Upcoming Speakers and Events
August 6 Speaker: Maria Davis – Open Doors
Open Doors strives to make a direct impact in the Greater Norwalk area by guiding every person in the cycle of homelessness towards housing stability.
Maria Davis, A seasoned strategist who is passionate about finding simple solutions to complex problems.
July 31 Westport Rotary and Sunrise Rotary Beach Social
Compo Beach 5:30 pm – South Beach Picnic area
August 11 2:00 – 4:00 Opus For Peace – ‘Amistad’ Opera
This performance, at the Westport Library, is the kickoff of Opus for Peace, a District 7980 initiative designed to promote peace-building around the world, in our communities, and within ourselves through the Arts. The Amistad event is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Mystic, Westport and Westport Sunrise, reflecting our commitment to promoting peace-building and conflict transformation through the Arts. Learn more about Opus for Peace.
Please Register Here
August 20 Speaker: Jay Norris
Details TBD
September 3 Speaker: Sara Deren – Experience Camps
Sara Deren is the Founder and CEO of Experience Camps, a national organization that provides a free week of sleep-away camp to over 1,500 grieving children across the United States who have lost a parent or sibling. Under Sara;s leadership Experience Camp has conducted original research on the state of grief and launched a network of programs and platforms to support these children, She blends her background in finance and buisness with her passion for the mission, making a significant impact in the lives of greiving kids and teens.
September 10 Speakers: Michael Friedman and Donna Vita – The Lost Rock & Roll Negatives Project
Co-Founders and Co-Authors Lost in storage, the negatives for incredible photos of legendary musicians were recently discovered in Michael Friedman’s attic.
Friedman was an avid photographer when he worked in the music business in the 60’s and 70’s as a manager and producer. He had the opportunity to befriend, work with, and photograph, legendary musical artists including Janis Joplin, The Band, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, Todd Rundgren, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, James Cotton & the Rolling Stones
~ LobsterFest SAVE THE DATE Saturday September 21, 2024 ~
LobsterFest is our primary fundraising event held at Compo Beach every third Saturday in September rain or shine. Over 1,500 meals of either twin lobsters or a steak with all the fixings are served. The ticket also includes wine, beer, non-alcoholic beverages, a live band and lots of entertainment for kids. It has become a popular day for Westport families and an iconic community event.
We also have an impressive list of generous individuals and companies who sponsor LobsterFest financially each year. We are extremely grateful to those sponsors!
We are also grateful to the 200+ volunteers from the community who help us run the event.
Our fundraising success allows us to give out charitable grants to both local and international organizations. 100% of the profits goes to charities.
BECOME A SPONSOR
All funds raised at LobsterFest are donated to local and international charities. Giving to the Westport Rotary Club is “one-stop shopping”. Donations support a wide range of both local nonprofit organizations and many international humanitarian projects. The Westport Rotary Club Charitable and International Giving Committees vet each grant application determining suitability and the greatest levels of need.
Interested in becoming a LobsterFest sponsor?
Please contact one of our Co-Chairs of Fundraising:
Kenny Epstein – kennyepst@gmail.com
Leslie Roberts – leslie2of8@gmail.com
LobsterFest Elite Sponsors 2023
Titanium Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Recent Speakers
July 16 Speaker: Dan Woog, “Behind the Scenes at 06880”
Dan Woog, creator of the must-read Westport-focused news blog “06880,” has four passions: Westport, writing, soccer and LGBTQ issues. Occasionally, they intersect.
On July 16, he will address the Westport Rotary Club at Greens Farms Congregational Church, offering an entertaining glimpse of the inner workings of what has become a town institution.
The general public is welcome to attend. See the bottom of this page for details.
Dan started “06880” in 2009. The tagline is “Where Westport meets the world,” and it gets up to 20,000 hits a day. He has written over 16,000 stories and has never missed a day of posting. In 2021, “06880” became a nonprofit foundation with a mission to educate and bring the Westport community together.
A fulltime freelance writer, Dan has been published in the New York Times and Sports Illustrated. He has also written 18 books. His “Jocks” series on gay athletes marked the nation’s first introduction to this topic. His memoir about coaching is We Kick Balls: True Stories of the Youth Soccer Wars. In 2005, Dan wrote a 380-page history of Staples High School.
Dan was the head boys soccer coach at Staples High School from 2003 to 2021. He was named National Youth Coach of the Year in 1991. He was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame (2000) and has earned the National Coaches Association’s President’s Award. He is on the organization’s board of directors overseeing all diversity, inclusion and equity efforts.
Dan was a charter member of TEAM Westport (the town’s diversity group) and is a 10-year member of the Westport Youth Commission.
New Club President Inducted
The Westport Rotary Club ushered in its new president for the 2024–2025 term, Goldie James (right), during its annual Pass the Gavel lobster dinner and ceremony, held on Friday, June 28, at the Ned Dimes Marina in Westport. Outgoing president Kenny Epstein (wearing a club gift of a Hawaiian shirt with his face plastered all over it) handed over the ceremonial gavel in front of an outdoor audience of club members and guests. Congratulations were given to both leaders as the club gears up preparations for this year’s LobsterFest, scheduled for Saturday, September 21 at Compo Beach in Westport. Tickets go on sale in August. Stay tuned!
What Is Rotary?
Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.4 million business, professional, and community leaders spread throughout 37,000 Rotary Clubs in more than 200 countries.
Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, share the main objective of service — in the community, in the workspace and throughout the world.
Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world. Membership is by application or invitation.
Westport Rotary Club invites you to join a meeting to learn more
Meetings are held every TUESDAY except the last Tuesday of the month in person at 12:00 pm. For more information please contact the club president or member chair.
In person lunch meetings are held at: Greens Farms Congregational Church – 71 Hillandale Rd Westport, CT 06880
Member Chair: Audrey Demetres – audreydemetres@gmail.com
AVENUES OF SERVICE
We channel our commitment to service through five avenues, which are the foundation of club activity.
Club
Service
A thriving club is anchored by strong relationships and an active membership development plan.
Vocational Service
Rotarians work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society.
Community Service
We find ways to improve the quality of life for people in their communities and to serve the public interest.
International Service
We promote peace & understanding globally by sponsoring or volunteering on projects around the world.
Youth
Service
Rotarians work to empower young people through leadership development programs, encouraging the next generation of leaders.