🗞️ July 14, 2025
🎤 Guest Speaker Spotlight: Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz
Last week, our club welcomed Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz (R), who represents New Jersey's 21st Legislative District. Ms. Muñoz shared her personal journey to public office, beginning with her career as a registered nurse and her role as a mother of five. After the passing of her husband, Dr. Eric Muñoz, in 2009, she was nominated by the Republican Party to fill the vacancy in the General Assembly—an appointment she secured with strong support. Since then, she has been re-elected every cycle through 2023 and is set to face Andrew Macurdy this November.
Ms. Muñoz currently serves on both the Health and Budget Committees, acting as the ranking minority member. Her presentation focused on three pressing issues:
- 🚆 NJ Transit Funding: She criticized the recurring use of capital funds to patch budget shortfalls and emphasized the need for sustainable solutions.
- 🏘️ Affordable Housing vs. Overdevelopment: She addressed the strain caused by overdevelopment, especially in densely populated areas, in meeting the state's housing mandate.
- 🚴♂️ Pedestrian Safety: Growing concerns over motorized bicycles—currently unregulated in age and licensing—highlighted the need for state-local collaboration on regulation.
During Q&A, Rotarians discussed local election turnout, shared firsthand concerns about motorized bikes, and asked about federal legislation’s potential impact on New Jersey’s healthcare system. Ms. Muñoz noted that while the long-term effects remain uncertain, New Jersey’s $6 billion surplus offers stability amid changing federal policies.
We’re grateful to Assemblywoman Muñoz for her thoughtful insights and candid dialogue with our members.
🤝 Welcome New Members!
On July 7, we were thrilled to formally introduce six new members following their orientation:
- Frank Robertazzi – Financial Services
- Mike Helmer – Attorney
- Steve Kwiecien – Media Production
- Amy Behr-Shields – Library Services
- Scott Hough – School Superintendent
- Jackie Kondel – Arboretum Management
We look forward to soon installing two additional members:
Stacy Grimaldi and Richard Callahan Jr.
Please give a warm Rotary welcome when you see these faces at upcoming events!
🧠 Upcoming Program – July 21:
Fraud Prevention
Presented by Margaret Leacock
Prepare for an insightful discussion on safeguarding against scams and protecting personal and organizational integrity.
🧩 Club Projects & Board Meeting
Have a project idea? Reach out to one of our board members! They’ll be happy to present your suggestion for consideration:
- David Dietze
- Peter Bolton
- Mike Katz
- Donna Patel
- Jim Fleischman
- Joe Steiner
The date of the board meeting will be announced soon, and all members will be invited to attend, if they wish to.
