Home Page | Rotary Club of Heritage, New York

Our Club was chartered on 18 January 2019.

Create Lasting Impact inspires members, partners, and our communities to work together on projects that create meaningful and sustainable change—locally, globally, and in the lives of those we serve.

 A BIG DAY FOR ROTARY - 29 NEW MEMBERS JOIN OUR FAMILY!  

What an incredible Health & Wellness Fair! We are thrilled to welcome 11 new Rotary members  and 18 new Rotaractors to our Rotary family. 

The event was extremely well attended, with an enthusiastic group of high school seniors (hopefully future Rotaractors! ) also participating in our International Medical Graduate workshops.

A special highlight was the Induction and Oath ceremony, conducted by DG Maksud Chowdhury, as we officially welcomed our newest members into Rotary and Rotaract.

 A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who contributed their time and energy to make this such a memorable and successful event.

Together, we are growing Rotary, inspiring the next generation, and creating lasting impact!

District Governor Installation Cruise

Registration Link

Health & Wellness Fair 2026!

Join Us for the Health & Wellness Fair 2026!
Rotary e-Club of Heritage NY, Smart Rotaract e-Club, and PEDSI Global Health invite you to a FREE daylong community health event focused on wellness, education, and lifesaving skills.
Come participate in:
Blood Donation Drive
Healthy Living & Nutrition Guidance
Women’s Health Education
Childhood Vaccination Awareness
Community CPR & First Aid Programs
International Medical Graduate (IMG) Workshop
American Heart Association-affiliated BLS Training

Sunday, August 16, 2026
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
87-42 168th Street, Jamaica, NY 11432

Bring your family, friends, and community members. Together, we can promote healthier communities and Create Lasting Impact through Service!

Organized by: Rotary e-Club of Heritage NY • Smart Rotaract e-Club • PEDSI Global Health
In collaboration with: New York Blood Center • City of New York • AHA-affiliated BLS Training Center

Winter Blanket Distribution in Bangladesh 2026

What an incredible community! Thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised $5,000 to protect children in Bangladesh from the severe cold

As temperatures drop below 10°C, vulnerable children are at high risk of hypothermia and pneumonia. Because of your support, we’ve been able to take immediate action.

A huge thank you to the generous members of: ✨ Rotary Club Heritage ✨ PEDSI Global Health ✨ Volunteers Association of Bangladesh (VAB) ✨ …and our wonderful family and friends!

On January 19, 2026, thanks to the on-the-ground coordination of Mr. Nayak (VAB) and Dr. Shah Alam, we distributed winter blankets to students in need:

📍 Keshabpur: 240 students across 8 schools 📍 Bhangura, Pabna: 150 students across 5 schools 📍 Baridhara Foundation School: 165 blankets for 153 students and 11 teachers

A special shout-out to VAB for their outstanding management and for ensuring these distributions reached the children who needed them most.

Together, we aren’t just sending blankets—we are sending warmth, dignity, and hope. Thank you for being part of this mission! ✨

Art and Mental Health Workshop

On Sunday Dec 21, 2025, the Rotary e Club of Heritage NY and Smart Rotaract Club were invited to take part in a Victory Day celebration hosted by the Center for Bangla Creative Works Inc and Shilpangaon (@Nazrul Islam) at Levittown Hall. At an art and mental health workshop led by Nadia Reedwan, the first Cohort of her Mind the Mend project took part in canvassing art to hone their artistic skills, while learning about Bangladesh and it's freedom.The session not only included an art workshop, but had a presentation on Mental Wellbeing for children and adolescents by Dr. Rummanu Yeasin, focusing on decreased screen time, and how to cope with everyday stress. DGN Maksud Chowdhury also spent time with the children discussing social media and it's effects on mental health, along with words of encouragement from Past President Shamim Begum and Treasurer Asma Khan. The parents also were engaged and had many discussions about hobbies beyond screentime and social media.

A Day of Health, Hope, and Community – The Story of Our First Health & Wellness Street Fair

On Sunday, August 24, 2025, a sunny morning in Jamaica, New York, came alive as the Rotary Club of Heritage, Smart Rotaract, and PEDSI Global Health—together with the Bangladesh Medical Association of North America, the New York Blood Center, and the City of New York—hosted their first Health & Wellness Street Fair.

Families moved from booth to booth exploring healthier eating, vaccination awareness, women’s health, CPR and First Aid training, and blood donation. Community members stepped forward to donate blood, learn lifesaving skills, and engage in meaningful conversations about preventive care. International medical graduates also benefited from mentorship sessions focused on navigating the U.S. residency match process.

Fair Highlights

🌟 CPR & First Aid hands-on training
🩸 Blood donation drive supporting patients across New York
🥗 Nutrition guidance promoting healthier lifestyles
💉 Vaccination awareness for childhood protection
👩‍⚕️ Women’s health and preventive care sessions

This event was more than a fair—it was a powerful example of neighbors helping neighbors and organizations uniting for the greater good.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rummanu Yeasin, Club Secretary and Rotaract President, whose leadership and dedication made this event possible, along with the many medical professionals, students, and volunteers who served our community.

As the day ended, one thing was clear: this was just the beginning. The Health & Wellness Street Fair is now a tradition in the making—built on hope, knowledge, and a shared commitment to a healthier tomorrow.

✨ Together, we gave our community more than services—we gave them care, connection, and confidence for the future.

Club President joins District Governors to welcome visiting DGE from Pakistan

Club President Shamim Begum joined past, present, and future District Governors in welcoming visiting District Governor Elect Skakeel Khani of District 3271 Pakistan. The gathering was organized by District Governor Syed Alirahi at the Royal Palace Restaurant in White Plains. DGE Shakeel is visiting New York on his way to the International Assembly in Orlando Florida. Among those present were Past District Governors Mahbub Ahmad (2019-20), George McKinnis (2021-22), Martin Schulman (2022-23), current District Governor Syed Alirahi, and First Lady Shazia Alirahi, District Governor Elect Garrett Capobianco, District Governor Nominee - our very own Dr. Maksud Chowdhury and District Governor Nominee Designate Serkan Ceylan. DGE Shakeel was joined by his wife and PDG Dr Pir Ibrahim Shah from his District. Also joining the gathering was Area Governor and District Secretary Bina Ahmad.

DGE Shakeel spoke about the Smart Village program in his District, which has been visited by past RI President Jennifer Joines, Incoming President Mario, and past RI Director Drew Kessler. He has donated his land and organized funds for the construction of these small homes for people affected by the floods. The homes are constructed with local materials and the residents themselves take part in building the homes, being trained by senior engineers. Each home is constructed on a raised platform so that future floods do not affect them. There is a community center, mosque, a school as well as gardening areas. DG Syed presented DGE Shakeel with a plaque commemorating his visit.

President Shamim, DGE Maksud and AG Bina expressed their interest in DGE Shakeel's Smart Village Program possibly raising funds for portions of the project. DGE Shakeel and his wife presented caps and scarves embroidered by hand by local artisans in the village. The DGE invited all to visit the Village as his guests.

On the following day, AG Bina and PDG Mahbub invited the visiting DGE and his wife and our District's first couple to their home for afternoon tea.

Second Blood Drive on 21 April

Heritage E-Club and its sponsored Snart Rotaract Club are sponsoring their second Bllo Drive. on Sunday 21 April 2024. It will be held at the Smart Medical Care Center in Jamaica, NY from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

Registration is required to secure your slot for the drive. Please register by clicking on this link or scanning the QR code on the flyer on the left.

A Blood Collection Drive is crucial for saving lives for several reasons:

Emergency Situations: In times of emergencies such as accidents, natural disasters, or medical emergencies like surgeries, blood transfusions can be life-saving. Having an adequate supply of blood readily available ensures that patients receive the critical care they need without delay.
Medical Treatments: Many medical conditions, such as cancer, blood disorders, and chronic illnesses, require regular blood transfusions as part of their treatment. Without access to a sufficient blood supply, patients may face complications or setbacks in their recovery process.
Diverse Patient Needs: Different patients require specific blood types and components based on their medical conditions and compatibility. By regularly hosting blood drives, organizations can ensure a diverse and comprehensive blood inventory that meets the needs of a wide range of patients.
Unforeseen Circumstances: Blood supply can quickly deplete due to unforeseen circumstances such as sudden spikes in demand, seasonal fluctuations, or public health crises. Hosting regular blood drives helps maintain a consistent and reliable blood inventory to address such situations promptly.
Community Support: Blood drives serve as a tangible way for communities to come together and support one another. By donating blood, individuals can directly contribute to saving lives within their community and beyond, fostering a sense of solidarity and goodwill.
Public Health Preparedness: Adequate blood supply is an essential component of public health preparedness. By proactively hosting blood collection drives, organizations contribute to strengthening the healthcare system's resilience and ability to respond effectively to health crises and emergencies.

Overall, blood collection drives play a pivotal role in ensuring access to safe and timely blood transfusions for patients in need, ultimately saving countless lives and improving health outcomes for individuals and communities alike.

President Maksud Chowdhury Selected to head District in 2026-27

DG Rev. Dr. J. Loren Russell has announced that Dr. Maksud Chowdhury, President of the Rotary E-Club of Heritage, NY has been selected by the District Nominating Committee to be the District Governor for 2026-27. Dr. Chowdhury will immediately become the District Governor Nominee Designee (DGND). On 1 July this year, he will become the District Governor Nominee (DGN), transitioning to District Governor-Elect (DGE) on 1 July 2025. He will officially take over as District Governor on 1 July 2026, succeeding Garrett Capobianco.

Dr. Chowdhury is a pediatrician by profession and was awarded "President of the Year" at the District Conference last year for his leadership in growing membership in his club from 20 to 36, sponsoring a community-based new Rotaract Club, and as well as forming a new Satellite Club. His wife, Dr. Shamim Begum is the President-Elect of their Club, and his two adult children are also Rotarians. Here is a link to Dr. Chowdhury's bio.

Dr. Chowdhury becomes the 4th District Governor of our DSistrict who is of South Asian origin and the second Bangladeshi-American to be selected for this position.

DG Loren also confirmed the selection by the Nominating Committee of Peter De Nicola of the White Plains Club, as District Treasurer for the Rotary years 2024-25 and 2025-26. He congratulated both DGND Maksud and Treasurer-Elect Peter on their selection.

Heritage Club sponsors a new Satellite Club

The Rotary E-Club of Heritage NY has been at the forefront again by boosting the standing of our D7230 as the leader in membership growth. In October, our newest Club, the Rotary Satellite Club of Heritage Health was chartered with 8 new members. Its focus is on health initiatives. This is the 3rd active Satellite Club in our District. Together with the new full Club, and the 8 new members in the Hope Rotary Club, The Disrict has added 37 new members to our District rolls since 1 July.

Rotary has had satellite clubs since 2013. At first, satellite clubs were for people who wanted to join Rotary but didn’t have a large enough group to start a club. Unlike regular Rotary clubs, which require 20 members to start, a satellite club can form with just eight members. Satellite clubs also give community members and Rotarians the chance to make a positive difference in a club environment that often differs from their local Rotary club.

Like all Rotary clubs, satellite clubs hold regular meetings, have bylaws and a board, and get involved in community service projects. A local Rotary club sponsors the Satellite club and provides advice and support. Satellite club members are Rotarians. Officially, they are members of the sponsor club.

Club holds Blood Drive and CPR Training

It was an amazing Saturday, packed with not one, not two, but three impactful activities. The Rotary E-Club of Heritage, NY, the Smart Rotaract Club - our newest Rotaract Club, organized the day in partnership with the Pediatric Education Development Society International (PEDSI). The morning began with a workshop for International Medical Graduates and medical students who are preparing to get into US Residency Programs. Nearly 30 attendees benefitted from this training workshop.

While this program was in progress, a mobile blood collection van from the New York Blood Center pulled up outside the Smart Medical Center in Jamaica, Queens, and began preparations for collecting blood from donors who had signed up earlier. By the end of the day, some 45 people had donated blood including Heritage Club President, Dr. Maksud Chowdhury, Smart Rotaract President Dr. Rummanu Yeasin, and Sunshine Club member Ashfaque Salim..

Present during the course of the day were District Governor-Elect Syed Alirahi, representing the DG, Vice-Governor PDG Mahbub Ahmad and Area 5 AG Bina Ahmad who also represented our sister Sunshine Club as it's Charter President.. Also, present were the Area Governor for Area 9 Abit Ragbeer, Treasurer and Past President of the Westchester Rotary Club, Shazia Alirahi, and the President of the Hicksville South Rotary Club (District 7255) Mizan Rahman.

The day was far from over as just after a quick pizza and chicken fingers lunch provided by the Heritage Club, the CPR Training program began, led by American Heart Association-certified CPR Instructors. Some 30 young people took part and were awarded certificates of completion.

President Maksud, thanked the Rotary leaders for attending and demonstrating the District's support for his Club and the young Rotaractors.. He introduced DGE Syed who talked about Rotary being a family and thanked the young people for taking this training. Vice-Governor PDG Mahbub applauded the Rotaractors and young people for giving up their Saturday to learn to be of service to others. He said the willingness to be of service comes from the heart and just by being here today, they have proven that they all have hearts for service. In her short remarks, AG Bina particularly thanked the Rotaractors who, within months of their establishment, had already established a new standard of Rotaractor's service to the community.

Here are a few pictures.