Hi Newark Rotarians,
April 2025 is behind us, and we are moving into May—bringing with it the promise that “April showers bring May flowers.”
It was another busy and impactful month for the Newark Rotary Club. We enjoyed a series of excellent programs, while Linda Werts and Paul Salisbury represented our club through their service work in Mexico. We also celebrated a Queen of Hearts winner—David Christler—and, as many of you know, half of the prize—over $1,200—will go toward supporting the Kay Espwa Orphanage in Haiti. We were also pleased to welcome several new members into our Rotary family.
I am especially excited to share that our Satellite Club was officially approved by our District. A huge thank you goes to Holly Kreuser for her dedication in making this happen.
Thank you to everyone who continues to live out Rotary’s spirit of Service Above Self.
In May, we have another busy month ahead, with committees meeting throughout the month to plan for our upcoming summer events.
To highlight a couple of key efforts, the Newark Family Festival Committee continues to meet monthly as they plan this year’s festival, scheduled for August 22nd. Family Fest remains our largest fundraiser of the year, and through sponsorships and the raffle, it plays a vital role in supporting all that we do throughout the year.
Additionally, President-Elect David Christler and the 100-Year Celebration Committee have been meeting to plan what promises to be a memorable evening this coming October.
Thank you all for your continued dedication and involvement.
Our Community Service Committee meets monthly, and if you’re not familiar with the process, all grant requests are first reviewed by the committee before moving through the approval process.
President-Nominee Steve Hallagan leads this committee and has compiled a comprehensive list of the many initiatives our Rotarians support. Take a moment to review it—your hard work throughout the year is what makes all of this possible.
This Rotary year alone, our efforts have included:
• July: Food Pantry collections throughout the month and a Foundation Grant to Family Promise
• August: Camp Onseyawa supplies and carnival support, along with our annual Family Fest
• October: St. Mark’s Baby Closet collections and our Service Above Self recognition event
• November: Salvation Army bell ringing, the Jack Blodgett Memorial Blood Drive, and a winter coat collection for local students
• December: Holiday food collections, support of the Newark Free Lunch Christmas distribution, poinsettias for homebound members, and Foundation grants supporting local programs
• February: Laurel House supply collections
• March: Our Pancake Breakfast and a Clean Water Project mission in Mexico
• April: The Bob Goodman Memorial Blood Drive, Route 88 and Canal cleanup, and the launch of the Community Garden
• May: A district grant bringing children’s author Liz Garton Scanlon to local elementary schools for workshops
Each of these projects represents the dedication, generosity, and impact of our club in the community and beyond.
Please consider getting involved in one of our committees that meet monthly. Your input is valuable, and it’s also an excellent way to connect with your fellow Rotarians.
Don’t forget to take a moment to enjoy the flowers.
— Chuck
