Members (10): Karen, Rod, Michelle, Marty, Deb, Alan, Ed G., Emma, Ed M., Jeff
Guest: Rahul Saklsena and Polly Mahoney (speakers)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Food Drive will be 11/22.
• Books have been distributed to Chester Elementary School and Springfield's Union Street.
• Springfield on the Move's Festival of Lights is on Nov. 21. For more info, click here.
• The November issue of the Rotary 7870 District newsletter has been published. It's been emailed to all members or you can view it by clicking here.
• The Kurn Hattin Christmas Project will take place in December with the Bellows Falls Rotary Club collaborating with our club.
TREX PLASTIC CHALLENGE UPDATE
The 14th bench that honors Lori Muse Gurney and the club’s 95th anniversary has been assembled and is awaiting pick up.
We are collecting towards out 15th bench which will be given to Union Street School. We have collected 428 pounds of plastic film towards our goal of 1000 pounds
To date, 12,576 pounds of plastic film (over 6-1/4 tons!) have been removed from the waste stream since we started this project in February of 2023, delivered to Shaw’s Supermarket, and heading to Trex Company for recycling.
Please continue to bring your plastic film to the Springfield Town Library. NOTE: We need volunteers to help sort the plastic at the Library. For more info, contact Alan.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
November 25
No Regular Club Meeting
Happy Thanksgiving
NOTE: Programs are updated on the club website.
The next board meeting will be at noon on Thurs., Dec. 4, 2025 in the conference room of Senior Solutions. Minutes of the board meetings can be found on the club website. All members are welcome to all board meetings, your input is valued, please come!
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
Club Immediate Past President Deb welcomed all to the November 18, 2025 club meeting held at the Springfield Area Parent Child Training Center. For the thought of the day, she offered this quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln, "I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice."
BOWL OF LIFE: (members put three things about themselves on paper and place into a bowl and then we try to identify the member)
This member's clue was: "I moved to Springfield in 2021 — Alan Englander.
HAPPY EVENTS:
Marty: Reading at Union Street School
Marty: John Somers' generous donation of two trash barrels so that we can continue to collect plastic film at the library.
Alan: New trash barrels at library.
Alan: Rotary in Action
Jeff: Luna's baptism
Jeff: Water bond vote today
Jeff: Rotary literacy project
Ed: John Somers' generosity
Ed: Emma's coordination of the Literacy Project
Karen: Today's guest speakers
Karen: Saturday's food drive
Emma: Reading at
Chester and Springfield elementary schools
The weekly prize of $4 was won by Ed M who gave it back to the club. The big raffle grows to $152.
PROGRAM:
Rahul Saksena, Reparative Panel Coordinator and Polly Mahoney, Reentry Coordinator, for the Greater Falls Community Justice Center (GFCJC), provided members with an in-depth look at the Center’s restorative justice programs and the powerful impact they have on individuals and the wider community.
Saksena explained how the GFCJC works closely with local law enforcement, the courts, and community volunteers to address harm through accountability, empathy-building, and collaborative problem-solving. As coordinator of the Center’s Reparative Panel, he highlighted the unique role community members play in helping individuals repair relationships, make amends, and reintegrate positively.
“Restorative justice is about strengthening community connections,” Saksena told the Club. “When people take responsibility for harm and work directly with those affected, it opens the door to real healing and long-term change.”
During the presentation, Mahoney outlined several successful local initiatives, including diversion programs for first-time offenders, community service projects, and educational interventions designed to reduce future harm.
She also emphasized the importance of volunteer participation and shared opportunities for community members—including Rotarians—to get involved.
For more information about the Greater Falls Community Justice Center, visit the organization’s website at https://www.greaterfallscjc.org/
Photo (l-r): Rahul Saksena and Polly Mahoney, coordinators for the Greater Falls Community Justice Center (GFCJC)
This bulletin attempts to give a gist of the meeting. However, it is always better to attend. If you have any complaints about the contents of this bulletin...
