Weekly Bulletin March 20, 2025

Link to Zoom (same each week):

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84916785011?pwd=JDrabMAbbayyodD0xueP0c201oERBW.1
Passcode: 917903

Beginning in the new Rotary year, all NMRC members are asked to make their Rotary Foundation contributions directly to TRF via Rotary Direct. Instructions will be provided. After June, contributions will no longer be invoiced by our treasurer. This will get your money to TRF faster, get your tax recognition faster, enable you to manage your contributions, and free up the responsibility from our treasurer. Specific instructions will becoming.

This year’s Rotary Has Heart got off to a bad start with inclement weather. Rescheduled for ONE DAY MARCH 20, chair Laurie Williams will have special drawings and prizes for those who bring nonperishables for the Food Bank. Requested items include canned fruits and vegetables, canned and dried beans, canned meats, hot and cold cereal, peanut butter, grains, 100% fruit and vegetable juices, and healthy snacks. Let’s show Rotary Has Heart!

The deadline for reserving ad spots in the 2025 issue HAS BE EXTENDED ONE WEEK.. The goal this year is $45,000 in ads. We’re only half the way there. Chairman Cindi Viviano, along with Ed Gossett on sales, will be awarding prizes for number of ads sold, amount of dollars of ads sold, and number of renewals of new ads sold. Don’t miss out!

or would you rather sell pizza kits, sell raffle tickets, hold beef and beer dinners, or dig into your personal savings? I didn’t think so…..

Do you know of the 30ish ads sold so far, less than half of them are repeat ads? We typically have about 70-80 ads. As of last week we had only about 15 repeat ads confirmed for this year. Let’s get the low hanging fruit… ask your advertiser to renew their ad of the same size OR GO UP IN SIZE!

did I mention pizza kits……..

In Fall of 2024, we raised $27,960 through our Flags For Heroes program. Way to go! Many thanks to Chair Clinton Tymes, co-chair B.J. DiDonato, and their team. In the next few weeks the money will be disbursed to several veterans and youth connected organizations. Checks will be given to the organizations at our March 20 meeting. 

Our project for this year is about Empowering Girls (and guys). Part one is to provide 100 hygiene kits for low income and homeless girls at each of the five high schools. So far kits have been packed and delivered to Christiana High School, will be packed by Interact students at Newark Charter on March 10 and Aspira students on May  9. Kits will still be packed and delivered to Glasgow and Newark in May. Emergency clothes closet items will also be provided to the five school nurses. Part Two is an educational/sustainability component that will be conducted by the two Interact groups. Aspira students in Lisa Westerfield’s class chose Human Trafficking and Self Defense and will hold a schoolwide Awareness program on May 9. Newark Charter students will also participate in a school program with a table for information. Date to be determined.

We are always looking for ideas on potential district grant projects. If you have any suggestions, please let Robin know. In the past years we have received grant money to support Easter Seals/Camp Fairlee, hygiene products for girls in Nigeria, adaptive bikes for handicapped children, website for Seeing Eye Puppy training, training video for Lori’s Hands. We look for about $8-10,000 projects so that we can apply for the maximum of $5000 grant.

If you want to nominate a fellow member or yourself for 2nd vice president, secretary, treasurer, or Sgt at Arms for the 2025-2026 Rotary year, please submit the name(s) to Robin. Elections will be formally held at the May 22 meeting. The positions of president, president elect, and 1st vice president are already secured for next year.