To the Editor:
On behalf of the Marlborough Rotary Club, I would like to publicly thank some folks who worked hard to make the “2011 Reality Fair” at Marlborough High School a success.
The Reality Fair is an interactive event for the senior class at Marlborough High School, designed to give teens a taste of reality before they graduate. Students at the Fair get a paycheck for a pre-chosen career, a budget sheet, and a calculator in a padfolio. Community volunteers, set up at tables throughout the library conducting the business they regularly do – banking, insurance, apartment rentals, electric utility, supermarket, auto dealer, etc. The students need to go from vendor to vendor, seeing to their needs and their budgets. They encounter temptations like a travel agent or gym membership, as well as spin a wheel of fortune – or misfortune as the case may be. Most students say that the Fair is an eye-opener – a real learning experience for them. What's more, it's interactive, engaging, and fun.
On behalf of the Marlborough Rotary Club, I initially contacted the high school and Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, back in 2004, to take on this project of financial education, now in its eighth year. Many of the business volunteers are Rotarians and almost all are Chamber members: All Star Auto, Town of Ashland Environmental Health Department, Avidia Bank, Assabet Valley Regional HS, Bank of America, DCU, Edward Jones Financial Planning, EKG Networking, Employment Options, Four Points Financial, Global Access Partners, Hannaford Supermarkets, Marlborough High School, Marlborough Hospital, City of Marlborough Human Services Department, Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, Marlborough Savings Bank, Marshall and Lemire Insurance, National Grid, New England Credit Union Services, Patriot Ambulance, Quinsigamond Community College, RE/MAX Prestige Realtors, Christine Seymour, Shine Salon, St. Mary's Credit Union, T.J. Maxx, Travel by Tatten, Verizon Wireless and FiOS, Wayside Racquet Club, and retired Rotarians Marilyn Perry and George Whapham.
The members of the Marlborough High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) were active partners in the production. BPA volunteers were in charge of the preparation of the students who would come through the Fair. They also arranged all the logistics of setting up the site and refreshments for volunteers. The BPA students” involvement was also a learning experience in event management.
Finally, I want to thank our major sponsor, Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU). DCU is equally committed to financial education and children's needs. Their support over the past six years has been outstanding.
Sincerely,
Marguerite Thorsen
Reality Fair Chair, Marlborough Rotary Club
