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Welcome To Our Club

Service Above Self

We meet Mondays at 12:00 PM
Richard G. Snyder YMCA Campus

1150 North Water Street
Kittanning, PA 16201
United States of America

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Year-End Meeting

On Tuesday evening, July 2nd, the Club held its Annual Dinner Meeting where the Changing of the Guard took place. Outgoing Club President Autumn Vorpe-Seyler was presented with her 3rd Paul Harris Fellow Award from Club Member & Foundation Chair, Ed Dunmire. Incoming Club President, Colby Own also presented Autumn with her Past President's Pin. District Governor Ken Fleeson inducted Club Board Members, as well as Club President Colby Owen, for the 2019-2020 Rotary Year. The CLub wishes to thank Autumn for her year of leadership this past Rotary Year - Thank You Autumn!!! We also wish to thank DG Ken and his wife Cindy for taking the time to join us and conduct the inductions. We are honored and blessed to have such a great District Governor and First Lady! The 2019-2020 Rotary Year is officially under way!

People of Action

Scholarship Winners

On Monday, June 24th the Club hosted the 2019 Scholarship winners, based on essays they wrote and submitted entitled, "Service Above Self - What it Means to Me." The 2019 winners selected were Emily Hopper and Calista Dosch, both from Armstrong Jr./Sr. High School. Emily and Calista, pictured here with Scholarship Committee Chair and Club Member Mike Daugherty, were each presented with a check for $1,000 from the Club. Congratulations Emily and Calista!!

Armstrong County History Museum

This week's Club Meeting was held at the Armstrong County History Museum on McKean Street in Kittanning. The Club enjoyed a guided tour by Museum Curator, Mr. Rob Watt. Many thanks to Rob for taking the time to share with us the many historical artifacts and significance our County has to offer. If you haven't recently been to the Museum, please make it a point to do so very soon. The new Civil War exhibit is extremely interesting.

Pallet of Cheer Winner!!!

Based on the evening PA Lottery drawing of 5/22/19, we announced our Pallet of Cheer Raffle winner. Unfortunately the winning number - 587 - was an unsold ticket. However the tickets on either side of the winner were sold to Tammy and Mike Bish. Tammy and Mike have accepted one of the $200 Gift Certificates and have donated the other back to the Club. Thank you Tammy and Mike!!! Thank you Club Member Colby Owen for once again coordinating this year's raffle.

District Governor Nominee - Beth Marshal

The Club is pleased to announce that our District Governor nominee will be our program next:

Monday, April 29, 2019, at our Noon meeting at the Kittanning YMCA. Beth Marshal will be the District 7280 District Governor for year 2020-21.

Beth will do a special program with us that will get everyone connected to Rotary International electronically. Bring your laptop or I pad or whatever you work on. Beth will take us step by step on how to access great information.

Important.....bring your Rotarian magazine...your Rotary id # is on the mailer.

We are also inviting at least one member from Chiccora, Butler PM, and Leachburg to attend so they can become familiar with all of these resources. We hope to see you all there.

PS: Beth and Club Member Mike McElhaney are leading a mission water trip to Guatemala next April 2020.

New Member!!!

At our 5/6/2019 meeting the Club formally inducted it's newest member, Mr. Andrew Hersh. Pictured here is Club Membership Chair, Colby Owen and Club Member and District Governor Assistant Mike McElhaney, who conducted the swearing in ceremony and presenting Andrew with his Membership Certificate and Pin. Welcome to the Rotary Family Andrew!!

Paul Harris Fellow +1

At our Club Meeting on 4/22/19 President Autumn Vorpe-Seyler recognized Club Member and District Assistant Governor Mike McElhaney for becoming a Paul Harris Fellow +1. The Club congratulates Mike on this accomplishment and thanks him for his leadership both locally but also throughout the District and the Rotary world.

Boy Scouts of America

Amy Kamis from Boy Scouts of America presented to the Club at our meeting on 4/15/19. Amy did a great job explaining to the Club the changes the BSA program is currently experiencing and how they are introducing local families to the Boy Scouts program.

ShelterBox

Mr. Tom Grant from ShelterBox visited the Club on Monday, April 1st and presented on the assistance the ShelterBox organization provides internationally as natural disasters occur. These ShelterBoxes and/or ShelterKits can help an individual or family survive with the basics for 3-6 months following an event that forces them out of their home. Rotary International is a proud supporter of ShelterBox. For many years the Kittanning and Leechburg Clubs have joined forces to make a $1,000 contribution to ShelterBox in order to support this partnership. We are grateful for Tom and his organization and the relief they provide worldwide.

2nd Grade Reading Day

On Tuesday, March 5th Club Members and other volunteers read the book, "The Day You Begin" to all 2nd Grade classrooms throughout Armstrong School District. Pictured below is Club Member and Club Secretary Jennifer Vensel with her class at Lenape Elementary.

Guatemala

Club Member Mike McElhaney recently returned from a Habitat for Humanity and Rotary mission trip to Guatemala where he and his team installed smokeless stoves and latrines in the village of San Lucas. Below are several pictures of Mike during his trip, as well as a link to a video explaining the project Mike and Club are supporting. Great job Mike!!! https://youtu.be/IyJRG0TnNIo

Ukrainian Exchange Members

The Kittanning Rotary Club is hosting a team from the Ukraine through the Open World Exchange for one week, March 1-8, 2019. The theme for the week is Renewable Energy. Club and Community Members will be serving as host families and tour guides of regional businesses and points of interests so the exchange team can learn more about what we do and how our area is contributing to the promotion of Renewable Energy. The Club hosted a welcome dinner for the exchange members and their host families on Friday, March 1st at 6PM at the Crafthouse Gastropub in Kittanning. Fun was had by all in attendance. See below for pictures of the Ukraine team, as well as Club Member and Organizer Mike McElhaney, Rotary 7280 District Governor Nominee Ken Fleeson and his wife Cindy at the welcome dinner. The Club also hosted the Ukraine team at our weekly Club meeting today (March 4th). The Club is very proud to have them here with us. Click on the following link to learn more about their visit: https://www.leadertimes.com/articles/rotary-club-of-kittanning-helps-welcome-visitors-from-ukraine/

Interact Club

https://www.leadertimes.com/articles/local-ahs-interact-club-reaches-out-to-local-community/

World Affairs Council

On Friday, November 30th The Club sponsored 4 local high school students to attend the 48th Annual World Affairs Council in Pittsburgh. This year's topic was, "Exploring the New Space Age" and was held at the Heinz History Center. The Club then hosted the 4 students at Monday, December 3rd's meeting so they could share their experiences at the event. The students did a great job and we appreciate their attendance. Pictured here from right to left are: Sam Barker, a Senior from West Shamokin High School, Dylan Klingensmith, a Junior at Armstrong High School, Lucas Waldrop, a Junior at Armstrong High School, and Jacob Fancella, a Senior at Armstrong High School.

Bus Stop Shelter

On Friday, October 26th Club Members Bret Atwood and Mike McElhaney constructed and installed a Bus Stop Shelter on the corner of Orr Avenue and Smith Street in Kittanning. The install was done in coordination with Habitat for Humanity. Thank you to Mike and Bret for all your efforts in making this shelter happen!

World Polio Day

Wednesday, October 24th has been designated World Polio Day. Rotary has long been a proud partner in the initiative to eradicate Polio from the Earth. The link below shares more information regarding this day: https://my.rotary.org/en/world-polio-day-reviews-bold-steps-taken-end-polio Polio walk

Ed Dunmire's 50th and RYLA Students

The Club held a fabulous meeting on 10/1/2018. Club President Autumn Vorpe-Seyler welcomed many guests to the meeting for several special presentations. District 7280 Governor Scott Bayline presented Club Member and Foundation Chair, Ed Dunmire, a pin and letter signifying 50 Years as a Rotary Member. Scott recognized Ed, his family, career, and many of Ed's outstanding Rotary accomplishments. Ed's wife Nancy and son Andy were also in attendance to help us celebrate. After Ed's recognition, RYLA District Chair, Jamie Lefever shared her past experiences working alongside Ed Dunmire, as well as speaking about RYLA and the importance of this leadership conference we send students to every year. Club RYLA Chair Bret Atwood then introduced this year's RYLA students, who shared with the Club their life-changing experiences while attending RYLA this past June. This year's RYLA students are: Michael Haugh, Liam McIlwain, Isaac Robb, and Calista Dosch. They were accompanied by Armstrong High School Guidance Counselor, Dave Zablocki. We wish to thank all in attendance for making this such a wonderful meeting. This is why we do what we do!!

Dictionary Distribution Project

On Tuesday, October 9th the Club completed its Annual Dictionary Distribution to all 3rd Graders in the Armstrong School District. This project was made possible due to a partnership with the Armstrong School District, as well as a District Simplified Grant from Rotary District 7280. Thank you to all Club Members and Volunteers who assisted in the classrooms. As always the project was a big hit with the students.

Rotary Zone Convention

This past weekend Club Member Mike McElhaney attended the Rotary Zone Convention in Erie, PA. Mike is pictured here with incoming Rotary International President Mark Maloney and his wife, Gay. Mark and his wife reside in Alabama. The theme of the Convention was super heroes, thus the outfits. The Club thanks Mike for taking his time to attend the Convention and meeting the incoming RI President.

End Polio Now

Rotary announces $96.5 million to end polio.

Rotary grants to support the global effort to end polio, focused on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria, along with further funding to help keep 16 vulnerable countries polio-free. Read more by clicking on the link below:

https://www.endpolio.org/rotary-announces-us-965-million-to-end-polio-0

Annual Steak Fry and Silent Auction

Held on Friday, September 14th the Club held it's Annual Steak Fry and Silent Auction Fundraiser. Sadly Mother Nature forced us indoors but the event went on without a hitch. Thank you to Mel, Autumn, Jennifer and the rest of the Club Members who donated their time to make this event possible, even with last minute changes. Thank you as well to all those who attended for your support!! All proceeds raised at this annual event goes back into the Community.

Lemonade Stand

During the 47th Annual Fort Armstrong Folk Festival in Kittanning on August 2nd-5th, the Club volunteered their time to man the Lemonade and Sweet Tea stand. Attached are pictures of some of the volunteers. A huge shout out and Thank You to Big Mike McElhaney for coordinating the schedule and coverage for the stand. Great job by everyone who volunteered to help out!!

New Member!!

At our July 23rd meeting the Kittanning Rotary Club inducted a new member - Ashley Mitchell. Ashley is the new Executive Director for the United Way. We are very excited to welcome Ashley to the Club!

Johan Tyrberg

At its evening meeting Monday, July 16th The Kittanning Rotary Club welcomed Swedish clergyman, Johan Tyberg, who is a 1981 KHS graduate and former Rotary Exchange Student as a guest speaker. Johan spoke of his experience as an exchange student with the Ed & Nancy Dunmire family and how it changed his life. A link to the Leader Times article can be found below:

http://www.leadertimes.com/node/103921?pk_campaign=Newsletter