I want again thank you all for support as the Club last Thursday evening as the Club named three new Paul Harris Fellows and distributed $4,000 in grants to three worthy charities in Springfield. After learning from our Foundation Chair Dene Kimball about WASH, the new partnership between Rotary International and UNICEF, Jim Russell and I actually had Dene speechless with a surprise presentation of the Service Above Self Award in honor of Dene’s 50 year commitment to Rotary.
President Elect Laurie Rosner told me that she had a guest for last Thursday’s festivities. As Laurie described her guest, Jillian Palmer, I realized I knew Jillian through our shared past involvement with the Springfield Young Professionals. It shows us how Rotary is the best vehicle for professional and personal networking. I encouraged Jillian to join us for a Friday lunch when her schedule allowed.
Staying in the vein of service and fellowship, I was able to serve as the interviewee for our Club project with Duggan Academy last Friday morning. The students were enthusiastic and curious. I did my best to make insurance sound as upbeat as possible! The 6th graders had questions about why I choose my career, what the most difficult part is and the least difficult part of my job and what is an insurance company. Please do call Alicia if you have interest in participating. You will have a great time. On June 10th, we will be hosting the students who participated in the career exploration curriculum as our lunch guests.
Last I want to mention this coming Friday, the Club will celebrate April and May birthdays. If you have not entered your birthday into clubrunner please do. We will hold a raffle of amongst the Birthday Rotarians for a $25 Max’s Restaurant gift card.
As of 1 May, the Rotary shop will be available on a new platform. We may experience some downtime during the transition and apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any questions, please contact us at shop.rotary@rotary.org or at 847-866-4600.
After a series of three earthquakes -- two in Japan and one in Ecuador -- killed hundreds of people, injured thousands, and caused billions of dollars in damage late last week, Rotary members in those regions have created disaster relief funds to help survivors.
In Ecuador, the powerful 7.8-magnitude quake that struck Saturday night has killed more than 400 people, with 2,500 injured. Those figures are expected to rise.
Rotary District 4400 established a service fund to raise money for relief efforts. Contact District Governor Manuel A. Nieto Jijon for information on how to donate.
In Japan,...
Jose Delgado from UMASS Springfield and his colleague Jamina Scippio McFadden will address the Springfield Rotary Club's luncheon meeting this Friday, May 20th.
Jose is the Pre-admissions advisor and Recruitment Coordinator for the UMass Amherst University Without Walls program. Prior to joining the UMass Center at Springfield, he was a Mayoral Aide for Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and has experience in Higher Education, Government and non-profit where his focus was on community engagement and empowerment.
Jose is a graduate of Westfield State University where he earned his Bachelors in Mass Communication and is currently an MBA student at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
A western Mass native, Jose currently serves on the boards of Suit Up Springfield, Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield and the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade Committee.
Jamina Scippio-McFadden is the Director of Student Services, Marketing and Community Relations at the University of Massachusetts Center in downtown Springfield. Prior to joining the founding UMass Center team, she taught communications at American International College and served as a college administrator and assistant professor at institutions in Florida and Georgia for the past 16 years. She has over 20 years experience in various aspects of the media industry including television news, radio, newspaper and public relations. She uses her media background to support local, regional and international non-profits and service organizations.
It's been a great year of service and fellowship for the Rotary Club of Springfield and, before we swear in a new leadership team at the end of June, Liz and I would like to cap it with an evening of fellowship on Wednesday, June 8th from 5:30 to 7:30 at our home at 72 Greenacre Ave in Longmeadow. Please join us and bring interested spouses, significant others, colleagues, friends or even prospective new members to join in the evening of friendship, conversation, wine and food.
We also welcome those who wish to contribute a bottle of a favorite wine or a plate of their favorite appetizer to share to do so, if desired.
To RSVP, or to volunteer to bring an item, please click on this link:
We've all worked to make this a growth year for membership, service and fellowship. Won't you join us to celebrate our success and enjoy some time with your friends in Rotary? Hope to have you with us!
Rick Lee has nominated his good friend Mike Garreffi, News Director at
22NEWS. Lee says “I have the pleasure of bestowing a Paul Harris fellowship this year and it is my pleasure to offer a public thank you to a very private man who has worked hard to serve our community. Mike works behind the scenes and largely out of the limelight and has transformed his station's coverage of our local news, with a focus not just on ratings, but on live coverage of stories important to his viewers, supportive of our community and reported by a news team that reflects the diversity of the region it serves.”
Andrew morehouse
As executive director of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts since 2005, Andrew is responsible for overseeing the management of the organization, and building partnerships with individuals, organizations, businesses and government entities at all levels. He also works to carry out public education, and collaborate with the Board of Directors to advance the mission of The Food Bank.
Andrew serves on the Board of Directors of Partners for a Healthier Community in Springfield, and is also the current chair of the Leadership Council of the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness.
SUE ORENSTEIN
Jay L. Leib has nominated his significant other Sue Orenstein. "Sue is an
amazing woman who has dedicated her life to children and the love of learning” says Leib.
Orenstein recently retired after teaching for over 20 years at The Wheeler School in Providence, RI.
The KEVS Foundation, The Gray House and Springfield Public Libraries are our 2016 community grants recipients. TheKEVS Foundation received a $2,000 grant for general outreach. The goal of KEVS Foundation is to educate and help prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in children and young adults. The Gray House received a $1,000 grant for their Kids Club Summer Program. The mission of The Gray House is “To help its neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, an after school program and educational services in a safe, positive environment in the North End of Springfield.” The Springfield Libraries received a $1,000 grant for their “Science on the Go” project – hands on science kits for Springfield children.
We will celebrate April and May Rotarians Birthdays on May 20th. If you have not listed your Birthday in ClubRunner, please do so. Not only do we want to note your special day and ensure you are in contention for the Max’s gift card raffled off at the Monthly Birthday table, but Rotary International also keeps track of club demographics using our Club Runner member data. Newer members are especially encouraged to help us lower that pesky AVERAGE AGE of members demo! Yikes! Ellen Moorehouse, this means you!
There have been some last minute changes to our Duggan Middle School service project. The school has cancelled the Thursday May 5th speaker due to required testing preparatory to MCAS. In addition, our May 12th event has been changed to May 13th from 9:20-10:20 AM.
Our visits on May 19th, May 26th and June 2 remain unchanged. All are set fro 9:20-10:20 AM. Please contact Alicia Garcia at alicia.garcia@scouting.org or (413) 355-6289if you have questions or concerns. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Our spring service project is focused on interesting students at Duggan Middle School in potential career paths. Students will be doing mock interviews of volunteering Rotarians as a form of research in developing their potential career interest.
We will celebrate April and May Rotarians Birthdays on May 20th. If you have not listed your Birthday in ClubRunner, please do so. Not only do we want to note your special day and ensure you are in contention for the Max’s gift card raffled off at the Monthly Birthday table, but Rotary International also keeps track of club demographics using our Club Runner member data. Newer members are especially encouraged to help us lower that pesky AVERAGE AGE of members demo! Yikes! Ellen Moorehouse, this means you!
