NEWTOWN, PA — The Newtown Rotary Club welcomed a new president and recognized its Rotarian of the Year during a change of leadership celebration held at Newtown American Legion Post 440.
After leading his final meeting, Steve Sabel officially handed the leadership gavel over to Shikah Prashar, a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services. Prashar holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in finance from Northeastern University and a Bachelor's degree in economics from Delhi University.
The club also used the occasion to present a handful of awards to members who have made an impact on the club and the community during the past year.
Rotarian Paul Salvatore presented the first two awards, recognizing Richard Fekete with the Community Service Award and Mick Petrucci with the Unsung Hero’s Award.
“When I think of Rich, I think of Christmas. I think of toys. I think of kids, and I think of Santa Claus,” he said of the owner of Countryside Gallery and Custom Framing. Fekete portrays St. Nicholas during the holiday season in Newtown and organizes numerous fundraisers throughout the year for community causes.
Former club president and outgoing club chairman Mick Petrucci accepted the Unsung Hero’s Award for his behind-the-scenes work on behalf of the club. During Petrucci’s two years as president and two years as chairman, the club saw the biggest growth in membership in its history, Salvatore said.
“This is unexpected. This is a true honor. I love this club. I have been here for close to 11 years. This is my home. You are all my friends,” said Petrucci in accepting the honor.
Paul Salvatore presents the club's Community Service Award to Richard Fekete, the owner of Countryside Gallery and Custom Framing.
Paul Salvatore presents the club's Unsung Hero Award to former president and board chairman Mick Petrucci. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
Dr. Jerry Agasar presents the Rotarian of the Year Award to former president Deb Porter. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
Dr. Jerry Agasar presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to Chuck Charlton. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
In other presentations, club member Dr. Jerry Agasar presented the prestigious Rotarian of the Year Award to former president Deb Porter.
“Deb is what Rotary is all about. She jumps into every activity and every project,” said Agasar. “Along with Mick, she has grown our club and has raised the professionalism of our club to what it is today.”
“I can think of a million other people this should be going to, but that’s what I love about this club. I really appreciate this," said Porter.
Agasar presented the final award of the evening - the club’s Bob Davis Lifetime Achievement Award - to Chuck Charlton. The award is named in memory of World War II veteran and Princeton graduate Bob Davis who for many years owned the Newtown Hardware House.
Charlton has been a longtime member of the club, serving as past president and two-time district governor. He’s also a five-time Paul Harris Fellow and was one of the founders of Hope on the Vine, which is today one of the club’s biggest fundraisers of the year.
“This club has come a long way from grapefruit to now. And to see where we are today is just fantastic,” said Charlton, who joined more than 30 years ago. “This club has given me more than I have given it. I want to thank you for that.”
Among the highlights of the night was the swearing-in of the club’s new president - Shikah Prashar - by District Judge Mick Petrucci.
Shikah Prashar is sworn in as president by Judge Michael Petrucci. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
Shikah Prashar shares her goals for the club after being sworn in as president. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
“What an honor and what a privilege to be standing here tonight,” she said in accepting the gavel from Sabel. “My goal this year will be simple. I want to keep building on the strength. I want to keep building on the foundation that this wonderful board, Mick as the chairman, each one of you in leadership, and especially Steve Sabel, have put in place. I'm going to build on that and welcome new members just like you welcomed me.
“I also want to make sure our outreach expands beyond what we are doing now. I have big shoes to fill and I have a wonderful foundation to keep scaling, and that’s what our goal is going to be.”
Motivated by three key words - Service Above Self - the local club organizes such events as Pedals for Progress, a highly successful used bike collection drive held every fall; Hope on the Vine, a fundraiser supporting local causes; the town’s Easter Egg Hunt; an annual golf outing supporting Pickering Manor; food collection drives for the Wrightstown Food Pantry; support for Ukrainian refugees; and lots more.
The Newtown Rotary Club meets on the first and third Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Linden Avenue in Newtown. The cost is $16 for lunch. On the fourth Thursday, the club meets for a monthly happy hour at 5:30 p.m. at a local restaurant to support a local cause.
For more information about the local Rotary Club, click here.
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