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The Akrotarian
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Weekly Club Meetings are currently being held virtually using ZOOM.
 
We meet at Noon each Tuesday. 
 
 
 
 
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Our Speaker for August 25th

County Executive
Ilene Shapiro

 
County Executive Ilene Shapiro became the fifth Summit County Executive in August of 2016. As Executive, Ilene manages a budget of nearly a half billion dollars and nine departments including: Administrative Services, Communications, Community and Economic Development, Finance and Budget, Human Resources, Job and Family Services, Law, Insurance and Risk Management, Sanitary Sewer Services and the Medical Examiner.

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.
 
Shapiro currently serves as a board member for the Akron Community Foundation, the University of Akron Research Foundation (UARF), the County Executives of America, the Summit County Land Reutilization Corporation, United Way of Summit County, Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS), and the Greater Akron Chamber.  She also serves on the Summit and Medina Workforce Area Council of Governments and is a member of the Greater Akron Area ATHENA PowerLink governing body.  She is an alumnus of both Leadership America and Leadership Akron. She is a past President of the Women’s Network and is a founder of the Women’s Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation.

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.

County Executive Shapiro lives in West Akron.  
     
 
 
Meeting ID: 989 441 809
 
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Meeting ID: 989 441 809
Club News

Shoebox Project 2020

The Shoebox project has been a long standing international project supported by the Akron Rotary Club.  Our portion of the 650 boxes in total across Rotary Clubs is 30 boxes.   30 children will receive a box full of supplies and fun items they can enjoy.  The project will need $2000 of support;  whether that is in donations of items needed or a financial donation of approximately $66 per box.  If you wish to make a financial donation to support the cause (and we will purchase the items) please click this link and indicate "SHOEBOX PROJECT in the "gift designation" box.

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.  

Help Send Kids to Camp

Fellow Rotarians, it's that time again! Help Akron Rotary Camp earn $ to send kids to Camp! Save your ACME receipts from August 6 to December 26 to earn some Community Cash Back on ACME Fresh Market Store Brands. Receipts can be mailed or dropped off to Akron Rotary Camp, 4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319. As always, thank you for your support!
 
Regards,
 
Mella

Mark Gerberich Collaborates to Ensure Success of Akron Soap Box Derby

The Rotary Club of Akron welcomed Mark Gerberich, President and CEO of the International Soap Box Derby to our August 18th meeting to update us on the status of the International Soap Box Derby during this trying time of COVID-19 as well as a general overview of the Soap Box Derby.
 
 
Mr. Gerberich leads a team of 10 full time and six part-time employees, pre-COVID-19 with a budget of $1.9 million and operates more than 250 events yearly.  
      
Mr. Gerberich has worked in the sports field for 35 years after attaining his undergraduate degree from St. John’s University in NY and his master’s degree from the University of Akron in sport management.  
 
Since 2010, Mr. Gerberich has been teaching two sport management classes at the University of Akron, where he enjoys the opportunity to assist students in making the transition from being a student to joining the work force upon graduation.   
  
Mark expressed his appreciation to all the individuals and organizations that have been so collaborative in ensuring the success of the Soap Box Derby.
 
The All-American Soap Box Derby® is a youth gravity racing program which has run nationally since 1934.
 
Children between the ages of 7-20 are eligible to race in the program. Kids, along with a parent, mentor, etc. build a car using a specially designed kit purchased from the International Soap Box Derby (ISBD).
 
Races are held each year in officially sanctioned Soap Box Derby® race locations throughout the United States and a few foreign countries. The racing season culminates at the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship Race, held each July at the world-famous Derby Downs Track in Akron.
 
There are two ways a child can qualify for the First Energy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship Race. The first is to enter a local race and win. The child will qualify for the World Championship Race and compete against other Local Champions. 
 
Local race programs are sponsored by a variety of civic clubs, service organizations and businesses. These groups establish their local Derby administrative and promotional organizations to conduct the program. Local race organizations are responsible for a license fee to the ISBD.
 
The second way to advance to the World Championship Race is to earn enough points through the Rally Program and represent his/her region against other Rally Champions. 
 
There are 12 Regional Divisions plus the International Division.
 
The Soap Box Derby attempts to provide the following to their participants:
  • 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.
The Akron Soap Box Derby has three main programs. They are the All-American Soap Box Derby (AASBD) Race Program, their Education Program and their Derby Down Special Events Program.
 
The Special Events program includes such events as Inclusion Day, Senior Day, Veterans Appreciation Day and Corporate Derby Challenge. Two of the newest programs within the Education Section is their STEM program and their Robotics program. When asked what happens to old cars that kids might have raced but are sitting in basements or garages now, Mr. Gerberich answered that the Soap Box Derby would gladly take old cars to provide an opportunity to other children to have the experience of the Derby Downs who couldn’t otherwise afford to purchase a car.
 
More details about each of these programs can be found on their website https://www.soapboxderby.org.
 

Turn on AmazonSmile

 
Do you shop on Amazon? If yes, AmazonSmile is an easy way to support Rotary Camp with every purchase. Just takes a few minutes to set up.
 
At no cost to you, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases
If you are not already an AmazonSmile member, sign up on your web browser. Simply select Rotary Camp for Children With Special Needs Inc to start generating donations.
 
AmazonSmile customers can now support Rotary Camp for Children With Special Needs Inc in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones. Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.
  1. Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
  2. Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
  3. Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process
If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, you will need to update your mobile app. Click here for instructions.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Mella Castner, director of development at Rotary Camp (330) 644-4512.

Your health and safety is
important to us.

Our thoughts are with all of you and our sincere appreciation goes out to every individual working to help keep us safe and healthy.


If you or someone you know wants to share news with us
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Akrotarian Supporters

CHERYL WARREN

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Club Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Mella Castner
August 3
 
Ed Wagner
August 4
 
George Romanoski
August 4
 
Laura Smiley
August 5
 
Katerina Papas
August 8
 
Nicholas George
August 8
 
Douglas Hausknecht
August 10
 
Doug Kohl
August 11
 
Roger Read
August 11
 
Julie Ann Sweet-Buntin
August 13
 
Kathryn Michael
August 13
 
Brian Kosarko
August 16
 
Mike Shearer
August 20
 
Marcia Holcomb
August 21
 
Jason Edwards
August 22
 
Rick Rogers
August 22
 
Robert McGregor
August 22
 
Fred Swartz
August 23
 
Lance Chima
August 25
 
Janice Radl
September 5
 
Andrew Grover
September 6
 
Terrence Dalton
September 7
 
Karen Hrdlicka
September 10
 
Chris Richardson
September 11
 
Nick Browning
September 11
 
Sara Eddy
September 15
 
Jim Mullen
September 20
 
Jay Rutter
September 25
 
Brian Chima
September 27
 
Colin Hammer
September 29
 
Paul Jarrett
September 29
 
Virginia Wojno
September 30
 
Join Date
Cheryl Warren
August 1, 1995
25 years
 
Nathanael Billow
August 1, 2017
3 years
 
Nick Browning
August 1, 1992
28 years
 
Rick Rogers
August 1, 2005
15 years
 
Bob Ryan
August 2, 2016
4 years
 
Laura Horovitz
August 2, 2016
4 years
 
Daniel Riemenschneider
August 8, 2000
20 years
 
Tamara Mora
August 8, 2017
3 years
 
Kevin Smith
August 15, 2017
3 years
 
Robert McGregor
August 19, 2014
6 years
 
Vivian Harig
August 22, 2017
3 years
 
Brian Kosarko
August 26, 2014
6 years
 
John Margida
August 26, 2014
6 years
 
Mella Castner
August 26, 2014
6 years
 
Marilyn Buckey
September 1, 1988
32 years
 
Pamela Kiltau
September 1, 1987
33 years
 
Marcia Holcomb
September 9, 2003
17 years
 
Cyndi Kane
September 11, 2018
2 years
 
Jason Edwards
September 11, 2018
2 years
 
Sara Eddy
September 18, 2018
2 years
 
Patty Graves
September 29, 2015
5 years
 
Brian Steere
September 30, 2014
6 years
 
Speakers
Aug 25, 2020
Executive of Summit County
Sep 01, 2020
Don Drumm Studios
Sep 08, 2020
Summit Education Initiative
Sep 15, 2020
Akron Rotary Camp
Sep 29, 2020
Parkland Management Company
Oct 06, 2020
Goodyear Tire and Rubber
Oct 20, 2020
District Governor
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Upcoming Events
2020 Greeter & Invocation Speaker Sign Up
Portage Country Club
Jan 08, 2020 – Dec 29, 2020
 
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Russell Hampton
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