Over the years I have been asked many times “Why Rotary and What is Rotary?” When I initially joined the Pottstown Rotary, I was simply filling a spot. The previous Club member who owned a security company had sold his business and they were looking for someone in the industry to join them. The Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace throughout the world. I imagined that through the Club I would meet many local community business leaders and develop relationships that would help to grow my business and theirs.

What I found in the Rotary was so much more. Did you know that the Rotary has helped to almost completely eradicate polio worldwide? There are only three remaining countries that we are still trying to get access to. As a Club, we recently donated $3,000 to ShelterBox to help with the relief effort in Nepal after the devastating earthquake they endured.

I have always believed that the best way to begin making a positive difference in the world is to start in your own back yard. The Rotary has helped to improve the Pottstown Community in so many different ways. During my past year as Club President and throughout the 14 years that I have been a Rotarian, my fellow Rotarians and I helped by raising money for several local charities (Meals on Wheels, Ian’s Boots, Operation Backpack, and Pottstown Seniors Center just to name a few) through our first annual Bowling for a Cause event. We also helped to raise money for the Pottstown Bicentennial which in turn supplied the American flags that are now flown all along High Street. We have created scholarship programs for the VolunTeen program at PMMC as well as scholarship programs at the Pottstown High School. Our well-known annual Duck Race helps over 20 local charities, and our Literacy program through the YWCA has improved the lives of many in our community.

In addition, The Pottstown Rotary has started the first Little Library in town, making free books accessible to kids and adults who don’t normally have such access to quality reading material. Each year we host a holiday party where Santa joins us to give out gifts to local children. We were also very involved with the building of the Colebrookdale Railroad station in Pottstown, and have continued to improve and maintain the Rotary Pavilion and nearby park next to Montgomery County Community College on College Drive. Through all of these great activities we were able to bring 21 new Rotary members on board this past year to grow our group and help the community and the world even more.

We are now at over 75 members strong, and our Pottstown Club will be turning 100 years old in just three short years. Our goal is to have over 100 members by the time we turn 100 years old. The Pottstown Rotary Club feels more like a family to me than a service group. We are a fun group of people who celebrate milestones together and are continually looking for ways to help and give back to our community. We build relationships before we need them. For anyone looking to get out, meet some great people, and have fun, I invite you to join us as my guest at one of our Wednesday night meetings at 6:30 pm at Brookside Country Club. You don’t have to own a business to be a Rotarian – it’s all about “Service Above Self.” If that describes you, give me a call! Proud Rotarian Dave Czarnecki, President of CzarStar Security. Direct: 484.955.4025.