Time is now quickly approaching for our annual PANCAKE BREAKFAST - SILENT AUCTION / RAFFLE fundraiser. on May 10. This is an ALL CLUB event and we need all able bodies who can make it, to carry it out. Immediate need is to get the information out to the community concerning this event. I will be sending in a separate email, with the flyer for the event which can be downloaded and reprinted. I also will have professionally printed copies available at the regular meetings. It is now the time to get these posted around the area.
We still can use more items for the auction/raffle which you can give to businesses you visit. I will attache the request letter in the email also.
Thanks,
And keep the May 10 date open for us.
Dave Beach
Butterfly Garden Update 🦋
Hello All -
Spring is almost here and we are gearing up for planting at the Rotary Garden.
If you are interested in helping See Diane Helm.
The Padden Park Garden Project needs you 😊
On Saturday April 12th, we will be meeting from 9-12 to re-locate the garden.
We hope to have some young, strong teens to assist with the heavy lifting.
But we can use your garden tools such as flat end spades and grass edgers, a wheelbarrow or two, some knee pads, 5 gallon buckets and watering cans. If you can loan us this equipment for the day, it will make the job go much faster.
And, as always, we would love to have your company 😊
Hope to see some of you there.
Happy Gardening
Message from Diane Helm:
Does anyone have a truck to pick up 1.5 cubic yards of pea gravel from Brusca landscaping? They are willing to donate it but not deliver.
Let me begin this week's letter by extending my thanks to Mary Onama for chairing last week's meeting while I was out of town, and to Monica D'Antonio, Denise Ashe, and Alan Treisbach, all of whom played a part in the scheduling and details for today's program.
As always, we were "blessed and impressed" by the outstanding students from Norristown School District who received our certificates of achievement today. Be sure to check out the next issue of Spoke for details of this event. These young people work with diligence and enthusiasm, and all have great plans for the future. We will be honoring another five students in May. You won't want to miss these exciting programs.
There are a few upcoming events that may interest you. March 22 is the Rotary Leadership Institute at DeSales University. There is more information at RLI NEA/Where people come to learn Rotary!.
April 26 is Norristown Celebrates Earth Day to be held at Friends Quaker Meeting House on Jacoby Street in Norristown. The Rotaract Club will have a table there, and we are welcome to join them to talk with people about the Rotary experience. If you are able to take a shift at the table to hand out information about our club, let me know.
Are you selling those Pancake Breakfast Tickets? We are all responsible for 10 tickets. This is our major fundraiser each year, and Dave Beach and his committee need everyone to pitch in and make good things happen. We are looking for donations for the auction and sponsorships along with ticket sales, and of course, hands-on workers for set up, serving, and clean up. May 10 is the day. Let Dave know how you can help.
We are till in search of a couple of willing members to join the leadership ladder. We have a president elect who will take the helm in July (Alan Treisbach). But there should be a designated president elect as of July 1 who would be participating in a few orientation sessions (several on line) in 2025-26, and then take the presidency in 2026-27. There should also be a vice president for 2025-26, who would line up the programs each week for 2025-26, serve as president elect for 2026-27, and assume presidency for 2027-28.
I was so focused on the students today that I nearly forgot Happy Bucks at the end of the meeting, and totally forgot the 4 Way Test before I rang the bell! Clearly, you don't have to be perfect to be the president! That should reassure you! So I am posting it here - Let's all keep an eye on this litmus test in these chaotic days. All together now:
Las t Thursday, the Club welcomed WENDY GAYNOR, the Executive Director of The Resilient Students Network, an organization dedicated to "Transforming Students Lives in Montgomery County". RSN was established in 2019 with the mission of helping college and trade school students achieve their desired goals by assisting them with basic needs. These needs include housing, food, scholarships, and emergency assistance.
Food access is a major problem , with over 40% of students experiencing difficulties maintaining balanced diets. The Network helps them find all the venues of nutritional assistance from school programs to local food pantries. The area of affordable housing is important due to the greatly increasing cost associated with this area. They help , through the use of their Student Help Hub, with finding vacancies, offer on-line help to locating monetary resources, and being an advocate of the students.
Wendy pointed out that , with the increasing need for higher education and training in technical fields, there are an increasing number of students with dependents. This leads to needs for child care, which RSN advocates for.
She points out that surveys find that over 75% of the students that have interacted with The Resilient Students Network, report that they feel better about themselves and have a greater sense of belonging.
Help anyone hungry, weary or living in the streets. Help serve breakfast & coffee, organize meals, lead devotion, handle client check-ins, manage the food pantry. Day shelter services
We are the only non-profit, comprehensive crime-victim agency serving Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Our confidential services are provided at no cost to survivors of crime and their loved ones. Need help with day to day services. Collect used cell phones.
Volunteer at the Pantry or the Farm. Creating meal kits, distributing to guests. Plant pick and pack, help deliver and pick up from partners. Help feed the hungry.
Each week we ask a community leader to come speak to the club. Guests are Welcome !! If you would like to speak at a future meeting, email us at RotaryofNorristown@gmail.com. Include your contract info and a brief description of your topic.
WENDY GAYNOR- RESILIENT STUDENTS NETWORK
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