This year the Southwick Rotary Club is celebrating its 30th anniversary of service to the community. The club began as an offshoot of the Westfield Rotary and has been holding its own since 1982 with a group of dedicated members.
In the early 80s, a businessman from Southwick, Allan Cherbonneau, then a member of the Westfield Rotary Club, recognized the need for a small club in Southwick. Aware that Rotary would benefit the small community of Southwick, Allan and his father Vincent were instrumental in working with Donald Barnes, then president of the Westfield Club, in forming a new charter for Southwick. Other businessmen were also influential in forming the new club and on May 27, 1982, Southwick was chartered with 31 members. Southwick’s first executive board consisted of Jeff Rogers, president; Edward St. Peter, vice president; Robert Brown, treasurer, and Raymond Fox, secretary.
In the early days, the economic growth of the 1980’s proved fruitful for the club. Members were successful in raising money through a variety of fundraisers, including its most successful – a car raffle. The town’s first fishing derby was started as a Rotary Club program, as well as the annual mud bog. Revenues were used to start a scholarship commitment for local students, World Affairs Seminars, and materials for the immunization of Polio.
Although the economy is more of a challenge than it was 30 years ago, the Southwick Rotary continues to fund scholarships and other educational programs such as RYLA, a leadership seminar for sophomores held at Springfield College. Interact, a high school based-Rotary club for students ages 14-18, also creates fundraisers and projects to support the community and the world at large.
Ellen Miles has been a Southwick Rotary member for 22 years and said it was originally the business networking aspects of the club that enticed her to join, but it was the community service that compelled her to stay so long.
“I don’t think people realize how much Rotary does,” said Miles. “We have access to resources and grants through Rotary International that help people.”
The club has helped out Boys and Girls State, sports teams, Southwick Recreation projects, the Scouts, 4-H, the DARE program, and more recently, tornado relief, the hungry, people in need or crises, and toys and clothing for families at Christmas.
Annually the club recognizes citizens from the community for their outstanding vocational achievements and community service. The membership also protects the environment by participating in the Adopt-a-Highway curriculum several times a year. The club purchased defibrillators for the Southwick Public Library and the High School, and as part of its literacy commitment, purchased dictionaries for elementary students.
Last year, the Southwick Rotary teamed up with the Lion’s Club to purchase a water fountain for the Rail Trail, and through a Rotary grant was able to provide shelving for the food pantry. Just this week the Southwick Rotary grilled food during the annual Southwick/Granville Crop Walk.
“It’s a nice way to join forces to help people who are hungry,” Miles said.
From an international perspective, the club is participating in a clean water project in Guatemala and continues to support the eradication of Polio. Other projects include the building of a house in India, AIDS education, and the sponsorship of a Rotarian to travel to Africa to immunize children against polio. The club has hosted exchange students from Brazil and Europe, and young professionals to travel to a foreign country as part of the Group Study Exchange, a Rotary District program.
Miles called Rotary a “wonderful organization.” The Southwick Rotary is seeking new members and meets Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at Roma Restaurant. Becoming a member is easy, said Miles. Interested persons are invited to attend meetings and fill out an application which is reviewed by the board.
Miles encouraged people to find out more about what Rotary does for the community.
“Getting involved is really rewarding,” she said.
