Join the Hump Day Run/Walk Club on the Methuen Rail Trail and meet your health and fitness goals - whether you're a beginner walker or training for a 5K. This informal group meets on (guess what day it is?)... Wednesdays at 5:30pm at the parking lot on Railroad Street (near Union Street), Methuen. Free and open to all ages and fitness levels. Come join the fun!

This past Saturday, February 23, The Methuen-Salem Rotary Club participated on the Rotary District 7930 3rd Annual Polar Plunge at the Cape Ann Motor Inn in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The event originally planned for February 9^th, but was postponed and re-schedule due to the weather.

Clubs from all over the district take part on this event, from Boston north to Salem, N.H. and East to the Cape Ann communities of Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester

This event brings every year more than 200 people that plunge into the cold waters off Cape Ann. The Gloucester Rotary Club was the host for this event. Last year approximately 160 people participated on this event as an effort to increase fellowship, fundraising and polio eradication. The District raised over $62,000.00 which is almost twice the amount raised last year.

From left to right: Charlie Perrault, Tim Frechette, Stephanie Lane & Trudy Lawler

This past Friday we also had visitors from our Interact Club at the Methuen High School. They have been pretty busy lately with a bunch of different activities. The activities included a Christmas tree donated to the Methuen Senior Center, a fundraiser at the Texas Road House, a relay for life team and a donation of over 170 children’s books to Holy Family Hospital as part of the “Reach Out and Read Program”. All fines collected on that day were given back to the Interact Club for future activities.

From left to right: Monique Mai, Marcie Mai, Adam Marchand (co-president), Mrs. Jenny Kravitz, Anthony Nguyen and Siufong Tran.

This past Friday we had the pleasure of having our very own Jose Cruz, as our guest speaker for the day. Mr. Cruz addressed the club with an overview of our website, all of its benefits and special features.

As reminder, our website has a lot of important information just at the top of our fingertips, such as meetings, guest speakers and special events…. Check it out. www.methuensalemrotary.org

Greeting from Tanzania!!! Our past Guest Speaker from Tanzania, Raphael Robert, sent us a picture with some of his students at the Indigenous Education Foundation of Tanzania, displaying our Rotary Club Flag. from left, Bertha Lepapa, Nginasi Musee, Raphael and Anna Tataya) at Orkeeswa School in Tanzania. Things are going great at the school. They now have 162 students (80 boys and 82 girls). They also have some great new videos up on their youtube page at www.youtube.com/ieftz

Thank you Raphael and Peter!!!

In Control is a non-profit organization filed as a 501(c)(3) and offers the nation’s first state certified crash prevention training to drivers of all ages. This closed course, hands-on education was adapted from existing law enforcement training in the United States as well as European instruction that led to a societal shift in attitudes toward driving in many countries.

The mission of the MSPCA-Angell is to protect animals, relieve their suffering, advance their health and welfare, prevent cruelty, and work for a just and compassionate society.

The MSPCA-Angell is a private, nonprofit organization. They do not receive any government funding nor are we funded or operated by any national humane organization. The MSPCA-Angell relies solely on the support and contributions of individuals who care about animals. Heather invites any Rotarians friends and families to visit the MSPCA in Methuen, and help in any way you can.

Friday October 19, the club made a donation of $250 to the Eugene Voiland Flag Program, as part of our yearly commitment to this great initiative. This program was started by Rachel Voiland back in January of 1994, in dedication on his deceased husband and all veterans of foreign wars. They are responsible for the replacing and maintenance, along with the DPW, for all the flags adorning the Broadway strip in Methuen. From left to right: Trudy Lawler, Rachel Voiland and Barbara Delucca.

From left: Raphael Roberts from IEFT and Tim Frechette from our Club.


Peter Luis from IEFT.

This past Friday we had guests speakers Peter Luis and Raphael Roberts, from the Indigenous Education Foundation of Tanzania (IEFT). Currently, only 10% of Tanzanian youth attend high school, a statistic that speaks to one of the world’s lowest rates of secondary education.

IEFT operates Orkeeswa Secondary School, located in the predominantly Maasai area of northern Tanzania known as the Monduli hills. Through the development of Orkeeswa School, IEFT provides secondary education to children from rural villages of the region. For our students, Orkeeswa Secondary School offers the only community-based option for continuing their studies beyond the primary level.

Associate Director Raphael Roberts, is also a fellow Rotarian from Tanzania. To learn more or offer some support, please visit http://ieftz.wordpress.com/

Jim Savarino held this ceremony to award a couple of our members as Paul Harris sustaining members. Darlene Daniele and Dennis Sweeney were honored with this prestigious award, for their contributions to the club and the Rotary Foundation. Don't forget to check our "Photo Album" for pictures of the event.


Pictured from left: Jim Savarino, Darlene Daniele, Dennis Sweeney, Trudy Lawler and Maria Bartolone.

President Trudy wasn’t able to attend this week’s meeting, so President Elect Tim Frechette had the pleasure of running his first meeting as President Elect; he did a fantastic job… hooray!!

For this Friday we had a classification speaker; our very own Ivette Korecki. She talked to the club about herself and her new position at TD Bank in route 28 Methuen.  She was brought up in Brooklyn, NY, and moved to Massachusetts about eight years ago. She thanked a lot of who she is to her Dad, who gave her a lot of support and inspiration while she grew up. She went to school to study criminal justice, which she had to give up right before taking the Bar Exam, as her father was very ill and she needed to take care of him. She then became a banker starting as an underwriter, and later moving to operations and so on.  Her latest endeavor is now with TD Bank in Methuen, after working for Bank of America for many years. She resides in Methuen with her husband and daughter.

Dr. Tom Perrault addressed the club for a small announcement and update. Dr. Perrault made a $50 donation to the club, as last Thursday the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council finally hired an Executive Director. As you all recall the club stood up behind Dr. Perrault in times of turmoil for the GLCAC. The GLCAC went through a lot of issues in the past as we all know, but the integrity of the agency has now been restored. The organization is now even considered a MODEL agency. Even some speeches at national convention levels have been delivered, about the miracle of the Greater Lawrence Community Council.  Dr. Perrault is happy that all these issues have come to a successful conclusion, and he wanted to personally give thanks to the club for all the support.

Rotary club, district, and Rotary International officers began their terms 1 July. Welcome the 2012-13 leaders as they pursue Peace Through Service .

Your contributions to the Annual Fund through the Every Rotarian, Every Year initiative support life-changing projects around the world. Learn how your contributions to The Rotary Foundation are making a difference.

Our guest speaker for this Friday was our very own new member James Khoury. James delivered a classification speech about his company, Mortgage Resource Solutions, LLC, located in Broadway, Methuen, and the field they serve which is Home Short Sales. He also gave a brief bio about himself and his company. He is graduated from Central Catholic and Merrimack College. He also has some broadcasting and radio background. James also speaks full Arabic and Spanish as well.

Mortgage Resource Solutions, LLC is a company specializing in Loss Mitigation services. Their staff of analysts is trained on all aspects of pre-foreclosure loss mitigation options. They are also experts in the foreclosure prevention arena and strive to apply the specific strategies to a case by case scenario. The company is now five years old this week.

Jim Savarino started his term by knocking down the American Flag!! I didn't have the guts to take a picture of that.

Paul lives in Methuen and is the administrator of the German Home on Howard Street in Lawrence. James lives in Methuen and is the President of Mortgage Resource Solutions, also in Methuen.

Please take the time and congratulate our newest members!!


From left to right: Paul Shannon, Cheryl Parent and James Khoury.

Our club has sponsored the program for a couple of years now, over at the Holy Family Hospital here in Methuen. This year we presented a $500 check, for their “Reach Out and Read” Program at Pediatric Assoc. in Methuen. Most of you were familiar with what the program entitles, but Heather Robinson joined our club to tell us more about it and thank us for such a generous donation.



From left to right: Cheryl Parent, Darlene Danielle, Bridget Clifford, Dr. Rex Pajela and Heather Robinson.

This past Friday, Yvette Korecki was inducted as the newest member of the Methuen – Salem Rotary Club. Yvette currently works as a VP, Store Manager at TD Bank route 28 in Methuen. Anna Whalen had the honors as she introduced Yvette to the club. Please take some time and congratulate Yvette!!

Our second annual Celebration of Achievement banquet at the Merrimack Valley Golf Club was a great success.

Brian Mercer was an EMT for 24 years. Also a marine veteran, former member of Andover Rotary and lives in Lawrence. He also teaches CPR.

Guest Speaker Anne Whalen spoke about the YMCA new education program called “Stewards of Children”. She said that the US spends $3.4 annually treating Sexual Abuse.

We are now moved to our now meeting location at Jocelyn's Restaurant & Martini Lounge, located at 355 South Broadway in Salem, NH. Check out our photos page to take a look at it.

The Methuen-Salem Club was busy once again, providing lunch for the athletes and their families at the NH Special Olympics. This event took place this past March 17^th, at the Salem, NH High School. Volunteers from the club come every year to cater to these athletes and their families to a nice. Take a look at our photo album for more pictures of this event.

Our guest speaker for this past Friday was Linda Soucy, from the Methuen Arlington Neighborhood. She thanked our club for our continuous support throughout the last couple of years.

The mission of M.A.N., Inc is to increase and enhance entrepreneurial opportunities, neighborhood investment, revitalization activities, and self-sufficiency of low and moderate income residents of the Methuen Arlington Neighborhood. Main focus areas include: Public Safety, youth programs, affordable housing, social services, transportation, employment, child care.

http://methuenarlington.com/index.php

Our Methuen High School Interact Club made a kind donation of children’s books to the Methuen Pediatrics, as part of the Reach Out and Read Program.  From left: Dr. Rebecca Konieczny, Trudy Lawler, Samantha Perry, Adam Marchand, Sue Uzdavinis (Director of Women & Children’s Services for Holy Family) and Katherine White. The donation took place on February 4^th.

Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Joe Bevilacqua, joined us as the guest speaker for our club. He spoke to the club about his organization, and the endless reasons for you to join the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce.

We had a guest speaker this Friday; Tony Sicurella, General Manager for JCPenney at the Mall of Rockingham Park in Salem, NH. Mr. Sicurella spoke to the club about all of the exiting things happening at JCPenney lately, starting with the hiring of a new CEO, and the re-branding of the entire company.

He also mentioned the heavily involvement of JCPenney on the communities they serve. Over 110 years ago, James Cash Penney founded his company on the principle of treating customers the way he wanted to be treated himself: fair and square. Today, rooted in its rich heritage, J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is re-imagining every aspect of its business in order to reclaim its birthright and become America’s favorite store. The Company is transforming the way it does business and remaking the customer experience across its 1,100 JCPenney stores and on jcp.com.

Veronica Calixto and Club President, Cheryl Parent, presented Anne Whalen with a $4,000.00 Grant from Rotary Foundation.

You can also read the whole article at the Eagle Tribune's Website.