December Finale:

Elections, Red Kettle Drive & Special Entertainment This Wednesday

I told you December would go quickly. Here we are, ready for the third and final Rotary meeting in December and our Club’s final meeting of calendar year 2025.  

WE WILL MEET IN THE GRANT ROOM – 2ND FLOOR OF BROADWAY COMMONS – LUNCH WILL BE CATERED BY WILD PEAR AND PAID FOR BY THE CLUB.

This week’s meeting will be a “four-ring affair” with THE SALVATION ARMY RED KETTLE to receive your cash (or card), our CLUB ELECTIONS FOR 2026-27, THE SALVATION ARMY BAND, and ROTARY CLUB OF SALEM 2024-25 GOLD STAR REPORT.

Salvation Arny Red Kettles have been a symbol of the holiday season since they first appeared in San Francisco in 1891. The Salvation Army non-profit organization has been in Salem since 1887, and the Red Kettles likely were first used here in 1911. The fundraising goal for the Red Kettle effort in Salem in 1928 was $1,500 and now, in 2025, the Salem Red Kettle goal is $150,000. On Saturday, December 13, six of our Club members staffed a Red Kettle site for two hours. Salvation Army officials say volunteers traditionally bring in more money because their family and friends show up to support not just the cause but the bell ringers. The bell ringers each wear a red Salvation Army apron, and some take the dress-up opportunity a step further with festive Santa hats or elf ears. I have seen groups of bell ringers add musical instruments to the mix as well. All money that goes into the Red Kettles locally gets put to use in our local community. The Salvation Army funds help keep the lights on for a family, support those individuals and families who are on the brink of going homeless, keep the Salvation Army shelter open, and provide food at the food pantry to feed families in need. Please do what you can to help.

Speaking of bell ringing, this is your last chance of 2025 to ring our Rotary Club bell to announce a special event or happening in your life or the life of a friend or family member. Be sure to use the link provided in this E-blast to get your bell ringer message to this week’s Rotarian responsible for announcing the bell ringers. Have you seen members of our Club UNITE FOR GOOD – let us all know about it. Have you had something special happen in your life or the life of a family member – let us all know about it.  

We will not meet on the next two Wednesday’s: Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025 and New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025. The E-blast will be published and can include any important announcements you might have.

I hope each of you have a wonderful Christmas, take time to enjoy family and friends, and be safe in whatever activity.

Our program lineup for January is as follows:

• 1/7/26 – Jimmy Jones, Mid Willamette Valley Community Action – program chair is Sabrina Riggs
• 1/14/26 – Good Works Large Grant Recipients – program chair is Beth Rhoades
• 1/21/26 – Ashley Griggs, SMART Reading Program – program chair is Jenn Columbus or Ann Syrett
• 1/28/26 – Dr Terry McDonald on Sleep Apnea – program chair is Karl Raschkes

OUR ANNUAL GOOD WORKS FUNDRAISING/CELEBRATION IS JANUARY 31, 2026.

BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY AND INVITE FRIENDS FROM OUTSIDE ROTARY TO SHARE THE NEWS OF GOOD WORKS IN OUR COMMUNITY FUNDED BY ROTARY.

See you on Wednesday!!

President Doug Parham
Rotary Club of Salem
2025-2026