2014- The Year That Was

2014 was a busy year for the Newtown Rotary Club as it celebrated sixty one years of service to the community, both locally and globally. “It was very gratifying to be able to allocate almost $27,000 to various causes last year” said Paul Orihel, the Club’s President.

“However, it was just as gratifying to carry out projects which emphasized providing service beyond financial contributions. Last year we gave out the 10,000^th dictionary to a lucky third grader in the Council Rock School District. The project was initiated almost ten years ago to promote good language skills and learning habits.”

“In its 12th year, our bicycle collection for Pedals for Progress added another 147 bikes to over 2,000 bikes collected earlier. They are shipped to developing Jill Gobora of Amy's Kisses presents

countries where they provide the transportation necessary to create greater earning capacity and improved economic conditions for the families that use them.”

“We are also very proud of the accomplishments of our affiliated Interact Club in Council Rock North.” Added Orihel. “It is a very active youth group, close to 80 high school students, who work together in a variety of service projects.” “We found it to be a two-way street. We support their functions and they support ours. You can find Rotarians helping with a blood drive or a car wash and Interact students helping with bike collection, road cleanup and Christmas Day Dinner for the less fortunate.”

Other youth activities include recognition of outstanding students each month and sponsorship of foreign exchange students. Anyone living in the Council Rock North area who would like to host a foreign exchange student should contact Rick Rogers (215-579-6013).

Internationally, together with the Morrisville-Yarldley Club, we contributed to a water filtration project in Lima, Peru. Conceived and carried out by the Lima-Sunrise Rotary Club. At least four water filter distribution campaigns have been carried out to date. 94 families that live in one of the shanty towns east of the Lima International Airport, received water filters, along with a detailed explanation for their use and of hygiene practices that prevent infections transmitted by parasites.

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization. Its more than 1.2 million members volunteer their time and talent to further the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self”. The Newtown Rotary Club, founded in 1953, has supported many causes o

f Rotary International, key among them is the eradication of the debilitating Polio disease.

This year’s Hope on The Vine will be held on April 25. To learn more about it and about Newtown Rotary Club’s activities, visit their web site www.newtownrotary.org, “Like” them on Facebook, or contact Gadi Naaman (215) 968-2080. The Club meets on Wednesdays at 12:15 at The Brick Hotel. 1 Washington Avenue, Newtown, PA 18940.