This was a special joint meeting of the Hudson and Nashoba Valley Rotary Clubs. We also heard from a volunteer with Camp Sunshine, a program for children with life threatening illnesses.
 
Brewfest: Brewfest is cosponsored by our two clubs. It has $2,850 in donations/sponsorship so far, from places as diverse as NE Clean Energy, Family Federal bank, a pizza shop in Stow that can’t be present but supports the work, and a dentist in Stow. More sponsors/participants are still being sought. Brewfest has 700 friends on Facebook; everyone is asked to “like” it, so that we can get to 1,000. The Facebook page is called Spirit of Hudson.
 
Brewfest is one example of clubs working together to achieve something that neither club could do alone. Collaboration is the key to successful efforts.
 
Pr Expo: Laura Spear, member of Nashoba and district PR chair, gave an enthusiastic pitch for the district‘s PR Expo, which will be held on March 20. Everyone is encouraged to sign up and attend.  
 
The Hudson club is embarking on a recognition of their native son and our state governor, Paul Celucci. They plan a memorial garden at the town hall, with a black granite stone marker, benches and flags (US and Canada, where he served as ambassador). The dedication is planned for the day of the memorial road race. Former governor Weld is invited, along with other state dignitaries. The cost is $60-70,000, so a successful Brewfest will be essential.
 
Hudson club is also sponsoring an evening at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton. The museum is owned by a Rotarian who is a member of the club in Clinton. The date is May 5.
 
Tonight’s program:
 
Isabel Reeves, a volunteer worker at Camp Sunshine, a camp for children with life-threatening illness.
 
The camp was founded 30 years ago, in Casco, Maine. It’s located on a lake, and consists of 24 acres. Its focus is on children of all ages, from infants through teens, but it’s actually for all members of the family. Each family stays in their own family suite. They have an international program; children cam come from as far away as Australia. They also fly in doctors, specialists from around the world, who can share the latest thinking about the disease. This is the only camp of its kind.
 
Camp is open all year long, even in winter. Each session lasts from Friday until Tuesday, and each is devoted to a specific disease. Camp Sunshine is funded exclusively through donations, and costs $2,000 per session. It’s free for each family; there is no waiting list, and no one is frozen out because of overbooking.
 
From the Camp Sunshine mission statement:
 
Camp Sunshine is a year-round retreat which provides respite, support, joy, and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families through various stages of a child’s illness. The program is free of charge to all families, and includes 24-hour onsite medical and psychological support. Families of children diagnosed with cancer, kidney disease, lupus, brain tumors, solid organ transplants, and other life-threatening illnesses are eligible to apply. Bereavement programs  are also offered for families who have had a child die as the result of an illness.