Weekly Bulletin - October 31, 2013 Meeting

Bruce Gauvin, Recruit Programs Coordinator, gave us an overview of the Department of Fire Services (DFS).  DFS includes: the Firefighting Academy, State Fire Marshall’s Office, State Police Bomb Squad, and the Hazardous Materials Response Program.  The DFS facility located at 1 State Road in Stow was dedicated in 2010.  A good portion of the facility was paid for by the insurance companies.  The largest program at the DFS in Stow is the Firefighting Academy.  Every three weeks 24 recruits (predominantly from Massachusetts fire departments) graduate from the Firefighting Academy.  These recruits are trained according to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and upon graduation they are nationally certified.  Bruce gave us a tour of the facility including maintenance operations, a burn tower, training tower, sprinkler lab, and a search/rescue training building.  We saw recruits performing drills at the training tower.  There are no dormitories on site so students who do not live close enough to commute need to stay at local B&Bs and hotels.  The Hudson Fire Department also hosts an occasional student.

Next meeting on November 7 at Colonial Candies in Bolton, 7:15 a.m., Siobane Mitchell, of the Assabet Valley Food Co-op, tells us about this new organization and the store they plan to open in Maynard.

Club Business: Laura announced that Karin Gaffney has applied to be Trustee of Rotary District 7910 Funds.  There was a unanimous vote in support of Karin’s application!

Rotary and Club Announcements:

• November 12 is the Acton-Boxborough Club’s fundraiser to support Rotary’s million meals program.  Cocktails and meal packing begin at 5:30 p.m.  An Italian buffet dinner is served at 7:00 p.m.  Award-winning author, Hank Phillipi Ryan speaks at dinner and has a book signing.  Tickets are $25 http://www.actonboxboroughrotary.org/purchase-tickets-for-the-million-meals-fundraiser-with-hank-phillippi-ryan/
• Laura has posted the Best Club award criteria and the updated 2013-2014 Calendar of Activities on our website www.nashobarotary.org.
• Rotary International’s new website requires a new user account.  Go to http://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/home to register for a new user account.

 
Nonclub/public announcements:

• First Parish Church of Stow and Acton is collecting care kit contents for RIA House, an organization that helps women who have been trafficked and sexually exploited. Items needed: bubble bath, body lotion, mascara. Contact Laura before November 7.