Jessica Branson joins Positive Directions as Interim Executive Director having lived in Westport, Norwalk and Fairfield County for over 30 years. Her upbringing in a family of empathetic healers and devoted community leaders instilled in her the importance of listening, nurturing, and empowering others. These values have guided her 25+ years of experience in business, media and marketing strategy for fortune 100 companies and her own growth consultancy. A compassionate and determined leader, she’s helped hundreds of brands and organizations raise awareness, build resilience, and create meaningful change by blending a for profit mindset with a nonprofit heart.
As a people person, Jess’ superpower is building connections. She leverages the talents and resources of individuals and organizations to inspire action, promote mental health awareness, and strengthen communities. “Making connections lights me up, and as a lifelong competitor, delivering results fills my cup.”
No stranger to adversity, Jess’s determined spirit was tested after contracting Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), a neurological nerve disease that paralyzed her for over 10 months. After a year in a wheelchair and years in therapy and rehab, her tenacity, grit and faith have helped her persevere. She has deep empathy for those battling mental and physical health challenges.
Jess’ experience changed her profoundly and inspired her mission to build healthier, more connected communities, perfectly synergistic with Positive Directions' vision “to strengthen the mental wellbeing of individuals and communities.” Her husband (Bill), family and friends were vital parts of her healing and life re-entry. She is forever thankful for the support of her caretakers, nurses, doctors, and therapists. She knows first-hand it takes a village, and she is honored to be a part of Positive Directions’.
Margaret joined Positive Directions in July 2020 as Director of Prevention after serving as a regional leader in behavioral health, as Executive Director of the Southwest Regional Mental Health Board for eight years and first Director of The Hub. In those roles she worked with a wide variety of stakeholders on initiatives to support the integration of mental health and substance use services; to improve prevention, treatment, and recovery; and to promote peer support. In 2017 she won the Policy Leadership Award from the Keep The Promise Coalition in recognition of her advocacy work. As a Board member of NAMI Connecticut since 2021, she chairs the statewide Public Policy Coalition.
Prior to her career in behavioral health, Margaret worked for 12 years in global health and eight years in education. She also has experience as a grants and publication editor.
Margaret received her MPH from UNC/Chapel Hill, her MA in Education from Columbia University, and her BA from Harvard. She is fluent in Spanish and French.
If there is a Westport school cancellation or delay due to the weather, we will not have a meeting in person. Call 203-341-1766 for the school district's snow message if you are not sure.
Come for coffee and breakfast at 7:00am.
The meeting will start at 7:30am.
Meeting Opener: Karen Klein
Greeters: Bruce Fritz, Bob Galan
VENMO SUSTAINING MEMBER
($100 annual)
@Joseph-Renzulli-1
The Club Calendar is at the end of this newsletter. Please refer to it to see the meeting schedule, social events and more. It will be updated when speakers and events are added.
The updated Greeters and Openers schedule is also near the end of the newsletter, so please check to see if you are on there!
Friday Meeting - March 20
Carey Mack Weber Executive Director
Fairfield University Art Museum
Carey shared the mission of Fairfield University Art Museum, its many collections and exhibitions, including the American flag “For Which It Stands” exhibition, along with past and upcoming events. She also shared how the passport of The Connecticut Art Trail gives admission to all 30 Art-Trail sites across CT for a year.
Katie opened the meeting and shared scientific meaning of the Spring Equinox.
Yvonne was the lucky raffle winner.
Mark Mathias was the jokester for the day, with one of his famous Dad jokes.
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Four Way Speech Contest - High School Students
Our Rotary 4 Way Test Speech Contest Semi Finals brought together an incredible group of high school students who showed courage, thoughtfulness, and heart. Each participant delivered a speech that was uniquely compelling—rooted in their own experiences, values, and hopes for the world. Their willingness to stand on a stage, speak with conviction, and apply the 4 Way Test to issues that matter to them is something truly special. They all demonstrated bravery, creativity, integrity, and leadership.
We are so proud of every single student who participated. Their families, teachers, and sponsoring Rotary clubs should feel the same. Thank you for helping us celebrate these remarkable students and for continuing to champion the 4 Way Test Speech Contest across our district.
Alex Burtzlaff, sponsored by Westport Sunrise Rotary Club, was one of the two winners from the semi-finals in Trumbull this month. The photo depicts Alex at the first competition at Staples High School in February, receiving his prize from Peter Helt, President of the Westport Rotary Club. WSR collaborated with Westport Rotary on the Westport contest and Alex won first place.
Alex is going to compete in the Finals on April 25 in Stratford. It would be great if some of our members could be there to support him! Please let Katie know if you can make it and ride with her.
It is my great pleasure to invite you to a special District 7980 ceremony on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, recognizing the extraordinary service of Past District Governor Winston “Win” Allen, who led our District during the 2000–2001 Rotary year. This recognition is offered in sincere appreciation of Win’s leadership and his trailblazing commitment to inclusion, diversity, and belonging within Rotary. My hope is that we not only celebrate Win but also honor the strong tradition of inclusive leadership carried forward by the Past District Governors who followed, and that our District continues to strengthen together.
In his honor, District 7980 has established the Winston “Win” Allen Award for Belonging and Diversity, which will recognize individuals who exemplify Rotary’s values through sustained efforts to foster belonging, advance diversity, and strengthen inclusive leadership within their clubs and communities. The presentation will be delivered by Rotary International Trustee Martha P. Helman, with the certificate signed and authorized by Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo.
The ceremony will take place during the Westport Rotary Club lunch meeting:
Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Greens Farms Church
71 Hillandale Road, Westport, CT
Rotary Peace Fellow Diego Carneiro from Quito, Ecuador will be there with his cello
Marie-Laure Kugel, Director of Development, Fairfield Arts & Minds, guest of Pete Wolgast
Tom Ayres, former WSR member David Keeton, guest of Katie Augustyn
GILLESPIE CENTER COOKING / SERVING SCHEDULE
One of our club’s ongoing and rewarding commitments to community service is our commitment to serving dinner meals on the first Saturday of each month at the Gillespie Center here in Westport.
We are back to serving meals at the newly renovated Gillespie Center. We have the option to drop off prepared meals at 4:30 PM or to bring meals to serve in person at 4:40 PM (allow extra time if the meals need to be reheated). Meal service should include a main dish, side dish, vegetable, and dessert (no nuts or shellfish please). The number of meals to provide, currently 25, will be confirmed to you to in advance when it is your turn to serve.
If you choose to drop off prepared meals at 4:30 PM you have the option to prepare homemade meals, purchase prepared meals at the store/restaurant of your choice, or you can contact Fresh Market on the Post Road in Westport where you can purchase prepared meals (protein, two sides and cookies for $7 - $10 per meal). If you choose the Fresh Market option call Tory at 203 227-2910 on the Monday prior to your meal service to place your order. You can pay for the meals when you pick them up.
If you are unable to work on your assigned Saturday you will be responsible to call other Rotarians on the list to switch dates.
Meal Servers Schedule April 4, 2026 Joe Renzulli Joe Scordato May 2, 2026 Steven Chin Matt Mandell June 6, 2026 Mark Mathias Paul Keblish July 4, 2926 BBQ
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Join Date
Anil Nair
May 1, 2009
17 years
Ron Holtz
May 1, 1991
35 years
Mark Mathias
May 3, 2003
23 years
Paris Looney
May 3, 2019
7 years
Liz Wong
May 4, 2012
14 years
MEETING OPENERS SCHEDULE
March 6 Senturia
13 Bernhard
20 Augustyn
27 Klein
April 10 Mullen
17 Renzulli
May 1 Fairborne
8 Mullen
15 Pllominski, S.
22 Galan
June 5 Wong D.
12 Robinson
19 Mandell
July 10 Masumian
17 Kumar
24 Hauck
GREETERS SCHEDULE
March Fritz; Galan
April Mandell; Violette
May Monroy-Smith; Zielinski
June Wetmore; Summers
2026
March
6: Gavin MacMahon, FassForward
13: Cliff Sirlin, Buy Build Fund
20: Carey Mack Weber, Fairfield University Art Museum
27: Jessica Branson, Positive Directions
April
3: NO MEETING - GOOD FRIDAY/PASSOVER
10: Horizons Academy
17: Samantha Sarelli, Ms. Globe USA 2005, social activist
