Carlisle Rotary Clubs present a check for $26,000+ to support a Global Grant Project in Togo, West Africa. The funds were raised during Carlisle Rotary’s annual holiday auction. Pictured from left to right are Bill Blankmeyer, Carlisle Rotary Club Auction Chair, Marv Salsman, Carlisle Rotary Sunrise Club Auction Chair, Joel Hillison, President of the Carlisle Rotary Club, Past District Governor Kevin Cogan and Mike Zick, Togo Project Chair Person.

 

Carlisle’s three Rotary Clubs, the Carlisle Rotary Club, the Carlisle Sunrise Rotary Club and the newly formed Carlisle Rotary Sunset Club held their annual holiday dinner on 30 November at the Carlisle Country Club with 124 Rotarians and their guests in attendance. This dinner also served as a celebration of the Carlisle Sunrise Club’s 20 years of service having been chartered on 1 December 2003. The event kicked off with a slide show presentation that recapped the quite impressive list of local and international projects the club has completed followed by a champagne toast to commemorate the occasion.

 

For several years now the presidents of the Carlisle Rotary Club and Carlisle Rotary Sunrise Club have selected one project or organization to be the beneficiary of funds raised at their annual auction conducted during the dinner. Selected this year was a Global Grant project to provide access to safe water and improved hygiene to three extremely poor communities in Togo, West Africa. The projected cost of this project is $68,300 and Carlisle Rotary’s contribution toward making it possible was to raise $25,200. With that goal in mind, Carlisle Rotarians pledged over $13,500 in sponsorships prior to their auction. The auction itself, with over 100 items to bid on, raised $12,400 bringing the total raised for the project to just over $26,000. Achieving their goal for the project was only possible thanks to the generosity of Rotarians and local businesses who donated items to the auction.  

 

As has become a tradition at Rotary’s holiday dinner, each club recognized the recipient of their annual distinguished Rotarian award. The Carlisle-Sunrise Rotary Club recognized Past President Mike Zick as the "Buzz Coho Distinguished Service Citation" recipient. Mike is also the committee chair person for the Togo project. The Carlisle Rotary Club recognized Past President and District Governor Nominee Mary Brunski as their “Four-Way Test Award” recipient.

 

Carlisle Sunrise Rotary Club President Charlie Stoup (left) presents the “Buzz Coho Distinguished Service Citation” to Past President Mike Zick.

 

Carlisle Rotary Club President Joel Hillison (right) presents the “Four-Way Test Award” to Past President and District Governor Nominee Mary Brunski.