By Greg Ellison, Staff Writer

(Nov. 2, 2017) The Snow Hill Rotary Club will commemorate 75 years of civic engagement with a celebratory dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the Blue Dog Café, 300 North Washington Street, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The international service club, which avoids political or sectarian connections, was founded in 1905 as a means to unite business and professional leaders to promote humanitarian services.

President Marty Pusey said the groups’ footprint has grown considerable since the Snow Hill chapter was established during the World War II era. At the time there were about 5,000 clubs in 50 countries, she said.

Today, Pusey said Rotary International has grown to include 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and is the largest civic organization in the world, boasting more than 1.2 million members.

The Snow Hill chapter was issued a charter on Nov. 9, 1942 with Howard Rodgers serving as its first president.

The group currently holds weekly meetings at the All Hollows Episcopal Church, 109 West Market Street. Pusey said the shared space allows money that would have been used for overhead expenses to be put into direct services.

The Rotary International has six primary areas of focus: peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation improvements, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development.

“We try to focus on community needs and look at how to spend funds to address all the focus areas,” Pusey said.

In addition its impact locally, Pusey said the group has donated about $124,000 to support international efforts.

“The international club is very focused on eradication of polio and also assuring there is clean water available in developing countries,” she said.

Fostering the educational pursuits of graduating high school seniors has been another area of primary focus, Pusey said, including awarding scholarships to students at Snow Hill High School.

The group added a scholarship in memory of Laurel Anderson last year and will add another, to honor former member Larry Knudsen, who passed away earlier this year.

“He was a longtime member, but also responsible for recruiting probably half the club,” Pusey said. “He really reached out to people he thought could help. Sometimes all it takes is to be asked.”

Snow Hill Rotary also hosts an annual teacher recognition dinner and the “Iron Furnace Fifty,” a charity bike ride produced with Furnace Town Living Heritage Village, which for the last seven years was the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser.

One of the perks to being affiliated with the Rotary Club is members can visit other chapters when traveling abroad, Pusey said.

“You can find a rotary club and you’re welcome to attend, almost anywhere you travel in the world,” she said. “I’ve visited three clubs in Florida and they’ve always welcomed me.”

Pusey said she is grateful two new members will be installed by District 7630 Governor Richard Graves, whose region encompasses the entire Delmarva Peninsula.

“The more members we have the stronger we become and can have a greater impact on the community,” she said.

The 75th anniversary dinner costs $27.50 per person. The menu includes a choice of roast pork, rib eye with caramelized apples, or spinach lasagna. The evening kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m.

For more information, contact Jan King at 240-793-2500.