Welcome to the Blairstown Rotary Club

Blairstown Rotary is an active group of community-minded people who believe in making Northern Warren County a better place to live and raise a family.

Rotary Is Changing

We are making it easier to fit Rotary into today's busy schedule and are focusing more on special projects, so you can be involved as your time allows.

The main requirement to join Rotary is the desire to get involved and make a difference in our community. We know that today’s work and family schedule take its toll on volunteer time, so we are working hard to make Rotary accessible to all who want to join and contribute.

Why Rotary?

Our club has a 73-year history in our community, and we are very sound financially. While we work locally, we are a proud part of Rotary International, a network of more than 1.2 million members.

We have access to the resources of this worldwide organization, which makes it possible for us to accomplish things beyond our local means.

Our Meetings

If you can spare an hour a month, you have the time to attend our monthly business meeting. Many of our members also enjoy attending our weekly dinner meetings, but these are not a requirement for membership. Here's how it works:

Monthly Business Meeting – 2nd Thursday @ 6 PM: This is our primary meeting of the month. The main business of the club is conducted, and it features a key guest speaker. The meeting and speaker will typically conclude by 7 PM. The meeting is followed by dinner for those that wish to attend. If your time is limited, attending the Monthly Business Meeting will keep you fully informed about club activities.

Dinner Meetings – 1st, 3rd & 4th Thursdays @ 7 PM: Dinner meetings focus on project work and general discussion. Most meetings have a guest speaker. Dinner meetings generally end by 8:30 PM. Attendance is optional but welcome. You can attend as many or as few as your time and circumstances allow.

We meet at Dalton's Columbia Inn, 33 Decatur Street in Columbia.

Our Projects

We hold and participate in many projects throughout the year. What we can accomplish is only limited by the time, enthusiasm and skills of our members.

We are confident that we can find projects that match your time, skills and abilities. Or maybe you have some ideas of your own, but you need people and resources to help carry them out. That’s what Rotary is all about.

Be Our Guest

We are looking for new members who can help us continue to serve the community for the next 70 years. Speak to us today about how YOU can join and be part of a truly great organization. Be our guest and join any of our Business or Dinner meetings to find out more. Or click here for more information and a New Member Application.

American Flag Donation

Blairstown Rotary and American Legion Post 258 Donate American Flags to

Blairstown Elementary School.

On a balmy Veterans Day 2020, members of the Blairstown Rotary and Legion Post 258

presented Blairstown Elementary School Principal Dr. Patrick Ketch with 50 American Flags

to replace missing or aging flags in the school. Blairstown Rotary received a grant from

our local District 7475 to help offset the project costs. The American-made flags were

purchased through the American Legion. They will be delivered to the school and

installed by the school's staff.

Pictured above are Rotarians Bob Law, Herman Shoemaker and Jeanne Law,

Principal Ketch, and Legion members Frank Lenkey and Paul Avery. Paul is also a Rotarian.

Rotary Donates to Ambulance Corps

The Rotary motto is Service Above Self, and members of the Blairstown

Ambulance Corps demonstrate that motto every day. In support of their service to

the community, Blairstown Rotary is donating $2,000 to the Corps to help

support their memorial wall project.

The wall will include a plaque listing the charter members. Two of the members,

Martin Semken & Victor Stoffels, were also Rotarians who saw a need in town

for an ambulance service. Martin owned a body shop and had a Suburban in the

shop that the Rotary club reconditioned and donated to the Corps. It was the

town's first ambulance.

The Ambulance Corp was founded in 1952 and Blairstown Rotary started in 1947,

so both organizations have been serving the community for many years.

In the picture above are Corps members Laura Bolcar, Rich Johnson, Paul McNamara,

Deb Ankelein, Sue Lothian and Bob Halberstadt and Rotarians Bob Law, Jeanne Law,

Denise Stanley, Bob Sherman and Dian Sherman. Bob & Dian are also members of the

Corps.

Our sincere appreciation to the Blairstown Ambulance Corps for

everything you do!

Rotary Funds New Town Sign

Blairstown Rotary and Blairstown

Enhancement Committee

Work Together on Town Tourism Sign

Rotary and the Blairstown Enhancement Committee (BEC) worked together to design, produce and install a new town sign highlighting Blairstown tourism and our position as the gateway to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Sign design was led by BEC member Gina Trish. Rotary funded the project and managed the production and installation. The sign is located on Route 94, just south of the Route 521 intersection as you enter Blairstown from the east.

The BEC will be creating an accompanying web site were people can go to get more information on local businesses and events that support the activities highlighted on the sign.

At the recent introduction of the sign, members of Rotary and BEC were joined by Deputy Mayor Joanne Van Valkenburg and Township Committee member Debra Waldron.

In the socially-distanced photo, left to right are Gina Trish, sign designer; Dave Paulson, BEC President; Debra Waldron; Bob Law, Rotary President; and Joanne Van Valkenburg.

Halloween Contests - 2020

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who entered!

We had lots of great entries to our Halloween virtual costume and pumpkin contests. The winners and all the

pictures are posted on our Facebook page. Thanks to the North Warren Rotary Interact Club for their help in judging.

Hopefully our traditions will return next year with a parade and live contest!

Walk to End Alzheimer's

Thank you to all who supported the Blairstown Rotary Club team

in the 2020 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Northwest, NJ.

Rotary raised $3,210 to support the Alzheimer's Association efforts.

Alzheimer's Facts:

Alzheimer's Disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the US.
More than 5 Million Americans are living with Alzheimer's Disease.
Over 16 Million people are serving as their unpaid caregivers.
More than 13 Million American women are either living with Alzheimer's or caring for someone who has it.