Serving the Community both Locally and Globally since 1976

1976

Founded

125+

Members

60+

Age range from youngest to oldest member.

The Poulsbo Rotary Club gives you an opportunity to join leaders to take action on important issues affecting our community, our nation, and the world. We also have a lot of fun—whether we’re socializing or working together on service projects.

Members of our club connect at weekly meetings and learn from business experts, political and civic leaders, and entrepreneurs, who help us stay informed on topics that are relevant to our community.

Community Project Highlights

  • Kvelstad Pavilion on the Poulsbo waterfront
  • $30,000 donation towards moving the Marine Science Center to downtown Poulsbo
  • Raised $100,000 in 10 year commitment to Olympic College Branch, Poulsbo
  • Oyster Plant Park pier and floating dock
  • Installed Historic red clock on Front Street
  • Coffee Oasis in Poulsbo
  • Morrow Manor – $2.1 million project
See All Projects

Support for Education

Our club’s main contribution to education is through granting student scholarships, which have been part of the club’s budget nearly every year since we began. Well over $500,000 in scholarship awards have been granted, both for university study and for vocational/technical purposes. See here for more information on our current process for awarding scholarships.

We have supported youth in many other ways through community service projects, the North Kitsap High School Interact Club, and other youth initiatives such as those currently pursued by our Youth Service committee.

International Project Highlights

  • Perhaps our best international service project has been Rotary’s Youth Exchange program.
  • Support for a medical clinic, followed by financing the building of 3 bridges in Viet Nam (1995-1998) (This project was featured in an article in Rotary Magazine)
  • Build and deliver 50 wood burning cook stoves for a village in Guatemala
  • Joint project with East Bremerton in St. Lucia Rotarians to build a maternity wing onto St.Jude Hospital
  • Mobility Project to collect and refurbish wheelchairs for those in need overseas
  • Multiple projects with the Tacoma based Etta Projects in Bolivia
  • Gift of Life International – heart surgery for children in El Salvador
  • Support for Bainbridge Island Rotary Save to Grow project in Tanzania – microsavings combined with agricultural training
See All Projects

Local Non-Profit Support

It’s really not possible to list all the non-profits our club has supported over the years – hundreds – but here is a sample list. Some of these organizations have received funding most every year.

  • North Kitsap Schools Foundation
  • Coffee Oasis
  • Martha and Mary
  • Jewel Box Theater
  • 1st Lutheran Church
  • Poulsbo Fishline
  • YWCA
  • Boy Scouts of America
  • Marine Science Center
  • City of Poulsbo
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Kitsap Foster Care
  • Stand up for Kids
  • Salvation Army
  • Literacy Council
  • NK Babe Ruth
  • Poulsbo Community Orchestra
  • Catholic Community Services
  • Children’s Miracle Network
  • Healthy Start Kitsap
  • Kathleen Sutton Fund
  • Miss Poulsbo/Miss Kitsap Scholarship Program
  • NK Boys and Girls Program
  • Red Cross
  • Royal Family Kids Camp
  • Suquamish Elementary
  • Viking Fest Corporation
  • Poulsbo Parks and Recreation
  • Soap Box Derby

Our Founding

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island and the Rotary Club of Silverdale, the Poulsbo Rotary Club was chartered by Rotary International on November 11, 1976 with 25 original members. The Charter Night celebration was held at the Poplars Restaurant in Silverdale, where our club became one of 57 clubs in what was then Rotary District 502. Our first fundraiser was an Easter Pancake Breakfast. Our first projects consisted of picnic tables for public parks in Poulsbo, Kingston, and at Buck Lake in Hansville, and bookshelves for the Martha and Mary Nursing Home in Poulsbo. 

Charter Members

  • Gerald V. Abercrombie
  • Steve Adams
  • Dan Cooper
  • Dick Davis
  • Rudy Etheridge
  • Ross Hafner
  • Merle Hood
  • John Horsley
  • Harry James
  • Dolph Jaeger
  • Luther Langley
  • Willard Lawlis
  • Vern Lewis
  • Len Luidl
  • Denny McMenamin
  • Bob Mitchell
  • Tom O’Hare
  • Jerry Orr
  • Harold Rehmer
  • Bob Riebe
  • Allen Ruth
  • Steve Shaw
  • Paul Steiling
  • Joe White
  • Doug Wolfe