President Karin Gaffney, President Nominee Richard Simon, David Paul DMD, and Frantz Compere MD gave presentations about our We Are One international project.


 

Karin announced that we have received approval from Rotary International for our We Are One international project.  She introduced our evening speakers and Richard Simon received a standing ovation for his work on this project!  We Are One is a joint project of the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley and other participating clubs and the Rotary Club of Santo Domingo Innovador in the Dominican Republic to provide free dental services to underserved families in the San Felipe area, which is located north of Santo Domingo.

Richard first explained how he became interested in this project.  Approximately four years ago he met Dr. Compere at a Rotary meeting in the Dominican Republic.  They worked together on small projects like bringing in medical supplies.  Richard learned of Dr. Compere’s dream of creating a dental van to give the gift of preventative dental health care to underserved families.  They decided to work toward this goal through Rotary.  Richard brought their vision with him when he joined the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley and began working on this project in earnest.  He praised Natascha Finnerty for placing the advertisement in a dental journal requesting dental equipment for this project.  As a result of this ad, six retiring local dentists donated their office equipment to the project.

Our local partner, Tufts University Dental School, will help bring dental professionals to the Dominican Republic.  Dr. Paul, an Associate Professor at Tufts University Dental School, spoke about his background then described dental projects he has worked on in Haiti, Africa, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.  As we were able to see from the photographs, the working conditions are very difficult.  Dr. Paul told us about people walking up to eight hours to get in line, then waiting all day for dental services.  After they receive treatment, they walk home.  In other words, the need for dental services is great. 

The services will be overseen by Dr. Compere who is the Director of the Clnica SODHAIDESA, an NGO in San Felipe.  The Clinica SODHAIDESA is our local partner and will own, operate, and maintain the mobile dental clinic.

 

Speaker on April 11 at Nancy’s Airfield Café at 5:45 p.m.: John Dowd Jr., author of Heroes, Mentors, and Friends.

 

Guests:  There were 38 attendees at this week’s special meeting to include family and friends of Nashoba Valley members; Rotarians from other clubs and the district (members of Acton Boxboro, Hudson, East Fitchburg, and Concord club and district foundation leaders, Ralph Hammond and Roy Balfour); a dentist from Concord.

 

Club Announcements:
  • Karin said we would apply for other awards, and one thing that would help us is if everyone in the club would donate something to the Rotary Foundation. You can do this online. In comparison to other clubs in the district, we are in 4th place (out of 54) in terms of new members and only one of 3 clubs that did a peace event (required for the Presidential Citation award).
  • The Acton-Boxborough wine-tasting fundraiser is April 25. See Carol for tickets – this is one way of funding out club’s share of the We Are One project, as we will get 50% of the tickets we sell.
  • Cruise Nights – Laura is the chair of the planning committee for this event.
  • Nanci is working on a fundraising event with the Rotary Club of Hudson called, “Hudson Block Party and Brew Fest.”  The event will take place on August 17 from 3 to 7PM.  Retail stores will be open and food and beer will be sold by local restaurants.  Volunteers on the day of the event are needed.  Contact Nanci to sign up!
  • Stow’s Kid Fest/Spring Fest – Bill and Barbara will work on this event.
  • Women in Rotary event – 2014 marks the 25th year that women have been eligible to join Rotary Clubs.  Karin is a member of the District 7910 committee working on this event.  Contact Karin for more information.

Non Club Announcements:

  • Laura reminded everyone about Stow Clean up day on Saturday, April 6. She and Barbara are meeting at 9 AM that morning to clean up their bit of “Adopt a highway” on route 62. Please contact Laura (laura@spear.net) if you would like to join them.
  • Concord Rotary Club fundraiser – Rotary Pops, will take place on April 12 at 8 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center located at 51 Walden Street in Concord.  The Concert Band and soloist Amanda Carr will perform.  Tickets are $25 per person or $100 for a table.  Call (508) 878-6577 for more information.
  • Friends of Troop 1 Stow – Electronics Recycling on April 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m at the Bose Corporation, 688 Great Road.  Contact Troop 1 of Stow for more information (978) 212-9175.
  • Billerica Rotary Club fundraiser – Joey’s Voices Dinner Show, April 27 at the Billerica Elk’s Lodge.  For more information go to www.billericarotary.org

 

Future Meetings

First, third, and fifth Thursdays:

7:15 AM to 8:30 AM

Houghton Building (across from the school)

697 Main Street, Bolton, MA 01740

(Route 117 West from I495, Exit 27)

Second and fourth Thursdays:

Nancy’s Airfield Café

302 Boxboro Road

Stow, MA 01775

5:45 PM to 7:00 PM

 

About Rotary:

The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley serves the communities of Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow, Massachusetts. Our members are business, community, and professional leaders who meet weekly to plan local and international service projects; host interesting speakers on local, national, and international issues; and enjoy fellowship. The Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley was chartered by Rotary International on February 24, 2012, the first new Rotary club chartered in District 7910 in over a decade!

For more club information, go to www.nashobarotary.org or contact Club President, Karin Gaffney, at 978-387-5369 or karin.m.gaffney@rbscitizens.com.