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Donate to Reading Rotary via PayPal.  Reading Rotary Charitable Trust is a 501(c) tax exempt organization.  Tax Id 47-7416401.  You may designate the purpose of your donation.
 
Upcoming Events
Club Executives & Directors
Co- President
Sheila Clarke
Co-President
John Douglass
President Elect
Sheila Clarke
Vice President
Phil Stewart
Treasurer
Michael Bonsey
Secretary
Jeanne Borawski
Immediate Past President
John Douglass
Membership Chair
Lisa Gibbs
PI Chair
Tim Kelley
Director
Patricia Calley
Director
Lisa Gibbs
Director
Tim Kelley
Director
Kathy Kinney
Director
Phil Stewart
Director
Jenniffer Rogers
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Rotary Club of Reading, Massachusetts, USA

Rotarians have fun serving the community.  Join us!

Meeting Schedule as of September 2022. 
1st Monday: Residence at Pearl 12:15 pm. 
3rd Monday:  RCTV at 6 pm. 
4th Wednesday:  Board Meeting. 
 
Home Page Stories
Town Delivers ARPA Funds to Reading Rotary
Reading Rotary is deeply appreciative to the Town of Reading for its appropriation of $25,000 in ARPA funds toward expenses of the Reading Fall Street Faire.  Reading Rotary runs the annual event, having taken on its management seven years ago.  The 15th annual RFSF will be held on Sunday, September 10 from noon to 5 pm in Reading’s downtown area.
 
The Reading Fall Street Faire is the largest annual event in Reading and draws vendors, community organizations, food sellers and fair goers from all around the region.  Reading Rotary expects up to 15,000 people to attend.   
 
According to Reading Rotary President Sheila Clarke:  “The Fall Street Faire offers so much excitement and fun for the community.  This year we will be unveiling some changes to keep things fresh.”  The RFSF will continue many great traditions including community organizations and vendors for food, goods, services; live performers on three stages; children's area with games; large area with amusements; NFL tailgate; and Corn Hole Tournament.
 
Vendor booth registrations have opened at this link. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Jenniffer Rogers .  
 
Pictured here is the Reading Rotary Board accepting the ARPA funds from Town officials. From left to right are Phil Stewart, Tim Kelley Sheila Clarke, Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Select Board Member Chris Haley and daughters, Select Board Member Mark Dockser, Kathy Kinney and Lisa Gibbs.
Fall Street Faire 2023 Planning Underway
Posted by Tim Kelley on May 23, 2023
Spring has just sprung, but Reading Rotary has already started the planning for the Reading Fall Street Faire, 2023 version.  the RFSF will be on Sunday, September 10, always the Sunday following Labor Day.
 
We are redesigning our RFSF website (www.fallstreetfaire.com).  It will be updated with new branding and easier registration processes.  We anticipate moving some of the areas around, but the footprint will remain essentially the same as in recent years.  Until our RFSF website is updated, you may direct questions to info.readingfallstreetfaire@gmail.com.
 
The RFSF entails an incredible amount of work for Reading Rotary and our volunteers.  If you would like to be involved in the planning, let us know.  Closer to the event, we will have an online signup for volunteers for Faire day.
 
If you have any questions about the Faire or about Rotary, contact us here.
Live RYLA a Big Success
Posted by Tim Kelley on May 17, 2023
The RYLA weekend was successfully run this past weekend for the first time in person since COVID struck.  RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.  It is a conference where teens learn leadership and team building.  It was back at Camp Rotary in Boxford after having been moved to a camp in NH for several years before the pandemic.  Camp Rotary has completed renovations and the RYLA team was happy to be able to run the weekend locally.  
 
Reading is proud to have sponsored 6 RYLA participants:  4 from Austin; 1 from North Reading High; and 1 from Reading High.  In addition, we sponsored two returning "seniors," former RYLARIANS who help run the show.  Those were Allie Foley and Katherine Growney.
 
Christina Harris, Rotarian from Ipswich-Rowley, is the RYLA Chair for our District.  There was so much work that went into this year's RYLA.  It was a struggle to get it back on its feet after pandemic-related shutdown. 
 
We are inviting the RYLA students to come to a meeting to tell us about their experiences.  We look forward to hearing from them.  If anyone in the club finds this of interest, the RYLA and Interact (Rotary for high school aged students) teams are looking for help.  Let Sheila, John or Tim know and we'll put you in touch with the right people.
Rotary Supports Scouting
Posted by Tim Kelley on May 05, 2023
At our meeting on May 1, Reading Rotary presented a donation of $500 to BSA Troop 702 to help defray the costs of the Scouts High Adventure trip to Colorado.  BSA Troop 702 is out of the Old South Church.  Pictured here are Co-President John Douglass and Donations Committee Chair Pat Calley with Karl Weld, representing Troop 702.
 
Reading Rotary has long supported Scouting in town.  Rotary has adopted a policy of donating $200 toward any approved Eagle Scout Project or Girl Scout Gold Award Project.  Rotary and Scouting both place service to the community as a paramount value of their organizations.
 
Scouts from Reading each year help with the set up and take down of our Reading Fall Street Faire.  In addition to Troop 702's regular local camping trips, every several years, it will plan a High Adventure trip for older Scouts.  As part of their planning, the Scouts need to raise funds.  In the recent past Troop 702 Scouts have experienced the High Adventure trip to Sea Base in the Florida Keys.
Burbank Y's Best Summer Ever Luau
Posted by Tim Kelley on Apr 28, 2023
You're invited to our 2023 Best Summer Ever: HULA FOR CAMP
 
The Best Luau Ever! Ua kono 'ia 'oe!
 
This is an evening of "fun-raising" for the Burbank YMCA’s Summer Camp. The Burbank Y will award over 500 weeks of our five amazing summer camps to those kids and families that need it the most! Let’s ensure ever kid gets the experience of Summer Camp! LUAU TICKETS
$75 per person $125 for two  
 
 
TEXT BurbankBSE23 to
Don Your Fanciest Hat for Kentucky Derby Event 
 
Posted by Tim Kelley on Apr 27, 2023
Reading Rotary will host a fun filled Kentucky Derby event to benefit Pep's Peddlers and Pan Mass Challenge.  So, corral all of your friends, put on your best Derby attire, and trot on down to the Wakefield Elks.  Pep’s Peddlers is a local bicycle team that fundraises for multiple sclerosis.  Riders in the Pan Mass Challenge raise funds for Dana Farber.
 
The afternoon event on Saturday, May 6th will include DJ, streamed races, derby themed games, best hat/attire prizes, raffles & more.  Doors open at 3:30. Races begin at 4:00.  There will be appetizers and a cash bar.  Register online here.
 
Sponsors for the event include:  Salem Five; M&H Interiors; Carlsberg; Leader Bank; Dracut Window and Door; Elle Salon; Jeanne Borawski; Tycon Development; Lee Kimball; Douglass, Edgerly & Bessom Funeral Home; Reading Cooperative Bank; The Savings Bank, Davis, Clark & Latham Insurance; and Attorney Timothy J. Kelley.  Those interested in sponsoring the event may contact Sheila Clarke. 
 
Rotary President Sheila Clarke said: “This event is a perfect partnership of Rotary and two other world class non-profits.  In Rotary we help people; it’s what we do.  We are excited to run a fun event to benefit both the MS Society and Dana Farber.  Our Rotarian families are very involved in raising money for both MS and for cancer research.  We hope this event will raise awareness and we’ll have fun, too.”
 
For questions about this event contact Sheila Clarke (smwclarke1@gmail.com) or Rosemary Murphy (Rosemurphy1@Verizon.net).
 
Pictured here are Irene Collins, Lisa DeLeo, Kathi Spurr and Sheila Clarke in their Kentucky Derby hats.
100th Anniversary Joint Party Registration is Open
Posted by Tim Kelley on Mar 30, 2023
Registration is now open for the 100th Anniversary Party!  It will be at the Ipswich CC on May 13.  The cost to attend is $80 per person. Payment via credit card is required at the time of registration.
 
Please click here to go to the online registration page. There is only a limited number of seats available due to the size of the event venue, so please register as soon as possible. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Deadline for registrations is May 1st.
 
If you want to do a bulk-registration for multiple members of your club, please contact District Registrar Terry Rezendes Curran or District Governor Alexander Falk.
 
Note that the registration is first come first served.  There are limited seats and 7 Rotaries participating.  Please do not wait to register.
Membership Initiative Rollout May 15
Posted by Tim Kelley on Apr 27, 2023
Don't miss our next Reading Rotary meeting on Monday, May 15 at 6 pm at RCTV.  Membership Chair Lisa Gibbs will be our featured speaker.  The topic is New Member Mentorship Program.  We are excited about this new initiative.  Special shout out also to Peter Majane who will be instrumental as a Trainer in this program.  Peter is currently the District Assistant Governor Coordinator and Chair of the District Membership Committee.
 
Note the change from the original date.  See you there!
Update Your Clubrunner Info
Posted by Tim Kelley on Apr 17, 2023
All Rotarians are asked to log into our website and update the information on your Membership Profile to make sure your information is up to date. Pro tip:  add a photo to your profile.  If you have trouble logging in, you can contact Tim. 
 
ClubRunner is our website and our membership database.  There are a lot of utilities available there.  For instance, if you are ever looking to contact another member, you can contact them directly through the website and find their phone numbers, address, etc.
 
Also check out the ClubRunner mobile app for your mobile device.  With the ClubRunner app on your mobile device, your fellow Rotarians' contact info is at your fingertips.
 
You are also able to check your dues account balance and pay your bill through ClubRunner.
 
Do you want the Rotary events to appear magically on your calendar?  You can subscribe to the website Calendar so that our club calendar automatically syncs with your phone.  Follow the instructions there to subscribe to the Calendar.
 
Global Grant in Amman, Jordan
Posted by Nadia Haddad on Apr 17, 2023
Reading Rotary has exciting news.  We are joining forces with the Rotary Amman Citadel in Jordan in an International Project to combat the increasing problem of obesity in Amman.
 
Two decades ago the obesity rate in Jordan was 27%. Currently, the obesity rate in Jordan is at 35.5% and growing.  This represents the largest increase in obesity rate of any country in the world. It has also led to a 15.4% rate of diabetes and other health issues that their country is unequipped to handle.  Combined with very little emphasis on physical activity and a lack of sporting facilities, the issue is real and trending in the wrong direction.
 
The Rotary Club of Amman has designed a project that addresses the growing problem and will have a sustainable effect on their youth.  This project starts with a healthy living awareness campaign which includes social media, posters, flyers, workshops and lectures. It also includes the organization of local sports and activities. The final step is to construct a public, open-air sports facility or playground complex for local children to play outdoors.
 
Due to the difference in the cost of living, the total budget for this project is $35,000.  Reading Rotary has agreed to sponsor the project and has authorized $5,000.  We are asking each Club in our district to help us raise the additional funds.  With your club’s donations and the matching grants from our district and RI, we hope to achieve the goal of $35,000. 
 
We can use help from Reading Rotarians on our committee and with visiting other Rotaries to discuss this project to gain their support.  Thanks for your consideration. Contact Nadia Haddad or Mike Collins with questions, invite us to speak at your club or for further information.