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Madison Rotary Foundation is a 501(c)3 Charity

We Are People of Action - Come Join the Fun

Madison Rotary is a dynamic group of 87 dedicated members who live or work in the Madison area, united by a shared commitment to making a positive impact both locally and globally. Our key initiatives focus on youth development, reducing food insecurity, and collaborating with community partners to address pressing needs. Join Madison Rotary and Make a Difference!

We believe our strength comes from welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you're passionate about giving back or looking to build meaningful connections, Madison Rotary offers a welcoming space for you! Not sure if Rotary is for you; come to a meeting and check us out.

Meeting Schedule

📍 Thursday Mornings | 7:45–8:30 AM | Madison Area YMCA
📍 Thursday Afternoons | 12:00–1:30 PM | Firehouse Pizza, Central Avenue
📍 First Thursday Evenings | 6:00 PM | Romanelli’s Pizza, Madison

Each meeting includes a meal, a brief business update, and an engaging guest speaker on a topic of interest. Check our speaker schedule for details! For more information or to attend as a guest, contact Joe Smith at info@madisonrotarynj.org. We look forward to welcoming you!

Click Here - What is Rotary Video

Francesco Arezzo selected to be 2025-26 RI President

Francesco Arezzo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has been selected by the Board of Directors to become Rotary International’s president for 2025-26. Arezzo will become president on 1 July. The Board conducted a special session following the unexpected resignation of RI President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo on 8 June. Guided by the RI code and policies, the Board selected the new president-elect from a pool of candidates who were considered by the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in August 2023.

The 2025-26 presidential message, announced at the 2025 Rotary International Assembly in February, will remain Unite for Good, which calls on Rotary members to be a force for unity in a world increasingly divided by politics, geography, and ideology. Through service projects, Rotary brings together people of every background — across races, religions, and professions — in a shared mission to do good in their communities.

Arezzo is an orthodontist in private practice. He is active internationally as a member of the Italian, European, and American orthodontics associations. He is vice president of the National Association of Italian Dentists for the province of Ragusa and was the founder and head for seven years of the delegation for Ragusa of the National Trust for Italy. He is a Knight of Honor and Devotion in Obedience within the Sovereign Order of Malta.

A Rotary member for more than 30 years, Arezzo has served as vice chair of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee and as RI director, learning facilitator, and as district conference presidential representative. Arezzo is a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation. He is married to Anna Maria Criscione, an entrepreneur in the tourism field.

2025 Scholarship Winners

Madison Rotary awarded five $1200 scholarships to five students from Madison High School. One of Madison Rotary's core goals is to foster youth development. The scholarship program is just one of many activities to help young people grow and thrive in our community. Below are the students who received this year's scholarship awards. Madison Rotary continually looks for individuals who want to make a difference in our community. For addition information on how to become involved, contact Madison Rotary at info@madisonrotarynj.org.

Madison Rotary Honors Veterans

On a bright and solemn Memorial Day morning, the Madison Rotary Club stood tall in both spirit and service, honoring America’s heroes with a dual commitment to action and remembrance. As flags waved along Main Street and families lined the sidewalks, members of the Madison Rotary proudly marched in the town’s annual Memorial Day Parade, reflecting their deep support for veterans and active service members. Dressed in Rotary blue and walking in formation behind a banner that read “Service Above Self,” club members moved in step with local veterans, community groups, and marching bands. The crowd responded warmly—cheers, claps, and salutes filled the air—as the Rotary’s presence symbolized the enduring link between civic leadership and military service.

“We are committed to honoring veterans not just with words, but with action,” said Club President Lois Bhatt.. “Marching in the Memorial Day Parade is a symbol of our gratitude, but our real work happens all year—standing with those who have served and ensuring they have the support they deserve.”

Clean and Green

Each year, the Madison Rotary Club rolls up its sleeves and dives into the Clean and Green initiative with pride and purpose. One of our favorite traditions? Giving the Madison Library grounds a fresh seasonal makeover just in time for spring and summer.

Armed with rakes, shovels, and plenty of good cheer, our dedicated Rotarians tackled weeds, spread mulch, trimmed bushes, and added a burst of new life to the landscape. Despite the light rain that misted down, their spirit didn’t dampen one bit—they powered through with smiles and determination.

Their efforts paid off beautifully. During the Annual Library Benefit, guests couldn’t help but comment on how stunning the grounds looked—a true reflection of service in action.

A huge shoutout to every Rotarian and all volunteers who showed up, got a little muddy, and made a big difference. Your hard work helped the library grounds truly shine!

SEL Program at Madison High School

Pat Miller, a longtime member of The Madison Rotary Club’s saw the need to help teachers and students respond in positive ways to the increased anxiety students were experiencing. Turning to a program that embraced SEL (social and emotional learning) SKILLS, a collaboration was formed between Madison Rotary and Madison school administrators. Madison Public Schools Superintendent, Danielle Shanley and Director of Elementary Education, Christy O’Connor were eager to share how the Madison Public schools would incorporate this program across the school district. They joined the Rotary club members at an evening meeting to present details of how this will be implemented in the schools, laying out the timeline, the initiatives and the resources.

CLICK HERE to access a recording of the meeting. Thanks to Pat Miller’s generosity, and Madison Rotary for committing to the program’s sustainability, this new initiative is a step in enabling students to manage life’s challenges and enjoy its endless possibilities.

Madison Rotary is a dynamic group of 87 dedicated members who live or work in the Madison area, united by a shared commitment to making a positive impact both locally and globally. Our key initiatives focus on youth development, reducing food insecurity, and collaborating with community partners to address pressing needs.

Welcome New Members

Welcome new members pictured (left) to right (right) Doug Willis, Curt Beaudouin ( New Member), Steve Anderson ( New Member), Joe Smith of Madison Rotary. Both Curt and Steve are looking forward to working on Rotary Projects that will serve our community.

Are you interested in making a difference our community—and the world? As a member of Madison Rotary, you’ll be part of a diverse group of neighbors, professionals, and community leaders who come together to create lasting change. Whether it’s supporting youth programs, helping veterans, improving our local environment, or contributing to international humanitarian efforts,

Madison Rotarians are People of Action - At Madison Rotary you will find:

Service Opportunities – Make a tangible impact through hands-on volunteer projects.

Leadership Development – Hone your skills and take on meaningful roles that help shape the direction of our club and community.

Lifelong Friendships – Build connections with people who share your values and your desire to give back.

Global Reach – Be part of Rotary International’s worldwide network of over 1.4 million members in 200+ countries.

Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or looking for a new way to get involved, Madison Rotary offers a warm welcome and a chance to do something bigger than yourself. For more information or to attend as a guest, contact Joe Smith at info@madisonrotarynj.org. We look forward to welcoming you!

June Monthly Theme - Fellowship

The Rotary Foundation

For the 16th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S. The Foundation earned the recognition for adhering to sector best practices and executing its mission in a financially efficient way, demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

“We are delighted to provide the Rotary Foundation with third-party accreditation that validates their operational excellence,” said Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “The Four-Star Rating is the highest possible rating an organization can achieve. We are eager to see the good work that the Rotary Foundation is able to accomplish in the years ahead.”

Charity Navigator analyzes nonprofit performance based on four key indicators, referred to as beacons. Currently, nonprofits can earn scores for the impact and results, accountability and finance, culture and communities, and leadership and adaptability. Charity Navigator is the largest and most utilized independent charity evaluator in the U.S. Since 2001, the organization has been an unbiased and trusted source of information for more than 11 million donors annually.

Rotary Serves Dinner - Homeless Solutions

Steff Codey along with Barbara Lucas-Chin, Steve Anderson and Nancy and Doug Willis made and served a

great dinner for over 70 clients of Homeless Solutions at their Morristown facility.

Maasai Girls Fund Presentation

Rotarian John Hogan and Madison High School Interact Club member Alexandra Porio present a check for $2400 to Rotarian Avery Hart and Paul Mantell of the Maasai Girls Fund. For the last four years, the Interact Club has raised this amount to fund a full four-year high school education for a girl in a Maasai village in Kenya. For more Madison Rotary, including Interact activities, see www.madisonrotarynj.org . (Photo, l-r: Paul Mantell, John Hogan, Alexandra Porio and Avery Hart)

Dictionary Project for 3rd Graders

Mission of Madison Rotary

Madison Rotary members actively engage

to eradicate food insecurity in our community,

to empower youth and to partner with other local organizations

to enrich the Madison community for all.

5000 Bags of Groceries Donated

"It is so exciting to know that we have reached "5,000" bags and we have been in partnership with you since 2020!” said Jackie Love from the food pantry at the First Baptist Church of Madison. Jackie was referring to the Madison High School Interact Club’s Madison Ends Hunger service project that started on July 28th of 2020 during the pandemic. Click Read More for more details and information.

200 Gallons of Soup Donated

Madison Rotary has made more than 300 gallons of soup in conjunction with Soup Sisters that have been contributed and delivered to local charities to help with food Insecurity. Hightower - Egan Wealth Advisors is the partner/sponsor of this program. Each month Madison Rotary conducts a Ladles of Love where 18 volunteers come together at Healthy Italia in Madison, roll up their sleeves cut and chopped vegetables, stir pots and ladle steaming broth into containers. The air is filled with the aroma of simmering herbs and spices, creating an atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie. Click Read More for addition details.

Madison Rotary 100 Years - 100 Trees

Madison is a beautiful town, with lovely trees providing shade, protecting our aquifer and helping to clean the air. Having more trees in the town’s “tree canopy” is a good thing. However, trees can reach the end of their natural life span, or get diseased and need to be replaced. Recently, in particular, ash trees have been lost at an alarming rate as a result of infestation by an invasive beetle. As a result, Madison needs to replenish and expand its tree population. The Rotary decided to commemorate its 100 years of community service by taking the lead on providing 100 new trees to replace and replenish Madison’s trees. Under the guidance and supervision of Madison’s Shade Tree Management Board, Rotary planned a multi-year project to plant new trees at several locations throughout the town. The trees will be planted over 3-4 years beginning in 2023.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? - Because these new trees will benefit the entire community, the Rotary is giving members of the community the opportunity to share in the project. To keep costs to a minimum, Rotary and Shade Tree Management Board members volunteer their time, and for purchasing and planting the trees we use a competitive bidding process to assure the best cost. You can help by “sponsoring” a tree for Madison with the donation of $400, which is our estimate for the costs per tree as we go forward.

For complete information, pictures of trees, locations or to help, please click READ MORE

Madison Rotary Hosts 2024 Grant Recipients

Thirty Madison Rotary Foundation grant recipients joined members of the Madison Rotary Club on Thursday, November 21^st at the Madison Area YMCA. The gathering provided grant recipients with the opportunity to share the impact of their Rotary Grant and strengthen their partnership with Madison Rotary. Madison Rotary’s annual grant program raises funds to address local food insecurity, support development of Madison youth and to support and partner with area non-profits to enrich the lives of the residents of Madison. Each 2024 grant recipient had the opportunity to introduce themselves and share their mission. Click Read More for additional details.

Grants to Local Organizations

Madison Rotary is a 501(c)3 social welfare organization that supports the local and global communities. Through Rotary's fundraising efforts and the generous contributions of indiviudals and businesses in our area, Madison Rotary has been able to provide financial support of over 30 local organizations. CLICK HERE to see a list of organizations supported in 2023. If you are interested in giving back to the community or becoming a part of our amazing organization, contact Joe Smith at info@madisonrotarynj.org

2025 High School Scholarships

2025 Grants and Sponsorships Program

Madison Rotary Past Presidents

Guidelines for Speakers

Installation Dinner
Madison Communiy Arts Center

Jun 19, 2025
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Breakfast - Meg Lembo, Share My Meals

Jun 26, 2025 7:45 AM

Food Insecurity and Food Waste

Meg Lembo, Director of Outreach at Share My Meals, will tell us about her non-profit organization, whose mission is to fight both food insecurity and the environmental impact of food waste by recovering and delivering healthy meals in local communitiesw.

Lunch - Dr. Roberts Butts, Dir/Baroque Orch of NJ

Jun 26, 2025 12:00 PM

60's - The times they were a'changin

Breakfast - Deb Starker, Director, METC

Jul 10, 2025 7:45 AM

Programs and plans for the METC

Lunch _ Bob Luber

Jul 10, 2025 12:00 PM

History of Madison New Jerey

Lunch - Jim Allison, member

Jul 17, 2025 12:00 PM

The Peace Club