The goals for the year will include these:  increase membership with an emphasis on recruiting younger members, continuing to support the Rotary Foundation, developing the Jim Thorpe Rotary Charitable Fund, increasing recognition of our club locally and at the district level, and seeking new opportunities for service. 

The Jim Thorpe Rotary Club has been serving the Jim Thorpe and surrounding communities for nearly a century.  Over the past 5 years, the Jim Thorpe Rotary Club has donated nearly$153,700 locally, impacting over 3500 individuals and nearly $7000 to Rotary International which serves our neighbors all over the world.  Every dollar raised by fund raising, grants or donations is designated for charitable purposes.  The mission of Rotary is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through fellowship with business, professional, and community leaders.

The strength of the Jim Thorpe Rotary has been its ability to build partnerships within the community.  Community partners include these:  Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, Mauch Chunk Trust Company, Lehigh Carbon Community College SHINE Program, Jim Thorpe Area School District, Penn Forest Township, Borough of Jim Thorpe, Jim Thorpe Lions Club, local businesses, Rotary Foundation, Carbon County Community Foundation, Thrivent, anonymous donors, and Rotary members.

Rotary has helped over 1600 children and their families through the Holiday Giving Program and the 10-week summer recreation program at the Jim Thorpe Memorial Park.  Rotary members have also supported the local youth through the Rotary Student Exchange Program, the Essay Contest, Rotary Youth Leadership Camp, and the Jim Thorpe Youth Soccer League.  High school students have the opportunity to attend regular Rotary meetings.  Students at the Carbon Career and Technical Institute in partnership with the Jim Thorpe Rotary have chartered an Interact Club, a youth Rotary Club whose mission it is for young people to work together in a world fellowship dedicated to international understanding.

Educational projects have included college scholarships to high school students, dictionaries provided to all third graders, funding for the Dimmick Memorial Library, Elementary STEM Camp, and testing for GED through the Carbon Career and Technical Institute in partnership with Lehigh Carbon Community College Adult Education Program.

Jim Thorpe Rotary has supported over 70 charities and organizations,  The Rotary Ghost Walks which occur September through December in downtown Jim Thorpe have been attended by thousands of local citizens and visitors from Northeast PA.  It has been the main fund raiser for the Jim Thorpe Rotary.  Unfortunately, our fund raisers are on hold due to the pandemic but we are excited about the Rotary "Mad Money" project, our future fund raiser which will be kicked off in October.  Creating the Jim Thorpe  Rotary Club Charitable Fund, a 501c3, has provided another avenue to raise monies and obtain grants locally and nationally.  Rotary International has been a major partner in the eradication of polio.

Members of the Jim Thorpe Rotary Club are currently using the ZOOM online platform for meetings.  Today's health challenge has provided an opportunity to look at less traditional ways to meet and serve the community.  Club members are looking to develop a format that is more flexible, less expensive and will engage younger adults in the community  If you would like to inquire about becoming involved in the Jim Thorpe Rotary, call Jeanne Miller at 570 778-5275.

Yours in Rotary,

Jeanne Yoho Miller, President

Rotary Club of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania