Stories

The seventeenth annual Dwight D. Eisenhower Humanitarian Award will be presented on the anniversary of the birth of our 34^th President. Acceptance of nominations will close September 8, 2022.

The Rotary Club of Gettysburg packed meals for Ruth's Harvest, a program that distributes backpacks full of food to children on the weekend. 

Pictured, from left, are: Laura Goss, Barb Zimmerman, Mike Hanson, John Kramb, Erica Duffy, Chris Bushey, Deb Geesey, Andrew Proulx, Sandy Leathery, Christine Miller, Mike DeShong and Diane Hiller.

The Rotary Club of Gettysburg was recognized by the RASE Project (The Recovery Advocacy Service Empowerment Project) for its donation of household items and furniture purchased through a Rotary District 7390 grant for the Mercy House.

 

Every year, the Rotary Club of Gettysburg donates dictionaries to third-grade students in Gettysburg area schools. This year was somewhat lackluster because of the COVID pandemic. Most schools received them by Rotarians dropping off boxes of dictionaries at the school offices.

Since our own Christy Miller is the Executive Director at Vida Charter School, in Gettysburg, she was able to distribute the dictionaries in person to the third-graders in that school.

It's nice to see those smiling, happy faces of the kids who received their Spanish/English dictionaries.
 

The Rotary Club of Gettysburg, New Oxford-Conewago Valley chapter, monthly recognizes high school seniors from New Oxford and Bermudian Springs high schools based on academic achievement, school leadership, extra-curricular involvement, community service and character. The students recognized in September are LaDamien Williams from New Oxford High School and Rebecca Durbin from Bermudian Springs High School.

Ashley Andyshak-Hayes, joined us to announce that the Scholarship Committee had awarded a scholarship to Elizabeth Heidecker last year, but since she was chosen to spend a year abroad, after her graduation from high school, they were now awarding her the scholarship this year. The amount will be determined by the committee based on the number of recipients chosen this year.

Elizabeth told us that she plans to attend Elon University, in North Carolina, if they are open for classes in the fall. If not, she may attend HACC for a semester or more.

Elizabeth Heidecker (pictured above, from her trip to Alsace, France) has returned a bit early from her Rotary exchange in Brussels, Belgium.

She joined us in our Zoom meeting and told us about her experiences while she studied there. She also told us a bit about the various governments and languages found there. She also spoke of her various host families and how they were supportive of her while she stayed there.

She also said how she learned to use the public transportation and how she matured greatly while she was there. 

Elizabeth thanked the club for sending her on this life-changing journey. We will have her present a full program sometime in July or August.

Tickets can be purchased from any Rotarian, at the Gettysburg Times office, or online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2020-rotary-club-of-gettysburg-lobster-dinner-tickets-89468303103

The Rotary Club of Gettysburg, which is now the parent club of the former New Oxford-Conewago Valley Rotary Club, monthly recognizes high school seniors from New Oxford and Bermudian Springs High Schools based on academic achievement, school leadership, extra-curricular involvement, community service and character.  The students recognized in September are Jason Lookenbill from New Oxford High School and Emily Swartz from Bermudian Springs High School.

 

Pictured above are Francisco Diaz, Greg Bowles and Karl Mattson, standing in front of President Brad.

 

Today we had a check presentation to Project Gettysburg Leon and the Talolinga Water Project. The Gettysburg Rotary Club donated $500 and an anonymous Gettysburg Rotarian donated an additional $500 resulting in a $1,000 donation.  Lynn Cairns introduced Karl Mattson, retired chaplain at Gettysburg College and founding director of the Center for Public Service and the Sister City relationship with Project Gettysburg Leon (PGL).
 
PGL is working together with the rural community of Talolinga in the region of Leon to build a system of clean water for the current population of over 350 people.  Currently the community has to rely on water sources that are questionable in quantity and quality, and often people have to haul water from those sources. Our donation, along with PGL funding, will be used to purchase the needed materials.  The community in turn will contribute the labor needed for the project. 

 

 

 

 

At next Monday’s meeting- students from the Gettysburg Community Theatre, Lion King Day Camp will entertain us during our meal before our regularly scheduled program.

The Rotary Club of Gettysburg has awarded $8,000 in scholarships to five local high school seniors.

From the 28 essays submitted, using the new writing prompt “How does the Rotary Four-Way Test help you confront the fear of failure?” Abigail Blaney a sophomore at Gettysburg Area High School was selected the winner.

The Rotary Club of Gettysburg cleaned up litter along a two mile section of Rt 30 on Saturday, April 13.  The club has been cleaning this section of roadway for over 20 years with two cleanup events held each year.  Joining the Rotarians this time was Gettysburg College Senior Edith Tea.  Edith is a native of the Ivory Coast and has been selected by the District for a two year District Global Grants Scholarship.  She will be doing graduate work in environmental issues in the Netherlands.

John Kramb, past District Governor of Rotary District 7390 and member of the Rotary Club of Gettysburg, appeared on WITF's Smart Talk Feb. 27, 2019 to discuss membership challenges.

The Rotary Club of Gettysburg is sponsoring a Pedals for Progress & Sewing Peace used bike and sewing machine collection.
Anyone with an adult or child's bicycle in repairable condition is urged to donate his or her bike.

The Rotary Club of Gettysburg invites the community to the Gettysburg Fire Hall for its third annual lobster dinner.
The dinner will be held Saturday, May 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Gettysburg Fire Hall.  

All proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Rotary Club of Gettysburg Community Fund, which supports numerous local organizations.