The Rotary Club of Swarthmore’s new Board of Directors: (l. to r.) Hillard Pouncy, Bill Hale, Brian Craig, Theresa O’Malley, Kathryn Jones, Heather Saunders, Betty Ann Flynn, Perri Evanson, Anne Hansen, Barbara Whitaker-Shimko, Ken Wright. Photo: Ken Foulk — The Rotary Club of Swarthmore’s new Board of Directors: (l. to r.) Hillard Pouncy, Bill Hale, Brian Craig, Theresa O’Malley, Kathryn Jones, Heather Saunders, Betty Ann Flynn, Perri Evanson, Anne Hansen, Barbara Whitaker-Shimko, Ken Wright. *Photo: Ken Foulk*

At its first in-person event since March 2020, the Rotary Club of Swarthmore gathered for an outdoor luncheon at the Inn at Swarthmore on June 24 for its annual recognition and installation ceremony — a celebration of Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self.” The club inducted Kathryn Jones, M.D., as its new president and elected its 2021-22 board of directors.

Longtime Rotarian and former District Governor Holger “Hogie” Hansen performed the installation of Dr. Kathryn Jones’ new Board of Directors. Photo: Ken Foulk — Longtime Rotarian and former District Governor Holger “Hogie” Hansen performed the installation of Dr. Kathryn Jones’ new Board of Directors. *Photo: Ken Foulk*

Outgoing President Bill Hale and incoming President Dr. Kathryn Jones share a toast from the club’s traditional Scottish chalice. Photo: Ken Foulk — Outgoing President Bill Hale and incoming President Dr. Kathryn Jones share a toast from the club’s traditional Scottish chalice. *Photo: Ken Foulk*

Outgoing President Bill Hale reflected on what has been an extraordinary year. Although the Fun Fair, Rotary’s annual fundraiser, had to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021, the club still awarded two $5,000 scholarships to graduates of Strath Haven High School, and continued to support local organizations and charities, making 11 grants (totaling $12,000), most of which were aimed at reducing pandemic-related hardships such as food insecurity. Club members also raised or contributed more than $9,000 to support the Rotary Foundation. Over $3,000 of this amount was designated as support for the foundation’s global campaign to eradicate polio. The club also raised $2,000 for local food banks at its recent event, “We’ll Feed You if You Feed the Hungry,” at which it gave free dinners to those who turned in a check made out to their favorite food bank. The club also continued to offer its members connection and enrichment, holding weekly Zoom meetings with guest speakers from as far away as Ireland and Hawaii, and even gaining five new members..

Incoming president Dr. Kathryn Jones outlined ambitious goals for the coming year. Foremost among these is to launch a multi-year Chester Trades Education Project (CTEP), which will be led by Dr. Jones and former president Ken Wright, and will aim to help young adults residents of Chester receive training for careers in the skilled trades. In the first year the club intends to raise $30,000 to support training for 12 young people. The club has increased the size of its board of directors to provide the additional resources needed to support the new venture. Dr. Jones’ remarks were punctuated by a surprise announcement: Chester Rotarian Francy Cross presented the Swarthmore club with a check from the Rotary Club of Chester for $12,000to help fund the trades training program.

The club also announced the winners of its 2021 vocational service and community service awards, which will be presented at Swarthmore Borough’s Fourth of July celebration. The vocational service award will go to Jane Billings for her many years of outstanding service as Swarthmore’s Borough Manager. The community service award will go to the Swarthmore Senior Citizens Association for its consistent support of local residents throughout the pandemic, including daily email updates, walking tours, assistance scheduling vaccinations, and a successful pop-up vaccination clinic.

The Rotary Club of Swarthmore was established in 1937. It is one of over 33,000 Rotary Clubs in over 200 countries around the world. The worldwide club’s mission is to provide service to others, promote integrity in members’ personal and professional lives, and advance understanding, goodwill, and peace throughout the world. Local service initiatives include participating in Rotary International student exchanges; making annual service awards, awarding college scholarships to graduating high school seniors; and organizing the annual Swarthmore Charity Fun Fair, which finances grants to local nonprofits.

Swarthmore Rotary has 44 active members. It currently meets every Thursday via Zoom at 12:30, and has a guest speaker give a talk from 1:00 to 1:30. Meetings will continue to be on Zoom through the summer, and in September the club will return to having in-person luncheon meetings at the Inn at Swarthmore. For more information, or to learn about membership, visit their website.