Welcome to our newly designed newsletter for the Kutztown Rotary Club, which will hopefully come out quarterly and highlight at least one event for each month.
Our kickoff story highlights a social gathering we had in July where the club got together to play miniature golf at Gassers Golf Club in Fleetwood:
And then enjoyed food, beverages and comradery at Liberty in Dryville:
There are so many wonderful reasons to join Rotary. Being a Rotarian means something different to a lot of people and the reason for being part of this wonderful organization is different from person to person and club to club. Rotary is a service organization and the people in the organization accomplish great works of service in both their own community and in the world around them. But we do this through working together and having fun together. Our Public Image Chair, Amy Sheller, recently posted the top 5 reasons to join Kutztown Rotary Club, and as you can see from the list below, one of those reasons is fun and fellowship.
Community Connection: Joining Kutztown Rotary Club means becoming part of a vibrant network of individuals dedicated to serving our local community. Forge lasting friendships and partnerships while making a real difference where it matters most.
Service Opportunities: Get involved in a variety of service projects that address critical needs in our community, from supporting education and youth development to promoting health and wellness initiatives. There's something for everyone to contribute their skills and passions!
Professional Development: Expand your skill set and grow personally and professionally through leadership opportunities, networking events, and mentorship programs. Gain valuable experience that enhances your career while making a positive impact on those around you.
Global Impact: Through Rotary International, our club contributes to global efforts to eradicate polio, provide clean water and sanitation, promote peace and conflict resolution, and much more. Join us in making a difference on both a local and global scale.
Fun and Fellowship: Beyond the meaningful work we do, Kutztown Rotary Club is also about having fun and building lifelong friendships. Enjoy social events, fundraisers, and community outings that enrich your life while supporting important causes.
Ready to join us in making a difference? Reach out today to learn more about becoming a part of the Kutztown Rotary family! Together, we can do so much more than we ever could alone.
August highlight by Kurt Rohrbach - Taste of Kutztown Chairperson
During the celebratory dinner at the Market Café in August, everyone agreed that while working hard at the Taste of Kutztown event, they were having fun at the same time. That is not unusual - on the local level Rotary is all about doing good work and having fun.
Successful events, projects, strong management, comradery and a sense of fun has helped the club grow from 19 members to 32, in five years. Our strategic plan projects 40 members by July 2026. A no-brainer since we just hit 36.
The Taste of Kutztown raised over $40,000 for the third year in a row. It is held in support of 2 scholarships, 3 fire companies, 2 libraries, 3 food pantries, disaster relief, Scouts, homeless shelters, community and school district youth programs, 2 historical societies, senior citizen groups, polio prevention, burn prevention, band shell concerts, KU Arts program, Wall of Healing tour, the Strand Theater, exchange students, and youth STEM and leadership development.
Kutztown Rotary also conducted 20 service projects last year – community meals, painting, cleaning, helping at other organizations events, planting and picking potatoes, greeting at the Folk Festival, Dinner on Main, Fairgrounds Octoberfest, and Das Awkscht Fescht to name a few. We balance the work with fun social events like movie nights, winery visits, group dinners, picnics, holiday parties, visiting the Kutztown fair and attending Reading Phils games.
Anyone who comes to a meeting receives their first dinner for free. Dues of only $200 all goes to support the greater Rotary International organization. We provide leadership opportunities by developing and harnessing the skills that members use every day in their professions. Eleven members took advantage of leadership training opportunities last year.
Join us if you are good people who want to use your abilities to benefit our community and society. But wait, you must also want to have fun and develop lifelong friendships. It seems that the more we give of ourselves, the more our lives are enriched.
Learn more about the Taste of Kutztown event here. We would be happy to have you as a volunteer next year. Not only will you be helping out a good cause, but you will also get to experience the event with a free wrist bracelet and tasting glass.
September highlight by Erin Bailey - Youth Exchange Chair
We are excited to introduce our Rotary Youth Exchange inbound student for the year, Leander, from Rotenburg, Germany, who we welcomed with an exchange student picnic in September at the Kutztown Community Park.
Leander is spending the school year with host families in our community and is already making the most of his time here in Pennsylvania. He is playing soccer and might join the wrestling team in the spring.
Leander is curious and open-minded, eager to explore history, politics, and American culture through visits to cities, museums, and sporting events. Leander comes from a diverse international family—his father was born in Asia, and his mother is from Brazil. This unique background has fueled his passion for foreign cultures, which is why he is excited to represent Germany abroad. As he puts it, “The exchange broadens my personal horizon and could help me choose a career later on.”
Leander advocates for fairness and respect, values he carries with him wherever he goes. He believes that mutual respect is key to fostering positive relationships and creating a better world.
During our welcome picnic for Leander, he shared photos of his family and hometown, giving us a glimpse into his life in Germany. He also brought delicious marzipan from Lübeck, a town near where he lives, known for the famous confectionery. It was a wonderful way to start his exchange experience with us!
If any Rotary members are interested in taking Leander on an outing, feel free to reach out on our website (kutztownrotary.com). He’s especially interested in history, politics, and sports games. Also, mark your calendars—his birthday is February 11th! Let’s plan a special celebration sometime that month for him to make this exchange even more memorable.
Rotary Youth Exchange is about building international understanding and goodwill - learn more about the program here. We are thrilled to have Leander as part of our community. Let’s help him create lasting memories while he’s here!
Community Connection: Joining Kutztown Rotary Club means becoming part of a vibrant network of individuals dedicated to serving our local community. Forge lasting friendships and partnerships while making a real difference where it matters most.
Service Opportunities: Get involved in a variety of service projects that address critical needs in our community, from supporting education and youth development to promoting health and wellness initiatives. There's something for everyone to contribute their skills and passions!
Professional Development: Expand your skill set and grow personally and professionally through leadership opportunities, networking events, and mentorship programs. Gain valuable experience that enhances your career while making a positive impact on those around you.
Global Impact: Through Rotary International, our club contributes to global efforts to eradicate polio, provide clean water and sanitation, promote peace and conflict resolution, and much more. Join us in making a difference on both a local and global scale.
Fun and Fellowship: Beyond the meaningful work we do, 
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