
Stories
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() What does a great organization look like? What would it do and who would be in it? I’d recommend that everyone take a look around the room on Thursday. Because it looks like us! Great organizations do the things that we do. They serve the community whenever there is a need. They offer help with disaster relief in far away places. They operate with great ideals like “Service above Self.” They measure themselves and their decisions against high standards such as the Four Way Test: Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to all concerned? Will it build Goodwill and better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to all concerned? |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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.” |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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!! |
![]() 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.
|
![]() 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. |
![]() 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.
|
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, Super heroes can come from all walks of life. Our club has a man who is seldom seen but whose presence is always known and felt. He’s there whenever we need him. He lives by our motto of “Service Above Self.” Look, up in the sky... It’s a bird… It’s a plane…. It’s Rotaryman! If Superman came from Krypton, then our Rotaryman came from Rotan. (I believe that’s near Belle Mead?) |
![]() Dear Fellow Rotarians & friends, It’s officially a new funnel cake era for the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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!
|
![]() 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. |
![]() 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). |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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: |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
Download the website sponsorship guide