We are moving our location for Luncheon Meetings.  We will be meeting at The Residence at Pearl Street, 75 Pearl St., Reading.  The Residence is an assisted living facility, located in the former Pearl Street School.  Thank you to The Residence for offering us the meeting space.

 

We want to thank the Reading Public Schools for hosting our lunch meetings for the past several years.  Thank you, RPS and Superintendent Doherty for giving us a home. 

 

RPS has moved some programs and office space, which makes that conference room not longer open to us as of September.  The School Committee Meetings have also been moved from the conference room to the RMHS Pat Schettini Library.

 

Hopefully this move will meat we'll see more of Ron Winslow, who lives at The Residence.

 

The Rotary Club of Reading has secured early gold sponsor commitments from local businesses for the Tenth Annual Reading Fall Street Faire on Sunday, September 9, from noon to 5 pm.

 

Event Chair Sheila Clarke gives credit to Street Faire sponsors, acknowledging that they are the core of the success of putting on an event of this size. This year’s early gold sponsor commitments are from Beacon Consulting and CTA Construction, Lahey Health, Pediatric Dental Associates, Salem Five and Sartell Electric.

Reading Rotary will present the Tenth Annual Reading Fall Street Faire on Sunday, September 9, from noon to 5 pm.  

 

Event Chair Sheila Clarke has put Rotarians to work gathering sponsors, securing vendors, attracting entertainment, getting publicity and enticing volunteers to offer this adventure to the public. The Faire has become an anticipated and popular event each fall, with estimates of up to 15,000 people attending.

 

“The Rotary Club is very excited about continuing this affair,” said Clarke. “We had a successful year last year when the Rotary Club took over managing the event after being supported by the Town committees for the previous eight years. A perfect match for Rotary’s mission of service above self, we anticipate another marvelous event. Profits will be re-invested into the community and other Rotary charitable causes.”

 

Clarke went on to say, “The Reading Fall Street Faire would not be possible without the generosity of sponsors.” 

 

Early gold sponsor commitments have come from Beacon Consulting & CTA Construction, Lahey Health/Winchester Hospital, Pediatric Dental Associates and Salem Five. Silver sponsors are Hallmark Health, Comcast, Spurr Financial Services, and Davis, Clark & Latham Insurance. Patron sponsors are The Residence at Pearl, Leader Bank, Burbank YMCA and Douglass, Ederley & Bessom.

 

This family-friendly event is a great way to re-acquaint with friends, neighbors, local politicians, local businesses and opportunities after the summer recess. It will feature two stages, live entertainment, music, food, food trucks, children’s activities and more. A 5K road race open to children and adults under the direction of Lori Haverty of Tread will take place at 8:30 am before the Faire activities.

 

Those interested in sponsorship, volunteering, reserving a space as a vendor or running in the 5K race can register at fallstreetfaire.com. Vendors are placed on a first-come, first-served basis. Register early to secure a prime spot and before the August 21 deadline to avoid a late fee.​

Recently our quarterly invoice has been sent out by email for Dues and Meals.  Please make sure you've received the email.  And please make payment promptly.  It will be greatly appreciated by your President and Treasurer.  If you have questions about any outstanding balances, please ask me or Ed Sartell.

Preparations for the Reading Rotary's 2nd and the 10th Annual Reading Fall Street Faire are furiously underway.  

 

If you or someone you know wants to be a Sponsor the event, here is the link to info.

 

If you you or someone you know wants to get a booth, that link is here.

 

Please block out the day of the Faire (Sept. 9) and we will need all hands on deck to help.

 

Spread the word!

 

We mixed up our monthly Social Meeting this month and held it on Thursday July 19 from 2-5.  Shelley Murray and Salem Five Bank hosted us at their Small Business Day at the Walkers Brook Branch.  The highlight was the return of our own Brian Snell, who looked great.  

 

In addition, Salem Five had many professionals available to discuss services for small businesses, from loans to investments to retirement accounts to payroll services.  Other highlights were the lobster rolls from Laurie's 909 and a visit from Past President Mirela.

 

Thanks again to Shelley and Salem Five.

 

At the Reading Rotary Installation Dinner on June 19, longtime Rotarian, Ron Winslow, was presented by the Club with a Paul Harris Fellow Award.  Ron is an Honorary Rotarian and was Club President over 55 years ago.  Ron was recognized for his many years of service to the community and Rotary.  Ron is always filled with enthusiasm and fun.

 

Pictured here are Bobbie Botticelli, who presented the Award, Ron and family members and President Tim.

 

Congratulations, Ron!  

 

David Burnham is presented with his Paul Harris Fellow Award by KC Latham, Foundation Chair.  Congratulations, David!

 

Candidate for State Representative Darryn Remillard was our Speaker at our lunch meeting on June 25.  Darryn is seeking to fill Jim Dwyer's seat.  Darryn is a Veterinarian and a Veteran.

 

Thanks for speaking, Darryn.

 

Thanks to all who came to our Club Installation Dinner on June 19.  Our featured speaker was Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan who spoke on the opioid crisis.  She has been on the forefront of innovative initiatives to respond to this growing problem.  Pictured here is District Governor Dave Gardner who presented her with a Paul Harris Fellow for her work in this field.  David has made this a priority and has developed a Rotary program.  He presented at the Rotary International Convention in Toronto this past week.

 

Installed were our new slate of Officers and Directors:  President Tim Kelley, President Elect Mike Collins, Past President Brian Snell, Treasurer Ed Sartell, Secretary David Traniello, Board Members, Mark Beckley, Michael Bonsey, Bobbie Botticelli, John Douglass, Gregg Johnson and KC Latham.

 

Among those also honored at the event with Paul Harris Fellow Awards were:  Ron Winslow, Troy DiNapoli, Chris and Laura Wilson (presented on behalf of Chris' father Philip WIlson).

 

A highlight was having Linda and Tricia Snell attend on behalf of Brian, who was in the hospital.  The great news on this front is that Brian has been released and is now home.  Congratulations, Brian.  

 

I want to take this opportunity to sincerely and heartily thank all our Club Members, family and friends who have been so wonderful during this transition, including Brian's health scare.  I feel very supported by this Club and am looking forward to a fun-filled and productive year.

 

Greg Ryan and Mike Collins visited the Ipswich Rotary Club on June 14 to present a check for $3,150 for District 7930 Global Grant in Zambia, Healthy Kids/Brighter Future.  The Global Grant was initiated in our District by the Ipswich Club and partners with a Rotary District in Maine.  The grant supports a school-based healthcare system for vulnerable children in Zambia’s capital city of Lusaka. The grant trains teachers as community health workers and connects children to the free and available Zambian national health care system, so that basic medical care and health education are more effectively and efficiently provided.  Under a Global Grant the our donation is matched one and a half times.  We have matched Ipswich's donation amount.  Ipswich is looking for additional Clubs to support his important project.

As most of you know by now, our President Brian has has a medical emergency and is currently in the hospital.  Please keep Brian and the Snells in your prayers as he faces his recovery.

 

At this week's meeting Anne Johnson Landry visited us for lunch as our Speaker.  Anne is running for State Representative representing parts of Reading and Woburn.  Anne can be reached at her website.  Anne is our second candidate seeking Rep. Jim Dwyer's seat to visit our Club.  Jim Dwyer is not running for re-election.  Anne is a Reading resident and serves on the Finance Committee and Town Meeting and she works as counsel to Sen. Brownsberger. 

 

Richie Lombardo won the (almost) weekly raffle with only 3 cards left in the deck of cards.  There's no hiding your winnings from Patty.  Congratulations!  We'll be starting a new pot at our next lunch meeting.

 

 

 

On Monday, May 21, a crew of Reading Rotarians traveled to downtown Boston to help serve lunch at the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Coolidge Science team is off to Nationals at Fort Collins, Colorado.  This year the Coolidge Team won its 25th State Title earlier this year at Assumption College.

 

The Team is comprised of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students who compete in the Science Olympiad program.  The Olympiad consists of 23 events covering diverse science and engineering areas.  This years events include:  herpetology; hovercraft; potions and poisons; and rocks and minerals.

 

The Team spends many hours practicing with the help of many volunteer Coaches, including Rotarian Mark Beckley.  This photo above shows Coach Mark presenting the Coolidge Science Team with Rotary's donation of $500.00 at their Rally on May 15.  Mark is a dedicated Coach and has been with the Team for many years.  Rotary is proud to support their exemplary efforts as we have done in the past.

 

The Coolidge Science team must fundraise to cover the costs of materials and supplies and the costs of bringing the Team and supplies to competitions.  The Team is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.  You can find more information or donate to them here.

 

Good luck in Colorado.  Reading is proud!

 

President Brian attended the Multi District Summit at Bretton Woods this past weekend.  Here he is with our friend Eric Evans of the North Reading Club (and Assistant DG).

 

Thanks, Brian, for representing Reading!

 

At Monday's meeting, we had Carey Ann Gallini and Lisa Sobhian from the Alzheimer's Association as our speakers.  They gave us a lot of good information and spoke of resources form families dealing with dementia.  Everyone seems to have a loved one effected by Alzheimer's or dementia.

 

In addition the Alzheimer's Association will hold a fundraising walk, a Walk to End Alzheimer's, on September 16 in Andover (and through out the country at other locations).  Carey Ann walks for her mother and is currently the top fundraiser for Andover.  Follow the link for info or to donate.

 

Today Rich Haggerty visited us at our Luncheon Meeting.  Rich was our Speaker and is running for State Representative to succeed Rep. Jim Dwyer.  Rich is the son of Reading Rotarian Dick Haggerty.  Rich works for the Chronicle and has been a great friend to Rotary, always helping us with getting information in the paper about our events.  Rich is also a frequent visitor at our events and socials.

 

Rich has been on the Board of Alderman for 10 years and is in his third term as President of the City Council.  Rich spoke about important public policy issues that our Rep would need to address, including local aid, supporting local economies, fiscal health, public health, transportation, opioid addiction and treatment.

 

Rich is pictured here with President Brian.

 

 

Our speakers at today's meeting were senior members of the Girls' and Boys' Varsity Basketball Teams to tell us about their experience serving meals at Rosie's Place, a soup kitchen for women in Boston's South End.  Kalli Doherty, Matt Panacopolous, Alex Perez, Katie Nestor and Alec Gibbs recently went with  other members of the basketball squads to prepare and serve meals at Rosie's Place.  Rosie's Place has a program where groups can sponsor a meal and prepare and serve it.  Reading Rotary paid the cost for these athletes to participate.

 

They spoke about how moved they were by the experience.  They had the opportunity to meet and speak with women in need and each expressed that the experience made them more appreciative of what they have.

 

Jane Burns from Reading Elder Services was our Speaker this week.  She spoke about Reading becoming Dementia Friendly.  The initiative has been spearheaded by the Council on Aging and the DKJ Foundation.  To date, a leadership team has been installed.  Jane spoke about How the initiative began in the UK and then to Minnesota.  Massachusetts has been making strides in this effort since 2015 to the point that Governor Baker has encouraged every municipality in the Commonwealth to become either Dementia or Age friendly.

 

 

Despite the weather conspiring against us, the Taste of Metro North went off well, thanks to our team of Rotarians, the restaurants who were so flexible to be able to make or snow date and the many guests who attended.  There was plenty of food and a great opportunity to socialized.

 

Singers from RMHS serenaded guests as they arrived and we were also treated to a middle school instrumental quartet.

 

Thanks to the school custodians and staff for their yeoman's work in set up and break down.

 

Photographs by Bruce Hilliard.

District 7930 held its World Peace and Understanding Dinner and Showcase on February 28.  It was organized to help education Rotarians on the issues of addition and to build a network of collaboration between Rotary, government and service organizations who provide programs aimed at prevention treatment and recovery.

 

Reading was represented by both Rotarians and members of the RMHS and Austin Interact Clubs.

 

 

Once upon a time, Reading Rotary was in the movie business.  In 1935, Reading Rotary made a film, "The Movie Queen," which featured a fictional movie star visiting Reading and seeing the sights and people of the town.  

 

Robert Perry discovered the footage at the Reading Public Library.  Robert operates a film company, Province Line Pictures, and he converted the film and edited it into a short film.

 

Robert was generous to share his find with us.

 

Here's the edited version.

Here is the unedited version.  

Robert has added the music to both.

 

If you like local history, you're in luck.  Enjoy.

On the blustery Saturday morning of February 3, Reading Rotary joined District 7930 and participated in the Polar Plunge to End Polio at Long Beach, Gloucester.  Rotarians Gregg Johnson, KC Latham and Mike Bonsey along with RMHS Interact Students TJ Kelley and Kyle Dumas plunged into the icy Atlantic with approximately 125 Rotary Plungers.  It was a bright a clear day, but it the cold.  The District had raised around $70,000, which is short of the $125k goal.  However, donations are still coming in and there is time for Rotarians and supporters to donate.  Donation online is secure and easy.  The link is here.  Donations accepted through April 1.  Please donate now if you haven't already.

 

Polio eradication is Rotary International's signature cause.  Donations are matched 2:1 by the Gates Foundation.  Bill and Melinda Gates have pledged and additional $150 million through 2020 for this cause.  Polio will be only the second disease ever to be eradicated by human effort.  We're this close.

 

       

 

 

John Doherty ran in and finished the Disney Marathon in Orlando, Florida on January 7.  What an accomplishment!

 

John was cheered on by wife Laurie, daughters, Erin and Shealagh, and Mickey and Minnie.

 

 

 

 

 

Dec. 21 was the Drop Off and Distribution Day for Adopt-a-Family.  Rotary with Reading Cares coordinates this community giving program.  There were approximately 60 families in need and donor families/groups were matched to provide Christmas gifts and holiday meals to these families anonymously.  Special thanks to President Brian for coordinating Reading Rotary's efforts.  

 

This is a truly inspirational and humbling event to see the community come together to help others.  The generosity of the donors is overwhelming.

 

Thanks also to DPW employees, Reading Elder Services, RPD and all the other folks (especially the donors) who bring this together.  Service Above Self, indeed.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all!

Note that we are participating in a Multi Club Food Packing Event at the Four Points Sheraton in Wakefield.  It will be held on Tues., Jan. 23 from 11 am to 2 pm.  There will be no meeting on Monday, Jan. 22.

Reading Education Foundation held another super successful Festival of Trees at Parker Middle School on December 2-3.  We had a very good turnout of Rotarians to volunteer with selling refreshments.  We donated the sales of our cotton candy and candy in the amount of approximately $600.  Congrats to REF for putting on another great community event and raising funds to support Reading Public Schools.

 

 

Keep our schedule of meetings and events at the tip of your fingers.  You can sync the Club Calendar on ReadingMaRotary.org with Outlook, Google Calendar or Apple Calendar on your personal device.  Go to this page, click subscribe and follow the instructions. 

If anyone has any outstanding money, expenses or any invoices related to the Reading Fall Street Faire, please get that to Tim Kelley.  

 

There will be a RFSF wrap up meeting on October 10, 2017 to review what went right and what could be improved for next year.  Please attend if you have input.

 

Whew!  The 9th Annual (& first run by Reading Rotary) Reading Fall Street Faire is in the books.  We had a fantastic Committee of many veterans of past RFSF Committees who made 2017's event bigger and better than ever.  Over 200 vendors (most ever) and more generous  Sponsors than ever.  Plus, early estimates pegged the crowd over 15,000 attendees.  

 

Event Chair Sheila Clarke returned to the RFSF Committee and her leadership and vision were top notch. Sheila had this to say:  I love this event for all it represents to our community and couldn't be more proud to be part of our team.

 

This was such a fantastic community event.  Reading Rotary cannot possible express the extent of our thanks and appreciation to everyone who participated.

 

Paraphrasing Belichick:  On to the Snack Shack. 

 

 

 

14 students from the RMHS Interact Club traveled to Philadelphia this past weekend to serve meals at the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, a soup kitchen serving homeless.  Interact served over 175 meals on Saturday evening.  The Interact also made fleece blankets for donation to Sunday Breakfast for distribution to their clients.  They also did some sightseeing of Philly, including visiting the Liberty Bell.  They toured the Philadelphia Museum of Art after first running the stairs made famous by Rocky.  Note that chaperone Dr. John Doherty won the race up the steps.  Reading Rotary presented a donation of $500 to Sunday Breakfast.  Interact Club Co-President Allie Foley, who coordinated the planning of the trip, said:  "We were excited to take this fieldtrip and see Philadelphia.  Giving service to people who are so needy made us feel good but also opens our eyes to how important it is to work to reduce homelessness and hunger."