Stories
Summer is around the corner, and we would appreciate any help getting Rotary Camp ready before staff and campers arrive for the summer. Tasks will include cleaning of all the cabins, bath houses and communal areas. Cleaning supplies and gloves will be provided, but please bring shop-vacs, step stools, and dusters. Family and friends are welcome too! We are looking forward to seeing you at camp. |
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Rotary Exchange Student Maelle (Malou) Gorisse Spoke to Club April 10thMaelle (Malou) Gorisse is enjoying her GAP year. She hails from the northern part of France close to the Belgium border and the beautiful French city of Lille. Malou lives with her parents and a younger brother. She finished her secondary schooling and selected to come to the U. S. before starting her studies at a French University. She is thrilled to be a Rotary Exchange student. Malou’s academic program focused on the traditional French curriculum. And foreign language was certainly part of that. As many of you may have noticed, she is extremely accomplished in English and hopes to become a teacher of English in France someday. She is currently attending Stow -Munroe Falls High School and participates in the District’s RYE activities. Malou’s 1st host family was Jen and Richard Carroll. She is currently with her 2nd family. |
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Akron Rotary Inducts Tina GraverWELCOME OUR NEWEST AKRON ROTARIAN TINA GRAVER Employer: Bartlett Tree Experts Board Certified Master Arborist, Certified Treecare Safety Professional Indiana University Bloomington: Master of Science - MS, Environmental Science Ohio Wesleyan University: Bachelor of Arts - BA, Botany/Plant Biology President Tom Knauer was honored to induct Tina as a new member on April 10, 2024. She was sponsored by Brian Kosarko. There are only 8,257 arborists in the United States* and only 7% of those are women. Only a few women are Master Arborists and Tina is in that very elite group. A Master Arborist is someone who has met certain educational and/or experience requirements and has passed an examination administered by a professional organization such as the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Tina was elected as a Board Member of the Ohio Landscape Association in 2022 and chairs the organization’s Education Committee which helps elevate industry practices across the state. She state that she "is looking forward to giving back and working on service oriented projects in the community". Please introduce yourself the next time you see Tina at a meeting or service project! *according to https://www.zippia.com/arborist-jobs/demographics/
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Songfest 2024 to Benefit Rotary Camp: APRIL 14th.
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Rotary CaresThe purpose of Rotary Cares is to show our support for Akron Rotary members and their families when dealing with the loss of a loved one, the hardship of illness and also to celebrate the joy of a new baby, job, marriage or other events in their lives. Please <Click to Email us> to let us know of any news you would like placed here. Note that health related information is posted only with permission of the individual(s). CONGRATULATIONS Akron Rotary member Jacinto Núñez, a partner in the firm’s Akron office, will be inducted into the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL). Admission to the organization is by invitation only after a rigorous screening process, making it the premier organization of real estate lawyers in the United States. According to ACREL, the organization’s distinguished, nationally known lawyers are selected to fellowship for their outstanding legal abilities, experience and high standards of professional and ethical conduct in the practice of real estate law. Read the full release here
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It's time to be Social! Upcoming Socials at the District Level and through our ClubWe have a lot of Social opportunities coming up in the next few weeks so I wanted to make you all aware of the details, as well as how to register for the Governor's Dinner, which requires tickets to attend. AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL: Friday April 26th~ 4:20 p.m. New Member Mixer – Hotel Beau’s on the River – ALL ARE WELCOME! Come meet new Rotarians and welcome them to the world of Rotary (Cash Bar) Saturday April 27th~ 6:00 p.m. Create Hope in the World District Governor Reception 7:00 p.m. Create Hope in the World Governor’s Dinner - (Registration Required ) Ticketed Event - Use this link to register for Dinner Mix and Mingle as you visit Serving Stations Hospitality Suite Opens After Dinner – Sponsored by The Rotary Club of Akron approximately 8:30pm THROUGH OUR CLUB: Rotary Night out at Hoppin' Frog: Smashing Century Ale Release Thursday May 2nd~ 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - In collaboration with The Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs, Hoppin' Frog Brewery will be releasing their Smashing Century Ale which celebrates the Camp's 100th Anniversary. Please plan on joining us for as little or as long as you wish. There is no cost to attend, outside of your own food an beverage, and all are welcome as we toast to 100 years! Questions are welcome! Dave Miller Social Chair The Rotary Club of Akron |
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Akron Rotary Turns 110!In February of 1914, The Rotary Club of Akron became the 107th Rotary club with 31 charter members meeting at the Portage Hotel. The charter members and their classifications were: Charles B. Akers Fred W. Albrecht Harry A. Bauman George E. Billow R.R. Bowman George W. Carmichael H.P. Cohill George C. Dietz Freeman T. Egleson William C. Hall Milton E. Harpster George W. Hawkins James G. Hoover R.B. Johnson Charles L. Knight N.F. Laubach Dr. Simon Morgenroth Mark F. Murdock J.O. Murphy Bert A. Polsky William M. Shoemaker John F. Spellman John J. Starr John V. Swartz Mulford Wade Harry Williams William G. Wise William E. Wright Sam F. Ziliox |
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Inspirational MessageThis week our speaker was Barbara Feld, Director of Development at Apollo's Fire. Performing on historical instruments, Apollo’s Fire brings to life the music of the past for audiences of today. Prior to her presentation, Paul Jarret delivered this inspirational message, authored by famed music producer Rick Ruben, about creativity and how we each bring talents to our everyday lives. Everyone Is a Creator Those who do not engage in the traditional arts might be wary of calling themselves artists. They might perceive creativity as something extraordinary or beyond their capabilities. A calling for the special few who are born with these gifts. Fortunately, this is not the case. Creativity is not a rare ability. It is not difficult to access. Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human. It's our birthright. And it's for all of us. Creativity doesn't exclusively relate to making art. We all engage in this act on a daily basis. To create is to bring something into existence that wasn't there before. It could be a conversation, the solution to a problem, a note to a friend, the rearrangement of furniture in a room, a new route home to avoid a traffic jam. What you make doesn't have to be witnessed, recorded, sold, or encased in glass for it to be a work of art. We read words, hear voices, and form in-terpretations. Then, in an instant, we produce a response. All of this in a world of our own creation. By the mere fact of being alive, we are active participants in the ongoing process of creation. To live as an artist is a way of being in the world. A way of perceiving. A practice of paying attention. Refining our sensitivity to tune in to the more subtle notes. Looking for what draws us in and what pushes us away. Noticing what feelings arise and where they lead. You exist as a creative being in a creative universe. A singular work of art. - Rick Ruben - The Creative Act: A Way of Being ______ Paul Jarrett, Executive Director Akron Symphony Orchestra c. 216.401.5310 |
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April 6 - Volunteer at District 6630 Four-Way Test Speech ContestHello District 6630 Rotarian Leaders! As you hopefully are aware, our Rotary District 6630 Four-Way Test Speech Competition is scheduled for 10 am on Saturday, April 6th. For the second year in a row the competition will be held at Springfield Senior High School, 1880 Canton Road, Akron, Ohio 44312! Although the Akron Club will not have anyone competing this year, we are looking for a few more judges and timers for the event, so please email Rich Cole at rcole@iamsuper.org if you are willing and able to serve as a judge or timer for this year's speech competition; either Head Judge Ron Whitmer or I will be in contact with you in the near future with related judge/timer details! Many thanks for all you do, Rotarians...looking forward to a great District 6630 Four-Way Test Speech Competition! Rich Cole, Chairman Rotary District 6630 Four-Way Test Speech Competition Rotary Club of Port Summit 330-414-5258 (SUPER) 330-780-7391 (Lakemore) |
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Make Volunteering a Family Thing!As the Rotary Club of Akron continues to grow our community partnerships, we must be mindful of our capacity to serve. Rotary’s worldwide motto is Service Above Self and Akron Rotary is no different. In member surveys, “Service to others” is consistently identified as a key reason for joining Akron Rotary. Recently, I discovered how fun it is to have my husband Jeff join me. I took the lead of Service Projects Chair Cyndi Kane—who often drags…I mean invites husband Michael to join her! What fun we had stuffing 130 bags of food for students at Innes School! I encourage you to look at your schedule and sign up for a Wednesday or two and invite your spouse, significant other or child to join you. What a great opportunity to introduce the power of volunteerism and helping others—especially another young person—to your child. I'm so proud of us! Akron Rotarians have been packing food for Open M's Kids Backpack Program to benefit Innes students since the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. Let's end the school year strong! The need has grown from 100 to 130 kids, but we've met that challenge. We pack from 3-4 pm on Wednesdays. Delivery to the school happens Thursdays at 9 am—I did it this morning and it only took me 25 minutes from arrival at Open M to pulling out of Innes to head home. Use the link below to volunteer. This project timing doesn’t work for you? There are many ways to serve—visit the website for other opportunities! |
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Nathanael Billow Attends All Ohio Presidents Elect Training7 years... 7 years ago then club president Julie Brandle inducted Nathanael Billow into the Rotary Club of Akron. Fast forward to March 16th in Columbus where at All Ohio PETS Training, Julie, now our Rotary District 6630 governor, had the honor of pinning Thane as President-Elect for our Club 2024-25. Good luck Thane on your year ahead leading our club. Thane shared the following on Facebook: This is a really big deal for me and is a huge honor. The Rotary Club of Akron, OH is really important to my family and I, and I’ve met a lot of really special people, some of whom are my closest friends and biggest role models. My great-great Uncle George Billow helped found Akron Rotary in 1914 and he served as Club President from 1916-1917. My great-great grandpa Charles F. Billow was also one of the Club’s first members. Four generations of my family have been Rotarians, and together, we’ve helped maintain 110 years of active membership in Akron Rotary. I have a lot of great memories of Rotary growing up, and I feel like it was just yesterday that my grandpa told me that I should be a funeral director and a Rotarian, because “Billow’s were really good at being both.” I remember going to my first Chili Open with my dad when I was probably 4 or 5 years old. I remember when John Daily invited me to Rotary as his guest in 2017 and how he offered to sponsor me into the club. I can remember how nervous I was to get sworn in by Julie Brandle, and how my mom and dad Charles Martial Billow came to support me. I remember when I met my Rotary Mentor Dr. Robert McGregor and how impressed I was with him. He introduced me to David Miller, Connor Jarvis and Brian Kosarko, and I remember how we all would get in trouble at meetings for routinely sitting together! I remember getting lunch with Rotary Jack Harig at Rockne’s so that he could pass on stories of our Club’s history. I remember sitting with Tom Knauer at one of our meetings and thinking to myself “man, that guy is pretty sharp and we have a lot in common. I should probably be friends with him.” And now, all these years later, I have the privilege of following my now good friend Tom Knauer by serving as the President of Akron Rotary. It was extra special that District Governor Julie Brandie was there to pin me at All Ohio PETS this evening. I hope I make my family, my future wife Gabby Zuschak, my Rotary friends, and our Akron Club proud. I know my grandpa Chuck Billow and John Daily will be rooting for me from Heaven (and yes, they both still have perfect attendance). |
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Akron Rotary Members and Friends Help at FoodbankWe had a good turnout of 11 volunteers from rotary and friends. We broke down large bags of GoJo Soap and bottled them in smaller 12 ounce bottles for distribution to local food pantries. WE bottled 1008 pounds of soap in about an hour and half. Good times working and talking with our fellow Rotarians and volunteers was had by all. |
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Volunteers Needed for 2024 City of Green's Breakfast with the Bunny - March 23rdThe City of Green needs volunteers for their "Breakfast with the Bunny" event. Kitchen Volunteers: 8:30am-10:30am, 10:30am-12:30pm Breakfast Servers: 8:30am-10:30am, 10:30am-12:30pm Clean up Crew: 12:30pm-1:30pm Sign up here to volunteer: https://www.cityofgreen.org/FormCenter/Volunteer-19/2024-Breakfast-with-the-Bunny-and-Easter-94 EVENT DESCRIPTION: Join us for the Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt at Queen of Heaven, hosted by the City of Green and Ohio's Parent Mentor Project. Tickets are required for the breakfast. The Easter Egg Hunt is free to attend. Thank you to Girl Scout Troop #90109 for stuffing the eggs! WHERE: Queen of Heaven, 1800 Steese Rd WHEN: Saturday, March 23, 2024 TIME: See Schedule of Events Below COST: Breakfast tickets are pre-sale only -- Individual Ticket $6; Seniors and Youth (Ages 4-17) $4; Children 3 & under - Free Inclusion Egg Hunt - 9:30 am (Free) Inclusion Breakfast - 10:00 am (Tickets Required) General Public Breakfast - 10:30 am (Tickets Required) General Public Egg Hunt - 12:00 pm (Free) Everyone will gather at the Patriot Playground behind the John Torok Community Center at the start of the event for instructions; the hunt will then be in the surrounding area. The rules of the Easter Egg Hunt are as follows: There are two age groups - 5 years and under and 6 to 10 years old (parents can assist the 5 and under group); NO running; and, a limit of six eggs per child (verify your six eggs for a prize). Rain or shine (unless it is storming), no rain date. Please bring your own Easter basket. Parker and the Easter Bunny will be on hand for pictures! |
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THANK YOU for Making March HAPPY!Katy asked our Club to make March HAPPY and you did!! Every Tuesday in March, Happy Dollars were collected and will go to the Akron-Canton Foodbank for their campaign! President Tom also announced that the club will match total happy dollars collected. OUR TOTAL WITH THE MATCH IS $700!! Thank you for your support. About the Campaign: After attending the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank Harvest for Hunger kickoff luncheon, Rotarian Katy Miller brought to Club President Tom the idea of collecting Happy Dollars for the month of April for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. The Foodbank is able to take $1 and turn that into 3 meals! That's right....One dollar = 3 meals. They can accomplish this with their bulk purchasing and agreements with their suppliers. 2023 proved to be the highest demand of all time, more than 3 million visits were made to the hunger relief network the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank is a part of. Families should not have to choose between nourishing food and rent. Every little bit helps and Akron Rotarians are here to do what we can. Katy Miller Rotary Club of Akron, Vice President The Akron Rotary Foundation Board, Vice President
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Help Make March HAPPYAfter attending the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank Harvest for Hunger kickoff luncheon, Rotarian Katy Miller brought to Club President Tom the idea of collecting Happy Dollars for the month of April for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. They are able to take $1 and turn that into 3 meals! That's right....One dollar = 3 meals. They can accomplish this with their bulk purchasing and agreements with their suppliers. 2023 proved to be the highest demand of all time, more than 3 million visits were made to the hunger relief network the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank is a part of. Families should not have to choose between nourishing food and rent. Every little bit helps and Akron Rotarians are here to do what we can. So let's make March HAPPY! You can also pay Venmo or PayPal payment to Katy Miller if you don't carry cash: @RadiantStylebyKaty Every Tuesday this month, Happy Dollars collected will go to the Food Bank for their campaign! President Tom also announced that the club will match total happy dollars collected this month! Katy Miller Rotary Club of Akron, Vice President The Akron Rotary Foundation Board, Vice President
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Brain Injury Association of Ohio Call for Volunteers for March 22, 2024We are seeking volunteers to help with this event, Resilient Minds: Artistry After Injury benefiting The Brain Injury Association of Ohio. Volunteers will be picking up food from local restaurants/caterers, serving appetizers, and closing the auction. Event Details: March 22, 2024 Volunteers needed 5pm - 9pm for one and two hour time slots Location: Highland Universal Gatheringspot (HÜG) REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER - CLICK HERE ABOUT THE EVENT Resilient Minds: Artistry After Injury benefiting The Brain Injury Association of Ohio. "Resilient Minds: Artistry After Injury" is a full day event designed to celebrate the abilities and talent of brain injury survivors through various forms of art including multi-media and movement. The Resilient Minds event will include a multi-media art gallery featuring art by survivors and artists, interactive artistry workshops (canvas painting projects, dance lessons, mindfulness/yoga) led by a local artist, and an evening event featuring various dance, music and other artistic performances. Survivor Art Gallery Refreshments Performing Arts Art Workshops for Brain Injury Survivors and Caregivers THANK YOU! Contact me for further information. Lauren Holly 440-666-4728
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Thank you to our speakerStephanie York serves as executive director of the Shaw Jewish Community Center of Akron. She spoke to our Club on February 27th. The Shaw JCC is recognized for its quality programming and services in fitness, recreation, sports, and education, for all stages of life. The JCC’s approximately 60-acre campus houses an early childhood education department, a k-8 private school, a synagogue, JewishAkron, Jewish Family Services, a full kosher kitchen with catering, two pools, tennis and pickleball courts, a racquetball court, a gymnasium, workout facilities, group exercise rooms, an auditorium, and well-equipped locker rooms with spa features, and more. The JCC membership is predominantly from outside the Jewish community – with 1,400 membership units (individuals or families) and 1,000 active Silver Sneaker participants. Photo courtesy of Katy Miller
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Past Rotary International Director, Michael J. JohnsWith great sadness I share with you the loss of our own Past Rotary International Director, Michael J. Johns, who passed away peacefully on Friday evening, February 23, Rotary’s 119th Anniversary and World Understanding and Peace Day. A fitting tribute to this Rotary Warrior’s memory. Below are the final arrangements as published - please look further for additional information on tributes to Michael, attendance at the reception/luncheon following the Mass and memorial contributions: Visitation at DeJohn Funeral Home and Celebrations Center (12811 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, OH 44206 - Rte. 306 just south of Mayfield Road) Wednesday, February 28 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 29 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Morning Prayers at Church of the Resurrection (32001 Cannon Road, Solon, OH 44139) Friday, March 1 from 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Church of the Resurrection (32001 Cannon Road, Solon, OH 44139) Friday, March 1 from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. followed by a Reception/Luncheon Please visit the DeJohn Funeral Home website https://www.dejohnfuneral.com/obituaries/michael-johns for his obituary to RSVP if you plan on staying for the luncheon on Friday, March 1 after the Mass. So many Rotarians have spoken about the influence Mike has had on their lives, not just as a Rotarian but as a mentor and as a friend. That is his Rotary legacy as is his life of dedication and commitment in service to those less fortunate. When Mike spoke to you, you always had his full attention and you knew “you were the only person in the room.” This man of faith loved his family above all else and lived his life by the Rotary 4-way Test in every thought, word and deed. He was always confident the dreaded Poliomyelitis would be eradicated from the face of the earth. For those who have asked, Past Director Mike’s Rotary 'Service Above Self’ included the following: A 45-year Rotarian, Mike Johns first joined the former Rotary Club of Hillcrest in 1979 and served as its President in 1980-81 and 2001-2002. He served with honor and distinction as District 663 Governor in 1986-87 and as Rotary International Director in 2007-2009. In 2016 he was Co-Chair of the District 6630 Centennial Celebration when we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of our own Past Rotary International President Arch C. Klumph’s vision of The Rotary Foundation here in Cleveland, OH in collaboration with the Cleveland Orchestra. Later that year, Past Director Mike attended another Centennial Celebration in the Philippines, site of the Rotary International Health, Hunger and Humanity Program to immunize six million children against the dreaded Poliomyelitis on September 29, 1979. The first such initiative to eradicate Polio so that no child will ever experience this crippling disease ever again In lieu of flowers, for those who wish may make a contribution in his memory to Polio (or other Rotary Area of Focus), please click on the link rotary.org/donate, click on DONATE, indicate your Area of Focus and then select the box that check “I would like to make this donation in honor or in memory of someone” and input Michael J. Johns. That is all you need to do. The family will be notified a contribution has been made with your name and email address. This information is also being added to the DeJohn website tonight where other organizations are listed from which you may select. Continue to keep all of the Johns and Keck families in your thoughts and prayers. Rotary International President-Elect Stephanie Urchick asked that I share with you her thoughts: “A tremendous loss to us and to the world he served.” She knows how much he meant to all of us. A special note of appreciation to PDG Beverly Ghent-Skrzynski for assisting the District in Johns family communications, as well as preparing this information for me to share with all of you. Please share this information with your respective club members. In Rotary Service, Julie Brandle, District Governor 6630 |
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United Way READ TO ME DAY - March 12Reading to children helps stimulate their imaginations, contributes to language development, and helps to encourage early literacy. Share your love of reading with students across Summit and Medina counties during Read to Me Day! Volunteers are invited to visit Akron Public Schools and read stories to students and on March 12 at Cloverleaf Elementary. Each sponsorship level provides the opportunity for one volunteer to read aloud to children in an elementary school classroom. Grab a book and join us for a celebration of the joy of reading. SPONSORSHIP LEVELS:Reader – $10 Classroom – $250 Grade – $500 School – $2,500 For more information about Read to Me Day contact Darion Karam and dkaram@uwsummitmedina.org |
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Unsung Hero RecognizedBecky Liguori was recognized by The Rotary Club of Akron for her significant contributions to the organization. It's commendable that she has stepped up to assist with processing Rotary Scholarships and supporting the Akron Rotary Foundation with disbursements, despite not being a Rotarian herself. Recognition of individuals like Becky who generously offer their time and efforts to help advance the mission of organizations like Rotary is truly inspiring. Congratulations to Becky on this well-deserved acknowledgment, and gratitude to her for her valuable contributions! She was nominated for the recognition by Terry Dalton, Scholarship Chair & Club Secretary. Photo L-R: Terry Dalton, Becky Liguori and Tom Knauer, Club President Photo courtesy of Katy Miller. |
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MARCH 19 - RSVP NOW FOR OFF SITE CLUB MEETINGOur meeting for Tuesday, March 19 will be off site at Artspace. You must pre-register for this meeting. We are beta-testing a new event program from ClubRunner. Because we have this new program please read the information below as there are a few differences from our prior program. Please also note that registration is not complete until you process your payment. You can also use the QR code below. Click on the graphic below to enlarge and read about our new event program. ABOUT OUR OFF SITE MEETING MARCH 19, 2024 at Summit Artspace Join Executive Director Heather Meeker at Summit Artspace for a deep dive into Akron's vibrant artist community, and a tour of its building in the heart of the Main-Market Historic District! Summit Artspace is a nonprofit organization that supports local artists throughout every step of the creative process. It connects artists to the resources they need to thrive, including studios and rehearsal space, galleries and exhibitions, professional development workshops, and community events like the downtown Akron ArtWalk. Summit Artspace’s historic building has been an Akron landmark since 1927 when it was constructed by publisher Charles Knight and his son, John S. Knight, as the new headquarters of the Akron Beacon Journal. Standing three stories tall and boasting a whopping 55,000 square feet, the building has been an epicenter of excitement and creativity for nearly a century. The Knight brothers relocated the Beacon Journal in 1938 and the Akron Public Library purchased the building in 1940; it served as the library’s downtown location until 1969. In 1976 Summit County preserved the building and leas leased portions to the Historical Society, the MRDD board, and the Akron Work Center. Today, Summit Artspace is its sole occupant. The building retains many of its original features, including a manually-operated freight elevator, John S. Knight’s safe, and of course, the ornate art-deco façade. SCHEDULE Noon - Assemble in 3rd Floor Classroom 12:15 - Lunch and program, (including Susie Lilley, resident artist) 12:45 - Tour - Phase I (Third Floor) 1:00 - Tour - Phase 2 (Second and First Floor) |
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APRIL 19 - Friday Morning Meeting OptionFriday Morning Meeting Planned: Akron Family Restaurant on April 19, 2024, 7:30-9am Please join us for fellowship with those Rotarians we may not be able to see at our Tuesday meetings. In January, we had more than 20 people in attendance and we really had a nice time! President Knauer will provide an update on club happenings and Cyndi will update you and get input from you regarding our upcoming service projects. We hope that you are able to join us. If you CAN attend, please email Cyndi Kane (cyndi@cyndikane.com). Yours in Service, Cyndi Kane 330-606-6041 |
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April 26-27: DISTRICT CONFERENCE and LEADERSHIP ASSEMBLY -- Book Your Room and Save the DateHey there! Have you heard about the upcoming District 6630 Governor's Conference hosted by this year's Governor and Akron Rotarian, Julie Brandle? It's an annual gathering for all members and guests, and it's happening on April 26 & 27. Save the dates! Why should you attend? Well, for starters, it's a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow Rotarians. With our District boasting more than 2,000 members and 50 clubs, you're bound to make some new connections and renew old friendships. Plus, there are breakout sessions to help your club thrive and make a bigger impact in your community. And let's not forget the chance to celebrate our Rotary Youth - from exchange programs to speech winners! Registrations will open soon, but you can secure your hotel room now. Don't miss out on the fun and learning - mark your calendars and join us! #RotaryDistrict6630
RESERVE YOUR ROOM TODAY Special Group Rate: $139 USD per night LAST DAY TO GET ROOMS IS MARCH 31st. |
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Akron Rotarians ARE People of Action |
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APRIL 23 - SCHOLARSHIP DINNER (REPLACES REGULAR LUNCHEON) - REGISTER NOW!Doors Open at 4:45pm Program Begins at 5:30pm Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church (this will replace our luncheon on this date) |
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MARCH 19th - OFFSITE WEEKLY MEETING - RSVP NOWMark your calendar for our OFFSITE MEETING MARCH 19, 2024 at Summit Artspace (all registrations must be received by March 14) Join Executive Director Heather Meeker at Summit Artspace for a deep dive into Akron's vibrant artist community, and a tour of its building in the heart of the Main-Market Historic District! Summit Artspace is a nonprofit organization that supports local artists throughout every step of the creative process. It connects artists to the resources they need to thrive, including studios and rehearsal space, galleries and exhibitions, professional development workshops, and community events like the downtown Akron ArtWalk. Summit Artspace’s historic building has been an Akron landmark since 1927 when it was constructed by publisher Charles Knight and his son, John S. Knight, as the new headquarters of the Akron Beacon Journal. Standing three stories tall and boasting a whopping 55,000 square feet, the building has been an epicenter of excitement and creativity for nearly a century. The Knight brothers relocated the Beacon Journal in 1938 and the Akron Public Library purchased the building in 1940; it served as the library’s downtown location until 1969. In 1976 Summit County preserved the building and leas leased portions to the Historical Society, the MRDD board, and the Akron Work Center. Today, Summit Artspace is its sole occupant. The building retains many of its original features, including a manually-operated freight elevator, John S. Knight’s safe, and of course, the ornate art-deco façade. SCHEDULE Noon - Assemble in 3rd Floor Classroom 12:15 - Lunch and program, (including Susie Lilley, resident artist) 12:45 - Tour - Phase I (Third Floor) 1:00 - Tour - Phase 2 (Second and First Floor) |
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OPEN M Volunteers Pack MealsThese Rotarians really rocked it at OPEN M this week. They packed 100 bags of meals in record time! Thank you for your time and service to those who are in need. Front: Cyndi Kane Back L-R: Cheryl Warren, Angie Claypool, Sandy Naragon |
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Thank you to our speaker |
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THIS FRIDAY- JANUARY 26TH |
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Nathanael Billow RecognizedThe Akron Club's Rotary International (RI) Foundation Co-Chair, Bill Manby, Jr., recognized Nathanael (Thane) Billow who received his Paul Harris +5 pin. Thank you Thane!! Photo courtesy of Katy Miller L-R: Bill Manby, Jr and Nathanael Billow About Paul Harris FellowsContinuing the legacy of our founder, the Paul Harris Fellow program recognizes individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. The honor was established in 1957 to show appreciation for contributions that support our Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. Read more about Donor Recognition Multiple Paul Harris Fellow When you give additional gifts of $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. |
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Multiple Paul Harris Fellows RecognizedThe Akron Club's Rotary International (RI) Foundation Co-Chair, Nathanael Billow, recognized two club members who gave additional gifts to the RI Foundation and received their next level Paul Harris pins. Sandy Naragon - Paul Harris +8 District Governor Julie Brandle - Paul Harris +3 Photo L-R: Nathanael Billow, Sandy Naragon, DG Julie Brandle, Club President Tom Knauer About Paul Harris FellowsContinuing the legacy of our founder, the Paul Harris Fellow program recognizes individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. The honor was established in 1957 to show appreciation for contributions that support our Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. Read more about Donor Recognition Multiple Paul Harris Fellow When you give additional gifts of $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. |
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Rotary CaresThe purpose of Rotary Cares is to show our support for Akron Rotary members and their families when dealing with the loss of a loved one, the hardship of illness and also to celebrate the joy of a new baby, job, marriage or other events in their lives. Please <Click to Email us> to let us know of any news you would like placed here. Note that health related information is posted only with permission of the individual(s). CONDOLENCES TO JOHN MARGIDA AND HIS FAMILY On Monday, January 8th, 2024, Rose Margida, 95, loving wife and mother, passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She will be remembered for her faith in God, her unconditional love and sacrifice for her family, cherished friendships, and the countless lives she touched. Rose was born on July 24, 1928, in Akron, Ohio, to Frank and Grace Sanfilippo. She married her sweetheart, Guido Margida, on June 30, 1949, and they celebrated 71 years of marriage. Rose was a friend to everyone she met. She could outwork anybody and was always busy helping and serving others. She was an active volunteer at the Haven of Rest where she was honored as the Women's Auxiliary Woman of the Year. Throughout their lives together, Guido and Rose were active members of the Chapel in Akron, their Adult Bible Fellowship family, and the Sons of Italy Lodge 585. A heartfelt thank you is extended to the Village of St. Edward for the loving care given to Rose. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 12, 2024, at the Anthony Funeral Home, 1990 S. Main St., Akron. Calling hours will begin at 11:00 am and the funeral will begin at 12:00 Noon. A private interment will be held at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. The funeral and cemetery services will be live streamed at anthonyfh.com/obituary/Rose-Margida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to to TheValentineProject.org or the Haven of Rest Ministries in Akron. |
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Jan 19 - Chili Open Kick Off at Whitey's : Come and Show Your Support of our official "Chili" Sponsor!Whitey's Chili Open Kick Off Event. Hope you can join us! Kind Regards, Amanda Warner Director of Volunteer Opportunities and Special Events Akron Rotary Camp gotcamp.org ∙ 330.644.4512 |
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Akron Rotary's 34th Annual Chili Open Golf Classic February 3, 2024The Chili Open Golf Classic is a month away and we need all hands-on deck to make this another successful event! Funding from the Chili Open helps ensure that no camper is ever turned away from Akron Rotary Camp due to inability to pay. Sponsorships and Camperships make up 75% of our event goal. Rotarians are needed to help support with sponsorships, view the updated sponsorship benefits packet here. Please consider increasing your sponsorship, renewing your sponsorship, or becoming a first-time sponsor. We are also looking for new prospective sponsors, so please let our Event chair, Laura Smiley, (laurasmiley330@gmail.com), know if you have someone we could reach out to. Your support makes the Chili Open an annual success for our Club. We also ask every Rotarian to purchase or sell a minimum of ten raffle tickets at $20 each. There are great chances to win the following prizes:
Please bring any sold raffle tickets to the next club meeting or mail them to the Camp Office (4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH 44319). Tickets can also be purchased online, by clicking on this link. Please download the attached flyer and display it at your office, or share it with your friends, family, and colleagues. Back by popular demand is Dr. Rob’s “Wagon of Good Cheer” and Wanda’s Wine Fridge. Please help us fill the wagon and fridge with any donation of unopened bottles of spirits, mixers, and wine. We also need items for our online auction. Food baskets, golf packages, or family entertainment packages make great auction items! If you know of anyone that will be able to donate something, please let us know. If you need someone to pick up any items, please call or email Amanda at Akron Rotary Camp (330.644.4512 / amandaw@akronymca.org), and we would be happy to make those arrangements. Thank you for your support in making this year's Chili Open a continued success for our Club to benefit the campers who attend Akron Rotary Camp! Together, we are "Creating a world where there are only abilities!" Laura Smiley Chair, 2024 Chili Open Golf Classic |
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Jan 26 - Morning Meeting OptionHappy New Year to you, my Fellow Rotarian! I have planned a Friday morning meeting at the Akron Family Restaurant on January 26th, at 7:30am. Please join me for some fellowship with those Rotarians we may not be able to see at our Tuesday meetings. President Knauer will provide an update on club happenings and I will update you and get input from you regarding our upcoming service projects. I hope that you are able to join us. If know you can be there, please email me. I just want to get an idea of how many people will be there, so that I can tell the folks at Akron Family Restaurant. Yours in Service, Cyndi Kane 330-606-6041 |
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2024 Scholarship Interview OpportunitiesIt is that time of the year that we begin to interview Akron Public School students for the 15, $1,000 Akron Rotary Foundation scholarships. We will be conducting the interviews in person again this year. I am looking for two Rotarians to assist me with each of the interviews. The time commitment is up to 3.5 hours dependent on the number of student applicants we receive for each category. The five categories are as follows: 1) Manufacturing, Engineering and Skilled Trades; 2) Health and Human Services; 3) Public Service; 4) Arts, Media and Communications and 5) Business, Marketing and Information Technology. Interview Dates are as follows: Manufacturing, Engineering and Skilled Trades: Wednesday, February 14th: 8-11:30 Health and Human Services: Friday, February 23rd: 8 - 11:30 Public Service: Tuesday, March 5th: 8 - 11:30 Arts, Media, and Communication: Tuesday, March 19th: 8 - 11:30 Business, Marketing, and Information Technology: Wednesday, March 27th: 8 - 11:30 I will forward the materials I receive from APS about each of the applicants a couple of days prior to the scheduled interview. I will also send you a copy of the interview questions we use for your guidance during the interviews. If you are interested in participating in the interviews, please email Terrence Dalton tdalton1226@gmail.com and let me know which category you would like to be considered for. I will notify you as soon as I can as to who has been selected. Once I get a maximum of two for each category, I will email Club members letting you know a category has been closed. Interviews will be held at the APS administration building (10 North Main Street, Akron). |
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CAVS Night with Exchange Students - Feb. 22ndThis is a great chance to join the Exchange Students for the CAVS game against the Orlando Magic on February 22, 2024. All Rotarians and friends are welcome for the pregame reception and CAVS game on the 22nd. The reception with the students begins at 5:00 pm and includes a snack with soft drinks at The Clevelander Bar and Grille at 834 Huron Street, Cleveland, Ohio. In addition, we will have a few door prizes and a raffle for the exchange students and their guests. This has always been a fun night, a chance to see the young CAVS and have some great fellowship. Please see the flyer below to order tickets. Any questions, call Stew at 330-607-1442. Stew Buchanan, Chair GO CAVS!!!!!! |
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Rotarians Ring the Bell for Salvation Army |
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Gift Wrapping Wrap UpSeveral members volunteered ton December 7th to help wrap gifts for The Well CDC - Akron Hope Service Project at Mason CLC. It was rewarding and fun to wrap gifts for those families in need for the holiday. Thank you to all who participated! Well CDC - Akron Hope Service Project Rotarian Coordinator: Doug Kohl The Well CDC's Akron Hope project provides year-round support to its neighborhood elementary school, Mason CLC. This project received grant funding from the Akron Rotary Foundation. One of the ways Mason CLC is supported is through Akron Hope's annual Holidays of Hope outreach that spreads joy to Mason CLC students, teachers, and families during the Holiday season. This is done by providing every student (250+) with a new, wrapped gift that gets hand delivered by volunteers. |
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Light Up The BoulevardWhat an exciting time to be an Akron Rotarian! The opportunities to serve are abundant! So are the needs of the community. Akron Rotary members once again adopted a Kenmore Boulevard storefront. We decorated the window of 960 Kenmore Boulevard on Wednesday, November 29th. The holiday celebration in Kenmore builds community spirit and promotes Kenmore businesses. Thank you to all who helped with this project! Sandy Naragon, Chair Akron Rotary Grant Committee 330-256-5315 - Cell |
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SNOWMANIA |
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ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THIS CAR! |
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Akron Rotary Club, Camp and Foundation Officers Elected for 2024The Annual Meeting of the Rotary Club of Akron was conducted on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. A key purpose of our Annual Meeting is to ratify the election of Officers and Directors for the Club, the Rotary Camp Board, and the Akron Rotary Foundation. Below are the election results ratified accordingly at the meeting: Club, Foundation, and Camp Election Results: Club Executive Team 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025:
Directors 7/1/2024-6/30/2027
Akron Rotary Foundation Board Members term 1/1/2024 – 12/31/2026
Akron Rotary Camp Board Members term 1/1/2024 – 12/31/2027
Minutes were respectfully recorded by Terry Dalton, Akron Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair
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Annual Meeting RecapDuring the December 5, 2023 annual meeting of The Rotary Club of Akron, we had 53 members in attendance on site as well as online. The members unanimously ratified the results of our election which are included in this edition of the Akrotarian. In addition, we received updates from Treasurer, Michael Gladys; Service Chair, Cyndi Kane; Foundation Chair, Doug Kohl; Membership Chair, Brian Kosarko; Grants Chair, Sandy Naragon and Chili Open Chair, Laura Smiley. Your club has been active on the service front partnering with several organizations in the Akron community while our financial position remains strong. Please see details about our service projects as well as sign up links for volunteering in this newsletter. Thank you for your continued support of The Rotary Club of Akron. Tom Knauer President The Rotary Club of Akron |
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Akron Club Welcomes New MembersSARAH BUCCIGROSS Sarah is a former Akron Rotarian who participated in the Chili Open, coordinated the dictionary program, secured grants for the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank and International Institute of Akron, and served on the Board. She took a hiatus from Akron Rotary while working in Twinsburg as their Finance Director. Her accounting career has brought me back to Akron as the Assistant Director of Finance & Budget for Summit County under Executive Ilene Shapiro. Currently, she serves on the Women in Public Finance Committee for the Government Finance Officer’s Association, Municipal Finance Officer’s Association Board as President, and the Board of Women in Public Finance. She said "I look forward to re-joining Akron Rotary and supporting the Akron Rotary Camp." GINAKAYE MADDOX Ginakaye (GK) is a prior Akron Rotarian and served as President for the 2006-2007 Rotary year. Maddox is a native of Akron and twice graduate of Kent State University Currently, I'm the Diversity and Training Officer for RedOak Behavioral Health. Her current community involvement includes Summit County Children Services Board, Secretary; Akron Roundtable Board of Directors; Summit County Historical Society Board and Chairperson for the John Brown Institute. She has one son, and three grandsons. Maddox also serves as a musician for her church and enjoy readings, biking, and quiz shows. |
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Mayor-Elect MalikMayor-Elect Malik shared his story of growing up in Akron, educational background and passion for the community. He spoke of his early political inspiration and the impact his mother, a long time educator, had on him, instilling his love for education and dedication to the community and its people. He touched on critical initiatives he and his administration plan to address once in office.
Photos courtesy of Katy Miller |
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K-3rd GRADE READING PROGRAM UPDATE - SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR DECEMBERThank you to all who have signed up to support Akron Youth Mentorship's K-3rd Grade Reading Program. There has been a change in the schedule for December and there is no program on December 18th, that event has been cancelled. The good news is that I have entered all the dates for 2024! The State of Ohio has a 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee that ensures that students in grades K-3rd grade are provided with resources to get them to the appropriate reading level by the time they enter 4th grade and aren't falling behind. Akron Youth Mentorship's K-3rd Grade Reading Program puts a tutor in front of them to read books for one hour a week. This extra reading time gives our K-3rd grade mentees a little extra help making sure they are on track to meet state standards and be set up for success as they move into 4th grade. One hour a week helps kids catch up! As a club, we have committed to send two Rotarians on Monday evenings from 4:45 pm - 6:00 pm, October 2023 thru May 2024. Location: Macedonia Baptist Church Please e-mail me if you have any questions or would like to volunteer and the times are filled. We have the opportunity to add students from the waitlist if we have enough interest from our club. I will add dates for 2024 later in the year. Thank you, Darethann Krill Akron Rotary Service Committee |
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Club Holiday Luncheon Dec. 19 -- RSVP NOW! |
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Support the Chili Open with Raffle Tickets!The Chili Open Golf Classic will be here soon after the Holidays and we need your help to make this another successful event! Purchase or sell a minimum of 10 raffle tickets, (or more), at only $20 each, and stand a chance to win one of the following great prizes:
Please bring any sold raffle tickets to our weekly club meetings, or mail them to the Camp Office (4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH 44319). Tickets can also be purchased online, by clicking on this link. Also share this fantastic opportunity with your friends, family, and colleagues. Funding from the Chili Open helps ensure that no camper is ever turned away from Akron Rotary Camp due to inability to pay. Thank you for your support in making the Chili Open a continued success for our Club to benefit the campers who attend Akron Rotary Camp! Together, we are "Creating a world where there are only abilities!" Laura Smiley
Chair, 2024 Chili Open Golf Classic |
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Akron Rotary Club Annual Meeting - DEC. 5thVIRTUAL MEETING OPTION ONLY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING DECEMBER 5, 2023 Join Zoom Meeting If you are an active member you should have received a ballot last week in your email. If not, click here to download the ballot. Instructions for submitting your ballot are on the ballot. Please note that Jacinto Nunez will be collecting the ballots since Karen Hrdlicka is on the ballot this year. As always, it needs to be physically signed by you and returned either via a scan or at a meeting. At our annual meeting on December 5 the results will be announced and the club will vote on ratifying the results. We do this because often we receive less than a majority of the club via the ballots so this way we make sure a majority of the club is voting. Please plan to be at the annual meeting on December 5 either virtually (link below) or in person. Although there is not a virtual option for meetings anymore, we are offering it for this meeting: Here is the Zoom link if you plan to attend the club Annual Meeting virtually: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81242308227 |
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Akron Rotarians RecognizedCongratulations to Stew and Cherie Buchanan! They were recognized for their years of service on events to raise funds for End Polio Now. They have hosted numerous events over the years at Progressive Field and other venues that have raised much needed funds and awareness. Stew and Cherie are amazing individuals and truly exemplify Service Above Self. Photo L-R: Frederick T. "Rory" McGuire, Grandson of Arch C. Klumph, Father of The Rotary Foundation, Rotary Club of Cleveland, Cherie Buchanan, Stew Buchanan, Kevin Kelly, CFRE, Regional Gifts Officer, Rotary International
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Akron Rotarians Graduate from Leadership 6630District 6630 invites Rotarians to participate in Leadership 6630 each year. Akron Rotarians Brian Kosarko and Katy Miller were part of the 2023 Leadership 6630 class. They spent many months studying and learning about our Rotary District 6630 operations and Rotary International programs. The entire class of 2023 was recognized on November 16 at the District Foundation Gala. |
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SERVICE PROJECT: Light up the Boulevard - Nov. 29thWhat an exciting time to be an Akron Rotarian! The opportunities to serve are abundant! So are the needs of the community. Do you love to decorate for the holidays? Akron Rotary has once again adopted a Kenmore Boulevard storefront. We'll be decorating the window of 960 Kenmore Boulevard on Wednesday, November 29th from 2:00-4:30 pm. The holiday celebration in Kenmore builds community spirit and promotes Kenmore businesses. We need you and could use some more decorations! We're hoping for "Rotary" blue and gold decorations and any lighted display--you can donate or loan the items. Sandy Naragon, Chair Akron Rotary Grant Committee 330-256-5315 - Cell |
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Akrotarians take Action for ShelterCare!On July 25th, 2023 Dr. Wes Fair, President and Jessica Purdy, Director of Development of Shelter Care, Inc. presented to our Club about the work that Shelter Care does in Summit County. Shelter Care, Inc. is a private non-profit agency that has served young people and families in crisis since 1972. Shelter Care has six distinct programs that together provide a continuum of residential and non-residential care including short-term crisis intervention, intermediate or respite care, long-term care en route to independent living, residential services for pregnant teens, outreach services, and outpatient counseling. Shelter Care's Mission Statement: To provide healing, restore hope and recognize the value of young people and families in need. As part of our ongoing commitment to serving our community, Akron Rotary recently partnered with Shelter Care for a service project. On November 8th, 2023, Rotary members organized a special event to prepare cooked and ‘ready to bake’ meals for two of their youth programs (The Highlands and Shelter Home). Those meals were delivered the next day; lasagna -ready to bake- and salad to The Highlands as well as a fully stocked and ready to assemble taco bar to The Shelter Home. We could not have done it without the teamwork and guidance from Shelter Care’s own Jessica Purdy, who followed up with this heartfelt message: “I wanted to thank you and the Akron Rotary Club for your kindness and generosity in preparing and delivering meals to the Highlands and Shelter Home programs last week. What a wonderful blessing! I haven't gotten to touch base with all those that received the meals yet but I heard that they smelled delicious (and I'm sure they tasted that way too!). We are so grateful for the time, effort and care that you all put into them.” The Akron Rotary Service Committee plans to have more of these events in the future, so stay tuned! |
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SERVICE PROJECT: OPEN MEvery week, 100 students at Innes Community Learning Center receive packs of non-perishable food on Fridays to ensure they have enough to eat over the weekend. The Feeding Kids Backpack Project is provided by Open M and is partially funded by a grant awarded by the Akron Rotary Foundation. Food insecurity negatively impacts a child's ability to learn and grow. Rotarians pack food on Wednesday and deliver it to Innes on Thursday. The school distributes it to the children to take home on Fridays. This service project is so needed that it has been extended to the end of the school year. Open M Volunteer Link Thank you to these most recent volunteers who packed the bags! |
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Akron Rotary Foundation Grant Cycle Open for 2024THE DEADLINE IS JANUARY 31ST!! The Rotary Club of Akron and the Akron Rotary Foundation have a longstanding commitment to the greater Akron community. Rotary is dedicated to causes that build relationships, improve lives, and create a better world—locally and globally. The 2024 Grant Cycle is officially open! Grants between $1,000 and $15,000 will be considered via an application process which ends January 31, 2024. Projects must have an Akron Rotarian “sponsor” and must include direct volunteer service opportunities for Akron Rotarians. Akron Rotary doesn’t just write checks, we’re action oriented and live by the motto, “Service Above Self.” ROTARIANS: Spread the word to impactful community service providers! Encourage them to apply by January 31, 2024, via the application link below. If you have questions, email |
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OPEN M Service Project VolunteersI recently volunteered for the OPEN M service project and want to share the well-oiled process to give you an idea of what to expect -- we hope you will sign up to participate! This week, it started with four Akron Rotarians packing 100 bags on Wednesday from 3-4pm. Thank you Mark Seward, Marcia Holcomb, DG Julie Brandle and Katy Miller for volunteering! Each bag contained bottles of Propel, cans of Chicken Chili, Macaroni & Cheese, snack items and crackers. Carleigh from OPEN M said "we strive to provide the children with breakfast, lunch and snack items". The next morning (Thursday) a Rotary volunteer arrives at 9am to pick up the bags. This week, Carleigh Lape, Marcia Campo and Darryl Millirons from OPEN M were on hand to load up my car. About 10 minutes later my car was loaded and Carleigh and Marcia gave perfect instructions for the delivery site and they also called ahead to let the school know I was on the way. Off I went to Innes School (about 5 minutes away) where two teachers, Caitlyn Gilley and Samantha Little, were waiting with carts and a few students to unload the car. Thank you to all - it was very well organized and efficient. A big thanks also goes out to Sandy Naragon for coordinating this project for our Club - see more details from Sandy below the photo. Yours in Service - Cheryl Warren A message from Sandy Naragon: Every week, 100 students at Innes Community Learning Center receive packs of non-perishable food on Fridays to ensure they have enough to eat over the weekend. The Feeding Kids Backpack Project is provided by Open M and is partially funded by a grant awarded by the Akron Rotary Foundation. Food insecurity negatively impacts a child's ability to learn and grow. Rotarians pack food on Wednesday and deliver it to Innes on Thursday. The school distributes it to the children to take home on Fridays. This service project is so needed that it has been extended to the end of the school year. Open M Volunteer Link |
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Rotarians Volunteer at the Food Bank! |
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Weekly through May: Akron Youth Mentorship K-3rd Grade Reading Program Service ProjectAkron Youth Mentorship's K-3rd Grade Reading Program has a new location! Monday, February 26 we will be reading at The Vincent House located on East Exchange Street. The State of Ohio has a 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee that ensures that students in grades K-3rd grade are provided with resources to get them to the appropriate reading level by the time they enter 4th grade and aren't falling behind. Akron Youth Mentorship's K-3rd Grade Reading Program puts a tutor in front of them to read books for one hour a week. This extra reading time gives our K-3rd grade mentees a little extra help making sure they are on track to meet state standards and be set up for success as they move into 4th grade. One hour a week helps kids catch up! As a club, we have committed to support two kids per week on Monday evenings from 4:45 pm - 6:00 pm, October 2023 thru May 2024. Location: The Vincent House Thank you to all those who have already volunteered to support this initiative, I hope you have enjoyed this experience as much as I have!. If you have any questions, please reach out to me via e-mail or phone (440.813.6230). Thank you, Darethann Krill Darethann Krill Akron Rotary Service Committee
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SERVICE PROJECTS AT A GLANCE - Help Us Take Action!!If you are interested in serving on the Service Projects Committee, please contact Cyndi Kane: cyndi@cyndikane.com. 330-606-6041 REGISTRATIONS ARE SET UP WHERE INDICATED Club Service Projects List
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Nov. 14 Weekly Meeting AND Board Meeting will be OFFSITE!November 14, 2023 if you missed the window to register call Cheryl ASAP at 330-495-9814 Rotary Board Meeting at the museum, 11am-Noon Entertaining as well as informative, this unique offsite meeting will be initiated by trustees Betsy Hartschuh, Children’s Museum co-founder, and Ben Tegel. After their introductory remarks conclude, around 12:20, we will not just “recess,” but have recess, i.e. time for discovering the exhibits in the museum. The meeting will end at 1 pm, but attendees may stay longer if desired. OUR HOSTS, THE AKRON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM The Akron Children’s Museum was founded by a small group of young parents who, after visiting numerous children’s museums throughout the U.S. and querying their peers, determined that such an institution was indeed needed, and could serve Akron and the surrounding region well with Akron-centric, unique experiences. Their plans were set in motion in 2012 and 2013, when the founding board commissioned feasibility and market studies. In 2014 ACM received its nonprofit status from the IRS, added new board members and began fundraising to realize the vision. In 2015, a partnership with The City of Akron was forged with ACM’s Holiday Pop-Up Site at Lock 3. The museum opened on November 25, 2016. WHAT IS A CHILDREN’S MUSEUM? Children’s museums are places where children learn through play and exploration in environments created JUST FOR THEM. Reflecting their diverse communities, children’s museums create playful, interactive learning experiences. In an increasingly complex world, children’s museums provide a place where kids and their families can experience learning and playing together. More and more families visit children's museums each year for the unique, face-to-face fun, enlightenment and shared experiences not available at other attractions. Children’s museums also contribute to the local economy and, in ACM’s case, also support efforts to continue the renaissance of our downtown area through addition of more safe, inspired and accessible family activities. PARKING: Parking is available in the O’Neil’s/State Street Parking Deck at 51 W. State Street (behind Barley House) for $2 when you have your parking ticket validated at the Children’s Museum (free for Rotary members on November 14, 2023). After you park, take the elevator to the ground level, take a right to go under the breezeway, and doors to the museum (with monsters on them) are straight ahead. For additional information, please visit https://akronkids.org/visit#direction-parking. |
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SERVICE PROJECT: One Hour Helps 100 Kids!Every week, 100 students at Innes Community Learning Center receive packs of non-perishable food on Fridays to ensure they have enough to eat over the weekend. The Feeding Kids Backpack Project is provided by Open M and is partially funded by a grant awarded by the Akron Rotary Foundation. Food insecurity negatively impacts a child's ability to learn and grow. Rotarians pack food on Wednesday and deliver it to Innes on Thursday. The school distributes it to the children to take home on Fridays. This service project is so needed that it has been extended to the end of the school year. Go to the link below to volunteer! Pictured Packing: Rotarians (LtoR): Angie Claypool, Liv Pilon, Paul Jarrett and Cyndi Kane. Pictured Delivery: Mella Castner and Darethann Krill. Volunteers to date include Rotarians Angie Claypool, Gerry Keifer, Marissa Rufe, Doug Kohl, Cynthia Snider, Sandy Naragon, Cyndi Kane, Paul Jarrett, Liv Pilon, Mella Castner and Darethann Krill. |
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SERVICE PROJECT: Salvation Army Bell Ringing - December 1st and December 15thThis year Club members (and guests) will have the opportunity to participate in the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign on two different dates and locations. Below are details regarding dates, times, and locations. You can sign-up online to participate in these events. We need two Rotarians (or guests) to cover each hour of the day(s) we will be at each location. We are also seeking substitutes. This is a great opportunity to get in the holiday spirit and spend time with loved ones, friends, and the local community near North High School and in West Akron. Time: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Location: ACME #1 1835 W. Market Street Akron, OH 44313 Please contact Mark Seward with any questions 330-414-2075 Thank you for your participation! The Salvation Army Meets Human Need Wherever, Whenever, However We Can! The donations we collect by our Bell Ringing efforts will be used to support hard-working families stay in their homes, and provide food, shelter, and utilities to those in need in your community. |
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SERVICE PROJECT: Second Chance Village - Nov 5, 2023 11am - 2 pmMission: Second Chance Village is a Nonprofit Service Club founded for bringing support and relief to trauma survivors recovering from homelessness. One of the best ways to understand the needs of others is through their own eyes. Ryan Scanlon operates Second Chance Village as a support network to those experiencing and recovering from homelessness based in part on his own experience. This enables him to have unique access and empathy with others in the group. The Akron Rotary Foundation and District 6630 approved a grant to further the efforts of Second Chance Village. The grant funds longer lasting items which enables the organization to focus on some immediate needs such as warm clothing, a meal, conversation and often connections to additional community resources. OUR SERVICE PROJECT: Rotarians can help to make the community connections a reality by volunteering at some of the weekly hot meal service provided in the East Akron/Middlebury neighborhood. Trauma survivors come for a hot meal and contact with others. OUR ROLE: To serve and, at times, prepare the meal. Second Chance Village has been providing this weekly and we are looking to participate on some of those weekends. WHEN: The first trial is scheduled for November 5th from 11:00am - 2:00pm. There are TWO Shifts: CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP It will likely be cold, but that’s when a hot meal may be most welcome. We only need a few members each time. WHERE: SECOND CHANCE VILLAGE 997 E. Market Street Lest We Forget Memorial Park Parking will be available at Ardmore. Contact me with any questions. Please click see the sign up for two shifts for November 5. Doug Hausknect hauskne.uakron.edu
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SERVICE PROJECT: Akron Canton Food Bank 10/25 - Responses needed by 10/20 pleaseIt is time again to sign up to volunteer for the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank service project! I am looking for volunteers (spouses and friends are welcome; they just need to signup for volunteering with ACRFB!) for Wednesday, October 25 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Akron location which is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307. The service project involves breaking down large containers of food into smaller portions for redistribution to area food pantries. The two hours flies by as we all have fun with the project and we get the opportunity to work with our fellow Rotarians and strengthen our friendships and maybe meet a few new people from other organizations/companies that are there volunteering as well. IF YOU HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED BEFORE AT THE FOOD BANK THEN I NEED YOU TO REGISTER . See volunteer application link below. If you have any questions please call or text me at 330-714-1044. I need a head count by noon this Friday 18th, so if you would please let me know by then if you plan on attending by sending me an email or text: dhall@preferredlegacy.com or 330-714-1044. I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you for volunteering! *********************************************************************************** PLEASE COMPLETE A VOLUNTEER APPLICATION – If you have not volunteered with the Foodbank in the past 2 years. Youth Volunteer Application (ages 10-17) Preparing for your visit, main Akron Campus: The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Main Campus is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307, at the corner of Dart Avenue and Opportunity Parkway off of OH-59 near Downtown Akron. Get Directions. When you arrive, please park in the front of the building or in the Dart Avenue parking lot. Use the front glass doors to enter the building.
What to wear:
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Fall Clean Up at Rotary CampOn Saturday, October 14, a small but mighty group of Rotarians showed up at Rotary Camp to help with Fall Camp Clean Up. We all got to work in the Judy and Roger Read Lodge to deep clean the dining hall and kitchen. Windows were cleaned, shelves got unpacked and wiped down, and walls were washed down. We also moved and stacked away all the canoes, kayaks, and picnic tables in the Pavilion for the winter. Shout out to Sandy Naragon, Tom Knauer, David Hall, Angie Claypool, Jack Harig, Darethann Krill, Ron McGirr and Cyndi & Michael Kane for all their hard work. We truly appreciate all your help! |
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Final Pints and Pours to End Polio is Nov 9th in HudsonPours and Pints to End Polio is taking place around the district to celebrate the success to date in our fight to eliminate polio from our planet. There is no cost to attend - you will be responsible only for the food and drink that you purchase from the venue. Join us from 5:30-8pm at the next venues: Nov 9 Green Valley Brewing 53 Milford Drive Hudson |
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Crown Point Ecology CenterThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Kevin Gross at our Tuesday, October 10 Club Meeting discuss the Crown Point Ecology Center where he is the Executive Director. HISTORY 1800’s: Jacob and Abigail Swigart purchased the property and built a Farmhouse in 1854. The property changed hands several times between 1862-1879 with Roswell Hopkins Jr. purchasing the property in 1879 for $9,300. He owned the property until 1949 but never lived onsite. Many renting farmers resided on the property and farmed the land. 1900’s: In 1910 an appraisal of the property revealed 110-acres of plowable land, 23-acres of pasture, 15-acres of timber and a Farmhouse that was in fair-good condition. The barn was listed as new. The barn listed in the appraisal is the same barn present at Crown Point today. In 1949, the property was purchased by Hugh and Mary Stoller. Hugh and Mary Stoller later reached the age of retirement and began making efforts to sell the property as neither of their children were interested in maintaining the property and farm. In 1967, The Sisters of St. Dominic visited the property with the Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland. By September 1967 the Sisters of St. Dominic had taken the initial steps to purchase the property from the Stollers. Initially the house was renovated and turned into a pre-school. In 1997 Crown Point began to grow produce for distribution to the Akron/Canton Regional Foodbank. Crown Point has donated more than 140,000 pounds of organic produced food to the Foodbank. In 1998 Crown Point began a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Today, the CSA averages 110 families each year. 2023: Mission: Crown Point, guided by the core values of community, sustainability, spirituality, and justice, has a mission to demonstrate the practical applications of ecology and to connect spirituality, social justice, and environmental protection. Vision: To be a role model for food security and sustainable land use, through farm stewardship, advocacy, education, and collaboration. The Center consists of 115 acres, approximately 75 acres as native prairie with 5 miles of hiking trails, and 8 acres of a certified organic farm. The Center provides a variety of programs including a Summer Science and Farm Camp, a venue for weddings and other gatherings utilizing the barn. The Century Barn can accommodate 150 guests and up to 250 Guests on the spacious lawn. The Farm also provides a Farm Internship program and the CSA Shareholders program. To get a better feel of how the Crown Point Ecology Center might benefit fellow Rotarians, I encourage everyone to check out their website at www.crownpointecology.org. You won’t regret it! Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
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Friday Morning GatheringIt was great to be together Friday morning! Doug Kohl, Cyndi Kane, Liv Pilon, Mark Seward, Paul Jarrett, Dr. Doug Hausknecht, John Margida, Gerry Kiefer, Tom Knauer, Ginny Wojno, Rima Moukassa and Jeff Sheeks were in attendance. We really enjoyed our time of fellowship! Stay tuned for a January date! I plan to keep this going quarterly as the feedback is overwhelmingly POSITIVE! Yours in SERVICE and FRIENDSHIP, Cyndi |
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Halloween at Rotary Camp - Request for Candy Donations by Friday Oct. 27th |
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Oct. 17 is deadline to order Purple Dunkin' Donuts to End Polio |
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Welcome Rev. Dean Kokanos - Akron Rotary's Newest Member!ROTARY CLUB OF AKRON WELCOMES REV. DEAN KOKANOS AS NEW MEMBER |
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Akron Youth MentorshipThe Rotary Club of Akron welcomed Ron Kent to our Tuesday, October 3, 2023, Club luncheon meeting and appreciated their presentation on the programs offered by Akron Youth Mentorship. Why Does Akron Youth Mentorship (AYM) Exist? AYM exists to mentor youth with biblical teaching to make life's eternal, emotional, educational, and occupational decisions. Their pillars of Mentorship, Education, Work readiness, and Experiences help them holistically care for their students and foster relationships built on trust between mentors and mentees. Their Purpose: To help youth make the best decisions every moment of every day. Their Programs: Akron Youth Mentorship is founded on the pillars of Mentorship, Education, Work Readiness, and Experiences. These pillars help AYM holistically care for students and foster relationships built on trust between mentors and mentees. AYM serves school-aged youth that live in the city of Akron. Mentorship: Mentorship puts positive adult influences in the lives of 100+ students and provides a safe atmosphere for students to grow and develop into successful young adults. Through the time that mentors spend with mentees, trust is built to give a platform for mentors to help guide mentees to make decisions that will put them in a position of success as they grow older. Ultimately, AYM’s goal is to help youth make the best decisions, every moment of every day. Education: Education is a key factor in learning positive work-ethics and decision-making skills. They support students wherever they attend school (most in Akron Public Schools, a few in surrounding Charter Schools) with advocating between teachers and parents, providing tutoring, and a 3rd grade reading program that supports the 3rd grade reading guarantee. Work Readiness: The Work Readiness Program provides tangible soft-skills training, financial literacy education, and opportunities to learn healthy work habits and skills that students can carry into any workplace. Experiences: The Experience Initiative helps AYM stay connected to their students outside of their regular weekly group mentoring. Some of these other experiences are One-on-One mentoring sessions, summer camps and retreats, Outings to different Akron local places to expand students’ knowledge of the world around them. Mr. Kent stated that there is a waiting list. Challenges include recruitment of mentors and on-going funding. For further information about their programs, check out their website at www.saymentor.org. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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Rotary CaresThe purpose of Rotary Cares is to show our support for Akron Rotary members and their families when dealing with the loss of a loved one, the hardship of illness and also to celebrate the joy of a new baby, job, marriage or other events in their lives. Please <Click to Email us> to let us know of any news you would like placed here. Note that health related information is posted only with permission of the individual(s). CONDOLENCES TO TOM KNAUER AND FAMILY Theresa Frances Knauer passed away on October 1, 2023, at the age of 93. She was born on December 10, 1929, in Akron, Ohio, the ninth of eleven children born to Marie and Francis Clark. She graduated from Our Lady of the Elms School, attended The University of Akron, and worked at the Ohio Edison Company.She enjoyed music, charitable work, church, golf, bridge, vacations, books, ice cream, and would try anything once. She could sew or knit anything, and made the best chocolate chip cookies. Despite her mild manner, those close to her knew she had a keen sense of humor and was a fierce competitor in any game. She loved her family most of all, and she was our role model for her goodness and empathy. Her family wishes to thank the aides who helped care for her in the last years of her life. Theresa was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Charles; her beloved daughter, Lisa; her parents; and all of her siblings. Theresa is survived by her children, John (Cindy), Lynn (Ed), Dave (Cathy), and Tom (Missy); her nine grandsons, David, Mark, Brian, Michael, Josh, Andrew, Zach, Jason, and George; her only granddaughter, Frances; and six great grandchildren. Rite of Christian Burial Mass will be celebrated 11:00 A.M. FRIDAY October 6, 2023 at St. Sebastian Church, 476 Mull Avenue, Akron, Ohio. The family will receive friends one hour prior to mass at the church. Inurnment at Rose Hill Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Theresa’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) or to St. Sebastian Parish. (www.stsebastian.org) Services in care The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N Miller Road Akron, OH 44333. |
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Nov. 16 - District Foundation Awards and Celebration |
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Gerry's "OPEN M" (Open Mazda) ready to roll! |
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Akron Cooperative Farms (ACF)The Rotary Club of Akron welcomed Ben Tegel to our Tuesday, September 26, 2023, Club luncheon meeting and appreciated their presentation on the Akron Cooperative Farms. Ben is a ACF Board Member and President of Auxin Group Wealth Management. What is Akron Cooperative Farms? Their Mission: Transforming underutilized land into urban farms for community gardens and entrepreneurial enterprises designed to strengthen the social and economic fabric of Akron through agriculture. Their Purpose: Akron Cooperative Farms is an urban farm in the North Hill community of Akron. The program brings diverse residents and neighbors together around growing produce for their families and community, as well as selling to market as entrepreneurs. The farm consists of over 4 acres of land, divided into 20’ x 20’ plots. Approximately 150 plots are currently in use by 130 individuals. Mr. Tegel explained how many of the gardeners are immigrants and they bring different products to market that were grown in Nepal and Burma. Ben mentioned that the farmers are a little competitive as to who has the best garden, etc. For many, gardening gives them a “sense of purpose.” ACF is impacting lives through 1) job creation, 2) creating a social inclusive haven, 3) promoting and supporting entrepreneurship, 4) sourcing the region with local food, 5) providing space where ethnic minorities can reconnect to their agrarian culture and 6) repurposing underutilized land. Individuals interested in getting involved can do a variety of things, including becoming a board member, volunteering as a group for a big project, interning with ACF, looking for something to do on a consistent basis, or just have an hour or two to give a helping hand. As a new not-for-profit organization, they can always use donations. Your gift helps support local growers and their families, strengthens the local economy, and provides our region with fresh local produce and a sustainable green space that beautifies the urban landscape. During the growing season a Farmers Market is held on Wednesdays from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. To learn more about ACF, including how to lease a plot, check out their website at akroncoopfarms.org or visit their Facebook page at Akron Cooperative Farms. Yours in Service Terry Dalton Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair
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Oct. 7 - Spaghetti Dinner Benefit for Akron Rotary CampSave the Date for Messiah Lutheran Church's annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, October 7, 2023, 6-8pm benefiting Rotary Camp! Leave cooking for another day and join us for delicious pasta and meatballs. We hope to see you there! |
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Jack Harig recognized for going "above and beyond"Jack Harig, a member of Warriors Journey Home, received the recognition award, "Carroll 'Gene' Stalnaker Got Your 6" at the annual Gala dinner on Saturday 16 September at The Venue in Tallmadge, Ohio. The "Carroll 'Gene' Stalnaker Got Your 6" is presented annually to individuals or organizations who have gone "above and beyond" expectations in supporting our veterans homecoming. Jack stepped up and stepped in when Ernie Liska. of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, was tragically killed in an accident. The Warriors Journey Home Circle of Trust meeting at HTLC would be without a leader had Jack not assumed the leadership role. Jack continued to reach out to veterans through the Valor Court of Summit County, and kept the HTLC Circle engaged. Jack has served the greater Akron Community through selfless giving of his time and talents. He continues to place service before self. Thank you Jack, for your military service, your leadership and your ongoing commitment to helping others. Photo: Jack Harig with keynote speaker Major General Dan Hahn, US Army (retired) |
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Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro: Big things are going on!The Club was honored to host Summit County Executive, Ilene Shapiro, and several members of her staff at our September 19, 2023 meeting. Ilene Shapiro is an American businessperson and politician. She has served as the Executive of Summit County, Ohio since August 1, 2016. Her predecessor Russell M. Pry died in office on July 31, 2016. She was elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 and is currently serving a four-year term that ends in December 2024. Previously, Shapiro was a member of Summit County Council for ten years and Council President for three years. Prior to her time in public service, Shapiro was a businesswoman. Before her time on County Council, Shapiro was a businesswoman and a small business owner. She was an executive at First Merit Bank and the Summa Health Foundation. She later became an entrepreneur, and created a beauty supply company and consultancy firm based in Akron. Shapiro was the head of Shapiro Consulting, a business consulting firm. Summit County has over 540,333 residents and is the 4th largest of Ohio’s 88 counties. In the county are 31 communities made up of 14 cities, 8 villages and 9 townships. What does our County Executive Ilene Shapiro do?
Big things are going on!
County Executive Shapiro shared information about these specific projects:
What does this mean for me?
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SERVICE PROJECT: OPEN M - Volunteering has started!OPEN M is a Christian non-profit organization that serves more than 50,000 individuals annually with food, health and employment services—all intended to create pathways out of poverty. OPEN M leverages a community alliance of churches, businesses and volunteers to offer programs to those in need. Open M received grant funding from the Akron Rotary Foundation for its Feeding Kids Backpack Project. Our service project with Open M has started! Weekend meals will be packed for 100 low-income and food insecure students for Akron's Innes Middle School. We are booked for a total of 6 days so far in September and October. Check out the volunteer link to see where volunteers are still needed! Please use the link below to sign up. Yours in Service - Sandy Naragon Chair, Rotary District 6630 Grant Committee |
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Oct. 14 - Camp Clean Up Day - Call for VolunteersCamp Clean Up Day is now scheduled for Saturday morning October 14, 2023 from 9am-12pm. We've broken it down into two sign ups, 9-10:30am and 10:30am to noon - come for one or both times! Or, you may call Cyndi at 330-606-6041. Cyndi Kane Service Projects Chair 2023-2024 330-606-6041
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Join us Friday October 13th at 7:30 am for some Rotary FellowshipHello Rotary friends - Please mark your calendar and plan to attend our morning meeting on Friday October 13th from 7:30am to 9am at the Akron Family Restaurant. President Knauer will provide club business updates and report on our recent service projects. I will provide the latest update for upcoming service activities. I look forward to a casual meeting focused on fellowship and seeing those of you who cannot always attend a lunchtime meeting. Please note: This is NOT in lieu of our regularly scheduled meeting(s). Yours in Rotary Service, Cyndi Kane Chair, Service Committee 2023-24 330-606-6041 |
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Twin Pines Technology Presentation Recap: Prevent, Ensure and Recover!The Rotary Club of Akron had the privilege of listening to our own member, Brian Kosarko, discuss the value of having the “right” Information Technology (IT) support to prevent, ensure, and recover from IT incidents. Who Needs Professional IT Services?
What are the Problems Twin Pines Technology (TPT) Solves?
How Does Twin Pines Technology Solve It?
Why Prevent, Ensure, Recover? Prevent: Twin Pines Technology will do their best following industry standards and tools to prevent any data loss, cyber-attacks, ransomware, or downtime. No matter how detailed the plan is, issues will still happen. Ensure: Make sure plans, procedures, and coverages are in place for data loss or breaches. Recover: Have the ability to quickly recover when prevention was not enough. Brian’s final comment before the Q & A section was this. “If you think an IT department would handle it, or think it is technology related, we probably handle it." To learn more about Twin Pines Technology, go to www.twinpines.technology. Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair
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Jack Harig HonoredThe Warriors Journey Home organization, during their 10th annual Coming Home Gala Celebration, will be recognizing Jack by presenting him with the "C. Gene Stalnaker Got Your Six Award" for his outreach to veterans through the Valor Court of Summit County and the Warrior Journey Home Circle at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Akron. The gala will be held on Saturday, September 16th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at The Venue, 10 Tallmadge Circle, Tallmadge, OH Cost for attending is $70 which includes the dinner buffet, dessert, and one complimentary drink ticket. If interested in attending, go to www.wjhm.org/gala to register. If you are unable to attend, please reach out to Jack and congratulate him on this recognition for a job well done! |
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SEEKING LEADERS FOR OUR CLUBLooking for energetic thoughtful leaders to help propel our club forward! It is once again time for nominations for our Akron Rotary Board of Directors (Need 4) , Vice -President(Need 1) to get in our queue to succeed Tom Knauer, Thane Billow and Katy Miller. Treasurer and Secretary positions nominations are also accepted. Self-nominations are welcome. Any active member who has been in our club for at least 2 years is eligible. Nominations will be solicited at every club meeting in September or feel free to email me as Chair of the nominating committee at RMcGregor@AkronChildrens.org Thanks for your consideration, Rob |
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Pours and Pints to End Polio in Akron at Hoppin Frog Was Great Fun!Thanks to all who came out to Hoppin' Frog to have some fun social time and help in our fight to eliminate polio! DG Julie Brandle and DGE Dale Smith welcomed Akron Rotarians along with Rotarians from other clubs who joined together for fellowship, good food and beverages. Stew Buchanan won the 50/50 raffle and then donated it back to the cause. Thanks Stew! Dale Smith's ticket was pulled from the hat and he took home a basket of goodies from Hoppin' Frog. Pours and Pints to End Polio is taking place around the district to celebrate the success to date in our fight to eliminate polio from our planet. There is no cost to attend - you will be responsible only for the food and drink that you purchase from the venue. The next venue will be on October 12th at Winery at Wolf Creek 2637 S. Cleveland Massillon Road, Barberton, OH from 5:30-7pm. Join us!! |
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Oct. 5 - Pours and Pints to End Polio in Akron at Hoppin FrogJoin us and help fight to eliminate polio! DG Julie Brandle and DGE Dale Smith are planning several Pours and Pints to End Polio around the district to celebrate the success to date in our fight to eliminate polio from our planet. There will be no cost to attend - you will be responsible only for the food and drink that you purchase from the venue. We will be having a 50/50 raffle at each event. These will be held 5:30-8:00pm at these locations: Oct 5 Hoppin Frog 1680 E. Waterloo Rd Akron Oct 12 Winery at Wolf Creek 2637 S. Cleveland Massillon Road Barberton Oct 19 MadCap Brewery 1422 Mogadore Rd Kent Oct 26 Beerhead 8003 Crile Road Painesville Nov 9 Green Valley Brewing 53 Milford Drive Hudson |
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Rotary CaresThe purpose of Rotary Cares is to show our support for Akron Rotary members and their families when dealing with the loss of a loved one, the hardship of illness and also to celebrate the joy of a new baby, job, marriage or other events in their lives. Please <Click to Email us> to let us know of any news you would like placed here. Note that health related information is posted only with permission of the individual(s). CONDOLENCES TO ANGIE CLAYPOOL AND HER FAMILY Sandra Lee Dario (Hall), 84 of Akron, OH passed away peacefully on September 4, 2023. She was born February 22, 1939, in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of Y. Grace (Norman) Hall/Porter and Leroy Hall. On October 15, 1960, she married Albert Dario. Together they shared many happy years of marriage. Sandy loved her sports teams, especially NASCAR, The Indians, and her “Brownies”. She was an avid reader, and her passion for reading led her to work as a librarian for many years at St. Matthews Parrish, where she enjoyed interacting with and reading to the students. Sandy is preceded in death by her loving husband Albert Dario, longtime partner John Tucker, brother David and sister Nancy. She is survived by brothers Jerry (Lena) Hall, Randall (Linda) Porter, Roger (Becky) Porter, sister Robin Hadnett, sons Patrick and Christopher Dario, and daughter Angela (Harry) Claypool. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Daniel (Marissa) Dario, Ashlee (Adam) Mowls, Cassie Dario and Nikki Fetherolf. She also leaves her great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and their families, as well as her sweet cat Annabelle. Cremation has taken place, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. |
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Patty Dowd, President/CEO, National First Ladies Library Presentation RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Patty Dowd Schmitz during our Tuesday, August 29th weekly Club Meeting. Ms. Dowd-Schmitz gave a very interesting presentation on the National First Ladies Library and Museum. Their Vision: The National First Ladies Library is the foremost repository of scholarly research and information and a leader in education about the First Ladies of the USA. The Library and Museum works collaboratively with the National Park Service. The First Ladies National Historic Site consists of the historic Saxton-McKinley House, the First Ladies Museum, and the Education and Research Center. Their Mission: Their mission is to preserve, promote, and educate about the significant role of First Ladies of the USA and their contributions throughout history. As many of you already know, the museum is in Canton. What you may not know is that the museum’s founder was Mary Regula, wife of long-time Congressman Ralph Regula. The National First Ladies Library was founded in 1995. The museum became a National Historic Site in 2000 and was dedicated by Rosalynn Carter, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton. The museum is a repository of research and artifacts from the First Ladies. Ms. Dowd-Schmitz provided information on the Saxton/McKinley House. John Saxton started the Canton Repository newspaper. The library and museum are in the original First National Bank Building.
Ms. Dowd-Schmitz continued by presenting information on the current exhibit. The exhibit runs until April 2024 and “Is All About Jackie Kennedy.” What is unique about the annual First Lady feature is that the exhibit covers the entire life of the First Lady and not just the time their husbands were President. I encourage anyone who is interested in this week’s presentation to check out the video to learn more some interesting facts about the history of the museum, as well as about Jackie Kennedy. The museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To learn more about the National First Ladies Library and Museum, go to firstladies.org. Yours in Rotary Service - Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
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14th Annual Cornhole Tournament benefiting Rotary Camp Celebrates another Successful Tourney!The 14th annual Cornhole Tournament presented by Buckeye Corrugated Inc. was held this past Saturday on the beautiful grounds of Rotary Camp. We had 8 teams in the Ringers Division, and 30 in the Recreational Division competing for 1st place and bragging rights! The day was a tremendous success, and we are very excited to announce that we raised $21,501! Proceeds from the event will ensure that no child is turned away due to their family’s inability to pay. Thanks to everyone who volunteered at the event, and supported the tourney with sponsorships, team registrations, raffle tickets, donations and auction items. Participants and volunteers enjoyed lunch from the Menche’s Bros Food Truck, beverages from the House of LaRose, ice-cream from Paul’s Drive-In Machine Rentals and snacks from Hickory Harvest. Congratulations to all the winners: Ringers – 1st place: George Midlik and Candace Digs (Rockside Sliders) Ringers – 2nd place: Andy Gotto and Jeff Gotto (Bag Slingers) Recreational – 1st place: Trevin Domro and Trent Saunders (Two Turnt T’s) Recreational – 2nd place: John Deininger and Zach Retych (Winning Colors) Recreational – 3rd place: Joe White and Lynn Kane (Our Bags, Ur Hole) Step Back Champion: Alan Umerley Save the date for the 15th Annual Cornhole Tournament on August 24, 2024! |
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Thank you for your service at the Food Bank!Members of the Akron Club and Stow-Munroe Falls helped out at the Akron Canton Food Bank August 23, 2023 |
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Dr. Christie Presentation 'Progress through Preservation, Millionaire's Row'Dr. Alice Christie presented Progress through Preservation, Millionaire's Row. About Dr. Christie: Native Akronite Graduate of: St. Vincent High School; Ursuline College—BA in Art Education; University of Akron—MA in Special Eduction; Kent State University—PhD. in Early Childhood Education Taught 5 years in Akron Public Schools; 18 years at the University of Akron (Special Education)—emetita status; 15 years at Malone University (Director of Graduate Education)—emerita status Program Director for Progress Through Preservation (16 years on the board; 1998-2004 and 2015-current) Also 8 years on the board of Hower House and long-time member of Summit County Historical Society Interests: Akron history, antiques, architecture One son and 4 grandchildren |
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OPEN M - Backpack Service Project: Sign up NOWOPEN M received grant funding from the Akron Rotary Foundation for its Feeding Kids Backpack Project. Weekend meals will be packed for 100 low-income and food insecure students for Akron's Innes Middle School.
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SERVICE PROJECT: Akron Canton Food Bank 8/23- Responses needed by 8/18!It is time again to sign up to volunteer for the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank service project! I am looking for volunteers (spouses and friends are welcome; they just need to signup for volunteering with ACRFB!) for Wednesday, August 23 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Akron location which is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307. After the food bank service project anyone is welcome to join me in going out to dinner for more social time at a downtown Akron restaurant to be determined later. The service project involves breaking down large containers of food into smaller portions for redistribution to area food pantries. The two hours flies by as we all have fun with the project and we get the opportunity to work with our fellow Rotarians and strengthen our friendships and maybe meet a few new people from other organizations/companies that are there volunteering as well. IF YOU HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED BEFORE AT THE FOOD BANK THEN I NEED YOU TO REGISTER. See volunteer application link below. If you have any questions please call or text me at 330-714-1044. I need a head count by noon this Friday 18th, so if you would please let me know by then if you plan on attending by sending me an email or text: dhall@preferredlegacy.com or 330-714-1044. I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you for volunteering! *********************************************************************************** PLEASE COMPLETE A VOLUNTEER APPLICATION – If you have not volunteered with the Foodbank in the past 2 years. Youth Volunteer Application (ages 10-17) Preparing for your visit, main Akron Campus: The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Main Campus is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307, at the corner of Dart Avenue and Opportunity Parkway off of OH-59 near Downtown Akron. Get Directions. When you arrive, please park in the front of the building or in the Dart Avenue parking lot. Use the front glass doors to enter the building.
What to wear:
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9th Annual Dragon Boat Race ResultsThe 9th Annual Dragons on the Lake Boat Festival took place Saturday, August 12, 2023. Teams of 20 paddlers compete for top honors in three different divisions: Corporate, Community and Breast Cancer Survivor (BCS). Proceeds from the event benefit the Dragon Dream Team, Ohio’s first all breast cancer survivor dragon boat team. The Akron Rotary Club team was out in full force and paddled their way to a 3rd place win in the Community Division. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT! Photo includes: Tom Knauer, Brian & Angela Kosarko, Andrew Grant, Cyndi & Michael Kane, Olivia Pilon, Marissa Rufe, Michael Gladys, Paul Jarrett, Susan Colville-Hall |
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Knight Foundation - Kyle Kutuchief Presentation Recap(Note: you can view photos larger by clicking on each of them) Mr. Kutuchief returned to the Akron Rotary Club on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 to update the Club on progress made in several areas that the Knight Foundation is committed to. Mr. Kutuchief was named program director in Akron for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in May 2015. The foundation invests in journalism, the arts, and the success of cities where its founders once published newspapers. In Akron, the birthplace of Knight Newspapers and the foundation, Knight focuses on downtown and inner ring neighborhoods through investments in public space and public life to increase population and advance equity. Akron is also part of Reimagining the Civic Commons, a Knight-supported national initiative that seeks to counteract economic and social fragmentation by revitalizing and connecting public spaces. In Akron, the Knight Foundation focuses on the power of high-quality public space and public life to attract and retain people. The program(s) that include this focus is referred to as “Reimagining the Civic Commons.” Reimagining the Civic Commons (RCC) This initiative intends to be the first comprehensive demonstration of how a connected set of civic assets – a civic commons – can yield increased and more equitably shared prosperity for cities and neighborhoods. Reimagining Civic Commons involves four strategic areas. These areas include Civic engagement, Economic integration, Environmental sustainability, and Value creation. Mr. Kutuchief proceeded to briefly explain each of the strategic areas and provided pictures of activities occurring in the Akron area including three specific Civic Assets: The Civic Gateway, Park East, and Summit Lake Park.
Mr. Kutuchief briefly discussed three specific Akron RCC Civic Assets. These assets are 1) Civic Gateway, 2) Park East and 3) Summit Lake Park. Mr. Kutuchief also discussed the Polsky building project that is a joint venture between the Knight Foundation, the City of Akron and the University of Akron. It is an effort to provide a stronger connection between the University and the Downtown Area. Check out their website at www.Knightfoundation.org to learn more about the other initiatives that the Knight Foundation is invested in as well the history of the Knight Foundation as it relates to its place in the history of Akron. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
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14th Annual Cornhole Tournament - August 26, 2023 |
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Tiffany Rockstroh and David Hall from Preferred Legacy Trust Presentation RecapTiffany Rockstroh, CTFA - President David Hall, Vice-President, Investment Strategist Preferred Legacy Trust CompanyThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Tiffany Rockstroh, President, and our own David Hall, Vice-President -Investment Strategist & Banking Officer of Preferred Legacy Trust Company. Tiffany began the presentation strongly recommending that it is of benefit to all of us to establish a Healthcare Power of Attorney, develop an Advanced Directive, create a General Will, establish a Durable Power of Attorney, and finally in some cases create a Trust. Tiffany stressed that whether you are 18 years of age or older, you never know what might happen to you and having these documents in place that be beneficial to all concerned. Why Would a Person Create a Trust?
Why Would You Choose a Professional Trustee vs. a Family Member?
What Should I Look for or What Questions Should I Be Asking If I Want to Create a Trust?
Following the presentation, Tiffany and David answered various questions. To review these questions and the ways the Preferred Legacy Trust Company might be able to answer questions you have, check out the recording by clicking here. Yours in Service - Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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Shelter Care: For Youth and Families in NeedThe Rotary Club of Akron welcomed Dr. Wes Fair and Ms. Jessica Purdy to our Tuesday, July 25, 2023, Club luncheon meeting and appreciated their presentation on the various programs offered by Shelter Care, Inc. in their service to adolescents and young adults. What does Shelter Care Do? Their Mission: To provide healing, restore hope, and recognize the value of young people and families in need. History: Dave Fair founded Shelter Care Inc. in the fall of 1972, when he and Juvenile Court Judge, William P. Kannel noticed a significant increase in the number of children who were being brought to the court’s attention for non-delinquent charges; particularly, running away from home due to severe family conflict, neglect, and abuse. With the support of the Chapel at Fir Hill, Dave secured a home in Akron that would operate as the first Shelter Care home. This was the inception of the Shelter Home Program and the beginning of Shelter Care. Throughout its 50 years, Shelter Care has responded to the needs of the youth and families in Summit and the surrounding counties. In 1978, the Junior League was operating a shelter for runaway teens, but reached out to merge with Shelter Care so more youth could be served. Dave was able to create the Safe Landing Youth Shelter Program as a second division beneath the Shelter Care umbrella. The Respite Care Program came about in 1990 at the request of the Director of Child Guidance and Family Solutions to create a short-term residential program for youth who needed scheduled breaks from home due to family conflict. Additionally, the Highlands Teen Pregnancy Shelter was established in 2005 as the only licensed teen pregnancy shelter in the state of Ohio at the request of Summit County Children Services to create a program for homeless, or at-risk teen girls who were either pregnant or parenting a child under three years of age. In 2008, Shelter Care continued to respond to the needs in the community by establishing the Street Outreach Services Program to meet the needs of at-risk and homeless youth and young adults through street based and drop-in services. Most recently in 2022, Shelter Care established its Outpatient Counseling Center Program to provide counseling to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. For further information about each of their programs, check out their website at www.sc72.org. Below you will find two flyers for a couple of upcoming events or click here to download the flyers. Yours in Service - Terry Dalton |
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Paul Harris Fellow RecognitionThank you to Ginny Wojno and Gerry Kiefer for being such generous donors to The Rotary Foundation. Ginny received her Paul Harris+5 pin and Gerry now has her Paul Harris+6 pin. Learn more about the RI Foundation Talk with our Club RI Foundation Co-Chairs: Thane Billow or Bill Manby, Jr. or visit the Foundation page at Rotary.org Paul Harris Fellow Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) recognition is given in appreciation to anyone who contributes, outright or cumulatively – or in whose name is contributed – a gift of US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, PolioPlus Partners or the Humanitarian Grants program. The recognition consists of a certificate, pin, and medallion. Certificate of Appreciation Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
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AUGUST 18: AKRON ROTARY LUNCHEON FEATURING RIPE STEPHANIE URCHICKThank you to the Rotary Camp for hosting us August 18th as we excitedly welcome Rotary International President Elect Stephanie Urchick. Join us! Space is limited, so registration and payment is required in advance by July 29th before this goes live! Here is the link you will need: Julie Brandle, DG 6630 Past President, Rotary Club of Akron, Ohio Cell 330.858.6672 | jbrandle@metisconstruction.com |
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District 6630 Governor Julie Brandle Official Club VisitWe were honored to have Julie Brandle, our 2023-24 District 6630 Governor kick off her official club visits at her home club - The Rotary Club of Akron. Julie shares how she got here at this time, her vision for the year ahead, and the vision of RI President R. Gordon McInally. The following are some comments made by District Governor, Julie Brandle during our Tuesday, July 18, 2023 Club meeting. View the presentation by clicking here “When you start planning your official club visits as District Governor there is an air of excitement! You look forward to meeting new Rotarians all over the district and learning about their clubs, service projects, and fundraisers. You also have the opportunity to share what is happening around the district and with other clubs. When planning for the visit to one’s own club, people get nervous and uncertain. In my case I scheduled my own club official visit here at home FIRST. I just couldn’t wait to kick off my year with friendly faces, those who have supported me on my Rotary journey, because first, I wanted to thank you for helping to foster in me my love for Rotary. As I look to the year ahead, it’s important for me to share how I arrived here, not only in this place, but in Rotary. Before there was a four-way test for me there was a similar oath I adopted, though this one goes a little something like this: On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country; to help people at all times; to live by the Girl Scout Law. The law states: I will do my best: to be honest; to be fair to help where I am needed; to be cheerful; to be friendly and considerate; to be a sister to every Girl Scout; to respect authority; to use resources wisely; to protect and improve the world around me; to show respect for myself and others through my words and actions. I joined the Girl Scouts as a 7-year-old second grader and learned from strong female role models about all these things, though service and teamwork are two of the things that really stuck with me. Fast forward nearly 40 years from that young girl who learned all those things to when I first heard about Rotary... I jumped in with both feet and felt like I belonged. I felt I was of value from the very first day. When I heard our 4-way test, I knew I was at home in our club. But there was one other defining moment – what many call their Rotary Moment - that solidified my place in Rotary. In my first week of membership, I volunteered as a team leader for my daughter Kimberly’s JAM (Justice Area Ministry) program through Hoban. Originally, that first morning volunteering with JAM, we were assigned a local food pantry, but with a cancellation, we were reassigned to Rotary Camp… At the end of that first day Kimberly was one of a handful of students who were asked to provide an account of their first day. With all the confidence of a seasoned public speaker, with the joy she had found in helping those with special needs that day, serving these campers, assisting them with meals, swim time, crafts; she spoke affectionately of Kristie, a young woman who I can only recount as someone who thrived with cerebral palsy. I didn’t know at the time this would leave an indelible impression on my child. An impression that would ultimately lead Kimberly first to go on to volunteer over a thousand hours at Rotary Camp during her remaining high school years to finding her life’s calling, becoming a special education teacher, and now embarking on her third year as a third and fourth grade intervention specialist at Monclova Primary school in northwest Ohio. To see this transformation…all because of Rotary…” Julie went on to ask us “What is your Rotary Moment? Haven’t found it yet? You will.” Julie concluded her presentation with the following: “Over the course of this year, I have named empowering women and girls, the environment, and mental health as my 3 top areas of interest and I encourage you to find a project in these areas for the our club.” |
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Thanks for Coming to Camp! |
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Club Welcomes New MembersJuly 11, 2023 the Rotary Club of Akron inducted two new members! Pictured is newly installed President Tom Knauer and our two newest Rotarians. Andrew Grant sponsored by Lynda Farkas and Marissa Rufe sponsored by Thane Billow. We look forward to a year filled with service and fellowship! About Our New Members:
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A Message from Club President Tom KnauerAt the July 11 meeting, I was honored to have Julie Brandle, District 6630 Governor induct me as president of our club. I am excited to take on the role of president and lead our club during the 2023-24 Rotary year. Following my induction, I administered the oath of office to our board members and club officers then had the very distinct pleasure of inducting our two newest members, Marissa Rufe and Andrew Grant. Following the inductions, I delivered a brief overview of my wishes for our Club during the 2023 – 2024 Rotary Year:
I look forward to working with all of you in support of our club, community and Rotary International. Thank you for your support. Tom Knauer 2023-24 President The Rotary Club of Akron Pictured L-R: Julie Brandle, District Governor 6630 with newly installed President Tom Knauer. Club Board Members / Officers being installed. |
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Why the Rotary year begins 1 JulyEver wonder why 1 July is the beginning of the Rotary year? Initially, our conventions played a key role in determining the start date of our fiscal and administrative year. Rotary’s first fiscal year began the day after the first convention ended, on 18 August 1910. The 1911-12 fiscal year also related to the convention, beginning with the first day of the 1911 convention on 21 August.
The next August, the Board of Directors ordered an audit of the International Association of Rotary Clubs’ finances. The auditors recommended that the organization end its fiscal year on 30 June to give the secretary and treasurer time to prepare a financial statement for the convention and board, and to determine the proper number of club delegates to the convention. The executive committee agreed and, in April 1913, designated 30 June as the end of the fiscal year. This also allowed for changes to the schedule for reporting club membership and payments. Even The Rotarian changed its volume numbering system to correspond to the fiscal year (beginning with Volume 5, No. 1, in July 1914). Rotary continued to hold its annual conventions in July or August until 1917. Delegates to the 1916 event in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, approved a resolution to hold future conventions in June, mainly because of the heat in cities where most of them occurred. The next one was held 17-21 June in Atlanta, Georgia. The term “Rotary year” has been used to signify Rotary's annual administrative period since at least 1913. An article in The Rotarian that July noted, “The Rotary year that is rapidly drawing to a close has been signalized by several highly successful joint meetings of Clubs that are so situated as to assemble together easily and conveniently.” Since the executive committee’s decision in 1913, the end of the Rotary year has remained 30 June. |
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Seeking Committee MembersThe program chair position is an exciting one in our club as our speakers give weekly meetings verve and spice, not to mention information and community knowledge. If you would like to become involved in proposing and scheduling speakers for 2024 and beyond, please contact Gerry Kiefer, Program Chair 2022-24, gkiefer@su.edu. Yours in Service - Geraldine Wojno Kiefer, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Art History and Art Shenandoah University 540-742-2260 cell |
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Service Above SelfMembers helped at the Akron Canton Foodbank sorting breakfast and sweet products for redistribution to smaller food pantries. They had to tape up the damaged boxes and sort foods by types and had fun doing it!! |
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June 27, 2023 Club Meeting RecapIt’s a Wrap 2022-2023 The Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to President Farkas as she wraps up her year as President of the Rotary Club of Akron. Lynda began her remarks stating “June marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another in Rotary, a bittersweet time to reflect as we look ahead to 2023- 2024 Rotary year. View the meeting/presentations - click here 2022-2023 District Governor David Jones was on hand to help present a 50 year Rotary Membership Crystal to Roger Read (shown with wife Sally) and a District Community Service Award to the Rotary Camp accepted by Camp Director Dan Reynolds. (These awards were presented at the District Conference in April, 2023 but Roger and Dan were unable to be present at that time to accept them). Lynda personally thanked each and every member for their dedication and service to our Akron Rotary club. Lynda commented that “it’s been an exciting and a challenging year of moving from Bounce Innovation Hub on South Main to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church here on South Union. The Club had to increase our luncheon costs to cover the gratuity, room rental and food with a minimum of 25 members buying lunch each week. We did it – together and offered a wider buffet menu thanks to the endeavors of Angelica George & Lauren Nemeth, from Tangier’s!” President Lynda proceeded to highlight the various successes the Club achieved during the 2022 -2023. Some of those achievements were:
President Farkas concluded her remarks with the following: “So, here we are, the end of the “Imagine” Rotary year, 2022-2023. Last July, when I began my year as Club President, I asked if you recalled the lyrics of Beatles legend, John Lennon, back in 1971– ‘you may say I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us and the world will be one!’ Remember: ‘Changing the world is indeed in no one else’s hands but our own, and helping those in need is what defines and will continue to define Rotary and its Foundation in the years ahead.’” Incoming President Tom Knauer presented President Lynda with flowers, a Past President pin and plaque. She then removed the 2022-23 theme banner and had Tom place the 2023-2024 banner on the podium. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair
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Speaker Recap: Jarrod Hartzler, Executive Director, Ohio Alliance for Arts EducationThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Jarrod Hartzler discuss the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education during our Tuesday, June 20th Club meeting. The Ohio Alliance for Arts Education (OAAE), a statewide arts education service organization, is a nationally recognized leader in arts education. Working at the local, state, and federal levels, the organization has achieved significant success in advocacy work, capacity building, collaboration, program expansion, teaching artists’ support and arts education data analysis. The arts are defined as: dance, drama/theater, music, visual, and media arts. You can view the meeting by clicking here. What is OAAE’s Mission Statement? It is the mission of the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education to ensure that the arts are an integral part of the education of every Ohioan. The Alliance has several belief statements:
What are some of the major initiatives of OAAE? The major initiatives the OAAE focuses on are Advocacy, Building Collaborations, Building Capacity (diversified funding, membership, and communication), Professional Development According to Mr. Hartzler, the following are a few of the reasons advocacy is so important:
The Ohio Arts Education Data Project: Mr. Hartzler also discussed the Ohio Arts Education Data Project. Ohio is proud to be among the first few states in the nation to provide an online arts education data system available to the public. This interactive, color-coded dashboard displays arts participation for Ohio’s preK-12 schools. Developed through the collaboration of the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, the Ohio Department of Education, the Ohio Arts Council, and Quadrant Research, the information presented in this dashboard will help arts education advocates across the state make the case for the benefits of arts learning. To view the data and within Ohio and particularly Summit County, check out the following link: https://oaae.net/ohio-arts-education-data-project-introduction/. I would encourage our readers to check out the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education website at https://oaae.net to explore more of the association’s strategic goals and initiatives, community programs, Ohio Teaching Artist Roster, etc. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton 2023-2024 Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair |
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July 15th - Program to Benefit Our Local Akron Rotary Foundation
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2023 Summer Camp Thursday Evening CookoutsONLY 1 WEEK LEFT TO JOIN US! Calling all Akron Rotarians, please join us for a Thursday evening Summer Camp cookout at Akron Rotary Camp (4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH 44319). Come and enjoy a burger or hot dog with our campers and camp counselors, as well as take a tour of our camp facilities. You are welcome to bring along your family, co-workers and/or a colleague. It is also a great opportunity to introduce someone new to Rotary Camp. Akron Rotary Camp’s 100th Summer Camp Season is in full swing, and our campers are having lots of fun and making memories to last a lifetime! We have been the main project of the Rotary Club of Akron for 100 summers. The Club’s support of the Chili Open Golf Classic helps to make it possible to offer financial assistance to families in need. Allowing their child, the opportunity to attend camp, enjoy the outdoors, discover their abilities and succeed beyond their dreams! Please join us and help us celebrate the 100th summer of Rotary Camp! What: Thursday Evening Camp Cookouts When: August 3 5:30pm to 7:00pm – dinner is served at 6:00pm Where: Akron Rotary Camp, 4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH 44319 RSVP: Kelly Clites, Administrative Assistant kellyc@akronymca.org or (330) 644-4512 x3204 If you are unable to attend on a Thursday evening, please reach out to Mella Castner, (mellac@akronymca.org or (330) 644-4512 x3206) to schedule a visit during summer camp. Akron Rotary Camp ∙ 4460 Rex Lake Drive ∙ Akron, Ohio 44319 ∙ (330) 644-4512 ∙ gotcamp.org |
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Speaker Recap: Connor G. Jarvis, CFP®Here is a summary of his presentation: Connor G. Jarvis, CFP® (Partner, Wright LaHaie Jarvis Wealth Advisors) spoke to our club on Key Principles for Long-Term Planning & Investment Success: - Focus on what you can fully control (or partly control), not what is out of your control. Thankfully, the things that we do have control over are what ultimately matters most to a successful long-term plan.
- Plan to live a long time and have an income plan that supports the longevity needs and concerns of a modern retirement - for couples age 65 and over, there is now at least a 50% chance one of them lives into their 90s. - Cash in not always king – attractive high-yields/interest rates in the short-term can be a long-term trap. - Strive to take full advantage of the power of compounding growth (dividends, interest, etc.) over time – and be consistent. - Don’t let cognitive biases and emotions distort your vision and cause you to deviate from a well-built strategy and plan (assuming one is in place) – heuristics often work against us when it comes to behaviors, habits, and decisions that can lead to long-term financial success. - Volatility is normal and to be expected as an investor; in times of market and portfolio stress, rash actions and emotional decisions do not typically produce fruitful results beyond short-term psychological comfort – maintain composure, review and remember your plan, and (like a horse running a race) keep your “blinders” on to stay focused on the long-term goal ahead – not what the media is say or market/economy is doing on any given day/week/month/year. While past performance is no indication nor guarantee of future results, historical perspective can be impactful in helping one to stay the course in times of heightened fear or turbulence. - Diversification works over time and it is a critical component of a well-constructed investment strategy designed to support a well-crafted plan – this diversification across and within asset classes, but also diversification across account types, etc. - Time in the markets, not timing the markets, is what matters most – staying invested is key. |
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July 8th - District Awards and Banner ExchangePlease join us to support Julie Brandle. She will be officially inducted to serve as the 2023-2024 District 6630 Governor. Clubs and individuals will be recognized by our 2022-2023 District Governor, David Jones, for their outstanding dedication and service. This event is open to all members, families and friends of Rotary. |
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John Fiume, Director & CEO, Akron Art Museum: Presentation RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to John Fiume discuss the Akron Art Museum during our Tuesday, June 6th Club meeting. John has been serving Akron’s arts and culture scene for over 20 years. His past contributions have included serving on the boards of the Akron Art Museum, Weathervane Playhouse, ArtsNow, and Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. As of February 2022, Jon is serving as the John S. Knight Director & CEO of the Akron Art Museum. The Akron Art Museum goes back 100 years. The museum has had several locations since its beginning but has been located at the 1899 old post office building since 1981. The museum has several Values Statements:
What collections of art are at the Akron Art Museum? The Museum collects works from 1850 to the present. Comprised of over 7000 objects, the collection is home to important works by a broad range of artists in a wide variety of media from across the globe, including sculpture, glass, paintings, photography, digital art, and more. What are some of the current Exhibitions?
In addition to the various exhibitions, the Museum also provides many other events. Several events occurring in the next few weeks include:
To learn more about the Akron Art Museum and all it has to offer, check out their website at www.akronartmuseum.org. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
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August 17th - Help Eradicate Polio While Enjoying a Baseball Game!IT WILL BE A GREAT NIGHT AT THE BALL PARK REGISTER NOW TO ATTEND Once again we are planning an End Polio Now Guardians game on August 17, 2023 against the Detroit Tigers. We will be in the Terrace Club for fun, food, and auctions along with drawing the winner of the Paul Harris /First Pitch. We are also able to parade pregame on the field after missing several years. As you are planning your Rotary club’s summer activities, please keep this in mind. It is a great opportunity for fellowship and FUN. Rotary International has long held the fight to eradicate polio as it’s signature fundraising effort. Over $6,000 was raised during the July 13, 2022 End Polio Night at the Cleveland Guardians baseball game versus the Chicago White Sox. Last year more than 300 Rotarians in District 6630, along with those is Districts 6600 and 6650 were in attendance. Each received an End Polio Now t-shirt along with their ticket to the baseball game. Congratulations to Dean Thayer of the North Hampton-Cuyahoga Valley Club who was chosen to throw out the first pitch. The fun continued in the Terrace Club as raffle baskets with autographed jerseys, bats, baseballs and other great prizes brought in over $1,800. Special thanks to the Guardians own Bob Dibiasio, who came by to visit. with Rotarians during the event. Bob’s visit helped ease the sting of the Guardians loss to the White Sox, 2-1. As 2022-2023 Rotary International President Jennifer Jones reminds us, “ As long as polio exists somewhere, it’s a threat everywhere.” With that in mind and with our commitment to “ Service Above Self” Rotary will continue this important mission throughout the coming year. See the District 6630 flyer below and sign up now for August 17, 2023. |
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Speaker Recap: Michelle Wilson, Global Ties AkronWe were honored to have one of our Rotarians speak at our recent meeting - Michelle Wilson, Director of Global Ties Akron. She said "Through my work, at Global Ties Akron and in the community my focus is on building mutual understanding and respect, helping others to realize the value of diversity, especially through global education and citizen diplomacy, and connecting the Akron area and Northeast Ohio to world leaders and changemakers to build a global network of community builders." Michelle has served as the Executive Director of Global Ties Akron for the past 20 years. She has been with the organization for over 30 years as a volunteer, board member, and program officer. Through the programs of Global Ties Akron- globaltiesakron.org , Michelle leads the organization and coordinates community professional visits of leaders from around the world participating in the International Visitor Leadership program administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State and the Open World Leadership Program sponsored by the Congressional Office of International Leadership. She has built bridges to support ongoing initiatives between international leaders and Greater Akron Ohio. Michelle has also created several education initiatives including the online magazine focused on preserving the cultural heritage and traditions of refugee and immigrant populations-Global Threads-https://global-threads.world/; and launched the Know Your Community- Know Your World global education initiative - know-your-world.org. Michelle serves as an Ohio representative to the US Global Leadership Coalition and is on the board of Himalayan Arts, Language and Cultural Academy. She is also an origami artist and social entrepreneur who runs Global Ties Akron's Global Threads Boutique to empower local and global artisans and fund our education programs. To view the meeting and her presentation click here or copy and paste this link: https://youtu.be/lBapfsrzY1U |
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Speaker Recap: Kaulig Companies Championship - Don Padgett IIIThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Don Padgett III, Executive Director of the Kaulig Companies Bridgestone Invitational Championship during our Tuesday, May 23rdt Club meeting. Padgett began his PGA TOUR career at TOUR headquarters near Jacksonville, Florida in 2000. In 2007, Padgett returned to his hometown of Akron, Ohio and has led the last seventeen professional golf tournaments at Firestone Country Club. The video can be viewed by clicking here. Over $31 million has been raised for worthy charitable causes throughout Northeast Ohio from proceeds from the golf tournament. Mr. Padgett gave a brief overview of the history of the Firestone Country Club. Firestone Country Club’s rich history began in 1929 as the vision of Harvey Firestone, founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. In 2023, the club marks its 70th consecutive year of professional golf tournaments. Only a short list of three other clubs can boast such a tradition. Firestone Country Club has long been synonymous with tournament golf. The first tournament hosted at Firestone was The Rubber City Open in 1954. The Kaulig Companies Bridgestone Championship tournament will take place July 12th thru the 16th. Mr. Padgett stated that proceeds from this community event help worthy charitable causes throughout Northeast Ohio. Tournament proceeds are generated when fans support and attend the festivities during tournament week. In addition to the competition, Mr. Padgett stated that there were three major components of the tournament. These three components were (1) Something for Everyone, (2) See Legendary Players Up Close, and (3) Support Northeast Ohio Charities. Something for Everyone: includes Big Shot Golf, One-of-a-Kind Pet area, Monster Deck, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Pinball Machine, music entertainment and other fun opportunities. Legends of the Game: Hall of Fame Golf Champions will be in attendance to “rub elbows.” Funding for Northeast Ohio Charities: Over $31 million dollars have been generated for charities in Northeast Ohio. Each year approximately 25-30 charities are beneficiaries of revenues generated from the tournament. Underrated Golf – Ambassador of Golf Event with Steph Curry: This event involves 96 youth playing golf on July 7th and July 8th, followed by the Ambassador of Golf Awards. To learn more about the activities planned for the July 12th – July 16th tournament week, as well as the KauligCompanies Championship sponsorship, check out the following websites: www.kauligchampionship.com, and www.kauligcompanies.com. Yours in Service - Terry Dalton Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair |
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Recap of Lisa King Presentation, Summit Metro ParksThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Lisa King at our Tuesday, May 16, 2023, Club meeting. Appointed in September 2015, King is the seventh director of Summit Metro Parks and the first woman to lead the park. As director she serves as the chief executive and chief financial officer, leading the organization to ensure achievement of its mission, financial viability, growth, and stability. An employee since 1998, King has also served as the park district’s landscape architect and its chief of planning and development. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University, a state-registered landscape architect, a champion of sustainable design, and a certified parks and recreation professional through the National Recreation and Park Association. View the presentation by clicking here. What is the mission of Summit Metro Parks (SMP)? The SMP was created in 1911. The mission is inclusive of Ohio legislative language that created the park system in Ohio. The mission is – “We conserve, sustainably manage and value natural resources for the health and enjoyment of our community and inspire people to connect with nature through clean and safe parks.” Interesting Facts about the SMP The SMP consists of:
Where are the Nature Centers?
What’s In Store For 2023? Naturalist – Led Programs Spree for All:May 1 – June 30
Native Plant Festival:May 20, 2023 Munroe Falls Metro Park
Wild Back Yards
Touch-A-Truck: August 12, 2023, Munroe Falls Metro Park
Fall Hiking Spree September 1 – November 30, 2023
Fall Family Outings: September 30 & October 1, 2023 Munroe Falls Metro Park
Truck-Or-Treat: Silver Creek (10/21) and Goodyear Heights (10/28)
Current Projects:
For additional information about Summit Metro Parks and all SMP has to offer, check out their website at www.summitmetroparks.org. Yours in Rotary Service Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary and Scholarship Program Chair
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District 6630 Online Auction for Polio PlusPlease join us in supporting Polio Plus through this local online auction hosted by District 6630 Governor David Jones |
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July 8: District Awards and Banner Exchange - Register NOW! |
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June 28th - Food Bank Service ProjectI hope you are enjoying your Spring. It is time again to sign up to volunteer for the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank service project! I am looking for volunteers (spouses and friends are welcome; they just need to signup for volunteering with ACRFB!) for Wednesday, June 28th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Akron location which is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307. After the food bank service project anyone is welcome to join me in going out to dinner for more social time at a downtown Akron restaurant to be determined later. The service project involves breaking down large containers of food into smaller portions for redistribution to area food pantries. The two hours flies by as we all have fun with the project and we get the opportunity to work with our fellow Rotarians and strengthen our friendships and maybe meet a few new people from other organizations/companies that are there volunteering as well. IF YOU HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED BEFORE AT THE FOOD BANK THEN I NEED YOU TO REGISTER. See volunteer application link below. If you have any questions please call or text me at 330-714-1044. I need a head count by noon Friday June 23, so if you would please let me know by then if you plan on attending by sending me an email or text: dhall@preferredlegacy.com or 330-714-1044. I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you for volunteering! *********************************************************************************** PLEASE COMPLETE A VOLUNTEER APPLICATION – If you have not volunteered with the Foodbank in the past 2 years. Youth Volunteer Application (ages 10-17) Preparing for your visit, main Akron Campus: The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Main Campus is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307, at the corner of Dart Avenue and Opportunity Parkway off of OH-59 near Downtown Akron. Get Directions. When you arrive, please park in the front of the building or in the Dart Avenue parking lot. Use the front glass doors to enter the building.
What to wear:
Thank you for volunteering at your Foodbank! We look forward to welcoming you.
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Rotary Camp for Children with Special NeedsSummer Camp Wish ListSince 1924, Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs has offered children and adults with special needs, the opportunity to experience all the friendship, fun and excitement of camp. We need your help in reducing our programming costs to allow us to provide financial assistance to our families in need of sending their child to camp. With your donation of any wish list item, you are helping us to fulfill our mission of “Creating a world where there are only abilities!”
Can’t make it to the store? Check out our Amazon Wish list for easy ordering: Thank you for your support! Questions, please call the camp office at 330.644.4512 for additional information. Akron Rotary Camp is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations can be considered tax deductible.
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Jenn Kidd, Exec. Director, The Nightlight CinemaThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Jenn Kidd, Executive Director of The Nightlight Cinema during our May 9th Club luncheon meeting. Jenn oversees the programming and development of one of Akron's most exciting cultural institutions. Before joining The Nightlight Cinema, Jenn served as Creative Director for the Historic Arts District in Akron. She oversaw marketing, promotions, events, and outreach for the district's arts-based partners. With a long-standing background in the arts, Jenn has worked as a creative and visual consultant for numerous arts organizations and businesses. When she's not enjoying films at The Nightlight, Jenn is an accomplished artist who enjoys family time with her husband, an artist, and son, a sculpture major at the University of Akron. What is Nightlight Cinema’s Mission? The Nightlight is dedicated to bringing the best in independent and arthouse cinema to Akron. By offering thoughtfully curated and quality films that are diverse in scope, The Nightlight fosters connection through a shared cinematic journey - where all can experience and celebrate the magic and power of cinema. How Long has the Nightlight been providing movies to the Greater Akron area? The Nightlight has been impacting Akron since 2014. The Nightlight audience is more than just movie-goers - they are a community of people who come together to support local businesses, enjoy cultural experiences, and connect with one another over shared interests. Whether they're grabbing dinner before a film, visiting the museum, catching a live band, or meeting up with friends over drinks to discuss the latest indie flick, the Nightlight audience is a vital part of the downtown Akron ecosystem. Some Interesting Statistics:
Some Areas of Focus:
The Nightlight has collaborated with over 100 local and regional organizations. What is the Future of Cinema in Akron? Currently, the Nightlight Cinema has a 40-seat capacity. The organization is currently in a capital campaign to add a 2nd screen. Expanding will allow The Nightlight to double its physical footprint and create endless possibilities for community engagement and world-class cinema experiences in Akron.
To learn more about The Nightlight Cinema, including showtimes, tickets and membership information, check out their website at www.nightlightcinema.com Yours in Service - Terry Dalton Akron Rotary Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
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Sekoya Kendricks, Owner 1474 Art IncSekoya Kendricks is the Owner of 1474 Art Inc Gallery & Elite lounge, youngest African American Art Curator state of Ohio, licensed life coach - specialized in behavior communication and relationships . She is an Art teacher at Emanuel Christian Academy and gallery teach at the Akron Art Museum. She was the recipient of the 2022 Akron Urban League Rising Star Award, presented to individuals who are active in their communities and display hard work and dedication. You can view the presentation at https://youtu.be/hsjLO2cGoRM You can also view her posts on Instagram Who we are Highly specialized organization with an extensive passion and knowledge of the multi dimensional world of art . We are the connection between the community and its dynamic diversity .1474 will work as the liaison between (you )the artist or the buyer and their client . What we do (1474 Art INC ) Develop a long-term relationship and understanding between the artist and their work .Once that is established it is our job to take your vision to the next level ,with extensive brainstorming we will customize goals and prepare an accurate marketing strategy to pinpoint your target market.Here at 1474 Art Agency we will facilitate the sales of Artist by working with museums galleries corporations and collectors. We do more then represent our artist .We build ,challenge, develop our artist ,so they can lead and inspire the next generation What is 1474? 1474 is not only symbolic but also very empowering. 14 = 2014 the year I decided to put faith over fear, realizing that I am very different from the rest.Strength and determination is what it takes to develop such a creation. 74 =1974 The year my older brother was born .As I grew older I followed behind his footsteps ,looking at him with such amazement. He had such an artistic way he carried himself.He passed away in 2002 leaving me with this vision mirroring his elegant demeanor .Teaching me so much in so little time. In loving memory of Stephen Warren 1974-2002 I present to you the 1474 Art Inc. Plan of Action Artist Development: To obtain large customer clientele database to support up and coming artist by artist development and custom marketing strategies.Our plan is to help artist grow in their highest point of success. During that process we will use the artist threw 1474 as examples to educate students as well as the schooling system on Art awareness. Art Awareness: Bringing Art awareness to the community and surrounding areas. We plan to partner with numerous organization. The art of expression and how it provides a mental stimulation which will result in better testing scores. It also provides an outlet for students to cope and understanding emotion. Specifications ● Community outreach ● Artist development ● Art awareness ● Custom marketing strategies |
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John Daily's Memorial ServiceAs a reminder, visitation for Mr. Daily will be Saturday May 6th at Billow’s in Fairlawn from 11:30am-1:00pm, with Memorial Service at 1pm. He was truly a dedicated member with perfect attendance for his entire 57 years of service. When he could not be in Akron, he always made sure he could attend at another Rotary Club wherever he happened to be traveling. Our club was blessed and honored to have Mr. John Daily as a member since January 1, 1966. Here is a link to a story we wrote about Mr. Daily a few years ago. CLICK HERE His obituary is posted on the Billow's Funeral Home website.
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Rotary Club of Akron Celebration of Youth Scholarship EventThe Rotary Club of Akron awarded 15, $1,000 scholarships, to Akron Public School (APS) students, enrolled in the College and Career Academies, at their recent Celebration of Youth Scholarship dinner held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, catered by Tangier Banquets and Catering. The keynote speaker was Nathanael Billow, Executive Vice-President, and Treasurer of the Billow Company and an Akron Rotarian. Mr. Billow is a 5th generation Rotarian. His great, great grandfather was one of the original founders of the Rotary Club of Akron. Mr. Billow was a past recipient of a Rotary Scholarship. Some of the recipients, shown seated from left to right: Abbigail Kerns, Summer Fouse, Erica Keller, and Hawa Sankareh. Standing from left to right: Lynda Farkas, Club President; Nathanael Billow, Keynote speaker; Yvonne Culver, Director APS College Access; Kaiden Bos; Sharda Rai; Dashaynae Sperling; Harvon Hamilton; RoZi Yar; and Dora Causey. Other students unable to attend because of other commitments, but also receiving a scholarship, include Joseph Applewhite, Caewood Miller, Brieyanna Banks, Rhiver Robinson, and Saru Tamang. The Akron Rotary Foundation is pleased to provide an annual allocation to the Rotary Club of Akron to provide these scholarships and recognize these amazing students. Special thanks to Katy Miller for taking the photos. There are some below of the students but you can view all photos by clicking here. Thank you to our Akron Club Scholarship Chair, Terry Dalton, for organizing all of the interviews that took place and arranging this very special event. |
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Welcome to Our Newest Akron RotariansJohn Brkic and Abraham Pannikottu are not new to Rotary but they are new to the Akron Club! Both were inducted on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. John was sponsored by Tom Knauer and Abraham was sponsored by Stew Buchanan. L-R: John Brkic, Tom Knauer, Abraham Pannikottu and Stew Buchanan, PDG About John Brkic He is an active alumni volunteer for Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He previously served in the Ashtabula Rotary and was a member while working for Scouting and serving Ashtabula County. John then transferred to Boardman when he started serving the Youngstown area. He left the Boardman club when he moved to Akron and started working for JOANN Stores and was traveling 40 weeks of the year. John is a graduate of Leadership Lake County’s Signature Program and Leadership Mahoning Valley’s Adult Program, and a 25 under 35 Honoree by the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals Club in February of 2020. In addition to his work with Volunteers of America, he is a photographer that specializes in weddings. About Abraham Pannikottu Abraham was a founding member of the Green, Ohio Rotary Club. He is an engineer and owner of American Engineering Group (AEG). AEG is working with US Army on Run-flat tires. Their tire is called Pressure Zero Tire. He is from Green, Ohio and originally from India. Abraham's wife, Mini, is a Clinical ICU Dietitian and his son is a cardiology fellow in Garden City Hospital in Detroit. He has a daughter who is an Infectious Disease Fellow in Case Western University, Cleveland. They also have a small Indian Orthodox Church in Macedonia, Ohio.
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$30,000 in Grants Awarded by Akron Rotary Club and Akron Rotary FoundationThe Rotary Club of Akron and the Akron Rotary Foundation are proud to announce the awarding of $30,000 in grants to three community organizations and 15 Akron Public School students. At their Celebration of Youth Scholarship event, the remaining $15,000 was awarded to 15 graduating Akron Public School students in the form of $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships are intended to help the students pursue their educational goals and were awarded based on academic achievement and community service. You can see the photos in the scholarship article below. The Rotary Club of Akron and the Akron Rotary Foundation are proud to be able to support the Akron community and its students of the Akron Public Schools. The grants and scholarships are a testament to the commitment of The Rotary Club of Akron and the Akron Rotary Foundation to the Akron area. The Rotary Club of Akron is a part of Rotary International which has 1.4 million members worldwide. Rotary is dedicated to causes that build relationships, improve lives, and create a better world—locally and globally. The Rotary Club of Akron and the Akron Rotary Foundation has a longstanding commitment to the greater Akron community. |
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Congratulations to Members with 50 Years of ServiceOur District Conference was a wonderful event. District Governor David Jones focused on Service and Community Partnerships. The District annually recognizes Rotarians who reach 50 years of service and did so this year at the Friday afternoon luncheon. Recognized from the Akron Club were: Bill Manby, Sr. and Roger Read Bill was in attendance with his wife, Sally, and son, Bill, Jr. Bill was presented a beautiful crystal from District Governor David Jones. |
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The Passing of John DailyOur club was truly blessed and honored to have Mr. John Daily as a member since January 1, 1966. He was truly a dedicated member with perfect attendance for his entire 57 years of service. When he could not be in Akron, he always made sure he could attend at another Rotary Club wherever he happened to be traveling. Here is a link to a story we wrote about Mr. Daily a few years ago. CLICK HERE His obituary will appear on Saturday April 23 and April 30 in the ABJ and will be posted on the Billow's Funeral Home website. Visitation will be Saturday May 6th at Billow’s in Fairlawn from 11:30am-1:00pm, with Memorial Service at 1pm. He will be laid to rest next his wife T. Ardell immediately following the service at Rose Hill Burial Park. John has listed both the Friends of Metro Parks and the Akron Rotary Foundation for Memorial Contributions. |
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Akron Parks Collaborative Presentation RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had the opportunity to learn about the Akron Parks Collaborative during our Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Club luncheon meeting. Our guest speaker was Bridget Ambrisco, Executive Director of the Akron Parks Collaborative. View the presentation by clicking here. The Akron Parks Collaborative is a nonprofit organization she co-founded in 2018 in partnership with the City of Akron. Previously, Bridget was Executive Director of Friends of Metro Parks from 2011 to 2022, the Director of Volunteer Programs with the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park from 2008 to 2011 and Executive Director of Cascade Locks Park Association from 2001 to 2008. She has served on the boards of Torchbearers and Rotary Camp and on the Interpretation Subcommittee for the Ohio & Erie Canalway Association. What is Akron Parks Collaborative? Akron Parks Collaborative (APC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization working to engage the community around the creation and sustainability of vibrant public spaces within the City of Akron (Ohio) parks. As a spin-off organization of Friends of Metro Parks, APC fosters and supports friends’ groups around single city parks. Why a Parks Collaborative? There is magic in the shared world of a public park. Akron’s Neighborhood parks have the power to improve neighborhood health and vitality. APC works to ensure that all Akron residents have quality spaces for health, wellness, and neighborhood vibrancy. Safe quality parks are important to:
How does the APC go about improving 161 Akron City Parks? APC has implemented the Akron Parks Challenge. The Akron Parks Challenge invites neighborhood residents, leaders, and organizations alike to pitch their vision for their favorite park and how they can partner to achieve the change they wish to see. To apply, all you need is a great idea for how to invest in an Akron Park, and a plan for engaging the community to help make it a reality. Applications typically open in April and selections are made in June of each year. How does the Application process work? Process: 1) Application and Selection 2) Work with Community. 3) Engage the larger Community. 4) Use data to make decisions within allotted budget. 5) Work with the community to decide details. 6) Construction 7) Ongoing stewardship Over the past four years a total of $2,092,000 has been invested in City Park improvements and programs. This dollar amount includes City funds of $1,215,000 and Private funds of $877,000. What is the vision for Akron’s Neighborhood Parks going forward? APC’s 2023-225 Strategic Priorities consist of the following:
To learn more about the Akron Parks Collaborative, check out their website at www.akronparks.org. Check out this week’s Rotary recording to view before and after slides of Akron parks that have been rehabilitated over the past four years. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Akron Rotary Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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April 22nd - Volunteers Needed for Camp Clean-up Day!Summer is around the corner, and we would appreciate any help getting Rotary Camp ready before staff and campers arrive for the summer. Tasks might include cleaning of all the cabins, bath houses and communal areas. Cleaning supplies and gloves will be provided, but please bring shop-vacs, step stools, dusters and rakes. Join us for an hour, or the morning. Family and friends are welcome too! We are looking forward to see you at camp, - please register below. Camp Clean-up Day Saturday, April 22, 2023 9:00am-1:00pm Akron Rotary Camp 4460 Rex Lake Drive Akron, OH 44319 Please click here to register. We truly appreciate your service above self! Akron Rotary Camp |
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John Reyes Speaks About Strengthening Our Youth Protection in District 6630The Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to our own John Reyes, Esq., Buckingham Doolittle & Burroughs and our District 6630 Youth Protection Chairperson during our Tuesday, April 4th Club meeting. For many Rotarians present at the meeting or viewing online, I am sure much of what John was presenting to us was new. What is important to understand is that the Rotary Club of Akron will be embarking on an initiative to strengthen our Youth Protection efforts to be in compliance with District and Rotary International Policies and Procedures. So, what does the Youth Protection Initiative have to do with Akron Rotarians? To be completely honest, I don’t think my article can do justice to what is being presented. I would encourage our readers to check out the recording from John’s presentation as well as checking out our Rotary website to review Rotary District 6630 Youth Protection Policies and Procedures. You can view the presentation by clicking here. John began his presentation with a little history of efforts by various organizations that have developed Youth Protection policies and procedures because of incidents affecting children that put organizations at risk from a liability position. Rotary has had a long history of vetting Rotarians and other individuals involved with the Rotary Youth Exchange. This new initiative is to expand the vetting process to include all projects that involve Rotarians having contact with youth. Strong support and effective management of youth programs are essential to ensuring that all youth protection policies are followed. Individuals who have admitted to or been convicted of a crime related to sexual abuse or harassment are ineligible for Rotary Membership. The Rotary Club of Akron strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. “To the best of their abilities, Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses and partners and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people they come in contact with and protect them from physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.” The Akron Club is invested in multiple Youth Programs. The Club will be initiating a vetting process. There is a process to determine if a Rotarian has only “Casual contact” or “Continued contact.”
Stay tuned for more information on this initiative. Our Club will be rolling out our implementation process over the next several months. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Akron Rotary Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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Club Welcomes New Rotarian Darethann KrillDarethann Krill was inducted into The Rotary Club of Akron on April 4, 2023. She was sponsored by Lauren Holly. Darethann was previously a member of the Rotary Club of Fairlawn where she served as a Club President and is a member of the Paul Harris Society. She shared that she transferred to the Akron Club to be more present in the community where she works. She is the Branch Manager for the West Akron Branch of Ohio Savings Bank. In addition to her Rotary service, she is a Board Member for The HALO Foundation & The Conrad Botzum Farmstead. Darethann is a member of St Sebastian Church where she is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and has taught Pre-K/Kindergarten PSR for the last 14 years. She has 3 dogs and 3 cats (she says she is not a cat person), that she shares with her boyfriend, Ron. She grew up in West Akron where her parents still live and has 2 brothers and 2 sisters, as well as 6 nieces, 1 nephew and one on the way. She enjoys reading, hiking, kayaking and fishing (as long as she doesn't have to touch the fish). |
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A Special Shout Out!!A special thanks to Club members Thane Billow, Connor Jarvis and Brian Kosarko. Billow Funeral Homes and Wright-LaHaie-Jarvis Wealth Advisors became our first Club IT Sponsors in January. Brian is the owner at Twin Pines Technology and has been providing tech support for our Club. Thanks to their tremendous support, Brian Kosarko was able to evaluate and present options to the board to improve our meetings. Brian has now purchased new audience microphones and new video equipment to improve presentations during the meetings. We appreciate all you have done to help support and improve our club meeting experience!
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Kay Lukac, President, Portage Lakes Purple Martin Association: Speaker RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Kay Lukac, President, and Co-Founder of the Portage Lakes Purple Martin Association, during our Tuesday, March 28, 2023, Club meeting. View the meeting by clicking here. The Portage Lakes Purple Martin Association is an organization dedicated to helping the Purple Martins feed, breed, and interact with the environment to the best of their bird ability. The 501 c 3 Non=Profit organization is happy to have them in Portage Lakes. and do their best to make them feel welcome. Many groups help the Association in meeting their objectives. The Association has a large number of gourd homes maintained by their members. Some of the volunteers’ duties include:
Benefits for members include opportunities to help the Association educate the public about the Purple Martins of the Portage Lakes, what they do for us and how we encourage public enjoyment of these beautiful birds. The Purple Martins flock to the Portage Lakes area every Spring. They make their 7,000-mile flight from Brazil and arrive in the Portage Lakes area from the middle of March until June. The Purple Martins return within 50 miles from their birth location each year. Each year the Purple Martins lay an average of 4-7 eggs. The volunteers assist with feeding the baby birds with a supplemental meal of scrambled eggs with crushed egg shells. The Purple Martins eat their food in flight. The Purple Martins are beneficial to the Portage Lakes area. Each day the Purple Martins eat around 100 lbs. of insects daily. For 23 years, Kay has "done it all", from building equipment to location finding. She is always recruiting volunteers, feeders, and members to help with record keeping. Kay has formulated many educational programs for students and the community and continues to teach the programs. The Association started with 2 pairs of birds and now have a colony of hundreds with over 660 gourds spread out around the lakes. Last year the Association fledged 1,459 new babies and now have added twilight Pontoon rides to the roost sites as part of the major fund raising efforts. The Portage Lakes area is the only location in Ohio that has seen an overall increase in the Purple Martin population, mostly because of the efforts of the Purple Martin Association and their numerous members and volunteers. To learn more about the Portage Lakes Purple Martin Association, check out Kay’s presentation and their website at www.portagelakespurplemartins.com. The Association is always looking for volunteers to assist in a variety of ways. Yours in Service - Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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Club Welcomes Peter Ryerson as New RotarianDan O'Connell shared "Peter has been a volunteer and past chairman of Akron SCORE. He is always willing to help when called upon." Peter earned degrees from LaSalle University (BA,MBA) in Philadelphia and has worked in the healthcare industry most of his life. Currently retired, he was the owner and president of a remodeling and design firm that focused on emergency rooms. He has and continues to volunteer at his Church including Vestry, Akron SCORE, Truth and Honor, and Fairlawn VFW. He served in the US Army, Infantry, 195901964, SPC 4. Peter has been married to Nanette for almost 60 years! He enjoys flying his own plane giving a helping hand to anyone who asks. |
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Greta Johnson, Asst. Chief of Staff County of SummitThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of learning more about our Summit County Government with a presentation by Greta Johnson, Assistant Chief of Staff for Summit County Executive, Ilene Shapiro, during our Tuesday, March 21, 2023 weekly Club meeting. Ms. Johnson began her presentation listing a few County statistics. Summit County is about 413 square miles, a population of 540, 333 citizens. Akron comprises 190,409 of that number. Summit County is the 4th largest county in the State. Summit County was the first county in Ohio to adopt a Charter form of Government. Summit County consists of 31 communities (14 cities, 8 villages, and 9 townships). As a charter form of government, Summit County has “home rule,” which permits the county to have the power to exercise authority outside of State government. Summit County can use local power to address local problems. What comprises County Government? Unique to Summit County’s Charter Government is its organizational structure. Under the umbrella of Summit County Government, the following departments exist: (1) County Executive, (2) Fiscal Officer, (3) Engineer, (4) Prosecutor, (5) Sheriff, (6) Council, and (7) Clerk of Courts. What comprises County Council? County Council is comprised of 8 District Council members, 3 At-large Council members, plus the County Executive. There are 10 departments that the County Executive oversees. These departments are: (1) Administrative Services, (2) Public Information, (3) Community and Economic Development, (4) Finance and Budget, (5) Human Resources, (6) Law and Risk Management, (7) Job and Family Services, (8) Medical Examiner, (9) Public Safety, and (10) Sanitary Sewer Services. What are some of the County Executive’s Responsibilities? The primary duties are: (1) Administrative, (2) Budgeting, and (3) Contract Authorization. In addition the County Executive manages the 10 departments listed above. The County Executive’s office is responsible for maintaining all county owned government buildings. The Executive oversees a $639 million dollar county budget. The Executive’s office works directly and indirectly will all of the municipalities. County Executive Shapiro’s philosophy is Strategic, Facilitative, and relationship driven:
To learn more about Summit County government, check out the website at https://co.summitoh.net/departments/Summit-County-Executive To hear more of Ms. Johnson’s presentation view the recording by clicking here. Yours in Sevice, Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
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Holly Klein, Speaker RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had the opportunity to learn about Grace House during our Tuesday, March 14, 2023, Club luncheon meeting. Our guest speaker was Holly Klein, President of Grace House. Fourteen of Holly's twenty-two years as a registered nurse have been spent providing hands-on care and leadership in hospice and palliative care. She has a baccalaureate degree in Nursing and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management. Before I begin highlighting some of Holly’s presentation, I would like our readers to take a minute or two to think about a time someone we knew or were close to died. Were there family and friends available during that person’s remaining days or hours? For most of us, that answer would be Yes, but this is not the case for the individuals Grace House serves. What is the mission of Grace House Akron, Inc. (GHA)? Providing access to end-of-life care to some of our most vulnerable community members What is the history of GHA? Working with hospice patients that were without a caregiver, lacked resources, or suitable living conditions led to one question. “Isn’t there more we can do?” “We should and could do more as a society to prevent patients from dying alone or in desperate conditions.” From this question, Grace House Akron was born. GHA is grounded in the knowledge that there are too many individuals who are at the end of life with nowhere to go and no one to care for them. GHA believes that everyone should die in the presence of care, compassion and dignity and that NO ONE should die alone. Grace House:
What does Grace House Do?
To learn more about why GHA provides this service, check out the entire recording or check out their website at www.gracehouseakron.org How Can We Help?
Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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Tom Knauer Gets Prepared to Serve as Club PresidentAll-Ohio Presidents-Elect Training Seminar is a multi-district P.E.T.S. training sessions of the five Rotary Districts in Ohio. it serves all of the Rotary Clubs in Ohio — more than 250 clubs. The event was hosted Friday & Saturday, March 10-11, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. During the weekend attendees met fellow Presidents-Elect to create new and lasting friendships, and of course learn about the operations of a successful Rotary Club. They were also formally inducted to serve as their Club President for the July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024 Rotary Year and received their official President's Pin. DGE Julie Brandle pins incoming Akron Club President, Tom Knauer following his induction. They heard presentations by Rotary leaders and participated in discussions led by the workshop facilitators, all of whom were outstanding club presidents. All of the District Governor-elects aided by their assistant governors, have also conducted special district meetings for the Presidents-Elect. The planning team chose the theme of Prepare - Inspire - Engage for the event. |
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RI Webinar Series: Effective Projects
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Join Us April 25 at 5pm Annual Rotary Club Celebration of Youth Scholarship DinnerJoin Us! This event replaces our regular Tuesday lunch meeting on April 25th. RSVPs are required for food and seating needs. |
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Speaker Recap : Suzie Graham, Downtown Akron PartnershipThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Suzie Graham, President, and CEO of Downtown Akron Partnership during our Tuesday, March 7th Club meeting. For many Rotarians present at the meeting or viewing online, I am sure much of what Suzie presented was new to us. For that matter, how many Rotarians reading this article, actually know what the Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) actually does? Suzie mobilizes positive partnerships and oversees the planning and implementation of programs and services to anticipate and address the needs of the neighborhood. Her work centers on the necessity of a thriving urban core and the importance of downtown as a key indicator of the health and success of the city and region. She works closely with government, corporate, education, non-profit, human services, and small business stakeholders to assist their efforts and benefit the holistic downtown experience. Suzie facilitates efforts to enhance and promote downtown as an economic driver, hub for arts and culture, partner in driving equity, champion of the city's identity, and place for all people. So, what programs comprise Downtown Akron Partnership? To be completely honest, I don’t think my article can do justice to what all is being accomplished. I would encourage our readers to check out the recording from Suzie’s presentation as well as checking out their website at www.downtownakron.com. Suzie began her presentation discussing the vision and development plan that is being revised for 2022 +. The mission of DAP is “Building a vibrant and valuable downtown for all.” There are 4 main goals attached to their mission. These goals are:
The last development/strategic plan was created in 2018, so what has been accomplished during that time? Goal # 1 Concentrate on the Core: 1) Enliven the central spine of the city, 2) Prioritize projects and improvements that activate Main Street and start filling in inactive spaces along the most critical spine of the city. Results: We have seen Residential Growth, Placemaking, and Infrastructure improvements. Approximately 1,800 individuals are now living downtown. Residential housing is at 90% occupancy. $46 million dollars have been spent on the redesign and utility upgrade of Main Street. Results: From a Strategic, Hospitality, Retail Development and Expansiion perspective the following improvements are noted. A campaign to Elevate Greater Akron has been created along with a refocus on Downtown Main Street as a Great Street. The BLU-tique Hotel is operating. Small business growth and storefront retention has started downtown through the CARES Act Grants and Repair Grants. Akron Children’s Hospital and the University of Akron College of Business and UA Polsky façade have expanded and there is planned renovations for Polsky and Lock 3. Goal # 2 Create a Residential Downtown: 1) Repurpose/renovate older buildings for residential, 2) Encourage mixed use development, 3) Convert older office buildings into residential, mixed use, 4) Enable shared parking strategies, and 5) Employ traffic calming, appealing sidewalk environments with street trees and walkable streetscape. Results: $176 million dollars in residential investment since 2018. 525 new or converted, 235 rehab, and 86 under construction. This is a net gain of 611 units plus reinvestment in aging subsidized housing. In addition to the 2 Goals described above, the following goals were also addressed from the initial 2018 strategic plan. For further information on the progress with these goals, I encourage you to view the recorded presentation or view the slide presentation. Goal # 3 Foster an Entrepreneurial Downtown Goal # 4 Facilitate Public and Private Investment Downtown Goal # 5 Invest in a Welcoming, Multimodal and Connected Downtown Goal # 6 Activate Downtown The DAP is soliciting feedback on their proposed 2022 + Strategic Development Plan. You can check out the DAP Website’s Project “landing page” which includes Information and FAQ’s, Plan Presentations and documents. In addition you can have Interactive Engagement by taking their Survey, their Ideas Board or their Community Mapping. DAP is committed to making Akron a vibrant and valuable city for all. Suzie ended her presentation with the following: What You Think Matters! Lets Talk! Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
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Please Support our Statewide Service ProjectAll Ohio P.E.T.S. - State Wide Service Project |
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Akrotarians attend Rotary Club of Cleveland’s International Fellowship DayLynda Farkas, Cyndi Kane and Susan Colville-Hall attended Rotary Club of Cleveland’s International Fellowship Day honoring United Ukrainian Organization of Ohio February 23, 2023. Windows on the River provided a rich environment for a gathering of current members, past officers, international and local guests. Jessica Hanes, CLE President Elect, extended a warm welcome to everyone. The agenda consisted of an International Service Award Ceremony with Marta Liscynesky, President of the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio accepting the award. It was interesting to note that most Ohio elected officials were documented supporters and contributors to the Ukrainian effort, including former Senator Portman, Senator Brown, Congressman Ryan, Governor Dewine and others. We were happy to be among those who support the people of Ukraine and their effort to keep their freedom. |
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Our Mardi Gras gals!!! |
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Rotary District 6630 RYE: Club Hosting Commitment 2023-2024Youth is the future of Rotary. Through Youth Exchange, clubs are able to get the word of Rotary into the community. As a real benefit to most Clubs, many Host Families and Outbound Parents have become Rotarians. Each fall our district has to commit to a specific number of Inbound Students for the following year. D6630 has already committed to 10 inbound students for the 2023-2024 year. The D6630 RYE Committee would like the Akron Rotary club to be a part of this wonderful Rotary program. We will try to match your interests in hosting a student from a particular country or a specific gender to suit your host family wishes. Hosting an exchange student is a very rewarding endeavor for a club and a great contribution to the community and school district. It is a window to the world, and fosters lifetime friendships. But there is also a serious side to Hosting; all inbound foreign Students are monitored by the US Department of State, (DOS) and there are specific requirements our district is required to meet to keep our certification with Rotary International and the DOS. For this reason, we would like the Akron Rotary club to know what needs to be done to ensure that a successful exchange is put in place. Additional information about counselor, host family and other requirements can be found at Rotary District 6630 - Youth Exchange. Will you help the Akron Rotary club find a “host family” for an inbound student from a foreign county today? Please contact: Susan Colville-Hall, Olivia Pilon or Lynda Farkas with your answer of, “Yes, I will be a host family for the 2023-2024 school year.” |
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Nathanael Billow Speaker RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to one of our own members during our Tuesday, February 21st luncheon meeting. Thane is a Funeral Director and also serves as the Executive Vice President & Treasurer of The Billow Co. Prior to working in the funeral profession, Nathanael worked for Ford Motor Company as a Senior Financial Analyst at Ford's Global Product Development Center in Dearborn, MI. He, along with his sister Stacy, are sixth-generation members of the family to serve at Billow's and Bissler's. Growing up in the family business helped shape his personal belief that working as a funeral director is not only a career but a life-dedicating vocation. Thane provided the Club with some interesting facts about the history of the funeral home industry and the changes that have taken place over the years, including the impact COVID has had on the industry and the individuals served by the industry. Thane began his presentation asking “What is a Good Funeral?” The following were quotes from the book, The Good Funeral:
History of Funerals Funerals, as we know them today began to be celebrated differently in the post-Civil War era:
And Now…. A series of scandals in the 1970’s and 1980’s resulted in the FTC beginning to regulate the funeral service.
The Modern Funeral Home
COVID – 19 (2020 – present) The COVID-19 pandemic posed many issues for funeral homes and families.
Profession Struggles with Demand
Nathanael Billow summed up his family's business: "For generations, the Billow's have been a family of firsts. The only way my sister and I can properly honor the legacy of our ancestors is by continuing our family's tradition of placing the dignity of local families and their departed loved ones first." Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair |
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Foodbank Volunteers Rocked! |
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Seeking Sgt. of Arms for District ConferenceOur Annual district Conference of Clubs is approaching quickly as it will be on Friday, April 28th through Friday, April 29th at the Marriott Cleveland East in Warrensville Heights. It is going to be a spectacular event and The District Leadership Assembly is going to be awesome. I need your help. I need about 15 Rotarians to be Sgt. of Arms during the two days to help others find out where they need to go, checking credentials at the business meetings and help sitting people for meals. If you could kindly help, please send me your times available and I will fit you in. The more we have, the less time per shift will be needed. Please email either Conference Chair Bob Oborn boborn@kentelastomer.com or Conference Secretary/Timeline Chair Lynda Farkas lfarkas2@neo.rr.com Thank you so much, Yours in Rotary |
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Want a Chance to Win $2500 for Your Favorite Charity?The Akron Community Foundation modified their On The Table event to give the opportunity for people to learn about people and issues in our community. Everyone who completes the challenge by the end of February will be entered to win the opportunity to grant $2500 to your favorite charity. Here is a link to the website where you can register and begin: Karen Hrdlicka Director, The Center for Family Philanthropy Akron Community Foundation 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307 330-436-5640 | www.akroncf.org |
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Thank you to all who were able to attend the informal breakfast meeting on Feb 17th |
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Chili Open Wrap Up Meeting Recap2023 CHILI OPEN GOLF CLASSIC CELEBRATIONTuesday, February 14, 2023 |
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Make a Splash for Rotary Camp on February 25!
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Rotary Celebrates Birthday February 23rdRotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.
Our ongoing commitmentThat commitment endures today through an organization that remains truly international. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. Our members now span the globe, working to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems. We’re not afraid to dream big and set bold goals. We began our fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, polio remains endemic in only two countries — down from 125 in 1988.
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Thank you to Tony Troppe and BLU-Tique HotelThank you Tony Troppe and the fantastic team at BLU-Tique Hotel, located in the epicenter of positivity at 1 Main Street. What a fun lunch hour spent resulting in all, we're sure, feeling an attitude of gratitude. It was a treat hearing how Troppe led the way with vision to help develop the historic fabric of our downtown and preserve our city's history. |
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Rotary Club of Akron Expands Community Grant ProgramThe Rotary Club of Akron has a longstanding commitment to the greater Akron community. Rotary is dedicated to causes that build relationships, improve lives, and create a better world—locally and globally. The 2022-23 Grant Cycle is officially open and IT’S BEEN EXPANDED! Grants between $1,000 and $15,000 will be considered via an application process which ends March 14, 2023. Projects must have an Akron Rotarian “sponsor” and must include direct volunteer service opportunities for Akron Rotarians. Akron Rotary doesn’t just write checks, we’re action oriented and live by the motto, “Service Above Self.” For decades Akron Rotarians have been involved in community service activities and awards funding through its Akron Rotary Foundation and through a matching grant made possible through Rotary International and Rotary District 6630. ROTARIANS: Spread the word to impactful community service providers! Encourage them to apply by March 14, 2023 via the application. If you have questions, email Sandy_Naragon@yahoo.com. |
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33rd Annual Chili Open Golf ClassicThank you to all that supported and volunteered at the 33rd Annual Chili Open Golf Classic. We are excited to report that it was another record year for our Club and our Camp! Please join us at the Celebration Rotary Luncheon, next Tuesday, February 14, 2023 to hear from our co-chairs, Cyndi Kane and Jeff Sheeks, and Chili Open Ambassador, Jim Redmond. Congratulations to Bob Beiswenger that was the recipient of the Jim Redmond Ambassador of Service Award and the following Raffle Winners: 1st Prize: 2023 Buick Encore GX - Pat Larson 2nd Prize: BigShots Golf Party Package - Jim Durr 3rd Prize: 55” 4k Smart LED TV – John Murphy We are looking forward to celebrate with you on Tuesday! Jeff Sheeks and Cyndi Kane Chili Open Co-Chairs We raised $369,765 for the kids!!What a great event.Check out the photos at this link.To add your photos to our library for the event, send them via email as attachments (NOT in the body of the email please) to Cheryl Warren. If you have any children under age 18, be sure you provide parental consent forms or we cannot post the photos. |
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Red Kettle Campaign UpdateIn December, our Akron Rotary Club returned to "ringing the bell" for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign after a two-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions. On Friday December 16th, our Club raised $589.23 for the local Salvation Army by ringing the bell at ACME #10 in Cuyahoga Falls. For those who participated, it was a great opportunity to spend time with other Rotarians and interact with the local community in support of a very worthy cause to help the poor in our local area. As Salvation Army Lieutenant O'sha Annewel commented, "we couldn't do it without groups like yours who year-after-year show up and simply amaze us with your willingness to help serve our community". |
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CHILI OPEN UPDATE - February 2, 2023The Chili Open is only days away and we need your support to make this year’s event successful! Thank you to those who have supported with sponsorships, raffle tickets, auction and door prize items! To-date we have raised $316,640 towards our goal of $350,000! We need your help with the following: RAFFLE TICKETS Please turn in your raffle tickets as soon as possible to the Camp office. If you still need help selling, reach out to family, friends and business colleagues. For only $20 you stand a chance to win some great prizes! Tickets can also be purchased here. WAGON OF GOOD CHEER The Silent Auction will feature Dr. Rob’s "Wagon of Good Cheer!" ONLINE AUCTION IS OPEN AT https://www.gotcamp.org/akron-rotarys-chili-open-golf-classic-online-auction Food and activity baskets, sports memorabilia, golf packages, or family entertainment packages make great auction items. If you know of anyone that will be able to donate something, please let us know. If you need someone to pick up any items, please call or email Amanda at Akron Rotary Camp (330.644.4512 / amandaw@akronymca.org), and we would be happy to make those arrangements. Thank you in advance for your donations to help make the Chili Open a continued success to benefit Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs! See you at the Chili Open! Jeff Sheeks and Cindy Kane 2023 Chili Open Golf Classic, Co-Chairs |
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Community Legal Aid Executive Director Steven J. McGarrity, Esq. Presentation RecapThe Rotary Club welcomed Steven McGarrity, Esq to our Tuesday, January 31, 2023, Club luncheon meeting. Mr. McGarrity has served as the Executive Director of Community Legal Aid since 2017. Click here to view the presentation. Mr. McGarrity has over 25 years of legal experience with Legal Aid. He began with the organization as a staff attorney in Canton, Ohio in 1997, focusing his practice on family law and consumer debt. In his time with Legal Aid, he has held various management positions, including nine years’ as Associate Director, where he oversaw all client services, outreach, and technology. What is Legal Aid? Civil Legal Aid can be traced back to the 1870s when the first legal assistance program was founded in New York. It took almost another 100 years before any national structure was developed by the federal government. The Office of Economic Opportunity’s Legal Services was established in 1965 which eventually led to the independent Legal Service Corporation (LSC). Following the establishment of OEO’s Legal Services, 260 legal aid programs were established across all states. Programs and funding increased as LSC began conducting studies on the needs of the poor, ultimately recommending to Congress, a funding model that would provide one legal aid attorney for every 10,000 poor people. In 1952 Summit County Legal Aid Society was incorporated “to secure justice for and to protect the rights of the needy and of individuals of moderate means, to promote measures for their assistance, and to enable them to obtain competent legal advice and representation.” This organization would go on to become Western Reserve Legal Services, serving Summit, Portage, and Medina counties. In 2000 Stark County Legal Aid merged with WRLS and in 2014 Northeast Ohio Legal Services merged with Legal Aid resulting in Community Legal Aid serving eight counties and making it the third largest legal aid organization in Ohio. What Does Legal Aid Do? Community Legal Aid structures it's work around advocacy priorities, legal practice groups, and projects. Community Legal Aid’s practice groups define the organization’s advocacy priorities within each legal practice area. Their current priorities are:
What are the Projects? Population-based projects provide holistic legal services to specific at-risk populations. Several other projects are aimed at mitigating a threat or barrier specific to low-income residents. A few of their projects include:
Is There a Demand for Services? Last year 4500 individuals were served, however the number of requests were 16000 The Community Legal Aid organization has 70 staff of which 38 are attorneys. They have approximately 200 other volunteer attorneys. Approximately 92% of citizens requesting services are not able to be served based on limited resources. This lack of resources is not limited to just these 8 counties served by Legal Aid. It is a nationwide concern. For more information about Community Legal Aid, I encourage everyone to check out their website at www.communitylegalaid.org. Yours in Service Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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The Rotary Foundation targets funds to Aid Pakistan and UkraineIan Riseley, 2022-23 Trustee Chair of The Rotary Foundation has announced the trustees’ establishment of The Pakistan Flood Response Fund and the Ukraine Response Fund to address humanitarian crises caused by flooding in Pakistan and the war in Ukraine. The Pakistan Flood Response Fund will help communities recover from the disastrous monsoon season that affected millions, displaced people, and destroyed crops. The Ukraine Response Fund will support grants for districts affected by the war’s humanitarian crisis. Grants from these funds will provide items such as water, food, medicine, shelter, and clothing. Both funds are temporary, accepting contributions, including District Designated Funds, until December 31st of this year and distributing grants until the end of June 2024 or until the funds are spent. Any unused money will then be transferred to the general Disaster Response Fund. Action steps you can take today:
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Volunteer at the Chili Open!February 4, 2023 ∙ Hale Farm and Village Volunteer at the Chili Open! Dear fellow Rotarians, The 33rd Chili Open is fast approaching and we will need all hands on deck to make this a successful event for our guests! Join us for a fun day of volunteering, friendship and celebration of all the good work that Rotary is doing in our community! The Chili Open will be held on February 4, 2023 at Hale Farm and Village. Set-up day will be on Friday, February 3rd. We need volunteers for both Friday and Saturday! There are various places to help, - indoors and outside. Please dress for the weather! Lunch will be provided on Friday too! We are using Signup Genius for the Chili Open so it is simple to include family, friends, other Rotarians and Rotary prospects as volunteers. Saturday Volunteers will be able to park at Old Trail School and can take the YMCA shuttle bus to Hale Farm. Thank you for your Service Above Self! Please sign up here to volunteer for a shift or two! Please reach out if you have any questions, hauskne@uakron.edu. See you at the Chili Open! Dr. Doug Hausknecht |
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Andrew Thorn - Rhythm and Roots Farmer PresentationThe Rotary Club of Akron enjoyed listening to Andrew Thorn during our January 24, 2023, Club meeting. Click here to view the presentation. Andrew works full time as a software developer, but his drive to spend time outdoors with his family resulted in the start of Rhythm and Roots Farm. He and his wife are passionate about people providing for themselves and others. They started the farm in Copley about 2 years ago with their three young children, with the intention of providing healthy pastured-raised poultry and pork for their family and others as well. Andrew began his presentation with a slide that said “It all starts…. And ends with chickens” What started with only a few chickens has ended up with about 3,000 chickens. About 100 of these chickens are raised for egg production. The other chickens are for sale. He sells about 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of chicken every year. He also has about 16 pigs as well as goats, ducks and turkeys to name a few. Why Chickens?
Why Pigs?
Andrew stated they raise two types of pigs. One type is the Mangalitsa. These pigs originated from Hungary and were near extinction. What the does future look like for the Rhythm and Roots Farm? For the past couple of years, Andrew and his wife were looking to double their business each year as the demand grew; however they find themselves scaling back at this time for several reasons:
They hope to continue to grow, particularly with an increase in the number of pigs that they will be raising. They are looking at:
They have partnered with Market Wagon www.marketwagon.com to market more of their products, but also sell products directly from their business. Market Wagon offers delivery to all of northeast Ohio. https://shop.marketwagon.com/collections/vendor/4115. You can order directly from Rhythm and Roots Farm by visiting their website at https://rhythmandrootsfarm.com or contacting them at rhythmandrootsfarm@gmail.com or text/call them at 330.234.3753. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
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Fred Carter Speaker RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron enjoyed listening to Fred Carter at our Tuesday, January 17, 2023, Club meeting. Click here to view the presentation. Fred Carter is currently serving as the President of the Port-Summit Rotary Club. He is also the owner of the Schooley Mitchell location serving Northeast Ohio. Mr. Carter provided some personal information about his interests and how he became interested in providing service to his communities. Fred talked about his mother and how she was such a role model to himself as well as many others when it came to volunteering, organizing, teaching, advocating, and lobbying for various causes. Over the years, Fred has volunteered with a variety of service organizations and other not-for-profit organizations. He has been committed to giving money to service clubs and non-profits. His interest in giving back to the community is what led him to working for Schooley Mitchell. What is Schooley Mitchell? Schooley Mitchell is the largest independent cost reduction consulting firm in North America. On average, they reduce essential business service expenses by 28%. Schooley Mitchell is passionate about saving money for their clients and helping them grow their businesses. Schooley Mitchell delivers expertise to companies of all sizes from all industries. As you can see, Schooley Mitchell is a perfect fit for Fred. How can Schooley Mitchell help a business?
What is the Solution?
What Services are Provided?
How can this approach help a non-profit or service club?
To learn more about how this program might assist your company or non-profit organizations/clubs you might belong to, contact Fred at Fred.Carter@SchooleyMitchell.com or call him at 330.708.2944. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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Thank you for your support for Light for UkraineThank you to everyone for their generous donations to "Light for Ukraine". Our Club has raised $320.00 to date. What is "Light for Ukraine"? Our own Claudine Schooley, now in Bakersfield CA, is co-chairing "Light for Ukraine”, a Rotary project to send portable solar lamps and chargers to villagers and city folk who face prospects of living in the dark. The Rotary Club of Bakersfield Breakfast is in charge. Let us join them to light up Ukraine. The special Rotarian rate for 1 lamp and 1 charger is $40, supplied by a nonprofit organization in Santa Barbara, “Unite to light” www.unitetolight.org Join me and several others from our Rotary Club of Akron. If you wish to contribute, bring cash or check to our club meeting send check to Mella at camp. Contact William Black, Director of International Services, Rotary Club of Bakersfield, P.O. Box 22013, Bakersfield CA 93390 or Claudine Schooley (805 796-8351) Donation is tax deductible. Susan Colville-Hall |
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Summit County Astronomy ClubThe observatory is a great place for ages 7 and older. All our programs are free and open to the public. To receive notices when the observatory is open, please join the free site www.meetup.com. Under “Groups” search for Summit County Astronomy. Being that the facility is weather and volunteer dependent, this is the best way to keep informed. The SCAC also welcomes groups with advance planning for presentations about space before general programs. The SCAC is also a James Webb Space Telescope official site and will be hosting several events related to this amazing telescope. The Bath Township Trustees help build the walk of planets by the observatory. It is 1.3 miles from the Sun to Pluto. The Fairlawn Rotary Observatory 4160 Ira Road, Bath Ohio
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33rd Annual Chili Open Golf Classic Kick OffJoin us at Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers on Friday, January 20th, 5:00pm—8:00pm to kick-off the 33rd Annual Chili Open Golf Classic! Please come out and show your support to Whitey’s, the official “Chili” sponsor of the Chili Open. Friday, January 20th, 2023 at 5:00pm
Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers 3600 Brecksville Road, Richfield, OH 44286 See you there! |
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Theron Brown, Pianist and Educator Speaker RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had the privilege of hearing Theron Brown speak at our Tuesday, January 10, 2023, Club meeting. Click to view the presentation. Mr. Brown provided some personal information about his interest in music. Theron was born in Zanesville, Ohio. Theron told us that he was a “PK” (Pastor’s Kid). Theron’s first musical influence was discovered at church. He began playing the drums under his father’s pastorate at age five, followed by the piano at eight years of age. Theron loved embracing the opportunities to learn from and play with other musicians that he met through church’s gatherings that he attended with his father. His talent flourished as he experienced more diversity. Theron stated that the artist that first stimulated his interest in jazz music was pianist, Thelonious Monk. Monk’s genius was hard for Theron to digest at first. Through Monk’s music, Theron was inspired to seriously pursue jazz in his senior year of high school. In 2005 Theron came to the University of Akron to study jazz. He later toured with the Glenn Miller orchestra and lived in New York for a brief period. He returned to Akron and the UA to get his master’s degree. Theron currently is the artist coordinator for Curated Storefront, artistic director at I Promise School, and the founder and artistic director of the Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival which takes place annually. 2023 will be the 8th year for the Jazz and Blues festival. In addition to all his musical endeavors, Theron is also working on several projects to establish a jazz museum on Howard Street. Howard Street played a significant role in history of jazz in Akron. He is also looking at ways to expand the Jazz Festival. He would like to establish a multi-disciplinary facility for programming, music, poetry, dance, history, etc. You can see Theron regularly performing at many jazz clubs and theaters in northeast Ohio. Theron is immensely involved in promoting the arts scene in Ohio. To learn more about Theron, check out his website at www.theronbrownmusic.com. Yours in Rotary Service Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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CHILI OPEN UPDATEThe Chili Open is only 22 days away and we need your support to make this year’s event successful! Thank you to those who have supported with sponsorships, raffle tickets, auction and door prize items! To-date we have raised $190,070, towards our goal of $350,000! We need your help with the following: RAFFLE TICKETS Please turn in your raffle tickets as soon as possible to the Camp office. If you still need help selling, reach out to family, friends and business colleagues. For only $20 you stand a chance to win some great prizes! Tickets can also be purchased here. WAGON OF GOOD CHEER The Silent Auction will feature Dr. Rob’s "Wagon of Good Cheer!" Help us fill the wheelbarrow with any donation of unopened bottles of spirits, mixers and wine. DOOR PRIZES Do you have any items, gifts, or maybe promotional items from your company that can be used as door prizes? Please consider donating them, as we are in need of lots of items. Our attendees love getting door prizes at the event! ONLINE AUCTION We are also still in need of items for our online auction. Food and activity baskets, sports memorabilia, golf packages, or family entertainment packages make great auction items. If you know of anyone that will be able to donate something, please let us know. If you need someone to pick up any items, please call or email Amanda at Akron Rotary Camp (330.644.4512 / amandaw@akronymca.org), and we would be happy to make those arrangements. CHILI OPEN MINI TOUR – FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023 Join us at Whitey’s Booze and Burgers, located at 3600 Brecksville Road, Richfield for the kick-off to the 33rd Chili Open Golf Classic. Bring your friends for a great time, great food, and try the putt-putt challenge for great prizes! Help us support Whitey’s as the official Chili sponsor of the Chili Open. See you there! Thank you in advance for your donations to help make the Chili Open a continued success to benefit Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs! See you at the Chili Open! Jeff Sheeks and Cindy Kane 2023 Chili Open Golf Classic, Co-Chairs |
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OFF-SITE MEETING - Feb. 7th at BLU-TiqueGet ready to go off site for a Tuesday meeting February 7, 2023. RSVPs have closed for this event. Parking: 40 S. High St. $2.00 /hr at a $7.00 max Food Options: Choice of Chicken, Turkey or Veggie Wrap includes chips and cookie $20.00 per person Non-Eaters: $5 RSVP deadline: January 30, 2022 (we must turn in the food on Feb 1). BLU-Tique, Akron is a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Join us to see and hear about his amazing establishment. Ginny Wojno will be picking up your parking fee - just turn in a receipt to her. BLU is more than a color, it's an attitude; an attitude of gratitude. We are grateful to be a part of the downtown Akron business and thriving arts district; a place where culture, art, dining, music, and diversity seamlessly blend to create an experience like no other. |
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District Governor Presents at Akron ClubDISTRICT GOVERNOR DAVID JONES and FIRST LADY GEORGEANN JONES The Rotary Club of Akron had the privilege of hearing our District 6630 Governor speak at the Tuesday, January 3, 2023, Club meeting. View the meeting by clicking here. The purpose of DG Jones’ visit is to allow the District Governor the opportunity to communicate directly with all Rotarians in our District, to listen to the Club Leadership and its members and gain a better understanding of their club and to share information from RI and the District as it pertains to the Clubs. He began his presentation telling club members a little about himself. David was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a military BRAT, David had the opportunity to live in 5 States and 4 countries: Spain, Japan, Germany, and England. He graduated from Upper Heyford American High School in England. David moved back to Ohio from Washington State, and he completed his undergraduate work in mathematics education from Capital University. David attended Ashland University and received a Master’s in Educational Administration, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and his school Superintendent’s License. David was an Adjunct Professor for Ashland University and taught high school math at Madison Local Schools and Ontario Local Schools in Richland County Ohio. David worked as the Director of Building Operations and Technology for the Summit Educational Service Center in Summit County Ohio before retiring after 32 years in education. He serves as a member of the Northampton-Cuyahoga Valley Rotary Club and served as Club President; he is a member of the Club’s Board of Directors, Scholarship Committee, Foundation Chair and Grant Committee. David is excited to work with all Clubs and Rotarians of the District on club membership, Community Service, Foundation Support and strengthening the connections between Rotary, Interact and Rotaract clubs. David stated, “I am excited to be a part of an extremely talented leadership team and will continue the proud tradition of those who put “Service Above Self.” David related that he felt this year’s motto of “Imagine Rotary,” was most fitting as Clubs come out of COVID and resume some sort of “normalcy.” Imagine Rotary is: “what we can do, whom we can impact, what people we can help and how we can make a difference.” Several of David’s priorities for his term are looking at the Strategic Plan that was developed several years ago but couldn’t be fully implemented because of COVID. His hope is that many of the priorities can now be addressed and implemented after reviewing what the district wants to continue as priorities. Membership has always been a goal in the Strategic Plan. The District is losing members, no different than other Districts and other service organizations. David encourages Clubs to work together with other service organizations. There is strength in numbers. A club may be small and partnering with another service organization may give the Club more opportunities for service to their communities. In reverse, larger Rotary Clubs can partner with other smaller service clubs to assist them in meeting their service objectives. He also believes we must constantly look at how we can enhance the services we currently are engaged with. David wrapped up his presentation complimenting PDG Stew Buchanan for his work on the Rotary/Guardians game each year. This past year 300 Rotarians and guests attended the Guardian’s game. David reminded the Club of the 4 Way Test Speech Contest to be held April 27th, the RYLA camp experience the week of June 11th and the District Conference of April 28-29. DG Jones entertained questions from Club members after his presentation. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair We were pleased to also welcome many Akron Rotary past and future District Governors from our Club who joined us at the meeting. (photo L-R: PDG John Reyes, PDG Stew Buchanan, Club President Lynda Farkas, PDG Jack Harig, PDG Cheryl Warren, DGE Julie Brandle, DG David Jones and First Lady Georgeann Jones) |
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Chili OpenAkron Rotary’s 33rd Annual Chili Open Golf Classic February 4, 2023 The Chili Open Golf Classic is a month away and we need all hands on deck to make this another successful event! Funding from the Chili Open helps ensure that no camper is ever turned away from Akron Rotary Camp due to inability to pay. Sponsorships and Camperships make up 75% of our event goal. Rotarians are needed to help support with sponsorships, view the updated sponsorship benefits packet here. Please consider increasing your sponsorship, renewing your sponsorship or becoming a first time sponsor. We are also looking for new prospective sponsors, so please let our Event chairs, Jeff Sheeks or Cyndi Kane know if you have someone you would like to reach out to. Your support makes the Chili Open an annual success for our Club. We also ask every Rotarian to purchase or sell a minimum of ten raffle tickets at $20 each. There are great chance to win the following prizes:
Please bring any sold raffle tickets to the next club meeting, or mail them to the Camp Office (4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH 44319). Tickets can also be purchased online, by clicking on this link. Please download the attached flyer and display it at your office, or share them with your friends, family and colleagues. Back by popular demand is Dr. Rob’s “Wagon of Good Cheer” Please help us fill the wagon with any donation of unopened bottles of spirits, mixers and wine. We are also still in need of items for our online auction. Food baskets, golf packages, or family entertainment packages make great auction items! If you know of anyone that will be able to donate something, please let us know. If you need someone to pick up any items, please call or email Amanda at Akron Rotary Camp (330.644.4512 / amandaw@akronymca.org), and we would be happy to make those arrangements. Thank you for your support in making this year's Chili Open a continued success for our Club to benefit the campers who attend Akron Rotary Camp! Together, we are "Creating a world where there are only abilities!" Jeff Sheeks and Cyndi Kane Co-Chairs, 2023 Chili Open Golf Classic |
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Club Welcomes Chief Stephen MylettChief Stephen L. Mylett was inducted by District Governor Jones as a member of the Rotary Club of Akron on January 3, 2023. He was sponsored by Steve Buie and previously served as a Rotary member in Bellevue, Washington. All members present were asked to stand and everyone then unanimously agreed that "we, as members, now welcome Chief Mylett as a colleague, and friend and we assure him of our friendship, assistance and support." About Chief Mylett Stephen L. Mylett was sworn in as Chief of Police of the Akron Police Department on Thursday, August 19, 2021.Chief Mylett was born and raised in New York and comes from a long line of police officers. He started his policing career in 1985 when he joined the United States Air Force where he served as a Security Policeman. Following an honorable discharge, he joined the Corpus Christi, Texas Police Department from 1989-2011. He rose through the ranks from cadet to Assistant Chief. After retiring from CCPD, he joined The City of Southlake, Texas where he was named Chief of Police until 2015. He then began as the Chief of the Bellevue, Washington Police Department until being named Chief of Police of Akron. Chief Mylett now commands the department’s 447 officers and supervisors, 43 Reserve officers and 33 civilians that serve Akron’s 198,000 citizens. He has a bachelor’s degree from Midwestern State University in Texas and a master’s degree in criminal justice leadership and management from Sam Houston State University. Chief Mylett has been married for over 31 years to JoAnn. They have 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren. Unfortunately, many of the hobbies he once enjoyed had centered in sports, but due to a series of in-the-line-of-duty injuries his ability to engage in those hobbies has been significantly impacted. |
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Enter to WIN THIS CAR! |
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Light for UkraineThis winter promises to be very hard on the Ukrainian people, who are often cut off from their power source. Our own Claudine Schooley, now in Bakersfield CA, is co-chairing "Light for Ukraine”, a Rotary project to send portable solar lamps and chargers to villagers and city folk who face prospects of living in the dark. The Rotary Club of Bakersfield Breakfast is in charge. Let us join them to light up Ukraine. The special Rotarian rate for 1 lamp and 1 charger is $40, supplied by a nonprofit organization in Santa Barbara, “Unite to light” www.unitetolight.org Join me and several others from our Rotary Club of Akron. If you wish to contribute, bring cash or check to our club meeting January 10 or send check to Mella at camp. Contact William Black, Director of International Services, Rotary Club of Bakersfield, P.O. Box 22013, Bakersfield CA 93390 or Claudine Schooley (805 796-8351) Donation is tax deductible. Susan Colville-Hall |
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Celebrate the Gift of RotaryGreeting Rotarian's and Friends of Rotary and hopes for a blessed new year. I write you in celebration of the gift of Rotary my Dad gave me 62 years a go when he invited me to become a Rotarian. I invite you to think again about who invited you to join Rotary followed by answering for your self several simple questions. 1. Why did I join Rotary? 2. What did I expect Rotary to do for me? 3. What did I expect to offer to Rotary, my community, and the world of Rotary? 4. Have I reached my goals for service to my vocation, myself, my family and the World of Rotary? After almost 109 years the Rotary Club of Akron remains our communities leading service organization. Akron Rotary has a new home meeting place at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church 129 South Union Street Akron, OH 44304. As a refresher please read the following about Rotary's 5 Avenues of Service for you to choose from. Avenues of Service We channel our commitment to service at home and abroad through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity. 1) Club Service focuses on making clubs strong. A thriving club is anchored by strong relationships and an active membership development plan. 2) Vocational Service calls on every Rotarian to work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society. Learn more in An Introduction to Vocational Service and the Code of Conduct. 3) Community Service encourages every Rotarian to find ways to improve the quality of life for people in their communities and to serve the public interest. Learn more in Communities in Action: A Guide to Effective Projects. 4) International Service exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding. We support this service avenue by sponsoring or volunteering on international projects, seeking partners abroad, and more. 5) Youth Service recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young professionals through leadership development programs such as Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Rotary Youth Exchange. Jack Harig PDG 2003-04 Rotary District 6630
PH: 330-644-9862 E-mail: Jack.Harig@GMail.com |
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Rotary Rose Bowl Parade FloatThis site has interesting background on the rotary floats in the Rose bowl parade over the years as well as pictures of this year's float Happy New Year |
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Holiday Party Was Delightful! |
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Akron Members Are People of ActionWe all had a great time, fellow Rotarians and guests, Ringing the Bell for the Salvation Army at Acme#10 in Cuyahoga Falls. Participants included are pictured above and can also be viewed in our photo album by clicking here (listed alphabetically): Hugh Alpeter Mella Castner Angie Claypool Lynda Farkas David Hall Laura Horovitz Cyndi Kane Doug Kohl Rob McGregor Katy Miller Dan Riemenschneider Judy Seward (guest) Mark Seward Karen Taylor (guest) From O’sha Agnewel, Lieutenant, The Salvation Army: “Thank you to The Rotary Club of Akron for coming alongside us to serve our community this Christmas season. Your willingness is greatly appreciated.” Thank you. Mark
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The Fight Against Polio
David Jones District Governor 2022-2023 (District 6630) District 6630 Foundation Stewardship Chair (2016-2020) District 6630 RI Conference Promotion Chair (2017-2020) Past President (2017-18) Northampton-Cuyahoga Valley Rotary Cell 330-603-4107 | Email: DEJRotary@gmail.com |
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Akron Rotary Club Annual Meeting 2022 Recap and 2023 Directors and OfficersThe Annual Meeting of the Rotary Club of Akron was conducted on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. The purpose of our Annual Meeting is to announce the election of Officers and Directors for the Club, the Rotary Camp Board, and the Akron Rotary Foundation, provide an update of the Club’s financial condition, an overview of the past year’s activities, and potential goals and activities for the next year. Shared below is a synopsis of the Annual Meeting presentations. Finance - Michael Gladysz, Club Treasurer Club Financial Report for the fiscal year July1, 2021 through June 30, 2022: Total Revenue: $67,625.26 (includes dues of $47,751.66) Total Expenses: $61,155.08 (includes Administrative Expenses of $38,387.11 and Committee Expenses of $18,674.66) Net Income: (income after expenses) $6,516.96 Assets: (Cash-position as of 6/30/2022) $99,192.52 Liabilities: $44,722.35 Total Equity: $54,470.17 Election and Bylaw Revision Results - Karen Hrdlicka Club, Foundation, and Camp Election Results: Club Executive Team 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024: President: Tom Knauer President-Elect: Thane Billow Vice-President: Katy Miller Secretary: Terry Dalton Treasurer: Michael Gladysz Directors: Laura Horovitz, Gerry Kiefer, Liv Pilon, Cheryl Warren Akron Rotary Foundation 1/1/2023 – 12/31/2023 Laura Smiley 1/1/2023 – 12/31/2025: Doug Kohl, Katy Miller, Rima Muakkassa, Michael Shearer Rotary Camp Brooks Ames (Rotarian), Rennick Andreoli (Honorary Rotarian), Getta Kutachief, Susan Savage, Joe Swiatkowski (Rotarian) Foundation & Camp Annual Updates The Club approved the recommended changes to the existing bylaws presented by the Nominating Committee. Akron Rotary Foundation - Dan Riemenschneider The Akron Rotary Foundation is completely different than The Rotary International’s Rotary Foundation. Net assets of Akron Rotary Foundation (ARF) are around $2 million given current market fluctuations – about ½ the assets are restricted or designated for the benefit of the camp. The other ½ is to act as a catalyst for the Rotary Club of Akron to make a big impact on its community and beyond. Currently the ARF covers Club guest lunches, fifteen - $1,000 scholarships to APS students; foreign exchange student program stipends ($200/month per student) and assist with eastern and western trips, if necessary; Rotary Youth Leadership Academy fees and grants the Club $15,000 annually to make big impacts on the community to grow awareness of Rotary, grow membership and grow opportunities for the Camp and ARF. Donations range from $10 to $100,000 but typically total less than $15,000 per year. The ARF needs Rotarian support through annual contributions and legacy and estate planning. We are working with club leadership and board to long-range plan effective ways to leverage the annual grants, focusing on utilizing and supporting the Camp in those plans. Akron Rotary Camp - Dan Reynolds A few facts about Rotary Camp in 2022:
Club Annual Updates: Membership - Tom Knauer The club started this Rotary year with 127 members, and we added two new members so far this year. We have one person who has been approved and we’re waiting to set an induction date. Police Chief Steven Mylett’s membership is being voted on at next week’s board meeting. Another person is beginning the membership process. On the negative side, Lynda just sent out termination letters to six members for non-payment of dues. For some perspective, during our last year at Portage CC (2018-19) we had 155 members. COVID took a toll not only on The Rotary Club of Akron but other district clubs as well. We are experiencing an increase of in person attendance since our move to the church--up from an average of approximately 17 per week at Bounce to 23-25 per week at the church. Tom would like to see an improvement in member engagement and encouraged each member to do some person-to-person outreach to members we have not seen in a while in an effort to bolster attendance and engagement. The Membership committee is working on a new member welcome kit in the hope this may help new members become acclimated more quickly and easily into the club. Tom is recommending the club be willing to try a once-a-month breakfast meeting for three months to see if we can get a few more folks to participate and also recommended we revisit the idea of a corporate and/or family membership. Tom intends to discuss these last two items at next week's board meeting. Club Survey - Sandy Naragon Sandy Naragon gave a brief report on the Club survey. In the interest of time, Sandy stated she would be presenting more detail on the survey results at an upcoming meeting. The winner of the $50 gas card for completing the survey was won by Hugh Alpeter. While the past year has been challenging with the continuation of some COVID 19 challenges and the return to in-person and Zoom meetings, the Club has much to be proud of. Successes:
Wrapping up our 2022 Annual Meeting, President Farkas had this to say: “We are halfway through our Rotary year… Please help to make the remaining 6 months successful…. please attend our meetings; take an active role; share your ideas; and remain positive. Remember we are in this together – no one can do the work alone! Looking forward to the days ahead…hopefully as much as I am!” Minutes respectfully recorded and presented by
Terry Dalton, Akron Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair |
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District 6630 Governor Official Visit Slated for Akron Club January 3, 2023DAVID JONESDistrict 6630 District Governor 2022-2023Once a year, the District Governor makes an official visit to each club in the district. The District 6630 Governor, David Jones, will make his official visit to the RC of Akron on Tuesday, January 3, 2022. The purpose of the visit: To allow the District Governor to communicate directly with all Rotarians in our District. To listen to the Club Leadership and its members and gain a better understanding of their club. To share information from RI and the District as it pertains to the Clubs. The Governor's visit is a very special occasion and an opportunity for members, family of Rotarians and potential members to learn more about Rotary. About our District Governor David Jones was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a military BRAT, David had the opportunity to live in 5 States and 4 countries: Spain, Japan, Germany and England. He graduated from Upper Heyford American High School in England. David moved back to Ohio from Washington State, and he completed his undergraduate work in mathematics education from Capital University. David attended Ashland University and received a Master’s in Educational Administration, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and his school Superintendent’s License. David was an Adjunct Professor for Ashland University and taught high school math at Madison Local Schools and Ontario Local Schools in Richland County Ohio. David worked as the Director of Building Operations and Technology for the Summit Educational Service Center in Summit County Ohio before retiring after 32 years in education. David is married to Georgeann, a native of Akron, who is Executive Director of the Oak Foundation and owner of Christian James Salon in Cuyahoga Falls. They reside in Stow and have four adult children. David is a member of the Northampton-Cuyahoga Valley Rotary Club and served as Club President; he is a member of the Club’s Board of Directors, Scholarship Committee, Foundation Chair and Grant Committee. At the district level, David is an alumnus of LEADERSHIP 6630 Class of 2016 and served as the District 6630 Foundation Stewardship Chair. David served as the “On to Hamburg”, “On to Honolulu” and “On to Taipei” chair for the RI International Convention and continues to serve on the Planning Committee for the District Conference of Clubs. David is proud and honored to serve as the District 6630 Governor for the 2022-2023 Rotary Year. He is excited to work with all of the Clubs and Rotarians of the District on club membership, Community Service, Foundation Support and strengthening the connections between Rotary, Interact and Rotaract clubs. David stated, “I am excited to be a part of an extremely talented leadership team and will continue the proud tradition of those who put “Service Above Self.”
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It's Chili Open Time - Can you help?On February 4, 2023 over 500 golfers, Rotarians and volunteers will come together for Rotary Club of Akron’s 33rd annual Chili Open to golf, win prizes, and celebrate the great work that Rotary is doing in our local community. So far we have raised almost $100,000, but still has a long way to go to reach our bold goal of $350,000. Because of the Chili Open, no child is ever turned away from Akron Rotary Camp due to inability to pay. Since its inception, the event has raised over $4,500,000 to support families and children in attending Camp. If you are considering a sponsorship, or know of someone that might be interested in helping a great cause, please reach out to our Chili Open co-chairs. We would also appreciate any donation of an item that can be used in our silent auction and/or door prize raffle to help us to meet our goal. Items can include gift cards, baskets, getaways, experiences, and more! As always, thank you for helping to “Create a world where there are only abilities!” Jeff Sheeks and Cyndi Kane Co-Chairs, Chili Open 2023 |
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Two More PH Fellows Get New Stones |
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Happy Birthday Mr. Daily! |
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Akron Rotary Welcomes New Member
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Janis Worley Speaker RecapDuring our Tuesday, November 29, 2022, Rotary Club meeting, members had the opportunity to listen to Janis Worley as she spoke about the twists and turns her career has taken her. Ms. Worley discussed the various opportunities she has had as “one door closed, and another door opened.” She shared how different jobs were ones she never intended to pursue but provided her with some great opportunities and adventures. If there were one or two take-aways from her presentation, it was that “Never say Never” and be open to all opportunities, you never know where they might lead. As you read some of her adventures below, I encourage you to also watch the recording as she shares some of her successes. View the presentation by clicking here. Janis Worley was born in Mayfield Heights. She attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, receiving a BA in Business, and Pennsylvania State University, in State College, Pennsylvania, where she obtained her MBA. Janis has additionally attended the Executive Program, Strategic Marketing Management, at Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia and most recently, earned a Certificate of Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, from Michigan State University and the Society for Nonprofits. Janis began her career working in Arlington, Texas, in the Budgets and Operating Systems department for Sky Chefs, a division of American Airlines. After spending three years in Texas, Janis returned to northeast Ohio to begin her career at Sherwin Williams. During her time at Sherwin Williams, Janis became Executive Producer of the HGTV home improvement series “Room by Room”, producing 9 seasons of the series before Sherwin Williams released its ownership. At that time Janis started her own media business, Worleybird Productions. In addition to creating documentaries for PBS as a writer and associate producer, she also produced a local weekly business and economy program for PBS 45/49, NEOtropolis. Janis’ documentary work was recognized with a national Gracie Allen award for Best Documentary/Local Market, and with a Regional Emmy nomination. Realizing that she wanted to do more than work in the large corporate world, Janis sought out opportunities in the Not-for-profit world. Janis joined One of A Kind Pet Rescue as Director of Advancement, and is now with First Congregational Church of Akron as its Finance and Operations Manager. Janis’ volunteer work is extensive, including involvement with the Junior League of Akron, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio, Akron Pride Festival, the Woman’s Board of Akron Children’s Hospital, Alpha Delta Pi, Summit County Historical Society, Grace House Akron, Old Trail School, and WITAN, and is a member of Leadership Akron Signature Class 37. Janis was recently honored by the Summit County Historical Society and Woman’s History Project with their 2022 Woman of the Year Award for Integrity, and by Wittenberg University with their Servant Leader award. Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
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Kenmore Storefront Features Rotary Holiday Tree |
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The Rotary Foundation Recognition PresentationThank you to all who have contributed to The Rotary Foundation. Club Co-chairs, Nathanael Billow and Bill Manby, Jr. recognized those who gave through the prior Rotary year and thus far this year. Your contributions continue to advancing the mission of The Rotary Foundation (TRF). The Akron Club was by recognized by District 6630 for being a PolioPlus Club in the 2021-2022 Rotary Year under the leadership of President Steve Buie. Akron was one of four clubs in the District that received this award. The others were Chardon, Cleveland and Northampton-Cuyahoga Valley. or click on the images below to view larger
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Liv Pilon Presentation ReCapLiv Pilon currently serves in the role of Senior District Executive at the Great Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America. Before joining the BSA, Liv graduated from Kent State University with a degree in Sociology and will be returning to KSU in January to begin her master’s in public administration. In her role at GTC, she is responsible for the recruitment of new families to the program, the management of volunteers, and the fundraising efforts in the greater Akron Community. In addition to these responsibilities, Liv leads GTC’s Adaptation, Inclusion, and Diversity Committee, the Council’s annual food drive, and their recruitment event for girls known as “Her Next Adventure.” She is very excited to share the ways the BSA is shaking things up in the community! The Great Trail Council (GTC) is the local branch of the Boy Scouts of America, and it serves over 6,000 families in Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage, Summit, and Medina Counties. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. At GTC, programs being offered to youth in the community include:
Ways the BSA is staying relevant in the Akron community even after 112 years:
To check out the programs available at GTC or to offer support, please visit their website at www.gtcbsa.org. For interests in collaboration with GTC, please contact Liv Pilon at Olivia.Pilon@Scouting.org or (234) 900-5894. |
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November Foodbank Crew Rocks! |
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Salvation Army Bell Ringing - Dec 16th
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Keep Akron Beautiful - Jacqui RicchiutiThe Rotary Club of Akron enjoyed hearing about current programs provided by Keep Akron Beautiful during our Tuesday, November 15, 2022, Club meeting. Our guest speaker was Jacqui Flaherty-Ricchiuti Chief Executive Officer of Keep Akron Beautiful (KAB). Jacqui has been the CEO of KAB since December 2014. We experienced technical difficulty however you can hear the presentation by clicking here. Keep Akron Beautiful is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve Akron’s quality of life through beautification and responsible environmental management. KAB is a city and private sector funded agency, Jacqui is responsible for raising over $800,000 annually to operate the agency by extensive grant writing. Keep America Beautiful, Inc. awarded the agency second place recognition in 2014 for comprehensive program excellence of affiliates serving similar populations. Akron has been a President’s Circle Award recipient annually since 2003. What Does KAB Do? KAB has three main focuses: (1) Beautification, (2) Litter Reduction and (3) Community Improvement BEAUTIFICATION:
LITTER REDUCTION: Litter Reduction Program - KAB litter crew supervises court-ordered community service workers to clean entrance & exit ramps Loan a Receptacle - Loan 50-gallon litter and/or recycling receptacles to assist with public litter control at public space events. Clean Up Akron Month – Clean Up Akron Month is KAB’s largest volunteer event of the year. Every April, volunteers from all around the area take the initiative to get involved and help clean up their city after litter has accumulated over the winter months. CUAM runs April 1-30. Volunteers can organize their own cleanup (KAB provides supplies) or volunteer in a community cleanup. COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT: Available to residents May-September
RECYCLE RIGHT CAMPAIGN: Educate residents on proper recycling to reduce contamination rates and keep recyclables from landfills
GREAT STREETS PROGRAM: KAB works closely with the City of Akron with this program Goals:
2022 Accomplishments:
To learn more about KAB and view some of the sites check out the recording of Tuesday's presentation and visit their website at www.keepakronbeautiful.org. Terry Dalton Rotary Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
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How can I help with Hurricane Ian relief efforts? Here are a few ways...
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Rotary Youth Exchange Committee► Do you love to work with young people? ► Do you enjoy other cultures? Members of the Rotary Club of Akron are invited to join the Rotary Youth Exchange Committee. We recruit candidates ages 15-18 ½ to participate in an exchange to another country. Students are hosted by Rotary Clubs overseas. In addition, we host exchange students who come to our club. We select the families, provide counseling, and make certain all goes well during the exchange. Our next meeting is November 15 at 11:15 just before our luncheon meeting. Hope you can join us. Thanks!! Susan Colville-Hall RYE (Rotary Youth Exchange) Officer |
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New CEO of Bounce Presented at Akron Club November 8The Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Jessica Sublett as she discussed the history and purpose of Bounce Innovation Hub, during our Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Club meeting. View the meeting by clicking here. As the Chief Operating Officer at Bounce, Jessica focuses her work on ensuring that the organization has the wherewithal to execute on its strategic plan. Jessica has led the organization’s efforts to secure nearly $9M in grant funds since 2018 to sustain the organization’s financial health and has led programming structure and team development to implement and execute on strategic initiatives. In her role, she oversees the daily operations of the organization, which includes financial forecasting and management; HR management; strategic plan execution and reporting; governance and compliance activities; programming oversight; facility management; and resource development. Jessica will become the CEO of Bounce beginning January 1, 2023. What is Bounce? Bounce is the first stop for entrepreneurship in Greater Akron • Founded in January 2018 • Serve entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses at various stages • Provide programming, mentorship and advising • Offer a physical location that promotes collaboration and connectivity • Foster an inclusive community where everyone is welcome • Currently serve more than 170 clients in northeast Ohio Bounce catalyzes entrepreneurship and innovation by providing connections, resources, and expertise to build a vibrant community for all. Where is Bounce located? Bounce is an old factory turned into a exciting, modern space designed to get work done
Why Does Bounce Exist? Bounce believes it has a role in the community that is even bigger than their immediate focus of serving entrepreneurs. Bounce seeks to: • Build the entrepreneur, first • Provide a vibrant, inclusive space for connection and collaboration • Support ecosystem building throughout the community and in league with their partners What are some of the Programs at Bounce? Entrepreneurial Programs:
GROW (Generating Real Opportunity and Wealth: For entrepreneurs and small businesses, with a focus on minorities and women.
General Programs and Services:
To learn more about any of the programs listed above, funding sources, Bounce’s impact and results, and how you can help spread the word about this community resource, view Ms. Sublett’s presentation and/or check out Bounce’s website at www.bouncehub.org Yours in service Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chairperson |
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DEADLINE 11-28: Vote for Your 2023-2024 Club, Camp and Foundation Officers & Board MembersElection Information You should have received an email from Karen Hrdlicka on November 3, 2022 with your copy of the ballot. The deadline to vote is quickly approaching - you have until November 28th to return your ballot. If you have not, please reach out to Karen directly at 330-329-7723 OR click here to download it. ► All members in good standing are encouraged to participate in voting for leadership for the Akron Rotary Club, the Akron Rotary Foundation and the Akron Rotary Camp. ► Both the club and the foundation require board members to be members of the Akron Rotary Club in good standing. ►T he camp board of directors must include at least 51% of club members as their board members (currently 73% of the camp board are club members). The election results will be ratified by the club at the Annual Meeting on December 6, 2022. We must have at least 51% of our members in attendance (either virtually or in person) in order to vote so please put it on your calendar now to attend. We will also be approving the bylaw revisions that were presented in March of this year. Both of these votes will occur at the beginning of the meeting so even if you can only attend for a short period of time in order to vote, we ask that you please attend. |
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Jim Davis Discusses Summit County Land BankThe Rotary Club of Akron, during our Tuesday, November 1st meeting, had the opportunity to listen to Jim Davis as he presented the history and current developments with the Summit County Lank Bank (SCLB). View the presentation by clicking here. What is the Mission of the SCLB? “The Summit County Land Reutilization Corporation will support neighborhood and community reinvestment and economic development efforts through the strategic acquisition, reclamation, rehabilitation and reutilization of property in Summit County to revitalize neighborhoods and communities, stabilize property values, reduce blight, return property to productive use, and improve the quality of life in our community.” Why does Summit County have a Land Bank? Land Banks were created through Federal legislation to tackle the mortgage foreclosure crisis during the economic recession in 2008. In Ohio, more than 100,000 abandoned and blighted homes existed.
How is SCLB funded?
What Programs are Available through the SCLB?
What has been the impact of the SCLB to our Community? Community Development –
Economic Development –
Financial Impact –
The above figures are cumulative, as of December 31, 2018, and represent actual past program activity and actual, or estimated, funds leveraged as a portion of overall project costs for residential and commercial projects. To learn more about the Summit County Land Bank and more in-depth explanations about each of their programs, check out their website at www.summitlandbank.org. Terry Dalton Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair |
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Chili Open Sponsorship Benefits Guide - 2023 |
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New Meeting Space is Enjoyed by All!! |
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Rick Rogers - Curated Storefronts has Impressive DisplaysThe Rotary Club of Akron, during our Tuesday, October 25th meeting, had the opportunity to listen to one of our fellow Rotarians present a unique idea that has blossomed in Akron. The Curated Storefront was initiated by Rick Rogers. Through Rick's leadership, The Curated Storefront has successfully secured and managed funds to launch an impressive array of installations in downtown Akron. Rick is also responsible for negotiating the use of vacant storefronts and maintaining healthy relations with property owners, who have generously donated their spaces. To get a true sense of the impact and importance of the Curated Storefront endeavor, I encourage you to view the presentation (click here) to gain a better appreciation of the impact the curated storefronts have had on downtown Akron. Why the Curated Storefront? “The Curated Storefront nurtures a thriving cultural ecosystem in Akron by fueling artistic innovation, commissioning public art, expanding access to arts education, and stimulating economic growth. Curated Storefront activates storefronts by transforming an unoccupied and uninteresting street edge into vibrant art displays to combat blight and create an engaging, safe, and attractive environment.
What Impact Has the Curated Storefront Had on Our Community?
Over 3,000 individuals have participated in art-based activities, guided educational tours and virtual live-stream events since the start of Curated Storefronts. Creating a clean, attractive and brightly lit space gives potential renters and tenants the idea that each empty storefront is a viable option for their business in downtown Akron.” Rick shared a quote from Jane Jacobs and her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, “Streets and their sidewalks, the main public spaces of a city, are its most vital organs. Think of a city and what comes to mind? Its streets. If a city’s streets look interesting, the city looks interesting; if they look dull, the city looks dull.” To check out where many of these Curated Storefronts are located, check out the website at www.CuratedStorefront.org Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary and Foundation Chair |
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Club Earns A.Z. Baker AwardWe published a story in July recognizing our club and individual award recipients. Past President Steve Buie was unable to attend the event, so this week, he was presented with the official letter and A.Z. Baker Award patch that was earned under his leadership during the 2021-2022 Rotary year. The A.Z. Baker Award - The Akron Rotary Club Akron was one of 29 clubs (out of 50) to receive this award. The A. Z. Baker Service Awards were established in 1978 at the recommendation of then District Governor James P. Banks, and by action of the District Board of Trustees. This award honors our own "Mr. Rotary," A.Z. Baker, from the Rotary Club of Cleveland who served as Rotary International President in 1955-1956. His dedication and commitment to Rotary truly exemplified SERVICE ABOVE SELF and this award was designed to honor his memory by encouraging all clubs in the district to participate in each of the Avenues of Service which are the foundation of club activity. |
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MOAA - Warriors Journey Home Annual Banquet Nov. 17 |
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October Food Bank Crew!5,728 lbs. of coffee packaged!
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Club Welcomes Angela Claypool!The Club inducted Angela (Angie) Claypool on Tuesday, November 25th. who was sponsored by Tom Knauer. She was born in Akron and raised in the Ellet area of Akron. Angie and her husband, Harry, are both retired. Harry worked for Davey Tree for 40 years. Angie was in the jewelry industry for over 30 years working in the merchandising department as a buyer and also was Director of Merchandising. Her job required extensive travel allowing her the opportunity to make friends far and near that are still in her life. While living in Savannah GA in the 90's, she joined the Red Cross Public Support Committee which helped raise awareness in the community. After Angie and Harry got together she moved to Charlotte NC with him and continued with Red Cross serving as a speaker in classrooms about water safety. She also helped with the Special Olympic training for children at a local golf course, and shared "not because I am a great golfer, but really loved the cause." After moving back to Ohio in '05, they lived in Randolph and she began volunteering at Pegasus Farm in Hartville. . . Again, she shared "not because I was a horse person, but loved the mission". She started mucking stalls, and eventually got into events, a few committees, some minor grant writing, and continues to volunteer with the organization. She serves on the Board of Trustees. Pegasus Farm and the same Board also runs the Military Family Center in Louisville, which began due to a relationship with the Rotary. They have now lived in the Portage Lakes area since '15. Angie said, "I really love what the Rotary stands for and feel it aligns with my feelings and love of service." They are located very near the Rotary Camp and look forward to becoming involved there as well as in our community. As for hobbies, Angie does hot yoga and some meditation. She has also been a runner for years and has run in 2 half marathons and in 2012 completed the full Akron marathon. Angie and Harry love to boat on their pontoon, spend time with friends and family, and each other. They have a gorgeous 6.5lb, 2-ish year old (rescued so not sure) cat named Poppy. Photo: President Lynda Farkas, Angie Claypool, Tom Knauer
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Scott Read, Cascade Locks Park Association: Speaker RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron, during its Tuesday, October 18, 2022 weekly Club Meeting, enjoyed learning a little more about a treasure within our local community. Unfortunately, many residents of Northeast Ohio know little about the history of the Cascade Locks. Scott T. Read is the Executive Director of the Cascade Locks Park Association (“CLPA”), part of the Summit Metro Parks stretching from Lock 10 to Lock 16. Since starting with the CLPA in October 2021, Scott has worked to activate the park space, bringing new thoughts, energy, and programming to one of Akron’s most historic districts. Click here to view the presentation. Cascade Locks Park, a Heritage Park for Akron's Future, offers a unique opportunity to celebrate our industrial, commercial, and cultural heritage and reclaim a bit of long abandoned and abused urban geography into an outdoor laboratory for environmental education, historic interpretation, and community recreation. The CLPA is a collaborative partner with the City of Akron, Metro Parks, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the University of Akron, and the National Park Service. Spanning Locks 10 -16 of the Ohio & Erie Canal, this historic area is a must-see for trail users and history buffs alike. Here you can find evidence of much of Akron's canal and early industrial history, all within a short walk from downtown! Cascade Locks Park is part of the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway with access to the popular towpath trail and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Byway. The park boasts the Jewel of the Canal, the c.1850s Mustill Store, house, and yard. The Mustill Store houses one of the canalway's most important visitor centers, and contains many fascinating exhibits on the beginning, heyday, and demise of the canal. The Cascade Locks Park is the southernmost segment of the Cascade Valley Metro Park in a once abandoned and abused urban landscape. The mission of the Cascade Locks Park Association (CLPA), incorporated in June 1989, is to preserve, protect and promote the industrial, commercial, and cultural heritage of the park along locks 10-16 of the Ohio & Erie Canal. The Mustill Store Museum and House are the Park's showcase pieces. Located in their original site at Lock 15, these faithfully restored canal-era buildings are believed to have been built in the 1850s, although the exact date is unknown. The Mustill Store is free to the public, handicap accessible, and perfect for all ages. Cascade Locks Park Association is headquartered in the Mustill Store Museum in the Cascade Locks Park. Scott began his presentation with the question, “What defines a Park?” His response – A park is a physical space. He also asked, “What does a Park do?” His response - It provides activities. His goal for the Cascade Locks Park is to increase the activities provided within the park space. Some of activities held this year include “Lock of the Irish”, “Duck Derby”, “Locktoberfest”, and “Free Lunch Fridays”. He has invited artists to utilize the park space. This year the Rubber City Jazz and Blues Fest was held at the Cascade Park. To make the park more inviting for those walking the trail, etc., Scott has overseen the picnic tables being moved closer to the trails to encourage trail users to sit and take in the scenery and when the Mustill Store is open, to stop in and browse. Scott would like to see the Cascade Locks Park become an Art Centric Park in the future. He envisions artists painting murals on the Towpath. His hope is that by providing more activities along the park, visitors will slow down and enjoy the beauty and history of the area. To learn more about the history and current activities of the park, I encourage you to visit the organization’s website at www.cascadelocks.org. Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair |
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Chili Open Golf Classic Tee OffAs Akron Rotarians, we are honored to again serve as the co-chairs for Akron Rotary’s Chili Open Golf Classic. The 33rd annual event is set for Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Hale Farm and Village. This is our Rotary Club’s annual fundraising event to benefit Akron Rotary Camp. The Chili Open ensures that no child is ever turned away from Camp due to their family’s inability to pay! Please join us as we tee-off the Chili Open next Tuesday, October 18 at 12:00noon at Akron Rotary’s luncheon meeting. We will share a brief overview of our event plans. As Rotarians, your help is needed to make the Chili Open a continued success for both our Club and Camp! Let’s have a little fun next Tuesday, join us in wearing your favorite Chili Open shirt or golf attire for a chance to win some Chili Open swag! In Service Above Self - Fore the Kids! Cyndi and Jeff Cyndi Kane, cyndi@cyndikane.com, 330-606-6041 Jeff Sheeks, jeffsheeks@s-groupinc.com, 330-329-8212 Co-Chairs, 2023 Akron Rotary’s Chili Open Golf Classic |
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Megan Harvey: Speaker RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Megan Harvey, Development Manager of Individual Giving and Producer’s representative for the Millennial Theatre Project of the Akron Civic Theatre. Ms. Harvey has been with the Civic Theatre since 2018. Ms. Harvey began her presentation providing information about the various venues that comprise the Akron Civic Theatre. These venues include the Civic, the Knight Stage, Wild Oscar’s at the Civic, the Goodyear Theater, and Affiliated Venues; the EJ Thomas, and the Lock 3 Outdoor Amphitheater. Click to view the presentation Akron Civic Theatre History: The theater was built in 1929 by Marcus Loew and designed by famed theater architect, John Eberson. The interior structure was fashioned after a Moorish castle featuring Mediterranean décor, including medieval carvings, authentic European antiques, and Italian alabaster sculptures. Among facilities of its size, the Civic is one of only five remaining atmospheric theaters in the country. In June 2001 the Civic closed its door for a comprehensive $19 million plus restoration bringing the theater up to modern performance and patron standards and restoring its failing 70-year-old infrastructure. The Civic reopened in November 2002. The Civic continues to be a tremendous asset to Northeast Ohio! Akron Rocks! • The center-point of a market of 1.2 million individuals within a 25-mile radius of downtown Akron – and 3.9 million within a 50-mile radius. • Akron offers the right venues for the right shows at the right time. • Hosting 300+ events a year across six performance venues. Civic Theatre Competitive Advantages: Efficient and Effective Marketing Support • Robust/consistent social media and e-mail marketing programs o 132,000 + combined social media followers o 95,000 + e-email subscribers • Excellent local and regional media relationships Akron Civic Theatre Fast Facts: • 314 events in FY22 across four venues • Attendance of 127,99 + in FY22 • 50 + community partners • 166 events produced or presented by the Civic staff • 3 community-based theater projects (MTP, BOOM!, All-City) & Arts Inclusion Incubator • 8.1 million people reached annually on social media • Operating budget growth to $7.7 million Social Media Impact = Say It Loud: • People Reached = 459,093 • Post Engagements = 16,629 • Post Likes = 2049 • Post Shares = 1678 • Comments = 111 Development Overview: • FY22 best fundraising year in theater history • Revenue increases across the board (FY18 vs. FY22): o Individual giving up 66% o Foundation + government support up 48% o Corporate support up 46% o Gala revenue highest ever in FY21, second highest in FY22 To learn more about the Akron Civic Theatre and the various venue offerings, check out their website at www.akroncivic.com Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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Billow's Longstanding Customer to Make Annual Donation to Camp in Billow's NameGood Morning Mella, Dan, and to our Rotary Club Leadership Team, I wanted to pass along some good news on a rainy Monday. My company’s primary supplier (Matthews International, based out of Pittsburgh) has a Children’s Foundation and their Foundation makes donations to children’s charities in the name of their customers. Billow’s has been a customer of Matthews for over 40 years and I am pleased to announce that the Matthews Children’s Foundation will be making an annual donation to the Rotary Camp in our name. The $3000 donation will come in the form of 3 separate $1000 grants checks. We should receive the first $1000 check in the next few weeks, with the second and third checks arriving in November 2022 and February 2023. The funds are unrestricted and can be used at the discretion of the Camp staff. Due to Billow’s longstanding relationship with Matthews, I was told that the Camp will qualify for annual grant funding so long Billow’s keeps submitting annual grant requests. $30,000 over ten years sounds a lot better and is far more impactful than a one-time $3000 donation. Gratefully yours, Nathanael M. Billow
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Dr. Albert Bragg Engages AudienceThe Rotary Club of Akron had an engaging presentation by Dr. Albert Bragg, Executive Director of Alpha Phi Alpha Homes during our Tuesday, October 4, 2022, weekly meeting. I encourage anyone reading this article who couldn’t attend the meeting in person, or on Zoom to follow the link to the recording for a great presentation. View the recording by clicking here While Dr. Bragg is the Executive Director of Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, he focused his presentation on fire safety. His past position with the City of Akron was the Fire Prevention Bureau Manager. Some of the highlights of Dr. Bragg’s presentation are included below.
Leading Causes of Fire:
There is Hope:
What is Alpha Phi Alpha Homes? Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, Inc. is a non-profit housing, development, and management corporation formed in 1966 by the members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Eta Tau Lambda chapter. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is the oldest predominately black collegiate Greek-Lettered fraternity. The Eta Tau Lambda is an alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, located in Akron, Oh, and was formed in 1960 specifically to support their local communities. Today, Alpha Phi Alpha Homes maintains both well-run rental and for-sale residential properties. Tenants enjoy social and recreational programs organized by live-in resident managers amid service coordinators trained to work with low-income families and elderly individuals. Alpha Phi Alpha Homes has developed a variety of programs to enable each tenant to live the fullest and most productive life. Service coordinators connect tenants in need with service providers who can ease the burden of poverty, disability, and infirmity. Through its creation of Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, Inc., the Eta Tau Lambda chapter has embodied one of the most critical objectives of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity: to further our economic and charitable agenda to enhance our institution and the lives of those in our communities. Eta Tau Lambda has been a pioneer in non-profit development and management of affordable housing for low and moderate-income families and the elderly. The Residences at Good Park: The Residences at Good Park will be West Akron’s newest neighborhood, comprised of 89-homes located in the heart of Akron, Ohio. The neighborhood will feature brand new infrastructure including public roads, sidewalks, street lighting, a centrally-located park, and over two acres of green space, all less than one mile away from Interstate 77. Residents will enjoy city living at an excellent value in a neighborhood in proximity to major Akron employers, retailers, and golf courses. The Residences will offer three types of homes that are designed to appeal to families, young professionals, and retirees alike. The options are as follows:
To learn more about Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, check out their website at: www.alphahomes.org. Yours in Rotary Service - Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair |
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It's Halloween at Akron Rotary Camp |
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Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Camp |
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You're Invited!! |
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Calling for Volunteers at the Foodbank for December 21stHappy Holidays to you! I know it is close to the holidays but that makes this volunteer project that much more important as we need to help the Food Bank distribute as much food and aid as possible for those in need. I am looking for volunteers for the Akron Canton Food Bank service project. The date is Wednesday, December 21 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Akron location which is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307. After the food bank service project anyone is welcome to join me in going out to dinner at a downtown Akron restaurant to be determined later. The service project involves breaking down large containers of food into smaller portions for redistribution to area food pantries. The two hours flies by as we all have fun with the project and we get the opportunity to meet a few new people from other organizations/companies that are there volunteering as well. IF YOU HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED BEFORE AT THE FOOD BANK THEN I NEED YOU TO REGISTER. See volunteer application link below. If you have any questions please call or text me at 330-714-1044. I need a head count by noon Friday December 16th, so if you would please let me know by then if you plan on attending by sending me an email or text: dhall@preferredlegacy.com or 330-714-1044. I greatly appreciate it! Thank you for volunteering! *********************************************************************************** PLEASE COMPLETE A VOLUNTEER APPLICATION – If you have not volunteered with the Foodbank in the past 2 years. Youth Volunteer Application (ages 10-17) Preparing for your visit, main Akron Campus: The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Main Campus is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307, at the corner of Dart Avenue and Opportunity Parkway off of OH-59 near Downtown Akron. Get Directions. When you arrive, please park in the front of the building or in the Dart Avenue parking lot. Use the front glass doors to enter the building.
What to wear:
Thank you for volunteering at your Foodbank! We look forward to seeing you.
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What a night!Thank you from the bottom our hearts for the incredible support and love for Rotary Camp! It was so great to see everyone back for our 5th Rotary Camp Regatta. With your help we raised $773,000 for improvements to the Waterfront, making it more accessible and safer for our campers. Save the date for our next regatta and Rotary Camp’s 100th anniversary on September 28, 2024! |
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Myers School of Art Club OutingHats off to our program chair Gerry Kiefer for planning this event. It was wonderful to have John Daily be able to attend thanks to Cyndi Kane bringing him. Thank you to Arnold Tunstall, Director, University Galleries at Myers School of Art, at The University of Akron, who provided a wonderful tour and explanation of the Synapse 15 - Intersections of Art and Science exhibit. Many of those attending had no idea the School had grown and this exhibit was beautiful - it was intriguing hearing about the various approaches the artists take and the materials they used to create their works of art. The artists are doing amazing and very interesting work!! |
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Thank you for supporting Chage4ChangeThanks for coming out to support the Change4Change event! |
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Doug Piekarz, CEO, Akron Zoo Presenation RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had an amazing presentation by Doug Piekarz, CEO of the Akron Zoo during our Tuesday, September 20, 2022, weekly meeting. I encourage anyone reading this article who couldn’t attend the meeting in person, or on Zoom to follow the link (click here) to the recording for a great presentation. Some of the highlights of Mr. Piekarz presentation is included below. Akron Zoo mission: Connecting your life to wildlife while inspiring lifelong learning and conservation action: Mission triangle: Community, Education and Conservation - any decision we make must connect with the three elements of the mission triangle. Humble Beginnings: Opened May 17, 1953, as the Akron Children’s Zoo with 12 nursery rhyme themed exhibits covering one acre. Originally was known as Perkins Woods, and the Akron Natural History Museum. The nursery themed exhibits were built to encourage attendance at the Natural History Museum. The Akron Zoo was incorporated in 1953, 70 years celebration next year.
2019 by the numbers: Akron Zoo is one of the most visited attractions in Summit County
Return on Investment:
Sustainability:
Conservation Programs: In 2019 the Akron Zoo supported 21 conservation projects or programs, both locally and globally.
A Community Partner: The zoo’s goal is to be a strong community partner. Their latest efforts have focused on supporting our community during the COVID pandemic:
All About the Animals: Growth: Grown from 57 to 61 animal habitats Experiences: Three new experiences opened since 2016:
Animal Residents:
Today:
A Perfect Inspection: In June 2021 the Akron Zoo became 1 of 3 zoos in 50 years to receive a perfect accreditation inspection. To learn more about the Akron Zoo and all that it has to offer, check out their website at www.akronzoo.org. Terry Dalton 2022-23 Akron Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair |
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RYE Students enjoy baseball game!On September 13, 2022 Stew Buchanan arranged for the RYE students from District #6630 and #6600 to attend a Cleveland Guardians game. Host families, siblings, and club counselors were also present. Welcome to Ja, Yara, Cristiano, Loris, Chihiro, Jose, Dani, and Madeline ( a potential outbound). It is nice to have exchange students back this year. |
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Volunteer at Boo at the ZooLocation: Akron Zoo 505 Euclid Avenue Akron, OH 44307 Dates: Saturdays: October 15th, 22nd, and 29th Sundays: October 16th, 23rd, 30th Event runs from 11:00am-7:00pm Three shifts are available: 10:00am-1:15pm (October 29th 9:00am-1:15pm), 1:00-4:15pm, and 4:00-7:00pm You may sign up for more than one shift per day. Event occurs rain, snow or shine. Boo at the Akron Zoo is a non-scary trick or treat experience for all ages that runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 (Presale)-7:00pm. All guests must purchase tickets, either an observer or treater, before entering the event and can be purchased presale or day of the event. Presale tickets gain entry at 10:30 a.m. and all treat stations close by 7:00pm. Treaters will have a candy passport allowing them to collect candy at each station. The entire zoo is open for guests to enjoy. Volunteers staff each treat station and are paired with a zoo volunteer (EdZOOcator). This allows questions or concerns to be addressed quickly. We need approximately 24 volunteers for each of the three shifts to comfortably staff the event. Volunteers that are part of a large group will be split up in pairs. We are not able to keep groups together. Boo at the Zoo is one of your Akron Zoo’s main events. As a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on our revenue from the concessions, gift shop, admissions, carousel, etc. These monies allow us to provide our animals with the best possible care. In addition to our earned revenue, the Akron Zoo receives funding from a Summit County tax levy, private donations, and fundraisers, such as Boo at the Zoo. In order to keep costs low, we rely on assistance from volunteers, such as those from your organization. I truly hope your organization will join us for this family friendly, non-scary event. To schedule your volunteer shift(s), please use our VolunteerSignUp.org link: volunteersignup.org/HKFJ9 Please contact me with any further questions. Shelley Orloski, Career Pathways Manager, boo@akronzoo.org, 330-375-2550 ex 7286. The Wednesday before your shift, you will receive detailed information regarding parking, check in location, etc. Thank you for your support, Shelley Orloski, CVA Boo at the Zoo Volunteer Team Leader |
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Leianne Neff Heppner Speaker RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had the opportunity to learn about the Summit County Historical Society during our Tuesday, September 13, 2022, weekly club meeting. Our speaker was Leianne Neff Heppner, who has worked at the Society since 1999, first serving as curator assisting with exhibits for the city and county, as well as county government records consultant. She has been the President and Chief Executive Officer since 2009 and looks towards the nonprofit organization’s 100th anniversary in 2024. Mission: History Within Reach. Founded in 1924, the mission of Summit County Historical Society is to preserve and interpret the history of Summit County and Akron, and to educate regional communities about the people and events that have shaped our rich history. The Society, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, owns and manages several properties including the:
Perkins Stone Mansion: Completed in 1837, the Perkins Stone Mansion was built by Colonel Simon Perkins, son of Akron's founder General Simon Perkins. As one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in Ohio, the Mansion is now a historical house museum whose objects and rooms not only bring to life the Perkins family's lifestyles over three generations but interpret the history of Akron and Summit County from Akron's founding to the turn of the century. John Brown House: Built circa 1830, by Benjamin O. Greene and Salmon Hoisington, it was rented by the Perkins family as the Stone House (today's Perkins Stone Mansion) was being built. Colonel Simon Perkins purchased the structure in early 1844 and then rented it to John Brown and his family. Old Stone School: The first schoolhouse built in Akron was Schoolhouse No. 2, also referred to as the schoolhouse of Portage Township School District No. 2. It was erected sometime in the early 1830s. It is located at the corner of Broadway and Buchtel Avenue. Akron at the time was a tiny village in Portage County's Portage Township. There was already a school in operation in the Township located in the nearby village of Middlebury, known as Schoolhouse No.1. (The dates and location for this school is unknown.) Much later Akron annexed Middlebury, but Portage Township Schoolhouse No. 2 is still considered Akron's first school. While Ms. Neff-Heppner was able to touch on some of the highlights of the Summit County Historical Society, I would encourage all readers to check out their website for additional information on the three properties listed in this article. You will find some very interesting facts about the history of Akron and Summit County. The website is www.summithistory.org. |
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Speaker Recap: Bhante Soorakkulame PermaratanaThe Rotary Club of Akron had a thought-provoking presentation on Tuesday, September 6th when Bhante Soorakkulame Pemaratana, Chief Monk, Pittsburgh Buddhist Center and Cleveland Buddhist Vihara & Meditation Center, spoke to the Club. Bhante Pemaratana earned a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017. During recent years, he has given guest lectures and conducted seminars in universities including Pennsylvania State University and the University of Cambridge in the UK. He also travels to countries in Southeast Asia to conduct public talks and mediation retreats. Bhante Pemaratana spends most of his time administering to the Sri Lankan community in the Tri-State area and to an ever-growing group of Americans interested in learning more about Buddhism, mindfulness, and meditation. He offers workshops on meditation and provides spiritual counseling to help people to deal with challenging issues of life. He began his presentation discussing the partnership his religious community has participated in with a Rotary Club in Sri Lanka. This project involved opening two orphanages, one for males and one for females. Continuing with his presentation, Bhante Pemaratana discussed how one’s spiritual values are in sync with the Service values that are part of the Rotary mission and vision. He also stressed Rotarians, and others who provide various types of service, to their fellow mankind, and don’t expect anything in return, do experience some social benefits by feeling good about what they do. Ultimately, we should all transform ourselves to be the best we can be. To hear Bhante Pemaratana’s presentation, check on the following link: https://youtu.be/38CKFAlcSLE. Yours in Service, Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chairperson
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Change4Change to benefit Akron Rotary Camp - Sept. 20th |
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LAST CALL FOR YOUR ACME RECEIPTS THROUGH DECEMBER 24TH!
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September 27 - OFF-SITE MEETING - REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED!!!The September 27 meeting will be off-site, at the Emily Davis Gallery in the Myers School of Art, The University of Akron, 150 East Exchange Street. We will be joining Gallery Director Arnold Tunstall who will lead us through the exciting Art-Science, "Synapse 15" exhibition. Featuring a group of internationally acclaimed artists, Synapse 15 "probes ideas, images, and mutual interests to connect the art and science disciplines. Synapse focuses on artists and designers, as well as science and engineering collaborators who explore the natural world." RSVP is Required - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE Registration closes 9/19. We will gather at the gallery at noon, where President Lynda will open the meeting and Gerry will introduce Mr. Tunstall. After viewing a brief introductory video, we will tour the two floors of the exhibition, then adjourn to a nearby classroom for lunch. Mr. Tunstall will join us and be available for any of us who would like to see the exhibition in more depth after lunch. However, those needing to leave by or before 1 are welcome to return later as the show goes through September 30. Follow the link below to view the article. visually absorbing https://akronbeaconjournal-oh.newsmemory.com/?publink=2021f8e0f_13485b6 Geraldine Wojno Kiefer, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Art History and Art Shenandoah University 540-742-2260 cell |
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Jim Mullen presented "New Bold Goals"The Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Jim Mullen, President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of Summit and Medina Counties. Over Jim’s tenure, United Way of Summit & Medina has expanded its footprint and programming. The merger of InfoLine and Medina County coupled with the implementation of programs such as the Financial Empowerment Centers and Family Resource Centers have been instrumental in the success and results of the Bold Goals. Most of Jim’s presentation centered around the Four Bold Goals that currently drives the agency’s direction. According to Jim, the Bold Goals are how they measure their work to create lasting change. They target root causes of longstanding problems in our community. United Way looks at themselves as “In, With, and For Our Community.” What are the Four Bold Goals? BOLD GOAL 1: READY FOR SUCCESS 65% of APS third graders reading at or above grade 2015-2016 baseline: 38% 2020-2021: 27% The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on reading scores. In the 2018-19 school year, 50% of third graders were reading at or above grade level. BOLD GOAL 2: YOUTH SUCCESS COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS 90% of APS high schoolers graduating in 4 years, with 60% college/career ready 2015-2016 baseline: 75% and 21% respectively 2020-2021: 83% and 28% respectively BOLD GOAL 3: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT Financially empower 11,000 people in Summit County Summit County 2016 baseline: 42,000 people in Akron live in households earning less than Ohio’s cost of living. June 2018 – June 2022: 3,271 Summit County residents are on the path to financial empowerment. BOLD GOAL 4: HEALTH EQUITY Reduce the Black infant mortality rate in Summit County to 6 per 1,000 live births 2019 baseline: Black infant mortality rate is 15.4 per 1,000 live births while the Summit County infant mortality rate is 6 per 1,000 live births. Not Your Parents United Way United Way of Summit and Medina Counties has changed how they do business. For years, the organization distributed money to a variety of not-for-profit organizations within the community. Now the organization contracts with agencies, but also provides services directly to residents of Summit and Medina counties.
What is significant about the Donor Designation item is that with more donors not specifically identifying where they want their money to be allocated, United Way is better able to meet the needs of the community as the needs change. 2021 Return on Investment
To learn more about each of the Bold Goals and their impact on the community, I encourage you to view Jim’s PowerPoint presentation or visit www.uwsummitmedina.org. You will learn about the Sojourner Truth Plaza, the Imagination Library, Family Resource Centers, College and Career Readiness, Keys to Financial Empowerment, to name just a few of the innovative activities taking place at the United Way of Summit & Medina Counties. Yours in Service - Terry Dalton Akron Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair
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Akron Youth Exchange Student, Manuel Jacinto Nunez Arrives in Korea! |
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13th Annual Cornhole Tournament benefiting Rotary Camp celebrates another successful Tourney!
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Akron Symphony Executive Director Paul Jarrett: Speaker RecapThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Paul Jarrett, Executive Director of the Akron Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Jarrett started with the Akron Symphony in 2012. Paul has worked throughout Northeast Ohio in both arts management and performance. Paul’s time with the Akron Symphony has focused on a culture of engagement in meaningful collaborations with dozens of local organizations, schools, and artists. Paul is a member of Leadership Akron Class 31, and a member of Akron Rotary. For Paul’s presentation, he discussed the Top Ten Truths about Classical Music. Paul elaborated on each item. For more information on each of these “Truths”, I encourage you to view his presentation. Watch video (click) The Top Ten Truths are as follows: 10) Some of the Music is Terrible – Lets face it, we have different interests, so what one individual might enjoy, another person might think the piece is terrible. 9) It’s ok to feel what you feel – 8) “You do the Andante, I’ll do the Grazioso” – Andante: moderately slow tempo, Grazioso: graceful, smooth, or elegant in style 7) You can join in – 6) You know what sounds fun? A lecture! ☹ - 5) Come as you are – the days of the tuxedo and formal dress are over! 4) Clap when you want – 3) 400 + years of crate digging – Every piece of music can sound different based on the producer’s interpretation, presentation, style, etc. 2) Music needs you – Music, to be appreciated, needs the orchestra/musician as well as the listener. Without either of these participants, music would just be some symbols on a piece of paper. 1) Music has value – Value is more than just a dollar figure. Value is what music can provide to all of us. You can go to Spotify and find a playlist Paul created for Akron Rotary. The video of his presentation will be posted to our YouTube page at a later date. To learn more about the Akron Symphony Orchestra and their 2022 - 2023 season, check out their website at www.akronsymphony.org Terry Dalton Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair |
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Stu Parry Recognition September 3rdDear Rotarians: The University of Akron is honoring our own Stu Parry on September 3rd at 5:00 p.m. at First Energy Stadium. Stu is a long-time Akron Rotarian (63 years). If Club members would like to attend the Recognition Reception, please see the RSVP information below. There is no charge for attending the event. The University is encouraging Rotarians to donate to the Stu Parry Recognition Wall. See the link included below. The University of Akron Athletics and the Men's Soccer Program are proud to host the Stu Parry Recognition Weekend, In 1954, Stu founded Zips Soccer as a club sport at the University of Akron. One year later, thanks to his undeniable energy, enthusiasm and passion for the sport, soccer became the 11th intercollegiate sport on campus. As a volunteer coach from 1954-1969, Coach Parry compiled an enviable record of 118 wins, 43 losses and 4 ties, including 9 Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Championships. He developed 10 All-American soccer players. During his 15 seasons at the helm, Akron consistently played the top teams in the country as well as those in Ohio. 1961, the Zips received their first ever NCAA post-season tournament bid. On five more occasions, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1968, Akron earned NCAA Invitations. In 1966 and 1968, Parry's fellow coaches honored him by voting him Ohio Soccer Coach of the Year. Long active in the National Soccer Coaches Association, Parry served as the organization's president in 1968 and was a member of the rules committee for six years. In 1975, Coach Parry was inducted into the Zips Hall of Fame. Stu's legacy has been continued by the coaches that have followed him. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the legacy and contributions "The Father of Akron Soccer" Coach Parry made to the Akron Men's Soccer Program. We do ask that Rotarians make a donation to the Stu Parry Recognition Wall. The link is below. https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/QXOKvw?vid=t1qyx Please RSVP to Saturday's Recognition Reception by sending an email to cstockton@uakron.edu CAMDEN STOCKTON Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development Department of Athletics The University of Akron Office: (330) 972-8255 Cell: (417) 825-2657 |
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Speaker Recap: Malcolm Costa, Community Action of Akron SummitThe Rotary Club of Akron had one of our own members, Malcolm J. Costa, as our featured speaker during our Tuesday, August 16th meeting. Malcolm has devoted his life to community service: organizing communities, developing programs and people to address poverty in Akron and Northeast Ohio. For the past 45 years, Malcolm has served as President & CEO, Community Action Akron Summit where he administers community programs most notably as the prime Summit County contractor for the Community Services Block Grant. Malcolm shared with the Club some of the programs offered by his agency. In addition, he presented information on the impact the construction of the Akron Innerbelt had on the African American Community in the 1960’s. View the PowerPoint Slides (not all slides were visible in the recorded presentation) What is Community Action Akron Summit? Community Action Akron Summit (CA) is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to providing a wide range of diverse and comprehensive services for over 40 years that address the needs of low-income residents of Summit County. The concept of Community Action has been part of the American social fabric for 50 years. The Community Action movement dates back to 1964, when the Economic Opportunity Act was passed indicating the beginning of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. CA offers specific resources and educational training that promote economic self-sufficiency to low-income residents while assisting individuals and families to move upwards and out of poverty by providing a comprehensive system of education, training, support, and resources that are central to the programs and services offered. What are some of those programs and services?
Represents a network of care coordination agencies focused on reaching pregnant women at risk and reduction of infant mortality.
Provides high-quality early childhood education in nurturing learning environments for infant toddlers and 3 year-olds.
Provides volunteer opportunities for low-income people aged 55 and older to serve children and teenagers who have special needs.
Assists low-income households that are threatened with the loss of basic utilities.
No cost income tax preparation service for low- and moderate-income families.
No cost snow removal and grass cutting service for eligible low-income families. How Did the Construction of the Akron Innerbelt in the 1960’s Impact the African American Community? Just as Community Action Agencies were created in 1964 by the Economic Opportunity Act, legislation to create Urban Renewal was also passed.
With the creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of Akron began to look at constructing the Innerbelt. The decision to construct the Innerbelt impacted large segments of homes and businesses from West Cedar Street to the northeast, to Wooster Avenue to the South. These businesses and homes were occupied predominantly by African Americans. The Akron Beacon Journal printed an article titled “The Devastation -The failed Akron Innerbelt drove decades of racial inequity” on February 3, 2022. Malcolm shared some of the highlights from that article.
You can view the PowerPoint slides that Malcolm shared with the Club that shows some of the areas that were impacted by the decision to create the innerbelt and the resultant decades of racial inequity. To learn more about Community Action Akron-Summit and the programs and services offered, I encourage you to visit www.ca-akron.org. |
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Members take Action at Foodbank Aug. 18th & then get Social! |
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Speaker Recap: Daniel M. Rice,Daniel M. Rice, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, headquartered in Akron was the guest speaker at our August 9, 2022 Club meeting. View the meeting by clicking here. Mr. Rice presented information on the history of the Ohio and Erie Canalway and provided updates as to current and longer-term plans for the Canalway. What is the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition? The Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition (OECC), established in 1989, is the regional non-profit organization working for the conservation, development, and interpretation of the natural, historical, and recreational resources along the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway from Cleveland to New Philadelphia, Ohio. The OECC is dedicated to developing the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area in Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas Counties. Their focus is on development of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, connector trails, and adjacent public spaces, all of which support a healthy and active ecosystem rich in culture and recreation. What else does the Canalway Coalition do? The Canalway Coalition also provides a variety of programs, from bicycling and canoeing events to fishing derbies along the banks of the Ohio & Erie Canal. These programs serve to connect our communities to the Canalway, educating on the impact of the Ohio & Erie Canal as a development asset in the mid-1800s, and how the impact can still be felt as a recreational asset today. Does the Canalway Coalition partner with anyone else? According to Mr. Rice, as a non-profit, they work with community, government, and corporate business leaders on development projects throughout the National Heritage Area. They have created collaborative relationships with elected officials, community leaders, park districts, local businesses, and volunteers. Mr. Rice said that they work closely with these partners to develop trail plans, encourage community engagement, and maintain the Towpath Trail. What are some of the Programs and Events that the Canalway Coalition Offer? From canoeing and bicycling to large-group cleanups, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition offers a wide variety of events for individuals, friends, and families to enjoy while supporting the OECC efforts. Programs offer participants the chance to learn more about the Ohio & Erie Canal and what it means to become a steward of the environment. To learn more about the upcoming events, check out their website at www.ohioeriecanal.org/events. To get a better feel about what is available in our own backyard, explore more about the Towpath Trail, the Akron Civic Commons, Summit County Trails and Tuscarawas County Trails, I encourage you to check out their website at www.ohioeriecanal.org as well as view the online presentation from today. |
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Rotary Youth Exchange Gathering for Host FamilyThe Rotary Youth Exchange Committee and President Lynda Farkas welcomed Yara Martin and her host family, Keith, Tonya, Samantha and Carston Kramer, July 31, to a typical American potluck picnic. All took advantage of the beautiful late afternoon for fun and relaxation. It was a Great opportunity to get to know Yara and her host family. Samantha leaves for Brazil August 9. |
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Annual Cornhole Tournament August 27th13th Annual Cornhole Tournament benefiting Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs Join us for Rotary Camp’s 13th Annual Cornhole Tournament, presented by Buckeye Corrugated, Inc. The tourney will be held on August 27, 2022 at 9:30am on the grounds of Akron Rotary Camp, in the beautiful Portage Lakes! Sign-up your team today for either the Skilled Ringers Division ($90) or the Recreational Division ($60). Winners walk away with cash prizes! Also participate in an Air-Mail toss or Long-Toss for some bragging rights and awesome giveaways! Bring your friends, neighbors and family for a fun day! All registered players will receive a food voucher from the Menches Bros. Food Truck, and an ice-cream station. Beverages from our friends at the House of LaRose will be available for purchase to help keep you cool. There are multiple ways to support this great event to benefit Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs by registering to play, participate with a sponsorship or recruit teams. Your participation will continue to strengthen the Camp's mission of Creating a world where there are only abilities! Any questions? Please call Rotary Camp at (330) 644-4512. Thank you in advance for helping us to make this a successful tournament to support Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs! We are looking forward to seeing you at the event!
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Past President Buie Celebrates!It was a beautiful setting at the camp overlooking the lake and the weather was absolutely perfect. There were 35 Rotarians and guests in attendance. Past President (2020-2021) Dr. Rob McGregor organized the event and treated Steve to a bagpiper to celebrate his Scottish heritage. |
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Charles Guthrie, UA Athletic DirectorThe Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Charles Guthrie at our Tuesday, August 2nd meeting. Mr. Guthrie is the Athletic Director for the University of Akron. He has held this position since July 1, 2021. Guthrie comes to Akron from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he served as director of athletics since late 2017. At Green Bay, Guthrie led a department of coaches, staff and more that 240 student-athletes competing in 14 NCAA Division I athletic programs as a member of the Horizon League Conference. At Green Bay, his responsibilities included strategic, operational and financial planning; extensive external relations and fundraising programs in coordination with University Advancement; compliance and academic achievement; staff and coach development; and relationship building with campus and community constituents. Mr. Guthrie began his presentation identifying many of the great things that are occurring at the University. During his brief tenure at the University, he has been charged with recruiting six new coaches. One of his first hires was Joe Moorhead, who is returning to the University after several years coaching at other universities. Mr. Guthrie stated that Coach Moorhead was rated as the #1 hire by ESPN for football coaches in 2021. Mr. Guthrie is also looking forward to great things with the University’s basketball team. Six of seven players will be returning for this year after experiencing a MAC championship this past year. Three of the returning players are pursuing their MBA. Soccer has several returning players and have recruited some very talented new players. He is looking for a new Track coach. The past coach retired after many years at the University of Akron. The University has been refurbishing the track field and is encouraging Akron residents to take advantage of running on the track as a community attraction. With the return of Baseball at the University, Mr. Guthrie has recruited a new baseball coach from OSU who has 12 years coaching experience. Mr. Guthrie has also recruited a softball coach from Arizona State. The University is replacing the artificial turf at InfoCision stadium after thirteen years of use. He encouraged Rotarians to come to the stadium and root on the Zips this Fall. In addition to Mr. Guthrie’s commitment to athletics, he is also adamant about his athletes excelling academically. While he was pleased to see the overall average GPA is 3.0 for the athletes, he intends to work on raising that overall GPA. Mr. Guthrie also discussed the challenges coaches are experiencing with the NCAA decision that athletes can ask to be paid as athletes. He is hoping changes can be made that allow athletes to be able to “sell themselves” as an athlete for activities outside of their actual playing time. His concern is the ability of small schools to retain athletes who wish to pursue the money route and “go where the money is.” Mr. Guthrie answered many questions during the Q & A portion of his presentation. I encourage readers to listen to his presentation. My written comments can’t match the enthusiasm exhibited in Mr. Guthrie’s presentation. The University and the Akron community are fortunate to have an individual like Mr. Guthrie as the Athletic Director at the University of Akron. |
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Club Welcomes New MemberMichael Kahoe was inducted on August 2, 2022. He was sponsored by Tom Knauer. Tom shared that Mike understands the importance of public and community service and enjoys working on behalf of the residents of the state. He is passionate about serving and desires to focus more of his time working locally to improve the lives of residents in Akron and surrounding communities. Mike is the Northeast Ohio Regional Liaison for Lt. Governor Jon Husted. He was born and grew up in Bath and Richfield Ohio. He was involved in helping a number of nonprofit organizations throughout high school. In 2019 he was elected to the Revere Board of Education and in 2021 was appointed to the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center Board of Education. He also serves on the governing board for the Revere Class of 2020 scholarship, where they reserve funds to send a special needs student to a summer camp each year. He enjoys cooking, traveling, and running. He is training for his first half marathon in August. He said "I am joining Rotary to meet other people invested in the community and find new ways to give back."
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Speaker Recap: Jim Mahon, VP Marketing & Brand ManagementThe Rotary Club of Akron had the privilege of listening to Jim Mahon, Vice President of Marketing and Brand Management at the Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau, John S. Knight Center, Greystone Hall and the Sports Alliance of Greater Akron, during our Tuesday, July 26 Club meeting. View the recording by clicking here. So what does the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau actually do? As the community’s destination marketing organization, the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitor’s Bureau proudly advocates the positive impact the hospitality industry has on the local economy and our quality of life. Established in 1973 to promote Akron/Summit County as an ideal destination for business and leisure travel, the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau is the clearinghouse for area travel and tourism information. Funded solely by a percentage of the bed tax collected from visitors staying in Summit County accommodations, the Bureau is self-sustaining economic development organization. Visitor expenditures on lodging, dining, entertainment, and retail represent “new dollars” for the local economy – money that would otherwise not be included in revenue and tax totals. Mr. Mahon stated “Putting heads in beds” is an unofficial slogan that underscores the importance of marketing opportunities and experiences that require visitors to spend a night (or few) in Summit County. Areas of responsibility within the organization include the Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau, the John S. Knight Center and Greystone Hall. Within the Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau are the Sports Alliance of Greater Akron and the Greater Akron Amenities, Inc. What Impact Does the Hospitality Sector Have Financially on Our Community? Hospitality expenditures include the following:
The economic impact in Summit County in 2021 were as follows:
Who are the Stakeholders of the Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau?
The Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau has many goals. These goals address the following areas:
Mr. Mahon shared with the Club how the Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau [Re]bounded and [Re]activated programs coming out of the COVID pandemic. This included both In-Market and Out-of-Market initiatives. What are some of the past and current initiatives?
The Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau benefits all the citizens of Summit County and visitors coming to our community for business or leisure. I encourage fellow Rotarians to access the following websites to gain additional knowledge on how we can utilize the services provided/coordinated by the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau, the John S. Knight Center and Greystone Hall and various other stakeholders who make this all possible.
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Thank You Rowers!Wavemakers from the Rotary Club of Akron responded to the call of Dragons on the Lake July 23 and kept their rendez-vous to race on the water against challengers from local corporate and civic organizations. The winners: The Dragon Dream Team, Akron's local breast cancer survivor team and its outreach program AND all who participated in the FUN-FILLED event. Kimmie and Kaitlyn Hoch served as a strong stroke pair at the front of the boat while Brian Kosarko captained the team to a fourth place finish overall. Not a bad showing for first-time or once-a-year paddlers who reach out in this annual event to support Breast Cancer Survivors! Also on board pulling with strong strokes were Sharon Buie (BCS), Cyndi Kane, Olivia Pilon, Angela Kosarko, David and Anna Marie Hall and other Rotary supporters. Wavemakers wore the best in t-shirt logo designed in 2018 by Tom Knauer. And they raised significant funds over and above the required participation sum. Kudos and a HUGE Thanks to Captain Kosarko and Rotary’s Wavemakers!!!!! |
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Akron Rotarians Are People of Action: Please Volunteer at Akron-Canton Foodbank SEPTEMBER 21stNEXT AKRON-CANTON FOODBANK SERVICE DATE: Our next Akron-Canton Food Bank service project is Wednesday, September 21st from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Akron location which is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307. The projects involve breaking down large containers of food into smaller portions for redistribution to area food pantries. The two hours flies by as we all have fun with the project and we get the opportunity to meet a few new people from other organizations/companies that are there volunteering as well. ALL volunteers need to apply/register in order to volunteer (See below my signature for the link). I am the volunteer coordinator for the Akron Rotary Club and you will need the Akron Rotary Club’s address for signing up. Akron Rotary Club 4460 Rex Lake Drive Akron, OH 44319 If you have any questions please call or text me at 330-714-1044. I need a head count by Friday September 16th 9am if you plan on attending by sending me an email or text: dhall@preferredlegacy.com or 330-714-1044. I greatly appreciate it!
PLEASE COMPLETE A VOLUNTEER APPLICATION – If you have not volunteered with the Foodbank in the past 2 years. Youth Volunteer Application (ages 10-17) Preparing for your visit, main Akron Campus: The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Main Campus is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307, at the corner of Dart Avenue and Opportunity Parkway off of OH-59 near Downtown Akron. Get Directions. When you arrive, please park in the front of the building or in the Dart Avenue parking lot. Use the front glass doors to enter the building.
What to wear:
Thank you for volunteering at your Foodbank! We look forward to welcoming you. |
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Service Project and Social Night July 20th (RSVP by July 15th!!)We are looking for volunteers for theAkron Canton Food Bank service project.The Date is Wednesday, July 20 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Akron location which is located at 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307. ALL volunteers need to apply/register in order to volunteer. I am the volunteer coordinator for the Akron Rotary Club and you will need the Akron Rotary Club’s address for signing up. Akron Rotary Club 4460 Rex Lake Drive Akron, OH 44319 I need a head count by this Friday, July 15th, so please let me know if you plan on attending by sending me an email or text: dhall@preferredlegacy.com or 330-714-1044 Thank you! If you have any questions please call or text David Hall at 330-714-1044. The service project will be followed by a social event open to all at Lock 15. Please come for dinner or drinks or both. This event is open to anyone that wants to join us; you do not need to attend the service project to join us at Lock 15. If you are coming to the social event please let David Hall or David Miller know so we can have sufficient table space and chairs for all. Please join us for an evening of conversation, laughs and fellowship. Lock 15 is located at 21 W. North St., Akron, OH 44304. Hope to see you there!
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Akron Club and Members Receive Awards & RecognitionPast District Governor and Club Past Akron President John Reyes, was the recipient of the prestigious District 6630 Michael J. Johns Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to a long-time member in good standing with Rotary District 6630 who has freely given of himself/herself through mentoring, sharing, and serving Rotary. Potential awardees include a past District, Zone or International officer or committee chair (not necessarily a PDG); a supporter of The Rotary Foundation to the best of their ability (not necessarily financial); and someone who has touched our District in many ways throughout the years. John has led the charge on many critical matters within the District and continually provides support, guidance and mentoring for other members. He and his wife Linda are always ready to help take action to create lasting change for the District, our Clubs and our communities. They truly exemplify Rotary's motto 'Service Above Self'. In addition, the following the following awards were presented to our Club and our other members for the 2021-2022 Rotary Year: Outstanding Leadership & Service Award: Cheryl Warren, PDG The award was presented by PDG Lohman to Cheryl as well as Bob Oborn (Stow-Munroe Falls), Mike Davanzo, PDG (Medina SR) and Kathy Berkshire (Lakewood Rocky River SR) for their unwavering leadership and service during his year as Governor. The A.Z. Baker Award - The Akron Rotary Club Akron was one of 29 clubs (out of 50) to receive this award. The A. Z. Baker Service Awards were established in 1978 at the recommendation of then District Governor James P. Banks, and by action of the District Board of Trustees. This award honors our own "Mr. Rotary," A.Z. Baker, from the Rotary Club of Cleveland who served as Rotary International President in 1955-1956. His dedication and commitment to Rotary truly exemplified SERVICE ABOVE SELF and this award was designed to honor his memory by encouraging all clubs in the district to participate in each of the Avenues of Service which are the foundation of club activity. Clubs qualify for this coveted award through the accumulation of achievement points. Club Training & Educational Awards - The Akron Rotary Club Akron was one of 7 clubs (out of 50) to receive this award. This award is given to any Club that has shown a commitment to the ideals and spirit of Rotary during the 2021-2022 Rotary Year. Individual Training & Educational Awards This award is given to any Rotarian who has shown a commitment to the ideals and spirit of being a Rotarian during the 2021-2022 Rotary Year. 13 individuals in the District received this award, 5 from the Akron Club:
Congratulations to all of the 2021-2022 District Award Recipients!! |
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New Club Leaders InductedCongratulations to Lynda Farkas, our new 2022-2023 Club President. Lynda was sworn in by District Governor David Jones who then had the board of directors also take their oath of office.
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Akron Rotary Youth Exchange SummaryFor 2022-2023 we have an exciting level of RYE activity. We have two Long-term Outbound students Manny Nunez (S. Korea) and Samantha Kramer (Brazil) and one Short-term student Serena Guo to Belgium on direct exchange. Our Outbound Exchange student Samantha (Sammy) Kramer attended our Rotary lunch June 28 with her father, Keith Kramer. She will leave for Brazil in late July to be there on time to start school. She wore her RYE jacket with a collection of pins already evident, so I’m certain she will have a fabulous time. She has communicated with her host family and is excited about going. Sammy’s grandfather is a Rotarian from Cincinnati and a former District Governor. He was the pin donor to her collection’s early start. The Kramers, who live in Stow, are going to host Yara Martin Salas while Sammy is in Brazil. Yara has managed to get her J1VISA so she can now purchase her airline ticket. It was an arduous process, but she and her father finally succeeded and are elated. We received a very nice message from Jesús Martin, her father, thanking all who facilitated the visa process. Yara has already made out her schedule with help from Sam’s mom Tonya Kramer, and hopes to play volleyball for SMFHS. Yara will arrive July 27. Yara is the 4th member of her family to do the Rotary Exchange. One older brother went to Syracuse several years ago. OLivia Pilon will serve as Counselor to our Inbound student Yara Martin Salas. On July 12 Manuel Nunez, Outbound student to S. Korea, attended the lunch installation of President Lynda Farkas. His father, Jacinto Nunez, an active member of our club, was present as well. In addition to Manny, Serena Guo our STEP student (Short Term Exchange Program) was a guest with her Exchange sister from Belgium, Apolline Snyers. Apoline brought a Rotary flag from her sponsor club in Enghien, Belgium, to give to President Lynda Farkas. Apolline’s father is currently president of the club in Belgium. Serena’s mother, Grace Zhang, and sister, Anabelle Guo, were also guests for lunch. Serena will go to Belgium in August to complete the final leg of the exchange. It’s exciting to have young people involved in Rotary again. The RYE Committee is planning a welcome potluck for Yara. Lynda Farkas will host the committee and our Inbound student Yara on July 31st at her home on Turkeyfoot Lake (6 pm). It has also listed strategies to engage our Inbound student and club members in activities throughout the year and looks forward to playing an active role helping young people bridge the cultural gap.
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Short Term Youth Exchange Students Visit ClubApolline Snyers from Belgium, Serena Guo and Manuel Nuñez from Akron. Apolline and Serena are doing the STEP or Short Term Exchange Program this summer: 4 weeks together in Akron, 4 weeks together in Belgium. Manny is doing the long-Term program and will leave for S. Korea at the end of August. He will spend 11 months attending classes and hosted by Rotarian families. |
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View Our Akron Rotary Facebook Feed for More News
RSVP for the July 12th Lunch / Officer Installation
July 1 of each year is a time of
change in the Rotary world.
RSVP for the July 12 Lunch / 2022-23 Officer Installation
Rotary Cares
Speaker Recap: Karen Hrdlicka -
The 4 T’s of Philanthropy and Rotary
We were honored to hear from fellow Rotarian Karen Hrdlicka at our June 21st meeting. Karen provided the following recap of her presentation which can also be viewed by clicking here or copy and paste this link in your browser https://youtu.be/YlcOvuL6rsk
- Time
- Treasure
- Talent
- Ties
Karen Hrdlicka Director, The Center for Family Philanthropy Akron Community Foundation 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307 330-436-5640 | www.akroncf.org |
Calling All Rowers!
briank@twinpines.technology
Direct:330-606-3490
COST:
OUR TEAM:
Akron Youth Exchange News
Our Outbound Exchange student Samantha (Sammy) Kramer attended with her father, Keith Kramer (photo). She will leave in July for Brazil to be there on time to start school. She wore her RYE jacket with a collection of pins already evident, so it’s obvious she will have a fabulous time. She has communicated with her host family and is excited about going. Sam’s grandfather is a Rotarian from Cincinnati and was the pin donor to her early start.
July 12 our short-term exchange student Serena Guo will join Akron Rotarians for lunch with her exchange sister from Belgium and Serena’s mother.
The RYE Committee will meet next week, June 28, to plan activities for our Inbound student following the regular meeting at Bounce. If you are a Rotarian who is interested in supporting young people in an international adventure, please join us.
Speaker Recap: Mark C. Willis
The theme that Mr. Willis stressed throughout his presentation was “At the point your need the coverage it is too late to do anything about the various insurance coverages in place. Better to understand how to protect yourself before some event – than afterwards.”
Akron Rotary In The News
First Cookout at Rotary Camp!
Speaker Recap: Focus Rescue and Rehabilitation
The horses who come to us will be brought current on all health, vet and farrier needs. Once the horse is ready to begin working, a training assessment will be completed. This assessment will give us the information necessary to continue their education if needed, what level of rider/handler is warranted, or if the horse is best suited as a pasture companion.
We strongly believe that every horse has a purpose, and our goal is to match each of our horses with the most appropriate adopters as possible. We strive to give each of our horses the best possible opportunities to succeed in forever homes, but understand that circumstances can change and are sometimes unforeseen. This is why we have a strict return policy, and require our horses to come back to us if the adopter is no longer able to keep, care or provide for them. We will do everything in our power to ensure that our horses do not end up in a neglectful situation or auction bound.
Our adoption process has been developed from years of placement experience, and the desire to have every adoption be as positive and successful as possible. Each adoption is carefully considered, and begins with an adoption application which leads to reference checks and a viewing of the facility where the horse will be kept. The adoption is complete with payment of the adoption fee and a signed contract.
There were a few technical challenges with the internet that affected the recording as Blake lives in the country - click here to view the meeting or copy and paste this link into your browser https://youtu.be/IEvdFnEWiyE.
DISTRICT 6630 CLUB AWARDS and BANNER EXCHANGE JULY 6th
Speaker Recap: Don Padgett III, Bridgestone Senior Players
- Watch the presentation by clicking here or copy and paste this link into your browser https://youtu.be/94P-jlyzv3c.
Firestone Country Club’s rich history began in 1929 as the vision of Harvey Firestone, founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. In 2022, the club marks its 69th consecutive year of professional golf tournaments. Only a short list of three other clubs can boast such a tradition.
Firestone Country Club has long been synonymous with tournament golf. The first tournament hosted at Firestone was The Rubber City Open in 1954. The tournament was held yearly until 1959. Notable champions like Arnold Palmer and Tommy Bolt staked their claim to fame at this storied venue. The PGA Championship came to Firestone for the first time in 1960, then returned in 1966 and 1975. Firestone is the only club to have hosted three nationally televised professional events in one year. In 1974, these events were the CBS Golf Classic, American Golf Classic and World Series of Golf. In addition to being the current site of the SENIOR PLAYERS Championship, Firestone has hosted the World Golf Championships and Senior PGA Championship.
Through 2021, Firestone Country Club has hosted 91 professional golf tournaments on an international level. Champions at Firestone include nineteen World Golf Hall of Fame members and forty-two major championship winners.
The Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship tournament will take place July 6th thru the 10th. The Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship is a major on the PGA TOUR Champions. Each summer, 78 professionals compete on Firestone’s South Course for a $3 million purse. Past champions include Retief Goosen, Jerry Kelly, and Steve Stricker.
Mr. Padgett stated that proceeds from this community event help worthy charitable causes throughout Northeast Ohio. Tournament proceeds are generated when fans support and attend the festivities during tournament week. In addition to the competition, fans and sponsors enjoy Pro-Ams, the Ambassador of Golf Event, tournament hospitality venues, concerts, and special events.
Tournament week is staged with the help of hundreds of volunteers in partnership with Northern Ohio Golf Charities. To date, professional golf tournaments at Firestone have generated over $30 million for numerous area charities. Key charities supported include Akron Children’s Hospital, LeBron James Family Foundation, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, First Tee of Greater Akron, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Akron General Challenge Golf Program, and United Way Summit Medina.
To learn more about the activities planned for the July 6th – July 10th as well as the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS, check out the website at BridgestoneSeniorPlayers.com.
Yours in Rotary Service
Terry Dalton
Akron Rotary Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
Speaker Recap: JON FIUME, DIRECTOR and CEO, AKRON ART MUSEUM
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Kenmore’s Iconic Rialto Theater hosts Akron Rotary Club
By-laws Quorum
We would like to try for a quorum so we can vote on JUNE 7, 2022.
SAVE THE DATE: Akron Rotary Camp Regatta September 24th
END POLIO NIGHT AT PROGRESSIVE FIELD - JULY 13th
Speaker Recap: Cynthia Snider, Tuesday Musical Society
Each season, Tuesday Musical scans the best of what’s out there and invites a series of artists to create a unique, endlessly enjoyable experience unique to our region.
Balanced between well-known, celebrated names & those that fly under the radar – you’ll enjoy a hand-selected variety of artists, styles, and genres. Plus, they bring you behind the music by letting you get to know the artists.
- Receive a ticket voucher through your school, a private music teacher, at the Student Ticket Table the night of the concert or the Tuesday Musical office at 330-761-3460.
- Redeem the voucher at the Student Ticket Table located in the EJ Thomas Hall Ticket Office Lobby on the night of the concert.
Dinner With the Campers: Volunteers Needed Please
Akron Rotary Camp Rolls Out Strategic Plan
2021-2022 Akron Rotary Grant Recipient
- June 3: The Shootouts with Akronauts, plus Oddmall: The Great Grassman Gathering
- July 1: Big Pop with The Buffalo Ryders, plus SIT Strings presents Virgil Lay Day and Torchbearers’ Inaugural Community Volunteer Fair
- August 5: Free Black! with Shelby Olive, plus East Ave. Market presents “Summer Impressions” community art project
- September 2: Marc Lee Shannon with Indré, plus Crafty Mart
Club Welcomes Michael Irby as Newest Member
Celebration of Youth: 2022 Akron Rotary Scholarship Dinner
Rotary Cares
Joe Knopp - We Are The Ripple: Speaker Recap
copy and paste this link into your browser https://youtu.be/1cKAB9tfMs4
John Reyes Receives District 6630 Richard C. "Dick" Pitcher Award
Meet Akron Rotarian Ginny Wojno Forney
BE THE MATCH Service Project
Club Welcomes Lauren Holly
Rotary Cares
TO THE JARVIS FAMILY
Renato Camacho, President & CEO Akron-Canton Airport Presentation Recap
Ren’s core responsibilities include leading a 50-member team of airport employees, strategic planning for the future of the airport, and directing all capital improvement programs.
- Public entity, governed by an eight-member Board of Trustees
- Bi-county organization formed under Section 308 of the Ohio Revised Code
- Operate on the revenues generated on the airport; zero tax dollars
- Hyper-focused on marketing and customer experience – preferred airport in NE Ohio
- 30-Minute Drive Time
- Population: 369,770
- Labor Force: 185,495
- Jobs: 173,985
- 60-Minute Drive Time
- Population: 2.7M
- Labor Force: 1.4M
- Jobs: 1.5M
- 90-Minute Drive Time
- Population: 4.2M
- Labor Force: 2M
- Jobs: 2.1M
- One-billion-dollar economic impact
- 4,486 jobs
- $212 million in payroll generation
- $85 million in total tax revenue
- Strengthen relationships with incumbent carriers
- Work with potential new entrant carriers
- Research and identify airline strategies that work for Akron-Canton and Northeast Ohio
- Attract new air service to match demand
- Fill the airplanes at CAK, if CAK can prove there is demand, they make the case for continued service
- Working with carriers to increase the size of aircraft while maintaining or increasing frequency
- Proactively react to move from 50-seaters to larger aircraft
- Gate modernization to accommodate current and future aircraft
- Reduce airport operating costs
- Advocate and utilize local, state and federal grant programs
- Support air service and airlines through coalition of local leaders
- COVID put the aviation industry in a tailspin. The epidemic impact on the aviation industry escalated quickly. It also created a huge drain on the resources available to the industry. CAK, like most other airports, quickly shifted gears and began to implement additional safety measures.
- CARES Act provisions allowed airlines to consolidate to CLE airport from CAK, but airlines stayed and have added back frequency.
- CAK Gate Modernization finished ahead of schedule.
- Pavement projects approved and scheduled.
- Healthy travel enhancements.
- Create innovative, sustainable, and economically beneficial commercial development of the Airport’s non-aviation land.
- In the last 10 years transmission and distribution cost have gone up 50%.
- Unreliable power? High energy costs? Budget constraints?
- Airport facilities that can demonstrate controlled energy costs will be a key consideration for businesses locating to a specific Airport.
- Confident that COVID-19 is going to hurt secondary airports most; to resume service CAK will need to mitigate risk.
- The community must prove that people will fly from CAK.
- The service CAK has needs to work before other carriers will consider.
- Fill airplanes. If they aren’t filled, CAK won’t get more.
- Data has become CAK’s leverage in air service development. Corporate/leisure travel volume is anonymous, only shared with airlines, and helps secure service.
- Come to CAK with updates on new business, growing business or change in business. CAK can work together to build a story for the airlines. Not just employees, but vendors, clients, sales teams, and partners as well.
Sign up to help with Camp Cleanup!!
4460 Rex Lake Drive
Akron, OH 44319
9:00am-1:00pm
Nathanael Billow
Rotary Club of Akron
April Schedule Update
------ Meeting moved to Noon on Friday April 22 at our District 6630 Conference of Clubs Luncheon, Sheraton Suites, Cuyahoga Falls. A reservation is needed for Friday
Steve
2021-2022 Rotary Club of Akron President
Cell: 330-701-2970
Email: sbuie@learningrx.net
Our Club has a very busy April ahead
------ Meeting moved to Noon on Friday April 22 at our District 6630 Conference of Clubs Luncheon, Sheraton Suites, Cuyahoga Falls. A reservation is needed for Friday - deadline is April 17 to RSVP
Steve
2021-2022 Rotary Club of Akron President
Cell: 330-701-2970
Email: sbuie@learningrx.net
Elizabeth Walters Presentation Recap
District Interact Service Project for Ronald McDonald House
Zips Zap Cancer Event: Help Us Fight Blood Cancer -- PLEASE VOLUNTEER!!
There will also be a training session on April 11th at 7:00pm in the Polsky Building downtown for ALL VOLUNTEERS working at this event.
Doug Hausknecht will provide parking instructions prior to each day.
Volunteers will have the option to work at a table and help people sign-up for the Be The Match registry or walk the campus to promote the event or help funnel people to the tables.
You can pick which position and what time for each day you wish to help out.
The goal is to get 600 people registered over the 3 day period.
District-wide Service Project - Calling All Volunteers!
Hey fellow Rotarians, for the first time ever, as a part of our strategic plan, District 6630 is sponsoring a district wide service project! We have collaborated with the local park systems to coordinate a project serving most of the counties in our district. The project will take place primarily over two Saturdays, April 23 (Earth Day) and April 30th (Arbor Day) with other days available also. New projects for Portage County are also listed below! The projects will involve tree planting and/or invasive species plant removal and area clean up. Registration is required so we know how many volunteers for each site to be able to plan accordingly with the park systems. Click on the link below for the area you are volunteering for: Saturday, April 30th Noon - 4:00pm Tree planting and invasive plant removal Jim Lechko 440-376-9191 Saturday, April 30th Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm Garlic mustard pull Dale Smith 330-968-7683 Saturday, April 23rd Time: TBD Tree planting Ed Slane 440-476-5528 Sunday April 24th Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm River clean up Pat Myers 330-388-2635 Tuesday, April 19th 2:00 - 3:30pm Garlic mustard pull Pat Myers 330-388-2635 Pmyers56@gmail.com Western Reserve Greenway Trail Clean Up Saturday, April 30th Time: TBD Milli Morrison 330-814-6269 Saturday, April 30th Time: TBD Shail Jain 330-421-7528 Tuesday, April 12th 5:30pm - 7:00pm Morgan Operation Center Tree Tube Assembly Pat Myers 330-388-2635 Saturday, April 23rd 9:00am - 12:00noon Morgan Operation Center Earth Day Cleanup and Tree Tube Assembly Pat Myers 330-388-2635 Questions for the specific projects should be directed to the contacts listed above. This is a great opportunity to get out and work with your fellow Rotarians as well as promoting Rotary out in the community. I look forward to participating in this event with all of you. Family and friends are welcome. Jim Lechko Rotary District 6630 Foundation Chair jimlechko.rotary@gmail.com (440) 376 9191 |
Chief Steve Mylett Presentation Recap
2022-2023 Akron Rotary Dues
Countryside Conservancy Speaker Recap
- Countryside Initiative
- Beginning Farmer Program
- Farmers’ Markets
- Food Access
- Over 2,000 + farmland acres supported by their programs
- 23 years in partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Over $500,000 in Farmers’ Market earnings for farmers specifically
- 4,500 + hours of farm intern on-the-job training at 17 northeast Ohio mentor farms
- 570 hours of intern classroom and instructional training
- $237,000 redeemed in food assistance for low-income families
- $762,000 + collectively earned by local, small businesses at Howe Meadow
District Conference Registration ENDS APRIL 17
Our Members Make a Difference!
David
All Ohio PETS
2022 Chili Open Golf Classic Celebration
Presented by Cyndi Kane and Jim Redmond
- Wayne Homes – Maurie Jones, Todd Brown, Jen Collinsworth, Maurie Jones & Steve Wessel
- Barrington Carpet & Flooring Design – Craig Philips
- Buckeye Corrugated, Inc. – John Powell
- Integrated Project Solutions – Matt Furlong & Steven Kirkpatrick
- Maynard Family Foundation – Pam Loughry & Amy Maynard Griffith
- Dick Siess
- The VanDevere Bunch – Jerry VanDevere, Brian VanDevere & Lori Sams
- Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs – John Reyes & Brandyn Costa
- CLA – Bill Choler & Dan Riemenschneider
- Lala’s in the Lakes – Lisa & Jeff Houck
- Rubber City Radio – Justina Bucceri
- Summit DD – Lisa Kamlowsky
- Wealth Impact Advisors – Jim Redmond
- Brennan, Manna & Diamond – Justin Alaburda
- Hale Farm & Village – Travis Henline
- Reymann Foundation – Margaret Skinner
- STEERE – Brian Steere
- Focal Point as our Social Media Sponsor;
- Hale Farm and Village for being the perfect host site for the Chili Open;
- Rubber City Radio Group – WAKR, WONE, WQMX & Alternative Cleveland for all our on-air commercials and on-air interviews; and
- Whitey’s, as the official Chili of the Chili Open.
- 1st Prize: Dr. Jerry Sude won the 2022 Kia Forte LXS.
- 2nd Prize: Justin Riley – Goodyear Blimp Ride for Two
- 3rd Prize: Chris Gorta – 55” 4k Smart LED TV
- Snowmania - Brynden Duncan
Tickets for Women of the Year Event
Important Club Dates
Speaker Recap: Jessica Swiger, First Glance Student Center
Mondays 7:00-9:30 pm
Mondays & Wednesdays 2:30-5:15 pm
Tuesdays 5:00-7:00 pm
Tuesdays 6:30-8:30 pm
Second Friday of the Month 7:00-10:00 pm
Looking Good!!
Speaker Recap: Kemp A. Boyd, Love Akron
View the presentation by clicking here or copy and paste this link into your browser https://youtu.be/1YBGulRQAEE
- Love Akron has several initiatives. One of those initiatives is related to Mental Health and Wellness. Love Akron’s Mental Health and Wellness Initiative focuses 100% on the unmet needs in the Greater Akron communities. The unmet need is that individuals have not been exposed to the benefits of Mental Health treatment for many reasons, one of which is due to the stigma surrounding this subject.
Love Akron is working in partnership with community organizations to provide support and help to a very underserved and undiagnosed population. Their focus, mission, and goal are to change the culture of mental health so that those in need will receive the care and support they deserve, all while addressing misinformation and raising awareness on such.
- Another initiative is their Grieve Recovery Program. According to Mr. Boyd, grief is the normal and natural emotional response to change or loss of any kind: death, divorce, moving, financial changes, health changes, relationship changes. Grief is also the result of unmet hopes, dreams and expectations and the loss of intangible concepts such as safety, trust, security, respect, faith, dignity.
- In collaboration with Summit County ADM Board (primary investor) and Summa Health, Love Akron has trained Fifteen (15) specialist to lead and conduct both of these initiatives (see more information about these initiatives on their website).
Club Welcomes New Member Christine
Christine is the CEO of OPEN M. Prior to joining OPEN M, Christine was the stewardship and development program coordinator at Northeast Ohio Medical University. Previously she served the citizens of the City of Akron as a member of Mayor Daniel Horrigan’s cabinet as director of communications for two years. Before joining the cabinet, Christine proudly served her alma mater, The University of Akron, for nearly 20 years in a variety of capacities. She hired in as a public relations representative and moved up within the Division, serving as a public relations representative, director of Alumni Relations and lastly as director of development, stewardship, and donor services.
She is a member of Leadership Akron Alumni Association (Class 24) and serves on the Akron Roundtable Board of Trustees, Our Lady of the Elms Board of Trustees, and the Lebron Family Foundation - LAB Community Board. Christine also is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., ZTO Chapter, Akron. Throughout her professional and volunteer career, her main focus has been to help children, teens and young adults achieve their dreams.
Christine has taught workshops on resume writing, newswriting, self-esteem, interviewing, and cultural diversity for YEPAW, Upward Bound, Summa Health System’s former nursing program, Women’s Network, Akron Public Schools, and area church youth groups. Christine’s vision for OPEN M is to continue the mission of creating pathways out of poverty for individuals and families while also providing more robust, skills-based services that will enable those receiving help to move from being needful members of the community to self-sustaining members of the community.
Christine and her husband Jay reside in Akron.
Club Welcomes New Member Charly Murphy
All three Stray Dog locations are in downtown Akron. Also, 19 retail locations sell Stray Dog condiments throughout Ohio.
The whole operation began as away to help employ persons with employment challenges. We are actively still pursuing that mission, as well as passionately providing wonderful food to the greater Akron area.
Akron pickle fest, Akron Veggie fest, Ohio Hot Dog fest, and the Akron pug fest are parts of the Stray Dog concessions family. Additionally, vending at more than 100 festivals per year, The brand is growing in recognition and size.
Akron cares has a group home in collaboration with Dayton Street development (another Charly Murphy company) and cares for the disabled in their own homes. We sent two of our residents to Akron Rotary camp for the past few summers - and our leadership team jumped in the lake last winter to raise money for Akron Rotary camp.
Two teenage children, both in high school, and both university of Akron students are both involved in the efforts.
Speaker Recap: Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors
- Advocacy for private property owners
- Building better communities
- Philanthropic endeavors
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- An award-winning interactive fair housing simulation called Fairhaven.
- Prohibiting racist conduct in its national Code of Ethics—in all facets of life, not just real estate transactions.
- Adding DEI to Realtor Association’s Core Standards
- Proactively formalizing Allied Partnerships
- Taking an active role in partnership organizations
- Applying for diversity grants
- Contracting with the Diversity Center of Cleveland to offer groundbreaking diversity series of training
- Requiring all employees to earn the At Home With Diversity designation
- Creating a DEI Presidential Advisory Group to oversee all activities
Foodbank Service Project - Fourth Wednesday Every Other Month. February 22nd is next date.
- If the parking lot is full, please park in the grass lot or proceed to the Shipping and Receiving parking lot on the other side of the building.
- If entering through Shipping and Receiving, enter through the RED visitor door and proceed to the front desk.
- We also recommend carpooling when possible.
- Face Masks are optional.
- Safety is our priority! Please note that open-toed shoes are not permitted in the warehouse. Jewelry is not permitted in the clean- room and we recommend wearing limited jewelry when volunteering.
- Comfortable shoes are recommended as you may be on your feet the entire time.
- It is best to dress in layers. The weather outside may affect the temperature inside the warehouse.
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Thank You Thank You Thank You!!
This will be so very helpful for our campers and their families.
What a Day!!!
Speaker Recap: Donald Obermeier, ACE Mentor Program
- Over 10,000 students participate annually, drawn from approximately 1,450 high schools.
- Most ACE students (69%) are minority, and over 40% are female.
- One-quarter of ACE seniors entering college are first generation students.
- More than 4,100 volunteer industry professionals mentor student teams through a 35-hour-long simulation of designing and constructing a project.
- Approximately $2.5 million in scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors and alumni studying to pursue industry-related careers.
- ACE also offers students summer camp and internship opportunities.
- Help build a large, diverse, and better-prepared workforce.
- Prioritize engaging students and communities traditionally underrepresented in the industry.
- Assist and guide students by providing scholarships, internships, and mentoring as they pursue career pathways into the industry.
- Inclusion – We will nurture and value the diversity of backgrounds, identities, talents and beliefs of each individual involved in our program.
- Collaboration – We believe a spirit of mutually beneficial collaboration will produce the greatest results and maximize our volunteer and fiscal resources.
- Excellence – We aspire to deliver the highest quality and most impactful mentor program and commit to approach our work with fairness and honesty.
- ACE is made up of affiliates(chapters) serving local communities. Each affiliate has a board of directors, program leaders, and a number of student teams. Average teams are composed of 15-25 students and led by their volunteer mentors who are professionals from the build industry.
- Each team is set up to emulate an actual design team, with students guided through a mock design project by their architect, engineer, construction management, and tradesperson mentors.
- Mentors assist the students as they work towards a final project, introducing them to the careers, industry vocabulary, and various roles companies play in the construction industry.
- ACE runs during the school year, with each affiliate setting their own schedule. The teams meet for approximately 15 sessions, for about two hours after school, usually on the same day each week. The Akron chapter meets every other week.
- The meetings are held either in schools or at the offices of the firms to give the students as authentic an experience as possible. It is the students’ responsibility to get to each ACE session. ACE makes every effort to select meeting locations that are convenient for students.
Rotary Cares
RICH FRY
The 30 for the Future recipients will be recognized October 7 at 5pm at Canal Park.
“I believe that by helping others who are less fortunate it raises the fortune of the entire community and makes us all stronger.”
“Unfortunately, northeast Ohio has extremely concerning issues like child poverty and broadband connectivity,” said Fry. “This holds back the region in many ways, including attractiveness for businesses to locate here. I hope to help solve these problems so that the region can return to prominence as a place to live and do business.”
He first joined Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs as a summer associate in 2007, while he was completing his juris doctorate at The University of Akron School of Law.
A former chair of the Ohio State Bar Association’s Taxation Committee, Fry is currently an active member of the Akron Bar Association’s Finance Committee.
“I have a strong commitment to inspiring the education of our youth, which can open up endless doors and opportunities to help kids, especially those in less fortunate situations to become successful.”
Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs Managing Partner Steve Dimengo said he’s “very proud” of Fry’s accomplishments at the firm and his commitment to the community.
Speaker Recap: Lisa Gray - Ohio Excels
- Early Childhood Advocacy
- Covid Catch-Up & Early Literacy
- School Funding & Student Wellness Supports
- Report Cards for Districts & Schools
- Computer Science & STEM Education
- Columbus New Skills Ready Network
- College Enrollment and Re-Enrollment Study
- Complete to Compete Attainment Coalition
- Strengthening Business Advisory Councils
- 4th Annual Aim Hire Education & Workforce Conference
- Putting In Place Stronger Graduation Requirements
- Working to Address Ohio’s Digital Divide
- Helping to Ensure Quality & Equity of Remote Learning
- Strengthening Ohio’s Business Advisory Councils
- Developing a Plan to Increase Educational Attainment
- Leading Discussions on the Future of the Workforce – Aim Hire
- Reforming Ohio’s School Report Cards
Are You Interested in Serving on the 2022-23 Akron Rotary Grant Committee?
- 2/24 @ 6 pm – Akron Summit Library
- 3/1 @ 6 pm – Middleburg Heights Library
- 3/5 @ 9:30 am – Mayfield Branch Cuyahoga County Library (there will be a virtual option for this session but you must register to get the link)
Volunteer Sign Up for The Chili Open
Chili Open Volunteer Chair
chiliopen.net
Gotcamp.org
Michael Shearer . . . In The News
Kitrael Chin Unites All Disabilities of All Ages Through Music
Kitrael noted that he has been blessed with the joy and privilege of working with many kids and young adults displaying a wide range of disabilities ranging from mild to severe intellectual disabilities to cerebral palsy and Autism. In 2000, Kitrael started Musical Fingers LLC a music therapy and instruction company in Mantua OH, which to this present day serves many families throughout NE Ohio.
Here are some photos shared during the presentation. Watch the recording - Kitrael shares a moving video of the kids playing! Click here or copy and paste this link https://youtu.be/SsOULu7cTA0 | |
Chili Open Fundraising Status
Speaker Recap: Youth Protection
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CHARLES F. BILLINGTON III, Esq. JOHN REYES, Esq. Past District Governor |
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Good Cheer!!
Autographed sports memorabilia, behind the scenes tours, brewery packages, Country Club/Golf Club packages, family entertainment packages, food gift baskets, restaurant gift cards/certificates, spa packages, sporting event packages/tickets, are a sampling of items needed.
Every Chili Open attendee receives a complimentary entry into the door prize drawing.
Hilton Akron Fairlawn is located at 3180 W Market St, Akron, OH 44333
Akron Rotary Camp
(330) 644-4512 x3201
danr@akronymca.org
chiliopen.net
Gotcamp.org
Chili Open Kick-off Event
January 21st at 5:00pm—8:00pm to kick-off the
32nd Annual Chili Open Golf Classic!
Whitey’s, the official “Chili” sponsor of the Chili Open.
Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers
3600 Brecksville Road,
Richfield, OH 44286
See you there!
Christine Fowler Mack: Presentation Recap
Please support the Chili Open
Our club members have been asked to sell a minimum of $200 in raffle tickets. The goal for ticket sales is $60,000. Many have had great success in selling tickets by sending an email solicitation to your family, friends and business colleagues asking for their help in purchasing tickets. Thank you in advance to those of you who have sold tickets and those that are still selling.
District 6630 Governor Official Club Visit Recap
Akron Rotary’s Chili Open – We Need Your Support!
Chili Open Raffle Tickets Fore the Kids!
- $10 off oil change at The VanDevere Bunch
- Purchase two entrees and receive $15 off your bill at Lala’s on the Lakes, located on Manchester Road, Akron.
- 1st prize is a 2022 Kia Forte LXS, or $16,000 cash payout - Thank you to The VanDevere Bunch!
- 2nd prize is a Goodyear Blimp Ride for two, courtesy of Wealth Impact Advisors – Thank you Rotarian Jim Redmond!
- 3rd prize is a LG 55” 4k Smart LED TV, courtesy of the S Group, Inc. – Thank you Rotarian Jeff Sheeks!
Rotarians Respond
Warm Hands Warm Heart Delivers
With Your Help . . .Club to Sponsor Bubble Tube for S.U.P.E.R. Learning Center
The Akron Rotary Foundation: Presentation Recap
Jim Redmond President Akron Rotary Foundation | Doug Kohl President-Elect Akron Rotary Foundation |
CLICK TO DONATE
TO THE
AKRON ROTARY
FOUNDATION
Rotary Youth Exchange Training
2021 Senior Hall of Fame
or cut and paste this link into your browser: https://youtu.be/mbGbRFqoGSg
Malcolm J. Costa has devoted his life to community service: developing programs and creating opportunities to benefit workers in Akron and Northeast Ohio.
Born and raised in Akron, Mr. Costa is a graduate of Akron South High School. He started his career at the IBM Corporation as a computer service dispatcher while earning a bachelor’s degree. From 1972 to 1974, Costa served as Director, United Services for All at the Akron Urban League while pursuing a master’s degree in Urban Studies and Public Administration. From 1974-1977, Costa held the position of Director of Student Development at Youngstown State University where he designed and implemented programs for non-traditional students. Costa also completed his master’s degree in Urban Studies at the University of Akron in 1977.
Since 1977, Costa has served as President/CEO, Community Action Akron Summit, Inc. where he manages 250 employees operating Head Start, the Foster Grandparent Program, Emergency Services, Child Assault Prevention, Emergency Home Energy Assistance (E-HEAP), and other community programs. In 1983, when Community Action Akron Summit, Inc. (formerly Akron Summit Community Action, Inc.) and Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership created the Greater Ohio Health and Welfare Benefits Plan (GOHIO), Costa was appointed as a trustee and vice chairman for 600 employees’ health benefits; he was elected chairman and administrator of the trust in 1989. Costa is certified as a community action professional (1996) by the National Association of Community Action Agencies. From 1994-2001, Costa served as an outside director of Bank One Akron NA. He is also a graduate of the 1990 Class of Leadership Akron.
Costa currently serves as Secretary - Downtown Akron Partnership. He received the University of Akron Outstanding Alumni Award in 2000.
Mr. Costa and his wife Crystal Ann have five children.
2021 Rotary Club of Akron Annual Meeting ReCap
- Build and expand our efforts with Diversity and Inclusion.
- Service, service, and then more service.
- Strengthen the relational and communication bonds between the club, the camp, and the foundation.
Our Newly Elected Officers and Directors for 2022
The Rotary Club of Akron | |
Executive Team: July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023
| Directors: July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025
|
The Akron Rotary Foundation |
The Akron Rotary Foundation runs on a calendar year. New Directors (terms as indicated):
|
The Akron Rotary Camp |
The Rotary Camp runs on a calendar year. New Directors: January 1, 2022- December 31, 2024
|
Presentation: 100 Black Men of Akron, Inc., Michael J. Irby, President
- Mentoring Youth
- Health and Wellness
- Economic Development
Kenmore Boulevard Storefront Decorating
MERGE Program - Facilitator & Participant Recruitment
The Rotary Foundation: Presented by Thane Billow and Bill Manby, Jr.
- Click to view the Paul Harris Fellow handout from the meeting
- Click to view the presentation of the meeting
- For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
- $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
- $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for child
- Peacebuilding and conflict prevention
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Water, sanitation, and hygiene
- Maternal and child health
- Basic education and literacy
- Community economic development
- Support the environment
Secretary and Scholarship Chair
Akron Members Enjoy District Foundation Awards
Linda & PDG John Reyes,
DGN Julie Brandle,
PDG Cheryl & Steve Warren
- 45 hat & glove sets
- 268 hats
- 338 pairs of gloves & mittens
- 30 ear warmers
- 49 Scarves
- 3 packages of underwear
- 556 pairs of socks
BE THE MATCH: Presentation Recap
The mission of the organization is “We save lives through cellular therapy.”
The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1986 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that operates the Be The Match Registry of volunteer hematopoietic cell donors and umbilical cord blood units in the United States.
The Be the Match Registry is the world's largest hematopoietic cell registry, listing more than 22 million individuals and more than 300,000 cord blood units. Hematopoietic cells from NMDP donors or cord blood units are used to transplant patients with a variety of blood, bone marrow or immune system disorders. As of December 2020, the NMDP had facilitated more than 100,000 transplants worldwide.
- Every Three Minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer
- Every 10 minutes, someone dies from a blood cancer.
- Every year, more than 14,000 patients are diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancers or other diseases for which a marrow or cord blood transplant from an unrelated donor may be their best or only hope of a cure.
- 70% of all patients who need a transplant do not have a matched donor in their family
- Approximately 70% of transplants facilitated by the National Marrow Donor Program® are leukemia or lymphoma.
- leukemia and lymphoma
- sickle cell disease
- severe aplastic anemia
- inherited immune disorders
Matching is much more complex than blood types. It's your heritage or ancestry.
It’s based on genetic typing involving the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA).
- White 79%
- Native American 60%
- Hispanic 48%
- Asian or Pacific Islander 47%
- Black or African American 29%
PBSC is one of two methods of collecting blood-forming cells for bone marrow transplants. The same blood-forming cells that are found in bone marrow are also found in the circulating (peripheral) blood. PBSC donation is a nonsurgical procedure, called apheresis.
- Similar to donating platelets
- Shots for 5 days (4 days before collection & 1 the day of collection)
- A machine filters out stem cells and
returns remaining blood to the donor - Most donors visit with friends or
watch TV during the procedure
- Surgical procedure
- Anesthesia = no pain during the procedure
- Same day, usually outpatient
- Doctors withdraw blood stem cells
from back of the pelvic bone - Your cells replenish themselves in 4-6 weeks
- In 1992, Carolyn Shandle-Cobb, daughter of Rotarian Cliff Shandle, was diagnosed with leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. There was no family match.
- Cliff asked fellow Rotarians to consider being donors. Not stopping there, the club decided to have an event to recruit other people in the Mentor Community.
- The first event was May 23, 1993 - more than 800 people showed up. A second event was held June 23 with another 222 registered.
- A donor was found for Carolyn but sadly she passed from an infection in July before the transplant could occur.
- The Shandle family and Mentor Rotary Club vowed to host recruitment events and fundraise to support Be the Match and other families in need.
- Recruitment events have been hosted at Lakeland CC, Lake Erie College, and Notre Dame College
- The Mentor Club raises about $5000 annually.
- The Rotary Club of Akron has a focus on engaging diverse populations where there is the most need for people to join Be the Match.
- Can the Mentor Club partner with the Rotary Club of Akron and 100 Black Men to raise awareness and recruit new donors?
- College donors are young, diverse, and provide the best outcomes for patients. Is there an opportunity to work with the Rotary Club of Akron and your diverse partners to have a recruitment event at the University of Akron or other colleges in the area?
- The Rotary Club of Mentor has donated $5000 to Be the Match to cover testing costs of these events.
Chili Open Tee Off Presenters Follow-up
Jeff Sheeks (330) 535-2103 | Cyndi Kane (330) 606-6041 |
Akron Rotary Camp Update & Chili Open Kick-Off
Some camp highlights shared by Dan included:
- The Bud Rogers Adventure Park was a great experience. For many campers, this was a first time experience.
- Hammocks – Campers loved having some down time in the hammocks around camp this summer.
- Happy Day School - The return of day camp in Portage County at the Happy Day School. We served about 40 campers every day at that site for 8 weeks.
- Our new nurse is Jess Selden. She started in June.
- Our newest addition to our team is Ben Fink, our new program director. Ben joined us in August. We just bid farewell to Tina Gardner, our past program director a couple weeks ago. She’s moved to Florida to study zoology.
- Excited about continuing to grow programs closer to pre-pandemic levels.
- Planning on operating at 75% capacity.
- Biggest challenges moving into the next summer season is staff recruiting.
- Not unlike every other industry right now, the camp community has struggled greatly the past few years to recruit and retain great camp staff.
- Camp board has been very proactive in supporting recruiting efforts. This year camp increased weekly rates from $265/week to $325/week.
- 2022 draft budget has a starting rate of $450/week.
- Not unlike every other industry right now, the camp community has struggled greatly the past few years to recruit and retain great camp staff.
- “Angie loves to come there, and I appreciate that I can leave her and not worry about her safety.”
- “Rotary Camp is the highlight of my child’s year – especially this year with limited social experiences available. Staff are amazing. We are so grateful.”
- “Camp gives my camper a sense of belonging, teaches independence, and how to get along with others.”
- “Camp provides two weeks of respite for us and two weeks of outdoor summer fun for our son.”
- “Camp gives our family a little break from Autism life. We find it so valuable, especially for my typical kids to go do typical things and have my full attention.”
- “As a single parent, I value the respite time. It’s been very difficult to find care for Adam.”
- “Kenny’s year revolves around three dates – his birthday, Christmas, and Camp!”
Rotary Cares
The obituary is not available at this time. Cards and letters of support may be sent to 753 Wild Cherry Drive, Akron, OH 44319.
Club Welcomes Three New Members!
She refers to herself a “camp nerd” and served as a camp director so she is excited about helping with projects at our Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children.
Rotarians Celebrate YMCA's 150th Anniversary!
WAPS-FM "The Summit"
- The Summit – Their flagship station
- The 330 – Features the past, present, and future of Northeast Ohio music – homegrown, hyper-local and powered by the Summit
- KIDJAM! Radio – Is an exciting and fun online listening experience that everyone can enjoy.
- The KIDJAM! Radio mission is to entertain and empower children to build good health and lifestyle habits, self-esteem, and character.
- The Summit believes that a child’s personal development is profoundly influenced and shaped by the increasingly sophisticated types of media and technology that are widely accessible to our youngest citizens.
- KIDJAM embraces this technology by combining high-quality entertainment with a solid foundation for shaping character.
- KIDJAM messages are delivered between songs by kids, for kids, sharing tips to motivate, educate and inspire.
- Rock and Recovery – Is a community for people experiencing addiction, trauma, and mental health issues, supporting self-motivation, sharing information and resources, and offering personal serenity both on-air and online.
- The Rock and Recovery™ Mission: Provide entertaining and meaningful music and uplifting messages with individual testimonials for people experiencing recovery from substance use, alcohol, trauma and mental health disorders. This resource is open to loved ones, families, and friends as well. Rock and Recovery™ mobilizes and supports our recovery community to grow and heal together through the therapeutic power of music mixed with messages of hope and inspiration curated to serve as encouragement for each personal recovery journey.
Carla L. Chapman Discusses Diversity Efforts in Akron Public Schools
Click to view the recording of the meeting.
The Board believes that the responsibility for student success is broadly shared by district staff, families, community and students' own efforts. The APS Board members believe It is the obligation of the district to embrace the diversity within the school district while actively eliminating practices that perpetuate the disparities among students so that all students have the opportunity to benefit equally.
- Business Engagement
- Fiscal Equity
- Student-Centered Learning
- Culturally Responsive Teaching
- Family and Community Engagement
- School Climate
- Diverse Staff of Excellent Educators
- Equitable Student Access
- Teacher Quality
- Student Voices being listened to
- Access based on individual needs
- Access to learning that meets individual student needs (including learning disabilities, illness/physical limitations, cultural and language difficulties
- Providing the necessary guidance and supports – across all the many unique and different ways people come to the education table.
Earthquake Appeal for Haiti in coordination with Akron Children's Hospital and Gift of Life
My Life with Polio
12th Annual Cornhole Tournament benefiting Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs
Join us for Rotary Camp’s 12th Annual Cornhole Tournament, presented by Buckeye Corrugated, Inc. The tourney will be held on August 28, 2021 at 9:30am on the grounds of Akron Rotary Camp, in the beautiful Portage Lakes!
Sign up your team today for either the Skilled Ringers Division ($110) or the Recreational Division ($60). Winners walk away with cash prizes! Also participate in an Air-Mail toss or Long-Toss for some bragging rights and awesome giveaways! Bring your friends, neighbors and family for a fun day! All registered players will receive a food voucher to the Menches Bros. Food Truck, and an ice-cream station. Beverages from our friends at the House of LaRose will be available for purchase to help keep you cool.
There are multiple ways to support this great event to benefit Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs by registering to play, participate with a sponsorship or recruit teams. Your participation will continue to strengthen the Camp's mission of Creating a world where there are only abilities!
Any questions? Please call Rotary Camp at (330) 644-4512. Thank you in advance for helping us to make this a successful tournament to support Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs!
We are looking forward to seeing you at the event!
Scott Kolligian
Co-founder and Chair
Annual Cornhole Tournament
Club Welcomes Olivia Pilon as New Member
copy and paste this link into your browser: https://youtu.be/rSLCZRoyOAQ
Speaker Recap: Elaine Tso, CEO Asian Services in Action (ASIA)
- ASIA was founded in 1995 by a group of Asian women who wanted to help Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), immigrants, and refugees struggling to integrate in the U.S.
- At the time that ASIA was founded, most of the immigrants and refugees were coming from Asian countries.
- Today, ASIA *also* serves immigrants and refugees from Middle Eastern countries and Africa.
- ASIA welcomes all communities.
- ASIA started as a social services organization performing health screenings and community health promotion.
- ASIA opened its International Community Health Center (ICHC) in 2013.
ASIA’s Programs:
- Housing Counseling
- Emergency Food Assistance
- Workforce Development
- Benefits Access
- Transportation Services
- Tax Filing Assistance
- Court Interpreter Training
- Medical Interpretation Program
- Basic Needs Assistance
- Legal Services for Survivors
- Counseling
- Immigration
- Legal Permanent Residency (aka “Green Card”)
- Naturalization/Citizenship
- Family Law
- Marsy’s Law Representation for Victims of Crime
- A variety of home-grown vegetables grown from seeds brought to this country from their homeland. Many of these vegetables are not available in our local supermarkets.
- Microloans – Up to $25,000
- Small Business Technical Assistance
- Pre-pandemic
- Congregate Meal Program
- Civics and Socialization
- Post-pandemic shift •
- Previous in-person programming suspended
- Basic needs and benefits access increased
- Emergency Food, Mobile Meal Delivery
- Wellness checks
- New or increased use of communication platforms
- Teaching Lucky Seniors to use Zoom
- COVID updates
- Testing availability
- Vaccine availability
- Culturally and linguistically centered services
- Trusted community members on staff
- Responsive to community needs
- Empowering new arrivals
- Advocacy
An Important Message from President Buie: In-Person Meetings
Hi everyone,
I wanted to follow up with each of you regarding meeting in-person at Bounce Innovation Hub in downtown Akron. Following our meeting today I had a very lengthy and informative phone call with Dr. Rob to discuss resuming meetings.
Per our discussion and per his knowledge of what has transpired over the last few days in greater Akron, I have decided that it is in the best interest of our membership that we continue to sit pat and wait to see what happens over the next few weeks. Currently there has been an outbreak of the Covid 19 Delta variant that is affecting previously vaccinated people. As you heard in today's meeting, one of our own, Connor Jarvis, tested positive on Sunday. He and his wife were both previously vaccinated.
As much as we all want to sit down face to face and share a meal and some fellowship together, we will need to wait a little longer before we can gather in good conscience.
I apologize for being the bearer of bad news. I want the best for each one of us as I am sure you do as well.
All my best,
Steve Buie
Rotarians Meet-up at Party for the Parks
Speaker Recap: Katie Beck, North Hill Community Development Corp.
- They anchor capital in communities by developing residential and commercial property, ranging from affordable housing to shopping centers and even businesses.
- At least one-third of a CDC’s board is typically composed of community residents, allowing for the possibility of direct, grass-roots participation in decision-making.
- CDCs’ work to enhance community conditions oftentimes involves neighborhood organizing, a process critical for empowering residents and gaining political power.
- Exchange House:
- Market House:
- NoTique:
- NOHI Pop Up Restaurant:
-Providing access to a commercial kitchen
-Providing assistance, training and education about health safety, food management, and operations from industry professionals
-Providing real time oversight and support during operating hours
-Fronting food costs that are reimbursed from sales
End Polio Night at Progressive Field
Rubber Ducks Game August 3, 2021
Club Welcomes New Member Aimee Wade
Aimee Wade was inducted into the Rotary Club of Akron on July 20, 2021. She was sponsored by Julie Brandle who said "Aimee has a heart to do good for others."
Click here to view the induction.
She is married to Ryan and is a life-long resident of Summit County.
She has worked with the ADM Board for more than a decade where she was recently appointed as the new Executive Director.
Wade is the first woman and the first person of color to serve as the Executive Director of the ADM Board. “I recognize the significance of this role in our community, and I am committed to working with our partners and stakeholders to ensure that quality, effective and equitable behavioral healthcare services are available for all Summit County residents,” she said. “Moving forward, I am concentrating on providing HOPE for the community: Health and Wellness, Outcomes, Potential and Equity. I firmly believe that together our collective impact has infinite potential.”
Wade holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Criminology from The Ohio State University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Akron. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and an Ohio and Internationally Certified Prevention Consultant (OCPC).
She is also a member of the Summit County Opiate Abatement Advisory Committee and the Summa Community Engagement Committee. She is a past Board Member for Child Guidance and Family Solutions and a graduate of Leadership Akron Signature Class 35.
Please join us in welcoming Aimee to the Rotary family!
The Transition of the Akron Rotary Crown & Tiara
(no photo available of David at this writing but one will be posted soon)
Akron Club and Members Receive Awards from District 6630
Under the direction of 2020-2021 President McGregor, the Club received the A.Z. Baker Service Award.
Last Week's Speaker Kashava Holt
Julie Brandle Sworn in as DGE
Julie Brandle was selected in the Fall of 2020 to serve as our District 6630 Governor for the July 2023- June 2024 Rotary year.
At a ceremony on July 14, 2021, Brandle was officially sworn in as the District Governor Nominee (DGN) along with District Governor Elect (DGE), David Jones who will serve as Governor in 2022-2023.
(Photo L-R) Past DG Beverly Ghent-Skrzynski administered the oath of Governor Elect and Nominee, DG Larry Lohman then pinned DGE Jones and Jones in turn pinned DGN Brandle.
(Photo L-R) Larry Lohman, 2021-2022 District Governor, Julie Brandle, David Jones
About Julie:
She is a past president of the Rotary Club of Akron and served as an Assistant Governor for Summit S - Medina County Cluster. She has chaired the District Conference Committee, and was a member of the Foundation Gala committee. She has also served the District as a facilitator for the Tri-District Membership Seminar and was chair of the District public image committee.
Brandle is a committed community advocate and currently serves on the boards of The Rotary Club of Akron, Kent State University's Construction Management program, the Portage Development Board (economic development), Akron Civic Theatre, Akron Urban League, Greater Akron Chamber, ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) Northeast Ohio, Coleman Foundation and the Hattie Larlham Foundation. Julie volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio. Julie is a Lifetime Gold Award Girl Scout and holds the adult honors of Women of Distinction and the Thanks Badge.
She is a graduate of Cuyahoga Falls High School, as well as Bowling Green State University where she earned a double major in Interpersonal and Public Communication and Soviet Studies and a travel grant scholarship to study in Kiev, Ukraine. She is a graduate of Goldman Sachs 10k Small Businesses, ScaleratorNEO, Leadership Portage County and Leadership Akron's Class 37.
Brandle is the president and a founder of Metis Construction Services, a female-owned commercial general contractor located in Kent. Metis completes ground-up, renovation, and facilities maintenance projects throughout Ohio, along with projects currently in PA, IL, KY, MI, DE, MO, and NY. With over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and public relations, Julie oversees these areas of expertise for Metis along with being an integral part of the management team that designs and manages the overall business strategy for Metis Construction.
Brandle is the daughter of Rich (deceased) and Leann Soika and has a brother Rich (Sharon) and sister Kristen (Orlando) and 5 nieces and nephews (Orlando, RJ, Lydia, Ardynn and Reid). She and her husband Steven reside in Brimfield Twp. Their daughter Kimberly is a 2021 Bowling Green State University graduate and is excited to begin her first year this fall as a third and fourth grade Intervention Specialist at Monclova Elementary in the Anthony Wayne Local School District.
What is a Rotary District Governor?
District Governors (DG) are elected by the district clubs two to three years before taking office.
This time is dedicated for them to plan and attend development/training and leadership sessions.
What does a District Governor do?
As a District Governor you have proven strong leadership skills and decision making. During your year in office, clubs look to you for leadership, support, and motivation as they carry out service projects and participate in Rotary programs.
What you do
- Strengthen clubs, organize new clubs, and grow membership
- Encourage contributions and other support for The Rotary Foundation
- Promote positive public image and serve as spokesperson for district
- Develop a safe environment for youth participants
- Conduct district conference and other meetings
- Supervise district nominations and elections
- Prepare budget, provide annual report, and help administer District Designated Funds
- Complete online district qualification
- Work with governor-elect and other district leaders
The Rotary Club of Akron has a long history of its members being selected as District Governor.
These members of the Akron Rotary Club have honorably served as Rotary International District 6630 Governors (DG).
District 6630 has been renamed over the years as noted.
Past President Party for Dr. Rob McGregor, 2020-2021 Club President
Special thanks to Julie Brandle, Pat O'Neill and Mella Castner for the photos and to Sandy Naragon for the PowerPoint slides.
Speaker Recap: Dr. Michele Campbell, Executive Director, LeBron James Family Foundation
A Man With Many Names
Journeying Ahead - THE Story
- Strategic Plan – specifically our Diversity and Inclusion initiative
- Service Projects – Services with a purpose
- Enhance Relationships – Relationships with the Club, Camp, and Foundation
Dr. Rob McGregor: My Year as Rotary Club President
- Pack That Truck/ Akron Food Bank Food Collection
- Isolation Gowns purchased through a District Grant that provided badly needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Children’s Hospital
- Clothing collection to donate materials for masks to be made and distributed to those in need
- Mixology 101 – Shakin, not Stirred
- Akron Urban League – PPE donations to small businesses
- Together but Apart – Metro Parks Hiking Spree Challenge
- The Well CDC $7,000 District Grant for the Akron Hope Program
- Akron Public School - school supplies distribution event
- Recognition of Dr. Jeff Kempf by St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in Haiti
- Camp Holiday Drive-by Christmas Party
- Virtual Chili Open - record earnings of $312,486
- Mixology 202 – Manhattan
- Save the Monarchs – Butterfly Milkweed Project Metro Parks
- Partner with the Well to beautify 7 Middlebury properties
Thank you to our Paul Harris Fellow Sandy Naragon
Recognition total | Pin level |
US$2,000 to 2,999.99 | one sapphire |
3,000 to 3,999.99 | two sapphires |
4,000 to 4,999.99 | three sapphires |
5,000 to 5,999.99 | four sapphires |
6,000 to 6,999.99 | five sapphires |
7,000 to 7,999.99 | one ruby |
8,000 to 8,999.99 | two rubies |
9,000 to 9,999.99* | three rubies |
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
TRF distributes a portion of donations made to the Annual Fund to our District to support local Club grants. Only donations that are designated to the Annual Fund qualify to be redistributed to the District / Clubs.
Our mission
The mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
What impact can one donation have?
- For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
- $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
- $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
We know that the RI Foundation is helping Rotarians do good in the world, here are some figures to help put it in perspective:
- Basic education and literacy $53,261,360
- Community economic development $54,118,305
- Disease prevention and treatment $151,761,859
- Maternal and child health $35,233,163
- Peacebuilding and conflict prevention $18,659,168
- Water, sanitation, and hygiene $100,657,464
- and (effective officially on July 1, 2021) RI added The Environment as our newest Area of Focus and is already taking donations toward that cause.
Re-cap of Keep Akron Beautiful Presentation
President's Party Honoring Dr. Robert McGregor
You and your family are
invited to the
President's Party honoring
2020-2021 Club President
Dr. Robert McGregor.
July 10, 2021 ♦ 4pm-8pm
$40 per person
4460 Rex Lake Drive
Akron, OH 44319
Dinner will be served outdoors in the Pavilion.
It will include Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast and BBQ Pulled Pork, or a Veggie Burger upon request,
smashed redskin potatoes, roasted vegetables and more.
______________________
An open bar is included.
Catered by Robert J. Events.
______________________
Past President Pat O'Neill, will pay a special tribute to Dr. McGregor around 6:00pm.
Contact Mella Castner at Rotary Camp (330) 644-4512, mellac@akronymca.org for any questions.Your past President, Pat O’Neill
Steve Millard, President & CEO Leads Chamber's Efforts
- Support Company Growth; Jobs and Investment
- Support Small and Mid-Sized Businesses
- Drive Economic Inclusion
- Facilitate Employer Workforce Solutions
- Catalytic Research and Advocacy -- Drive ideas and decision-making on action to further Greater Akron’s economic success from the perspective of the business and employer community.
- Storytelling -- Bring visibility to the region’s assets, companies, needs and opportunities with a focus on driving value for the business community, its employers and their workforce.
- Convener and Facilitator -- Bring companies, organizations, and key stakeholders together to dialogue and connect around opportunities for mutual economic success in Greater Akron.
- Distinctive Products, Services and Resources to Support Members -- In places where gaps exist and the mutual needs of our members can be supported, the Chamber will invent and/or invest in capacity to fill the need and support their success.
June 10, 1924 . . .Rotary Camp was Born
Director of Endless Possibilities
Akron Rotary Camp
Beautification Project
Charles Billington, Vorys Cleveland, RC of Akron Risk Management Presentation
- Create a culture of risk management throughout the Club
- Conduct risk assessments and develop risk management plan for Club operations and activities
- Identify and continuously audit the Club’s insurance plans, policies and needs
- Assess and prioritize risks associated with Club operations and activities
- Communicate risk management-related advice and recommendations to the Board
- Determine how to manage identified risks and develop risk response plans
- Communicate with Club leadership, membership, and volunteers regarding safety, risk management, and risk response plans
- Consulted, advised, and helped plan risk mitigation efforts with the Chili Open
- Analyzed Club insurance coverage to identify any gaps
- Monitored local, state, and federal COVID related guidance
- Discussed several proposed events
- Created forms like releases and waivers for in-person events
- Description of the event
- Anticipated date(s)
- Any proposed/existing safety/health protocols
- Contact person
- Turnaround time
RC of Akron Secretary
Scholarship Chair
Risk Committee Member
Board Retreat
Campers Have Arrived!
If you know anyone 16+ who would be a great candidate to help, please have them contact Tina at tinag@akronymca.org or call 330.644.4512.
"End Polio Now" Night at the Indians 2021
Anne Graffice, EVP, Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Tom Benson HOF Stadium
- National Youth Football and Sports Complex
- Hall of Fame Indoor Waterpark
- The Eleven, a Hilton Tapestry Hotel
- Constellation Center for Excellence (75,00 sq. ft multi-use office building, center and hub for research and development for sports. Will also have a huge scoreboard in the front of the building.
- Center for Performance – an indoor fieldhouse, home for the NFL Alumni Association and their academy. It could be used for auto shows, indoor garden shows, indoor football games, indoor training facilities, etc.
- Retail Promenade – There will be two of these with 10-12 different storefront businesses.
- Play-action Plaza – an outdoor interactive green space.
- Includes potential for additional attractions, dining, lodging and accommodations housing options, etc.
- An opportunity to invest in the most powerful sport in America
- Leveraging powerful brands across an integrated platform
- Delivering unique experiences for loyal consumers
- Maximizing media content and sponsorships
- Significant long-term growth potential for their shareholders
- Exceptional leadership with proven track record
- More than 70 events were held in 2019. This included stadium, youth sports and private events.
- The Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium can hold live events, concerts and performances, weddings, corporate retreats, and indoor/outdoor parties.
- The National Youth Football and Sports Complex and hold youth sporting events and tournaments, sports academies and athletic clinics.
- The Center for Performance can house indoor sporting events, NFL Alumni Academy sports/events and convention space for events.
- The Constellation Center for Excellence can provide meeting space and speaking engagements.
- The Premium Hotels (Double Tree and the Eleven Hilton Tapestry hotels) can provide meeting space for meetings, conventions and banquets, weddings, corporate retreats, and indoor/outdoor parties.
- The indoor waterpark can be rented for events and private parties
- The Play- Action Plaza provides green space for recreation, events, and informal gatherings.
Service Project June 12th: Volunteers Needed Please
Rotary Cares
Howard Parr Talked About Civic Theatre Restoration at Club Meeting
Thank You Rotarians!
Akron Rotary Camp
Rotary International 2021 Virtual Convention
Intercountry Committees: Opening Opportunities for Peace
Dear Rotarians
You are all invited to register for the Rotary International ICC preconvention and attend the virtual Sessions on June 10, 2021. Follow this link for more information.
Rotarian Claudine Schooley will represent ICC USA-Ukraine and will participate to a panel discussion at 1:00 PM (Eastern Time, New York time) with Moderator Ovidiu Cos (Romania), ICC National Coordinator James Onions (UK), and ICC National Coordinator Cecilia Sequeira (Portugal) on the subject: "Starting and managing an Inter-Country Committee". Please come with your questions!
Claudine Schooley
ICC USA-Ukraine Chair of Section
Rotary E-Club of One World – District 5240
Tiffanie Ferguson of CHC Addiction Services Presentation Recap
- Adult Counseling Program: The Adult Counseling Program at CHC Addiction Services is designed to provide education, treatment and support for individuals with addiction ranging in severity from mild to severe. Since co-occurring disorders are common among those with substance use problems, CHC Addiction Services employs Master’s level clinicians who are well-equipped to teach patients effective recovery skills to improve the quality of their lives.
- Adolescent Treatment: CHC Addiction Services offers many options for adolescent treatment. This program centers around long-term abstinence. Programs include Community-based treatment, Outpatient Counseling, and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): CHC Addiction Service’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is designed to promote the recovery process through group and individual counseling, case management, vocational development, community support groups and re-integration programming. The Five Week program is a total of 15 group sessions. Patients who complete the IOP program are recommended to continue with aftercare programming as well as ongoing individual counseling sessions.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment: CHC has a wide range of treatment options, including programming for all three FDA-approved medication assisted treatment medications. CHC’s first Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) began in 1974. Patients in medication assisted treatment (MAT) receive both medication and counseling services as a part of their treatment. MAT is a highly effective, evidence-based practice in which medication stabilizes brain function and allows the patient to return to optimal functioning.
- Methadone is the most widely used and studied treatment for opiate addiction. It has been identified as the most effective treatment. It is a long-lasting, synthetic narcotic that acts in a way similar to morphine or other narcotics. When used in proper doses, methadone does not create euphoria, sedation or analgesic effects. It is used as a maintenance treatment to stop cravings.
- Methadone is the most widely used and studied treatment for opiate addiction. It has been identified as the most effective treatment. It is a long-lasting, synthetic narcotic that acts in a way similar to morphine or other narcotics. When used in proper doses, methadone does not create euphoria, sedation or analgesic effects. It is used as a maintenance treatment to stop cravings.
- Women’s Recovery Program: CHC Addiction Services has been providing specialized women’s programming since 1990. The program focuses on gender-specific, trauma-informed care and seeks to eliminate barriers to recovery that often affect women, including lack of transportation and child-care. The program also highlights the stigma of substance use in an effort to treat both substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.
- Residential Programs: Residential treatment is the highest level of care for substance use disorders. The need for residential treatment is determined after looking at an assessment of needs. Staff works with potential patients to complete the intake process and insurance companies to complete the necessary steps for entering treatment.
Thank you to our Paul Harris Fellows
Recognition total | Pin level |
US$2,000 to 2,999.99 | one sapphire |
3,000 to 3,999.99 | two sapphires |
4,000 to 4,999.99 | three sapphires |
5,000 to 5,999.99 | four sapphires |
6,000 to 6,999.99 | five sapphires |
7,000 to 7,999.99 | one ruby |
8,000 to 8,999.99 | two rubies |
9,000 to 9,999.99* | three rubies |
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
TRF distributes a portion of donations made to the Annual Fund to our District to support local Club grants. Only donations that are designated to the Annual Fund qualify to be redistributed to the District / Clubs.
Our mission
The mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
What impact can one donation have?
- For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
- $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
- $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
We know that the RI Foundation is helping Rotarians do good in the world, here are some figures to help put it in perspective:
- Basic education and literacy $53,261,360
- Community economic development $54,118,305
- Disease prevention and treatment $151,761,859
- Maternal and child health $35,233,163
- Peacebuilding and conflict prevention $18,659,168
- Water, sanitation, and hygiene $100,657,464
- and (effective officially on July 1, 2021) RI added The Environment as our newest Area of Focus and is already taking donations toward that cause.
Seema Rao Akron Enlightens Us About Akron Art Museum Exhibits
- Family Day: 10,000 Things Art Party
- Akron Art Museum After Work: Games in the Garden with Artist Jordan Wong
- Family Day Concert
- Family Day Neighborhood Garden Party
- Public Talk by the Guerrilla Girls
Cultural Humility Program Offered
Dr. Rob McGregor Speaks at Stow Rotary Club
Club Inducts Donna Skoda as our Newest Rotarian
Welcome to The Akron Rotary Club
DONNA SKODA, MS., RD., LD
Student Scholarship Program - Part III
On April 27, 2021, our Club honored students in the career fields of Business and Hospitality/Tourism.
Dei Juane' Burt, Jade Urdiales and Miranda Honaker.
These students are extremely accomplished students and active community volunteers.
AmazonSmile
We are happy to share that you as supporters can now use the Amazon Shopping app on your mobile phone to sign up for AmazonSmile and select "Rotary Camp for Children With Special Needs Inc" as their favorite charity. This is a great opportunity to engage with your supporters to help increase your AmazonSmile donations.
How it works:
1. Open the Amazon app on your phone
2. Select the main menu (=) & tap on "AmazonSmile" within Programs & Features
3. Select "Rotary Camp for Children With Special Needs Inc" as your charity
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app
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North High School Interact Service Project
Student Scholarship Program - Part II
On April 20, 2021, our Club honored students in the fields of Allied Health, Automotive, Bio-Science, Criminal Justice and Education.
Join Us: 2021 Virtual District 6630 Conference of Clubs
Pre-registration is required to attend.
- Annual Meeting (Electors - please enter the meeting at 5:45 pm)
- The required Elector Credential Certificate form that was sent to each Club Secretary/President MUST be returned to Mike Davanzo (mdavanzo@zoominternet.net) by April 12, 2021.
- This is required to be able to vote at the Annual Meeting.
- Conference Kick-off: Recognition of the two Clubs that reached 75 years and two Clubs that reached 100 years.
- Members achieving 50 years in Rotary in 2019-2021 and
- Celebration of Life with families of those who have passed away 2019-2021.
- Keynote Speaker: Rob Raylman: The Gift of Life International.
- Enjoy a fun radio show with music, trivia, and prizes. BYOB.
9:00 am - 11:00 am
- Multi District: Interesting speakers from around the country and world plus comments from the four District Governors.
- Keynote Speaker: RID Brad Howard: “Pivot Point or End Point”
- District 6630 Governor Pat Myers will share how all our clubs led through challenging times.
- District 6630: An exclusive breakout with our 4-Way Test Speech Contest winners
- Chartering of the Lake County Sunrise Satellite Club
- Recognition of E-ClubNEO Satellite Club
- Interact-Rotaract Club Highlights!
Cost to Attend: None!
After you register – there are a couple of important things to remember:
1. Your confirmation will be arriving from RotaryDistrict6630@neo.rr.com.
2. The confirmation contains a Join Meeting Link (see sample below)
- This link is unique to each of you. Do NOT share your confirmation link.
- Only registered attendees can enter the meeting.
- Be sure you login the day(s) of the event using the email you registered with.
William (Bill) Sepe Discussed Multi-purpose Recreational Trails at our Weekly Meeting
- Multipurpose trails are expensive, but they are an investment that lives on in perpetuity.
- Green space and equitable access to it is imperative sustaining healthy lifestyles.
- Greenways have an economic benefit to the communities they exist in by:
- Boosting property values
- Adding recreational opportunities
- Creating opportunities for alternative ways to commute to work
- Improving wellness
- Increasing tourism
- Providing access to businesses and retail stores
- An abandoned railroad right of way runs through Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Silver Lake, Stow, and Hudson – about 12.5 miles long.
- It has not been used since 1996 and will require tremendous investment in order to support rail traffic again
- It has long been recognized as an ideal trail opportunity and has been studied for more than 16 years.
- The owner, Metro RTA, is indicating a willingness to allow it to be used for a trail – as they did with the Freedom Trail.
- Summit Metro Parks has expressed an interest in partnering with Metro RTA to build and manage the trail.
- It connects the communities of Hudson, Stow, Silver Lake, Cuyahoga Falls and Akron and provides a North-to-South trail right up the densely populated middle of the county.
- It connects with 7 other trails and provides an ideal opportunity for both commuter and recreational use.
- The right-of-way goes along and crosses over the Cuyahoga River. In Silver Lake, it passes the golf course at Silver Lake Country Club. Stow has numerous secluded sections, In Hudson, it passes by a private lake, Ellsworth Meadows Golf Course, O’Brien Cemetery, and Cascade & Veterans Way parks.
- The trail would start at Akron’s Northside Train Station and end downtown Hudson, behind the Acme Plaza.
- Boston Heights Trail
- Highbridge Trail
- Connection to Towpath Trail
- Existing Summit Metro Park Bike & Hike Trail
- Freedom Trail
- Akron’s Rubber City Heritage Trail
- Hudson’s proposed extension of Veterans Trail
- Dismiss the rail proposal and embrace the multipurpose trail proposal instead
- Make an application with the Federal Transit Administration to permit the right-of-way to be repurposed as a multipurpose trail.
- Request the support that Senator Rob Portman’s office has offered to facilitate the F.T.A. application.
- Once the application is approved, sign leases with Summit Metro Parks and/or the local communities along the right-of-way to allow the trail to be built.
Tiffany Roper: Eat, Speak, Love
A Message from President Rob
We Call It Brain Training. Our Clients Call It Life Changing.
Steve Buie | The Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to one of our own members and the life changing program that he operates at our Tuesday, March 30th weekly club meeting. Presenting along with Mr. Buie, were Susan Costello and Andrew Durr, staff of Success4Kids, an offshoot of LearningRx. What is Brain Training? If you are not sure what “brain training” is, Steve explained that you are not alone. “A lot of prospective clients come for brain training with questions about what exactly it is that happens. Though the programs are complex, what they do is fairly straight forward: the training exercises strengthen the cognitive skills that are integral to thinking, learning, reading, memory, and attention. There are many underlying skills that are critical to performance, and our wide variety of brain training programs target them all.” Steve stated, “Clients at our Akron brain training center work one-on-one with their own personal brain trainers who guide them through challenging—yet enjoyable—mental exercises that target the client’s specific weaknesses. Our programs are like a fitness routine for the mind. Neuroplasticity of our brain – Use it or lose it!” |
Well, isn’t this just another name for tutoring? Another misconception Steve noted is that many individuals think they are a tutoring service. Though Success4RKids recognizes the benefits of tutoring, what they do is much different. Their brain training center focuses on an entirely different set of issues. Tutoring is best for redelivering difficult subject matter—or reteaching material that a student might struggle with—while cognitive skills training focuses on strengthening the brain to make learning and performance easier. “We get at the root of problems and customize a plan that targets each client’s specific needs.” “Our programs are more about training versus teaching.” What Brain Training Programs Are Available? Success4RKids offers a variety of cognitive skills training for school-age children. These programs target and strengthen weak cognitive skills. Programs consist of fun, challenging mental exercises done in the context of a one-on-one training relationship. These mental workout sessions are customized to address the unique needs and abilities of each client and are designed to strengthen the foundational cognitive skills that enable our brains to think, learn, read, remember, pay attention, and solve problems. These skills — attention, memory, auditory processing, logic and reasoning, processing speed, and more — impact our mental performance in every area of life, including school and work. The result? Dramatic, measurable improvements in mental performance. Success4RKids – A Program for Every Student: “While each situation is unique, most clients spend 12 to 34 weeks training with us. Best of all, Success4RKids offers a variety of programs to meet the needs of our clients.” Here’s a short description of some of the programs as taken from their website:
Success4Rkids is a non-profit formed with the express purpose of working with schools to equip school-age children with necessary strong, foundational, cognitive learning skills. Success4Rkids is currently conducting a pilot program with the I Promise School to help 10 students become skilled and confident readers. For further information on LearningRx Akron-Bath, I encourage you to go to their website www.learningrx.com/akron-bath. Yours in Service - Terry Dalton |
Big Brothers Big Sisters Makes a Difference for Children in our Communities
- Higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships
- Avoidance of risky behaviors
- Educational success
- Community Based Programs
- In-Person Site Based (on hold due to COVID-19)
- Virtual Site Based
- Bigs in Blue (police program)
- Community training.
- Time Commitment:
- There is a one-year time commitment
- Age limit
- 18 and up
- Touch base with your “little” no more than once a week but a minimum of 2 times a month
- In-person background check
- Inquire Online: Inquire today to speak with a match specialist at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
- Apply: Ready to take the next step right now? Complete the online application. This will help speed up the process. Alternatively, after you inquire online, a match coordinator will contact you to complete the application offline.
- References: You'll need to provide at least three references of people we can talk to about your ability to be a mentor.
- Background Check: Child safety is our priority, so we'll review your records to ensure you'll be a good fit for our program.
- Interview: A match coordinator will interview you in person.
- Matching: We will review the kids in your area who need a Big Brother or Big Sister and find the best fit for you. Depending on your gender and the kind of child you'd like to work with, matching may go very quickly or take some time. Making the right match is important to our commitment to form lasting relationships.
- 70-75% will increase feelings of social acceptance
- 70-75% will increase educational expectations
- 80-90% will improve GPA
- 90-100% will improve attitudes toward risky behaviors
- 75% will improve parental trust
- 50-60% will improve truancy rates
- 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
- 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
- 52% less likely to skip school
- 37% less likely to skip a class
- 33% less likely to hit someone
- 2021: Double their current matches
- 2025: 500 matches by 2025
- Make a one-time gift www.mentorwithme.org
- Sponsor a match – You will get quarterly match update, social media exposure and a custom picture to showcase at your place of work
- Attend a Big Brothers Big Sisters event
- Sponsor a site-based program
Student Scholarship Program
On March 16, 2021, our Club honored students in the Manufacturing, Engineering, Skilled Trades & Health and Human Services categories.
| ||
Mary Winer | Anjana Tamang | |
Emma Grass | Tam Chau |
Strategic Plan Re-boot
President, Rotary Club of Akron
During our Tuesday, March 9, 2021 Club meeting, President Rob McGregor provided an overview of the reboot of our Club’s Strategic Plan. Shared below are the key elements of action items the Club’s Board of Directors believe we can tackle over the next 3-6 months. |
Board Summary of Akron Rotary Strategic Plan Re-boot quick action items:
- Create standard work for service project development, proposing and vetting.
- Outline project frameworks-
- Distribute Bio-information of new members.
- Set up joint (virtual for now) opportunities to highlight other organizations’ cultures. Food/drinks.
- Enhance our partnering efforts with Rotaract, Interact, and culturally different organizations/fraternities/sororities. We can offer labor and financial support for their service projects.
- Strategize and be deliberate with short-and-long term engagements with diverse communities (Overlaps with Engagement group).
- Create current state GRID (See impact above #2) of our club’s activities organized by scope and level of RI: local club/zone/district/international.
- Create orientation plan for new members and periodic updates for more seasoned members.
- Update/enhance distribution and educate how to access bios of new members and their sponsors and intentionally highlight member’s businesses in newsletter (Overlaps with engage).
- Create a survey to determine HOW Rotarians want to connect and be engaged.
- Facilitate networking now – periodic vocational ice breakers. Add titles/vocation/avocation on ZOOM name tags (and eventually on real name tags). Can these action groups be a first step to engage new members and “voluntell” new member participation?
- Distribute Bio information (overlaps Impact/Inclusion/experience).
- Lean into North Hill area partners (International Institute, Asian Services, Celebration Church, North High) to give them something they perceive they need instead of us guessing/assuming we know what we should do (overlaps Inclusion).
- Begin dialogue with LeBron James Foundation for potential long-term project for respite at our camp for families ravaged by the pandemic (Overlaps Visibility/Impact).
- Develop formal policies/procedures for succession planning, on boarding, etc. to enhance efficient transitions and preserve institutional memory.
- Membership pathway development – couples/corporate/younger members under 35 (overlaps with inclusion).
- Create tools to educate and guide our members to better navigate Club Runner, on boarding checklists, more engagement with website (Overlaps with Visibility/Impact and Engage).
Happy Dollars: Photos Welcome for Our Meetings
Speaker Recap: Aimee Wade, Interim Executive Director, ADM Summit County
- Depression symptoms by region
- Mental Health Variables by Gender Differences
- Overdose Cause of Death by Year
- Overdose Death Rates per 100,000
- Day to Appointment for Addiction Helpline Caller
- Detox Availability by Days to Access
- Residential Treatment Availability by Days to Access
- Summit County Suicide Rate per 100k by Year
- Collaboration with ASIA Inc. to develop relevant communications and education around mental health for the diverse populations they serve.
- Collaboration through the ADM Change Direction Faith Initiative with local faith partners to train key individuals in the Grief Recovery Method.
- General and targeted suicide prevention and awareness campaigns partnering with local pharmacies, pizza and take-out restaurants, and the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank.
- Grant funded ADM providers through the end of December 2020 to ensure that they could keep their doors open as an essential service provider.
- FEMA Counseling & Outreach grant is supporting community education and referrals for services to help combat stigma, isolation, and grief as result of COVID-19.
- Collaboration with Akron Public Schools-College and Career Academy at Buchtel High School to introduce Behavioral Healthcare as Healthcare!
- Extended resources early in the pandemic to allow for hazard pay in our crisis and residential programs as well as for those essential to working in the community with our Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI) and Seriously Persistently Mentally Ill (SPMI) populations.
- Engagement of Mental Health Adult Care Facilities (group homes/adult foster homes) across Summit County to ensure that they had information and access to PPE, testing, and the vaccine.
Connor Jarvis Shared His Knowledge of Bourbon
- Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
- A non-wheated or more “rye” forward Bourbon is preferred (i.e. not Weller, Larceny, etc.)
- Connor likes high-quality, low-mid to mid-priced labels that are readily available / easy to find for my Manhattans (such as, Four Roses Yellow Label, Elijah Craig, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek (Bourbon), Evan Williams Single Barrel, Templeton Rye) – I save the Buffalo Trace, Weller, Eagle Rare, Henry McKenna, etc. for sipping, not mixing
- Sweet Vermouth
- Connor’s pick: Carpano Antica Formula or Carpano Punt e Mes
- Bitters
- Angostura Aromatic bitters are my classic, but feel free to get creative here to add some expression to the cocktail (for example, I used cranberry bitters around the holidays)
- Cherries
- Please, please, please don’t just use a “run-of-the-mill” maraschino cherry – this isn’t a Shirley Temple
- Connor’s pick: Luxardo Brand , Fabbri Amarena, or Bada Bing
- Martini Glass or Rocks (lowball) Glass
- Spiced nuts
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Sharper cheeses
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Flatbreads
- If a meal: steak, chops, pasta
Chef Rosh Creates Food for the Soul: Chef, Mother, Teacher and Reality TV Star
- 1.5 lbs. ground goat meat/lamb or chicken
- 4 yellow onions
- 4 Thai chili
- 1 qt yogurt
- 2 bunch cilantro
- 1/2 cup fenugreek leaf
- 2 bunch mint
- 1 cup lime juice
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup curry powder
- 1/2 cup garlic purée
- 1/2 cup ginger purée
- 8 tbsp cardamom powder
- 4 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 4 tbsp cumin seeds
- 5 tbsp turmeric
- 6 chopsticks
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cups basmati rice
Enjoy!!
Welcome New Members
Welcome to The Rotary Club of Akron
Geraldine Kiefer and Ryan McCauley
were inducted March 2, 2021!
Club Welcomes Two New Members
Welcome to The Akron Rotary Club
Steve Bossart and Zach Prosser!
Steve is very involved with his fraternity, Delta Chi, and serves as an alumni advisor.
Follow-up from VP of National Federation of Independent Business
Chili Open Re-Cap
The celebration for 31st Chili Open Classic took place this past Saturday, February 6th. The generosity from our Rotary Club members, sponsors and volunteers made this Chili Open a monumental success. The total amount raised this year is $315,961! Our presenting sponsor Wayne Homes has been a part of the Chili Open since 1993. This year they stepped up their support with a matching raffle ticket purchase which resulted in $7,420 in raffle ticket purchases. Wayne Homes leadership also presented the Chili Open with a $5000 donation in addition to the presenting sponsorship. Thank you again to all the sponsors listed below in this newsletter. 1st Prize: Rhonda Mele Vandevere Sponsored 2021 Chevrolet Trax LS 2nd Prize: Keith Anstine S Group Sponsored 55" 4K Smart LED TV 3rd Prize: Julie Lehman Steve Warren Sponsored FOX Sports Ohio Media Package Snowmania Winner: David Miller Our club members went above and beyond in securing sponsorships, camperships, raffle ticket sales, donations, and silent auction items. It was truly a remarkable day to celebrate as a club. Mark your calendars for the 32nd Chili Open on Saturday, February 5, 2022 where we hope to be back at Hale Farm. |
Our Chili Open Sponsors continued
THE 2021 CHILI OPEN
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In-Kind Supporters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fox Sports Ohio/SportsTime Ohio Hale Farm and Village hfa S Group, Inc. |
Our Chili Open Sponsors
THE 2021 CHILI OPEN
Akron Rotary Chili Open!!
Presenting Sponsor – Wayne Homes Wayne Homes didn’t invent custom, on-your-lot homebuilding. But for nearly 50 years, we’ve been working hard to reinvent it. To make it more customer-oriented. More affordable. And even more flexible, with practically unlimited customizable choices. In other words, to make it more do-able for more people. That’s our mission. And we’re happy to say we’ve made some great strides. Our customer satisfaction rating is among the best in the industry, and we’re one of a handful of builders in the entire country to win the National Housing Quality award. |
Community Partner $10,000 |
Corporate Partners $5,000 |
Premier Partners $2,500 |
Akron Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Anonymous Donor Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC Mark and Elizabeth Hamlin Exteriors Plus Construction House of LaRose O’Neill Insurance Perrin Asphalt & Concrete SeibertKeck Insurance Partners Stutler Leasing, Inc. Whitey’s Premium Chili Wright LaHaie Jarvis Wealth Advisors |
Caring Partners $1,250 |
91.3 The Summit The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory CLA The Davey Tree Expert Company In Memory of Wanda Laura Fair Eco-Seal Home Solutions, LLC Famous Enterprises Firestone Country Club FirstEnergy Family Credit Union Gabrial Family Foundation Hasenstab Architects, Inc. Huntington National Bank Paul J. Kruder Family Pamela Kiltau Lang Financial Group Martins Steel Fabrication, Inc. Sandy and Jeff Naragon David and Susie Nelson Novus Clinic Total Eye Care Ken Orihel Ports Petroleum Co., Inc. John and Linda Reyes S Group, Inc. Smithers-Oasis Company Steere Summit Construction Company Thompson Electric, Inc. TNT Exterminating Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP Cheryl and Steve Warren Don Wartko Construction, Inc. |
Club Assembly on February 2nd Was Energizing!
- Impact
- Experience
- Include
- Engage
- Transform
- Innovate
So please mark your calendar to attend!
Doug Kohl, Member, Akron Rotary Foundation Board of Directors Presentation Recap
The Vision of the Akron Rotary Foundation is to provide funding for opportunities for youth that are supported by the Rotary Club of Akron with special emphasis on educational and recreational needs of emotionally and physically challenged children.
- Community Development
- Neighborhood improvement
- Enhancing partnerships that improve neighborhoods
- Energizing & impacting Akron community projects
- Youth Empowerment
- Interact – High School leadership programs
- Rotaract – Encouraging young adults to lead
- Akron area public school scholarships
- Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA)
- International Understanding
- Rotary Youth Exchange – creating global citizens
- Partnering with local Rotary Club & RI initiatives
- RI’s 6 priorities
- The Rotary Camp – a unique priority of the Foundation, this program enjoys favored status with the Foundation. At least 1/3rd of all Foundation earnings support the work of Camp
Akron Public Schools Virtual Library: Calling all Storytellers
for volunteering to read a story for the APS Virtual Storytelling initiative.
contact Julie Brandle at jbrandle@metisconstruction.com
for more information and guidelines.
Past President, Rotary Club of Akron, Ohio
Cell 330.858.6672 | jbrandle@metisconstruction.com
We Need ALL HANDS ON DECK!!!
Thursday: January 28
12-1 pm at Akron Rotary Camp (4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH)
5-6 pm at Akron Rotary Camp (4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH), or
5-6 pm at Hilton Akron Fairlawn (3180 W Market St, Akron, OH 44333)
Cyndi Kane Spoke about Toastmasters and Leadership
Yours in Rotary Service -
Mark Your Calendar to Have Some Virtual Fun Friday Feb. 19th!!
Manhattan Valentine's Day
virtual Akron Rotary Social
Meeting ID 828 3137 9129
That's okay...
have your favorite beverage on hand and
come to enjoy a little social time!
- Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
- A non-wheated or more “rye” forward Bourbon is preferred (i.e. not Weller, Larceny, etc.)
- Connor likes high-quality, low-mid to mid-priced labels that are readily available / easy to find for my Manhattans (such as, Four Roses Yellow Label, Elijah Craig, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek (Bourbon), Evan Williams Single Barrel, Templeton Rye) – I save the Buffalo Trace, Weller, Eagle Rare, Henry McKenna, etc. for sipping, not mixing
- Sweet Vermouth
- Connor’s pick: Carpano Antica Formula or Carpano Punt e Mes
- Bitters
- Angostura Aromatic bitters are my classic, but feel free to get creative here to add some expression to the cocktail (for example, I used cranberry bitters around the holidays)
- Cherries
- Please, please, please don’t just use a “run-of-the-mill” maraschino cherry – this isn’t a Shirley Temple
- Connor’s pick: Luxardo Brand , Fabbri Amarena, or Bada Bing
- Martini Glass or Rocks (lowball) Glass
- Spiced nuts
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Sharper cheeses
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Flatbreads
- If a meal: steak, chops, pasta
Our Chili Open Sponsors and Goal Status
THE 2021 CHILI OPEN
Akron Rotary Chili Open!!
Presenting Sponsor – Wayne Homes Wayne Homes didn’t invent custom, on-your-lot homebuilding. But for nearly 50 years, we’ve been working hard to reinvent it. To make it more customer-oriented. More affordable. And even more flexible, with practically unlimited customizable choices. In other words, to make it more do-able for more people. That’s our mission. And we’re happy to say we’ve made some great strides. Our customer satisfaction rating is among the best in the industry, and we’re one of a handful of builders in the entire country to win the National Housing Quality award. |
Community Partner $10,000 |
Corporate Partners $5,000 |
Premier Partners $2,500 |
Akron Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Anonymous Donor Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC Exteriors Plus Construction O’Neill Insurance Perrin Asphalt & Concrete SeibertKeck Insurance Partners Stutler Leasing, Inc. Whitey’s Premium Chili Wright LaHaie Jarvis Wealth Advisors |
Caring Partners $1,250 |
The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory CLA The Davey Tree Expert Company In Memory of Wanda Laura Fair Firestone Country Club FirstEnergy Family Credit Union Focal Point Social Media Hasenstab Architects, Inc. Huntington National Bank Paul J. Kruder Family Pamela Kiltau Lang Financial Group Martins Steel Fabrication, Inc. Sandy and Jeff Naragon David and Susie Nelson Ken Orihel Ports Petroleum Co., Inc. John and Linda Reyes S Group, Inc. Smithers-Oasis Company Summit Construction Company TNT Exterminating Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP Cheryl and Steve Warren Don Wartko Construction, Inc. |
Camperships |
Acquire Investments on behalf of al Akron Fusion Ventures LPs and Portfolio Cos Akron Community Foundation Akrochem Corporation Akron Fusion Ventures Akron Porcelain & Plastics Co. Akron Tool and Die Co., Inc. Artists, Inc. Benchmark Charles and Melissa Billington (2) Mella A. Castner Caston & Main Brew Yard Blind & SonsThe Brandle Family Cell-O-Core Choice Home Inspections The Caroline Lyman & Family Foundation Concordia at Sumner John Daily DKC-Warfield and Company Dominion East Ohio Jim and Ann Durr (5) The Dick Farkas Family (3) Final Touch Construction Galehouse Lumber Co. The Geopfert Company Morgan Goldthwaite GPM Friction Products Morgan Goldthwaite Graves Lumber Co. Andrew and Amanda Grover Jeff Grosenbaugh, Citizens Bank, Commercial Banker Earl W. Hamlin III Harwick Standard Distribution Corp. Marcia Holcomb Holmes Siding Hudson Technology Partners Hummel Funeral Homes (2) Oscar and Barbara Hunsicker Ishee Investment Consultants Connor and Courtney Jarvis Terry and Jennifer Jarvis Jack Jeter Cyndi Kane – Re/Max Crossroads Kingdom Title Solutions Kovatch Castings Kyocera SGS Precision Tool Manby Kids: In recognition of their dad, Bill Manby, Sr. Margida & Associates, Inc. (2) Steve and Jeannine Marks Rob and Sharon McGregor Joe and Tamara Mora The Murphy Girls Lighting Showroom Dan and Sheila O'Connell Oriana House Paradigm Equity Strategies, LLC Parson Insurance Agency Peninsula Associates Architects, LLC Pleasant Valley Teardrop Trailers Polymer Valley Chemicals and Minerals Portage Community Bank Premium Balloon Accessories Pulp Franchising, Inc. Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar, Stow Raging Wolf Solutions, LLC Roger Read/Sally Miller John and Linda Reyes Dan and Wendy Reynolds Dan and Carol Riemenschneider Shamp Bionics Sikich LLP Mike and Sandy Soful Stark Truss Company, Inc. Stillpoint Therapeutic Massage Center Stow Munroe Falls Community Foundation, Inc. Scott and Dorie Stutler Wayside Furniture Western Reserve Hospital Westfield Bank |
In-Kind Supporters |
Fox Sports Ohio/SportsTime Ohio Hale Farm and Village hfa S Group, Inc. |
Dr. McGregor Leads Q&A About Covid Vaccines
Thank You - From the VA
Welcome Michael Gallucci our Newest Akron Rotary Member
Michael Gallucci was inducted on January 12, 2021. His sponsor is Dan Reynolds.
Michael has been a member of the Rotary Camp Board of Trustees for approximately 8 years and became the President of the Board on January 1, 2021.
Reynolds shared, “he is very dedicated to the camp and is a fantastic leader in our community. He sees the big picture and has the unique ability to work with anyone to accomplish a goal.”
Michael is the Executive Vice President of RDA Hotel Management Company and President of the Cornerstone Management Company, which over the past 32 years has owned and operated seventeen hotels/restaurants and offers hotel consulting services. He graduated from Bowling Green State University and Cleveland Marshall College of Law and has been a licensed attorney since 1980.
He also serves on the boards of Akron General Health System and is a Trustee of the Esther Lewis Warburton Foundation.
He and his wife Grace enjoy traveling and spending time with family.
Akron Rotary’s Chili Open – We Need Your Support!
Please take a moment to watch this message (click on the photo) from Jerry VanDevere from The VanDevere Bunch about Chili Open Raffle Tickets! If you have not returned our raffle tickets yet, please show your support and purchase them today at ChiliOpen.net. Please share with your friends, family and colleagues and support this great cause.
Thursdays: January 14, January 21 and January 28
12-1 pm at Akron Rotary Camp (4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH)
5-6 pm at Akron Rotary Camp (4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH), or
5-6 pm at Hilton Akron Fairlawn (3180 W Market St, Akron, OH 44333)
Akron Rotary Camp
(330) 644-4512 x3201
danr@akronymca.org
chiliopen.net
Gotcamp.org
Chili Open Golf Classic: Goal Status
Here are the most current results of our fundraising efforts as of January 12, 2021!
Thank you and please keep up the great work...we WILL get there!!
Although the Chili Open will look different from previous years due the impact of COVID-19, and whether you choose to attend in person or virtually, your gift will make a significant impact allowing us to continue to serve the vulnerable youth in our community.
The annual fundraiser represents 30% of operating costs to the Rotary Camp's annual budget. This ensures that no child is turned away due to their family’s inability to pay. We are extremely thankful to our Chili Open Presenting Sponsor, Wayne Homes for their continued commitment to the camp.
Each raffle ticket includes $25 in discounts:
- $10 off oil change at The VanDevere Bunch
- Purchase two entrees and receive $15 off your bill at Lala’s on the Lakes, located on Manchester Road, Akron.
There are great chances to win the following prizes:
- 1st prize is a 2021 Chevrolet Trax LS, or $13,000 cash prize – Thank you The VanDevere Bunch!
- 2nd prize is a 55” 4k Smart LED TV, courtesy of the S Group, Inc. – Thank you Rotarian Jeff Sheeks!
- 3rd prize is a behind-the-scenes media package at a 2021 Cleveland Indians Game – Thank you Rotarian Steve Warren!
Follow us on Social Media
- Facebook (@AkronChiliOpen)
- Instagram (@akronchiliopen)
Club Inducts Megan Olesen
Rotary Camp Spread Some Holiday Cheer!
District Executive Director
Akron Rotary Camp
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
In 1910, F.A. Seiberling, co-founder of The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, began to purchase land in Portage Township, a farming area on the west side of the Akron city limits. Seiberling and his wife, Gertrude, wanted to build a home large enough for their growing brood and their extended family. They also wanted the house to function as a center for entertainment and events for the greater Akron community. They named it Stan Hywet, Old English for stone quarry — after the property’s most prominent natural feature. Seiberling hired architect Charles Schneider, landscape designer Warren Manning, and interior decorator Hugo Huber to create Stan Hywet. Construction began in 1912 and the Seiberling family moved to their new house in December,1915. The Seiberlings enjoyed Stan Hywet Hall for the next 40 years —opening their doors countless times to the community, as well as marking family milestones throughout the estate.
- 70 acres
- 5 historic buildings
- 10 fully restored historic gardens
- collection and furnishings with 95% original to the estate
- Architectural Style: Tudor revival
- Construction materials, exterior: red brick, steel, sandstone, Vermont slate, copper, oak and plaster
- Construction materials on the interior include American oak, chestnut, black walnut, sandalwood, teak and rosewood
- Manor House Square Footage 64,500 sq ft.
- Length: 300 feet; the basement extends the length of the house
- Height: Main Structure, three stories; Music Room, two stories; Tower, four stories
- Stan Hywet is Akron’s first and largest National Historic Landmark
- The 6th largest historic home open to the public
- Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums
More than $5.1 million in grants provided to 180 Summit County nonprofits
Akron Rotary Foundation
You're Invited to Discover Cultural Peculiarities
Dec. 19 at 9 am (California time), 12:00 pm (Ohio, Eastern time), 6:00 pm (France Time), 7:00 pm (Ukraine time)
Meeting URL:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87975520591
Meeting ID:
879 7552 0591
Ali Miller and Chris Meyers from Playhouse Square
Rotary Youth Exchange
Topics we discussed focused on finding strategies to strengthen the RYE Program during this Stay-at-Home period. We plan to build greater Club knowledge of RYE Program and connect with Interact and RYLA clubs to get the message out to other youths. To do this, we will reach out to former Inbounders (Zoey Mayer, Elin Na and others) so they can attend a Zoom meeting and share (5 minutes) about what they are doing now. We also intend to work with John Margida to invite Rotex (former District Outbound students) to present their experiences to the Club (Audrey Carroll, Viet Nguyen, Auri Gaston, etc.). Another way to reach young people and their parents is to put the message about RYE programs in school districts’ newsletters to parents (Akron, Coventry, Stow, Green, Norton). We’d like to meet with Mark West, District 6630’s person in charge of RYLA, to share information about the Exchange. We intend to reach out to Janice Weaver and Alma De Blasio, Interact Advisors at North High School. It would be wonderful for The Rotary Club of Akron to facilitate a H.S. Interact project to promote International Peace through Exchange.
Another focus was Protecting Youth Program Participants, a concern that stems from the need for Rotary to send students into a “safe environment.” So, by announcing that there will be no exchanges before June 30, 2021, and that the decision will be made then whether to allow the exchanges to proceed guarantees that Rotary is protecting our young participants. In addition, our Akron Risk Committee will clear any documents that go to members or to the general public.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was another focus of discussion with ways to include it in our program. We talked about ways to make the program available for a committed student who can’t afford the cost of fees and air transportation, since we have had students in the past who dropped out because of financial challenges. We are looking into multiple ways to address this concern. We would like to see greater diversity of young people applying for the program. We can definitely work with schools and districts to encourage more students to apply if they know there is support there for them.
There is also a new option for students, the virtual exchange. We hope to learn more by talking to Rotarian John Koetz (in Columbus) who has been in charge of virtual exchanges to date. A couple of committee members plan to attend a Webinar on 22 January on this topic. We are also looking at ways to help students become more language proficient before they go abroad or during a virtual exchange.
- Susan Colville-Hall, Chair
- June Ring
- Brian Kosarko
- Dan O’Connell
- Laura Fink
- Doug Hausknecht
- Jacinto A. Nunez
- Stewart Buchanan
- Brian Chima
- Lynda Farkas
- Rima Muakkassa
Are you ready for our Holiday Zoom gathering on Dec. 15th?
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- 2 ounce white chocolate liqueur
- 1 ounce white creme de cacao
- 1 ounce half-and-half
- Honey and coarse sanding sugar for rim garnish
- Pour the honey into a shallow dish and put the sanding sugar in another shallow dish. Coat the rim of the glass in the honey; then dip the rim in the sugar to coat evenly. Set the glass aside.
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the vodka, white chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao, and half-and-half. Shake vigorously and strain into the prepared martini glass.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 2 cups orange juice
- ice
- sprite or sparkling water (optional)
- sugar for glass rims
- Measure out and stir cranberry, orange and pineapple juices together in a pitcher. Add the ice and sprite (or sparkling water).
- Dip the damp edge of glasses into sugar, if desired.
- Pour into glasses and serve.
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pound (about 2 cups) bittersweet (60 percent cacao) chocolate chips (recommended: Ghiradelli) see Cook's Note
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, at room temperature
- Butter, for greasing the pan
- Kosher or flake salt, optional
- Butter the bottom and sides of an 8 by 8-inch baking pan. Line the pan with a sheet of parchment paper, about 14-inches long and 7-inches wide, allowing the excess to overhang the sides. Set aside
- In a medium glass or stainless steel bowl, combine the condensed milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Stir in the chocolate chips and butter. Put the bowl on a saucepan of barely simmering water and mix until the chocolate chips have melted and the mixture is smooth, about 6 to 8 minutes (mixture will be thick). Using a spatula, scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with salt, if desired. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.
- Run a warm knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the fudge. Remove the fudge to a cutting board. Peel off the parchment paper and cut the fudge into 1-inch pieces. Store refrigerated in an airtight container or freeze.
Rotary on Jeopardy
2020 Annual Meeting Recap
Our Newly Elected Officers and Directors
The Rotary Club of Akron | |
Executive Team: July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
| Directors: July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2024
|
The Akron Rotary Foundation |
Directors: Terms as noted
|
The Akron Rotary Camp |
Directors: January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2022
|
Operation Rotary Holiday Outreach!
Thank you!
Rebecca Silber, Annual Giving Officer for Zones 30 and 31 - Speaker Recap
| $35,660,986 |
| $18,761,791 |
| $10,998,136 |
| $10,503,910 |
| $7,204,677 |
| $3,547,899 |
- Humanitarian projects
- Scholarships for graduate-level academic studies
- Vocational training teams, which are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about their field or to learn more about it themselves
- Humanitarian projects, including service travel and disaster recovery efforts
- Scholarships for any level, length of time, location, or area of study
- Youth programs, including Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), Rotaract, and Interact
- Vocational training teams, which are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about their field or to learn more about it themselves
- Annual Fund Share
- World Fund
- Polio-Plus Fund
- Disaster Response Fund
- Endowment Fund
District Foundation Event Recognizes Akron Club & Individuals
- PDG Cheryl Warren and her husband Steve were recognized for becoming Major Donors.
- Club Members that are in the Paul Harris Society were recognized.
- The Akron Club for the Disaster Relief Grant providing PPE Donations to Akron Children's Hospital.
- The Akron Club for its support of the End Polio Now Campaign (Clubs that contributed at least $1,500 to the End Polio Now Campaign).
Our Strategic Initiatives
Speaker Recap: Christine Curry, CEO, OPEN M
An emphasis on job retention
A customized mentoring program
Transportation assistance
Relationships with core employers in the community
Rotary Camp Holiday Party
31st Annual Chili Open!!
Thank you to all who joined us on the greens this past Tuesday as we reviewed the details of the 31st Chili Open Golf Classic. On February 6, 2021, at Hale Farm and Village in Bath, Ohio, we will be playing golf for the kids. This video (click here) gives you a glimpse of what happens in the day of a Chili Open!
Although the Chili Open will look different from previous years due the impact of COVID-19, and whether you choose to attend in person or virtually, your gift will make a significant impact allowing us to continue to serve the vulnerable youth in our community.
The annual fundraiser represents 30% of operating costs to the Rotary Camp's annual budget. This ensures that no child is turned away due to their family’s inability to pay. We are extremely thankful to our Chili Open Presenting Sponsor, Wayne Homes for their continued commitment to the camp.
Rotarians are needed to help with the sale of raffle tickets, acquiring unique silent auction items, and providing sponsorships. Please consider increasing your sponsorship, renewing your sponsorship or becoming a first time sponsor. If you need assistance with sponsorship questions please reach out to our Sponsorship co-chairs, Christina Horak or June Ring.
Each ticket includes $25 in discounts:
- $10 off oil change at The VanDevere Bunch
- Purchase two entrees and receive $15 off your bill at Lala’s on the Lakes, located on Manchester Road, Akron.
There are great chances to win the following prizes:
- 1st prize is a 2021 Chevrolet Trax LS, or $13,000 cash prize – Thank you The VanDevere Bunch!
- 2nd prize is a 55” 4k Smart LED TV, courtesy of the S Group, Inc. – Thank you Rotarian Jeff Sheeks!
- 3rd prize is a behind-the-scenes media package at a 2021 Cleveland Indians Game – Thank you Rotarian Steve Warren!
Rotary Camp need us now more than ever. Here are 3 easy steps you can take now to support the kids:
1. Follow us on Social Media
- Facebook (@AkronChiliOpen)
- Instagram (@akronchiliopen)
2. Sell or buy 5 additional raffle tickets at chiliopen.net
3. Come visit Rotary Camp! If you have not been to Camp or would like bring a prospect, please schedule a visit with Dan Reynolds.
For 96 years, Akron Rotary Camp has been the main project of our Rotary Club. Every Rotarian is needed to help us reach our $300,000 goal in 2021! Let's help camp live out their mission of “Creating a world where there are only abilities!”
Fall Hiking Spree In Action!
Rob, Sharon and Harrison at Liberty Park Gorge Trail on Saturday |
Kimmie Hoch hit the trails this past weekend. What a difference a day makes in Ohio! |
Tim and Katy got a hike in Saturday...A beautiful day for the #Fallhikingspree! |
Julie Brandle and daughter Kimberly 5 hikes and 9 miles so far. |
Jeff Kempf Recognized for his Service to St. Damien Hospital in Haiti
CONGRATULATIONS DR. KEMPF!
Donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
Dr. Tim Collins, President Walsh University Presentation Recap
- 3-day interactive, practical immersion experience
- Examples, exercises and applications directly from day-to-day work activities
- Walsh University professors and experienced industry consultants
- Data Analytics
- Data Analytics – Applied Business Solutions
- Business Analytics
- Designing and Implementing an Azure AI Solution
- DevOps Executive Workshop
- DevOps Foundation
- DevOps Implementation Boot Camp
- Understanding of fundamental concepts of IoT
- Knowledge of how readily available electronics can collect useful data in real time
- Skills to cost-effectively create efficiencies within tasks and systems
- Ability to use IoT tools to increase a company productivity and profitability.
ICC Group Meeting Recap
Lorrayne Gervase Becomes Member of Akron Rotary
Terry Dalton Receives the Unsung Hero Award
Halloween Fun!
Dr. McGregor with his daughter on a magic carpet. | Cheryl and Steve Warren - as Elvis with his peanut butter and banana sandwich. |
Colleen Iacianci as wacky wavy inflatable flailing arm tube people - the name of the costumes is a mouthful! | Julie Brandle as Gretel for a murder mystery |
David Miller - In addition to the Harry Potter one here are the Millers over the years. (see more below) | Cheryl and Steve Warren as Santa and Mrs. Claus a little earlier than normal - but if the stores can do Christmas in October, so can we! |
The Miller Family | The Miller Family |
The Miller Family |
The Well CDC’s Akron Hope Program Awarded $7,000 Grant
Annual Meeting Notice
The Annual Meeting for the Rotary Club of Akron will be held December 1, 2020 at Noon via Zoom
The purpose of the meeting is to announce the elected the officers and directors to serve for the ensuing year, provide updates and reports from the Club and to discuss and vote upon any resolutions as needed.
District 6630 Governor Pat Myers Presentation Recap
Akron Rotary’s 31st Annual Chili Open Golf Classic!
|
People, Passion, Purpose, Performance - Elevating Your Leadership
- Inclusive Leadership Series: Leverage inclusivity to create a strong culture that impacts the bottom line. In today's technology-driven world, understanding the power of inclusivity enables leaders to address workplace and personal challenges such as unconscious bias and miscommunication while strengthening personal and employee engagement.
- H. Peter Burg Leadership from Within Series: An in-depth and practical guide to strengthen leadership capabilities, with an emphasis on personal inner growth as the foundation for effective leadership.
- The Enneagram: An insightful, practical, and proven program about how we are alike and different, what motivates us, where we place our attention, and how we communicate, manage change, and more.
- Appreciative Inquiry: A positive approach to problem solving by discovering organizational strengths and designing processes to realize hopes and dreams.
- Mindful Leadership: Participants will have opportunities to experience and practice proven techniques for integrating mindful leadership into a busy life, enabling leaders—whether they lead organizations, teams, or families—to enhance their ability to lead and live with excellence.
- StrengthsFinder: Become more adept at identifying and using well your strengths at work. Determine how to further recognize, encourage, and leverage team strengths.
- Working as One: During this workshop teams will walk away with strategic considerations and concrete ideas for how to work better together using specific communication tools and techniques.
Rotarians wishing to learn more about the Heart to Heart Communications program can go to their website at https://www.h2hc.org or reach out to them at the following address: Heart to Heart, 37 N. High Street, Suite B, Akron Ohio 44308, or phone number: 330.434.3278
Social Committee Looking Ahead
Billy Taylor Provides Insights on Leadership Management & Transformational Change
- We need to be heard
- We need to be understood
- We need to matter
- We need to be emancipated
- Inspiring trust/creating a safe environment for change
- Key to being able to unlock “what is” in order to discover “what can be.” “Comfortable being uncomfortable.”
- Critical to measure what matters
- Deliberate practices incorporated into leadership practices
- Define winning (both at the job and in your personal life)
- Align yourself to winning
- Execute winning
- Make people visible and they will make the organization valuable
- Right culture: Principles to live by
- Key performance actions
- Performance indicators
- Leverage the 4 Human Needs
- Psychological safety – celebrate
- All encounters matter.
Lessons Learned from Their Year in Leadership
PAMELA KILTAU 1995-1996 Club President | LANCE CHIMA 2013-2014 Club President | DR. DOUGLAS HAUSKNECHT 2004-2005 Club President | PATRICK O'NEILL 2019-2020 Club President |
- Find someone to help you feel welcome.
- Get involved.
- Involve yourself in any and every thing to find where you are the most comfortable.
- Use Club Runner to become familiar with who other Rotarians are and what their interests/professions are. Reach out to someone you find interesting in the directory.
- Finding someone in the Club you can go to.
- Finding your passion.
- Having each other’s back.
Volunteers Needed Oct 3 & 4: Come out and plant a tree or two!
- October 3rd at Erie Island
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parks-week-tree-planting-at-erie-island-tickets-121027519569
- October 4th at Joy Park
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parks-week-tree-planting-at-joy-park-tickets-121017862685?fbclid=IwAR2URKTO9EUdiS5SYttO_qVO5k2O2ncR35Q_6vza1XdegTihjmxoZ-_lgDE
Julie Brandle
Rotary Club of Akron
Volunteers Needed Oct. 4th: Akron Public Schools School Supplies Distribution
Julie Brandle
Rotary Club of Akron
Volunteers Needed: Virtual Service Project for North High School
FOR EASIER VIEWING
Club Inducts Hilary F. DeSaussure
During law school, Hilary assisted a professor on research for his evidence textbook.
Summit County Public Health Commissioner Discusses Pandemic
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PRESENTATION
- Providing professionalism - Honesty, integrity and competency in all interactions
- Respect - Everyone who interacts with us in any capacity will be treated with respect
- Outstanding quality - We are nationally accredited and have an ongoing commitment to
continuous improvement - Mission-driven dedication - Our mission statement says it all. It's who we are and what we do
- Innovation - We look at every situation as an opportunity to be forward-thinking and proactive
- Service-orientation - Our goal is to provide excellent customer service in all interactions
- Equity for all - Everyone should have the opportunity to attain their highest level of healthy, regardless of social or demographic factors.
FOX 8 News Features Akron Club Social Project
for airing our social project
Lets be Social...Apart
which is taking place in conjunction with
the Metro Park "Fall Hiking Spree".
Dan Reynolds Presented Rotary Camp Update
- The Camp Regatta has been postponed until 2022.
- The Cornhole tournament held last weekend will provide approximately $10,000 in revenue
- The camp will be initiating some Family Events for campers
- Camper backpacks will be filled shortly
- Partnership with the Super Learning Center will continue
- Preparing for a modified 2021 Summer camp experience
- Beginning strategic planning for the 100th anniversary in 2024 of the camp
How can Rotarians help the camp staff?
- Help with the 31st Annual Chili Open
- Participate in volunteer opportunities
- Share the Rotary Camp Story – come for a tour, bring a friend
- Support donations through Amazon Smiles, Facebook campaigns, etc.
- Coming soon -- Buy a Brick campaign
Dr. Matthew Deevers Provided Insight about SEI Initiatives on Sept. 8th
- Articulates the major educational challenges facing Summit county and
- Tracks the progress being made to address those challenges by conducting research and publicizing relevant data and findings
- Encourages and facilitates collaborations designed to address those educational challenges and
- Develops prototype programs that test and refine strategies for removing barriers to high educational aspiration and achievement.
- to increase the number of students ready for kindergarten success
- to increase the number of students on track for success in school,
- ensure all students who graduate high school have a plan to become enrolled, enlisted or employed,
- to increase the number of individuals with career credentials and college degrees, and
- empower partners who are working with youth to support student success.
- all Summit County school districts, plus many non-public schools,
- three closest higher education institutions,
- 60+ Out of School Time Partners,
- 130+ preschools,
- government and nonprofit agencies,
- local, state and national foundations and funders, and
- business entities.
- Convene caring adults from educational, nonprofit, government and business entities,
- Use data to identify specific issues that require attention,
- Mobilize their five strategy teams to execute specific goals and tactics that address the issues,
- Measure progress and success,
- Report their findings,
- Scale successful strategies across the county, and
- Repeat steps 1 – 6 as necessary until the goals are met.
- Kindergarten Readiness – Scoring on track in Language and Literacy on Ohio’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment,
- Third Grade Reading – Scoring proficient or higher on Ohio’s 3rd Grade Next Generation Reading Test,
- Eighth Grade Math - Scoring proficient or higher on Ohio’s 8th Grade Next Generation Math Test,
- Ninth Grade Success – Completing 9th Grade with a 3.1 or higher GPA and 6.5 cumulative credits,
- College and Career Readiness – Graduating with a 21 or higher composite score on the ACT (or equivalent),
- College Enrollment – Enrolling in accredited post-secondary programs,
- Post College Readiness – Encouraging individuals who have attended college but didn’t graduate, to see how they can go back to school to get their degree or other type of certification, etc.
Let's be Social . . .Apart
Anyone who finishes the whole spree, and sends me a copy of their completed form will be entered into a drawing for a Fall Basket of goodies!
Don Drumm Enlighted Our Members & Guests
The name is McGregor, Rob McGregor...Shaken Not Stirred
Ilene Shapiro Helps Move Our Community Forward
Ilene Shapiro served on Summit County Council for ten years, three of those as Council President. Ilene served on various committees during her tenure on Council, including serving as the Chair of Planning and Economic Development Committee for seven years.
Executive Shapiro is an accomplished business leader with a history of successful business ventures for high growth, established, turn-around and start-up organizations and led Shapiro Consulting, which specialized in the areas of Sales, Marketing, Business Planning, Workforce and Economic Development.
In recognition of her distinguished work, Shapiro was awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration Women’s Business Advocate for the State of Ohio and the Judith A. Resnick Woman of the Year Award for Inspiration. In 2007, she was recognized with a Women of Professional Excellence Award from Women's Network Inc. And in September 2008, Shapiro was honored as the 2008 Northeast Ohio Athena Award Recipient sponsored by ATHENA International and Inside Business Magazine. In 2011, the Akron Urban League awarded Ilene the distinction of being named as a Pioneer at their annual Pioneer and Protégé’s recognition event. In 2015, she received the Harold Stubbs Award for Government. In 2019, Executive Shapiro was named a Crain’s Cleveland Business Woman of Note.
Mark Gerberich Collaborates to Ensure Success of Akron Soap Box Derby
- Youth Education and Leadership Development, Family Engagement and Enrichment,
- Honesty, Integrity and Perseverance, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Teamwork and Collaboration, Mentoring, Volunteerism and Commitment to the Community.
Teresa LeGrair Presented August 11th
WORKFORCE ENTREPRENEURSHIP EMPOWERMENT CENTER
Help Send Kids to Camp
Members Take Action
Thank you to all of our Rotarians who volunteered at The Akron Urban League to assist with the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for those in need in our community.
Shoebox Project 2020
The breakout of the children is:
20 girls age 7
5 girls age 4
5 boys age 16
Please review the documentation for the list of items needed (CLICK HERE) if you have interest in providing those versus a cash contribution. The boxes must be delivered by 8/28/20. Any donations would need to be in hand by 8/24/20.
Thank you for your consideration in serving with this project. I know these boxes will be cherished and appreciated by the children.
Please reach out to Wanda Whipkey wanda@worldelite.com or (330) 714-7707 with questions.
Margo Sommerville Presentation Recap
“Paul Harris Fellow”
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Sandy Naragon – PHF +5 | Cheryl Warren – PHF +4 | John Reyes – PHF + 7 (John was out climbing rocks!) | |
Dr. Rob McGregor – PHF +2 | Dr. Doug Hausknecht – PHF +3 | Nathanael Billow – PHF +1 |
Akron Rotary Foundation Makes a Difference in Central and South Americas
- James Redmond, President
- Katy Miller, Vice President
- Mark Krohn, Treasurer
- Sally Christman, Secretary
- Julie Brandle, Communication/Public Relations
- Steve Buie, Governance/Liaison to Club Board
- Marcia Holcomb, Nomination/Roster
- Rima Muakkassa, Ph.D, Scholarships
- Jeff Sitz, Finance
- Brian Steere, Fundraising/Development
Kemp Boyd of Love Akron Helps Make a Collective Impact
Save the Date!
Royal Family KIDS Changes Young Lives
Royal Family KIDS
Cornhole Tournament Time!
Co-Founder, Charity Cornhole Tournament
Richard Fry is our Newest Rotarian!!
Perry Clark Gave Uplifting Presentation July 14th
They offer Lawncare & Landscaping, Commercial Cleaning, Housing Rehab & Construction, and Hauling & Manual Labor.
Simultaneously, the program provides the entire community - business owners, local government, nonprofit organizations, churches, and residential home owners - with high-quality, competitively priced services and provides TRY with a growing source of income to support its reentry work.
Immediate needs of the organization are a cargo van and mini van.
To make a donation - click here
WEBSITE: www.trulyreachingyou.com
EMAIL: info@trulyreachingyou.com
PHONE: (330)785-9294
OFFICE: 587 Baird Street, Akron, Ohio 44311
MAILING:PO Box 814, Akron, OH 44309
District Recognizes Clubs and Individuals for Achievements
- Julie Brandle - District Conference Committee Chair
- Stewart Buchanan, PDG - Foundation-Indian’s Baseball Chair
- Stewart Buchanan, PDG - Foundation Polio Plus Chair
- Cheryl Warren, PDG – District Website and Newsletter Chair
Rotary District 6630 Distinguished Service Above Self Award
- Julie Brandle
- Stew Buchanan
- John Daily
- Lynda Farkas
- Jack Harig
- Doug Hausknecht
- Tom Knauer
- Sandy Naragon
- Pat O’Neill
- John Reyes
- Claudine Schooley
- Cheryl Warren
- Steven Warren
Welcome Our Newest Member Carol Marturano-Becker
2020-2021 Club President Kicks Off the Year!
This was our first meeting of the new Rotary Year. Our 2020-2021 President, Dr. Robert S. McGregor, was officially installed, and he in-turn installed his officers. It was a pleasure to hear from Rob about his vision, themes and goals for the upcoming year. In addition to continuing to embrace and implement the strategic plan, he plans to have the Bylaws committee revise/update the club bylaws. He is planning routine monthly meetings for the council of chairs and will also be forming a new Risk Management Assessment committee.
< View President Rob's Slides (click here)
<Watch the July 7th Meeting (click here)
YOUR 2020-2021 CLUB OFFICERS
& DIRECTORS
Past President & Nominating Committee Chair Director 7/2018-6/2021 | Director 7/2019-6/2022 Director 7/2020-6/2023 |
Pack That Truck Results
Club Welcomes Anne Jorgensen
Anne Jorgensen became our newest member on June 30, 2020. She was sponsored by Rotarian Doug Hausknecht.
She was promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Programming and Leadership in September 2019.
She directs Student-Athlete Programming and the Cline Leadership Academy. Jorgensen is responsible for guiding the career direction for 20 teams and 530 student-athletes. She recruits for all sports.
Named the Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Academic Services in January 2007, Jorgensen coordinated all academic advising for Akron's 450 student-athletes and coordinates eligibility with compliance. Working with all 18 Zip sports, she conducts recruitment visits and meets with each coaching staff for academic reviews.
Prior to joining the Athletics Department, Jorgensen spent six years as the director of undergraduate programs and assistant to the dean in UA's College of Business. A member of the UA staff since 1997, Jorgensen was the senior assistant director of admissions and coordinator of transfer admissions for three years, helping to recruit for all sports.
Jorgensen spent six years at a part-time faculty member in UA's School of Music.
Jorgensen earned a double bachelor's degree in music/piano pedagogy and music education from Michigan State in 1974. She completed a certificate in early childhood education from Midwestern State University in 1985. Jorgensen earned a master's degree in music from Morehead State in 1976.
A native of Michigan, Jorgensen resides in Twin Lakes. Her husband Robert Jorgensen, professor emeritus and director of bands emeritus at The University of Akron, passed away on July 4, 2015, directing a band. The couple has a daughter, Laura, who is the assistant athletics director and director of athletics ticket operations at the University of Oregon.
Pat O'Neill Completes His Year as Our Club President
Haven of Rest Canned Food Drive August 20th
Haven of Rest will be hosting a canned food drive (see below or click here to open a flier) August 20th from 11 am -7 pm at Chick-fil-A locations: Canton/Dressler Road; Montrose/Flight Memorial Drive and Chapel Hill/Howe Avenue. You can also visit https://www.havenofrest.org/ for more information.
Welcome New Member Mario Mastroianni
Youth Exchange News
Speaker Recap from June 23, 2020
Doug is very passionate about conservation and building value for wildlife and wild places through connecting people to nature. He shared that 50% of the Akron Zoo revenues are from the Summit County tax levy and 50% are from earned revenue. As an essential business during COVID-19, the Akron Zoo maintained a daily staff, a critical staff and an at-home staff.
Akron Zoo's mission is to support the community by connecting our lives to wildlife while inspiring lifelong learning and conservation action.
During the pandemic, the Akron Zoo also partnered with the Akron-Canton Foodbank by providing of the Zoo's lots for food distribution. In addition, since the public could not enjoy the Zoo's blooms this year, the horticulturists harvested the blooms and delivered them to First Responders.
The Akron Zoo is one of only 237 AZA-Accredited Zoo's,
Click here to view all of Doug's slides from the day.
Club welcomes Janice Radl!
Rotary Club of Akron inducted Janice Radl to our club Tuesday, June 16th.
Janice is an Adult Services Librarian at the Akron-Summit County Public Library's Main Library in downtown Akron. Her current assignment is the Business & Government Division. Janice holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from The Ohio State University, a Master of Science degree in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University, and a Master of Library & Information Science degree from Kent State University. Prior to joining the library, Janice completed a fellowship with the Cleveland Restoration Society, a local partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Since relocating to Summit County in 2004, Janice has volunteered with organizations ranging from the Conservancy for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, International Institute of Akron, and the Akron Area Interfaith Council. Janice enjoys hiking and reading American History and biographies. She is a graduate of Leadership Akron’s Diversity On Board program, Class 4.
Janice attends St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Akron. She and her husband Bob live in Sagamore Hills.
Rotary Camp Service Opportunities
North High School Thanks Rotary!
First, I want to say THANK YOU for supporting North High School's Academies in the 19-20 academic year. As I'm sure you can imagine, this year was a unique one. We had our first graduating class to experience the full academy model, and even though it ended on an unexpected note, it is clear that they benefited from your support as a partner.
In total, The Rotary Club of Akron invested 41 hours over 10 engagements equaling $4,100 in time and talent! In addition, any planning time on your end also counts towards your total investment, and is currently not reflected in the figures above.
Speaker Recap from June 16, 2020
We were pleased to hear from Mike Solosky, Donor Relations Coordinator at Haven of Rest Ministries on June 16th. Mike share some staggering statistics about both, the Residents (those who stay on average of a year) and the Clients/guests who seek overnight shelter, food and clothing. Haven of Rest Ministries supplies approximately 1,400 men, women and children and meals. Even more are hungry and struggling. Haven of Rest Ministries plays a vital role in our community by addressing this growing need and helping to break the cycle of homelessness so that people can live brighter, hope-filled lives.
Haven of Rest provides a variety of services to the homeless, the new poor, battered women and children, rape victims, alcoholics, drug addicts, evictees, parolees, runaways, transients, indigents, and those with minimal mental and physical disabilities. Diversified services, offered to these individuals and families without charge, provide pathways for a new way of life and self-sufficiency. This past year, the mission provided 269.608 meals and 59,800 nights of lodging.
For 77 years, Haven of Rest Ministries has never received government funding. It's funding is private and corporate donors only.
Cash donations are always welcome but they are also in need canned goods for their meals. The larger cans are best if possible!
They will be hosting a canned food drive (see below or click here for the flier) August 20th from 11 am -7 pm at Chick-fil-A locations: Canton/Dressler Road; Montrose/Flight Memorial Drive and Chapel Hill/Howe Avenue. You can also visit https://www.havenofrest.org/ for more information.
Pack That Truck!!
- Boxed Cereal
- Canned Beef Stew
- Canned Soup
- Canned Tuna
- Canned Vegetables
- Canned Fruit
- Peanut Butter
- Rice/Pasta/Beans
- Other Non-perishable food items
- Paper products
- Paper towel
- Tissues
- Personal Care Items
Let's Honor President Pat!!
To encourage members to donate the money they would have spent on the dinner ($35 per person) to the service project our Club is involved with for the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank called "Pack the Truck".
Pat for his outstanding and
dedicated year
as our Club President!
Success!!
specialist ACRFB
Keep Akron Beautiful
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Speaker Recap from June 9, 2020
During our virtual meeting, Jim Mullen, President & CEO of United Way of Summit County updated us on the United Way of Summit County's BOLD GOALS and how the United Way became the lead organization for the COVID-19 Emergency Response raising 1.7 million to date. Thank you for joining us today Jim Mullen!
You can view some of Jim's slides below (thanks Julie Brandle for the screen shots!).
Akron Rotarians Step Up!
The following day 5 Rotarians and a few family members met in the afternoon outside of Dr. Leia Love's salon in West Akron to distribute the packages. There were lots of smiles and thankful hearts for our gracious gifts.
A big thanks to the club members and our Akron Rotary Foundation for its matching donation - we raised $6,300 for this project!
The journey begins!
Presentation Recap from our June 2nd Meeting
Right on Time!
At the beginning of the year our club formed a diversity/inclusion committee to look at ways to build bridges with black Akron and the international community. This Saturday, June 6th, a team of Rotarians and Rotaract students are gathering at The Rotary camp in portage lakes to put together care packages of needed supplies for salons and barber shops to be able to get back to business with confidence. Supplies will be distributed on Sunday afternoon.
What's really wonderful is that this need was only shared with the club one time and $6,300 was raised to help. What a wonderful way to start the journey of building relational Bridges within our wonderful community. Stay tuned, there's more to follow in the coming days, months, and years. We are Akron proud!
Wheelchairs for Ukraine During the Pandemic
Harvest for Hunger Campaign In Review
Our Community. Our Commitment.
We also realize that in order to successfully represent our great City, we need to see and hear the needs of all Akron.
Recently, Robert DeJournett, director of diversity and inclusion, from the Akron chamber of commerce shared with our club during a virtual zoom meeting. He shared how our Club could take a much-needed step to help black small business owners who own barber shops and beauty salons throughout Akron.
The effects of the pandemic on these small businesses was overwhelming. Robert invited us to help meet a present need by purchasing much needed supplies for these shops to reopen in the first week of June.
Rotarians will be meeting to put together the supply packages and to make deliveries.
We're thankful for the opportunity to serve and to build relationships with our brothers and sisters in need.
Steve Buie
Club Dues
Club Welcomes New Member Luke O'Neill
When Luke is not working or talking real estate, he loves spending time with his wife, Elyse and their two sons, and dog, Mali. With a zest for life and a passion for helping other, Luke said he "will make sure he gives 100% at everything he does."
Akron Heart Ball Goes Virtual
Thank you June Ring for this lake view photo of the Bud Rogers Adventure park!
Cloth Collection for Masks
Some masked do-gooders were out last week leaving out, picking up, and dropping off fabric for mask making! Thank you Akron Rotarians for 10 donations with 6 drivers, totaling approximately 10 to 12 bags for www.gahss.org. Mahananda Luitel thanked all for the donations! If you come up with more at a later date reach out direct to their website. Thank you!!
June Ring
Julie Brandle, June Ring and Mahananda Luitel | Ginakaye Maddox & Tom Knauer | John Daily |
Amador & Shannon Gonzalez | Cyndi Kane | Michael Wilson from the Akron Canton Foodbank and June Ring |
Stewart's Caring Place Hope Walk Wrap-Up
Amanda Warner & Family | June & Dan Ring | Tamara & Joseph Mora |
Thank you to Joe Swiatkowski
Thank you Robert DeJournett
Video is below. If your browser/email service does not support seeing this video - click here to view
Providing Comfort During Covid-19
Time of COVID-19
Conveying Your Love and Support
- Get in touch, and stay in touch.
- Be an exemplary listener.
- Say what’s on your heart.
- Listen to and share memories.
- Consider the love languages.
What Exchange Means to Me
Another Resource While Shut Down
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Elin Na Says Goodbye
Thank You Dr. McGregor
Club Welcomes New Member Philip Williams
RYE Student Says Goodbye
Na Hye Rim (Hyerim)- South Korea
Save the Date to Honor President O'Neill
2019-2020 President
Pat O'Neill
State of Ohio guidelines for gatherings.
Pat deserves a great send off for the wonderful
job he has done as our President!!!
April 7th Speaker: Dan Flowers, President, Akron Canton Foodbank
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/989441809 Meeting ID: 989 441 809
Join by phone - Dial in: +1 253 215 8782 US or +1 301 715 8592 US Meeting ID: 989 441 809
Here is a short video about their response:
Medical Masks Needed
LET’S GET STARTED!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MATERIALS NEEDED AND
THE STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS.
Volunteer Request
Rotary Camp Update
A Message from President O'Neill - April 1, 2020
- To join Zoom Meeting on your computer - click on this link https://zoom.us/j/989441809 and follow the directions.
- Use this Meeting ID when/if prompted to enter: 989 441 809
- PLEASE be sure you test your audio when prompted to do so. If you do not have audio capability on your computer you can call you in on the phone for the audio feed (see below call in information) but please use only one form of audio connection - either your computer or phone - otherwise there will be feedback).
- Dial one of these numbers:
- Then you will be asked to enter Meeting ID which is: 989 441 809 - you will then be prompted to press the # key
Bud Rogers Adventure Park
Messages from District Governor Reyes and Rotary International President Maloney
Rotary District 6630 Governor 2019-2020
Tel: 330.258.6469
Email: jreyes@bdblaw.com
Click here read the full cancellation announcement from RI President Maloney
Tournament Talk - March, 2020
Due to the generosity of our 1,000 volunteers, $825,000 went to Northeast Ohio non-profits! |
Important Message from President O'Neill
Polar Bear Jump
Thank you Wayne Homes, for your amazing support for Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs!
Rotary After Hours - Great Way to Get Know One Another
Harvest for Hunger
Make a Splash for Akron Rotary Camp on February 29, 2020!
Are you warm-hearted and willing to freeze your body to raise money for kids with special needs? Join us on February 29 for the 17th annual Polar Bear Jump benefiting Akron Rotary Camp. Too cold to jump? No worries, - the Chili Chicken will jump for you! Every donation counts! Join the fun on: Saturday, February 29, 2020 Portage Lakes State Park at the Swim Beach 5031 Manchester Road Akron, OH 44319 Join our team to Register and Fundraise Online:
Your donation will allow us to continue to offer assistance to families in need. No child is ever turned away for their inability to pay. In 2019, we provided over $170,000 in financial assistance. Special thanks to the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump for helping us to create a world where there are only abilities! Hope to see you on February 29. In the spirit of Camping, Dan Reynolds Director of Endless Possibilities Akron Rotary Camp |
What a Great Way to Celebrate our 30th Year!!
Club Welcomes New Member Pat Weimer
Claudine Schooley Presents Flag
Message from Our Club President
Camp News
Santa is Coming to Rotary Camp! Join us on Sunday, December 15th, 2019, 3pm-5pm for our annual Holiday Party at Akron Rotary Camp. Our Holiday Party is fun for all to enjoy with some sing-a-long songs, holiday crafts and cookies. Santa will be stopping by with a bag full of gifts for our campers. Please consider supporting this event by buying a gift for our campers from our Wish List on Amazon, just visit bit.ly/campholiday Gifts will be shipped directly to camp. RSVP to Tina Gardner at tinag@akronymca.org, (330) 644-4512 x 32054 by Wednesday, December 11, 2019 if you will be attending. | |
Support Akron Rotary Camp while shopping on Amazon! Start shopping at smile.amazon.com and link your account to support Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Rotary Camp. |
Holiday Luncheon - Register to Join Us!
Salvation Army Bell Ringing Day on Dec. 13th
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER
On Friday, December 13th, our Rotary Club will be ringing the bell from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm for the Salvation Army at ACME #10 on 2226 State Road in Cuyahoga Falls. We will need two Rotarians (and friends) to volunteer for each hour we are covering that day.
This is a fun and popular service project for the Club that fills up quickly. Creativity is encouraged, as we have had singers, musicians, children and grandchildren participation in the past.
After you sign-up, you will receive an email confirming your participation and additional information will be forthcoming regarding what to expect and how to plan for your participation. Questions? Contact Mark Seward at markdseward@gmail.com or on 330-414-2075. Thank you for volunteering!
SUPER Learning Center Christmas Party
Come join us, Santa Claus and over 150 special needs children for the Rotary Club of Akron’s Annual Christmas Party at SUPER Learning Center! An Hour of Your Day Will Create a Lifetime of Christmas Memories! What: SUPER Learning Center Christmas Party When: Thursday December 19th, 2018 from 9:15 AM to about 3:30 PM Where: SUPER Learning Center is located at: 1584 Wilson Ave, Lakemore, OH 44250 Description: Come join us, Santa Claus and over 150 special needs children for the Rotary Club of Akron’s Annual Christmas Party at SUPER Learning Center! An Hour of Your Day Will Create a Lifetime of Christmas Memories! Thank you, -Matt Slonsky National Social Security Advisor® Certificate Holder Assistant to Bill Manby CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, AEP®, National Social Security Advisor® Certificate Holder |
Join us at "Holidays Around the World" Foundation Gala presented by Rotary District 6630
Congratulations Akron Rotarians!
Mella Castner
Cleveland Clinic Akron General Women's Board
(Rotarian Rima Muakkassa, President)
Pam Kiltau
Julie Brandle - Metis Construction
Roger Read
Fellow Rotarian philanthropist and community leader Roger Read will be the 16th recipient of the H. Peter Burg Economic Development Leadership Award.
The Greater Akron Chamber announced Read will be honored on March 18 at the chamber’s 113th annual meeting at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron.
The chamber award was created in memory of the late H. Peter Burg, former chairman and chief executive of FirstEnergy Corp. The award recognizes a leader who embraces economic and community development in the Akron area.
Information on the Greater Akron Chamber’s upcoming annual meeting can be found at www.greaterakronchamber.org/annualmeeting2020 or by calling 330-376-5550.
Chili Open 2020
Chili Open Golf Classic
30th Birthday Tee-Off
- 1st prize is a 2020 Chevrolet Sonic LS, or $10,000 cash prize – Thank you The VanDevere Bunch!
- 2nd prize is a 55” 4k Smart LED TV, courtesy of the S Group, Inc. – Thank you Rotarian Jeff Sheeks!
- 3rd prize is a behind-the-scenes media package at a 2020 Cleveland Indians Game – Thank you Rotarian Steve Warren!
- $10 off oil change at The VanDevere Bunch
- Purchase two entrees and receive $10 off your bill at BRAVO, Summit Mall
Co-Chairs, Chili Open 2020
Tri-District Membership Summit Akron Participants
Congratulations Roger Read
Fellow Rotarian philanthropist and community leader Roger Read will be the 16th recipient of the H. Peter Burg Economic Development Leadership Award.
The Greater Akron Chamber announced Read will be honored on March 18 at the chamber’s 113th annual meeting at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron.
The chamber award was created in memory of the late H. Peter Burg, former chairman and chief executive of FirstEnergy Corp. The award recognizes a leader who embraces economic and community development in the Akron area.
Information on the Greater Akron Chamber’s upcoming annual meeting can be found at www.greaterakronchamber.org/annualmeeting2020 or by calling 330-376-5550.
On the Road to a Polio Free World
New Members Inducted
Rotarian Becomes a Paul Harris Fellow
The presentation of Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) Recognition is The Rotary Foundations’ way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs. It is named for our founder, Paul Harris, a Chicago Lawyer who began Rotary International with three business associates in 1905.
Rotary Foundation Club Co-Chair, Lynda Farkas. presented JIm Durr with his first Paul Harris Fellowship - he received his certificate and pin.
A Piece of Our History Found
Such as a treasure . . .
An email enters my inbox in August: it said: "I picked up a vintage roster of your club, I am a Rotarian. I would like to send you pictures of every page. It’s a cool history of your club .... any interest?" I asked a couple questions and immediately introduced him to our Club Historian, PDG Jack Harig. Jack took it from there - and he did a tremendous job coordinating to bring this document home. You can view the document by clicking on the image to the left. It turns out that Mr. John Waterman, who sent the email, found this treasure. He is a Rotarian and collector of Rotary memorabilia. He lost his entire collection, including 3 original signatures of Paul Harris, along with his home, in the "Camp Fire" that took their town of Paradise last year. He had been a member of Paradise Rotary until the fire then joined Roseville Rotary. Mr. Waterman spotted this 1916 Roster for sale on the WEB and purchased it. He then contacted us, the result being we now have this historical treasure in our hands. Thank you to Mr. Waterman and to Jack for all they did to coordinate and ultimately obtain and scan the document - their long hours are much appreciated and will keep our history alive. You can view the document by clicking on the image to the left. |
Elin and Zoe Update
Our Youth Exchange Students Keep Busy!
Elin Na and Zoé Mayeur, our exchange students at Stow Munroe Falls High School football game in the Marching Band | Elin tests her skills in the dragon boat! |
Elin Na and Zoé Mayeur at Stan Hywet Ohio Mart with Host mom Jennifer Carroll and Susan Colville-Hall | |
Homecoming was a new and exciting event for Elin and Zoe shown with Jennifer Carroll |
"Women Leaders" by Grace Wakulchik
New Club Ambassador Program
Akron Rotary Camp Regatta...Saturday 9/28
John Daily in Action
Foundation Recipients
Left to Right:
- Jim Lechko
- Nathanael Billow: PHF
- Dr. Rob McGregor: PHF +1
- John Margida: PHF +3
- Claudine Schooley: PHF
- Lynda Farkas: PHF +6
Akron Welcomes New Member
Our Speaker Last Tuesday
RYE Student Returns from Germany
Annual Charity Cornhole Tournament Celebrates 10th Anniversary!
Shoebox Project
We are grateful to all the members who made donations to make this project a success. Ben Heckerman & Emily Patterson played an integral role with the organization of shopping and packing. We also had some members of the North High Interact Club attend as well; thanks to Tam Chau, SaHa Da Be, Nitash Dahal, & Prabin Magar. They were excellent additions to our team.
NO MEETING SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
October 3rd - Join us for On The Table Greater Akron
On the Table Greater Akron is a one-of-a-kind initiative where thousands of diverse residents from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds gather to share a meal and discuss meaningful ideas to strengthen our community. It’s an opportunity to shape our region into a strong, vibrant, safe and dynamic place to live and work. This project is part of On the Table, a national civic engagement initiative supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and initially developed by The Chicago Community Trust.
Anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Summit or Medina counties is invited to host or participate in a mealtime conversation with their family, friends, neighbors or colleagues. Conversations are held in person at locations such as a library, church, neighborhood restaurant, office break room or around your own kitchen table.
We know that big ideas can spring from small conversations and that people invest in what they help create. When we come together face-to-face to find common ground on community issues and challenges that matter to people, powerful things can happen.
New Member Inducted
A Special Quote from President Pat
Akron Rotary Club and Individual Rotarians Recognized by District 6630
WOW - What a Dragon Boat Race!!!
Congratulations DG John Reyes
Come Out Saturday to Support the 10th Annual Cornhole Tournament!!
Co-Founder, Charity Cornhole Tournament
Sotaros Final Club Visit
Congratulations to our 2019-20 Committee Chairs
Attendance Chair | |
Akron Rotary Cares Chair | |
Akron Rotary Cares Vice Chair | |
Community Service Projects Chair | |
Youth Exchange Student Chair | |
Rotary International Foundation Chair | |
Rotary International Foundation Vice Chair | |
Historian Co-Chair | |
Historian Co-Chair | |
Interact Chair | |
Grants Chair | |
Grants Vice Chair | |
Program Chair | |
Public Relations Chair | |
Rotaract Co-Chair | |
Rotaract Co-Chair | |
Scholarship Chair | |
Sergeant-at-Arms | |
Social Chair | |
Membership Chair | |
New Member Mentorship Chair | |
Website Chair |
Welcome Our New President and Board of Directors
President | |
President Elect | |
Membership | |
Vice President | |
Secretary | |
Treasurer | |
Immediate Past President & Nominating Committee Chair | |
Director 7/2017-6/2020 | |
Director 7/2017-6/2020 | |
Director 7/2017-6/2020 | |
Director 7/2017-6/2020 | |
Director 7/2018-6/2021 | |
Director 7/2018-6/2021 | |
Director 7/2019-6/2021 | |
Director 7/2018-6/2021 | |
Director 7/2019-6/2022 | |
Director 7/2019-6/2022 | |
Director 7/2019-6/2022 | |
Director 7/2019-6/2022 |
President Pat relaxes a bit before his induction. | Board members L-R: Terry Dalton, Dr. Rob McGregor, Steve Buie, Nicole Major, Michael Gladysz, Wanda Whipkey, Tom Knauer, June Ring, Dave miller, Karen Hrdlicka, Blake Babcock, Brian Chima and Connor Jarvis.
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L-R: President Pat, 2019-2020 District Governor John Reyes, Past District Governors Jack Harig, Cheryl Warren (all from the Akron Club and Jack Young (Conneaut Club). | Akron Past President's L-R: DG John Reyes, Lance Chima, PDG Cheryl Warren, Pam Kiltau (President, Rotary Camp Board), John Margida, Sandy Naragon, Julie Brandle, Shon Christy, Doug Hausknecht, President Pat O'Neill and PDG Jack Harig. |
New Honorary Members
It was our distinct pleasure to name long time club members, Mary Anthony Weaver and John Mogen as Honorary Rotarians - they both lifetimes of service to our club and community!
Special thanks to President O'Neill, Past President Steve Shechter, Past Foundation Board President Marilyn Buckey, Past District Governor Jack Harig, and Past President Tom Fox for all your kind words you offered about our honorees, and also to Mrs. Mogen for joining us.
One Date Left to Help Serve Meals to Campers!
Last Chance ... to help out!
Rotary Camp Dinner Service - Thursday, August 1, 2019
Hanging with the kids at Rotary Camp on a beautiful sunny ☀️ evening! We are truly blessed 😎👍🌞
You do not have to serve -- you can just come out and be our guest at one of the meals! Please join us anytime!!
Last week we had our Interact Students with us along with several Rotarians - Thank you!
Interact Class: North High Teacher/Interact Counselor, Paula Peyak is surrounded by Rishma Tamang, Yasoda Khadka, Ashika Rai, Gay Doh Soe, Sodhan Biswa, Monisha Rai, Puja Rai. | Rotarians/guests: Susan Wilson, Lynda Farkas, Cheryl Warren, Doug Hausknecht, Marilyn Smythe, Stu Perry, Dan Reynolds and Mella Castner. |
Summer Camp Dinners are a great opportunity for Rotarians to see Rotary Camp in action, meet the campers and counselors, and serve alongside other Rotarians.
Volunteers are needed to help set-up for dinner, serve, and help clean up afterwards. The Staff at Rotary will be extremely grateful if you can help with any of the following dates.
Much Accomplished at United Way Day Of Action
Our club was again paired with the Hope Foundation for the United Way Day of Action this year. VIEW ENTIRE SLIDE SHOW - CLICK HERE The Hope Foundation manages 18 properties for adults with developmental disabilities across the state of Ohio. Our task was to scrape and paint a large garage that supports two of their homes in Stow. We were fortunate to have a beautiful clear day to complete our work. The following Rotarians participated: David Hall Brian Chima Bob Ryan Lance Chima Robin Gilmore (Chima Travel) Stew Buchanan Mario Micale Lynda Farkas Connor Jarvis Mark Seward | |
Rotary Club of Akron Distributes Grant Money
At his last meeting as Rotary Club of Akron President, John Margida had the pleasure of giving $3,750 grants from the Akron Rotary Foundation, to each of the following:
- Julie Johnson, Boys and Girls Club of Western Reserve
- Caroline Alitzer, Great Trail Council
- Edwin Hubbard and Larry Chadwick, Akron Urban League
- Zac Kohl, The Well Community Development Center.
Meet our Akron Rotary Youth Exchange Students 2019-2020
Exchange of Club Flags
Paul Harris Fellow Award Recipient!
The presentation of Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) Recognition is The Rotary Foundations’ way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs. It is named for our founder, Paul Harris, a Chicago Lawyer who began Rotary International with three business associates in 1905.
Rotary Foundation Club Chair, Bill Manby, Sr. presented Nathanael Billow with his first Paul Harris Fellowship - he received his certificate and pin.
We all appreciate the dedication and commitment Nathanael has had to Rotary. Thank you for all you do!!
Photo L-R: Nathanael Billow, Bill Manby Sr, Club President Pat O'Neill.
Akron Rotary Camp Celebrates Volunteers
Akron Rotary Camp and the Akron Area YMCA continue to grow because of the dedication and commitment of our many volunteers. We are very pleased to congratulate Danny Durst and Alaina Collins, daughter of Dan and Sandy Collins, as they were recognized as Akron Rotary Camp’s 2018 Volunteers of the Year at the recent Akron Area YMCA’s Annual Dinner and Recognition event.
Memorial Day Observance
- “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.” – Harry S. Truman
History of Memorial Day
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in military service for the United States.
Many cities have laid claim to have begun Memorial Day, though President Lyndon Johnson officially declared Waterloo N.Y. as the birthplace of Memorial Day in May 1966.
While there is some dispute as to the origin of the day, the first was observed on May 30, 1868, under proclamation by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. The first official observation involved placing flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
By 1890, it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honouring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honouring Americans who died fighting in any war).
Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30 up to 1971 when the National Holiday Act of 1971, designated the last Monday in May to be Memorial Day.
Since the late 1950’s, on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.
Red poppy flowers are also often placed on crosses near the graves of fallen war heroes. The tradition of the poppy comes from the poem, 'In Flanders Field', written in May 1915 by by John McCrae after the Second Battle of Ypres. The poppy, which bloomed in battlefields during the first world war in Belgium and France, has become a symbol of remembrance and is a key element of the Remembrance Day observations in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Since 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.
Since 2001, the 'National Moment of Remembrance Act' has defined 3pm local time on Memorial Day as the National Moment of Remembrance.
Celebrate Youth Services
Outreach Beyond The Club . . .
- FCA Akron (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) invites you to our Inaugural Game Time Dinner, May 13, 2019, 6:30 to 8:30 PM, at St. George Antiochian Church in Fairlawn. Due to generous sponsors, this dinner will be FREE to all in attendance. We will be sharing about FCA’s outreach to middle school, high school, and college students and coaches in the Summit/Medina/Portage area. Our featured speaker is Tom Ryan, The Ohio State University Wrestling Coach. For more information or to register, contact Akron Rotarian Tristan Griffin at tgriffin@fca.org or 817-944-0499.
Service Projects Coming Up!!
- Camp Cleaning (click to register) May 4th! SIGN UP NOW!!!!
Akron Rotary Camp
9:00 AM – Noon
- Save the Date for The United Way Day of Action on Friday, June 21st (9:00 am – 3:00 pm).
Volunteers enjoyed Akron Art Museum Art & Ale
Special Presentation Enjoyed by Club
View the photos - click here.
Open M Food Giveaway Service Project
Karen Meek
Rotary Club of Akron
Tremendous People of Action!!
Thank you for helping us raise over $283,000 to benefit Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs.
Co-Chairs, 2019 Chili Open Golf Classic
RYE Students Overnight was Educational & Fun!!
ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT TO HELP US REACH OUR GOAL!
Dr. Rob McGregor and Wanda Whipkey
Co-Chairs, 2019 Chili Open Golf Classic
9:00 am - 1:30 pm |
CLUB STRATEGIC PLAN: FOCUS GROUP FOR CLUB MEMBERS
Hello Fellow Rotarians
As you know, our Club is in the process of developing a new Strategic Plan. Fundamental to our process is that we are inclusive and transparent. In this spirit, I want to make sure that all Akron Rotarians have the opportunity to provide insight and ideas on this very important matter. Our Club has had a very positive impact on our local community and beyond. We want to continue our legacy, as well as to ensure our relevancy and impact well into the future.
On February 5th, after our regular meeting and held in the Portage Room, our Facilitator, Carol Marturano-Becker will holding a focus group for members of our club who are available and interested. The session is expected to last about an hour. No need to RSVP. If you are available, just plan to stay after the meeting.
Carol will be interested in learning what we have done well so that we can continue to leverage our strengths. She will also be interested in hearing your ideas on ways to ensure we provide value for our club, for our members and for the community.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Akron Rotary President,
John T. Margida
ONLY 6 Days . . .
It's Almost Here!!
Co-Chairs, 2019 Chili Open Golf Classic
Legacies of Success
Thank you to CREW Greater Akron!
It's Almost Here!!
Excitement is building – the Chili Open is just 17 days away… CLICK to watch this great video from our Co-Chairs – Dr. Rob McGregor & Wanda Whipkey
❄⛳❄⛳ Just a few more weeks to go! Purchase your raffle tickets here: http://chiliopen.net
GIVEAWAY! 🏌🏾♂️ Stay tuned until the end to find out how you can win. ❄️ Join us on February 2nd at the Chili Open! Register your foursome and purchase raffle tickets here: www.chiliopen.net.
Join us at Whitey's
The Chili Open kick-off will be held on Friday, January 18th at 5:30pm at Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers. Everyone is invited to join us --- happy hour will include special drinks from our friends at the House of LaRose. Come out and show your support to Whitey’s, the official “Chili” sponsor of the Chili Open. Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers located at 3600 Brecksville Road, Richfield, OH 44286. |
29th Annual Chili Kick-Off
We can’t believe that the Chili Open is only 22 days away and we are excited to share that we are in reach of our goal of $275,000! The thermometer has climbed to over $202,000, and we are extremely grateful for everyone’s support. | |
The Chili Open kick-off will be held on Friday, January 18th at 5:30pm at Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers. Please join us, as happy hour will include special drinks from our friends at the House of LaRose. Come out and show your support to Whitey’s, the official “Chili” sponsor of the Chili Open. Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers located at 3600 Brecksville Road, Richfield, OH 44286. | |
Please remember to sell your raffle tickets and help us spread the word about the Chili Open. Visiting other clubs is a great way to help out - team up like Mella and Cheryl who sold some at the Green Club and the members then took more tickets to sell for us as well!! Lots of tee-times are still available for golfers brave enough to endure a cold day of golf in the snow. For raffle tickets, or to register for golf, and/or clubhouse passes, please visit chiliopen.net. |
Co-Chairs, Chili Open 2019
Sample Template to Use for Selling Raffle Tickets
Since its inception in 1924, the Akron Rotary Camp has provided a place where children with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities can enjoy programs that develop their self-confidence, independence, and social skills, while also enabling them to participate in new leisure activities that encourage children to experience the natural world while becoming more physically active. If you would like to see just how impactful this camp is for those who attend, I invite you to watch this video to hear directly from the campers. Aside from summer overnight and day-camp experiences, the camp provides respite weekends for children and their families as well as weekend retreats for special needs adults.
- 2019 Chevrolet Sonic LS or an $11,000 cash payout
- 55” 4K Smart LED TV
- Fox Sports Ohio / SportsTime Ohio Behind-the-Scenes Media Package at a 2019 Cleveland Indians game
John Daily, A True Rotarian, An Accomplished Athlete!
[Following a series of referee whistles to position the swimmers]
"Take your mark"
[Then the starting signal, and they're off!]
That's competitive swimming, something that is near and dear to John Daily’s heart.
Interact Students Visit Fort Romig
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Dubbed Fort Romig, the facility is at at 2205 Romig Road.
Fort Romig is a learning center for children in the group's Learning Zone, ages 18 months to 12 years old, who attend preschool, after-school and summer programs.
They now have a 5,300 square foot hydroponic growing operation designed in collaboration with Crop King of Lodi, Ohio, and the Ohio State Agricultural Extension Office.
They produce over 20,000 pounds of tomatoes and 19,000 heads of lettuce each year. Proceeds are divided in thirds between a scholarship program for kids, the Salvation Army's Community Table mobile feeding program and Fort Romig programming.
Christmas for the Campers
Thanks to all who helped make this Christmas celebration special for our Campers.
TREASURES STILL NEEDED...
DROP IT OFF AT THE CAMP OR CALL THE CAMP TO LET US KNOW 330-644-4512!
Thank you!
Rotarians and North High Interact Students were out in force to support the Salvation Army!
A Wheelbarrow of Good Cheer!
Co-Chairs, Chili Open 2019
District RYE Students Capture Spectacular Images
by Ada Bícego (Brazil) and Jacob Weitman (Outbound) | by Patitta Kitcharoenchai (Thailand) and Gwendolyn Estep (Outbound) | by Lea Lafond (France) and Natalie Sadkova (Czech Republic.) |
by Ana Crespan Fontenla (Spain) and Austin Brewster (Outbound) | by Jacob Scharnweber (Germany) and Eduardo Nunes Machado Flore (Brazil) | by Sotaro Yamaski (Japan) and Patrick Culliton (host brother of Sotaro) |
Community Assessment Builds Relationships
Weekend at Camp for Youth Exchange Students
Sotaro Yamaski and Patrick Culliton (Sotaro’s new host brother work on a cultural grid activity. | Jacob Weitman signs Ana Crespan Fontenla’s flag as RYE students share in internationalizing this event. |
Ana team and Sotaro’s team compete in tower building contest using spaghetti and marshmallows in which each team member was assigned a different cultural role to assume during the project. The end goal was to build the tallest, sturdiest tower while behaving under cultural norms that might be foreign to the student. |
Chili Open Fundraising Update
Co-Chairs, Chili Open 2019
Tis the Season . . .Have you signed up?
December 13, 2018 from 9am-3:30 pm. Come for any amount of time you can! Click here to register.
(same location we were at last year)
Holiday Wish List for the Campers
A letter from RYE Exchange Student Audrey Carroll
Language Level:
My German has improved tremendously since I came here. Although I am not fluent I am able to understand a lot and can have conversations. I guess I would rate it a 5 out of 10.
What I like:
What I dislike:
In summary:
Telephone: (330) 867-4770 Toll Free: (800) 535-9300 ▪
Email: brian@chimatravel.net
Chima Travel ▪ 55 Merz Blvd, Akron, OH 44333
Chimatravel.net ▪ Facebook.com/chimatravelbureau
Camperships are Teeing-Off for the 2019 Akron Rotary Chili Open Golf Classic
- Nathanael Billow
- John Daily
- Lynda Farkas (2)
- Andrew and Amanda Grover
- Marcia Holcomb
- Connor and Courtney Jarvis
- Tom Knauer/Artists Inc.
- Bill Manby Jr./Acquire Investments
- John and Debbie Palmer
- Dan and Carol Riemenschneider
- George and Eileen Rooney
- Name listing in the Chili Open newspaper publication,
- Name listing on both the Chili Open website, and Akron Rotary Club website,
- Name listing on one hole sponsorship sign,
- Name listing on the sponsorship banner in the clubhouse on event day,
- One Golf Foursome.
Co-Chairs, Chili Open 2019
Interact Fun!
Interact District Meeting This Saturday!!
- Interact District Meeting (click to sign up) Saturday November 3rd Tallmadge High School 9:00-3:00 over 200 kids from NE Ohio will be coming from 15-20 High schools. I would like to see us take 50 students. 6-8 Rotarians needed!!
No Tricks, Just Treats
Wishing you all a boo-tiful Halloween with lots of treats!
Bell Ringing Volunteers Requested
Annual Meeting Notice
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Inter-Country Committee: Open Discussion
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
You are invited to an open discussion about starting an Inter-Country Committee -- ICC USA-Ukraine -- in our Club and District 6630. If you are concerned with Peace in the world and international projects please come at Portage Country Club at 11:00 am on Tuesday, October 30, before our regular club meeting.
Here is the agenda (click to download).
Your friend in Rotary,
Claudine Schooley
Rotary Club of Akron
"Service Above Self"
Cell # 805-796-8351
Chili Open Golf Classic Tee-Off
Co-Chairs, Chili Open 2019
Meals for Ronald McDonald House
Thank you volunteers!
Rotarians to visit Ukraine
Fellow Rotarians, I offered to help raise funds so that soon-to-be Rotarian Emily Patterson is able to join Rotarian Claudine Schooley on a trip to the Ukraine. In order for international grants to be considered, a community assessment needs to be done. Many of you heard about this project when Claudine spoke a few weeks ago. I'll be contributing to help her, so has her Uncle. If you're inclined and able, please let her know if you can also help cover her costs! See Emily's ask below: My name is Emily Patterson. I wear many different hats at this point in my life: I am a masters of public health student at Kent State University, I am the Volunteer Coordinator at SouthernCare Hospice in Cuyahoga Falls, I work in a laboratory at Kent State researching antibiotic resistance, and a soon to be Rotarian. I am currently working with the Rotary Club of Akron and God's Hidden Treasures on a pediatric wheelchair and transportation project. Today, wheelchairs are not well suited for life in Ukraine. We are looking to work with engineering students at The University of Akron to adapt a wheelchair to the specific needs of the disabled children and their caregivers in Ukraine. Secondly, we are looking to donate an equipped van to both transport children and adults with disabilities and to take the wheelchairs and necessary medical equipment to people in need. In order for the project to happen, we need to complete community assessments in Ukraine. I am looking to go to Ukraine this November with Claudine Schooley (Akron Rotarian) and Nita Hanson (President of God's Hidden Treasures) to talk with the families to better understand the needs of the community. Without this key element, we might misunderstand the needs and provide a wheelchair that does not help the current problem. The funds I am trying to raise will pay for my roundtrip plane tickets and lodging in Ukraine. Any extra money will be donated directly to the project. Best Regards, Emily |
International Concert
International Concert 'Resonance'
- Liège : 23/2 – University (as usual)
- Landen : 24/2 – Location to be confirmed
- Antwerpen : 26/2 – Amuse (deconsecrated church - Kamenstraat à Antwerpen, about 350 seats)
- Bruxelles : 28/2 – Hôtel de Ville or Sablon (location to be confirmed)
Ambassadors
Ambassadors for the Peace in the world
Inter-Country Committees have been part of our Rotary World since 1950. They represent a further strategy to accomplish Rotary’s objectives. This strategy looks ahead in paving the way for stronger, positive, effective relations among different cultures, engaging diversities and overcoming barriers.
World Polio Day is October 24th
One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio
24 October, 2018
We're getting ready for the 6th annual World Polio Day event in Philadelphia, PA, USA. We will be streaming live from the College of Physicians at 18:30 Philadelphia time (UTC -4), and aim to bring together more than 100,000 viewers around the world. Watch the video above, featuring global health experts and celebrities sharing our progress on the road to polio eradication. www.endpolio.org
Where are we in the fight to end polio? What bold steps are we taking to get there? Find out during a live event on World Polio Day.
We’re closer than ever to eradicating polio but we’re not done yet. We still need funds to continue immunizations and surveillance efforts. Your gift will get us closer to the finish line.
Fun Event Supports Ronald McDonald House
The pros who assisted the team are the gentlemen on the far left and right. Rotarians Ben Heckerman, Lynda Farkas and Steve Warren made up our Club team! | Rotarian Barry Hollis and Ben Heckerman |
Project Outrun
Halloween Party at Camp
Collaboration with University of Akron Begins
Rotary Traveler
During my recent trip to France, I found a Rotary Club in the center of Toulouse (named the "pink city" because of the color of the brick buildings). They have in fact more than seven rotary clubs in the city. The "Toulouse Cent" Rotary club I visited has thirty members and they meet on the Fridays at noon, in a restaurant on the "boulevard Leclerc". The particularity of the club is that they are all professionals with their own business (doctors, dentists, lawyers, pilots,...), they are in couple (man and wife are both Rotarian) and they are all in their forties. This means I would not qualify to become a member of this club. They were all happy to meet me, and learning that I married an American that I met in Toulouse, made a great impression on them! They explained to me that their club was created when the Rotary celebrated its 100 years, in 2005. That's the reason why they called the club "Toulouse Cent", in French "cent" means one hundred. They chose the violet to put on their banner as it is the flower of the city of Toulouse. We exchanged banners from our respective clubs. It is very interesting to visit other clubs and see the differences between them. But one thing is certain: Rotarians are good people who work all for the good of humanity. And this make me proud to be a Rotarian! | |
North High Interact Club Improves Teachers Lounge
Operation Orange Rotary Team Makes a Difference
Thank you all for your hard work!!
Youth Exchange Students Kick Off Year!
We Had Fun ... Hope You Join Us Next Time!!
Missing Mountain Brewery
Rotary Social was a great night out!
L-R: Brian Kosarko, George Rooney, Susan Colville-Hall, Colleen Iacianci and Kim Polatas | Around table L-R: David Hall, Brian Kosarko, Blake Babcock, Jonathan Morschl, Ben Heckerman, Susan Colville-Hall and Colleen Iacianci |
Thank You for Your Generosity
It all begins with our Rotarians!
Ben Heckerman | Lynda Farkas |
Neema, Nul, Linda, and Wanda | Wanda Whipkey |
A Message From Our President
John Daily - 52 years Stew Buchanan - 29 years Virginia Wojno -27 years Ed Wagner - 12 years Cheryl Warren - 5 years Julie Brandle - 3 years Mella Castner - 3 years Brian Kosarko - 3 years David Miller - 2 years Terry Dalton - 1 year John Margida - 1 year Steve Buie - 1 year Wanda Whipkey - 1 year |
Ronald McDonald House Volunteers Rock it Again!
A Few New Pictures from the RI Convention in Toronto
Fun Send Off for Past President Brandle
Immediate Past President Brandle | Julie with her Past President's plaque and party organizer, Jeff Sitz. | The Brandle family with Jeff Sitz |
Brandle with Brian Chima | Brandle with John Dailey | Brandle with DGE John Reyes |
Club Inducts 2018-19 President
Being Inducted Into Office by Past President Brandle | The 2018-19 Board Induction - President John's first official duty! | His first presentation as President |
President John rings the Club bell for the first time as President | President John was honored that many of his Leadership Akron classmates were able to attend his induction ceremony. | Immediate Past President Julie Brandle President John Margida |
ALS Association Northern Ohio Chapter
Rise Against Hunger Recap
On the evening of Wednesday April 25 over 250 volunteers representing the Rotary Club of Akron and The University of Akron (UA) gathered in the ballroom of the Jean Hower Taber Student Union. By the end of the evening some 42,000 meals had been packaged and boxed for Rise Against Hunger.
Planned Giving
Have you ever wondered why some Akron Rotarians have gold name badges?
Join Our Conversations
End Polio Night at Progressive Field
Interact Club Treats the Staff & Faculty
Rotary Camp Celebrates Volunteers
Akron Rotary 4 Way Speech Contest Winner
Upcoming Events!
Club Social Night
Rotary After Hours
5 pm - 7 pm
United Way Day of Action
Friday, June 22nd
To signup email Mark Seward mark@sewardwealthmgt.com
The First Annual Rotary Club of Akron Family Picnic
Saturday, June 23rd -- Noon - 4 pm
Akron Rotary Camp
Bring a dish to share and the club will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, beverages, and condiments.
More details coming soon!!
If you would like to assist with this ad hoc committee
please email Julie Brandle at jbrandle@metisconstruction.com
PRESIDENT'S ROAST
Our Members are Hard at Work at Ronald McDonald House
Thanks for your support
Remembrance Day and Rise Against Hunger
On April 25th, volunteers joined together at The University of Akron to honors those who passed and make the future brighter for those in need. Thank you to everyone who helped!
Rotary/North High School Service Project Recap
Dentist John Palmer | Vincent Munnerlyn - While packing deodorant he reminded everyone "Now make sure you use your deodorant!” 😊 | Wanda Whipkey - It all starts with Wanda! |
Rotary Meets OFLA
April 25th : Remembrance Day & Service Project: Rise Against Hunger
UA Remembrance Day (6-7 pm Memorial Service) and the Rise Against Hunger Service Project (7:30 pm - 10 pm).
Our Club is participating in both and we are in need of volunteers for the service project. You do not need to register if you are only attending the Memorial Service.
- Wayne Brennessel (former Akron Rotarian)
- Ardell Daily (John)
- Eileen Field (Frank)
- John Holcomb (Marcia)
- Janice Logsdon (Wayne Homes)
- Stuart Terrass (Mary Weaver)
Our Camp Needs Your Help with Contacts
Akron Rotary Camp Needs Your Help
Volunteers Needed for (indoor) Camp Cleanup Day on May 12th
We are in need of supplies also ... if you can please bring with you or drop off:
buckets, rags, dusters (long and short) and step-stools.
Thank you
Amanda
The Buie & Jarvis Families Make a Difference!
The Buie & Jarvis Families | Connor & Courtney Jarvis | Sharon & Courtney put the finishing touches on the meal. |
Ambassador of Service Awardee Announced
Akron Rotary’s 28th Annual Chili Open Honors Akron Rotarian, Sandy Naragon with Ambassador of Service Award
Congratulations to our own, Sandy Naragon that will be honored on February 3, 2018 at Akron Rotary’s 28th Annual Chili Open Golf Classic as the 2018 Chili Open’s Ambassador of Service. The Chili Open Ambassador of Service award was established in 1991 in recognition of a community leader who has gone above and beyond in support of the Rotary Club of Akron, Akron Rotary Camp and the Akron Community. In addition, they have made significant efforts to improve and established relationships between community leaders and the Akron Rotary Camp.
District Exchange Students at Rotary Camp
- Flags of the nation at the nearby pink chair.
- Marshmallow & spaghetti straw tower building (each person with different “personalities” given. Very funny!)
- Dance party with special needs campers.
- Special thanks to Brian Chima for being his usual FUN self!
President Julie delivers check to those in need
Julie Brandle, President of Rotary Club of Akron, OH stopped by the founders office of Akron Snow Angels with a surprise gift This gift will help them #SpreadTheWarmth to many more people in our community!!! Thank you to all the members who help make these donations to our community possible.
Rotarians Support Salvation Army
The Akron Rotary Foundation Report
Several weeks ago ARF President Jim Redmond, and Treasurer Dan Riemenschneider gave a 25th Anniversary Presentation to the Rotary Club of Akron membership to describe the Foundation’s function and purpose. It included:
North High School Interact - It's Official!!
Interact 2017 Recap
Read To Me Day
Laura Fink | Graham Reinke |
330-436-5611 | 330-618-4610 |
lfink@akroncf.org | cmandgar@yahoo.com |
Ronald McDonald House Service Project Update
Thank you Stouffer Realty
Thank you Stouffer Realty! Mark Young thank you for leading this record breaking event! Gary Stouffer, you have such a fantastic, generous team!
STOUFFER REALTY CHARITY GOLF OUTING
RAISES $8000 FOR AKRON ROTARY CAMP
Stouffer Realty’s 3rd Annual Charity Golf Outing and Dinner drew 150 participants and raised more than $8000 to benefit the Akron Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children. The event was held at Fox Meadow Country Club in Medina, and also marked the 20th anniversary of the founding of Stouffer Realty.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Akron Rotary Camp because they do so much good for the children of Northeast Ohio,” said Realtor Mark Young, who organizes the event. “Four years ago, Stouffer Realty helped sponsor the Chili Open to benefit the camp; today, we are proud to be sponsoring our own fundraiser and raising more dollars every year.”
The mission of the Akron Rotary Camp is to provide a traditional camping experience for children and adults with disabilities, while emphasizing socialization, independence, and entertainment. The Camp sits on six acres at Rex Lake, one of the Portage Lakes. The acreage was purchased by the Rotary Club of Akron in 1925 and the camp at Rex Lake has been fully operational since 1926.
Regatta Wrap-up 2017
Akron Rotary Camp Regatta
Funds Dining Hall
Kitchen Upgrades
at Akron Rotary Camp.
Volunteer Registration is Open for Salvation Army "Ring The Bell" Day
Service Project & Community-Wide Events
Get Involved
Click here to view our 2017-18 Project List and the
THE BILLOW ROTARY DYNASTY IN AKRON, OHIO
Below, Nathanael congratulates his grandfather, Charles W. for being recognized as an Honorary Rotarian. | The Billow Rotary Dynasty in Akron began with Captain George Billow, who served in the Civil War, and founded the first funeral home in Akron. Captain George wasn’t an Akron Rotarian, because there was no Akron Rotary Club during his prime. But Captain George had three sons who became Akron Rotarians. The eldest son, George W. Billow, was a Charter Member of the Akron Club in 1914, and served as its President in 1916-17. The second son, Charles F. Billow, was an Honorary Member of the Club. And the third son, Edwin Billow, was also a member. But of those three 1st generation members, it was Charles F. Billow whose progeny has resulted in this amazing 5-generation Rotary family. Charles F. Billow’s son, Arthur F. Billow, was an active member of the Akron club, and the thread continued when Arthur’s son, Charles W. (Chuck) Billow, joined the Akron Club in 1952. Chuck loved the Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs, and enjoyed driving kids to the Camp. Chuck was known to take his family on vacations in the United States and Europe, crafting those vacation itineraries around attending other Rotary clubs to keep his perfect attendance intact. Chuck continued as an active member of the Akron Club for over 65 years, when he was recognized and inducted as an Honorary Member on August 22, 2017. The Akron Club expects that Honorary Membership to continue for many years. Through Chuck’s example, the Rotary string has continued. Chuck’s son, Charles M. (Chip) Billow, was a member of the Akron Club for several years before he moved to Tallmadge, where he is still a Rotarian. And Chip’s son, Nathanael, representing the 5th generation, was inducted into the Akron Club on August 1, 2017. All of these Billow family members have been active in the family business – the Billow Company – that operates the Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, a premier Akron business since 1915. For over 100 years and spanning 5 generations - from the very formation of the Akron Rotary Club in 1914 to the present time – the Billow Rotary Dynasty has reigned in Akron. George Rooney August 28, 2017 |
Join us at the 3rd Akron Rotary Camp Regatta Celebration and Fundraiser
All proceeds of the event will be used for the renovation of the dining hall that was originally constructed in 1963. It will include expansion for storage, accessible restrooms, kitchen upgrades and an addition of a sensory-friendly dining area balcony designed with a focus on color, lighting and sound to create an immersive sensory experience. Many of our campers with autism have difficulty at mealtime related to the sensory experience of eating in crowded, noisy and uncomfortable surroundings. Many times, they demand to eat outside in the quietness of nature – with the heat of summer and cold of winter which isn’t an ideal situation. Our new dining hall will help resolve this challenge. We need your support as we continue this voyage of making a difference in the lives of special needs children and their families. Please consider a sponsorship, tickets to the event, or a donation to support this cause. Visit rotarycampregatta.com for more information.
For information about the Akron Rotary Camp Regatta – please visit rotarycampregatta.com or call the camp office at (330) 644-4512.
Annual Meal Deal - Offer Ends July 31!
Rotary Camp News
Akron Rotary Camp
Members Rally to Help with United Day of Action
2017 Cleveland Indians End Polio Now Night at Progressive Field
Night out at RubberDucks Baseball Game!
What's Happening This Week!
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE TIME WITH FELLOW ROTARIANS AND HANG OUT TOGETHER.
www.AkronRotary.Org
District 6630 Monthly Newsletter
Our Members in the News
- Congratulations to Past Club President (1975-1976), Stu Parry receives 2017 Hunsicker Family Service to Youth Award. The following news articles feature Stu for this prestigious award.
- West Side Leader recognizes Scott Kolligan and his wife Jaime as the Akron Area YMCA/Akron Rotary Camp 2016 volunteer of the year - click to view online article
Ronald McDonald House - Club Service Project Kick Off!!
Youth Exchange Scholarships Available
Cornhole Tournament to Benefit Rotary Camp
Sky Makes Presentation to Club
Club Dragon Boat Needs Rowers!
Fun at the Rotary After Hours Event at Edgars Restaurant
Has Something Changed?
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Shy Chen and her Team Take 1st Place!
My Camp Story
Akron Rotary Camp
Director of Volunteers and Special Events
Presidents Roast: Share Your Spirited Stories
at Rotary Camp. Save the date ... registration will open soon!
playful program to celebrate
Our Youth Exchange Student Keeps Busy
Photos from 2017 Chili Open
Akron Rotary is Offering IT Sponsorships
Akron Rotary's 27th Chili Open Golf Classic
Akron Rotary Camp
Shoeboxes to Nicaragua
Your Chili Open Committee!!
Julie Brandle, Co-Chair
Rick Rockich, Co-Chair Helen Farmer Laura Fink Michael Gladyz David Hall Kimmie Hoch
Barry Hollis
Joe Horak Kevin Keeney Brian Kosarko Katie Logsdon Sam Lupica Bill Manby, Jr.
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Nichole Major
John Margida Rob McGregor David Miller Megan Moncrief Patrick O'Neill Jonathan Phelps Jim Redmond
Dan Riemenschneider Bob Ryan Jeff Sitz Brian Steere Scott Stutler Dan Sveda Wanda Whipkey |
Sky will Perform at Cheerleading Showcase
SUPER Learning Center Follow Up
2017-18 RI President Announces Theme
Chili Open: How you can get involved!
- Purchase a CAMPERSHIP for only $500. It will provide one week of camp for a child with special needs.
- Purchase ADVERTISING in the Chili Open Tabloid Newspaper that is distributed to over 135,000 households throughout Summit County.
- Purchase RAFFLE TICKETS or ask friends, family, and co-workers to buy tickets at only $20 per ticket. Every one stands a chance to win one of four great prizes, that includes a 2017 Chevrolet Sonic LS, a LG 55” 4k Smart TV, a Fox Sports Ohio Behind-the-Scene Media Package to a 2017 Cleveland Indians Game, or 2 tickets to the 2017 Bridgestone Invitational Golf Tournament. 6 tickets for $100 will give you an entry into Snowmania for a chance to win $50,000.
- Sign up to VOLUNTEER. We have lots of volunteer opportunities available.
Co-Chairs, 2017 Chili Open
RYE/International Committee January Update
Akron Rotary Celebrates our Veterans
- To the Combat Veteran
- To the wounded, physically and mentally
- To those who served in support units or a peace time army
- To families and loved ones who remain behind, follow along, worry, and pray
UA remembers Rotarian Tom Blair
At the Veterans Day outdoor ceremonies, President Matthew Wilson told the story of our Korean War Memorial, located on the east lawn of Bierce Library, facing Olin Hall. It was dedicated 15 years ago today.
UA alumnus Thomas Blair, a successful local businessman, was a Marine and an infantryman during the Korean War. He worked with artist Carl Floyd to design the memorial, and paid its $160,000 cost.
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- the story of that war
- a map of the region
- the number of U.S. servicemen and women who were killed, wounded and missing there, as well as corresponding numbers for United Nations troops.
November 3, 2016 is Akron Read to me Day
Your Board at Work ...
Service Project Update
Not Your Typical Friday!
Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign
Reasons to love Rotary right now
From the August 2016 issue of The Rotarian
1. BECAUSE WE ARE ABOUT TO ERADICATE A DISEASE, AND YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT
We are 99.9 percent of the way toward ending polio. As of early June, there were only 16 cases of wild poliovirus in the world, and many think this could be the year we see the last naturally occurring case of polio.
As Rotary and our partners work to eradicate the poliovirus in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the remaining endemic countries, we also continue immunization campaigns in other high-risk countries to ensure that the disease remains gone for good. You can participate on the ground. Email polioplus@rotary.org to connect with Rotarians leading upcoming trips.
Also consider using your network to spread the word and make sure polio stays on the global agenda. Provide a link to endpolio.org in your email signature. Follow End Polio Now on Facebook and Twitter and share the story of polio eradication with your social networks. When your legislators speak at club meetings, make sure you bring up polio funding. “The fact we are grassroots enables us to have a tremendous amount of influence,” says International PolioPlus Chair Michael McGovern. Host a community event to celebrate World Polio Day on 24 October; register your event and download resources at endpolio.org.
Donate now and your contribution will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Go towww.endpolio.org.
Video Showcases Our Akron Rotary Camp
Rotary Club Directors in Action
Rotary Club Directors in Action - June 2016
When Rotarians Talk Great Ideas Happen!
- Narrow the focus on club’s service projects
- Be more than a “wallet” and be willing to say No from time to time
- Have a conversation with the Akron Public Schools about helping them out in other ways? Possibly provide leaders and mentors for students?
- Follow up with student scholarship recipients to provide any mentoring
- Investigate awarding scholarships to local students study abroad.
- Get more members engaged with Rotary Camp; give more Camp updates at lunch; remind Rotarians about Thursday and Sunday Camp visits
- Akron Children’s Hospital; the DWTS event was mentioned
- Akron General CEO
- Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan
- Akron Public Schools - David James
- Akron Snow Angels- Erin Victor
- Akron Symphony Conductor/Detroit Conductor
- Akron Police Chief James Nice
- Bit Factory
- Directors from ADM Board, DD Board, Children Services
- Haven of Rest
- Kyle Kutuchief
- Leadership Akron - Mark Scheffler
- LeBron James Family Foundation
- New Goodyear CEO
- Polar Bear Club
- Summa CEO
- Summit County Health Department
- United Way- Jim Mullen
- University of Akron
- WAKR to give an update on what is happening in Akron, in Ohio and the region
- Spotlight a Rotarian at each meeting allowing 3-5 minute presentations.
- If it’s important to our community, Rotary should be engaged, i.e. heroin epidemic
- Educate Akron Rotarians about Rotary International (Quarterly)
- What projects are there?
- What’s our role in deciding on international projects?
- Introduce new members to Paul Harris Fellowships – explain financial commitment and lottery.
- Create new ways to give
- Grow the International Committee
- Where do Paul Harris Funds go?
- Broaden fundraising beyond the Camp and Chili Open
- Define local/district/international role in service projects and RI
- Raise Akron Rotary’s service project awareness – focus on Internal speakers throughout the year.
Club Awards Picnic at the Camp June 25, 2016
Club & Member Awards Picnic - June 25, 2016, Noon - 3:30PM
All Rotarian's and your families are invited to have fun and celebrate as we present our 2015-16 Rotary Club and Individual Awards on June 25th. Co-chairs Pam Kiltau and Shon Christy will begin the festivities at Noon at The Akron Rotary Camp. We kick off with a picnic lunch of hamburgers & hot dogs followed by the award ceremony. The camp has a playground and weather permitting, pontoon boat rides will also be available.
June 25, 2016 | Noon - 3:30 PM.
Akron Rotary Camp
4460 Rex Lake Drive | Akron, OH
CLICK TO REGISTER or call Amy Kapostasy at 440-622-9538.
LAST TWO NIGHTS: Rotary Camp Summer Cookouts! Join Us!!
District 6630 Youth Services Project ROCKED!!!
RYE Help Homeless
Tickets On Sale for Foundation Centennial Celebration Concert and Dinner!!
A private afternoon Concert at Severance Hall featuring the Cleveland Orchestra. | |
A dinner recognizing those who have made new donations and commitments to The Rotary Foundation in honor of the Foundation’s 100th Anniversary. Featured speakers will include Rotary International President-Elect John Germ and The Rotary Foundation Chair-Elect Kalyan Banerjee. You will have the opportunity to create your own legacy with a 100th Anniversary contribution to the Rotary Foundation and become a Foundation Centennial Celebration donor or a member of the Foundation Centennial Celebration class of the Arch Klumph Society. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you don’t want to miss.
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Welcome New Members
We recently took our Rotary meeting on the road when we visited OpenM for a wonderfully eye opening presentation on all of the good they are doing in our community. Special thanks to Dottie Achmoody for her and her teams hospitality and a delicious lunch! Dottie then joined us the following week and became a new Rotarian!
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While at OpenM we inducted new Rotarians, Kimmie Hoch, Novus Clinic and Karen Hrdlicka, Mature Services, Inc.
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Did you know our club has a Pat Benatar twin?
Members Enjoy Murder Mystery
Bylaws Amendment Approved
Rotary Club Directors in Action - April 2016
Survey Respondents Still Needed!
2016 Rotary District Conference Details
700 Beta Center, Mayfield, Ohio
we all have embraced to secure Rotary’s future as the
most vibrant and effective service organization in the world.
service we provide will grow because of the committed work of each of you.
Celebrate our Clubs, Members and Students!!
yes, probably a few tears will be shed as
and utilized their talents and efforts
Be a Gift to the World.
Rotary Club Directors in Action - February 2016
- The Club is very close to qualifying to receive the President’s Citation from Rotary International for reaching is 2015-16 goals. One that needs work is having at least 50% of our Rotarians register for “My Rotary” at www.rotary.org.
- If the Rotary Club of Akron wants to be involved in the Four Way Test Speech Contest, now is the time to solicit candidates. Scholarship Chair Terry Dalton reported that the best chance of getting participation from the schools would be to promote at the same time the scholarship information is sent to them. He believes we would be hard pressed to get this organized for the 2016 contest. Sandy Naragon offered to Chair this program in 2017. She will solicit committee members in the Fall.
- A membership survey will be launched electronically to all Akron Rotarians. In addition, table focus groups will be held at an upcoming lunch.
- Differences in the lunch counts have been remedied.
- Directors accepted resignations from several Rotarians who are unable to continue membership due to job changes or who have not responded to outreach.
Call for Chili Open Volunteers
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You can sign up directly on the Rotary Club of Akron website by clicking here. We appreciate your participation and look forward to making this a great event together!
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2016-17 Rotary International Theme Announced
Winter Clothing for our Youth Exchange Student
Other Happenings in the Club
DONATIONS FOR AKRON SNOW ANGELS
- Winter Boots
- Warm thicker Socks
- Underwear (boxer briefs & woman's briefs)
- Waterproof / warm gloves
- Scarves a man would wear
- Winter Hats
- Hand warmers
- Long Underwear for male & female
- Winter coats
- Snow pants
- Back Packs
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Rotary Global Rewards
The good you do comes back to you.
Rotary's member benefits program gives Rotary and Rotaract club members access to discounts on a variety of products and services selected with their interests in mind.
DISCOUNTS & SPECIAL OFFERS
Rotary Global Rewards offers discounts on vehicle rentals, hotels, dining, and entertainment. Products and services from companies around the world are being added every week. Check back often to see what’s new in Rotary Global Rewards.
Tell us how you've benefited from Rotary Global Rewards. Share your #rotarystory on social media or email us at rotaryglobalrewards@rotary.org.
HOW TO REDEEM OFFERS
Anyone can view the offers and discounts on Rotary Global Rewards. But onlyRotary and Rotaract club members who are signed in to their My Rotary accounts can redeem them. You can access and redeem rewards from your computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Rotaractors must be in our records to redeem or add offers on Rotary Global Rewards. If after signing in to your My Rotary account, you are unable to use Rotary Global Rewards, send your Rotaract club name and membership start date todata@rotary.org using your My Rotary sign-in email so we can update your membership in our database. Please allow 3-5 business days for the change to take effect.
If you need help creating a My Rotary account, review the How to create a My Rotary account quick guide (PDF).
The Akron Rotary Chili Open is Serious Business!
Welcome New Members!
New Rotarian | Sponsor | |
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Sherry Valentine
Akron Children's Hospital Join Date:
October 20, 2015 |
Lance Chima
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Lynda Farkas
Field & Springfield Schools Join Date:
November 10, 2015 |
Cheryl Warren
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David Miller
ADP, LLC Join Date: November 17, 2015 |
Blake Babcock
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Rotary Club Directors in Action - December 2015
- Christmas Party at SUPER Learning Center on December 17th. Santa arrives around 11:45 and festivities go until 3:15 pm. “Attending will change your life, declared Bill Manby, Sr. at our weekly luncheon! Don’t miss out on making a difference in a child’s life.
- December 22nd Holiday Luncheon being held at Concordia at Sumner! It starts at 11:30 a.m. and promises to be a great event! Be sure to RSVP by December 15th!
Rotary Club Directors in Action - October 2015
World Polio Day - October 23, 2015 - Eat at Bob Evans and Help Us Raise Money to End Polio
World Polio Day is on October 23, 2015 - locally you can help support our number one priority - the eradication of Polio world-wide simply by eating a meal at Bob Evans that day. Just present the coupon (click to download) when you check out and 15% will be donated on behalf of District 6630 to our Polio Plus Campaign --- in addition, the funds will continue to be matched 2-1 by The Gates Foundation!!
Rotary International President K.R. Ravindran and Rotary Foundation Chair Ray Klinginsmith
Club Service Project Update
Regatta Wrap-Up
Pre-Register for the 2016 Conference
Co-chairs: Shon Christy and Jackie Minotas
are planning a conference not to be missed!
2016 Annual Conference of Clubs
Conference Dates: April 22-23, 2016
700 Beta Banquet Conference Center,
Mayfield, Ohio
We are planning some great speakers, breakout sessions and fun activities for the weekend that will be announced over the coming months.
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District 6630 Foundation Awards & Art Auction
On November 15, 2015 join us at The Hilton Inn West in Fairlawn
to celebrate the successes of Clubs throughout our District for
their Foundation Donations during the 2014-15 Rotary Year.
Enjoy some food, beverages and an art auction (profits will go toward our Polio campaign or Annual Fund).
Rotary Club Directors in Action - September 2015
Rotary Youth Exchange News – August / September
Listening to the various accents as campers arrived at Rex Lake, it was evident that something different was up. We heard excellent levels of English and observed a couple of students who had some difficulty understanding explanations. Smiles and open minds set the tone for our newly arrived exchange students. The District 6630 conducted RYE Orientation at Akron Rotary Camp for this year’s Inbound students who hailed from various countries: Kaho Mochizuhi (Japan), Justine Altmeyer-Wagner (France), Jermán León (Chile), Antonella Ramos (Peru), Ben Reidel (Germany), Supahakrit Disthaphongphakdee (Thailand) and Gabriel Mendes (Brazil), who was unfortunately absent because of chickenpox. Participating clubs sent their youth exchange officers and counselors for training. District 6630 clubs hosting this year include Lakewood for Justine and Kaho, Chardon for Jermán, Mantua for Antonella, Medina for Ben, Garrettsville for Supahakrit (or Art) and Akron for Gabriel (going to school in Stow). What a wonderful group of young people!! Words we would use to describe our RYE students: friendly, caring, eager to get to know you, energetic, engaging, smart and fun-loving. Host families also participated the second day to better understand Rotary’s rules and regulations and to get to know the entire group of international students.
What's Happening Now
The History of Rotary from a Rotarian
Akron Rotarians Shine at the Greater Akron Chamber's 30 for the Future Awards Banquet
Calling all Enthusiastic Members!!
Camp Update
What's New with the Membership Process
Beckett's Buddies
When Beckett was born in 2010 we found our passion to support and advocate for people with disabilities especially those with Down syndrome. We found out about the Buddy Walk shortly before he was born and created our team Beckett's Buddies from his crib side in the hospital. We were stunned at the support and raised over $4,000 in our first year.
Each year we have been continually amazed at the generosity of the many people in our lives, especially our Rotary family. This year the Rotary club and many of the businesses represented within it supported Beckett's Buddies in a BIG way. Our amazing supporters helped us raise over $12,000 for The Upside of Downs which was a Northeast Ohio team record.
Special thanks to the Rotary Club of Akron, City Cleaners, Margida and Associates, Metis Construction, and Artists Inc. who generously supported us through sponsorships. Thanks to club members Joe Horak, Julie Brandle, Pat O'neill and their families for taking time out of their busy schedule to come and walk with us! We were overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity of so many wonderful people. I am proud to call you family!
Shon Christy, Rotary Club of Akron
Rotary Club Directors in Action - August 2015
Directors in Action - July 2015
Don't be afraid to MAKE WAVES!
Rotarians are not afraid to challenge status quo and make a difference in our communities. So how could we shy away from literally making waves for great cause?
Looking for a great way for your Rotary club to serve, build better friendships and improve teamwork while getting a new kind of workout? Explore the opportunity to sponsor a dragon boat for your local Dragon Boat Festival. All proceeds go to supporting breast cancer survivors. I had been introduced to the sport of Dragon Boat racing by a friend and co-worker when in Philadelphia. When one of our own, Susan Coville-Hall, introduced the concept of Rotarians volunteering to help at the race, I thought it was a great opportunity to build a team and compete. The club stalwarts were a bit skeptical at first but I think all 24 of us became converts when this abstract concept became a reality. The Akron Rotary WAVEMAKERS made their debut at the Portage Lakes Third Annual Dragon Boat festival on July 11, 2015.
Here is some brief back ground. Dragon boats are of Chinese origin. The boats are 45 feet long with ten rows for two paddlers per row and a Dragon's head out front. In the bow of the boat is a seat and a drum to keep pace and there are professional steerers standing on the back. Depending on the festival, the courses are 200 - 500 meters long. Races take between 1 -2 minutes and require strength but most importantly, synchronization.
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Club Inducts President Sandy Naragon
Sandy Naragon will serve as President of the Rotary Club of Akron July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016. Congratulations and Best Wishes for a Great Year!! |
Akron Club Hosts Governor's Induction & Banner Exchange
The Akron Club was host to attendees for the District Governor Banner Exchange and Induction On July 18, 2015. Our 2015-16 District Governor Cheryl Warren is a member of the Rotary Club of Akron and the club will proudly display the Governors Banner during her term.
The Camp provided a perfect setting for this prestigious event. Cheryl requested it be kept it casual and the committee made sure that the guests enjoyed themselves with plenty of food, beverages, boat rides and tours of the camp. The committee had the tables covered in lovely decor to depict gifts in conjunction with the International Theme Be a Gift to the World. Fun gift boxes held world balloons which added a special touch in the grand hall for the induction/banner exchange.The flowers presented to Cheryl and the Immediate Past First Lady Judy Davanzo were gorgeous!
Cheryl’s husband, Steve and father, Carl were there to witness her induction and Akron Club President Sandy Naragon accepted the Governor's Banner from Medina Sunrise Past President Barb Evatz.
Harpist, Barbara Ann Fackler provided beautiful music and the delicious brunch was provided by The Culinary Chameleon / Mike & Adria Buzek.
Special thanks to the committee who helped make this day so very special: Pamela Kiltau – Chair; Karen Meek – Co-Chair; Sandy Naragon, Stew Buchanan, Jack Harig, Mella Castner, Dan Reynolds, Lori Krohn, Katy Miller, Leslie Tierney, Julie Brandle, J.D. Detsch.
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Is this REALLY the Chili Open Course?
This is what the Wayne homes Chili Open course looks like on a beautiful summer day. It’s hard to believe that in seven short months we’ll be playing golf in the snow and having chili dogs and beer for breakfast. It kinda gives a guy a warm feeling-- maybe nostalgic heartburn. |
Club Rolls Out NEW Club Flag Artwork
Our New Club flags now have a new look!
Remember to get a flag to take to any other Club meeting you are attending and exchange flags with them! |
Jack & Vivian Harig Recognized by Akron Rotary Camp
This summer we recognized Jack & Vivian Harig for their longstanding commitment to Akron Rotary Camp by naming cabin number 7 the Jack & Vivian Harig Cabin with a special recognition plaque. Jack & Vivian have been volunteering their time and resources for more than 20 years, and are never too busy to lend a helping hand. While Jack served on the Camp Board for 12 years, Vivian took ownership of our gardens and walkways. They were also the first ones to arrive for the spring and fall camp clean-up days and helped out were they could to make sure projects were completed. They still bring friends when they visit camp and share how much camp means to them. We are very grateful for all they did and still do for camp and we wish them health, happiness & contentment.
Photo Front - Dan Reynolds, Lorie Travaglino, Shon Christy, Bill Manby, Gary Knuth and Ham Amer
Photo Back - Jack & Vivian Harig and Ginny Wonjo |
2015-2016 Akron Club Board Meeting Dates
Please mark your calendars for the 2015-16 Board Meeting Schedule. All meetings are at Portage Country Club at 11:00 am.
*NOTE: Those in RED are the third week of the month, not the second.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 * (third week)
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 * (third week)
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Tuesday, April 14, 2016
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 * (third week)
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
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Young Leaders in Action
June 2015 | Engaging the next generation of Rotary leaders
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Overheard on social media “Guess what? I am on @Twitter. Looks like @Rotary Presidents are getting social media- savvy!” — Rotary International President-elect K.R. Ravindran
“The world needs more Rotaractors #Rotaract #Rotary #Interact.” — Emma-Lea Hill “Never underestimate the power of young minds! Your passion is contagious. #Interact #Rotaract #Rotary” — Rotary on Instagram |
Rotarian's help with LIVE UNITED
Beautiful Spring Club Field Trip
Rotarians and guests enjoyed the grounds at Stan Hywet during a fun weekly meeting field trip in June!
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Akron Rotary Camp Update
It has been a busy spring at Akron Rotary Camp to make sure everything is in tiptop shape before the campers arrive in June. Akron Rotary Club members spent a Saturday morning at camp and completed the summer staff office as well as stained all the deck railings around the recreational building and offices. ‘Rotarian-in-training’ Brielle Christy worked side-by-side with her dad, Rotary Club-President, Shon Christy and did an awesome job staining.'
Another group that volunteered their time was the Ite Project. They are a group of young adults who serve Jesus by working among his neediest and who seek to grow in spiritual journey. Our visitors and campers had a lot of fun together. Not only did they dance like ballerinas, made bouncy balls, but also worked together to help a camper who is in a wheelchair go down the slide at the playground. To them it was about serving, but to our campers it meant so much more – laughs were shared and memories were made
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Mentoring Program Takes Shape
Service Projects Committee Update May 14, 2015
- Sunday registration throughout the summer
- Container gardens
- Thursday night cookouts throughout the summer
Are You A Member of Rotary or a Rotarian?
Blake Babcock to be Honored May 15th!
Fellow Rotarian Blake Babcock
is the being honored by
Meals on Wheels
Friday May 15, 2015. |
Rotary Youth Exchange at District 6630 Conference
RYE Students at District 6630 2015 Convention
Independence, Ohio Double Tree Inn -
Apr 26, 2015
by Susan Colville-Hall Rotary Youth Exchange Students at District 6630 2015 Conference - April 25, 2015
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Please share with RYE students!
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=100660552040133873552&target=ALBUM&id=6142116785208465761&authkey=Gv1sRgCI2OlO6H2eiUhQE&feat=email
Buchanan Honored at District Conference!
Akron Rotarian In The News
Amer Insurance Completes Record Campaign
Amer Insurance, based in Fairlawn, just completed its United Way campaign. It was the highest total raised to date for the insurance agency! The company had 100% participation, for the third consecutive year. Thank you to Ham Amer and Amer Insurance employees for their continued support of United Way and the community!
Congratulations to Shon Christy!
Congratulations to our Rotary Club of Akron President Shon Christy! Shown here celebrating with his beautiful wife Brittany, Shon received the Young Philanthropist of the Year Award at today's United Way Annual Meeting. Thank you Shon Christy for all you do for not only Rotary, but our entire Greater Akron community!
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Rotary Sponsoring 5K June 13th
For more info click this link http://www.theelms.org/5k-family-fun-run/
Directors in Action
25th Annual Rotary Club Chili Open Was Most Successful!
February 9- 13, 2015 : Join the Sandy Hook Promise "No One Eats Alone" Program
Service Projects Committee Update February 4, 2015
Congratulations to our newest Paul Harris Fellows
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of US$1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
It was established in 1957 to show appreciation for and encourage substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.
The first Paul Harris Fellows include 1937-38 RI Director Allison G. Brush and longtime RI Treasurer Rufus F. Chapin, both for donations made in 1946. Mrs. Adan Vargas was the first woman to receive the recognition, for a gift made in 1953. Mrs. Harry L. Jones was the second, and one of only five people recognized for contributions made in 1957.
Early Paul Harris Fellows received a certificate of recognition. In 1969, the Foundation unveiled the first Paul Harris Fellow medallion at the RI Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Japanese metal artist Fiju Tsuda created the piece under the direction of then-past Foundation Trustee Kyozo Yuasa. Today, Paul Harris Fellows receive a certificate and pin. They are also eligible to purchase a Paul Harris Fellow medallion.
Rotarians have a tradition of supporting the Foundation by honoring others. Ida LeTulle Taylor became a Paul Harris Fellow in 1978 when her husband, then-District Governor Vann Taylor, made a donation in her name in honor of their 34th wedding anniversary. The gift also made her the 25,000th Paul Harris Fellow.
At the International Assembly in 1979, then-RI President-elect James Bomar challenged each Rotary club to make one non-Rotarian a Paul Harris Fellow. The Rotary Club of Pikesville, Maryland, USA, responded by making a donation in the name of Mother Teresa in 1980. The entertainer Pearl Bailey also became a Paul Harris Fellow through a joint effort of the Rotary clubs in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Many other notable figures have been named as Paul Harris Fellows, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and Jonas Salk.
Awesome Presentations!!
Former Brazilian RYE Student Visits Club
Club Welcomes New Members in January 2015
Thank you YPA!!
Shoe Boxes Delivered to Nicaragua
Paul Harris Fellow Awards Ceremony
Named after Rotary's founder, the Paul Harris Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who contribute $1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or approved global grants. The purpose of the Paul Harris Society is to honor and thank individuals for their generosity of annual support to The Rotary Foundation.
WHAT YOUR GIFT SUPPORTS
With your gift you’re promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies through grants that:
• Bring peace-building seminars to 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda.
• Distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets and medical services that help prevent malaria in Mali.
• Train teachers who are establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa.
• Provide water filters, toilet blocks, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis in a community in India.
• Fund a scholarship for a medical professional to research treatment to minimize mortality rates among premature babies in Italy.
• Protect children around the world from polio.
Rotary Direct, Rotary's recurring giving program, makes it easy to join the Paul Harris society.
Club Welcomes New Members
Busy Christmas Holiday for Santa!
Rotary is upgraded by The Chronicle of Philanthropy
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION RISES ON EXPERT LIST OF TOP NONPROFITS
The Rotary Foundation has continued its steady growth, moving up 35 spots to 85th in The Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual ranking of the top 400 nonprofit organizations in the United States. The ranking is based on monetary contributions from private sources and reflects the increasing generosity of those who support Rotary's mission.
According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Rotary Foundation received $239,576,000 in 2013, a 32.4 percent increase from the previous year.
"This clearly shows our members recognize the unparalleled value of giving to their Foundation," says John Hewko, Rotary's general secretary. "They know that by giving to the Foundation their dollars have a much greater impact. And friends of Rotary respect that the Foundation puts their gift to great use."
Together with its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary has led the effort to eradicate polio, contributing more than $1.3 billion to the initiative since its outset. When an outbreak of polio threatened the Horn of Africa and the Middle East in 2013, Rotary provided emergency funds, including a $500,000 rapid-response grant for Somalia and a $500,000 grant to the World Health Organization (WHO) to cover operational costs in the Middle East. As a result, the outbreak in the Horn of Africa slowed, and Syria reported only one case of polio in the first half of 2014.
Rotary is also at the forefront of efforts to fight other diseases. According to WHO, indoor air pollution causes 4.3 million deaths per year worldwide. To combat it, members of the Rotary Club of Taos-Milagro, New Mexico, USA, mobilized Rotary clubs in several countries to support the Himalayan Stove Project, which has installed more than 3,000 clean-burning stoves in Nepal.
In Tamil Nadu, India, Rotary clubs partnered with clubs in Maryland, USA, to use a Foundation global grant to purchase a large van and outfit it with X-ray equipment to screen women for breast cancer in hard-to-reach communities. The "mammobus" has conducted more than 2,500 free breast cancer screenings and detected and treated early-stage cancer in six women. Rotary members in Malindi, Kenya, teamed up with members in Maryland and Idaho, USA, to work with the Genesis World Mission in creating a rainwater catchment system to provide clean drinking water, irrigate crops, and establish fish farms in Burangi, Kenya.
In Seattle, Washington, USA, Rotary members are diverting millions of pounds of fruit and vegetables from the waste stream and into the hands of those who need it through Rotary First Harvest, a program of District 5030.
Read more stories about Rotary projects in our Member News section
Learn about Rotary's major breakthrough against polio
Give now to support The Rotary Foundation
Rotary News
The Sandy Hook Promise
that we are able to move forward
with purpose and strength.
This is a Promise
by turning our tragedy into a moment of transformation.
This is a Promise
There is no agenda other than to make
our community and our nation a safer, better place.
This is a Promise
Conversations where listening is as important as speaking.
Conversations where even those with the most opposing views
can debate in good will.
This is a Promise
Things must change.
This is the time.
This is a Promise
Because each child, every human life is filled with promise,
and though we continue to be filled with unbearable pain
we choose love, belief, and hope
instead of anger.
This is a Promise
not as the town filled with grief and victims;
but as the place where
real change began.
Our spirit is not.
This is our Promise
The Sandy Hook Promise
Rotary Club of Akron ANNUAL MEETING Date Set for December 30, 2014
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Rotary Club of Akron Directors in Action in October 2014
- Sandy Naragon: President
- Jeff Sitz: President Elect
- Julie Brandle: Vice President
- Lorie Travaglino: Secretary
- David Smith: Treasurer
- Directors: Julie Brandle, Charles Billington, Mark Seward, and Chris Manby
- Carol Haines
- Steve Buie
- Eric German
- Scott Sarborough
- Rev. Mark Pruitt
Club Welcomes New Members in September
President's Message October 2014
Service Projects Committee Update October 14, 2014
Sydney Shares her Year in France With Akron Rotary
Sydney Heersink, a former Firestone High School student, connected via Skype to the Rotary Club of Akron September 16, 2014, to report on her Rotary Youth Exchange experience in France 2013-2014. She gave accolades to the club for supporting her and to two of her host families in France for their continued support and mentoring in a new culture. Examples of cultural faux pas and other cross-cultural adventures never kept Sydney from getting the most from her year abroad. She was transformed from the shy, quiet girl in the high school classroom to the outgoing, willing to speak to others in a foreign language that she beautifully mastered. Also challenging were the subjects she studied at the local “lycée.” After finding that the French are academically ahead of American students, Sydney was placed at a level comparable to a junior rather than senior. Several French friends helped her understand assignments so she could do her best work. One of the more difficult aspects of living abroad was making friends. It was difficult but not impossible. The host family and siblings are an essential key to the success of the international student’s integration into and comprehension of the new
culture. If Sydney were given a 2nd chance to do the RYE program, she would jump immediately on board, saying that it was the opportunity of a lifetime and that her life is changed forever and for the good. She is extremely grateful to Akron Rotary.
Rotarian McGregor Goes "Over the Edge" for Hattie Larlham
Pictured below are Shawn Lyden, left, Executive Vice President and Robert McGregor, MD is the Chief Medical Officer at Akron Children’s after their descent from the PNC Center Building.
These two members of Akron Children’s leadership team channeled Spiderman in September as they rappelled down 22 stories of the PNC Center in downtown Akron – all for a good cause.
Shawn Lyden, executive vice president, and Dr. Rob McGregor, chief medical officer, went “Over the Edge” for the Hattie Larlham Center for Children with Disabilities, an organization Akron Children’s has worked closely with in providing care for many patients over the years.
Lyden and Dr. McGregor were among 71 participants who accepted the challenge and helped raise an estimated $110,000 for Hattie Larlham.
“This was a new fundraising event for us,” said Phylliss Steiner, a spokesperson for Hattie Larlham. “We have done golf outings and galas, but this was about stepping out of our realm and taking a risk and that is something every single person we serve does every day.”
Lyden and Dr. McGregor both believe their first step will be the most difficult, but are excited about the positive energy surrounding the event and representing Akron Children’s at a worthy cause.
Volunteers Needed For Mobile Meals
11/8/14
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12/13/14
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Motor Vehicle Record Request form
(CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD).
Akron Rotary Welcomes New Members in August
Young Leaders in Action
Young Leaders in Action
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September 2014 | Engaging the next generation of Rotary leaders
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A Young Volunteer Shares Her Rotary Experience
This young volunteer wrote about the time she spent at the Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children:
My name is Kimberly Brandle and I am a sophomore at Archbishop Hoban High School. My Mom is Julie Brandle, Rotary Club of Akron member. This summer I participated in our school's JAM (Justice Akron Ministry)program. JAM is a three day program for students to participate in a social justice service project to build their community and grow in their faith.
Upon arrival you do not know where you will be assigned, you just know you will be helping others. My Mom volunteered with me, when she received the assignment, she smiled, "We are going to Rotary Camp-perfect!"she said.
It was adult camp week and we were assigned to the female adult campers. We helped with campfire songs, getting from place to place, arts and crafts, lunchtime, nature/animal hour, and just anything they needed.
When I entered camp I never knew the strength of these campers or the strength within my own heart. To say I wasn't intimidated at first would be false. But once I started spending time with these great women I learned they were no different from you or me. I learned a lot more than that though, like how one of the ladies would do anything she could to paint and her courage to ask for help. The smile on her face when she accomplished what she set out to do taught me that I had strength to be able to help, but she had strength as well. It was truly inspirational. Seeing others succeed makes us all want to strive for greatness.
None of the people involved at the camp doubt another's greatness and that's why Rotary Camp was an awesome place to be. Not only awesome for campers and their families to have a safe place to go, but also for the volunteers as well. Volunteers have the opportunity to help others, and learn new perspectives without doubting themselves. You see, doubt is something we all have within us. But whether or not we let it take over our perspectives is a choice.
"The moment you doubt whether or not you can fly, you forever cease to be able to do it"...Peter Pan
Thank you to Rotary for making this camp available to the campers and to volunteers like me.
Rotarians Join Forces for Operation Orange
Rotary International Youth Exchange
President's Message September 2014
We have had several great speakers from the Ronald McDonald House, South Street Ministries, as well as a great Skype call with our exchange student that spent the year in France Sydney! Service is also alive and well! A group of volunteers led by Sarah Buccigross spent time volunteering at the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank for Operation Orange! In addition to that Sarah assisted our club in securing a matching district grant to purchase $2000 in equipment for the food bank! Thanks to our membership for their continued support in making a difference in Akron on a daily basis! You continue to inspire me to be a better person!
Yours in Service,
Shon
Rotary Veterans to be Honored by District Governor
Rotarian
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Branch Served
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Years Served
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Rank Upon Discharge
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Charles Billows
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Navy
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2 years active
2 years reserves
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Pharmacists Mate 3rd Class
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Dan O’Connell
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Army
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2 active; 7 years reserves
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Captain
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Dan Sveda
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Army
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2 years
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SP4
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Fred Swartz
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Army
National Guard
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6
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E-5
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Frederick Boyd
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Army
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2 years
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Corporal
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Harry Stewart
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Navy
Reservist
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2 years
2 years
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Yeoman 1st Class
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Hugh Alpeter
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Army Reserve
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7 years
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Captain
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Jack Harig
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Army
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10
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1st Lt.
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Jerome Wagner
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Army
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3 years
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John Daily
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Army
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3.5 years total
1.5 after WWII
2 Korean War
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1st Lt – Korean War
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John Saros
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Army
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2 years
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1st Lt
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Keith Shy
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Air Force
National Guard
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6 years
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E-5 Staff Sgt.
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Kevin McGee
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Army
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4 years (2008-current)
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1st Lt.
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Matt Johnson
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National Guard
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8 YEARS
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E-4 Specialist
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Mike Soful
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Army
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3 years
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Sergeant
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Richard Farkas
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Navy
Air Force
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29 years
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Colonel, U.S. Air Force
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Roger Read
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Army
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2
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1st Lt.
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Steve Shechter
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Coast Guard
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5 mo. Active; 5 years total
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E4
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Terry Dalton
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Army
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3 years
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SPEC 5
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Rotarian Julie Brandle inducted to NAWIC
Julie Brandle, President and Co-Owner of Metis Construction was recently inducted as Secretary of the National Association of Women In Construction Akron Chapter Board. NAWIC is a national organization to enhance the success of women in the construction industry through networking, education, support and encouragement. Through service, education and scholarship awards NAWIC works to promote women in construction.
Service Projects Committee Update –September 8, 2014
Akron Rotarian's Recognized for Achievements!!
Rotary Youth Exchange 2014 Orientation
Rotary Youth Exchange 2014 Orientation
Rex Lake, Akron, Ohio -
Aug 29, 2014
by Susan Colville-Hall Erie-Ohio Rotary District Youth Exchange 2014 Orientation at Akron Rotary Camp - Rex Lake
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Welcome New Members!
Blake | Babcock | 27-May-14 |
Julieann | Brandle | 27-May-14 |
Matt | Johnson | 27-May-14 |
Karen | Nielsen-Meek | 10-Jun-14 |
President's Message August 2014
YE International Committee Goes for a Little R&R
Service Projects Committee Update –August 10, 2014
2006/07 Youth Exchange Student Comes Back for a Visit
Port-Summit Rotary Club Donates to Rotary Camp
President's Message July 2014
Our club has made an enormous impact on the Greater Akron area. Our camp has been helping children with special needs for 90 years! Not to mention the leadership of the men and women of our club to drive change. So where do we go from here? During my induction speech I talked about my vision and the 3 areas of focus for the coming year - Membership, Marketing, Service.
Membership is the lifeblood of our organization. To do more incredible things we need more hands and feet to drive the change.
Marketing not only keeps us at the top of the communities mind, but it also feeds interest in membership.
Last, but certainly not least, is service. Rotary is the largest service organization in the world and is the tie that binds us all together.
With such an amazing history of success and impact it would be very easy to take a step back and admire all of the incredible things the club has achieved, which is why I ended the induction speech with this quote.
“Do your duty and a little more and the future will take care of itself.” - Andrew Carnegie
I am asking each and every one of you to do just a “little” more than you did last year. This is the launching point for the next 100 years. Together, we set the tone for the century and its our actions that will determine the momentum! Thank you in advance for all of your time, talents, and treasure! I feel incredibly blessed to be able to serve with the finest people in Akron.
Rotarians Out and About
On Sunday, July 13, several Akron Rotarians attended the District Governor induction ceremony for Mike Davanzo. It was truly an honor to have two Past District Governors from Akron present: Jack Harig (PDG 2003-2004) and his wife Vivian along with Stew Buchanan (PDG 2010-11) and his wife Sherry.
Club President, Shon Christy and his wife Brittany were enjoying the festivities and watched as the official pins were also passed at the ceremony to fellow Akron Rotarians Cheryl Warren, District Governor Elect 2014-15 (accompanied by husband Steve and father Carl) and Dick Farkas, District Governor Nominee 2014-15.
Here's to a great 2014-15 Rotary Year!!
The Past District 6630 Governor's meeting was held in July also - this provides the current leadership team an amazing opportunity to gain knowledge and ideas from our past Governor's that will help our District provide continuity and success moving forward for our Clubs and members.
Kids at Camp!!
Mike Davanzo Inducted as District 6630 Governor for 2014-15
Please welcome Mike as your leader of District 6630 - you can email him at mdavanzo@zoominternet.net
Shon Christy Sworn in as 2014-15 Club President
"END POLIO NOW" Cleveland Indians Outing Special Event
Lance Chima's Roast
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTO LIBRARY.
Not to worry! We loved our Lance!!! He didn't suffer too much!"
Tickets for Charity benefit Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs
Akron Club Sponsors SHOEBOX PROJECT
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PROJECT FLYER
Please feel free to share this information with your friends, colleagues, family and extended network via e-mail, social media and word of mouth!
June 2014 President's Message
President Lance Presents Bauman Award
May 2014 President's Message
Club Welcomes Six New Members
Charles Billington Attorney - Ogletree Deakins
Beth Boggins Marketing Director - United Way of Summit County
Brian Chima Manager – Chima Travel
Samantha Coldwell DECA Advisor/Marketing Teacher Barberton City Schools
Ben Heckerman Account Executive – Leverity Insurance Group
Georgeann Pinter Owner – Christian James Salon
Stand Up for Downs!!
Club Awards More Scholarships
April 2014 President's Message
Akron Rotarian Susan Colville-Hall Honored
UA COE Professor Honored with Distinguished Career Award
Colville-Hall was nominated by a colleague and the nomination was unanimously supported by the OFLA awards committee and board. She was recognized April 11 at their 2014 annual conference.
Her nomination, in part: “Dr. Colville-Hall has served the language teaching profession for more than forty years. Her expertise in teaching spans the secondary and tertiary spectrum: she was a high school French/Spanish teacher for 18 years; she taught university language courses; and her teaching career culminated with 45 years of experience and dedication preparing the next generation of language teachers at The University of Akron.”
“When I meet Dr. Colville-Hall’s students at the yearly OFLA conference, they always comment on how well she prepared them to plan engaging lessons, deliver meaningful content, and assess students’ real world language proficiency. Her work always extended beyond the classroom as she provided valuable service to the profession. She has demonstrated a distinguished career and I can’t think of a more deserving educator who has an exceptional cumulative career in teaching and service to the language profession.”
Rotary Club of Akron Directors in Action in April
All Directors were thrilled with the Centennial Celebration held April 5th. The sold-out crowd was guided through the evening’s festivities by Emcee Dave Lieberth. Akron Rotary’s story was told with such emotion, the audience was left wanting more! The positive impact of the evening is still being felt. Wanting to join us and make a difference, many are asking, “How do I become an Akron Rotarian?”
A Message from Akron Outbound Exchange Student
Reinke receives Avenues of Service Citation
Shon Christy Attends AOP
March 2014 President's Message
I am pleased to announce our own Dick Farkas, was selected as the Rotary District 6630 District Governor Nominee Designate for the 2016/2017 Rotary Year. Way to go, Dick! Dick will follow fellow Akron Rotarian Cheryl Warren (DG 2015/16). This is the first time in our Club history (and perhaps the District as well) that two people from the same club will be District Governor back to back. We are very proud that the Rotary Club of Akron continually strives to develop great Rotary leaders!
I was also honored to present the chairman of our service projects committee, Graham Reinke, the RI Avenues of Service Citation signed by RI President Ron Burton. Well done, Graham! This is all further proof of the outstanding leadership developed in our club. Everyone makes this job so easy for me!
President Lance
George Rooney Receives Harry Bauman Award
The Harry Bauman Award for his Exemplary Work and Dedication to the Rotary Club of Akron Chili Open.
District and worked diligently in setting up the course layouts the day prior to the event.
2014 Ambassador Of Service Award
AMAZING!!!!
Shon Christy
February 2014 President's Message
I would also like to recognize Sarah Buccigross, who not only is doing a tremendous job with coordinating the Dictionary Project, she has agreed to step up and lead our club and chair the Grants Committee. We have great news to announce concerning our action participating in the International Peace Fellowship as well as Gift of Life, and I am confident that Sarah will help propel us forward to even more international program participation.
This has been one brutal winter, but it sure hasn’t dampened the spirits of Akron Rotarians, and for that, I am most grateful.
President Lance
Rotary Club of Akron Directors in Action
The Directors of the Rotary Club of Akron met on February 11th. Directors voted to amend the Club Bylaws that included Rotary International updates as well as a strategic succession plan. A member vote for acceptance of the Bylaws will be presented on February 25, 2014 at the regular Tuesday meeting.
It’s almost time to celebrate! Co-Chairs Jack Harig and Cheryl Warren reported on the Centennial Celebration. On April 5th Rotarians will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Akron. Participation opportunities are available in a variety of levels from $300 to $5,000. Contact Jim Redman at JRedmond@PRLKW.com or 330-864-1144 for details. Watch for your invitations. Tickets are $100 per person. Consider hosting a community leader or business connection to come revel in Rotary!
Service Above Self Opportunity! What better way to get involved in Rotary than as a project leader! The Battered Women’s Shelter needs help furnishing their new facility. The project leader will coordinate a collection for needed items. It is a simple, quick project! Email Service Projects Co-Chair Sarah Buccigross at sbuccigross@akronohio.gov if you’re interested. She’ll have more details soon!
Club Welcomes Braxton Boyer!
Fellow Rotarian Suzanne Boyer transferred to the Akron Club last September and shortly after joining us, she and her husband Chris welcomed a new baby into the world on October 25th, 2013. Braxton Chase Boyer weighed in at 8 lbs 3 oz and 21.5 inches tall. Suzanne finds it hard to believe they will be celebrating 4 months "new" February 25th. She looks forward to seeing everyone again soon! |
A Message from our Exchange Student in France
Just last week I celebrated the half way point of my exchange!! It is absolutely incredible to think about, as it seems like just yesterday I was getting on the plane.
Chili Open Fun!!
A Message From Kevin McGee
RI President Elect Announces 2014-15 Theme
"The Rotary way is the Confucius way. The Rotary way is to light a candle. I light one, you light one, 1.2 million Rotarians light one. Together, we light up the world," said Huang, who is a member of the Rotary Club of Taipei in Taiwan.
After announcing his theme at the opening session of the five-day training meeting, Huang urged club members toLight Up Rotary in the coming year by hosting a Rotary Day in their community and including local Rotaract and Interact members in their service projects.
December 2013 President's Message
A Message From Kevin McGee: "Operation Deployed for Good"
Holiday Cheer
Akron Rotarians ringing the The Salvation Army USA bell today at Acme 1 on Market. Stop by and visit! We has some special visitors singing
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Santa made a stop at Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs before heading up north for the big day! These cool people are definitely on the nice list!
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Santa arrived at
SUPER Learning Center on December 19! |
Santa Stops at Camp
Akron Rotary Club Directors In Action
100th Annual Christmas Party for Special Needs Children
Sydney Sends Her Regards from France
Bonjour Mme Hall!
J'ai reçu votre colis l'autre jour! Je présenterai l'écusson à une cérémonie, en décembre. Donc, merci encore!
Je vraiment adore la vie là. Tout est bien, j'Apprend quelque chose chaque jour. La chose que je préfère la plus en France est l'histoire. Tout les petit villages, (comme où j'habite) je trouve super mignon. Aussi, j'ai appris hier, que des gammes de montagnes pas loin de Chez moi, c'était le accueil de la résistance français en la second guerre mondial. Elles s'appelle les vercores.
Reinke and Buccigross Receive Recognition
Harry Bauman Awards for their Exemplary Work and Dedication to the Rotary Club of Akron Dictionary Project.
Club Website is Getting a Face Lift!!
330-495-9814
Participation Opportunities for Rotary Club of Akron Centennial
Click here to learn how your organization or group can support our 100th anniversary event
You can help us defer a portion of the event’s expenses by choosing a “participation opportunity”.
Participation opportunities are available on several levels,
each of which offers a unique way to help celebrate the Rotary Club of Akron and its great history.
This landmark event on Saturday, April 5, 2014, 6:00PM
will be honoring the 100 years that the
Akron Rotary Club has been providing community service.
1914-2014
Chili Open and SNOWMANIA!
As the leaves fall and the weather gets colder we are getting more excited for our Chili Open that will take place at Hale Farm on February 1st! Our team has been hard at work over the past few months to ensure a record year! We are looking to raise $200,000 this year and to do that we will need a huge team effort! The raffle tickets are available and have already started to sell! There will be several ways to get these over the coming weeks.
Matthew Tifft is going big time!
Most of you have had the pleasure to see him speak to our group And everyone who has is impressed and encouraged with what he means to the next genration. Matthew is sure to be a future Rotarian and helping him accomplish his dreams will serve to help us meet ours.
Matthew is in the running for the most popular NASCAR K&N driver. The competition involves voting (up to once per day) for him. We are launching a large campaign to help him rise to the top of the votes.
Let's all pull together to show this community minded Northeast Ohio teenager our support!
http://hometracks.nascar.com/2013_Most-Popular-Driver_Poll_NKNPS-East
The site is receiving a lot of activity so you might need to try twice to get in.
William Manby, Jr.
Rotary Club of Akron
November 2013 President's Article
(L-R) President Lance Chima with Tyler Humphrey)
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(L-R Tyler Humphrey, Doug Hausknecht, Aaron Baumgardner) |
A huge “shout out” this month goes to Doug Hausknecht for his collaborative efforts between our club, The University of Akron, and an amazing group of young men and ladies from the Akron Zips campus. What began as a scholarship interview last February between Doug and student Tyler Humphrey, has blossomed into a very cool Rotaract Club. On November 13 a glorious Inauguration Celebration Evening was conducted at camp. We were privileged to have DG Bob Johnson and AG Steve Smetana conducting the formalities of the ceremony, and learning about camp from J.D. Detsch. We were anticipating the 15 students who are the charter members of Akron Rotaract to be present. What blew us all away was the fact that twice as many students attended the evening at camp, because the group has already doubled in size. I encourage you to meet President Ty Humphrey and his fellow Rotaractors, as they are a classy group of kids, and we are blessed with the opportunity and responsibility to be mentors to them, and mold them to be great Rotarians in the future. As I reflect on Thanksgiving this year, I am most thankful for all the wonderful people in this great club. President Lance |
Welcome New Akron Rotaract Club & Members
Akron Rotary Exchange Student Update
Akron Rotary Exchange Student visited the Cleveland Museum of Art
Thanks to Cherie Shechter and Dean Mugler for inviting S. Korean exchange student Gu Hyoun Nam to join the honors College Humanities class trip to to the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Please consider inviting our exchange student in other activities throughout the community - please contact Susan Colville-Hall: colvillehall2@gmail.com.
(Left Photo) Gu Hyoun Nam assumes the pose of the Guardian Figure: Nio 1200s, Japan, Shiga prefecture, Kamakura period, 1972.158.1 Feet planted, hands raised, this Buddhist Guardian figure seems confident in its ability to protect against evil.
(Right Photo) Dean Mugler on tour with the students
Rotary World Polio Day is October 24
October President's Article
An absolutely amazing milestone has been reached for the Rotary Club of Akron on September 28, 2013 at our Akron Rotary Camp Regatta. Coming off the tail-end of the great recession which began in 2008, the naysayers said it would not be prudent to embark on a $ 3.5 million capital campaign in 2010 to renovate the camp. But under the vision and wisdom of past club presidents Mark Krohn and Bill Manby, Jr., the leadership of Jack and Vivian Harig, Nick and Ruthie George, the sacrificial giving of time, talent, and treasures of Rennick and Dee Andreoli, and the efforts of the Akron Rotary Foundation, the camp has not only been renovated, but transformed into a magnificent facility, too beautiful for words to describe. Further proof of our club’s commitment to the community and how our 125+ members will accomplish anything we put our minds to. Camp Director Dan Reynolds and his staff are changing lives forever and if you haven’t visited the camp recently, get out there! There are so many people to thank, it is impossible to do so in this short article, so a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone of our Rotarians, family, and friends who through their sacrificial giving have made this all possible.
President Lance
Rotary Camp Trick or Treat!!
Akron Rotary Camp - Gratitude & Pride
Check out Rotary.org
When you first go to the new site, you will be asked to register - even if you had done so on the old site, you must do so again on the new site in order to gain access to additional member-only resources and information. There are member areas for Learning & Reference, Exchange of Ideas, Ways to Take Action, Sign Up for Member News, and much more! Check it out today at www.Rotary.org!
Visit Other Clubs!!
Did you know that as a Rotarian you have the priviledge of being able to visit any Rotary Club in the World? Locally in our District, we have over 50 Clubs right here in NE Ohio! Let us know about your experience at our next Akron Rotary meeting. We are always looking for an opportunity to hear about what other Clubs are doing and the experience you had while visiting them. If you need list of International Clubs you can visit www.Rotary.org or for just the District 6630 Club list click here. Please note that our District Club list includes our College and High School Clubs (Rotaract and Interact Clubs) and are designated in the list with an (R) or (I) before the name.
September 2013 President's Message
I look forward to seeing everyone as we sail the course and finish strong. It will be “All hands on deck” for our Akron Rotary Camp Regatta Celebration and Fundraiser on Saturday September 28 at 6:00 PM. This has indeed been an epic journey.
Our Tuesday lunch meetings are vibrant, educational, and fun! Program chair J.T. Teringo continues to bring in interesting speakers. Our October lineup has the Akron Marathon Race Director, Akron Police Chief Nice, Jim Tressel, and DG Bob Johnson speaking. See you there!
President Lance
From Sydney Heersink, our Outbound Youth Exchange student to France
I will be honest with you all, I don't know where to start, other than THANK YOU so very much for being such a major contributor to me being in France. I absolutely adore it here!
My arrival in France was fine, I slept for a large portion of the trip, but I have no complaints with Air France or my reception in Lyon! I was met at the airport by many Rotarians from my club and district, as well as a plethora of other exchange students! Lyon and Valence seem to be full of Rotary students! In my school alone, there are six Rotary Exchange students. So I am always assured of having someone around that understands my daily "happy moments" and "difficult moments" This also comes with a caution as it is easy for some of the exchange students to want to spend time only with other exchange students. I try to avoid this as much as possible, for the sole reason that it would be impossible for me to improve my French with others who don't speak French!
Operation Deployed for Good - Manas
Akron Rotary Youth Exchange
Akron's Rotary Youth Exchange Program is active this 2013 - 2014 school year with Outbound student, Sydney Heersink (senior at Firestone High School) who has arrived in Valence, France, and Inbound student Gu Hyoun Nam from South Korea who is already attending classes at Firestone High School. Both were able to meet and attend an Akron Rotary meeting before Sydney's departure.
August 2013 President's Article
Rotary Youth Exchange Update
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
What great club meeting on August 13th with the Deputy Mayor of Akron!! It is so reassuring to hear the great things this town and community are doing with collaborations between industry, the university. And the global leadership that Akron displays is impressive. Now I know why one of the guests on a recent national news broadcast stated that Northeast Ohio is the model to follow to avoid the Detroit financial failure. It makes me really proud to be a member of our local, global-thinking community and proud of the individuals who make this happen.
In that same vein of global thinking, our Rotary Youth Exchange student, Guhyoun NAM will be arriving tomorrow and hopefully will be with us next week at our Rotary meeting. I thought that I would save you some time, so I put together this FACT sheet to help us all become more knowledgeable about his country. For your benefit it is both attached and imbedded below.
You might want to be ready for a little quiz on South Korea next week. The information comes from the sites below:
Akron Rotary Centennial Logo Unveiled
The Rotary Club of Akron will be celebrating 100 years in existence in April 2014!
The Centennial Celebration committee has designed this new
logo which will be in use for the Club throughout the 2013-2014 Rotary year.
The official Centennial Celebration will take place on April 5, 2014. However, we have a lot of work to do to prepare before April! 100 years worth of history to gather and a lot of communuications to send out!
If you are interested in helping, please contact Jack Harig or Cheryl Warren
or any of the committee chairs listed below...we will welcome your help!
Budget & Finance: Daniel Riemenschneider
Invitation/Save the Date/Design and Distribution: Shon Christy
Banquet Committee: Chairman: Marcia Holcomb
Program and Video Committee: Mark Krohn
Club History: John Daily
Past President, Past Member, Rotary Alumni: Dick Farkas
Camp Alumni Committee: No committee chair yet!
Community Events Involvement Committee: Bill Manby, Jr.
Publicity Committee: Shon Christy
Rotary International and District Liaison Committee: Stew Buchanan
Sponsorship Committee: Jim Redmond
Akron Club Celebrates Manby's Presidency
On Friday, July 16th, 75 members of the Akron Rotary Club gathered to celebrate its outgoing President Bill Manby, Jr. and his successful 2012-2013 term.
Most fittingly, the event was hosted at the Akron Rotary Camp’s new Rennick and Dee Dee Andreoli Recreation Center as the kick-off event to open the new building. Friends, family and other supporters all gathered around to honor Bill and his team who accomplished many great things during the year, including adding over 20 new members, obtaining Rotary’s AZ Baker Award and receiving Rotary’s coveted Presidential Citation (one of only three given in our district, a very big deal).
When asked how he could possibly accomplish such wonderful things, Bill immediately replied,
I had a lot of help from some pretty famous friends (the tooth fairy, Colonel Sanders, and Sonny and Cher),
how could I fail?
Thanks to the wonderful camp staff, food by Ivan’s Deli and the outstanding behind the scene’s organizational skills of our own Steve Shechter, the event was the prefect night and a most well deserved end to a fantastic year. A very hearty congratulations to Bill and his team and well wishes to Lance Chima as he carries the torch for the 2013-2014 presidential year.
July 2013 President's Article
This could possibly be THE greatest year in the history of this Rotary Club and I am honored to be leading the way. Thanks to Bill Manby, Jr. who directed us so brilliantly this past year, and with the help of so many of you sacrificing your time, treasures, and talents, the club is in great shape. The Rotary International theme for this year is
“Engage Rotary-Change Lives” and that is exactly what continues to happen in this amazing club.
Consider some of the things we have accomplished and will experience this year:
New Rotary District 6630 Governor Takes Helm
Rotary District Governor Robert "Bob" Johnson of the Burton-Middlefield Club was sworn in to official duty in July. Get to know District Governor Johnson by reading his bio (click here) and watch for his upcoming visitation/presentation to our Club.
Mike Davanzo of the Medina Sunrise Club will be serving as District Governor Elect (DGE) during Bob's year and will then step in as District Governor 2014-2015.
Akron Rotarian, Cheryl Warren began serving under Bob as District Governor Nominee (DGN)
and will follow Mike as District Governor for 2015-2016.
Mike Davanzo made it official by giving Cheryl the DGN pin at a recent Akron Club meeting.
Remember to visit the Rotary District 6630 website for more District news, events and
training sessions for Clubs.
June 2013 President's Article
The Year That Flew Bye!
I can’t believe it’s really been a whole year! It has been a blast and I hope you have all had as much fun as I have!
I set some lofty goals for my term and I am proud to say nearly every one of them has been achieved and we also accomplished some things beyond expectations. Being awarded the 2012-2013 Presidential Citation from RI President Sakuji Tanaka is a very significant achievement! Our district has over 50 clubs and we were 1 of 3 TOTAL who received this distinction. The AZ Baker Award is another great accomplishment.
As you may remember, my theme for this year was “Get Engaged and Be Inspired!” Judging from the enthusiasm of many of our members and based on my own experience, we have achieved it! It was interesting to see a quote from the Rotary International Foundation President Elect that was on the cover of the club’s Paul Harris handout a few weeks ago. He said “The job doesn’t end when a new member joins. It’s not done until that new member is engaged in Rotary, inspired by Rotary, and uses the power of Rotary service to change lives.” I guess great minds think alike, or Akron is setting the pace for other clubs; I would like to think both are true.
This year has been particularly rewarding because of the great leadership team members surrounding me. Every committee accomplished its goals and every chair went above and beyond to drive that success. This momentum will continue as Lance comes in and implements his own strategies for the upcoming year. Please continue to support him as you did me, because this club is absolutely blowing up!
I am proud to have been able to serve this club and can’t wait to help us grow and accomplish even more in the upcoming years. Thank you….. Each and every one of you!
Lance, it is all yours and it is in great shape!
Humbly yours in Rotary service and with the most sincere thanks,
Bill Manby, Jr.
Rotary Inducts More Dynamic Members
On June 18 the Rotary Club of Akron welcomed three more dynamic members:
Laura Fink - sponsored by Bill Manby, Jr.
Dr. Ronald G. Hawes - sponsored by Hugh Alpeter
Erika Phares - sponsored by Cheryl Warren
Pictured Left-Right: Laura Fink, Hugh Alpeter, Dr. Robert G. Hawes , Cheryl Warren, Erika Phares, Bill Manby Jr.
Need Golf Balls?
Many of you may not recognize this picture since it is not February and is not covered in snow with a golf course and 600 golfers!
This is the site our annual Wayne Homes / Akron Rotary Chili Open hosted at Hale Farm. But now spring has sprung and fellow Rotarian Steve Shechter was driving past and spotted an odd sighting .... this array of brightly colored round objects laying in the field...low and behold they are NOT natures flowers but golf balls that eluded our golfers on that snowy February day! Thanks to all who joined us and helped us raise money to support the Akron Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children.
Coach Dambrot Presents to Akron Club
University of Akron Zips basketball coach Keith Dambrot was the featured speaker for the Akron Rotary Club on June 11th. Dambrot, an Akron native, entertained a packed house that included Rotarians, U of A administration, alumni and donors to the program. Many folks brought their children for the up close and personal interaction. The coach addressed the current and future state of the Zips basketball program and mid-majors, in general. He believes we aren’t far away from seeing a mid-major win a national championship and “it might as well be the Zips!” He is also still very close to Lebron James and had very insightful comments and observations.
The Akron community is very fortunate to have a coach like Dambrot. His commitment to the area and strong desire to make Akron a destination of choice really resonated with a club full of members with a similar perspective.
The enjoyable lunch was capped with an unexpected surprise. Club President Bill Manby, Jr. was presented the “Peace Through Service 2012-13 Presidential Citation” from Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka. The Akron Rotary Club was 1 of 3 clubs in a district of over 50 clubs to earn this distinction. The club also received the AZ Baker award.
The Akron Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at noon at Portage Country Club. Guests are always welcome.
Pictured is Club President Bill Manby, Jr. with Coach Dambrot and Bill’s sons Greyson (age 9) and Ashton (age 12).
Article from YATRA Trip
If you have trouble opening the above link, cut and paste this URL into your browser:
http://barrelhopping.com/india-yatra-chronicling-rural-medical-mission/
Akron Beacon Journal Features Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children
Greetings from the Sunny Shores of Rex Lake!
In case you missed the great article in the Akron Beacon Journal, below is a link. The progress at camp is amazing! If you haven't been to camp in the past few months you'll be in for a big surprise. It's really a different place.
Thank you for making camp such a beautiful place for our kids and families. I look forward to seeing you this summer!
http://www.ohio.com/news/akron-rotary-camp-restoration-nearly-complete-1.399374
In the Spirit of Camping,
Dan
Dan Reynolds
Rotary Club of Akron
Graphic Enterprises Sponsors Night Out To Help Support Our Camp
On the evening of May 8th our friends from Graphic Enterprises, Brian Frank (President) and Denise Dennewitz (Marketing Director) battled it out for tips to benefit the Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs. The event was held in the private room at Legends in Green off of Massillon Road. On the bar there were 2 jars one with Denise’s face and Brian’s face on the other. The jars filled up quickly over the 2 short hours and the they were very close - who would be the winner? Only time would tell! Each bartender was hustling to increase their tip jar amounts for the camp all night!
The event was able to draw a great mix Rotarians, friends of the camp, and local business leaders to support a wonderful cause. J.D. Detsch from the camp staff showed a video produced by students at The University of Akron about the camp and thanked all of the supporters in attendance. When the final bell rang and the tips were counted, Brian and Denise were able to give the camp $570!! The winner was the camp!!
We are always humbled and thankful for the outpouring of support that we have seen for the camp. A special thank you goes out to Brian, Denise, and the entire team at Graphic Enterprises for their support of our amazing camp. It is through generosity like this that we are able to continue to support our mission and give our children amazing opportunities!
Thanks!
May 2013 President's Article
What an awesome start to spring we have had! The Recreation Hall is now a pile of rubble helping to highlight the NEW Resource Center and much needed green space. $570 was raised for our camp by Graphic Enterprise and they aren’t even Akron Rotarian’s … yet. We must have given out over 30 student scholarships, and this is just a few of the awesome things done in the last month!
In addition, our meetings continue to be packed. After-hours and outside events remain popular and interest in our club is at an all-time high! You should also be very proud of the strong financial position we are in and if you ever want to review the minutes from our board meetings, they are posted on the website.
We also had our first of many collaborative meetings with representatives from the club, foundation and camp boards. Our goal is to work together better so we can help grow and serve special needs individuals through our new and expanded facilities on Rex Lake. The challenge is a big one but, I’m positive this club has what it takes to deliver now, for the next 50 years and beyond.
Please remember our camp is one of the 3 beneficiaries of the “Team Donnie” Golf Outing on June 8th. This event will bring over $4,000 to our camp, so I want our club to support it as much as possible. It’s a great chance for us to spend some more time together and expose more people to the wonderful things we do. Everything we do and want to continue to do is dependent on this club growing and staying strong! Please keep doing your part.
Yours in Rotary Service,
William Manby, Jr.
Fun Night at Camp
Our Rotary After Hours and New Member Recruitment gathering at the Camp on May 15th was splendid!! What a gorgeous evening -- the sun was shining, the construction is looking great and we had many new people to get to know. Rennick Andreoli was busy leading tours and Bill Manby Jr., again thanked Graphic Enterprises for their support and presented their donation to camp director, Dan Reynolds.
It was exciting to see so many new faces!
Akron Club Awards More Scholarships!
From left to right: Mykkia Beasley, Buchtel CLC; Dae Shawn Cheatham, Garfield High School; Sable Cooper, Buchtel CLC; Brianna Dobies-Thomas, Ellet High School; Mary Hankton, Buchtel CLC; Danny Kramer, East CLC; Colt Lockhart, East CLC; Diamond Lovejoy, East CLC; Abigail Stopka, STEM High School
Scholarship Winners Recognized at Club Meeting
The students from left to right are: Juleeah Vang, East CLC: Alexis Bonner, Ellet; Susan Sedlacko, Firestone; David McHenry, Archbishop Hoban; Malik Scales, Garfield; Angela Weathers, Kenmore; Megan Klamert, Our Lady of the Elms; Alissa Peeples, St. Vincent-St Mary. Unable to attend, Sam Merrow, Akron Early College.
April President's Article
Hopefully spring has finally sprung and our weekly meetings can be followed with a round of golf soon. Since my year is quickly coming to an end, I was reviewing my goals the other day. Though they seemed lofty at the time, I was surprised how close we are and want to encourage each of you to help me meet them.
Below is a summary of them and some comments:
SAVE THESE DATES!!
Further proof that this club continues to rock the socks off everyone by being so involved in so many activities, it has been decided to change the night of the Rotary After Hours//New Member Recruitment Night to Wednesday May 15, 2013. This is to encourage member participation at the Legends Sports Pub and Grille in Uniontown, sponsored by Graphic Enterprises on Wednesday May 8, as tips raised that evening will be donated to our camp.
On behalf of the membership committee and camp, I trust you understand our decision to move the Membership Recruitment Night to Wednesday May 15 and look forward to seeing you at both events!
Wednesday May 8-Legends Sports Pub and Grille in Uniontown and Wednesday May 15-Party at Rotary Camp featuring a New Member Recruitment Night, Rotary After Hours evening, Camp Tours, Snacks, and Drinks
Lance Chima
Akron Rotary Inducts Megan Moncrief
Megan Moncrief became a member of the Rotary Club of Akron in March. Many of you may know Megan from her countless volunteer hours she has spent helping with the Chili Open on behalf of Wayne Homes where she serves as Marketing Manager. We are pleased to welcome Megan into our Akron Club family!
Mary Weaver's Medical Mission to India
AIPNO (Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio-USA) plans and recruits Rotarians, spouses, volunteers with/without medical backgrounds to participate in a February medical mission trip and to donate funds to help cover costs of medicines, supplies, etc.
This trip was the 13th February trip made by this group. Each year the event is held in a different location in India. This year the trip was located in West Bengal, India (south of Delhi and north of Kolkata).
Our mission (Yatra or pilgrimage) was to provide medical care to 6 villages in India's West Bengal area. We flew into Kolkata then had a 4 ½ hr. bus ride through the countryside to Santiniketan Lodge where we inventoried medicines and prepared for clinic & camp #1.
March President's Article
March Madness is upon us!! For many of us this means basketball tournament season and our Club certainly has some dogs in the fight. I hope my newsletter next month is celebrating an IU National Championship, but if not me, maybe our OSU, MSU or Akron Alums have something to celebrate.
I was shocked the other day when I realized I'm less than 4 months away from passing the gavel to Lance. I've really enjoyed my time as your president and am SORT OF sad to see it come to an end. That being said, I couldn't be more excited about Lance succeeding me and look forward to everything he plans to bring to this wonderful organization.
I'm really enjoying the time a get to spend with each of you and am thankful for having the opportunity to get to know each of you better.
Our Club is really clicking, so make sure to do your part. I can assure you that you get out of it what you put into it.
So please consider delivering a dictionary, signing up for a committee for our 100th Anniversary Gala or bring a prospective member to our after hours or a meeting. this club is only as strong as its members and the more folks we have to part of this special group, the more we can accomplish together!
Go Hoosiers!!
Thanks,
Bill Manby Jr.
Getting to Know Our Fellow Rotarians
Have you seen our Home Page lately? Wondering what this big red box is all about?
We are simply trying to collect some new information on our members as a resource for helping you get involved and know a little more about each other.
Speak a foreign language? We want to know ...
Like to golf? We want to know ...
You get the idea! Just click on the button above -- the survey takes less than 2 minutes to complete. We appreciate your help with this so we can put the data to good use for our Club.
Please note...we do not share your information with third parties!
Thanks!
Akron Club Happenings!
Terry Dalton, Chair of our Scholarship Committee (left), presented scholarships to Anthony Wallace (center) and Brent Miller (right).
Bruce Henning, Managing Partner at Hennes Paynter Communications, presented "What To Do When 60 Minutes Calls". Bruce specializes in Crisis Communication, Media Training, and Litigation Communications. www.crisiscommunications.com
New members were inducted Feb 12. 2012:
(L)Charles Solley, Director of Government Releations, Akron Children's Hospital
(R)Linda Conrad, Director, Stan Hywet
February President's Article
I have been humbled by what this group can accomplish and feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to be your president. Your new leadership teams are in place for next year and I can’t wait to see Lance continue our tradition. He has shared some of his visions and this club will be even better as a result.
If you haven’t been to a meeting lately, please try to join us. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. If you are there regularly, think about brining a friend to check us out!
Hopefully my next newsletter is written from a golf cart because spring is right around the corner.
Yours in Rotary Service,
William Manby, Jr.
2013 Ambassador of Service Al Romanini
On Tuesday, February 5, 2013 the Rotary Club of Akron honored Willoughby Supply Company President Al Romanini as its 2013 Ambassador of Service. This award is given to those who provide ongoing service to the greater community and exemplify the spirit of Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self.” The award is given in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Akron’s Chili Open each year.
Romanini has been a supporter of the Akron Rotary Camp through support of the Wayne Homes Chili Open for many years. His effort has helped the Rotary Club of Akron provide financial assistance to families of children with special needs the opportunity to have typical camping experiences and to grow and learn in the outdoors at the Akron Rotary Camp.
After his first visit to camp three years ago, Romanini offered support to the capital campaign, pledging through Willoughby Supply, to donate all of the roofing materials for the new cabins, bathhouse and Great Hall. This significant contribution to the camp’s transformation is making a real difference for the campers.
This is Romanini’s first humanitarian award, and he is very proud to be honored by such a fantastic organization. When asked why he donates, he simply said, “It’s for kids, and more importantly children with special needs. Furthermore, not only do they help these children, but they also have a respite program for their parents. It’s an awesome place!”
Al Romanini and his wife Lisa live in Bainbridge with their children Allisa, Anthony, Abigail and Allison.
Akron Chili Open Cooks Up Support for Akron Rotary Camp
Annual winter golf outing creates summer camp opportunities for children with special needs
On Saturday, February 2, 2013, more than 500 hearty souls showed up at Hale Farm and Village to support the Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs. The Akron Rotary Club’s Chili Open, presented by Wayne Homes, is a one-of-a-kind winter golf experience. The historic grounds of Hale Farm and Village were transformed into four golf courses. Indoors, Whitey’s Chili was served and guests enjoyed the music provided by the Beach Boyz. The event raised more than $150,000, which will provide assistance for more than 400 campers to experience summer camp.
Akron Rotary Wayne Homes Chili Open - Great Fun for A Great Cause
Your participation in the 2013 Wayne Homes Chili Open golf classic will help more than 1,600 children and adults with disabilities attend the Rotary camp next summer!
Mark Your Calendars: February 2, 2013!
One of the most unique challenges for either an extreme sports enthusiast or a hobbyist golfer is the arctic golf experience of the Wayne Homes Chili Open. On Saturday, February 2, 2013, nearly 1,000 polar bear golfers will converge on the scenic Hale Farm and Village in Bath. On that date, the grounds of this historic location will be transformed into seven golf courses with nine holes each. Hole distances will range from 65 to 125 yards. Golfers will be challenged to drive shots across tundra and putt balls laden with ice. Just as in any respectable outing, there will be awards for the closest-to-the pin and the hole-in-one. Tee Times: 8 am to 2 pm (tee times will be assigned based on first-come, first-served preferences)
Location: Hale Farm & Village, Oak Hill Drive, Bath OH 44210
Directions: http://www.wrhs.org/index.php/hale/planyourvisit/directions
Registration Deadline: February 2, 2013
CLICK TO BUY A RAFFLE TICKET
(New this year: every raffle ticket you purchase can then be redeemed for a free entrée up to a $15.00 limit at
Summit Mall Bravo, with a purchase of a second entrée of equal or greater value)
Warming-up is Half the Fun!
While this may not sound like and event for the faint-of-heart, it is perfect for anyone that enjoys a good time and likes to help a great cause. Included with the registration fee for each golfer is a pass to the Wayne Homes Chili Open warm-up party. Inside the banquet hall of Hale Farm and Village, all golfers will be treated to all-you-can-eat Whitey’s Chili. There will be plenty of space for playing cards and reminiscing about the best shots of the day on the frigid course. There will also be great raffle prizes.
Rotary Exchange Student Sends Holiday Greetings
Our club was excited to receive a Holiday Greeting card from one of our former exchange students, Johannes Naumann, from Germany! Johannes was an exemplary exchange student during his school year at Tallmadge High School who touched the hearts of many of us then and continues to stay in touch. Following is the message he sent:
Dear Rotary President, Mr. Manby, dear Akron Rotarians,
As a former exchange student in 2004-05, I wish you and all of your families a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2013! Two amazing trips to the Us/Canada in 2012 showed me again how much I love your country and how much I cherish my time as a High School student in the U.S.! Hope to make it to OHIO sometime soon, Johannes.
“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln
Johannes enclosed this photo of himself with his girlfriend, Luca, taken in San Francisco in August, 2012.
Marcia Holcomb, RYE Officer 2003-12
Akron Rotary Club Directors in Action
The first 2013 Board of Directors meeting for the Rotary Club of Akron was held January 8th. Treasurer Dave Smith reported that the club is in a good financial position. This is due to the growing membership and increased participation by Rotarians at our weekly luncheons!
The most exciting news shared by President Bill Manby, Jr., was that Mary Weaver will be participating in the AIPNO-Medical Mission to India. Akron Rotary will be contributing $2,000 toward the mission. This trip will enable Rotary volunteers and funds to complete 4,000 medical procedures.
Committee reports worth noting include the PR/Chili Open Committees. Chair Shon Christy shared the news about the electronic marketing and PR strategies being used to share Akron Rotary’s story. For example the website and Facebook will be used to raise awareness, sell raffle tickets and secure sponsors for the upcoming Wayne Homes Chili Open. As chair of Service Projects, Graham Reinke reported that Akron Rotary will be able to provide dictionaries to all the third graders in Akron Public Schools. This news thrilled President Manby as it is the first of his Presidential goals to be completed!
Rotary Club of Akron Service Projects 2013
Improving literacy is a very important objective of Rotary. Up through grade three, children are learning to read. After grade three, children are reading to learn. If a child fails to gain competence in reading during the first three grades, the potential for a successful education outcome is greatly diminished.
Last year the Club’s first Dictionary Project was initiated, and dictionaries were provided to about ½ of the third grade students in the Akron Public School system. Much was learned from this initial effort. This year under the leadership of Sarah Buccigross, and thanks to the generosity of Akron Rotary Club members, the Akron Rotary Foundation, Kiwanis members, and the Akron Community Foundation, dictionaries will be provided to every third grader in the Akron Public School system. The distribution is planned for February. It will require volunteers from Rotary and Kiwanis, and will engage the assistance of ACES (an organization of faculty and students at the University of Akron’s College of Education) who will teach a lesson on the use of a dictionary. We are excited!!!!
Last summer, under the leadership of Louise Mazur, Rotary volunteers worked with The Salvation Army on a weekly program to improve the reading skills of elementary school students. When school restarted last fall, the volunteers shifted their focus to assisting the students with homework. The tutoring sessions take place most Monday afternoons at the S.A. Citadel.
Keep Akron Beautiful: We plan to support the Beautification Watch Awards Program again this year. Volunteers will be needed to drive specified routes and nominate residences, businesses and organizations for a 2013 award. It takes some time, but it is a lot fun. More on this later!
Amador visits Rotary Club in Spain!
Rotary District 6630 Rolls Out New Videos
Last Rotary year our District received a Public Relations Grant from Rotary International. Several people from the Akron Club were involved in helping to secure this Grant and also work on the projects associated with the funds to meet the goals and objectives. Part of these monies were used to create three videos featuring Rotarians from our District talking about Rotary.
Thank you for your patience – we had so much great footage that we created three videos instead of just the original goal of one. In addition, we will be producing PSAs that will be sent to the regional TV stations.
The intent is for the videos to be used to develop awareness about our District and our Clubs, primarily with a goal of increasing membership, but they can also be used when soliciting project or event sponsors or when you are at any event representing Rotary. Each Club President has been sent a DVD containing all three videos, but you can view them now (below) or on our District website at www.RotaryDistrict6630.org.
Please make sure your speakers are turned up to hear the audio.
1. This Is Rotary District 6630
2. Being A Rotarian
3. My Rotary, My Passion
Reminder - No Weekly Meetings...
Just a reminder that we will not have a weekly meeting on December 25, 2012 or January 1, 2013.
Holiday Cheer to All
December President's Article
This year seems to be rapidly drawing to a close, but it does so with a flurry of activity. Our capital campaign is hoping to close its final phase soon, so check out a respite weekend and bring someone to camp to spread the word. The Chili Open planning is in full swing and raffle tickets make an excellent stocking stuffer or gift to valuable employees. Our memberships keep growing and it seems like we add a wonderful new member to our family almost every week. We’re sponsoring an outgoing exchange student and get to look forward to having our own incoming student next fall. The Paul Harris Fellow lottery keeps growing and growing and our contribution to the Rotary International Foundation is one of the best in the state. Read to me day, tutoring and our dictionary project have all been huge successes. Our holiday party, Salvation Army Bell ringing and Santa for the special kids at the SUPER Learning Center are happening this week. Oh, and not to mention our program speakers have been AWESOME and the energy and buzz in and about our club is at an all time high!
It’s the time of year to be thankful to everyone and everything in your life and I want to take the time to thank each of you for all you do to make my life more fulfilling. I hope each of you get to take time with your loved ones over the holidays and come back “next year” energized to keep up our momentum and reach even greater heights in 2013!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Akron Rotary Welcomes Mark Seward
Congratulations to Mark Seward of Seward Wealth Management for his induction into our Club
WKSU Visits Rotary Club of Akron
Rotary Club of Akron USA Creates “Frank Horn Service above Self Award”
Akron Rotarians all respond the same when they express their love, admiration and friendship for their fellow Rotarian Frank Horn. The notice of Frank’s passing in the Akron Beacon Journal summed up his life as well as any of his friends could.
“God must have asked for a volunteer because Frank Horn, 53, went to join him in heaven on December 10, 2011. “Whether the Rotary, Jaycees, Habitat for Humanity, the Akron Zoo, Bridgestone World Golf Championship, Leadership Akron, St. Vincent Church and School, or any friend doing a project, Frank was there to lend a hand. He always had the desire, time, and energy to help others, despite the long hours he spent at work, first at his business of sixteen years, Frank Horn Architects, and later at the University of Akron as Director of Architectural Design & Construction. A graduate of Kent State University, Frank quickly adopted UA when he started working there. As a coach and lifelong soccer player, he was very proud of the part he played in the construction of the Zips' new football and soccer stadiums. Frank's legacy will not just be about things he designed, but will include the relationships he built with his love for others.
The Rotary Club of Akron has modeled the Frank Horn Service above Self award after a similar award offered by Rotary International.
Criteria
The nominee must have demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service, in any form and at any level, with an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others through Rotary. Service rendered by the nominee through Rotary must have been on a continuing basis. The award will not be given solely in recognition of one’s performance in an elected or appointed Rotary assignment. Personal financial contributions to The Rotary Foundation or any individual project are not relevant considerations for this award.
The Akron Rotary Club expanded the criteria for the local award to include individuals, organizations, and businesses who in their ongoing service to the greater community exemplify the spirit of Rotary’s motto of "Service above Self”.
The 1st awarding of the honor will go the Homebuilders Association Serving Summit & Portage County Ohio for their contribution of time and labor to construct two cabins at the Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs.
Camp Renovation Photos November 2012
Rotary Families Last Forever
One never-to-be-forgotten Rotary experience for my family and me was the year that we were counselors to a very special French exchange student. In the ensuing 18 years, Christelle Neron went from being an adorable and delightful teenager to being a beautiful and charming young French woman with a wonderful husband, two adorable children of her own and a career as an English teacher in France.
But there is more. Our son, Colin, became quite attached to Christelle when she was here (it would be hard not to). He visited her home and skied in the Alps with her while studying in France several years ago. While there, Christelle’s four year old daughter bonded with him. This blog post says it best. http://colinmorris.net/post/109427530.
Regrettably, severe weather prevented Christelle’s planned appearance at Rotary. Nevertheless, my family was thrilled to spend some quality time with her and her family, including parents and host parents, Michael and Lynn Saddleton.
Service above self is a pretty simple concept. Not so simple, sometimes, is discerning who is doing the serving and who is being served.
This is the kind of thing that makes me wonder why everyone isn’t a Rotarian.
Christelle giving her year end talk
Christelle and Colin (1994) at Rotary in 1995
Christelle with Mr. & Mrs. Shechter
Christelle with her husband and Cherie Shechter
Please update your Rotary profile!!
We want to be sure our Member records are correct - please take a moment and log into the Rotary Club of Akron website which is powered by ClubRunner.
Here is how to access your profile. If you have questions, call Cheryl at 330-495-9814.
Groundbreaking Ceremony for Final Phase of Rotary Camp Renovation
Pictured below “Mt. Rotary”! are: Doug Kohl, Pres and CEO Akron Area YMCA, Bernett Willaims, VP, Children’s Hospital Medical Center Akron, Dick Wright, Diane Wright, Mayor Sara Drew, Stow, daughter Lindsay Marek, camper, Joe Matava, Peninsula Architects, Mayor Al Bollas, New Franklin, Bonne Wojno, Development Director, Rotary Camp, Ruthie George, Campaign Co- Chair, Nick George, Campaign Co chair, Mike Wojno, president, Akron Rotary Camp, Phil Maynard, Jack Harig, Campaign Co-Chair, vivian Harig, Campaign Co Chair, Bill Bennett, Bennett Construction Management, Tom Fox, President Akron Rotary Foundation, Dee Andreoli, Rennick Andreoli, Bill Manby Jr., Akron Rotary President, Dan Reynolds, Executive Director, Akron Rotary Camp.
To view all the photos from the renovation CLICK HERE and then select view slideshow and you can scan through the photos!
News Release
President's Message October 2012
Big plans are in store for the Akron Rotary Camp this fall, as it plans to break ground on October 17th for the final installment of its $3.5 million campus renovation, according to Akron Rotary Camp President Mike Wojno. “The camp is thrilled to begin the ‘last leg’ of our transformational remodeling of our ‘Jewell on the lake,’” Wojno says. “The improvements to our camp will allow us to bring more blessing to a greater number of kids, while increasing the quality of their stay with us.”
Each summer for the last 88 years the Rotary Club of Akron has sponsored the Akron Rotary Camp, where children with special needs throughout Ohio have been invited to spend a week at camp.
Boots Required!
I walked into camp this morning to some earth movers and lots of activity. The sidewalk to my office is now gone, so it’s a good thing Dan called and told me to wear boots!
Also, I am recovering from Josh walking into the office with a snake on his wrist. We have a group of kids here from Perry Local Schools and Josh is sharing our reptiles with them! You just never know what’s going to greet you when you come to camp.
Enjoy the photo.
Bonnie Lass Wojno
Rotary Club of Akron
Haiti--Medical Mission and Gift of Life
Also at the meeting, Jack Harig presented a check for $500 (donations were made by members of the Akron Board of Directors) for Gift of Life. The funds will be used toward the travel of the Children's Hospital team to Haiti. On hand to receive the donation was (left) Ken Fogle from the Chagrin Falls Rotary Club who is the NE Ohio President of Gift of Life, and (center) Jim Frame from the Rotary Club of Mantua. Mr. Frame introduced Gift of Life to Rotary District 6630 in 2004.
President's Message September 2012
At our August 7, 2012 meeting Club President Bill Manby, Jr. presented his State of The Rotary Club of Akron address – here are excerpts from that presentation:
Rotary has always been more about doing than saying, so even though I pushed this presentation off for over a month, I think what’s been done is well worth the wait.
- 4 new members
- $100,000 check from Medical Mutual for camp
- Despite not everyone doing it yet, many of you have updated your member bios on Clubrunner. If you haven’t, please take the time to do so soon.
I think that’s pretty good for a month and I would like to pass the gavel to Lance a little early!
In all seriousness, my main goal for the year is to keep building upon all the momentum we’ve created.
I’d like to continue to grow membership and hope to have a net increase of 10%. That probably means 20 new members as a handful will fall off for various reasons.
I want to maintain the clubs profitable situation we were in this past year. Times are tough and you should all be very proud of this.
I would like to close out our camp capital campaign this year and coordinate an international project. What this club does is amazing for the community. What Rotary International does is amazing for the entire planet, so I would like to have more speakers on international themes and projects and I’ve selected some speakers from the district and All Ohio that we can share throughout the year.
I would also like this Club to provide a dictionary to each 3rd grader in the Akron public schools.
The Board has decided to move our meeting location. Although it is impossible to make everyone happy, all of the member’s input was heard and we are taking action.
Much of our success can be attributed to our members spending more time together, getting to know each other better and working together. So I’m going to try to have more time to interact and bring back Mark’s “My, Life, My Passion.
Getting more members engaged helps all of this happen. Continuing our PR plan to raise community awareness of what all this club and its members do is critical and will attract more leaders from our area that can benefit from everything our membership has to offer. I hope each person who hasn’t had it occur yet, get’s as inspired as I have been once I became more engaged. To further encourage this, we are adding an Akron Rotarian of the Month program, and there will be a year-end drawing for 2013-2014 dues. The July recipient is Shon Christy: PR Chair and Chili Open Co-Chair.
The culmination of all of this leads me to my theme for the year:
“Get Engaged and Be Inspired.”
What led me to this theme can best be outlined by what made me a Rotarian.
Akron Rotary Camp to receive $100,000 gift from Medical Mutual’s Community Investment Fund
July 5, 2012 (Akron, Ohio) – On Tuesday July 10, 2012 Akron Rotary Club President , Bill Manby Jr. introduced Doug Kuczynski , Vice President of Sales and Health Care Market Leader, Mutual Health Services who presented a check from the Medical Mutual Community Investment Fund of Akron Community Foundation to Mike Wojno, President of the Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs and Rennick Andreoli, Facilities Chairman for $100,000 to help with the building of the new Great Hall a recreation and resource center , the last piece of the camps facilities rebuilding and transformation. This is the largest corporate gift that the camp has received for its campaign.
President's Message August 2012
Boy how a month flies by!! It seems like only a few days ago where we were all celebrating Independence Day and whining about the heat. Now here we are heading into August and getting ready for the kids to go back to school. It has been quite a month for our club, too!
Doug Kuczynski, vice president of sales and health care market leader of mutual health services at Medical Mutual of Ohio recently presented a check for $100,000 to Mike Wojno, president of Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs, and Rennick Andreoli to help with the building of the new Great Hall. I am excited about this recreation and resource center which is “the last piece of the camp’s facilities rebuilding and transformation project.” Just like Rotary International being “this close” to curing polio. I feel like we are “this close” to completing this project, but that last step is a big one and though this contribution was huge, more work is in front of us.
Pictured L-R: Bill Manby Jr., President of The Rotary Club of Akron; Mike Wojno, President of the Board of The Rotary Camp; Doug Kuczynski, Vice President, Sales and Healthcare Market Leader, Medical Mutual; Rennick Andreoli, RDA Hotel Management; John Garofalo, Vice President Community Investment, Akron Community Foundation.
Akron Club Welcomes New Members
Chris Tipping Attorney/Partner Stark and Knoll proposed by Bill Manby, Jr.
George Rooney, Jr. Partner Roetzel and Andress proposed by Steve Shechter
Ferris Brown Executive Director Cascade Locks Parks Association proposed by Ginny Wojno
Lance Johnson Administrator/Business Development-Wickens Enterprises, Inc. proposed by Graham Reinke
President's Message July 2012
I feel so fortunate to finally begin my term as this club's president. Having such an amazing group of people, accomplishing such amazing things and doing it so unselfishly is extremely inspiring. But before I elaborate on any of my plans for the upcoming year, I need to acknowledge what an unbelievable job Mark and his team did this year.
The energy around this club is infectious and all the momentum created makes it very easy for me to come in and just try not to screw things up. Every single committee exceeded expectations and the board did a fabulous job of staying on plan and this club made money for the first time in a long time. All this occurred while many other clubs struggled to stay afloat.
My participation in district meetings and PETS Ohio made me realize that you can't take this for granted. We really are an amazing club. Our members engagement is unique and I hope everyone becomes inspired to make this the best year ever!
Thank you to each and every member of this club for allowing me to take on this presidency.
Thanks again Mark for doing such a fantastic job and encouraging me to take on this endeavor. Also, thanks for being such a good sport. For those who missed the roast or this week's meeting, below is one more glorious look at the history of Mark Krohn!
Happy 4th of July. I hope you all have great plans for the weekend!
Yours in Akron Rotary,
Thanks,
Bill Manby, Jr. ChFC, AEP
Akron Rotary Club Installs New Officers for 2012-2013
President: William Manby, Jr.
President Elect: Lance Chima
Vice President: Virginia Wojno-Forney
Treasurer: Dave Smith
Secretary: Sandy Naragon
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2013: Lance Chima
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2013: Susan Colville-Hall
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2013: Dan Reynolds
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2013: Ed Wagner
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2014: Mariya Bloom
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2014: William Manby
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2014: Graham Reinke
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2014: Cheryl Warren
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2015: Terrance Dalton
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2015: Jack Harig
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2015: Dan O'Connell
Akron Rotary Club Director 6/2015: Brad Jeffries
Club Honors Outgoing President with Roast
(photos courtesy of Suzanne Manby)
Bill Manby, Jr. was getting lessons from Mark
on his "I'm thinking about it" look.
You gotta hear this!!
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President's Message June 2012
June in Ohio, what a great time of year. Everything is green, flowers are blooming everywhere you look, people are starting to gather outside again and everyone seems to smile a little more or a little bigger for no reason other than the sun is shining.
For Rotary, June is also a changing of the leadership of our club. I must admit I am sorry to see this year pass so quickly. When I look back over the last 335 days of my life, they have been some of the most rewarding and inspiring I have ever experienced and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
You people are simply amazing to me and for a person like me to be associated with people like you is a distinct honor and sincere pleasure. All you good people do is accomplish everything you put your mind, body and soul to doing, which is quite a talent to have.
New Rotarians Inducted in May
John Teringo
Sarah Buccigross
Lorie Travaglino
Debbie May-Johnson
Students Receive Rotary Scholarships
The students L-R: Gifty Amadu, Kara Ball, Corbin Gates, Kmani Carr, Shaun Cole, Chantal Foster, Janeva Guinn, Kendell Harris, Fantash'a Jones, Malikah Price and Jasmine Works.
Absent from the picture is Jade Shropshire.
Packed house of Akron Rotarians listen to Terry Bowden on May 22, 2012
Congratulations to our 5 New Paul Harris Fellows
As most of you are aware the Rotary International Foundation Committee’s goal is to have each Rotarian become a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) within the next 3 years. We instituted a lotto and to date we have 35+ members on the path to becoming first-time or multiple Paul Harris Fellows which translates into over $15,000 in commitments.
At yesterday’s club meeting we drew names and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our next 6 Paul Harris Fellows.
Fellow Rotarian Keith Shy in The News!
Brandywine Falls Dedication April 25, 2012
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L-R: Paul Stoehr, Deputy Superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park; Frances S. Buchholzer, Metro Parks commissioner; Keith D. Shy, director-secretary of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County; Roland H. Bauer, chair of the park district’s Board of Park Commissioners; and Judge Todd McKenney, Summit County Common Pleas, Probate Division. — at Metro Parks, Serving Summit County.
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Visiting the Rotary Club of Le Mans, France
professor at the Université du Maine. To find out information about the club, I wrote Vincent Trémbenbert, the contact person on the club website and learned the club meets in the Concordia Hotel in the downtown Le Mans for lunch on Fridays and has a social event once a month. So, on Thursday, March 29, I was able to attend the “apéritif” after which the new president for 2012-2013, Donald Dupuy presented slides on the “BIG ROADS of France.”
From the Membership Committee-The Rotary New Member Service Plan
Download Service Plan
Download Membership Application
Download Member Proposal Form
Akron Rotary Camp goes Woodstock during Time Travel Respite Weekend!
During our Time Travel weekend, our campers stopped at Woodstock and filled in for CCR, Singing Suzie Q.
Note: We have no rights to this music and do not claim ownership for CCR, the song, or any associated material. Just some campers livin' it up!
Joshua Prairiedog Strelbicki
February 2012 President's Message
Well everyone, our club is really hitting its stride. I keep saying that all this Club does is achieve every goal it sets out to accomplish … and what amazes me is that every time I turn around, I see that statement in action over and over and over again. I truly hope you know how special you are, how much you accomplish and how much respect I have for each and every one of you!
I am keenly aware of how busy life is in 2012, how tough it can be to build fellowship and philanthropy into your daily schedule and how hard it is to say yes, and cannot thank each and every one of you enough for all of your fine work.
January 2012 President's Message
Happy New Year Everybody! The clock has turned and 2012 is here. How exciting.
Personally, this past holiday season was my favorite of all time. Oddly, my fond memories of the holidays have nothing to do with presents (although I received some nice ones) or lights (although I do love the lights), but are rather deeply rooted in all the time I was able to spend with family and friends, far more than ever before.
SIGN UP NOW!!
Akron Rotary Club Chili Open on Feb. 4, 2012
Akron Rotary Club Chili Open on Feb. 4, 2012
The Chili Open, sponsored by Wayne Homes, benefits the operations of the Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs.
Come join the fun. Come make a difference.
CLICK HERE TO OPEN A PRINT READY PDF OF THE OFFICIAL GOLFER REGISTRATION FORM
Have you considered being a sponsor? CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION FORM
Warming-up is Half the Fun!
While this may not sound like an event for the faint-of-heart, it is perfect for anyone that enjoys a good time and likes to help a great cause. Included with the registration fee for each golfer is a pass to the Wayne Homes Chili Open warm-up party. Inside the banquet hall of Hale Farm and Village, all golfers will be treated to all-you-can-eat Whitey’s Chili. There will be plenty of space for playing cards and reminiscing about the best shots of the day on the frigid course. There will also be great raffle prizes.What to Bring
Your participation in the 2012 Wayne Homes Chili Open golf classic will help more than 1,600 children and adults with disabilities attend the Rotary camp next summer! Every summer for more than 88 years, the Rotary Club of Akron has sponsored the Rotary camp. Children with special needs throughout Ohio have been invited to spend a week at camp, where they enjoy many traditional activities including swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, sports and games, team building and more in our convenient and accessible natural setting. When campers leave Rotary camp at the end of each session, they not only leave with lifelong memories and friends, but they often show more independence as well as a greater understanding of themselves and their abilities. For more information about the Akron Rotary Camp, please call the camp office at 330.644.4512.
If you are unable to attend you may support the camp through purchasing a raffle ticket or a campership to help send a child to camp at
Remembering Frank Horn
Jack Harig found this photo he wanted to share of Frank Horn taken following the demolition phase at the Camp several weeks ago. Some of our members are discussing a special remembrance to be placed at the camp in honor of Frank and his service not only as President of the Camp Board but to the kids he was so committed to. Our prayers are with his family.
If you would like to write an entry in memory of Frank click on Akron Rotary Blog.
Rotarians Help Salvation Army
Mark Krohn and John Reyes are shown during their Bell Ringing shift for Salvation Army.
December 2011 President's Article
My personal belief is that outside of our religious affiliations, people universally love this time of year, mainly because we love to celebrate, gather with people that we treasure and make people happy through giving. In a very special way, the things we love about the Holidays are also what makes Rotary so very special, which is why this last six months has been one of the most special times of my life.
Before becoming President of the club, I thought I knew everyone in the club, had a good sense of what people did, how much they contributed and what we accomplished as a group, but I did not. I only saw a very small part of the reach our club has, the incredible effort our people give, and how much we truly do. It has been an incredibly rewarding time for me to meet more of the people, see more of the effort and experience more of the impact.
Rotary Foundation Month
November was Rotary Foundation Month. Bill Manby Sr., our club's International Foundation Committee Chairman, hosted a weekly program that helped us understand the many avenues from which to choose when donating time and money. Each Akron Rotarian is encouraged to work toward becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. By becoming a Paul Harris Fellow your gift will advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, support of education and the alleviation of poverty throughout the world. Projects such as, job training for land mine victims in Cambodia, hand-washing stations and hygiene training for students in Ecuador, milking cows for farmers in Russia and microcredit loans to women in Togo depend on the ongoing support of dedicated Rotarians.
Mike Johns, Sr. from Distrcit 6630, recognized new Paul Harris Fellows; Dick Wright, Rennick Andreoli, Graham Reineke and Harry Stewart. Gene Fiocca also recognized and presented John Econmou's daughter with a special photo in remembrance of John for his dedication and commitment to the Akron Club and Rotary International.
For more information on how you can become a Paul Harris Fellow please feel free to contact me at bill@manbyfinancialstrategies.com or call 330/475-8575.
Do You Want to Give a Child in Akron a Book?
Join us when you either buy some dictionaries and/or come help us get the books in the hands of the students.
Among the many good reasons to ensure our children learn to read are some statistics that show that two thirds of students who cannot read “proficiently” by the end of fourth grade may end up in jail or on welfare. Rotary clubs throughout the country have made a commitment to promote literacy by providing dictionaries to grade three students in their school districts. Our club in Akron is no different. This year for the first time, the Rotary Club of Akron has set an objective to provide a dictionary to each of the 2,200 grade three students in the Akron Public School system. We are fortunate to be partnered with ACES, an organization of faculty and education students from the University of Akron. They add great strength and commitment to the project. Our goal is to raise $4,500 to $5,000 for the project. $1,600 has been raised so far with another $500 pledged. We plan to start buying and distributing dictionaries very soon, using funds already received, as a means to drum up publicity and more money.
Won’t you join us? Get involved. Sponsor a dictionary at $2 each. Or find a corporate sponsor that wants to underwrite a whole school building for $500-$1,000. But we don’t just want your money. Come with us and help distribute these important literacy tools to the schools.
Get involved now, here in Akron! Make a difference now, here in Akron!
For more info or to make donation contact the Akron Dictionary Czar Graham Reinke at cmandgar@yahoo.com or call 330-867-0238.
Beacon Journal Features Rotary Camp
Can't view the above link copy and paste this into your browser: http://www.ohio.com/news/local/volunteers-renovate-akron-rotary-camp-1.246354
University Park Alliance Going Strong!
November Rotary After Hours Enjoyed by All!!
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Telling the Story: Protecting the Legacy
On November 1, 2011, The Rotary Club of Akron inducted another 10 new members into its ranks at a festive luncheon that included balloons, streamers, noise makers, cake and even a champagne toast.
Left to Right: Membership Chair, Lance Chima; New Members:
Wazir Sain, Patricia Smith, James Castrigano, Louise Mazur,
Shon Christy, Mary H. Wojno, Samuel J. Lupica, David Hall,
Rowena M. Wilkins, Peter Kalgreen; Akron Club President, Mark Krohn.
A diverse group, the new inductees included business owners, bankers, lawyers, volunteers, and other community leaders. For two inductees, Rotary has truly become a family affair, with no less than three other family members who are also members of Rotary. With more than six months remaining in the year, the club has plans to add fifteen more new members by June, who if added, would exceed 30 for the year, a goal that few would have believed was possible when the year started.
Demolition Day at Rotary Camp
The call went out for a few good men and it was answered by Frank Horn, Steve Shechter Bob Bowman, Dough Hausknecht and Jack Harig.
The mission: to lug the debris that used to be the roof of two cabins to the construction dumpsters.
The seemingly daunting task was tamed by Rotary spouse Jeff Naragon’s generous loan of serious stuff-handling equipment.
Here’s a candid photo of Community Leader, Philanthropist and Snappy Dresser, Rennick Andreoli leading his band of merry volunteers.Why does he wear that mask? A quick look at his photo in the Rotary Directory may shed some light on the matter. Rennick and his crew from the Hilton never cease to amaze.This is Akron Rotary at its best and dirtiest. Don’t worry if you missed it, there will be another opportunity as the vision continues to become reality. |
November President's Message
November is without a doubt my favorite time of year. Halloween just ended, college football is really heating up (I cannot believe Clemson lost to Georgia Tech) and the holidays are upon us!
Having young children, Halloween is always a trip for me. I love watching children try to be someone else and live through the eyes of the character they choose to emulate. This year my oldest daughter Alex wanted to be the Scooby Doo character, Velma (she was the smart one). I could not figure out why Alex chose Velma with all of the options she had, including the most beautiful Disney princesses, until each and every time she would put on that costume, she acted older, smarter and like she had all the answers to all the questions (and especially the solutions to all of the mysteries).
Darrow Family Practice Participates in Smiles for Life
Our speaker October 18th was Dr. Caruso - a dentist in Stow at Darrow Family Dental. He and his partner Dr. Pankuch participated in the Smiles for Life Foundation fund raiser, it's part of a national foundation- Smiles for Life-
From March through June, hundreds of dental practices throughout the U.S. and Canada professionally whiten teeth to raise money for seriously ill, disabled, and underprivileged children in their local communities and around the world. They are members of the Crown Council, an alliance of leading-edge dental teams that are passionately committed to promoting oral health, fighting oral cancer and serving their communities through charitable work.
http://smilesforlife.org/what-is-smiles-for-life
Half the funds that they raise through teeth whitening, goes to a local charity that benefits children and this year they chose the Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children, because one of the staff's nephew's attended camp.
The camp received $2,100 for it's annual Partner's with Youth Campaign, which directly helps to provide financial assistance to campers. Our thanks to Dr. Caruso & Pankuch and all the staff at Darrow Family Practice!
Respite Weekend Video
Enjoy! this video from our last respite weekend. This was a Video Game Character Theme. We focused on playing and making games. We also had campers create a music video! The video will come later!
October President's Message
Fall is always an exciting time of year for our club as this is the time that we traditionally kick off our preparation for the Wayne Homes Chili Open. I know that everyone hates to think about snow, but whether it is securing our site, confirming corporate partners, printing and selling raffle tickets, or just making certain we have beer, chili and entertainment for February, there is certainly much to do.
HBA Cabin Rehabin at Rotary Camp!
September President's Message
Can you feel the excitement around you growing? Can you feel the momentum our club is generating? Are you beginning to understand the awesome power of Rotary and the strength that a number of significant individuals can have when acting as a team?
I really hope so, because your Rotary Club is moving in all the right directions. Over the last month or so, we have inducted four new members. While that certainly is exciting, we are not anywhere near done with recruiting new members for this year as Lance Chima, our awesome membership chair, just completed our club’s first membership meet and greet, which he personally sponsored. Close to 40 people attended, most of which were non-Rotarians. That is right, I said, non-Rotarians! At one of our parties people not currently affiliated with our organization outnumbered those that were, and that is priceless. Way to go Lance! Thanks for stepping up to the plate.
Rotarian Integral in $250 Million Dollar Healthcare Development
Attached is a news release, youtube link and some coverage by the Washington Post related to a press conference that the Greenrbrier Resort held on Wednesday, August 24th concerning the Greenbrier Medical Institute, a $250 Million dollar healthcare development that will reshape how medical care is delivered globally. The initiative is being led by Jack Diamond and 2011-12 Akron Rotary President, Mark Krohn, both of whom are local attorneys and developers.
Youtube Video (Jack is in about 30 minutes and talks about Mark)
Washington Post Coverage
What's New at the Akron Rotary Foundation?
As you may already know, the Akron Rotary has its own Foundation. The Club’s foundation is administered by a separate board of trustees which helps decide where accumulated funds are to be distributed. We get these funds from generous donors like yourselves and fundraisers like the Chili Open and Poker Run. Monies left in wills for our benefit are also a substantial source of funds. However these monies need to be invested. That’s what this column is all about.
Akron's 150 MPH Rotary Meeting
15-year-old aspiring NASCAR champion Matthew Tifft spoke before a packed house of Rotary members and guests August 16th at The Tangier in Akron, Ohio. The topic – speed.
Haruka Arrives!!
Our Rotary Club of Akron exchange student, Haruka Yamazaki, arrived Sunday evening August 21st from Japan. She was greeted with a warm Rotary welcome at Cleveland Hopkins airport (She is pictured in the photo with her welcoming committee). Haruka will attend her first Rotary meeting Tuesday, August 30th and she looks forward to meeting the Akron Rotarians and interacting with them this year. She is enrolled at Green High School for the school year, and her first host family is our President Mark Krohn and his wife, Lori, and young daughters Alex and Nicole, who live near Green High School at 1416 Pine Wood Way. Mariya Bloom, Barry Hollis and Dan O’Connell are her Rotary co-counselors during her stay. Haruka is 16 years old, enjoys acting, and has an older sister and younger brother at home near Nagoya, Japan. Plan to enrich your life and her experience by contacting Haruka and invite her to spend some time with you and your family! You can contact her by email at spring1995@canvas.ocn.ne.jp or by telephone at (234)294-5047 or (330)690-7467.
Pictured L-R:
Counselor Mariya Bloom,
Host Parents Mark & Lori Krohn,
Haruka
Akron RYE coordinator Marcia Holcomb
District 6630 RYE Inbound coordinator Jack Young.
Yours in Rotary,
Marcia Holcomb, Akron Rotary Youth Exchange Officer
District Governor Visits Akron
President's Article - August 2011
Hard to believe it is August already. Where did the Summer go? All I know is that it certainly has been a busy month at Rotary. Since my last newsletter, our capital campaign crossed the two million dollar barrier, we have inducted one new member, George Romanoski, former City of Akron Fire Chief, and approved two more: Robert Cooper, Principal at CB Richard Ellis in Akron, and Tom Baugh, Chief Executive Officer and Owner of Marketplace Events, our nation’s largest home tradeshow planner and promoter.
Akron Rotary Camp Featured on Akronist Website
Dear Akron Rotarians,
I am very pleased to share with you a video produced by Connie Collins for the Akronist website. :
Make it a great day!
Can't view the video? Download Flash Player Now
Dr. Jay Gershen Accelerates Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine Initiatives
On Tuesday, July 19th, Dr. Jay Gershen, President of the Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine, visited the Rotary Club of Akron to discuss the region’s accomplished medical college and how Kent State, Akron, Youngstown State, Cleveland State and the State of Ohio are all collaborating to make a medical education available to anyone at any income level, accelerate and encourage world class research and commercialization of medical technology and dramatically improving care to rural and urban areas that are underserved. A truly unbeatable combination being forged by one of our region’s greatest assets. If you missed it, you missed a lot.
Please join us at our next meeting for the next installment of “My Life:My Passion” where three Rotarians will tell you some things about themselves, their work, family and philanthropy that you simply wont want to miss.
Mark E. Krohn
Rotary Club of Akron Recruits Another Great Community Leader for its Ranks.
On Tuesday, July 12, 2011, George Romanowski, former Deputy Mayor of Public Safety and Fire Chief for the City of Akron, was formally inducted into the Rotary Club of Akron with his wife Janice and his dear friend Tony O’Leary, Executive Director of Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, present. George looks forward to continuing his lifelong commitment to serving others through his new affiliation with the club and its many service projects, including the Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs.
Akron Rotary’s President, Mark Krohn, stated “This is exactly what Rotary is all about, great people and community leaders coming together to make a difference in the lives of others.” Krohn further stated “ We are so very excited to have George as a member of our family as he brings a perspective, drive and talent that is unique and very special.” Krohn ended by saying “With people like George, there is just no end to what we can do.”
Thank you Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity!!
Lamba Chi Alpha Fraternity representatives (pictured center and right), Jharell Watkins,Chapter President and Joshua Lumley, Chapter Vice President-External Affairs Philanthropy Chair presented a check for $2,000.00 to Camp Director Dan Reynolds for The Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children.
A Story of Rebuilding
Video and article courtesy of Akron Community Foundation.
Can't view the video? Download Flash Player Now
Rotarians Roast Past President Janet Williams and Past Governor Stew Buchanan
Virginia Wojno Forney wore a wig to show the many hairstyles of Janet during her term ... faces of Janet appeared everywhere in the room ... Steve Shechter wrote and sang a wonderful tune ... PDG Stew Buchanan was a great sport - ball caps were part of everyone's a ttire in his honor! Please click to enjoy photos from the event. |
Evening Around The Camp Fire
Click here to enjoy several photos from Rotary Camp "Camp Fire"
event hosted by the Rennick Andreoli Family.with Catering by
Chef Beau Schmidt from Beau's at The Hilton West, Akron, OH.
A night at the camp with friends and supporters of the
Akron Rotary Camp For Children With Special Needs.
President's Article - July 2011
I want to begin my presidency with the words “thank you”. Words that are never said as much as they should be, but words I think about all the time in my experience with Rotary.
First, thank you for the honor of being your president. I, like you, have no idea how this happened. My wife is still shocked that this kind act was actually the result of some election and that you did not change your mind. When I come to lunch (and look at our roster) and see all the CEO’s, Executive Directors and leaders in our community, I am always blown away that you would let me touch any aspect of this club, let alone lead it.
Krohn Takes the Helm of Akron Rotary Club
In a ceremony in
ClubRunner Mobile App Now Available --- Check Out The Club Locator!!
Currently only available for the iPhone, iPod and iPad sets, they will also be releasing the ClubRunner Mobile App for Blackberry and Android phones in the near future. Please note that the Stories and Members features are only available to clubs that are direct subscribers of ClubRunner (which the Akron Club is). The Club Locator is available to all.
This Past Year - President's Article June 2011
The month of June has finally brought us summer weather and marks the final month of my Rotary presidential year. As much of a cliché as it sounds, the year really did go by fast. It has a bittersweet feeling, happy to pass the baton to Mark but also wishing for more time to lead some projects. We started to learn more about each other with less focus on outside speakers and more focus on ourselves.
Rotary Exchange Students Enjoy Strongsville DARE Program
Akron Rotary Academic Scholarship Recipients
Pictured are: Tyler Clementi – Ellet; Travis Cruse – Our Lady of the Elms; Alana Gaither – Firestone; Brandie Hazelett –
District 6630 Exchange Students Take in a Game at The Akron Aero's Baseball Game
Akron Rotary 2011 Career Education Scholarship Winners!!
Congratulations to the students who won the Akron Rotary Career Education Scholarships.
Pictured are:
Row 1, Left to Right: Brandi Natko, Dyamond Humphrey, Leticia Wyatt, Jessica Lee
Row 2, Left to Right: Cory Mitan, Nicole Merzwelier, Jessica Brinley, Shanik Shropshire,
Row 3, Left to Right: DeLorean Guess, Ahmad Thomas, Akil Gregory, Zachary Killings, Haleigh Montz.
The Summit County Historical Society Fence Project
Rotary donated funds in April to help support the Summit County Historical Society fence project. If you are in interested in this project, please contact Leianne, Executive Director of the Summit County Historical Society for more information: 330.535.1120.
HARIG RECEIVES ROTARY DISTRICT 6630 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Jack Harig was honored at the 2011 District 6630 Conference with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Jack and his wife Vivian truly have exemplified what Rotary is all about. They have done so much for all concerned at the local, District and International levels and are continuing to plan even more! Congratulations!
KROHN HONORED AS 2011 YOUNG PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR
Young Leaders Society Announces Mark Krohn as Young Philanthropist of the Year | |
Mark Krohn |
United Way of Summit County's Young Leaders Society is pleased to announce the 2011 Young Philanthropist of the Year Award winner. The award was created to recognize young philanthropists who have demonstrated a passionate desire to help others through financial support of |
Mark has also served as a Board member for United Disability Services, Habitat for Humanity, and the Akron Rotary Camp. But Mark isn't satisfied to just serve on a board; in all three instances he has taken on Executive Leadership roles, including a term as President of the Board for the Rotary Camp. Mark is a graduate of Leadership Akron (Class XIX), and a 2008 recipient of the Greater Akron Chamber's '30 For The Future' award. Mark is a partner in the law firm Brennan, Manna, Diamond, and he lives in |
GSE Team From The Netherlands Visits Akron Club
If you missed the Rotary GSE Team from the Netherlands you missed a very interesting and enlightening presentation. The team presented a wonderful overview of their personal and professional lives in the Netherlands. They spoke passionately about their homeland, families and communities. It was a sincere honor to have them present at our Club meeting.
Running for Rotary
This is pretty amazing. One of our camp staff from last summer is committing to running 1,000 miles for Rotary Camp. Click here here to read the story.
President's Article - May 2011
Happy Spring!
It is Easter and we are greeted with plenty of rain. But we are promised May flowers!. These sure signs of Spring reflect some new things happening with our Rotary Club of Akron. This Thursday, April 27, we will be resuming our Rotary After Hours at a new venue, Beau’s in Fairlawn Hilton, sponsored by our own fun man, Steve Shecter. We hope all of you can join us for a fun after work get together to celebrate Rotary friendships. This is a great opportunity to bring prospective members and our past Rotarians.
We will also be celebrating our first Service Committee project, sponsoring a local boy scout and his project to build a new fence around one of
Our PR committee has also been active with capturing photos of local high school scholarship recipients and the Netherlands GSE Team. The importance of sharing all Rotary does both locally and internationally is key to expanding our membership and helping all of us understand the power of Rotary.
Service Project Committee Update
Service Projects Committee
March 24, 2011 Meeting Notes
The results of the March 15th Project Brainstorming session were reviewed and discussed in order to select specific projects for investigation and possible implementation. The following action steps are proposed based upon this meeting and the results of the Brainstorming session:
“The Dictionary Program for Third Graders” will be researched and assessed as a potential project for completion possibly by June. A subcommittee would be set up to tackle this project.
Another subcommittee would need to be established for International Relief Projects. “Water Wells for Haiti” is to be considered in partnership with Chagrin Rotary and possibly others. Contact will be made with the Chagrin group to understand current plans and how Akron Rotary can participate. A program to provide shelter boxes for Japan and other disaster sites will also be considered. Rotarian Marvin Sharpless will be contacted to gain information on what the Red Cross is doing and how Akron Rotary might assist. Doug Hausknecht suggested organizing a “Relief Day” with three or four displays set up at a high visibility site such as a mall or ballpark to raise public awareness and funds for these projects. These displays could be developed in cooperation with other service organizations and should include a shelter box set up.
These activities would not rule out exploring other projects at a later time.
There was discussion and concern that funding requirements for these projects could be substantial and that Rotary members, their friends, and associates were already heavily committed to the support of the camp. It may be necessary to ask Rotarians to plan their year in terms of their contributions of time, effort, and funding.
The after-hours group needs to be kept up to date on what is happening with service projects and we will be contacting them shortly to seek their input and involvement.
I will explore with President Janet how we might respond favorably to Dylan Schulz’s request for help with his Eagle Scout project.
The meeting ended at 8:29 am.
Yours in Rotary,
Graham Reinke
Dick Farkas Recognized for Leadership
President Janet Williams presented Dick Farkas with a plaque in recognition of his Leadership in Transformational Change.
Thank you Dick, for all you do for The Rotary Club of Akron.
You are truly an inspiration!
Results of Service Project Brainstorming Session 3/15/2011
Project Blueprint
Did you know that Rotarians have almost eradicated Polio internationally? Did you know that Akron Rotary is composed mainly of local business and philanthropic leaders? Of course you do, but most people in our area do not, which is why Bill Manby, Jr., Kevin McGee and Mark Krohn attended the United Way’s Project Blueprint Agency Fair on Thursday, March 23, where seventeen of our area’s best and brightest young minds were interviewing area not-for-profits to find worthy places to lend their talents (and a hand).
Agencies like the Red Cross, Community Support Services and Summit DD were present (all of which we have members from or very close ties with) and Mark and Bill felt honored to be among such great groups of people. Mark and Bill spoke to almost half the graduating class about the awesome benefits of Rotary and plan on following up as to possible membership and volunteer involvement opportunities. A very special thanks to our membership committee for allowing our club to try something new. Based upon the feedback we received from all who attended and interviewed, this will not be the last stop on the tour.
Capital Campaign Update
The Campaign for renewing the camp’s facilities is moving along, we have raised over$1,500,000 toward our $3,500,000 goal. The bath house and the first two cabins are almost complete and will ber ready for the summer camping season. We invite you to join us and visit camp. Click here to view more photos.
Dreamweaver
Akron Rotary Camp
4460 Rex Lake Drive
Akron, OH 44319
www.gotcamp.org
2011 Family and Consumer Science Scholarship Recipients
Terrance Dalton presented the 2011 Family and Consumer Science Scholarship winners at a recent meeting. Shown with Terrance are:
Shavonda Johnson, Buchtel High School,
Teacher Academy Program,
and
Lauren Rasnick, Ellet High School
Early Childhood Education Program
Two Akron Rotarians In The News!
The Akron Affiliate of Sales & Marketing Executive International named Douglas R. Kohl, President & CEO, Akron Area YMCA as its 2011 Executive of the Year. The list of his accomplishments, service to the community and outstanding leadership is long and includes camping and outdoor education programs at our Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children. Congratulations Doug - thanks for all the wonderful things you continue to do to in the Akron community!
Vice President Bob Raskow, at left, and President Tom Fox (Photo courtesy of NAI Cummins)
Akron Rotarian Tom Fox and his business partner, Bob Raskow recently purchased Commercial real estate company NAI Cummins. Fox has been with the firm since he graduated from college 30 years ago, while Raskow has 23 years with the company. Congratulations and best of luck in your new endeavor!
21st Annual Wayne Homes Chili Open – Another Huge Success
On Saturday, February 5th, Mother Nature finally cooperated and brought with her a record setting day for our latest Chili Open Classic. We enjoyed our largest turn out ever since relocating the event to Hale Farm and Village. In addition, more than $100,000 was raised to benefit Rotary Camp. It was also the first year a “shoot-out” was required for the nearest to the pin winner which added much excitement to an already thrilling day.
The day would not have been possible without the outstanding efforts of many Akron Rotarians and their friends, through donations of time, sponsoring of camper-ships and the purchasing of foursomes. I would also like to express my extreme gratitude to the generosity of all our corporate sponsors including:
Wayne Homes Akron Children’s Hospital Willoughby Supply Omnova Solutions Foundation Buckingham Doolittle and Burroughs Record Publishing Goodyear Tire and Rubber Leader Publications Crystal Clinic WAKR, WONE & WQMX SUMMA Foundation Whitey’s Premium Chili FirstMerit Foundation Hitchcock, Fleming & Associates Hale Farm & Village County of Summit DD Board House of LaRose
Continuing to be fortunate enough to have
the success of the event, but because of how much this cause means to those at
Dave Logsdon of Wayne Homes, Akron Rotarian Scott Stutler and friends
I would like to recognize this year Ambassador of Service, Nick George and Best Friend of Camp, Rennick Andreoli and also give a special thanks to Summit Racing and their sponsorship of the putt-putt course. In these challenging economic times, special recognition should go to those who continue to commit resources and capital, to projects such as our camp and
This year’s three raffle prize winners were Nick Luckosavich (Bridgestone Tournament package, donated by Bridgestone Invitational), Curt Oliver (Cleveland Indians package, donated by Sports Time Ohio) and Connie Truax who won the grand prize of $5,000. Connie has very graciously decided to donate half of her winnings back to the camp! Thank you, Connie! Congratulations to all of our winners and thanks for participating.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of participating or helping out with this event and have interest for 2012 or if you are a tried and veteran, please visit www.chiliopen.net.
In addition, we will try to keep our site, www.akronrotary.org, updated with all the various articles and coverage of the event.
Rotary Camp's New Bath House Takes Shape
President's Article - Third Quarter Recap
Being an accountant, and in the midst of tax season, I tend to process time in quarters. It is hard to believe that March is here and there are only four months until I become past president. The year is going by fast and our club is showing some new enthusiasm as revamped club committees tackle goals to strengthen our club. We will start to hear updates from each committee and have the opportunity to get more involved. In case you have been out of touch for awhile, our committee chairs are: Club Administration, Dominic Frisina; Public Relations, Bill Manby Jr.; Membership, Lance Chima; Service Projects, Graham Reinke; Rotary Foundation, Bill Manby Sr. We all need to support these initiatives to insure our Rotary Club of Akron future.
Our speakers recently have been more geared towards Rotary, including our delightful exchange student Victoria, “Mr. Rotary” Stew Buchanan, and the GSE team that just recently headed to
Breaking away from the norm can be a refreshing change. As our club is well on its way with the Camp Capital Campaign, all members should take a moment to visit camp and experience the transitions. We are going to replace the March 22 lunch meeting with a dinner meeting at camp. Our meeting will be kept short and sweet so we may socialize a bit more and enjoy each others company at our beloved camp. More information will be forthcoming but please mark your calendars now. We are expecting a fun evening of fellowship.
Please remember to reach out to our members who have been absent and remind them they have friends who would love to see them.
Yours in Rotary,
Janet
Rotary International Quiz
President's Article
Happy 2011!
Happy New Year to all! I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. I like to call New Years Day the reset button on the calendar. You can start over with new resolutions and get a re-do at the ones from last year that didn’t work out. Our Club has a new year’s resolution to revitalize and grow. The month of January has been dedicated to Akron Rotarian education and how we can all become involved to gain the best experience in Rotary. Dick Farkas will be our facilitator and his passion is contagious. This will be a three meeting event, starting with Rotary International education, moving to our new club vision, and ending with the cash flow of our club. This is the time for all of our
Before the end of the year, the Club had its first Phone A Thon to secure both old and new Chili Open sponsors. The feedback was great and a second event is planned soon. With the Chili Open only one month away, all of us should be reaching out to our contacts and promoting our biggest project. One new campership from each member equates to a huge benefit to our Camp.
We recently had an after hours night out at Whitey’s which was much fun. We hope to get even more out for our January after hours. This will be the perfect time to enjoy some great food at our chili sponsor’s venue.
Our capital campaign is proving strong and although the winter months are set in, the action doesn’t stop on construction. Please remember to share the camp video on our website. Plans are in the making to have an alternative meeting out at camp so we can all visit the progress.
Wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Janet
Happy Holidays
The air is cold and the snow is fallen. We are now welcoming the winter season and getting ready for the Christmas holiday. December is a month full of activity for Rotary as well. There are many opportunities to get involved and introduce prospective members to our club. On Thursday evening, December 9, we have our first club cluster social event. This idea was generated at one of our cluster club presidents’ lunch meetings. We thought this would be a great way to meet our club neighbors and enjoy fellowship beyond our own club setting. The event will take place at the Fairlawn Country Club with a wonderful dinner and NASA speaker. Space is limited so all registrations need to be in by December 7. The following week brings two other Rotary events, in addition to our weekly lunch meeting. On Wednesday December 15 we have the annual Barrett Academy Christmas party. This is a long standing club tradition that is sure to touch your heart. The joy on the children’s faces, and the teachers, is overwhelming. On Thursday December 16 we will enjoy Rotary After Hours at Whitey’s. The fun will start at 6 pm. This is the perfect event to engage newer members and bring prospective members. With the Chili Open nearing so quickly, this night out shows our support to Whitey’s for their key involvement. A strong showing is expected.
On Tuesday December 21, we will be having our Christmas celebration at Sumner on
Our club had two new members inducted this past month, Charles Baldwin and Andrea Victor. Please welcome our new members and share the joy of being an Akron Rotarian!
"The Hilton for Kids"
Dear Akron Rotarians,
Warm greetings on this cold and snowy day. I thought that I would share a little sunshine with you. Attached is a photo taken at camp in November- the sun was shining then-. It is a picture of Rennick Andreoli of RDA Management and Phil Adkins of Bennett Construction. Rennick has generously offered his time, talent and treasure to build us a cabin, it will be called "The Hilton for Kids".
So check out thephoto below and smile, you helped make this new beginning for camp.
Thank you!
Bonnie Lass Wojno
Rotary Club of Akron
Changing Seasons
I just got back from a good run; the cool air was invigorating and helped push me along. As I ran I was thinking about how just a few days earlier the Camp celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony on a beautiful sunny afternoon. It was a great event, with the mayor of New Franklin issuing us a city proclamation. Although construction had already begun, it was a wonderful way to bring many involved with this heartfelt undertaking together and recognize how many improved seasons will evolve. A few weeks ago, Josh was our speaker and debuted a 3-minute video geared towards promotion of the capital campaign. We had some technical difficulties with sound, but that video is now available on our Club homepage. It would be impossible not to watch this and feel both pride in what our Club accomplishes with camp and then feel like we need to share this with everyone.
Our club will be reaching out to more children this week as we take part in Read To Me Day on November 3. We will be adopting
We are working on some changes to our after hours meetings and getting another fall social event planned. Keep your eyes open for these announcements and please continue to share your ideas on new things we can try out!
Yours in Rotary,
Janet Williams
Photo Journal of Camp Renovation
Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children Video
The Akron Rotary Camp began a $3.5 million capital campaign to revitalize its worn World War II-era facilities to benefit children and adults with disabilities. Rotary Camp's capital campaign has reached $1 million of its $3.5 million goal.
Campaign Update
Campaign Update!
Life here is very exciting! Thanks to you, our camp is transforming. Demolition started today to make way for the new bath house and cabins will begin renovation next week. Stop by the camp and take a look or follow the camp construction progress on facebook
As of today we are at $1,100,000 in pledges. If you have not yet made your pledge, please do so, we would love to have 100% of the club participating. You may make a donation online at www.sailingthecourse.org.
Thank YOU!
Hello to Fall
On To Australia!!
2013 Rotary Club of Akron Chili Open Pictures
New Literacy Program Kicks Off!
To My Fellow Rotarians:
I am very excited to tell you about the Akron Rotary Club’s new literacy program with the Salvation Army of Akron.
The program will have Rotarians volunteer to conduct reading sessions with children who are enrolled in summer day care at the Salvation Army. The Rotarians would promote literacy by reading aloud to the children, by having them read aloud in their small group, and finally by conducting an activity to encourage the excitement and comprehension of the reading for that day. All reading materials will be provided to the Rotarians.
Polio in 1924 Akron Rotary Camp 21st Century
5th Annual Akron Rotary Poker Run Re-Cap
Throughout the day, visitors to Lock 3 not only took in the sights of cool cars and bikes, they also enjoyed the sounds of some of the areas hottest bands. J.T. (minus Sweet Potato) warmed up the crowd with acoustic interpretations of classic tunes. The Mourning After pumped up the crowd with a more alternative sound, followed by Roxxy Morons own groove of funk and swing. Michael Stanley and the Midlife Chryslers closed out the day with their unique interpretation of everyones favorite tunes.
Akron Welcomes New Exchange Student
Have you been wondering how to go about engaging our newly arrived exchange student, Victoria Marques? Well, wonder no more. At my urging, she has prepared a short wish list of things she would like to do and see while she is here. As it currently stands, the list is:
Induction Night 2010
On July 1, 2010 Stew Buchanan was inducted as Governor for District 6630 by Past District Governor John Bosco. As his first official duty, Governor Buchanan inducted Janet Williams as the 2010-2011 President. of the Akron Club. The evening also included a roast for outgoing President Dan O'Connell. Click HERE to view all photos.
Goodbye to Summer
I feel like a broken record with the comment “where did the time go”. We are all back from summer vacations, kids back in school and the start of a long Labor Day weekend greets us with our first fall like day. The Akron Rotary Club ended summer with a very hot poker run and hopefully we have another beautiful day for our
Pictures from Christmas in July
Check out the pictures from Doug Hausknecht (CLICK HERE) of over 250 Rotarians and friends who joined the fun at the 2nd annual District 6630 Christmas in July on July 9, 2010. This was the fundraiser for the Rotary International Foundation Polio Plus Challenge. This years' event was held as part of the Tall Ships Festival at the Port of Cleveland in conjunction with the 100th birthday of the Rotary Club of Cleveland.
The Memorial Tribute Fund of the Akron Rotary Foundation
Up to June this year, the Akron Rotary Foundation received the following contributions to Memorial Tribute Fund:
Whoosh ~ There It Went!
Wow! One month down. Many of you may recall the song "Whoomp! There It Is" from 1993 by the group Tag Team. Well, we worked like a tag team passing the Rotary baton in July and before you know it, here is month end! It has been fun running the meetings and we have had some interesting speakers. To borrow DG Stew's catchphrase this year, "I'm excited", still. The month of August will get us moving in some new directions. You have to stay tuned and come to the meetings to keep up!
Torrey In The News
This is Torrey running the hurdles. She is the Valencia, Spain regional champion in the 100 hurdles and will move on to Barcelona, Spain for the district championships. She also received a write up in the newspaper - click here to read!
Torrey is the runner in the front.
Here We Go!
Today is July 4th and hard to believe I am sitting here writing my first article for the Rotary Club of Akron newsletter. We are already half way through 2010, but are just beginning of 2010-2011 Rotary year. We have a great ride ahead of us andI'm excited to help lead our club with all of my team members and welcome some great advice from past leaders. It is truly an honor to also have Stew Buchanan as our District Governor.
ROTARY SCHOLARSHIPS
At the May Board of Directors meeting of the Akron Rotary Foundation, President Tom Fox reviewed the on-going issue of giving $200-$100 Rotary scholarship awards to the local Akron Public and private Akron high schools. A proposal submitted by the Rotary Club's Scholarship Chairman, Terry Dalton, was also reviewed.
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED AT MAY 12th MEETING
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
AKRON ROTARY TO HOST EXCHANGE STUDENT
PDG Harig Attends Council Session
For those of you who may have missed the email that was sent out ... here is an update that Jack Harig provided from the Council session he attended this month.
Exciting TRF Funding News and Information
Akron Club Hosts GSE Team Members
Meet the GSE members at the Akron Rotary Club on April 27th at Noon at Tangiers. CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE TEAM.
On April 29, 2010 Akron Club Members will then host Shen-Ken Liu and Chang-Peng Chen for their visits and tours of local businesses.
District Governor 2012-2013 Announced
Governor John Bosco made the announcement at the District Assembly that t
he nominating committee has selected James Lechko of the Rotary Club of Lakewood-Rocky River to be the District Governor for 2012-2013.
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Torrey's Trip to Barcelona, Spain
We went to see the Sagrada Familia. Those of you who have not heard of the Sagrada Familia do these two things: 1. read this brief description I will give you, and 2. look it up on the internet because it will know more than me.
Traditional Rotary and
Akron Rotary
Akron Rotary
Good News from Chile
Dear Rotarians,
We have some good news from Chile. The town of Talca is listed as one hard hit by the recent earthquake. A few years back we had an exchange student from Talca, Chile who attended Firestone.
I received word today from Jorge Fuentes that he is fine and his family members are fine as well. Jorge is one of our exchange students with whom I have been able to maintain some contact via Facebook.
One of the best parts of the exchange program is developing the long term relationships. I know others in the club maintain contact with students who lived with them or were advisees from the committee. Maybe we should include those updates in the newsletter (or at lunch)?
Thanks,
DOUGLAS HAUSKNECHT, PhD
Rotary Club of Akron
Life (and Rotary) goes on!
2010-2011 Rotary Theme Announced
After taking the stage to the tune of "California, Here I Come," RI President-elect Ray Klinginsmith announced the 2010-11 RI theme, Building Communities -- Bridging Continents, during the opening plenary session of the 2010 International Assembly .
Read Complete Story - Click Here.
“Kids Building Hope”
Compassion and Service to Others
Thanks to all those who stepped up to help out during my two week absence, especially Janet Williams, our Treasurer and President-elect. During that period, we had a very well attended after hours meeting, as well as an initiative started on shelter boxes for Haiti, and yeoman's work done on raising funds for the Chili Open . At the last couple of meetings, members bought camperships, either by themselves or chipped in with other Rotarians to purchase one. Thanks for doing that, and if you missed out and want to participate, call the Camp.
I Loved Christmas Here!
View Pictures from the Barrett Christmas Party
A Rotary Welcome for 2010
I'll keep this short and sweet, because if you're like me this has been a busy time. Not only have we been traveling to Connecticut for Christmas, but we are preparing for two weeks in the Canary Islands (near northwestern Africa). I leave the Club in good hands. Janet Williams, our Treasurer and President-elect, will run a couple of the meetings while I'm gone and we may also have an after hours meeting during my absence. Bridget Garvin-Ambrusco will decide. We skipped one in December, because of all the other activities.
Awareness and Fellowship in Rotary
A Message from Torrey Hollis
ELITE SQUAD OF ROTARIANS INVADE SHORES OF REX LAKE
Camp Update
Dear Fellow Rotarians!
What a busy fall it has been. Currently Rotary Camp is serving more campers than ever before during our monthly respite weekends. We also hosted our first Halloween Trick or Treat Open House. There were over 150 neighbors, campers, and volunteers at Rotary Camp for this ghoulish event. In fact, it sparked so much interest from our neighbors, we are hosting a Holiday Open House on December 19th. Please feel free to join us!
A First for District #6630
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS & SUCH
Planned Giving Program - Akron Rotary Foundation
VOCATIONS and MEMBERSHIP
Rotary Youth Exchange Outbound Student Update
Torrey Hollis is a Rotary Youth Exchange Outbound Student sponsored by the Rotary Club of Akron for the 2009-10 school year.
She will spend her junior year of high school in Spain, going to school and living with host families there. She happens to be the niece of Akron Rotarian Barry Hollis, who is also her Rotary Youth Exchange counselor for the year. Torrey looks forward to hearing from Akron Rotarians during her exchange year--you can email her at: torrey2011.93@gmail.com . Keep reading to see the first update on Torrey. We will continue to provide updates throughout the year.
Marcia Holcomb,
RYE Officer for the Rotary Club of Akron
Poker Run Pictures
The Camp, RI Foundation, Chili Open and More!
I and three other Akron Rotary members, including our foundation committee chair, attended a Rotary International regional seminar at Hiram College on September 21st to learn more about the International Rotary Foundation. One of the designated funds discussed was the Polio Plus fund. By the way, most of you know that the Camp was started mostly for children with Polio. What you may not know is that the structure of the RI Foundation is such that they have a separate fund one can designate strictly for the final fight against polio.
Our Best Poker Run!
Teamwork is Contagious
As I write this, it's only been 3 weeks since the new Rotary year began. Already people have stepped forward to help. Maybe because I look like I'm working hard (looks are deceiving), but I've been given some new ideas on how to get fun things done.
A Little Camp History
Below is an interesting story about Rotary Camp's history that we never knew...
Congratulations
Bobby Project Contribution Goal Fully Met!
After a lot of appeals and efforts, we finally raised a total contribution of $ 3,749; exceeded the contribution goal assigned to us by the District.
Contributors are as follows.Akron Club Receives Presidential Citation
Rotary Club of Akron Received the 2008-2009 Presidential Citation.
To qualify for the this, a Rotary Club must
The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands
These are not my words, but those of Rotary International's new president, John Kenny. Sounds great, but what does this mean to us in the Akron Rotary Club?
Congratulations Club Members
This is a copy of the Certificate DG Fran presented to our Club. The award recognizes our Club's efforts this year supporting the work of The Rotary Foundation.
Capital Campaign FAQ
It's More Than Just Lunch!
BOARD PRESIDENT'S LETTER
Please read this important letter - your response is requested. Thank you!
Rotary Camp Named Grand Marshal
Rotary Camp has been named the Grand Marshal for the annual 4th of July Portage Lakes Boat Parade.
Pam Kiltau receives YMCA Award
Planned Giving Program - Akron Rotary Foundation
The Akron Rotary Foundation provides funding to finance activities that benefit youth and children with special needs, particularly when they are not otherwise being met; as well as other projects sanctioned by the Rotary Club of
Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs
Happy Ending to a Long Story
Last October our District Governor Fran Bayless made her official visit to our club. In a meeting with the Board of Directors preceding the lunch meeting, the governor challenged the Rotary Club of Akron to raise the equivalent of $26.50 per member ...
Being Excited About Being a Rotarian
Are you excited about being a Rotarian? Happy? Mildly pleased? Having an OK time? Wish the experience were more fulfilling?
Partners with Youth - Annual Giving Campaign
Setting Goals and Achieving Them
People and businesses that succeed are usually very goal oriented. They set goals, plan how to achieve them and then commit their time and energy to succeed.
A Rotary Club of Akron Call to Action
In his book, Relationships 101, John Maxwell says, "You first have to touch people's hearts before you ask them for a hand. You can't move people to action unless you first move them with emotion. The heart comes before the head."
Akron ClubRunner News
Rotary Youth Committee Scholarships
The Rotary Youth Committee chooses and recognizes the high school Students of the Year in the categories of Business Education, Trade and Industrial Studies, Home Economics, Marketing, and Agriculture. The best students in each field from the Akron Public Schools are chosen by their counselors and then the top two from eight candidates are selected after interviewing with Rotarians on the committee. Each student selected receives a $200 scholarship paid by the Rotary Foundation. Eight to ten students are selected each year.
Club Sponsors Outbound Student
Download the website sponsorship guide