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

This Week – Back At Pacific University: Join us for our weekly meeting on Wednesday, Mar. 20, in the Boxer Pause Room in the University Center at Pacific University. Our program this week will be Washington County Search & Rescue.

Youth Citizens of the Month: At last week’s meeting, we were proud to honor our latest Rotary Youth Citizens of the Month from the Forest Grove School District: McKenna Darby of Neil Armstrong Middle School, Julio Pedro Felipe of the FGSD Community Alternative Learning Center (CALC) and Nate Pratt of Forest Grove High School. A story detailing the accomplishments of these young people will be published later this week.

Crab Feed: Our annual Crab Feed social event is coming up on Wednesday, Apr. 3 at the Forest Grove Senior & Community Center. Join us for an evening of fellowship and recognition of our Paul Harris Fellows. This will be an evening event and there will be no noon meeting that day. This year’s meal will include a full half-pound of fresh, shelled crab meat per person!

Tickets for the Crab Feed can be ordered now. Prices for Crab Feed tickets, and the appropriate links for ordering, are as follows:

Regular Crab Feed Ticket – $45 per person: https://bit.ly/3IcbXOC
Vegetarian Or Children’s Meal – $25 per person: https://bit.ly/3wwZRNA
One Pound Crab Meat To Go – $35 per pound: https://bit.ly/3SWpi2s
Two Pack Of Steaks To Go – $20 per pack: https://bit.ly/3T9nncd
Red/White Wine To Go – $10 per bottle: https://bit.ly/3TeqpuP

If you are interested in being involved in the planning and execution of this year’s event, please contact Julia. The next committee meeting will take on Thursday, Mar. 21, at 5:30 p.m., at Julia’s home.

Silent Auction At The Crab Feed: At this year’s Crab Feed, we will once again be conducting a silent auction with all proceeds benefitting The Rotary Foundation. The committee is looking again for items such as themed baskets, weekend getaways, gift cards or experiences. In past years, the silent auction has been very successful in helping us meet our club’s annual Rotary Foundation giving goals.

If you would like to make a donation, please contact Parri Van Dyke. Thank you to Parri and Evelyn Orr, who are coordinating the silent auction.

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.)

Hope For The Holidays: The impact of our annual holiday community outreach project continues to be felt. At last week’s meeting, Janet Peters shared some of the statistics of how impactful the 2023 edition of the project was.
• We provided food for 105 families, feeding 273 adults and 230 children.
• The club raised $7,059 towards the project. This included a District 5100 Matching Grant and over $2,000 raised by wreath sales.
• After all bills were paid, the club was able to donate $576 to the Forest Grove High School Food Pantry.

Over the next few weeks, our Hope For The Holidays committee will be meeting to debrief how last year’s event went and start planning for the 2024 edition. If you are interested in taking part in the planning for 2024, please contact Janet or President Amy Tracewell.

Committee Reports: Over the next couple of months, the club board would like to receive written committee reports to discuss at their monthly meetings. The reports should be a brief summary of the committee’s recent activities. For the April board meetings, any reports should be sent to President Amy by Monday, Apr. 8.

Scholarship Applications Open: The application period is now open for our 2024 Rotary Club of Forest Grove Scholarship Program. The program is open to graduating high schools that reside in the Forest Grove, Banks and Gaston school district attendance areas. These scholarships are made largely responsible by proceeds raised through our annual Concours d’Elegance car show. The one-time scholarships help pay for the first year of college or vocational school in the United States.

This year, applications for the program will only be accepted through the Going Merry website, which helps administer scholarship programs for a number or organizations in the U.S. Instructions on how to use the website and application instructions are available on our Rotary Scholarship Web Page.

The deadline for applications is Apr. 11, 2024. For questions, please contact Scholarship Committee chair Sharon Olmstead via email, sharon.olmstead8571@gmail.com.

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, Apr. 9 via Zoom.

February Meeting: Click Here To View The Notes From February’s Concours Meeting

Portland Swap Meet – Volunteers Needed: We will once again be promoting the Concours at the Portland Swap Meet, Apr. 5-7 at the Portland Expo Center. We will be looking for Rotarians to fill two-hour shifts to promote the show, hand out flyers and man our booth. A sign-up sheet for shifts will be distributed at our weekly meetings or you can contact Jim Crisp to sign up.

Thank you to those club members who have already signed up for shifts: Tom Raabe, Amy Tracewell, Claire Agner, Jim Cain, Paul Waterstreet, Greg Nemchick, Jim Crisp, Pete Van Dyke and Pamelajean Myers.

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.

Upcoming Habitat For Humanity Service Project: The club is working with West Tuality Habitat for Humanity for a joint service project in May. We will have more details on this service opportunity 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’s March Message: March marks a significant period for Rotary International, as it is celebrated worldwide as “Water and Sanitation Month.” This designation is symbolic and embodies Rotary’s steadfast commitment to addressing one of the most fundamental human needs: access to clean water and proper sanitation. Through concerted efforts and global initiatives, Rotary endeavors to raise awareness, implement sustainable solutions, and positively impact communities worldwide.

Access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities is not just a basic human right but a prerequisite for healthy and prosperous communities. Unfortunately, millions of people worldwide still lack access to these essentials, leading to dire consequences for health, education, and economic development. Diseases spread easily in environments with poor sanitation and contaminated water sources, affecting the most vulnerable populations disproportionately.

Rotary International, a global network of community leaders, has long recognized the urgency of addressing water and sanitation challenges. Through its extensive network of clubs and partnerships, Rotary has initiated numerous projects aimed at providing sustainable solutions to water and sanitation issues. From building wells and latrines to implementing hygiene education programs, Rotary’s impact spans across continents, touching the lives of millions.

One of Rotary’s most remarkable traits is its ability to mobilize communities and resources for impactful projects. In various corners of the globe, Rotary clubs are actively implementing water and sanitation initiatives tailored to local needs. Whether it’s installing water filtration systems in remote villages or promoting handwashing practices in schools, these projects not only provide immediate relief but also foster long-term resilience and empowerment within communities.

While the need for clean water and sanitation is undeniable, implementing sustainable solutions comes with its own set of challenges. Limited resources, political instability, and environmental factors often hinder progress in this field.

However, Rotary remains steadfast in its commitment to overcoming these obstacles through innovation, collaboration, and perseverance. By leveraging technology, forging partnerships, and engaging with local stakeholders, Rotary continues to find creative solutions to complex water and sanitation problems.

As we commemorate Rotary Water and Sanitation Month, individuals and organizations are encouraged to join hands with Rotary in its mission to provide clean water and sanitation for all. Whether through volunteering, fundraising, or spreading awareness, everyone can play a part in making a difference. By supporting Rotary’s water and sanitation initiatives, we not only improve lives but also contribute to a healthier, more equitable world for future generations.

As March unfolds, let us reaffirm our commitment to the cause of water and sanitation. Rotary Water and Sanitation Month serves as a poignant reminder of the work that lies ahead and the transformative impact we can achieve together. By harnessing the collective strength of communities, organizations, and individuals, we can turn the tide against waterborne diseases and ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all.

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

Together we can be the change and create HOPE in the world! 

Registration Now Open For Rotary One Conference: Make your plans now to attend the One Rotary Conference, District 5100’s combined training assembly and annual conference. This year’s conference runs from Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28 at the Best Western Hood River Inn in Hood River. This is a wonderful opportunity to not only learn more about Rotary, but to connect with Rotarians from all across the District.

The annual conference includes district training sessions on both Friday and Saturday. Friday evening features a barbeque dinner buffet and the annual Youth Exchange Talent Show (which will feature our Youth Exchange inbound student, Fareeha Nayeabre), a dinner event on Saturday and the annual awards ceremony and passing of the district governor banner on Sunday.

As our own Jeannine Murrell will be receiving the banner in advance of her district governor year, we would like to see as many members of our club as possible attend the conference to support her!

A link to register for the conference, along with the schedule of events and a link for hotel reservations at the Rotary rate, can be found at This DacDB Link (you must log in to DacDB to access). Registration closes on Apr. 9. 

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

Club Calendar
Wed., Mar, 20: Weekly Meeting, Noon
Boxer Pause, University Center, Pacific University
Program: Washington County Search & Rescue

Thurs., Mar. 21: Board Meeting, 7 a.m.
via Zoom
Thurs., Mar. 21: Crab Feed Committee Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Home of Julia Kollar

Wed., Mar. 27: No Meeting

Wed., Apr. 3: Crab Feed
Forest Grove Senior & Community Center
Evening Meeting. There will be no noon meeting on Apr. 3

Wed., Apr. 10: Weekly Meeting, Noon
Grove Room, Forest Grove School District Office, 1728 Main St.
Program: Dr. Jim Moore, Pacific University