Announcements:
• Peter Golden: Thursday is Open Door at St Paul’s Church. 4:15 is set up.
• Peter Burke: Rotary Golf Tourney is Sept 19th. Signup sheets are available. George Richards is running the registration desk between 8-9am and needs volunteers to help. We also need volunteers to sell raffle tix after
the tourney between 1:30-2:30pm. This is a major fundraiser – our costs are covered – the more golfers/sponsors – the more we can support our community. People can come just for lunch. Payments may be made up to
day of tourney. Contact Artie or Peter for further info.
• Judy Shea: Natick Days is 9/13; Embrace a Family Yard Sale is 9/28 – drop off goods on the 27th (Stones Auto) or at the Brayman’s/Shea’s house. No clothing is accepted – contact David Rhee, who is working on a clothing drive – if you have clothing to donate. We need volunteers to help with set up/pricing items on Sunday morning.
• Rotary UN Day is 11/1 in NYC – transportation is available (see Artie’s previous email for further info)
• District Membership meeting is 9/18 (5:30- 8:30) at Marlboro Best Western. We need club representation (1/2 people) to sit on panel. New members are suggested to attend – sign up is online or email Judy.
• New PR cards are in.
• Grant requests for proposals were sent out. If you know of organizations interested in applying, contact Judy.
• October 14th Speaker is Satya Mitra, who will talk about membership. Other clubs are invited – please bring guests.
• Rabbi Kushner is speaking on 10/21. Other clubs invited – guests are welcome.
• Bryant Hill/Rachel Stewart: Social gathering at Museum of Science targeting Saturday October 25th. Cost is $25.50 to attend “Mystery of Maya” show. Lunch (not included) may be offsite. There is also discussion about Omni Theater, Laser show, etc. options. Need to know best date and number of people interested –an email will be sent so you may indicate your interest in attending.
• Artie Fair – Next week’s speaker has canceled. Crossroads may speak (not confirmed), please send Artie potential speaker names.
Speaker: Our speaker today was Jill Kovatsis, Local Director of Natick’s Neighborhood Brigade (NB), an all-volunteer organization that helps families in temporary crisis. NB was started in 2002 by two young moms diagnosed with cancer within 6 weeks of each other. Friends/Family rallied to provide them with meals, rides, etc. Their mission is focused on “healing” and getting patients and their families through treatments. The organization initially grew into “Wayland’s Angels” and today there are 35 chapters in MA with over 4,800 volunteer members. In Natick, the organization formed after a young mother passed and Jill rallied others to help the family with meals, rides, etc – for over a year. Natick’s Neighborhood Brigade chapter was established in 2010 (non-profit was formed) and is now one of 35 local chapters. In Natick, there are over 250 volunteers on call to help families in crisis. Natick’s NB partners with several local organizations, including: Embrace a Family, who has helped single moms with meals, a young mother with Easter and groceries, and a 2 year old (and family) with Leukemia; Natick Service Council with Backpack deliveries each year, holiday gifts, and Easter baskets; and Friends in Transition (families living in hotels).
Currently, NB is helping Susan Lane (quad amputee) and her family through their crisis – as well as -other families with rides to cancer treatments. The Rotary’s own Vinny Tingley rewired the Lanes’ house. All assistance provided is “best effort”. They do not provide financial support, but focus on social and emotional support. Recipients are based on need, not what they can afford. For example, the Medfield NB chapter helped Curt Shilling (and his family) through cancer treatments. In short, it does not matter who you are, NB is there to help. For further information or to volunteer, please visit their website at www.neighborhoodbrigade.org.
Pam’s Run – October 18th – a fundraiser in memory if “Pam”, NB’s founder
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