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The guest speaker at the June 5 Rotary Luncheon at Sunny Pink Apple was Shealynn Shave, Executive Director of the Wyoming County Community Health Foundation. The Foundation provides grant funding for various programs at non-profit organizations in Wyoming County that improve/enhance the health and wellness of its residents. They have also been instrumental in acquiring funding to help the coalition of ambulance/EMS organizations of Wyoming County.

President Ann Way (left) with Shealynn Shave

Congratulations to Matteo

Congratulations to exchange student Matteo Bracher from Switzerland on his recent graduation from Tunkhannock Area High School.

Rotarian Jeannie Brady with exchange student Matteo

Rotary Holiday Social

On Dec 18, Rotarians, family and friends got together at Nimble Hill Tasting Rooms for a Holiday Social with everyone bringing an appetizer to share. As President Ann Way shared in her Holiday Message to the Club, "There was A LOT of laughter and great conversation."

Thanks to Jeanne Brady for the photos from the Party.

Methodist Manor Christmas Celebration

On Dec 17, Tunkhannock Rotarians met with residents of the Methodist Manor to give them our Christmas cards and share some cookies treats with them. The residents appreciated Rotary's thoughtfulness and a great time was had by all.

TAHS Chorus Sings for Club

At the Dec 12 Rotary Meeting, some members of the TAHS Chorus entertained the club with Christmas songs.

Some of the TAHS Chorus

Interact Club Provides Update on Activities

The Tunkhannock High School Interact Club gave an update at the Dec 12 Rotary Meeting on their ongoing and planned activities for 2024-2025. They are doing several fundraising events as well as volunteering their help for various charitable events including their participation in Rotary's Candy Cane Day. Laura Charles and Dave Wilson are the Rotary mentors for the Interact Club. Tommasina Fiorilla is the Faculty Club Advisor.

Candy Cane Day Donations

At the Dec 12 Rotary Luncheon at Sunny Pink Apple, Candy Cane Chair Mike Markovitz presented a check for $2,500 each to Interfaith Friends and Wyoming County Children & Youth to buy gifts for children in need or in foster care for Christmas.

L to R: Treasurer Laura Charles, Mike Markovitz and Interfaith Friends

Christmas Card Making

On Dec 11, Tunkhannock Rotarians met at Tri-County General Insurance conference room to make Christmas cards for the 32 residents of the Methodist Manor.

Officers and Directors Elected for 2025-2026

At the Dec 5 Annual Meeting, the Officers and Directors for 2025-2026 were elected. Congratulations to all the Officers and Directors who will take office on July 1, 2025.

President Laura Charles

Vice President Mary Tempest

Treasurer Peter Sehne

Executive Secretary Jill Tague

Immediate Past President Ann Way

President Elect Vacant

Board Members Terri Detrick

Francine Kanyok

Katelynn Nichols

John Proctor

Nina Sordoni

Ryan Vesneski

Scott Walburn

Elaine Walker

Rick Miller Achieves Paul Harris +1

At the Dec 5 Club Assembly at Sunny Pink Apple and via Zoom, Club Foundation Chair Samantha Maruzzelli announced that Rick Miller had achieved a Paul Harris +1 award for his cumulative $1,000 donation to the Rotary Foundation. Rick was on Zoom from his office and his wife Julianne presented Rick with his new Paul Harris pin in their offices. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a 501(c)3 charity that has a consistent 4-star rating with Charity Navigator.

Julianne and Rick Miller

Terri Detrick Achieves Paul Harris +2

At the Nov 21 Rotary meeting at Sunny Pink Apple, Club Rotary Foundation Chair Samantha Maruzzelli presented Terri Detrick with a Paul Harris +2 pin for her cumulative $1,000 donation to the Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a 501(c)3 charity that has a consistent 4-star rating with Charity Navigator.

Paul Harris awards are made either by a fellow Rotarian donating 1,000 points or dollars to give a Paul Harris to someone else or by a Rotarian themselves donating a cumulative total of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Since the donation is cumulative, some Rotarians find it easiest to donate a set amount every month, quarter or year until they get to $1,000.

Terri Detrick (left) receiving her Paul Harris +2 pin from Samantha Maruzzelli

Flash Meeting at Father Nallin Hall 11-14-24

The Thursday November 14 Flash Meeting was held at Father Nallin Hall. Chef Thomas Kotch demonstrated how to properly carve and serve a turkey and Pastry Chef Sisile Maruzzelli taught how to make scones. Members and their guests learned new skills for this holiday season!

Dictionary Distribution

On Oct 30, the Tunkhannock Rotary participated in their annual Dictionary Distribution to 3rd graders in the Tunkhannock School District.

This project was started in 1997 by the late Rotarian Don Sick, who got the information on this program at a Rotary International Conference. Since that time, as of October 30th, 2024, the Club has handed out 4,896 books. In the year 2025, the Club will be over 5,000.

This is a small project that is making a difference and reaching a large number of children. It also satisfies one of Rotary's 7 areas of focus: basic education and literacy.

Fall Drug Take Back Event

Rotarians joined forces with District Attorney Joe Peters, who is also a Rotarian, and local law enforcement for a semi-annual Drug Take Back Event and Free Narcan and Deterra Distribution that was held on October 26th, 2024, throughout Wyoming County. The participating pharmacies were CVS and Rite Aid in Tunkhannock and Lech's Pharmacies in Laceyville and Nicholson.

Many thanks to the parents, grandparents and other citizens who took the time to empty their medicine cabinets of unused pills and opted to pick up Narcan, which can save the life of someone who overdosed on opioids and Deterra drug deactivation packs. These efforts help battle an epidemic and assist in saving lives.

Fall Roadside Cleanup

Rotarians have continued to contribute to the community by holding a roadside clean up on Thursday October 18th. When you drive down Route 6, the Tunkhannock Bypass, you will notice their efforts.

Judge Shurtleff Spoke at Rotary Meeting

Tunkhannock Rotary held their weekly meeting on Thursday October 17^th, 2024, at the Sunny Pink Apple. The Honorable Russell Shurtleff, President Judge of Wyoming & Sullivan Counties was the weekly speaker. Judge Shurtleff spoke about the addition of the second judgeship that will be on the ballot in 2025 with the second Judge to be sworn in January 2026. Judge Shurtleff noted that the second Judge will be assigned to Family Court, handling divorce, custody and support cases. The second Judge will allow the court to expand services with the hope of adding a Mental Health Court. A judge elected to the Court of Common Pleas serves a 10-year term. The mandatory retirement age is 75.

Judge Russell Shurtleff

Dave Wilson Achieves Paul Harris Recognition

Congratulations to Dave Wilson on being honored with a Paul Harris Award on October 17^th, 2024. The Paul Harris Award recognizes those Rotarians who contribute to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Thank you Dave for your contributions!

Dave Wilson

Newest Rotarian Inducted

At Wed. Flash Meeting at Lazybrook Park, our newest Rotarian, Amy Bohm was inducted into Rotary by Membership Chair Mary Tempest. Amy was sponsored by President Ann Way. Amy is the Outreach Coordinator at the Tunkhannock Public Library. Please welcome Amy into Rotary when you next see her.

L to R: Amy Bohm, Membership Chair Mary Tempest and PDG Samantha Maruzzelli

Rotary Flash Meeting at Lazybrook Park

On Wed Sept 11, the weekly Rotary meeting was a flash social meeting at Lazybrook Park. Members played cornhole, pickleball and socialized with members and families also in attendance. Pizza, drinks and desserts were served. The weather was gorgeous, and a great time was had by all.

Rotarians Volunteered at Triton Carnival and Wyoming County Fair

As part of honoring the Club’s commitment to “Service Above Self”, Tunkhannock Rotarians recently volunteered at 2 county wide events.

Tunkhannock Club members volunteered to help before and during the Triton Fire Company Carnival in Tunkhannock on July 30 through Aug 3. This is the major fundraiser for the fire department each year.

Rotarians helping at Triton Carnival

Club members also helped out at the Wyoming County Fair held Aug 28 through Sept 2 at the Wyoming County Fairgrounds in Meshoppen, PA.

Rotarians helping at Wyo Cty Fair

2024 – 2025 President’s Message

The Magic of Rotary

We have just concluded another busy year of Tunkhannock Rotary community service and fellowship. As we look to a new year, we will continue our devotion to our many long-established activities and projects. More importantly, we will constantly assess and address the ever-changing needs of our community.

One of our main goals this year is to find ways to engage and involve our current members while seeking to gain new faces. To that end, this will be a year of some experimentation. Members Sam and Mike will be co-chairs for Flash Meetings. With the exception of December, these meetings will be in the late afternoon/early evening in a variety of locations on the 2^nd Wednesday of the month. An assortment of activities are being considered for these meetings with the primary goal of involving the extended family and/or friends of Rotary members. The regular Thursday 12:15pm meeting will not be held on the weeks that Flash Meetings convene. Additionally, some of our Thursday meeting will be exclusively devoted to community service projects.

As we look to the future, we will also consider the past and present. We will have some new faces on our Board of Directors. We will review our bylaws and work to fill committee leadership positions. Lastly, a committee has already begun to plan to celebrate the 100^th year of the Rotary Club of Tunkhannock in August 2025.

I am certain that our club with have another successful year and that with each activity the Magic of Rotary will be a reality.

2024-25 Rotary Theme

RI President-elect Stephanie Urchick celebrates the magic of Rotary. She says members create that magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member of Rotary.

June 2025

Service Above Self

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