Days are getting longer and spring is right around the corner, so let’s embrace this season of change and renewal!
While Rotary started out 120 years ago as a men-only organization, in 1989 we made the crucial change of welcoming women in order to make Rotary open and inclusive to everyone. I am thrilled to report that our last single-gender club in the district has officially admitted their first female Rotarian. We congratulate Lake Hopatcong on this historic milestone and celebrate our district’s compliance with Rotary’s commitment to diversity.
We have several upcoming opportunities to elevate everyone’s Rotary engagement and experience.
Looking for a better club experience to meet your needs? In response to your feedback, we are looking to build several new cause-based clubs to better serve your interests and fit into today’s lifestyle. Let's gather with like-minded Rotarians and explore these innovative club options together!
Attend the brand-new action-packed District Conference on April 5 to make connections, have fun, learn and explore service and partnership ideas. It will include sessions on expanding our community outreach, attracting and retaining members and protecting our environment, as well as sumptuous international cuisine. Don’t miss this year’s Rotary extravaganza! Click Conference Info to find out more and register.
Display and share your club’s service to your community and creative talents by applying for the 2025 Club Service Project Award and participating in the 2025 People of Action Photo Contest! Click HERE and scroll down for details on both.
Let’s also boost our efforts towards growing our membership so we will have even more resources and ideas to do more good. Please remember that membership is everyone’s responsibility. I encourage everyone to bring a new prospective member to your next club event to share the joy of Rotary.
Take action now!
Jeannie
Jeannie Tsukamoto
District 7475 Governor 2024-25 http://njrotary.org/ Member of Madison Rotary since 2007
In his keynote address at the Rotary International 2025 International Assembly, incoming President Mário made an inspiring presentation and introduces his Presidential Message --Unite for Good.
As passionate Rotarians, we strive to make lives better for people in our local and global communities. While our gifts to the Annual Fund help support programs in the near term, gifts to the Endowment support Rotary programs forever! Your endowment gift will be carefully stewarded to provide funding for programs you care deeply about, year after year. Many district Rotarians vow to continue doing good in the world after their lifetimes by including a gift to the Endowment in their estate plan. Would you please consider promising a gift to Rotary in your will? Click here for more information. DG Jeannie is available to answer your questions and connect you with an RI staff. Thank you. Email Jeannie
District Conference - April 5, 2025 - Register Now
Looking to be inspired? Have fun and meet other like-minded people? Exchange ideas with others? Expand personal connections? Build community partnership? Boost your knowledge in protecting the environment? Discover innovative service opportunities? Learn best practices for growing membership? Enjoy international cuisine? This one-day action-packed 2025 District Conference is for you!!! Family, friends and prospective members are welcome. Registration fee is only $115.00. Only online registration with credit card payment will be accepted. (Note: The cost of the conference is more than $150 per person. To encourage participation, a substantial subsidy, approximately $50 per attendee, is being provided by the district to make it affordable for everyone.)
Contact Conference Chair DGN Joe Nastus if you have any question. Click here for complete information and to register.
District Learning
It is that time of the year when the incoming club leaders are actively preparing to lead their clubs, therefore this month our focus is on the 2025-2026 club leadership learning.
Our district learning team is happy to report that we have already begun our learning sessions for club presidents-elect. Both first time and returning presidents have at this point attended one of the two information sessions designed specifically for club presidents-elect; registered for all upcoming virtual pre-PELS sessions; and have plans in place to take self-paced learning courses for presidents-elect (to be completed prior to PELS). These learning courses for every Rotarian are at the Rotary Learning Center.
If you need more information on any of the above, we have created a special resources page for you on our district website, with information about your recommended learning plans and upcoming pre-PELS and PELS registration. As a reminder, the requirements for first-time Presidents-elect: Club President Basics (10 courses, 4 hours and 15 minutes); for returning Presidents-elect: Club President Basics (above) and/or Club President Intermediate (9 courses, 4 hours and 15 minutes).
The Learning Center contains many Professional Development courses, including Communication Skills, Inspirational Speech, and Interpersonal Communication and Networking -- all skills that can strengthen your Public Image efforts.
President's Corner
Meet Chris Nasta, President of the Old Bridge-Sayreville Rotary
Chris, tell us a little about yourself. First, how long have you been a Rotarian, what attracted you to Rotary, and what was your first position in your club?
I first became aware of Rotary when I began my career with a brand-new YMCA built just outside the Philadelphia area. That Y had gotten it’s start because of a group of dedicated Rotarians who had seen a community need and began a quest more than 40 years ago to bring the Y into the community. I was impressed by the resilience and dedication of that group of volunteers, and I saw what a Rotary Club is about and what it does for the community. When I came to the Old Bridge Y to become their new Executive Director, I was excited to hear that they have a relationship with the Rotary Club and was interested in becoming part of the group. I joined just over two years ago and after a few short months was asked to serve as Vice-President/President Elect in my first year.
Wow, talk about jumping in and getting involved from day one! The club president is the most important position in Rotary. Why did you say yes to becoming your club's president?
While I was very new to Rotary and only had a limited knowledge of the organization, I was excited to take on the responsibility. After all, as I’ve learned working for the Y, there’s no better way to learn something new than to just jump in and start doing it. I knew I had a strong club with a support network to help me get through this, and with my leadership experience at the Y, it has made all the difference.
What was the preparation for becoming a president like?
There is a lot of preparation. This is both a positive and a negative in that I felt that the preparatory workshops, seminars, and online learnings were essential to me figuring out and knowing what I should be doing. However, already working in a leadership role within a non-profit is highly draining of my time, so being able to juggle both demands has been a challenge.
What one thing have you done or do you plan to do to make your year uniquely yours?
I have worked to re-establish our committees and fundraising efforts. I am focusing on our club becoming more connected to our community for the purpose of trying to grow awareness for what we do to attract potential donors and members.
Do you have a Rotary mentor and what is the most important lesson you learned from him or her?
Yes and no. I don’t have a formal mentor, however there are a number of club members who have been involved for many years and have been very willing and open with their time to help guide me.
Finally, what's one thing that people might not know about you
I’m an only child yet have fourteen nieces and nephews.
Time to Sign Up - International Convention - June 21-25, 2025
Embark on an exhilarating journey of connection and inspiration at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary! Engage in riveting discussions, learn from distinguished speakers, and explore enlightening breakout sessions against the backdrop of Calgary's picturesque beauty nestled amid the Canadian Rockies. Fueled by friendship and a spirit of collaboration, exchange best practices, ignite innovative projects, and form lifelong connections with fellow changemakers from around the world. Take part in this transformative, one-of-a-kind event and experience the Magic All Around at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada 21-25 June 2025.
The Lake Hopatcong Club welcomes Jill Malanga as the club's first woman Rotarian. Congratulations to President Walt Rossi for his leadership in making this historical milestone!
Rotary Club of the Caldwells Project Prom Dress
Mountainside Rotary Club Hosts Comedy Night Fundraiser
The Mountainside Rotary Club is hosting a Comedy Night fundraiser for March 29, 2015. All proceeds benefit Mountainside Rotary projects and all are invited to attend. See flyer below.
Morristown Rotary Club Announces the Next Rotary Trivia Showdown Date
Get ready to flex your mental muscles and test your knowledge in our upcoming trivia challenges! Gather your trivia smartest Rotarians and form your dream team.
The Second Challenge Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025, to be held at TIFF’s Trivia Nights (TIFFS, 231 Speedwell Ave, Morris Plains) starting at 7:30pm (but try to be there by 6:30pm to guarantee a table).
Rotary Club of Elizabeth Shares an Important Message
North Hunterdon Celebrates Rotary's 120th Birthday
Members of the North Hunterdon Rotary Club celebrated Rotary’s 120th Birthday with cake, candles, and a Happy Birthday banner. Members enjoyed a presentation on the origins and history of Rotary; new members were especially impressed. The North Hunterdon Rotary Club just celebrated its 87th year.
Parsippany Rotary Club Distributes 1300 Blankets to Local Charities
On February 23, 2025, the Parsippany Rotary Club distributed about 1300 blankets to seven local charities. Mayor James Barberio attended, along with two of his Council members, and congratulated the club for all their work and generosity in serving the underprivileged in the community.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Madison Rotary’s Repair Café Returns
The Madison Rotary Club and Grace Church are sponsoring Madison’s 3rd Repair Café on Saturday April 12th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. We will be repairing your broken items FOR FREE. Our repair experts will work with you to try to bring your broken things back to life. We can’t guarantee success every time, but we usually succeed. If you can carry it in we will try to fix it.
The Repair Cafe is open to all. You don’t need to live in Madison. And we always welcome new volunteers ! Questions? Contact Paul Lemaire via email or text. pjlema@gmail.com. 732-261-6443.
Welcome to our District 7475 newsletter—D7475 In Action.
We welcome your stories, photos, and suggestions. Please send to the D7475 In Action Co-Editors Ruth Kerkeslager and Woody Kerkeslager at ruthowen@att.net.
Meet Chris Nasta, President of the Old Bridge-Sayreville Rotary
Embark on an exhilarating journey of connection and inspiration at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary! Engage in riveting discussions, learn from distinguished speakers, and explore enlightening breakout sessions against the backdrop of Calgary's picturesque beauty nestled amid the Canadian Rockies. Fueled by friendship and a spirit of collaboration, exchange best practices, ignite innovative projects, and form lifelong connections with fellow changemakers from around the world. Take part in this transformative, one-of-a-kind event and experience the Magic All Around at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada 21-25 June 2025.
