Our guest speaker last week was Ariana Massery (pictured nearby), the executive director of the CRA in Dalton. With over 15 years of experience in leadership roles at various nonprofit organizations, she is fitting in well at the helm of the CRA. Lots of Pittsfield residents use the CRA, about 34% of those that use any of the myriad services offered by CRA are from Pittsfield, 40% from Dalton and the rest from neighboring towns. The CRA is not funded by the town of Dalton, a popular misconception is that they are an agency of the town, they are not. Their programs range from the expected health club and pool activities and lessons most people know about to more unexpected services such as childcare and camperships. The CRA finds a way to help all people, including those that cannot pay for their services. Ms. Massery is currently on a regional listening tour (did you hear that Phil), talking with other nonprofit orgs, looking for gaps in service and finding ways for her team to augment as needed, all of this is part of the CRA's "Community is priority" mission.
Many many thanks to all of those that volunteered, purchased, supported, donated, promoted or in any way helped make Auction 2026 a great success! More details to come around the financial results of the event, early indications are we did very well, to include about $34,000 raised for the amazing Berkshire Humane Society!
At last week's luncheon, the fines were flowing! The extortionist managed to wiggle $2,147 in fines, before a match approved by the Board. The tidy sum was raised in honor of the late Marshall Raser with all proceeds directed to the Whitehouse Scholarship fund. Well done all!
In her member minute Adriene Deblieux-Speed, let us know that she'd rather not compete with the tales of the life and times of Gwen Davis, instead she spoke of her family's "American Dream" - the Deblieux family migrated to the US in 1802. The family has been involved with buildOn.org, an organization that helps underprivileged areas of the world; they have built nearly 3200 schools in eight low-income countries. In the US, they work with troubled schools. In 2012, a woman named Sendy L., a Hattian immigrant, came to Boston and attended an underperforming high school, from there she found the buildOn.org program and it helped get her life in the US going. The young woman is on her way to become a doctor and is a resident at BMC and servers on the board at buildOn.org. Adriene has rented her mother's home to Sendy. A very impressive story not only about this successful immigrant's life but a testament to the organization and of course to Adriene and her family for helping another American Dream become reality. You can find more information about Sendy's journey, check out buildon.org.
Who will be our next lucky winner! Jack of Clubs is your ticket to Rotary riches! The pot is currently $250 - Just a $100 away from tempting Tom Sherman back to lunch.
Our guest speaker last week was Ariana Massery (pictured nearby), the executive director of the CRA in Dalton. With over 15 years of experience in leadership roles at various nonprofit organizations, she is fitting in well at the helm of the CRA. Lots of Pittsfield residents use the CRA, about 34% of those that use any of the myriad services offered by CRA are from Pittsfield, 40% from Dalton and the rest from neighboring towns. The CRA is not funded by the town of Dalton, a popular misconception is that they are an agency of the town, they are not. Their programs range from the expected health club and pool activities and lessons most people know about to more unexpected services such as childcare and camperships. The CRA finds a way to help all people, including those that cannot pay for their services. Ms. Massery is currently on a regional listening tour (did you hear that Phil), talking with other nonprofit orgs, looking for gaps in service and finding ways for her team to augment as needed, all of this is part of the CRA's "Community is priority" mission.
Many many thanks to all of those that volunteered, purchased, supported, donated, promoted or in any way helped make Auction 2026 a great success! More details to come around the financial results of the event, early indications are we did very well, to include about $34,000 raised for the amazing Berkshire Humane Society! 
Jack of Clubs is your ticket to Rotary riches! The pot is currently $250 - Just a $100 away from tempting Tom Sherman back to lunch.