**Rotary Youth Leadership Award Recognizes Sophomores**
Do you know a sophomore who is actively involved in community service? We need your help to nominate them for recognition by the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland's Rotary Youth Leadership Award.
For the eighth year, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland will recognize sophomores who are committed to “service above self,” focusing on leadership and community service. Please assist us in finding deserving sophomores by completing a brief 5-minute nomination form and sharing it with parents, teachers, and students you know.
For more information on the RYLA program, please visit our webpage. Anyone—faculty members, parents, students, or community members (coaches, advisors)—can nominate any student who lives or studies in Weston or Wayland. The first round of nominations will close on Monday, November 11, and we will celebrate the selected sophomores on Thursday, December 5th.
Thank you to all those who volunteered to unload the trees and make the first weekend of the sale wonderfully successful, selling almost half of our trees and wreaths this past weekend.
If you haven't already, come pick out your perfect Christmas tree and wreaths at Land's Sake Farm Weston (90 Wellesley Street). Imagine the fresh scent of pine filling your home and the joy of bringing holiday cheer to life.
And if you want to spread that holiday joy even further, why not volunteer with us? It's a fantastic way to kickstart your holiday spirit and make this season truly special. New to volunteering? No problem -- training will be provided.
Sale Hours: Fridays: 9 am - 3 pm, Saturdays & Sundays: 10 am - 3 pm
Members of the Rotary Clubs of Weston & Wayland, Waltham, Billerica, and Needham came together for a fun evening and raising funds for Rotary's End Polio Now campaign.
On October 24, World Polio Day, Rotary members and friends gathered at Craft Food Hall to raise money to end Polio. It was a massive success!
We raised a grand total of $2,570 for the End Polio Now fund. Thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's 2:1 matching, all contributions will go directly to the Rotary Foundation and have an even more significant impact.
On October 20, the Conservation Team will host a Work Day at Sears Field in Weston, MA. Over the past few years, we’ve focused on removing invasive plants, and this year, we’re taking an exciting new step: planting native plants to support pollinators! We’ll also plant daffodils along a planned path to add a beautiful touch to the landscape.
Location: 27 Crescent St, Weston.
How you can help:
Join us at the field! Bring a friend or family member and join us for a few hours of community work. We’ll start at 9 AM with coffee and breakfast and plan to wrap up around noon. You’re welcome to work for as long or as little as you like—every bit helps! Many hands make light work.
Donate native plants! If you can’t make it to the field, consider donating native plants for the project. Great sources include Native Plant Trust (Garden in the Woods) in Framingham and Blue Stem Natives in Norwell.
The 27th Annual Antique & Classic Car Show was an outstanding success on Saturday, September 28th. 173 cars came out to share with almost 1,000 spectators, helping people relive their pasts and teaching younger guests about the good 'ole days. Cars as old as 1911 to 2024 joined the festivities. Along with the cars, several community organizations attended, including WERC (Weston Emergency Reserve Corps), The Friends of the Council on Aging, Land's Sake Farm, and the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland, which hosted the event.
And the WINNERS are...the show was peer-judged, and all car owners voted on their first-place vehicle in 36 categories. Please check out the complete list of winners by clicking READ MORE below.
If you did not receive your trophy, please pick it up at 470 Boston Post Road, 2nd floor, Weston, MA.
Top Award winners
Tom Larsen & Adolfo Caso Memorial Sportsman Award Richard DeVito, Sr.
Best of Show, 1st place Les Herzog, 1934 Packard 1101 Coupe
Best of Show 2nd place Colm Dunphy, 1954 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
Best of Show, 3rd place David Larsen, 1960 Dodge Polara D-500
Remembering September 11, 2001. For 23 years, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has joined the community service project by placing flags on the Weston Town Green to honor and commemorate the sacrifices made on 9/11 and for all the lives lost on this day.
We honor and remember the heroes, armed forces, first responders, and countless others’ acts of service to defend our nation’s freedom.
Tri-Club Meeting with 7910 District Governor Joyce Graff
7910 District Governor Joyce Graff held a joint meeting with the Rotary Clubs of Newton, Weston-Wayland, and Westwood. She delivered an inspiring speech focusing on the successes and challenges ahead.
2023-2024 Creating Hope in the World Award
DG Graff presented the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club with a Citation from Rotary International for the 2023-2024 year for "Creating Hope in the World." This well-deserved recognition was earned under the exceptional guidance of our Past President, Katya Portnaya. A big thank you to every club member and especially to Katya for her outstanding leadership.
We also received an award and a letter of congratulations in honor of our upcoming 75th anniversary, which will be celebrated in 2025. The letter came directly from Stephanie A. Urchick, President of Rotary International—what an honor!
Tri-Club Meeting with 7910 District Governor Joyce Graff
On Thursday, August 22nd, we welcomed our club's exchange student, Khim ChitakarnThongbai, from Thailand, who arrived this week. She told us about her dream of coming to America for an exchange as a little girl. She will attend Weston High School this year as a sophomore and plans to visit the club several times during her stay. She also got the honor of ringing our four-time Club of the Year bell to close the meeting.
Khim gave us our first lesson in Thai:
(female) thank you = khob khun ka
(male) thank you = khob khun krub
If you live in Weston and would like to host Khim for 3 months this school year, please contact:
June was a busy month for Owen Moon, a District 7910 Youth Exchange Student sponsored by the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club. On June 2nd, he arrived home after spending the 2023-24 academic year living and attending school in Taiwan. On June 7th, he graduated from Weston High School. It all started when Owen, now 18, did a short-term summer exchange to Spain in 2022. That exchange led to a desire to see Asia -- an area of the world he's been fascinated with since childhood. He speaks Mandarin, has many international friends, and is more aware of cultures outside the United States.
Photo: Owen Moon, Kathleen Baker, and Hsinchu Peace Rotary Club President, Hsieh "Seven" Cheng-Wen at a Rotary meeting. April 2024.
On July 18th, we inducted a new member, Stanley David, who member Jimmy Belotte proposed. Stanley is a versatile entrepreneur working with New York Life and numerous other prominent carriers as an independent broker. Stanley’s profound engagement in his field is complemented by his active participation in community activities and his roles on various boards. He also lends his expertise to organizing events and supporting others in bringing their visions to life. Known for his approachability and genuine interest in the well-being of others, he exudes a passion for positively impacting people’s lives. He is dedicated to fostering growth and ensuring security for his friends, clients, and colleagues. Please join us in welcoming Stanley to our club!
Join us for the 27th Annual Weston & Wayland Rotary Club Antique & Classic Car Show on September 28, 2024. The show is located in Weston Town Center at 11 Townhouse Road, Weston, MA. Rain or shine it promises to be another great event for car owners and families alike. Show cars are encouraged to arrive between 8:00 and 10:00 am. Guests will be welcomed from 8:00 am to ~ 3:00 pm.
The Car Show has attracted over 200 cars of all years and types and over 2,000 attendees. Cars range from Ferraris, Mercedes Benz, Jaguars, and Rolls Royce to Chevrolets, Studebakers, Fords, and everything in between. We always tell people we’d like any car you’d like to show!
All net proceeds from the car show go to the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland Educational Scholarships and other Rotary Club projects such as conservation projects, food security programs, international projects, and more.
“We are excited to celebrate our 27th year of the show. We hope that everyone will join us this year. Each year, this show gets bigger and more renowned,” according to show Chairmen Richard DeVito, Sr., and Jr. “This show is a Rotary fundraiser that benefits the Rotary Scholarship fund and has raised nearly $642,000 in the first 26 years!”
In addition to cars, you can enjoy lunch at the Weston Rotary Grill, featuring fresh-popped popcorn, hot dogs, hamburgers, and soft drinks. It’s an excellent time for car kids from 6 to 100.
For early registration, car owners can download auto registration forms from the show website, www.westoncarshow.com, and mail them to Weston Car Show, 470 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA 02493, by September 23, 2024. You may also bring your car (and registration) to 11 Townhouse Road on Saturday morning starting at 8:00 am. Car judging begins at 10 am.
If you have any questions, please email Richard DeVito, Jr. at radjr@pnpco.com.
Our outgoing immediate past president, Katya Portnaya, who served from July 2023 to July 2024, was recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for her hard work, leadership, and dedicated service as President of the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club. She received two official citations recognizing Katya's work and the Commonwealth's,
Rotary Club Honors Brenda DeVito with Paul Harris Fellow Award
At our remarkable Installation Dinner, we had the pleasure of bestowing the highest honor on one of our own dedicated members and Past President, Brenda DeVito. Brenda was presented with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award in recognition of her outstanding and dedicated service to the communities around Weston.
Through her incredible work at the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland , Brenda has made a significant impact, embodying the Rotary spirit of service above self. Her commitment and tireless efforts have strengthened our community and inspired us all.
Congratulations, Brenda, on this well-deserved honor! We are grateful for your exemplary service and dedication.
Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland Celebrates 2024-2025 President and Officers Installation
On the evening of June 27th, the Rotary Club held its annual dinner meeting at the beautiful Weston Golf Club, marking the installation of the 2024-2025 President and officers. It was a night filled with anticipation, tradition, and a shared vision for the future.
Vera Lucia Dias was formally inducted as the new President by Katya Portnaya. All Past Presidents present ceremoniously passed the gavel until it reached Vera, symbolizing the passing of their wisdom to the new President. With grace and humility, Vera's first act as President was to lead the gathering in a small prayer, setting a reflective and hopeful tone for the evening.
On Thursday evening, June 13, 2024, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland joined the Weston Community League and the Weston Boosters to celebrate the many students awarded college scholarships from our organizations this year.
Representatives from all three organizations participated in the event hosted by Rotary at the Weston Golf Club. Guests from the WCL included Leslie Stonestreet, MaryAnn Riordan, Katie Phaneuf, Joan Heilbronner, and Karin Ott. Guests from the Weston Boosters included Melissa Galton and Jennifer Betty.
Our Club honored seven high school seniors this year. The increased number of awards was made possible because of President Katya Portnaya’s efforts to increase our scholarship funding for this year. Her initiative allowed us to support more scholarship awards for 2024.
As a Community service-focused organization, the Rotary Club looks for high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership, community service, and a drive for success. All seven of our recipients for 2024 are excellent examples of the Rotary motto: “Service above Self.”
This year’s winners of the Rotary Club’s Hector J. Osmond Memorial scholarship were: Mathew B Caleb G Darrell J Amani M Raymond R Ava T Eliana T
Congratulations to each of these amazing students, and we wish them luck as they venture out into this next phase of their lives.
A special thank you to all the Rotarians whose hard work all year provided us with the funds needed to offer these scholarships. And we must all offer grateful thanks to our hospitality team and Jan Luchetti for making our celebration possible.
Our Rotary meeting on Thursday, May 30th was absolutely awesome!
It began with incoming Club President, Vera’s, calling the meeting to order; thanking our sponsors, and introduction of all the evening’s guests.
Mark Messina then updated us on the RYLA program and our sponsoring of 10 high school sophomore’s (soon to be Juniors) to attend the training seminar at Fitchburg State College this June 21-23 and openings still available for adult volunteers to help out with the sessions.
Jan Luchetti then reviewed our Rotary Club schedule for June - which is jam packed with meetings, fellowship, community service, and volunteer opportunities.
Brenda DeVito then related a service opportunity on June 2 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in at the Wayland Multi-Cultural Festival at the Wayland High School Fieldhouse. Volunteers welcome.
Vera then moved on to our Business Meeting where (1) Valdet Abazi was inducted into our club, and he had amazing introductory comments + photos taken with his family at the ceremony. Vera did an outstanding job with leading the induction ceremony!
We then moved on to the club voting, where all 2024-2025 officers and directors were unanimously approved, in person and on Zoom, by our membership.
Yay! for our Rotary Club Members stepping up - and standing up to take responsibility for club actions and operations for 2024-2025!
Then, Richard DeVito created and presented a video showcasing Patty MacNeil’s service to our club as an outstanding volunteer, club officer, and club president, securer of Village Bank sponsorship for over almost a decade of service - being recognized with a Paul Harris Award - for the second time! Richard’s heartwarming introduction and meaningful comments addressed to Patty and our club brought tears to many in the audience. Patty graciously accepted the Paul Harris award and said that she was relocating to Maine - but would be able to return in the future and attend meetings along with Valdet Abazi - who will be still representing the Village Bank as one of our Club sponsors.
Thanks for all for a very well done Rotary meeting and the celebrating of so many volunteers doing wonderful works for our club and Rotary International!
Thank you to John, Richard and Jan for setting up the Zoom transmission equipment; Robert Blackburn for attending at 1:00 AM - Germany time while abroad; Brenda for announcing another volunteer opportunity in Wayland, Mark’s update on RYLA, Richard’s video and comments, Vera’s leadership and others for participating in person and standing up to be counted and voting.
This type of meeting makes us all proud to be a member of our Rotary club and Rotary International - Go Service Above Self! & yea for the Four Way Test!!!
Written by Bruce Lee past club Preseidnet - edited by Aaron Roy current Public Image Committee Chair
Amazing Rotary Club Meeting - Thursday May 30, 2024
Saturday's 4th Annual Children's Business Fair was a wonderful success! Over 50 kid businesses came to showcase their creations, which they had worked on for months. Paired with the Celebrate Weston event, the Town residents and many other guests massively supported the kidpreneurs.
Congratulations to our fabulous co-chairs, Janika LeMaitre and Alex Faigel, for a finely tuned, successful event. Thank you to all the volunteers who made this event successful, and the guest judges who interviewed each business and chose the winners in each event!
"With this year under our belts, we have hosted almost 200 kid businesses and 300-400 kid entrepreneurs. Hopefully, they will look back at this as inspiration for their future endeavors," said event co-chair Alex Faigel.
Age Group/Category Business winners:
6-9 Years Old Age Group
Most Impressive Presentation - Cora's Creations
Most Business Potential - Handmade by Hazard
Most Creative Idea - Bird Whisperer
Most Environmentally Sustainable - Herbsorb [Herb + Absorb]
10-11 Years Old Age Group
Most Impressive Presentation - Caramel Berry
Most Business Potential - Olivia's Craft Corner
Most Creative Idea - L&L Treats
Most Environmentally Sustainable - Caramel Berry
12-14 Years Old Age Group
Most Impressive Presentation - Josie's Jewelry
Most Business Potential - Balm Buddies
Most Creative Idea - School Year Artistry
Most Environmentally Sustainable - Totes and Dreams
Join us for the 4th annual Children's Business Fair on Saturday, May 18th at the Weston Town Green!
Be sure to visit Thorpe-D Creations for affordably priced toys and jewelry under $10. They are this week's winner of the Rotary Business Spotlight. We will be featuring some businesses from now until the fair to give you an idea of what to expect. We hope to see you there!
Children's Business Fair Spotlight: Thorpe-D Creations
The Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland was recognized for its marketing excellence, winning the Gold Award in the Outstanding Web Presence Award category in the 2024 District 7910 Public Image Awards program.
Outstanding Social Media Presence - Gold
The Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland was recognized for its marketing excellence, winning the Gold Award in the Outstanding Social Media Presence category in the 2024 District 7910 Public Image Awards program.
Exemplary Public Image Presence - Silver
The Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland was recognized for its marketing excellence, winning the Silver Award in the Exemplary Public Image Presence category in the 2024 District 7910 Public Image Awards program.
"The Rotary District 7910 Public Image Awards program," according to District Governor Elliott Rittenberg, "was a great way for us to learn great ways to promote all the good work of our Rotary Clubs and their members. The Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland earned this award, and now our other Clubs will have a chance to learn from them."
Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland Recognized by District 7910 for Public Image
Another successful year of the Seeding Distributions to the Weston and Wayland first graders! 3,000 trees are now distributed to date!
Thank you to all the volunteers who participated! A special thanks go to the volunteers who distributed the seedlings multiple times this week, Valdet Abazi and Elton Leka from The Village Bank, Cheri Amour Mahan, and of course our seedling master, Mark Messina for his dedication and commitment over the past seven years!!!
Another Successful Year of the Seeding Distributions
Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland is the chartered organization for Boy Scout Troop 157. The troop is having their annual Pasta Dinner and Silent Auction, on Friday, April 5th from 6-8:30 pm at the community center.
Rotarians who would like to help cook at the event should contact Rich DeVito. Rotarians who can support the event by donating a silent auction item of between $50 or greater should contact Renae Shaday at renae.shadday@gmail.com. ALL Rotarians are strongly encouraged to attend this fun event and support scouting in Weston.
The Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland participates in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program for high school students. Two programs are available, and students can apply to either program. All Rotary Youth Exchange programs are run by volunteer Rotarians and comply with all U.S. State Dept. regulations.
Short-Term (Family-to-Family) Program – Participating students are matched with a student and family in another country. The U.S. student travels to the host country and stays with the host family for 3-4 weeks, immersing themselves in the host country’s language and culture. Then the U.S. student and their host sibling travel back to the United States and the foreign student stays with their U.S. family for a similar length of time. This exchange generally occurs during the summer. Over 20 countries are available to choose from.
Long-Term (Academic Year) Program – Long-term exchange students live with host families while attending high school in one of 40 participating countries for a full academic year. Students become fluent in the local language, build lifelong friendships, and develop an in-depth understanding of the people, traditions, culture, food, and history of their host country -- a truly international education with benefits that last a lifetime.
What are you waiting for? A beautiful world awaits!
Want more information? Check out our website: Exchangestudent.org.
Ready to Apply? Contact us at: youthexchange7910@gmail.com
The Children's Business Fair is back! It will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 11 am to 3 pm at the Weston Town Green during the Celebrate Weston! event.
Rotarians VOLUNTEER HERE to help with set-up, during the Fair and clean-up.
Children showcase their very own businesses at our one-day market, which is part of the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America. Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
We all believe entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
This Thursday, we will celebrate more deserving, community service-oriented students selected to receive the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). Community members nominated the students and they have thoroughly impressed our committee with their community service, leadership, and drive to help, in various ways, in our community.
Ten of the recipients who have won the award this school year will be invited to apply to represent Wayland and Weston at the 2024 Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, a 2.5-day leadership conference at Fitchburg State University in late June. In years past, approximately 200 students and 200 volunteers have participated in this weekend's conference.
Join us to celebrate these deserving students. Registration is required by 6:00 pm on Monday, February 26th!
Thanks to everyone who attended our 70th Annual Weston Fishing Derby. Check back here for Pictures of the event.
Here are the 2024 winners. Due to security reasons, we did not list the winners' last names. For those highlighted in yellow below, please contact us to pick up your child's prize. We have tried to contact the winners by email, but we did not collect a few emails*. If you know any of the winners below, please tell them they won a prize and ask them to contact us.
First Fish (prize $25 and tackle gear)
Ages 1-5 Gabriel S.
Ages 6-8 Tibbie M.
Ages 9-11 Aanya G.
Ages 12-14 Findlay P.
Longest Fish (prize $25 and tackle gear)
Ages 1-5 Malcolm C.
Ages 6-8 Mallory W.
Ages 9-11 Luca C.*
Ages 12-14 Owen G.
Heaviest Fish (prize $25 and tackle gear)
Ages 1-5 Sage N.
Ages 6-8 Harrison C.
Ages 9-11 Andrew C.*
Ages 12-14 Deven L.
Overall Heaviest (Prize $50)
Sage N.
Overall Longest (Prize $50)
Leo D.
Of the three TAGGED fish placed in the pond, NONE were claimed for a $50 prize!
NOTE: we placed 115 trout in the pound on Friday, April 19th. Ten trout were caught. One 17" trout was caught. We believe it was a holdover from last year, as the largest trout we stocked was 12-14 inches. Two largemouth bass were caught; the largest was 1lb 7oz! Our stocking trout farm suggests that competition from the large-mouth bass and the pan fish may have kept the trout at the bottom of the pond. I think there is another reason...
Contact Richard DeVito if you have any questions: radjr@pnpco.com
In addition to sponsoring the Fishing Derby, the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland hosts numerous events throughout the year that raise funds to support humanitarian projects here and internationally. Projects include annual college scholarships for local high schoolers, preparing and providing meals at local soup kitchens, and a five-year project to restore a Weston field for pollinating insects.
In a joyful journey that underscores the spirit of global cooperation, Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland member Joy Meng visited Sri Lanka, hailed as the top country to travel for six years by Lonely Planet for over three weeks.
During her stay in Sri Lanka, Joy introduced the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland to Jerome Rajendram, the District Governor of Rotary Sri Lanka for 2023-2024, and met with Kosala Wickremanaye, the former President of the Rotary Club of Colombo (Capital city of Sri Lanka), at Cinnamon Life on December 22, 2023. Their discussions focused on collaborative projects that could benefit communities globally. Key initiatives included donating English children's books to assist Sri Lankan girls in learning basic English, supporting women small business owners in rural areas of Sri Lanka through coaching and financial loans, and setting up student exchange programs for Colombo students and Weston and Wayland students.
A highlight of Joy's visit was her family's extraordinary meeting with the President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, coincidentally on her birthday!
Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland Explores International Collaboration in Sri Lanka
Thank you to everyone who came out to purchase Christmas trees & wreaths to support our charitable initiatives.
A special thank you to all those who helped at the tree sale over the past few weeks, our friends Heather and Annie, and the staff at Land's Sake Farm for your support and help this year! Happy Holidays!!
Your Christmas tree and wreath purchases help to support scholarships, food security projects, and other charitable initiatives of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland.
The 26th Annual Antique & Classic Car Show is in the books. We got the show in with just a few light showers and about 90 cars braving the weather forecast to join us for the return of the Car Show after a 3-year hiatus.
Thank you to:
all the car owners who brought their cars,
all the visitors who came to look at them and hear the stories of their history,
all the event sponsors and
all the Rotarians and volunteers who made it happen!!
Click the video below to hear from our very own Richard DeVito Jr. speak about the upcoming Classic & Antique Car Show on September 23rd! Rich tells Weston Media Center about the history of the show, what to expect, and more!
The 26th Antique & Classic Car Show on September 23, 2023, marks the return of a signature event of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland that is beloved by the community and car enthusiasts alike. The setting around the Weston Town Green in September is unrivaled on the antique and classic car show circuit. The Show attracts hundreds of cars and a thousand guests or more.
Rotary’s motto is “Service above self.” For sponsors, we understand that means if there’s something more we can do for our sponsors, we’ll do it if we can. If there’s another benefit that appeals to you, please name it.
There are many ways Rotarians serve their communities. On Saturday, July 22, three members of the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club found a new path to do that: They participated in “The Epic Ride” a charity fundraiser organized by Rotarian Warren Green and this year, John Marchiony and Rob Mosher joined the ride. Wonderfully, President Katya showed up unexpectedly at the 100-mile mark with water and snacks.
The Epic is a one-day, 160-mile bike ride from Wellesley to Provincetown, which follows much the same route as the Pan-Mass Challenge. The riders cycle to raise awareness and money for charitable causes that are meaningful to them. This year, Warren, Rob, and John's charities are The Rotary Foundation; the Multiple Sclerosis Society; the Dana Farber Cancer Institute; the New England Parkinson's Ride for Research, and the Fenway Community Health’s LGBTQ clinic.
On July 15th, Rotarian Fr. Frank J. Parker and friends celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination.
A member of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland since April 2021, Frank J. Parker, S.J. was born in New York City in 1940. He attended Brooklyn Prep, College of the Holy Cross, and Fordham Law School, passing the Massachusetts Bar Exam at the age of 27. Thereafter, he entered the Society of Jesus.
Cheri lives with her two boys in Weston. She is passionate about volunteering and is involved in many volunteer programs in the community. Cheri has been the PTO Performance Coordinator for Weston Middle School for seven years, Booster Board member for the past two years, and the Weston Community Preservation Commission Coordinator for the past three years. In addition, Cheri is a Real Estate Specialist and an Estate Planner.
Please Welcome Cheri Amour Mahan to the Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland!
What an incredible and wonderful meeting we had last night. We inducted two more Board Members, James Brasco, and Warren Green, into our Board. We also had a presentation by Ciaran Gavin on his restoration project which took years and a great amount of work to complete. We then raised $250 to help cover his project cost to put up signage. On a lighter note, we compared movies, laughed, talked and some even helped each other out for work. This is what our club fellowship does and if you weren't there, we missed you!
Club Meeting July 13 - Guest Speaker and Induction of New Board Members
Dr. Joy Meng is the founder of Aanya MG International (AMG), a woman entrepreneur, and a former Professor of Literature at Guangzhou Medical University. She lives in Weston with her daughter and husband. For the past decade, Joy has dedicated her time to volunteering and helping international students, scholars, and new immigrant families. With her talent for writing, Joy has published several academic and children's books. She recently completed a manuscript of fiction titled "Born in 1979," which she plans to publish in 2023-2024.
Please Welcome Dr. Joy Meng to the Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland!
Claire earned her doctorate in virology research from Johns Hopkins Medical School. Following brief stints in management consulting and biotech, she launched her own company approximately 12 years ago. Claire's two children attend Weston public schools and are both passionate about fencing. When not busy with work or shuttling her kids to various sports events, Claire enjoys pursuing her interests in gardening, scuba diving, Chinese calligraphy, and community services.
We are happy to have you, Claire!
Please welcome Claire Han to the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland!
My year as President is ending, and I want to thank you all for making it a rewarding experience. We held many Monday Team meetings to plan meetings and events, big and small; we had not 1 but 2 Children's Business Fairs and the Christmas Tree Sale. We brought in speakers to increase attendance at weekly meetings and have welcomed many new members who are stepping up, joining teams, and volunteering. We formed a new relationship volunteering at the Celebration International Church's food pantry and had a special Valentine's Dinner and St. Patrick's Day Family Feud! We've enjoyed our conservation connection at the Sears Field and have used the Gavin barn for many events: meetings, a clambake, a honey-spinning event, and our awesome Halloween Party!
We also have increased our participation in multiple District events: The Foundation Dinner in November, the Tri-District Conference in April, and RYLA this past weekend, and we had 2 Assistant Governors from our club helping other clubs!
And for doing all that, our club was acknowledged with many awards from the District. Thank you to everyone who stepped up to help plan or volunteer their time to make all these things happen!
I look forward to seeing you on Thursday as we install Katya and the new Board of Directors. The club is in good hands with them!
Below and to the left is a photo taken at the end of the Rotary Sears service project on Saturday, June 10.
We all had a good time & I think Charlie was very happy with the work completed!
from left to right - Rob Mosher, Ellie Pendergast, Katya, Jordan & Willow (4 yrs old), unknown, Charlie Hamlin. Kneeling in front is Mauricio Rosa and his friendly puppy!
Adoption is challenging work. We have adopted the Sears Field in Weston and we are reclaiming it for the life of pollinating insects. All are invited to clear these invasive plants so that in year three of our five-year project we can begin to plant the plants that are good for the pollinators. Join us to work hard, release some energy on the invasive plants, have an enjoyable time, have friendly conversations, and have good refreshments.
Last week, June 8th, we had the privilege of hosting our Annual Scholarship Dinner. Together with the Weston Community League and Weston Boosters Club, we were able to grant scholarships to an amazing group of students that are incredibly deserving. It was a heartfelt event and we all loved hearing about the amazing things that the students accomplished and what they will do in the future. This is one of our biggest events of the year and if you have not been we strongly recommend that you make time for it next year.
Congratulations to all 50 Kidpreneurs who presented at the Children's Business Fair this past Sunday. While many kids talk about setting up a proverbial lemonade stand, these 50 kids were businessmen and women of action. They worked with their own hands, often in teams, to make their products. They then created signage and marketing materials to design their booth, learning to sell to strangers (in a safe environment). Finally, they learned the value of a dollar in earning some well-deserved extra spending money as a reward. I couldn't be more proud of the 100 or so kids that represented their 50 businesses this past weekend. Congratulations to all of the kids, they are all winners! -Alex Faigel
"With this being our third year running the fair, I am astounded by the children, their creativity, and the confidence that follows. This year we had a multitude of kids who have put together a business for two or three years and evolved their offerings after receiving feedback. They are determined to grow, and watching them on their journeys has been rewarding." - Janika LeMaitre
3rd Annual Business Fair Proves to be Another Massive Success!
The Weston-Wayland Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneurs. The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
The opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business! And, this year's theme is "Environmental Sustainability."
Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
We will host approximately 50 booths at the 3rd annual event on SUNDAY, May 21, 2023, between 11 am - 3 pm.
This event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland and the generous support of our donors and volunteers. We all believe that entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.
“Today’s youths are tomorrow’s business innovators and leaders. The Children’s Business Fair gives students the opportunity to spread their entrepreneurial wings and get a head start on promising business careers.” Said Jeff Sandefer, founder of the Acton School of Business, one of the sponsors of the fair.
Awards will be presented in each of the four age groups (6-7, 8-10, 11-12, and 13-14) for: "Most Business Potential" "Most Creative Idea" "Most Environmentally Sustainable Practices" "Most Impressive Presentation" The overall winner will receive a $50 prize.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Join us at the Children's Business Fair - MOVED TO SUNDAY Due to Weather
Now that we have removed the invasive plants that hinder the pollinators, we are ready to begin planting for the pollinators.
Present in the Sears field are milkweed and goldenrod. Our intent is to support these native plants such that they will continue to thrive and propagate further into the field.
In addition:
The plan for this coming year is to develop “islands” of native plants for the pollinators, along a grassed path that will be developed from the south entrance to the field to the northern end where the honeybees will reside.
We are inviting all interested Weston Wayland Rotary Club members to design their island of native plantings for the pollinators.
Here below are some great resources for application to island creation. As you know, some of the important criteria for the design are season / period for sowing / planting, temperatures, soil types, soil moisture levels, sunlight and shade durations, and soil type. The following are resources for you to choose your native plants for your island design and eventual planting. Use these resources and others to understand the environmental requirements of each species.
Perhaps the most useful resource for our field is the first one, Native Plants for Pollinate North Hampton – This document is available on the Conservations Team’s Google Drive. If you do not have access, please contact Charlie at charlie1288@gmail.com and he will provide access to the Drive, or will email the document.
Of special note, it is understood that we are planting in a natural environment, not a backyard where a water hose might provide plentiful water. So let’s communicate and work together on the watering requirements for plant choices and how those will or will not be met.
Where to buy native plants that the pollinators will go to for food and egg laying:
Wagon Wheel in Lexington and Concord
Johnny’s Seeds
Fedco in Clinton ME
Garden in the Woods in Framingham
Lincoln Land Conservation Trust might have a limited supply, but they sell to their members first.
Let’s start a kickstart workshop within the Conservation Team meetings to get these islands going!
Renewed Plan for the Sears Field: Year Three – The First Planting Year
About this video: Click play to watch the video presentation for first graders (and their parents) in Weston and Wayland elementary schools the week of April 24-28.
In 2018, Ian Riseley, Rotary International President, declared "The Year of the Tree" and challenged the 1.2 million worldwide membership of Rotary to plant a tree for each club member on Earth Day. The Weston-Wayland Rotary Club embraced this challenge and expanded the program to include distributing Green Giant Arbor Vitae to first graders in Weston.
The project was so well-received, and so much fun for our Club members, that we have made it an annual activity for our club and expanded the distribution to all first graders in both Weston and Wayland. In 2020, when Covid disrupted the school year we canceled our distribution. However, in 2021, when schools were back we doubled our order to 800 seedlings so we could catch up and get seedlings to both first and second graders. In 2023, we will distribute 500 seedlings in our community and bring our total distribution to 2400 seedlings since the program started. This year's shipment arrived yesterday and was unpacked by Club Members to prepare for distribution.
At last night's meeting, we inducted the Belotte family into our Club!
The Belotte family of Weston includes Jimmy Belotte, his wife Mitchell Alexis, and their two daughters Sophie and Sidney Belotte. They moved to Weston, MA in July 2020 from Rye, New York. Jimmy is a physician-scientist, board-certified Obstetrician, and Gynecologist currently employed by GlaxoSmithKline, as Medical Director of Oncology Clinical Development. Mitchell Alexis is in her last year of medical school training; Sophie is in 8th grade and Sidney is in 3rd grade.
“The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards are a vital part of our community's vibrancy, and with the students recognized through this program, our future is truly bright,” said Joseph De Vito, president and CEO of The Village Bank, a partner sponsor of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland along with Atlantic Advisory Group.
On February 16, 2023, our club recognized eleven sophomores for their generous contributions to our communities. Bentley Bassick is the first student from Dana Hall School in Wellesley to receive the award. Jordan Haims attends The Rivers School in Weston. Alyssa Ao, Bowen Morrison, Pariplavi Sontha, Rachel Goldstone, and Reece Davies, Pariplavi Sontha and Zachary Thoen attend Wayland High School. Nate Whitworth, Oliver Moon and Sarah Zhang are Weston High School sophomores.
Our club Speaker Series team invites speakers to our meetings to tell us about interesting topics affecting our community. These include community members, business leaders, charitable foundations, etc. This month we have had two outstanding speakers: The Honorable Dennis Saylor and Pam & David Griffin from Chocolate Therapy.
If you have ideas for other speakers, please contact Brenda DeVito.
Liz is an award-winning journalist and Boston University professor with experience in newspapers, national magazines, and global publications. She has joined many club meetings over the past several months, and we welcomed her into our fantastic club last week! Liz has already volunteered to help with some of our opportunities. Please introduce yourself and get to know Liz. Welcome!!
On December 11 our Rotary Club sold Every. Last. Tree! Both the Weston Fire Department and the Weston Police Department stopped by and we thanked them for their service and donated a tree to each. We had a whole bunch of eager high school volunteers from both Weston and Wayland high schools and we put them to work carrying trees to cars. In what seemed like a poetic ending, the last tree sold just as the first snowflakes began to fall. We cleaned up the lot, took down all the stakes, disassembled the A-frames, packed everything up, and put it away till next year! We cooked and ate s'mores, and drank hot chocolate.
At our weekly Thursday night meeting on the first of this month, we welcomed Secretary of State William Galvin, a special guest speaker of Fr. Frank Parker. Sec. Galvin was newly re-elected for his historic 8th term as Secretary of the Commonwealth. He talked about his job overseeing elections in Massachusetts and his experience during the 2020 election process during COVID. His goal for this term is to get civics education back in the curriculum for all students of the Commonwealth. We are extremely proud to have such a distinguished guest speaker at our Club meeting. A special thanks to Fr. Frank Parker for inviting his former student and for being such a strong supporter of the Club. His company, Atlantic Advisory Group, is a generous sponsor of our Rotary Club and we are eternally grateful. All are welcome to visit our meetings and hear other guest speakers we invite from the community to share the great work that they do.
Secretary of State William Galvin Speaks at Club Meeting
New Location for Christmas Tree Sale (formerly at the First Baptist Church in Weston)
With excitement (and a little sadness), we are moving our annual Christmas tree & wreath sale to Land's Sake Farm, 90 Wellesley St, Weston. We look forward to continuing, and for those of you new to Town, starting the tradition of purchasing your trees and wreaths in Weston. You will be supporting both the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland's community initiatives (food security, scholarships, conservation, etc.) AND Land's Sake Farm food security programs.
Opening day is Friday, November 25th. We will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 am - 4 pm until sold out.
***Delivery will be available to the local area for an additional donation.
Contact us with any questions at westonwaylandrotary@gmail.com
Update: We are just over 2 weeks away from one of our club's biggest annual events, The Children's Business Fair! Applications are now closed and are 100% occupancy of our business booths, with 50 kidpreneurs scheduled to sell their goods and services. Our focus is now on attendance, volunteers, and sponsorships. Please be sure to spread the word about the fair and sign up to help out.
KidPreneur Spotlight: The Soap Place
Siblings Pranav and Saanvi will be at this year’s Children’s Business Fair with their business, “The Soap Place."
They wanted to make only soaps and refreshments instead of candles, cookies, and soaps, with prices varying according to size and design. So they're making goat milk soap, honey soap, glycerin soap, and aloe vera soaps in different shapes, colors, and sizes. Additionally, they wish to sell refreshing drinks so the customers are not thirsty. They're curious about how to make different colorful, flavored, and shaped soaps, so they wanted to give it a try.
We wish The Soap Place a successful first year at the fair!
Eagle Scout Liam Gavin is building a nature trail behind the Veritas School in Wayland. This project will make the trail more accessible to students and the community with improved steps and landings. Donations welcomed. Volunteers needed in August and September to build the steps. Contact Liam Gavin for dates.
Marianne Riggio from the Perkins School for the Blind shared about the innovative support and services being offered to people with visual disabilities. The staff also train teachers statewide in classroom management for the visually challenged. Every child can learn, and you can help. www.perkins.org
To begin the new Rotary Year, President Brenda DeVito with Jan Luchetti and the membership committee welcomed two new members: Warren Green and Brian Kickham at an Induction Ceremony during the July 21st Club Assembly.
What a great day! Boy, did we luck out with beautiful weather and the community showing up with their four-legged friends!
We had such great entertainment, including K9 Kevin with the Newton and Cambridge Police, Karen O'Reilly our own Animal Control Officer with the Weston Police, followed by some fantastic contests, a meet and greet with Instagram influencers @lifeasarchie & @reinasadventures, and finishing with a parade for all pups around the Weston Town Green led by Patty McNeil with The Village Bank. Congratulations to all of the winners!
Our silent auction attracted a lot of attention; many dog treats–and some premium items–were generously donated including a luxury dog bed and cooling blanket from KMT Pet Care, to help our charity causes: Joy Viola organized.
Rob Mosher did an outstanding job taking charge of our food and beverage station along with the help of our newest Rotarian, James Brasco.
Nods to John Marchiony, co-founder of the Pooch Parade concept back in 2015, and Wing-Dog to the Chair for his support and volunteer corralling: he was there with us in spirit.
We expect to host 500+ people and their furry friends, providing a range of entertainment, including must-see demonstrations, fun contests for dogs to enter, a wide range of exhibitors to visit, and finishing off with a "paw-some" parade around Weston Town Green which starts at 1:00 PM led by Instagram doggy influencers @lifeasarchie and @reinasadventures!
Entry is $10 per dog or person. Children under the age of 12 free. You can register on the day of the event or register in advance. Get your tickets here: https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Weston-Pooch-Parade-Festival-62476
Celebrate Weston on May 21, 2022! Join your friends and family to commemorate the completion of the Town Center improvements, including the Art & Innovation Center and the Josiah Smith Tavern. View the official event program and details about parking: https://www.westonma.gov/1756/Celebrate-Weston. Here's a direct link to the program.
Find the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland at the Josiah Smith Tavern (parking lot) as part of the Marketplace of town organizations.
23 Rotarians and friends spent Thursday evening volunteering at Community Servings in Jamaica Plain. If you missed this opportunity, you will have another chance to join in this rewarding experience of humble service, as we intend to volunteer as a group again, possibly on a regular basis.
"Our mission is to actively engage the community to provide medically tailored, nutritious, scratch-made meals to chronically and critically ill individuals and their families.
Our Vision: We envision a world in which everyone has access to the nutritious food they need for health and wellbeing as a fundamental right.
Adoption is challenging work. We have adopted the Sears Field in Weston and we are reclaiming it for the pollinating insects. All are invited to clear these invasive plants so that in year three of our five year project we can begin to plant the plants that are good for the pollinators.
Join us this Springto work hard, release some energy on the invasive plants, have a good time, good conversation and good refreshments. Navigate to 27 Crescent Street and park at the Melone Homestead.
Please join our hearty, happy crew any day and time you can:
The Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland will once again be selling Christmas trees, fostering a holiday tradition that originated in Riga, Latvia, in 1510, when the first decorated Christmas tree was recorded. In 1531, Protestant Reformer Martin Luther placed the first candles on a "Tannenbaum," a "fir tree."
Sales will begin at 10 am on Friday, November 26th, the day after Thanksgiving, and run until Christmas Eve. Hours will be Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am - 6 pm plus Thursday and Friday evenings from 4:30 – 7:30 pm. Come see us at the First Baptist Church of Weston, 657 Boston Post Road. NEWS FLASH: The trees arrived and they are larger than expected: Most are 6'-8' and there are some 10', 12', and one 14' tree.
"Most people buy their trees the first week of December," says Robert Mosher, chair of the Christmas tree committee. "This year, I encourage people not to wait until the last minute as we are likely to sell out of trees." He also advised that those who want 10-12 ft. trees should shop early as the tallest trees go first. Five species of trees are the most commonly used, Balsam, Douglas, Fraser Fir, Scotch Pine, and Blue Spruce. Still, the Balsam Fir is the most fragrant and, for that reason, the most popular. The Rotary Club will offer 300+ Balsam trees ranging from 3 ft to 10 ft in height, along with 14, 16, & 20" Balsam wreaths.
The Rotary club will use proceeds from the tree sales to benefit several charities: Middlesex Human Services, including Bristol Lodge, local food pantries, need-based college scholarships in Weston and Wayland, and other Rotary Club community service projects.
Special Caroling Event: Please join us at the Christmas Tree Sale on Thursday, December 2 at 6:30 pm when the St. Peter’s Acapella Choir Quartet will be joining us to sing holiday carols…. The more the merrier!
Our first Weston-Wayland Children's Business Fair on Saturday was a fantastic success. Twenty-eight young entrepreneurs participated and hundreds of guests enjoyed a perfect day.
The Weston-Wayland Children's Business Fair will take place next Saturday, October 16th, 11 am-3 pm at the Weston Arts and Innovation Center, 356 Boston Post Rd, Weston.
Adoption is challenging work. We've adopted the Sears Field and started reclaiming it from extensive invasive plants. On Saturday, August 28th (10-12) all are invited to join us to clear more and more, release some energy on the bad plants, and meet some nice people. See more info about the project, parking at the Melone Homestead to reach the field, andsign up to volunteer here.
Rotarian Rob Mosher (above) arrives at the field with two chainsaws, both of which were put to good use. Below, six of the fourteen Rotarians who worked on Thursday, July 15 made a great big dent in the eastern border of the field.
The Conservation Team from the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has been busy at work surveying the adopted field, the Sears Field, off of Crescent Street in Weston.
On August 26th we met at the Weston Golf Club to celebrate a Paul Harris Fellow Sapphire awarded to Rob Mosher and welcome 3 new club members: Joy Viola, Aaron Roy, and John Ibasco.
June 17, 2021 was the first in-person gathering since the beginning of the pandemic for the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland. This event marked the annual award ceremony with which the new President Paul Lualdi received his new – official – presidential gavel!
Special guests included District Governor Diana Nestorova and Joseph De Vito, President and CEO of Village Bank. DG Diana presented the 2020-21 Rotary Club of the Year award
WW Rotary also presented two Paul Harris Fellow awards to Jan Luchetti and John Marchiony. Their hard work and dedication to building the club up to what it is today led the Board of Directors to orchestrate the presentation of the highest honor that one can be awarded to a Rotarian to recognize their efforts.
Congratulations to all of the award winners. You do amazing work.
The Rotary 7910 District Conference on May 21-22, 2021 proved to be very successful for the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, winning 10 awards (6 Club and 4 individual) at the 2-day conference:
Club Awards:
Club of the Year
Net Membership Growth:1st Place.100% more net membership growth than any other Rotary Club in the District -- 9 net new members for WW Rotary. Ron Bott said: "And finally, with an outstanding net gain of nine new members, active members from January 1 to May 15. The Weston-Wayland Rotary Club will receive a $1,000 cash award funded service project, organized by its newer members.
District Membership:Gold Award
District Service: Bronze Award
Youth Programs: Silver Award
DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Club Citation
Individual Awards:
Avenues of Service Award - Jan Luchetti honored for her extraordinary service to the club in the five Avenues of Service — club, vocational, community, international, and youth service. She has contributed an extraordinarily large quantity of time across all our programming initiatives.
Significant Service Award -"The Saplings Project" chaired by Mark Messina. This award recognizes Rotary clubs for projects that made an impact and gives district recognition to club activities that address a significant problem or need.
Unsung Hero - Rob Mosherfor always stepping up to help wherever needed. Initiated and chaired the Christmas Tree Sale.
District Innovators - John Marchionyfor expanding the Rotary Business Networking Series into the District 7910 Rotary@Work initiative.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO RCWW!!
Weston & Wayland Rotary Club 2021 Club of the Year
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland goes big for Earth Day 2021 by restarting the tradition of giving each first grader in Weston and Wayland a tree seedling for Earth Day. This year the club will also distribute seedlings to each second grader in both towns since the program was canceled last year due to school closings. This brought the count of seedlings distributed this year to 800 and almost 1500 since the inception of this project in 2018.
Mark Messina, Rotary Earth Day Committee Chair said, “We are very fortunate to have such great leadership in our schools. Every principal responded quickly and enthusiastically to our program”. Patty McNeil, Vice President of the Village bank in Wayland and longtime Rotarian was instrumental in securing the funding for this project as part of the Village Bank’s continued community support of Rotary events.
Janika LeMaitre and Betsy Millane joined the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on Thursday, March 18.
“My father,” explained LeMaitre, “was the president of a Rotary Club near Perth, so I was attuned to the Rotary mission of service when I moved to Weston. As soon as I reached out, I felt warmly welcomed by the Rotary members, and we’ve already had some great laughs. I clearly see ways I can contribute to our communities, both locally and more broadly.”
Betsy Millane is a Needham resident and a realtor in Wellesley whose instincts for client service were sharpened at an early age by her father, a real estate professional who instilled in Betsy the importance of owning every facet of the transaction for her clients. Millane met Weston-Wayland Rotarians through the Business Networking Series, but she joined because of the Club’s commitment to service.
Click "read more" below or see the article that appeared in the Town Crier newspaper and on WickedLocal.com.
"Service Above Self" is the worldwide motto of Rotary. Beginning in 2021, The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland will recognize people of Weston and Wayland who have who contributed to our communities through exemplary service that demonstrates the ideal of "Service above self."
On February 25, 2021, we made the the inaugural presentation of this award where we celebrated outstanding contributors to our communities. Deborah Davenport, Town Clerk for the Town of Weston, was the first recipient. Brenda and Richard DeVito were wonderfully surprised to also receive the award. See the recording of the award presentation, along with other videos we have captured, on our WW Rotary YouTube Channel.
You can also read about the award in the Town Crier Newspaper's online edition on WickedLocal.com.
To nominate a worthy citizen, please see our nomination information one the Service Above Self page.
Susan Howards, Sandra Lundy, Wendy Nollman and Katya Portnaya (left-right below) joined the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on Thursday, February 11.
Susan Howards, a criminal defense attorney, transferred her membership because of the energy and innovative initiatives created by the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club.
Sandy Lundy also is an experienced Rotarian and attorney. She is currently Of Counsel for Richardson Law, with a practice focusing on family law and all areas of civil appeals.
Wendy Nollman is the Executive Director of Traditions of Wayland who met the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland shortly after arriving at Traditions in 2020.
Katya Portnaya owns Boston Carriage with her husband and is a Master Gardener with a passion for combining service and gardening.
See the whole article that appeared in the Town Crier newspaper and on WickedLocal.com.
On the cusp between 2020 and 2021, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland had a wonderful, warming experience with our first-ever Christmas Tree Sale that served many purposes. We generated support for Mary's House in Waltham, Children's Hospital, and the Coats for Kids coat drive while providing an enjoyable tree shopping experience for fellow citizens and volunteer opportunities for 84 people. All surrounded by beautiful trees, lights, decorations, and a bit of smoke from a fire pit. And there's one more chance to volunteer on Saturday, January 2nd.
Please join us!
The members of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland are eager for the start of a new year that, we hope, will allow for so much more time with family, friends, and neighbors.
There is much to do, and many plans have already been drafted. We hope you will join us in creating something productive and rewarding. We would love your energy, contribution, and help in improving anything we have on the schedule that appeals to you.
Please join us!
Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award
The Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award recognizes sophomores who have demonstated that the Rotary motto of "Service above self" is an important part of their lives. Nominate a sophomore how lives or studies in Wayland today. The first set of awards will be presented February 3, 2020.
Service Above Self Award
New in 2021, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is launching the Service Above Self Award that will recognize people of Weston and Wayland who demonstrate their commitment and generosity to service and their communities. The award is presented ad hoc after a nomination is received by the President, Vice President, or Past President by email to president@westonwaylandrotary.org, who will then present the nomination to the Board for consideration.
Flamingo Flock Fun and Fundraiser
Later in 2021 -- probably in March and April -- we are planning the Flamingo Flock Fun and Fundraiser to benefit scholarships for college-bound graduating seniors in Weston and Wayland, as well as Rotary charitable and programmatic initiatives. We seek collaborators, crew members and folks who might like to consider themselves "co-conspirators" with Rotary. Pretty safe "conspiracy..."
Virtual Antique and Classic Car Show
And then we have big ideas about our first-ever Virtual Antique and Classic Car Show that will continue the 25-year tradition of celebrating Antique and Classic Cars. All enthusiasts are welcome and encouraged to help us plan and figure this out before entering their comely cars in custom categories and compelling contests.
Conservation Community Service
Community Service really should be higher on the page because it's core to the mission of Rotary Clubs here and around the world. In 2021, we have two areas of focus in addition to scholarships. Our Conservation Team, led by Charlie Hamlin,is focused on hands-on service that preserve and extend habitats for natural pollinators. We're planning now and will announce service opportunities in the late winter and early spring.
Food Security Community Service
Food Security Community Service will stay in the forefront of our thinking well into 2021. While we supported St. Vincent de Paul, A Place To Turn, and Mary's House in 2020, this is a need that is likely to remain for far too long. We're exploring a district-wide food "assembly" initiative that has been incredibly efficient in the past and could be revived with a bit of creativity.
Entrepreneurship and Business Community Service
Entrepreneurship and Business Community Service is a new phrase for use, but it's relevant. WW Rotary President John Marchiony was tapped by the Rotary District 7910 District Governor to help design and execute a brainstorming session he nicknamed "Rotary @ Work" which will identify opportunities in three professional areas: Careers, Business Growth, and Mentorship for, by and among Rotarians. Sign up to attend the District 7910 event on January 5 from 7-8 p.m. on Zoom.
In between all those special activities and service, we meet regularly to plan, socialize, laugh and hear from interesting people in our Speaker Series, in which John Sallay spoke about Beekeeping, La Toya Rivers broadened our understanding of the Weston Metco Director, Lisa Vernegaard shared the Sudbury Valley Trustees' perspective, Town Manager Leon Gaumond reconnected with Rotary, author Andra Watkins spun a masterful story, and Pam Fox compared and contrasted the Town Green then and soon. Joe Berman, Chair of the Weston Conservation Commission kicks off the 2021 Series on January 21. All are welcome to join us anytime and every time we have something happening that interests you.
All of this is wrapped into a warm community of generous people who value service to their communities very highly, including our two newest members, Robert Blackburn and Tim Gavin.
Join us! Reach out to any member of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland to learn a little bit more, try something out, ask questions, or join us for anything that you're curious to try.
Please purchase your Christmas trees in Weston this year to support scholarships, food security projects and other charitable initiatives of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland.
What: Select from 300 premium trees ranging in size from 3-feet to 8-feet along with 12" and 14" wreaths. Most of the trees will be 6-footers.
When:Starting on Friday, November 27 at 10 a.m., Rotarians, friends, family and volunteers will help you every step of the way. You can come pick out your tree on Thursday and Friday evenings, and during the day on Saturdays and Sundays.
Where: At the First Baptist Church of Weston, where Christmas trees have been sold for 35 years. Right across the street from the Golden Ball Tavern at 657 Boston Post Road, Weston.
Helping: Three ways you can help by sharing this invitation and information with your friends, family, organizations and members and/or by joining us as a volunteer. Sign up HERE to volunteer or send an email to president@westonwaylandrotary.org to get started or get info.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is excited to announce the fourth year of the ‘Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award.’ The program recognizes sophomores in our year-long effort in keeping with the Rotary motto of “Service above self focusing on leadership and community service.”
During the 2020-21 academic year, sophomores who live or study in Wayland or Weston will be recognized for their ability to weave “service above self” into their lives. John Marchiony, President of the Rotary Club this year, said “Community service is a core value of Rotary Clubs around the world, and our Club has plans to do more service, more often, with more people.”
Since launching the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) in 2017, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has recognized thirty sophomores and has sponsored ten each year to attend the transformational RYLA Conference which convenes each year in June. Any student can be nominated by a member of the community through a simple online form available at westonwaylandrotary.com. Nominations for this year can be submitted online at WestonWaylandRotary.org by October 15, November 15, and February 1, 2021.
Background: Polio has been a global pandemic for over 1000 years. The polio vaccine was developed here in the early 1950's and by 1954 it was rolled out to the US. By the early 1960's polio was a thing of the past..yet in most of the lesser developed world, it continued to spread and claim victims. In 1986, Rotary International along with medical support from the World Health Organization embarked on the most ambitious vaccination campaign ever conceived. The goal, to vaccinate some 3 billion people in 108 countries. Some 34 years later and over $860M spent we stand on the edge of a polio free world. For right now, join us as we celebrate the eradication of the polio virus from the African continent.
Rotary members have played an invaluable role in the effort to rid the African region of wild polio. We should be proud of all the hard work that we’ve done to eliminate the wild poliovirus throughout Africa and in nearly every country in the world.
Tim Gavin of Weston is the newest member of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland. According to Richard A. DeVito, Jr, two-time past President, "Tim Gavin has served "so many community organizations in Weston, including Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, The Weston Scout House Trustees Board, and Weston Soccer. All have been the beneficiaries of his skills and time. Mr. Gavin will uphold the finest traditions of fellowship and community service and spirit that Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland are known for."
Tim Gavin and his wife Cara have 8 children. He is a serial entrepreneur in the data analytics field and just finished a period correct restoration of their historic house.
"I'm a native of Norwood, MA," said Tim, "and I have been living in Weston for the past ten years with my wife of 16 years, Cara. Cara grew up in Weston and we found a great opportunity to move to her hometown when an old farmhouse came up for sale that would fit our large, and growing family. We currently have 8 children that are all fairly active in town sports and activities. I have been on the committees for the Cub Scouts (since 2012) and Boy Scouts (since 2015), as well as a member of the Weston Scout House Board of Trustees (since 2018). I have had the joy of coaching (and assistant coaching) several of my children in the local soccer program. We just returned from a year abroad in Barcelona and I was looking to re-engage upon my return. Rotary was a natural fit for my interest in continuing to provide service to our local communities and am very excited to start down this new path with so many great like-minded people."
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has been growing wonderfully since the start of 2020 and has -- surprisingly -- accelerated since June. Tim Gavin is the fourth new member since June, and the Club anticipates welcoming three more new members before the end of September. The Rotary Club welcomes all people, ideas and opportunities to serve our communities. Please join us for anything that captures your attention, and reach out to our current, past, and future Presidents through president@westonwaylandrotary.org for any reason or with any question.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland (RCWW) distributed over 800 pounds of watermelons to food pantry clients in Weston, Wayland and Lincoln for the Fourth of July.
The Rotary’s newly formed Food Security Team, along with many volunteers from the community, partnered with the Trinitarian Congressional Church food pantry in Wayland and the St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston.
“The news recently has been so full of stories about people struggling to feed their families that we started calling around to see what the local pantries needed,” said Mark Messina, co-chair of the Food Security Team. ”‘Something special for the Fourth of July,’ was the answer SVdP Pantry Chair Karen Boyce came up with, hoping to bring some joy and fun to clients who have had an especially difficult spring.”
Join members of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on Wednesday, June 24th and 25th, in a special service opportunity with the Weston/Lincoln Food Pantry, provisioned by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Rotarians and friends will donate and distribute a healthy fresh food item, which is rarely possible to provide in a food pantry, along with a "treat" for kids.
We seek volunteers to fill all the available slots from 8am-5pm on Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25th.
We hope you can take part for two hours or more if possible, and one hour if that is all your schedule allows.
Signup by clicking on the big blue buttons to the left.
These are different and difficult times and the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is rising to meet the new normal needs of our community.
The club meets virtually on Thursdays at 7 p.m. All are welcome to join us for fellowship, information about timely issues through the guest speaker program, and to learn about community service opportunities. Visit WestonWaylandRotary.org for more information.
On May 2, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, friends of Rotary and local businesses came together to share a message of friendship and hope with seniors living in six assisted living facilities in our community.
To send letters, poems, pictures with a note, letter or story to seniors living in six local assisted living residences/nursing homes who are not able to receive visitors due to COVID-19.
First Letter Drop - May 1
Second Letter Drop – June 1
Our Plan:
To collect these letters, poems, etc. written by Rotarians, community members, and students in our local schools and send them by e-mail to each of the facilities Activity Directors at
Traditions of Wayland, Carriage House at Lee's Farm Wayland, Sunrise of Wayland, Sunrise of Weston, Maplewood at Weston, Wingate at Weston
Abrar A. Qureshi, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at Brown Physicians, will speak about overall health, care and wellness during COVID – 19.
Dr. Qureshi has received numerous awards, several mentorship awards, and the Outstanding Service Award and Diversity Award from the American Academy of Dermatology, and is a member of numerous professional organizations.
Dr. Qureshi’s multidisciplinary clinic is dedicated to the care of adults and pediatric patients with combined skin and rheumatologic disorders.
The Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland meets Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to join us through Zoom. To attend, please register and we will provide access information.
On Thursday, March 12Dr. Cody Meissner, who specializes in pediatric infectious disease at Tufts University School of Medicine and also works with the National Institutes of Health and Boston Children’s Hospital, was scheduled as our guest speaker. We'd planned for Dr. Meissner to speak about polio, which he has studied closely, but the urgent topic of our time carried the day.
The Weston Media Center, after a quick contact with Alanna Muldoon, was able to have Brian Gordon join us to capture the talk and then do some quick post-production work. Today, the Weston Media Center shared the link to the 30--minute video, which include Q&A. You can see it on the Weston Media Center site. Please share it as broadly as you like.
We met Dr. Meissner in December while ringing the bells for the Salvation Army and invited him to come speak about polio, about which he is (also) expert. We look forward to that talk on Polio in October, pending confirmation of Dr. Meissner's availability.
If you would like to join a growing corps of people who willing to consider provide support to our communities (of an as-yet unspecified nature), please reply to this email and we'll know you are interested.
Thank you.
Rob Mosher, Mark Messina, Edwin Gaw, Richard DeVito Jr. - Co-Presidents
Ten extraordinary sophomores from Wayland and Weston were recognized on Nov. 21 for their contributions of service in their communities by the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland. Each of the students received the Rotary’s Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA).
Wayland High School’s Emily Chafe and Lucas Tang, along with Weston High’s Maya Shamari and Sarah Lappi, go above and beyond, displaying a passion for helping others. They were nominated by students, friends, teachers, advisors, community members and mentors.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is also collecting gifts for families at St. Mary's Place Shelter in Waltham. Please bring a new unwrapped gift for a child clearly labeled for St. Mary's Place. Gift bags and tissue paper for delivering the gifts are greatly appreciated. You can see what gifts kids and their moms are wishing for on the Mary's Place page of our website.
Since launching the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) in 2017, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has recognized 30 sophomores and sponsored 20 to attend the two-and-a-half day transformational RYLA Conference, which convenes each year in June.
During the 2019-20 academic year, sophomores who live or study in Wayland or Weston will be recognized at three celebration dinners at the Weston Golf Club.
“Today, we are excited to announce the third year of the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award,” said John Marchiony, RYLA chair of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland. “The program enables our Rotary Club to support, inspire and recognize sophomores in our year-long effort focusing on leadership and community service in keeping with the Rotary motto of ‘Service above self.’”
Selected students will be recognized at the Rotary celebration dinners and by GateHouse Media through the Town Crier newspapers and WickedLocal.com websites. Michael Wyner, editor of The Weston Town Crier and The Wayland Town Crier, said, “I agreed instantly that our organization wanted to be a partner in recognizing sophomores who step forward to contribute as leaders because they strengthen our communities now and for the future. These are students to watch, and to follow.”
For the 2019-2020 Rotary year, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland will be guided by four presidents, each of whom will preside for one quarter of the year. Richard DeVito, Jr. (far left) returns for a third "tour" to open the year, guiding the Club through the end of September, with the 25th Car Show as his primary focus. Rob Mosher, Edwin Gaw, and Mark Messina will preside for subsequent quarters. John Marchiony is President-elect and Jan Luchetti will provide guidance and support as the immediate Past President.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is actively looking for ways to innovate to expand the reach, impact and engagement with our communities. That said, the Club also celebrates traditions: the 2019 Antique and Classic Car Show on September 21 is the 25th annual edition. Before that, Rotarians started serving people who are homeless or seeking a cooked meal.
The Club has established an annual Scholarship Celebration Dinner where all organizations that grant scholarships to graduating Weston and Wayland High School seniors are invited to join our annual gathering to meet and celebrate their recipients.
To identify sophomores with a commitment to community service, the Club has morphed the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award program from a tight focus on the annual leadership conference in June to a recognition program that spans the entire sophomore academic year. Since creating the program in 2017, the Club has recognized 26 sophomores for their impressive contributions to their communities.
In 2018, in an effort to meet the call of the Rotary International President to celebrate Earth Day, the Club bought and distributed 200 trees to 1st graders in Wayland and Weston. In 2019, the Club distributed 450 trees after every single elementary school in both towns asked to participate.
“The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is tremendously impressed with the sophomores who live and study in our two towns,” said Jan Luchetti, club president.
Over the past two years, teachers, administrators and mentors have nominated more than 40 students for the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). According to John Marchiony, RYLA chair, “The contributions these 15- and 16-year-olds have made to our communities are spectacular. They are passionate, articulate champions for causes they care about. They have figured out how to incorporate service into their lives in substantial and fulfilling ways.”
On May 16, the Rotary Club recognized a large, diverse collection of community contributors from Wayland High School, Weston High School, and, for the first time, The Rivers School. Any sophomore who lives or studies in Wayland or Weston can be nominated for the award when the 2019-20 nominations campaign opens in September.
Weston’s Interact Club holding 5K to benefit shelter
Weston High School’s Interact Club will host its first annual 5K Mother’s Day Weekend Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, May 11 at 9 a.m. at Weston High School. This fun, family event will include a 5K Fun Run/Walk starting at the Weston High School track and following the cross country course over and around the high school and middle school campus.
Fun events will include face painting, sack races and games for younger participants. In addition, there will be food available at the concession stand at the high school track.
Robert Mosher, a junior at Weston High School and co-president of the Interact Club, said, “We chose to do a Fun Run/Walk because, after a long winter, we thought that people would want to get out and enjoy the warmer spring weather and get some exercise. I joined the cross country team last fall and had so much fun running, it was a natural choice. I heard about high school cross country runners in Stow creating a Thanksgiving Day fun run and thought we could do something similar.”
Daanish Qureshi and Noah Lee, center left and right holding RYLA Award Citations, were applauded for their service by Susan Paley, Vice President of The Village Bank, Michael Wyner, Editor of the Town Crier, Jan Luchetti & Joseph DeVito, CEO of The Village Bank, and Michael Wyner, Editor of the Weston and Wayland Town Criers, Jan Luchetti, President of the Rotary Club, Anthony Parker, Weston HS Principal, Allyson Mizoguchi, Wayland HS Principal, and Joseph DeVito, President and CEO of The Village Bank.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland invites you to get involved and experience the satisfaction of living a few more moments in "Service above self," the worldwide Rotary motto.
Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award Dinner, February 28, 2019 and March 21, 2019 @ 6:00 pm at the Weston Golf Club.
Come meet two more exceptional sophomores from Weston and Wayland as they are recognized for their community service contributions and leadership capacity and potential. You can RSVP online anytime until Tuesday, February 26 and/or March 19.
Rotary Business Networking Breakfast Meeting
Tuesday, February 26, 2019. 7:15 a.m. - 8:15 a.m at Mel's Commonwealth Cafe, 310 Commonwealth Road (Rt. 30) Wayland, MA.
Future meetings on the 4th Tuesday of each month.
Agenda:
7:15: Arrive, unstructured networking, reconnect.
7:25: Seating, order breakfast (self-pay, separate checks)
7:30: Welcome, introductions, and announcements followed by brief business introductions ("commercial," "elevator pitch" or personal statement).
February 21: Dinner Meeting. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club featuring a few informal Rotary traditions, a nice meal, a little discussion of upcoming activities, and planning for the events and activities that accelerate with the arrival of Spring.
March 7: Club Assembly, Speaker & Dinner. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club featuring the monthly Club Assembly with reports, requests and promises from each of the Rotary Club Committee Chairs, as well as planning for March, April and May events.
March 14: Dinner Meeting. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club.
March 21:RYLA Dinner Celebration. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club.
March 28: Dinner Meeting. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club.
Volunteer Opportunities & Special Events
While you're here, there are a few volunteer opportunities and special events you can join.
Every month, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland serves dinner at Bristol Lodge in Waltham. If you are interested in helping with shopping, preparation or serving dinner with our merry band of Rotarians and friends, please contact Rob Mosher for information and instructions.
Please join Troop 157 for their Annual Pasta DInner and Fundraiser at the Weston Community Center on March 22 from 6-8pm. . Tickets $10 each, $30 for a family. www.troop157.org
Weston and Wayland students connect with communities
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland presented the Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) on Jan. 24 to Julia Kofman of Weston and Abigail Gavron, who lives in Framingham and studies in Wayland because her parents work in the school system. Both students also received citations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives and their representatives, Alice Peisch and Maria Robinson.
Robinson represents Framingham and was inaugurated on Jan. 2, 2019. Amazingly, Rep. Robinson’s attendance coincided with one of the winner’s commitment to working for her on issues they both prioritize.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland invites you to get involved and experience the satisfaction of living a few more moments in "Service above self," the worldwide Rotary motto.
Rotary Events
Rotary Dinner Meeting with Guest Speaker January 10, 2019 at the Weston Library @ 6pm.
Aidan Chen, a Junior at Weston High School will be presenting his initiative, "Books for the Babies," an initiative that supports the March of Dimes' mission to improve the health of premature babies and advocates for their future literacy.
During the first year, "Books for the Babies" donated hundreds of board books to the families caring for their premature babies in the NICU at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Studies show that despite being one of the richest countries in the world, the United States is experiencing an increase in the number of preterm births... and we still don't know why. In addition, preterm infants who are not exposed to language while in the neo-natal intensive care unit, sometimes for many weeks, have lower language performance at age two.
Please RSVP to event chair Mark Messina by noon on Tuesday, January 8 so we can order enough dinner for all attendees. Dinner Cost: $20 or less.
Rotary Dinner Meeting & Club Assembly, January 17, 2019 at the Josiah Smith Tavern at 6pm
The monthly "Club Assembly" is the working meeting for the month where the Club discusses, plans and celebrates the upcoming activities for the month, quarter and year. It provides the most thorough overview of what Rotary Clubs support and do. Committee Chairs provide concise updates while seeking guidance and approvals. Jokes and banter fly.
Please RSVP to President Jan Luchetti by noon on Tuesday, January 15 so we can order enough dinner for all attendees. Dinner Cost: $20 or less.
Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award Dinner, January 24, 2019 @ 6:00 pm at the Weston Golf Club
Come meet two more exceptional sophomores from Weston and Wayland as they are recognized for their community service contributions and leadership capacity and potential. You can RSVP online anytime. Contact RYLA Chair John Marchiony for information or to nominate a deserving sophomore. You can also learn more and submit an nomination online.
Rotary Dinner Meeting, January 31, 2019 at the Weston Golf Club at 6pm
Caption: From left, Gary Vitti, vice president of The Village Bank, joined Wayland High School Principal Allyson Mizoguchi to congratulate Emily Rubin of Wayland and Shraddha Lulla of Weston, along with Kenneth Brennan, chairman of the board of The Village Bank, and Weston High School Principal Anthony Parker on Nov. 15 at the Weston Golf Club.
Emily Rubin of Wayland and Shraddha Lulla of Weston serve their communities generously. They received the November 2018 Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), presented by the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, on Nov. 15. Both sophomores were also recognized with citations from Reps. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, Carmine Gentile, D-Sudbury, and the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Kenneth Brennan, chairman of the board of The Village Bank, attended with Gary Vitti, vice president, to applaud the students’ service, saying, “It is encouraging to know that so many of today’s youth are committed to service for others. Emily Rubin and Shraddha Lulla are perfect examples of young people who are devoting their energy, time and talent to helping wherever help is needed. They are our neighbors and, chances are, the future leaders of our communities.”
Emily Rubin was nominated by Julia Cleary and Rohini Ramesh, Wayland High School students who, as previous award winners, recognized Rubin’s contributions. Cleary identified Rubin’s passion for cooking, as she regularly participates in Community Cooks with her temple to cook a meal for a women’s homeless shelter. She, along with her parents, then deliver the meals with a handmade menu. Rubin also volunteers weekly with a group of teens who visit a home for mentally disabled adults to entertain and keep them company.
Howard Davis of Sharon with his 1975 red desk phone car (legal to drive). It was made in 1983 of aluminum and took one year to build. The license plate is PHONES.
Adolpho Caso is the owner of this Lincoln Continental Mark V. [WICKED LOCAL PHOTO / BARBARA ELMES]
A 1911 Model T Ford. [WICKED LOCAL PHOTO / BARBARA ELMES]
Peter Alcock is impressed by this 1917 Pierce Arrow. [WICKED LOCAL PHOTO / BARBARA ELMES]
Victoria Andreasen of Wayland and Jacey Hinton of Weston received the first Rising Youth Leadership Award of 2018-19, presented by the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, on Oct. 18. Both sophomores were also recognized with citations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
The Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award recognizes sophomores from Weston and Wayland for community service and leadership that demonstrates the students’ appreciation of the Rotary ideal of “Service above self.” Any student can be nominated online at WestonWaylandRotary.com or by using this simpleRotary Rising Youth Leadership Award form.
Hinton is a Scholastic All-American swimmer who trains in and out of the pool before and after school for 20 hours or more per week. She is passionate about swimming – swimming and water safety are foundational to her commitment to community service as well.
Caption: Jacey Hinton of Weston and Victoria Andreasen of Wayland were celebrated October 18 with the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award at the Weston Golf Club. Luminaries in attendance included Weston HS Principal Anthony Parker (left); Dr. Midge Connelly, Weston Superintendent, Hinton, Andreasen, Wayland HS Principal Allyson Mizoguchi, and Rotary Club President Jan Luchetti.
Please join the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland in contributing to vaccination programs that will end polio worldwide. Currently, polio only afflicts people in three countries. Your contribution of any size will fund more vaccinations to end polio now.
You can donate anytime online, or join us Thursday, October 25 at 6pm at the Weston Golf Club, or November 1 from 4-8pm in the Springdale Barrel Room at Jack's Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham for "Raise-A-Pint for Polio Neighbor Night" when $1 from each pint will go to fund polio vaccination programs. (NOTE: In fact, Jack's Abby will be making a $1 donation from October 31-November 4, so if you can't join us that day, please go on your own.)
and indicate that you are supporting "Polio Programs."
(Clicking the "Donate Now" button will take you to our secured "hosted donation page" where you can make a donation of any amount the pleases you.)
Jan Luchetti was installed as the new president of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on June 28, succeeding Mark Messina, whose initiatives injected a new vitality and energy into the Rotary Club’s activities over the past year.Messina, reflecting on the theme for his year of “participating with purpose,” was grateful that so many members engaged enthusiastically with the school communities, elected officials, and friends of Rotary to broaden the impact and awareness of the club’s diverse initiatives.
Every year for the past 15 years, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has supported Mary’s House with holiday gifts. Mary’s house is a family shelter that provides temporary housing in central Waltham for up to four months for eight homeless families. Mary’s House has been providing housing and services for more than 30 years.
During this time, families work on issues relevant to homelessness and securing permanent housing with the help of staff and housing advocates. During the holiday season, members of the Weston and Wayland Rotary club purchase holiday gifts for every family member at Mary’s house. We collect these at our annual holiday party and deliver them to Mary’s house in time for Christmas.
On Sunday April 29, Rotarians attended the Weston fishing derby and handed out saplings to a hearty crew of young anglers and families who braved the weather for a fun day of fishing at the pond behind the high school.
To see a gallery of photos of cute kids and ambitious anglers, click on the picture.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland plans to sponsor 10 students to attend the 2.5 day conference on June 22-24 at Fitchburg State. YTo be considered, the student must complete our simple online applicationby 3pm on February 28 to indicate your interest and availability to attend.
Jay Messina, Weston Class of 2015 said the RYLA Conference "...was awesome! I had a great time and learned a lot. It’s a life-changing experience. I went back to be a facilitator last year and plan to do so again." His experience inspired his father, Mark, to join Rotary and rise to lead the club as president. There is a lot of information about the conference athttp://www.ryla7910.org/.
Please, if you (or your parents) have any questions, contactMark Messina, president of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland. Also, the Guidance Department chair/head at both Weston and Wayland High School can provide you with their perspective as students have attended each year for more than a decade.
We hope you will apply for this unique and valuable Rising Youth Leadership Conference experience.
Rotary Youth Leadership Award Conference June 22-24; Apply Now
Join us for Valentine's Day -- one day late -- on February 15, 2018 at the Weston Golf Club with exquisite hand-made chocolates from Chocolate Therapy in Framingham.
Join us for Valentine's Day -- one day late -- on February 15, 2018 at the Weston Golf Club with exquisite hand-made chocolates from Chocolate Therapy in Framingham.
Thank you to all those who volunteered to unload the trees and make the first weekend of the sale wonderfully successful, selling almost half of our trees and wreaths this past weekend. 
Members of the Rotary Clubs of Weston & Wayland, Waltham, Billerica, and Needham came together for a fun evening and raising funds for Rotary's End Polio Now campaign.
Tri-Club Meeting with 7910 District Governor Joyce Graff
ime Club of the Year bell to close the meeting.
June was a busy month for Owen Moon, a District 7910 Youth Exchange Student sponsored by the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club. On June 2nd, he arrived home after spending the 2023-24 academic year living and attending school in Taiwan. On June 7th, he graduated from Weston High School. It all started when Owen, now 18, did a short-term summer exchange to Spain in 2022. That exchange led to a desire to see Asia -- an area of the world he's been fascinated with since childhood. He speaks Mandarin, has many international friends, and is more aware of cultures outside the United States.
e inducted a new member, Stanley David, who member Jimmy Belotte proposed. Stanley is a versatile entrepreneur working with New York Life and numerous other prominent carriers as an independent broker. Stanley’s profound engagement in his field is complemented by his active participation in community activities and his roles on various boards. He also lends his expertise to organizing events and supporting others in bringing their visions to life. Known for his approachability and genuine interest in the well-being of others, he exudes a passion for positively impacting people’s lives. He is dedicated to fostering growth and ensuring security for his friends, clients, and colleagues. Please join us in welcoming Stanley to our club!.jpg)
Join us for the 27th Annual Weston & Wayland Rotary Club Antique & Classic Car Show on September 28, 2024. The show is located in Weston Town Center at 11 Townhouse Road, Weston, MA. Rain or shine it promises to be another great event for car owners and families alike. Show cars are encouraged to arrive between 8:00 and 10:00 am. Guests will be welcomed from 8:00 am to ~ 3:00 pm.
redible work at the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland , Brenda has made a significant impact, embodying the Rotary spirit of service above self. Her commitment and tireless efforts have strengthened our community and inspired us all.
d with anticipation, tradition, and a shared vision for the future.
he many students awarded college scholarships from our organizations this year.
Saturday's 4th Annual Children's Business Fair was a wonderful success! Over 50 kid businesses came to showcase their creations, which they had worked on for months. Paired with the Celebrate Weston event, the Town residents and many other guests massively supported the kidpreneurs. 
nity members nominated the students and they have thoroughly impressed our committee with their community service, leadership, and drive to help, in various ways, in our community. 
urney that underscores the spirit of global cooperation, Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland member Joy Meng visited Sri Lanka, hailed as the top country to travel for six years by Lonely Planet for over three weeks. 
ston and Wayland students.
The 26th 
There are many ways Rotarians serve their communities. On Saturday, July 22, three members of the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club found a new path to do that: They participated in “The Epic Ride” a charity fundraiser organized by Rotarian Warren Green and this year, John Marchiony and Rob Mosher joined the ride. Wonderfully, President Katya showed up unexpectedly at the 100-mile mark with water and snacks.
On July 15th, Rotarian Fr. Frank J. Parker and friends celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination. 
Cheri lives with her two boys in Weston. She is passionate about volunteering and is involved in many volunteer programs in the community. Cheri has been the PTO Performance Coordinator for Weston Middle School for seven years, Booster Board member for the past two years, and the Weston Community Preservation Commission Coordinator for the past three years. In addition, Cheri is a Real Estate Specialist and an Estate Planner. 
Dr. Joy Meng is the founder of Aanya MG International (AMG), a woman entrepreneur, and a former Professor of Literature at Guangzhou Medical University. She lives in Weston with her daughter and husband. For the past decade, Joy has dedicated her time to volunteering and helping international students, scholars, and new immigrant families. With her talent for writing, Joy has published several academic and children's books. She recently completed a manuscript of fiction titled "Born in 1979," which she plans to publish in 2023-2024.
At last night's meeting, we inducted the Belotte family into our Club!
Liz is an award-winning journalist and Boston University professor with experience in newspapers, national magazines, and global publications. She has joined many club meetings over the past several months, and we welcomed her into our fantastic club last week! Liz has already volunteered to help with some of our opportunities. Please introduce yourself and get to know Liz. Welcome!!
Siblings Pranav and Saanvi will be at this year’s Children’s Business Fair with their business, “The Soap Place." 
ut how to make different colorful, flavored, and shaped soaps, so they wanted to give it a try.
Katya has her yard sign up in Sharon! John has four up along Boston Post Road. Will you put one up too?! Please 
What a great day! Boy, did we luck out with beautiful weather and the community showing up with their four-legged friends!
Adoption is challenging work. We have adopted the Sears Field in Weston and we are reclaiming it for the pollinating insects. All are invited to clear these invasive plants so that in year three of our five year project we can begin to plant the plants that are good for the pollinators. 
Please join our hearty, happy crew any day and time you can: 
The Rotary club will use proceeds from the tree sales to benefit several charities: Middlesex Human Services, including Bristol Lodge, local food pantries, need-based college scholarships in Weston and Wayland, and other Rotary Club community service projects. 
Special guests included District Governor Diana Nestorova and Joseph De Vito, President and CEO of Village Bank. DG Diana presented the 2020-21 Rotary Club of the Year award
“My father,” explained LeMaitre, “was the president of a Rotary Club near Perth, so I was attuned to the Rotary mission of service when I moved to Weston. As soon as I reached out, I felt warmly welcomed by the Rotary members, and we’ve already had some great laughs. I clearly see ways I can contribute to our communities, both locally and more broadly.” 
Betsy Millane is a Needham resident and a realtor in Wellesley whose instincts for client service were sharpened at an early age by her father, a real estate professional who instilled in Betsy the importance of owning every facet of the transaction for her clients. Millane met Weston-Wayland Rotarians through the Business Networking Series, but she joined because of the Club’s commitment to service.
"Service Above Self" is the worldwide motto of Rotary. Beginning in 2021, The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland will recognize people of Weston and Wayland who have who contributed to our communities through exemplary service that demonstrates the ideal of "Service above self." 
The members of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland are eager for the start of a new year that, we hope, will allow for so much more time with family, friends, and neighbors.
New in 2021, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is launching the Service Above Self Award that will recognize people of Weston and Wayland who demonstrate their commitment and generosity to service and their communities. The award is presented ad hoc after a nomination is received by the President, Vice President, or Past President by email to 
And then we have big ideas about our first-ever Virtual Antique and Classic Car Show that will continue the 25-year tradition of celebrating Antique and Classic Cars. All enthusiasts are welcome and encouraged to help us plan and figure this out before entering their comely cars in custom categories and compelling contests. 
is focused on hands-on service that preserve and extend habitats for natural pollinators. We're planning now and will announce service opportunities in the late winter and early spring.
All of this is wrapped into a warm community of generous people who value service to their communities very highly, including our two newest members, Robert Blackburn and Tim Gavin. 
Please purchase your Christmas trees in Weston this year to support scholarships, food security projects and other charitable initiatives of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland.
Helping: Three ways you can help by sharing this invitation and information with your friends, family, organizations and members and/or by joining us as a volunteer. 
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is excited to announce the fourth year of the ‘
Tim Gavin and his wife Cara have 8 children. He is a serial entrepreneur in the data analytics field and just finished a period correct restoration of their historic house. 
Barcelona and I was looking to re-engage upon my return. Rotary was a natural fit for my interest in continuing to provide service to our local communities and am very excited to start down this new path with so many great like-minded people." 
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland (RCWW) distributed over 800 pounds of watermelons to food pantry clients in Weston, Wayland and Lincoln for the Fourth of July.
These are different and difficult times and the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is rising to meet the new normal needs of our community.
Abrar A. Qureshi, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at Brown Physicians, will speak about overall health, care and wellness during COVID – 19.
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The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is also collecting gifts for families at St. Mary's Place Shelter in Waltham. Please bring a new unwrapped gift for a child clearly labeled for St. Mary's Place. Gift bags and tissue paper for delivering the gifts are greatly appreciated. You can see what gifts kids and their moms are wishing for on the 
“The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is tremendously impressed with the sophomores who live and study in our two towns,” said Jan Luchetti, club president.
Weston’s Interact Club holding 5K to benefit shelter
Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award Dinner, February 28, 2019 and March 21, 2019 @ 6:00 pm at the Weston Golf Club. 
Tuesday, February 26, 2019. 7:15 a.m. - 8:15 a.m at Mel's Commonwealth Cafe, 310 Commonwealth Road (Rt. 30) Wayland, MA. 
February 21: Dinner Meeting. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club featuring a few informal Rotary traditions, a nice meal, a little discussion of upcoming activities, and planning for the events and activities that accelerate with the arrival of Spring. 
Pasta Dinner and Silent Auction - Troop 157
Robinson represents Framingham and was inaugurated on Jan. 2, 2019. Amazingly, Rep. Robinson’s attendance coincided with one of the winner’s commitment to working for her on issues they both prioritize.
Rotary Dinner Meeting with Guest Speaker January 10, 2019 at the Weston Library @ 6pm. 
During the first year, "Books for the Babies" donated hundreds of board books to the families caring for their premature babies in the NICU at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Studies show that despite being one of the richest countries in the world, the United States is experiencing an increase in the number of preterm births... and we still don't know why. In addition, preterm infants who are not exposed to language while in the neo-natal intensive care unit, sometimes for many weeks, have lower language performance at age two. 
Rotary Dinner Meeting & Club Assembly, January 17, 2019 at the Josiah Smith Tavern at 6pm
Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award Dinner, January 24, 2019 @ 6:00 pm at the Weston Golf Club
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October 24 is World Polio Day. 
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Jan Luchetti was installed as the new president of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on June 28, succeeding Mark Messina, whose initiatives injected a new vitality and energy into the Rotary Club’s activities over the past year.Messina, reflecting on the theme for his year of “participating with purpose,” was grateful that so many members engaged enthusiastically with the school communities, elected officials, and friends of Rotary to broaden the impact and awareness of the club’s diverse initiatives.
