All the Club news that's fit to print! And we'd like to print it all, so please send the Editor ([email protected]) your news articles and we'll be sure to post them for all to read. Include photos, captions, web addresses, and any other information to make your story complete.

Now click on "read more" below to find out about up-coming and past events from clubs throughout the District.

PS - you can also see news posted on the District Facebook page.

(Image credits to our local clubs unless otherwise noted)

Investors Bank was the Tournament Sponsor; PSE&G, ShopRite of Clark, and Two River Community Bank were Corporate Sponsors. In addition, there were 18 other major sponsors, led by the Garlic Rose Bistro, sponsor of the $100,000 Hole-in-One Shootout. Martin Jewelers and Maxon Hyundai sponsored the hole-in-one prizes. Additionally, 85 other organizations and individuals sponsored a reception and dinner, lunch, golf carts, halfway house, a putting contest, practice area, holes or donated raffle prizes.

Because of the storm, not everyone was able to complete 18 holes, and the putting contest and the hole-in-one shoot-out weren't held. But golf prizes were presented for closest to the pin, longest drive, and to the four groups with the lowest gross for the holes completed.

The Rotary Club of Roselle-Roselle Park Club President Paul Mickiewicz (right) attended a recent Court of Honor conducted by Roselle Troop 40 during which David Tibbs (center), pictured with his father, was elevated to the rank of Eagle Scout. Mickiewicz presented the Eagle Scout with the Rotary Certificate of Achievement as part of the Rotary District 7510 Scouting Services Initiative.

Developing citizenship, character, and service to others are among the goals of the Girl and Boy Scout movements.  Because these ideals align so closely with the ethical platform and motto of Rotary, in 2008 District 7510 Rotarians initiated a unique plan to recognize the pinnacle achievements of young men and women who have embraced Scouting’s principles. To date, over 80 Rotarians from 30 different Rotary Clubs in our five-county New Jersey area have made over 700 personal presentations of Rotary Certificates of Achievement to Girl Scouts who have earned the Gold Award and Boy Scouts who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

The Rotary Club of Berkeley Heights recently enjoyed a program presentation by Frank Hubbard, Berkeley Heights resident and Reach Out and Read volunteer, along with Lisa Liss, Director of Volunteer Services for Trinitas Hospital. They visited the Club to describe what ROR is and has accomplished in the 27 years since its founding and were thanked by Club President Linda Sausville (center).

ROR is an American not-for-profit organization that advocates for and promotes childhood literacy through a network of active, hands-on volunteers like Frank Hubbard across nearly five thousand pediatric clinics across the U.S. Trinitas is a major sponsor of this work in its New Jersey service area; Frank is one of the volunteers who regularly visit Trinitas's Elizabeth clinic, where they will offer donated children's books to families and--most important--offer to read to the children right here in the waiting room!

The Rotary Club of Westfield is working on an exciting project called "Feed Just One." The Rotarians in the photo  (l. to r.) are Mike Miller, Marta Alexandre (president), Barbara Frantz, Deirdre Gelinne and Warren Rorden. They stand behind the 75 lunches they collected at the club's table at Jazz Night in Westfield. The Feed Just One poster was created by Juliana Yang, president of the newly-chartered Westfield High School Interact Club, the student affiliate of Rotary. The students who belong to the Interact Club are partnering with the Rotary Club to help feed local families this summer.

Over the past year, the members of the Westfield Rotary Club have been actively working to fight hunger in our community through food drives and the BackPack program, which delivers extra food to children in our schools whose families struggle with hunger. The club's latest project is called Feed Just One. The name comes from a quote by Mother Teresa: "If you can't feed a hundred people, feed just one." The idea is to help local families during the summer months, when they are not receiving as much food because school is not in session.

Many of the Westfield schools collect extra lunches each week during the school year through programs like Two Lunch Tuesdays and deliver them to local soup kitchens. Westfield Rotarians are working to do the same thing during the summer months. Each Tuesday evening during July and August, the Rotarians set up a table on Elm Street next to Addams Tavern and distribute lunch bags to anyone who would like to make lunches for hungry people in our community. Cash donations to help purchase lunch supplies are also gratefully accepted.

The lunches are collected on Wednesday mornings between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Morgan Stanley offices at 140 Central Avenue in Westfield, across from the post office. Staff members make additional sandwiches using the money collected at Jazz Night, and deliver the lunches to the Salvation Army soup kitchen in Plainfield. The Westfield Rotary Club members hope to increase the number of lunches collected to about 200 per week, so that they can also supply the soup kitchen at St. Joseph's Social Service Center in Elizabeth.
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The Rotary Club of Branchburg supports Pedals for Progress with a used bike collection on Saturday, September 10, rain or shine. Anyone with an adult or child’s bicycle in repairable condition is urged to donate his or her bike to this worthy cause. Pedals for Progress cannot accept “bikes for parts” or disassembled bikes.

Bikes can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, rain or shine, at the Branchburg Municipal Building, 1077 Rt. 202 North, Branchburg. This project is coordinated by Branchburg Rotarians Kip Bateman and Dan Matyola. and is held annually with the support of the Rotaract Club at Raritan Valley Community College (pictured below in a prior collection event).

P4P collects 3,000 to 5,000 bicycles annually. To date, more than 147,000 have been shipped to developing countries in Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe. In these countries the bikes are reconditioned by partner agencies and distributed at low cost to poor working adults. These bikes provide local people with reliable transportation for commuting to work, transporting product to market, or accessing health care and other services. Steady employment for these adults is vital to the development and success for these economies. It costs $40 to collect, process, ship, rebuild and distribute each bicycle. A $10 donation is suggested toward shipping costs per bike). All cash and material donations are fully deductible and a receipt will be available at the collection site.
 

The Rotary Club of Montgomery-Rocky Hill is one of the oldest vendors at the annual Somerset County 4-H Fair. With all those years of practice, the Club continues to enjoy the camaraderie of making the best funnel cakes in Central New Jersey. This is one of two great fundraisers of the year. Through it, the club assists the 4-H community in strengthening their financial resources. Celebrating with Rotarians George Jarvis and Ed Zimmerman are dignitaries including: Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provanzano, County Freeholder Patricia Walsh, Former Assemblywoman Donna Simon, New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, Daryl Kipsis, and County Freeholder Brian Levine. [Editor Note: Immediately after this photo was taken, we are told that a brawl broke out as all tried to grab that delicious funnel cake!]
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The Rotary Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains has been quite busy! On June 16, the Club inducted new Officers (L to R): Steve Goldberg (President-Elect), Carmela Resnick (President), Don Rosenberg (Treasurer), Kim Decker (Secretary). Board Members for the 2016/2017 Rotary year include: Donna D’Annunzio-Fundraising, Patty Laguna- Youth/Interact, Brooks Smith-International, Andy Calamaras- Foundation, Wayne Zuhl- Membership, Julie Murphy- Program, Dick Dobyns- Program Emeritus, Gerry Leary-Service, Maria LaMorte-Wright –Publicity, Cathy Harris-Immediate Past President.
 

The club recently honored three very special Rotarians who represent the “Spirit of Rotary”: Joe Qutub (almost 50 years with Rotary, involved in local community through work at the YMCA); Dick Dobyns (Program Chair and Frazee Board member, constant supporter of all initiatives); and Fred Chemidlin (over 50 years in Rotary club and very involved in local community). The Club and District are so incredibly honored to have these three amazing individuals as members and Rotarians.     
 

Last month the club donated 73 shirts and $525 to Operation Chillout to help homeless Veterans. President Carmela Resnick and Patty Laguna delivered the donations to Ray Chimileski, the organization's founder and executive director. The organization needs of cases of water, tee shirts and caps throughout the summer. See www.operationchillout.org for more information.

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The Rotary Club of South Amboy-Sayreville awarded two $1000 scholarships to local students.  Abryanna Hernandez, Sayreville War Memorial High School, and Brendan O'Keeffe, South Amboy High School were this years recipients.  Both students were recognized for high levels of community service and both served in student government. Abryanna will be attending William Patterson University.  Brendan is going to Syracuse University.  They both start school this fall.

The Rotary Club of Kenilworth is pleased to announce that Dr. Thomas Tramaglini (far right), Superintendent of Kenilworth School District, was recently installed as a member of the club by 2016-2017 President Ceu Manata and Rotary 7510 District Governor Elect Bob Zeglarski. Dr. Tramaglini is looking forward to serving the needs of the families of Kenilworth while working with the other members of the club. The club was chartered in 1948 has been proudly serving the needs of Kenilworth and the world as part of Rotary International.

The Rotary Clubs of Clinton Sunrise is working on building membership, a goal of all clubs in the District. They recently enjoyed the induction of Linda Reed-Friedman (left) and Helen DiGuardia (center) who were welcomed as new members of the club by President Megan Jones-Holt, Past District Governor 2011-2012. Linda is the President and Managing Partner of Advanta Strategies LLC, a business consulting firm dedicated to assisting people and businesses reach their maximum potential.  Linda also owns and manages Hunterdon Shared Space and is a published author with her book, “Act the Part! Get the Part!” Helen is the owner of Helen’s Happy Tails, LLC a professional pet sitting business providing many different pet services and catering to a wide variety of animals; and a weekly yard clean-up service called Tail End Yard Clean Up.

The Rotary Club of Elizabeth continues to enjoy some great weekly meeting programs. On a recent meeting day, a very heady meeting was held when as club members were joined by David Hoffman, owner and brew master of Climax Brewing Company in Roselle Park.

Dave gave a very interesting talk on the art of beer making and how his micro-brewery has changed and grown over the past 20 years. We have it on good authority that the best part of the meeting was sampling the four varieties of beer he brought with him (no offense to Club President Art Lobdell who we are sure did an excellent job presiding, just not the best part of the meeting!). 

Dave was thanked by President Art and our Taste of Elizabeth co chairs, Doug Harris and Bob Tombs. Climax Brewing has appeared at 18 Taste of the Towns and Tastes of Elizabeth!

Diana Vivanco, a Trustee at the Historical Society of Elizabeth will be visiting Kito, Ecuador and will send our greetings and present our bannerette to their local Rotary Club.