Rotary Round-Up
News of the Ashburnham-Westminster Rotary Club

The Rotary Club distributed 200 children's Webster Dictionaries to each of the third graders and their teachers at John R. Briggs Elementary and Westminster Elementary schools on Wednesday, Sept. 12. Pictured above are Club members Superintendent Michael Zapantis, Tom Ruble and Dan Stango, who talked about the Rotary Club and how giving each of the students a dictionary to keep was part of the Rotary International's project for Literacy. COURTESY PHOTO

On Wednesday, Sept. 12, Ashburnham- Westminster Rotary Club past-President Dan Stango presented dictionaries to the third graders at Briggs Elementary and Westminster Elementary schools, continuing a program begun last year.

Also participating in the program were Rotary members Tom Ruble and Superintendent of Schools Michael Zapantis. The dictionaries have been prepared for presentation by the Center for Education in Westminster. The Club recently purchased a combination swing set and play platform for the Center.

During the past month, the club has enjoyed a number of interesting speakers. Elaine Jones, mother of the Lt. Ryan Jones, described for us her plans for placing some benches on the town common in memory of her son. She will also be working with our club in creating a memorial garden on Academy Hill in honor of the members of the Armed Services as part of the celebration of the town's 250th anniversary year in 2009.

On Aug. 15, Ian Meisner, the executive director of the Fort Devens Museum, gave an informative talk and power point presentation about the founding of the museum and Fort Devens' role in military history from World War I to the present.

And on Sept. 5, Paula McGee from the Fitness and Wellness Center at Mount Wachusett Community College, gave us a talk about yoga and led the more courageous members of the group in some exercises.

The Club is planning two fund-raisers in November. On Saturday, Nov. 17, the club will sponsor a comedy night at the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. Tickets are available from Rotarians or at the Wachusett Village Inn.

On Thanksgiving Day, we will offer a full breakfast at Oakmont High School prior to the Gardner-Oakmont football game, for which kick-off is scheduled for 10 a.m. Plan to come to the game early to eat a good breakfast and still get a good seat.

On Sept. 12, the Club welcomed Marcus Moran III as a new member. The Rotary welcomes new members.

Those who are interested in finding out more the kinds of projects and activities Rotary supports, call Roland Morin at (978) 537 -1010.