Stories

The Rotary Club of West Shore and District 7390 Passport Club are hosting a free viewing of the award-winning file, THE INVISIBLE CLASS: THE STORY OF HOMELESSNESS IN AMERICA. An open forum conversation with local experts will follow the screening.

 

This event, sponsored in part by a grant from The Rotary Foundation, is held in conjunction with National Homelessness Awareness Month as well as Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (an annual program held the week before Thanksgiving).

 

Doors will open at 5:00 pm, the film will start at 6:00 pm, and the panel discussion will immediately follow the hour-long film.

 

Pre-registration is requested. Click here to reserve your spot.

 

 

Members of the community gathered at the West Shore Theatre on Wednesday, September 11, to commemorate and celebrate heroes as part of the Rotary Club of West Shore's Flags for Heroes event. Though in its fifth year, this is the fourth year that the event has been held in conjunction with Patriot Day which honors those lost during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 

 

ABC27's Dennis Owens reminded attendees that we must never forget the courage and sacrifice that our nation saw that day. Speaker Rev. Dr. Dilip Abayasekara shared about the heroes among us whether they're instant heroes, heroes for the long run, or purposeful heroes. Baritone Matthew A. Robinson gave us goosebumps as he sang the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America, and Dr. William Stowman, Chair of the Department of Music at Messiah University, sent chills up and down spines with his haunting rendition of Taps.

 

The Rotary Club of West Shore extends its thanks to ABC27 for its news coverage and Rep. Sheryl Delozier for attending the event. Additionally, the RCWS thanks all of our flag sponsors including corporate sponsors Members 1st Federal Credit Union, The Mailey Family, AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union, The Hall Foundation, West Shore Home, F&M Trust, Homeland Center, Questmont, Select Asset Management & Trust, and UPMC. We are grateful to the Penn Harris Hotel for providing the site and to Johnson Imaging for their excellent support. 

 

StormFest was a terrific event! It was very well attended and another great way to show our Club’s involvement in the community.

 

 

Before the night was over, the RCWS gave away ALL of the 100 trees that Bartlett Tree Experts donated to our Club. Thank you, Bartlett! Special thanks also go to Rotary District 7390 District Governor Paul Thompson for stopping by to say hello and to club members Siyu, George, Mark, and Joe who helped at our table packaging trees, talking about Rotary, and stamping attendees’ program cards.

 

Please click here for more information about StormFest, and we hope to see you there in 2025!

Despite the hot temperatures, club members showed up in force to help with the bottled water sale at the Concert @ Negley. Funds raised from the event are donated to the Rotary Foundation with a specific focus on Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) initiatives.

 

The RCWS is honored to be the exclusive water vendor for the event. Mother Nature did her part by offering up 90+ degree weather and sunshine leading to some very thirsty attendees!

 

Pictured from L to R are club members Matt Wagner (president), Rob and Amy Hall, Mark Knodel, Bim Arthun, Joe McNally, Tim Arthun, and future club member Elliott Zucker. Missing from the picture is former club president Rod Hite.

 

Click here to reserve your free ticket

For the second year in a row, the Rotary Club of West Shore was one of many area organizations that participated in the Camp Hill Parade of Lights for Toys for Tots. This year's event was held at Willow Park on December 8-9. The event featured a walking tour of the displays as well as a trolley tour for those who preferred to ride. Mother Nature was exceptionally kind during the two night event.

 

As in the past, the Parade enables children in Central PA to receive a toy for the holidays through the USMC Toys for Tots program. Each year, the cost of admission is a new, unwrapped toy donation or a monetary donation that goes towards purchasing toys for the program.

 

The RCWS display was Rotary themed and featured a lit Rotary wheel, four arches representing the four-way test, and seven lit trees to signify the seven areas of focus. Kudos to our club members who helped design, craft, install, and visit this year's display!

November 2023 - Rotary District 7390 recently held its annual Rotary Foundation Dinner. We are pleased that our little club left with a bit of swag, including a banner for 100% Foundation Giving, a banner for reaching the threshold of Every Rotarian Every Year, and... after a six-year hiatus... an award for Best Club in the extra-small category.

 

Club leadership offers up a huge shout to members who made our 2022-2023 Rotary year so successful.

September 2023 - On Friday, September 1, members of the RCWS, their spouses, and a few friends met at the Penn Harris Hotel to install this year's flags for the club's fourth annual Flags for Heroes event.

 

We were grateful for a cool, sunny morning with a slight breeze which allows the flags to really show off. More pictures are available on the RCWS Facebook page.

 

Our dedication ceremony is scheduled for Monday, September 11, 2023. The public is invited to attend the event, and additional details are available by clicking here. 

September 2023 - You've all probably heard of the book, The Little Engine That Could. We like to think of ourselves as The Little Club That Could!

 

Our club is honored to receive a Rotary International Citation for setting and achieving goals in 2022-23. While we recognize that there are a lot of great activities happening within the District, we are also a bit overwhelmed that we are the only club in District 7390 to receive the award this year. 

 

We are also honored to receive a District 7390 District Governor Citation! We worked hard to expand our reach and imagine Rotary a bit differently. You can read more about the criteria for this award by clicking here. 

 

We vow to continue this work in Rotary Year 2023-24. If you would like to join us, check out our Get Involved page.

 

In the words of Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Once again, the Rotary Club of West Shore participated in Camp Hill Borough's National Night Out.

 

The children enjoyed the patriotic themed temporary tattoos - designed to tie in to our club's Flags for Heroes event - as well as the glow bracelets and lollipops. Club members had an opportunity to talk to the adults about Rotary and its mission.

 

We are grateful to Mother Nature for giving us our second year in a row of perfect weather for the event!

There will be no formal meeting of the RCWS on Thursday, August 3, 2023. Instead, consider joining us at the Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region (506 South 29th Street; Harrisburg) as we distribute dictionaries to students in fourth through eighth grade who are enrolled in their summer program. The distribution is scheduled to occur between 8:30 - 9:00 am (ish). Hope to see you there!

July 2023 - Wow, what a great way to kick off the new Rotary year! Thank you to the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra for sharing your talent, the Borough of Lemoyne for including us, club members for giving your time, patrons for helping us raise money to support water and environmental initiatives through Rotary International, and Mother Nature for keeping the heavy rain at bay until we were packed up and in the car!

May 2023 - We are happy to announce that the Rotary Club of West Shore will once again be hosting its Flags for Heroes event! The 2023 event will see a few differences, including flags being on display for the entire month of September. This is a notable change from our first year when they were up for one week.

 

We are grateful to the Penn Harris Hotel for once again providing the site for this powerful display that honors the heroes in our neighborhood and in our lives.

 

For more information, and to register your hero, be sure to visit the Flags for Heroes 2023 page.

 

Thank you for supporting the Rotary Club of West Shore and the organizations that we are able to help through this event!

April 2023 - Members of the Rotary Club of West Shore grabbed some gloves, donned brightly colored vests, a box of trash bags and set out to clean up the community. We gathered trash in the area near the transit center as well as the bottleneck.

 

We are happy to be able to lend a helping hand in the local community!

 

Pictured are club members George Conolly, Erin Sunday, Mark Knodel, Tim Arthun, Bim Arthun, and club friends Cleevens, Ley & Roovensky Almeus, Kedner Joseph, and Wisguer Sauver.

November/December 2023 - With help from grant monies from the Rotary Foundation, District 7390, the RCWS was able to purchase supplies, assemble, and deliver 50 care kits for victims of domestic violence in Cumberland and Perry Counties. The club applied for the grant with a specific focus on Maternal and Child Health.

 

The care kits include attractive, high quality duffel bags filled with personal hygiene and cleaning items. A special thanks to the staff at Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties for providing us with a detailed list of the most-needed items.

 

Club members assembled the kits on Monday, November 21, and delivered them to DVSCP on Friday, December 3. Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of DVSCP's work, their staff will distribute the care kits as needed.

 

We are grateful to The Rotary Foundation, District 7390, for making this vision a reality.

 

Additional pictures of kit assembly night are available on the RCWS Facebook page. 

December 2023 - We are so excited by this new project for our club!

 

As a result of COVID, the Camp Hill Parks and Recreation Department decided to try a new idea for collecting toys for the USMC Toys for Tots campaign. Instead of dropping off a toy in person at various locations around town, the director decided to do a lights display in Siebert Park and offer a drive-through option. Now in year three, the event is a huge success.

 

RCWS club members gathered at Siebert Park on November 26-27 to set up a display for participants to enjoy. A huge THANK YOU to Highland Gardens in Camp Hill for donating a lighted tree and 2-pc reindeer set for us to use during the three-day event. The other items were donated by club members as a way of keeping costs down.

 

Our original goal was to include a lighted Rotary wheel, but we elected to start "small" and plan differently for 2023.

 

We are looking forward to seeing this project grow in the future and doing our part to support both a local and national endeavor!

 

 

November 2023 - The RCWS is proud to be part of the Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region's "Be the Light" campaign.

 

As part of our support, our club is one of 30+ organizations who took time to decorate a tree outside of the Salvation Army's headquarters on 29th Street in Harrisburg. A larger tree lighting ceremony was held on November 17, 2022.

The Salvation Army Harrisburg provides diverse programs, including basic needs assistance, self-sufficiency mentoring, workforce development, choice shopping food pantry, Family Table nutrition education, youth programs, and emergency disaster services. The programs focus on meeting needs of body, mind and spirit without discrimination. The programs also dovetail nicely with many of Rotary International's areas of interest including Maternal and Child Health, Basic Education and Literacy, Economic and Community Development, and Disease Prevention and Treatment.

 

Note: Our club realizes that this is an old Rotary logo, but it was handmade in Haiti from a recycled oil drum, and we think that’s pretty special!

November 2023 - The RCWS is proud to be a bronze sponsor of the Earl Besch Food Pantry Trick or Trot 2022!

 

The goal of the food pantry is to help provide families with nutritious, perishable and non-perishable food and toiletries on a bi-monthly basis. It is available through a partnership with New Hope Ministries, the Lion Foundation, Camp Hill United Methodist Church and Camp Hill School District.

 

More information is available on the Earl Besch Food Pantry website.

September 2022 - The 2022 Flags for Heroes Dedication Ceremony was held on Monday, September 12, 2022. As in previous years, we began with the Presentation of Colors which was done by the Redland High School JROTC. Once again, Mr. Matthew A. Robinson amazed us with his voice as he sang the National Anthem. The ceremony concluded with a very emotional playing of Taps by Dr. Bill Stowman, Chair of the Music Department at Messiah University. As event emcee, Dennis Owens from ABC27, reminded us of the sacrifices made by our heroes, and speaker Dave Apgar from the Camp Hill Fire Department provided examples of heroes all around us. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the event and flag sponsors, and all those who helped make the ceremony so meaningful.

 

You may view pictures of the event on the Club's Facebook page, and you may watch the ceremony by clicking here.

 

You may also view a list of the heroes who were honored in the event program.

Did you know?

Join with the Rotary Clubs of West Shore, Mechanicsburg-North, Yellow Breeches, and District 7390 Passport to raise money to continue the fight. Bring the Pints for Polio flyer with you to Snappers Bar and Grill in Mechanicsburg on October 19, and Snappers will donate 10% of your bill towards Rotary's continued efforts to eradicate this disease.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

August 2, 2022 - Club members showed up in force to help celebrate National Night Out in Camp Hill! Whether it was a bottle of cold water to quench thirst, a lollipop for a sweet treat, or getting a temporary tattoo (or two!) to show their patriotism, community members were able to learn a little more about Rotary and see that we care about the community in which we live, work, and serve.

 

We got an extra treat when RYLA participant Sarah G. from Camp Hill High School stopped by to say hello! In her words, "RYLA was the best part of my whole summer!" 

 

We are grateful for the many ways in which we can give back!

 

Click on Read More for additional pictures or visit us on Facebook.

Club members were out in full force at the Iron Bridge Music Festival in New Cumberland on Saturday, June 18.

 

Whether it was answering questions about Rotary International, sharing information about the club's annual Flags for Heroes event, or just making new friends, it's important to be out and about in the communities in which we serve.

 

Look for us at future events in the Camp Hill, Lemoyne, and New Cumberland areas. And... if you have an event that you think we should attend, feel free to reach out to Club President Bim Arthun with your suggestion(s)!

Dec 2020: Thanks to our Flags for a Heroes fundraiser, the RCWS was able to make a donation to the Camp Hill Fire Department which was in need of equipment repairs in their training room.

We appreciate all that our first responders do to keep us and our communities safe, and we are happy that we can show our appreciation in this way!

Pictured L to R: Bim Arthun, President-elect, RCWS; Mark Simpson, Chief, CHFD; Jack Sellers, President, Camp Hill Fire Co.; H. Rod Hite, President, RCWS

After members of the RCWS toured the Salvation Army facility in Harrisburg, Club President Rod Hite was pleased to present the club's donation to support the many worthwhile programs offered by the organization.

 

Pictures of the visit are available on the RCWS's Facebook Page. 

September 10, 2021 - the day before the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States - the Rotary Club of West Shore held its Flags for Heroes Dedication Ceremony. Friends, family, sponsors, and heroes gathered to remember the sacrifices made by so many in our community and beyond.

 

We are grateful to our corporate sponsors and to each individual flag sponsor. Your decision to recognize a special someone has an extensive reach as proceeds from the event stay in the local community to help those in need. 

 

Plans are already underway for the 2022 Flags for Heroes event. You won't want to miss it!

 

Members of the Rotary Club of West Shore were on hand to provide refreshments to walkers at the 2021 Vickie's Angel Walk which was held on Saturday, October 9, 2021. 

 

Walkers were very appreciative to find free cold water along the route. Their appreciation turned to excitement when they also saw free candy! 

 

While there were many "thank you" comments from the walkers, we especially appreciated hearing, "I knew you'd be here. Thank you for doing this for so many years."

 

We are happy to support such a great event and program that helps those in need.

The RCWS is grateful to the sponsors who have already signed on for the 2021 Flags for Heroes event. The flags will be on display from September 4-12, 2021, along the Camp Hill Bypass. 

 

It's not too late for you to be a sponsor too! Sponsorships range from the $100 individual level to the $2,000 gold level.

 

Join us for this unique and emotional display of gratitude that supports the local community. All proceeds from this fundraiser remain in the local area.

 

Check out the Flags for Heroes page for more information!

 

The RCWS is delighted to support the Rotary Veterans Initiative, particularly since the funds donated came from our Flags for Heroes fundraiser!

 

Our donation will join with others to help veterans pay for school or start the business of their dreams through RVI's latest efforts, Business Plan Bootcamp.

 

Pictured is RVI's Chair, Rick Coplen receiving the donation from Club President Rod Hite.

What an honor it is for the RCWS to be make a donation to the Friends of the West Shore Theatre.

 

The Friends have come together to save the West Shore Theatre for the local community. Their motto has been Restore, Revitalize, Reinvent. They're working to Restore and maintain the beauty and feel of this historical theatre while bringing it up to date. Revitalizing the theatre helps the revitalization efforts in New Cumberland and around the West Shore. To do that, the group knows they need to Reinvent to adapt to the present, while honoring the past.

For more information about the Project, visit the Earl Besch Project website or follow them on Facebook.

Once again, our hearts are heavy as we announce the loss of long time club member, Chuck Cenkner.

 

Chuck was often called "Mr. Rotary" since his passion for polio eradication, helping others, and living life by the Four-Way Test were evident in everything he did. He served on numerous Rotary committees at the club and district level, was editor of the weekly newsletter The Spokesman, and served as a District Governor. His volunteer involvement went well beyond that of Rotary International.

 

We miss you, Chuck, and hope you are enjoying the reunion with your beloved Marilyn.

 

Note: A service for Chuck is tentatively scheduled for May 2021.

The Rotary Club of West Shore is sad to announce the loss of long time club member, Bernie Dugan.

 

Bernie is remembered for his constant kindness, friendliness, and support. He modeled "Service Above Self" as so many of our club members have done throughout their lives.

 

Well done, Bernie. We will miss you.

 

 

The RCWS invites you to Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends event! Shoppers receive a 20% discount for the two days of the sale, and the Rotary Club of the West Shore receives 5% of the total purchase of all of those who mention Rotary Club of West Shore at check-out. What an easy way to raise money for our club which is then poured back into the local community!

 

There are no coupons or coupon books, but SHOPPERS MUST MENTION RCWS AT CHECK-OUT.

 

The event is October 14-15, 2020, from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm at the Camp Hill, PA location only.

 

For more information, check out the Friends Helping Friends flyer.

The RCWS met on Thursday, June 25, 2020, to pass the gavel virtually from two-term Past President, Kirk Brechbiel to President-Elect Rod Hite. Even DGE John Anthony and AAG Fred Gellert were on hand to share a word on how Rotary Opens Opportunities!

 

PP Kirk highlighted some of the Club's accomplishments in the past two years including continued involvement with New Hope Ministries, Vickie's Angel Walk, RYLA, and the Dictionary Project. Additionally, the Club was able to help with the purchase of a commercial oven for the Mechanicsburg Area Meals on Wheels. The Club not only increased membership, but increased diversity with the addition of four new female members.

 

Special thanks was extended to Zacc Rahn for serving as Treasurer, Tom Oliver for serving as Secretary, Joe McNally for his service on the Foundation Board, and PDG Chuck Cenkner for his work with Polio Plus. Additional thanks was extended to member Jessica D'Agostino for agreeing to serve as treasurer in the upcoming year. 

 

Incoming President Rod Hite has an ambitious agenda for the upcoming year which includes a major fundraiser, growing membership with a focus on outreach to younger members, and launching an Interact Club at one of our area schools.

 

It's going to be a great year because Rotary Opens Opportunities!

 

Please click here to view the full obituary.

Since COVID-19 is preventing the Rotary Club of West Shore from meeting in person, club members opted to donate their normal meal expenses to the Earl Besch Project.

 

Earl Besch was a long time resident of Camp Hill Borough who was known for his generosity to others. Earl would regularly reach out to local schools to see if there were families in need. Following his passing in 2015, his family established a memorial fund in his name to continue his legacy of caring. The Earl Besch Fund at The Lion Foundation provides others an opportunity to help those less fortunate in our community through donations to this fund.

The RCWS donations were directed to the Project's BackPack Program. Normally, the BackPack Program is a summer activity, however the closure of public schools created a more urgent need this year. By teaming up with local churches, the project prepares and delivers boxes filled with nutritious healthy foods as well as household necessities to help the families in the BackPack Program.

 

The RCWS is proud to support such a worthy cause.

Members of the RCWS were on site to hand out water to walkers at the 2019 Vickie's Angel Walk. The event, held on October 12, 2019, at the New Cumberland Borough Park, marks the 17th consecutive year that Vickie's Angel Foundation has held this event.

 

Vickie's Angel Foundation is a local non-profit with a mission of helping families fighting cancer who have difficulties paying their bills during the challenging times of undergoing cancer treatments. The organization eases the financial worry from families, providing a temporary bridge that allows them to focus entirely on beating their disease. The organization helps families in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, Schuylkill, and York Counties.