If you did not make it to our last Rotary Club of Forest Grove meeting, here is what you missed…

No Meeting This Week: With the One Rotary Conference coming up this weekend and Senior Projects Day taking place on the Pacific University campus on Wednesday, we will not hold our regular weekly meeting on Wednesday, April 24. We will return to our regularly scheduled meetings on Wednesday, May 1, when Rotarian Seth Berdahl will present on the Forest Grove Running Club.

Labyrinth Work Party: Thank you to all of our Rotarians and friends, as well as community volunteers from Pacific University, who helped with maintenance and planting around the labyrinth at Pacific University on Wednesday. It was a nice day to be out and providing service to beautify and maintain a special part of campus.

The labyrinth, located along College Way near Old College Hall, was built in 2004 as a club project to celebrate Rotary International’s centennial. It is dedicated in memory of Rotarian and former Pacific University president Faith Gabelnick, who passed away that year.

McDougall Garden Party: Thank you to our Rotarians and friends who helped out with maintenance of the McDougall Garden on Saturday. Geoff Faris reports that the job was finished in record time (about 90 minutes) with complete weeding, garbage collection and mulching of the garden space located between 19th Avenue and Pacific Avenue, across from the big flagpole at the east end of Forest Grove.

Joining Geoff for the work party was his wife, Annette, Claire Agner, Jim Cain, Jim Crisp, Rus & Janet Peters, Pamelajean Myers, Jeannine Murrell and Greg Nemchick, with Jeff Duyck delivering the mulch.

Youth Citizens of the Month: At Wednesday’s meeting, we were honored to recognize our April Youth Citizens of the Month, Hunter Nicholes of Banks Middle School and Jocelyn Janecek of Banks High School! Both youth received a certificate and a $50 gift card to Frye’s Action Athletics. We hope to profile these two outstanding individuals soon on our website and in the Rototeller.

Steak Feed – Friday, June 14: Our 66th annual Rotary Steak Feed is coming up on Friday, June 14, 5-8 p.m., at the University Center on the campus of Pacific University. One of the club’s biggest fundraisers of the year, proceeds from the event benefit our involvement in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program.

We need every club member’s participation in this event, both in selling tickets and in volunteering on the night of the event.

Ticket Sales – Members will be receiving an envelope with 10 tickets to sell. Tickets are $25 and include a choice New York steak, salad, baked potato, roll, a beverage and dessert. Please endeavor to sell all 10 tickets. Please return all money from sales (and any unsold tickets) to either Jeff Duyck or Geoff Faris by no later than June 1. The more tickets we sell, the more proceeds we have to support Youth Exchange.

Day of Steak Feed – Each club member has been assigned to one of nine committees. Committee assignments were provided with the ticket envelopes and are linked in the Rototeller newsletter sent to members. Members should contact the committee chair by June 1 to see which shift they will work or if you will be unable to attend.

For any questions, please contact Steak Feed Committee co-chairs Geoff Faris or Jeff Duyck.

Road Cleanup Work Party: Once again, many hands made quick work for our semi-annual road cleanup on Saturday, April 13. It took just an hour to pick up along the club’s adopted stretches of road: Gales Creek Road between Thatcher Road and Forest Gale Drive and Thatcher Road between Gales Creek Road and David Hill Road.

This marked the 90th time that the Rotary Club of Forest Grove has conducted a cleanup dating back to the start of the club’s involvement with the Washington County Adopt-A-Road Program in September 1992.

Thank you to the following Rotarians, Interactors and friends who served: Jim Crisp, Blake Timm, Emma Gayle, Irene Barbour-Weiss, Blue Barbour-Weiss, Fareeha Nayebare, Jim Cain, Paul Waterstreet, Andrea Stewart, Tim Orr, Claire Agner, Diana Waterstreet, Angel Daniel-Cervantes and Emma Zvho.

A special thank you to Paul Waterstreet and Andrew Stewart for their work to coordinate these cleanup opportunities for the club.

RYLA Applications Now Open: Our club is now accepting nominations and applications for District 5100 RYLA, which takes place July 13-19 at the Menucha Retreat & Conference Center in the Columbia River Gorge. Open to individuals ages 19-32, RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a weeklong intensive leadership experience providing inspiration and practical skills for developing young leaders. Many who have attended RYLA said it was a transformational experience in their lives.

Dependent on interest, our club usually pays for one or two people to attend RYLA annually. The application deadline for the 2024 RYLA is May 31.

If you know of someone who would be interested in attending RYLA, or perhaps are interested yourself, please contact our club’s RYLA chair, Andrea Stewart, at 503-352-2168 or astewart@pacificu.edu. To learn more about RYLA, visit the District 5100 RYLA Website. (NOTE: While there is an application link on the website, the application should not be filled out until an applicant has been approved by a club.)

Youth Exchange – One-Way Ukraine Exchange Opportunity: Our club’s Youth Exchange Committee is considering an opportunity to take part in a one-way exchange for a student from Ukraine. District 5100, along with other districts, are being asked to consider hosting a total of 10 students from Ukraine. So far, three have been placed. This is similar to the type of exchange that brought Fareeha Nayebare to us and would be in addition to our standard involvement in Youth Exchange, which is in process, and would require us to spend some additional funds to bring this student to the U.S.

Our Youth Exchange Committee would like to know the club’s interest in taking part in this one-way exchange. If you have thoughts, please contact our Youth Exchange Committee chair, Melinda Fischer.

Forest Grove HS Interact Club: Our inbound Youth Exchange student, Fareeha Nayebare, has restarted the Interact Club at Forest Grove High School! Meetings take place on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. All Rotarians are welcome. The club is currently working on a service project with the high school’s Food Pantry. For questions, please talk with Fareeha at our meetings.

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 (over 140 videos to date) are archived on our club’s YouTube page. Visit https://bit.ly/fgrotaryprograms.

Concours News
2024 Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance, presented by the Rotary Club of Forest Grove
Sunday, July 21 on Pacific University’s Forest Grove Campus

Concours Website | Enter A Car | 2024 Concours Weekend Schedule

Concours Committee Meetings: The Concours d’Elegance Committee is starting the planning for our 50th show on July 21, 2024. If interested in getting further involved with the Concours, the steering committee is always looking for volunteers to prepare for the show throughout the year. For more information, contact Tom Raabe at 503-704-1200 or rotarytomr@gmail.com or Geoff Johnston at 503-939-7868 or gamsma@comcast.net.

The next meeting of the Concours Committee will be Tuesday, April 23 via Zoom.

Sponsorships: Sponsorships go a long way to increasing the profit of the Concours, which goes to fund our scholarship program and our club’s other outreach activities. To learn more about available sponsorships, Click Here to contact Tim Pearson at 503-998-8616 or timpearsonpc@gmail.com.

Polo Shirts: We still have a number of our club Concours polo shirts available for new members or club members who did not get one last year. The blue shirts have the Concours logo on the front and the club logo on the sleeve and are the work shirts we wear during the event. Shirts are $30 each. If you would like a shirt, please contact Tim Pearson.

Service Opportunities For Club Members
Do You Know Of Service Opportunities?: Are you aware of service opportunities in our area that our members might be interested in? We can advertise those here! This space is not limited to club-sponsored activities but to any service opportunity in the community. To promote the service activity, please send a detailed description of the project, the date and time, contact information and a link to register to Rototeller editor Blake Timm, blakertimm@gmail.com.

Habitat For Humanity Service Project – May 22: On Wednesday, May 22, our club will be partnering for a service opportunity with West Tuality Habitat for Humanity from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. We will be conducting a painting project. More details about this project will be coming soon.

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 Mondays from 4-5:30 p.m. The pantry is located along Nichols Lane between the football field and the Basinski Center. Click Here for more information on the FGHS Food Pantry and on other resources for those experiencing food insecurity.

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.

Around District 5100
District Governor Renee Brouse’s April Message: April is now Environment month (formerly Maternal & Child Health Month).

As I think about the future, I cannot help but think about our children. Rotary International has designated April as Maternal and Child Health month, a time to focus on improving the health and well-being of mothers and children around the world. This important initiative aims to reduce maternal and child mortality rates, improve access to healthcare services, and promote healthy living practices.

Maternal and child health is a critical issue that affects millions of families globally. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 295,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related complications, and 5.9 million children under the age of five die from preventable causes. These staggering statistics highlight the urgent need for increased awareness and action to address the challenges facing mothers and children.

Rotary International, a global network of 1.2 million members, is committed to making a difference in the lives of mothers and children through its various projects and initiatives. From providing access to prenatal care and childbirth services to promoting immunization campaigns and nutrition programs, Rotary clubs around the world are working tirelessly to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

One of the key focus areas of Rotary International’s maternal and child health initiatives is the promotion of maternal and child health education. By raising awareness about important health issues such as prenatal care, safe childbirth practices, and childhood vaccinations, Rotary clubs are empowering mothers and families to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

In addition to education, Rotary International is also actively involved in providing crucial healthcare services to mothers and children in need. Through partnerships with local healthcare providers and organizations, Rotary clubs are able to deliver vital medical supplies, equipment, and resources to under-served communities, ultimately saving lives and improving health outcomes.

As we celebrate Maternal and Child Health month in April, let us reflect on the importance of ensuring the health and well being of mothers and children around the world. By supporting the efforts of Rotary International and other organizations working to improve maternal and child health, we can make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. Let us continue to advocate for better healthcare access, promote health education, and empower mothers and children to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. By doing so we are helping to care for our future leaders in our communities and in Rotary.

In the spirit of Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” let us march forward with determination, compassion, and hope. 

District 5100 Newsletter: Click Here To View The Monthly District 5100 Newsletter

Last Week’s Program: Steve Mann & Laura Altermatt, West Tuality Habitat for Humanity
Last week, we were joined by Rotarian Steve Mann, relationships manager for West Tuality Habitat for Humanity, and Laura Altermatt, the organization’s projects coordinator. With the Habitat Gala coming up on Saturday, April 27, and a joint service project with Rotary coming up on Wednesday, May 22, Steve and Laura felt it was a good time to reintroduce the club to Habitat and its mission.

Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Locally, West Tuality Habitat for Huamnity is the No. 1 non-profit homebuilder in Washington County. The organization also runs a growing home repair program, runs the ReStore in Forest Grove, and provides advocacy for home affordability and access.

The home-building program only continues to grow. In the early 1990s, took three years to build one home. Now, Habitat is on the cusp of starting an eight-home development with four homes being constructed in the first phase. Habitat homes are not free. People who apply for Habitat homes and are accepted into the program must pass a credit check, complete 250 hours of sweat equity, qualify for a mortgage and have a demonstrated need and be unable to obtain a traditional mortgage. Homeowners are often from non-traditional family environments, such as single-parent families.

The major home repair program is for homeowners whose income is 80% under the area median and whose housing costs are greater than 30% of their income. The purpose of the program is to extend the life of the home for future generations and for retirement planning. There are about 75 homes currently in its repair queue. Repair work includes access and ADA improvements, siding repair and paint, window and door replacement, tub and shower conversions, replacement of faucets and values and electrical repairs.

Habitat and Rotary are working on a partnership. Will do a joint service project on Wednesday, May 22. Will be working on an exterior paint project.

There are still a limited number of tickets available for Habitat’s Hearts For Habitat Gala, which takes place on Saturday, April 27, 5 p.m., at the Forest Grove Senior & Community Center. Click Here For Information & Details.

Club Calendar
Tues., Apr. 23: Concours Committee Meeting, 7 p.m.
via Zoom

Wed., Apr. 24: No Meeting

Wed., May 1: Weekly Meeting, Noon
Boxer Pause Room, University Center, Pacific University
Program: Seth Berdahl, Forest Grove Running Club

Wed., May 8: Weekly Meeting, Noon
Boxer Pause Room, University Center, Pacific University
Program: Phil Evans, Mentorship

Thurs., May 9: Executive Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
via Zoom

Wed., May 22: Service Project With West Tuality Habitat For Humanity, 12-3 p.m.
Location TBA

Fri., June 14: Steak Feed, 5-8 p.m.
University Center, Pacific University

Sun., July 21: Concours d’Elegance
Pacific University Campus