If you didn’t make it to our last Rotary Club of Forest Grove meeting, here’s what you missed…

Mask Mandate Ends At Pacific: With the state of Oregon dropping its mask mandate, Pacific University has made the use of facemasks optional on campus. The rest of Pacific’s COVID precautions remain in effect, including…

• All persons who attend in-person meetings on campus are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

• If you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, please stay home and join us via Zoom. Click Here For Symptoms.

• If you have been in close contact with an individual who is a confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 case, or have tested positive for the virus yourself, follow the quarantine guidance from the Washington County Health Department.

For more information on Pacific University’s COVID precautions and requirements, please visit pacificu.edu/coronavirus.

March Madness Fundraiser Is Back!: Our annual March Madness fundraiser for The Rotary Foundation is back! While it may not be the year for the Beavers or the Ducks, there is plenty of madness is our fundraiser with double the fund and double the madness.

There are only two requirements to participate:

1. Make a $20 donation to the Foundation of the Rotary Club of Forest Grove.
2. Join the FG Rotary group at Yahoo! Sports and fill out a bracket.

You can make your donation by:

• Cash or card in person at our Wednesday noon meeting.
• By mailing a check or cash to the Rotary Club of Forest Grove, PO Box 125, Forest Grove, OR 97116.
• By credit card at the Forest Grove Rotary Square Site.

You be signed up and have your bracket filled out before the first game begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday!

But how can the madness be doubled? This year, every dollar you donate goes to the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation and earns you Paul Harris Points. The club will MATCH every one of those PHPs from our club balance of PHPs, and the top three brackets will split the matched points as follows:

1st Place: 50%
2nd Place: 30%
3rd Place: 20%

Our contributions to the Annual Fund are shared globally to fund humanitarian projects, scholarships, and rotary activities. Our Annual Fund contributions also make our club eligible for District Grants, which have helped fund our Hope for the Holidays event, new Rogers Park installation, and many other projects.

Please contact Lucas Welliver with any questions.

Thirsty Thursday: This month’s Thirsty Thursday/Satellite Club meeting will take place this Thursday, March 17, 6:30 p.m., at Zesti Carts, 2131 Yew St., Forest Grove. Enjoy some fellowship with fellow Rotarians and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. We hope to see you there.

Road Cleanup: Thank you to all of our Rotarians and friends who made our return to our semi-annual road cleanup service project a success! This was the 86th time we have performed a cleanup over the past 27 years.

Thank you our participants: Piper Stewart, Corinne Reasoner, Stan Reasoner, Greg Nemchick, Blake Timm, Janet Peters, Terry Nahm-Kaln (Forest Grove HS student volunteer), Tim Pearson, Paul Waterstreet, Diana Waterstreet, Melinda Fischer, Andrea Stewart, Jim Cain and Jim Crisp (who completed a section on Friday).

A big thank you to Corinne Reasoner, who found a wallet with money and ID intact. She is returning the wallet to its owner in Cornelius.

Steak Sale: Thank you to all of our Rotarians who sold steaks during our latest Steak Sale. Steak pickup will be on Thursday, March 17, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Jeff Duyck’s warehouse on 19th Avenue between Main and Ash Streets.

For more information or questions, please contact Julia Kollar.

RYLA Applications Open: After a two-year hiatus, applications are being taken for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). RYLA is a one-week intensive leadership training experience for youth ages 21 to 32 years old that includes team-building exercises, guest speakers and more. This year’s event will take place July 9-15 at the Menucha Retreat Center in the Columbia River Gorge.

Applicants must be sponsored by a local Rotary club and our club has traditionally sponsored two RYLA participants. For more information on the program, please contact Andrea Stewart. Information on RYLA, along with the required application, can be found online at ryladistrict5100.org.

Crab Feed Is Back: Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Apr. 20, when our annual Crab Feed returns. The Crab Feed is designed to be a social event for club members and their families to celebrate the good work that we do throughout the year. This is also traditionally when the club recognizes its latest Paul Harris Fellows. The event takes place from 5-8 p.m. at the Forest Grove Senior & Community Center.

Admission for this year’s Crab Feed is $40 per person for those who are eating crab and $25 if not eating crab. There will also be crab for sale to take home at market price.

Julia Kollar is re-forming the committee to take on the planning and execution of this event. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Julia.

Silent Auction At Crab Feed: As we have done in past years, we will be conducting a silent auction at the Crab Feed to raise money for our service outreaches. We are looking for donations such as themed gift baskets, wine and wine tasting experiences, a stay in beach house, tickets to sporting events…on maybe something else in mind that you would like to donate.

If you are interested in donating to the silent auction, please contact Parri Van Dyke.

Scholarship Program Deadline Approaching: Applications are now being accepted for the Rotary Club of Forest Grove’s annual scholarship program. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors that live in the Forest Grove, Gaston and Banks school district attendance areas. These scholarships are made possible thanks to contributions from club members and from our annual car show, the Concours d’Elegance.

Scholarships vary in amounts from $500 to $2,000 and are awarded to help pay for the first year of college or vocational school at a school in the United States.

The application deadline is midnight on Saturday, April 7. The application process will once again take place completely online. Click Here For Additional Details.

For questions, please contact Scholarship Committee chair Sharon Olmstead at sharon.olmstead8571@gmail.com.

Looking Ahead To The 2022-23 Rotary Year: Please take the time to respond to president-elect Janet Peters email about what you would like to see our club look like as we move into the future. Janet is interested to know…

• Is there anything that we should stop doing?

• What should we continue doing?

• What would you like us to start doing?

• What about Rotary excites you the most?

• What is one thing that Rotary can do to improve the community?

Janet is also interested if you are interested in keeping your current committee assignment or would like to switch. If you are new to our club, what would you like to be involved with?

Concours Update: Planning for the 2022 Concours d’Elegance is well under way. Our annual car show, which raises funds for our club’s Scholarship Program, will take place on Sunday, July 17, on the campus of Pacific University. This year’s theme is a celebration of Jaguar. In addition, the show will showcase a salute to British Excellence with feature classes for MG, Triumph and Lotus.

Here are a few updates from the Concours committee:

Vendor Chair Needed: The Concours Committee is in need of a vendor chair for this year’s show. The role involves keep in touch with our vendors and making sure that their needs are taken care of on the day of the event. If you are interested in taking on this role, please contact Ryan Garcia or President Bryce.

Sponsorships: Tim Pearson has a goal of 100 sponsors for the show. “That’s going to be a stretch but I think it is doable,” Tim said, but he needs the help of club members to make it happen. A copy of the sponsorship flyer is Linked Here and is also attached to this week’s edition of the Rototeller. If you have sponsorship questions or a lead, please contact Tim at 503-998-8616 or TimPearsonPC@gmail.com.

Concours Events: The Concours Committee has agreed to move forward with a Friday night concert event to start the weekend. The concert will take place on July 15 at Elk Cove Vineyard near Gaston. Capacity will be limited to 200 people. More details will be coming soon.

The evening of Excellence dinner will take place at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course on the evening of Sat., July 16.

For more information on the show, visit forestgroveconcours.org, or contact show chairman Ryan Garcia at rypgarcia@gmail.com.

As our club’s primary fundraiser for the year, the Concours is an “all hands on deck” event with all club members expected to volunteer.

Steak Feed Returns: Our annual Steak Feed is also returning after a two-year hiatus. This year’s event will take place on Friday, June 10, on the campus of Pacific University.

Designed as a community event, the Steak Feed is specifically targeted as a fundraiser for our club’s involvement in the Rotary Youth Exchange program (which we also hope to see return in 2022). A meal featuring a choice steak, potatoes, vegetables and dessert is prepared and served by club members.

As one of our club’s major fundraisers, the Steak Feed is an “all hands on deck” event with all club members expected to volunteer. More details on this year’s event will be available soon. For more information, please contact Geoff Faris.

Congratulations Blake Timm: Our own Blake Timm has been recognized for his civic involvement by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Blake will receive CoSIDA’s Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award at the organization’s annual convention this June in Las Vegas. The Kenworthy award is presented annually to a CoSIDA member for civic involvement, community service and accomplishments both within and outside the sports information profession. You can read more about the award on the CoSIDA Website. Congrats Blake!

Online Dues Payments: Our club is now equipped to process dues payments online! We can now process credit card or debit card payments for quarterly dues. Information on how to pay online will be included with quarterly billings that will be coming to your mailbox or email inbox.

With the transition to billing with Quickbooks, some members may not have received their quarterly invoice. If you did not, please contact treasurer Lucas Welliver.

FGHS Community Food Pantry: Our club’s support for the Forest Grove High School Food Pantry continues. Thanks to its partnership with the Oregon Food Bank, food donations are still welcome but are of less need at this time. Of need, however, are toiletries and hygiene products as well as household cleaning materials.

The Food Pantry is open on Mondays from 4-5:30 p.m. The pantry is now open in its new site in the building along Nichols Lane between the football field and the Basinski Center.

For information on the Food Pantry, please contact Brian Burke, bburke@fgsd.k12.or.us. If you wish to make a cash donation to the pantry, Click Here.

Additionally, Rotarian Gwen Hullinger has put together an Amazon wish list of items that can be purchased and donated. Click Here To View That List.

Past Programs: Did you miss a meeting or want to go back and check out a program again? Most of our programs since May 2020 are archived on our club’s YouTube page. Visit https://bit.ly/fgrotaryprograms.

Around District 5100
Congratulations To The Rotary Club of Sandy!: Rotary District 5100 has a new club! Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Sandy, which had its charter ceremony on March 9. The club is starting with 20 members, 17 of which are new to Rotary. Congratulations to club president Jared Tjaden as they begin to provide Service Above Self!

Save The Date: District 5100 Rotary One Conference: Mark your calendars for May 19-22 as District 5100 will present its first combined Spring Training Event and annual conference in Seaside. The combined conference will provide Rotary training opportunities, inspirational speakers and a celebration of what is hoped to be a great year in District 5100. The conference website is now live. Check it out at http://www.rotary5100.com.

Around Rotary International
Rotary’s Response To The Ukrainian Conflict: In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, The Rotary Foundation has created an official channel for donors around the world to contribute funds to support the relief efforts underway by Rotary districts and has designated its Disaster Response Fund as the main avenue for contributions.

To this end, The Rotary Foundation has approved:

• Now through 30 June 2022, designated Rotary districts that border Ukraine and the Rotary district in Ukraine may apply for grants of up to $50,000 each from the Disaster Response Fund. These expedited disaster response grants can be used to provide relief to refugees or other victims of the crisis including items such as water, food, shelter, medicine and clothing.

• During this same period, other impacted Rotary districts that wish to offer support to refugees or other victims of the crisis in their district can apply for $25,000 grants from the Disaster Response Fund.

• Now through 30 April 2022, Rotary districts can transfer unallocated District Designated Funds (DDF) to support the Disaster Response Fund, directly supporting these Ukraine-specific humanitarian grants.

• Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund in support of Ukraine can be made here. All funds need to be received into the Disaster Response Fund by 30 April 2022 in order to qualify for use in support of the Ukrainian relief efforts.

• Although the Disaster Response Fund will be the main avenue for Rotary Foundation support, Rotary and Rotaract clubs are also encouraged to create their own responses to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

In addition to support provided through the Disaster Response Fund, the Foundation is coordinating with partners and regional leaders, exploring effective solutions to the increased humanitarian needs.

• We are in contact with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees – USA to prepare for and respond to the needs of those being displaced in Ukraine and to neighboring countries.

• ShelterBox, our project partner for disaster response, is in communication with Rotary members in Eastern Europe to explore how it may offer support with temporary transitional housing and other essential supplies.

• The Rotary Action Group for Refugees, Forced Displacement, and Migration is also mobilizing its resources to assist in this crisis.

More than 2 million people have fled Ukraine and are in dire need of emergency aid. The United Nations estimates that number could grow to as many as 5 million people displaced. Rotary clubs in Europe and around the world have stepped up their relief work, some working on the ground to help displaced families.

We will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Visit My Rotary and follow Rotary on social media to stay updated on how clubs can get involved and what actions Rotary members have taken and the impact it has had for people in the region.

For all other questions and to obtain more information, please contact the Rotary Support Center at rotarysupportcenter@rotary.org.

Last Week’s Program: Virginia Ohler, West Tuality Habitat For Humanity

Click Here To Watch The Full Program

Last week, fellow Rotarian and executive director of West Tuality Habitat for Humanity, Virginia Ohler, spoke to us about the impact Habitat has had over the last few years.

How do you measure impact in terms of non-profits? The work of Habitat varies from heroic to mundane, but it is all important.

From 2015 to 2018, Habitat saw a significant growth in the number of people the organization serves thanks to the repair program. In 2020 and 2021, production jumped again thanks to needs during the pandemic.

The new home construction program is what people know Habitat for the most – people coming together as a community to build a house. Since 1993, 15 homes from scratch and one complete remodel and three “recycles,” where a new Habitat family moves in after another has departed. 19 families helped over the year.

The repair program has helped over 100 families and accounts for over 70 percent of Habitat’s focus. Work includes minor household repairs, painting houses, interior repair and building handicapped ramps among other things.

Habitat also offers a variety of soft services, such as mentoring and teaching financial literacy. Families in the home ownership program spend 18 months learning how to manage finances. Habitat provides a lot of job training, mostly geared toward disabled workers. Habitat conducts an annual women’s tool clinic. These programs served around 300 people each year.

Habitat offers affordable mortgage programs. Habitat carries those mortgages themselves and help people have access to other mortgages that are available in the marketplace, especially for low-income families. This program helps 30-60 families per year.

The Habitat ReStore continues to grow. Ninety percent of all merchandise that comes into the store is cleaned, repaired and upcycled prior to being resold. The ReStore is also a repository for the Oregon e-cycles program.

As part of Habitat for Humanity International, West Tuality Habitat for Humanity takes part in initiatives with the international organization. Plenty of widespread impacts of decent, affordable housing such as better health outcomes, safely aging in place, better educational outcomes, etc.

Habitat also conducts research studies on who had access to homeownership, correlations between home ownership and wealth-building and racial inequities. Habitat has taken a leadership role worldwide in advocating for women’s property rights.

Because of the exchange of resources with the international organization, West Tuality Habitat for Humanity has had a role in building 26 homes across the world.

In terms of diversity, 8.2 percent of people served by West Tuality Habitat for Humanity are veterans. Forty-one percent of those served are black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), 61 percent are elderly and 49.1 percent are disabled.

Club Calendar
Wed., Mar. 16: Weekly Meeting, Noon
Boxer Pause Room, Pacific University
Program: Kara Cooney, The Good Kings

Thurs., Mar. 17: Steak Sale Pick Up, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Jeff Duyck’s Warehouse, 19th Avenue at Main Street

Thurs., Mar. 17: Thirsty Thursday/Satellite Club Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Zesti Carts, 2131 Yew St., Forest Grove

Wed., Mar. 23: Weekly Meeting, Noon
Boxer Pause Room, Pacific University
Program: Brenna Fulks & Elisabeth Stover, City of Forest Grove Development Update

Sat., Apr. 7: Rotary Scholarship Program Application Deadline

Wed., Apr. 20: Rotary Crab Feed, 5 p.m.
Forest Grove Senior & Community Center

Fri., June 10: Steak Feed, 5 p.m.
Pacific University Campus

Sun., July 17: Concours d’Elegance
Pacific University Campus