The answer to the question of how early Rotarians consumed Rotary is pretty easy. It was through our traditional clubs centered around a meal and back then it was typically lunch or dinner. The advent of breakfast clubs was a bold experiment to widen our appeal to those who could not fit into what then was our typical model of delivery, how we were consumed.
My own early exposure to Rotary was through my Dad’s Rotary Club. It was a large lunch club. Consumer patterns were different then. I remember listening to baseball games on the radio with my Dad. Now, while many still attend games or watch on TV, a large segment of sports enthusiasts of all types consume sports via social media, on highlights shows, or streaming over the internet. Back then TV was three major networks and some UHF channels, now it’s hundreds of channels and numerous ways to view offerings from TV’s to computers to handheld devices.
Take a look at retail. Oh my, how times have changed our consumer patterns. Brick and mortar stores will probably always have a place, but look what online buying has done to the way we consume retail products. You can look at almost any area of your life and see, feel, and measure how dramatically the change has been in how you consume information, products, and services.
NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM SEEKING MASSACHUSETTS' TOP YOUTH VOLUNTEERS OF 2019
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards will grant two Massachusetts honorees $1,000, a medallion and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Perfect to nominate one of your Interact students!!
BOSTON, Mass. – Today through November 6, 2018, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is looking for Massachusetts' top youth volunteers of the year.
Students in grades 5-12 are invited to apply for 2019 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards if they have made meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service within the past 12 months. The application is available at http://spirit.prudential.com andwww.nassp.org/spirit.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), was created in 1995 to recognize the exemplary volunteer work of middle level and high school students. The awards have been granted annually for the past 23 years on the local, state and national level.
ROTARIAN DR. IRA HELFAND WILL SPEAK AT REGIS COLLEGE SEP. 20
Rotarians around the world are voicing concern about the increasing risk of high stakes nuclear war. Dr. Ira Helfand, E Club of WE Rotary, and member of the Rotarian Action Group for Peace Sub committee on nuclear weapons education, will speak at Regis College Thursday September 20 7 pm. His presentation “The Growing Danger of Nuclear War” The presentation is part of the Regis College exhibit “The Insanity of Violence” featuring drawings and sculptures by Gordon D. Chase.
The inbound exchange students from District 7910 joined the students from Districts 7890,7950, and 7980 for an informative and fun-filled weekend held on Laurel Island in East Hampton, CT. Jack Solomon, our host, welcomed 16 international students, 3 Rotex students, and 8 chaperones for this annual week-end event. On Saturday, students enjoyed the warm lake water and attended the required sessions for their exchange. On Sunday, the host families and club members were invited to a picnic sponsored by the East Hampton Rotary Club.
The students in our district are Daiya Ogata, from Japan, and David Sisek, from Argentina, hosted by the Bedford Club; Kirstine Klausen, from Denmark, hosted by the Framingham Club; Ambra Cuny, from France, hosted by the Needham Club; and Ike Hennessy, from Australia, hosted by the Ayer Club.
If your club is interested in hosting a student ESSEX, Eastern States Student Exchange, is currently looking for host clubs for two students, one from Australia and a boy from Peru. These students will be in the United States for January-December 2019.
For more information about hosting a student or to schedule a student to speak at your club about their exchange, please contact Marcia Davis, ESSEX Chair, largotutor@verizon.net.
Posted by Ron Goodenow, Ph.D., Rotary Club of Westborough on Sep 12, 2018
As a Rotarian with a life long polio related mobility issue that varies in its intensity now that I am ‘chronologically advantaged’ I have been thrilled to work with my local club, municipal authorities and area businesses to meet Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Our driveways are clearer in the winter, and our public events now have special needs parking. I’ve had wonderful assistant from fellow club members to help me remain active as I face down some new medical issues. So, why this commentary?
As I thought about attending the RI Toronto conference in June I looked to see how accessibility issues were being addressed. What would I confront in terms of getting around and other mobiilty issues. The short answer is that I could find nothing except welcome comments by some hotels on their in-house accessibility features like grab bars in bathrooms. Rotary was totally silent. I therefore decided to stay home. Some fellow Rotarians repeated what I was told after a multidistict conference in Providence last year. “You would not have been comfortable there, Ron. Just too much walking that was never described in advance.”
It is the beginning of this year’s nominating cycle for district leadership positions and this is an exciting time for District 7910. The future of our clubs depends on qualified candidates serving in leadership roles throughout the District. In order for our Clubs to grow and have more impact addressing local and international needs, there must be Rotarians who will fill leadership roles and provide vision and management skills in support of the business aspects of running our District.
.JPG)
