Get Involved

It takes all of us to create and maintain a healthy, vibrant club.

 

Welcome! This is the page where you can review the projects and programs that are planned in advance for RY 2025-26 and find out who you can reach out to ask questions or volunteer.

We also have spontaneous that come up throughout the year—the best way to learn about those is by coming to meetings to hear the announcements, watching your twice-monthly Rotagram, following our Facebook page, and joining our private Facebook group.

Click on the member in charge next to each position or job to ask a question or sign up.

No one can do everything but everyone can do something!

 

CLUB SERVICE

Greeters

Welcome your fellow Rotarians and guests as they arrive at our weekly lunch meeting at Dutch’s Daughter. (Trina Tansey at TTansey7@gmail.com)

 

Rotobucks

Sell raffle tickets at the check-in table at a Wednesday meeting. (Patti Hagemann at matchpointpmh@aol.com)

Invocations

Provide a short, non-denominational prayer or reflection at the beginning of a meeting. (Call John George at 301-698-5586 or email at tsardos11@gmail.com)

 

Set-Up/Breakdown

Assist the Sergeant-at-Arms in setting up the backdrop, projector, and microphone. 

Rotaparties & Happy Hours

Host a social event for members and their partners after hours at your place of business or home  Be a solo host or join with other members! Help fill our calendar with monthly happy hours and social events for fun and fellowship. 

 

Member Engagement

We’re looking for people willing to reach out to our newest members to help them find their way in the club.  following up with members—especially our newest additions– to help them get involved with the club. Reach out to Joanne McCoy at jo@joannemccoy.com or Lynn Norris at lnorris@plamondon-cos.com

Communications

Contribute to the twice-monthly newsletter, assist with the club calendar, help with social media, update the website and more. Reach out to Joanne McCoy at  jo@joannemccoy.com.

 

Public Image

A strong public image helps foster trust in the community, attract new members, enhance our fundraising efforts, and build partnerships. Reach out to Abby Mann at abbs0411@gmail.com.

Membership

Help review new member applications, answer prospective member questions, and contribute to a plan for bringing in new members.

 

 

Governance

Help ensure that our bylaws, policies and procedures, and other governance documents that guide Board action and club decision-making stay workable, sustainable and up-to-date.

Foundation

Assist with reaching out to members, monitoring contributions and fellowships, and help educate members on the Rotary International Foundation. Reach out to Frank Jarboe at 240-626-9927 or frank.jarboe@rswill.com

 

 

COMMUNITY

Supporting and mentoring our young people is an important part of our club’s community service: There are many different ways to help, and few require a long term commitment. Click on the member name next to the project for more info, and listen for more youth-related service opportunities throughout the year.

Would you like to:

  • Host several students and an administrator from a local high school at our weekly meetings during a designated month? Contact Dave Bufter.
  • Welcome and interact with elementary school kids to the Fair during education week? Contact John George.
  • Listen to student speeches and give feedback  before the 4-Way Test Speech Contest? Contact Ted Luck.
  • Review applications for our annual scholarships? Contact Ron Burley.
  • Read with a second grader at Monocacy Elementary? Contact Cathie Alschuler.

Signature Project

In addition to our regular service projects that occur throughout the year, our club regularly creates a “Signature Service Project” to invest our time and resources in over 3-5 years. In the past, we have created Rotary Smiles™ to provide dental services to uninsured and underinsured adults, contributed $100,000 to the Frederick Health Dental Clinic, and partnered with local schools, including Monocacy Elementary, to support students and provide needed equipment and supplies. 

On July 1, 2025, we will launch our next signature project to serve limited income seniors. We are asking every member to find a spot on one of the committees that will be supporting this important effort. Please contact Lisa Coblentz for more details.

Service Partnership Grants

One way our club helps those in need is through our Service Partnership Grants. By contributing funds and volunteering our time to local non-profits that already have effective outreach projects in place, we are putting one of our core values into action: there’s power in collaboration!

Preference given to organizations whose missions dovetail with Rotary’s areas of focus: disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, maternal and child health, economic and community development, environmental issues, and conflict prevention. 

Take a look at the Service Partnership Grants timeline. Email Dr. Gregory Rausch if you can help.

Rebuilding Together

If you can hold a broom or handle a paintbrush, there’s a spot for you on our Rebuilding Together team. Our club frequently shows up to help low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly, disabled, and families with young children, make repairs to their homes. Using mostly donated materials, we replace dangerous steps and stairs, haul away trash and debris, repair roof leaks, patch walks and other small projects that increase the homeowners’ safety and independence. Sound like something you’d like to be a part of?

Re-Envisioning Memorial Park

This project is about enhancing the only park in Maryland that commemorates soldiers from every American war from the French and Indian to the Gulf War. Interested in being the club representative on committee who will help shape the future of an important landmark? Contact Galen Clagett.

A Cleaner World

Our club is continually developing projects that promote conservation, protect natural resources and address climate change. We believe that a healthy planet and thriving environment are essential to human well-being and sustainable development, starting in our own backyard. We have a good relationship with local environmental protection agencies and regularly volunteer for watershed clean-ups. if you’re interested in helping to shape this important area of focus—or if you just want to put your Wellies on and volunteer for a morning or afternoon.

Memorial Park Clean Up

Twice a year—before Veterans Day and before Memorial Day—we meet up with Key City Rotary on a Saturday morning and sweep, prune, weed and mulch the Park. Listen for the announcement at a Wednesday meeting or watch your Rotagram for more information.

Bell Ringing

In November, you’ll have the opportunity to visit www.rotarybellringing.com to sign up electronically for a two-hour shift (or more) to help fill the Salvation Army’s red kettles on a Saturday during December. There will also be paper sign-up sheets at our Wednesday meetings. Members often pair with one another for the two-person gigs, or ring with a loved one, family member, or friend. For more information, contact Joey Bruscia.

Wreaths Across America: This year, we will gather to remember and honor veterans who have died in the service of our country by laying a wreath at their final resting places at Mount Olivet Cemetery. For more information, contact Bill Armstrong.

Stuff the Bus

Stuff the Bus helps ensure that every student in Frederick County starts the school year equipped with the tools and support they need to succeed in the classroom. Listen for announcements in July from Project Chair Lisa Coblentz and learn how you can help.

Food Drives

Food Drives are one of the many ways we help provide for the basic needs of our neighbors in Frederick, often before holidays in November and December. Collecting non-perishable food and hygiene items for a different organization each year helps provide the most vulnerable members of our community with nutrition and necessary items.

INTERNATIONAL

Our club has always been active in spreading our “Service Above Self” mantra beyond our shores, from bringing clean water to communities in Africa, to supporting an eye clinic in Bangladesh, to helping impoverished, at-risk children in Nepal receive a life-changing education to providing water filters and nutritional breakfast biscuits to the impoverished families who live in the Melka Oba community of Ethiopia. For more information, contact Danny Severn.

Books for International Goodwill (B.I.G.)

Books for International Goodwill, aka B.I.G., helps put books into the hands of people in the US and around the world who are hungry for the written word. We’re looking for two things: donated books, or a few people to help collect books from other generous donors around town. For more info, please contact Dave Miller.

FUNDRAISING

Masters Experience Raffle

Get ready to sell raffle tickets for a Masters Golf Experience in Augusta, Georgia on April 9-12, 2026. There will be two grand prize package winners:  Winner 1:  Two (2) nights at the Fairfield Inn & Suites (Wed & Thurs nights), two (2) badges for tournament rounds on Thurs. & Friday, and $1500 travel credit and Winner 2: Two (2) nights at the Fairfield Inn & Suites (Sat & Sun nights), two (2) admission badges for tournament rounds on Sat & Sun, and $1500 travel credit.

Tickets will be $50 each and only 2,000 tickets will be sold. After expenses, we have the potential to net more than $50,000 from this fundraiser to invest in our service projects.

Hood Classic Basketball Tournament

The Rotary Tip Off Tournament, our annual partnership with Hood College Athletics, is another way we raise money for our service projects. Ticket sales, sponsorships and ads in the souvenir program make up most of the revenue. Listen for announcements in the fall about when this tournament will be held in how you can help.

Leprechaun Luau

LepLuXV (at the Great Frederick Fairgrounds on March 14, 2026) will look a bit different but we’re excited about going forward with fresh ideas and a new spin! We have committees for sponsorship, marketing, budgeting, logistics, staffing, partnerships, food, beverage, entertainment and more. It’s tradition for every member to contribute in some way, so think about how you can best help make LepLu XV the best one yet! Contact Tom Clagett or Horejah Bah for more information.