Home Page | Rotary Club of Potomac-Bethesda

Like other Rotary clubs, we feel the responsibility to take on projects that range from international to local. We meet in Montgomery County, Maryland, which despite its reputation for relative wealth, has needs. Our signature local community activities are giving out dictionaries to all the third graders in several local elementary schools and distributing Valentine Day gifts to homeless women. Our signature international activities support Believe in Belize and Inspire Ethiopia. Learn more by visiting our Foundation page.

Nabil Bedewi gave a presentation describing the capabilities of the Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club website and new opportunities for online fundraising at the Rotary Club meeting on May 15, 2025

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Montgomery County Chief of the Upcounty Planning Division Patrick Butler and Team Members Jamey Pratt, Justine Gonzalez-Velez and Donnell Zeigler presented the Germantown Town Center Sector Plan Amendment on May 8, 2025

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Tony Anammah Gave His Classification Speech on May 1, 2025

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Photos and Video

Lou Bartolo Named 2025 Health Care Heroes Award, Nurse of the Year in Maryland

The Maryland Daily Record has announced their Health Care Heroes for 2025 and a Potomac-Bethesda Rotarian has been selected as "Nurse of the Year." Maryland Nurses Association (MNA) President Lou J. Bartolo, DNP, MSN, RN, has been selected by The Daily Record. Congratulations to Lou Bartolo,Treasurer, Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club on this award!
As home to several renowned medical and federal institutions, Maryland is a national leader in health care research and development. The Daily Record's Health Care Heroes Awards honor those individuals and organizations who have made an impact on the quality of health care within the state. The winners were selected by the publisher and editors of The Daily Record.
"Dr. Bartolo is an outstanding registered nurse who exceeds in his leadership abilities within the MNA and the nursing profession. He has an incredible impact on the MNA, our healthcare system, our patients, and our communities. His dedication and commitment to excellence are truly remarkable. He exemplifies professionalism by being an ambassador for Maryland nursing nationally and locally.
"Dr. Bartolo is an extraordinary champion for educating Maryland nurses and healthcare professionals on structural racism. The American Nurses Association (ANA) awarded him a grant to develop training materials and advocacy work to pursue his goal. Dr. Bartolo's proposal was one of the eight awarded among all applicants throughout the United States. He is the reason there is House Bill 0783/Senate Bill 0458 titled "Health Occupations—Structural Racism Training," which proposes changes to the training requirements for health care professionals in Maryland.
Key provisions include:
- Requiring applicants for renewal of certain licenses and certificates to attest that they have completed an implicit bias and structural racism training program approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program;
- Expanding the definition of "implicit bias" to include structural racism; and,
- Ensuring that the training programs are recognized by health occupations boards or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education."