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The Kenai River Interact, the 12-18 year old, youth program of Soldotna Rotary Club has had a busy year! They believe strongly in service above self.
Dan Nelson
We are proud to be a part of Rotary International. The Soldotna Rotary Club embodies the motto of “Service Above Self.” We have a long history in our community, and this year, we look to continuing our efforts to make it a fantastic place to live and play. Our homepage contains some of our service projects and events - please browse the site and look up Soldotna Rotary Club on Facebook.
Soldotna Rotarians are excited to welcome all visitors, and we hope that you can join in the fun! If you're a visiting Rotarian, we would love to have you at our luncheon, and if you would like to find out more about becoming a member, please feel free to email anyone on the Board for more information.
On Thanksgiving day, the Salvation Army's basement fills with the smell of turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Thanks to the effort by Soldotna Rotarians and Kenai River Interactors, those without get a home cooked meal.
Soldotna Rotary is looking for students in either their sophomore or junior year of high school that are looking for an adventure! We are actively seeking open-minded, flexible students who demonstrate leadership qualities to receive scholarships for study for a year in a foreign country. Applicants must have high moral standards that will enable them to become excellent cultural ambassadors for their country and the Rotary club and district that supports them. District 5010 Rotary Youth Exchange provides students ages 15 to 17 with an opportunity to travel to a foreign country and experience the culture while serving as an ambassador for their home country.
We are also looking for interested families willing to open their home to an incoming student from another country.
Hosting a student can be an extremely rewarding experience for everyone in the family, yet it is a role that requires a lot of responsibility. The hosting period is typically 3 - 4 months.
Host families are to meet the following expectations:
- Before the student arrives establish communication with the student.
- Understand the program rules the student must follow.
- Know how to contact key Rotarians involved in Youth Exchange in case of an emergency.
- During the exchange provide a safe and welcoming environment for trust and friendship to develop between the student and your family.
- Support and make the student feel like a part of the family, with the same privileges and obligations.
Soldotna Rotary was introduced in person with their new daughter from Brazil, Victoria. Victoria is a vibrant and exciting exchange student that will provide Soldotna Rotarians more opportunities to work with youth as well as the ultimate goal of bringing peace to the world. Welcome Victoria!
District 5010 participates in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. With the support of the D5010, Soldotna Rotary Club is proud to be a participating Club in the Youth Exchange Program!
Soldotna Rotarians joined forces to build planters for Ninilchik and Soldotna Senior Centers. This was a local project that required ingenuity and patience in order to get all of the supplies and coordinate with the local senior centers. They can now use these planters therapeutically as well as practically!
Soldotna Rotarians joined the D5010 District Conference held in Seward, AK May 17-20, 2018.
Soldotna Rotarians gather each spring and fall to clean the road on Spur Hwy. This year was no different. Rotarians gathered and cleaned up the road along a mile stretch of the Spur Hwy.
It is important for our Soldotna Rotarians to make it to meetings. It is especially important to a Rotarian that has over 30 years of perfect attendance, Mike Sweeney.
Pictured from left to right: Chuck Cook, Dave Peterson, Chris Hough, Allen Auxier, Gary Hinkle, Joe Kashi, David Wartinbee, and Mike Sweeney. Photo credit: Merrill Sikorski
Every year, Soldotna Rotarians donate their time and skills to cook salmon for the residents of Heritage Place, their care givers, and staff. Rotarian, Dave Wartinbee leads the charge organizing the volunteers. It takes weeks of organization, but each year is a smashing success.
Check out this link from the Peninsula Clarion for more information:
The Soldotna Rotary Club, in partnership with the Soldotna ARTSpace, and the City of Soldotna, worked diligently to install an avenue for aspiring artists to showcase their work to the public.
The Soldotna Rotary Club continues to support the local D.A.R.E program. Ofc. Tobin Brennan is the D.A.R.E. instructor in the three local elementary schools. Yearly, Ofc. Brennan provides D.A.R.E education to 5th graders and then provided a lock-in/graduation event. This year, Soldotna Rotary Club was able to provide the grand prize to the winning essay writer on why D.A.R.E is an important program and why it is important to them. D.A.R.E. is an important program in the community.
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By partnering with the Rotary Club of Soldotna, the City of Soldotna, the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, and local businesses, Soldotna’s ARTSpace, Inc. is implementing a community-based public art program. Many of these projects result in regular exhibits and annual events intended to promote public art that enhances the Soldotna area in a manner that’s democratic and for the enjoyment of all.
Soldotna Rotarians joined forces with K-Beach Elementary, Soldotna Elementary, and Sterling Elementary to encourage students to read through the summer months. This fall the schools joined with Rotarians to recognize those students that read this summer.
The Soldotna Rotary Club was well represented at the District 5010 Conference held in Girdwood this year. We represented our Club, our members, our projects, and our fundraising.
To the Soldotna Rotary Club:
I just want to also say thank you to the whole club for first of all picking me and also helping me out with the support you guys gave to me. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, because this year has been the best year of my life so far and the memories will stay with me forever. So Thank you again.
~Anna
Did you buy a square this year?
Click the link above to check out this year's board!
Beginning July of 2014, the new Presidents of the Kenai, Soldotna, and Kenai River Clubs stepped into their leadership roles: Scott Hamann/Kenai; Jodi Stuart/Soldotna; and Diane Taylor/Kenai River.
The three of us were able to connect at the District Conference meeting earlier that year, and set up a plan to establish a monthly meeting of the three of us. The purpose of these meetings was to facilitate collaboration and understanding of what other Rotarians in our communities were doing. (The three clubs are within approximately 12 miles of each other!)
At yesterday's Club luncheon, we had two Kenai Central High School students talk to us about a spaghetti feed fundraiser that they are putting on to benefit the Students in Transition program with our local school District. 
The Soldotna Rotary Club, Kenai River Rotary Club, and Soldotna Library have combined forces to provide suicide prevention training to the community free of charge.
Soldotna Rotary Club has been known to support reading in the community through dictionary projects to RIGS (Reading is Great in the Summer) and now to SMORES (Summer Months are Open for Reading Everywhere). Recently, Soldotna Rotarians presented t-shirts to K-Beach Elementary students that read over the summer months and supported the first year of SMORES at Soldotna Elementary.
Soldotna Rotarians support Rotary District 5010's Youth Exchange program by hosting a student every year from a foreign country. Also, each year, a local teen is selected to travel abroad as well. This long standing program creates an experience for both students that they will never forget. To take look at the teen's perspective, check out this cool article from the Dispatch!
The famous Rotary Unity Run 10 mile and 5k race was hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Soldotna and Kenai River, and new this year, the Tsalteshi Trails Association on a beautiful July morning. Rotarians from around the central Peninsula gathered to set up the race, grill food, and have an opportunity for fellowship.
