Club News

Nicole Saunders-Meske, an Attorney and owner of Saunders-Meske, P.A, and Steven Koepp, a Software Engineeer for the USCG Operations Systems Center, joined the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown in July and August respectively.  Nicole has a significant legacy in the legal profession since 1997 and is a former graduate of Ohio State University.  She started her legal career in Florida and moved to Harpers Ferry with her family in 2001.

Steve Koepp joined the Operations Systems Center in 2008 as a principal applications developer for the USCG's Long Range Tracking and Identification System which tracks all international SOLAS class vessels globally to assist the Coast Guard with their search and rescue efforts, track international commerce, and monitor National security efforts.  Steve is a graduate of Frostburg State and lives with his family in Sharpsburg, MD.

The 2010 Rotary Club of Shepherdstown Paul Harris Fellow Award recipients were announced and honored at the Junee 22 Club meeting.  Tom Trumble is a past club president, a Vietnam veteran, and member of the Jefferson County Planning Commission Appeals Board. Tom expressed his thanks and said his time in Rotary represents “the most important years of my life.”  Ed Herendeen was the driving force behind founding the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, which has become one of the most notable annual events in our community. The festival now brings in over $1.5 million each year, and it has been attended by people from across the nation. Ed said, “This means a lot, but let’s look at the next 20 years.”  The Rev. Dr. George Thomas “GT” Schramm, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Shepherdstown for 27 years. GT does a significant amount of work for the community, within and outside of the church. He has selflessly donated his time and energy to numerous community activities, including recently leading the drive to obtain a permanent building for our local hospice. GT stated that “to join the ranks of past members of this club is a high honor.”

     The Energy Express program provides children of low-income families with an opportunity to increase their literary skils and maintain proper nutrition over the course of their summer break.  In order to be successful, the Energy Express program depends a great deal on voluntary community outreach.  This is where Rotary and our contributions to community service fits in.

     Andrea Miller, the Community Coordinator at Ranson Elementary, is actively soliciting any volunteer Rotarians we can offer to help out with the program.  The level of effort is somewhat minimal as they are looking for approximately 2-hours of time between 08:00 and 12:15 M-F.  Assuming they acquire a sufficient number of volunteer readers, you could most likely select one or two days every week during the summer to read for a 2-hour session.  Specifics follow:

• Energy Express Summer Program: June 22-August 30
• Hours: 08:00am to 12:15pm Monday - Friday
• Sign-up for a 2-hour period for one or two morning sessions/week
• Elementary school-age children, 8 per group
• The 'celebrity reader' (that could be you!) rotates among multple classes. 15-20 minutes/class (equates to about 6 classes during your 2-hour window)
• Lunch is available for purchase for a small fee

If you are at interested, please call Ranson Elementary and ask for the Community Coordinator (Andrea Miller) at 304-725-7310.

Thank you for your interest.  You can make a difference for local school children who need our help!

Community residents Austin and Heather Hovermale and Jennifer Peterson were inducted into the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown on April 20.  The Hovermales are attorneys at local law firms in Martinsburg, while Ms. Peterson provides Financial Consulting services with a financial advisory team located in Shepherdstown.

Rotary club sponsors Chris Horowicz and David Miljour are pictured here at the member induction ceremony with the Hovermales and Ms. Peterson.

75 Rotaract Students, Rotarians, and Shepherdstown Volunteers donated their time to collect and distrubute...

• 42,000 Potatoes
• in 4-hours
• on 1 Saturday morning
• for 1 community
• to help eliminate World Hunger in America

Thank you Shepherdstown!

photo courtesy of The Journal

Many thanks to all Rotarians who supported Team Rotary in Shepherd University's Relay for Life, either by walking or making a donation or both.  Despite having rain for the 3rd year in a row, the event was a success.  Team Rotary had 23 walkers participating and raised a total of $1,780!  The overall Shepherd University event had 72 teams and 860 participants and raised just under $60,000 by this past weekend. Shepherd will continue raising funds until August to achieve the $80,000 goal.  The club appreciates your support and we thank our honorary co-captains Catherine Irwin, Paul Kradel, and Connie Hammann.

Your Help is Needed this Saturday Morning Starting at 06:00am!

• Through a mini grant from West Virginia Campus Compact, we have purchased reusable grocery bags that will be given to the first 100 volunteers
• Breakfast snacks and coffee will be available
• Weather permitting, Shepherd’s radio station will be broadcasting live
• We currently have 13 food pantries/soup kitchens arriving Saturday to pick up potatoes
• Mesh bags will be cut during Rotaract meeting Thursday, April 22 at 4:30-6pm; please join us in Holly’s office if you would like to help (2^nd floor Student Center)
• Rotaract members will be in full force wearing matching t-shirts to identify themselves
• Spread the word -- general volunteers are needed by 7:00am; press release has been sent to local papers asking for volunteers
• 3-4 Rotary volunteers needed by 6:00am to help Rotaract members with set up
• Place directional signs
• Set up tables
• Set up breakfast/snacks
• Carry supplies from Lutheran Parish House
• 1-2 Rotarians needed to help Rotaract members with volunteer check in
• 1-2 Rotarians needed to help with hospitality/breakfast table

Items needed from Rotary:

On April 16, Jefferson High School student leaders presented the Shepherdstown Rotary Club with a $2,530 check for the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Deschapelles, Haiti.

The hospital is a 120-bed medical center located about 3 hours north of Port au Prince. Like other rural hospitals outside Haiti's capital city, it has been overwhelmed by refugees seeking medical help in the wake of last January's devastating earthquake.

The Shepherdstown Rotary Club has a longstanding relationship with the facility and raised over $8,000 for it from its own members immediately after the quake.

The idea for the JHS student fundraising drive originated with JHS Assistant Principal Tony Roman, who learned of the Shepherdstown Rotary Club's efforts when he attended a Club breakfast. He returned to the school and talked with members of the JHS student government, Key Club, and National Honor Society.

The students enthusiastically endorsed the idea of aiding Haitian earthquake victims and raised their $2,530 during a two-week period in March.

"They took this and just ran with it," said Mr. Roman.

They raised the money by organizing a special student dance and by soliciting contributions from the student body during lunch periods.

The students presented their check at an informal ceremony at the school.

"We're so impressed by what you've done," said Shepherdstown Rotary Club Vice President, Julie Siler.

Shown in the photo above are, from left to right, front row: Mr. Roman; Sarah Cogswell, of Shepherdstown; Ms. Siler; Rotary member Dr. Rob Northrup; and JHS Student Body President Spenser Wempe, Charles Town. Second row: Anya Leach, Harpers Ferry; Paula de Man, Harpers Ferry; David Ehrenberg, Shenandoah Junction; and Preston Berkeley, Ranson. Back row: Kirsten Chaney, Shepherdstown; Megan Adams, Charles Town; Megan Bean, Harpers Ferry; and Kylie Fargo, Charles Town.

All the students participating in the check presentation are seniors.

• Fred Soltow announced that the Tours De Revs campaign raised nearly $500K to combat world hunger
• Holly Frye announced that the Rotary/Rotaract mentor/protoge program is underway.  Please see Holly if you do not know which student is assigned to you
• Lisa Welch announced that the Team Rotary Relay For Life at Shepherd will begin with the parade on German Street at 4:00pm.  Please see Lisa for the Rotary volunteer walker schedule
• Paul Woods will be hosting a demonstration for the new ShepherdstownRotary.org website at next week's Club Assembly (20 April)
• Last Saturday's Highway cleanup realized 19 bags of trash as collected from 15 Rotary volunteers!