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President
Maarten Hemsley
Treasurer
Robert Mello
Secretary
Charlie Weyerhaeuser
Chair of Membership Committee
Karl Kunz
Public Image Chair
Bruce Rutter
Diversity Equity & Inclusion Chair
Karl Kunz
Youth Programs
Eimear Gorman
Club Foundation Chair
Barbara Mello
Service Projects Chair
David Conners
Sergeant-at-Arms
Robert Hebb
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WELCOME TO THE DUXBURY ROTARY CLUB
Our club was founded in 1950 and has been an important part of the Duxbury community ever since, providing opportunities to serve others and raising money for important causes.
 
Duxbury Rotary was a key supporter of Club President Razia Jan when she founded her school for girls in Afghanistan, and we continue to support Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation.
 
Every year we run events like Team Trivia Night and the Bluefish River Duck Race to raise funds for Duxbury High School scholarships and for our Good Neighbor Fund, which helps those in the community in need.
 
In 2020 the Club partnered with Duxbury Interfaith Council to launch Duxbury for All, an initiative that aims to address issues of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the town, to help make it a more welcoming community for all.  Read DfA's latest newsletter here. Our Club subscribes to Rotary International’s commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. View a summary of our recent DEI initiatives here (pdf).
 
In 2021 Duxbury for All launched the Duxbury Afghan Resettlement Initiative (DARI) that raises funds and provides facilities to host an Afghan refugee family in town.
 
In 2022 the Club added a Youth Programs Chair to begin collaboration with Duxbury Public Schools, and in 2023 we sponsored a new Boy Scout Troop in Town (Troop 1812).
 
If these are efforts that interest you, please consider joining!  We meet twice a month to plan events, and we have regular social meetings with spouses and partners.  Please contact our Membership Chair, Karl Kunz at the link below.  
 
WE ARE A PROUD MEMBER OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL, that has more than 1.2 million members around the globe, and has been the leader in eradicating polio, with support from the Gates Foundation.
2023 Duck Race is a huge success!
On August 19 Duxbury Rotary Club held its annual Duck Race at the Blue Fish River Bridge.  Our sincere thanks to the hundreds of local residents who bought more than 2,000 ducks to compete in the race. 
Thanks also to Brothers, Walgreens, the Duxbury Thrift Shop and Lux Nails and Spa for accommodating our sales teams. 
Many local merchants and organizations sold ducks on our behalf, contributing to our success this year.
Thanks to the following who decorated and entered “Megaducks” in their own race.
  • Brothers Marketplace
  • Chestnut Street Grille
  • D'Orazio's Italian Marketplace
  • Duxbury Oyster Company
  • Duxbury Animal Hospital
  • Green Harbor Lobster Pound
  • Hunt Landscaping 
  • Keller Williams Real Estate Company
  • ZAHMATS Hair Salon
  • Tufankjian Motors
  • Waterfront Realty
  • Duxbury Community Garden Club
  • Island Creek Oysters
The weather cooperated and we had a great turnout for the duck drops and the kids’ games.  With the Fire Department’s ladder truck unexpectedly undergoing repairs, the DPW stepped in to launch the ducks from their front-end loader.
We raised a record amount, far exceeding last year’s record.  Funds raised support the Club’s scholarships for DHS seniors and also our Good Neighbor Fund to help residents in financial distress.
The Duxbury Rotary Club really appreciates all the support it receives from the community.
Click Me!
Brothers Mega-Duck is the winner! 
Left-to-right: David Conners, Rotary Club Events Chair, Russ Blais, Brothers Store Manager and Danielle Bunting, Brothers Assistant Store Manager.
Click Me!
At Charter Night held at the Senior Center on June 21, Club President Maarten Hemsley presented Club member Charlie Weyerhaeuser a certificate for fifty years' continuous membership of the Club.
Club members join Duxbury for All supporters to honor the Rev. Dr. Catherine Cullen, who is leaving Duxbury after nineteen years.  As Chair of the Duxbury Interfaith Council, Catherine was instrumental in the formation of Duxbury for All in 2020.  We wish her well in her move to Florida!
On June 9 members of the Duxbury Rotary Club gathered at Chandler School to help second grade students assemble 400 “kindness bundles” for distribution to the homeless.  Students brought hundreds of pairs of socks to school, and these were combined with food and personal hygiene products donated by the Rotary and local vendors.  In the coming weeks Bill Selvitelle will be distributing these bundles in Boston.  Many thanks to Sara Milner and the Chandler School Helping Hands Committee led by Caitlin Larkin; second grade teachers Maura Doyle, Katie daGraca, Chris Burke, Jenn Flashner, Heidi Aufiero, Jess Siegel, Kate Dunn, Cathy Held, Melissa Faherty and Michelle Magner; and to Eimear Gorman, Rotary’s Youth Programs Chair.
On May 20, members of the Club partnered with Boy Scouts from Duxbury's Troop 1812 for a Litter Sweep along Route 14 in Duxbury, as part of Rotary's Regional Day of Service.
Home Page Stories
2023 Trivia Night
DUXBURY ROTARY'S TEAM TRIVIA NIGHT ON MARCH 18 WAS A GREAT SUCCESS! 
 
WE RAISED MORE THAN $5,000 FOR THE GOOD NEIGHBOR FUND. 
 
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE. 
 
BELOW IS THE WINNING TEAM - "DARI".  SEE THE ALBUM LIST BELOW LEFT FOR MORE PHOTOS (COURTESY KAREN WONG).
 
 
Good Neighbor Fund Appeal
Your Neighbors May Need Help
 
Since the pandemic began in 2020, Duxbury Rotary Club
has distributed almost $25,000
to families in need who live or work in Duxbury.
We continue to receive requests for assistance,
but our funds are running low.
 
You can help us continue this important program by donating to
Duxbury Rotary Good Neighbor Fund
 
Please click the Good Neighbor Fund donate button on this page
 
If you prefer to donate by check, please send it to P.O. Box 272, Duxbury, MA 02331
Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless
Duxbury Rotary is pleased to support Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless.
Club members provided clothing and holiday gifts to help make the holidays happier for more than 25 homeless families.
Festival of Lights 2022
Due to inclement weather, Duxbury Rotary hosted its annual Festival of Lights in the lobby at the Performing Arts Center, Saturday, December 3rd  There were crafts and face painting for the kids, plenty of cocoa and whipped cream, a performance by the Bay Farm Montessori Chorus, the Christmas tree brightly lit, Channukah blessings and of course, the highlight of the event was the arrival of Santa Claus!
 
The Club would like to thank the following Town and School Officials, merchants, and residents who contributed to the success of the Festival of Lights:
- Bay Farm Montessori Student Chorus
- Card My Yard, Plymouth
- Duxbury Breadboard
- Duxbury Deli
- Duxbury High School Student Volunteers
- Duxbury Municipal Services Department
- Duxbury Police Department
- Duxbury Selectboard
- Mr. David Lindamood (Santa)
- Mr. Rene Read and Staff, Duxbury Town Manager’s Office
- Ms. Christine Cass, Duxbury Performing Arts Center
- Ms. Caitlan Sheehan, Duxbury Public Schools
- Ms. Joanne Moore and Ms. Cathy Callahan, Duxbury Senior Center
- Ms. Marci Bracken
- South Shore Tent Rentals
- Sunshine Gardens
- Superintendent Danielle Klingaman, Duxbury Public Schools
- The Gilpatric Family
 
Two years ago, Duxbury Rotary and the Interfaith Council formed an initiative called Duxbury for All to promote inclusion, a central tenet so many faiths celebrate at this time of year. To make its traditional Christmas Tree Lighting an event that everyone could embrace, Rotary expanded the event to become a Festival of Lights, including symbols from different faiths, plus seasonal music from around the world—performed this year by Bay Farm Montessori Chorus. 
2022 Duxbury Rotary Club Duck Race
 
 
 
 
The annual Duxbury Rotary Club Duck Race was held on August 27th at the Blue Fish River.
 
The Board and members of the Club would like to express their sincere thanks to the hundreds of local residents who bought ducks.  Thanks to Brothers for accommodating our sales teams, and to the following local merchants and organizations who sold ducks on our behalf:
- Beehive Salon
- Chestnut Street Grill
- Duxbury American Legion
- Farfars
- French Memories
- Island Creek Oysters
- North Hill C.C.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors
 
We also enjoyed great support from the following who decorated and entered their “megaducks” in their own race:
- Brothers
- Chestnut Street Grill
- D'Orazio's
- Duxbury Animal Hospital
- Duxbury Community Garden Club
- Duxbury Wellness
- Hunt Landscaping
- Island Creek Oysters
- Keller Williams Realty
- KMBO
- The Studio
- Tufankjian Motors
- Waterfront Realty
- Zahmats

We had a great turnout and perfect weather.  As usual, the Fire Department handled the “duck drop” with professionalism, and the Police Department helped ensure a safe event.

We raised a record amount; funds raised support scholarships for DHS seniors and also our Good Neighbor Fund to help residents in financial distress.

The Duxbury Rotary Club really appreciates all the support it receives from the community.
Support for Ukraine
Duxbury Rotary Club is raising funds to help Ukrainian refugees.  We are working with the Rotary Club in Zamosc, a town in Poland near the Ukraine border, which is directly involved in helping some of the thousands of refugees who are crossing from Ukraine. 
 
 
To make a donation by check, please make it out to Duxbury Rotary Club, show “Ukraine” in the memo section and either drop it off at the Eastern Bank Branch on Depot Street, for credit to Duxbury Rotary Directors’ Account (preferred), or mail it to Duxbury Rotary Club, P O Box 272, Duxbury, MA 02331.  Many thanks for your support!
 
Team Trivia Night
 
“Team Trivia Night”
Saturday, April 23rd 
 
The event was a huge success, raising more than $6,000 to help Ukraine refugees in Poland.  Thanks to everyone who attended and supported this event!
 
 
  All proceeds to support Ukraine refugee relief.
MLK PRAYER SERVICE
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Prayer Service
Monday, JAN 18 2021@ 9AM via ZOOM
 
Co-hosted by the Duxbury Interfaith Council & Prejudice Free Duxbury.
 
Service will begin at 9 a.m. and will be followed by breakout sessions to discuss how we can further Dr. King's dream in the year to come.
Meeting ID: 863 1905 0821
Can We Talk?
We believe that to end the divisiveness in our country, we need to understand and respect each other.  
Listening to what we have to say about important issues facing us in our capital and in every community, is the first step.
 
Please join in a town-wide Zoom meeting to discuss the events in Washington last week, and the future of our country and community.
Hosted by Prejudice Free Duxbury, this Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 7pm.
 
(NOTE: This event occurred in 2021 and "Prejudice Free Duxbury" is now known as "DuxburyforAll". )
 
 
 
Prejudice Has No Place in Duxbury

We need your help. Please join us in making lasting change.

Prejudice Free Duxbury ( a collaboration between Duxbury Rotary and Duxbury No Place for Hate sent a letter to the editor of The Duxbury Clipper last week but it hasn't been published.  Here is the letter for your review. Please be sure to visit the Prejudice Free Duxbury website and tell us which task force you want to join.  The time to act is now.

"Dear Duxbury Clipper:

We’re writing to express our concern about the extremely negative posts we’re seeing on social media by supporters of candidates for local and national contests. The degree of prejudice expressed against religious and gender groups is shocking in this day and age, and a clear sign that we’re not as open and welcoming a town as we purport to be.
Since founding Prejudice Free Duxbury this spring, we’re often asked if racial, ethnic, religious and gender bias are still issues here. These social posts are proof positive that not just bias, but full-blown bigotry is still alive in Duxbury and neighboring communities.
If your readers are as appalled by the level of vitriol in these posts as we are, and would like to do something about it, we invite them to join us in our campaign to make Duxbury a truly safe and welcoming community for all. We have three task forces that have begun work on the issue—educating the public, engaging local organizations, identifying systemic issues and solutions—and need volunteers to help on each of them. To learn more about our work and sign up to help, please visit our website https://www.PrejudiceFreeDuxbury.org  .
 
(2021 NOTE:  The name "Prejudice Free Duxbury" has been changed to "Duxbury for All" you can find the new website here. )

Sincerely,
Catherine Cullen
Tara Downes
Fred L’Ecuyer
Brenda Hamadeh
Rev. Philomena Hare
Maarten Hemsley
Christian Koomey
Karl Kunz
Laura Neprud
Julius Prince
Joe Soares
Bruce Rutter
Anne Ward
Karen Wong "