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Members of the Rotary Club of Salisbury tonight heard about local efforts to help resettle Afghan refugees. Brian Stiegler, PhD, an Assistant Provost for International Education at Salisbury University, spoke about the inability of local organizations to help resettlements because of state and federal government requirements. Over the past 10 years, Maryland is the fourth most active state in resettling refugees from all over the world.

Dr. Stiegler, on the left, was invited to speak by former Salisbury University colleague Dr. George Whitehead.

The Rotary Club of Salisbury is growing with new member Mrs. Sydney Tilman inducted this evening and other new members becoming part of the club in coming weeks. Interested in joining the Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com.

New club member Sydney Tilman, left, was sponsored by BJ Summers and Ginnie Malone.

The Search for Aviatrix Amelia Earhart

May 5, 2022

Members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury tonight heard the fascinating story about two Wicomico County residents search for the crash site of famed 1930s aviatrix Amelia Earhart. For decades and using hundreds of thousands of his own dollars, Bill Snavely has worked to learn the fate of Earhart. Tonight, he described his efforts and said he and his team are making progress in finding the plane that crashed in the Pacific Ocean in July 1937.

Also presenting tonight was his principal diver Tracy Wildrix who explained some of the complexities of removing coral from what they believe are the remains of the aircraft.

Their work is mentioned in the January 2015 edition of the Smithsonian magazine. A book written by Snavely, Tracking --Amelia Earhart Her Flight Path to the End, provides additional details about their search and it is available through www.specialbooks.com.

The Rotary Club of Salisbury is growing. Interested in joining the Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com.

Rotary Club of Salisbury Members Hear about Local Medical Research

April 28, 2022

There is a lot of medical research happening at the TidalHealth Salisbury hospital and members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury heard about that tonight. Dr. Robert Joyner, Research Director of the TidalHealth Richard Henson Research Institute, and Mrs. Lynne Armiger with the Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network, spoke about the five year old program that conducts clinical trials for cancer patients and more recently with Covid patients. This is a valuable service to residents of the Delmarva Peninsula.

The Rotary Club of Salisbury is growing. Interested in joining the Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com.

Rotary Club of Salisbury Prepares for Flags for Heroes Display

April 21, 2022

The Rotary Club of Salisbury, in cooperation with The Salisbury Sunrise Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Wicomico County, is seeking persons to sponsor persons they consider to be heroes. These heroes, whatever their profession or background, will be honored with a display of hundreds of American flags just east of Salisbury along U.S. Route 50. These flags will be on display between Memorial Day and Independence Day.

Proceeds from the Flags for Heroes project will be be donated to local non-profit groups that help military veterans and their families. A per flag donation of $50 is all that is needed. Details and the application form are in the Download section of this website.

This community service project is just one of many involving the growing number of The Rotary Club of Salisbury members. Interested in joining the Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com.

Rotary Little League Team Opens with a Win

April 14, 2022

Again this year, The Rotary Club of Salisbury is sponsoring a team in the Fruitland Little League. On opening day, following a parade through Fruitland, the Rotary Pirates won their game 24 to 13. Congratulations to the 6-8 year old boys.

Our sponsorship is just one example of The Rotary Club supporting youth in our community. To learn about other ways in which the club helps youngsters, check out our ad in today's edition of the Salisbury Independent newspaper. baytobaynews.com and select Salisbury Independent

Rotary Club of Salisbury Membership Grows

April 7, 2022

Membership in The Rotary Club of Salisbury continues to grow with the addition tonight of our newest member, Seth Hershberger, director of the Wicomico County libraries. He was sponsored by Audrey Orr who pinned on his membership pin.

Not only is the club growing, but so is the club's contributions to our community. The club has been granted a charter for a new Cub Scout pack that will work in cooperation with our sponsored Boy Scout Troop 176. Hugh Livingston, who led the effort to create the new Cub Scout pack, presented the charter to the club tonight. The Cub Scouts will be associated with the Prince Street School.

Interested in joining the Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com.

It Was Food and Fellowship this Week

March 30, 2022

It was just food and fellowship at this week's meeting of The Rotary Club of Salisbury. We joined with the Salisbury Sunrise Club and the Rotary Club of Wicomico County for a purely fun event at a Salisbury eatery. Dozens of Rotarians, spouses, and children enjoyed each others' company.

Major Jake Day Speaks to The Rotary Club of Salisbury

March 24, 2022

Salisbury Mayor and National Guard Major Jake Day spoke to members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury tonight about his nearly one year deployment in East Africa last year. It was an interesting insight into America's military actions overseas.

Interested in joining the Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com.

George Whitehead Honored by The Rotary Club of Salisbury

March 17, 2022

The Rotary Club of Salisbury this evening honored long-time member and Past President George Whitehead for his leadership of the club's Centennial Committee that began work about seven years ago to celebrate the club's 100th anniversary in 2020. Under his guidance, the club produced a club history book and video, a series of newspaper features about the club's history, and worked to have a peace labyrinth built in downtown Salisbury. Unfortunately, the anniversary banquet was cancelled, a victim of Covid restrictions.

Club President Bill Satterfield, on the left, presented a miniature wood labyrinth to Dr. Whitehead as a small token of the club's appreciation of his years of commitment to the club's 100 years of service to the community.

The Rotary Club of Salisbury Offers College Scholarships

March 10, 2022

The Rotary Club of Salisbury, in its 103^rd year of service to our community, in a partnership with the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, is offering five scholarships of at least $1,000 each to help students pay for their college educations.

One female student enrolled in either a public or private school in Wicomico County who has been accepted to a college engineering program may qualify for the $2,500 Charles Whitmore Scholarship, named after a Rotary Club of Salisbury deceased member. Additional qualifications include graduating with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, exhibiting strong moral character, and having an established spirit of cooperation with fellow students and faculty. Since its inception a few years ago, $7,500 have been awarded.

The club also offers the Helen C. Wootton Memorial Scholarship to graduating seniors from each of the government high schools in Wicomico County. Qualifications include participation in extracurricular activities, planned immediate continuation of education following high school, leadership, and demonstrated interest in service to others. Each scholarship is valued at $1,000. These scholarships are awarded in honor of Miss Helen C. Wootton for the many valuable years of service she gave to the educational system of Wicomico County and for her concern for the success of each student she met. Over the years, $38,000 have been awarded.

Scholarship applications can be found on the Community Foundation‘s scholarship portal, www.cfes.org/scholarships with instructions and deadlines. All applications are subject to verification by the guidance department of student’s home school. Applications are due no later than April 1. Once the schools confirm eligibility, recipients are selected by the Rotary Club of Salisbury Scholarship Committee.

The Rotary Club of Salisbury is proud to support education opportunities for local students.

Ernie Colburn Assumes Rotary Club of Salisbury Leadership Position

March 4, 2022

Local business and community leader Ernie Colburn has been selected by members of the 102-year old Rotary Club of Salisbury to be the club’s President-Elect nominee, meaning he is in line to become President of the 88-member club in the 2023-2024 Rotary year.

Colburn, an Eastern Shore of Maryland native and a club member since early 2015, is a graduate of Delaware Technical and Community College and Delaware State College. He spent his career in the communications media following service as an air traffic controller in the United States Air Force. He began his career in radio and became corporate vice president of a major radio/cable television group headquartered in the District of Columbia. He moved into cable television in 1990 and retired 20 years later as General Sales Manager of the Advertising Sales Division of Comcast/NBC Universal in Salisbury.

That same year he was selected as the volunteer president of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and soon thereafter was hired as the chamber’s CEO, a position he held until 2017.

As a community volunteer, Colburn has been involved with the Lower Shore chapter of the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the Multiple Sclerosis Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Recovery Resource Center, the Greater Salisbury Committee, the Wicomico County Fair, and Jaycees chapters in Delaware, among others.

The Rotary Club of Salisbury is a member organization whose product is service. Fun, fellowship, and community volunteer work are hallmarks of the club. Club members, “People of Action,” assist in many leadership roles in the community and provide countless hours of service to dozens of organizations.

Interested in joining the Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com.

Rotary Club of Salisbury Seeks to Honor an Outstanding Non-Rotarian

February 15, 2022

The 102-year old Rotary Club of Salisbury is seeking nominations of persons in the local community who, in their everyday lives, are living examples of the Rotary Four-Way Test and the Rotary motto of Service Above Self.

The Four-Way Test Award is the club’s most prestigious award honoring exceptional community and volunteer service. Individuals to be considered should exemplify the tenets of the Rotary 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?

Nominations can be found on The Rotary Club of Salisbury website www.rotarysalisbury.org or by contacting Luanne Dashield by e-mail at luglinowiecki@gmail.com or calling 443-365-9053. A list of previous Four-Way Test Award recipients can be found on the club website as well. The deadline for nominations is April 15, 2022. Rotary club members are not eligible.

The Rotary Four-Way Test was conceived in 1932 at the height of the Great Depression by a Chicago businessman who was faced with the challenge of saving a major company from bankruptcy. Looking for a way to keep his business solvent, he sought a short yardstick of ethics to every aspect of business. As a result, a climate of trust and goodwill developed among dealers, customers, and employees. The Four-Way Test was credited with returning the company to a thriving status.

Interested in joining the growing number of members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com. The club meets Thursday nights at 6:10 at the Rotary Scout and Community Center at 1715 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, Maryland.

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The Rotary Club of Salisbury Supports Youth Development Programs

February 3, 2022

Continuing its decades-long support of programs to enrich the youth of our community, The Rotary Club of Salisbury has awarded $40,000 divided among nine non-profit organizations through its annual 3-Point Initiative; an amount larger than last year. With awards ranging from $2,000 to $7,000, the money will be used this year to promote Responsibility, Integrity, and Academic Achievement among area youth.

Money Stack Cash Bag Sack Dollar Sign Bills Bank Success image 1

Funding for these grants comes from the Rotary Club of Salisbury and its partnering organizations that include: the Donnie Williams Foundation, the Richard and Patricia Hazel Charitable Fund, the Richard A. Henson Foundation, First Shore Federal Savings and Loan Charitable Fund, and the Wooten Community Fund, each of which made a generous donation.

Eligible organizations were government entities, faith-based organizations, and non-profit public charities that support programs for youth on the Lower Eastern Shore. Members of the Rotary Club of Salisbury screened the applications, made site visits, and weighed the contributions that each organization would make to our community.

Receiving grants are:

Salisbury Urban Ministries to fund Kid Café after school programs
Off Street Sports for physical fitness programs, tutoring, and other school initiatives
Main Street Gym for children scholarships and educational materials
United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore for its Imagination Library Program
Epoch Dream Center for summer school, tutoring, and visual learning
Rebirth, Inc. to support schools programs and related technology needs
Child & Family Foundation to support the One Year to Empowerment program
Horizon’s program to offer summer programs and tutoring during school days
Big Brothers Big Sisters for youth mentoring

The Rotary Club of Salisbury’s 3-Point Initiative Chairman Gus Lebois noted that nearly 700 children are expected to benefit from these grants. “We are proud to continue our tradition of helping children so they will become better students and citizens.”

Rotary Club of Salisbury Meetings on Hold

January 27, 2021

The Board of Directors of The Rotary Club of Salisbury voted this afternoon to suspend regular Thursday evening club meetings through the end of February due to the spread of Covid viruses in our community. While club members enjoy the fellowship of each other at our weekly meetings, the board thought it prudent to cancel all February club meetings for the protection of our members and guests. The board will reconvene in late February to consider what happens in March and beyond.

Rotary Club of Salisbury Seeks Students for Leadership Program

December 29, 2021

The Rotary Club of Salisbury is seeking 11th grade students interested in being part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program.

Students will learn valuable leadership and communication skills, conflict resolution, business ethics, how to plan and manage a project while learning about Rotary youth programs. They're sure to have fun as well.

It will take place Friday February 18, 2022 through Sunday February 20 at the Carousel Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland. Our club is sponsoring two students who will incur no costs of their own.

Students should be in the 11th grade, but seniors and very mature sophomores can be considered. We need to submit names by early January. Contact Ashley Clevenger to learn more. aclevenger@psbinc.net or 443-358-6389 or 410-713-9951.

Details at www.rotarysalisbury.org. Find Club Links section and click on District 7630.

The Rotary Club of Salisbury Wraps Up Salvation Army Bell Ringing

December 22, 2021

With just a few days remaining until Christmas, members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury and their guests are completing another year of bell ringing for the Salvation Army. Carrying on a tradition of at least 40 years, the club this year has been bell ringing at The Centre at Salisbury mall.

Christmas Time Fellowship for The Rotary Club of Salisbury

December 16, 2021

It was fun and fellowship for members and guests of The Rotary Club of Salisbury at a holiday get together tonight at the Salisbury Burnish Beer Company. More than three dozen friends gathered to enjoy each other's company.

Interested in joining the growing number of members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com The club meets Thursday nights at 6:10 at the Rotary Scout and Community Center at 1715 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, Maryland.

A Circuit Court Update for The Rotary Club of Salisbury

December 9, 2021

How the Wicomico County Circuit Court handled business during the Covid 19 shutdown was the topic of tonight's meeting of The Rotary Club of Salisbury. Judge Matt Maciarello, a former club member, shared insights into the disruptions and adjustments the court made from March 2020 until April 2021, when jurors again could be selected and seated. No jurors...no trials. Some 600 cases were put on hold during this time. An interesting presentation.

Judge Maciarello, on the right, visited with club members Dick Meeks and Joe Stefursky, after the meeting.

A hilarious talk by club member Ace Parker, a member since 1985, had our members roaring with laughter as he presented the story of his life during our weekly Get Acquainted...Get Reacquainted presentation.

Ace Parker had the club in stitches with laughter.

Interested in joining the growing number of members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com The club meets Thursday nights at 6:10 at the Rotary Scout and Community Center at 1715 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, Maryland.

Rotary Clubs Help Children Learn

December 6, 2021

Third and fourth grade students in Wicomico County elementary schools soon will receive dictionaries thanks to The Rotary Club of Salisbury and the Salisbury Sunrise Rotary Club.

Thanks to the generosity of more than 100 local Rotary club members, the clubs have begun distributing the books to approximately 2,400 students in county public and private schools. This community service project has been offered for decades.

“For many students, this book might be the only one they own”, noted project coordinator AB Brown, a long time Rotary Club of Salisbury member. “It’s very satisfying to see the children’s smiling faces when they open the dictionaries for the first time.”

Not only did the Rotary clubs buy the dictionaries, members then inserted labels in them to let the parents and students know they were donated by the Rotary clubs. Then they were boxed and sorted for distribution. All this work was part of the two clubs’ members being People of Action.

Interested in joining the growing number of members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com The club meets Thursday nights at 6:10 at the Rotary Scout and Community Center at 1715 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, Maryland.

Habitat for Humanity Presents to The Rotary Club of Salisbury

December 2, 2021

Our club members tonight learned about the important work being done by Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County, a group that helps poor people get into new houses, repair their existing homes, and learn financial management. Family Service Manager Sheri Ewing explained the challenges faced by a large number of families in our region. It was an eye-opening presentation for many club members.

We continued our Get Acquainted...Get Reacquainted presentations by our long-time members. Tonight, Bob Dickey and Darryl Nixon, both who joined our club in the 1980s, summarized their life stories and shared some of their Rotary Club of Salisbury experiences. These self-presented vignettes over the last few months by our longest serving members have been enlightening and well received.

Bob Dickey

Darryl Nixon.

Interested in joining the growing number of members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com The club meets Thursday nights at 6:10 at the Rotary Scout and Community Center at 1715 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, Maryland.

Rotary Club of Salisbury Builds a Wheelchair Ramp

November 20, 2021

Members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury spent yesterday and today constructing a wheelchair ramp for the widow of a Vietnam War veteran. Working with the Chesapeake Housing Mission, 16 club members and three guests demolished the front porch and built the ramp. For years, club members have built ramps for persons in need. Another example of our members being People of Action.

Interested in joining the growing number of members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com The club meets Thursday nights at 6:10 at the Rotary Scout and Community Center at 1715 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, Maryland.

Salvation Army Honors The Rotary Club of Salisbury

November 18, 2021

As the Salvation Army begins its 2021 bell ringing campaign to raise money for its dozens of programs, The Rotary Club of Salisbury was acknowledged this week as one of the top civic organizations on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore for supplying bell ringing volunteers in 2019 and 2020. At our club meeting tonight, bell ringing coordinator Barbara Leonard let members know of their accomplishments. She also continued the effort to enlist volunteers for this year. More examples of our members being People of Action.

Club member Hugh Livingston brought the club up to date on the Rotary Club of Salisbury Foundation, Inc.'s project to install a peace labyrynth in downtown Salisbury. The project started to commemorate the club's 100th anniversary in February 2020.

A highlight of our meeting was the induction of Luanne Dashield , left, as our newest member. Pinning her was board member Stacey McMichael.

Rotarians Supply New Coats to Poor Children

November 17, 2021

Just in time for cold weather, The Rotary Club of Salisbury and the Rotary Club of Wicomico County have started the purchase and distribution of new coats to more than 500 Wicomico County youngsters. Using club money, money from Rotary District 7630, and donors through the national Operation Warm website, families living at or below the poverty level qualified for the free coats through Shore Up, Inc.’s Head Start program, the Salvation Army, and the Wicomico County Board of Education.

At the first giveaway in the Salvation Army gymnasium in Salisbury, Rotarians helped the youngsters and their parents select the right size and style coat. Additional distributions will take place in the coming weeks.

This is another example of Rotary club members being People of Action.

The Rotary Club of Salisbury Awards First Prize

November 11, 2021

For the last few months, members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury have been raising money to help fund the club's many community service projects and programs. Tonight, the raffle's top prize of $10,000 was awarded to retired Willards-area farmer and chicken grower Blair Ranneberger, on the right. Club member Donnie Cooper, on the left, sold him the winning ticket. Joe Stefursky chaired the raffle effort that raised $39,000.

The Rotary Club of Salisbury Hears About a Veterans Assistance Program

November 11, 2021

One of our club members, Chris Hardy, was our speaker tonight to talk about the US Kennels Incorporated program he heads that trains and provides service dogs to veterans with disabilities. Chris brought with him his service dog Brodie, who shared the affections of club members Donnie Cooper and Cynthia Williams.

Thirty seven year club member Dave Orem was our Get Acquainted...Get Reacquainted presenter. He spoke about his background in the heavy equipment sales industry, his interests in boating, and how he got involved with The Rotary Club of Salisbury.

Interested in joining the growing number of members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com The club meets Thursday nights at 6:10 at the Rotary Scout and Community Center at 1715 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, Maryland.

The Rotary Club of Salisbury Hears About Piedmont Airlines

November 4, 2022

Piedmont Airlines, a part of American Airlines, was the topic of club speaker CEO Eric Morgan (second from right) at tonight’s meeting of The Rotary Club of Salisbury. Piedmont is a major local employer with about 400 of its companywide 10,000 employees working in Wicomico County. Most of those local employees are airplanes mechanics, a skill in short supply locally.

Raffle chairman Joe Stefursky unveiled the final amount raised...$38,120. This exceeded our goal of $35,000. Proceeds will be used to fund the club’s many community projects.

With 37 years of club membership, including serving as president in the 1995-1996 year, Mike Hickson was our Get Acquainted...Get Reacquainted speaker, part of the club’s effort to help all members learn about our veteran members.

Upcoming club projects include the purchase and distribution of new coats to poor children, building a wheelchair ramp for the widow of a Vietnam War veteran, the purchase and distribution of dictionaries to 3rd and 4th grade students in Wicomico County, Salvation Army bell ringing, and selecting non-profit groups as recipients of money for our 3-Point Initiative program to help build integrity, responsibility, and academic achievement among area youth.

Interested in joining the growing number of members of The Rotary Club of Salisbury and becoming one of our People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com The club meets Thursday nights at 6:10 at the Rotary Scout and Community Center at 1715 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, Maryland.