Rotary gears up for second half of club year

Committee chairs and committee members discussed their ongoing and future projects for the Rotary Club of Crowley during its club assembly Tuesday.

And, by the sound of things, the club is set for another busy and successful year.

Peggy Sandidge offered up reports on the club’s ongoing public service projects, which include volunteering at Miss Helen’s Soup Kitchen every other month, Christmas food baskets, serving Thanksgiving dinner at The Welcome House and creating a library at the local prison.

Sandidge reported that 16 baskets were delivered to needy families in the area for Christmas and urged Rotarians to get involved with the Miss Helen’s project.

“It’s not just an opportunity to help other people, but a chance to get to know them,” she said.

Sandy Melancon discussed the End Polio Now campaign, highlighting Rotary International’s “World’s Greatest Meal” fundraising effort.

During Rotary Week (Feb. 23-March 1), Rotary International will celebrate its 109th anniversary. During that time, Rotary is looking to its clubs to donate the cost of one meal to PolioPlus and help to End Polio Now.

Plans on how the Crowley club could participate were discussed and will be finalized at the Rotary board meeting. 

Members were reminded that the club’s board will meet Jan. 30 and they can attend the meeting as it serves as a meeting make-up for those who have missed a meeting.

Pat Miers, who is in charge of the club’s vocational awards, announced that the club had received three worthy nominations for the support vocational award.

The award will be presented in the coming weeks. Miers reminded club members that two more awards will be presented this year — the professional and trait vocational awards.

Adrianne Vidrine discussed the Youth Services portion of the club, reporting that the club is affiliated with one Early Act Club (Ross Elementary), two Youth Act clubs (Crowley Middle and Armstrong Middle) and two Interact clubs (Notre Dame and Crowley High).

Early Act clubs are for students between the grades of one through five (elementary school age), Youth Act is for grades six through eight (middle school) and Interact clubs are for high school aged students.

Vidrine also reported the club’s continued nutrition and literacy programs are ongoing and the club’s next stop would be Ross Elementary on the afternoon of Jan. 28.

Focus then turned to a District 6200 overview. Mary Zaunbrecher covered items such as the Rotary initiative Young Heroes and Youth Exchange and reminded club members of the upcoming District 6200 and Rotary International conventions.

District 6200’s convention is set for March 27-29 in Port Allen and Crowley members are needed to man the registration table.

Prior to its assembly, the club inducted two new members, Sprague Williams and Georgie Petitjean.