Sharon, January 16th, 2012
From time to time, I will be writing a column to update Rotarians and the community on what is happening in the Rotary Club of Sharon. It is hard to believe I am already half way through my year as President , but has been a busy and productive six months. We welcomed three new Rotarians to our club, bringing our membership to 41.
The Rotary Club of Sharon Charitable Fund , a 501(c)3 is up and running. The Club is busy collecting items for our 3rd on-line auction which will begin on Feb. 23rd. Please consider donating to the club's biggest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from the auction will go to community service projects.
Our weekly meetings have been filled with fellowship and wonderful speakers. Highlights of the meetings can be found on this website. Several of our Rotarians have given classification speeches at the weekly meetings. This is a wonderful way for Rotarians to learn about each other, both on a professional and personal level. Rotarians raised hundreds dollars for the Polio Plus Campaign during Polio Awareness month in October and served Sharon senior citizen's at the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. The Gifts of Hope campaign was successful thanks to the generosity of many generous contributors. Sharon Rotarians delivered toys, food and gift cards to over 120 families within the town of Sharon.
The Interact Club at the High School is very busy with community service projects both locally and international. Several high school students participate in leadership events such as RYLA, enhancing their youth leadership skills. During the next school year Sharon will again host a study exchange student, our last student, Claudio was from South America. The Club is also sponsoring short term summer youth exchange students.
On March 19th, the Rotary Club of Sharon will celebrate its 70th Anniversary at Saphire Estates. The Club was chartered on December 31, 2011 and is one of the oldest continuous service organizations in Sharon. Please mark the date on your calendar. Invitations will be mailed soon.
The Group Study Exchange members from India will be visiting during the month of April and will spend time with our club on April 2, 2012. Our District 7950 also sends a group to India.
In the spring we will be building a handicapped ramp at the Ilse Marks Food Pantry in Stoughton. The pantry serves Sharon and Stoughton. The Club received a District Simplified Grant to help subsidize the cost of the project.
Lastly, the Club is participating in a Rotary International Satellite Pilot program and will be launching the Rotary E-Club of New England USA within a few months. The E-Club Committee will begin meeting to design the website. The E-Club will be part of the Rotary Club of Sharon and will gives potential members who cannot make traditional meetings an opportunity to serve. An article describing the plans for this club will be posted shortly.
Feel free to call me or e-mail me at anytime with ideas, comments, even complains. The Rotary Club of Sharon is great, but we can always be better. We continue to strive to attain the Ideals of Rotary and the motto of "Service Above Self."
Thank you to the dedicated leadership of our Club for making our first six months productive and fun.
Yours in Rotary and Service,
President Jane