3/4 SKSD Music Program – Whiteaker MS Band
The Whiteaker Middle school Concert Band, directed by Jennifer Bell, will present a concert for us. The Whiteaker Band, grades 6 to 8, has received many awards for their excellence in performance at Concert Band Festivals and Solo – Ensemble Contests. Jennifer Bell, their highly dedicated band teacher, has created the largest Middle School Band Program in the Salem-Keizer School District. She has a full band schedule – including a before-school jazz band. Jennifer provides opportunities for every student to be involved in solo and ensembles as well and coaches them after school. She gave up her conference period of time to teach an additional band class to accommodate an overflow of enthusiastic students. You would not want to miss this program. Please bring your family and friends. They will enjoy seeing and hearing these young students perform.
Program Chair – Karl Raschkes
President’s Message
March Into Action:
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Month Highlights Rotary’s Local and Global Impact
This week is the first week of March. Wow, hard to believe we are already starting the third month of 2026. The Rotary International theme for March is Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. Locally, these are three things in life that we take for granted. Whenever we go to a water faucet in our homes, we are able to generate cold and hot water that is drinkable and useful for cooking and cleaning. As for sanitation, we have regular and expected ways to dispose of garbage and other unnecessary items that allow us to keep our living spaces clean. Hygiene refers to practices such as bathing, handwashing, and cleaning living spaces that maintain health, prevent disease spread, and improve general well-being. We are fortunate to have the resources to enable daily showering, regular teeth brushing, and frequent hand washing. Our Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene resources help to prevent disease, reduce risk of infection, and improve our self-confidence.
Through the international reach of Rotary, we have the opportunity to help others in the world who are less fortunate and need assistance to develop and strengthen their environment and resources in these three areas. For a number of years, we have participated in water projects in Haiti and other countries. We have partnered with other Rotary clubs to support basic needs in Ghana and other countries on the African continent.
During the month of March, we will be hearing Rotary Minutes/Moments from members of our World Community Service committee. This sharing will help bring into view some of our experiences in other countries around the globe.
Here in our own community, we continue to identify Hands-On projects where we can put our talents, time, and general work efforts to good use to make life easier for others who struggle with access to basic needs in their environment. The next project is coming up on Saturday, March 14. John McCulley is leading a project that will involve putting wood chips on a path around the dog park at Cascades Gateway Park. We will help create an extension of an existing pathway using resources provided by the City of Salem Parks Department. This project is an excellent opportunity to UNITE FOR GOOD (2025-26 Rotary theme) and CREATE LASTING IMPACT (Rotary theme for 2026-27). Be sure to complete your sign up on the sheet that comes around at this week’s meeting. It will be the last opportunity before the March 14 project since our March 11th meeting will be the State of the City meeting at the Salem Convention Center.
Speaking of March 11 and the State of the City meeting, please complete your sign up for that as well. The City of Salem has asked that all attendance registrations and lunch orders be completed by March 4, 2026 (tomorrow).
See you on Wednesday!
President Doug Parham
Rotary Club of Salem
2025-2026
