Events

Fifth Thursday of the month is Club Social.

Details and location will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candace Cramer by clicking on his name on left corner.

Speaker: Kasey Boston, Executive Director, Brookline Teen Center

Ms. Boston will speak about youth empowerment, nonprofit innovation, and intergenerational service.
Details and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.

If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candace by clicking on her name at the left.

Speaker: Julie Burkley, FriendshipWorks

Ms Julie will present about FriendshipWorks and volunteering opportunities.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Ken Goldstein by clicking on his name at the left.

Rotarians support Brookline Thrives every 3rd or 4th Wednesday evening & on other shifts to help package weekend food for Brookline Public School students facing food scarcity.

Held at Brookline Thrives, 218 New Terrace Road

Sign-up on the blue button on the upper left corner
 

Speaker: Alexandra Johnson, Newton At Home

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Ken Goldstein by clicking on his name at the left.

Speaker: TBD

Details and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list. If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candace by clicking on her name at the left.

Speaker: Traci Griffith, Racial Justice Director at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts

Traci will share insights into how the ACLU of Massachusetts is responding to recent challenges to democracy and civil liberties. From the courts to the State House and communities across the Commonwealth, the ACLU continues to challenge unjust laws, defend free expression, and advocate for a more equitable and inclusive future.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Guest: Boston University - Rotaract Club

We’re excited to welcome members of the Boston University Rotaract Club! They will share highlights from their service projects and leadership activities during the fall and spring semesters, and explore opportunities for collaboration with Brookline Rotary. Rotaract brings together passionate student leaders committed to making a positive impact in their communities and around the world—we look forward to learning from them and strengthening our connection.

Details and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list. If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candace by clicking on her name at the left.

Speaker: Michael Rubenstein

Michael will be talking about the Chestnut Hill Commercial Area and the Select Board's work on this topic.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Speaker: Rotarian Arnie Miller

During this meeting, rotarian Arnie Miller will coach members on best practices for fundraising during Marathon Day.

Details and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list. If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candace by clicking on her name at the left.

Speakers: Rotarian Benson Mutua, Past President, Rotary Club of Emaili, Kenya & In-Country Director, Clay Int'l Secondary School 

A special meeting with the leads for the Clay International Secondary School (CISS), which is the school Brookline Rotary is working with for on a  Global Grant for clean water. Benson Mutua, the Rotarian and In-Country Director of CISS, is also the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Emaili, Kenya. Benson along with the principal of CISS will be visiting the USA for this meeting. Bob Wax, Chair, PEI,  a former Brookline resident and presenter  to Brookline Rotary about CISS and the clean water project will also be in  attendance.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Speaker: Marcus Gonyon

Marcus will be speaking on several topics, including the history of Liberia, the Liberian civil war and its effects, and the current state of schools and the challenges they face. He will also discuss the serious challenges in rural Liberia and share information about the Blessing and Faith Foundation.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Dear Brookline Rotary Volunteers,

I’m writing with an important update regarding our Marathon Monday plans.

Due to the weather forecast calling for cold temperatures and significant wind, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our Marathon Monday fundraising event.

This was not an easy call. We know how much time, energy, and enthusiasm so many of you have already put into planning and signing up to volunteer. Your willingness to show up for our club and our community means a great deal, and I’m truly grateful.

Ultimately, we felt this was the most responsible decision—for both our volunteers and the success of the event.

Thank you again for your flexibility and commitment. We will be in touch soon about other opportunities to come together and continue supporting our important work.

With appreciation,

Candace Cramer
President, Brookline Rotary Club (2025–2026)

Speaker: Aubrey Emmons, Coalition for Healthy Democracy

We will discuss Ballot Initiative 25-12, which would eliminate political party primaries for state elections and instead establish a system where there would be a single, all-party primary in which all candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, would be listed on one ballot, and voters could vote for any candidate on the ballot. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary would advance to the general election ballot. This initiative is aimed to address the problem of uncompetitive elections in Massachusetts which produce unresponsive government.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Rotarians support Brookline Thrives every 3rd or 4th Wednesday evening & on other shifts to help package weekend food for Brookline Public School students facing food scarcity.

Held at Brookline Thrives, 218 New Terrace Road

Sign-up on the blue button on the upper left corner
 

Fifth Thursday of the month is Club Social.

Details and location will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candace Cramer by clicking on his name on left corner.

Guest: Harvard and BU Engineers Without Borders

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Bearing Witness: Stories from Fellow Rotarians

The Metro Boston Rotary Workgroup for Peace & Conflict Resolution invites you to join a meaningful and timely conversation: Bearing Witness: Stories from Fellow Rotarians.

Moderated by Bernard Greene, this special evening will feature Rotarians Suheir Freitekh, Faiza Khan, Elias Audy, and Danette Day sharing personal experiences and reflections through storytelling and dialogue.

The program will include:

• A storytelling panel featuring Rotarians sharing personal experiences
• A guided reflection discussion with participants
• A closing reflection on how Rotary’s values of service, integrity, and peace can guide our actions during challenging times

At its heart, Bearing Witness is about recognizing our shared responsibility to listen, learn, and act with compassion. By coming together in dialogue, we honor Rotary’s commitment to peace, justice, and Service Above Self.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Rotarians support Brookline Thrives every 3rd or 4th Wednesday evening & on other shifts to help package weekend food for Brookline Public School students facing food scarcity.

Held at Brookline Thrives, 218 New Terrace Road

Sign-up on the blue button on the upper left corner
 

Brookline Rotary will provide refreshments for the students as they complete the Pride March from Brookline High School.  

This meeting will be held in the café in the Teen Center, 40 Aspinwall Avenue, Brookline MA 02446, following the Pride Celebration at the Teen Center.  Marchers will be walking in the Pride Parade from Brookline High School to the Teen Center, and Brookline Rotary will grill hamburgers and hot dogs to congratulate them on completing the walk.

We will be reviewing this event, planning additional service projects, and reviewing other end-of-year business for the club.  This is a good meeting to get updated on all the work of the club, the two Global Grants we are sponsoring, and planning next year's District Grant (submissions due June 30).  Bring ideas for projects we might undertake for about $3000 during Rotary year 2026-2027, which begins July 1.

This is an important, can’t-miss gathering for our club.

The World Café method is designed to encourage open dialogue, collaborative thinking, and the sharing of ideas in small rotating discussion groups. Through thoughtful conversation and collective reflection, we’ll explore:

• What is working well in our club
• Opportunities for growth and innovation
• Ways to strengthen member engagement and community impact
• Ideas that can shape the future of Brookline Rotary

Your voice matters—and this session will help define where we go next. Whether you are a longtime member or newer to the club, your perspective is valuable, and we strongly encourage you to be part of this important evening.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Brookline Rotary is excited to participate in Brookline Spring Fest 2026, the town’s fifth annual community celebration focused on environmental action and sustainability. This year’s theme, “Spring into Climate Action,” brings together local organizations, families, and community members for a fun and educational day outdoors.

As part of the festivities, Brookline Rotary will host a community barbecue, serving refreshments and connecting with attendees throughout the event.

Spring Fest will feature:
• Environmental education activities
• Yard games and crafting stations
• A tree identification walk
• Music, refreshments, and family-friendly activities
• Opportunities to learn about local sustainability and climate initiatives

If you would like to attend and/or volunteer, please use the Volunteer sign-up button at the left.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Rotarians support Brookline Thrives every 3rd or 4th Wednesday evening & on other shifts to help package weekend food for Brookline Public School students facing food scarcity.

Held at Brookline Thrives, 218 New Terrace Road

Sign-up on the blue button on the upper left corner
 

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Candance Cramer by clicking on her name at the left.

This week's guest speaker will introduce us to the Brookline Community Pool Initiative, a community-led effort advocating for the creation of Brookline's first public outdoor community pool.

The initiative aims to provide an affordable, accessible outdoor gathering space where residents of all ages can swim, exercise, learn water safety, and connect with neighbors. Supporters emphasize that an outdoor pool would expand access to swimming lessons, provide a safe place for youth during increasingly hot summers, create seasonal jobs for teens, and strengthen community health and wellness. The proposal also seeks to address the fact that Brookline is one of the few Greater Boston communities of its size without a public outdoor swimming facility.

Join us to learn more about the vision for this exciting community project, hear about its progress, and participate in what promises to be an informative discussion.

Location and Zoom link will be sent to made available through the Member Calendar and via email to those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact President Alex Neary by clicking on his name at the left.

For a meal at this meeting, be sure to RSVP before 5 pm on Tuesday July 7.

Details, location and Zoom link will be sent to Members and those on our mailing list.  If you would like to attend and are not on our mailing list, please email brooklinerotary@gmail.com or contact Alex Neary by clicking on her name at the left.