Submitted photo Members of the Rotary Club of Elkins attended the dedication of the Elkins Gold Star Family Memorial Monument on July 5. From left are Scott Goddard, Karen Wilmoth, Dick Harvey, Dottie Wamsley, Phillips Kolsun and Jerry Marco.

ELKINS — The Rotary Club of Elkins held its first club assembly in preparation for the 2025-2026 Rotary year.

Club president Phillips Kolsun led the group through a review of the past year and engaged them in a brainstorming/planning exercise on four areas of focus — community service, outreach, membership and fundraising.

Over the past year, the club has been involved in a number of community service projects aimed at supporting and lifting up the local community.

The group helped paint a pavilion in the city park, participated in the Toys for Tots program, packed Jared Boxes for Davis Medical Center, rang the bell for the Salvation Army, assisted with the Elkins community spring clean-up and packed backpacks for the Backpacks Program.

The group will continue to perform these or similar projects in the upcoming year. Members of the community are encouraged to be in touch with President Kolsun, or any member of the Rotary club, if they are aware of a project that needs assistance.

Elkins Rotary is involved in many outreach programs within the community.

Every year, the group provides atlases to every fifth-grade student in Randolph County and, this year, was able to provide grants totaling $11,871.32 to Beverly Elementary School, Coalton Elementary School, Elkins High School Band, Elkins Randolph County Public Library, Midland Elementary School, Pioneer Memorial Public Library and Randolph Technical Center.

These are ongoing projects of the club and every school and library in the county is encouraged to submit a grant application in the spring of 2026.

One of the group’s most visible outreach projects of the year was assistance with the completion of the Elkins Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in the Veterans Memorial Park.

The club worked in conjunction with the Woody Williams Foundation, a state-wide committee comprised of Rotarians from Rotary District 7545, which covers the majority of the State of West Virginia, and the West Virginia Department of the American Legion to see this project to completion and proudly participated in the dedication of the Memorial on July 5.

During the club’s weekly meeting, members of the community are invited to address the membership on a variety of topics.

Over the last year, the group hosted presentations about local 4th of July activities, the Augusta Heritage Center, the Highland Dancers, the Randolph County Broadband Project, Randolph County Schools and local history to name a few.

Members of the community are invited to contact Program Chair Scott Goddard (goddards@dewv.edu) if they know of a program idea they would like to have considered for presentation to the group.

While some community service organizations have lost membership in the past five years, many, including the Rotary Club of Elkins, have been able to maintain a steady membership.

Over the past year, the club has welcomed six new members to its ranks. Becoming a Rotary member connects a diverse group of professionals who share in the drive to support their community.

Through the club’s regular meetings and events, members have the opportunity to discuss our community’s needs and creative ways to meet them. Community members who are interested in joining the Rotary Club of Elkins are encouraged to contact Membership Chair Scott Goddard (goddards@dewv.edu) to discuss the various obligations and responsibilities that accompany membership in Rotary.

Fundraising is a key component of the work of the Rotary Club of Elkins. In addition to projects already mentioned, the club was able to provide financial support to the Old Brick Playhouse, Camp Horseshoe, HOBY, Rhododendrons Girls State, Challenged Athletes of West Virginia and the YMCA renovation project.

The club will continue to provide financial support to the local community through its various fundraisers.

Members of the community to encouraged to submit funding requests for consideration by the club.

Such funding requests may be mailed to “Rotary Club of Elkins, P.O. Box 546, Elkins, WV 26241.”

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves.

Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club’s Facebook page — Rotary Club of Elkins — or contact 2025-2026 club president Phillips Kolsun at phillipskolsun@gmail.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.