“Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”— Rotary International Vision
Dear Rotary Friends,
Happy Friday! As we close out the week, please take a moment to appreciate the incredible energy that propels our Newtown Rotary club. We are part of something truly special—a global movement where our hands, hearts, and minds come together to make a difference in the world. Each week offers us a new chance to live with purpose, and this week has been no exception.
Our collective effort was beautifully demonstrated at last Friday’s Pedals for Progress bike breakdown event. Under the steady leadership of Jerry Agasar, our club came together once again, demonstrating the power of community in action. For over two decades, this project has made a global impact—because of your efforts, children and families around the world have gained life-changing access to transportation. A special thank you to Allen Fidler, whose generosity in lending his barn continues to support this project year after year. Every bike packed, every gesture of service, is part of a ripple effect that spans the globe. Thank you to Jerry and all member volunteers pictured below. It’s no surprise this project was featured as a shining example of impact during the District’s Vibrant Club Summit last Saturday.
We also shared a special lunch meeting this week. Brandon Valeri-Bruschini arranged a wonderful photoshoot with District Governor Katie Farrell, and the images captured more than just faces—they reflect the heart of our Rotary family and our commitment to service. Thank you to the Newtown Borough Fire Department for allowing us to assemble in their parking lot. Adding to the spirit of the meeting, our DEI Chair and Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Shikha Prashar, delivered a moving a cappella performance of John Lennon’s "Imagine." Her voice resonated with the message of peace, unity, and hope that defines Rotary’s mission. Please see the picture recap below.
Katie Farrell’s visit was a reminder of our growth and impact. As one of 42 district clubs she will visit this year, Katie highlighted that Newtown Rotary is leading the way—in our local and global efforts. Her words reaffirmed our shared commitment to creating a better world, and how, together, with partner clubs, and in partnership with other organizations, we are unstoppable.
Speaking of unstoppable, we are so proud of Rich Fekete, one of twoNewtown Rotarians competing in the Mr. Bucks County competition. For Rich, owner of Countryside Gallery and Frame Design on State Street, this isn’t about a title—it’s about raising critical funds for Main Street, supporting community members battling breast cancer. Rich, we are behind you every step of the way! Let’s show our support by casting our votes and cheering on both Rich and Bill Wise, who was highlighted last week. This is Rotary in action—seemingly small efforts creating meaningful hope and change. Vote's can be cast, and donations made via these links: Rich Fekete, Mr. July: https://givebutter.com/MrBucksCounty/mrjuly and Bill Wise, Mr. August: https://givebutter.com/MrBucksCounty/mraugust.
Looking ahead, our amazing NextGen team will be shining brightly this Sunday at the State Street Fundraiser! Let’s rally together to ensure they feel empowered, inspired, and ready to make a lasting impact for Alpha Bravo Canine. Special thanks to Kira Altomari and her dedicated team for their hard work in preparing for the event. This week’s efforts included sign placements around town, thanks to Kira, Ria, Joe Adelmann andhis adorable daughter Ellie, his wife Chelsea, and our parent club members Corky Swartz and Lauren Collins. And rumor has it, we might even see a surprise appearance from our District Governor… stay tuned!
And don’t forget—next Thursday, September 26th, we’ll gather for Camaraderie for a Cause at La Stalla. It’s more than just a super fun party; it’s a chance for us to unite in support of the Friends of Washington Crossing Park. Let’s come together in Rotary spirit, creating an unforgettable night of friendship and service. Be sure to register below! Also, our Pancake Breakfast at the American Legion on Sunday, September 29th, is fast approaching. Please register to volunteer below.
Lastly, thank you to Steve Sabel, our President-Elect, who recently visited Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston, IL. Steve's visit and the below photo reminds us that we are part of a global family, united by a common mission and shared values.
And now…
Please Meet Another of Your Board Members!
As promised, in this and the coming issues, I’m sharing personal stories and insights from our dedicated board members. Each of them brings unique experiences, talents, and passions to our club. Their contributions help drive our mission and make a positive impact in our community. We hope these profiles give you a deeper understanding of the individuals who guide our club’s efforts and inspire you to engage with our initiatives.
Meet, Ria Agarwal, Secretary of the Board of the Newtown Rotary NextGen Team, an Inspiring Journey to the Newtown Rotary Club
1. Personal Journey and Role:
I am currently a 3rd year Drexel University Undergraduate student studying Computer Science. I have lived in Yardley for most of my life and went to Pennsbury School District for elementary, middle, and high school. I was inspired to join the Rotary Club because of the people and how welcoming everyone is. I also loved how everyone was so passionate about helping out the community and just wanted to have a positive impact on others’ lives.
As Secretary of the NextGen Board, I mainly take notes/meeting minutes during our meetings and communicate necessary information to the rest of the group in our group chat.
2. Impact and Achievements:
I recently became the Secretary of the NextGen Board, which I was very happy to take on despite having only joined the club early this year. Another memorable moment was the Hope on the Vine gala event because I had heard so much about it from other NextGen members and I was really excited to be able to volunteer the day of and see all the hard work put into bringing the event together.
I believe the Rotary Club has made a difference through their dedication to bringing positivity and service to the people in the community. The club has made efforts year round to do their best to raise money and awareness to causes that they feel passionate about.
3. Challenges and Future Goals:
I think having more events/projects that we can do as a collaboration with the Interact clubs at the high schools would be cool to do. This would give high school students a chance to talk to more Rotary members and get more of an idea of how they can stay connected to their community even once they are in college if they are interested.
I think increasing a focus on bringing more younger individuals into the club and maybe doing more service projects and events that target the younger generation to join while also continuing to help the community.
4. Community Engagement and Reflections:
I am excited about our State Street Fundraiser that everyone has been working really hard on bringing together for a good cause. This will be my first time going to the State Street fundraiser so I am excited to see all of our hard work over the past few months. I also really like Pedals for Progress and what they are doing to help people in other countries, and I am looking forward to hopefully being able to help them out on their collection date in October as well as bring in a couple bikes to donate.
One of the most fulfilling aspects has been being able to be more active within the community and helping out at service projects/events. I used to do much more volunteering activities in middle and high school, but it's been difficult to be more active within the community after going to college, so being a club member has definitely helped with that.
5. Hobbies and Personal Interests:
I like to read books, typically fiction/fantasy genre and I like to paint. I am not a great artist but I will sometimes buy a canvas or find an old shoebox and just paint it.
I have utilized my background in technology to help with communication in our group and help with the organization of information as needed for certain projects and events.
6. Wildcard:
I used to play club volleyball for 3 years, from 8th grade to 10th grade before COVID hit.
Thank you, Ria, for your service, and to our incredible sponsors listed below. Your support continues to fuel our mission and make a difference in countless lives.
As we move into the weekend and beyond, let’s carry this energy with us—supporting one another, uplifting our community, and extending our impact to the world. Together, we have the power to create the kind of lasting change that Rotary stands for.
Here’s to another inspiring week of service, unity, and purpose in Newtown and beyond. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming meetings and events!
Warm regards,
Debra Porter
President and proud member of the Newtown Rotary Club, District 7430
New Member Spotlight!
The Newtown Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these new members into our family! Please take a moment to get to know them by reading the thoughts below in their own words. We look forward to swearing them in and hearing their Classification Speech at a future meeting. Welcome, everyone!
SCOTT FEGLEY
"I am an Attorney and I wish to renew my involvement in the Newtown community and join many friends who are already members of the Newtown Rotary. I am looking forward to learning about the public service Rotary provides and finding out where I can contribute. An interesting fact about me is that I have a published novel. “The Meaning of Home” available on Amazon.com."
GEORGE DUTHIE
"I am a Principal and the President of Fraytak Veisz Hopkins Duthie (FVHD) Architects - Planners based in Ewing Township, NJ. I have been a licensed architect for more than 30 years. Our firm specializes in K-12 public school buildings, primarily in New Jersey. As I approach retirement at the end of 2025, I have thought about how I can give back to the community. I was invited by Rotarians who are in my church to give the Rotary a try. At the very first lunch meeting that I attended I felt very welcome and could feel the energy and enthusiasm in the room. Engaging in conversation with several members and hearing more about the club helped me to make up my mind. Of course, having Hal, Dave and Tom there from the former Yardley-Morrisville Club was the icing on the cake. Ideally, I will utilize some of my technical and leadership skills in a way to benefit the club and its causes. I hope to eventually get involved on the committee level where I can be more effective. More importantly, I hope to learn from established club members and perhaps impart some of my knowledge to contribute to the collective talent base as we advance our mission. An interesting fact about me: I have been playing poker with the same group of guys for more than twenty years. I am mediocre at it, but we have a lot of fun and camaraderie. Hopefully, I'll get better. We have a 'Poker Champ' trophy that is given to the night's winner. I have not seen it in a while."
ALEX SZLANIC
"I am a Financial Center Manager at Penn Community Bank in the Newtown Office. I joined Newtown Rotary to serve my community with a focus on building relationships. My fiancé—soon to be wife come November!—have an apartment in the borough. She is also an educator for the school district, as well. This is a great chance for us to get out and do some good by our new community. I am most interested in volunteering opportunities; learning more about the club’s projects, initiatives, and goals so that I can help. It is always difficult for me to talk about myself so hopefully this to be an interesting fact about me: I do not have a college degree and have less than three years banking experience, but I like to think I can serve as an example you can work your way up without a degree."
Member Survey - Please Participate Here
Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey. Your voice is very important as we strive to make our Club stronger and more impactful every day.
Katie, our District Governor, will be joining us for our Lunch Meeting on Wednesday, 9/18 @ 12:15pm so please join us at the Temperance House!
As a member of the Warminster club for the past 18 years, Katie has been active in many levels of club activities including two terms as President. At the District level, Katie assisted with organization of the 2018-2019 District Conference activities, served as the Annual Fund Chair of the Foundation Committee for several years, and is a member of the Grants Committee.
Katie has over 45 years of healthcare experience. Her current full-time position is Chief Administrative Officer of Jefferson Lansdale Hospital. Prior to becoming part of Jefferson Health, Katie served as Chief Executive Officer of Warminster Hospital. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Delaware Valley University and her master’s in business administration (Healthcare focus) from LaSalle University.
Katie has been involved with her local community as a member of the Greater Harleysville and North Penn Senior Services Board of Directors for the past 12 years. She previously served on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County for more than 20 years.
Mark your calendars for our Wednesday, 9/18 meeting and wear your Rotary attire! We want a HUGE crowd for a Group Photo taken by a drone in honor of our District Governor, Katie Farrell's visit. The photo will be taken at the Newtown Borough Firehouse at 12:15pm with Lunch to follow!
Thanks to our Newtown Rotary Club efforts, we were able to support over 2800 students by sending them to school prepared to learn because of our support of the "Stuff the Bus" program! We look forward to an even bigger impact next year! Thank you for your support of the United Way.
NextGen State Street Fundraiser - 9/22
Support our NextGen group's "State Street Fundraiser" on Sunday, September 22nd from 11am - 3pm on State Street between Penn and Center! This is a family friendly event to benefit Alpha Bravo Canine which trains service dogs to support U.S. military veterans suffering from combat-related disabilities.
Our Fellowship Committee is pleased to announce Newtown Rotary's first BOOK CLUB on September 22nd at Shari Donahue's house (22 Pheasant Run, New Hope, PA 18938).
Our Book Club will run from 7:00-8:30PM and the book is Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Please sign up and we look forward to seeing you there!
Please join us at our Camaraderie for a Cause on Thursday, 9/26 from 5:00-7:00pm at LaStalla to hear Katherine speak of all the great work done by the Friends of Washington Crossing Park and how we can help! The Friends of Washington Crossing Park shares the powerful story of General George Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Night in 1776 and interprets its ongoing impact on world history for both today’s citizens and future generations. Through fundraising and the generous support of our donors and members, we can maintain and sustain this significant historic site and welcome thousands of schoolchildren, families, individuals, and groups every year.
The event was organized by Mayor John Burke, Rotarian Paul Salvatore and Bernie Sauer and included remarks by former PA Governor Mark Schweiker, retired NYC firefighter Kevin Doherty, and Janet L. Brennan, the founder of Shamrock Reins, which benefited from funds raised by the event.
Rotarians At Work Again!!!
Tuesday Dinner Meeting At Relic - 9/10/24
The Newtown Rotary Club dinner meeting featured guest speaker, Alan Schultz, President of "Pedals for Progress" whose mission is to put used bikes to good use around the world. Stay tuned for our annual Pedals for Progress event held on October 26th.
Community & Volunteer Opportunities
In this section, you will find opportunities to volunteer outside of our own Rotary events.
In doing so, we expand our "Rotary Reach" into our community!
Please sign up or even just attend these events if you can.
"Car Show for Autism" held by Potential - 9/28
Potential is in need of volunteers to help with our Car Show for Autism. Newtown Rotary Club will have a table at this event! The event will take place at Bucks County Community College from 1:00-5:00pm.
"BBQ & Football" held by Tamanend District of BSA - 9/29
The Tamanend District of Boy Scouts of America invites you to attend the 3rd Annual BBQ & Football Tailgate Fundraiser featuring the Eagles vs. Tampa. Please scan the QR code below and reach out to Rich Fekete for additional information or sponsorship opportunities!
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