Frankford Northeast Philadelphia Rotary Club Meetings: Tuesdays 12:15PM  to 1:30PM, at the Torresdale-Frankford Country Club, located at the intersection of  Frankford and Grant Avenues, Northeast Philadelphia 19114 (opposite Holy Family University), and just off the Academy Rd. exit of  I-95.  For more information, call Club President Jim Stanton, 267-249-4027 or e-mail: jstanton@firstphiladelphiacharter.org chairperson: 
Paul Bogosian, DC paulgb@voicenet.com
Also, you may enjoy looking at the Rotary International website: www.rotary.org

The Purpose of  our Rotary Club:  a founding principle of Rotary was to provide a forum for professional and business leaders for Professional Networking (business owners, people in management positions).  We create ways to raise money and use these financial resources to help humanity on a local  community level, national level, international level, as well as helping our own Rotary Club thrive.  About 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 31,500 Rotary Clubs worldwide (Rotary International). Local clubs may combine their humanitarian influence worldwide. As of June, 2004, 209 countries are polio-free as a result of the Rotary PolioPlus program, to stamp out Polio in underprivileged countries of the world.  We also award scholarships to our local community’s students who need help in furthering their educational goals. We also help to provide disaster relief, and help in world peace through funding Ambassadorial (educational) Scholarships, whose recipients serve as unofficial “ambassadors of goodwill” in foreign countries.  We ‘give-back’ to the people of our local community because of them, our businesses  have become more successful. Rotary Clubs are benevolent business networking organizations destined to help in various humanitarian ways in the local community as well as in the worldwide community.   Our club meets weekly, Tuesday, where local business people can ‘rub elbows’ with the friendliest people.  Those who are interested in visiting our club are welcome to enjoy a luncheon meeting with us, as our guest!   Our club features a guest speaker, three Tuesdays out of our four Tuesday meetings per-month.            Rotary Motto:       ……“Rotary Shares” 

Club Officers: 

  • President, Jim Stanton
  • President Elect 2008-09, Jim Stanton (2nd. Term)
  • Vice President,Teri Grumbrecht
  • Secretary, Joe Cohill
  • Treasurer, Joe Cymbor
  • Sergeant-at-Arms, Russ Urzi
  • Past President, John Osgood
  • Public Relations, Paul Bogosian, DC
  • March 11th. Alan Butkovitz, City Controller
  • March 18th. Kim McGrory, Calcutta House
  • March 25th. Reese Hartey, Mayfair CDC
  • April 1st. Maryanne Benner, Beneficial Bank
  • April 8th. Mayor Michael Nutter, Philadelphia (tentative)
  • April 15th. Bensalem Mayor Joe DiGirolamo
  • April 22nd. Paul Macks, Kardon Arts/Music Therapy Institute
  • April 29th. Linda Arye, ‘Quilts for Kids’
  • May 6th. Anna Masny, ‘CAPE’ (Child Abuse)
  • May 20th. Mike Domer, Community Care of Northeast Philadelphia

Rotary Club President Jim Stanton, 2007-2008 

There will be a strong effort to further Jim Stanton’s Literacy Project, both on a local level and international level. Details to follow as Jim’s new term of office unfolds. To date, several books from our club have been sent to a school in South America. Other projects are also planned for the coming Rotary year.  (this posted 10/07)      The Rotary presidential term of office, a 1 year sojourn extends from July 1st. through June 30th., annually.

 Our Club has partnered with PLATOON PARTNERS and has adopted a platoon serving our country in Irag and is presently receiving packages of much needed goods and items to make life a little bit  more comfortable, given the circumstances under which this platoon faces in this time of war. Club President Jim Stanton has received communications from the platoon leader thanking our club for our gifts.  We will continue to serve them, while they continue to serve our Country.

 Our charitable committee voted to purchase a $400 refrigerator given to a family located in Kensington, PA which is under economic distress.  The refrigerator is now in use in their home.

 Our club has contributed generously to the Rotary Foundation.  This committee is headed by our club member and past assistant district governor Chuck Killian. 

OUR CLUB AT WORK…2006-2007   Rotary Club President John Osgood SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS:  Money raised into the thousands of dollars during year 2006-07, are ‘ear-marked’ to be rewarded in the form of scholarships to young students June, 2007.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  LITERACY PROJECT:  Our club members generously purchased 50 children’s books written in Spanish to be sent to the Centro Educativo La Minga.  This is a building that some very poor children are building to be their very own school in Ecuador.  Wed did this as part of our recognition of International Literacy Day, Friday which was on September 8th., 2006.  Club-member Jim Stanton spear-headed this project.  Please note that Jim Stanton is not only District 7450’s Literacy Project Chairman, he is also President-Elect, 2007-2008.

PUBLIC RELATIONS: THREE(3) ROTARY STREET SIGNS HAVE BEEN PLACED AT THREE STRATEGIC LOCATIONS IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA, THANKS TO THE HELP OF PHILADLEPHIA COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY. LOCATIONS: OFF THE EXIT RAMP OF THE TACONY-PALMYRA BRIDGE INTO NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA; GRANT AVENUE AND ROOSEVELT BOULEVARD HEADING EAST; AND SOUTHBOUND INTO NORTHEAST PHILADEPHIA AT FRANKFORD AVENUE NEAR KNIGHTS ROAD. Public relations chairman:  Paul Bogosian

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  LITERACY PROJECT: Our club will engage itself in a Dictionary purchasing drive, where these books will be distributed to 3rd. graders at the local Bridesburg Elementary School.  Inside each dictionary will be a label imprinted with the Rotary logo wheel, “The Four Way Test”, and each individual child’s name. Again, District Literacy Project Chairman, Jim Stanton heads this project.  To date (10/06), our club has donated well over 200 dictionaries.

CLUB PRESIDENT JOHN OSGOOD,  ACCOMPLISHED ONE OF OUR CLUB-SERVICE GOALS OF ACQUIRING 501c3 TAX EXEMPT STATUS FOR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS INTO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION.  John Osgood spent the last few years along with legal advisors getting the paperwork in order for our club to finally reach this status. 

 Our club raised $31,500 for the Rotary Foundation.  Our club-member Chuck Killian conducted this club service and district 7450 service project to an impressive collection of funds which will help our humanitarian world-wide Rotarian projects, in typically great Rotarian fashion with Chuck Killian leading the way.

 Our club raised $3,450 for the GUNDAKER  FOUNDATION.  Monies will be used for Student-Exchange Programs, and provide scholarships for Graduate and Undergraduate Students.

July 1, 2005 thru June 30, 2006  Rotary Club Past President Paul Bogosian

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Thanks to our club member Jim Stanton, who heads the Literacy Committee, our club has reached its pledged goal of $300, sufficient funds to buy 300 dictionaries which have been donated to the First Philadelphia Charter School For Literacy, for distribution to its students. COMMUNITY SERVICE: Did you know that our club purchased $450 of baseball tickets for the July 20th. Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game?  The tickets were donated to the local Bridesburg Boys and Girls Club, and to also the Frankford Northeast Boys Club. 

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  Our club recognized Mr. Paul Andris for his Community Service, on January 24th., 2006.  Mr. Andris performs generously (non-salaried) with regard to his time and energy with the Burholme Civic Association and Town Watch.  He is also the President of the volunteer group:  City of Philadelphia Police Radio Advisory Board. Northeast Philadelphia is a safer place, thanks to Paul Andris, a retired Naval Officer. Mr. Andris has served our community unselfishly. We thank him for his years of service.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  Our club supports the SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF PENNSYLVANIA, and recently made a contribution to their cause.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  Our club supports the SETTLEMENT MUSIC SCHOOLS (SMS) with a contribution in their efforts to teach serious music and ballet to their students via tuition aid.  Consider the SMS our area’s mini-Juilliard School of Music.  Top rated professional musicians teach at 6 area schools.  Our club supports the arts.  The Northeast Philadelphia branch of the SMS school is nearby our club’s location. Their Christmas Concert 2005 presentation was a smashing success.  We had an 8 piece Jazz Band under the direction of Mr. Eric Apelt, and also two ballerinas dancing excerpts from the “Nutcracker”. The ballet department at the school is headed by Ms. Olga Blumenkrantz.  The Northeast Philadelphia Settlement School’s director is Mr. Bill Peters. We should consider this school one of our community’s sources of artistic young treasures.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Our club supports AID FOR FRIENDS, which delivers food to home-bound senior citizens.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Our club supports “CFAR’, Center for Families and Relationships,  a local Northeast Philadelphia family counselling service.                   

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Our Club donated $100 to the COMMUNITY CARE CENTER OF THE NORTHEAST (PHILADELPHIA REGION).  This organization dispatches Home Health Aides (real people), to the homes of the infirmed, providing physical, emotional and spiritual support.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  Our club is proud to sponsor 2 High School Juniors from Nazareth Academy High School in Northeast Philadelphia, to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), at the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge, February 24,25, & 26th., 2006.  The curriculum/agenda include several personal development skills and experiences, which include Leadership Skills, Decision Making, Character Building, and Motivation for Life Success to name a few.  Who knows, maybe even a Rotary Club President, some day.  Our club is pleased to participate in programs for youth development.  The two students are: Lauren Abejo and Jacquelyn Gilbert.  Who knows; they may become future Rotarians.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:   Our club made a $1,000 contribution to Holy Family University, designated for the Northeast Philadelphia Rotary Scholarship.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:   Our club serves as a food bank.  We collect donated non-perishables for distribution to local community charity organizations.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  Our club has a food-bank, which collects non-perishable foods which is distributed to various local neighborhood organizations for distribution to individuals in need.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  Our club awarded college Scholarship Grants to 14 deserving senior students from 7 local Northeast Philadelphia area high schools (Frankford, Lincoln, Nazareth Academy, Father Judge, Arch Bishop Ryan, North Catholic and St. Hubert’s).  Grants ranged from $300 to $700. Distribution total: $5,000.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  Our club made a donation to help send young Drayton Murry to attend the Zoo Camp at the Philadelphia Zoo. He is a very deserving and alert 3rd. grader from one of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in Philadelphia. We are happy to help make this a memorable summer for Drayton.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  Our club honored  several outstanding students athletes, coaches, and Unsung heroes of  Northeast Philadelphia at our annual SPORTS AWARD BANQUET.  Awards of vocational grants and scholarships to students from our community totaled over $10,000.                                                                      

COMMUNITY SERVICE – VOCATIONAL SERVICE:  Our club awarded financial grants to 4 Vocational School students to help further their career goals. Members Vincent Marzulli and Joseph Cymbor were the key players among our membership who made this possible. 

ROTARY FOUNDATION:  AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLAR CANDIDATE FOR THE ROTARY FOUNDATION IS LEAH LOWTHORP.  SHE WAS SELECTED AS THE BEST FROM A GROUP OF SIX CANDIDATES BY THE DISTRICT 7450 COMMITTEE.  SHE IS  ORIGINALLY FROM CALIFORNIA. SHE IS A DOCTORAL STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN ANTHROPOLOGY/FOLKLORE.  Studies will include journeys to southern India, and France,  2006-07, where there are special programs in her fields of interest.   The Rotary Foundation funds the scholarship in an effort to appoint an unofficial Ambassador, to help further world peace and understanding, thanks to ROTARY!   We appreciate our club secretary, Stu Schwarzer for playing a major role in this project.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE:   Our club has purchased a grove of trees as part of the Armenia Tree Project – Trees of Hope. So far, approximately 90 thousand trees will be planted to help re-nourish the once fertile lands of Armenia. Our club has partnered with the Edge Hill  and Glen Riddle Rotary Clubs in this endeavor. So far, collectively, 3 groves of trees have been donated to the country of Armenia.  For more information on how to help, please feel free to contact the club president, Paul Bogosian.

NATIONAL SERVICE:

Our club has raised  $2,157 for the Hurricane Katrina Relief project.  $1,500 was donated by “N & N”  Heating & Air-Conditioning  Supply Company, located in Northeast Philadelphia, thanks to our club member Russ Urzi who is affiliated with “N&N” Heating & Air. Also, the First Philadelphia Charter School for Literacy, thanks to our member Jim Stanton and through donations from students in their “Nickles For New Orleans” project raised approximately $300.  All donations along with club-member donations, were received by Joe Cymbor, our club Treasurer, who turned the funds over to our district’s Gundaker Foundation, which has distributed funds to Rotary Clubs in the local geographic hurricane-areas in-and-around New Orleans, as well as surrounding counties and states. Collectively, our Rotary regional district, which is comprised of about 54 Rotary Clubs, has raised approximately $54,000.