The weekly newsletter of the
Rotary Club of Norristown,  
P.O. Box 119, Oaks, PA 19456(484) 994-2349
Meetings The first four Thursdays each month
April 23, 2025  - Issue No. 2814
 
April 24, 2025
Speaker
TBD
 
 
---NOTICE----
MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE RESTAURANT AREA
image
 
PLEASE NOTE THAT NEXT WEEK , MAY 1, IS A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING.
OUR DISTRICT GOVERNOR WILL BE VISITING AND
IT IS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT DAY.
 
PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND
 
 
 
image
Upcoming Events
Rotaract Earth Day
Friends Meeting House
Apr 26, 2025
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
 
DG 2nd Visit & Students
Jeffersonville Golf Club
May 01, 2025
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
Garden Cleanup Day @9am Padden Park
Padden Park
May 03, 2025
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction Fundraiser
Lower Providence Presbyterian Church
May 10, 2025
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Board Mtg
May 15, 2025 10:45 AM
 
Board Mtg
Jun 19, 2025 10:45 AM
 
View entire list
Click on the screen above to
join our pre-scheduled
virtual meetings via Zoom
* ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
NOTE-  At the May 8 meeting, we will be voting on our revised bi-laws. Please plan to attend.  Copies will be sent out to members.
 
image
 
EVERYONE
Time is now quickly approaching for our annual PANCAKE BREAKFAST - SILENT AUCTION / RAFFLE fundraiser. on May 10.  This is an ALL CLUB event and we need all able bodies who can make it, to carry it out.  Immediate need is to get the information out to the community concerning this event. (copy the attached poster)
We will have a set-up time at 6pm on Friday May 9, at Lower Providence Presbyterian Church. Let me know if you can help.    dbeach04@gmail.com
We still can use more items for the auction/raffle , so visit your favorite businesses and request donations. (copy the attached letter)
 
Thanks,
And keep the May 10 date open for us.
 
Dave Beach
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
image
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
image
Butterfly Garden Update 🦋
 
Saturday, May 3rd. This will be from 9-12.
Hopefully we will be joined by Gardeners from the Whitehall Farm Gardens as well as members of the Norristown Rotaract.
We would love it if you could come out and assist.
Our primary focus will be to remove the sod, lay down pea gravel, re-build the Rotary wheel and plant some perennials.
Please feel free to bring extra shovels, knee pads, 5-gallon buckets and work gloves.
More hands will make the work go much faster. 
We hope to see you there.
Please rsvp if you can make it so that we can make sure to have enough coffee and doughnuts for all. 😋
Thanks,
Diane 

image
 
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT RUTH
 
Hello Rotary friends!
 
As always, we were "blessed and impressed" by the outstanding students from Norristown School District who received our certificates of achievement today. Be sure to check out the next issue of Spoke for details of this event. These young people work with diligence and enthusiasm, and all have great plans for the future. We will be honoring another five students in May. You won't want to miss these exciting programs.
 
There are a few upcoming events that may interest you. March 22 is the Rotary Leadership Institute at DeSales University. There is more information at RLI NEA/Where people come to learn Rotary!. 
April 26 is Norristown Celebrates Earth Day  to be held at Friends Quaker Meeting House on Jacoby Street in Norristown. The Rotaract Club will have a table there, and we are welcome to join them to talk with people about the Rotary experience. If you are able to take a shift at the table to hand out information about our club, let me know.
 
Are you selling those Pancake Breakfast Tickets? We are all responsible for 10 tickets. This is our major fundraiser each year, and Dave Beach and his committee need everyone to pitch in and make good things happen. We are looking for donations for the auction and sponsorships along with ticket sales, and of course, hands-on workers for set up, serving, and clean up. May 10 is the day. Let Dave know how you can help.
 
We are till in search of a couple of willing members to join the leadership ladder. We have a president elect who will take the helm in July (Alan Treisbach). But there should be a designated president elect as of July 1 who would be participating in a few orientation sessions (several on line)  in 2025-26, and then take the presidency in 2026-27. There should also be a vice president for 2025-26, who would line up the programs each week for 2025-26, serve as president elect for 2026-27, and assume presidency for 2027-28. 
 
I was so focused on the students today that I nearly forgot Happy Bucks at the end of the meeting, and totally forgot the 4 Way Test before I rang the bell! Clearly, you don't have to be perfect to be the president! That should reassure you! So I am posting it here - Let's all keep an eye on this litmus test in these chaotic days. All together now:
 
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build good will and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
 
Remember - Rotary changes lives! Rotary saves lives!
 
Blessings!
Ruth Hagglund
 
 
image
 
 
Earth Day
 
Note we will be collecting some bikes and sewing machines
 
PAY YOUR CLUB DUES TODAY
 
 
 
Make Your Club Dues Payment by Major Credit Card
Below is the link for any Norristown Rotarian who wants to pay their dues with a credit card.  Follow these steps.
1.  Click the link below. A block will appear titled Biannual Dues, click on it
2.  Another block will appear. Leave the quantity as 1 and click on DONATE
3.  It will automatically show your dues plus a $4.75 service charge biannual dues which includes the credit card processing fee.
4.  click on the next to: help cover fundraising cost, and at the bottom of the explanation, click here
5.  A new window will open, and at the bottom you can click on I'd rather not contribute at this time.  This will change the donation amount too zero
Link to pay by credit card
 

 
* NEWS
LAST WEEK
 
 
Leonard Lightner - NORRISTOWN MUNICIPAL MANAGER
 
LEONARD LIGHTNER-  NORRISTOWN MUNICIPAL MANAGER
 
 
    Last Thursday, the Club was very fortunate to have as a guest speaker, the Norristown Municipal Manager, Leonard Lightner, who gave an update of the activities that his administration has been dealing with this year. He listed some of the highlights including The special election coming up on May 20 ,for open seats on the commission; State Hospital rezoning allowing for light manufacturing in the open space; and work on the Zoo new master plan for new land use.  
   The Zoning Board has also been busy with re-use of the Rosevelt Field area which wink be part of the Zoo expansion plus a community center, and a continued discussion of the unsheltered problem in Norristown which will include a new temporary transitional housing shelter to be created.  Other projects include working in the creek banks to reduce flooding, repurposing the old PAL center for community use, and the search for a new police chief.
   Thank you , Leonard for taking the time to bring this update to us.
District 7430 News
 
* DISTRICT 7430 NEWS
 
District 7430 Learning Plan

DISTRICT 7450 LEARNING PLAN

Local
 
* COMMUNITY EVENTS
 
Wizards
 
 
Local Volunteering Opportunities
 
Local Volunteer Opportunities 
 
Patrician Society https://www.patriciansociety.org/volunteer/ 610-272-6316 Norristown
Our volunteers assist us by packaging groceries, produce and meats to distribute, restock shelves to feed the hungry.
 
Expressive Path https://expressivepath.org/get-involved 631-331-3516 
Help teenage students discover and develop music and art skills. Organize and execute events, Have a music or artistic talent? Assist with tutoring.
 
Norristown Hospitality Center https://hospitalitycenter.org/volunteer/ 610-277-1322 
Help anyone hungry, weary or living in the streets. Help serve breakfast & coffee, organize meals, lead devotion, handle client check-ins, manage the food pantry. Day shelter services
 
Montco Victim Serv. Center https://www.victimservicescenter.org/volunteer-opportunities 610-277-0932
We are the only non-profit, comprehensive crime-victim agency serving Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Our confidential services are provided at no cost to survivors of crime and their loved ones. Need help with day to day services. Collect used cell phones.
 
Help battered partners. Shop, volunteer or donate to our thrift shops. Host a donation drive.
 
Our volunteers provide direct service delivery, special events, steering committees, outreach and administrative support – they do it all.
 
Mission Kids https://missionkidscac.org/become-a-volunteer/ 484-687-2990 x 1026
Supporting child advocacy From clerical duties to event planning and community outreach, there are various ways to get involved.
 
Martha’s Choice Market Place & Community Farm https://www.marthaschoicemarketplace.com/volunteer/ 610-279-7372
Volunteer at the Pantry or the Farm. Creating meal kits, distributing to guests. Plant pick and pack, help deliver and pick up from partners. Help feed the hungry.
 
Meals on Wheels (Ntn Sr. Adult Activity Center) https://www.montcosaac.org/meals-on-wheels 610-275-1960 
Preparing and delivering meals to the home bound in the area.
 
Montco Public Library http://mnl.mclinc.org/volunteer-opportunities/ 610-278-5100
volunteers can donate their time, extending the reach of the Library and getting the community involved in reaching library goals, expand literacy.
 
Literacy Council of Norristown https://www.lcnlit.org/opportunities/ 610-292-8515
Help students prepare for their GED, learn basic educational skills: reading, writing and math and learn English as another language
 
Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/volunteer/einstein 484-622-7074
Variety of volunteer Patient Support Services, hospitality, clerical, escort & messenger positions, patient advocate, surgical hospitality, Patient Feeding.
 
Ntn Hospitality Center needs help
 
 

 
PC Repair Workshop Fundraiser
 

 
Meet our Officers 2024-2025

 
 
* Our Sponsors (click for info)
Platinum Sponsors
 
Gold Sponsors
 
 
 
 
Silver Sponsors
 
Norristown Auto Parts - Plymouth Meeting
 
 
 
Wynn Family Foundation
Norristown, PA
 
 
 
 
Bronze Sponsors
 
.
Gofus Memorials - Pottstown PA
.
Tri-State Business Forms - Broomall
 
 
 
.
Breakfast Sponsors
 
Papetti's Hygrade Eggs
 
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Rotary Foundation
 
Membership
 
Program Chair/2nd VP
 
Immediate Past President
 
Board Director 2022-25
 
Board Director 2024-27
 
Board Director 2022-25
 
Board Director 2023-26
 
Board Director 2023-26
 
Board Director 2024-27
 
Visit us on Social Media
Upcoming Programs
Each week we ask a community leader to come speak to the club.  Guests are Welcome !! If you would like to speak at a future meeting, email us at RotaryofNorristown@gmail.com. Include your contract info and a brief description of your topic.
May 01, 2025
NASD
May 08, 2025
Norristown Page Turners
May 15, 2025
Expressive Path
May 22, 2025
Certification for Rotaract
View entire list
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for ClubRunner
Advertisement for ClubRunner Mobile
Subscribe to SPOKE
Subscribe to our eBulletin and stay up to date on the latest news and events.
Happy Birthday
Member Birthdays
Jim Williams
April 2
 
David Shoemaker
April 4
 
John A Bown
April 4
 
Guido Martinelli
April 15
 
Ruth Hagglund
April 17
 
Rachel Copen
April 21
 
Frederick Hagglund
April 23
 
Type caption here
Club Meeting Info
Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Jeffersonville Golf Club
2400 W Main St
Jeffersonville, PA 19403
United States of America
Phone:
(484) 994-2349
First 4 Thursdays of the Month