Gabriella Webb from the Kutztown Highschool presented a 4-Way Speech test at the Club meeting Wednesday March 23. The 4-Way Speech Contest was developed by Rotarians to promote critical thinking and ethical decision making among high school students. The contest encourages students to develop speaking and leadership skills to influence others on a topic for which they are passionate. The contestants are to create a speech 5-7 minutes in length addressing an ethical problem of their choice using the principles of the 4-Way Test. Gabriella will now proceed to a regional contest on April 2, 2022 and those winners compete in the District final held at the District Assembly April 9, 2022. 

At our meeting on Wednesday, March 23, we were happy to welcome Sandy Green and Robyn Underwood from the Kutztown Community Partnership!

Sandy Green, former Kutztown mayor for 12 years and current community liaison for KCP, discussed many exciting projects that KCP is undertaking right now, including the Kutztown Hometown Hero initiative (to which the club has given a donation) and the Keith Haring Exercise Park, of which the club was anxious to gather more information. Kutztown University in partnership with KCP is bringing this interactive fitness park to the Kutztown community. The Keith Haring Outdoor Fitness Court will be part art gallery, part outdoor gym and a point of pride for Kutztown." The park is set to be ready in the fall of 2022 and will feature Haring's iconic dancing figures designs. Please see the KU news release for more information.

 

Robyn Underwood is an assistant professor at KU and has led the Pollinator Initiative of Kutztown Thriving. Robyn has been an assistant project manager at Bee Informed Partnership since 2010. The Kutztown Rotary Club will be volunteering with Kutztown Thriving on April 30 in support of the District 7430 Rotary Day of Service with the Environmental Sustainability team. This year, Rotary International added the environment as a 7th area of focus. The Kutztown Rotary Club members will be working with Robyn at one of the pollinator gardens set up in Kutztown. If you are interested in coming out to volunteer, please contact us at our website.

 

District Conference planning meeting set for Wednesday April 16 following the regular club meeting (meeting will be hybrid).

The Kutztown Club is helping to organize the hospitality suite, registration, and the house of inspiration. In addition, we will be setting up a Kutztown Rotary Club House of Inspiration table. Please come out and help with the planning of these events. There is still time to register for the conference!

 

The Tri-District Conference is coming up on April 22-24 at the Hershey Lodge, comprising Districts 7430, 7450, and 7475. With our own Bob Hobaugh as the 7430 District Governor, the Kutztown Club is putting in an effort to shine at the event. We are looking for members to help organize and man the hospitality suite and the house of inspiration table or volunteer to man the registration table or be an ambassador for the event. Along with many conference events of inspirational speakers, break out meetings, and a Saturday night dance party, there are lots of fun Hershey-themed activities in which to partake. 

 

Check out the agenda here:

 

Or register here:

 

Join in the fun and contact Tom or Melissa to sign up to help out at some point over the weekend. 

 

This week's member spotlight is Melissa Kirk. Below is a bio supplied by Melissa:

 

Until I moved to Kutztown in March of 2018, I had no idea what Rotary was. When Meg and I moved here, I was looking for a service organization to replace my 13-year span of activities in Girl Scouts. The Kutztown Rotary Club turned out to be more than what I was even hoping for. I officially joined as a member on Halloween in 2018 (see picture below) and quickly jumped into active service. Although I very much enjoy giving back to the community and the service I do with Rotary, I am also extremely grateful for the social aspects of my Club, which were especially helpful during the pandemic. Two things I am especially proud of in my time so far with the club is earning the Club Service award and starting the movie club, both of which happened during the pandemic. I am also happy to be able to share this experience with my daughter Meghan and hopefully help her learn how to be a good Rotarian and therefore a good person.