The Rotary Club of Branchburg, the town’s oldest service club, recently celebrated its 32nd anniversary with a special proclamation from the Branchburg Township Committee.The Rotary Club of Branchburg, the town’s oldest service club, recently celebrated its 32nd anniversary with a special proclamation from the Branchburg Township Committee.
“For many years, we held a “Best of Branchburg Dinner” to honor our community leaders and recognize their service to Branchburg and our surrounding communities” said Senator Kip Bateman. We recently started Santa Fly-in. We provide gifts to children, and we have a Rotarian dressed up as Santa who dispenses the toys. It is always a very joyous time for the children.
Now, amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Rotary Club is focusing on additional projects to feed children and community people who are having problems due to lay off and food insecurity as well as continuation of those that they’ve been doing for decades.
Other major Rotary projects include a recognition ceremony and Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner, held since 2001. The support of many nonprofit organizations such as MiddleEarth, Midland School, Interfaith Hospitality Network; RVCC College; "Between 2017-2020, we donated almost $300,000 to various Veterans Organizations," said Joe Horner, Rotary Assistant District Governor.
Rotarians worldwide stringently adhere to a four-way test in the things they think, say or do by asking: if it is the truth, if it is fair, if it will be beneficial and if it will build up goodwill and better friendships. Clubs are required by charter to participate in local and international service projects, but we do it because it is the right thing to do.
Locally, the club built a playground in Branchburg, we assisted with building the challenger field playground for special needs kids, provided the Trima Machine for the Somerset Hospital, helped with the refurbishing of a historical building in Branchburg, supported students through scholarships and recognition, and much more.
Rotary sponsors “The Youth Leadership Camp (RYLA) where high school kids attend from all over the state,” says Dr. Maharjan. “students must complete an application at school and then have a referral from a teacher or their principal. We meet the students before and after the camp and the difference in them is amazing. They tell us about the leadership skills that they discovered and developed over that one weekend and how these skills will help them in the future with their careers.”
When the club was organized in 1988 with the purpose of networking, fellowship and contributing to the community in a way that focuses on “Service Above Self.” Several Branchburg community leaders such as Attorney Dan Matayola, Senator Bateman, Doug Bateman and others chattered the club.
On May 4, 1987, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Rotary Clubs could no longer exclude women from membership on the basis of gender. Raritan Valley Community College’s former Dean, the late Eileen McCoy, was among the first women to join the local club and served as president of the club from 1989-90.
Dr. Juliano jokes about why she first was invited in 1992. “They needed some new blood, I guess – I was a new, young doctor in town, and they needed my money and my labor – mostly picking up trash along Readington Road,” she said. “The reason I stayed in Rotary was the camaraderie of the club and Rotary’s mission to eradicate Polio.”
Louis Cain, a former candidate for the Branchburg Township was invited to attend the club’s Wednesday’s breakfast by Dr. Juliano and he later was inducted in Rotary in 2010. The camaraderie was also a selling point for me, and the opportunity to participate in many of the club’s service projects. “I would say that the people Who become members and commit to Rotary, value the friendships and opportunity to give back,“I think that’s the glue.”
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Rotary’s mission "service above self" extends to the world, with a major emphasis on clean water, education and health. "We have built schools, libraries and developed clean water projects and water in many countries," Dr. Maharjan said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 780 million people worldwide do not have access to an improved water source and an estimated 2.5 billion people, more than 35% of the world's population. lack access to improved sanitation.
During the last three decades, we have led many international projects in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Ghana. Our club has completed global projects that value more than $750,000 worth of International projects around the globe. In 2015, after the major earthquake in Nepal, the new Rotary Asha Project was born and started annual Humanitarian missions to Nepal with Rotaract and Rotarians traveling every year to Nepal to help rebuild the communities for earthquake victims.
To join the Rotary, or to donate, visit www.Branchburgrotary.org.
