Rotary club inducts new members

COLFAX – Twelve members were inducted into the Colfax Rotary Club during their Thursday, Feb. 23 meeting at the Colfax Community Church.

Brand new members to the club included Kathy Wride, Steve Larkin, Jay Hart, and Jennifer Holt. Returning members who were inducted, and given a club packet were Michael Birnbaum, Jennifer Broeckel, Michael Broeckel, Kristyn Hardy, Ed McBride, Rex Rutledge, and John Turner.

Longtime member Al Kirkpatrick gave some history of the Colfax Rotary Club, explaining that he joined in 1979.

"When I was 8 years old, I started playing little league baseball at our Rotary Little League Park," Kirkpatrick said, adding that this was in the early 60's. The Rotary Club has been serving the Rotary Little League breakfast for over fifty years.

The Little League breakfast is something that Kirkpatrick doesn't want to see go by the wayside he explained, so they're setting out to revitalize the club. Not only are they seeking to get new members, but younger members to keep the club going.

Kirkpatrick then explained some of the local things that Rotary Club does for the community. These include the Little League Park, which the Rotary Club maintains. A Softball field that the members made and put together. As well as a soccer field for kindergartners, and first grade.

The Rotary club provides athletic facilities, and takes care of them. As well as paying people to maintain them. The Club has been involved with Meals on Wheels, cleans up the highway by the fairground, and has helped the Chamber of Commerce with staging parades. Kirkpatrick explained that the club provides three $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors. There is a Christmas auction.

"This year we raised about $4,400," Kirkpatrick said, noting that the proceeds go to the Fireman's Toy Box for Christmas presents for kids.

In addition to local fundraising, and community service Rotary is also known for its international fundraising.

"There are over 3000 clubs in over 200 countries all over the world, and 1.4 million plus members so we really do a lot of good internationally," Rotary member Jon Kehne said.

Kehne explained that the basic mission of Rotary international is to promote world peace, world understanding, and good will. To address the issues they try to attack worldwide illiteracy, hunger, poverty, clean water, and mental concerns. Combating Polio in foreign countries is one of Rotary International's biggest endeavors.

The inductees to the club were then called up to state who they are, and share about themselves.

Birnbaum is the pastor at Plymouth Church in Colfax, first becoming a rotarian in 1980.

Jennifer Broeckel was born and raised in Colfax, and was president of the Rotary Club at one point, but explained that she had to quit because her son was busy in High School.

Michael Broeckel and Jay Hart are part of corporate membership for those from the Bank of Eastern Washington.

Broeckel grew up in LaCrosse, and got his start in Colfax Rotary in 2006. Hart was born and raised in Colfax by Dan and Becky Hart. He graduated from Colfax in 2012, and moved back in 2020.

Hardy is a long time active member, and holds a corporate membership for Pierson Farm and Fence. She moved back in 2019, does the soccer program, and coaches t-ball.

New member, Holt is new to town having lived in Colfax for less than a year. She is retired from the Marine Corps after 23 years, and moved here to be close to family. Holt's brother is the proprietor of McKeirnan's auto in Pullman.

McBride has returned to the Rotary, and is the pastor at the Colfax Community Church.

Wride, a longtime citizen of Colfax, and is Office Manager at Columbia Bank. Wride is excited to get her bank team involved in helping with Rotary events.

Longtime members Rutledge and Turner also spoke. Rutledge has lived here almost 16 years, and is excited to get to know the new members of his Rotary family. Turner has been here for just over two years, and is looking forward to playing a role in the community more.