Projects
Canalfest -- Annual event first weekend in August, located at Bellamy Harbor Park on Mill Street. Three-day festival for the community featuring such events as ski show, regatta, fishing derby, dog show, food contests, flower show, live bands, amusement rides, food, nightly fireworks. Utilizes huge numbers of volunteers.
Children's Christmas Party -- Annual event that hosts approximately 125 area school children, providing them with winter coats, mittens, boots, clothing and toys along with a meal. Volunteers most often needed to help with purchasing clothing and packaging it.
Literacy -- in the past this has constituted giving area school students dictionaries, thesauruses, etc. and is open to other possibilities.
Food Bank Donations -- once a month donations collected at both meetings, rotating for three organizations -- Salvation Army, Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities.
Halloween Party -- annual event, utilizing a lot of volunteers including JROTC students. Provides a safe environment for children and families for Halloween activities (in the school carnival vein). Also includes annual parade of children in their costumes.
Honor America Day Parade -- in years past this has required a number of Rotarians to walk the parade route carrying a large flag. This year (2011) a float will take its place, promoting Canalfest with volunteers helping to pass out brochures, etc.
RYLA -- Rotary's leadership training program for young people that comes in the form of seminars, workshops and camps held over 3-10 days.
RFA Interact Club -- a Rotary-sponsored high school club that raises awareness of the need for community involvement, often raising considerable funds for service projects abroad (clean water programs, a school in Sudan, etc.).
July 4th Service -- annual event open to the public at the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier, corner of James and Liberty streets, featuring a flag raising ceremony, memorial wreath placement, etc.
Rotary Readers -- Rotarians work with elementary school children at Bellamy School to help promote literacy either by reading to a student or having the student read to them -- volunteers always being sought.
Hospital Christmas Party -- annual party at Rome Memorial Hospital for hospital residents; primarily includes singing, refreshments, etc.
Salvation Army Kettle Bell Ringing -- annual participation with Rotarians signing up for hour segments to ring the bell outside local businesses. Volunteers always needed.
Rescue Mission Volunteers -- Rotarians help with distributing Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Volunteers always needed.
Science Fair -- Rotarians help judge the local level of the school science fair (training provided) and the club sponsors awards.
Student Scholarship Program -- promoted through the local schools with four to five graduating seniors awarded $1,000 annually.
Teacher of the Year -- honors outstanding teacher who also demonstrates a strong service commitment.
Group Study Exchange -- a cultural and vocational exchange between two countries for business people and professionals (non-Rotarians) between the ages of 25-40 for a 4-6 week period to experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.
International Student Day -- international students from area colleges are taken on a tour of Rome sites, treated to lunch and visit with Rotarians in their homes, utilizes a number of Rotarians.
Youth Exchange -- outgoing and incoming exchange students are processed. Host families are secured for incoming exchange students though non-hosting Rotarians have included students in family outings, etc. Exchange students periodically attend Rotary meetings to share information.