Rotary Club of Kutztown, Rotary International

P.O. Box 127, Kutztown, Pennsylvania 19530, USA
Serving the Greater Kutztown and Topton Communities
Chartered April 14, 1926 - Over 85 Years of Service above Self

Meetings: Wed. @ 6:30 PM in the Club Room of Kutztown Tavern, 272 West Main St., Kutztown

Kutztown Rotary welcomes Vilma Mäki from Finland

Follow Amy Summer's Blog from Ecuador

Youth Exchange Dinner & Show - Invite, RSVP

Kutztown Rotary Bulletin (pdf) or (Word) or(html)

Photo on right shows 2010-2011 President Jim Springer (right)
and 2011-2012 President Keith Snyder (left).






NEBCC            KCP

Rotary Clothing Order

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Kutztown Rotary Club

P.O. Box 127, Kutztown, Pennsylvania 19530, USA

Chartered April 14, 1926

Rotary International - Ray Klinginsmith President, 2010-11
District 7430 - John Jahn, District Governor
Area 3: 
Marianne Aronson, Assistant District Governor

Meetings: Wed. @ 6:30 PM in the Club Room at the Kutztown Tavern, 272 West Main Street, Kutztown

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Kutztown Rotary Club: 85 years of getting involved in the community

To download the Kutztown Club Brochure in pdf format, click here

The Kutztown Rotary Club was begun on a brisk April 14th in 1926. William Derstine of the Quakertown Club was instrumental in organizing the Kutztown Club. The need for a service-oriented club in the Kutztown seemed to be a view shared by a number of business and professional people within the community.

With the help of Arthur Bonner, the club organized in the spring of 1926 to include the following members: John H. Bieber, Arthur Bonner, John W. DeTurk, O. H. Dietrich, Charles Esser, 0. Raymond Grimley, Dr. E. E. Hamilton, Quinton D. Herman (Pres.), William D. Landis, Rev. R. B. Lynch, George H. Rohrer, Dr. Amos C. Rothermel, Dr. Henry W. Saul, Robert Schlenker, William Siegfried and Charles Stein.

On one evening, Kutztown petitioned the State Highway Department to stop their plans for re-routing route 22. They felt it would hurt Kutztown and the surrounding communities.

The years of World War II saw Rotary grow steadily in Kutztown. The expressed feeling of the club seemed to be that we needed to include our total business community in the club because we both needed each other.

1945 saw the start of the club’s popular annual Farmers Night.

One of the most significant community projects begun during the post-war years was the establishment of Camp Edmar. The 8 acres was a gift from Edna and Marcus Held. It was incorporated in 1952 as a camp for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Brownies. The lodge was completed in 1953. Kutztown Rotary paid off the debt on the lodge in 1956 and installed toilets in 1957. Starting in 1958, the Camp Edmar Committee has served ham and string bean dinners to Rotary and Lions in appreciation of their support. In 1959, Rotary purchased 5 more acres for Camp Edmar.

At it’s 50th anniversary in 1976, a glance at the weekly bulletin described 25 separate functions of the club - from distinctly club activities, such as the 50th year celebration, to community efforts such as Town and Gown, vocational service such as F.F.A. to international service such as Rotary Foundation. There is little doubt that Rotary encompassed the truest meaning of the word Service.

BoyerIn 1980, the Kutztown Rotary club initiated it's annual golf tournament. This became the club’s major fund-raiser and has funded many worthwhile community projects and scholarships. Today it is known as the Donald L. Boyer Golf Tournament in memory of Rotarian Donald L. Boyer (in picture on right).

The club started sponsoring an annual Health Scan project in 1884. 1984 also saw the start of the clubs highly successful “Student of the Month” program.

In 1985 four members from the disbanded Topton Club came to the Kutztown Club: John W. Tallman, Forrest K. Fetherolf, Isaac R. Evans, and Dean G. Wetzel.

1986 saw the introduction of the song, R-O-T-A-R-Y at all meetings. The club has been a singing club every since.

The millennium saw a milestone in the history of the Kutztown Rotary Club. Erin Webb became the clubs first female president. Today our club has 9 female members and 6 women have served as Club President.

The Kutztown Rotary had tried several times to organize a Rotaract Club at Kutztown University. This effort finally was successful in 2003, when Tom Turner formed a partnership between our club and the Lambda Chi Alpha service fraternity. They assist our club with our service projects and we assist them with theirs. It is a great relationship. Both groups have increased their level of community service since working together.

2003 saw the start of the annual Kutztown Rotary Main Street Golf Tournament. 2004 saw the first Flatworks Rotary Art Show and Sale.

Traditional annual events included a Valentine’s Dinner, Reading Phillies nite, ushering the Flag Day Concert in the park, a picnic and steak fry, and a Christmas party. Another one started in 2007, participating in Main Street Trick or Treat night at Hildenbrand’s Funeral Home.

In 2008, the club’s oldest member and member with the most tenure, Martin Ritter, died at age 99. He had been a member 72 years. Martin was President of Kutztown Rotary Club during 1942-1943.

In 2009, the club started a short tradition of selling spiedies at the Energy Fest and car shows. After one year the club changed to hot dogs.

In 2010, Kutztown Rotary started its very successful Taste of Kutztown, a wine tasting event featuring local wines and Main Street merchants.

In 2011, a group of Berks County Rotary Clubs held the first Casino Night which proved to be a very popular fund-raiser and likely will become an annual event.

The Kutztown Rotary Club has sponsored a number of outbound and hosted inbound Exchange Students. Recently inbound students came from Brazil, India, Chile, Germany, Japan, and, in 2011-1012, Finland.

During the past 85 years, many Rotarians have unselfishly given of their time and talents in making the Kutztown area and the world a better place to live. The Kutztown Rotary salutes the many club members who have served in the past and present. Whether it be the Mini-Golf or Taste-of-Kutztown, the Kutztown Rotary Club is a conspicuous part of life in Kutztown and Topton.

Rotarians' annual dues, plus individual Rotarian's contributions to the Rotary Foundation, help fund many International projects worldwide. These International projects represent tens of millions of dollars spent annually for eradicating polio, providing clean water, small business loans, housing development, and school and medical center construction just to name a few.

In June, Kutztown Rotary installs its new officers at the annual installation held at Camp Edmar, a Boy Scout Camp the Kutztown Rotary Club was instrumental in founding.

Individuals who wish to "get involved" in their community may contact any Rotarian or come to Rotary's weekly meeting as a guest. Kutztown Rotary meets every Wednesday at 6:30 P.M. in the Club Room at the Kutztown Tavern, 272 West Main Street, Kutztown, PA.

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Kutztown Rotary's 4-Way Test Speech Contest

Zach Miller

Zachary Miller, from Brandywine Heights High School, won 1st place in the 2010-2011 Kutztown Rotary 4-Way Test Speech Contest.

 

Four-Way Test

  1. Is it the TRUTH?
  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
  4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

by Herbert J. Taylor (1932), adopted by Rotary International in 1943

Starting in 2010-11, Kutztown Rotary ran a speech contest based upon the Rotary 4-Way Test under the leadership of Heather Piperato. On March 30, 2011, Zachary Miller of Brandywine Heights High School won this contest and went on to place Second Runner-Up in a Regional Contest. Miller's speech was based upon internet personal data havesting practices used by businesses.

Richard Wang, representing the Warrington, PA, Rotary Club, won the April 9th Regional competition at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading as well as the District finals held at the District Conference on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Bear Creek.

The 4-Way Test Speech Contest is a competition for 9-12 graders. It requires each participating student to create and present a 5-7 minute speech on a subject of their choice, applying the Four-Way Test to guide their thinking and their actions. The contest is a three level contest, with Club Contest First Place finishers advancing to one of three Regional Contests and those three First Place finishers advancing to the finals at the District 7430 Conference.

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Kutztown Rotary's

Downtown Kutztown Mini-Golf Classic

September 29, 2010
Wednesday, 6:00 to 8:30 PM

Shotgun Start

$15 per person or $50 per foursome

Play is indoors so come rain or shine

2010 Mini Golf

Darlene Henning of Fleetwood retrieves her ball Wednesday night at the golf hole at
Dunkelbergers's Fine Jewelry and Gifts. With Henning are her husband, Steve, and
Jiasu and Kaili Gore, ages 7 and 9. All were taking part in the Kutztown Rotary
Miniature Golf Classic on Main Street.
[courtesy of Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty]

CASH PRIZES: 1st team - $150, 2nd team - $100, 3rd team $50 & Merchant Hole-in-One Prizes

The Tournament concluded at the Kutztown Tavern where all scorecards were turned in by 9:00 p.m. to
Kutztown Rotary in order to be eligible for the prizes. In case of a tie, players were present for a tiebreaker playoff.

"Adventurous golfers putted their way through downtown Kutztown on Wednesday evening in the annual Kutztown Rotary Miniature Golf Classic. The downtown duffers worked their way through 18 holes, one at each sponsoring business along Main Street.

"This is a great way to show what's available in Kutztown and to get to know the community," said Jim Springer, Rotary president. Golfers with the best scores took away about a combined $300 in prizes, awarded by participating businesses. More than 50 players paid $15 each, or $50 for a team of four, to participate. Money raised will be used to underwrite Rotary programs.

The Kutztown Rotary Club sponsors a youth exchange program, a student-of-the-month program and Merchants Trick-or-Treat Night. It also underwrites the Louisa Gonser Community Library and the Kutztown Community Partnership." [courtesy of Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty]

Download and print this poster (in PDF format) and display around town.

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tok1   KELCHNER BAND

Second Taste of Kutztown cheers to success

By Jennifer Hetrick
Patriot Correspondent
Kutztown Patriot, June 2, 2011

A much anticipated second Taste of Kutztown swept across town May 21 with wine glasses in hand as locals walked the streetscape for a multifaceted cause, soaking up some long awaited sunshine on the stroll.

wine

The Kutztown Rotary Club sponsored this wine tour mingled with appreciation for main street merchants and pairings of good eats at each spot.

Eight shops throughout the borough signed on in hosting tastings from wineries, including the Main Street Inn Bed & Breakfast, the Edward J. Hildenbrand Funeral Home, Adam 'N Eve Boutique, Kelchner Cleaners, Dunkelberger's Jewelry, Jackie & Daughter Flower Shop, College Town Bakeries and Sorrelli Jewelry.

Rotary Club President Jim Springer said the idea for this community-wide event came to him a few years ago when a dog show fundraiser faded out of the picture, and he knew the organization needed a night on the town.

Last year's event raised around $3,000 which went to local fire companies, libraries, Friend, Inc. and ShelterBoxes meant to help families around the globe with needed items and supplies after disastrous events.

ShelterBox

Bringing wine and paired pleasantries of food to the shops is only a part of the goal.

Springer said the other element of mingling palate pleasers of course is inspiring those curious about tasting wine to visit main street shops they might not otherwise venture into regularly.

These two angles work together swimmingly in bringing attention to a dip of culture new to town for the weekend along with what's already there, with the embedded benefit of building up a monetary reserve so the Rotary Club can continue to support locally and possibly in Japan soon since natural disasters months ago.

The Rotary Club is also sponsoring a Japanese exchange student from Tokyo, so part of the money raised from A Taste of Kutztown is likely to make its way across the globe in Rotary International's motto this year–Building Communities, Bridging Continents.

 

At Kelchner Cleaners, pairings of specialty olive oils and aged vinaigrettes topped an outdoor table, straight from Seasons in Bethlehem, and Stonekeep Meadery offered samplings of honey-sweet mead.

The Kelchner Brothers Blues Band, an unexpected up and coming band comprised mostly of young teens, kept the crowd always curious as they belted out better beats for the rarely sunny spring afternoon.

TCs
TC's Family Restaurant even brought out a sampling of Greek food to Hildenbrand's.

At College Town Bakers, the still-new shop of sweets gave away dessert nibblings paired with wines from Kog Hill Winery, including a buttery vanilla bean cheesecake topped with peach compote to go alongside a Niagara white wine.

A pear almond tart went fittingly with a sunset blush wine, while a Twin Valley red went with a bittersweet pretzel bar.

Owner Michael Reitnour said he could barely keep the samples out and ready for tour goers, ecstatic to see newcomers delighting in his fiancée Emily Bolasky's pastry arts.

"I started at the end and am ending at the end," Nancy Brooks of Maxatawny Township said with a perked voice, while happily trying on necklaces at Sorrelli Jewelry.

cheese

Meeting the merchants and undoubtedly enjoying the wine is what Brooks said she liked most about the evening, along with the opportunity to spend the night on the town per sip with her good friend Julie Karaisz, also of Maxatawny Township.

"It's very intimate," Karaisz said about A Taste of Kutztown. "We're here to support our community, and this is a positive plus to strengthen it."

The two women also said the walking tour stood as a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends they hadn't seen in a while, meeting and greeting in the street between stops at shops.

With this event's growing popularity and continued following, A Taste of Kutztown is bound to become an annual part of the town's celebration of both new and old along the main street, and all in the name of promoting good in the community.

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Our 2011-12 Inbound Exchange Student Vilma Mäki
from Hämeenlinna, Finland

Finnish Map
Vilma
Marie DeFilipps with our Finnish exchange student Vilma Mäki.
 
Vilma's Family
Vilma's father Jarrko, mother Tiina, and brother Juuso.
Finnish Flag

Vilma's home is Hämeenlinna, Finland. The city of Hämeenlinna is about an hour north of Helsinki, the Finnish capital.

Hämeenlinna has 67,000 inhabitants and in 1865 was the birthplace of famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Sibelius' best known symphony is Finlandia. Sibelius died in 1957.

Hämeenlinna has been the site of a city since Viking times in the 13th century. Finland's first railway opened in 1862 and ran between Helsinki and Hämeenlinna.

Hämeenlinna is a traditional and vibrant educational and cultural town at the junction of nationally important rail, road and waterway network. Living up to its vision, Hämeenlinna is a lively, beautiful and pleasant beach town in Southern Finland.

[After representing Rotary at the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden, Kutztown Rotarians, the Altenburgs and Hennings, visited Vilma's family in Finland. This was the day after Vilma left for the US and the day before they received an exchange student in their home from Rochester, NY. The Mäki family were great hosts and showed them around their beautiful home, their historic city, and treated them to a wonderful lunch.]

Castle Market Square City Center
Castle of Häme dates back to 1320
Hämeenlinna Market Square
Hämeenlinna City Center
     
Garden Lunch Lake
Admiring the family garden
Lunch with the Mäki family
Hämeenlinna's lake Vanajavesi

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Our 2011-12 Outbound Exchange Student Amy Summer

Amy Summer

Follow Amy's Blog at http://amysinecuador.blogspot.com/

Amy is the Kutztown Rotary's outbound exchange student to Ecuador. Even though she has already graduated from Kutztown High School, she will technically be a high school student. "Since I'll have already graduated, I will be able to concentrate on learning the language and getting to know the culture," she said.

Her passion for other cultures and world views helped her earn the top social studies award in Reading Eagle Company's annual Berks' Best scholarship project.

After spending a year in Ecuador, Amy plans to major in international relations at Wellesley College near Boston.

"I think living in such a small town, you get a feel for how important it is to think beyond your town, your area and your country," she said. "You also have to pay attention to the past, especially internationally, to deal with future international relations."

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Rotary District 7430
International Youth Exchange Program

HOLIDAY DINNER and SHOW

Tuesday December 27, 2011
Social Time 5:00 – 5:45 pm ~ Buffet Dinner 5:45 pm
West End Fire Hall – C&C Catering
1319 Park Avenue, Quakertown, PA 18957

Cost

$22.00 (5 years and up) $0.00 (under 5 years)
Rotex Members - $18.00
2011 - 2012 Inbound Students - $0.00
2012-2013 Outbound Students plus 2 Family Members - $0.00
Hosts: Youth Exchange Committee
For questions please contact: Janet Kolepp
484-241-1252 email: jkolepp@gmail.com

RSVP By December 18, 2011

Payment must be received with RSVP Form

Proper Dress Please!

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Rural-Urban Night

Kutztown-Fleetwood Rural-Urban Night February 2, 2011

redding

Russell C. Redding (photo by Jeremy Drey, Reading Eagle)

Since 1979, the Kutztown Rotary Club has been showing the local farmers their appreciation with the annual Urban-Rural Night.  It is an evening to say 'thank you' to farmers in the area and to show appreciation for their work.  In 2008, the Kutztown club added the Fleetwood Rotary Club to the endeavor to include more farmers in the Kutztown-Fleetwood area.

Bob Hobaugh, with Kutztown Rotary and a lawyer at Stevens & Lee, has organized this event for many years. "What we celebrate is the farm community in Kutztown and Fleetwood," he said. Some of the changes he has seen over the past 25 years include more women are involved in rotary and more women are farmers. "Agriculture is the biggest business in Pennsylvania. We're very fortunate to have a very strong agriculture community in Berks County," said Hobaugh. "We have some of the best soils. We have a wide range of agricultural enterprise." Berks agriculture includes dairy, grain, cattle and more recently horticulture, he said. "Tonight is a big celebration. The focus is very Berks County. As you can see by the attendance, it's a pretty well appreciated," he said.

The late state Sen. Michael A. O'Pake left a lasting legislative legacy to Pennsylvania's agriculture community.

That was the message Russell C. Redding, former Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture secretary, brought to a recent event aimed at honoring farmers in eastern Berks County.

And since the event included farmers from the 11th Senatorial District, a seat O'Pake held for nearly 38 years until his death last year, Redding decided to honor O'Pake's contributions to the state's agriculture industry.

"Time and again, his work was on behalf of Berks County, and Pennsylvania agriculture," Redding said. "We miss him and his steady hand."

Redding spoke Thursday night at the annual farmer appreciation dinner hosted by the Fleetwood and Kutztown Rotary Clubs. The event at the Fleetwood Grange honors farmers in eastern Berks for their hard work.

O'Pake, a Reading Democrat, played a role in the legislation that created the Pennsylvania farm preservation program, Redding said.

Also, the senator was a leading supporter of the ACRE law, which allows the state attorney general to review local laws that farmers believe are too restrictive, he said.

"His standard greeting to anyone in agriculture was that Berks County led the state in farmland preservation," Redding said of O'Pake. "We knew that was important to him."

Redding, who served as secretary in the Rendell administration, was recently hired as dean of agriculture and environmental sciences at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown.

That position was held until recently by Judith L. Schwank, who is running on the Democratic ticket for O'Pake's seat in the March 15 special election.

She faces a challenge by Republican Larry Medaglia.

Gov. Tom Corbett has nominated George Greig, a Crawford County dairy farmer, as the next secretary of agriculture.

Redding said that the new administration has a number of pressing agriculture issues to address, including new federal regulations on water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the lack of private capital flowing to farms and revisiting the state's milk premium program.

Currently, Pennsylvania consumers pay a 25-cent-a-gallon fee for milk.

However, some of that money is getting stuck in the system and is not getting back to the farm, Redding said.

Addressing those problems could help the state's dairy industry, which makes up 40 percent of Pennsylvania's agriculture, Redding said.

"What happens to dairy impacts the rest of the agriculture economy," he said.

Pervious speakers at Urban-Rural Night include Sheila Miller, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Dennis Wolff, and Jeff Dorsheim, representing a new ethanol plant in the area.

Sponsors for this event include Fleetwood Bank, and Hildenbrand Funeral Home in Kutztown.

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ShelterBoxShelterBox

ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide

ShelterBox started as the project of the Helston-Lizard Rotary Club in Cornwall, England, in 2000. By January, 2001, they were able to send 143 boxes to earthquake victims in the Indian state of Gujarat. Each box provided shelter, blankets or sleeping bags, cooking and dining equipment, tools, materials for children, and water purification capabilities for an extended family group of 10 people for at least 6 months. The boxes are different for areas with different stoves for cooking depending upon the cooking fuel available, and different tents and blankets or sleeping bags depending upon the climate.

ShelterBox
ShelterBox

Since 2001, ShelterBox has responded to more than 150 disasters such as earthquakes, refugee camps, war zones, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, drought, tornados, cyclones, tropical storms, landslides, fires, and volcanos. Often, ShelterBox is one of the first charities on the scene. It has responded to disasters in India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Angola, Iraq, Algeria, Iran, Liberia, Uganda, Dominican Republic, Burundi, Palestine, Grenada, Haiti, Phillippines, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, Sumatra, Serbia, Romania, Sudan, Kashmir, USA, Guatemala, Somalia, East Timor, Lebanon, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Solomon Islands, Bolivia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Zambia, Somaliland, Mozambique, Swaziland, Ecuador, Ghana, Myanmar, China, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Jamaica, Peru, Turks and Caicos, North Korea, Mexico, Cuba, Congo, Australia, Gaza, Belize, Brazil, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, Italy, Columbia, Taiwan, Burkina Faso, Niger, Samoa, El Salvador, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Egypt, Chile, Fiji, Benin, St. Lucia, New Zealand, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, Thailand, and other countries.

The goal of ShelterBox is to help 50,000 disaster stricken families every year. A donation of $1,000 sponsors one Shelter Box including delivery direct to those who need it. Kutztown Rotary tries to sponsor at least one Shelter Box each year. ShelterBox permits all sponsors to track where their Shelter Box is sent. Because of its increasing popularity as a charity, ShelterBox was able rapidly scale up and respond to major disasters such as the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina in the USA, massive earthquakes in Haiti and the Kashmir region of Pakistan and wide-spread drought and famine in the Horn of Africa..

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Ms. Kutztown Pageant

April 16, 2007

Benefiting The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Who: Kutztown University Rotaract Club/Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
What: Tenth Annual Ms. Kutztown University Pageant
Why: To Benefit The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
When: April 16th at 7 o'clock PM
Where: Kutztown University Student Union Bldg., Rm. 183 (Multipurpose room)
Cost: $4 Donation

The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, which is also the Kutztown University Rotaract Club, sponsors the 10th annual Ms Kutztown Pageant on April 16, 2007.

The philanthropy was founded by Lambda Chi Alpha alumnus Christopher Tomlin and over its eight years has grown to be one of the fraternity´s largest and most well known functions.

The event is set up just like the real Miss America pageant, with talent and formal wear portions of the contest. Last years event raised $1,100 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. A check was presented to breast cancer patient Gladys Collazo and Wanda Colon, program director of the Philadelphia branch of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, at the conclusion of the event by sophomore Adam Bauer, Vice President of External Relations for Lambda Chi and a Criminal Justice major.

"[Miss KU] is a wonderful event that brings awareness to students, faculty, staff and parents of eradicating breast cancer," said Colon.

Lambda Chi Alpha, the Kutztown University Rotaract Club, raises a similar amount of money for Breast Cancer in May when they participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Philadelphia each year.

This outpouring of charity is not new to this Kutztown University Fraternity. Since 1993, Lambda Chi Alpha has been coordinating an international philanthropy project that has now raised more than 28 million pounds of food for the needy across North America. Called the Lambda Chi Alpha North American Food Drive, this annual event is arguably the largest single-day philanthropic project sponsored by a collegiate organization. In 2006, Lambda Chi Alpha collected almost 2,564,846 pounds of food with approximately 100 chapters and colonies participating. Among all chapters, Kutztown ranks 7th with a total of 101,760 pounds, 4 times the national average. "Brothers Feeding Others" is more than a slogan. Kutztown Rotary has partnered with their Rotaract Club on this project and the Rotaract Club assists the Rotary Club with the dog show, the Flatworks Art Show and other Club projects that support Rotary International and its projects around the world.

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Kutztown's Rotary Foundation Dinner

Our most recent Foundation Dinner was November 9, 2011.

Paul Harris
Paul Harris Award recipients, Larry and Shirley Biehl, Bill Bender, and Patt McCluskey with Kutztown Rotary President, Marie De Filipps.

Our November 11, 2009, meeting was a special Rotary Foundation Dinner. We took this opportunity to honor 3 Kutztown Rotarians, Patt McCluskey received her first Paul Harris Fellowship, Bill Bender received his second Paul Harris Fellowship and Larry and Shirley Biehl, who received their 10th Paul Harris Fellowship award. This award is for significant service to the Rotary Foundation, thereby furthering better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.

Rotary Foundation Chairman Larry Biehl stated:

"Since I became a Rotarian over 18 years ago, our Club has gone thru dramatic changes, but just as then our commitment today remains the same; service to our fellow-man.

Each of us contributes to Rotary in his or her own way and together we will make a difference. Lets continue showing the way."

The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. Rotary Foundation accomplishes this vision to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

Kutztown Rotary Foundation

Foundation Grants
Kutztown Rotary Foundation Chairman Larry Biehl, Friend Inc. Interim Executive
Director Erica Hesselson, Louisa Gonser Community Director Janet Yost, Kutztown Rotary President Marie De Filipps, and Burn Foundation President Dan Dillard.
The Kutztown Rotary Foundation presented checks to representatives from the Louisa Gonser Community Library, Friend, Inc.; and the Burn Prevention Foundation.

The Kutztown Rotary Foundation supports the Rotary Foundation, but it also supports many local charities including the Kutztown Rotary Donald L. Boyer Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships to Kutztown and Brandywine Heights graduates; Louisa Gonser Community Library, Brandywine Library, Friend Inc., Kutztown Fire Co., Topton Fire Co., Lyons Fire Co., Burn Prevention Foundation, Salvation Army, and Berks Women In Crisis.

Funding for the Kutztown Rotary Foundation comes from many projects of the Kutztown Rotary Club including the annual Donald L. Boyer - Kutztown Rotary Golf Classic, the Kutztown Rotary Spiedies Sale at the Energy Fest, and donations from the Berks Kennel Club in exchange for Kutztown Rotary providing the infrastructure of the Kutztown Dog Show. Kutztown Rotary Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity operated by the Kutztown Rotary Club.

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Rotary Youth Exchange Program

For Outbound & Inbound Students

The Kutztown Rotary Club sponsors long term outbound and inbound student exchanges. All participating students must be under 18 years of age and must attend high school while they are in their host country.

The club is responsible for finding suitable homes for the guest exchange student, and for providing a support system for both the student and the host families. Exchange students are expected to participate in Rotary District events once each month (the club provides the transportation). They are expected to be a participating member of the host family's household. And they must follow the rules of behavior delineated by Rotary International and Essex, our exchange program operator. All incoming students must carry their own health insurance effective in the host country and are encouraged to obtain liability coverage.

The timetable for the exchange is generally as follows:

For more information contact Martin Handler at 610-987-0857. Patt McCloskey and Bob Hobaugh handled this exciting program in the past and deserve much credit for its success.

Current Inbound Exchange Student

Past Inbound Exchange Students

Current Outbound Exchange Student

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Donald L. Boyer - Kutztown Rotary Golf Classic

Monday, August 1, 2011

Golden Oaks Country Club

The 2010 Kutztown Rotary's Don Boyer Golf Classic will be held Monday, August 2, at Golden Oaks Country Club.

Click Here For Reservation Form

At last year's tournament eighty eight golfers and generous sponsors made this tournament a financial success, according to tournament chairman George Barrell.

Major corporate and individual sponsors included: East Penn Manufacturing; Kutztown Buick Pontiac Cadillac GMC; Spring Ridge Surgical Specialists; Bob Fisher Chevrolet; Fleetwood Bank; Kutztown University Foundation; Fleetwood Bank; Long, Barrell and Co., Ltd.; and National Penn Bank.

Hole sponsors included 35 businesses and individuals in the East Penn Valley. Because of this generous support, The Kutztown Rotary Foundation will be able to distribute approximately $10,000 to the tournament's major charities and other community projects. The major beneficiaries of the tournament last year were the Kutztown Rotary Donald L. Boyer Scholarship Fund; Friend, Inc.; Louisa Gonser Library; Brandywine Library; Burn Prevention Foundation; Kutztown Fire Company; KYAA; Lyons Fire Company; Topton Fire Company; and various other community charities. Additional funds are used for other Rotary community and International projects throughout the year. This years goal is $10,000.

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Donald L. Boyer Kutztown Rotary Scholarship

The Donald L. Boyer Kutztown Rotary Scholarship was established in memory of Donald Boyer, a devoted community member whose life was shortened by a battle with cancer. During Mr. Boyer´s life, he gave selflessly to the Kutztown community through participation and leadership in various civic, church, and political organizations, including Kutztown Borough Council, Kutztown Jaycees, Kutztown Rotary Club, Friend, Inc., and St. John's Lutheran Church. Within these organizations he held various leadership positions, including regional and state positions. This scholarship was created by family, friends, and the Kutztown Rotary to keep the spirit of Donald's volunteerism and leadership alive in our community's youth. The greatest portion of this endowment is contributed by the Kutztown Rotary Foundation with funds raised from the Foundation's Annual Donald Boyer Golf Classic.

The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage and recognize youth volunteerism in our community. Applicants for this scholarship MUST

(1) Have a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 ; AND
(2) Enroll in an accredited post-secondary technical/vocational school, college, or university within 18 months of graduation.

In addition, all scholarship moneys will be released directly to the academic institution. Scholarship rewards are not payable to the individual recipient.

All applications must be postmarked by June 1, 2007. Any questions should be directed to Amy Howard at .

Kutztown High School students can get their applications from Amy Howard.

Brandywine Heights High School students can download their application when they are available.

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Kutztown Rotary Bulletins

Most Recent Bulletin* - pdf version or Word version or html version

* There are three versions of each bulletin. The differences are:

1) pdf - Pdf is the best format to print. Most internet browsers can open pdf's. You will need a pdf reader such as Adobe Reader. If you don't have Adobe Reader, get a free copy from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

2) Word - This is the standard Microsoft Word .doc format.

3) html - Just click on this to read the Bulletin in your internet browser.

As of December 1, 2004*, our Bulletins are no longer printed on paper and mailed. Please give any new or changed email addresses to Steve Henning or send your e-mail address to

. Or you can visit this website to read the newsletter at http://www.kutztownrotary.org . News will be delivered more timely, more efficiently and cheaper via the web.

*This was approved unanimously by the board of directors, Wednesday, November 17, 2004. All efforts are being made to get an e-mail address of each member or to arrange for another member to contact those without e-mail.

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Kutztown Rotary Club Officers

President Keith Snyder 484-357-4864  
President Elect Dr. Martin Handler 610-987-0857  
Directors: Marie J. De Filipps 610-682-0936  
  Dave Owen 610-683-5625 610-683-9095
  Pat Kutz 610-944-9456  
Directors at Large: William H. Bender 610-987-3552  
  vacant    
Corresponding Secretary vacant    
Club Secretary Steve Henning 610-987-6184  
Treasurer Steve Sharadin 610-683-5495 610-683-1597
Bulletin Editor vacant    
Sergeant at Arms Larry Biehl 610-562-3374  
Past President Jim Springer 610-682-7764 610-683-7011
Program Coordinator Jean Boyer 610-683-3256  

Meetings: Kutztown Tavern, 272 West Main Street, Kutztown, Wed. @ 6:30 PM

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Avenues of Service

CLUB SERVICE

William Bender
VOCATIONAL SERVICE

Robert Hobaugh
COMMUNITY SERVICE

Marie J. De Filipps
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

Barry Martin
NEW GENERATIONS SERVICE

Dr. Martin Handler
Program Coordinator
* Jean Boyer

Attendance
* William Bender


Fellowship
Club Bulletin

* (vacant)
Stephen M. Henning
Jean Boyer

Audit
* George S. Barrell
Rural-Urban
* Robert Hobaugh
Nancy Hildenbrand
Larry Biehl
William H. Bender
Jean Boyer

Classification, Membership
and Orientation
Stephen Henning
William H. Bender
Larry Biehl
Nancy Hildenbrand

Business Directory
*Jim Springer
Dave Owen
Marie De Filipps
Golf Classic
*George S. Barrell
Larry Biehl
Jean Boyer
Jim Springer
Dennis R. Lutz

Taste of Kutztown
* Dave Owen
Jim Springer
Nancy Hildenbrand
Larry C. Biehl

Public Relations
* Stephen M. Henning
Larry Biehl
Tom Turner

Ways & Means
George S. Barrell
Jim Springer
William H. Bender
Tom Turner
International Service
* Robert Hobaugh
Stephen M. Henning

Rotary Foundation
* Larry Biehl

International Fellowship
of Scouting Rotarians

* Stephen M. Henning
Slate Altenburg

Rotary Programs

Rotoplast
William H. Bender

Polio Plus
Larry Biehl
Camp Neidig
* Pat Kutz
Dean G. Wetzel

Youth / Student of the Month
* Larry Biehl

Scholarship / Awards
* Amy Kohler Howard

Youth Exchange
* Dr. Martin Handler
Robert Hobaugh
Steve Sharadin

Leadership/Ethics Workshop
* Pat Kutz
Amy Kohler Howard

Board Meetings
First Wed. of Month

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Kutztown Rotary Club 2011-2012 Program Schedule

To download the 2011-12 Program Schedule in pdf format, click here
or for .doc (Word) format, click here

JUNE 2011- Rotary Fellowships
1   J. Boyer - Anita Collins, USDA Honey Bee Researcher
8   D. Lutz - Reading Phillies nite
15   Installation at Camp Edmar
22   P. Kutz - Lori Lowery, Red Cross, Emergency Preparedness
29   J. Boyer - Andy Arnold, KU, What makes living in Kutztown special
     
JULY 2011 - Literacy Month
6   Classification Speech – Renee Sufrinko & Elizabeth Sunday, South Africa
13   P. Kutz - New Generations Leadership/Ethics Workshop
20   Scholarship Dinner – A. Howard
27   Club Assembly – M. Handler, Youth Exchange/ District Governor John "Bill" Jahn
     
AUGUST 2011 - Membership & Extension
3   P. Keegan - Outbound Exchange Student, Hannah Hayduk
10   J. Springer - at Blair Vineyards, catered by CC's Grill
17   L. Biehl - Eric White, Redners
24   S. Henning - covered dish picnic with ham & turkey bar-BQ
31   B. Hobaugh - David Beard, Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles: Cold War America
     
SEPTEMBER 2011 - New Generation
7   J. Cevallos - Jason Kette, Kutztown University Foundation - Update on Schaeffer Auditorium
14   L. Biehl - Eric White, Redners
21   D. Owen -
28   D. Lutz - Jim Gerlach
     
OCTOBER 2011 - Vocational Service
5   Student of the Month – L. Biehl
12   S. Henning
19   Club Assembly – K. Snyder
26   Trick or treat Handouts – Jean Boyer & Nancy Hildenbrand
     
NOVEMBER 2011 - Rotary Foundation
2   Student of the Month – L. Biehl
9   Foundation Dinner – G. Barrell
16   T. Mellenberg
23   No Meeting ( Thanksgiving Eve )
30   ??
     
DECEMBER 2011 - Family
7   Christmas Party-?????
14   Student of the Month – L. Biehl
21   Vilma, "Christmas in Finland" - M. DeFilipps
28   M. Handler
     
JANUARY 2012- Rotary Awareness
4   Student of the Month – L. Biehl
11   S. Sharadin
18   Club Assembly – K. Snyder
25   D. Wagner
     
FEBRUARY 2012 - World Understanding
1   J. Boyer
8   Rural–Urban Night – B. Hobaugh
15   Valentine Party
22   No Meeting (Ash Wednesday)
29   N. Hildenbrand
     
MARCH 2012 - Literacy & World Rotaract Week
7   Student of the Month – L. Biehl
14   H. Piperato
21   P. Kutz
28   B. Martin
     
APRIL 2012 - Magazine
4   Student of the Month – L. Biehl
11   R. Sufrinko –
18   Club Assembly – K. Snyder
25   Spring Fling
     
MAY 2012- Volunteer
2   Student of the Month – L. Biehl
9   G. Barrell
16   J. Springer
23   J. Boyer
30   ??
     
JUNE 2012- Rotary Fellowships
6   or 13 Reading Phillies – D Lutz
20   Installation at Camp Edmar
27   S. Ramos

 

If you are unable to fulfill your program assignment on a particular date, it is your responsibility to change with another Rotarian. Please advise the following people of any changes:

Bulletin Editor: none  
Program Director: Jean Boyer 610-683-3256,
President: Keith Snyder 484-357-4864
Webmaster: Steve Henning 610-987-6184,

Call Keith Snyder for more information.

Meetings: In the Club room at the Kutztown Tavern, 272 West Main Street, Kutztown; Wed. @ 6:30 PM

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Nearby Clubs for Makeups

Club Time Place Contact
MONDAY
Boyertown 715 Saville's - 2nd & 4th Monday, 830 E. Phila. Ave, Boyertown, PA 610-506-1228
Shillington 1800 Deluxe Rest., 2295 Lancaster Pike, Reading 610-775-4345
Boyertown 1815 Bally Hotel - 1st, 3rd, & 5th Monday, Rt. 100, Bally, PA 610-506-1228
Shoemakersville 1815 Hoss's Garden Restaurant, Rte. 61, Leesport 610-926-5830
TUESDAY
Muhlenberg (Reading) 1800 River Edge Restaurant, 2017 Bernville Road, Reading 610-916-1916
Conrad Weiser 1215 Ozgoods Restaurant, Rt. 422, Robesonia 610-589-4542
Northeast Reading 715 Garden Restaurant, 3455 Centre Ave, Reading 610-929-5411
WEDNESDAY
Mt. Penn 730 O'Malley's Restaurant, Reading Mall, Rt. 422, Exeter 610-779-8833 or 779-0536
Allentown West - Western Lehigh County 730 Luther Crest Home, 800 Hausman Road, Allentown 610-395-2832
Fleetwood 730 Golden Oaks, Rt. 73 east of Pricetown, Fleetwood 610-944-9454
Allentown Liberty Bell 730 Morgan's Restaurant, 19th & Allen Streets, Allentown 610-434-9333
THURSDAY
Hamburg 730 Hamburg Boro Hall, 3rd St., Hamburg 610-488-7968
W. Reading - Wyomissing 1205 The Inn At Reading, 1040 Park Road, Wyomissing 610-376-7351
Reading 1205 Goggleworks, 2nd & Walnut Streets, Reading 610-779-4729
Birdsboro 1830 Reading Country Club, 5311 Perkiomen Ave (Rt. 422), Reading 610-582-8464
FRIDAY
Spring Twp - Centennial 715 Crown Plaza Hotel, Wyomissing 610-678-2444
Allentown 1200 Holiday Inn, 904 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pa 610-433-2221

District Directory of Club Meeting Times & Places

Kutztown Rotary Meetings: In the Club Room at the Kutztown Tavern, 272 West Main Street, Wed. @ 6:30 PM

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Rotary Club International

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service; encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in 167 countries.

Rotary's first emblem was a simple wagon wheel (in motion with dust) representing civilization and movement. It was designed in 1905 by Montague Bear, a member of the Chicago club, who was an engraver, and many Rotary clubs of the time adopted the wheel in one form or another.

In 1922, authority was given to create and preserve an official emblem, and the following year the present gear wheel with 24 cogs and six spokes was adopted. A keyway was added to signify that the wheel was a "worker and not an idler." At the RI Convention in 1929, royal blue and gold were chosen as the official colors.

Rotary International is one of the world's largest service organizations, with some 31,000 clubs in more than 160 countries. Members of a Rotary club are part of a diverse group of professional leaders working to address various community and international service needs and to promote peace and understanding throughout the world. Annually, Rotary clubs worldwide invite a limited number of men and women to become members.

These prospective members represent various businesses and professional activities in their communities. As a progressive-minded business or professional person, you will see that belonging to a Rotary club, where outstanding representatives of the different vocations in your community come together, has its benefits.

To be invited, you must be:

Rotary clubs provide:

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Motto: Service Above Self

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The Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

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Four-Way Test

  1. Is it the TRUTH?
  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
  4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

History of the Four-Way Test

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Mission Statement

The mission of Rotary International is to assist and guide Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to accomplish the Object of Rotary; to ensure Rotary's continuing relevance; and to help build a better world, emphasizing service activities by individuals and groups that enhance the quality of life and human dignity, encourage high ethical standards, and creating greater understanding among all people to advance the search for peace in the world.

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Club Forms  

Club Attendance Recording Forms (pdf) (revised 6/4/11):

Jan 2012   Feb 2012    Mar 2012    Apr 2012   May 2012   Jun 2012   

Jul 2012    Aug 2012   Sep 2012     Oct 2012    Nov 2012    Dec 2012   

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Links to Rotary International Web Pages 


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Welcome to Kutztown & Topton, Visit some local links

Return to The Henning's Home Page.

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