Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Agawam

Service Above Self

We meet In Person & Online
Wednesdays at 2:00 PM
In-Person Meetings Are Temporarily Suspended
Storrowtown Tavern
1305 Memorial Avenue
West Springfield, MA 01089
United States of America
Due to COVID-19 our meetings are temporarily being held virtually. Contact President John for more information.
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District Site
Venue Map
10,000 Medical Face Masks Distributed
(shown above are some local Healthcare Heroes from the Heritage Hall campus in Agawam)
 
 

Rotarian Judy Pothul delivered 4,500 medical face masks to Heritage Hall West in Agawam which were then distributed to each facility within the Heritage Hall campus.  The campus consists of Heritage Hall West, North, South, and East providing long term care and rehabilitation, and Heritage Woods assisted living.  Melinda Monasterski, the Center Executive Director of Heritage Hall West, said she is just thrilled and so very appreciative that the Agawam Rotary Club thought of them during these COVID-19 times.   Pictured above are representatives from each facility who gathered at Heritage West as masks were being distributed. 

Judy also delivered 500 medical face masks to East Village Place. Pam Skiba, the Executive Director of this assisted living, expressed her thanks and appreciation for the donation.  It's been challenging and exhausting for all healthcare workers and means so much to know they are truly appreciated and recognized as the heroes they are!

 
 
On a cold and icy day, Rotarians Judy Pothul and John Barber began delivering face masks to senior living facilities.  Judy delivered 5,200 face masks to Heritage Woods, Heritage West and East Village Place.  The facilities will provide face masks to staff, residents and/or visitors.  
 
 
Rotarians John Barber and Bill Sapelli (Mayor) donated 3,700 medical face masks to the Town of Agawam for use by the School and other Departments.
 
The Club is in the process of distribution 10,000 Medical Face Masks to people who can benefit from the donation.  The goal is to make face masks accessible and to help keep our community safe.

AGAWAM ROTARY CLUB 5,000 Medical Face Masks Received

On September 29th , a cargo ship arrived in Boston with 800,000 masks on board to be distributed to communities across New England. The mask cargo was part of a project launched by Rotary District 7980 which includes southern Connecticut, Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. With an additional 200,000 mask donation from East Hampton, CT Rotarian Ted Rossi and the Rossi Family Foundation the project was named the “Rotary Million Mask Challenge Tour.”
 
Shown above, Agawam Mayor and Club Member Bill Sapelli, DG Marc Glass and President John Barber joined the Rotary Million Mask Challenge* Tour that will reach all six New England states between October 5th and 7th.
 
Rotary Club distributions included Agawam 5,000; Amherst 1,000 ; Chicopee 1,000; East Longmeadow, 3,000; Enfield, CT ,1,000; Franklin County, 2,500; Great Barrington, 1,000; Holyoke, 1,000; Ludlow, 1,000; Somers, CT 3,000; Southwick, 1,000; Springfield, 20,000; Suffield, CT, 500; West Springfield, 5,000; and Wilbraham-Hampden, 2,500.
 
A 26' truck filled with 800,000 masks will make stops in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine before reaching Southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island. There are two stops in our district to accommodate the COVID-19 travel restrictions. 
 
An additional 200,000 masks were distributed across Connecticut in the spring, making the total one million. All were donated by Ted Rossi, an East Hampton, CT, philanthropist and Rotarian, and the Rossi Family Foundation. Non-profit and government agencies that will receive masks from Rotary clubs in the district include fire and rescue, nursing homes and other health care services, food pantries, social services and schools.

Thank You!!

for making our Holiday Gift Auction a success!

Auction Donors
A Way of Life Massage Therapy | Agawam Girl Scout Troup 11630 | Angela Grout, Agawam Flower Shop | Gail Matches, Ayre Real Estate Co., Inc. 
Chris Thompson, Westfield Starfires  | Fursique Pet Spa & Grooming Salon | Gary Graziano | Granny’s Place | Jennifer Connelly, Junior Achievement
John Weiss | Kate Leary, Coopers | Agawam Girl Scout Troup 11630 | Mark Gervais | Madonna Santos, EyeCare & EyeWear Center, pc
Parrotta’s Auto Sales | Spero Phillips, Phipps Discount Liquors | Shaker Farms Country Club | Sue Dadmun, Fort Hill Brewery | The Ranch Golf Club
Tom Freddette, Floral Concepts by Tom | Tony’s Famous Barber Shop | Auntie Cathie's Kitchen | Great 2b - Polish Pottery | PVTA
Springfield Museums

And Rotarian Donors:
Kathy Ayre, Ayre Real Estate Co., Inc. | Bud Breeding | David Moore, Salvation Army | Donna Bys, Professional Medical Services Inc.
John Barber, CHH Engraving | Linda Vitro | Lynne Merceri, Cosmic Kleening | Mario Tedeschi, Allied Flooring and Paint | Maureen Cayer
Michelle Calvanese, Storrowton Tavern | Nancy & Bill Bobskill | Mary Ann Ludtke, Westfield Bank
 
 
Fair and 52 F at Westfield, Barnes Municipal Airport, MA
Fair
Winds are Northwest at 3.5 MPH (3 KT). The pressure is 1016.5 mb and the humidity is 89%. Last Updated on Jun 23 2021, 4:53 am EDT.
Speakers
Upcoming Speakers
Scholarship Award Winners
Jun 23, 2021 12:15 PM
Congratulations to the Recipients!
Past Speakers
Dr. Roy Saigo
Jun 02, 2021 2:00 PM
A Personal Account of Japanese Internment - World War II
Sarah Taylor
May 26, 2021 2:00 PM
Huneebee Project
Simon Brighenti
May 12, 2021 2:00 PM
Parish Cupboard, Inc.
View entire list...
President's Message
Rotary is an international organization centered around the motto “Service Above Self”
 
Rotary is a group of friends, neighbors, leaders and problem solvers creating lasting change in their neighborhoods, their communities, their region and the world. 
 
It can be as simple as helping our food insecure neighbors with a food drive for the Parish Cupboard.  It is helping to clean up a river and shore in town.  And it also is raising money to offer a variety of scholarships and grants for local high school graduates....and members of the community seeking to better themselves with vocational/technical training later in life. 
 
And it can, and will, be putting together “Coping Kits” for students as they return from the disruption that COVID-19 has put into their lives and the return to the classroom.
 
We’re not just a local organization.  By combining our efforts, Rotary is working to eliminate polio worldwide and to address the opioid crisis.  Clubs will band together internationally to provide clean water and sanitation, build and staff schools and hospitals, and much more.
 
Rotary is camaraderie and fellowship working together in service.
 
This will be a particularly challenging year, due to COVID-19.  But out of challenge comes opportunities.  I’m looking forward to working with the officers and Board of the Agawam Rotary Club.....and you.....to serve, and make our community, region, and World an even better place.
 
John Barber
President, Agawam Rotary Club 2020-2021
 
 
CDC Updates-COVID-19
Myocarditis and Pericarditis Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination
CDC and its partners are monitoring reports of myocarditis and pericarditis in adolescents and young adults after COVID-19 vaccination. We continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for individuals 12 years of age and older.
COVID-19 Vaccines Are Free to the Public
Vaccines information, Free vaccination information and what you need to know before your appointment, and what you can do when you are fully vaccinated
Safer Travel Tips for Families with Unvaccinated Children
Some travel activities, like staying at guest lodgings, can increase your risk of getting COVID-19. Your chances of exposure are higher if you come into close contact with others, especially people you don't know, or use shared public facilities.
Guiding Principles of Rotary
 

The Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideals of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster the following:

  • FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
  • SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
  • THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
  • FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

The Four-Way Test

This test, which guides all Rotarians and Rotary activities, has been translated into more than 100 languages and asks the following four questions:

Of the things we think, say, or do:

  1. Is it the TRUTH?
  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
  4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Mission

The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Avenues of Service

Based on the Objects of Rotary, the Avenues of Service are Rotary’s philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:

  • Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.
  • Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.
  • Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
  • International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.
  • New Generations Service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, service projects, and exchange programs.

Diversity and Rotary

Rotary International recognizes the value of diversity within individual clubs. Rotary encourages clubs to assess those in their communities who are eligible for membership, under existing membership guidelines, and to endeavor to include the appropriate range of individuals in their clubs. A club that reflects its community’s diversity with regard to professional and business classifications, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity is a club with the key ingredients to its successful future.

Club Officers and Directors
President
John Barber
Immediate Past President
Bud Breeding
Treasurer
Mary Ann Ludtke
Secretary
Lynne Merceri
Foundation Chair
Linda Vitro
Membership Chair
Nancy Bobskill
Service Chair
Michael Squindo
Fund Raising Chair
Bud Breeding
Youth Service & Scholarships Chair
Mario Tedeschi
Webmaster 💻 🛠
Linda Vitro

Operation Jelly - DELIVERED!

Image result for jelly
Rotarian Nancy Bobskill has delivered over 100 strawberry and grape jam and jelly containers to the Parish Cupboard in West Springfield. 
 
Thank you to all of the generous donors!

Please Donate Now!

Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • John Barber
    June 28
Join Date:
  • Donna Bys
    June 1, 1995
    26 years
  • Michele Calvanese
    June 12, 2014
    7 years
  • Sara Chaffee
    June 15, 2015
    6 years

Monthly Themes

January
Vocational Service Month
February 
Peace & Conflict resolution
March
Clean water & sanitation
April
Maternal/Child health
May
Youth Service
June
Rotary Fellowships Month
July
Environment & Sustainability 
August
Membership
September
Education & Literacy
October
Economic & Community Development
November
Foundation
Polio Eradication
 
A key RI directive is to eradicate polio. But we are not alone.  RI is proud to be one of the 6 partners of GPEI.  Learn more here.
 
 
The WHO Declares Africa Polio-Free.  Rotary is a proud partner in achieving this historic milestone.
 
Rotary International Links
Town News
Agawam Stormwater Management Plan available for comment.
COVID Vaccinations are available at Gate 1 of the Eastern States Exposition.
The vaccination site will run five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments will be made available every Wednesday online at townofwestspringfield.org/vaccine for the following week.
Scholarship Descriptions & Applications
Rotary International
Rotary’s second virtual convention highlights accomplishment in polio, progress toward ending COVID-19

Rotary’s second virtual convention highlights accomplishment in polio, progress toward ending COVID-19

Swiss Rotary clubs help young refugees start new lives

The program matches refugees with training to get them settled and fill a need for skilled workers.

Common Ground: Rotary Magazine 2021 Photo Awards

Common Ground: Rotary Magazine 2021 Photo Awards. In a time of separation, our winning photographers used their cameras to make connections.

Rotary members lead effort to transform childbirth care in Mongolia

Julie Dockrill, recipient of Rotary’s People of Action: Champions of Health, led a team of midwives in training health care professionals as part of a comprehensive well-being program that’s saving mothers and babies.

Rotary's rainbow

Fellowship has created a global home for LGBT members and friends