An Update from the Rotary Club of Wooster…
 
November and December have been active times for Wooster Rotary. We closed the 2016 Parade of Flags season with a Veterans Day display that featured almost 2000 US flags flying throughout the community. Our Flag Maintenance team then winterized all the flags, and set in motion plans for another few hundred flags to be prepared for the 2017 Parade of Flags subscription year. The club also recognized the community groups who assist Wooster Rotary with flag routes by distributing $17,700 to those organizations which include Scouts, youth groups, sports clubs, not-for-profits, other service organizations, and more.
 
Wooster Rotary was pleased to present a $1500 check to the United Way of Wayne & Holmes Counties to support the Get Connected initiative. Get Connected strives to match willing volunteers – and their available time and skill sets – with volunteer opportunities throughout local communities. These funds were one way Wooster Rotary plans to use district local grants in the 2016/17 Rotary year.
 
 
The Al Van Wie/Wooster Rotary Classic was another resounding success thanks to Rotarians, support from local school administration and families, local-based grocer Buehler’s, and the College of Wooster Athletics Dept. Through food collections at area schools, at Buehler’s markets, at a youth basketball clinic, and at the opening games of the C.O.W. Men’s Basketball season, Wooster Rotary collected over 54,000 boxed and canned goods for People to People Ministries, an emergency needs ministry that serves a broad population throughout Wayne County.
 
 
 
As Thanksgiving arrived, Wooster Rotarians started their bell-ringing campaign for the Salvation Army kettle. Through the holiday season, Wooster Rotarians have dedicated over 150 hours to ringing the bell and have included Youth Exchange students Lars (Germany) and Laura (Italy) in our holiday cheer.
 
 
 
Another long-standing tradition of Wooster Rotary is the Senior Holiday Program & Dinner. This year’s event was the 51st, once again featuring a program of holiday entertainment – provided by the Wooster HS Choirs, the Wooster HS Orchestra, and a troupe of madrigal dancers. After the holiday program, 350 area seniors were served a nice meal and given the space for companionship and fellowship. The Senior Holiday Program & Dinner is complimentary – a gift to many area senior citizens. Wooster Rotary is thankful for the Wooster City Schools which provides the space at Wooster High School to host the concert and meal; the Wooster High School music department for sharing their talented students; and Wooster Rotary’s wonderful cook staff - led by Ruth Aukerman (in red) - who takes such great care of our club each week, and goes above and beyond to cook each year for the Senior Holiday Dinner.
        
 
 
Wooster Rotary wishes all district clubs a Happy Holidays and an inspired year of service in the coming New Year!