Our meetings are hybrid! Contact us for the Zoom link. Please check our website to verify the meeting location and time (we occasionally have evening meetings or meetings in other locations).
The Rotary Club of Bedford invites the community to a Membership Open House on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM at the Bedford Free Public Library, 7 Mudge Way, Bedford.
Whether you've always been curious about Rotary or are actively looking for a way to give back, this is your chance to see exactly what we do — and meet the people who do it.
In just one hour, you'll:
See our projects — from local community initiatives to international humanitarian work, including clean water, hunger relief, and youth programs
Hear from our members — real stories from Bedford residents about why they joined and what Rotary has meant to them
Learn about Rotary International — a global network of 1.4 million members in over 200 countries, united by a commitment to service
Get your questions answered — in a relaxed, no-pressure setting with light refreshments
The Rotary Club of Bedford has been serving our community and the world for decades. We are always looking for passionate, community-minded individuals who want to make a real difference.
This event is free and open to the public. No prior knowledge of Rotary required.
Light refreshments will be provided.
If you are willing to help with rides for people to and from the Community Dinner, please email bedford.rotary@gmail.com.
May 2026
President's Message
Thomas Pinney
Happy May! Things are getting busy for us. We had another great Community Dinner a few weeks ago. About 60 attendees shared a meal, conversation and met someone new. The First Baptist Church supplied 12 volunteers to greet, serve and mingle. Melinda led the kitchen staff preparing a wonderful meal for all.
Diana and Chris Jarvis hosted our annual Game Night this past weekend. Great food. Some games. Great conversation. It was an opportunity to just hang out and appreciate each other and play a game or two. Very excited to see Bob Cassidy, Ralph Hammond and Rebecca Neale. As well as everyone else. A huge Thank You to Diana and Chris for continuing this special club event.
May will also be a very busy month for us.
We have our special meeting on May 5th with the DG chain attending to present our very own Ralph with a couple of awards. Please make every effort to attend.
May 7th Lita is leading some Club women in another Women's Build at Habitat of Greater Lowell at their site in Concord.
May 9th Al is leading our second Bike Helmet giveaway in partnership with the Police Department. It is always a well-attended event.
May 12th is our Open House at the Library, where we will showcase all of the great things our Club does locally and abroad in the hopes of creating interest to join us. Paula and Marc have been leading the effort and have a well-established plan. We just need as many Rotarians to attend and support this effort.
Our last Community Dinner of this Rotary year will be on Wednesday, May 27 hosted by Parent's Diversity Council. If you haven't attended a meal, please come by and enjoy the experience.
Join us for the next Bedford Community Dinner on Tuesday, January 28th, at 5:30 pm at First Church. This dinner is open to all—neighbors, friends, and families are all welcome!
We’re excited to share that this will be our first Community Dinner with a co-host and sponsor, Middlesex Savings Bank. The MSB team will plan, cook, and serve the meal, and before dinner they’ll also offer a Fraud Prevention presentation with helpful tips to keep our community informed and safe. This session will equip you with the knowledge to protect yourself from scams and fraudulent activities. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn valuable tips and ask questions. The presentation will held at 4:30pm in Upper Fellowship Hall.
The Rotary Club of Bedford is pleased to report progress on two active Rotary International Global Grant projects—one as an International Partner and one as a significant active partner. Both projects required more than two years of careful planning and approval, underscoring the value of patience and persistence in global service. The Rainwater Catchment Tanks (RCTs) in Kenya project was approved in May 2025 and is now being implemented at 16 rural sites in western Kenya under the leadership of the Rotary Club of Maseno and Rotary Cadre Engineer Muyera. The Tricycle Ambulances in Ghana project recently received RI approval in December 2025. The Rotaract Club of Accra–West Legon serves as the Host Club, with the Rotary Club of Wa supporting five local deployment sites, in strategic partnership with Moving Health to strengthen emergency medical transportation. The Rotary Club of Bedford is proud to support these impactful global initiatives.
Our annual Winter Holiday Breakfast was a tremendous success, welcoming a large crowd of smiling children, families, and neighbors for a joyful morning full of holiday spirit. The room was buzzing with energy as families gathered to share a meal, connect with one another, and enjoy the warmth of a beloved community tradition. Seeing so many happy faces made it clear just how special this Rotary-led event continues to be for our town since its inception in 1986 as Breakfast with Santa.
One of the highlights of the morning was the wide variety of activities and entertainment that kept children (and adults!) smiling for hours. Families enjoyed the festive photo booth, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, cookie decorating, and hands-on crafts—complete with plenty of glue and glitter. The Bedford Science Center delighted children with animal encounters, including little chicks, guinea pigs, and a bearded dragon. Kids were thrilled to meet Willow, the Lane School therapy dog, and the Davis and Lane School mascots joined in the fun. Attendees also had opportunities to learn about and celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, adding to the inclusive spirit of the event. Musical entertainment filled the room thanks to performances by the Bellachords, Superintendent Cliff Chuang, and others. Balloon animals and face painting rounded out the festivities, truly offering hours of entertainment for all.
On December 4th, dedicated club members rolled up their sleeves and braved frigid temperatures to support a Habitat for Humanity build day in Concord. Despite the cold, spirits were high as the group came together with a shared purpose: helping build safe, affordable homes for families in our community. Throughout the day, volunteers made meaningful progress across multiple houses. One team focused their efforts on constructing a staircase for the first house, while others worked hard on the floor for the third home.
The Rotary Club of Bedford once again brightened the town—literally and figuratively—during this year’s Light Up Bedford event, held alongside Bedford’s annual Tree Lighting Celebration on the Town Common. With hundreds of residents gathered for the festive evening, Rotary members worked steadily to distribute visibility and safety gear to help keep pedestrians and cyclists safe during the darker winter months. This year’s effort was its most successful yet. Rotarians handed out 330 pedestrian safety lights and 100 reflective arm bands, all provided through the Bedford Rotary Foundation. In addition, thanks to the support of MassBike’s Lights Brigade program, the club distributed 35 sets of front and rear bicycle lights, offering cyclists an easy way to improve visibility on the roads.
As summer winds down, so does our summer meeting schedule of two meetings per month. Club leaders and the Board of Directors decided that going forward this year, we will meet three times per month, with two lunch meetings at 12:30 p.m. and one evening meeting at 6:00 p.m. The plan is to alternate the schedule in a day–evening–day pattern, though exact dates and locations are still being finalized.
The change reflects the numerous projects and activities that will commence in September, including the launch of the monthly Community Dinners. With more opportunities for service and fellowship ahead, the new schedule ensures members can stay connected while also making time for hands-on volunteering and social gatherings.
We look forward to seeing everyone at an upcoming meeting!
Bedford Library Meeting Room
Join us for the next Bedford Community Dinner on Tuesday, January 28th, at 5:30 pm at First Church. This dinner is open to all—neighbors, friends, and families are all welcome! 
Our annual Winter Holiday Breakfast was a tremendous success, welcoming a large crowd of smiling children, families, and neighbors for a joyful morning full of holiday spirit. The room was buzzing with energy as families gathered to share a meal, connect with one another, and enjoy the warmth of a beloved community tradition. Seeing so many happy faces made it clear just how special this Rotary-led event continues to be for our town since its inception in 1986 as Breakfast with Santa.
On December 4th, dedicated club members rolled up their sleeves and braved frigid temperatures to support a Habitat for Humanity build day in Concord. Despite the cold, spirits were high as the group came together with a shared purpose: helping build safe, affordable homes for families in our community. Throughout the day, volunteers made meaningful progress across multiple houses. One team focused their efforts on constructing a staircase for the first house, while others worked hard on the floor for the third home. 
The Rotary Club of Bedford once again brightened the town—literally and figuratively—during this year’s Light Up Bedford event, held alongside Bedford’s annual Tree Lighting Celebration on the Town Common. With hundreds of residents gathered for the festive evening, Rotary members worked steadily to distribute visibility and safety gear to help keep pedestrians and cyclists safe during the darker winter months.
As summer winds down, so does our summer meeting schedule of two meetings per month. Club leaders and the Board of Directors decided that going forward this year, we will meet three times per month, with two lunch meetings at 12:30 p.m. and one evening meeting at 6:00 p.m. The plan is to alternate the schedule in a day–evening–day pattern, though exact dates and locations are still being finalized.