Welcome to our April Newsletter!  Would you like to see more content in this newsletter?  Do you have an idea for a story?  We would love to hear it!  Please send drafts of your stories to JHennessy@MercuryMoving.com.  Also, don't forget to include a photo!

1. When did you become a Rotarian?

      1987.  I was originally proposed by two board members two and a half years earlier, but there was someone else in the club with my classification of Moving & Storage, so this was the roadblock. He told the board he had to wait 20 years because another mover blocked him and he had to buy that Rotarian's company to get into Rotary. When I was called by my sponsor and asked if I was still interested, I was shocked it would take so long.   Fortunately, now there a far fewer roadblocks and membership is open to most people.

2. What is your day job?

      Over the last 37 years of working in the moving business, I have staked out a unique position. I am the first and only licensed Moving Broker in Mass.   I specialize in office / industrial moving, records management and move coordination.   My clients include companies with staffing of five to 500 people.   I really enjoy this business as every day is a new challenge.  I am also proud of the fact that I have never had a single complaint filed at the Better Business Bureau in all of this time!

3.  What is your most memorable experience in Rotary?

      Probably attending my first International Rotary Convention.  I went with three other club members to Calgary Canada.  There were almost 30,000 Rotarians from around the world and the seminars, programs, and presentations were very inspiring.  We also spent a few days in a home stay and then travelled around the Canadian Rockies.

4.  If you were in charge, what would you mandate be the national pastime?

      Supposedly it is baseball and I already love baseball.  Maybe we could add doing a little volunteering in our communities.  Most of us have so many skills, be it physical or mental that are so useful to others in need.  By the way, if people are not sure what they are good at in this area, Rotary is a great way to discover them.

5.   How do you pitch Rotary?   

      There is nothing else like Rotary.  I enjoy bringing a guest along and watching their reaction when these other professionals break out in a song in the middle of the day!   Where else can you meet people from all different professions from all over the world and immediately feel comfortable that you share something so special.

Ingrid wrote:

As we begin a new Rotary year, we have exciting opportunities ahead for us in 2009-2010. Over twenty five thousand children ages five and younger are still dying every day around the world from preventable causes, including poor nutrition, lack of clean water, adequate medical care, and literacy. We have a chance to make a difference, one person at a time, one club at a time, one district at a time, to improve the lives of others.

2009-2010 Rotary International President John Kenny has asked that this year we continue our focus to improve Heath & Hunger, Literacy and Clean Water. We can accomplish this service by exploring the vast opportunities available to us in partnering with a club or clubs in our district or somewhere in the world, to identify and complete worthy projects that will help attain these goals. Once a project is identified in one of these three areas, I have asked that these clubs apply for a District Matching Grant though our Foundation Grants Committee, and use the District Designated Funds (DDF) that the district has awarded in 2009-2010, as a result of the generous Annual Giving from our Rotarians in  2006-2007. I'm also asking for your continued support in the End Polio Now campaign. Rotary International has taken on the Gates Foundation additional challenge, so we can finely eradicate this disease in the world. Did you know it only takes a $34. annual commitment from each Rotarian in our District, over the next 3 ½ years, to accomplish this goal?

As I make my Official Governor's Visit to your club, in the near future, I look forward to meeting you and working with all Rotarians in the forty six clubs that make up our District 7930 in 2009-2010. Remember...The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands!

It seems we can't make it through a day without hearing about how social media is taking over the way we communicate and interact with one another. The goal of this meeting is to introduce some proven strategies that people can use to increase business through the use of social networking and, just as important, how you can track it.

Jay Campbell, of Strategic Social Consulting, and Jeff O'Neill, of Conversion Associates, will share not only powerful, business-building tips for use in social networking, but also ways to measure the ROI of your social media campaign as it relates to your other marketing activities.

We will also have some time for the "traditional" face to face business networking over a cup of coffee or tea and bagels.  Below is the agenda:

7:30 to 7:50 - Registration & Networking

7:50 to 8:20 - Presentation

8:20 to 8:40 - Q&A

8:40 to 9:00 - Networking

• Promote the ROTARY CLUB OF BOSTON #7 to WBUR's 500,000 weekly listeners.
• Advance public radio's WBUR, one of the most listened to stations in Boston. 
• Invest in independent news, information, in-depth analysis, and entertainment.
• Receive free food, books & parking. Take a behind-the-scenes tour. Meet interesting people, staff & volunteers. Enjoy the great feeling that comes with being a part of a community that supports a good cause!

Margot Livesey, the popular author of "The House on Fortune Street" and Winner 2009 L. L. Winship / PEN New England Award, spoke about the art of writing.  It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the author and buy an autographed book.

Alice Sebold says, "Every novel of Margot Livesey's is, for her readers, a joyous discovery. Her work radiates with compassion and intelligence and always, deliciously, mystery.

1. When did you become a Rotarian ?    I joined Rotary February of 2003.  My motivation for joining came from a trip to Bistrita, Romania.  I needed some supplies that I could not obtain on my own.  Feeling very discouraged I went for a walk in Bistrita and saw a Rotary sign.  I knew if I could find a Rotarian they would help me.  I went to the hotel listed on the sign and asked when the club met.  Luckily for me, it was that evening.  I went and was the only female other than the lady collecting money and keeping notes.  The men were smoking cigars and drinking whiskey.  I found an English-speaking member who explained my situation to the club.  They arranged for a couple members of the local Rotaract Club to meet me the next afternoon, at a Pizza place called "Popeys." That evening a few young adults came to the orphanage and helped me hang wall murals and add some wall molding to the play room. The Rotaractors are, to this day, still helping at the Placement Center and volunteering with RCR's Literacy Project.
2.  What is your day job?    I am a registered nurse, as well as a MA Certified Health Education teacher.  I left my full-time job at Noble and Greenough School eight years ago to volunteer for Romanian Children's Relief (RCR).  I travel to Romania a couple times a year to oversee the many projects we have there and to visit our staff of 24.  I raise funds for RCR and arrange for health care professionals and student volunteers to visit Romania. Perhaps our club would like to go on a trip sometime.
3. What is your most memorable experience in Rotary?   My most memorable experience with the Boston Rotary Club was the Rotoplast Mission to Colombia, SA, that I went on in February 2007 .  I also enjoy hosting International Rotarians. One young woman, Valentina from Italy, stayed at my home for six months while she studied at MIT.  As a result of that experience, my daughter got married in Italy and last October my family traveled to Bassano, Italy to attend Val's wedding.  We developed a bond with her family that will last forever.  My daughter and her husband are best friends with Val and her husband.  They have spent several vacations together. We have hosted so many Rotarians that I have lost count, but unfortunately we haven't been able to host as many requests as the club gets.  I hope others in the club will open their homes as well.  It's a great way to meet the world.  And a lot more fun than on a tour bus!
4. If you were in charge, what would you mandate be the national pastime?  If I were in charge, I would mandate at least one day a month of Family/Friend Time.  All businesses would be closed, like a National Holiday or an old-fashioned Sunday. Eating at home, talking, all ages together, enjoying their neighbors.
5. How do you pitch Rotary ?  Pitching Rotary to a prospective member is the most difficult question to answer.  I think we have to loosen up on the attendance issue and just be happy to see each other, even if it's only once a month.  Avoid guilt-tripping members because some members aren't as active as other members would like.  If we are good to one another like an extension of family, then members will want to spend as much time as they have participating in club activities. My own friends are so busy that I do not want to put any additional stress on them.  They see the opportunities I have had with Rotary and I often speak to them about the travel, friendship, service projects, and the overall feeling I have about how one person at a time can make a difference in the world and a group of people can do wonders. I believe one way to Peace on Earth is via individual friendships.