MEETING INFORMATION - Visitors Are ALWAYS Welcome!
Meetings are generally on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the Month  
Check the calendar on the left for meeting specifics!
What's Happening at Newton Rotary!
With arms wide, Grants Committee Chairman Paul Sullivan, and President Liz Tavares, greets the ensemble of Newton's elite non-profit representatives and our Rotarians to the awards ceremony held at our luncheon on Tuesday, August 1st. This annual event is always one of the most anticipated and fun meetings of the year, as we get to greet and interact with the people who are responsible for so much good work in our community. It was pointed out many times during the hour that although Newton is perceived to be an affluent suburb, there are thousands of families who need help to make life in the Garden City easier to manage. Forging supporting partnerships with these organizations is a key part of accomplishing Newton Rotary's mission.  
The Rotary Club of Newton awarded scholarships to 3 amazing Newton High School seniors at the annual Newton Mayor's Breakfast on May 24th.  The scholarships are named after Anthony J. Bibbo, a founder and long-time Director of the Harmony Foundation, as well as a much-beloved Newton Rotarian from 1970 until his death in 2018.  Club President Andy Willinger introduced the awards,  and also announced the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club, which was greeted by enthusiastic applause.  Interim Superintendent Kathy Smith introduced each winner, and the Mayor, Ruthann Fuller, added her congratulations. Newton Rotary also awards annual scholarships to 3 deserving students from Newton North's Career and Technical Education Program. These awards were announced on May 29th, and will be presented at a Rotary luncheon on June 6th.
 
 

We're Having Our Monthly Clothing & Textiles Drives!

 

 

We'll be at the Scandinavian Living Center on Saturday, August 19th from 9:00am - noon

The Scandi Center is located at 206 Waltham Street in West Newton.

We work with HELPSYthe largest clothing/textile collection recycling company on the East Coast. In 2021, they helped to divert over 30 million tons of waste. Helpsy accepts almost ANY
type of textile product regardless of condition: clothes (even single socks and ratty undies, as long as they're clean), small rugs, coats, shoes, handbags, stuffed animals, and more. 

Please click "Read More"  for a list of acceptable items.

If you'd like to volunteer, please email us at RotaryNewtonMA@gmail.com! There are two shifts: 9am - 11am and 10am - noon so you can help AND get done what you need to get done. Help out at one, some, or all - whatever works for you!

Next scheduled collections : Aug 19th and Oct 14th

All drives will be held at the Scandinavian Living Center, 206 Newton Street in West Newton.

This is also a fundraising opportunity for the Newton Rotary Foundation! HELPSY pays Rotary for each pound of clothing collected. 

Please tell your friends & family and bring us your stuff!

On April 8th, about 30 folks of all ages and athletic ability got together for a few hours of fun Pickleball at the Boys and Girls Club in Newton, where three courts were set up in the gym.  Organized by Newton President-Elect Liz Tavares, with the help of Rotarian, and Executive Director of the Newton Boys & Girls Club, Dave Sellers, the players donated $25 to the Newton Rotary Foundation and got to participate either as a beginner, or an intermediate+ player.  The bonus is that since the facility was given to Rotary at no cost, all of the proceeds will go to The Second Step, a community of survivors, advocates, and volunteers who foster the safety, stability, and well-being of those who have experienced domestic violence.   

The  popularity of pickleball is certainly growing, and lots of newcomers were eager to learn the rules and strategies from the more experienced players who showed up.  Liz even provided water and snacks, along with Rotary literature and "heirloom" Rotary pens.  We've noticed a number of non-profit organizations in the area have begun to use pickleball events for fundraising. Hopefully, we can do it again.

Ashley Garcia will run the 127th Boston Marathon on April 17th, representing the Newton Rotary Foundation. She aims to raise $7,500 to fund the vocational and RYLA scholarships awarded to Newton High School students each spring. Ashley spoke to the club on February 7th, receiving her race jersey from President Andy Willinger and President-Elect Liz Tavares.

This will be Ashley’s 9th Boston Marathon, with her first coming ten years ago in 2013. A mother of 3, Ashley is a critical care nurse in the intensive care unit at Beth Israel in Boston, working on the front lines up to 60 hours a week throughout the Covid crisis.

imageDinner On Us Sweepstakes is over, and we gathered at Paddy's Pub in West Newton to celebrate with the winners:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anne Bost, Grand Prize - $100 Gift Cards for all 25 restaurants
Bruce Henderson, 2nd Prize - $50 Gift Cards for all 25 restaurants
Chris Osborn, 3rd prize - $100 Gift Card to one of the restaurants
Jack Prior, 4th prize - $100 Gift Card to one of the restaurants
Marie Presti, 5th prize - $100 Gift Card to one of the restaurants
Sally Brickell, 6th prize - $100 Gift Card to one of the restaurants
Sian Hastewell, 7th prize - $100 Gift Card to one of the restaurants
 
Everyone looked really happy, including Grand Prize winner Annie Bost, who Zoomed in for the announcement.  She'll be eating well this year! Winners Bruce, Chris, Marie, and Sally were there in person, and we all raised a glass or two. Thanks to John Marchiony for arranging it. 
 
The money raised will support the good work of the Newton Rotary Foundation.
 
Over 100 fresh baked pies were distributed on Wednesday to make a happier Thanksgiving for many in Newton who are having a tough time this year, and to our first responders who are always on duty during the holidays.  Newton Police Headquarters, and every Newton fire station were recipients of a stack of pies in appreciation for the outstanding service they provide our community.  The Rotary Club of Newton, whose motto is “Service Above Self”,  got the call from Marie Presti, owner of the The Presti Group realtors, and long-time Rotarian, that an extra truckload of pies was available at her office on Washington Street in Newtonville, and they leaped at the opportunity to share them.  The pies were part of the “Pie In The Sky” program of Community Servings, a non-profit food and nutrition program providing services to individuals living with critical and chronic illnesses.
A BIG thank you to everyone who came out this morning to help unload medical equipment bound for Ukraine. This gang cheerfully waited almost an hour for the truck to get here, and then went into action unloading a bazillion crutches, and walkers, commodes, adjustable beds, HEAVY exam tables, and boxes and boxes of supplies.
 
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Councilor Andrea Kelley, Andrew Willinger, Jack Prior, Paul Loiselle, Ron Faccenda, Ryan Grannan-Doll, Chris, Christine and their sons from Watertown Watch and Clock Company, Dick and Lee Hardaway, Gayemarie Brown and her son who was visiting from Vancouver.
 
Thank you also to Roy Balfour, and Katya Portnaya who organize this whole thing, and to Yana (who's last name I didn't get) for storing the items until they can be shipped.
                 
Our Presidential Sponsor
UPCOMING EVENTS & SPEAKERS
For Information Email Us At:
RotaryNewtonMa@gmail.com
 
Mailing Address
Rotary Club of Newton
P.O. Box 600057
Newtonville, MA  02460
Club Executives & Directors
President
President Elect 2024-2025 (PE)
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Membership
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RYLA Chair
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RI Foundation
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Emergency Fund Chair
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Rotary Newton Foundation Chair
Environmental
Social Equity