Events

Project Home Again - Nancy Kannell  

When an acquaintance who was down on her luck came to Nancy and said her stove was broken and she had no money to fix it or buy a new one, she had an idea. Eighteen years later, Nancy’s passion for helping others has led PHA to grow from a one woman operation to a staff of dozens of volunteers serving hundreds of families a year.

At Project Home Again, they partner with social service agencies in northeastern Massachusetts to bring new and gently used household goods, furniture and appliances to low-income families in need.

Our mission is to provide them with the things they need to live with comfort and dignity. We try to make the experience as positive as we can, letting our clients “shop” to choose items that reflect their personality and individual style. It’s what allows us to truly turn their houses into homes.

Our work is people-focused and people-powered, and there are three groups that make the magic of Project Home Again possible — our clients, our volunteers and our donors.

Kate is a North Andover High School senior who is very involved in the school community.  After a visit to Africa she was deeply inspired to find a way to get school supplies to children in a village in Zimbabwe.  She wants to connect our regional Rotary clubs with Rotary clubs in Zimbabwe to help transport the supplies she and other students have collected.  

How Can Local Governments Earn Community Trust? 

The United States is facing a crisis of trust. Public trust in government in the US has been in decline for decades, and today only 24% of Americans say they can trust the government to do what is right. While the public conversation around trust in government often focuses on the national level, local governments are an equally important part of the equation. They are responsible for providing the everyday services that people depend on and generally interact more directly with their constituents. As such, they provide a key opportunity to repair government-community relationships.

During this presentation and Q&A, Emily Mello, Master in Public Policy graduate from the Harvard Kennedy School, will join us to discuss her research on how local governments can earn community trust. She will share the core findings from her thesis project and discuss how these lessons can be used by governments and civil society. 

Emily Mello has dedicated her career to advocacy and civic engagement, both internationally and domestically. She currently serves as a management consultant with The Bridgespan Group, helping nonprofits and philanthropy achieve greater social impact. She previously worked on local and national political campaigns, including Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. On the global side, she worked for an international women's health organization and advised the UN and foundations on their advocacy strategies. She received her Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and her BA from Northwestern University.

Amy’s personal commitment to fighting hunger began in 1997 when she joined the board of directors and volunteered at MVFB.  Amy served as recording secretary on the MVFB board until 2002, when she joined the staff as Assistant Director.  Amy served as Executive Director from 2005 – 2022, and took on the newly created positon, Director of Growth, in May 2022.  Amy received her associates degree in Communications from Endicott College and her bachelors in General Studies from Salem State College.  Her responsibilities at the Food Bank include raising awareness of the issues of hunger and health in the community, outreach to all constituencies, organizing and conducting fundraisers, volunteer recruitment, acting as liaison between the community and the organization, and providing supplemental support for all departments and programs at the food bank. 

Amy has served as vice-chair and chair of the Lowell Hunger Homeless Commission, and on the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, Lowell Pop Warner Cheerleading and Football and Lowell Council on Aging Boards of Directors.  Amy represents the Food Bank on the Greater Lowell Health Alliance’s Steering Committee and Healthy Eating and Living Task Force; the Non Profit Alliance of Greater Lowell, on the Essex County/Merrimack Valley Food Resiliency Partnership and Food Bank Coalition of Massachusetts, and was recently named a board member of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.  Ms. Pessia is a proud Rotarian, having served as President of the Rotary Club of Lowell in 2018-19.  Amy has received the Salute to Women in the Region Award from the Lowell Sun, and the Municipal Award from Lowell Telemedia Corporation, but her favorite accomplishment is raising her daughter, Sophia, aged 19, a second year college student. 

PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION FOR THIS MEETING ONLY: 

Andover Old Town Hall, 20 Main Street, Second Floor Function Hall 

Join the American Legion, Andover's Patriotic Holiday Committee and the Andover Rotary Club for an important meeting at which we will honor and celebrate our Veterans. 

Town Manager Andrew Flanagan and Building Committee Chair Joel Blumstein will discuss the Special Town Meeting that will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at 7:00 pm at the Collins Center at Andover High School. The purpose of the meeting is to consider whether to authorize additional funds to allow completion of construction of the new West Elementary and Shawsheen Preschool. A two-thirds vote is required for passage. By way of background, in June of 2021, at Annual Town Meeting and at the ballot box, funds were authorized for the design and construction of the new school. The total project budget was set at $151,661,968, which included a maximum grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) of $38,442,820. Due to factors affecting the overall economy – supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, inflation, the war in Ukraine – construction costs have increased significantly, resulting in a budget deficit and thus the need for a Special Town Meeting. The exact amount of the budget request is still being determined but is likely to be in the range of $15-16 million. An appropriation of $16 million would result in an annual tax increase of about $70 for the average value single-family home.

Anthony “Tony” Serio: 

Tony grew up locally in Belmont, MA before receiving his undergraduate degree in

Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Master’s Degree in Social Work from

Simmons University. Most recently, he worked for the Town of Lexington as the Assistant Director of

Youth & Family Services, where he provided clinical social work services for Lexington community

members under the age of 60. In addition to counseling, Tony facilitated seasonal program

opportunities for low-income community members, led a monthly community-crisis intervention team

in partnership with local police, health, and fire departments, provided free suicide prevention trainings,

and offered drop-in workshops, afterschool activities, and social events for Lexington teenagers in

partnership with Cary Memorial Library.

Prior to working for the Town of Lexington, Tony maintained several clinical positions within the field of

social work across various school, hospital, and behavioral health settings. These positions included

providing intensive case management at an inpatient residential facility, providing individual and

community-based counseling services via the Child-Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI), working as the

Clinical Coordinator of a DMH-funded residential program, and coordinating summer activities for a

therapeutic foster care agency. Through these experiences, Tony gained an array of clinical skills as well

as a depth of knowledge of the mental health system and available resources, which has further

enhanced his approach to working with youth and families. Finally, Tony’s hobbies and interests include

outdoor education, playing music, and cooking, which he looks forward to sharing with AYS on a regular

basis.

Hayato Tsurumaki: 

My name is Hayato Tsurumaki, new Assistant Director of Andover Youth Services. I have over 15 years of experience in the Recreation field, planning and implementing programs for toddlers through adults.

Most recently, I was the Recreation Supervisor for the Town of Lexington for almost the past 4 years. During my time there, I was responsible for overseeing our two aquatic facilities (pool complex with 4 pools and a reservoir), oversaw all our flag football and basketball leagues, managed all the field permitting for over 30 ballfields, and oversaw over 150 seasonal staff and volunteers.

I recently received my certification as a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) to show my commitment to the field and to continue my growth, knowledge and network of fellow colleagues.

Growing up, I would always take part in many recreational classes, programs and various sports teams. Having the ability to participate in these programs, has fueled my passion to provide services for others. The thing I enjoy most about my work is fostering a fun, safe space for others to create new connections within the community and being able to provide similar opportunities that I was afforded when I was younger. 

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, coaching my son’s sports teams, watching college and professional sports, going to the beach, and going out to try new foods.

I am excited to bring my knowledge and experience to the Town of Andover, specifically to the youth in the community and hope to get to know everyone soon! 

Carmen Vega currently serves as Executive Director of Lazarus House Ministries. She has worked at other positions within the organization for four years, including: Shelter Program Director and Transitional Housing Program Director.   

Before joining Lazarus House she spent over twenty years serving the Greater Lawrence community through a diverse range of entities and organizations including: The Essex County Sheriff’s Department, The City of Lawrence School Department, Family Services of the Merrimack Valley and faith based nonprofits.

Carmen is passionate about Lazarus House’s mission, which is “To honor God in our work by serving every person we encounter with dignity and respect. We offer community, food, shelter, clothing, and advocacy services with an open and non-judgmental heart.”

She was born and raised in the Hancock Housing Projects in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Her family, friends and neighbors all struggled with many issues one witnesses in a typical urban city; some of the same hardships that the families served by Lazarus House are working to overcome. It is through her lived experiences, that Carmen leads the organization to serve families and individuals struggling with food insecurity, poverty, and homelessness.

In her “free” time, Carmen serves as an Associate Pastor at MAJES Worship Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She enjoys weekend adventures with her family, which includes her husband Mike, her son Luis, and daughters Diandra and Mikeyla.

Credentials:

Carmen H. Vega, Med, LMHC

• Master of Education, Mental Health Counseling Mount Washington College
• LMHC BIO Education Cambridge College
• Bachelor of Arts, Psychology North Shore Community College
• Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate Languages
• Associate Pastor, MAJES Worship Center

Join Elaine Clements, Executive Director, Anodver Center for History & Culture, Andover's premier authority on history and culture for a discussion about the Town's history in 1646 and the history of the Town Seal.

Email Mark Spencer, Bell Ringing Captain for more information  - mspencer@wateranalytics.net

The Zoning Bylaw Recodification has been a multi-year process, starting with the budget request for funding of a consultant to help Town staff, to the request for proposals to select the consultant, selection of a working group, public input meetings then to a final submission of the recodified bylaw for Town Meeting.  Barrett Planning Group in collaboration with Robert P. Mitchell, FAICP was chosen as the consultant to assist the Town with the recodifying of the bylaw.  

The current Zoning Bylaw was adopted by Andover Town Meeting in 2001. Since then, the Town has added a new zoning district (ID2); 3 overlay districts (Senior Residential Community Overlay District, Medical Marijuana Overlay District and Historic Mill Overlay District); rezoned areas from Single Residence A (SRA) to General Business (GB) and Industrial A (IA) to Single Residence A (SRA), amended sections of the sign bylaw, Table of Uses, home occupations, historic preservation and other key sections of the bylaw. It is time to improve accessibility of the bylaw by reformatting and reorganizing content to make it navigable, eliminate confusing language and to clarify existing provisions.  In a few instances portions of the bylaw were revised to be in conformance with state statutes, state standards and current case law.

Our speaker is Dave VanArsdale who retired in 2013 after 41 years in ministry that started in Framingham and concluded as Pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Sun City, AZ. We moved to the Edgewood Retirement Community in North Andover in 2016.  We are parents of 3 sons and 8 grandchildren. Dave is now serving as the Chair of the Council on Aging for North Andover.  

Melissa Rowe Sherwood is the President and 4th generation of her family to serve as a Public Insurance Adjuster. As a licensed Public Insurance Adjuster, Melissa provides representation and advocacy for clients that have experienced residential or commercial property loss. Melissa’s expertise lies in the complex claims process resulting from fire, flood, water damage and other damaging events. Melissa has experience in large claim negotiations and holds a B.S. in Psychology from Assumption University

Marcy Furse is Manager of Volunteer Engagement at Lazarus Houses Ministries. 

She was born and raised in Michigan, and attended college there. She then resided in California as well as Australia before settling on the East Coast.

Marcy was introduced to Lazarus House nearly 20 years ago when she served on a volunteer team that served breakfast at the Soup Kitchen. Passionate about the organization's mission since that time, she joined the staff full-time in 2016, putting to use her professional experience in public relations and event management. 

Marcy feels privileged to live out her faith each day, serving God, by coming alongside the vulnerable and needy. She sees first-hand the positive power of service in an individual's life and delights in connecting hearts and hands of service to immediate Guests' needs. 

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Each and every volunteer plays an important part in fulfilling the Lazarus House Mission. We meet our Guests where they are and serve them with enduring dignity and respect.

Through an engaging array of in person and remote opportunities, we make it simple to volunteer and positively impact the lives of our Guests, sometimes people you may never even meet.

https://lazarushouse.org/get-involved/

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship and the Power of Networks 

Christine Cloonan received a 2008-2009 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, supported by the Andover Rotary Club, to go to Buenos Aires, Argentina where she was hosted by the Club of Nueva Pompeya.  The scholarship supported her studies for a Master of Finance at la Universidad Torcuato di Tella. The degree enabled her to start a career in corporate finance. As a result of her experiences in Argentina, she became active in corporate philanthropy and women’s leadership. She established a partnership between American Tower, a Fortune 500 company, and Junior Achievement Americas, one of the world’s largest youth serving NGOs, and served as the President of the Boston Chapter of the Ellevate Network, a Global Community of women committed to fostering and promoting gender equality in the workplace. The Boston Chamber of Commerce selected her as a Future Leader in 2017 and she currently serves as Co-Chair of Kids in Tech, an after-school tech club in Lowell and Boston.  She’s a graduate of Phillips Academy, Bowdoin College and holds a Master of Spanish from Middlebury College.

So what is a CVB? Join us as we welcome Nancy Gardella, Executive Director, North of Boston Convention & Visitor's Bureau. 

As Executive Director of the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nancy oversees a membership based, not-for-profit destination marketing organization that supports economic development by promoting the 34 communities of Essex County as a premier, year-round destination, attracting travelers from around the world to our part of the world to enjoy all our region offers for vacationers, group tours, small meetings, incentives, sports, events, weddings and more. 

Nancy's work in the non-profit sector includes economic and business development, marketing, community organizing and program development.   She serves as the co-chair of the Massachusetts Regional Tourism Councils, is a business mentor with SCORE, and passionate about supporting small businesses in our region.

Ralph Bledsoe, Science Teacher and Public Servant

Bledsoe, originally from Los Angeles, attended Northfield Mount Hermon and the University of Southern California. He now teaches physics and chemistry at Andover High School, AHS, that is in the top 5.4% of U.S. Public High Schools. At AHS, he works with international teachers yearly from the Fulbright/TEA program at U. Mass. Lowell, showing them the U.S. education system in Andover. He is also Chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee for the Andover Education Association, teacher union.

Bledsoe is Clerk for Andover Baptist Church and Vice-Chair of the Council on Aging Board for The Robb Center Andover Elder Services. He won a Massachusetts State House Award, Black Excellence on the Hill, for delivering King’s I Have a Dream speech to the four corners of Massachusetts and now is on the North Andover Celebrates African American History Month Taskforce.

Joan Arsenault joined the Rotary Club of Ipswich-Rowley in 2006.  She was on the Board of Directors for 5 years and served as Club President in 2010-2011.  Joan currently is on the membership committee for Ipswich-Rowley Rotary and will be Foundation Chair next year. 

Joan was District Governor 2019-2020 and is currently the District’s Rotary Foundation Chair.  Joan is a Regional Vice Chair for Northeast Rotary Leadership Institute, a RLI facilitator and Co-President of Corks & Caps Wine Fellowship, a local chapter of Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship (RWAF).  She also serves on the BOD of RWAF.  Joan and her husband are Major Donors, Bequest Society members, multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Paul Harris Society members and charter members of D7930 PolioPLUS Society. 

Joan currently resides in Ipswich with her husband Bob. She is the Owner and CEO of MassTex Imaging, LLC, a Mobile Medical Practice specializing in Swallowing Disorders.  Joan has a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and has practiced in her field for over 40 years.  She was an elected official on the Ipswich School Committee, serving for 12 years, 7 of those as Chair.   Joan served on the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, a nationally elected position for six years, ending in 2021 and remains on the Application Committee for Board Certification.

Erin Fletcher Stern

CEO and Co-Founder, Camp Casco

Erin Fletcher Stern is the CEO and president of Camp Casco, a local nonprofit organization that provides free camps and community-building programs for childhood cancer patients, survivors, and siblings. Originally from San Diego, California, Erin became involved in the pediatric cancer community as a volunteer at a long-running camp in the area, while pursuing her undergraduate degree in microbiology at San Diego State. In 2013, she moved to Boston to study cancer biology at Harvard University's Biological and Biomedical Sciences program as a Ford Predoctoral Fellow.

It was there that she met Dr. Michael Goldberg, then an Assistant Professor at Dana-Farber. They decided to team up and start Camp Casco, a free camp designed just for kids surviving cancer, based right here in Massachusetts. The first camp session in 2015 was so successful that Erin ultimately left her lab work to run the organization full-time. Since then, Camp Casco has continued to grow year after year, with three separate camp sessions now offered each summer, as well as gatherings for families throughout the year.

Join us as we all learn more about RYLA!

Yoiu don't want to miss this meeting. Christina Harris, who has one of the best jobs in the District as the Chair of the District RYLA Committee will be with us along with a RYLArian.