Projects

Our club actively supports the goals of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation through the following:

Oyster Bar Restoration		In association with Morgan State University Estuarine Research Center, the Prince Frederick Rotary Club periodically helps with the restoration of Peterson Bar in the Patuxent River. Each year the Center breeds small oysters in its facilities on Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. Members of our club help transport the spat that has set on clumps of old shell onto the bar in the river.
Group Study Exchanges		Through our district, our club participates in regular exchanges of comminuty and business leaders with Rotary districts overseas. Periodically, a delegation of five or six selected individuals nominated by Rotary Clubs in our district will travel for 5 weeks to visit an overseas district. Here the participants learn about the business and government of that district and report back at various times during the following year. Our district hosts a reciprocal delegation, and our club participates in showing the overseas participants our county. The Group Study Exchange program is funded by educational grants from The Rotary Foundation. In 2005, our district exchanged delegations with Uruguay. Carmen Belanger, our Interact Club advisor was on the team. In 2006, we exchanged delegations with Norway. In 2007, we will exchange with the new Rotary district in Western Russia.

College Scholarships		Our club awards approximately $2,000 each year to one graduating senior from Calvert County Schools who will be attending a four-year college, one graduating senior from the Calvert Career Center pursuing vocational education, and one graduate of the College of Southern Maryland, Calvert Campus, going on to a four-year college.. One of these may be named the Brian Albright Scholarship if the winner is pursuing studies in environmental sciences. The prior year winner of the graduating senior award may apply for a one year renewal if the first year academic achievements are satisfactory. The winners are chosen by our Scholarship Committee under the Vocational Line of Service.

Project ECHO		Our club supports Project ECHO, which occupies a converted home and provides a safe harbor for up to 25 individuals for as long as three-months. Most of the residents are individuals or families who have encountered financial difficulties and find themselves temporarily without living accommodations. The shelter offers them a safe, warm place until they can get back into a normal life style. If they are unemployed, they must look for and obtain a job while living at ECHO. Our members prepare dinners twice a month on a rotating basis. Other members support weekly or semi-monthly shifts, usually a morning or afternoon, by providing on-site supervision. Click here for schedule.

World Community Service		Our club raised $1,000 in 1998 to fund a well for the school in Kollegal, India. The well will provide safe drinking water for the 800 students who now use a local pond. The Rotary Club of Kollegal has this year raised a matching $1,000 so that with an additional match from the Rotary Foundation, the well is currently being installed. We and the Northern Calvert club have supported the matching grant application of the Rotary Club of Vasant Kunj, Delhi, India, for a $4,000 organic farming education program for small farmers in that country.

Polio in India		Our club contributes $1,000 annually in support of the Rotary Club of Charlotte Hall's project in India, which performs corrective surgery on youths suffering from the effects of polio.


4-Way Test Speech Contest		Each local high school is invited to send contestants to give a speech on the topic of the Rotary 4-Way Test. The winners receive cash awards and first place goes on to a District contest.

Gallaudet University Scholarships		District 7620 has a tradition of awarding money annually for scholarships to Gallaudet University in Washington, D. C. Clubs in the district are invited to participate, and our club is frequently one of the most generous. During the Rotary Day ceremonies at Gallaudet in 1999, one of the scholarships was named for our member, Marsh Damerell, because of his personal support of this project through his donations.

Fund Raising		Our club runs a food and beverage canteen at various area events such as the Celtic Festival, Children's Day at the Farm, and Patuxent River Appreciation Days. We direct parking at the Artsfest at Annmarie Gardens, with assistance from local high school Navy Junior ROTC cadets. We also hold two yard sales each year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

Interact Club		Our club supports an Interact Club at Patuxent High School. Interact is a student-run operation that performs several service projects each school term with guidance from members of the local Rotary Club and faculty advisors of the high school.