Congratulations are in order for newly sworn in Massachusetts State Representative Rich Haggerty.
Here is His Honor at the State House with proud parents Elaine and Dick Haggerty.
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Evening Social Meeting
Bunratty's TavernJan 23, 2019
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM -
Food Bank Run
Old South ChurchJan 24, 2019 10:00 AM
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Luncheon Meeting
Residence at Pearl StJan 28, 2019
12:15 PM – 1:30 PM -
Midyear Leadership Meeting
Four Points SheratonJan 28, 2019
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM -
Luncheon Meeting
Residence at Pearl StFeb 04, 2019
12:15 PM – 1:30 PM -
Food Bank Run
Old South ChurchFeb 07, 2019 10:00 AM
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Polar Plunge
Long BeachFeb 09, 2019 11:00 AM
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Luncheon Meeting
Residence at Pearl StFeb 11, 2019
12:15 PM – 1:30 PM -
Board Meeting
Lee KimballFeb 13, 2019 5:30 PM
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Food Bank Run
Old South ChurchFeb 14, 2019 10:00 AM
Monthly Meeting Duties
Greeter
Clarke, Sheila
Greeter
Beckley, Mark
Reflection
Collins, Mike
Fines
Tobin, Brian
Set up & Clean up
Washburn, Donald
Set up & Clean up
Parsons, Pooja
Tim Kelley
On behalf of Reading Rotary, welcome to our website.
Reading Rotary is made up of community leaders with a desire to give back to our community.
Reading Rotary supports many projects in our community as well as around our world including: Reading Food Pantry; Reading Scholarship Foundation; purchase of a wheelchair accessible van for disabled and elderly residents; purchase and support of defibrillators for the Reading Fire Department; promote literacy by providing reading books to Reading Kindergarteners; distribute trees to all Reading fifth graders for Arbor Day; Adopt a Family program; Toys for Tots; purchase of the Reading High School Band golf cart; Reading Education Foundation; RMHS Robotics team; Homelessness and Hunger Initiatives, including preparing and serving meals; Rotaplast project to treat cleft lips and palates; Polio Plus; Burbank YMCA; Cure Alzheimer’s; Understanding Disabilities; the Pan Mass Challenge; RCASA; Scouting; sponsor Interact Clubs at RMHS and Austin; run the Snack Shack; run the Reading Fall Street Faire; and much more.
Through Rotary International, the Reading Rotary Club joins over 1.2 million Rotarians in 33,000 Rotary clubs worldwide working to eradicate Polio, helping young children live healthier lives and rebuilding communities devastated by disaster. Rotary International partners with the Gates Foundation, the WHO, UNICEF and the CDC in the effort to make polio only the second infectious disease eradicated. We’re this close!
The Rotary motto is “Service Above Self.” We are Rotarians because we believe in community service and helping make our communities better.
Please consider becoming part of our Rotary Club and help us make Reading and the world better places. If you aren't able to join now, you can volunteer with us. Please be our guest at a meeting and learn more about us. We have lunch meetings at Reading Public Schools Administration Office on Mondays at 12:15 and social meetings one Wednesday evening per month. (See our Event Calendar for specifics.) All are welcome.
To learn more about us, you can ask any Rotarian, look through our website or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ReadingMaRotary.
We have fun serving the community. Join us!
Service Above Self
http://www.readingmarotary.org/events/calendar
The Residence at Pearl Street
The Residence at Pearl Street
75 Pearl St
Reading, MA 01867
United States of America
Reading, MA 01867
United States of America
Email:
District Site
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Bulletins
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Venue Map
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We are very sad to report that long time Reading Rotarian Jacquie Carson has passed away. Here is a link to her funeral arrangements in Bennington, VT.
Jacquie was very actively involved in Rotary serving as a director, secretary and Past President. She was usually right in the middle of every fundraiser and service project we held.
Our thoughts are with Jacquie's family, especially her husband, Brian Johansen.
At today's Meeting Foundation Chair KC Latham (far right) presented Muhammad Khan, Michael Bonsey (PH+2) and Mark Beckley with Paul Harris Recognitions. Named after Rotary's Founder, the Paul Harris Award is one of Rotary's highest honors. It is awarded by donation to the Rotary Foundation. Congrats, Muhammad, Mike and Mark! Keep up the great work.
We are looking for nominations for Officers and Directors for the upcoming Rotary year.
President Elect Mike Collins may be asking you to offer your service to Club leadership. Officers needed to be filled are: President Elect (will be Prez in 2020-21), Vice President (will be Prez in 2021-22), Treasurer and Secretary. In addition we will be electing six Directors.
We will have the election at the January 28 meeting. If you are interested or would like to nominate someone, please contact President Tim or PE Mike Collins.
The District Polar Plunge is coming fast and furious. If you are brave enough, you can join our Team of Plungers. Fear not, if you cannot see yourself to go in the cold water, you can still help! Here are ways you can support the effort: Donate; Sign up to be a virtual plunger; come to Long Beach on the day of the Plunge to show your support.
So far we have the following committed Plungers: KC, Gregg, Mike B and TJ.
Here is the link to Team Reading. Please donate and/or pass the link along. Share in social media or email the link out.
We've received a note of thanks from one of the families served in the Adopt-a-Family. From Family #45:
We will hold our annual Yankee Swap at our Luncheon Meeting on Monday, December 17. To participate, kindly bring an wrapped gift to swap. Value is to be approximately $20.
Reading Rotary was again a proud supporter of Reading Education Foundation's Festival of Trees this weekend at Parker Middle School We were the Event Sponsor and sold cotton candy, pizza, candy and other refreshments all weekend. Thanks to all Rotarians, Interacters, family and friends who helped out. A great way to kick off the Christmas season.
News about our our fellow Rotarian Tyler Fleming. Tyler, as you may know, is a runner. In fact, in a few short years has become an exceptional one, qualifying for the Boston Marathon twice in the last year alone. One of those qualifying marathon races was the day before the Reading Street Fair. He ran a ridiculously fast race in Salt Lake City, boarded a plane a few hours after finishing, arrived after midnight, woke up and came to the street fair to work the entire day.
Tyler has made the decision to run Boston 2019 with a team of just four people in support of Title IX Girls Running Club. Tyler's fundraising link can be found here.
Tyler has made the decision to run Boston 2019 with a team of just four people in support of Title IX Girls Running Club. Tyler's fundraising link can be found here.
Thanks to Stephanie Johnson of Reading Coop (and President of Peabody Rotary) for passing on this information. Congrats, Tyler! Very impressive.
A big thank you goes out to President Dennis O'Hara and Stoneham Rotary for hosting a wonderful joint meeting for our 43rd annual luncheon on November 20. Featured were the captains for the Reading and Stoneham high school football teams and the coaches and athletic directors. IN attendance with officials from both towns the cheerleading captains and Interact club. RMHS won a tight match on Thanksgiving Day in OT. Stoneham, however, went on to the Division 6 Super Bowl in Gillette Stadium on December 1 and overpowered Old Rochester for the Division Super Bowl. Congrats, Spartans!
On November 20, Rotarians gathered at the DPW garage for the Adopt a Family Program. The Program matches families in financial need to be matched with donors of a Thanksgiving meal. Reading Rotary partners with Reading Cares and the Town to run this great program. Special thanks to Gregg Johnson and Brian Snell for working to coordinate the details before the drop off/pick up day. The Adopt a Family drop off/pick up day for Christmas is December 20.
Please note that we made some changes to our November schedule. Due to Thanksgiving, we will have a Joint Meeting with Stoneham and will switch our Evening Social to the Nov. 28. See our Calendar for details.
Do you have news to share with your fellow Rotarians? If you are aware of any good news, accomplishments, milestones or other events that you'd like shared with the Club, please let Tim know.
At this week's meeting, BSA Scout Thomas Walsh presented about his Eagle Scout Service Project. Thomas will be leading a crew to place reflective bands on utility poles near fire hydrants. The bands will show Reading Firefighters the distance to a nearby hydrant easily; the bands are especially needed when snow buries the fireplugs. Eagle Scout is the highest rank in BSA Scouts and requires advancing through the 6 lower ranks, earning at least 21 Merit Badges, holding leadership positions in the Troop, performing community service and planning and overseeing a major community service project.
Rotary supported this project with a $200 donation. Congratulations, Thomas, on an impressive presentation and project.
Reading Rotary is pleased to announce that Erica McNamara, Director of Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse (RCASA), is the recipient of the Club's first Unsung Hero Award. Ms. McNamara will be honored as part of Rotary District 7930’s first Unsung Hero Awards Night to be held on November 8 from 6:00 to 9:30 pm at the Four Points Sheraton in Wakefield. Reading Rotary selected Erica as special person in our community who wakes up every morning and puts others before herself and dedicates her work to helping others in need, truly embodying the Rotary motto: “Service above Self.”
Reading Rotary will present Erica with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award, one of the highest honors Rotary can give to an individual. In addition to the recipient's recognition exemplifying the highest ideals of Rotary, Clubs or Rotarians recognize Paul Harris Fellows from donations made The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International which supports Rotary’s world-wide programs. Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary International.
Erica serves as the Director RCASA. RCASA mobilizes community partners, residents and youth to build collaborative approaches and reduce youth substance abuse. RCASA offers educational programs for residents in Substance Abuse Prevention and has been a model of for creating substance awareness and programs. Erica has been Director of RCASA since its inception and is recognized by her peers as exceptional in her field.
For those interested in joining in honoring Erica McNamara, please contact Reading Rotary President Tim Kelley at 781-942-9838 or timkelleylaw@me.com or through the Reading Rotary website: www.readingmarotary.org.
Reading Rotary is once again partnering with ReadingCares and the Town to run the Adopt-a-Family Program for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
For over 30 years Reading's Adopt-a-Family Program has anonymously matched donors with recipient families for Thanksgiving meals and Christmas meals and gifts.
If you would like to participate in this program as a donor or are in need or know someone in need, please visit our Adopt-a-Family page where there is more information and details regarding this wonderful holiday giving program.
Questions may also be directed to ReadingAAF@gmail.com or by calling 781-942-6680.
On Sunday, TJ Kelley celebrated his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. TJ is in Troop 702 out of the Old South Church in Reading. TJ is also the President of the RMHS Interact Club and son of President Tim.
At the Court of Honor, Tim presented a certificate on behalf of Reading Rotary to honor TJ"s achievement. Reading Rotary has an informal partnership with Scouting; this partnership was created by Past DG David Gardner in recognition of the common purposes of Rotary and Scouting, community service and strong ethics.
TJ has also been active with RYLA, as a participant and on the planning team. Pictured here is TJ with Keith and Christina Harris, Rotarians and RYLA veterans.
Last Sunday was a great day in Reading at the celebration of the 10th Annual Fall Street Faire. The Rotary Club of Reading, along with loyal volunteers coordinated a special day with plenty of entertainment and activities to keep attendees happy.
“To bring an event of this magnitude to fruition takes a village – not only the dedication of the Rotarians and volunteers, but also the participation of hundreds of vendors and the financial support of our sponsors,” said Event Co-Chair Gregg Johnson.
Event Co-Chair Sheila Clarke echoed Johnson’s praise for the sponsors.
This year’s gold sponsors were Beacon Consulting and CTA, Eastern Bank, Lahey Health, Northern Bank, Pediatric Dental Associates, Salem Five and Sartell Electric. Davis, Clark & Latham Insurance, Hallmark Health, Horseshoe Grille, RCTV, Spurr Financial and Xfinity were silver sponsors. Douglass, Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home, Honda Gallery, Leader Bank, Residence at Pearl and the YMCA were bronze sponsors.
“Key to the success of the most popular event in Reading lies with our sponsors, vendors, volunteers and the thousands of you who come for a day of enjoyment and family-oriented fun,” said Clarke. “Thank you to all who take part in this feel-good event.”
After months of feverish preparation, the 2018 Reading Fall Street Faire was a huge success. Approximately 170 vendors and community groups set up booths along the Faire route on Haven, Main, High, Chute, Linden and Sanborn Streets in Downtown Reading. There was entertainment on two stages, one or Main Street and one on High Street. Other features were many blow up apparatuses set up around the route. The Children's Area at the Reading Coop parking lot was very popular. The day was kicked off with a 5K Road Race.
2018 was the 10th Annual RFSF and the second presented by Reading Rotary. A special shout out to the great team who planned the day: Sheila Clarke and Gregg Johnson, Co-Chairs, Ed Sartell, Kathi Spurr, KC Latham and Bob Beckman.
I was overwhelmed by the amount of community members, Rotarians and their family members who rolled up their sleeve to participate. So many people helped including Boy Scout Troops 702 & 728 with the set up and tear down, Samantha's Harvest Club at the Children's Area.
The weather cooperated, too. There was an autumnal chill in the air, but no rain or wind.
This was a great day for Reading and for Rotary and was enjoyed by so many.
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.
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!
The RMHS Interact Club ran their Dunk Tank at Friends and Family Day on Saturday. They did a great job and raised funds for their projects. TJ Kelley and Pat Freeman deserve hazard pay for being the only two dunkees. They were great sports. Also, staffing their booth were Kathryn, Jess and Ava.
Interact is the high school age Rotary club. Reading Rotary sponsors Interact Clubs at both RMHS and Austin Prep. RMHS's club is in its 8th year. Austin Prep is starting their 2nd year.
Gregg Johnson will be honored by District 7930 as our Club Rotarian of the Year at the District Installation Dinner on June 14 at 6 at the Danversport Yacht Club. This is well deserved as Gregg always takes on so much whether it be with the Fall Street Faire or the Snack Shack or any of our many other service projects. Kudos, Gregg!
Please let Brian Snell know if you can make the event to support Gregg and me as incoming President.
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.
You can also find them on the right hand side of our homepage at Links: Rotary Video.
Robert has added the music to both.
If you like local history, you're in luck. Enjoy.
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.
Reading Rotary is part of Rotary International. There are 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide. The work of Rotary begins in the community and every community has unique needs. Rotary International has 6 key Areas of Focus to maximize our efforts. They are:
Promoting Peace. RI has up to 100 Rotary Peace Fellowships annually at Rotary Peace Centers at universities around the world. Rotary Clubs participate in service projects in other parts of the world to promote understanding and peace.
Fighting Disease. Most notably, Rotary is working with the Gates Foundation, UNICEF, WHO and the CDC to eradicate Polio. This will make Polio the second disease that humans have eradicated. In 2016 there were 37 cases of Polio in the 3 countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan & Nigeria. This year to date there are 5 to date. We are so close to Ending Polio Now.
Providing Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Rotary service projects improve sanitation and facilities, promote good hygiene habits, build wells, implement rainwater harvesting in areas lacking basic necessities we take for granted here.
Saving Mothers and Children. Rotarians support programs that provide immunizations, prevent HIV transmission, promote good nutrition, provide information about and access to health care.
Supporting Education. Rotarians support child and adult literacy programs, volunteer in schools and after school programs, serve as mentors and promote student enrollment throughout the world. Locally we are large supporters of the Reading Education Foundation, provide scholarships, support Reading Schools and sponsor student Interact Clubs.
Growing Local Economies. Rotarians provide equipment and supplies, partner with microlenders to provide access to financial services, help with agricultural opportunities and Adopt a Village using strategies to break the cycle of extreme poverty in impoverished areas.
There are opportunities to provide service and humanitarian assistance locally, nationally and worldwide. We are always looking for ways that we can help our community. Our motto is Service Above Self.
Reading Rotary Charitable Trust is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Donors can deduct contributions under IRC Section 170, including tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts. Reading Rotary Charitable Trust's EIN is 47-7416401.
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