Next Meeting: February 19, 2026
12:00 p.m. at Stoneforge
Club News & Announcements
Our most recent club meeting was held on February 12, and led by President Bob. He thanked everyone who joined us for Tuesday’s Board Meeting! We covered a lot of exciting updates and upcoming opportunities to serve.
Rotary Foundation – Every Rotarian, Every Year
Bob shared highlights from the Mid-Year District Meeting, including a renewed emphasis on supporting the Rotary Foundation. The recommendation is $25 per Rotarian per year — a small gift that makes a big impact locally and globally. You can do so at myRotary here.
Announcements:
We’re organizing a Winter Care Pack drive to support local shelters in partnership with the Taunton Lions Club. We’re collecting warm winter essentials for backpack-style care kits. Donations can be dropped off at AHS, PRIDE, or brought to any Rotary meeting. We’ll pack the backpacks together (tentatively March 12). Stay tuned for a supply list!
We’re registered for a table at the Taunton River Festival from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on June 14 and will be joining forces with the Rotary Club of the Bridgewaters. Volunteers to help staff the table are welcome!
Our event at Talisa’s will be rescheduled — new date coming soon!
The Board approved three sponsorships for RYLA — thank you for supporting youth leadership development.
Million Dollar Meal will be March 5. We’re looking for donations of desserts, drinks, and paper products. Let us know if you can contribute!
Our February Evening Meeting will be at the Jockey Club
...we were pleased to welcome Barbara Fox, Community Outreach Director at School on Wheels Massachusetts. The Mission of School on Wheels is to support the academic, social and emotional growth of students impacted by homelessness and poverty. The vision of School on Wheels of Massachusetts is for all students impacted by homelessness and poverty to have the academic, social and emotional support necessary to achieve a bright and productive future that will help end the cycle of homelessness.
The organization has three main areas of focus:
Tutoring, which is designed to foster the academic, social and emotional growth of students impacted by homelessness and poverty.
Bridge Mentoring helps high school and college-age students explore educational and career opportunities.
Backpacks and School Supplies. Donations enable us to provide fully-stocked quality backpacks and new school supplies to students from kindergarten through college.
Barbara shared about some of the challenges they are currently facing with rising homelessness and limitations to federal support. They are currently looking for tutors, if anyone has an hour a week to volunteer. We thank Barbara for her work and for joining us for lunch and sharing about the important work of School on Wheels Massachusetts.
Mike C. had two happy bucks for being at the meeting, and for Cooperative Productions purchasing a new building and preparing for a move from Dighton to a new space in 2027. Exciting growth!
George had a happy countdown buck: 19 more days — and just 12 more workdays — until retirement!
Will had a grateful buck for the club’s support of RYLA sponsorships. He shared that they’re organizing a sock drive and visiting middle school PTO meetings to promote high school Interact. Proud dad moment buck: Julia and her team of four won a competition at Bryant University, beating out 1,103 students — and she also made the President’s List!
Bob R., with perfect timing, shared a long-distance happy buck from Julia Mendonca, who wrote a note for the club thanking us for the scholarship she received at the end of last year.
Dick had a Recruitment buck: seeking an office services professional/translator for his daughter’s immigration legal office in downtown Taunton.
Jen had two happy bucks — one celebrating Julia’s accomplishments, and one recognizing Will and Anita’s amazing parenting.
Ed had some bucks to share stories from his 2–7 a.m. charity snowplowing shifts during the recent storms. He plowed a driveway so a woman in labor could get to the hospital, spotted kids skiing behind a truck, and dealt with railroad crossing arms stuck down for 45 minutes. Never a dull moment in the middle of the night!
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Barbara won the scratch ticket this week.
Mike Tabak WON the 50/50 raffle. The pot was at $252.
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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