Wood County Rotary Club

03/14/2026

Registration for our District Conference is now open! Don't miss this opportunity to hear this powerful presentation by Ramesh Ferris! Sign up today: https://rotarydistrict7545.org/district-conference/

03/12/2026

This morning, Lisa Starcher Collins, Director of Development and Communications for Habitat For Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley spoke to the Wood County Rotary Club at the Vienna Community Building in Jackson Park. Habitat For Humanity is currently celebrating 35 years of service to this region and has served our community to help people build or improve a house they can call home. They are working on the 118th home currently in Cutler, OH and will start a new one in South Parkersburg soon. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay and affordable mortgage payment. Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families. They do a lot of home repairs, build ramps to make homes accessible for handicapped individuals snd continue to help people make their homes more comfortable. Volunteers are always needed at their ReStore, helping with building of homes or providing meals for workers at home sites. In September, there will be a special event at the Parkersburg Art Center where people can purchase an item at the ReStore and repurchase it as a piece of art. They are currently seeking funds for their projects as well as donations of new/gently used home goods at the ReStore. The ReStore is open Wed-Sat from 9-4 and is located at 600 16th Street in Vienna. Applicants go through a qualification process, classes at Consumer Credit Counseling Service and are required to put in at least 150 “sweat equity” hours working on their new home and/or other homes. Many lives have been made better through the work of Habitat For Humanity right here in the MOV! For information on applications for assistance or volunteer opportunities, call 304-422-7907 or go to their website at www.habitatmov.com.

03/09/2026

03/05/2026

The Wood County Rotary Club will be presenting grants to local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to help them continue their work in the Mid-Ohio Valley. The proceeds for the grants come from our annual Wood County Rotary Club Tennis Championships held each year in November at Greenmont Racquet Club in Vienna. The application found below can be completed and returned for consideration by March 27. The Annual “Spring Fling” will be held May 7 at 5:30 PM at the Parkersburg Country Club to provide the checks to local organizations and give the sponsors of our annual tennis tournament an opportunity to see the work being done by these organizations right here in our community.

03/05/2026

This morning, Gary McIntyre, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Parkersburg, spoke to the Wood County Rotary Club at the Vienna Community Building in Jackson Park. Gary shared the work being done in various areas to care for animals and provide them with good homes. From their SPOT Clinic to providing microchips for each of the animals prior to leaving the shelter, their goals are centered around the safety and care of all animals and deceasing the overpopulation issues. Through foster care from an early age and throughout the adoption process, they stay actively involved in seeking the right opportunities for each animal. They have collaborated with other shelters to provide them with animals that need to find homes with 90% or higher adoption rates over the past several years. Gary and his entire team want people to consider them as a first option when seeking a pet for their family. They are very helpful in finding the right fit for each of the animals. They are appreciative of anyone who wants to help by providing pet food and supplies such as towels, sheets, blankets toys, cat litter and donations to take care of special needs cases. They always welcome volunteers to help in the shelter as well. For more information on how you can help or the process of adoption, call the shelter at 304-422-5541.

02/26/2026

This morning, Casey and Shelly Dawson from Kainos Ministries, spoke to The Wood County Rotary Club at the Vienna Community Building in Jackson Park. The Dawsons started this ministry about a year and a half ago out of Sunrise Baptist Church in Parkersburg. The name of the organization means “new and fresh” and they focus on sharing the gospel, church planting and providing water to villages. As an outreach from their local church, they seek ways to provide for needs in tribes and villages in Africa. The need for clean water in many areas in the region they recently visited is unfathomable. They have worked to help with getting clean water to villages they have visited and partnered with. Their “Sewing in Faith” ministry, helps teach young girls how to sew and help provide sustainability for their families. They purchase a Singer sewing machine for the village which costs about $270 and with supplies snd training for sbout $600 total per village. The “Living Water” project helps them with the water for their village while also sharing Jesus. The work they do begins a process of meeting basic needs so they will then have the ability to thrive not just survive and then be open to hear the message of the gospel. Planting and building churches is also a part of their work as well as training pastors online. For more information, call Rev. Casey Dawson at 304 488-1924 or email him at evcrdawson@gmail.com. Shelly Dawson can be reached at 304-488-4040.  Keep up the wonderful work that you are doing for the Lord! It’s making a difference in many lives. 

02/19/2026

This morning, the Wood County Rotary Club welcomed to new members. Maribeth Saleem-Tanner from the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and Kurt Knopp from West Virginia University Parkersburg Technology and Innovation Center were welcomed to our club. We look forward to having you as members as we work in our community! . 

02/19/2026

This morning, Deborah Lorentz, Business Service Representative at WorkForce WV, spoke to the Wood County Rotary Club at the Vienna Community Building in Jackson Park. Deborah spoke about the services provided to local businesses to make hiring easier for them. She utilizes opportunities to find jobs for veterans or other individuals seeking employment through monthly job fairs. A Virtual Job Fair will be open Monday, March 2 at 8:00 AM with a live chat on Wednesday, March 4 from 1:00-3:30 PM. Businesses can post open positions, accept resumes and chat with job seekers. They offer veteran’s services, labor markets information, work opportunity tax credit and a federal bonding program. They offer many free services and they welcome businesses and individuals to ask questions regarding hiring needs snd employment opportunities. WorkForce WV is located at 300 Lakeview Center in Parkersburg. For more information, go to www.workforcewv.org or call 304-865-0397.

02/18/2026

02/12/2026

This morning, Jeff Sandy from Perry Forensic Accounting, spoke to the Wood County Rotary Club at the Vienna Community Building in Jackson Park. Jeff spoke about his career in law enforcement, tenure ad Wood County Sheriff and leading the WV Department of Homeland Security. Jeff now works with those affected by financial fraud in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Many senior citizens each year fall prey to scams and lose money to fraudsters. Jeff shared several ways to avoid situations where individuals unknowingly may put themselves in situations that may open them up to potential fraud. Through uses of credit cards over debit cards, watching for phishing emails, ignoring phone calls that threaten legal action or offering cars or lottery winnings and even romance scams that request money, gift cards or bitcoin, it is imperative that individuals use caution before taking any action. Scammers often read obituaries to glean information that can be used to defraud families. Some grandparents have mistakenly thought that their grandchild was in some trouble and needed money sent to help them resolve a fine or get them out of jail. Jeff explained that caution is always advised and to ask “who, what, when, where, how and why” to determine the legitimacy of any information received. Thank you, Jeff, for your dedication to helping people become more aware of the risks of fraud that are rapidly occurring these days.

02/05/2026

This morning, Shayla McGuire, Program Coordinator of Community Resources Inc., spoke to The Wood County Rotary Club at the Vienna Community Building in Jackson Park. Shayla spoke about their recent move to the WVU-P Technology and Innovation Center in Vienna. They are currently beginning tax season with the VITA program that provides assistance to individuals that need assistance with tax preparation. They offer several programs such as case management which assesses needs and walks alongside clients to achieve their goals by means of resume development, job search, financial literacy and program applications. They can assist clients with utility termination notices, children’s food programs emergency repair and replacement with furnace and air conditioning units. Faithlink is a volunteer/based program that assists individuals 60 years and older, physically disabled or chronically ill to maintain their independence via ride transportation to doctor’s appointments and provides food boxes to those in need. Thrive is a choice-based emergency food pantry that allows individuals to visit once a month for badly needs such as food, hygiene and cleaning products. Hope Grows operates out of a high tunnel greenhouse to go directly back into the community through food outlet services, recovery programs, senior living facilities in other to provide fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs to the people of this area. For more information on any of their programs, call 304-485-5525. Thank you for all you do for those around the MOV, Shayla!