The Rotary
Club of Philadelphia Welcomes You!
The Rotary Club of Philadelphia will celebrate its 100th anniversary
next year. Our club members enjoy great fellowship with each other
while we reach out to others with community service and humanitarian
projects. Our usual weekly meeting site is at the Union League
(Broad and Sansom Streets) just a few blocks south of Philadelphia
City Hall every Thursday at noon. Visitors interested in learning
more about the Rotary Club of Philadelphia are welcome to attend.
The Rotary Club of Philadelphia is proud of its wide array of
recent activities demonstrating “service above self”
and initiatives to benefit others.
- This past fall’s dictionary/thesaurus
book distribution project was the “largest ever completed
by the Rotary Club of Philadelphia,” touching the lives of
2000 school children at six different schools.
- The annual Philadelphia Rotary team
bicycle ride for multiple sclerosis this past October was once again
a successful venture financially (raising more than $50,000.00).
- This year we are involved with creating
“service efforts” for Philadelphia students via an “Interact
Club at Overbrook High School” and an “Early Act Club
at Taggart Elementary School.”
- Our recent Skype conference was a
successful effort to rebuild our “twin relationship”
and perhaps establish joint “humanitarian projects”
with the Rotary Club of Nottingham (UK).
- Our Philadelphia Rotary Foundation
has just appropriated a grant to help to restore a reading room
at a Mianyang Normal University which was torn apart by the recent
earthquakes in China.
- A pilot project of the Computer Assisted
Learning Solution pilot project has been established and is “up
and running” at the Stephen Girard Elementary School in South
Philadelphia.
- A Philadelphia Rotary “gift”
library book distribution project to 4th graders at the Lewis Elkin
School was coordinated and supported on site by a group of our members.
- Several outreach service opportunities
for Philadelphia Rotarians to service the disabled and handicapped
have occurred.
- Our recent “purple pinkie”
underground concourse effort was a successful “service activity”
to raise some funds as well as awareness for Rotary’s Polio
eradication effort worldwide.
- Last autumn, a group of Philadelphia
Rotarians participated in the “clean up, fix up” activity
at the Laura Waring School as part of the Philadelphia Cares project.
- For the holiday season, Philadelphia
Rotary members contributed nearly 100 gifts that were distributed
by the Salvation Army to children.
Historic
Video Conference Reacquaints Nottingham and Philadelphia Rotary
Clubs
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More
than 50 members of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia were present
at the offices of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce for the
historic video conference reunion of the Nottingham (UK) and the
Philadelphia (USA) Rotary Clubs on October 15, 2010. Through the
technical magic of a Skype, the two Rotary clubs were able to
see and hear each other across the ocean. In Nottingham, 30 Rotary
members participated in the video conference prior to their dinner
meeting.
Philadelphia President Bob Snow offered
Philadelphia’s official greetings and Philadelphia Rotary
Glee Club director Paul Welde demonstrated his “spectacular
tenor” capabilities with his rendition of “God Bless
America.” Former Philadelphia president Joan Batory then
stressed the tradition and bonds of friendship that were built
between the two Rotary clubs since 1921 and carried through World
War II with some historical references. Other Philadelphia presentations
were made by: Katie Baye (International Service); Patrick Feeley
(Community Service); Paul Johnson (Interact); Matthew Tae (Literacy);
and President-elect Joe Batory (Next year’s Centennial Celebration).
Nottingham’s speakers were
President Geoffrey Halliday (official greetings from Nottingham);
Past President Eric Miller (Christmas Puddings); Past President
David Huxley (Aqua Boxes); a newer member Mark Benner (Why I joined
Rotary); Rotaract president Steve Moore; and President-elect Tony
Budden. |
During the video
conference, the Philadelphia Rotary attendees feasted on several boxes
of Thornton’s chocolates, locally manufactured candies sent to
the Philadelphia Rotary by the Nottingham Rotary. Later that evening,
the Nottingham Rotary finished off their dinner meeting with a wide
array of Philadelphia’s famous Tastykakes for desert courtesy
of the Philadelphia Rotary.
“I felt today's event was one of the more
memorable and rewarding meetings for our Philadelphia Rotary,”
said Patrick Feeley, one of Philadelphia’s younger members. “I
could feel the pride of Nottingham’s club and our club shining
through the video cast as we reached out across the Atlantic like to
each other. It is a proud day to be a member of Rotary and in particular
the Rotary Clubs of Philadelphia and Nottingham! “
The video conference closed with both Rotaries
singing the famous “Robin Hood, Robin Hood” song.
“What happened at this videoconference is truly meaningful,”
Said Philadelphia Rotary President-Elect Joe Batory. “One aspect
of Rotary is about fellowship and that is certainly what this event
was all about….renewing and solidifying a great friendship. So
these two Rotary clubs have now restored their relationship and the
future holds great promise.”
(The accompanying photo illustrates some front page newspaper coverage
of this Rotary Club reunion in Nottingham’s local newspaper).
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