WORDS FROM OUR PRESIDENT AT THE NEW YEAR


In difficult times which 2020 had, we count our blessings, even as we note the loss of beloved member George Milne. In my first address to the club as president, I emphasized the strategic priorities of Rotary International that applied to us as well: Impact, Reach, Engage and Adapt. These principles implemented by our Club have helped us to flourish this year.

While other Rotary clubs have folded, our Club has thrived. Our weekly meetings have been a source of strength, hope and stability. We have adapted. Although all virtual, our monthly evening meetings have been well received and our weekly meetings well attended. Our programming has been engaging and robust. We have explored important, timely and difficult topics such as racial justice, bias, police reform, internet connectivity for remote learners and food insecurity, with presentations from community leaders. We have invited the Englewood Community to join us virtually and expanded our reach. We have benefitted from joint meetings with other clubs and have learned by sharing mutual experiences.

Rotary is about making an impact in our community and in the world, and we have done just that! Whether sending funds to the Rotary Foundation to help eradicate worldwide polio, partnering to educate nurses in a medically underserved area in Haiti, donating coats/ gloves and hats and Target gift cards for local families in need, helping combat food insecurity in our community, helping children through our partnership with the JCC School of Music or by distributing dictionaries to 3rd graders, and supporting our environment- we have made a mark in Englewood and in the world!
 
We adopted a new vision and mission statement and outlined priorities.
 
While accomplishing all this, we’ve had fun! We celebrated the centennial anniversary of women’s suffrage! We had a successful virtual community award gala in the Fall and celebrated the New Year with chocolate, music, song and laughter!
 
Rotary is more than a service club. It’s about friendships that are made locally and internationally that enable us to do so much.
 
I look forward to all that we have to accomplish together in 2021 and the years to come.
 
Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year to my Rotary Family!
 
Dr. Lisa Wisotsky, President 2020/2021
Join us for a special meeting on Tuesday January 12 at Noon

Our guest speaker will be Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur

Tracy Silna Zur has served eight years as a Bergen County Commissioner. She is a life-long Bergen County resident who holds a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, a law degree from Fordham University, and a Master's in Public Administration from Rutgers University. In the past, she has served as a municipal prosecutor, a judge and as a Public Defender. As a Commissioner, she has advocated for adults with unique abilities seeking employment, organized the annual LGBTQ Youth Leadership Summit, and recently launched the Bergen County Food Security Task Force to address the growing rate of food insecurity in Bergen County and address the impact on our local food pantries. 




Please click here for the agenda for the 1/12 meeting
Here is the link for the Spoke for the 1/5 meeting

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85327525274?pwd=OTNXZ1A1N3pnRlgrSXJGeEx1a251dz09
Meeting ID: 853 2752 5274
Passcode: 352511


Rotary Club of Englewood is a proud participant of the Coalition for Racial Unity and Equity.

You are invited to attend a virtual film screening and discussion of "Thirteenth". To register for this event click here.
Member Meet Up
Janet Sharma

Janet Sharma has been a member of Englewood Rotary since 2007 and was President in 2018-2019, when our Community Awards Gala honored 15 civic leaders in Englewood over the age of 90.

Janet served for 22 years as CEO of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County (now Bergen Volunteers), which has the distinction of being named a Volunteer Center of Excellence by Points of Light. She also chaired the Bergen County VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), which managed a Hurricane Sandy Recovery Project that not only raised and distributed more than $10 million to help residents recover from the storm, but also became a model for long term recovery operations across the state. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, she held previous positions in fundraising at Dwight-Englewood School and Holy Name Hospital. 
 
Janet is currently coordinator of Age-Friendly Englewood, a community-wide project that is working to ensure that residents of Englewood can age-in-place in their homes and in the community with dignity and independence. 

Mrs. Sharma has received the “Woman of Distinction” award from Senator Robert Menendez, and her civic leadership has been widely recognized.
 
In addition to serving as President of the Board of Trustees of Flat Rock Brook Nature Association, she serves on the N.J. Governor’s Advisory Council on Volunteerism, Bergen County Human Relations Commission, Suez North America Foundation Board, and the Advisory Board of the Russ Berrie Awards for Making a Difference. 

She resides in Cresskill with her husband, Sansar, a neuroscientist. They love to travel. They have two children: Nina and Dave, who is the father of the most adorable grandson in the world.

 
A Look Ahead....
Tuesday January 12 at noon- Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur will discuss Food Insecurity during the Pandemic in Bergen County and in Englewood

Tuesday January 12 following Club meeting- Monthly Board meeting

Thursday January 14 at 6:30 PM- Virtual Film Screening and discussion of "Thirteenth", sponsored by the Coalition for Racial Unity and Equity

Tuesday January 19 at noon- Englewood Rotary member Dr. Mike Passow, "Englewood Environmental Trail"

Tuesday January 26 at 6 PM- Englewood Police Chief Lawrence Suffern

Tuesday February 2 at Noon- Peggy King Jorde will discuss "Preservation of the most significant trace of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Middle Passage Journey"
Dr. Lisa Wisotsky, President,Rotary Club of Englewood
LisaWisotskyRotary@gmail.com

For Membership Inquiries please contact Joyce Grossbard, Chair of Membership
Joyce.grossbard@gmail.com