When I retired in August, after 30 years as executive director of the American Red Cross in the Pioneer Valley my wife Norma and I followed a family "game plan." Years earlier when she retired, Norma threw her own retirement party at our home and, in lieu of gifts, asked for donations of food to our church food pantry. It fueled their efforts for more than a month.
Taking a page from that playbook, we held a party at our home on October 5th to celebrate my own retirement---and asked for donations in lieu of gifts to the Springfield Rotary Service Fund, which funds small grants to several Springfield charitable organizations each year.
We had a wonderful day, free of the emotions of my departure from a career I'd held for half my life---and we raised more than $1,000 for the Service Fund---led by a wonderful gift in my honor from Peoples Bank. Thanks to everyone who made the day so special!
Thom Fox, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and radio show host will address our Club's luncheon meeting Friday, November 7th. His topic will be "It Takes a Community to Build an Economy. Thom works with businesses and entrepreneurs to strategize, connect with resources, and launch ideas. He is a passionate business advisor, award-winning philanthropist, and Host of The Engine: Entrepreneur RadioandThe Engine: Sunday Edition airing on Clear Channel radio.
Currently, Thom serves on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (Fmr. Chairman), and as a Facilitator and Mentor for Valley Venture Mentors. Acknowledged as an expert resource, Thom has been interviewed by Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Consumers Digest, The Huffington Post, Reuters, Fox Business, and SmartMoney.com.
Our Springfield Rotary Club serves the evening meal on the first Thursday of each month at 4:15 PM at the Friends of the Homeless, 501 Worthington Street, Springfield. We face an extra challenge this month in that several of our regular supporters of this effort will be attending the Rotary Foundation meeting in Windsor, Ct.
If you can help step in and fill the void tonight, please let our Club's 2nd Vice President Marie Angelides know by email at: http://marie@angelideslaw.com Your help is needed and would be most appreciated.
President Rick Lee (l) and Sponsoring Member Jay Leib (r) welcomed Josh Elterman as Club's newest Rotarian at last week's meeting. Josh is a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley in Springfield and lives in Longmeadow with his wife Megan and son Mason.
KatiaDantas, 2006 Group Study Exchange (GSE) visitor to District 7890, greets Past President Jim Russell at the West Springfield Club's luncheon in Storrowton Tavern October 28th honoring the four returning GSE members.
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary, we tap into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into our priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact.
