February 16, 2009

We Sent a GSE Team to the Philippines

GSE Team Philippines 2009

Rotary District 7910 is comprised of 54 Rotary Clubs in the greater Boston, Massachusetts area.Every two years we assemble a group study exchange team to send overseas.

A previous team, lead by Bedford Rotarian Kevin Sullivan, spent 6 wks in Egypt.

For 2009 four non-Rotarian professional adults age 25-35 are travelling to the philippines.

This year's team is lead by Concord Rotarian Doug Detweiler.Click the link below to view photos and see their very frequent blog entries.

http://gsephilippines2009.blogspot.com/

February 12, 2009

Honoring a Fellow Rotarian

On February 10th, we honored Nat Brown for his 48 years of service to the Rotary Club of Bedford. We were thrilled to be joined by Nat's wife Judy, his kids Pam, Nat Jr, Ken & Shannon. Also present to share in this special occasion were DG Klaus Hachfeld along with his wife Glenys and DGE Carol Tooomey.

Speech co-authored and given by Susanna Natti & Bob Cassidy

Nat, you've been an active, contributing member of the Rotary Club
of Bedford since 1961. In becoming a Rotarian, you followed the example of your father, Judge John F. Brown, who was one of our club's charter members. You have served on many club committees and are a past president. You have been Rotarian of the Year.

You have made Service Above Self a way of life; your family has a tradition of service to this town, and you have made that manifest in so many ways.

You assisted in transferring the Job Lane House to the Town of Bedford, so that it and its history could be preserved, a vision your mother and Town Historian Louise K. Brown held and made happen. You have served the Town on numerous boards, and, along with your wife Judy, have been active in many community groups, including the Boy Scouts, the Bedford Historical Society, 4H, the American Red Cross, and your church. There are more organizations you have supported with your time, energy,
and donations. We can't list them all.

You and your brothers donated the Cedar Swamp to the town of Bedford and another substantial parcel of land to the Town for conservation and recreation purposes.

You are generous with your space in other ways - you have provided meeting space to a number of town organizations, including our own Board of Directors and Foundation Trustees. We have found that we only need ask; you are always there with a "yes".

Your firm has provided pro bono and discounted services to many Town organizations.

Your generosity and behind-the-scenes work has contributed so much to the town of Bedford but it does not stop at our borders. You have been involved in many worthy
projects. Inspired by a speaker and assessing the substance of a proposed project, you
have helped fund such projects as an ambulance in Nepal and solar panels in Ghana..

Last week, we had speakers from SNAP, the Special Needs Arts Program in Lexington,
which creates opportunities for special needs children and adults to participate in
music and visual arts programs. The speakers hoped for our support.
It was completely characteristic of you that you were the first one up out of your chair
with $50 and a challenge for the rest of us to match that money - which we did, and we even surpassed the match, because there's nothing like a challenge and you so often pave the way.

You have been the cheerleader for our club's fellowship activities, from weekends at the Balsams to trips to the Omni theater to restaurant evenings to Black Tie Dinners. You are someone who likes to have fun, and it's sometimes daunting for the rest of us to keep up with you.

You and your family and New England Nurseries have been extraordinarily generous over the years, whether it is supplying poinsettias for all the tables at Breakfast with Santa, working on our Memorial planting for 9/11 at Springs Brook Park, and many
other projects and events.

Speaking of family, you have been a father that all three of your kids (Pam, Nat and Ken) are proud to call Dad.

You have been a role model as a compassionate and caring person, as a professional (attorney, counselor, nurseryman, or whatever the role of the day) and as a sponsor and leader of good causes. Your 7 grandchildren adore you and you will never be too old to get down on the floor for a piggyback ride or to roast marshmallows by the campfire.

You don't blow your own horn. A lot of what you do is done quietly, behind the scenes. So, we'd like to blow the horn ourselves, and for all these things, we are so honored to have you as a member of our club, and we would like to present you with this Rotary Club of Bedford Distinguished Service Award.