Rotarians, family, and friends packed nearly 800 food bags for local families in need. The monthly service project took place at Mercer Street Friends Food Bank.
A few hours of service created meaningful impact across the community.
It’s Farewell, Not Goodbye: A Night We’ll Carry With Us
by Anna D. Banks, Public Image Committee Chair, Rotary District 7475
Rotary District 7475 closed an unforgettable chapter with a heartfelt farewell dinner honoring our Japanese Short-Term Youth Exchange students from District 2670.
The students shared the beauty of Japanese culture through dance, singing, poetry, keyboard, flute, and violin performances—offering one final gift to the host families and Rotarians who had shared their journey.
After weeks of friendship, discovery, and experiences across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, the evening was a powerful reminder that Rotary Youth Exchange is about much more than travel. It is about building relationships across cultures, opening hearts, and creating memories that last long after the journey ends.
It was farewell—but certainly not goodbye.
Twenty Japanese exchange students are spending their final week with Rotary District 7475, creating memories across West Orange before heading to Phillipsburg. What began as a cultural exchange has grown into something deeper—friendships, connection, and a Rotary family that now stretches across the world.
Rotary District 7475 welcomed 20 students from Japan’s District 2670 for a day of global learning at the United Nations and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Now in its 48th year, this Youth Exchange partnership continues to build friendships, cultural understanding, and the kind of connections that help young people see the world—and one another—differently.
Rotary District 7475 joined regional leaders at the 39th Annual Strike-Out Hunger & Polio Dinner in Cherry Hill. District Governor-Elect Kalpana Patel, members of the Robbinsville-Hamilton Rotary Club, and Public Image Chair Anna D. Banks represented the district. Keynote speaker Mike McGovern highlighted Rotary’s global polio eradication work, while Ed Wade spoke about community service. The evening featured fundraising, recognition, fellowship, music, and a renewed commitment to service and lasting impact.
From June 29 to July 2, over 120 high schoolers from our district and District 7490 participated in our Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) program, presented by the Rotaract Club of Leadership and Service in Caldwell University. These exceptional students, hailing from our largest cities to our smaller towns, demonstrated enthusiasm, respect, caring, and endless energy throughout the four days. They experienced the Rotary motto of Service Above Self, learned and practiced teambuilding and leadership skills, built friendships with each other, and prepared to start their journey towards becoming future leaders.
Why Join Rotary? Five Reasons Rotary Still Changes Lives shows non-members how Rotary creates real impact through service, leadership, friendship, global connection, and purpose.
