Sunrise Rotary celebrates 25 years

The Neponset Valley Sunrise Rotary Club packed the upstairs of Gemma’s last week to celebrate its 25th anniversary of helping both locally and abroad.

Charter member Michael Thornton said they first met on an auspicious day 25 years ago in the early fall.

“Our first business meeting as new Rotarians, Sept. 12, 2001, the day after 9/11,” he said, to murmuring from the crowd. “Yeah, ‘oh wow.’ It was a bittersweet moment in all of our lives. Many of us, as brand new Rotarians, really didn’t know what the hell we were doing. That’s the truth. But that first night at the Endicott Mansion, we came together as Rotarians for the very first time.”

Thornton said it was a strange time, to say the least.

“Many of the people here in the room tonight were there with me on that night,” he said. “And I can’t begin to tell you what it was like at that time. But in the time that’s left, I’ve discovered that our unique band of ‘useful idiots’ know how to argue in a friendly manner, how to agree with one another in a friendly manner, how to have a whole lot of fun, how to raise money when we need to, and how to get the job done.”

Former Rotary Club President Kevin Hallinan said the night was to celebrate members, accomplishments and friendship.

“The goal of tonight is really to celebrate the last 25 years that we’ve been getting up every Wednesday morning for breakfast, enjoying the fellowship of our members, and making decisions about the various projects and organizations we want to support,” he said. “That’s what we do. We raise money and then give it back out to the community. And I couldn’t think of a better group of people to do that with.”

Hallinan said Rotary is more than just a club.

“Rotary is not just this thing we do, it’s really a family,” he said. “In Rotary, we believe in a couple of things. First, service above self. Give of yourself, right? We also believe in what we call a four-way test, and whatever we do has to pass. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

While the awards were presented to about a dozen members during the night, Member Penny Hamel presented Sunrise President Bob Blood with a ‘25 Years of Service Award’ for the club.

“And I have a letter from the current president of Rotary International, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, so thank you,” Hamel said.

Blood said the club helps support Rotary initiatives all around the world.

“I’ve only been a part of this club for one-third of the 25 years, but I can why it’s been around for so long,” he said. “A group of hard-working charity-minded people can change the world. Whether it’s the monumental task of eradicating polio – we’re almost there – to bringing potable water to people in need, supporting Blue Hills Regional High School with scholarship training for students to supporting a local dog shelter, or as recently as picking knotweed along the Neponset River. Which wasn’t really a lot of fun… So Rotarians are always there to pitch in and make a difference. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to celebrate 25 years of giving to the local community and the world.”

Sponsors include Dedham Savings, One Local Bank, Bank of Canton, Norfolk and Dedham Insurance, the Mike Baldino Family, Steve Costello, the Dedham Health and Athletic Complex, Supreme Development and Needham Bank.

For more information on the Neponset Valley Sunrise Rotary, go to https://www.nvsrotaryevents.org