Next Meeting: January 8, 2026
12:00 p.m. at Stoneforge
Club News & Announcements
Our most recent club meeting was held on December 18, and led by President Bob. Rotarians were reminded that the collection for a gift for Matt is still ongoing, and later in the meeting, a gift was presented to him in appreciation of his service.
We also announced our new website address —tauntonrotary.org— and encourage everyone to check it out for the latest news and updates.
A big highlight was the incredible success of this year's Mitten Service Project. A special thank-you goes to Ed Fowler’s friend, who has been knitting mittens for this cause for 20 years and contributed an amazing 500 pairs this year. And to Carol Sullivan, Mike Tabak, Zulmira, and others who delivered mittens to Triumph/Head Start, Girl's Inc., the Boys & Girls Club, the Y, CoOperative Productions, Associates for Human Services, and the St. Jude the Apostle Parish Center.
We also reflected on last Thursday’s Head Start Christmas Party, which was a wonderful success. Many thanks to Carol Sullivan and Carol Souza for organizing such a meaningful and joyful event for the children and families.
The club will now be on break for the holidays, with our next meeting scheduled for January 8.
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and joyful holiday season!
At Our Most Recent Meeting...
...we welcomed Mary Ward, the Bristol County Coordinator for the MV Mediation Center’s expansion into Bristol County, Massachusetts. Mary shared an overview of the important work being done by Martha’s Vineyard Mediation (MVM) and how the organization has adapted and grown in recent years.
During the pandemic, MVM shifted much of its work online through Zoom, which led to new processes that allowed them to expand their reach beyond Martha’s Vineyard. As a result, MVM now serves Bristol County, offering support in areas such as small claims, housing issues, and general conflict resolution.
MVM’s mission centers on promoting peace in homes and workplaces by providing conflict resolution services in a wide range of situations. Their work includes support for divorce and child custody matters, as well as one-on-one conflict coaching, where individuals can work with a trained coach to navigate challenges in their personal lives or workplaces.
The organization also emphasized its commitment to accessibility. Many of MVM’s clients face economic challenges and may not have access to traditional legal services. When cost is a barrier, MVM is able to offer certain services at no charge, supported by grant funding.
In addition to individual services, MVM offers presentations and workshops for employers and community groups, providing education on conflict basics and related topics to help build stronger, more peaceful organizations.
Thank you to Mary for joining us and presenting to our group!
Sarah shared happy bucks celebrating last weekend’s 5K at Pride, which was a big success with a record turnout of 200 participants.
Dave gave $20 in happy bucks in celebration of the Children’s Christmas Party and to congratulate and thank both Carols for all of their hard work.
Dick offered a reminder to “Show Your Button and Save” during the Lights On event, good through December 31, with discounts from local businesses (also featured in the Chamber newsletter). Ornaments are still available at City Hall. He also shared very happy bucks and a shout-out to Morton Hospital after a recent emergency visit. Dick expressed deep gratitude for the outstanding care he received, noting how thankful he is to have a local hospital and crediting Morton’s team for taking such amazing care of him.
Mike C. shared happy bucks simply for being here today during a very busy time of year.
Carol Sullivan thanked everyone who helped at the party and donated their time, with special thanks to Zulmira and Carol Souza.
Mary Ward shared happy bucks thanking the club for the opportunity to be a guest and speaker and expressed how happy she was to be with everyone.
______________________________
Carol Souza won the scratch ticket this week.
Mike Tabak did not win the 50/50 raffle. ______________________________
Our Club
Proudly serving the Greater Taunton community since 1921!
Service Above Self
Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
Stoneforge Public House
90 Paramount Drive
Raynham, MA 02767 United States of America
