New Poulsbo Rotary to serve working families in Poulsbo

The club’s first meeting is Saturday, Aug. 17

Crossroads Rotary Club says it will serve as a club for working families in Poulsbo by meeting on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month in the evening to allow club members to attend the meetings and be home for their children’s bedtimes.

As an international organization, the Rotary has a primary focus on fighting diseases and playing an integral role in the eradication of polio around the world. Other focuses include providing clean water and living space, medical care, education and economic opportunities on a global basis.

“Each club decides what areas they would like to focus on. In Kitsap County, there is a broad range of support for programs both locally and internationally,” said Amy Schmidt, a Poulsbo Rotary member and co-founder of the Crossroads Rotary Club.

“Some examples are sending cooking stoves in Nepal to promote healthier home environments, providing housing for domestic violence victims with Morrow Manor, supporting Fishline, partnerships with School Foundations to buy school supplies and giving to local horse programs that work with disabled people,” Schmidt said.

As part of a larger organization, Rotary clubs only differ in what service areas are they choose, and where and when they meet.

Poulsbo Rotary Club, in existence for more than 40 years, meets every Friday morning at Sons of Norway.

The Crossroads Rotary Club will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month.

The Crossroads moniker was the brainchild of Schmidt’s husband, Geoff.

“When we were brainstorming about possible names, he noted that Poulsbo is nestled in the crossroads of North Kitsap between Silverdale, Kingston and Bainbridge Island. It just made sense,” Schmidt said.

“We have found many folks who newly join Rotary [that] are at a crossroads in their own lives. We like the metaphor and so have many other people,” Schmidt added.

Crossroads Rotary Club’s first meeting at Vibe Coworks is on Aug. 17, where it will adopt its bylaws and approve its officers.

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