(PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
CHANGING OF THE GUARD … Jennifer Gilroy accepted the gavel as 2024-25 president of the Archbold Rotary Club from out-going president Drew Cleaver at the club’s meeting on July 19. Others who will serve on the board during the new Rotary year are (from left) Bill Rufenacht, membership chairman; Kirk Weldy, club secretary; Gilroy and Cleaver, Dale Kern, vocational director and assistant to the president; and Levi Wyse, community service director. Other officers and directors who are not pictured include Jeff Coressel, club treasurer; and Caleb Brinegar, past president. During the 2023-24 Rotary year, Archbold Rotary donations totaled $13,830.
During the recently completed Rotary year, the Archbold Rotary Club donated some $13,830 to support college scholarships, school programs and various community groups and programs.
Specifically, Archbold seniors received scholarships totaling $7,875 and $500 was awarded for a scholarship supporting an Archbold area student at Northwest State Community College.
Fulton County Heart Radiothon received $1,000 and Fulton County Christmas Cheer was given $500.
The club sponsored and served two community meals totaling $735 and a $500 donation was given to support the Archbold community garden.
Archbold High School’s FCCLA service club fund-raiser to support suicide awareness programming was given $250, and $300 donations were made to both the Archbold elementary and middle school book fairs to allow students who otherwise may not have been able to purchase a book to do so.
A $100 donation was made to help support the Archbold Area Schools annual Veterans Day program.
Scholarships totaling $400 were made to send Archbold high school students to the Hugh O’Brien Leadership program. Sauder Village received a $500 donation.
And, two Rotary International programs received funding from the club: PolioPlus, $250; and the Rotary Foundation, $620.
Individual Rotarians also made donations to both of those programs during the year as well as Rotary District 6600 (Archbold’s Rotary district) Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad program.
Drew Cleaver was Archbold Rotary Club president for 2023-24. Jennie Gilroy is president for the current Rotary year. Dale Kern will serve as the assistant to the president as well as the club’s vocational director. Jeff Coressel is club treasurer and Kirk Weldy is secretary.
Other board members for the Archbold Rotary Club are Levi Wyse, community services director; Caleb Brinegar, past president; and Bill Rufenacht, membership chair.
Archbold Rotary meets at noon every Friday at The Barn Restaurant. Rotary’s motto is Service Above Self and club members are involved in numerous community events to reflect that motto.
Some of the events include sponsoring and serving community meals, supporting the Archbold High School service club (FCCLA), helping at various community events such as the Route 66 concert and the Fulton County Fair, hosting the Senior Day luncheon every spring to recognize Archbold’s graduates, and organizing the Archbold flag program for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day.
The club has recently revised its membership to include corporate memberships as well as individual memberships. Individual members are expected to attend at least 40 percent of the club’s weekly meetings, which include lunch at The Barn and a program that has been arranged by a Rotarian.
Persons interested in knowing more about Archbold Rotary are encouraged to contact any of the officers or directors listed in the story. Contact information can be found on the club’s website: www.archboldrotary.org.