Marlborough’s 350th birthday is a local highlight this year, and Marlborough Rotary Club is joining in the celebration.

Would you like a souvenir of the 350th birthday event? Rotary is selling Marlborough 350 candles for $15 each, or 2 for $25. The candles are made by a Marlborough Rotary member, and proceeds support Marlborough Rotary’s programs.

Dr. Anthony Pope will be our speaker on Thursday, August 5.  As he starts in his job as Marlborough’s new Superintendent of Schools, he should have much to tell us.  Although, in this short time, he will not have made many plans nor even formed many impressions, it is an opportunity for us to get to know him and for him to know us.

This is a “don’t miss” occasion for anyone interested in the future of the Marlborough Public Schools.

See you all for lunch on Thursday!

Are you proud that you are a member of the Marlborough Rotary Club?   Do you believe in the good works of OUR Rotary foundation?

Many of us either forget about it when writing checks for donations or feel the economic pinch that too many of us feel today.  However, we all splurge on a great pair of shoes, a killer set of wheels, or a romantic dinner out – for many reasons, one of which may be pride.

The Rotary license plate makes a donation to OUR Foundation easy while adding an expression of personal pride to your vehicle.  The Registry of Motor Vehicles Special Plate fee is $45 in addition to your regular registration fee.  During the first year, the Rotary Foundation – OUR Foundation – gets a percentage of it.  After the first cycle, OUR Foundation gets the whole $45.

Besides helping OUR Foundation, every donation from our club enhances our club’s ability to gain matching grants from OUR Foundation.

The time to register for a plate is now,  while there are still hundreds of numbers left (101-3100).  Choose a number that means something to you – a birthday, anniversary, business related.  First come, first served.

To reserve your plate, send Joe Toomey jtoomey13@aol.com this basic information:

• Your first name
• Your last name
• Your e-mail address
• Your first and second choice of number

Got questions?   Send them to me at  mathorsen@verizon.net and I do my best to answer them.

What are you waiting for?

I have known Amanda Kourafas since I was in School at IC in Marlborough.  My Dad and Kevin worked at State Mutual together.  I have been to many Holiday get-togethers at their house.  I always knew that Amanda was involved with Rotary; she spoke of it often in conversations.  When I was younger I did not really understand what it was all about.  Even when my Sister and I won the Rotary Scholarships I still had only a basic knowledge of the organization.  I thought it was just a community organization.  I did not really grasp the international scope of Rotary.  When I worked at the Holiday Inn I got to know the group better and heard about some of the projects such as Polio Plus, the dictionary project and the food baskets for the Holidays.  I also observed the friendship and respect in the group, it was professional but also fun while doing good for others. 

Last year I was looking for something in my life.  My job was going well, my family was going well but I wanted to do something more with myself and my time.  I had to go to Rotary to do a presentation for the Hotel, I felt so welcome from the moment I walked into Coral that day.  Over the next few weeks I attended more meetings and got more information about Rotary and realized that this was what I was looking for in my life.  I really wanted to do something to give back and the friendship and fellowship is an additional bonus. 

I was inducted last June and I have been enjoying it ever since.  I was told to “Jump In” and I did, with both feet.  I am glad I did, it got me very involved and invested right from the start.  As with most things, as much as you put into it, you get out of it! I truly value all the friends I have made.  Also, I am proud to have helped Marlborough.  I grew up in Marlborough and it is a great City.  I am glad that we were able to give dictionaries to the students, food to families for the holidays, scholarships for our graduating seniors, leadership training for high school sophomores and monetary support to worthy organizations in Marlborough.   As I begin my second year as a Rotarian I am looking forward to more great projects and more fellowship.