Scuttlebutt February 27, 2022
Hello all, This week we are pleased to have as our speaker John Dunlop from Marblehead and USAID. He will speak with us about his friend and humanitarian Paul Farmer who died recently. John is currently stationed in Madagascar. Last year his three children and mom Judy spoke with us about racial justice issues.
This week March 1
st we will meet in person at the Masons and on zoom. Breakfast will be coffee/tea and pastry, cost $7.50 for all members. We hope you will feel comfortable to be in person. Let us hope that we will be able to meet together from now on. Two years apart has been two years to many.
Next week at our club assembly we will discuss how we might invest our club’s savings. A recommendation from the Board is that we invest $20,000 of our $27,822, keeping $7,822 as ready funds. The investment suggested is with Rob Diana’s firm according to our investment strategy. That information will be presented at the meeting. This is the money that was in a CD at the bank. It was withdrawn when the CD matured and now sits in a savings account.
Concerning health news: Jodi Martin is at MGH with a tumor on her brain. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. Cards can be sent via Lenny.
I know we are all concerned about what is happening in Ukraine. Difficult to imagine what life if like there. Jess reminds us of a connection our club has with Ukraine.
Something to Think About…Our Club’s Service to Ukraine About 17 Years Ago
About 17 years ago, our club donated and sent boxes and boxes of children’s picture books to Ukraine to support Jeremy Barnett’s service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Rohatyn, Ukraine, teaching English to middle school students. To make this a Rotary “international” project, we worked with a member of a Rotary Club in Ukraine who picked up the boxes from the depot when they arrived and transported them in his own vehicle the distance - the better part of a day’s journey - to the school. Today those students are working and raising families as their country is under siege. And, in this relatively humble way, this club touched their lives in the spirit of “Basic Education and Literacy” and “Peace and Conflict Prevention and Resolution” - two of Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus.
Additionally, a young boy from Ukraine is here in Boston for medical help, please see link. Many ways to help are outlined. https://rotary7930.org/stories/help-needed-for-12-yr-old-boy-from-ukraine/
What makes Rotary run? The Rotary Foundation. Rated a much-sought-after 4 Stars for transparency and effectiveness by Charity Navigator, our Foundation funds global grants (like our club’s Nepal physical therapy grant), supports scholars in peace and conflict resolution at 6 international universities, and continues Polio eradication efforts, among other programs. After having been invested for 3 years, half of our District clubs’ donations to The Foundation regularly come back to our District for local grants and programs (like the refrigerator for North Shore Families Together Food Pantry and, now, equipment for a new Police health and wellness gym.) While all Rotarians are encouraged to consider a $100 donation each year, any amount donated is sure to be designated for areas of the most need.
Why this note? Unlike quarterly club dues which are required to maintain club operations and active membership status,
it is important for members to remember that contributions to the Foundation are purely voluntary. If you include the Foundation with your quarterly dues, know that it is gratefully received. If you do not, and find that you can include the Foundation in your charitable giving budget in
any amount, it will also be gratefully received. Donating is easy at
www.rotary.org. If you are not inclined to support the Foundation, please know your active service, in lieu of monetary donations, has great value and is essential to the continued success of our club and Rotary International!
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