After 40 years of service to the community, the Rotary Club of Shirley & the Mastics held the final meeting on November 26th and will cease club operations at the end of the year.
The club had supported many worthwhile projects through the years consistent with its motto, "Service Above Self,” noted Lorraine Kuehn, Assistant Governor of Rotary District 7255.
Their supporting efforts included literacy, scholarships, William Floyd High School Student of the Month recognitions, Interact Club, food and clothing drives, holiday donations, and Veterans of the Military, to name a few. They expressed gratitude for the community's support over many years.
Paul Casciano, a retired Superintendent of the William Floyd School District, served as president of the club for the last several years and contributed significantly to the Shirley-Mastic area. Active members were former Suffolk County Clerk Judy Pascale, Nancy Marks, a past trustee of the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, Club Treasurer Josephine Piech, and Peggy Guiducci.
The club was a driving force in the Tri-Hamlet Area over the decades having many community leaders as members. It was a go-to organization for local officials and VIPs and helped so many. They will be sorely missed, especially during the holidays, when they were a fixture at local shopping centers, organizing food and clothing drives for needy families.
The club brought together individuals from diverse professional backgrounds to make a positive impact both locally and worldwide. As part of an international organization, the club helped a worldwide push to eradicate Polio, an effort that raised over $2 billion and devoted countless volunteer hours toward the cause. They provided scholarships and leadership programs for youth through Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. Their Rotary Peace Centers fostered world peace, and they worked to improve access to clean water and sanitation globally by constructing wells, water purification systems, and toilets in underserved areas.
The Rotary is known for creating Global Connections through its international exchange programs, such as the Rotary Youth Exchange and Group Study Exchange, which promote cultural understanding and fellowship.
Rotary International was founded in 1905 by Chicago attorney Paul P. Harris. He formed the organization to create a platform for professionals to exchange ideas and build friendships while serving their communities. Since then, it has grown to approximately 1.4 million members and has been organized into over 46,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and regions worldwide.