THE SPOKE
Official Newsletter of the Salem Rotary Club

This week at Rotary...

MARGARET BRENNAN
President and CEO, North Shore Community Health
Margaret "Maggie" Brennan  began her remarks to the Club by noting that we are living in incredibly challenging times, particularly for the patient population served by North Shore Community Health (NSCH). NSCH is a network of health centers serving over 13,000 patients on the North Shore and Cape Ann, with community health centers in Salem, Peabody and Gloucester as well as student health centers at Salem and Peabody High Schools and behavioral health services at several elementary schools within Salem and Peabody.
 
NSCH strives to offer high-quality, culturally competent, comprehensive primary care, including medical, dental and behavioral health services. NSCH also offers supportive services such as health education, translation, health insurance eligibility and enrollment assistance, and transportation that promote access to health care. They employ over 120 medical professionals including physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physician assistants, licensed social workers, psychiatrists, dentists and dental hygienists. They use a team-based model that is patient-centered, and they have strong partnerships with other local agencies to help connect patients to wrap around services that assist with their needs outside of the exam room.
 
Maggie shared how NSCH has been managing the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been working to address the pandemic from the start, continuing to serve their patients by expanding their telehealth and in-person hours of operation to ensure patients had access to their services. NSCH serves a lot of essential workers in their patient population and have been treating many patients with COVID-19. They are also involved in vaccination efforts and began vaccinating their patient-facing staff in late December. They are continuing with vaccinating their staff as well as staff at partnering shelters and their COVID-19 clinic. NSCH will be a site for vaccinations for others throughout the spring, following governmental guidelines for vaccinations in Phase 2 and Phase 3.
 

CALENDAR WINNER!

Bryarly Lehman of South Hadley
Sold by Robin Crosbie

Why I am A SALEM Rotarian

This segment now kicks off our meetings so we can learn what makes Salem Rotarians stay engaged, continue to log into Zoom, financially support our work, or put a mask on to volunteer for Rotary. Through a pay-it-forward system, the sharer from one week will choose who shares the following week.
 
Joe Amico kicked off our meeting by telling us how his Rotary journey began in 1975 while serving in a church in a small town in Wisconsin. He was asked to join primarily because the lunch meetings were hosted at the church, and the meals were prepared by women from the parish. He loved the Club and Rotary and proudly served as president during his tenure there. When he moved on from that position, it was not until he came to Salem that he was reacquainted with Rotary through an invitation from Honorary Salem Rotarian Dick Lutts. Joe recalled attending a meeting that featured Mayor Kim Driscoll as the speaker and told of how her comments about the need for affordable housing in Salem impacted him. A few years later, Joe is serving as our President-Elect and is also looking at a potential affordable housing development at his church. Joe selected Mark Shaw to share next week.

RotarIAN NEWS...

  • Liz Bradt is gearing up to celebrate her birthday with a camping and husky mushing trip in Maine.
  • Kristen Armstrong shared how her dog, Derby, ran out the front door, and she had to chase him around South Salem in her Christmas pajama pants and the only shoes near the front door, which were silver, open-toed high heels. After a stressful run, Derby returned home safely!
  • Gerrit Bradley proudly noted that his wife made her first sale on Etsy, where she is selling handmade jewelry and masks.
  • Glen Niemy shared his interest in learning how to assist minority-owned businesses in Salem. Rotarians suggested he be in touch with Rinus and/or the North Shore CDC who are doing important work in this area.
  • Mark Shaw noted that it was very cool and rainy in Florida, with a temperature somewhere in the 50s.
  • Claire Kallelis gave an overview of the Community Service Committee’s plans for the first Lifebridge dinner of the Rotary Year.

Club Announcements

Remembering Kang Yu
It is with great sadness I share DG Betsy Manzelli’s recent announcement that Kang Yu, President of Saugus Rotary Club and Assistant Governor for District 7930 for many, many years, passed away before Christmas. Kang was a dedicated and committed Rotarian for 30 years both as a member of the Rotary Club of Saugus and Assistant Governor. We all will miss his sweet disposition very much. The District will share more information as it becomes available.  Please keep the Rotary Club of Saugus and Kang's family in your hearts as they navigate through this difficult situation.
 
Dutch Drinks
Friday, January 15 at 6 PM
Let’s toast 2021 together at Dutch Drinks! If your New Year’s resolution has you watching calories or you are participating in a dry January, don’t let that prevent you from having some fun with your fellow Rotarians. Healthy snacks and beverages are always welcome!
 
Salem Patch Covers Our Santa’s Drive Through Event
Read more about the incredible young man behind the “Trouble the Dog” initiative that was part of our holiday drive through event and our Club’s involvement in the Salem Patch: “Trouble the Dog Toys & Books Given to 77 Kids in Foster Care: Salem Rotary Sponsored Event Helps 9-Year-Old Darius Noonan Deliver Trouble the Dog Plush Toys and Books to Kids in Foster Care.”
 
Salem Rotary Scholarship Applications Are Posted!
The 2021 scholarship applications are now available on our website. The Scholarship Committee is already working to promote this opportunity to seniors. Please help get the word out in any way you can and direct interested applicants to the “download files” section of our homepage on the bottom right for the applications. Applicants must be residents of Salem, Massachusetts and may not be the child, grandchild, niece, nephew, great niece or great nephew (this includes adoptive or step relationship) of any current member of Salem Rotary, or any person that has been a member of Salem Rotary within the past five years. These scholarships are available to grade 12 high school and trade school students pursuing college or a vocational trade. Applications will be accepted from February 24 through April 10, 2021.
 
Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, January 11
The Board approved three funds allocations as follows: $1,000 to support the Salem High Jazz Band; $500 to support the Salem High Chamber Singers; and $100 in memory of Scott Grover’s mother.
 
Lifebridge Dinner Wednesday, March 10
Thank you to the volunteers who worked with Claire and Kristen to prepare a delicious lasagna dinner for Lifebridge for this past Wednesday! The next dinner for Lifebridge is scheduled for Wednesday, March 10. Again, a recipe will be provide to volunteers so the meal will be consistent, and volunteers will make a portion of the dinner in their home kitchens. Please contact Kristen Armstrong or Claire Kallelis if you would like to volunteer in March or in the future.
Upcoming Speakers
Jan 19, 2021
Jan 26, 2021
"There Was A Time: Photographs of Salem 1978-1998"
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Birthdays 
Member Birthdays
Robert Barnard
January 1
 
John Hall
January 3
 
Elizabeth Bradt
January 14
 
Leslie Levesque
January 19
 
Ryan Guilmartin
January 21
 
Kenneth Rothwell
January 28
 
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Public Image Chair
 
Russell Hampton
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Tuesdays at 12:15 PM
Hawthorne Hotel
18 Washington Square
Salem, MA 01970
United States of America
We are currently meeting via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to returning to the Hawthorne Hotel soon! In the meantime, please email president@salemrotary.com for our Zoom link.
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