Our speaker this past Friday was Ed Caisse from the Sheriff’s office. Ed is a man with a mission. His spirited presentation about community safety initiatives in Holyoke and Springfield was inspirational. Ed oversees youth programs that make an impact in the poorest neighborhoods in the two largest cities in the region. The goal of his programs is to set young people on the right path and avoid future problems with the law and potential incarceration. His programs have grown exponentially over the past few years, serving hundreds of families in both cities. They also now have data to show the effectiveness of their approach.
There are so many great organizations in our community that provide important services. It takes people like Ed and his staff to create “a village”. Rotary supports many of these organizations through our grants and service projects. It is heartening to see that the work is being done. Service above self is not only the work we do, but the work we support.
You should have received your Foundation letter. Donating to the Rotary Foundation is how we support the priorities of Rotary International. The Foundation in turn supports many local initiatives. This is another way that we assist in the important work that is being done in our community and the other communities where we provide aid.
The 10th Annual Service Above Self Luncheon is next Friday. Tickets are still available. This should be an extra special event. We are expecting close to 400 attendees. It’s a great opportunity to advance our mission and also a chance to network with some shakers and movers in the region. I hope you will plan to attend.
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Tickets, sponsorship opportunities and program book ads are now available for the 2019 Service Above Self Luncheon.
The event takes place at Center Court of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame at noon on Friday, November 22, 2019.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
This year we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Springfield MA's Service Above Self Lunch, Friday, November 22, at 12:00 pm at the Basketball Hall of Fame. We are looking for volunteers to cover the check-in table, to greet at the door, and to distribute literature to the tables. Please arrive at the Basketball Hall of Fame by 11:00 am. Please wear any branded Rotary attire that you may own at the event. Also, please wear your name tags.
Jack, Rick, and Dene have come forward to volunteer, but we need 6 more members. If you could help, please contact John Perez at john.perez@consiliumopis.com
Mark your Calendar for the First Thursday's of the Month!
The next time the Springfield Rotary Club is scheduled to serve Dinner will be on Thursday, DECEMBER 5 at the Friends of the Homeless Shelter, 755 Worthington Street, Springfield, MA from 4:15 to 5:30 P. M.
If you can help out, please email Mike Rzepka at mrzepka@dowd.com or by text at 413-531-4104. Thank you!
I arrived in the village of Phum Thom on Tuesday, October 22nd spending time with the Girl Guides, 130 of them and with the parents of the 20 University girls in Phnom Penh from the village etc. The Guest House has electricity through a generous solar panel on the roof. There are lights at night but dim. There is an amazing bed that is as hard as a board and am sure that is what is under the sheet & bedding. But, it is off the floor. The room has loving guests – a frog on the floor and geckos on the walls that chirp at night – totally harmless. Bedtime is 7:00 p.m. – at dark. The roosters begin to crow at the first hint of dawn and I am definitely up at that time to plug in my little pot for coffee to drink with my peanut butter sandwich and apple purchased in Phnom Penh, the capital city 45 miles away.
Thursday morning, the families, 280 of them, began to gather at 6:00 a.m. behind the guest house for the 7:00 a.m. water filter distribution. They gathered quietly sitting on the ground just waiting for their names to be called to receive the wonderful gift of the water filters and the bags of soap, toothbrushes, and paste from our Springfield Rotary Club. As the distribution is for more than one small village, the village directors were also present.
The filters were delivered on Wednesday, the day before. Girl Guides helped to put together the bags of soap etc. that are given with the filters. The people were so grateful for the gifts. Each recipient bowed and gave thanks, Cambodian style as they received their gifts. The filters were carefully tied onto their motos or placed in a wagon to pull to their homes. By 9:30 a.m. the sun was already high and extremely warm and the water filters were gone to be used to give the families clean water.
From all of them to you, I bring their sincere thanks for the generous gifts of life – clean water to drink and the soap etc. helping to keep their bodies clean.
There are many details not given but… for another time.
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