July 30th – Rotary International Project (Ghana) – Marilyn Schuster
YWF started in 2000 with a highly motivated group of 150 women living near the village of Yakote (yaa-KO-tee) in the Nabdam District of northern Ghana. Inspired by these women, a U.S. charitable organization was formed in 2006 with board members Marilyn and Lou Schuster, Lisa Revell, David Stone, and David Sparks.
Our work quickly expanded to include rural village economic development throughout the Nabdam district, population 40,000, with fund raising efforts to support:
1. Agricultural productivity.
2. A broad spectrum of funding for education.
3. Reduction of pervasive under-nutrition.
4. Access to health care.
5. Improved sanitation through clean water and latrines.
6. Skills training for income generation.
Volunteer groups make annual trips to oversee the work.
* All board members and volunteers pay their own travel, food and lodging expenses.
* YWF has no paid administrators. All donations are used directly for project expenses in Ghana.
Program Chair – Pat Force
Meeting Location: Cedar Hall, Main Street Alliance Building
President’s Message
Rotary Club Launches Committee-Led ‘Rotary Moments’ Program for 2025-26 Year
We are off to a fast start to the 2025-26 Rotary year. This week marks the end of month one – oh my does time fly.
As we have transitioned our start of meeting process to include a Rotary Moment or a Rotary Minute we have placed the responsibility on a different group or committee of Rotarians each month.
Our Club Operations committee led by Emily Swart has done a great job during the month of July.
We are using the Rotary monthly themes to connect Club committees or other groups with an appropriate month. The easy-to-understand connections of groups and their months are:
- August – Membership and Extension (Membership)
- September – SRF Month (SRF board)
- November – The Rotary Foundation (Fundraising)
- June – Fellowship month (Fellowship committee)
Our other committees and groups designated for a particular month are as follows:
- October – Economic and Community Development and Polio Plus (TRF and Polio Plus)
- December – Disease Prevention and Treatment (World Community Service)
- January – Vocational Service (Community Needs)
- February – Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention (Public Image)
- March- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (World Community Service)
- April – Environment (Board Officers)
- May – Youth Service (New Generations)
As we progress through the year we hope to hear from many Rotarians to tell their stories in the form of a Rotary Moment or a Rotary Minute.
This is a way for each of us to learn something about one another and learn more about how Rotary impacts the lives of those around us.
I hope also, that as the various committees and groups are represented up front at our meetings that the presentations may spark interest to become involved with a new committee.
AUGUST 20, 2025 will be our meeting at the Rotary Pavilion at Riverfront Park. Our program will be our own Dave Gerboth, Salem Fire Chief. The picnic lunch will be provided by Adam’s Rib. Each Rotarian’s lunch cost will be $20. A sign-up sheet will be circulated at our next two meetings and we must provide a head count to Adam’s Rib 10 days prior to the event.
See you Wednesday!
President Doug Parham
Rotary Club of Salem
2025-2026
