News of the Ashburnham/Westminster Rotary Club

The club enjoyed some excellent programs in September, including a presentation by Melissa Maguire, director of educational services at the Center for Education, a private special education school located in Westminster on Sept. 13.

The school is affiliated with the Institute of Professional Practice, an organization based in Vermont that supports people with special education needs in New England. Maguire said the school, which currently has 14 students, strives to provide them with the social and vocational skills - and the opportunities to use them - that will allow them to be contributing members of the community. In addition to academic

instruction, daily living skills, and recreational activities, the school also provides vocational services.

Anyone whose business or organization could provide opportunities for work based learning is urged to contact Melissa Maguire at the Center for Education (978) 874-2797.

One Sept. 20, the speaker was Anthony Feroci, a Leominster-based attorney specializing in elder law, estate planning and asset protection. Feroci noted recent changes in federal and state law, which have made it more difficult to qualify for Medicaid coverage for nursing home care. He then discussed the importance of planning for

death - through wills, trusts, and avoiding probate - disability - by preparing powers of attorney and health care proxies - and longterm care - by paying for care in advance while protecting assets. He also passed out an information sheet that covered in more detail some of the issues he discussed.

In September, the group also hosted several visiting Rotarians: on Sept. 20, Lili and Greg Freitas, from the Petaluma Sunrise Club in California, and on Sept. 27, Di and David Preston from England.

If you are interested in finding out more about Rotary, call Roland Morin at (978) 537-1010.