North Reading Rotary announces new membership opportunities

As we can all attest to, times have changed in just about every facet of our lives; the time has come for North Reading Rotary to modernize as well. 2018-2019 President Dave O’Neil, has announced that North Reading Rotary will now offer a “Service Membership” classification, with a drastically reduced attendance requirement.

For years, every Rotarian had an obligation to attend weekly meetings, often preventing local community members from joining and now they will only be required to attend one meeting a month along with participation in community service projects for a minimum 16 hours a year. Rotary provides service to others, promotes integrity, and advances world understanding, goodwill, and peace through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Donating time and energy to other service organizations will now be included to satisfy Rotary’s service hours requirement,

“It is our intention to continue weekly meetings for the ease and convenience of members to attend.” according to O’Neil. “We will offer traditional lunchtime meeting at Kitty’s once a month, and will be instituting informal coffee hours and after work membership meetings, along with many service projects locally and international”, he explained.

North Reading Rotary has proudly served the community for more than 50 years, and is the sponsor of the H.S. Interact club as well as the Early Act club in town. The projects this past year alone include a donation of a $2,000 refrigerator to the North Reading Food Pantry to go along side the freezer they donated a few years ago. This year’s donation also included $3,800 in non-perishable supplies. The Rotary school supply drive held outside of Walmart, right before school year started, gained 21 cases of school supplies for the clients of the food pantry.

Many times Rotary donates time and effort without publicizing it. Rotary made a $1,200 donation to the New England Home and Center for Vets in Boston. They also went into visit the Home and served lunch to the Veteran residents. Other recent projects such as providing a beautiful patio for the residents at Peabody Court. Annual Christmas luncheon at Peabody Court and many food drives in front of the Stop & Shop.

Rotary also sponsors the annual pre-Thanksgiving football luncheon with Lynnfield Rotarians, the Captains of the football teams, cheerleaders, band and majorettes along with Coaches and School administrators. Both coaches always speak to the students about the positive benefits of team playing that the students will use later on in their lives. Rotary is also known by everyone who grew up and graduated NRHS, as they sponsored the All Night Party for graduating seniors for close to 50 years, keeping the graduates off the road and safe on the night of their graduation.

North Reading Rotary is part of a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers that see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves, all under the auspices of Rotary International.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Rotary members believe that they have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. The 35,000+ clubs work together to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, save mothers and children, support education and grow local economies.

O’Neil said “It really feels good to help others in the community and I would welcome anyone interested in community service to join Rotary”. For more information, contact Dave O’Neil at Century 21 978-664-2100 or direct at 617-803-1359.