We hope you and your families enjoyed a joyful and restful holiday season. As we turn the page into a new year, we’re excited to come back together, reconnect, and reignite the spirit of service that defines our club. Our meetings and community projects will be ramping up again soon, and we can’t wait to see everyone’s energy, ideas, and enthusiasm in action. Here’s to another year of fellowship, impact, and doing good in our community.
We look forward to seeing YOU at an upcoming meeting or event!
As we wrap up another incredible year, we want to take a moment to wish each of you a joyful holiday season filled with peace, laughter, and cherished moments with loved ones.
We are deeply grateful to our members, sponsors, guests, friends, and families who have joined us and supported our Rotary club events throughout 2025. Your time, energy, and generosity have made a real difference in our community, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
With no more meetings scheduled for the remainder of the year, we look forward to coming together again in 2026 for new opportunities to serve, connect, and grow. Until then, may your holidays be bright and your new year full of promise.
At our November meeting, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland was proud to honor four outstanding students selected as our Fall Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) recipients. These remarkable young leaders were recognized for their dedication to service, academic excellence, and commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.
Please join us in congratulating (l-r):
Sophia Driscoll
Junyi Frenzel
Karis Tam
Sajani Brown
They are joined by RYLA advisors Mark Messina and John Marchiony. We are excited to support their leadership journeys and look forward to seeing all the great things they will accomplish in the future!
Our annual Holiday tree sale is complete! With only 3 trees left and perhaps 20 wreaths, another successful Holiday tree sale has come to a close in just 3 weekends. I left our new point of sale device with the staff at Lands sake and I suspect that they will be able to sell what remains over the coming week. Thank you to everyone who volunteered. I am cancelling all future selling days and moving the date to disassemble the tree lot to next Saturday December 20th. Please come help out if you can!
What: Select from 300+ premium trees ranging in size from 3 feet to 14 feet and 14", 16", and 20" decorated and undecorated wreaths.
*If you're seeking one of the tallest trees we'll have, please come pick your tree sooner rather than later!
*We expect to sell out by the end of the day on Sunday, December 14.
When:Starting on Friday, November 28, Rotarians, friends, family, and volunteers will help you every step of the way:
Thanksgiving Friday: 10 am - 4 pm
Saturdays & Sundays from 10 am - 4 pm
Where: Land's Sake Farm. 90 Wellesley Street Weston, MA 02493
Helping: Three ways you can help us be successful are:
Sharing & Inviting: Please share this invitation and information with your friends, family, organizations, and members. Rotarians invite their faith communities, sports teams, civic organizations, and more.
About Rotary: The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is focused on supporting food security initiatives, volunteerism, scholarships, and conservation projects.
We value “Service Above Self” and would be thrilled to have you join anything we’re doing that appeals to you. Visit westonwaylandrotary.com, contact us, or stop by the Christmas Tree Sale. We’ll be outside, bundled up and delighted to chat, share some stories, and learn about you.
Rotary Youth Leadership Award - Recognizing Outstanding Sophomores
Do you know a sophomore who is dedicated to community service? Help us celebrate their efforts by nominating them for the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland's Rotary Youth Leadership Award.
For the ninth consecutive year the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is honoring sophomores who exemplify “service above self” through their leadership and community service. To nominate a deserving sophomore, please take a moment to fill out this brief 5-minute nomination form.
For more details on the RYLA program, visit our webpage. Nominations are open to anyone—faculty members, parents, students, or community members (coaches, advisors)—who know a student living or studying in Weston or Wayland. Please share it with parents, teachers, and students you know.
Spring Application Deadline: January 31, 2026 (Round 2).
🏆 Award Winners Encouraged to Apply 🏆
Award winners are encouraged to apply to attend a 2.5-day Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference in June 2026, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland.
The Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Waltham and supported by other clubs in District 7910, executed Pints for Polio 2025 on Thursday, October 23, 2025, to commemorate World Polio Day, raising awareness and funds for the ongoing eradication efforts. We have had the privilege to have among us the District 7910 Governor, Johnny Ahern. Remarks from the facilitators of the event, Jimmy Belotte and Mitchell Alexis, initiated the celebration, followed by the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland President Robert Blackburn and District Governor Johnny Ahern.
Entertainment was assured by West of Willow and Dr. Fénelon on the Saxophone; they were terrific! Craft Food Halls enhanced the atmosphere with their lively venue, with great food, drinks, and games. We were encouraged to count among us familiar faces, some new ones, and, more importantly, many young people from Weston High School and the International School of Boston.
We want to thank all sponsors (The Village Bank, Craft Food Halls, West of Willow, The Comedy Studio), participants, and the organizing committee (Robert Blackburn, Jimmy Belotte, John Marchioni, Stanley David, Richard and Brenda DeVito, Jan Luchetti, Laura Van Zandt) who made this event a success.
For some, polio might seem a distant problem; for others, it is a constant threat. Polio is endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan; it resurfaced during the Gaza war. The rotary has been a powerful force in the eradication effort of Polio for decades, partnering with organizations like WHO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and many others, resulting in a 99% success rate. Events like "Pints for Polio" are crucial to finish the job; we are almost there!
Each year, Rotary members across the globe unite on World Polio Day, October 24, to raise awareness and advance Rotary’s promise to end polio for good. This important day shines a light on Rotary’s global impact while reminding us that every club and every member can make a difference.
Together, we can bring the world one step closer to a future free of polio.
Get ready to rev your engines and roll into nostalgia—because the 28th Annual Weston & Wayland Rotary Club Antique & Classic Car Show is cruising back into town on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and it’s shaping up to be the biggest and boldest yet! Held at the charming Weston Town Hall Road (11 Townhouse Road, Weston, MA), this beloved community tradition welcomes car lovers, families, and curious onlookers from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM—rain or shine.
With over 200 stunning vehicles expected to line the streets—from sleek Ferraris and vintage Jaguars to rugged Studebakers and classic Fords—there’s something for every kind of enthusiast. Whether you're drawn to the elegance of a Rolls-Royce or the muscle of a Chevy Camaro, this show celebrates the full spectrum of automotive artistry.
But it’s not just about the cars. The Rotary Grill will be firing up hot dogs, burgers, and soft drinks to keep everyone fueled for the fun. Kids (and kids at heart) can enjoy treats and soak in the vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere. The Cub & Boy Scouts will be there and other vendors to do a little shopping. Proceeds from the event support the Rotary Club’s educational scholarships and community service projects, which have raised over $642,000 in the past 27 years—so every bite and every admiring glance helps drive real impact.
Volunteering at the Car Show is a chance to be part of something truly special. Whether you're greeting visitors, helping with logistics, or serving up treats at the Rotary Grill, your time and energy help fuel a day full of joy, connection, and classic charm.
Want to show off your own classic ride?Registration is open and full event details are available at www.westoncarshow.com. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just love the gleam of chrome and the growl of a vintage engine, this is one event you won’t want to miss. Let’s make this year’s show a celebration of history, horsepower, and hometown pride!
The Conservation Committee of the Weston & Wayland Rotary Club has made great progress transforming Sears Field into a thriving native plant habitat. Over the past few seasons, native plants such as St. John’s Wort and Wild Bergamot have taken root, helping to support the local ecosystem and pollinator populations.
Looking ahead, the team is considering a new model inspired by the Newton Conservators’ successful efforts at Cold Spring Park in Newton. There, under the guidance of UMass Dartmouth Professor Robert GeGear, they’ve introduced a diverse range of 30 native plant species. These species were chosen for their ability to bloom successively from spring through fall, providing continuous food sources for native pollinators such as moths, butterflies, bees, hornets, and wasps—all of which are increasingly threatened in Massachusetts.
Some of the plants being considered for future introduction at Sears Field include Willows, Carolina Rose, Purple Flowering Raspberry, Meadowsweet, Wood Betony, Foxglove Beardtongue, Self-Heal, and Purple Giant Hyssop. These species, along with those already thriving in the field, offer vital nectar and habitat for imperiled native insects.
The Conservation Team will be exploring this concept further in the coming months, with hopes of expanding the native plantings in 2025.
If you’re interested in helping with this important work at Sears Field, please reach out to Charlie Hamlin or Katya Portnaya. Your support can make a lasting impact on local biodiversity!
Translated and taken from the Nibelungen Kurier: The free newspaper for Worms and the Nibelungenland, Germany:
Support: Rotary network supplies medicines worth over 100,000 euros to Ukraine through the Rotary Club of Worms-Nibelungen
A global relief campaign
From left: Maxim Juschak, Christian Kazempour, Fritz Klöter, Dr. Heinz Löffler, Vasilia Klose and Caitlyn Blackburn.
Photo: Rotary Club Worms-Nibelungen
At the beginning of 2024, RC Worms-Nibelungen received an inquiry from near Boston-USA (RC Weston/Wayland). The friends on the other side of the Atlantic wanted to make a contribution to improving the medical care of the population in Ukraine and asked the people of Worms for support. An American member, Dr. Robert Blackburn (formerly RC Worms) knew that there were possibilities in Worms to bring aid to the war zone.
Need for aids known
Together with his club friends Katya Portnaya, Richard DeVito Jr. and President Vera Dias, they accompanied the project in America. At the Worms-Nibelungen, planning began for the purchase of medicines worth US$ 26,000. A hospital in Brovary, a district of Kiev with which there are personal contacts from America, was chosen as the destination in Ukraine. So the exact need for the aids on site was also known.
The Worms-based company used the contact of one of its members to the management of Stada, a global player in the pharmaceutical generics sector, to find a solution. They owe this contact to Fritz Klöter, the brother of the recently deceased Past District Governor Hildegard Dressino. Through this mediation, the Rotary Club Worms-Nibelungen was able to buy at very reasonable prices. Thanks to the patience of Fritz Klöter and the board of directors of Stada, the strict EU requirements for delivery could be met. In addition, Stada supported with a free additional delivery of 5,000 packs of pantoprazole – a product that is much needed in Ukraine to inhibit stomach acid production. The pharmacy sales price of this drug alone is over 100,000 euros.
Medication arrived
The Worms Rotarian Maxim Juschak organized the transport to Ukraine and used a car for this purpose, which remains in Ukraine and is converted into an ambulance there. The vehicle, worth almost 10,000 euros, was donated by his own aid organization Ukrainehilfe-Worms. The delivery has now arrived safely in the east and the medicines have been handed over to the hospital.
The participating clubs would like to thank Fritz Klöter as well as the CEO and CFO of Stada for their great support of this international aid project. With this global campaign and the existing network, Rotary was able to generate multiple added value for a humanitarian project through the cooperation of the American and German clubs from its own relief measures.
It is a new year, and the Weston-Wayland Rotary Conservation Team is back in action at Sears Field, continuing their dedicated efforts to remove invasive plants and reclaim the land for the benefit of pollinating insects. With every passing season, this vital conservation work brings the field closer to becoming a thriving sanctuary for native species.
Thanks to generous spring rains, the field is lush and ready for the next phase of care. We have completed the “big mow,” a critical step carried out by Jim Anza to keep down the black swallow wort. The Weston Conservation Commission has given Jim the green light to mow all 26 of the Town's former agricultural fields.
We are in the process of cleaning the area around the gardens—cutting back the tall grasses and carefully pulling invasive weeds without disturbing the native plants.
The Conservation Team marked out the areas where they had planted native plants and seeds last Fall. With stakes and ribbon in place to protect the plants for the mowing of the grass, the section now highlights the emerging beauty of native plants, including Showy Tick Trefoil and Prostrate Tick Trefoil—two important species that support pollinators and biodiversity in the field. See our plant map to view all of the gardens and plantings in the Field.
June 21, 2025, marked a grand morning in Sears Field as 8 to 10 volunteers—organized by the Weston Conservation Commission (WCC)—gathered to lend their seasoned hands. They focused on removing black swallow wort and trimming the overgrown grass that Jim Anza’s mower couldn't reach near the gardens. (Show picture we have of this.)
With each workday, Sears Field moves closer to becoming a flourishing habitat for wildlife and a place of pride for the local community. The Rotary Conservation Team and WCC continue to show that thoughtful stewardship and community effort can make a lasting environmental impact.
We received a wonderful thank you and update from The Control Freaks out of Wayland,
"Dear Weston and Wayland Rotary Club,
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Team 5735, the Control Freaks, is incredibly grateful for Weston and Wayland Rotary Club financial support during our 2024-2025 season. Your generosity directly fueled an exceptionally exciting and productive build season, which culminated in strong performances at two regional competitions, attendance at the New England District Championship, and an exciting run to the finals at the Inaugural MA State Championship!
Beyond the impressive competitive achievements, our members continue to gain invaluable technical and non-technical skills that simply aren't attainable in a traditional classroom setting. Our remarkable progress and these life-changing opportunities for our students are only possible because of your unwavering belief in our mission and your continued commitment.
On May 17th, District 7910 gathered at Assabet Regional Technical High School in Marlborough for a dynamic one-day District Conference celebrating our clubs' and their leaders' dedication and impact. It was a day filled with inspiration, connection, and well-deserved recognition.
Congratulations to the following Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland members who received awards at the District Conference:
We’re proud of your achievements and grateful for the positive light you shine on our club and community!
As I close out my term as President of the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland during this historic 75th anniversary year, I want to take a moment to reflect, to celebrate, and—above all—to express my deepest gratitude.
This year was more than a milestone—it was a powerful reminder of who we are. We honored 75 years of local impact and 120 years of Rotary International by living our motto, Service Above Self, in ways both bold and humble. Every project, fundraiser, scholarship, and act of kindness reflected the legacy we carry and the future we continue to build.
From the joy of our Antique Car Show and the magic of the Holiday Tree Sale, to the hands-on care of our Seedlings Project and the importance of our food security efforts, we made a difference across Weston, Wayland, and neighboring communities. Our reach extended far beyond our borders—supporting Ukraine, strengthening international partnerships, and engaging in student exchanges that connect us to the world.
We empowered youth through scholarships, RYLA, and the Children’s Business Fair. We strengthened vocational service through mentorship and networking, and we deepened our environmental commitment through action and awareness. In everything we did, we led with heart, purpose, and fellowship.
As we close the chapter of this Rotary year, we reflect on stories that capture the passion, persistence, and leadership of our members—and the strength of a club that continues to evolve while staying true to Rotary’s core values.
We were honored to receive the Silver Award as the second-best club in District 7910. While it’s bittersweet after holding the top spot for four consecutive years, it’s also a reminder that among 51 clubs, we remain a leader. This is not a time to focus on what we didn’t win—but to rise, improve participation and attendance, and continue giving our best. The title follows those who serve wholeheartedly.
To every club member—thank you. Your time, energy, generosity, and belief in the Rotary mission have made this year remarkable. You are the soul of this club, and every success we’ve achieved bears your mark.
To every board member and committee leader—congratulations on a job well done.
To our friends, families, and community partners—especially The Village Bank—thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to our shared mission.
As I passed the gavel at the Installation of New Officers last night, I ask each of you to stand with our new and incredible President, Robert Blackburn (online), and his leadership team. Please join me in giving them a heartfelt welcome. Robert brings dedication, wisdom, and a deep commitment to Rotary values, and I have no doubt he will guide our club with strength and vision. I wish him and his board the very best as they embark on this new chapter.
May the 2025–2026 Rotary year be one of bold ideas, strengthened fellowship, and continued impact—our best year yet!
On Thursday evening, June 12, 2025, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland proudly joined forces with the Weston Community League and the Weston Boosters to celebrate local students who were awarded college scholarships. The annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, held at the Weston Golf Club, was an inspiring evening recognizing academic achievement, community service, and leadership.
Representatives from each of the three organizations were in attendance, sharing stories and presenting awards. The Weston Community League (WCL) was represented by Janika LeMaitre, Marla Luzzi, Susan Simi, and MaryAnn Riordan, while the Weston Boosters (WB) were represented by Melissa Galton and Jennifer Betty. Rotary Club members Paul Lauldi and Vera Dias presented the Weston High School awards and Cindi Bryant present the Wayland High School student awards
The Rotary Club, known for its commitment to service and youth development, honored seven outstanding high school seniors whose achievements reflect the Rotary motto: “Service Above Self.” These students were recognized not only for their academic excellence but also for their leadership, compassion, and community involvement.
The Rotary Club scholarships were awarded through the Hector J. Osmond Rotary Scholarship Program, which honors the legacy of Hector J. Osmond, a beloved community member known for his tireless dedication to others.
This year’s Rotary Club scholarship recipients were:
Weston High School: Eldar Blazh, Lillian Fourreau, Belinda Lee, Shania Smith, and Meileen Trinh
Wayland High School: Isabella Fuentes and Graham Henrich
The evening also included a touching tribute to the late Tony Micciche, whose legacy was honored with the Tony Micciche Memorial Scholarship, awarded to Belinda Lee. Tony’s wife, Karen, and daughters Laura and Erica were present for this heartfelt tribute.
In addition to the Rotary Club awards, scholarships were presented by the event’s partner organizations:
Weston Boosters Scholarship Recipients: Darius Brewster and Ryan Kirmelewicz
Weston Community League Scholarship Recipients: Inessa Berman, Siyang Ding, Belinda Lee, Ben Tavares, and Meileen Trinh
The Scholarship Awards Dinner is one of the most meaningful evenings of the year for all three organizations. It celebrates student achievement and the community’s shared commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders.
Congratulations to all of the 2025 scholarship recipients!
Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland Hosts Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner
Our Rotary Club is thrilled to warmly welcome Emily Isabel Dias as the newest and youngest member of our growing Rotary family. Her official induction was not just a celebration of new beginnings, but a powerful reminder of the spirit of service that connects generations.
Emily has long embodied the Rotary values. At just 12 years old, she founded the Interact Club at Kennedy Middle School in Natick, a vibrant youth group that continues to thrive today. Her leadership from such a young age speaks volumes about her commitment to building community and creating change. "I hope to attract more young people to Rotary," Emily shared. With her passion and energy, we are certain she will do just that.
Her connection to Rotary runs deep. Emily is the daughter of our Club President, Vera Dias, who reflected, "It is deeply meaningful to see a second generation stepping forward to carry on the Rotary tradition. I’ve always been inspired by families with two or three generations of Rotarians—and last night, that inspiration became personal."
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the 5th Annual Children’s Business Fair in Weston brought creativity, entrepreneurship, and community spirit to life — and it was a tremendous success!
There were 62 businesses with over 100 Kidpreneurs who proudly showcased their products and services — the result of months of hard work, innovation, and planning. The young entrepreneurs impressed attendees with their creativity, confidence, and professionalism. Thank you to Rotary Club member, Warren Green for taking photos and hosting them on his website here: https://www.eclecticlightcompany.com/ELC-Site-Statements/Rotary-Serving-the-Community
This year’s fair was held alongside the Celebrate Weston event, drawing an even larger crowd and tremendous community support. In fact, the Children’s Business Fair grew to nearly the same size as Celebrate Weston itself — a remarkable milestone that reflects just how much enthusiasm and excitement surrounded our kidpreneurs!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Alex Faigel and his incredible team for their continued dedication and outstanding organization. This event would not have been possible without them.
Join us for one of the most meaningful events of the year—the Annual Scholarship Dinner on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 6:30 PM at the Weston Golf Club.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, in partnership with the Weston Community League and the Weston Boosters, will come together to honor the outstanding students who have been awarded college scholarships from our organizations.
This special evening highlights the impact of our fundraising efforts and celebrates the bright futures of Weston and Wayland High School students. Don’t miss this heartwarming event—your support makes it all possible!
📍 Weston Golf Club 📅 Thursday, June 12, 2025 🕡 6:30 PM
First Business Showcase Series was a great success! Our speakers delivered insightful presentations, sharing valuable knowledge about their professions and businesses.
A very special thanks to Valdet Abazi for doing an outstanding job as the moderator. Your dedication and support were instrumental in making the evening a success.
A big thank you as well to Amy Werner, Nicole James, and Catherine Bassick for their contributions:
Our next Business Showcase Series will be on June 26th. This event will feature a panel discussion on Adapting in Changing Times. We already have two panelists lined up and are looking for one more. If you’re interested, please reach out to VeraDiasrealestate@gmail.com.
"Last night’s First Business Showcase Series was a great success! Our speakers delivered insightful presentations, sharing valuable knowledge about their professions and businesses.
A very special thanks to Valdet Abazi for doing an outstanding job as the moderator and for working side by side with me in organizing this event. Your dedication and support were instrumental in making the evening a success.
A big thank you as well to Amy Werner, Nicole James, and Catherine Bassick for their contributions:
Amy Werner delivered a comprehensive and informative presentation on financial security and community engagement. She shared valuable insights on fraud prevention, discussed the unique aspects of The Village Bank as a Mutual Bank, and explained how families can maximize their FDIC insurance through joint accounts. Amy’s talk covered a wide range of topics, emphasizing the importance of community-focused banking and proactive financial planning.
Nicole James highlighted the critical need for legal planning as soon as we reach adulthood. She discussed the importance of having a Power of Attorney, Health Proxy, and Will, sharing real-life examples that illustrated the benefits of being prepared for unexpected situations.
Catherine Bassick walked us through the complexities of real estate transactions, including environmental and municipal considerations, and how her team helps clients navigate the entire process.
Following the presentations, Nicole James and Amy Werner stayed for the Q&A session, which was dynamic and engaging. They answered thoughtful questions from the audience, providing deeper insights and practical advice. The session sparked meaningful discussions, and many attendees stayed long after the official meeting ended, continuing conversations and sharing reflections.
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who attended. Your enthusiasm and active participation truly made the evening special. Events like these are successful because of the support and engagement of our members and guests—thank you for making it a memorable experience!
Looking Ahead: Club Assembly and Annual Meeting
Next week, we have a significant gathering: our Club Assembly and Annual Meeting. REGISTER HERE
Please make every effort to attend, as we will:
Induct New Member Nicole James
Present the Paul Harris Fellowship Award to Lucy Bradley
Vote for the 2025-2026 slate of candidates
Hear a quick update from committee chairs
Finalize the plan for the Children’s Business Fair on May 17th
Hold a Board Meeting to follow the assembly
This is an important moment for our club, and your presence and participation are vital.
Save the Date: Next Business Showcase
Our next Business Showcase Series will be on June 26th. This event will feature a panel discussion on Adapting in Changing Times. We already have two panelists lined up and are looking for one more. If you’re interested, please reach out to me at VeraDiasrealestate@gmail.com.
Thank you once again for your continued support and involvement. Looking forward to seeing you next week!"
In a truly magnificent celebration of service above self, the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland commemorated its 75th anniversary on April 3, 2025, at the Weston Golf Club. Over 90 people attended. Current club members, representatives from the Rotary district and international organizations, friends, and family gathered to honor the work and the people who have and continue to do it. This evening will live long among the fondest memories of all who attended.
We appreciate all who attended last week's meeting at the Wayland Police Station. Our sincere gratitude goes to Chief Ed Burman for once again welcoming us into their conference room. Special thanks to Janot Mendler de Suarez and Christopher Reynolds, along with Scarlett Hoey, Executive Director of the Wayland Museum and Historical Society, for an engaging presentation about the upcoming Wayland Festival, set for October 4, 2025. This promises to be a remarkable community celebration, and we look forward to exploring ways to get involved.
Kudos to Richard DeVito and our amazing volunteers for another successful Kids Fishing Derby! Your dedication brought joy to many young participants. We also want to recognize Mark Messina for leading the Seedlings for First Graders project with tireless effort and heart—thank you to all who lent a hand.
We now look ahead to two important events this week, and encourage every member to take part:
Rotary Business Showcase Series – This Thursday, May 8 | 6:15 PM Weston Golf Club - Register HERE
Vocational Service is one of Rotary’s Five Avenues of Service, and we are proud to launch our Business Showcase Series as a new platform to highlight our members’ professional contributions.
Featured Presenters:
Catherine Bassick – Bassick Real Estate Advisors at Douglas Elliman
Amy Werner – SVP & CMO, The Village Bank (invited guest presenter)
Nicole James – Estate & Business Planning Attorney (approved member, soon to be inducted)
Organizer: Vera Lucia Dias Moderator: Valdet Abazi
Enjoy a delicious dinner while connecting with fellow Rotarians and local professionals. Don’t forget your business cards!
Let’s continue showing the power of Rotary through service, fellowship, and professional excellence. See you at the showcase!
On Saturday, May 3, our New Member Committee—led by Chair Valdet Abazi—brought smiles, laughter, and a spirit of service to the residents of the Charles River Center in Wayland. This simple but heartfelt project involved the installation of a brand-new outdoor table and chairs, creating a welcoming space for residents to gather, relax, and connect.
Nicole James and her family rolled up their sleeves and got to work alongside fellow Rotarians, including Stanley David and others from our growing new member team. Kevin Satera, COO of the Charles River Center, joined us for the occasion, expressing his appreciation as residents greeted our volunteers with hugs, handshakes, and genuine joy.
Some of the residents' parents and Vera’s sister Elizete do Carmo were there to lend a hand, making the event even more special. Once the table and chairs were in place, we shared pizza—and plenty of laughter and joyful moments—as we gathered around the new outdoor space.
It was a reminder of the power of small acts—how Rotary, at its best, brings people together and makes a lasting impact in the community.
New Member Service Project Brings Joy and Fellowship to Charles River Center
Thanks to everyone for joining us at the 71st annual Weston Fishing Derby. It was a great day!
The prize winners are listed below (click on READ MORE). Please pick up prizes at the Rotary office, 470 Boston Post Road, Weston (2nd floor), from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays. You can also use the contact box above!
Note: Our rules state one prize per person, so in some cases, the winners were adjusted to meet that rule. (For example, the LARGE bass would have won largest and heaviest, but it is more fun to spread the winning around)
Rotary Club Scholarships – Honoring Hector J. Osmond
Each year, the Rotary Club awards scholarships through the Hector J. Osmond Rotary Scholarship Program. Hector J. Osmond was a shining example of the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self,” dedicating his life to educating young people, supporting seniors, and inspiring those facing hardship. He exemplified the spirit of citizenship and community service that defines Weston and Wayland.
Scholarship applications are submitted through the Guidance Departments at Weston High Schools.
Students interested in applying for a Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland scholarship can apply here. Application Deadline May 1, 2025
World Immunization Week, 24 to 30 April, we celebrate the ability to protect communities from preventable diseases. Thanks to Rotary’s leadership in global immunization efforts, more than 20 million people who might have been paralyzed by polio can walk today.
Since 1988, Rotary and our partners have reduced worldwide polio cases by more than 99.9%. Through The Rotary Foundation, our members continue to champion disease prevention by supporting vaccination programs that protect against polio, measles, and other life-threatening diseases.
Join us at the Weston Public Library this week for an exciting and insightful presentation featuring Jeffrey Sacks, our special guest speaker.
Jeffrey will delve into the essentials of personal and home protection, sharing practical advice and guiding us through a step-by-step roadmap to safeguard ourselves and our loved ones.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
Location:Weston Public Library, 87 School St, Weston, Community Room
Time: 6:15 - 7:45 pm
Cost: FREE
This is a FREE event, open to everyone!
Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for an evening with valuable insights and community connection.
Light refreshments and beverages will be available to enjoy, and walk-ins are welcome!
Let’s make our homes and lives safer together. We look forward to seeing you there!
USCCA - Certified Concealed Carry and Home Defense Firearm Instructor; Lieutenant in the South African Defense Force, accruing discipline and knowledge; pursued passion for Medicine, becoming a Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeon with degrees BDS, DMD, MS.
After years of making significant contributions to the field of Surgery, I have retired to share my skills, passion, and knowledge as a Firearm Education Instructor. I am committed to promoting safety and responsible firearm use, drawing on my diverse professional background to educate and empower others.
"What an unforgettable evening we had as we celebrated our young leaders at the Rising Youth Leadership Award Celebration! Each recipient had the chance to showcase their accomplishments in a unique and interactive way—introduced by someone from their table who shared their achievements. Getting to know these inspiring young leaders in person was a wonderful opportunity. Their passion, dedication, and potential were on full display, making the night even more special.
Congratulations to Our RYLA Award Recipients!
The Rivers School: Lily Soares
Wayland High School: Maggie Agyeman, Owen Harrington, Alex Jacob, Brendan McGonegal, & Max Rainville
Weston High School: Ainsley Fachner, Violet Moon, Adam Schuckel, & Khim Thongbai
The energy in the room was incredible! We were honored to welcome many distinguished guests, including Ed Burman, Chief of Police, Wayland, Sue Bairstow, Principal, Weston High School, and Todd Whitten, Assistant Principal, Weston High School. In addition, we had the privilege of welcoming our international guest, Bobbie Laguitao, from the Philippines, with our club’s flag.
We were also delighted to have our incredible sponsors and supporters from Village Bank in attendance. We extend our deepest gratitude to:
Joe De Vito – President & Chief Executive Officer
Michael Jordan – Vice President, Branch Administrator
A huge round of applause to John Marchiony and his team for their dedication in selecting these outstanding award winners and organizing such a meaningful event. Our club is so proud of you!"
On April 3, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland proudly celebrated its 75th anniversary—an extraordinary milestone in its enduring legacy of community service and commitment to “Service Above Self.” District Governor Joyce Graff reflected on Rotary's history, honoring its founders and emphasizing the enduring values of fellowship, service, and leadership that continue to inspire Rotarians around the world.
The evening featured heartfelt stories showcasing the accomplishments of both past and present members, special recognition awards, and highlights of the club’s most memorable events. Congratulations to our Paul Harris Fellowship Award recipients—Robert Blackburn, Richard DeVito, Jr., Warren Green, Rob Mosher, and Katya Portnaya—whose service, humility, and leadership embody the spirit of Rotary and inspire us all.
Legacy Families with multi-generational involvement in the club were also honored and thanked for their longstanding dedication and support.
A special thank you to Jan Luchetti, John Marchiony, and the entire 75th Anniversary Team—you made this celebration truly unforgettable.
It is with profound sadness that I inform you of the passing of Tony Micciche’. Tony died unexpectedly on Sunday, February 2nd, 2025.
Tony was a wonderful man. He was a devoted husband to his wife Karen, a father to daughters Laura and Erica, a grandfather, a Rotarian for many years, a world-class framer and businessman in Weston for over 42 years, and a Rotarian for 15 years.
To visit Tony in his shop in Weston Center was to take a trip with him to his hometown of Firenze, Italy. He shared his passion for framing but, more importantly, the beautiful artwork that was framed. Over the years, he framed and reframed many priceless pieces of artwork with his trademark words, “That’s beautiful!” Tony generously supported many events in Weston for decades and loved doing it.
A wake for Tony was held at John C. Bryant Funeral Home at 56 Pemberton Road, Wayland, on Sunday, February 9th, 2025, and the funeral on Monday, February 10th, 2025.
We’re pleased to let you know that Celebrate Weston will proceed as planned on Saturday, May 17th!
Due to early morning rain in the forecast, the event organizers have decided to shift the start time by one hour, with festivities now running from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
VOLUNTEERS
There are no changes to our Children’s Business Fair setup schedule. If you are signed up to help with Friday evening setup or Saturday morning setup, please arrive at the same time as originally planned. Your support is essential, and we’re so grateful to have you as part of this effort.
KIDPRENEURS
Due to the forecast of early morning rain, the event will begin one hour later than originally scheduled, now running from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This slight shift will allow time for the weather to clear and for everyone to set up comfortably.
Updated Drop-Off Times:
(Please refer to the list that was emailed to you to find your assigned drop-off group and time.)
Group A: 11:00 AM
Group B: 11:15 AM
Group C: 11:30 AM
We look forward to seeing all of our young entrepreneurs shine this Saturday — rain or shine!
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM Location: Weston Town Green during Celebrate Weston!
Join Us for the 5th Annual Children's Business Fair!
With the holidays behind us and a fresh new year ahead of us, we will have a month of informative and interactive meetings outside the Weston Golf Club. Please feel free to join us anytime for any event. Registration is strongly encouraged to allow the hospitality team to plan for food and supplies.
Thursday, January 30th - Speaker Dr. Barry Taylor, Naturopathic Physician, will talk about AGING GRACEFULLY with ENERGY!
Dr. Barry Taylor has practiced natural medicine in Weston since 1981. He offers inspiring health topics all over the world and will share his top tips on AGING GRACEFULLY with Energy! Science now tells us that “lifestyle” factors have a dominating influence on aging and longevity. Let’s get super clear on those factors that no matter our age, can empower us to have profound effects on the quality of our life. Join us to learn how to translate simple tips into powerful actions.
(Click on the book image for ordering link)
Location: Weston Public Library, Community Room
Time: 6:15-7:45 pm
Cost: FREE; light refreshments will be served
We will return to our regular meetings at the Weston Golf Club on Thursday, February 6th.
Rotary Youth Leadership Award - Recognizing Outstanding Sophomores
Do you know a sophomore who is dedicated to community service? Help us celebrate their efforts by nominating them for the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland's Rotary Youth Leadership Award.
For the eighth consecutive year, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is honoring sophomores who exemplify “service above self” through their leadership and community service. To nominate a deserving sophomore, please take a moment to fill out this brief 5-minute nomination form.
For more details on the RYLA program, visit our [webpage]. Nominations are open to anyone—faculty members, parents, students, or community members (coaches, advisors)—who know a student living or studying in Weston or Wayland. Please share it with parents, teachers, and students you know.
Second Round Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2025
Celebration Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025
🏆 Award Winners Encouraged to Apply 🏆
Award winners are encouraged to apply to attend a 2.5-day Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference in June 2025, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland.
On December 5th, six generous sophomores received well-deserved recognition for their outstanding commitments to community service at the Rotary Youth Leadership Award celebration. These students have truly embraced the Rotary motto of "Service above Self." The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland selected these students after receiving nominations from two or more citizens.
Celebrating Excellence - In the picture, the students recognized on December 5th are (L to R): Alex Munoz, a student at Noble & Greenough, Sophie Belotte (Weston HS), Jonathan Wang Yu (Wayland HS), and Weston HS sophomores Ashley DeFilippo, Maggie Gray, and Grace Zeng. The winners are joined by RYLA Conference alumni Khim Thongbai (L), who attended the RYLA conference in Thailand, and Caitlyn Luzzi (R), who participated at Fitchburg State in June 2024 and hopes to return this year as a program facilitator.
✨ Nominate a Sophomore ✨ Anyone can nominate any sophomore living or studying in Weston or Wayland for the second round of awards, to be presented on March 6th. Fill out this short nomination form by the January 31, 2025, deadline.
🏆 Award Winners Encouraged to Apply - Award winners are encouraged to apply to be sponsored by the club to attend a 2.5-day Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference in June 2025.
🌟 A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Incredible Volunteers! 🌟
Your tireless efforts—from unloading trees, setting up A-frames, selling trees and wreaths, cutting stumps, tying trees on cars, delivering trees, decorating wreaths, and capturing the event in photos—have been truly phenomenal. We are immensely grateful for your unwavering support and dedication. This event wouldn't have been possible without the help of our Rotarians and many friends and neighbors.
Your hard work unloading trees and kicking off the first weekends of our sale was incredible. We're immensely grateful for your support and dedication. Thank you!
But hold on, we're not finished yet! We still need YOUR help to sell the last 65 trees this weekend. If you haven't picked out your perfect Christmas tree and wreaths yet, come down to Land's Sake Farm Weston (90 Wellesley Street).
Want to spread that holiday joy even further? Join us as a volunteer! It's a fantastic way to ignite your holiday spirit and make this season truly special. New to volunteering? No worries—training will be provided.
📅 Sale Hours:
Fridays: 10 AM - 3 PM
Saturdays & Sundays: 10 AM - 3 PM
We can't wait to see you this weekend! 🎄
We hope to see you there this weekend!
Let's make this event a great success together! 🎄✨
Photos by Warren Green, Elizabeth Young, Nicole Mordecai
Members of the Rotary Clubs of Weston & Wayland, Waltham, Billerica, and Needham came together for a fun evening and raising funds for Rotary's End Polio Now campaign.
On October 24, World Polio Day, Rotary members and friends gathered at Craft Food Hall to raise money to end Polio. It was a massive success!
We raised a grand total of $2,570 for the End Polio Now fund. Thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's 2:1 matching, all contributions will go directly to the Rotary Foundation and have an even more significant impact.
On October 20, the Conservation Team will host a Work Day at Sears Field in Weston, MA. Over the past few years, we’ve focused on removing invasive plants, and this year, we’re taking an exciting new step: planting native plants to support pollinators! We’ll also plant daffodils along a planned path to add a beautiful touch to the landscape.
Location: 27 Crescent St, Weston.
How you can help:
Join us at the field! Bring a friend or family member and join us for a few hours of community work. We’ll start at 9 AM with coffee and breakfast and plan to wrap up around noon. You’re welcome to work for as long or as little as you like—every bit helps! Many hands make light work.
Donate native plants! If you can’t make it to the field, consider donating native plants for the project. Great sources include Native Plant Trust (Garden in the Woods) in Framingham and Blue Stem Natives in Norwell.
The 27th Annual Antique & Classic Car Show was an outstanding success on Saturday, September 28th. 173 cars came out to share with almost 1,000 spectators, helping people relive their pasts and teaching younger guests about the good 'ole days. Cars as old as 1911 to 2024 joined the festivities. Along with the cars, several community organizations attended, including WERC (Weston Emergency Reserve Corps), The Friends of the Council on Aging, Land's Sake Farm, and the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland, which hosted the event.
And the WINNERS are...the show was peer-judged, and all car owners voted on their first-place vehicle in 36 categories. Please check out the complete list of winners by clicking READ MORE below.
If you did not receive your trophy, please pick it up at 470 Boston Post Road, 2nd floor, Weston, MA.
Top Award winners
Tom Larsen & Adolfo Caso Memorial Sportsman Award Richard DeVito, Sr.
Best of Show, 1st place Les Herzog, 1934 Packard 1101 Coupe
Best of Show 2nd place Colm Dunphy, 1954 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
Best of Show, 3rd place David Larsen, 1960 Dodge Polara D-500
Remembering September 11, 2001. For 23 years, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has joined the community service project by placing flags on the Weston Town Green to honor and commemorate the sacrifices made on 9/11 and for all the lives lost on this day.
We honor and remember the heroes, armed forces, first responders, and countless others’ acts of service to defend our nation’s freedom.
Tri-Club Meeting with 7910 District Governor Joyce Graff
7910 District Governor Joyce Graff held a joint meeting with the Rotary Clubs of Newton, Weston-Wayland, and Westwood. She delivered an inspiring speech focusing on the successes and challenges ahead.
2023-2024 Creating Hope in the World Award
DG Graff presented the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club with a Citation from Rotary International for the 2023-2024 year for "Creating Hope in the World." This well-deserved recognition was earned under the exceptional guidance of our Past President, Katya Portnaya. A big thank you to every club member and especially to Katya for her outstanding leadership.
We also received an award and a letter of congratulations in honor of our upcoming 75th anniversary, which will be celebrated in 2025. The letter came directly from Stephanie A. Urchick, President of Rotary International—what an honor!
Tri-Club Meeting with 7910 District Governor Joyce Graff
On Thursday, August 22nd, we welcomed our club's exchange student, Khim ChitakarnThongbai, from Thailand, who arrived this week. She told us about her dream of coming to America for an exchange as a little girl. She will attend Weston High School this year as a sophomore and plans to visit the club several times during her stay. She also got the honor of ringing our four-time Club of the Year bell to close the meeting.
Khim gave us our first lesson in Thai:
(female) thank you = khob khun ka
(male) thank you = khob khun krub
If you live in Weston and would like to host Khim for 3 months this school year, please contact:
June was a busy month for Owen Moon, a District 7910 Youth Exchange Student sponsored by the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club. On June 2nd, he arrived home after spending the 2023-24 academic year living and attending school in Taiwan. On June 7th, he graduated from Weston High School. It all started when Owen, now 18, did a short-term summer exchange to Spain in 2022. That exchange led to a desire to see Asia -- an area of the world he's been fascinated with since childhood. He speaks Mandarin, has many international friends, and is more aware of cultures outside the United States.
Photo: Owen Moon, Kathleen Baker, and Hsinchu Peace Rotary Club President, Hsieh "Seven" Cheng-Wen at a Rotary meeting. April 2024.
On July 18th, we inducted a new member, Stanley David, who member Jimmy Belotte proposed. Stanley is a versatile entrepreneur working with New York Life and numerous other prominent carriers as an independent broker. Stanley’s profound engagement in his field is complemented by his active participation in community activities and his roles on various boards. He also lends his expertise to organizing events and supporting others in bringing their visions to life. Known for his approachability and genuine interest in the well-being of others, he exudes a passion for positively impacting people’s lives. He is dedicated to fostering growth and ensuring security for his friends, clients, and colleagues. Please join us in welcoming Stanley to our club!
Join us for the 27th Annual Weston & Wayland Rotary Club Antique & Classic Car Show on September 28, 2024. The show is located in Weston Town Center at 11 Townhouse Road, Weston, MA. Rain or shine it promises to be another great event for car owners and families alike. Show cars are encouraged to arrive between 8:00 and 10:00 am. Guests will be welcomed from 8:00 am to ~ 3:00 pm.
The Car Show has attracted over 200 cars of all years and types and over 2,000 attendees. Cars range from Ferraris, Mercedes Benz, Jaguars, and Rolls Royce to Chevrolets, Studebakers, Fords, and everything in between. We always tell people we’d like any car you’d like to show!
All net proceeds from the car show go to the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland Educational Scholarships and other Rotary Club projects such as conservation projects, food security programs, international projects, and more.
“We are excited to celebrate our 27th year of the show. We hope that everyone will join us this year. Each year, this show gets bigger and more renowned,” according to show Chairmen Richard DeVito, Sr., and Jr. “This show is a Rotary fundraiser that benefits the Rotary Scholarship fund and has raised nearly $642,000 in the first 26 years!”
In addition to cars, you can enjoy lunch at the Weston Rotary Grill, featuring fresh-popped popcorn, hot dogs, hamburgers, and soft drinks. It’s an excellent time for car kids from 6 to 100.
For early registration, car owners can download auto registration forms from the show website, www.westoncarshow.com, and mail them to Weston Car Show, 470 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA 02493, by September 23, 2024. You may also bring your car (and registration) to 11 Townhouse Road on Saturday morning starting at 8:00 am. Car judging begins at 10 am.
If you have any questions, please email Richard DeVito, Jr. at radjr@pnpco.com.
Our outgoing immediate past president, Katya Portnaya, who served from July 2023 to July 2024, was recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for her hard work, leadership, and dedicated service as President of the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club. She received two official citations recognizing Katya's work and the Commonwealth's,
Rotary Club Honors Brenda DeVito with Paul Harris Fellow Award
At our remarkable Installation Dinner, we had the pleasure of bestowing the highest honor on one of our own dedicated members and Past President, Brenda DeVito. Brenda was presented with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award in recognition of her outstanding and dedicated service to the communities around Weston.
Through her incredible work at the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland , Brenda has made a significant impact, embodying the Rotary spirit of service above self. Her commitment and tireless efforts have strengthened our community and inspired us all.
Congratulations, Brenda, on this well-deserved honor! We are grateful for your exemplary service and dedication.
Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland Celebrates 2024-2025 President and Officers Installation
On the evening of June 27th, the Rotary Club held its annual dinner meeting at the beautiful Weston Golf Club, marking the installation of the 2024-2025 President and officers. It was a night filled with anticipation, tradition, and a shared vision for the future.
Vera Lucia Dias was formally inducted as the new President by Katya Portnaya. All Past Presidents present ceremoniously passed the gavel until it reached Vera, symbolizing the passing of their wisdom to the new President. With grace and humility, Vera's first act as President was to lead the gathering in a small prayer, setting a reflective and hopeful tone for the evening.
On Thursday evening, June 13, 2024, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland joined the Weston Community League and the Weston Boosters to celebrate the many students awarded college scholarships from our organizations this year.
Representatives from all three organizations participated in the event hosted by Rotary at the Weston Golf Club. Guests from the WCL included Leslie Stonestreet, MaryAnn Riordan, Katie Phaneuf, Joan Heilbronner, and Karin Ott. Guests from the Weston Boosters included Melissa Galton and Jennifer Betty.
Our Club honored seven high school seniors this year. The increased number of awards was made possible because of President Katya Portnaya’s efforts to increase our scholarship funding for this year. Her initiative allowed us to support more scholarship awards for 2024.
As a Community service-focused organization, the Rotary Club looks for high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership, community service, and a drive for success. All seven of our recipients for 2024 are excellent examples of the Rotary motto: “Service above Self.”
This year’s winners of the Rotary Club’s Hector J. Osmond Memorial scholarship were: Mathew B Caleb G Darrell J Amani M Raymond R Ava T Eliana T
Congratulations to each of these amazing students, and we wish them luck as they venture out into this next phase of their lives.
A special thank you to all the Rotarians whose hard work all year provided us with the funds needed to offer these scholarships. And we must all offer grateful thanks to our hospitality team and Jan Luchetti for making our celebration possible.
Our Rotary meeting on Thursday, May 30th was absolutely awesome!
It began with incoming Club President, Vera’s, calling the meeting to order; thanking our sponsors, and introduction of all the evening’s guests.
Mark Messina then updated us on the RYLA program and our sponsoring of 10 high school sophomore’s (soon to be Juniors) to attend the training seminar at Fitchburg State College this June 21-23 and openings still available for adult volunteers to help out with the sessions.
Jan Luchetti then reviewed our Rotary Club schedule for June - which is jam packed with meetings, fellowship, community service, and volunteer opportunities.
Brenda DeVito then related a service opportunity on June 2 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in at the Wayland Multi-Cultural Festival at the Wayland High School Fieldhouse. Volunteers welcome.
Vera then moved on to our Business Meeting where (1) Valdet Abazi was inducted into our club, and he had amazing introductory comments + photos taken with his family at the ceremony. Vera did an outstanding job with leading the induction ceremony!
We then moved on to the club voting, where all 2024-2025 officers and directors were unanimously approved, in person and on Zoom, by our membership.
Yay! for our Rotary Club Members stepping up - and standing up to take responsibility for club actions and operations for 2024-2025!
Then, Richard DeVito created and presented a video showcasing Patty MacNeil’s service to our club as an outstanding volunteer, club officer, and club president, securer of Village Bank sponsorship for over almost a decade of service - being recognized with a Paul Harris Award - for the second time! Richard’s heartwarming introduction and meaningful comments addressed to Patty and our club brought tears to many in the audience. Patty graciously accepted the Paul Harris award and said that she was relocating to Maine - but would be able to return in the future and attend meetings along with Valdet Abazi - who will be still representing the Village Bank as one of our Club sponsors.
Thanks for all for a very well done Rotary meeting and the celebrating of so many volunteers doing wonderful works for our club and Rotary International!
Thank you to John, Richard and Jan for setting up the Zoom transmission equipment; Robert Blackburn for attending at 1:00 AM - Germany time while abroad; Brenda for announcing another volunteer opportunity in Wayland, Mark’s update on RYLA, Richard’s video and comments, Vera’s leadership and others for participating in person and standing up to be counted and voting.
This type of meeting makes us all proud to be a member of our Rotary club and Rotary International - Go Service Above Self! & yea for the Four Way Test!!!
Written by Bruce Lee past club Preseidnet - edited by Aaron Roy current Public Image Committee Chair
Amazing Rotary Club Meeting - Thursday May 30, 2024
Saturday's 4th Annual Children's Business Fair was a wonderful success! Over 50 kid businesses came to showcase their creations, which they had worked on for months. Paired with the Celebrate Weston event, the Town residents and many other guests massively supported the kidpreneurs.
Congratulations to our fabulous co-chairs, Janika LeMaitre and Alex Faigel, for a finely tuned, successful event. Thank you to all the volunteers who made this event successful, and the guest judges who interviewed each business and chose the winners in each event!
"With this year under our belts, we have hosted almost 200 kid businesses and 300-400 kid entrepreneurs. Hopefully, they will look back at this as inspiration for their future endeavors," said event co-chair Alex Faigel.
Age Group/Category Business winners:
6-9 Years Old Age Group
Most Impressive Presentation - Cora's Creations
Most Business Potential - Handmade by Hazard
Most Creative Idea - Bird Whisperer
Most Environmentally Sustainable - Herbsorb [Herb + Absorb]
10-11 Years Old Age Group
Most Impressive Presentation - Caramel Berry
Most Business Potential - Olivia's Craft Corner
Most Creative Idea - L&L Treats
Most Environmentally Sustainable - Caramel Berry
12-14 Years Old Age Group
Most Impressive Presentation - Josie's Jewelry
Most Business Potential - Balm Buddies
Most Creative Idea - School Year Artistry
Most Environmentally Sustainable - Totes and Dreams
Join us for the 4th annual Children's Business Fair on Saturday, May 18th at the Weston Town Green!
Be sure to visit Thorpe-D Creations for affordably priced toys and jewelry under $10. They are this week's winner of the Rotary Business Spotlight. We will be featuring some businesses from now until the fair to give you an idea of what to expect. We hope to see you there!
Children's Business Fair Spotlight: Thorpe-D Creations
The Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland was recognized for its marketing excellence, winning the Gold Award in the Outstanding Web Presence Award category in the 2024 District 7910 Public Image Awards program.
Outstanding Social Media Presence - Gold
The Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland was recognized for its marketing excellence, winning the Gold Award in the Outstanding Social Media Presence category in the 2024 District 7910 Public Image Awards program.
Exemplary Public Image Presence - Silver
The Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland was recognized for its marketing excellence, winning the Silver Award in the Exemplary Public Image Presence category in the 2024 District 7910 Public Image Awards program.
"The Rotary District 7910 Public Image Awards program," according to District Governor Elliott Rittenberg, "was a great way for us to learn great ways to promote all the good work of our Rotary Clubs and their members. The Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland earned this award, and now our other Clubs will have a chance to learn from them."
Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland Recognized by District 7910 for Public Image
Another successful year of the Seeding Distributions to the Weston and Wayland first graders! 3,000 trees are now distributed to date!
Thank you to all the volunteers who participated! A special thanks go to the volunteers who distributed the seedlings multiple times this week, Valdet Abazi and Elton Leka from The Village Bank, Cheri Amour Mahan, and of course our seedling master, Mark Messina for his dedication and commitment over the past seven years!!!
Another Successful Year of the Seeding Distributions
Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland is the chartered organization for Boy Scout Troop 157. The troop is having their annual Pasta Dinner and Silent Auction, on Friday, April 5th from 6-8:30 pm at the community center.
Rotarians who would like to help cook at the event should contact Rich DeVito. Rotarians who can support the event by donating a silent auction item of between $50 or greater should contact Renae Shaday at renae.shadday@gmail.com. ALL Rotarians are strongly encouraged to attend this fun event and support scouting in Weston.
The Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland participates in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program for high school students. Two programs are available, and students can apply to either program. All Rotary Youth Exchange programs are run by volunteer Rotarians and comply with all U.S. State Dept. regulations.
Short-Term (Family-to-Family) Program – Participating students are matched with a student and family in another country. The U.S. student travels to the host country and stays with the host family for 3-4 weeks, immersing themselves in the host country’s language and culture. Then the U.S. student and their host sibling travel back to the United States and the foreign student stays with their U.S. family for a similar length of time. This exchange generally occurs during the summer. Over 20 countries are available to choose from.
Long-Term (Academic Year) Program – Long-term exchange students live with host families while attending high school in one of 40 participating countries for a full academic year. Students become fluent in the local language, build lifelong friendships, and develop an in-depth understanding of the people, traditions, culture, food, and history of their host country -- a truly international education with benefits that last a lifetime.
What are you waiting for? A beautiful world awaits!
Want more information? Check out our website: Exchangestudent.org.
Ready to Apply? Contact us at: youthexchange7910@gmail.com
The Children's Business Fair is back! It will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 11 am to 3 pm at the Weston Town Green during the Celebrate Weston! event.
Rotarians VOLUNTEER HERE to help with set-up, during the Fair and clean-up.
Children showcase their very own businesses at our one-day market, which is part of the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America. Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
We all believe entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
This Thursday, we will celebrate more deserving, community service-oriented students selected to receive the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). Community members nominated the students and they have thoroughly impressed our committee with their community service, leadership, and drive to help, in various ways, in our community.
Ten of the recipients who have won the award this school year will be invited to apply to represent Wayland and Weston at the 2024 Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, a 2.5-day leadership conference at Fitchburg State University in late June. In years past, approximately 200 students and 200 volunteers have participated in this weekend's conference.
Join us to celebrate these deserving students. Registration is required by 6:00 pm on Monday, February 26th!
Thanks to everyone who attended our 70th Annual Weston Fishing Derby. Check back here for Pictures of the event.
Here are the 2024 winners. Due to security reasons, we did not list the winners' last names. For those highlighted in yellow below, please contact us to pick up your child's prize. We have tried to contact the winners by email, but we did not collect a few emails*. If you know any of the winners below, please tell them they won a prize and ask them to contact us.
First Fish (prize $25 and tackle gear)
Ages 1-5 Gabriel S.
Ages 6-8 Tibbie M.
Ages 9-11 Aanya G.
Ages 12-14 Findlay P.
Longest Fish (prize $25 and tackle gear)
Ages 1-5 Malcolm C.
Ages 6-8 Mallory W.
Ages 9-11 Luca C.*
Ages 12-14 Owen G.
Heaviest Fish (prize $25 and tackle gear)
Ages 1-5 Sage N.
Ages 6-8 Harrison C.
Ages 9-11 Andrew C.*
Ages 12-14 Deven L.
Overall Heaviest (Prize $50)
Sage N.
Overall Longest (Prize $50)
Leo D.
Of the three TAGGED fish placed in the pond, NONE were claimed for a $50 prize!
NOTE: we placed 115 trout in the pound on Friday, April 19th. Ten trout were caught. One 17" trout was caught. We believe it was a holdover from last year, as the largest trout we stocked was 12-14 inches. Two largemouth bass were caught; the largest was 1lb 7oz! Our stocking trout farm suggests that competition from the large-mouth bass and the pan fish may have kept the trout at the bottom of the pond. I think there is another reason...
Contact Richard DeVito if you have any questions: radjr@pnpco.com
In addition to sponsoring the Fishing Derby, the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland hosts numerous events throughout the year that raise funds to support humanitarian projects here and internationally. Projects include annual college scholarships for local high schoolers, preparing and providing meals at local soup kitchens, and a five-year project to restore a Weston field for pollinating insects.
In a joyful journey that underscores the spirit of global cooperation, Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland member Joy Meng visited Sri Lanka, hailed as the top country to travel for six years by Lonely Planet for over three weeks.
During her stay in Sri Lanka, Joy introduced the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland to Jerome Rajendram, the District Governor of Rotary Sri Lanka for 2023-2024, and met with Kosala Wickremanaye, the former President of the Rotary Club of Colombo (Capital city of Sri Lanka), at Cinnamon Life on December 22, 2023. Their discussions focused on collaborative projects that could benefit communities globally. Key initiatives included donating English children's books to assist Sri Lankan girls in learning basic English, supporting women small business owners in rural areas of Sri Lanka through coaching and financial loans, and setting up student exchange programs for Colombo students and Weston and Wayland students.
A highlight of Joy's visit was her family's extraordinary meeting with the President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, coincidentally on her birthday!
Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland Explores International Collaboration in Sri Lanka
Thank you to everyone who came out to purchase Christmas trees & wreaths to support our charitable initiatives.
A special thank you to all those who helped at the tree sale over the past few weeks, our friends Heather and Annie, and the staff at Land's Sake Farm for your support and help this year! Happy Holidays!!
Your Christmas tree and wreath purchases help to support scholarships, food security projects, and other charitable initiatives of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland.
The 26th Annual Antique & Classic Car Show is in the books. We got the show in with just a few light showers and about 90 cars braving the weather forecast to join us for the return of the Car Show after a 3-year hiatus.
Thank you to:
all the car owners who brought their cars,
all the visitors who came to look at them and hear the stories of their history,
all the event sponsors and
all the Rotarians and volunteers who made it happen!!
Click the video below to hear from our very own Richard DeVito Jr. speak about the upcoming Classic & Antique Car Show on September 23rd! Rich tells Weston Media Center about the history of the show, what to expect, and more!
The 26th Antique & Classic Car Show on September 23, 2023, marks the return of a signature event of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland that is beloved by the community and car enthusiasts alike. The setting around the Weston Town Green in September is unrivaled on the antique and classic car show circuit. The Show attracts hundreds of cars and a thousand guests or more.
Rotary’s motto is “Service above self.” For sponsors, we understand that means if there’s something more we can do for our sponsors, we’ll do it if we can. If there’s another benefit that appeals to you, please name it.
There are many ways Rotarians serve their communities. On Saturday, July 22, three members of the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club found a new path to do that: They participated in “The Epic Ride” a charity fundraiser organized by Rotarian Warren Green and this year, John Marchiony and Rob Mosher joined the ride. Wonderfully, President Katya showed up unexpectedly at the 100-mile mark with water and snacks.
The Epic is a one-day, 160-mile bike ride from Wellesley to Provincetown, which follows much the same route as the Pan-Mass Challenge. The riders cycle to raise awareness and money for charitable causes that are meaningful to them. This year, Warren, Rob, and John's charities are The Rotary Foundation; the Multiple Sclerosis Society; the Dana Farber Cancer Institute; the New England Parkinson's Ride for Research, and the Fenway Community Health’s LGBTQ clinic.
On July 15th, Rotarian Fr. Frank J. Parker and friends celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination.
A member of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland since April 2021, Frank J. Parker, S.J. was born in New York City in 1940. He attended Brooklyn Prep, College of the Holy Cross, and Fordham Law School, passing the Massachusetts Bar Exam at the age of 27. Thereafter, he entered the Society of Jesus.
Cheri lives with her two boys in Weston. She is passionate about volunteering and is involved in many volunteer programs in the community. Cheri has been the PTO Performance Coordinator for Weston Middle School for seven years, Booster Board member for the past two years, and the Weston Community Preservation Commission Coordinator for the past three years. In addition, Cheri is a Real Estate Specialist and an Estate Planner.
Please Welcome Cheri Amour Mahan to the Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland!
What an incredible and wonderful meeting we had last night. We inducted two more Board Members, James Brasco, and Warren Green, into our Board. We also had a presentation by Ciaran Gavin on his restoration project which took years and a great amount of work to complete. We then raised $250 to help cover his project cost to put up signage. On a lighter note, we compared movies, laughed, talked and some even helped each other out for work. This is what our club fellowship does and if you weren't there, we missed you!
Club Meeting July 13 - Guest Speaker and Induction of New Board Members
Dr. Joy Meng is the founder of Aanya MG International (AMG), a woman entrepreneur, and a former Professor of Literature at Guangzhou Medical University. She lives in Weston with her daughter and husband. For the past decade, Joy has dedicated her time to volunteering and helping international students, scholars, and new immigrant families. With her talent for writing, Joy has published several academic and children's books. She recently completed a manuscript of fiction titled "Born in 1979," which she plans to publish in 2023-2024.
Please Welcome Dr. Joy Meng to the Rotary Club of Weston-Wayland!
Claire earned her doctorate in virology research from Johns Hopkins Medical School. Following brief stints in management consulting and biotech, she launched her own company approximately 12 years ago. Claire's two children attend Weston public schools and are both passionate about fencing. When not busy with work or shuttling her kids to various sports events, Claire enjoys pursuing her interests in gardening, scuba diving, Chinese calligraphy, and community services.
We are happy to have you, Claire!
Please welcome Claire Han to the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland!
My year as President is ending, and I want to thank you all for making it a rewarding experience. We held many Monday Team meetings to plan meetings and events, big and small; we had not 1 but 2 Children's Business Fairs and the Christmas Tree Sale. We brought in speakers to increase attendance at weekly meetings and have welcomed many new members who are stepping up, joining teams, and volunteering. We formed a new relationship volunteering at the Celebration International Church's food pantry and had a special Valentine's Dinner and St. Patrick's Day Family Feud! We've enjoyed our conservation connection at the Sears Field and have used the Gavin barn for many events: meetings, a clambake, a honey-spinning event, and our awesome Halloween Party!
We also have increased our participation in multiple District events: The Foundation Dinner in November, the Tri-District Conference in April, and RYLA this past weekend, and we had 2 Assistant Governors from our club helping other clubs!
And for doing all that, our club was acknowledged with many awards from the District. Thank you to everyone who stepped up to help plan or volunteer their time to make all these things happen!
I look forward to seeing you on Thursday as we install Katya and the new Board of Directors. The club is in good hands with them!
Below and to the left is a photo taken at the end of the Rotary Sears service project on Saturday, June 10.
We all had a good time & I think Charlie was very happy with the work completed!
from left to right - Rob Mosher, Ellie Pendergast, Katya, Jordan & Willow (4 yrs old), unknown, Charlie Hamlin. Kneeling in front is Mauricio Rosa and his friendly puppy!
Adoption is challenging work. We have adopted the Sears Field in Weston and we are reclaiming it for the life of pollinating insects. All are invited to clear these invasive plants so that in year three of our five-year project we can begin to plant the plants that are good for the pollinators. Join us to work hard, release some energy on the invasive plants, have an enjoyable time, have friendly conversations, and have good refreshments.
Last week, June 8th, we had the privilege of hosting our Annual Scholarship Dinner. Together with the Weston Community League and Weston Boosters Club, we were able to grant scholarships to an amazing group of students that are incredibly deserving. It was a heartfelt event and we all loved hearing about the amazing things that the students accomplished and what they will do in the future. This is one of our biggest events of the year and if you have not been we strongly recommend that you make time for it next year.
Congratulations to all 50 Kidpreneurs who presented at the Children's Business Fair this past Sunday. While many kids talk about setting up a proverbial lemonade stand, these 50 kids were businessmen and women of action. They worked with their own hands, often in teams, to make their products. They then created signage and marketing materials to design their booth, learning to sell to strangers (in a safe environment). Finally, they learned the value of a dollar in earning some well-deserved extra spending money as a reward. I couldn't be more proud of the 100 or so kids that represented their 50 businesses this past weekend. Congratulations to all of the kids, they are all winners! -Alex Faigel
"With this being our third year running the fair, I am astounded by the children, their creativity, and the confidence that follows. This year we had a multitude of kids who have put together a business for two or three years and evolved their offerings after receiving feedback. They are determined to grow, and watching them on their journeys has been rewarding." - Janika LeMaitre
3rd Annual Business Fair Proves to be Another Massive Success!
The Weston-Wayland Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneurs. The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
The opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business! And, this year's theme is "Environmental Sustainability."
Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
We will host approximately 50 booths at the 3rd annual event on SUNDAY, May 21, 2023, between 11 am - 3 pm.
This event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland and the generous support of our donors and volunteers. We all believe that entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.
“Today’s youths are tomorrow’s business innovators and leaders. The Children’s Business Fair gives students the opportunity to spread their entrepreneurial wings and get a head start on promising business careers.” Said Jeff Sandefer, founder of the Acton School of Business, one of the sponsors of the fair.
Awards will be presented in each of the four age groups (6-7, 8-10, 11-12, and 13-14) for: "Most Business Potential" "Most Creative Idea" "Most Environmentally Sustainable Practices" "Most Impressive Presentation" The overall winner will receive a $50 prize.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Join us at the Children's Business Fair - MOVED TO SUNDAY Due to Weather
Now that we have removed the invasive plants that hinder the pollinators, we are ready to begin planting for the pollinators.
Present in the Sears field are milkweed and goldenrod. Our intent is to support these native plants such that they will continue to thrive and propagate further into the field.
In addition:
The plan for this coming year is to develop “islands” of native plants for the pollinators, along a grassed path that will be developed from the south entrance to the field to the northern end where the honeybees will reside.
We are inviting all interested Weston Wayland Rotary Club members to design their island of native plantings for the pollinators.
Here below are some great resources for application to island creation. As you know, some of the important criteria for the design are season / period for sowing / planting, temperatures, soil types, soil moisture levels, sunlight and shade durations, and soil type. The following are resources for you to choose your native plants for your island design and eventual planting. Use these resources and others to understand the environmental requirements of each species.
Perhaps the most useful resource for our field is the first one, Native Plants for Pollinate North Hampton – This document is available on the Conservations Team’s Google Drive. If you do not have access, please contact Charlie at charlie1288@gmail.com and he will provide access to the Drive, or will email the document.
Of special note, it is understood that we are planting in a natural environment, not a backyard where a water hose might provide plentiful water. So let’s communicate and work together on the watering requirements for plant choices and how those will or will not be met.
Where to buy native plants that the pollinators will go to for food and egg laying:
Wagon Wheel in Lexington and Concord
Johnny’s Seeds
Fedco in Clinton ME
Garden in the Woods in Framingham
Lincoln Land Conservation Trust might have a limited supply, but they sell to their members first.
Let’s start a kickstart workshop within the Conservation Team meetings to get these islands going!
Renewed Plan for the Sears Field: Year Three – The First Planting Year
About this video: Click play to watch the video presentation for first graders (and their parents) in Weston and Wayland elementary schools the week of April 24-28.
In 2018, Ian Riseley, Rotary International President, declared "The Year of the Tree" and challenged the 1.2 million worldwide membership of Rotary to plant a tree for each club member on Earth Day. The Weston-Wayland Rotary Club embraced this challenge and expanded the program to include distributing Green Giant Arbor Vitae to first graders in Weston.
The project was so well-received, and so much fun for our Club members, that we have made it an annual activity for our club and expanded the distribution to all first graders in both Weston and Wayland. In 2020, when Covid disrupted the school year we canceled our distribution. However, in 2021, when schools were back we doubled our order to 800 seedlings so we could catch up and get seedlings to both first and second graders. In 2023, we will distribute 500 seedlings in our community and bring our total distribution to 2400 seedlings since the program started. This year's shipment arrived yesterday and was unpacked by Club Members to prepare for distribution.
At last night's meeting, we inducted the Belotte family into our Club!
The Belotte family of Weston includes Jimmy Belotte, his wife Mitchell Alexis, and their two daughters Sophie and Sidney Belotte. They moved to Weston, MA in July 2020 from Rye, New York. Jimmy is a physician-scientist, board-certified Obstetrician, and Gynecologist currently employed by GlaxoSmithKline, as Medical Director of Oncology Clinical Development. Mitchell Alexis is in her last year of medical school training; Sophie is in 8th grade and Sidney is in 3rd grade.
“The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards are a vital part of our community's vibrancy, and with the students recognized through this program, our future is truly bright,” said Joseph De Vito, president and CEO of The Village Bank, a partner sponsor of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland along with Atlantic Advisory Group.
On February 16, 2023, our club recognized eleven sophomores for their generous contributions to our communities. Bentley Bassick is the first student from Dana Hall School in Wellesley to receive the award. Jordan Haims attends The Rivers School in Weston. Alyssa Ao, Bowen Morrison, Pariplavi Sontha, Rachel Goldstone, and Reece Davies, Pariplavi Sontha and Zachary Thoen attend Wayland High School. Nate Whitworth, Oliver Moon and Sarah Zhang are Weston High School sophomores.
Our club Speaker Series team invites speakers to our meetings to tell us about interesting topics affecting our community. These include community members, business leaders, charitable foundations, etc. This month we have had two outstanding speakers: The Honorable Dennis Saylor and Pam & David Griffin from Chocolate Therapy.
If you have ideas for other speakers, please contact Brenda DeVito.
Liz is an award-winning journalist and Boston University professor with experience in newspapers, national magazines, and global publications. She has joined many club meetings over the past several months, and we welcomed her into our fantastic club last week! Liz has already volunteered to help with some of our opportunities. Please introduce yourself and get to know Liz. Welcome!!
On December 11 our Rotary Club sold Every. Last. Tree! Both the Weston Fire Department and the Weston Police Department stopped by and we thanked them for their service and donated a tree to each. We had a whole bunch of eager high school volunteers from both Weston and Wayland high schools and we put them to work carrying trees to cars. In what seemed like a poetic ending, the last tree sold just as the first snowflakes began to fall. We cleaned up the lot, took down all the stakes, disassembled the A-frames, packed everything up, and put it away till next year! We cooked and ate s'mores, and drank hot chocolate.
At our weekly Thursday night meeting on the first of this month, we welcomed Secretary of State William Galvin, a special guest speaker of Fr. Frank Parker. Sec. Galvin was newly re-elected for his historic 8th term as Secretary of the Commonwealth. He talked about his job overseeing elections in Massachusetts and his experience during the 2020 election process during COVID. His goal for this term is to get civics education back in the curriculum for all students of the Commonwealth. We are extremely proud to have such a distinguished guest speaker at our Club meeting. A special thanks to Fr. Frank Parker for inviting his former student and for being such a strong supporter of the Club. His company, Atlantic Advisory Group, is a generous sponsor of our Rotary Club and we are eternally grateful. All are welcome to visit our meetings and hear other guest speakers we invite from the community to share the great work that they do.
Secretary of State William Galvin Speaks at Club Meeting
New Location for Christmas Tree Sale (formerly at the First Baptist Church in Weston)
With excitement (and a little sadness), we are moving our annual Christmas tree & wreath sale to Land's Sake Farm, 90 Wellesley St, Weston. We look forward to continuing, and for those of you new to Town, starting the tradition of purchasing your trees and wreaths in Weston. You will be supporting both the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland's community initiatives (food security, scholarships, conservation, etc.) AND Land's Sake Farm food security programs.
Opening day is Friday, November 25th. We will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 am - 4 pm until sold out.
***Delivery will be available to the local area for an additional donation.
Contact us with any questions at westonwaylandrotary@gmail.com
Update: We are just over 2 weeks away from one of our club's biggest annual events, The Children's Business Fair! Applications are now closed and are 100% occupancy of our business booths, with 50 kidpreneurs scheduled to sell their goods and services. Our focus is now on attendance, volunteers, and sponsorships. Please be sure to spread the word about the fair and sign up to help out.
KidPreneur Spotlight: The Soap Place
Siblings Pranav and Saanvi will be at this year’s Children’s Business Fair with their business, “The Soap Place."
They wanted to make only soaps and refreshments instead of candles, cookies, and soaps, with prices varying according to size and design. So they're making goat milk soap, honey soap, glycerin soap, and aloe vera soaps in different shapes, colors, and sizes. Additionally, they wish to sell refreshing drinks so the customers are not thirsty. They're curious about how to make different colorful, flavored, and shaped soaps, so they wanted to give it a try.
We wish The Soap Place a successful first year at the fair!
Eagle Scout Liam Gavin is building a nature trail behind the Veritas School in Wayland. This project will make the trail more accessible to students and the community with improved steps and landings. Donations welcomed. Volunteers needed in August and September to build the steps. Contact Liam Gavin for dates.
Marianne Riggio from the Perkins School for the Blind shared about the innovative support and services being offered to people with visual disabilities. The staff also train teachers statewide in classroom management for the visually challenged. Every child can learn, and you can help. www.perkins.org
To begin the new Rotary Year, President Brenda DeVito with Jan Luchetti and the membership committee welcomed two new members: Warren Green and Brian Kickham at an Induction Ceremony during the July 21st Club Assembly.
What a great day! Boy, did we luck out with beautiful weather and the community showing up with their four-legged friends!
We had such great entertainment, including K9 Kevin with the Newton and Cambridge Police, Karen O'Reilly our own Animal Control Officer with the Weston Police, followed by some fantastic contests, a meet and greet with Instagram influencers @lifeasarchie & @reinasadventures, and finishing with a parade for all pups around the Weston Town Green led by Patty McNeil with The Village Bank. Congratulations to all of the winners!
Our silent auction attracted a lot of attention; many dog treats–and some premium items–were generously donated including a luxury dog bed and cooling blanket from KMT Pet Care, to help our charity causes: Joy Viola organized.
Rob Mosher did an outstanding job taking charge of our food and beverage station along with the help of our newest Rotarian, James Brasco.
Nods to John Marchiony, co-founder of the Pooch Parade concept back in 2015, and Wing-Dog to the Chair for his support and volunteer corralling: he was there with us in spirit.
We expect to host 500+ people and their furry friends, providing a range of entertainment, including must-see demonstrations, fun contests for dogs to enter, a wide range of exhibitors to visit, and finishing off with a "paw-some" parade around Weston Town Green which starts at 1:00 PM led by Instagram doggy influencers @lifeasarchie and @reinasadventures!
Entry is $10 per dog or person. Children under the age of 12 free. You can register on the day of the event or register in advance. Get your tickets here: https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Weston-Pooch-Parade-Festival-62476
Celebrate Weston on May 21, 2022! Join your friends and family to commemorate the completion of the Town Center improvements, including the Art & Innovation Center and the Josiah Smith Tavern. View the official event program and details about parking: https://www.westonma.gov/1756/Celebrate-Weston. Here's a direct link to the program.
Find the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland at the Josiah Smith Tavern (parking lot) as part of the Marketplace of town organizations.
23 Rotarians and friends spent Thursday evening volunteering at Community Servings in Jamaica Plain. If you missed this opportunity, you will have another chance to join in this rewarding experience of humble service, as we intend to volunteer as a group again, possibly on a regular basis.
"Our mission is to actively engage the community to provide medically tailored, nutritious, scratch-made meals to chronically and critically ill individuals and their families.
Our Vision: We envision a world in which everyone has access to the nutritious food they need for health and wellbeing as a fundamental right.
Adoption is challenging work. We have adopted the Sears Field in Weston and we are reclaiming it for the pollinating insects. All are invited to clear these invasive plants so that in year three of our five year project we can begin to plant the plants that are good for the pollinators.
Join us this Springto work hard, release some energy on the invasive plants, have a good time, good conversation and good refreshments. Navigate to 27 Crescent Street and park at the Melone Homestead.
Please join our hearty, happy crew any day and time you can:
The Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland will once again be selling Christmas trees, fostering a holiday tradition that originated in Riga, Latvia, in 1510, when the first decorated Christmas tree was recorded. In 1531, Protestant Reformer Martin Luther placed the first candles on a "Tannenbaum," a "fir tree."
Sales will begin at 10 am on Friday, November 26th, the day after Thanksgiving, and run until Christmas Eve. Hours will be Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am - 6 pm plus Thursday and Friday evenings from 4:30 – 7:30 pm. Come see us at the First Baptist Church of Weston, 657 Boston Post Road. NEWS FLASH: The trees arrived and they are larger than expected: Most are 6'-8' and there are some 10', 12', and one 14' tree.
"Most people buy their trees the first week of December," says Robert Mosher, chair of the Christmas tree committee. "This year, I encourage people not to wait until the last minute as we are likely to sell out of trees." He also advised that those who want 10-12 ft. trees should shop early as the tallest trees go first. Five species of trees are the most commonly used, Balsam, Douglas, Fraser Fir, Scotch Pine, and Blue Spruce. Still, the Balsam Fir is the most fragrant and, for that reason, the most popular. The Rotary Club will offer 300+ Balsam trees ranging from 3 ft to 10 ft in height, along with 14, 16, & 20" Balsam wreaths.
The Rotary club will use proceeds from the tree sales to benefit several charities: Middlesex Human Services, including Bristol Lodge, local food pantries, need-based college scholarships in Weston and Wayland, and other Rotary Club community service projects.
Special Caroling Event: Please join us at the Christmas Tree Sale on Thursday, December 2 at 6:30 pm when the St. Peter’s Acapella Choir Quartet will be joining us to sing holiday carols…. The more the merrier!
Our first Weston-Wayland Children's Business Fair on Saturday was a fantastic success. Twenty-eight young entrepreneurs participated and hundreds of guests enjoyed a perfect day.
The Weston-Wayland Children's Business Fair will take place next Saturday, October 16th, 11 am-3 pm at the Weston Arts and Innovation Center, 356 Boston Post Rd, Weston.
Adoption is challenging work. We've adopted the Sears Field and started reclaiming it from extensive invasive plants. On Saturday, August 28th (10-12) all are invited to join us to clear more and more, release some energy on the bad plants, and meet some nice people. See more info about the project, parking at the Melone Homestead to reach the field, andsign up to volunteer here.
Rotarian Rob Mosher (above) arrives at the field with two chainsaws, both of which were put to good use. Below, six of the fourteen Rotarians who worked on Thursday, July 15 made a great big dent in the eastern border of the field.
The Conservation Team from the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has been busy at work surveying the adopted field, the Sears Field, off of Crescent Street in Weston.
On August 26th we met at the Weston Golf Club to celebrate a Paul Harris Fellow Sapphire awarded to Rob Mosher and welcome 3 new club members: Joy Viola, Aaron Roy, and John Ibasco.
June 17, 2021 was the first in-person gathering since the beginning of the pandemic for the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland. This event marked the annual award ceremony with which the new President Paul Lualdi received his new – official – presidential gavel!
Special guests included District Governor Diana Nestorova and Joseph De Vito, President and CEO of Village Bank. DG Diana presented the 2020-21 Rotary Club of the Year award
WW Rotary also presented two Paul Harris Fellow awards to Jan Luchetti and John Marchiony. Their hard work and dedication to building the club up to what it is today led the Board of Directors to orchestrate the presentation of the highest honor that one can be awarded to a Rotarian to recognize their efforts.
Congratulations to all of the award winners. You do amazing work.
The Rotary 7910 District Conference on May 21-22, 2021 proved to be very successful for the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, winning 10 awards (6 Club and 4 individual) at the 2-day conference:
Club Awards:
Club of the Year
Net Membership Growth:1st Place.100% more net membership growth than any other Rotary Club in the District -- 9 net new members for WW Rotary. Ron Bott said: "And finally, with an outstanding net gain of nine new members, active members from January 1 to May 15. The Weston-Wayland Rotary Club will receive a $1,000 cash award funded service project, organized by its newer members.
District Membership:Gold Award
District Service: Bronze Award
Youth Programs: Silver Award
DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Club Citation
Individual Awards:
Avenues of Service Award - Jan Luchetti honored for her extraordinary service to the club in the five Avenues of Service — club, vocational, community, international, and youth service. She has contributed an extraordinarily large quantity of time across all our programming initiatives.
Significant Service Award -"The Saplings Project" chaired by Mark Messina. This award recognizes Rotary clubs for projects that made an impact and gives district recognition to club activities that address a significant problem or need.
Unsung Hero - Rob Mosherfor always stepping up to help wherever needed. Initiated and chaired the Christmas Tree Sale.
District Innovators - John Marchionyfor expanding the Rotary Business Networking Series into the District 7910 Rotary@Work initiative.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO RCWW!!
Weston & Wayland Rotary Club 2021 Club of the Year
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland goes big for Earth Day 2021 by restarting the tradition of giving each first grader in Weston and Wayland a tree seedling for Earth Day. This year the club will also distribute seedlings to each second grader in both towns since the program was canceled last year due to school closings. This brought the count of seedlings distributed this year to 800 and almost 1500 since the inception of this project in 2018.
Mark Messina, Rotary Earth Day Committee Chair said, “We are very fortunate to have such great leadership in our schools. Every principal responded quickly and enthusiastically to our program”. Patty McNeil, Vice President of the Village bank in Wayland and longtime Rotarian was instrumental in securing the funding for this project as part of the Village Bank’s continued community support of Rotary events.
Janika LeMaitre and Betsy Millane joined the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on Thursday, March 18.
“My father,” explained LeMaitre, “was the president of a Rotary Club near Perth, so I was attuned to the Rotary mission of service when I moved to Weston. As soon as I reached out, I felt warmly welcomed by the Rotary members, and we’ve already had some great laughs. I clearly see ways I can contribute to our communities, both locally and more broadly.”
Betsy Millane is a Needham resident and a realtor in Wellesley whose instincts for client service were sharpened at an early age by her father, a real estate professional who instilled in Betsy the importance of owning every facet of the transaction for her clients. Millane met Weston-Wayland Rotarians through the Business Networking Series, but she joined because of the Club’s commitment to service.
Click "read more" below or see the article that appeared in the Town Crier newspaper and on WickedLocal.com.
"Service Above Self" is the worldwide motto of Rotary. Beginning in 2021, The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland will recognize people of Weston and Wayland who have who contributed to our communities through exemplary service that demonstrates the ideal of "Service above self."
On February 25, 2021, we made the the inaugural presentation of this award where we celebrated outstanding contributors to our communities. Deborah Davenport, Town Clerk for the Town of Weston, was the first recipient. Brenda and Richard DeVito were wonderfully surprised to also receive the award. See the recording of the award presentation, along with other videos we have captured, on our WW Rotary YouTube Channel.
You can also read about the award in the Town Crier Newspaper's online edition on WickedLocal.com.
To nominate a worthy citizen, please see our nomination information one the Service Above Self page.
Susan Howards, Sandra Lundy, Wendy Nollman and Katya Portnaya (left-right below) joined the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on Thursday, February 11.
Susan Howards, a criminal defense attorney, transferred her membership because of the energy and innovative initiatives created by the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club.
Sandy Lundy also is an experienced Rotarian and attorney. She is currently Of Counsel for Richardson Law, with a practice focusing on family law and all areas of civil appeals.
Wendy Nollman is the Executive Director of Traditions of Wayland who met the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland shortly after arriving at Traditions in 2020.
Katya Portnaya owns Boston Carriage with her husband and is a Master Gardener with a passion for combining service and gardening.
See the whole article that appeared in the Town Crier newspaper and on WickedLocal.com.
On the cusp between 2020 and 2021, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland had a wonderful, warming experience with our first-ever Christmas Tree Sale that served many purposes. We generated support for Mary's House in Waltham, Children's Hospital, and the Coats for Kids coat drive while providing an enjoyable tree shopping experience for fellow citizens and volunteer opportunities for 84 people. All surrounded by beautiful trees, lights, decorations, and a bit of smoke from a fire pit. And there's one more chance to volunteer on Saturday, January 2nd.
Please join us!
The members of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland are eager for the start of a new year that, we hope, will allow for so much more time with family, friends, and neighbors.
There is much to do, and many plans have already been drafted. We hope you will join us in creating something productive and rewarding. We would love your energy, contribution, and help in improving anything we have on the schedule that appeals to you.
Please join us!
Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award
The Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award recognizes sophomores who have demonstated that the Rotary motto of "Service above self" is an important part of their lives. Nominate a sophomore how lives or studies in Wayland today. The first set of awards will be presented February 3, 2020.
Service Above Self Award
New in 2021, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is launching the Service Above Self Award that will recognize people of Weston and Wayland who demonstrate their commitment and generosity to service and their communities. The award is presented ad hoc after a nomination is received by the President, Vice President, or Past President by email to president@westonwaylandrotary.org, who will then present the nomination to the Board for consideration.
Flamingo Flock Fun and Fundraiser
Later in 2021 -- probably in March and April -- we are planning the Flamingo Flock Fun and Fundraiser to benefit scholarships for college-bound graduating seniors in Weston and Wayland, as well as Rotary charitable and programmatic initiatives. We seek collaborators, crew members and folks who might like to consider themselves "co-conspirators" with Rotary. Pretty safe "conspiracy..."
Virtual Antique and Classic Car Show
And then we have big ideas about our first-ever Virtual Antique and Classic Car Show that will continue the 25-year tradition of celebrating Antique and Classic Cars. All enthusiasts are welcome and encouraged to help us plan and figure this out before entering their comely cars in custom categories and compelling contests.
Conservation Community Service
Community Service really should be higher on the page because it's core to the mission of Rotary Clubs here and around the world. In 2021, we have two areas of focus in addition to scholarships. Our Conservation Team, led by Charlie Hamlin,is focused on hands-on service that preserve and extend habitats for natural pollinators. We're planning now and will announce service opportunities in the late winter and early spring.
Food Security Community Service
Food Security Community Service will stay in the forefront of our thinking well into 2021. While we supported St. Vincent de Paul, A Place To Turn, and Mary's House in 2020, this is a need that is likely to remain for far too long. We're exploring a district-wide food "assembly" initiative that has been incredibly efficient in the past and could be revived with a bit of creativity.
Entrepreneurship and Business Community Service
Entrepreneurship and Business Community Service is a new phrase for use, but it's relevant. WW Rotary President John Marchiony was tapped by the Rotary District 7910 District Governor to help design and execute a brainstorming session he nicknamed "Rotary @ Work" which will identify opportunities in three professional areas: Careers, Business Growth, and Mentorship for, by and among Rotarians. Sign up to attend the District 7910 event on January 5 from 7-8 p.m. on Zoom.
In between all those special activities and service, we meet regularly to plan, socialize, laugh and hear from interesting people in our Speaker Series, in which John Sallay spoke about Beekeeping, La Toya Rivers broadened our understanding of the Weston Metco Director, Lisa Vernegaard shared the Sudbury Valley Trustees' perspective, Town Manager Leon Gaumond reconnected with Rotary, author Andra Watkins spun a masterful story, and Pam Fox compared and contrasted the Town Green then and soon. Joe Berman, Chair of the Weston Conservation Commission kicks off the 2021 Series on January 21. All are welcome to join us anytime and every time we have something happening that interests you.
All of this is wrapped into a warm community of generous people who value service to their communities very highly, including our two newest members, Robert Blackburn and Tim Gavin.
Join us! Reach out to any member of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland to learn a little bit more, try something out, ask questions, or join us for anything that you're curious to try.
Please purchase your Christmas trees in Weston this year to support scholarships, food security projects and other charitable initiatives of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland.
What: Select from 300 premium trees ranging in size from 3-feet to 8-feet along with 12" and 14" wreaths. Most of the trees will be 6-footers.
When:Starting on Friday, November 27 at 10 a.m., Rotarians, friends, family and volunteers will help you every step of the way. You can come pick out your tree on Thursday and Friday evenings, and during the day on Saturdays and Sundays.
Where: At the First Baptist Church of Weston, where Christmas trees have been sold for 35 years. Right across the street from the Golden Ball Tavern at 657 Boston Post Road, Weston.
Helping: Three ways you can help by sharing this invitation and information with your friends, family, organizations and members and/or by joining us as a volunteer. Sign up HERE to volunteer or send an email to president@westonwaylandrotary.org to get started or get info.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is excited to announce the fourth year of the ‘Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award.’ The program recognizes sophomores in our year-long effort in keeping with the Rotary motto of “Service above self focusing on leadership and community service.”
During the 2020-21 academic year, sophomores who live or study in Wayland or Weston will be recognized for their ability to weave “service above self” into their lives. John Marchiony, President of the Rotary Club this year, said “Community service is a core value of Rotary Clubs around the world, and our Club has plans to do more service, more often, with more people.”
Since launching the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) in 2017, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has recognized thirty sophomores and has sponsored ten each year to attend the transformational RYLA Conference which convenes each year in June. Any student can be nominated by a member of the community through a simple online form available at westonwaylandrotary.com. Nominations for this year can be submitted online at WestonWaylandRotary.org by October 15, November 15, and February 1, 2021.
Background: Polio has been a global pandemic for over 1000 years. The polio vaccine was developed here in the early 1950's and by 1954 it was rolled out to the US. By the early 1960's polio was a thing of the past..yet in most of the lesser developed world, it continued to spread and claim victims. In 1986, Rotary International along with medical support from the World Health Organization embarked on the most ambitious vaccination campaign ever conceived. The goal, to vaccinate some 3 billion people in 108 countries. Some 34 years later and over $860M spent we stand on the edge of a polio free world. For right now, join us as we celebrate the eradication of the polio virus from the African continent.
Rotary members have played an invaluable role in the effort to rid the African region of wild polio. We should be proud of all the hard work that we’ve done to eliminate the wild poliovirus throughout Africa and in nearly every country in the world.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland (RCWW) distributed over 800 pounds of watermelons to food pantry clients in Weston, Wayland and Lincoln for the Fourth of July.
The Rotary’s newly formed Food Security Team, along with many volunteers from the community, partnered with the Trinitarian Congressional Church food pantry in Wayland and the St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston.
“The news recently has been so full of stories about people struggling to feed their families that we started calling around to see what the local pantries needed,” said Mark Messina, co-chair of the Food Security Team. ”‘Something special for the Fourth of July,’ was the answer SVdP Pantry Chair Karen Boyce came up with, hoping to bring some joy and fun to clients who have had an especially difficult spring.”
Join members of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on Wednesday, June 24th and 25th, in a special service opportunity with the Weston/Lincoln Food Pantry, provisioned by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Rotarians and friends will donate and distribute a healthy fresh food item, which is rarely possible to provide in a food pantry, along with a "treat" for kids.
We seek volunteers to fill all the available slots from 8am-5pm on Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25th.
We hope you can take part for two hours or more if possible, and one hour if that is all your schedule allows.
Signup by clicking on the big blue buttons to the left.
These are different and difficult times and the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is rising to meet the new normal needs of our community.
The club meets virtually on Thursdays at 7 p.m. All are welcome to join us for fellowship, information about timely issues through the guest speaker program, and to learn about community service opportunities. Visit WestonWaylandRotary.org for more information.
On May 2, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, friends of Rotary and local businesses came together to share a message of friendship and hope with seniors living in six assisted living facilities in our community.
To send letters, poems, pictures with a note, letter or story to seniors living in six local assisted living residences/nursing homes who are not able to receive visitors due to COVID-19.
First Letter Drop - May 1
Second Letter Drop – June 1
Our Plan:
To collect these letters, poems, etc. written by Rotarians, community members, and students in our local schools and send them by e-mail to each of the facilities Activity Directors at
Traditions of Wayland, Carriage House at Lee's Farm Wayland, Sunrise of Wayland, Sunrise of Weston, Maplewood at Weston, Wingate at Weston
Abrar A. Qureshi, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at Brown Physicians, will speak about overall health, care and wellness during COVID – 19.
Dr. Qureshi has received numerous awards, several mentorship awards, and the Outstanding Service Award and Diversity Award from the American Academy of Dermatology, and is a member of numerous professional organizations.
Dr. Qureshi’s multidisciplinary clinic is dedicated to the care of adults and pediatric patients with combined skin and rheumatologic disorders.
The Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland meets Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to join us through Zoom. To attend, please register and we will provide access information.
On Thursday, March 12Dr. Cody Meissner, who specializes in pediatric infectious disease at Tufts University School of Medicine and also works with the National Institutes of Health and Boston Children’s Hospital, was scheduled as our guest speaker. We'd planned for Dr. Meissner to speak about polio, which he has studied closely, but the urgent topic of our time carried the day.
The Weston Media Center, after a quick contact with Alanna Muldoon, was able to have Brian Gordon join us to capture the talk and then do some quick post-production work. Today, the Weston Media Center shared the link to the 30--minute video, which include Q&A. You can see it on the Weston Media Center site. Please share it as broadly as you like.
We met Dr. Meissner in December while ringing the bells for the Salvation Army and invited him to come speak about polio, about which he is (also) expert. We look forward to that talk on Polio in October, pending confirmation of Dr. Meissner's availability.
If you would like to join a growing corps of people who willing to consider provide support to our communities (of an as-yet unspecified nature), please reply to this email and we'll know you are interested.
Thank you.
Rob Mosher, Mark Messina, Edwin Gaw, Richard DeVito Jr. - Co-Presidents
Ten extraordinary sophomores from Wayland and Weston were recognized on Nov. 21 for their contributions of service in their communities by the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland. Each of the students received the Rotary’s Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA).
Wayland High School’s Emily Chafe and Lucas Tang, along with Weston High’s Maya Shamari and Sarah Lappi, go above and beyond, displaying a passion for helping others. They were nominated by students, friends, teachers, advisors, community members and mentors.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is also collecting gifts for families at St. Mary's Place Shelter in Waltham. Please bring a new unwrapped gift for a child clearly labeled for St. Mary's Place. Gift bags and tissue paper for delivering the gifts are greatly appreciated. You can see what gifts kids and their moms are wishing for on the Mary's Place page of our website.
Since launching the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) in 2017, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has recognized 30 sophomores and sponsored 20 to attend the two-and-a-half day transformational RYLA Conference, which convenes each year in June.
During the 2019-20 academic year, sophomores who live or study in Wayland or Weston will be recognized at three celebration dinners at the Weston Golf Club.
“Today, we are excited to announce the third year of the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award,” said John Marchiony, RYLA chair of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland. “The program enables our Rotary Club to support, inspire and recognize sophomores in our year-long effort focusing on leadership and community service in keeping with the Rotary motto of ‘Service above self.’”
Selected students will be recognized at the Rotary celebration dinners and by GateHouse Media through the Town Crier newspapers and WickedLocal.com websites. Michael Wyner, editor of The Weston Town Crier and The Wayland Town Crier, said, “I agreed instantly that our organization wanted to be a partner in recognizing sophomores who step forward to contribute as leaders because they strengthen our communities now and for the future. These are students to watch, and to follow.”
For the 2019-2020 Rotary year, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland will be guided by four presidents, each of whom will preside for one quarter of the year. Richard DeVito, Jr. (far left) returns for a third "tour" to open the year, guiding the Club through the end of September, with the 25th Car Show as his primary focus. Rob Mosher, Edwin Gaw, and Mark Messina will preside for subsequent quarters. John Marchiony is President-elect and Jan Luchetti will provide guidance and support as the immediate Past President.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is actively looking for ways to innovate to expand the reach, impact and engagement with our communities. That said, the Club also celebrates traditions: the 2019 Antique and Classic Car Show on September 21 is the 25th annual edition. Before that, Rotarians started serving people who are homeless or seeking a cooked meal.
The Club has established an annual Scholarship Celebration Dinner where all organizations that grant scholarships to graduating Weston and Wayland High School seniors are invited to join our annual gathering to meet and celebrate their recipients.
To identify sophomores with a commitment to community service, the Club has morphed the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award program from a tight focus on the annual leadership conference in June to a recognition program that spans the entire sophomore academic year. Since creating the program in 2017, the Club has recognized 26 sophomores for their impressive contributions to their communities.
In 2018, in an effort to meet the call of the Rotary International President to celebrate Earth Day, the Club bought and distributed 200 trees to 1st graders in Wayland and Weston. In 2019, the Club distributed 450 trees after every single elementary school in both towns asked to participate.
“The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is tremendously impressed with the sophomores who live and study in our two towns,” said Jan Luchetti, club president.
Over the past two years, teachers, administrators and mentors have nominated more than 40 students for the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). According to John Marchiony, RYLA chair, “The contributions these 15- and 16-year-olds have made to our communities are spectacular. They are passionate, articulate champions for causes they care about. They have figured out how to incorporate service into their lives in substantial and fulfilling ways.”
On May 16, the Rotary Club recognized a large, diverse collection of community contributors from Wayland High School, Weston High School, and, for the first time, The Rivers School. Any sophomore who lives or studies in Wayland or Weston can be nominated for the award when the 2019-20 nominations campaign opens in September.
Weston’s Interact Club holding 5K to benefit shelter
Weston High School’s Interact Club will host its first annual 5K Mother’s Day Weekend Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, May 11 at 9 a.m. at Weston High School. This fun, family event will include a 5K Fun Run/Walk starting at the Weston High School track and following the cross country course over and around the high school and middle school campus.
Fun events will include face painting, sack races and games for younger participants. In addition, there will be food available at the concession stand at the high school track.
Robert Mosher, a junior at Weston High School and co-president of the Interact Club, said, “We chose to do a Fun Run/Walk because, after a long winter, we thought that people would want to get out and enjoy the warmer spring weather and get some exercise. I joined the cross country team last fall and had so much fun running, it was a natural choice. I heard about high school cross country runners in Stow creating a Thanksgiving Day fun run and thought we could do something similar.”
Daanish Qureshi and Noah Lee, center left and right holding RYLA Award Citations, were applauded for their service by Susan Paley, Vice President of The Village Bank, Michael Wyner, Editor of the Town Crier, Jan Luchetti & Joseph DeVito, CEO of The Village Bank, and Michael Wyner, Editor of the Weston and Wayland Town Criers, Jan Luchetti, President of the Rotary Club, Anthony Parker, Weston HS Principal, Allyson Mizoguchi, Wayland HS Principal, and Joseph DeVito, President and CEO of The Village Bank.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland invites you to get involved and experience the satisfaction of living a few more moments in "Service above self," the worldwide Rotary motto.
Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award Dinner, February 28, 2019 and March 21, 2019 @ 6:00 pm at the Weston Golf Club.
Come meet two more exceptional sophomores from Weston and Wayland as they are recognized for their community service contributions and leadership capacity and potential. You can RSVP online anytime until Tuesday, February 26 and/or March 19.
Rotary Business Networking Breakfast Meeting
Tuesday, February 26, 2019. 7:15 a.m. - 8:15 a.m at Mel's Commonwealth Cafe, 310 Commonwealth Road (Rt. 30) Wayland, MA.
Future meetings on the 4th Tuesday of each month.
Agenda:
7:15: Arrive, unstructured networking, reconnect.
7:25: Seating, order breakfast (self-pay, separate checks)
7:30: Welcome, introductions, and announcements followed by brief business introductions ("commercial," "elevator pitch" or personal statement).
February 21: Dinner Meeting. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club featuring a few informal Rotary traditions, a nice meal, a little discussion of upcoming activities, and planning for the events and activities that accelerate with the arrival of Spring.
March 7: Club Assembly, Speaker & Dinner. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club featuring the monthly Club Assembly with reports, requests and promises from each of the Rotary Club Committee Chairs, as well as planning for March, April and May events.
March 14: Dinner Meeting. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club.
March 21:RYLA Dinner Celebration. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club.
March 28: Dinner Meeting. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club.
Volunteer Opportunities & Special Events
While you're here, there are a few volunteer opportunities and special events you can join.
Every month, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland serves dinner at Bristol Lodge in Waltham. If you are interested in helping with shopping, preparation or serving dinner with our merry band of Rotarians and friends, please contact Rob Mosher for information and instructions.
Please join Troop 157 for their Annual Pasta DInner and Fundraiser at the Weston Community Center on March 22 from 6-8pm. . Tickets $10 each, $30 for a family. www.troop157.org
Weston and Wayland students connect with communities
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland presented the Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) on Jan. 24 to Julia Kofman of Weston and Abigail Gavron, who lives in Framingham and studies in Wayland because her parents work in the school system. Both students also received citations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives and their representatives, Alice Peisch and Maria Robinson.
Robinson represents Framingham and was inaugurated on Jan. 2, 2019. Amazingly, Rep. Robinson’s attendance coincided with one of the winner’s commitment to working for her on issues they both prioritize.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland invites you to get involved and experience the satisfaction of living a few more moments in "Service above self," the worldwide Rotary motto.
Rotary Events
Rotary Dinner Meeting with Guest Speaker January 10, 2019 at the Weston Library @ 6pm.
Aidan Chen, a Junior at Weston High School will be presenting his initiative, "Books for the Babies," an initiative that supports the March of Dimes' mission to improve the health of premature babies and advocates for their future literacy.
During the first year, "Books for the Babies" donated hundreds of board books to the families caring for their premature babies in the NICU at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Studies show that despite being one of the richest countries in the world, the United States is experiencing an increase in the number of preterm births... and we still don't know why. In addition, preterm infants who are not exposed to language while in the neo-natal intensive care unit, sometimes for many weeks, have lower language performance at age two.
Please RSVP to event chair Mark Messina by noon on Tuesday, January 8 so we can order enough dinner for all attendees. Dinner Cost: $20 or less.
Rotary Dinner Meeting & Club Assembly, January 17, 2019 at the Josiah Smith Tavern at 6pm
The monthly "Club Assembly" is the working meeting for the month where the Club discusses, plans and celebrates the upcoming activities for the month, quarter and year. It provides the most thorough overview of what Rotary Clubs support and do. Committee Chairs provide concise updates while seeking guidance and approvals. Jokes and banter fly.
Please RSVP to President Jan Luchetti by noon on Tuesday, January 15 so we can order enough dinner for all attendees. Dinner Cost: $20 or less.
Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award Dinner, January 24, 2019 @ 6:00 pm at the Weston Golf Club
Come meet two more exceptional sophomores from Weston and Wayland as they are recognized for their community service contributions and leadership capacity and potential. You can RSVP online anytime. Contact RYLA Chair John Marchiony for information or to nominate a deserving sophomore. You can also learn more and submit an nomination online.
Rotary Dinner Meeting, January 31, 2019 at the Weston Golf Club at 6pm
Caption: From left, Gary Vitti, vice president of The Village Bank, joined Wayland High School Principal Allyson Mizoguchi to congratulate Emily Rubin of Wayland and Shraddha Lulla of Weston, along with Kenneth Brennan, chairman of the board of The Village Bank, and Weston High School Principal Anthony Parker on Nov. 15 at the Weston Golf Club.
Emily Rubin of Wayland and Shraddha Lulla of Weston serve their communities generously. They received the November 2018 Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), presented by the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, on Nov. 15. Both sophomores were also recognized with citations from Reps. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, Carmine Gentile, D-Sudbury, and the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Kenneth Brennan, chairman of the board of The Village Bank, attended with Gary Vitti, vice president, to applaud the students’ service, saying, “It is encouraging to know that so many of today’s youth are committed to service for others. Emily Rubin and Shraddha Lulla are perfect examples of young people who are devoting their energy, time and talent to helping wherever help is needed. They are our neighbors and, chances are, the future leaders of our communities.”
Emily Rubin was nominated by Julia Cleary and Rohini Ramesh, Wayland High School students who, as previous award winners, recognized Rubin’s contributions. Cleary identified Rubin’s passion for cooking, as she regularly participates in Community Cooks with her temple to cook a meal for a women’s homeless shelter. She, along with her parents, then deliver the meals with a handmade menu. Rubin also volunteers weekly with a group of teens who visit a home for mentally disabled adults to entertain and keep them company.
Howard Davis of Sharon with his 1975 red desk phone car (legal to drive). It was made in 1983 of aluminum and took one year to build. The license plate is PHONES.
Adolpho Caso is the owner of this Lincoln Continental Mark V. [WICKED LOCAL PHOTO / BARBARA ELMES]
A 1911 Model T Ford. [WICKED LOCAL PHOTO / BARBARA ELMES]
Peter Alcock is impressed by this 1917 Pierce Arrow. [WICKED LOCAL PHOTO / BARBARA ELMES]
Victoria Andreasen of Wayland and Jacey Hinton of Weston received the first Rising Youth Leadership Award of 2018-19, presented by the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, on Oct. 18. Both sophomores were also recognized with citations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
The Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award recognizes sophomores from Weston and Wayland for community service and leadership that demonstrates the students’ appreciation of the Rotary ideal of “Service above self.” Any student can be nominated online at WestonWaylandRotary.com or by using this simpleRotary Rising Youth Leadership Award form.
Hinton is a Scholastic All-American swimmer who trains in and out of the pool before and after school for 20 hours or more per week. She is passionate about swimming – swimming and water safety are foundational to her commitment to community service as well.
Caption: Jacey Hinton of Weston and Victoria Andreasen of Wayland were celebrated October 18 with the Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award at the Weston Golf Club. Luminaries in attendance included Weston HS Principal Anthony Parker (left); Dr. Midge Connelly, Weston Superintendent, Hinton, Andreasen, Wayland HS Principal Allyson Mizoguchi, and Rotary Club President Jan Luchetti.
Please join the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland in contributing to vaccination programs that will end polio worldwide. Currently, polio only afflicts people in three countries. Your contribution of any size will fund more vaccinations to end polio now.
You can donate anytime online, or join us Thursday, October 25 at 6pm at the Weston Golf Club, or November 1 from 4-8pm in the Springdale Barrel Room at Jack's Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham for "Raise-A-Pint for Polio Neighbor Night" when $1 from each pint will go to fund polio vaccination programs. (NOTE: In fact, Jack's Abby will be making a $1 donation from October 31-November 4, so if you can't join us that day, please go on your own.)
and indicate that you are supporting "Polio Programs."
(Clicking the "Donate Now" button will take you to our secured "hosted donation page" where you can make a donation of any amount the pleases you.)
Jan Luchetti was installed as the new president of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on June 28, succeeding Mark Messina, whose initiatives injected a new vitality and energy into the Rotary Club’s activities over the past year.Messina, reflecting on the theme for his year of “participating with purpose,” was grateful that so many members engaged enthusiastically with the school communities, elected officials, and friends of Rotary to broaden the impact and awareness of the club’s diverse initiatives.
Every year for the past 15 years, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland has supported Mary’s House with holiday gifts. Mary’s house is a family shelter that provides temporary housing in central Waltham for up to four months for eight homeless families. Mary’s House has been providing housing and services for more than 30 years.
During this time, families work on issues relevant to homelessness and securing permanent housing with the help of staff and housing advocates. During the holiday season, members of the Weston and Wayland Rotary club purchase holiday gifts for every family member at Mary’s house. We collect these at our annual holiday party and deliver them to Mary’s house in time for Christmas.
On Sunday April 29, Rotarians attended the Weston fishing derby and handed out saplings to a hearty crew of young anglers and families who braved the weather for a fun day of fishing at the pond behind the high school.
To see a gallery of photos of cute kids and ambitious anglers, click on the picture.
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland plans to sponsor 10 students to attend the 2.5 day conference on June 22-24 at Fitchburg State. YTo be considered, the student must complete our simple online applicationby 3pm on February 28 to indicate your interest and availability to attend.
Jay Messina, Weston Class of 2015 said the RYLA Conference "...was awesome! I had a great time and learned a lot. It’s a life-changing experience. I went back to be a facilitator last year and plan to do so again." His experience inspired his father, Mark, to join Rotary and rise to lead the club as president. There is a lot of information about the conference athttp://www.ryla7910.org/.
Please, if you (or your parents) have any questions, contactMark Messina, president of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland. Also, the Guidance Department chair/head at both Weston and Wayland High School can provide you with their perspective as students have attended each year for more than a decade.
We hope you will apply for this unique and valuable Rising Youth Leadership Conference experience.
Rotary Youth Leadership Award Conference June 22-24; Apply Now
Join us for Valentine's Day -- one day late -- on February 15, 2018 at the Weston Golf Club with exquisite hand-made chocolates from Chocolate Therapy in Framingham.
Join us for Valentine's Day -- one day late -- on February 15, 2018 at the Weston Golf Club with exquisite hand-made chocolates from Chocolate Therapy in Framingham.
organizations, and more. 
ear the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is honoring sophomores who exemplify “service above self” through their leadership and community service. To nominate a deserving sophomore, please take a moment to fill out this 
The Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Waltham and supported by other clubs in District 7910, executed Pints for Polio 2025 on Thursday, October 23, 2025, to commemorate World Polio Day, raising awareness and funds for the ongoing eradication efforts. We have had the privilege to have among us the District 7910 Governor, Johnny Ahern. Remarks from the facilitators of the event, Jimmy Belotte and Mitchell Alexis, initiated the celebration, followed by the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland President Robert Blackburn and District Governor Johnny Ahern.
High School and the International School of Boston.
ehicles expected to line the streets—from sleek Ferraris and vintage Jaguars to rugged Studebakers and classic Fords—there’s something for every kind of enthusiast. Whether you're drawn to the elegance of a Rolls-Royce or the muscle of a Chevy Camaro, this show celebrates the full spectrum of automotive artistry. 
Some of the plants being considered for future introduction at Sears Field include Willows, Carolina Rose, Purple Flowering Raspberry, Meadowsweet, Wood Betony, Foxglove Beardtongue, Self-Heal, and Purple Giant Hyssop. These species, along with those already thriving in the field, offer vital nectar and habitat for imperiled native insects.
o receive the Silver Award as the second-best club in District 7910. While it’s bittersweet after holding the top spot for four consecutive years, it’s also a reminder that among 51 clubs, we remain a leader. This is not a time to focus on what we didn’t win—but to rise, improve participation and attendance, and continue giving our best. The title follows those who serve wholeheartedly.
Please join me in giving them a heartfelt welcome. Robert brings dedication, wisdom, and a deep commitment to Rotary values, and I have no doubt he will guide our club with strength and vision. I wish him and his board the very best as they embark on this new chapter.
Emily has long embodied the Rotary values. At just 12 years old, she founded the Interact Club at Kennedy Middle School in Natick, a vibrant youth group that continues to thrive today. Her leadership from such a young age speaks volumes about her commitment to building community and creating change. "I hope to attract more young people to Rotary," Emily shared. With her passion and energy, we are certain she will do just that.
Join us for one of the most meaningful events of the year—the Annual Scholarship Dinner on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 6:30 PM at the Weston Golf Club.
A very special thanks to Valdet Abazi for doing an outstanding job as the moderator and for working side by side with me in organizing this event. Your dedication and support were instrumental in making the evening a success.
Following the presentations, Nicole James and Amy Werner stayed for the Q&A session, which was dynamic and engaging. They answered thoughtful questions from the audience, providing deeper insights and practical advice. The session sparked meaningful discussions, and many attendees stayed long after the official meeting ended, continuing conversations and sharing reflections.
ciate all who attended last week's meeting at the Wayland Police Station. Our sincere gratitude goes to Chief Ed Burman for once again welcoming us into their conference room. Special thanks to Janot Mendler de Suarez and Christopher Reynolds, along with Scarlett Hoey, Executive Director of the Wayland Museum and Historical Society, for an engaging presentation about the upcoming Wayland Festival, set for October 4, 2025. This promises to be a remarkable community celebration, and we look forward to exploring ways to get involved.
Rotary Business Showcase Series – This Thursday, May 8 | 6:15 PM
the installation of a brand-new outdoor table and chairs, creating a welcoming space for residents to gather, relax, and connect.
ty.
Each year, the Rotary Club awards scholarships through the Hector J. Osmond Rotary Scholarship Program. Hector J. Osmond was a shining example of the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self,” dedicating his life to educating young people, supporting seniors, and inspiring those facing hardship. He exemplified the spirit of citizenship and community service that defines Weston and Wayland.
years, and a Rotarian for 15 years.
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025 
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Weston Town Green during Celebrate Weston!
Members of the Rotary Clubs of Weston & Wayland, Waltham, Billerica, and Needham came together for a fun evening and raising funds for Rotary's End Polio Now campaign.
Tri-Club Meeting with 7910 District Governor Joyce Graff
ime Club of the Year bell to close the meeting.
June was a busy month for Owen Moon, a District 7910 Youth Exchange Student sponsored by the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club. On June 2nd, he arrived home after spending the 2023-24 academic year living and attending school in Taiwan. On June 7th, he graduated from Weston High School. It all started when Owen, now 18, did a short-term summer exchange to Spain in 2022. That exchange led to a desire to see Asia -- an area of the world he's been fascinated with since childhood. He speaks Mandarin, has many international friends, and is more aware of cultures outside the United States.
e inducted a new member, Stanley David, who member Jimmy Belotte proposed. Stanley is a versatile entrepreneur working with New York Life and numerous other prominent carriers as an independent broker. Stanley’s profound engagement in his field is complemented by his active participation in community activities and his roles on various boards. He also lends his expertise to organizing events and supporting others in bringing their visions to life. Known for his approachability and genuine interest in the well-being of others, he exudes a passion for positively impacting people’s lives. He is dedicated to fostering growth and ensuring security for his friends, clients, and colleagues. Please join us in welcoming Stanley to our club!.jpg)
Join us for the 27th Annual Weston & Wayland Rotary Club Antique & Classic Car Show on September 28, 2024. The show is located in Weston Town Center at 11 Townhouse Road, Weston, MA. Rain or shine it promises to be another great event for car owners and families alike. Show cars are encouraged to arrive between 8:00 and 10:00 am. Guests will be welcomed from 8:00 am to ~ 3:00 pm.
redible work at the Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland , Brenda has made a significant impact, embodying the Rotary spirit of service above self. Her commitment and tireless efforts have strengthened our community and inspired us all.
d with anticipation, tradition, and a shared vision for the future.
he many students awarded college scholarships from our organizations this year.
Saturday's 4th Annual Children's Business Fair was a wonderful success! Over 50 kid businesses came to showcase their creations, which they had worked on for months. Paired with the Celebrate Weston event, the Town residents and many other guests massively supported the kidpreneurs. 
nity members nominated the students and they have thoroughly impressed our committee with their community service, leadership, and drive to help, in various ways, in our community. 
urney that underscores the spirit of global cooperation, Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland member Joy Meng visited Sri Lanka, hailed as the top country to travel for six years by Lonely Planet for over three weeks. 
ston and Wayland students.
The 26th 
There are many ways Rotarians serve their communities. On Saturday, July 22, three members of the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club found a new path to do that: They participated in “The Epic Ride” a charity fundraiser organized by Rotarian Warren Green and this year, John Marchiony and Rob Mosher joined the ride. Wonderfully, President Katya showed up unexpectedly at the 100-mile mark with water and snacks.
On July 15th, Rotarian Fr. Frank J. Parker and friends celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination. 
Cheri lives with her two boys in Weston. She is passionate about volunteering and is involved in many volunteer programs in the community. Cheri has been the PTO Performance Coordinator for Weston Middle School for seven years, Booster Board member for the past two years, and the Weston Community Preservation Commission Coordinator for the past three years. In addition, Cheri is a Real Estate Specialist and an Estate Planner. 
Dr. Joy Meng is the founder of Aanya MG International (AMG), a woman entrepreneur, and a former Professor of Literature at Guangzhou Medical University. She lives in Weston with her daughter and husband. For the past decade, Joy has dedicated her time to volunteering and helping international students, scholars, and new immigrant families. With her talent for writing, Joy has published several academic and children's books. She recently completed a manuscript of fiction titled "Born in 1979," which she plans to publish in 2023-2024.
At last night's meeting, we inducted the Belotte family into our Club!
Liz is an award-winning journalist and Boston University professor with experience in newspapers, national magazines, and global publications. She has joined many club meetings over the past several months, and we welcomed her into our fantastic club last week! Liz has already volunteered to help with some of our opportunities. Please introduce yourself and get to know Liz. Welcome!!
Siblings Pranav and Saanvi will be at this year’s Children’s Business Fair with their business, “The Soap Place." 
ut how to make different colorful, flavored, and shaped soaps, so they wanted to give it a try.
Katya has her yard sign up in Sharon! John has four up along Boston Post Road. Will you put one up too?! Please 
What a great day! Boy, did we luck out with beautiful weather and the community showing up with their four-legged friends!
Adoption is challenging work. We have adopted the Sears Field in Weston and we are reclaiming it for the pollinating insects. All are invited to clear these invasive plants so that in year three of our five year project we can begin to plant the plants that are good for the pollinators. 
Please join our hearty, happy crew any day and time you can: 
The Rotary club will use proceeds from the tree sales to benefit several charities: Middlesex Human Services, including Bristol Lodge, local food pantries, need-based college scholarships in Weston and Wayland, and other Rotary Club community service projects. 
Special guests included District Governor Diana Nestorova and Joseph De Vito, President and CEO of Village Bank. DG Diana presented the 2020-21 Rotary Club of the Year award
“My father,” explained LeMaitre, “was the president of a Rotary Club near Perth, so I was attuned to the Rotary mission of service when I moved to Weston. As soon as I reached out, I felt warmly welcomed by the Rotary members, and we’ve already had some great laughs. I clearly see ways I can contribute to our communities, both locally and more broadly.” 
Betsy Millane is a Needham resident and a realtor in Wellesley whose instincts for client service were sharpened at an early age by her father, a real estate professional who instilled in Betsy the importance of owning every facet of the transaction for her clients. Millane met Weston-Wayland Rotarians through the Business Networking Series, but she joined because of the Club’s commitment to service.
"Service Above Self" is the worldwide motto of Rotary. Beginning in 2021, The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland will recognize people of Weston and Wayland who have who contributed to our communities through exemplary service that demonstrates the ideal of "Service above self." 
The members of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland are eager for the start of a new year that, we hope, will allow for so much more time with family, friends, and neighbors.
New in 2021, the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is launching the Service Above Self Award that will recognize people of Weston and Wayland who demonstrate their commitment and generosity to service and their communities. The award is presented ad hoc after a nomination is received by the President, Vice President, or Past President by email to 
And then we have big ideas about our first-ever Virtual Antique and Classic Car Show that will continue the 25-year tradition of celebrating Antique and Classic Cars. All enthusiasts are welcome and encouraged to help us plan and figure this out before entering their comely cars in custom categories and compelling contests. 
is focused on hands-on service that preserve and extend habitats for natural pollinators. We're planning now and will announce service opportunities in the late winter and early spring.
All of this is wrapped into a warm community of generous people who value service to their communities very highly, including our two newest members, Robert Blackburn and Tim Gavin. 
Please purchase your Christmas trees in Weston this year to support scholarships, food security projects and other charitable initiatives of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland.
Helping: Three ways you can help by sharing this invitation and information with your friends, family, organizations and members and/or by joining us as a volunteer. 
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is excited to announce the fourth year of the ‘
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland (RCWW) distributed over 800 pounds of watermelons to food pantry clients in Weston, Wayland and Lincoln for the Fourth of July.
These are different and difficult times and the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is rising to meet the new normal needs of our community.
Abrar A. Qureshi, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at Brown Physicians, will speak about overall health, care and wellness during COVID – 19.
.png)
The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is also collecting gifts for families at St. Mary's Place Shelter in Waltham. Please bring a new unwrapped gift for a child clearly labeled for St. Mary's Place. Gift bags and tissue paper for delivering the gifts are greatly appreciated. You can see what gifts kids and their moms are wishing for on the 
“The Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland is tremendously impressed with the sophomores who live and study in our two towns,” said Jan Luchetti, club president.
Weston’s Interact Club holding 5K to benefit shelter
Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award Dinner, February 28, 2019 and March 21, 2019 @ 6:00 pm at the Weston Golf Club. 
Tuesday, February 26, 2019. 7:15 a.m. - 8:15 a.m at Mel's Commonwealth Cafe, 310 Commonwealth Road (Rt. 30) Wayland, MA. 
February 21: Dinner Meeting. 6pm at the Weston Golf Club featuring a few informal Rotary traditions, a nice meal, a little discussion of upcoming activities, and planning for the events and activities that accelerate with the arrival of Spring. 
Pasta Dinner and Silent Auction - Troop 157
Robinson represents Framingham and was inaugurated on Jan. 2, 2019. Amazingly, Rep. Robinson’s attendance coincided with one of the winner’s commitment to working for her on issues they both prioritize.
Rotary Dinner Meeting with Guest Speaker January 10, 2019 at the Weston Library @ 6pm. 
During the first year, "Books for the Babies" donated hundreds of board books to the families caring for their premature babies in the NICU at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Studies show that despite being one of the richest countries in the world, the United States is experiencing an increase in the number of preterm births... and we still don't know why. In addition, preterm infants who are not exposed to language while in the neo-natal intensive care unit, sometimes for many weeks, have lower language performance at age two. 
Rotary Dinner Meeting & Club Assembly, January 17, 2019 at the Josiah Smith Tavern at 6pm
Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award Dinner, January 24, 2019 @ 6:00 pm at the Weston Golf Club
.png)
October 24 is World Polio Day. 
.jpg)
Jan Luchetti was installed as the new president of the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland on June 28, succeeding Mark Messina, whose initiatives injected a new vitality and energy into the Rotary Club’s activities over the past year.Messina, reflecting on the theme for his year of “participating with purpose,” was grateful that so many members engaged enthusiastically with the school communities, elected officials, and friends of Rotary to broaden the impact and awareness of the club’s diverse initiatives.
