Welcome to East Portland Rotary Club!
 
We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:00 PM
The Moda Center and via Zoom
Garden Garage
2 N Ramsay Way
Portland, OR 97227
United States of America
We meet at 11:30 for fellowship, then the meeting starts at noon, ending approximately at 1:00. Park in the Moda Center Garden Garage (as shown on the map) then enter through the double doors. Parking is free for meeting attendees.
District Site
Rotary International
Venue Map
Speakers
Dr. Scott Burns
Jun 11, 2026
Urban Landslide and the Lessons Learned
James Moore, author
Jun 18, 2026
Vic Atiyeh and the Transformation of Oregon
View entire list...
                                               East Portland Rotary host the Royal Court Princesses
 
We were overjoyed to host the Royal Court at our regular meeting on May 21.  This group of young ladies were both inspiring and enthusiastic about their future plans.  It's always a treat to meet them and hear their stories.
 
                                                             
                               Continuing our work at Boise/Elliot Humboldt Elementary School
Another group of hearty workers took on the ivy and clean-up of the BEH school grounds.  We will be back in a few weeks to continue our clean up.
 
        
 
        
 
      
 

                                 Honoring our Junior Rotarians

Six of our eight Junior Rotarians from Grant, Central Catholic, Cleveland and Benson high schools, members of their families, and their school counselors joined us for lunch to celebrate receiving EPRC scholarship plaques. Junior Rotarian Chair Tony Leineweber provided introductions and gracious words of congratulations. These graduating high schoolers then each told us where they are going to college and what they plan to study. Not pictured (both were out serving their community at Outdoor School):  Robert Low from Cleveland and Brandon Solano Miranda from Grant.

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Brenda Martinez De Jesus

Benson 
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Elizabeth Nasser

Central Catholic 
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Everett Hering

Central Catholic 

 
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Sara Gebremichael

Grant 
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Zayd Faruqui 

Benson 
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Fawaz Shee

Cleveland

                                                     World Community Service - Kenya Update

                                                               from Jenny Clark and Ron Atwood
 
In 2025 WECO, led by Jenny, in partnership with our own East Portland Rotary Club, supported a community farm project at the Tepesua Community-Based Organization to enhance food security and income generation for more than 35 Maasai women who are survivors of child marriage and female genital mutilation. This is part of our club's larger program for girls' education and women's economic empowerment in Kenya. In December, we provided vocational trainings in sustainable agriculture to enhance the community’s knowledge of farm management. This was made possible by a $2000 gift of from the club's World Community Service budget and a match of the same amount from District Designated Funds. This project will generate market-based income that is also reinvested into the education programs and related gender equity projects.  
Photos: upper left: Some of the women learning about soil care, harvest processes, and crop rotation practices with the trainer from the Laikipa Permaculture Center.
Bottom photos: Before our support (August 2025) (left); and after (April 2026) (right).
           
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82nd Avenue Parade to Highlight End Sex Trafficking
A sunny morning on April 25 was spent joining the 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade to promote education around ending sex trafficking.  Our East Portland Rotary team showed their enthusiasm and dedication to this effort by carrying signs and handing out information to the parade viewers.  Our team included Kathy Stromvig, Char Curry, Mike and Julie Downing, Connie Shipley, Ron Enna, Ron Atwood, Lisa Pickert, Lisa Allen, Melissa Meyer, Jiajun Yuan and Marilyn Boyle.
     
 
                          
 
 
East Portland Rotary and Rebuilding Together
It was a busy day on April 25 as in addition to the 82nd Avenue Parade, East Portland Rotarians participated in the Rebuilding Together project along with St. Barts Church.  This day we worked on a home painting  project in Beaverton.  Thank you to all those Picasso's that participated; Dave Malcolm, Dave Palm, Denny Baker, Lisa Pickert, Bob Strader and Mark Chapin.  
 
    
 
Foster Kids Christmas Celebration
On December 6 East Portland Rotarians once again hosted our Christmas extravaganza for 457 foster children and their families.  They enjoyed face painting, cookie decorating, a reptile show, balloon animals and so much more.  Santa was on hand to give each child a gift from their wish list!  HO! HO! HO!  
Thanks to the many volunteers and our fearless leaders in this endeavor, Rotarians Melissa Meyer and Dave Miller!  All the reward we needed was to see the smiles and hear the laugher from these children.
 
      
 
Boise Elliot/Humboldt Happenings
Here are several links for happenings at BEH that East Portland Rotarians may be interested in.
 
School Fundraiser:
 
 
The PTA Home Page:
 
 
The school calendar listing all of our events:
 
 
Boise Elliot/Humboldt Peace Pole 
 
A hearty group of East Portland Rotarians and other helpers gathered to finish up the peace pole project by spreading bark dust in the area and finishing up the planter boxes.  The rain held off and the work was done in no time.  Once again, EPRC in action!
 
                       
 
 

 

                    East Portland Rotary Celebrates 75 Years

         With excitement and joy in the air and close to 60 members, past members, visiting Rotarians and guest attending, East Portland Rotary celebrated its 75th anniversary year in smart style, returning to the Moda Center's Rose Room where the club started meeting in 2005.  Organized by Laurie Carlson and emceed by Kelly Buechler, the event was extraordinary.  Several past presidents reminisced about events during their year and Kelly spotlighted the club's first 60 years.  A moment of silence was observed to honor those members no longer with us. To cap off the celebration, Kelly proposed a toast and attendees raised their glasses to celebrate 75 years of service, fellowship and unwavering commitment to "Service Above Self".

            

 

           
 

               

 

                               

 
 
 
East Portland Rotary Little Library is a Success!
Over 2 years ago, EPRC placed a Little Library at the Humboldt Gardens apartments, one of the locations where we deliver Meals on Wheels every week.  In replenishing the books recently, we had a conversation with Tony Villagran, the Resident and Community Services Coordinator for Humboldt Gardens.  He was so excited to catch us in the act!  He related how much the residents enjoy looking through and choosing books we have put in the library.  Every Thursday, a food bank is held in the same area as the library and while community members are awaiting their turn to go to the food bank, they frequently pick out some books from our library.   Keep those donations coming!  They are put towards a great cause.
 
                                               
 
Boise Elliott Humboldt clean-up and Peace Pole 
We had a "wonderful" morning at BEH on Saturday, August 16. No rain and sunshine make the work easier.
 
Kudos to the ivy crew. it is much easier to cut and pull the ivy; it is much harder to pull out the roots. They worked hard. Kudos to Dave Malcolm; as usual, he found a tree to get into and trim. There  is a sidewalk next to the school and a play area that is now much safer. Kudos to the weeders; that is stoop labor, but the play area now looks much better. Kudos to the Jim and Connie for weeding the area around the raised beds. Kudos to the pruning committee that worked around the east side and front of the school. Each year they make the school a more inviting place.
 
The Peace Pole is in place. Kaveh, the principal, and a parent used pick and shovel to dig the hole. Placement was much easier because Dave Malcolm had placed the pole into a 5 gallon bucket beforehand. Once the hole was dug, it was much easier to place it. Dedication of the pole is slated for about 3:00 Friday, August 22. Having a few Rotarians there will be wonderful.
 
Here is the list of heroes who spent their Saturday at BEH; yes, they were all very tired by the end of the morning; great work:
 
Mark Chapin           Jeff Spere                     Ron Enna           Chris Page           Denny Baker
Jim Moiso                Tony Leineweber        Ron Atwood      Dave Malcolm     Kelly Buechler
Aaron Rogers         Connie Shipley            Bob Strader       Lisa Pickert
Karen Hofler, with Husband Michael and daughter Quin
 
                     

World Community Service News

This year we have had two students in high school and two students at university. The grades for our university students are excellent it ia anticipated we will support them again next school year. Our two high school students have graduated; we assume we will pick up a couple of new students in the near term. Below is a note received from Kenya Keys, that we also support, and Tina in San Felipe together with graduation pictures for our students. Thank you for supporting World Community Service.
 
 
     
The 2022–2025 class has now concluded. Please find below a photo of your students at their graduation, along with their final grades. 
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your invaluable support in helping the students of San Felipe improve their lives. Your generosity and encouragement have made a meaningful difference in their educational journey and future opportunities.
Thank you once again for being a vital part of this success.
 
Final Grades
Antonio Gregorio, Monserrat.  9.3   
Cervantes Hernandez, Luisa Victoria.  9.4
 
 
     
 
 
 
Introducing our new RISE student from Guatemala
 

Bryan I.

Grade: 10th
Community: San Martín
Birthday: 2009-03-23
Number of Siblings: 1
Favorite Subject: English
Future Aspirations: To be able to graduate and be a professional

Bio: My name is Bryan I., I was born on March 23, 2009 in Guatemala City. We are two brothers, I am the oldest and the youngest is in elementary school. We live with my mother, her name is María, she is a housewife and she also makes very beautiful weavings and that is the source of income for my family. Unfortunately the weavings take a long time to make and there is a lot of competition outside. 

Let me tell you a little about my life. I was born in Guatemala City because of my parents' work. My father worked as a security guard but unfortunately he passed away. That brought many problems to my family and housing stability, so my mother made the decision to return to live in the village. It was hard because we did not have a house to live in, so my grandparents gave us a piece of land and my good-hearted uncles helped us build two rooms where we currently live and we try to be perseverant. 

I want to continue studying in high school. I like agriculture and I would like to be an agronomist since at the moment I also work half a day and then study. The best thing is to become a professional in this area and have the necessary resources to support my mother and also educate my brother. I will be very grateful for the scholarship and I will commit to maintaining my good grades and not disappointing the people who trusted me, since I know how difficult it is to earn money. That is why I value it so much.
World Community Service News
 
East Portland Rotary has been supporting Kenya Keys for some 20 years, mainly providing scholarships for high school students. We provided a donation after their dormitory was burned down by arson. We have also provided study guides to help students study for the national examinations. Finally, we have also purchased computers for some of the students we support.
 
More recently, our scholarship money has supported two university students yearly. We are pleased introduce you to Stellah Dzame Mwarua and Julius Chaka Shauri. We will have the privilege to share their educational journey for the next couple of years.
 
Thanks for supporting World Community Service; you make it possible for these people to get an education.
 
       

June 2026

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President's Message

Dave Anchel

member photo
For 75 years-- three-quarters of a century, East Portland Rotary Club(EPRC)has been a beacon of light in the Northeast Portland community. Through changing times and challenges, EPRC has responded to help the community be a better place to live. Likewise, it is a part of a global community of 1.2 million members in over 200 countries.
 
EPRC's 2024-5 Mission
  • Continue to be the statewide leader to end sex trafficking
  • Provide "Christmas" for several hundred foster children and resource families
  • Deliver Meals on Wheels on a weekly basis
  • Provide first year college scholarships for eight high school seniors in four schools
  • Maintain collaboration with Boise Eliot/Humboldt elementary school delivering musical equipment and faculty support
  • Host a major 2025 Rose Festival Court event
  • Engage in Northeast Portland environmental projects,and
  • Internationally, send funds to help eradicate polio globally;empower girls worldwide to focus on elevating their voices and unlocking their power; raise mental health needs awareness, build peace through emergency relief, water purification, attending to individual sickness and education along with local economies support.
                                      
What you can expect
  • Fellowship, leading to FUN, FUN, FUN
  • Opportunities to develop leadership skills
  • Participation in community service projects
  • Family atmosphere free of political and religious discussions
  • Superb relevant speakers and yummy lunches weekly
 
For furthermore information, visit www.eastportlandrotary.org. If interested in becoming a member, contact the membership Chair Mike VanOrman  at (503) 939-1803
 
Yours in Rotary Service,
Dave Anchel
President 2025-26

 

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