By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Southborough – The Southborough Rotary Club may be small in number but the group has made a very positive impact on the community, with donations of all types.
The club formed in 1960 and since that time has hosted community events, fundraised for different causes and provided scholarships for students.
David Vachris, the dean of students at St. Mark’s School, is the current president. The group, he said, is seeking new members of the business community who are also eager to give back to the community.
“We want to be the glue that connects the business community to other parts of the community, especially schools,” he said.
Currently the group is looking for business professionals to participate in a scholarship program where they would donate $300. Those funds will go toward an ultimate goal of $4,000 ($1,000 a year) for a student who is attending a state college or university. Vachris said the club is currently continuing to support Julia Duffy with a $4,000 college merit scholarship.
Throughout 2016, the group hosted a number of other events designed to honor its commitment of community service.
On Feb. 28, along with approximately 60 St. Mark’s students, club members joined together with EndHungerNE to package meals for the hungry in Worcester County. After over two hours, 13,036 macaroni and cheese meals were packaged and later delivered to the Worcester County Food Bank.
On April 10, the club honored Southborough Recreation Director Doreen Ferguson with the Celebrating Service, Celebrating Southborough recognition award for her outstanding service to the town.
“This is an annual award,” Vachris said. “The recipient also helps in the selection of the next year’s honoree.”
One of the club’s most popular events has been the talent show at the P. Brent Trottier School featuring local student performers. This year’s show, the 16th annual in its history, raised $1,500 which will go toward student activities and supplies for the school.
Club members, alongside crews from the town’s Department of Public Works, took to the streets of Southborough April 23 for the 26th annual Earth Day Clean Up.
“Volunteers from all over town cleaned up roadside trash,” Vachris said. “We were able to cover almost 80 percent of all the roads in Southborough.”
Workers were treated with an official Southborough Rotary t-shirt and a Domino’s pizza lunch at the Pavilion on Main Street.
The club hosted a new event, “Brew and Wings,” this year on Father’s Day, June 19, which featured craft beer from the restaurant Owen O’Leary’s, FLIK Dining Services chicken wings, and Trombetta’s ice cream. The event was held under a tent on the St. Mark’s field and ended with a bonfire. Proceeds went to a scholarship fund for Southborough students.
This fall the group will also participate in the popular Heritage Day Weekend, which will be held Columbus Day weekend. On Sunday, Oct. 9, the Rotary will host Light-Up Southborough, an event where residents are invited to drop off carved and decorated jack-o-lanterns to be displayed on Common Street.
The Southborough Rotary meets on Wednesdays throughout the month, alternating the times between breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“We know people are busy so we try to be flexible,” Vachris said.
“This is a great group – we have a nice energy,” he added. “I really hope other local business professionals will check us out and want to be involved in the many good things we are doing.”
For more information visit the club’s Facebook page (SouthboroughRotary) or on Twitter at 01772_Rotary.