This page was updated July 2026.
The Wellesley Rotary Club‘s motto is “Service Above Self,” an ethos the group lives and breathes through its various programs dedicated to strengthening communities in the areas of health, education and sustainable living.
Rotary Club meetings
1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month.
The meetings are 7pm – 8pm and are often preceded by a buffet at 6:15pm
Rotary Club welcomes new president
June 2026–The Rotary Club of Wellesley, with PDG Dick Manelis, proudly welcomed Kip Dole as President for 2026–2027 and installed its new Board of Directors. Rotary also celebrated members whose service, leadership, and dedication have helped strengthen the club and community.
Congratulations on well-deserved recognitions
- Don McCauley – Past President
- Linda Tighe – Rotarian of the Year
- Edith Paley – Rookie of the Year
Here’s to another year of living Rotary’s motto: Service Above Self.
Recent Rotary Club speakers:
- March 2024—Rebecca Dalmas, a pioneer in restoring literacy rates in our society today. With more than 30 years experience in working with children and families Rebecca has transformed reading and cognitive development to be more of a joy than a struggle.
- Jan. 2024—Brian Moynihan, chairman and CEO of Bank of America. Moynihan planned to cover topics such as the economy and the state of the financial industry. And he did once climate activists were escorted out of the $100/plate dinner at the Wellesleuy Country Club.
- Wellesley Health Board member and infectious diseases physician Dr. Shira Doron—“Crisis Is the Mother of Innovation: How I led a Hospital Infection Control Response to a Global Pandemic”
- Teenage cultural ambassador Maria Qaiser, who spoke about her experiences as a Pakastani exchange student studying at Wellesley High School
- Dr. Marybeth Martello, the Town of Wellesley’s Climate Action Director, who spoke about the development of a town-wide Climate Action Plan
Membership information
Mailing address:
Rotary Club of Wellesley
P.O. 81206
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
Telephone number: 781-591-0759
email: wellesley.rotary.club@gmail.comSome Rotary Club programs and events
Dinner on Us Sweepstakes: The Rotarians’ fall 2023 fundraising event was their Dinner On Us Sweepstakes. Those feeling lucky and/or charitable donated $20-$200, depending on the category, and entered to win big.
The Wellesley Rotary club has purchased gift cards from 50 Wellesley restaurants, and many restaurants donated gift card prizes of $100, $50, and $25.
“Taste of Wellesley” annual fundraiser. Rotarians and just about the entire town gathered at the Wellesley Country Club on for the annual “Taste of Wellesley” event, which featured a wide variety of signature dishes from Wellesley’s fine restaurants, cafes, and caterers. Live music and a silent auction added to keeping the “fun” in “fundraiser.”
All of us are experiencing significantly higher costs for food. For the 400+ low-income families and seniors living in our community, food insecurity has become a much bigger issue. The students at MassBay Community College, and our homeless veterans, are also grappling with food insecurity. The proceeds raised from Taste of Wellesley 2024 provide meals for our low-income residents, and provide direct support to MassBay students and organizations that support homeless veterans. Rotary volunteers will be distributing the meals prepared by our local restaurants and serving meals for the veterans.
Tree saplings for 4th graders: In spring 2023, the Club gave each student a 12″ tulip tree in celebration of Arbor Day, and as a way to help keep the town’s designation as a Tree City intact. Dozens of Rotary volunteers bagged up over 500 saplings for distribution to the 4th graders. The yearly project is done in partnership with the Department of Public Works and has made thousands of saplings available to kids.
Wellesley Rotary Club, trees for Arbor Day, 2023. Many Rotary Club members were on hand to rally eager volunteers as they bagged up over 500 tulip tree saplings. Every 4th grade student in the Wellesley Public Schools received one, with planting instructions. Photo by Deborah Brown Environmental initiatives
Repair Café – Fixing Household items for continued use
Vernal Pool Boardwalk – designed and built to allow access to conservation areas
The Wellesley vernal pool boardwalk is a 400-foot boardwalk completed in 2019 and accessible from Turner Rd. (located off Weston Rd). A stonedust path from Turner Rd. leads to the accessible boardwalk that takes visitors to a lookout spot at the vernal pool and to the North 40. The project was funded via Community Preservation Act monies from the Wellesley Community Preservation Committee, was overseen by the Wellesley Natural Resources Commission (NRC), and was built by volunteers including from the Rotary Club.
