An organization that promotes “service above self” is looking for new members and volunteers to help carry out its various initiatives throughout Medford and surrounding communities.
For the past 80 years, the Medford-Vincentown Rotary Club has completed numerous initiatives and community service events throughout Medford, Vincentown, Tabernacle, Shamong and Medford Lakes.
President of the Rotary Club Tammy Herbert said the club runs “like a well-tuned and oiled machine” without major hiccups because of the countless hours of dedication from its 48 members, some of whom are 90 years old.
Now, as they power into the holiday season and the new year, the club is seeking younger members to help bring in new, fresh ideas, especially ones surrounding the use of technology.
“Some of the college and high school kids, I do want them, but they haven’t exactly found themselves and don’t know where they will be residing, so I’m looking for the 30- to 40- year-old generation,” Herbert said.
The younger crowd, she said, can help Rotary continue its community outreach in ways current club members haven’t thought of before.
Last year, the club updated cash registers at Pride Paws that were “ancient,” so the workers can translate their skills to other places such as CVS. Pride Paws is a Medford-based nonprofit that provides youth who have physical or mental disabilities with skills in the workforce.
When searching for younger members, Herbert said she’s looking for them because they are established in the areas Rotary serves and there is a lesser likelihood of them leaving for another Rotary Club or organization.
The club, however, does reach out to Shawnee and Seneca high schools, Burlington County Institute of Technology – Medford and Bishop Eustace Preparatory School to get student volunteers and work with the various extracurricular activities to give students service hours.
Administrators of all four of the schools listed, she added, are involved in Rotary and will often bring new ideas to the club, as well as encourage their students to take part in events.
“The thing is when I went to high school, I didn’t need community service hours,” Herbert said. “Kids today do need that, so it’s a win-win. They get their hours and then they help us out.”
High schoolers and any other volunteers will assist the club in a variety of ways, such as with the annual Easter egg hunt, creating disaster boxes with four days’ worth of survival items following a natural disaster, and checking in floats for the Halloween parade, among other tasks.
The schools receive support back from the club in the form of scholarships for graduating seniors who are seeking either a two- or four-year degree, or who are attending trade school.
Being a volunteer in the organization is free, however, membership costs $72 a month, which covers the weekly dinners at Braddock’s Tavern, and an additional $100 for the year, totaling around $82 per month. However, Herbert said they are open to anyone who wants to come in and participate in the various initiatives they have or to offer up ideas.
“It’s very hard to get volunteers, and this is an organized group where you build a bond,” she added. “We want people to come and be members and through that, for them to be volunteers. We would never hunt them down.”
In an organization that promotes “service above self” in everything they do, Herbert said they raise money and create initiatives that will improve the lives of everyone. She later went on to say that the club doesn’t just focus on poverty, a type of cancer or a specific social justice issue, even though many of the members, including herself, do those things on the side.
To learn more about the Medford-Vincentown Rotary Club or to inquire about being a member or volunteer, stop by one of the club’s meetings every Tuesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Braddock’s Tavern, 39 S Main St., or visit MVRotaryClub.org
“[Rotary is] a way to have a huge network of people that care about helping other people,” Herbert said. “Not just me and you doing something, it’s me, you and 46 people total doing something, and then our large group starts small locally and develops into something bigger.”
