I want to reiterate that it is truly an honor to serve as your President. I am grateful for your confidence, and I look forward to working alongside each of you. My vision this year is centered on “We are better together” and creating lasting change through leadership, fellowship, service, and community impact.
Together We Lead. Together We Serve. Together We Create Lasting Legacies.
As your president, let me highlight that we have something special – a club strengthened by friendship, shared purpose, and a unique blend of seasoned wisdom and fresh perspectives. I want to acknowledge that together, you all help create an environment where experience meets innovation; where every member can contribute, grow, and lead.
This year, I want to help strengthen our culture of stewardship, transparency, and collaboration through a clear leadership structure and membership engagement. Let us support diversity in the communities and projects we support. With the ideas and leadership, we bring to the table, we can create even greater impact.
As Paul Harris once said, “Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves." Let's achieve great results this year—and do it together as we take the Rotary Club of Newtown to new heights.
Shikha Prashar, MBA, CEPA®
President, Rotary Club of Newtown Service Above Self 🌟
Movie Matinee Monday - 8/24
Join us for our new Movie Matinee Mondays—a monthly Rotary fellowship outing designed to bring members together for a fun midday break, a great movie, and time with fellow Rotarians. Our next movie is Tonyat Regal Oxford Valley Mall on Monday, August 24 for the 1:00 p.m. showing. Tonywhich is a coming-of-age biographical drama about a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain. We recommend purchasing your ticket in advance through the Fandango app. We usually reserve seats in Rows F and G so we can sit together. Bring a friend! See you at the movies! 🍿
Please join the Newtown Rotary Club for our Lunch Meeting on Wednesday, September 2nd from 12:15-1:30pm at the American Legion. We've brought back a fan favorite in "Speed Dating" hosted by Shari Donahue. We are bringing it back again since we ran out of time the last time we did this! A Buffet Lunch catered by Joe Garvey will be served so bring $16 and be prepared to learn a lot about your fellow Rotarians and Guests which will surely generate a lot of energy and laughs!!
The Newtown Rotary Club will hold our Lunch Meeting on Wednesday September 9th from 12:15-1:30pm at the American Legion. We are excited to feature fellow Rotarian Dr. Grace Wu Simco who will speak to us about her expertise on dental airway health & solutions. Grace is a board-certified orthodontist and founder of Grace's Braces, recognized for her innovative, patient-centered approach to orthodontic care and a dynamic speaker! Joe Garvey will serve lunch for $16 so please join us!
Please join the Newtown Rotary Book Club as we read "Kin" by Tayari Jones. This is a magnificent new novel from the bestselling, award-winning author of An American Marriage. Tayari Jones has written an unforgettable novel that sparkles with wit and intelligence and deep feeling about two lifelong friends whose worlds converge after many years apart in the face of a devastating tragedy. The Book Club will meet on Sunday, September 20th from 3:00-5:00pm. Location details to follow. All are welcome so please join us!
SPECIAL NOTE: We will NOT have a "Camaraderie for a Cause" event in August to accommodate busy summer schedules! Our regular "fourth Thursday of the month" schedule will resume in September. Happy Summer!
Please join our "Plane Pulling Team" as either a team member or spectator at this very fun, unique and meaningful fundraising event to benefit the Special Olympics. The event takes place on Saturday, October 10th from 8:30am - 12:00pm at the Lehigh Valley Int'l Airport located at Postal Road, Allentown PA.
Event Schedule:
8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. – Plane tours
10:00 a.m. – Plane Pull competition begins
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Food trucks, music, vendors, and family activities
Gates open for spectators:10:00 a.m.
We need to raise $2,500 / team and we'd like to have two teams participate. If you want to be a team member, please register by signing up (via link below) and paying a minimum of $25 using our PayPal QR code or link (below).
Even if you are not a team member, you can contribute to our cause using the PayPal QR code below or our link. Team members can go about fundraising on their own so please share our payment information with your sponsors! Just make a note that it's for the Special Olympics Plane Pull: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=E437WPCMVHTH8
Please contact our Event Chair, Francis Lusardi at francis.lusardi@icloud.com or 609-731-2646 for more details. We will be communicating details on a regular basis!
Rotarians Supporting the United Way's "Tools for School" Initiative
The Newtown Rotary Club proudly donated more than 30 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to United Way’s Tools for School initiative. The donation will help local students start the school year prepared, confident, and ready to learn. Special thanks to our Youth Development & Literacy Co-Chairs, Susan Schino and Donna Miller, for spearheading our efforts. We appreciate you!
Rotarians With Guardian Angels!!!
During our Lunch Meeting on Wednesday, August 12th, our special guest was Reverend VK Macwana from the "Guardian Angels Foundation". Rev. VK spoke to us specifically on how we can help young women in underserved communities in the US and India have the proper feminine hygiene. Sadly this cannot be taken for granted in the every day lives of these young women. Please see the flyer below to learn how you can contribute to this cause by donating "Feminine Hygiene Kits" which will make a huge difference in their lives. During our meeting, we also celebrated August Birthdays with delicious Bundt cakes courtesy of "Nothing Bundt Cakes" (thanks, Roxanne!) and witnessed the Solar Eclipse - not bad for a Wednesday!
Rotarians Reading Books!!!
The Newtown Rotary Book Club is going strong!!! The group met on August 16th and Rosemary Horsley's lovely home to discuss "The Alchemist" written by Paulo Coelho. There was a lot of lively discussion and fun fellowship that created a lot of laughs. The September book selection is "Kin" by Tayari Jones and will be held on Sunday, September 20th. Stay tuned for more details. Book Club is open to everyone so please consider joining whether you've read the book or not! It's a wonderful opportunity to get to know your fellow Rotarians even better!
Rotarians Welcoming New Members!!!
The Newtown Rotary Club was thrilled to welcome several new members during our Lunch Meeting on August 19th! Davis Taylor, Austin Beil and Michael Fricker were sworn is as members by fellow Rotarian, District Judge Mick Petrucci. Their enthusiasm, talents, and fresh perspectives will strengthen our club and expand our impact throughout the community. In addition, our Committee Chairs shared updates on the many exciting initiatives ahead. From meaningful service projects to engaging fundraisers and special events, there are many ways for members to get involved. It’s an exciting time to be part of Newtown Rotary!
Davis Taylor
Davis Taylor
Austin Beil
Austin Beil
Michael Fricker
Michael Fricker
Committee Chairs
Fearless President Shikha!
Committee Chairs
Newtown Rotary Club Youth Programs
The Newtown Rotary Club offers students meaningful opportunities through Interact, leadership programs, youth exchange, speech contests, scholarships, mentoring, and Rotaract. These experiences help young people build confidence, develop leadership skills, and form lasting connections. By putting “Service Above Self” into action, students make a positive difference in our community and beyond. To learn more about how to take advantage of these opportunities, please email newtown.rotary.pa@gmail.com.
Newtown Rotary Giving Summary!
Our Newtown Rotary Club!!!
Who wouldn't want to join a Club full of this fun loving group!!??
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