The Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur is continuing its mission of “Service Above Self” with its 2024/2025 year. New President Kelley Tierney recently took over the helm from Past President Dave Long, thanking him for his many years of service to the club as a member and as President.
This year’s theme is the “The Magic of Rotary” and Rotary International is committed to providing the “magic” in several areas worldwide. These include:
- Clean Water Sorcery: Rotary International isn’t waving wands, but they are making a splash! They’ve been installing water filters in places like the Dominican Republic, turning murky water into crystal-clear magic. These filters aren’t enchanted, mind you—they’re the result of hard work, collaboration, and community involvement. But for those boys watching the water transform, it might as well be magic.
- Polio Vanishing Act: Rotary is on a mission to eradicate polio. And guess what? They’re doing a pretty darn good job! With just three cases reported this year, they’ve practically made polio disappear. The Gates Foundation and other partners have joined forces, and together, they’ve taken polio immunization to a whole new level.
- Literacy Enchantment: Over 775 million people worldwide struggle with illiteracy. But fear not! Rotary members are wielding their literary wands—offering scholarships, mentoring students, and supporting community literacy programs.
- Community Prosperity Spells: They’re not casting spells, but they are rolling up their sleeves. Through service projects, they’re boosting local economies, protecting the environment, and ensuring mothers and children thrive.
In Upshur County, the club members have addressed many needs throughout the community. Their efforts include clothing, food, medical services and many other donations of time and money. They have supported multiple organizations including the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, the Mountain CAP Child Development Center, Special Olympics of West Virginia, the Upshur County Backpack Program, the Stockert Youth Center and the Upshur County Library.
They work with the Upshur Cooperative Parish House in assembling and distributing food baskets at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are also an integral partner with WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital in providing much-needed low-cost blood screenings to the community. They were most recently honored as the 2023 Organization of the Year by the Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber of Commerce.
The Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur is committed to providing service to others, promoting integrity and advancing goodwill and peace. If you would like more information about how you can become involved, visit them on Facebook.
