Habitat For Humanity Postponed
Due to electrical and framing inspections scheduled on Friday, our club's build day will be postponed to a future date.
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This Week's Meeting 6/24
This week we are back on the covered patio area at Cherry Valley Country Club at 7:30AM on Thursday. This week's speaker will be Kevin Wilkes with the Princeton Design Group. |
Flags Are Up!!! The Flags For Heroes display is now up in front of Montgomery High School - check it out!!! The Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill invites you to visit the Flags for Heroes on display from Saturday, June 12 through Sunday, June 20, along Route 601, in front of Montgomery High School, Skillman, NJ |
Flags For Heroes - Help Needed!
Rotarians, we need your help with the preparation, setup and takedown of the flags. The flag prep will take place Wednesday night 6PM at Maria Kauzmann's house. The flag setup will take place on the front lawn of Montgomery High School on Friday 6/11 at 5PM. And the flag takedown will be some time on Monday 6/21 depending on the weather. Please sign up HERE. Any questions, ask Josh Turner. |
Next Year's Officers
The voters have spoken. At the start of the next Rotary year which begins July 1st, the officers of the club are listed below. Thanks to all who have agreed to serve. |
Elections
Per the terms of our club bylaws, elections for next year's club officers will be held during the first meeting in June which falls on 6/3. Also per the bylaws, President-Elect Andy Mozumdar has proposed a slate of officers (found below) which will be voted on by the members present at this meeting. Please note that, in addition to those appearing on the proposed slate, nominations can also be made from the floor that day. The terms of the new officers go into effect at the start of the next Rotary year which commences on 7/1. |
Rotary Scholarship Winners
Thanks go out to our Scholarship Committee (Emad Abou-Sabe, Kevin Lynch, Kip Higgins) for their hard work in sorting through and selecting the scholarship recipients for our various Rotary scholarships. The winners can be found below. |
This Week's Meeting 6/3 - LOCATION CHANGE
Due to an event being held on site, we will NOT be meeting at Cherry Valley Country Club this week. Instead, we will be meeting under the pavilion at Van Horne Park at 7:30AM. Please attend as club elections will be held at this meeting. There is a rumor that bagels will be provided but please bring your own drinks. We will be back at Cherry Valley the following week. There will be no Zoom access to this or future meetings unless special circumstances arise. |
President's Message: Hands On
The concept of doing more “hands on” projects popped up a few times last week in different conversations at our weekly meeting. Given that we just wrapped up selling 50/50 tickets and are in the midst of selling flags for Flags For Heroes, it can seem like all we do is fundraise. And fundraising is indeed important as the money collected is vital to the charities we support. |
India COVID Relief
At its last meeting, the club Board voted to send $3,500 from the discretionary portion of the Giving Budget to help battle the huge upswing in deadly COVID-19 variants raging through India. Kudos to President-Elect Andy Mozumdar for researching and connecting with the Rotary Club of Calcutta Suburban North who will use this money to buy three Oxygen Concentrators. |
President's Message: Business As Usual
As more of us get vaccinated, the COVID numbers are decreasing, and we are still meeting outdoors on the covered patio of Cherry Valley Country Club, the need for doing the hybrid format meetings have diminished. As such, we will be phasing it out over the next few weeks and strongly encourage you to attend meetings in person. Zoom has served us well in keeping us together during the pandemic but now it’s time to get back to business as usual. Rotarically Yours, Zoltan Nagy President Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill (NJ) |
President's Message: Where Is Everyone?
In the town I grew up in, there is a church that has a sign that reads “COME TO CH_ _CH! WHAT IS MISSING?”. Unfortunately, the answer to this riddle also applies to the last few Rotary meetings we’ve had. The turnout has been, to put it charitably, less than stellar. |
President's Message: Coffee Is For Closers!!!
One of my favorite movie scenes is the real estate office scence from Glengarry Glen Ross where the character played by Alec Baldwin issues a savage beratement of the sales staff for not closing enough deals and tells Jack Lemmon’s character to put down that cup of coffee because “coffee is for closers!” (if you’ve never seen the movie, you really should). I wanted to implement the same idea at our weekly meetings regarding sales of 50/50 tickets but, apparently, I’m told this flies in the face of #3 of the Rotary Four Way Test - “Will it build goodwill and better friendships?”. So, fear not, the coffee will continue to flow freely. |
Rotary District 7475 Conference
There is still time to register for the Rotary District 7475 Conference which, due to COVID-19, will be held virtually on the evening of May 11-14. For more information about the schedule of events and registrations, please visit the conference website HERE. |
Habitat For Humanity
A few slots still available!!! Looking for TEN volunteers on Tuesday, May 11 to work onsite with Habitat for Humanity at the Willow Road location, 9am - 2pm. Please add your name to the signup sheet which can be found HERE. If ten have already signed up, add your name in case we need a replacement. This will be a great day of service. Any questions, please contact Sharon Prosinksi. |
President's Message: Back Live - Round 2
After last summer where we spent Thursday mornings under a pavilion in Van Horne Park, the COVID numbers were improving, and we were able to transition back to Cherry Valley Country Club in a hybrid fashion out on the covered patio. This lasted a few months until the COVID numbers started going up again and the cold of winter required Cherry Valley to put up flaps around the perimeter which made being outside a lot like being inside. And back to Zoom we went. |
Red, white ... and you!
Flags for Heroes is back! The Rotary Club of Montgomery / Rocky Hill will once again be hosting Flags for Heroes this June. |
PM: The Home Stretch
No joke – our next meeting will be held on April 1st. Since my term as President ends precisely at 11:59PM on June 30th, we are now officially in the home stretch of the Rotary year. It goes without saying that this has been a rather unusual year. But rather than focus on the struggles and what we couldn’t do this year, I’d like to use the President’s Message to focus on the things that we can still accomplish by July 1st and the dawn of the Mozumdar Administration. |
Rotary Leadership Institute
Due to Covid-19, Rotary Leadership Institute will be virtual via Zoom and held on Saturday, April 17, 2021 – 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Cost is $25.00 per person to participate. Excellent Club leadership and an understanding of Rotary is essential to the future of your club. What is Rotary Leadership Institute? It is a series of fast-paced, interactive courses offered to refine a Rotarian's leadership skills. |
Another One Bites The Dust.jpg)
No sooner had the Board voted that the club would sell Funnel Cakes at the Somerset County 4-H Fair did we receive the word that the Fair is cancelled this year due to COVID-19 concerns. Bah humbug. |
Welcome Michael Young!!!
At our last meeting, Michael Young was sworn in as our newest member. Since the ceremony was done virtually, we will be providing him with the lapel pin, badge, club banner and secret handshake at an upcoming meeting in April. Congratulations!!!! |
50/50 TicketsState gaming regulations do not allow us to sell 50/50 tickets directly via the website. They can be purchased at the Tiger's Tale or Princeton Cafe (inside Princeton Fitness & Wellness). Also, they can be ordered by clicking HERE. Tickets are $20 each and the drawing will be held May 27th. |
President's Message: Zoom Fatigue
In the process of trying to avoid COVID-19, I have instead developed a serious case of Zoom fatigue. Don’t get me wrong – I am grateful to Zoom for providing us a means in which we can keep up our weekly meetings going. But a Zoom meeting is just not the same as meetings in person. It’s harder to establish camaraderie and much harder to attract new members (though we did manage to add a new member who is joining the club this week – welcome Michael Young!). |
ClubRunner ProTip #39: Speakers List
The speakers for our meetings don't magically just show up every week. Cory Wingerter works hard to make sure that our speaker calendar is filled out a few months in advance. If you want to see the list of upcoming speakers, you can either look in the bulletin OR the bottom right hand side of the home page of our website. |
World Water Day 3/22
March 22nd is World Water Day. More than 2 billion people on this planet don't have access to clean water. Since 2014, the Rotary Foundation has donated more than $51 million in global grants to carry out projects around the world to help people gain access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. For more information, check out the Rotary Action Page devoted to this topic by clicking here. |
President's Message: Food For Thought
Like many service organizations, Rotary International is grappling with how to attract and retain members. They are encouraging clubs to think outside the box and not necessarily do things the way they’ve always been done. One such idea that has been floated is getting rid of the meal at the weekly club meeting. Personally, I don’t like the idea. But I’m not sure I don’t like it because I think it’s a bad idea or whether I’m just used to way it’s always been done. So even though this isn’t something the board is currently considering, I’ll dish it out there as food for thought. |
President's Message: Spring Forward
Although Spring does not officially begin until March 20th this year, I definitely feel spring is in the air. Though that air is still cold and my crocuses are buried under the snow, the weather is warming and the snow is melting. The normal winter doldrums were this year amplified by the COVID restrictions, so I get the sense that people are at their bursting point of getting back to life. |
PM: Every Rotarian Every Year
One of the goals I set at the beginning of my term last July was to have the club be more involved in things at the District and Rotary International levels. As Tony Parziale found before me and Andy Mozumdar will find out after me, Rotary club presidents get inundated with a never-ending stream of initiatives, webinars, meetings, training sessions, awards and recognition pouring in from all over the Rotary universe. One of the key challenges for a club president is sifting through and prioritizing all this information because it’s simply impossible to act on it all. |
Bag Lunches To SHIP
The lack of in-person meetings did not stop our annual bag lunches to SHIP program! Thanks to all of our Rotarians who delivered sandwiches and other items to Maria Kauzmann's house. And, above all, thank you to Maria Kauzmann for organizing, packing and delivering 135 bag lunches to SHIP to help feed the homeless in the Somerville area. |
Montgomery High School Scholarships
Each year Rotary awards scholarships to MHS seniors who display Rotary’s commitment to Service Above Self and make a difference in the lives of others. All MHS Seniors wishing to be considered for a Rotary Scholarship must complete the Supplemental Questionnaire. The MHS United Scholarship Application is also required. Apply today!. The deadline is March 17, 2021. |
Exploring The Black Experience In Rotary
As part of Black History Month, Rotary International will be holding a webinar on February 25th at 4PM EST to focus on the black experience in Rotary. For more information and to register, click HERE. |
PM: 50/50 Equals 100%
While the ongoing pandemic has forced the cancellation of this year’s Run With Rotary, we are still plowing ahead with the 50/50 raffle this spring. However, things will be a little different than in years past. For starters, we are not running this raffle on our own but as a part of the clubs that make up our Rotary District 7475. The tickets are priced at $20 each and the drawing will be held at the Raritan Valley Country Club on May 27th. Because of the combined size of all the clubs involved and the number of tickets expected to be sold, the prizes will be fairly high. |
Rotary 2021-22
Drumroll, please.... Rotary International has unveiled its theme for the next year. |
Women In Rotary Forum
District 7475 Rotary Business Network will be hosting a zone-wide forum on Wednesday 2/17 at 7PM via Zoom. The conversation will be focused on "How to Empower Women to Move Forward in Rotary Leadership Roles". The featured speaker will be RI Director Valarie Wafer. All Rotarians (men or women) are invited to attend. To register, click HERE. |
ClubRunner Pro Tip #467
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night white-knuckled panicked about forgetting when the next Board meeting is scheduled for? Rather than grabbing your ouija board and conducting an impromptu seance with Paul Harris, you just simply need to visit the website and it's all there on the right hand side of the homepage under Upcoming Events. |
PM: Next Year Is This Year
Because the Rotary year runs from July thru June, “next year” is only a few months away. Over the last two weeks, I’ve put included a blurb in the Reveille about contacting President-Elect Andy if you are not on the Board and interested in serving (as well as the reverse case, which is that you are on the Board and interested in stepping off). Andy has been in India the last two weeks so, as of press time, I haven’t spoken with him to see if anyone has contacted him regarding this matter. But, if you haven’t done so, do it soon. |
Run With Rotary Cancelled for 2021
At its January meeting, the club Board made the decision to cancel this year's Run With Rotary. The prevailing sentiment was that the COVID-19 issue will still be with us in the Spring and that the likelihood of success for the race would be dim. Initially, we had thought of doing some sort of virtual or hybrid version of the Run, but again, the feeling was that it would be better to simply not have the event this year and then bring it back to full strength in 2022. However, in order to replace some of the fundraising lost due to the cancellation of RWR, the Board did approve doing a Flags For Heroes event somewhere around Memorial Day or Flag Day. Additionally, we will still be selling tickets for the District 50/50 Raffle. |
President's Message: Happy New Year
Well, the much-maligned year of 2020 is finally over. Unfortunately, the pandemic and its effects still loom heavy over the start of 2021 but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I have firm reason to believe that things will be back to quasi-normal by late Spring/early Summer. I’d prefer it to be quicker, but I think we have to play the hand that is dealt us. |
No Meeting This Week
There will be no meeting this week - see you next year! Enjoy the Holidays!!! |
PM: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas Redux
Last year, Tony Parziale penned a club-themed version of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" for his President's Message. It was so well done that I decided to bring it back for this year making some minor edits to reflect the current club membership. |
2020 RI Annual Report |
President's Message: Run
Although we just cancelled in-person meetings through the end of January, I am somewhat optimistic that things will be improving come Spring. On that note, we have decided to kickoff the planning for our annual Run With Rotary event which is our biggest fundraiser. If the COVID-19 situation hasn’t improved enough to be able to hold the Run in the usual fashion, our contingency plan is to turn it into a virtual event. |
Monty Families In Need
The Montgomery Township Food Pantry is seeking donations of holiday gift cards from local retailers to distribute to 50+ families who are currently relying on the pantry to help make ends meet. The annual Holiday Giving Families in Need program has been modified this year for the COVID era. While families always enjoy the ability to personally select the gifts they purchase, this year they are more comfortable receiving all gift cards rather than the gifts themselves because of COVID. |
PM: Schrödinger’s Rotary Club
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This Week's Meeting 12/3 **UPDATE**
Due to the spike in local COVID-19 cases, a majority of our Board members felt it is no longer safe to have in-person meetings for December and, possibly, into early next year. As such, the meetings will be held on Zoom - the link will be emailed out to all members. Our speaker this week will be Silvia Fedorcikova who will be discussing cryotherapy. |
Presidents Message: Happy Thanksgiving
I don’t think this year would fall under anyone’s definition of “normal”. But rather than dwell on all the bad things that happened this year, I made a list of the good things that we can all be thankful for as members of the Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary. |
President's Message: Good News, Bad News
Or, more accurately..it’s bad news, good news. The bad news is that cases of COVID-19 are increasing rapidly in our region. And while hospitalizations aren’t at the critical point yet, they are ramping up. Cherry Valley Country Club has had a few cases of employees testing positive and, as such, they’ve shut down in-club food and beverage services for a 14 day period. This means we’re back on Zoom this week and the following week is Thanksgiving so there’s no meeting scheduled. |
President's Message: Thinking Caps On (Again)
Back in July, I wrote a PM entitled “Thinking Caps On”. As usual, it was brilliantly written with virtually no grammatical errors. I’m sure most of you have it clipped and hanging on your refrigerators. In the rare event that you have not committed those inspirational words to memory, the premise was that we need to come up with some new ways of fundraising in the COVID era. |
RI Adds 7th Area of Focus
The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have both unanimously approved adding a new area of focus: supporting the environment. This becomes Rotary's seventh area of focus, which are categories of service activities supported by global grants. It joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development. |
President's Message: This Week
My mother passed away last Friday just a few weeks short of her 96th birthday. Though she had been in declining health over the last few years and lived a long full life, it’s still a bit of a shock to realize that she won’t be there anymore. She’s always been there and now she’s not. The funeral is being held this Thursday morning, so I won’t be at Rotary this week. In my absence, Vice President For Life Doug Merritt will be running the meeting. Please laugh at his jokes. Thanks to those of you who have reached out with condolences and prayers, I very much appreciate it. I’ll see you all next week. |
World Polio Day
October 24th is World Polio Day. A day to take stock of the battle against polio. This year a milestone was reached when Nigeria had no cases of polio and Rotary International was able to declare that the entire continent of Africa was “polio free”. This leaves only two countries where polio has not been completely eradicated: Afghanistan and Pakistan. |
President's Message: Building On Success
Our second annual Bikes For The World collection was a huge success hauling in 185 bikes. Given the pandemic, I really wasn’t sure what to expect this year. Last year, we received 80 bikes from the facilities department at Princeton University but, due to the pandemic, they didn’t have any for this year so I was hoping we would be able to hit the 100 bike mark. We shattered that by mid-morning. A huge thank you to everyone who helped out at the event. It was a lot of hard work, but it went smoother than last year. Even Tony Parziale injured himself less this year than last year! |
BfW Recap
The second annual Bikes For the World collection was a resounding success!! 185 bikes and almost $2,000 were collected surpassing last year’s totals. Bikes For The World will take these bikes, sort them and then ship them overseas to a partner charity - most likely in Africa or central America where these bikes will create jobs, raise income, boost student learning and increase access to health care - transforming the lives of individuals and building stronger families and societies. THANK YOU to all who donated bikes (including 20 by the Montgomery Twp Police Dept), those who volunteered (including MHS Interact Club) and to Blawenburg Reformed Church for allowing us to use their parking lot. |
President's Message: Speakers
If our weekly meetings are the fuel that causes our club to do great things, then our weekly speakers might be considered the spark plugs. The speaker is a hallmark of Rotary meetings around the world with the intention of exposing club members to a wide variety of ideas, organizations, and issues. |
President's Message: Rotary Geography
I recently had a membership inquiry from someone who lived just outside the Montgomery Twp line who wasn’t sure that precluded them from being a member of our club. While we are the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill, there is no requirement that our members reside or work within the boundaries of Montgomery Twp or Rocky Hill. Of course, it doesn’t make much sense for someone to join our club if they don’t have some connection to the area but don’t rule out potential new members from surrounding towns. |
Year Of The Woman
One of the themes for our Rotary District Conference next May is “Year of the Woman.” as we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of women’s right to vote and the nomination of the first female Rotary International President! Jennifer Jones, confirmed to become Rotary International’s President for 2022-2023, will be the first woman to hold that office in Rotary’s 115 year history! Our club has been asked to have ONE woman in our Club participate in the creation of a video to celebrate women Rotarians. The video can be approximately 10 seconds long and needs to include ONE of the following:
If you're interested in doing the video, please email Zoltan Nagy. |
President's Message: Spread The Word
I’ve written before about the need to increase our membership in our “roving band of do-gooders” known as the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill. It’s easy to say but actually quite hard to do. Most people you run across tend to either (a) not be the slightest bit interested in any type of community service or (b) not willing to commit any time to community service. Rather than waste time trying to convince these types of people join Rotary, we should focus our efforts on those people who have a favorable disposition to Rotary in general or our club in specific. |
Bikes For the World 10/24
Our second annual Bikes For The World collection will be held on Saturday October 24th from 9AM to 1PM at the Blawenburg Reformed Church on Route 518 in Skillman. For more information, click here. |
Families In Need
Please help us support Montgomery families in need as they begin to prepare for returning to in-person learning. Students will be unable to use lockers. Water fountains will be turned off. Students must wear masks. And of course, wash hands and use hand sanitizer. The Montgomery Food Pantry is helping with general school supplies, but the 4 items listed are in short supply. Rotarians can sign up to order items here, or donate dollars via Venmo @mrhrotary. Any questions please contact Sharon Prosinski. |
President's Message: The Why
We’re coming up on “giving budget season” where the Club board decides which charities to fund. Our Giving Budget last year was approximately $55,000 and this is the amount the board wants to spend this year. The Foundation board would prefer we spend less so as not to draw down our assets in our investment account too quickly. This is one of the topics that will be addressed at our Club Assembly this week. But this is not really what I want to discuss in this column. This is the “how” – what I want to discuss is the “why”. |
President's Message: Home
As Dorothy said at the end of The Wizard of Oz “there’s no place like home”. Taking another step forward on to the road to normalcy, we will be returning to Cherry Valley County Club on Oct 1 for our weekly breakfast meetings. Our Installation Dinner held at Cherry Valley this past week went off without a hitch (thank you Kevin and Lisa) and I look forward to getting back to our weekly home. Next week will be our final meeting (at least, for the time being) at Van Horne Park. |
Dick Ragsdale
It is with great sadness that we report on the passing of Dick Ragsdale. Dick was a long time member of the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill including two terms as Club President. He will be deeply missed. |
President's Message: Questions
No matter how well prepared, when someone takes over as President of a Rotary Club, they always have questions. Some are broad like “How do we grow membership?”. Some are specific like “Where do we get the Rotary pins for new members?. But there’s one question that stands out by far as the most important. |
Installation Dinner
Rotarians, the Installation Dinner will be held Thursday Sept 17th from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at Cherry Valley County Club (please note it will be held outside). Details in the Reveille. Any questions, please contact Kevin Lynch. |
President's Message: You Call Yourselves Rotarians?!?
A running joke when I was President-Elect was how daunting I would find the job of writing the weekly President’s Message following on the heels of Tony Parziale. To be clear, Tony had full confidence in me but the rest of you..not so much. |
Africa is Polio Free!
Last week came the news from Rotary International that Africa has been declared polio free. The last endemic country, Nigeria, was certified as Polio Free. The only nations left to go are Afghanistan and Pakistan. Eradicating polio has been a longtime mission of Rotary and it is exciting to note that we are getting close. For more info click here for a brief video. |
President's Message: Heroes
The flags are up!! See for yourself - drive past the high school on Route 601. It’s quite a visual display that will no doubt make an impact on those driving by. But the impact of this project extends well beyond the swath of field in front of the high school. And for that I am grateful to Josh Turner and the rest of the Flags For Heroes Committee who worked tirelessly to make this project a reality. |
Past President's Message: Say Cheese
(filling in for Zoltan Nagy who is on vacation is our Immediate Past President Tony Parziale) During these challenging times, we need to keep a little perspective. We need to keep our minds clear and we need to focus on keeping our happiness drive alive! I’d like to share a few things that I’ve found helpful. |
President's Message: Service
The ancient Greeks used to say “At the intersection of member engagement and new member recruitment lies service projects.” OK, maybe the ancient Greeks never uttered those exact words but I’m sure if Plato were running a Rotary club he would agree. |
Polio Plus Fundraiser
District 7475 Polio Plus Chair Julie Ann Juliano alerted us to a fundraising opportunity to help wipe out polio (which is one of Rotary's chief worldwide missions). Rotarian John Kramb is going on a very long Motorcycle Ride for Polio. John is a polio survivor and has a goal of $10,000 to be raised for Polio Plus. Every donation that a Rotarian makes will be given to their RI Foundation Account - so money spent here - helps him achieve his goal and helps you to increase your Paul Harris Fellow status. Click on https://raise.rotary.org/John-Kramb/challenge to see his story and to make a donation. |
Bikes For The World Update
The Bikes For the World bike drive has been tentatively scheduled for October 24th. Because the collection truck comes up from Maryland, we may have an issue holding the drive if the out of state quarantine regulations are still in effect. We will make a decision around Sept 1. One possible contingency plan is to be able to store the bikes temporarily until they can be delivered down to the warehouse in Maryland. If anyone has some covered space to be able to temporarily store bikes, please contact Zoltan Nagy. |
President's Message: We Need You
One of the toughest duties I have this year as Rotary president is to manage Josh Turner’s stress level. Josh is heading up the Flags For Heroes project and along with the other FFH committee members (Lisa Youngberg, Maria Kauzmann, Matt Romanoski, Beth Desai, Doug Merritt, Bill Beachell, Sharon Prosinksi and Emad Abou-Sabe), they have worked extremely hard to put this fundraising project together in a very short period of time. |
President's Message: Club Growth
I’ve spent a fair amount of time over the last few months in Rotary training sessions and other Rotary related meetings involving our district, zone and international leadership. As such, I can tell you that Rotary International is very concerned about membership growth remaining flat. This is not strictly a Rotary issue. All service organizations are experiencing the same dynamic (if anything, Rotary is probably in better shape than the others). On a national level, the issue is not that new members aren’t joining but they aren’t staying for more than a year or two. |
President's Message: Ideas
At our weekly meeting last Thursday, we held a brainstorming session to come up with some new fundraising ideas for this Rotary year in addition to our Flags For Heroes project. As I mentioned last week, the pandemic wiped out all our major fundraising events. This year we are dipping into the funds held in our Foundation investment accounts to fund our Giving Budget but we want to mitigate the need to have to do this again next year if the Run With Rotary doesn’t happen next Spring. |
President's Message: Thinking Caps On
I think we can all agree that this is not a normal Rotary year. We can’t simply “do what we did last year but a little better”. As a result of the restrictions caused by the pandemic, we struggle to remain cohesive and we struggle to remain relevant. Zoom meetings helped keep us together but they aren’t a substitute for live meetings and attracting new members. We have started up live meetings under the pavilion at Van Horne Park with a Zoom option and we are also starting up booking speakers for our meetings with the limitation that we can’t do PowerPoint presentations and the like. We still don’t have any word from Cherry Valley Country Club as to when we will be able to get back there for weekly meetings. Van Horne Park works fine for now but probably won’t be viable much past early Fall. So there’s that. |
President's Message: Impact
A few years ago, a picture went “viral” on Facebook showing a pair of sneakers. Some clearly saw the sneakers as being pink and white while others swore that the colors were teal and gray. Despite it being somewhat trivial, the issue was hotly debated around the globe as people could not understand how other people could not see it as they see it. This example popped into my mind as over the last week as the topic of “impact” arose in several different Rotary conversations as it relates to the impact our club’s charitable giving has on individuals, our community, and the world. |
This Week's Meeting 7/16
We will NOT be meeting at Van Horne Park this week. This week is the official visit from District Governor Ann Walko and will be held via Zoom jointly with several other Rotary clubs. The meeting link will be sent out via email to members. We will resume our meetings in Van Horne Park the following week 7/23 with an option to connect in via Zoom. We tried the hybrid format for the first time last week and it worked surprisingly well. |
President's Message: The Journey Back To Normal
On the journey back to normal, last Thursday we took the baby step of holding our first in person meeting since March 12th. Following COVID-19 safety protocols, a small but hearty band of masked Rotarians gathered under the outdoor pavilion at Van Horne Park during an absolutely beautiful summer morning. Later in the day, it would become unbearably hot and humid but at 7:30AM it was quite delightful. |
Flags for Heroes Flags for Heroes 2020 is now on display in front of Montgomery High School!
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President's Message: Thank You Tony Parziale!
First off, Happy Rotary New Year! July 1st is the day that the new Rotary year kicks off and we have the changing of the guard for club officers. At some point, hopefully in the not too distant future, we will have an actual Installation Dinner complete with the usual mirth and merriment, where we can make long speeches and wear silly hats. For my first President’s Message, I want to focus on our outgoing President – Tony Parziale. According to Tony, the goal of any club president should be to leave the club in better shape than they found it. |
Grab & Go Wrap Up
On April 3rd, the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill and the Montgomery Business Association teamed up to feed our front line hospital and emergency workers while also supporting small, local food establishments. The project was dubbed, “COVID-19 Support – Grab & Go Lunches for Frontline Workers.” The program came to an end on Friday June 19th. We made deliveries on 68 days (6 days a week) by a volunteer driver. Each delivery included at least 50 Grab & Go lunches prepared by a local food establishment. Deliveries were made to one of 3 hospital locations: RWJ Somerset, RWJ New Brunswick or Penn Medicine Plainsboro. We were also able to purchase sweet treats from a local baker and chocolatier that we included with meal deliveries and shared with Montgomery Police, Fire & EMS workers. Members of the community also donated drinks, chips, cookies to the local food establishment to include with the Grab & Go meals. Many a food establishment added extra meals as a thank you to the frontline workers. A local Girl Scout Troop provided thank you notes for hospital workers that we also delivered. |
President's Message: If Our Club Were A Horse..
This is my final week as president. The 2019-2020 Rotary year is winding down and I’d like to thank everyone for all of your support over the last two years. It has been the honor of my life to be president of our great club. I’d like to start this message by thanking someone who I refer to warmly and sincerely as the finest man I know, my sponsor, Art Martin. In December of 2014, Art stopped by my office. It was the first time that we met. He asked if the fitness center would be interested in sponsoring a local 5k run, “It’s called the Run with Rotary” he said. He also invited me to a Rotary club meeting as his guest. Three meetings later, I became a member. I can’t thank Art enough for his friendship and inspiration. |
Scholarship Awards
The Scholarship Committee presented the 2020 Scholarship Awards to eight Montgomery High School Seniors at a social distanced ceremony outside at Belle Mead Garage. And (drum roll please) the scholarship recipients are... |
President's Message: Thank You..And Lesson Learned
The Grab & Go program will be wrapping up at the end of this week. This program has been an overwhelming success. Thanks go out to Cory Wingerter for his vision and for bringing this program to our club. Very special thanks go out to Lisa Youngberg and her family as well as all of our delivery volunteers. This program would not have been as successful without their tireless efforts. Lisa, Kent, Matt, Drew & Amanda, on behalf of our club, I want to thank you for all that you’ve done to make this program a great success. You were all amazing! We can’t thank you enough. Amanda, fantastic job on the videos! Thank you all for your inspiration and for demonstrating the true meaning of service above self. |
Grab & Go: The End Is Near
On April 3rd, the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill and the Montgomery Business Association teamed up to feed our front line hospital and emergency workers while also supporting small, local food establishments. The project was dubbed, “COVID-19 Support – Grab & Go Lunches for Frontline Workers.” The program will come to an end on Friday June 19th. We made deliveries on 68 days (6 days a week) by a volunteer driver. Each delivery included at least 50 Grab & Go lunches prepared by a local food establishment. Deliveries were made to one of 3 hospital locations: RWJ Somerset, RWJ New Brunswick or Penn Medicine Plainsboro. We were also able to purchase sweet treats from a local baker and chocolatier that we included with meal deliveries and shared with Montgomery Police, Fire & EMS workers. Members of the community also donated drinks, chips, cookies to the local food establishment to include with the Grab & Go meals. Many a food establishment added extra meals as a thank you to the frontline workers. A local Girl Scout Troop provided thank you notes for hospital workers that we also delivered. |
President's Message: Meditation 101
Let’s begin….Okay…B-R-E-A-T-H-E in…… Come on…..Inhale - all the way in…. Now hold it and count to ten…..Then, exhale S-L-O-W-L-Y……Ahhh….Much better right? Our world needs to take a deep breath. It’s good for our perspective. I believe that we all need to collectively clear our heads during this unique moment in time. We’re being bombarded from all ends. It’s twenty-four seven, seven days a week. It’s on our phone; it’s on our computers, tablets and even Alexa! Let’s not forget about the news that never ends on television. All I can say is, “Where is Walter Cronkite when you need him?!” People are also getting cabin fever. I get it. It has been “not-normal” for a very long time. It’s affecting our outlook. As we are getting closer to an abbreviated normal, we’ll need to keep ourselves on an even keel. My thoughts: No matter what we are going through, there is always someone who is dealing with more. We need to appreciate, now more than ever, all of the people and the good things that are in our lives. We’re going through some challenging times, but things could be worse. I’d like to share an ancient story. |
Election Results
At our last meeting, the club voted in the following slate of officers and directors for the next Rotary year which begins on July 1st. Congratulations to all and looking forward to a great year! And an enormous thank you to Tony Parziale for serving as President for the last two years - it will be a tough act to follow. |
President's Message: Are You Watering Your Bamboo Tree?
We all have pre-set emotional reference points that develop within us over the years. We subconsciously install them as we travel through our life. They are based on a series of beliefs that are in line with our philosophical make-up. Our reference points reflect what we believe and what rings true in our hearts. For me, there seems to be a collection of metaphors, quotes, and life experiences that I’ve gathered over the years. |
Weekly Meetings Now Virtual
Until the emergency is lifted, we will be holding our weekly Thursday morning club meetings virtually via Zoom. Please note that the meetings start at 7:30AM. The link to the meeting will be emailed out prior to Thursday morning. If you have any questions or issues, please contact Zoltan Nagy at znagy@scdgcapital.com |
Memorial Day
On this Memorial Day, we honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. You are not forgotten. Thank You for your service! |
Dick Ragsdale
Dick Ragsdale recently submitted his resignation citing several obligations which are preventing him from being able to participate in Rotary. While we are very sorry to see Dick go, we can't let him completely go. In recognition for his almost 20 years of Rotary service included two terms as club President, the Board at its last meeting voted to make Dick an honorary member. |
President's Message: The Storage Shed
When I was growing up, I remember going with my grandfather to my many aunt’s and uncle’s houses. There always seemed to be a variety of construction projects that were going on at one time or another. The whole family would show up to help. Everyone helped everyone. All of the men in my family also seemed to know a lot about construction. It was almost instinctive. They knew how to pour concrete and how to drive a nail into a two-by-four. It was as natural to them as the birds flying south for the winter. My grandfather built his own house. That left a big impression on me as a boy. I still bring it up to people occasionally. He wasn’t in construction and I thought that it was amazing that he actually built his own home! Fast Forward to the summer of 1990: My family was in the market for a new storage shed. We didn’t want a metal shed. We wanted one made out of wood that looked like a barn. We found the perfect shed advertised at 84 Lumber. It was wood with a shingled roof that looked like Mr. Ed could have lived in it. It was perfect and we were excited! So off we went to 84 Lumber to make the purchase. |
Grab & Go Video
Here's a short video produced by Amanda Youngberg showing the program in action. |
President's Message: The Best Medicine
We have been living through a very challenging emergency the last several months. It’s been a health crisis that has left many people in both physical and emotional despair. We’ve all heard the expression, “This is not a laughing matter.” That statement usually indicates that there’s a problem. We all know that serious events and emergencies occur from time to time. We’re seeing that right now, aren’t we? Emergencies need to be handled accordingly. Serious circumstances call for serious responses. How about when there are not serious circumstances? Some people still behave in a “This is not a laughing matter” mode. Don’t we all know people who go through life this way? They seem to be in a crisis all the time - no matter what is going on in their lives. They’ve got it all wrong. They’re missing the joy in life. They should be smiling, laughing, and having more fun…Even now. Maybe especially now! We need the ability to find more laughter in our lives. |
President's Message: Hey Google..
Recently I went on a mission. I was searching for an answer to a question that has plagued mankind for centuries. I’d like to share my recent findings. The other day, I found myself in a very intense mental state with some time on my hands. My wife became concerned. I began to look restlessly at my phone. I wanted to ask it a question that many people have often pondered. With determination in my eyes, I queued up the trusty Googler on my phone and asked the magic question. I said, “Hey Google, how old is middle-aged?” With that, my wife gasped aloud. As I said those words, I held my breath and waited with eager anticipation for the answer. |
President's Message: Someday
During this unique time there are a lot of people who are at home with their children. With that in mind, I’d like to share a previous “Happy Dollars” story about a conversation that I had with my adult son a couple of years ago. When my son was in his early teens, he and his friends got into some mischief at school. Needless to say, my wife and I were not too happy about it. We were trying to decide on an appropriate punishment. We came up with an idea that we saw as an opportunity to teach our son some discipline. We decided that for the balance of the current marking period, my son’s “atonement program” would consist of daily participation in an early morning exercise workout with me. Brilliant right? A lesson in personal discipline! As an optimist, I saw this as an opportunity for my son to learn about the benefits of self-discipline and a daily routine. I remember telling my wife that “Someday he’ll thank us for this.” |
Grab & Go Lunches
The Grab & Go Lunch program has now been going for almost a month thanks to generous donations from the community that make it all possible. Partnering with the Montgomery Business Association (MBA) and headed up by the dynamic duo of Cory Wingerter and Lisa Youngberg, the program consists of raising money to buy prepackaged lunches at local delis and restaurants and then delivering them to the hardworking employees at our local hospitals. |
And The 50/50 Winners Are....
On an overcast day in an empty parking lot in Skillman Park on what should have been the Run With Rotary, a small group of masked and socially distancing Rotarians gathered to draw the winners of the 50/50 Raffle. We were still able to make lemonade out of lemons by selling a very respectable $15,000 worth of tickets. Although this is about half of what we would typically sell in a good year, it is quite a feat given that we only had a limited time to sell them at the fitness center before the stay-at-home orders were issued. |
Paul Harris Award Nominations Extended
It's that time of year again! Nominations for a Paul Harris Fellow Award have been extended to May 24th. |
Presdient's Message: Our Direction Is Forward!
There is no doubt about it; we are in challenging times. Aren’t we all asking ourselves, “What problem could possibly be more unexpected than COVID-19?” We’re having some struggles and challenges worldwide. It seems that no one is immune to the current situation. However, we are not without hope. |
50/50 Ticket Update
Rotarians, if you haven't done so already please get your tickets back to Bill Beachell immediately. You've all heard Bill's admonition that "a lost ticket is a sold ticket". In other words, you are responsible for the cost of each ticket not returned prior to the drawing which will be held this Sunday 5/3 at the entrance to Skillman Park. |
Volunteer Needed
As part of District 7475's efforts with the End Hunger program, our club is being given a large amount of prepackaged meals that we can then donate to food banks and soup kitchens in our community. We need to pick this allotment up from their site in Madison, NJ this Saturday at 12:30PM. Beth Desai has graciously offered to volunteer but she will need some help, preferably someone with a pickup or larger vehicle. If you can help, please contact Beth. |
Greeter Needed Tomorrow
We need a greeter for tomorrow's meeting - someone who will deliver the invocation and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please contact Zoltan Nagy if you can do it. If no one steps up, Zoltan will be forced to deliver the invocation utilizing a quick web search and we all remember how well it went the last time that happened so someone please volunteer! |
N95 Masks To EMS
Affirming our commitment to our local first responders, we donated $4,000 worth of N95 masks to the Montgomery EMS Squad 47 who were running desperately low on supplies. |
President's Message: Pandemic Marital Advice
Since I’ve been given some mandatory time off, I wanted to really use my time wisely. My idea was to put together a plan for making the most of my time at home. I work a lot of hours as many of us do. Sometimes, I feel that everyone at work sees the very best of me and when I get home, my family, especially my wife, sees a less affable version of me. I’ve come to the realization that I would like to give my family the best of me whenever possible. So I came up with a three-step plan to bonding with your spouse during a pandemic. |
Grab & Go Lunches
Like the Energizer Bunny, the Grab & Go Lunch program keeps going and going - thanks to generous donations that are almost at $12,000. Partnering with the Montgomery Business Association (MBA) and headed up by the dynamic duo of Cory Wingerter and Lisa Youngberg, the program consists of raising money to buy prepackaged lunches at local delis and restaurants and then delivering them to the hardworking employees at our local hospitals. |
President's Message: Standing Room Only
Every moral victory that I’ve ever had in my life was achieved by facing my challenges and fears and working through those difficult times. Haven’t we all experienced difficulties? We’ve all had to stand up to things that were uncomfortable and required courage. Aren’t we all doing that right now? While the world is shutting down, courageous people are standing up. Standing up is the key. Courage involves standing. It could be standing up for a worthy cause; or standing up for what you believe in; or standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. It’s standing up to the bullies and challenges in life that occasionally block our way. Courage stands up when the chips are down. |
Donate to Grab & Go Lunch ProjectThree ways to donate:
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Virtual Meetings
Our first virtual meeting was held last week and it went pretty well. Well enough that President Tony has decreed that we will keep doing virtual meetings until the state of emergency is lifted. Zoltan Nagy sent out a meeting notice with the meeting link for this week's meeting. If you didn't receive it or have questions on how Zoom works, please do not hesitate to contact Zoltan. |
Presidents Message: We're In This Together
Our new normal requires everyone to take care of one another. We’re being tested by COVID-19 and I believe that it came at a time of great divide. There is some good news however. People are rising to this challenge. I believe that we are passing a much needed test for humanity. We’re coming together to help one another against a common adversary. Many times it takes a tragedy to bring people together. We’ve seen it over and over again. Right now, there are families and communities who are banding together through technology and other creative ways to help one another. This is happening regardless of any affiliations. Whether someone is on the left or right; white, black, yellow, or however they may categorize themselves, we’re all in this together. |
President's Message: What Time Do You Have?
My last day at the fitness center was on March 20th. I have to say that I miss the hustle and bustle of the center. All day, there were people coming in and out of the facility. Whenever the group fitness classes let out, it would remind me of a train opening its doors at a busy stop. There are people bustling through the walkways. When the center is hoping, it’s like a carnival of people and music. It’s a great environment. I’m lucky enough to be working in place where everyone who walks through the door is there to improve themselves. It’s Magic Karma on a good day. You can feel it. It’s palpable! The center really is its own community. There are the members, the townspeople. We’ve got some great personalities and characters who are all my friends. There is my work family, my staff. We’re all like the cast from the Andy Griffith show. There is that kind of warmth. |
President's Message: For Goodness SakeI hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. I’d like to share some club news with everyone. Our Board had a conference call this past Monday. Below are some of the highlights: |
50/50 Sales Update!!!
The Run is cancelled but legally we are still obligated to draw a winner on May 3rd. We ask all members to make an effort to sell their ticket books as best as you can without leaving your house. |
Presidents Message: A Special Group of People!
Rotary protocol encourages a refreshing absence of political discussion or bias. I’m happy to say that for the most part, that’s the standard for our club. We are very unique. We are in a world that at times seems to be terribly divided, yet we, as members of the Rotary Club of MRH, remain in harmony. We tend to approach things from different points of view with differing perspectives. Through it all, we manage to maintain our friendships and respect for one another. While we disagree on some issues, we still manage to come together, have fun and here’s the best part… We get things done! We’re a special group of people. |
President's Message: 50/50's, Easy as 1, 2, 3...!
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SHIP Truck!!!
Tom O'Leary, CEO & Executive Director of SHIP - The Samaritan Homeless Interim Program was the guest speaker at one of our meetings in February. Through our efforts at the prior two years' Run With Rotary, our Rotary Club spearheaded the purchase of this beautiful new Food Truck which Tom drove to the meeting so we can all have a look at it. |
50/50 SalesRotarians!! Sign up for a slot to sell your 50/50 tickets at the Princeton Fitness & Wellness Center (and soon at Shop Rite when the weather improves). Any questions, ask Ed Zimmerman or Zoltan Nagy. Use this link to sign up: |
President's Message: What's It Worth To You?
How many times have we witnessed people who are dealing with a difficult task, or buried in a frustrating situation say, “It’s not worth it?” We’ve probably heard that a thousand times in our lives. Many of us have probably said it ourselves. It’s exasperation at its best. But what are people really saying? Too hard? Too much time? I can’t? I won’t? It can’t be done?! |
President's Message: What Are You Looking At?
How many roadblocks are there in front of you at any given time? It seems like more often than not, there seems to be things that are standing in front of our progress. If we could only get those roadblocks out of the way. The surprising thing is that most of the time we can. I’d like to share a story…. |
Run With Rotary UPDATE.jpg)
Due to mandate from the State of New Jersey banning any events larger than 50 people, the Run With Rotary scheduled for May 3rd is cancelled for this year. It will return in 2021 bigger and better than ever. |
President's Message: Best Soiree Ever
It’s official. We are a fun Rotary Club!! Let there be no doubt. Fun!! Fun!! Fun! I’d like to thank everyone who attended last Saturday’s 30th Anniversary celebration. It was a tremendous success. The night was filled with music, friendship, dancing and warmth. We even had the opportunity to officially welcome Beth Desai to our Rotary family as a new member. (Yay Beth!) |
Presidents Message: Our Magnificent Eight
As we get ready to celebrate our club’s 30th Anniversary this Saturday night, I thought it only fitting to pay tribute to the Charter Members of our club. On January 4th, 1990, The Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill was officially chartered. It was founded by twenty-nine people with high ideals who wanted to make a difference in the community and in our world. |
President's Message: Showing Up...It's Important!
We’ve all heard the expression, “Showing up is half the battle.” This phrase definitely applies to this Thursday’s meeting. I’d like to ask all members to please make every possible effort to attend this week’s meeting. This week we are having…. Drum Roll Please…. A Club Assembly!!…. Ta-Da!! (Please try to contain your enthusiasm.) For the members of our club who are newer, a Club Assembly is where our entire meeting is dedicated to club business. We’ll be discussing club activities, finances, projects, assignments, etc... |
30 Year Anniversary Blowout Bash Gala Shindig Soiree Celebration
Attention Rotarians!!!! The Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary Club's 30th Anniversary Gala will be held at Cherry Valley Country Club on February 8th at 6:30PM. All club members are invited to attend and to bring a guest. There will be cocktails. There will be dinner. There will be dancing. There will be fun. President Tony guarantees it or risks impeachment. If you haven't RSVP'd yet, go to https://forms.gle/VEEGD7QYaJ8HGCrL6 And we need your photos, if you have Rotary photos from the last 30 years, please upload to https://photos.app.goo.gl/jtqSq2vARbpXmm5u9 |
President's Message: It's The Little Things
How often have we heard, It’s the little things that mean a lot? But what does that phrase actually mean? Are we referring to little minor details, or important small details, or simply an act of thoughtful consideration? I think that all three are important. We tend to be so busy in our day to day lives, that we often miss the most important aspect of virtually everything that we do… It’s the human element that’s missing. That may be the most important aspect of all, yet when we are busy, the personal touches are the ones that we tend to move to the side, and take for granted. |
Presidents Message: A Special Group of People
Rotary meeting protocol encourages a refreshing absence of political discussion or bias. I’m happy to say that for the most part, that’s the standard for our club’s meetings. We are very unique. We are in a world that at times seems to be terribly divided, yet we, as members of the Rotary Club of Montgomery Rocky Hill, remain in harmony. We tend to approach things from different points of view with differing perspectives. Through it all, we manage to maintain our friendships and respect for one another. While we disagree on some issues, we still manage to come together, have fun and here’s the best part… We get things done! We are a special group of people. |
President's Message: Seeing Better in 2020
Here’s a game the whole family can play…It’s Resolution Time! |
President's Message: Do It Anyway
Happy Holidays and Happy 2020! For this week’s message and in the spirit of Rotary, I’d like to share these inspiring words for the New Year. Do It Anyway... People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and your heart. It was never between you and them anyway. - credited to Mother Teresa Wishing you a Very Happy New Year! Tony Parziale
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President's Message: Special Holiday Edition |
Annual Club Holiday Party
During our meeting on December 19th, we will commemorate the holidays with a festive breakfast inclusive of live entertainment and a gift exchange. Santa is on schedule to make an appearance! We ask each Rotarian to please bring a wrapped gift ($20 value) for the gift exchange* GUESTS: We welcome you to bring a guest to the party. If you do, · Please let Kevin Lynch know so that he can give a proper count to CVCC AND · Please remember to bring an extra grab bag gift for your guest, so everyone gets a gift. Some suggested guidelines for the party: ~Please arrive by 7:15am as our musical entertainment will begin right away. ~Please plan to stay until 9:00am. Since we usually have so much fun during our gift exchange*, it can take some time. We don’t want people to run off and miss the fun! ~Though liquor is always an acceptable gift, it’s also fun when there are a variety of possibilities when people begin opening the packages. Hopefully everyone will be able to attend the festivities, prepared to have a wonderful time. |
President's Message: Four Ways to Improve Our Lives and the Lives of Others
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Flags for Heroes - December Edition
The Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill will be honoring national and local heroes December 4-13 in its display of 100 full-size flags in front of the Montgomery Upper Middle School. The display specifically recognizes the invaluable and heroic service given by local veterans, emergency services squads, firefighters, and police officers to the nation, Montgomery Twp and Rocky Hill Boro. In times when one is the most vulnerable it is the first responders who bravely provide protection. The December display will also serve as a warm welcome to the Wreaths Across America convoy on December 11th. The Flags for Heroes program will return next June. Each full size flag that is sponsored will be displayed with a personalized tag. All proceeds from the sponsorships will be donated by the Rotary to charitable causes. More information about Flags for Heroes will be available in the Spring. Everyone is invited to visit the flag display in front of the Montgomery Upper Middle School located on Burnt Hill Rd from December 4-13. |
New Location This Week!!!!
Our regularly scheduled weekly meeting for this week (12/5) has been moved from CVCC to the Otto Kaufman Community Center located at 356 Skillman Rd in beautiful downtown Skillman. |
President's Message: 68,557
The Vietnam war started in 1955 and it was over in 1975. Many of us grew up during those turbulent years. I was born in 1959 and grew up during that era. I graduated from high school in 1977. The Vietnam War was going on for virtually all of my childhood. Back then, the draft was in the news every day. There were protests to the draft; there was the burning of draft cards. Young men moved to Canada to avoid the draft. Unlike World War II, the Vietnam War lacked public support and there seemed to be no directive from the United States to actually win the war. The country was unsure of its purpose. It seemed like such a waste of young lives. Our country was in turmoil. |
President's Message: Safety Net
I’d like to share a story about a woman named Lilly who found her way into the fitness center on Tuesday. Lily came in with a guest pass that our staff had left at a local doctor’s office. At first, everything seemed to be normal. I did notice however that she was dressed a little unusual. When I looked around, I also noticed that she parked a small personal shopping cart on the side wall in the lobby. It was loaded with what looked like to be all of her belongings. As I continued to talk with her, I realized that Lily was suffering from some mental issues. She told me that she was sleeping on the campus at Princeton University. That all changed when the campus police had a removal order issued for her to leave. |
President's Message: Think Like A Person of Action
How many times have we heard someone say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” There are a lot of people who believe that the key to fame and fortune is contained in an idea alone. While every great endeavor requires thought, I believe that most people are only half right when they point to an idea as the key to success. An idea is only part of the equation. |
President's Message: Don't Stop Doing
Why is it that so many singer-song writers like Billy Joel or Elton John tend to stop creating new music once they’ve reached a certain age or level of success? While there may be some exceptions, most creative people who realize early success tend to stop creating before they hit middle age. I believe that success and comfort can easily be followed by leisure and contentment. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with that. We all need to stop and smell the roses from time to time. I’m just of the opinion that in order to remain our happiest, we should always have an inspiring goal that’s ahead. |
President's Message: Worth Quoting
I’d like to dedicate this message to the topic of leadership. It’s a role that many of us assume in both our personal and professional lives. Our ability to share a vision, be self-reliant, handle problems and overcome adversity are among the key skills needed for leadership. I’d like share the wisdom of some of the greatest people of our time. |
President's Message: They'll Hear You
Never underestimate the power of your words. It’s especially important when you’re speaking with someone who looks up to you. If someone in your life makes a big mistake, you can respond with something like, “What’s the matter with you?!!!” You can brow beat them and scream and shout, or you can say something like, “John, what happened? You’re better than that.” There is a profound difference between the two. One will erode self-esteem. The other shows disappointment but with a higher regard for the individual. They will want to live up to the expectations that you set for them. |
President's Message: Looking Forward to Participating…
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Flags For Heroes Coming In December
Those who rescue us… When we are at our most fearful, faced with an emergency, Montgomery & Rocky Hill First Responders ARE our heroes. Local first responders and police are worthy of honor for the true service they give to our community. The Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill would like to acknowledge those who give so much of themselves to help our community. This December, we will be raising flags to honor those volunteers in our town. As a free event, the Rotary will display 100+ full size flags in front of the Montgomery Upper Middle School along with the names of all our first responder volunteers. |
President's Message: Be Quick, But Don’t Hurry…
How important are fundamentals in life and business? As a matter of fact, how important are fundamentals in anything worthwhile? There aren’t many things in life that can be accomplished without a foundation that’s built upon strong fundamentals. Think about it: Would football be football without blocking and tackling? It would just be a wild free-for-all. Every great athlete, business person, or artist knows the importance of fundamentals. There is a name for teams and individuals who have the very best fundamentals… They’re called champions. |
President's Message: What Are You Peddling?
Our first Bikes for the World campaign was a tremendous success! Here is an excerpt from an email that our President-Elect Zoltan (aka Z-Man) Nagy had sent earlier this week. "Our first ever Bikes for the World collection was a resounding success. We collected 185 bikes and over $1,100 in donations. In addition, we made a great impression out in the community with this project! Thanks to everyone who helped with this event especially those who of you who did the "dirty work" of getting the pedals off the bikes.” |
President's Message - Standing Required!
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, Moral victories are usually achieved by staying focused and working through difficulties and challenges. Haven’t we all experienced this? We’ve all had to stand up to things that were uncomfortable and required courage. Standing up to a challenge is the key. |
SHIP Truck!
Check it out! The mobile soup kitchen which our Rotary club bought for the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP) in Somerville is now adorned with our club logo and the various sponsors that made it all happen!! |
President's Message - The Do-ers
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, The Rotary Clubs throughout the world have an overwhelming number of members who we would call “Do-ers.” Do-ers are people who want to make a difference. In their most sincere form, they want to help others wherever they can. They’re not just in a club to do business; they’re in it to make a difference and to leave things better than they found them.
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President's Message - The Dash
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, There’s a documentary that I’ve seen that has highlighted the personal stories of some of the people who were lost in the World Trade Center attack. As we observe the eighteenth anniversary of 9/11. I’d like to share a favorite poem that tends to put our lifetimes in perspective. |
President's Message - The Acorn
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, A few years back I was at an event where I heard a speech by best-selling author, Dr. Myles Munroe. It was the first time that I’ve heard him speak. It was also the first time that I’ve ever heard of Dr Munroe. I found his talk to be very warm, engaging, insightful and extraordinary. Below are some thoughts for Labor Day week that were inspired by Dr Munroe.
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President's Message - Unleashed
I’d like to share an interesting story about a dog and a chain. When my wife and I began dating in the seventies, her family’s pet was a dog named Fluffy. Fluffy was an outside dog for the most part. She was a mixed breed who looked like a combination of Lassie and Petey from the old Little Rascals series. |
Donation To Rocky Hill Fire Department
The Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary Club received an official proclamation from the Borough of Rocky Hill, NJ thanking them for their generous donation of $5,630 to the Rocky Hill Fire Department for the purchase of new safety equipment (helmets, hoods and gloves). Spearheading the effort was Ed Zimmerman, a former mayor of Rocky Hill. |
President's Message - Look Up in the Sky...!
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President's Message - Get Your Funnel Cakes Heeeere!!
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, It’s officially a new funnel cake era for the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill. |
Bikes for the World
Do you have an old unused bike sitting in your basement or garage just gathering dust?? Donate that bike to Bikes for the World at our bike collection event held rain or shine on Saturday, Sept 28th between 9AM and 1PM in the parking lot of the Blawenburg Reformed Church. |
President's Message - Like An Arrow.
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, How many times in life do we seem to get pulled back, or meet with a disaster and some unexpected problems? Most successful people have had to endure set-backs and disappointments. It seems that no one is immune from challenging times. |
President's Message - A "Reverence" For Funnelcakes
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, For the benefit of our newer members… The Funnel Cake Sale is a MRH Rotary member’s “Right of Passage.” It’s the “service” part that’s mentioned in the Rotary motto of “Service above Self.” It’s one of the things that makes you a true battle tested Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotarian!
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President's Message - When The Game Is On The Line...
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, Few things fill me with more pride than seeing a young person on my staff move up in our company. We have ten centers in our fitness organization and I’m very proud of the fact that over the last few years, several staff members have gone on to become valuable players in our company. Whenever I see them at meetings, I always remind that they are always part of the team P/Fit family. |
Sign Up For Funnel Cakes!!!
Calling All Rotarians!!! One of our biggest fundraisers of the year is Funnel Cake sales at the Somerset County 4-H Fair which will be held at Aug 7-9 at North Branch Park in Bridgewater. We need your help - please click on this link and sign up for a shift or two (or three). |
President's Message - Happy 30th Rotary Anniversary
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, July signifies the start of a new year on the Rotary calendar. With the New Year, there comes new inspirations and renewed ideals for all of us to share. It’s also a very special year for us. |
2019 MRH Rotary Scholarship Recipients
For thirty years the Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary Club has given scholarships to students who exemplify the Rotary motto of Service Above Self. This year's recipients are: |
President's Message - A Lifetime of Making A Difference!
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, Last Thursday Mary Caterson gave us the sad news that it was her last meeting as an official member of our club. In this week’s message, I’d like to recognize Mary and her legacy in the community. |
Another Year of Tony!!!
Given the quasi rural nature of our area, it is somewhat fitting that our club's Rotary Installation Dinner was held inside a barn (though as anyone in attendance would tell you, this was no ordinary barn). Thank you to Emad & Ola Abou-Sabe for graciously hosting the event at on the grounds of their Agridor Farm in Skillman. And also thank you to Kevin Lynch for organizing the event. |
ClubRunner is Here!
Starting with the new Rotary year in July, our club will be instituting ClubRunner. Paraphrasing an old Saturday Night Live sketch - it's a website AND a dessert topping. Well, maybe not quite a dessert topping but it does have a lot of functions beyond just a physical website. |
President's Message: What A Great Time!
Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, One of the things that I’ll say often with amazement is, “What a great time to be alive.” And I really and truly mean it! Of all the times in history that we could have been born into this world, I’m so grateful for the time and place that we’ve been given. |
Helping people with disabilities make their own music Music has been an important part of leading an ordinary life for students at the Music School for Children With Disabilities in Honor of Paul Harris in Lublin, Poland. Founded by Rotary members, the school serves 20 students with various disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and visual impairments. The Rotary Club of Lublin-Centrum-Maria Curie-Sklodowska has provided funding with help from Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and the Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society, which houses the school. After their son Mateusz was born with underdeveloped eyes, Mariusz and Joanna Kania looked for ways to help him be active. When he showed an aptitude for music, they looked for a teacher and were thrilled to find the Paul Harris music school. |
Finding Safe Haven For years, Angalia Bianca had slept in abandoned buildings throughout Chicago. She stole. She did drugs. She spent time in and out of jail for forgery, theft, trespassing, and possession of narcotics. But after she landed in prison for the seventh time, something changed -- Bianca knew she wanted a better life. She just didn’t know how to make it happen.After serving her time, Bianca sought help from a local homeless organization, A Safe Haven, and moved to its shelter in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Bianca followed the program closely -- she attended all the required meetings, passed drug tests, and volunteered at every opportunity. |
Saving lives in Ghana What is it like taking a large team to Africa? It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. In mid February, I began leading Rotary members from all over the East Coast of the United States through Ghana. I’ve tried to give the team a warm Ghanaian welcome like I’ve received on my earlier trips. A large trip is a real blessing because each person sees Ghana and our work in a different way.A highlight for the team was greeting the chief of Sagadugu. The team got excited about buying goats and food for children in the villages where I support eight churches. It was good to see the pastors of most of the eight churches, and I had to explain that we were just passing through on our way to Bolgatanga. |
India celebrates three years without polio Throughout India and around the world, Rotary clubs are celebrating a major milestone: India has gone three years without a new case of polio. The last reported case was a two-year-old girl in West Bengal on 13 January 2011. To mark this historic triumph, Rotary clubs illuminated landmarks and iconic structures throughout the country with four simple but powerful words, "India is polio free."The three-year achievement sets the stage for polio-free certification of the entire Southeast Asia region by the World Health Organization. The Indian government also plans to convene a polio summit in February to commemorate this victory in the global effort to eradicate polio. |
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