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Service Above Self

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

Members of the Rotary Club of Concord are dedicated and BUSY! Here are some of the activities we have undertaken recently to fulfill our motto of SERVICE ABOVE SELF.

Projects of the Rotary Club of Concord MA

As of March 2021

FOR YOUTH

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards: The Club sends 12 high school sophomores to a full weekend of leadership training at a nearby college put on by the District. Students are selected by a Club Committee through a rigorous application process and Club members then volunteer to help during the training weekend.

Scholarships for graduating high school seniors and college students continuing their undergraduate studies. With funds raised through its golf tournament, the Rotary Club of Concord underwrites $20,000 annually in scholarships awarded through the Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle.

Scholarship for masters-level student studying abroad. $35,000 Eleanor and David Morley Endowed Scholarship awarded through District 7910 to a Concord-sponsored student studying at Oxford University in UK under Rotary’s area of focus, “Economic and Community Development.” (2018-2019 term)

Sponsorship of graduate-level students from abroad: Club members serve as local sponsors for incoming Rotary-sponsored students during their stay in US.

Class Act Awards: Given by the Rotary Club of Concord to high school students nominated by faculty for outstanding citizenship and participation in a broad variety of extra-curricular pursuits ranging from sports to media reporting to service activities.

Middle School Awards: Given by the Rotary Club of Concord to middle school students nominated by their teachers for exceptional achievement in academic subjects.

Interact Club of Concord Carlisle High School and Concord Middle School: A service club for young people age 12 – 18 sponsored by the Rotary Club of Concord. The Club undertakes many local and international service projects.

EarlyAct Club of Carlisle Middle School: A service club sponsored by the Rotary Club of Concord for elementary students. The EarlyAct Club actively sponsors local and international projects through its fund-raising and hands-on activities.

Playground for Preschoolers with Special Needs: Adaptive equipment and surroundings partially funded through Rotary Club of Concord monies raised through Spring Pops

Activities for Boys and Girls Club: Members of the Rotary Club of Concord provide an after-school activity for children at least quarterly. Examples include a Field Day, a Fall Festival with pumpkin painting and games, a Winter Party with bingo and dodge ball, etc.

Financial Reality Program for High School Students: An educational seminar and/or hands-on event designed to teach young people basic financial skills.

Collections for Cradles to Crayons: Gathering and delivering supplies for kids at the beginning of the school year.

River Walk at Thoreau Elementary School: Construction of a walkway from the school to the river to enable students to study the science of the waterway and its surroundings.

Field House at Rideout Playground: Constructed a field house with bathrooms for a local playground.

Skateboard Park at Concord Carlisle High School: Constructed a skateboard park with features designed to give kids a place to perform without skating on dangerous sidewalks and streets.

Support of Eagle Scout Project for Girl’s “Boy Scout Troup” The project entailed a scout build day for “Sleep in Heavenly Peace.” Constructing bunk beds for children who have no beds at home.

Building Beds with Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) Under sponsorship of SHP, Rotarians build bunk beds for children who have no beds.

FEEDING THE HUNGRY

Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen, Waltham, MA: Every month Concord Rotarians prepare and serve a hearty supper for the homeless.

Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging: With other Rotarians and volunteers, the Club participates in the assembly-line packaging of highly-nutritious dehydrated meals distributed to those in need throughout the world. Recently special food for those impacted by Covid-19.

Food Drive for local food pantries, with increased need due to Covid-19.

Transporting Produce from Gaining Ground to Open Table Food Pantry.

Meal Preparation for Open Table for pick-up during Pandemic shutdown of facility.

Luncheons and fellowship at Bedford Veteran’s Hospital: Concord Rotarians along with Rotarians from Lexington and Bedford host lunch for patients and their families on special occasions including Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day.

BBQ at the Concord Council on Aging: During August each year, Concord Rotarians grill and serve a special cookout for Concord-area senior citizens.

Visit, volunteering at Gaining Ground: Concord Rotarians hold a meeting and volunteer at this non-profit organic farm that donates all of its food to area meal programs and food banks.

Landscape project at Open Table Food Bank: The Club provided storefront curb appeal through landscaping at the new local food bank location.

SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS

Activities with Minuteman Arc: The Rotary Club of Concord regularly holds social events for adults served by this agency dedicated to improving the lives of those with disabilities. Rotarians host regular bowling outings and a winter carnival, and have recently built a putting green at their new facility.

Gift Distribution at Northeast Correctional Facility: Rotarians underwrite and distribute gifts for the children of inmates at a family party during the Holiday season.

Town Cleanup: Each April, Rotarians take responsibility for picking up winter’s litter along an assigned street.

Patriots’ Day Parade: Rotarians support the town’s celebration by marching in the Patriots’ Day Parade

Fourth of July “Slush” Stand: Rotary Club of Concord members serve frozen shaved ice at Concord’s “Picnic in the Park.”

Middlesex Jazz Festival: The Rotary Club sponsors a booth serving cold drinks at this new big-band open-air event for Concordians and visitors.

Holiday Light-up Night: Concord Rotarians serve free hot chocolate, compliments of Dunkin Donuts, to crowds attending the Holiday parade and tree lighting.

Deep Sea Fishing Outing for Veterans

Awards for Courage and Service to Concord’s First Responders.

Bed-building and distribution: Rotarians volunteer with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to construct and deliver bunk beds to children who have no beds.

Building and Supporting, Habitat for Humanity

TOWN BEAUTIFICATION

Installation of USS Concord Bell and rejuvenation of Veteran’s Memorial: The Rotary Club spearheaded the display of this important reminder of the Omaha light cruiser that fired the last shot of WWII on August 15, 1945.

New permanent tree for Holiday light up: When the tall spruce tree that served for years for the town’s holiday lights became diseased. the Rotary Club of Concord replaced it with a vigorous new tree.

Helicopter Pad for Emerson Hospital: Construction completed by the Rotary Club of Concord allows quick hospital access for emergency patients from accident sites and immediate transfer of patients with critical needs to special facilities.

Rejuvenation of Monument Square: A major undertaking to upgrade the town green where a 30 foot granite obelisk honoring those who died in the Civil War, a monument dedicated to Concord residents who died in World War I, and another to those who died in the Spanish American War are located, along with the town’s official flag pole and the aforementioned Holiday tree.

Installation of a plaque in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Rotarian Capt. Thomas J. Hudner. Jr. in Veteran’s Memorial Park in Concord Center.

Collection of used plastic to help save the environment and earn an outdoor benches for Concord locations.

MAJOR FUND RAISERS

Annual Spring Pops Concert with the Concord Band: This informal evening offers the public an opportunity to learn about Rotary’s many outreach activities while they enjoy lively music, refreshments and auctions. The event supports various Rotary projects ranging from help to hurricane victims to support of a local special-needs playground and a bike-share program. Cancelled in 2020 due to Pandemic.

Annual Golf Tournament: to benefit scholarships for graduating seniors and college students continuing their education. The tournament has enabled the Rotary to underwrite $20,000 in scholarships annually in recent years. Sponsors also underwrite opportunities for disabled veterans to play in the tournament, a therapeutic activity sponsored by the Salute Military Golf Association.

Oktoberfest: This exuberant family-friendly Bavarian-themed event is held outdoors at a beautiful local farm. Most recently Oktoberfest raised $10,000 for ShelterBox USA. With something for everyone, ranging from live bands to craft beers, pumpkin painting and a bouncy house, craft vendors and food trucks, the event attracts a young crowd ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. Currently suspended.

INTERNATONAL PROJECTS

Self-Sustaining Chicken Farm in Haiti. – Global Grant from The Rotary Foundation

Wells and Latrines in Kenya - Global Grant from The Rotary Foundation

Worthy Village in Guatemala - Club Support to agency supporting families

Polio-Plus World-Wide Immunization Effort – ongoing effort to stamp out polio

ADDITIONAL COVID-19 RESPONSE

Distribution of masks to schools and Council on Aging

Congratulatory banners for hospital and graduating seniors

Covid-safe Golf Tournament for Scholarship Funds

Tent for Covid testing at Minuteman Arc

Participation in Concord Carlisle High School Food Drive

Rotary Team for Emerson Hospital’s Run-Walk for Cancer