We all gathered at the Brandon School in June to celebrate Rachel Vingsness' extraordinary year as president and to welcome incoming president, Eileen Fitz. Below are comments from them both:
"We have done so much great work together. When reflecting on the past year and I’m not sure how this mighty team accomplished so much. And made it look effortless. It’s incredible.
Some of the headlines
· We completed 193 service acts this year.
· We distributed over 35k to nonprofits and scholarships to support our community (special shout out to the teams that led our golf tournament and tour in order to do this)
· Welcomed 13 new members
· And there were some firsts for us: we were awarded a $4,500 external grant for Open Door expenses from Mutual One, we had our first ever Boston Marathon runner, and a wildly successful restaurant fundraiser through Mexicali, a guest with 4 legs, and a guest with 0 legs!
This was a full team effort. Every single person contributed to our success.
New Member Award: This award goes out to an exemplary new member. This new member has been instrumental in all parts of the club- identifying meeting speakers, recruiting new members, attending service events, being a Rotary ambassador, and even taking on an officer role in the upcoming year. This award goes to - Gary Shilman!
Impact Award: This award is a club nominated award. Members submitted a vote to me for the person they thought had the most impact on the club this past year. There were two clear stand outs.
The Runner up for this award is an all-around incredible contributor. They jump in whenever and wherever needed. They exemplify Service Above Self. This person is a board member, past president, co-led the redesign of our new website, mentor, and champion of Rotary. The runner up for the impact award is - Vinny Tingley!
Now for the winner of the Impact Award. This person is a also board member, they co-led the redesign of our new website, manages our social media, makes delicious desserts for Open Door, and is the chair of the Tour de Natick. No surprise that the winner is - Dawn Carberry!
Paul Harris Fellow Award: The Paul Harris Fellow award is a prestigious recognition given by Rotary to individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the organization. The nominating committee for this award is the President, President Elect, and Secretary.
This member has been part of the club for over 10 years. They have played a significant role in each part of our organization during their tenure. They have been a Past President. They have led the golf tournament, the grant program, elevated our operations through advanced technology and new systems, webmaster extraordinaire, and they have served as our Club Treasurer for the past 6 years. This award goes to - Eric Lazarri!
But amongst all of this success and celebration I would be remiss not to mention that we lost a dear friend and Rotarian this year. Dr Joseph Keefe. He was an instrumental part of this club for 49 years and had immense impact on the greater Natick community. He inspired so many of us and I know to honor him we will carry on his legacy and keep him in our hearts and minds."
"I want to start by saying thank you for this honor— for your trust and for giving me the opportunity to serve as President of the Rotary Club of Natick.
First, a huge thank-you to our outgoing president, Rachel, who has led this club with heart, purpose, and plenty of dad jokes. She made it all look so easy—which is both inspiring… and, to be honest, a little intimidating.
Rachel, you’ve raised the bar. I’m hoping that with the support of all of you—and maybe a ladder—I’ll be able to reach it… and maybe even raise it a bit higher. So Rachel thank you for your leadership, your patience, and for leaving the club better than you found it.
I was first introduced to the Rotary Club of Natick in 2008, when Embrace A Family became a subcommittee and a proud program of this Club.
Even then, I sensed there was something special about this Club—but it wasn’t until I became a member that I truly understood why.
What I found was more than service. I found a community.
A group of people who don’t just care — they show up.
You roll up your sleeves to flip the burgers, rake the leaves, serve the meals, and sell the raffle tickets.
You say “yes” when it’s easier to say “maybe,” and show up when it counts — again and again.
My goals this year are simple: to strengthen what we already do well, and to create more opportunities for members to feel connected, involved, and proud of the work we do together.
So thank you again for the trust you’ve placed in me.
I’m honored to serve as president, and I’m excited for what lies ahead as we approach the 100th anniversary of the Natick Rotary.
So here’s to service, to each other, and to another year of doing good things."
A huge thank you to both women for their willingness to lead and their Service Above Self.
