Stories

Welcome Kelsea Whittemore as our 2021-2022 Club President and Terry Rezendes  Curran our 7930 District Governor!

Pictured: Kelsea (left) and Terry (right) at the district installation in Danversport, MA, June 24, 2021

Parkway Rotary members Dominic Rebelo and Uchenna Onyeachom once again plunged into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean in an effort to eradicate Polio.  Last year, they were able to raise over $120,000.  The event took place at Long Beach in Gloucester and was a huge success.

2015 was a significant milestone in making polio history.  There were no new cases of the wild poliovirus in Nigeria.  That means we're down to two endemic countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.  If Nigeria can go two more years without a new case, we will have a polio free Africa!

On September 13th, the Rotary Club sponsored a hole at the annual YMCA Golf Tournament.  Participating in the round of golf were members Lou Falcone and Stephen Morris.

On Friday evening, June 6th, the Rotary Club of West Roxbury-Roslindale hosted its annual Paul Harris awards dinner.  This year we were honored to present the award to Mary Mulvey Jacobson.  As President of the WRBPA, she works with Deutsches Altenheim and Ethos on the popular "Stand Up For Seniors - Coffee and Conversation with the Candidates" forums so that residents of the German Center and the greater community can hear first hand from candidates running for the public office.  She is also a proud and distinguished graduate of Regis College, where she received a BA in Economics, and has served as Class President for many years.  Mary is also President of the Irish Social Club of Boston, having taken a leadership role in getting the organization reopened and back on its feet.  She is the President of the Board of Directors of Ethos, which provides meals and living assistance to keep Parkway area senior citizens and disabled in their homes for as long as possible.  Mary also serves as vice Chair of the West Roxbury YMCA, serving on the Capital Campaign Committee.  She was a founding Incorporator of the Gardens at Gethsemane in West Roxbury, a non-sectarian cemetery open to all faiths.  She had coordinated the Annual Memorial Day Service for 14 years as well as the First Annual Flag Retirement Ceremony.  For over 25 years, Mary served as Co-State Chair of the Massachusetts Beirut Memorial Committee, honoring the Marines who gave their lives in Lebanon in 1983.  She worked at Boston City Hall for a dozen years as Chief of Staff to then Boston City Councillor Maura Hennigan and remains active, involved and interested in all things political.  She is an elected member of the Ward 19 Democratic Committee.

On April 13, 2012, the West Roxbury and Roslindale Rotary Club hosted the Paul Harris Awards at the West Roxbury Elks Club. This year's honorees were long-time Rotarian Alan MacKinnon, Sister Nancy Braceland of Casserly House, and columnist Francis Sullivan.

 Over 150 people gathered to honor the honorees. The Rotary event also raised money to support its Scholarship Fund and other community programs. Rotary International Assistant Governor Jack Donaldson gave Alan MacKinnon, Sister Nancy Braceland and Francis Sullivan the Rotary's Paul Harris Award for Outstanding Community Service. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, the Rotary's main objective is service in the community, work-place, and throughout.

The West Roxbury/Roslindale Rotary is holding a fundraising raffle.

First prize is an all-expense paid trip for two to St. Croix, U.S.

Virgin Islands. This prize includes airfare, hotel, rental car, dinners, tours and more! Additional prizes awarded include Cruzan Gift Baskets. Drawing is Friday, April 13, 2012 at the Paul Harris Awards Dinner. The dinner will be at the B.P.O. Elks Hall at 1 Morrell St, West Roxbury. You need not be present to win. The money raised will go to support the Rotary’s Scholarship Fund and other community programs, upholding the Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self. Prize must be redeemed by December 1, 2012.

The West Roxbury and Roslindale Rotary Club recently hosted the Paul Harris Awards at the West Roxbury Elks Club.  This year's honorees were long-time Rotarian and past president Robert Starr and local businessman and community benefactor James Hennigan. 

Over 150 people gathered to honor the honorees.  The Rotary event also raised money to support its Scholarship Fund and other community programs. Rotary International Assistant governor Jack Donaldson gave Robert Starr and James Hennigan the Rotary's Paul Harris Award for Outstanding Community Service.  As signified by the motto Service Above Self, the Rotary's main objective is service in the community, work-place, and throughout the world.  

The Rotary of West Roxbury & Roslindale participated in the 10th Annual Kettle Campaign to raise money for the Salvation Army. Pictured here outside of Roche Bros. are Rotary President Terry Rezendes and Vice President Trisha Resevic. Donny Delpha is making a contribution.

 The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worth enterprise and to encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions.

The Rotary Club of West Roxbury/Roslindale chose a new service project for this year and have already begun to see tangible benefits from its efforts. The Club partnered with a local nonprofit called Casserly House. The project had a few goals, including supporting education, growing the local economy, and assisting mothers and children. Since the project began in No-vember, two students have found jobs. (pictured: Dominic Rebelo-West Roxbury / Roslindale Rotary President, Sister Nancy Braceland-Casserly House and Kurt Jacobs – Kurtronics.)

Money raised for the project came directly from the Rotary Club of West Roxbury/Roslindale. The Club applied and won a match-ing grant from Rotary International which funds projects that support humanitarian services in the Rotary District of 7930.

Casserly House is a center for learning, assistance, and caring. It focuses on multiethnic and underserved people in the community. The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph is the primary sponsor of Casserly House, which is located on Stellman Road in the Boston neighborhood of Roslindale. The director of Casserly House is Sister Nancy Braceland. Sr. Braceland is also a past recipi-ent of Rotary’s Paul Harris award given for extraordinary service to the community. Casserly House provides ESL classes to adults in the morning and provides neighborhood children a facility to do their homework after school.

The project had both a fundraising and service component. The funds raised went to update the computer center, which is an inte-gral part of the programs at Casserly House. Due to the age of the technology, many of the computers were unable to perform basic functions, like run Rosetta Stone software. Members of the Club volunteer time each week to working with the students to use computers and improve their English. Students of the center reflect the diversity found in the city of Boston and come from far and wide, including Cuba, Brazil, Vietnam, and El Salvador. They arrive with varied computer experiences. Some have never used a computer before, some have vast experience, but have issues translating to English, and some come from countries with computers, but no internet and so have no skills in accessing and navigating the web.

Since the Rotary became involved, two students of the center have found jobs. One was turned down from a job specifically for not having computer skills. This experience steeled her resolve to get computer training at the Center. She then reapplied at that employer and got the position. To learn more about Casserly House, visit www.casserlyhouse.org.

On May 14th, 2014, the annual Jason Roberts Challenger League charity softball game between the Rotary Club of West Roxbury-Roslindale and the Kiwanis Club of Roslindale-West Roxbury took place at the Ohrenberger Community Center.  The event was a huge success, capped off by a 16-13 win by the Rotarians.  Refreshments were served to all who participated, courtesy of Alan MacKinnon from The Gardens of Gethsemane.  All proceeds from the event went to the continued support of the Jason Roberts Challenger League.

On Friday, June 27th, 2014, the Rotary Club of West Roxbury-Roslindale held an installation dinner for incoming President Terry Curran-Rezendes at the Sons of Italy Lodge in Roslindale Square.  Terry is a two-time past President of the club and proceeds from the evening were donated to the Rotary Foundation in Terry's name.

From Left to Right:  Daniel Wilson, Courtney Leonard, Rotary Club President Terry Curran-Rezendes, Jillian O'Malley, and Tenzin Dawa Thargay

On August 12th, 2014 the Rotary Club of West Roxbury-Roslindale awarded its annual scholarship to four outstanding students from the local community (listed below in alphabetical order):

Courtney Leonard is a graduate of Boston Latin Academy, and will be attending Bridgewater State University, with her expected field of study in communications with a concentration in Theatre education.

Jillian O'Malley is a graduate of Academy of the Pacific Rim, and will be attending Westfield State University, with expected field of study in movement science.

Tenzin Dawa Thargay is a graduate of Roxbury Latin School, and will be attending UMASS Amherst, with an expected field of study in political science and languages.

Daniel Wilson is a graduate of Boston Latin School, and will be attending Boston University, with an expected field of study in bio chemistry.

Here we are at the induction ceremony of our two newest Rotarians:
Steve Morris and Kelly Wheaton. L-R: District Governor Peter Simonsen,
Rotary President Terry Rezendes Curran, Steve Morris, Kelly Wheaton,
and District Governor Elect David Manzi.

Steve Morris is a realtor at LAER Realty Partners, 2077 Centre Street,
West Roxbury. He was born and raised in Roslindale and now lives with
his family in West Roxbury.

Kelly Wheaton is Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager at
Peoples Federal Savings Bank located at 1905 Centre Street, West
Roxbury.

We're excited that these two community leaders have chosen to partner
with us in service!!

On January 31, 2015 two of our Rotarians will be participating in the annual Polar Plunge for Polio at Long Beach in Gloucester.  Rotary, the World Health Organization, Unicef, United Nations Charitable Trust, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and United Nations Foundation are on a quest to rid the world of Polio by the year 2018.  Each dollar raised by this event provides 5 vaccinations to help children be protected from this horrible, debilitating disease.  Last year, plungers from Rotary District 7930 raised over $100,000 and provided the funding to protect over 500,000 children in some of the poorest areas in the world.  This year, we have committed to $125,000, which will provide more than 625,000 more vaccines.

From left to right:  Rotary Club President Dominic Rebelo, Angel Jin, Caitlin Walsh, Andrew Patton, Sean Canty Jr., and Assistant District Governor David Manzi

On August 13th, 2013 the Rotary Club of West Roxbury-Roslindale awarded its annual scholarship to four outstanding students from the local community (listed below in alphabetical order). 

Sean Canty, Jr. is a graduate of Catholic Memorial and will be attending St. Anslem's College with his expected field of study in business and political science.

Angel Jin is a graduate of Boston Latin School and will be attending Harvard University with a field of study in economics with computer science.

Andew Patton is a graduate of Learning Prep High School and will be attending UMass, Boston with a field of study in business management.

Caitlin Walsh is a graduate of Fontbonne Academy and will be attending UMass, Dartmouth with a field of study in music and music business.

(For more pictures from the event, see the photo albums link on the right side of the page)