WE-GO's Mission

To provide business, professional, and community leaders an opportunity for service to others in order to benefit our community and to promote high ethical standards, fellowship, and goodwill worldwide.

Our family of Rotarians build a legacy reinforcing the importance of integrity, respect and goodwill to all.

Three generations: Richard Hodgson, Lisa Balch and Caroline who have and are making a difference in the world. 

WE-GO is a unique service club focused on community service in the West Chester area, Pennsylvania region and around the world.

The Object of Rotary
Rotary encourages and fosters the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster: the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; high ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society; the application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life; and the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

What is Rotary:
Rotary is a global network of community volunteers. Rotarians are people just like you and me providing humanitarian service, encouraging ethical practices and sponsoring peace efforts. Rotary clubs are nonreligious, nonpolitical and open to every race, culture and creed. Members represent a diverse mix of local business and professional leaders. 

What Rotarians do:
Rotary clubs and their members participate in a broad range of intercultural and educational activities designed to improve the human condition. Projects include providing healthcare and medical supplies, clean water, food, job training, youth development and education to millions of people in need. In addition, Rotarians aim their technical expertise to alleviate hardship and solve problems locally and around the world.

New Generation Services

Ambassadorial Scholar Brendon Johnson

The Concept of New Generation Service

New Generations Service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, involvement in community and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding.

WE-GO supports New Generation Services through ongoing annual efforts.  

Some of WE-GO's targeted projects include: 

Ambassadorial Scholarships offer academic-year scholarships for study abroad for college/university undergraduate and graduate students and for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies.

Vocational Scholar Amy Wellings

WE-GO's Vocational Scholarships are supported by our 501C3 Foundation and the living legacy established by Ms. Frank Roia in honor of her husband who dedicated himself to education.  As a former member and past President of WE-GO, Frank exemplified service above self as he contributed to the lives of many students though his counseling and support of their medical education pursuits.

The Rotary Peace Fellows program provides opportunities to pursue a master's degree in international relations, public administration, sustainable, development, peace studies, conflict resolution or a related field, or a professional development certificate in pace and conflict resolution. Fellows study at one of seven Rotary Centers for International Studies, which include a program jointly offered by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University.

Interact is Rotary's service club for youth ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs can be community-based or school-based. Individual Rotary clubs sponsor Interact clubs and provide them with support and guidance, but each Interact club is self-governing and self-supporting. The goals of Interact include development leadership skills and personal integrity, demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others, understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work, and advancing international understanding and goodwill. 

WCU Volunteers

Rotaract targets young adults ages 18 to 30. University-based clubs consist of undergraduate and graduate students who meet on campus. Community-based clubs consist of young adults from various backgrounds, regardless of their professional or academic status. All Rotaract clubs are sponsored by a local Rotary club and conduct community and international service projects. Rotaract clubs also focus on leadership and professional development activities.

District 7450 Rotary Youth Exchange

Rotary Youth Exchange is Rotary's exchange program for youth and young adults. It allows students to spend up to a year living in a different country and learning a new culture. Students ages 15 to 19 can participate in a long-term exchange of up to one year, or they can choose a short-time exchange ranging from several days to several weeks. New Generations Exchanges for young adults ages 18 to 25 can range from a few weeks to three months. Rotary clubs and district sponsor exchange participants, who serve as ambassadors for their countries. 

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. Participants range in age from 14 to 30; most clubs and districts choose to focus on a specific age group within that range. The program emphasizes leadership, citizenship and personal growth. It demonstrates Rotary's respect and concern for youth by providing an effective leadership training experience for potential leaders, encouraging leadership of youth by youth, and publicly recognizing young people who serve their communities. 

Special Needs Picnic

 WE-GO also supports youth engagement through mentoring programs, career days, essay contests, youth and young adult service projects and other activities partnering with other organizations such as Camp Dream Catcher, Little League, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Community Service

Oakbourne Mansion Damage

WE-GO WORKS

Rotary is a service organization where Service Above Self is our motto. Community Service provides opportunities for Rotarians and their families to engage in the community in a meaningful way. Service opportunities vary year to year, all however are designed to provide options for Rotarians to give back in a way they may not otherwise have the chance to. If you or your organization have a service opportunity you would like to offer to our club please contact our club at wegorotary@gmail.com. 

Completed Repairs

WE-GO WORKS is a term we coined describing the range of projects we have accomplished over the years.

WE-GO joins with other Rotary clubs around Philadelphia and the World.  From our backyard to hot-spot regions, WE-GO reaches all over the world.

WE-GO WORKS projects over the years include:

Adult Care of Chester Alex’s Lemonade Stand Agricultural Aid to Madagascar Aid for Refugees from Croatia and Bosnia ARC of Chester County Area Police and Fire Departments Big Brothers/Big Sisters Brian’s House Brian’s Run Bryn Mawr Rehab’s Cruisin’ Not Boozin’Program Camp Joy Camp Dreamcatcher Casa Nueva CHAP Community Health Advocacy Chesco Domestic Violence Center Chester County Foodbank Christmas Gifts for the Disadvantaged Community Volunteers in Medicine East Goshen Colonial Blacksmith Shop Restoration East Side Little League Batting Cages Financial Support for Foreign Exchange Students Food for the Needy Friends Assoc. for Care and Protection of Children Good Will Fire Company Gundaker Foundation Handicapped Boy Scout Troop Hope Worldwide Hurricane and Earthquake Relief Junior Achievement-Project Business Little League (East Side) May Festival Chester County Hospital

Lodge at Oakbourne Park New Delhi, India Housing for Leprosy Oakbourne Tower Restoration Operation Smile Playing Fields at Penn Wood, Westtown-Thornbury and Fern Hill Elementary Schools PAL of West Chester Polio Plus Read2Dream Rotaplast Rotary Foundation RYLA - Rotary Youth Leadership Safe Harbor Salvation Army Seven Oaks Fire Relief Special Olympics Stetson Middle School Outdoor Education Program Senior High School Scholarship Program Thornbury Township Parks and Recreation Thorncroft Therapeutic Horseback Riding Villa Bosch (Argentina) School for the Blind Warsaw (Poland) Hippotherapy Program West Chester Community Center West Chester Senior Center West Chester University West Chester University Aid to South Africa Youth Expo Youth Exchange

Code of Conduct

As a Rotarian, I 

1. Exemplify the core value of integrity in all behaviors and activities
2. Use my vocational experience and talents to serve in Rotary
3. Conduct all of my personal, business, and professional affairs ethically, encouraging and fostering high ethical standards as an example to others
4. Be fair in all dealings with others and treat them with the respect due to them as fellow human beings
5. Promote recognition and respect for all occupations which are useful to society
6. Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community
7. Honor the trust that Rotary and fellow Rotarians provide and not do anything that will bring disfavor or reflect adversely on Rotary or fellow Rotarians
8. Not seek from a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship

Vocational Service

The Concept of Vocational Service

What is vocational service? As active and engaged Rotarians, we view vocational service as a way of life. Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their professions and to practice high ethical standards. Rotarians, as business and community leaders, share skills and expertise through their vocations and inspire others in the process by volunteering to serve others.

The Object of Rotary is a philosophical statement of Rotary’s purpose and the responsibilities of Rotarians. Thus, the concept of vocational service is rooted in the Second Object, which calls on Rotarians to “encourage and foster”: 

• High ethical standards in business and professions  
• The recognition of the worthiness of all occupations  
• The dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society.

As a Rotarian, how can you put these ideals into action? Consider how WE-GO Rotarians provide vocational services: 

• We talk about our vocation in our club, and take time to learn about fellow members’ vocations. 
• We use our professional skills to serve our club and community.  
• We practice our profession with integrity, and inspire others to behave ethically through our own words and actions. 
• We help young people achieve his or her career aspirations.  
• We guide and encourage others in their professional development.
• We network with associates to help serve others.

If you do any of these things, you are performing vocational service. And if vocational service motivates and energizes you, then you’re in the right place, because vocational service is the very essence of Rotary. It is what sets Rotary apart from other service organizations.

Club Service

Governance, leadership and direction

Rotarian members elect Officers and a Board Annually. 

Club Administration

WE-GO is governed by officers including President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.  In addition, WE-GO's direction and progress is coordinated through a Board of Directors, elected by the full membership.  Board members are required to attend WE-GO's special morning meetings, which usually fall on the first Friday of the month.  The Board meets on general and specific topics organized by the President.  Committee reports are given.  The Board, with the leadership of the Treasurer, proposes the WE-GO annual budget and membership fee.  The Sargent in Arms manages the check-in at each meeting, collects the meeting fees and accounts for the variety of people attending.  Guests and visiting Rotarians are announced at each meeting.      

Stimulating a vibrant club

Members share experiences and plans in fellowship.

Fellowship
WE-GO meetings and events enable Rotarians to meet and share stories, experiences and plans on a regular basis.  The fellowship WE-GO stimulates helps build a tight nit community.  We often meet outside of normal business hours.  In the past, we have taken trips to the Phillies or Blue Rocks games, or gone deep sea fishing or headed down to Washington DC to see and hear the changing of the guard at the unknown soldier tomb.  WE-GO also schedules several annual off-site meetings including our annual holiday party at Longwood Gardens to participating in local social events such as the West Chester Restaurant Festival. 

Keeping our community informed

WEGO publishes a weekly newsletter and email.

News and Communications
WE-GO publishes a weekly newsletter distributed electronically - and in some cases through the mail.  The Newsletter committee takes photo shots of program speakers and guests of all members abreast of what the club is working on, current programs scheduled and other announcements.

WE-GO also publishes a Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn page broadening the reach of our communications.  Social networking is transforming traditional institutions and how constituents connect, relate and work together.  The fabric of society is not replaced by social networking, but is enhanced by alternative methods involving online and interactive actions that still require service and the ethical standards of behavior that Rotarians strive to live by.

Programs and Events

WE-GO meets weekly on many topics of interest.

Programs and Events
WE-GO members suggest, engage and listen to a wonderful array of interesting topics each week.  WE-GO invites regional presentations from the Chester County Health Department, YMCA, Safe Habour, Community Volunteers in Medicine, PACT for Animals which provides foster care for military personnel's loved pets, Chester County Boy Scouts, East Side Little League, Dream Catchers, Thorncroft Therapeutic Horeseback Riding, Chester County Foodbank and many others.  

WE-GO visits a half dozen off-site organizations such as Chadds Ford Winery, QVC, Wawa and Longwood Gardens each year.  We also visit local establishments devoting time to club projects such as Iron Hill, McKenzie, Doc's Oyster Bar, Goose Creek Grill, Square Bar and American Grill.  

Offsite Events include visiting West Chester University, Cheyney University, the Chester County Senior Center, Bryn Mawr Rehab, Chester County Hospital, the Chester County Health Depart., Goodwill Fire Co., Fame Fire Co., the WC Public Library, Chester County Historical Society, Westtown School, Glen Mills School and many others.

International Service

The Concept of International Service

International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace. Rotarians can support International Service by sponsoring a project in another country, seeking international project partners to support projects in their own communities, or by personally volunteering at an international project site.  

The Westtown-Goshen Rotary Club supports international projects our club members have developed like CHAP (Community Health Advocacy Programs) supporting mobile diagnostic health screenings for diabetes and hypertension. We advocate for and support Rotary International’s Polio Plus, Safe Drinking Water Projects, Doctors without Borders, Rotaplast Operation Smile and Plumpy Nut to address severe malnutrition across the globe.

 

Our club is active in Rotary youth exchange and we sponsor inbound and outbound students. If you are interested in Youth Exchange, please contact our Youth Exchange Chair and discuss the opportunities for inbound and outbound opportunities.

 

Examples of WE-GO's International Projects include: 

ShelterBox: In response to natural disasters around the globe, our club has sent life-saving ShelterBoxes to aid in the relief efforts. We’ve helped with the earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami in Japan. 

Stop Hunger Now: WE-GO members, family and friends financially support packaging thousands of meals for international distribution.  Attending the District 7450, WE-GO helped packaged 20,000 dry meals for hunger relief.

Dominican Republic: Over the last decade, Michael Ceffaratii of West Chester along with his son Kyle have journeyed to remote villages in the Dominican Republic to develop safe drinking water resources, build education resources and supply children with baseball gloves, bats and balls.  WE-GO has helped provide financial support and helped the East Side Little League collect used baseball equipment for shipment to the Dominican Republic that was distributed by the Michael and his group of volunteers.

Rotaplast: Rotaplast International, Inc. was founded in 1992 by Dr. Angelo Capozzi and the then Rotary Club President Peter Lagarias in collaboration with the Rotary Club of San Francisco to facilitate a surgical program in La Serena, Chile to treat children with the cleft lip and palate anomaly who would otherwise not receive surgical intervention.  WE-GO Financially supports Rotoplast's mission and trips throughout the world. 

CHAP: Community Health Advocacy Programs founded by WE-GO's own Govinda Malya, provides mobile diagnostic health screenings for diabetes and hypertension. WE-GO provided the seed funds to launch the project in India and is helping to promote the project to other parts of the world.

About WE-GO

'WE-GO' was adopted as an acronym to reflect the lengths to which members of the Westtown-Goshen Rotary Club of Pennsylvania, USA go encouraging service, fellowship and goodwill. WE-GO Rotarians make a difference in the world. WE-GO is made up of volunteers like you. We come together with varying backgrounds, vocations, level of education and history, but share in a common pledge to support others through our service. Consider sharing your knowledge, skills, resources and time with others. It is the greatest gift we can give. WE-GO’s strength lies in combining the ideas and energy of individual members into cohesive actions and well-managed projects. We annually host the West Chester 'Souperbowl' and Goose Creek Duck Race to raise funds and awareness of our humanitarian and community projects such as tackling hunger, improving literacy and the welfare of people everywhere. Our members come together with purpose, friendship and service to our community and the world at large.  WE-GO meetings are generally held Thursday at 6:00pm at Timothy's of West Chester, 929 South High Street West Chester, Pennsylvania.