Did you Know: 
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month in Rotary. The month, which includes International Literacy Day on 8 September, celebrates the ways Rotary members work with communities to improve schools, reduce gender disparities in education, and increase adult literacy.

September 10 Speaker: Doug Cook
Two weeks ago, we were honored to have Doug Cook speak with our ERC members at our weekly breakfast meeting. Doug was raised in southern New Jersey and earned a BA in Accounting from Rutgers University. In 1996, he graduated Beta Gamma Sigma from the Executive MBA program at the University of New Hampshire. He obtained his CPA license in 1986 and became a Certified Insurance Counselor in 2006.

Doug began his professional career in Philadelphia as a CPA and has spent nearly three decades in the insurance industry in both finance and sales. He currently serves as a Territory Manager with Patriot National Insurance in Conshohocken, PA. Additionally, he works as an Adjunct Professor at Eastern University in their MBA program and at Cabrini College in the Department of Finance, teaching finance, accounting, risk management, and insurance.

Doug was the Charter President of the Rotary Club of Kennebunk Portside in Kennebunkport, Maine, and later served as President of the Rotary Club of Collegeville in District 7430. Among his most rewarding Rotary experiences was chairing a matching grant team that delivered physical therapy equipment to children with cerebral palsy in Assis du Vale, Brazil, as well as leading a team of Rotarians to evaluate additional grant projects in the region.

He has contributed to the Youth Exchange Committee in both District 7780 and District 7430, served as a Foundation Area Coordinator starting in 2010, and currently serves as the Annual Program Fund Chair for District 7430.

Doug spoke to us about the importance of the Rotary Foundation and how our gifts to the Foundation make dreams possible for others.

Upcoming events:

October 10, 2026: Club Action Plan Summit

For all future and current leaders, committee chairs and all Rotarians.

CLUB ACTION PLAN 2.0 WORKSHOP

Four Priorities, Four Functions: Build Your Club's Action Plan

Join fellow Rotarians for an energizing, hands-on workshop designed to help your club chart a clear, strategic path forward. The Club Action Plan 2.0 Workshop will be held on Saturday, October 10, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Moravian University's Priscilla Payne Hurd Academic Complex in Bethlehem.

Throughout the day, participants will engage in guided discussions, collaborative exercises, peer collaboration, and practical planning sessions-leaving with actionable tools to strengthen their club's future. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Saturday October 17, 2026: Polio Race to Zero
Contact Cindy Hornaman ( 610) 360-4875 or hornamca@ptd.net for our Emmaus Team

Wednesday, November 18, 2026: Our Rotary Foundation Legacy Dinner

Aster Event Center at Hyatt Place Allentown 621 Grange Rd Allentown, PA 18106 United States of America 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Featuring our Rotary International Director, Mary Hellman CLICK HERE TO REGISTER