garden, the chapel at the Pentagon, and at fire stations in New York and Massachusetts.

Razia has received many awards for her humanitarian work, including a 2012 CNN Top 10 Hero award, the 2007 Woman of Excellence award from Germaine Lawrence Inc., multiple Rotary Club International Peace Awards, and certificates of appreciation from the Army Corps of Engineers and the American Legion.

With support from many individuals and Rotary clubs in this area, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley recently sponsored a global grant to fund a new midwifery school in Afghanistan through her organization, Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation. In her presentation, Razia will share her experiences working in Afghanistan as well as provide an update on the school.

For more information about Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation, visit https://raziasrayofhope.org/.

Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley Sponsored Veterans Day Breakfast Celebration

Posted by Jacky Foster on Nov 21, 2018

On Monday, November 12, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley honored our veterans at the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton with support from the Nashoba Regional High School Interact club and Boy Scouts from Troop 1 Stow.

The breakfast featured a presentation from the keynote speaker, Brigadier General Francis Magurn, Assistant Adjutant General. Magurn commanded at every level in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, from platoon leader to land component commander and retired March 1, 2018 after more than 37 years of service. He continues to serve in the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Military Division, as the assistant adjutant general.

Bird Seed Wreaths Still Available!

It's not too late! Although spring is around the corner, bird seed wreaths are available, just in time for returning feathered friends. Our hearty, handmade wreaths are made with fresh, dense, and delicious bird seed, using an exclusive Duncraft.com seed blend to satisfy your feathered friends. It’s the perfect gift for bird lovers! Made with the freshest sunflower seed, whole sunflower hearts, and safflower seed with no filler, so birds eat every bite. At $20, it's a quality gift for holiday gift exchanges, friends, neighbors, baby sitters, and others. Even better, 100% of all sales will be donated to charitable causes!

Crystal clear gift box display for the holiday season
Hang on your door, fence, or shed
Includes a hangar for easy installation

To order, contact info@nashobarotary.org for more information.

Bird Seed Wreaths: Thanks for your support!

Thanks to everyone who supported our bird seed wreath fundraiser this past holiday season! The hearty, handmade wreaths were the perfect gift for bird lovers and our wooded communities! If you are still interested in buying one before the winter snow hits, please send email to info@nashobarotary.org. At $20, it's a quality product. Even better, 100% of all sales will be donated to charitable causes!

Sudbury Repair Cafe A Success!

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, with support from the Sudbury Historical Society and the Sudbury Senior Center, hosted a Sudbury Repair Café on October 20, 2018. This free event was held at the Senior Center in Sudbury. Residents of Sudbury and surrounding towns were invited to come and find out what a Repair Café is all about. This event serviced a total of 80 clients, of which 35 were sharpening clients and 45 were general-repair clients. View the event photos at http://ht.ly/cZ1L30mloxM

Bolton Repair Cafe Celebrates 5th Birthday!

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, with support from Bolton Local and the Repair Cafe Foundation, hosted a Bolton Repair Café on September 29, 2018 in the cafeteria of Bolton's Florence Sawyer School, to help celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Bolton Repair Café. 58 guests attended, bringing 86 items for repair. Thanks to the 33 volunteers, about 80% of the items were repaired! See more photos at https://www.facebook.com/pg/NashobaRotary/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1849110611844998.

Weekly Bulletin - September 6th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Sep 12, 2018

John Barrett inspired us with his cancer journey and the road to fitness for all, especially those who have/had cancer.

Weekly Bulletin - August 16th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Aug 22, 2018

Caroline Tocci tells our Club about Vanessa Marcotte and how their foundation is honoring her.

Weekly Bulletin - August 2nd Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Aug 07, 2018

Mary Garcia, Immediate Past President, receives a Paul Harris+2 pin from husband, Rich (Foundation Chair). Thank you for your commitment to Rotary!

Weekly Bulletin - July 19th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Jul 24, 2018

Our Club grew by one! Welcome to Bill Poirier!!

Weekly Bulletin - May 31st Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Jun 01, 2018

Installation of Jo-Ann Bussiere - Jo-Ann represents Home Town Bank in Lancaster shared she’s our “link to Lancaster.” We are excited and grateful to be able to deepen our connection to the community.

Weekly Bulletin - May 24th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on May 30, 2018

Leigh Ann & Chris share highlights from Sleep In Heavenly Peace

Weekly Bulletin - May 17th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on May 17, 2018

Welcome to our two newest members!

From left to right: Mary Garcia (President), Rita French, Nanci Bishop (Membership Chair), Trudy Keith

Weekly Bulletin - April 19th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Apr 30, 2018

Mary was ready for Dogs2Vets!

Weekly Bulletin - April 12th Meeting

Posted on Apr 22, 2018

Darlene Corbett, Author of Stop Depriving The World Of You: A Guide For Coming Unstuck spoke to our club on April 12th.

Weekly Bulletin - March 22nd

Posted on Mar 25, 2018

TJ King, local 6th grader, shares his passion and work to help end hunger in Eastern MA.

Weekly Bulletin - February 22nd Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Mar 08, 2018

Comedian Jerry Caruso brought laughs to our Club on its 6th birthday!

Weekly Bulletin - March 1st Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Mar 08, 2018

Guest Speaker, Polly Mendoza (Neighbor Brigade Executive Director) shares the important work volunteers do in our communities to help their neighbors

Weekly Bulletin - February 15th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Feb 15, 2018

Shawn Smith, General Manager of the Lowell Spinners, is passionate about baseball and giving back to the community. Their season starts June 15th.

Weekly Bulletin - February 8th Club Assembly

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Feb 13, 2018

Ray gets a gold star for attendance during February 8ths Club Assembly!

Weekly Bulletin - February 1st Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Feb 02, 2018

Samantha Gould presents from Open Theater of Acton

Weekly Bulletin - January 25th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Jan 29, 2018

Andy Short. Managing Director of Improbable Players

Weekly Bulletin - Happy Holidays

Nashoba Valley Rotarians ending the year with a bang!

Weekly Bulletin - November 30th Club Assembly

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Nov 30, 2017

Two awards were presented to our Club!

Weekly Bulletin - November 16th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Nov 16, 2017

Karin Gaffney, District Governor presents the Nashoba Valley Club with this year's theme. See details below for the story about her necklace :)

Meeting Bulletin - October 19th Club Assembly

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Oct 20, 2017

President Garcia leading her fist Club Assembly -- a job VERY well done!

Weekly Bulletin - October 12th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Oct 17, 2017

Ayer Rotarians joined us for an evening meeting at Nancy's Airfield Cafe!

Weekly Bulletin - September 21st Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Sep 21, 2017

Dr. Shiva delivers a powerful presentation to a captured audience

Weekly Bulletin - September 21st meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Sep 21, 2017

Dr. Shiva delivers a powerful presentation to a captured audience

Weekly Bulletin - September 7th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Sep 07, 2017

Our club received the Club Service Award. Congratulations and thank you to immediate past president Chris for his leadership.

A packed house this morning at Emma's Cafe for the fun, food & fellowship of Rotary.

Weekly Bulletin - August 17th Meeting

Weekly Bulletin - July 20th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Jul 20, 2017

The smile in the picture of immediate past-president Chris says it all ... the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley is awesome!

Weekly Bulletin - June 29th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter

Bob models a No Malaria bib

Weekly Bulletin - June 22nd Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Jun 24, 2017

Bob Johnson models a NO MALARIA bib

Weekly Bulletin - May 18th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Jun 01, 2017

President Chris donates $500 to Stow Police Academy

Weekly Bulletin - June 1st Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on Jun 01, 2017

Rotarians gathered to catch up on the year and discuss new ideas

Weekly Bulletin - April 20th Meeting

Posted by Leigh Carpenter on May 01, 2017

Sophie Wadsworth, Executive Director of The Nature Connection,

Introduces Video, Funded by Rotary District Grant

Weekly Bulletin - March 23rd Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Mar 29, 2017

Author and entrepreneur David Greenwood of Hudson explores the relationship between entrepreneurship and ADHD.

Weekly Bulletin - March 16th Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Mar 23, 2017

Michele Wade spoke about Guest Table, a community dinner held the first Friday of every month, in Stow

Weekly Bulletin - March 2nd Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Mar 09, 2017

Liz and Maddie Edwards Spoke About a Family Visit to a Refugee Camp in Greece

Weekly Bulletin - February 23rd Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Mar 09, 2017

This was Our Club's 5th Anniversary, and the 112th Year of Rotary International

Weekly Bulletin - February 16th Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Mar 01, 2017

Our speaker was Patti Quigley, Executive Director of Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation

Weekly Bulletin - February 2nd Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Feb 17, 2017

President Chris Spear Receives Paul Harris +4 Award

Weekly Bulletin - January 19th Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Feb 06, 2017

Our Speaker, Suzie Mason, Discusses Domestic Violence Awareness

Weekly Bulletin - January 12th Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Jan 31, 2017

Our Speaker, Rebecca Stadolnik, of the Medical Reserve Corps of Stow

Birthday Party Invitation - February 23rd

Weekly Bulletin - January 5th Meeting

Our speaker, Katie Quinn, Owner of Mullahy’s Cheese Shop in Hudson

Weekly Bulletin - December 1st Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Nov 26, 2016

Thanks to the Bolton Bean for an emergency meeting location!

Weekly Bulletin - October 6th Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Oct 18, 2016

Our speaker was Tom Keefe, Founder and CEO of IMEC, an international nonprofit organization devoted to transforming impoverished communities in developing countries

Weekly bulletin - September 29

Posted by Rich Garcia on Oct 11, 2016

Weekly meeting September 22

This week's speakers were District Governors Pat and Skip Doyle. The district governor is required by RI to visit each club in the district.

Weekly Bulletin - September 8th Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Sep 22, 2016

Our speaker was to have been historian, David Mark, who was unable to attend because of a death in the family. He would have spoken about the “Rise and Fall of Slavery in Massachusetts." Briefly, Massachusetts was the first colony to legalize slavery (1641) and the first to end it (1783). Slavery never took hold in the northern colonies as it did in the south mostly because there were no labor intensive cash crops. Instead, northern slaves were primarily prestige property for the upper class.

Weekly bulletin, September 8

Weekly Bulletin - August 18th Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Aug 31, 2016

Our Speaker was Jennifer Wassan of Windrush Farm, a nonprofit horse farm in North Andover specializing in teaching physically, emotionally, and learning disabled children and adults to ride and work with horses.

Weekly Bulletin - July 28th Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Aug 02, 2016

Dracut Rotarian, Chuck Moran, speaks about Crutches 4 Africa, a non-profit organization that collects and delivers crutches and other mobility devices to people with disabilities in developing countries

Weekly Bulletin - July 21st Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Jul 31, 2016

Our first morning meeting of the new Rotary year featured Lisa Delle Donne of K-9 Unleashed Potential as our speaker

Weekly Bulletin - June 2nd Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Jun 23, 2016

Great Turnout at Our Quarterly Club Assembly!

Weekly Bulletin - May 19th Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on May 28, 2016

President-Elect Chris and President Jim present a check to Yvonne and the RFK Children's Action Corps to fund Student Discharge Kits

Weekly Bulletin - May12th Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on May 18, 2016

Nancy McPherson displays her new food order processing equipment for this summer's Wings & Wheels events at Minuteman Air Field

Weekly Bulletin - May 5th Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on May 12, 2016

Speaker, Roy Dennington, talks about Yoga Warriors

Weekly Bulletin - April 21st Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on May 03, 2016

President Jim Stone Receives Paul Harris +1 Pin From Foundation Chair Chris Spear

Weekly Bulletin - April 7th Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Apr 14, 2016

Robert Triest, vice president and economist in the research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, spoke about economic conditions in New England.

Weekly Bulletin - March 31st Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Apr 04, 2016

A Club Assembly, when members have the opportunity to discuss club programs and activities.

Weekly Bulletin - March 17th Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Mar 24, 2016

Our Speaker, Mari Ryan, addresses the club on St. Patrick's Day

Weekly Bulletin - February 11th Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Feb 18, 2016

Jacky Foster is presented with Paul Harris Fellowship by Foundation Chair Chris Spear

Weekly Bulletin - January 7th Meeting

Posted by Rich Garcia on Jan 14, 2016

Nashoba Valley Rotarian Leigh Carpenter speaks about the American Cancer Society

Weekly Bulletin - December 10th Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Dec 16, 2015

Camilla Bernasconi speaks about the activities of the Nashoba Regional High School Interact Club

Weekly Bulletin - December 3rd Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Dec 07, 2015

Lisa Vernegaard, Executive Director of Sudbury Valley Trustees, speaks about conserving land in the Concord, Assabet, and Sudbury river basin

Weekly Bulletin - November 5, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Nov 11, 2015

Leigh Carpenter, Sponsored by Don McPherson, is Admitted into Membership

Weekly Bulletin - October 29, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Nov 06, 2015

Our Speaker, Rick Kaplan, Talks about Jeff's Place

Weekly Bulletin - October 22, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Oct 30, 2015

New Member Jody Marchand with Sponsor Karin Gaffney

Weekly Bulletin - October 8, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Oct 25, 2015

"Gunner" Mann speaks about the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School

Weekly Bulletin - October 1, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Oct 08, 2015

A Great Turnout at our Club Assembly!

Weekly Bulletin - September 24, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Sep 30, 2015

Our speaker was Joanne Simon, an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist, who has been in private practice over 30 years. She also works at The Healing Garden, and runs a free veterans clinic.

Weekly Bulletin - September 17, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Sep 24, 2015

Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley Awards District Grant to The Healing Garden

Weekly Bulletin - September 10, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Sep 20, 2015

DG Jim Fusco Addresses Our Club During His Annual Club Visit

Weekly Bulletin - September 3, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Sep 09, 2015

Nanci Bishop Presents President Jim Stone with Check for $20,500 from Proceeds of Spirit of Hudson Food & Brewfest

Weekly Bulletin - July 23, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Jul 28, 2015

Karin Gaffney Receives Paul Harris +3 Fellowship Award from President Jim Stone

Weekly Bulletin - June 25, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Jul 01, 2015

President Jim Stone and other officers and directors (with Good Witch of the North) were installed by DG Jim Fusco

Weekly Bulletin - May 28, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Jun 04, 2015

President Richard Simon displayed this photo of the beneficiaries of our rainwater harvesting Global Grant project in Guatemala!

Weekly Bulletin - May 21, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on May 26, 2015

President Richard Simon receives one of many club awards at this year's District Conference from DG Val Callahan

Weekly Bulletin - May 7, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on May 12, 2015

Our speaker was Susan Nicholl, Executive Director of the Metrowest Visitors Bureau, a regional tourism council.

Weekly Bulletin - April 23, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Apr 27, 2015

Karin Gaffney presents Paul Harris Fellowships to Don McPherson (for Nancy), Dan Hnatio and Mary Garcia

Weekly Bulletin - April 9, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Apr 16, 2015

Donna McCullen was welcomed into membership in our Club by Ron Bott and Mary Garcia

Weekly Bulletin, April 2, 2015

Posted by Richard Garcia on Apr 05, 2015

Karin Gaffney led us in an activity that allows members to introduce themselves to the club in an interesting and fun way.

Weekly meeting, March 26, 2015

Posted by Richard Garcia on Mar 30, 2015

This week's meeting was the Club Assembly, when members had the opportunity to share thoughts and comments about our club's projects and events.

Weekly bulletin, March 19, 2015

Posted by Richard Garcia on Mar 23, 2015

Michael Mills, president of Business Coaches and Associates, in Northborough, spoke about setting and reaching business goals.

Weekly meeting, March 10, 2015

Posted by Richard Garcia

This was a special joint meeting of the Hudson and Nashoba Valley Rotary Clubs. We also heard from a volunteer with Camp Sunshine, a program for children with life threatening illnesses.

Weekly Bulletin - March 10, 2015 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Mar 15, 2015

This was a special joint meeting of the Hudson and Nashoba Valley Rotary Clubs. We also heard from a volunteer with Camp Sunshine, a program for children with life threatening illnesses.

Weekly meeting, March 10, 2015

Posted by Richard Garcia on Mar 11, 2015

This was a special joint meeting of the Hudson and Nashoba Valley Rotary Clubs. We also heard from a volunteer with Camp Sunshine, a program for children with life threatening illnesses.

Weekly Bulletin, March 5, 2015

Posted by Richard Garcia on Mar 07, 2015

Lynn Johnson of the River's Edge Arts Collaborative spoke to us about the vibrant arts scene in and around Hudson, Mass.

Weekly Bulletin, March 5, 2015

Posted by Richard Garcia on Mar 07, 2015

Lynn Johnson of the River's Edge Arts Collaborative spoke to us about the vibrant arts scene in and around Hudson, Mass.

Weekly Bulletin, February 26, 2015

Posted by Richard Garcia on Mar 01, 2015

President Richard S. along with Mary Ann F. and Chris S. present a $3,000 check to Yvonne A. for the RFK School

Weekly bulletin, February 19, 2015

Posted by Richard Garcia

Katie Picchione, WPI Rotaractor and speaker, with club members Ron Bott, Mary and Rich Garcia.

Weekly bulletin, February 12, 2015

Laura Spear spoke to us about creating and maintaining a club "brand."

Packing 12,000 Meals in 45 Minutes

Posted on Feb 10, 2015

by Ann Needle, The Stow Independent

Last Saturday morning, local Rotary clubs headed up an army of volunteers to package 12,000 meals for the Stop Hunger Now non-profit group in just about 45 minutes. The event took place at Nashoba Regional High School.

“It’s really unbelievable,” said Stow’s Laura Spear, former president of the Nashoba Valley Rotary Club, of the speed at which the work was accomplished. She noted that the first half hour of the anticipated four-hour event was devoted to organizing and instructing volunteers on the assembly process. With the actual packaging getting underway at 10:30 am, the finishing “gong” sounded at approximately 11:13 am.

Weekly bulletin, February 5, 2015

Posted by Richard Garcia on Feb 08, 2015

Meg O'Leary spoke to us about the effort to convert the property formerly occupied by Smith's Garage to Bolton Common.

Weekly Bulletin - December 11, 2014 Meeting

Posted on Dec 16, 2014

John Curran, of the Portland, Maine, Rotary club, spoke to us about their 3-H project (Hearing aids, Hands, and H2O) in the Dominican Republic.

Weekly Bulletin - December 4, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Richard Garcia on Dec 09, 2014

Alison McKenna, executive director, Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, was the speaker.

Weekly bulletin, November 13, 2014

Posted by Richard Garcia on Nov 24, 2014

Kerry Flathers of Lancaster's Perkins School spoke about the school's focus on children with psychological and social issues.

Weekly Bulletin - November 6, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Nov 10, 2014

Cassie Ela, Police Officer, Town of Stow, spoke about the RAD program.

Weekly Bulletin – October 30, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Nov 04, 2014

Dr. Satya Mitra, Immediate Past President of the Worcester Rotary Club and Chair of District 7910’s Membership Committee, spoke about membership.

Weekly Bulletin – October 23, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Oct 29, 2014

Salma Semakula and Hannah Polakoff spoke about the Clover Foundation.

Weekly Bulletin – October 16, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Oct 21, 2014

Club Assembly

Weekly Bulletin – October 9, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Oct 14, 2014

The Parkers gave a presentation about their trip to Greenland in their own plane.

Weekly Bulletin – September 4, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Sep 09, 2014

Sanjay Deshpande spoke about Liver Health Awareness.

Weekly Bulletin – August 21, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Sep 06, 2014

Paul Jensen spoke about how his company can help your business connect using the Internet.

Weekly Bulletin - July 31, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Sep 05, 2014

A RYLA student shared his experience at the June RYLA Conference.

Weekly Bulletin - July 24, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jul 29, 2014

Nicole Hamel told us about the Up With People organization and shared her life changing experiences as a UWP cast member.

Weekly Bulletin - June 26, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jul 05, 2014

Richard Simon was installed as our Club President!

Weekly Bulletin - June 12, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jun 22, 2014

Dr. Al Tatarunis author of Nobody Drives You Crazy – You Do!, spoke on stress management

Weekly Bulletin - June 5, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jun 08, 2014

Lotte Diomede from SmileMass

Weekly Bulletin - May 29, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jun 03, 2014

Richard Simon’s Ethics in Business video

Weekly Bulletin - May 22, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on May 25, 2014

Jim Pecora, historian and edutainer, on Red Man’s Capital Seat - Nashoba

Weekly Bulletin - May 15, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on May 20, 2014

Julia Garcia, Associate Director of Community-Based Programming, on Girl Scouts in your community

Weekly Bulletin - May 8, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on May 10, 2014

Steve Bennett of Skyline Flight presented, “Who’s in My Airspace? Some basics about our aviation system.”

Weekly Bulletin - May 1, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on May 03, 2014

Dolly Darozio - dog trainer - shared tips for training your "best friend."

Weekly Bulletin - April 24, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Apr 25, 2014

Club Assembly led by President Laura Spear

Weekly Bulletin - April 17, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Apr 20, 2014

Matt Tucker told us about life insurance and other kinds of insurance.

Weekly Bulletin - April 10, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Apr 12, 2014

Bolton 5K Road Group told us about their upcoming road race on June 14.

Weekly Bulletin - April 3, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Apr 06, 2014

Rick Roth, The Creature Teacher, brought WILD critters for us to learn from!

Weekly Bulletin - March 20, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Mar 25, 2014

Andrew Bluestein, Owner of Emma’s Café

Weekly Bulletin - March 6, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Mar 13, 2014

Diane Burnette, Director of Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center

Weekly Bulletin - February 20, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Feb 21, 2014

Getting to Know Each Other Better!

Weekly Bulletin - February 6, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Feb 07, 2014

Baby shower for Giuliana Eva Ouellette, Ashley’s baby.

Weekly Bulletin - January 30, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jan 31, 2014

Corinne Walker, President of the Lancaster Garden Club.

Weekly Bulletin - January 23, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jan 25, 2014

Club Assembly led by President Laura Spear.

Weekly Bulletin - January 16, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jan 18, 2014

Lee Warren is the Community Relations Manager for Stop Hunger Now. Lee spoke about how Stop Hunger Now is working around the world to end hunger.

Weekly Bulletin - January 9, 2014 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jan 11, 2014

Anita Saville, Executive Director of Budget Buddies, a Massachusetts-based, non-profit organization focused on improving the financial literacy of low income women in the Greater Lowell area.

Weekly Bulletin - December 12, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Dec 14, 2013

Barry Friedman spoke about his work with the Gift of Life (GOLNE).

Weekly Bulletin - December 5, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Dec 07, 2013

Richard Hebert, owner of Colonial Candies, shared the story of his family’s 100 year old chocolate business.

Weekly Bulletin - November 21, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Nov 23, 2013

Leonard Bernstein, DMD, MPH, spoke about the imperative of early childhood education.

Weekly Bulletin - November 14, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Nov 17, 2013

Margaret Koch spoke about the Healing Garden

Weekly Bulletin - November 7, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Nov 10, 2013

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

Weekly Bulletin - October 31, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Nov 02, 2013

Tour of the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services

Weekly Bulletin - October 17, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Oct 19, 2013

Club Assembly led by President, Laura Spear

Weekly Bulletin - October 10, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Oct 13, 2013

Nalini Goyal shared her story of creating the Gifts of Hope Unlimited boutique for DVSN.

Weekly Bulletin - October 3, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Oct 03, 2013

Tyrus Lemerande discussed his experience serving in the Navy in Afghanistan as well as his acting career.

Weekly Bulletin - September 26, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Sep 27, 2013

Stress management tips were shared.

Weekly Bulletin - September 19, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Sep 21, 2013

Mary Ann Fitzgerald, owner of Reflections in Bolton, speaks about starting and running her business.

Weekly Bulletin - September 12, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Sep 13, 2013

District Governor, Doug Detweiler, visited our club!

Weekly Bulletin - September 5, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Sep 05, 2013

Ray Pfau spoke about Bolton Local’s upcoming Repair Café.

Weekly Bulletin - August 8, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Aug 10, 2013

Matt Ward told the Milton Hershey story.

Weekly Bulletin - July 25, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jul 27, 2013

Christy Barbee from Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ) and Detective Mike Sallese, Stow Police Department

Weekly Bulletin - July 18, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jul 18, 2013

Club Assembly, Laura Spear, President, and RYLA students share their experiences at the June RYLA Conference

Weekly Bulletin - June 27, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jun 29, 2013

Laura Spear was installed as President for the 2013-2014 year.

Karin Gaffney presents the Club Charter to incoming President, Laura Spear.

Weekly Bulletin - June 6, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jun 08, 2013

Beth Marshall CPA, MBA, owner of Financially Authentic, spoke about developing a strong personal financial foundation.

Weekly Bulletin - May 30, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jun 01, 2013

John Erb from Maynard Area Auto Club and from Maynard Rotary Club talked to us about what it’s like to be a “car guy” in preparation for our show of classic cars and planes that begins next week in collaboration with the Rotary clubs of Acton/Boxborough and Maynard. John shared tidbits of etiquette for attending a “cruise night” as well as his experience collecting classic cars.

Weekly Bulletin - May 23, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on May 25, 2013

Zenaide Swenson, Director of Andrew’s Helpful Hands, spoke about helping families with children going through bone marrow transplants. www.AndrewsHelpfulHands.org

Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley Wins Awards, including Best Club

Posted by Laura Spear on May 21, 2013

At the 2013 Rotary District 7910 conference held on May 17-20, 2013, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley received 12 awards, including the top honor of Best Club in the District. Comprised of 54 clubs, District 7910 serves central Massachusetts. The Nashoba Valley club serves the communities of Lancaster, Bolton, and Stow and is also the district’s newest club, chartered in February 2012.

Cruise-in/Fly-in Nights Are Coming to Stow

Posted by Laura Spear on May 21, 2013

In cooperation with EAA #196, Friends of Minute Man Air Field, and Nancy’s Air Field Café, the Rotary Clubs of Nashoba Valley, Acton-Boxborough, and Maynard are holding the first annual Wings & Wheels program, a summer-long cruise-in/fly-in event at the Minute Man Air Field (302 Boxboro Road) in Stow, MA. The event will run on Thursday nights from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM for 12 weeks, June 6 through August 29 (except July 4).

Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley Awards Scholarships for Youth Leadership Conference

Posted by Laura Spear on May 21, 2013

April 1, 2013 -- The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley has awarded scholarships to this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) conference, to be held in June at Worcester State University. The scholarship winners are Olivia Hurd and Adam Ladd.

Weekly Bulletin - May 19, 2013

Posted by Barbara Myles on May 18, 2013

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley won 12 awards at the Annual District 7910 Conference on May 17-18 including the Best Club Award!

Weekly Bulletin - May 9, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on May 09, 2013

Karin updated us about service projects, fundraisers, and led us though two leadership activities that will take place during the RYLA weekend in June.

Weekly Bulletin - May 2, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on May 03, 2013

Sally Steel, Executive Director of Bolton’s Council on Aging, was our speaker.

Weekly Bulletin - April 11, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Apr 14, 2013

John Dowd Jr., author of Heroes, Mentors and Friends: Learning From Our Spiritual Guides, was our speaker.

Weekly Bulletin - April 4, 2013 Special presentation of We Are One international project.

Posted by Barbara Myles on Apr 06, 2013

President Karin Gaffney, President Nominee Richard Simon, David Paul DMD, and Frantz Compere MD gave presentations about our We Are One international project.

Weekly Bulletin - March 28, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Apr 01, 2013

Colleen McCauley, a stand-up comedian, was our presenter.

Weekly Bulletin - March 21, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Mar 23, 2013

President Karin Gaffney spoke about our many events.

Weekly Bulletin - March 7, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Mar 09, 2013

Sophie Wadsworth, Executive Director of The Nature Connection, spoke about the animal and nature programs they bring to people with limited access to the natural world.

Weekly Bulletin - February 28, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Mar 01, 2013

Tara DeCristofaro, Register of the Probate and Family Court for Middlesex County, spoke to us about probate law.

Weekly Bulletin - February 21, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Feb 21, 2013

Club Assembly with President Karin Gaffney presiding.

Weekly Bulletin - February 14, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Feb 17, 2013

Louise Peacock is the Director of Warm Hearts of Stow, which provides holiday help and direct aid of food, clothing and other supplies as well as referrals to other social service agencies to Stow families in need.

Weekly Bulletin - January 31, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Feb 02, 2013

Kelly Buttiglieri (Program Coordinator, Brian Injury Association of Massachusetts (www.biama.org) spoke about the common causes of traumatic brain injuries and the magnitude of this condition. Two Ambassador Speakers, Amy Linn and Paul Giunta, Jr. told us about their experiences with brain injuries.

Weekly Bulletin - January 24, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jan 29, 2013

Our speaker, Peggie Thornsen of the Rotary Club of Marlborough, explained how to organize and run a Reality Fair for high school students. On March 15th, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley is organizing a Reality Fair at Nashoba Regional High School.

Weekly Bulletin - January 17, 2013 Meeting

Posted by Barbara Myles on Jan 19, 2013

Catherine Hammill, a Realtor from Stow, and Jim Stone a Software Engineer from Bolton, were welcomed as new members of our Club!

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley!

Awarded RI Presidential Citation with Distinction & Zone 24-32 Vibrant Club Award for 2013-14!

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!

All (244) Rotary Club (2) rotary of Nashoba Valley (2) Bolton (1) Cabin Fever Winter Festival (1) club assemby (1) Coronavirus (1) happy children happy india (1) helena donlevy (1) purple pinkie day (1) Repair Cafe (1) rotary visioning (1) weekly meeting minutes (1)