On March 10th,  Rotary Club of Sharon presented CNN Hero Razia Jan with a check for $1,000.00 for Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation. The Foundation supports the Zabuli Education Center, a girls' school outside of Kabul, Afghanistan which was founded by Ms. Jan in 2008. The Sharon Rotary Club helped fund a computer room for the school which was completed in 2012. This spring, 7th graders in Sharon, Massachusetts will be communicating with the girls at the Zabuli Education Center over the internet. The Sharon Rotary Club is working to raise funds to cover the internet fees for the girls' school for the year. Ms. Jan is shown on our front page with her 2012 Hero of the Year award, which was awarded by CNN in December.

Our 5th Annual Auction ran from Thursday, February 21 thru Wednesday March 6. It was our best auction yet. Many people contributed to that success, including those who donated items to be auctioned off, those who bid on the items, and our sponsors: The Sharon Credit Union, Herb Chambers,and the Eastern Bank, as well as our very good friends, Barry and Lisa Fireman, and Jerry and Roberta Saphire. Of course, it would not have happened without the members of our own Club who worked so hard to pull it all together, including our fundraising committee, Steve K, Judi, Phyllis, Mike C and Carl, and auction superstars Barry, Mike M, Jerry, Megan, Bob, Gordon, and many others who made a special effort to make this year's auction a success. Thank you all and we look forward to your participation again next year.

 Click here and read more about our 2012 Thanksgiving Dinner that served over 200 senior citizens from our community.

At the Rotary Foundation dinner on November 15, 2012, District Governor Joe Clancy presented our very own Dave Clifton with the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service – This award provides recognition to an individual Rotarian in good standing who has demonstrated outstanding active service to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Only one recipient per district can be nominated for this award prior to being approved by the Rotary Foundation.

Congratulations Dave, your Club is very proud of you!

Through fundraisers, the Sharon High Shool Interact Club raised over $800 dollars to purchase laptops for the children in the Nepal Orphan' Home project's orphanage, Papa's House.

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

Monday evening, March 26, 2012 with a country Rotary song playing in the background, PDG Dave Clifton set the mood for the induction of the club's newest members.  Once the clapping and dancing stopped, Michael Fox, Jim Tennant and Christian Bilger took center stage. 

Each inductee has a special connection to Rotary.  Mike is a former scholarship recipient, Jim is involved with RYLA and his been active with his brother's club in Braintree.  Christian is a third generation Rotarian and his dad, Dietrich is DGN for District 7950. 

Jim Tennant and Christian Bilger are the first members of the Rotary E-Club of New England USA.  The E-Club is part of the Rotary Club of Sharon and allows Rotarians who cannot make traditional meetings a chance to be involved.

Congratulations to Jim, Christian and Mike.  Welcome to the Rotary Club of Sharon.

Sponsored by Sharon Credit Union and Rotary Cub of Sharon 

On June 14, 2012 we will hold our Annual Blood Drive in Memory of Jonathan Irving, the nephew of Sharon Credit Union's Corporate Trainer, Robin Burns.  This is the 5th Annual Drive we have co-sponsored in hopes of increasing the number of donors participating.  If you have some time on Thursday, please stop by the Sharon Community Center between 9:30 and 2:30 and be a donor.  If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call the Credit Union at 781.784.7725 and we'd be happy to set a time for you.  If you cannot participate this year, perhaps you could refer a friend.

Thank you!