MaryAnne Herron recently returned from Cambodia.  She distributed over 200 filters to give clean water to 1,000 individuals through your generosity.  Since the filters have a set lifespan, we are also planning a permanent filtration plant for the village to have online within three years.  We will soon have solidified our partnership with the Phnom Penh Rotary Club to serve as the in country partner on our global grant.  Thank you to MaryAnne for sharing pictures from her trip! 

(Pictured from Left to Right: MaryAnne, Dene, Michael and Richard) 

 

We are fortunate to have the Holyoke High School Bell Choir perform for our holiday luncheon this Friday. Please arrive on time as the Bell Choir plans to start their half hour performance at 12:30 p.m. sharp. 
 

The Holyoke High Bell Choir was an after school activity until it was made into a class by choir director Mark Todd in 2005. The choir usually consists of 12-15 ringers representing 9th-12th grade. They ring 3 octaves of carillon bells and 3 octaves of chimes. The group performs in many venues throughout the Pioneer Valley, but this will be their first time at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Since carillon choirs are very popular in sacred settings it is unusual to see many in schools. Holyoke High School is one of the very few High School Bell Choirs in Massachusetts. However, New Hampshire has several. Choir Director Mark Todd is a native son of Springfield and a 1972 graduate of Classical High School. He taught in Springfield for several years before going to Holyoke, where he has been for the past 19 years.
 
Please invite a guest to join us this Friday and give a warm, Rotary welcome to Music Director Mark Todd and the Holyoke HS Bell Choir.
 

We have had a great start to our 2018 Foundation Drive!  Thank you to Al Gay, Mike Cooley, Steve Jablonski, Sue Mastroianni, Seth Tenenbaum, Dene Kimball and Peter Pappas for their gifts.  The Rotary Foundation recently released their Annual Report.  Currently, 92% of the funds received are used to make a difference in the lives of others.  We were reminded by the passing of President George HW Bush, the importance of our global citizenship, not just our American citizenship.  As we put on the Rotary Foundations oars, we embodying this value.