At this year's District 7910 Conference, the Westborough Rotary Club received two prestigious awards: Best Club: Bronze Award in recognition for our club's outstanding service to the      community and to the world and the District Award in recognization and appreciation for our commitment to the Farmer's Market.  A special shout out goes to Kristin Bradley, the Farmer's Market Manager who has worked tirelessly to expand and improve the market with more vendors, kids' activities, music, food trucks, and wine/beer merchants.  As Kristin says, "I love bringing the community together throughout the Farmer's Market Season--our team of volunteers work hard and have fun!  It's also great getting help from the high school students."  

This year at the Farmer's Market, the Westborough Rotary Club is sponsoring a shoe donation drive to help those in need and to raise funds for our club.  Please come by the market and donate your gently used shoes (men's, women's, and children's).  

When did you join the Westborough Rotary Club?

 I joined in 2024, so guess I am a newbie!

What motivated you to join? 

After volunteering for a season at the Farmers Market and learning about Rotary's motto of “service above self,” I realized this was where I could connect with others who were passionate about helping the community without seeking recognition. Once I took on the responsibility of managing the Farmers Market, joining the Rotary Club became a natural next step.

What are your passions and how have you been able to express them through Rotary? 

I'm passionate about fostering community and seeing people find happiness. Growing up in a very affluent town, I didn't always feel a strong sense of belonging. I believe a person's humanity, not their financial status, truly defines them. Motivation comes from providing community support and helping local businesses grow. My vision is for everyone to feel welcome at the Market, and to understand that Rotarians care about them as individuals, not for what they can offer. Seeing genuine smiles when people talk about the first season of the new Market, and knowing that we've started a positive change for open dialogue, intergenerational friendships, food assistance, and crucial social skills for children – these moments are incredibly fulfilling.

What are some of the challenges that Westborough as a community faces? How has Rotary helped to address these challenges? 

Westborough, like many communities, faces challenges such as information overload and the lack of a central place to discover all the wonderful opportunities it offers. Living just outside Westborough, I observe it with a fresh perspective and recognize it as a truly caring community. Clubs like Rotary are essential in demonstrating what a dedicated group can achieve through teaching, mentoring, and offering support.

How has Rotary influenced you? Changed you? Impacted you? 

Fully embracing the principle of "Service Above Self" has inspired me to transition from a stressful job to focus more on my individual practice, Artful Learning, working creatively outside the box with adults and children with special needs and brain injuries. Last year, I left my job to dedicate myself to helping those individuals learn to embrace themselves and recognize their unique contributions. While this journey has meant I've totally neglected my children and husband (but as a mom of two college students and a golf widow, this is my time!), it's now my time to contribute to positive change in the community.