Last week in a tag team effort, VP Alex Reczkowski, Shaun Heimann, Joan DiMartino, John O'Brien and Vin Marinaro introduced and welcomed Jessica Rumlow as our newest member. Jess, a transfer from the Rotary Club of North Adams, is the CEO / Executive Director of the Berkshire Family YMCA, with her office in Pittsfield, overseeing YMCA activities from Lenox to Bennington, VT.
It's one thing to be part of the rich history of the Rotary Club of Pittsfield, as Club president, committee chair, or award-winning volunteer. It's quite another to shape that history in the Club's official record: SPARKS. What will your lasting legacy be as a Rotarian? Paul Harris Fellow? Butler Award winner? Whipping child for the merciless sergeants-at-arms? It could be your version of events at our Club meetings. Never mind revisionist history, you can write it as it evolves. Can you feel the incredible power and influence? Sure you can. Wouldn't you like to be part of the team that can make that happen? I'd like to share this unique opportunity with you as a member of the Sparks Committee going forward, where you will join three of the brightest minds the Club has to offer. Our target is to have a committee of four, which then allows us to divide up the year so that no committee member will report on more than three months of meetings. It's light duty, with the added benefit of the respect of the general membership as well as influencing how generations to come will view the Rotary Club of today. Contact Ron Latham if your think you have what it takes to be part of this important team.
Join us for the Club's regime change celebration from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. on June 30, which is a fifth Thursday, where we will be celebrating all the great things the Club accomplished this year. The event will be held at Balderdash Cellars, which is normally closed on Thursday evenings, so Rotary will have the place to ourselves regardless of the weather. Please save the date so we may give president Murphy a proper send off.
Last week incoming president Alex Reczkowski shared that the Club will be exchanging the traditional luncheon on third Thursdays for an evening activity. For the third Thursday in July, the 21st, the Club will be participating in the City of Pittsfield's third Thursday activities. Carr Hardware is providing a dunk tank to the Club so that we may provide a fun activity and raise funds at the same time. Be forewarned..... the Club will be seeking volunteers to get dunked.
On June 9, John Hudnall, on behalf of the Club, handed out student scholarships. At the time two recipients were unable to attend that meeting, so their checks were mailed to them. At our meeting last week we were joined by Shelby Reynolds, one of the missing recipients. Regrettably there were no introductory notes available, so John was forced to wing it at the podium with Shelby, which prompted the comment by VP Alex: "Well, she certainly earned that scholarship."
Susan Clarke, incoming President of the Williamstown Rotary Club, has reached out to area Clubs and churches seeking members who might be interested in helping a family of Afghan evacuees. The First Congregational Church in Williamstown has adopted this family and has been providing extensive services, but the drive to and from means a significant time commitment. Anyone willing to help this family should contact Susan directly at: susan.clarke@firstchurchwilliamstown.org.
.png)
