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SCUTTLEBUTT Tuesday Jun 30 Greeter: Virtual Meeting
PATRICIA SULLIVAN INSTALLED AS PRESIDENT FOR 2020-21 Patricia Sullivan and the new Board of Directors for 2020-21 were installed last week in a digital event, that was as inspiring as it was groundbreaking. Dozens of Rotarians and their friends joined in by Zoom, proving that distance is not a barrier when we don’t want it to be a barrier. In her address to the gathering, Patricia announced a set of goals that include: – continued support for Shelterbox; – explore how we can help address inequalities in our town, and cultivate a culture of inclusion and belonging; – explore whether we can do more than just provide food and money to the Food Pantry for folks who are in need; – think about what we could do to encourage people of color and other minorities to join our club; – expand our Zoom meeting format so we can replicate our small table discussions, organize friends Forever Zoom meetings, expand the reach of the Holiday Pops through this year’s digital format; – help in addressing some of our local environmental concerns. – continue this year’s project to expand membership, cut short by the pandemic. You may read Patricia’s remarks here.
KATHLEEN MURPHY BIDS FAREWELL TO A VERY SPECIAL YEAR As her term winds down on June 30th, Club President Kathleen Murphy addressed club members during the Installation Dinner to thank all for their support in a challenging but exciting year, that saw us go from losing our Pops venue, to a pandemic, and the tumultuous birth of a social movement. Amidst it all we: – were named the Non-Profit Organization of the Year – raised $9,000 for Project Kindness – funded four scholarships – held 13 Zoom meetings with an average participation of 21 to 24 members – welcomed two new members – gifted 400 turkey pans to the food pantry – offered two pairs of glasses and an optometrists’ appointment to a needy student – supplied 20 lockboxes to vulnerable residents – provided funding for over 100 meals at Lifebridge – hosted 30 kids in the Friends Forever program In short, we got a lot done. We were generous, we were resilient, we were solidary. We took pride into putting service above self. You may see Kathleen’s PP presentation here
BOB GRAVINO RECEIVES THE BARRY F. WEED AWARD Club President Kathleen Murphy selected Assistant District Governor Robert ‘Bob’ Gravino as the recipient for this year’s Barry F Weed Distinguished Service Award. During her Installation Dinner announcement, Kathleen said “Bob was an outstanding supporter and source of encouragement for our club. He participated in many early Tuesday morning meetings, donated to Project Kindness on more than one occasion, was often the first to offer an uplifting comment upon reading Scuttlebutt, and even supported the Marblehead Museum. He embodies the qualities of quiet and selfless service this Award seeks to recognize.” During the Installation Dinner the recipients of the Paul Harris Fellowships were announced: Kathleen Murphy, Chris Stevens, and Luis Ribas.
HAPPY DOLLARS INSTALLATION DINNER During the installation dinner we raised well over $1,000 for Patricia Sullivan’s sponsored charity, the Marblehead Female Humane Society. Thanks to all, thanks Molly Williams for the hustle, and please keep giving.
PROJECT KINDNESS COMPLETED Thanks to your generosity and that of many of our friends, the RCoMH issued $9,000 worth of gift cards for food and other essentials, to help dozens of Marblehead residents who lost their jobs due to the corona virus. The funds available for this project have now been depleted and Project Kindness has been concluded. Thank you to all who contributed financially or otherwise.
END OF YEAR ROTARY FOUNDATION GIVING The end of the Rotary year, June 30, is here. Have you made your contribution to the Foundation? What types of things will your contribution supply? $100 will buy a sewing machine for empowering an entrepreneur to start a business. $150 will supply a school hand washing station and training on better hygiene practices. $200 will purchase neonatal medical equipment for at risk newborns. Donations below and above those amounts will also be welcomed and will be combined with others from around the world to carry on the work of Rotary. Go to www.rotary.org and click on Foundation “Donate Now.” The need is great.
THANK YOU SCUTTLEBUTT READERS ! And here's my last Scuttlebutt. These were two years of memorable sharing and so much learning about Rotary and the club projects. As you know I am a journalist and have been amazingly busy. The astonishing days we are living, preclude me from continuing with Scuttlebutt as I deal with news cycles in crisis mode much like chain smoking – a crisis is not over when the next one begins. I would like to think things will get better, but with the resurgence of Covid-19, the appalling economic crisis set to deepen in the coming months, the fast approaching election, and (I am unfortunately sure) the spectacular drama we will witness after election will consume all my time and energy. Thank you for your contributions and suggestions, and best wishes to the next official scribe for the RCoMH. |
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