DEDHAM, MA, June 14, 2011 — Thomas R. Polito, Jr. of Dedham was sworn in to the volunteer post of Rotary International District Governor for 2011-2012 in an Installation Ceremony on June 3 at the Sheraton Four Points in Norwood. At the ceremony, James MacDonald, Chairman of the Dedham Board of Selectmen, presented Polito with a Certificate of Recognition from the Dedham Selectmen.

Polito, a member of the Neponset Valley Sunrise Rotary club will assume his duties on July 1 and will serve through June 30 of next year. As Governor, he will coordinate the community and international service projects of the 56 clubs in District 7910, a district that spans a substantial portion of Massachusetts from Brookline, Dedham and Westwood on the east to Ware, Petersham, and Athol on the west.

Polito is one of more than 500 Rotarians worldwide who will serve as District Governor this coming year. He is a founding member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Neponset Valley Sunrise and a former member of the Rotary Club of Dedham. As District Governor, he will be responsible for overseeing and strengthening existing clubs and organizing new ones.

In his remarks at the installation ceremony, Polito said his main goals for the coming year are to strengthen membership and increase recognition of Rotary clubs within the communities they serve. “As local leaders and volunteers, Rotarians find community solutions to local needs,” Polito said. “We need to increase recognition of the services your clubs provide and to communicate to others the good work that we do.” Polito plans to provide support to Rotary Club members to increase their visibility through various channels including social media.

Rotary clubs are involved in many local and international service activities. For instance, The Neponset Valley Sunrise Rotary Club has provided dictionaries to fourth grade students in several local communities; donations to Dedham, Westwood, and Norwood food pantries; funds to the Challenger Program of Norwood and to Ellie Fund; scholarships to Blue Hills Regional High School students; and RYLA leadership awards to students at Blue Hills Regional High School and Ursuline Academy.

Owner of Polito Insurance Agency in Dedham, Polito contributes to the community in many ways. In addition to his many years of Rotary service, he has served the town of Dedham in many capacities. He is a former Dedham Selectman, and has also sat on the School Committee and Finance Committee.

The Neponset Valley Sunrise Rotary Club meets weekly at the Holiday Inn – Dedham at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. It represents the towns of Canton, Dedham, Foxborough, Medfield, Milton, Norfolk, Norwood, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, and Westwood. For more information, contact Joseph Pascarella at 781-718-3779.