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The Akrotarian
eBulletin

 
Weekly Club Meetings are currently being held virtually via ZOOM.
 
We meet at Noon each Tuesday. 
 
 
 

OUR SPEAKER APRIL 13, 2021

 
  MICHELE CAMPBELL
Executive Director
 
 
Michele Campbell has spent many years pursuing her passion in the education sector. The Akron native attained her education from Ohio institutions including a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Ashland University, a Master’s degree from Kent State University’s Higher Education Administration, and a Doctorate from the University of Akron as a Doctor of Education. 
 
As the executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation, Campbell is able to implement her decades of experience in higher education into thoughtful, research-based initiatives that connect with the inner-city students and families that need it most. Through the Foundation, which aims to positively affect the lives of children and young adults through educational initiatives, Campbell brings LeBron’s vision to create positive and lasting change in his hometown to life through daily and long term interventions rooted in research and driven by passion. Under Campbell’s direction, in 2011 the LeBron James Family Foundation began working on the high school dropout crisis facing the Akron community and launched its core I PROMISE program in partnership with Akron Public Schools. This deep-rooted initiative targets the district’s lowest performing students and provides them with the programs, support and mentors they need for success in school, following them all the way through graduation. Campbell’s guidance has helped grow this thoughtful, research-based, and powerful program to more than 1,500 students that has culminated in the opening of the I PROMISE School, a groundbreaking public school that takes an innovative approach to educating the whole child and their entire family, the I PROMISE Village that serves as transitional housing for students struggling with homelessness, the upcoming I PROMISE Housing, which will be 50 units of affordable housing, and House Three Thirty, an innovative center focused on providing job training, financial health, and family programming for the entire community. 
 
In addition to sharing with us about the students and families they serve she will also share about the LeBron James Family Foundation’s impact on the community has grown over the last ten years – from opening the I PROMISE School, to expanding into transitional housing the I PROMISE Village by Graduate Hotels and long term housing with I PROMISE Housing, and culminating in the innovative House Three Thirty, which will see the historic Tangier turned into a community space providing job training, financial health, and gathering space for our I PROMISE families and the entire community.
 
     
 
Meeting ID: 989 441 809
 
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Meeting ID: 989 441 809
 
Club News
Akron Rotary Crown Recipients
Congratulations to our newest Akron Crown recipients
(L-R) Terry Dalton and
Wanda Raber Whipkey
 
 
Terry was selected as King for being an integral part of the Zoom meetings, keeping Dr. Rob's Rotary calendar straight, all his work on the scholarship program and for writing the weekly speaker re-caps. 
 
Wanda was crowned as Queen of the Chili Open for who has shepherd it the past couple years with various co-chairs. She did an outstanding job again this year and continues to set the bar higher each year for the event.
 
ABOUT THE AKRON ROTARY CROWN
 
When our Club began meeting remotely, Katy was so impressed with Cheryl Warren's handling of our Zooms that she spontaneously sent her a Tiara and crowned her the Queen of Zoom!
 
Cheryl approached Katy to ask if they could "pass it forward", so they decided to keep it moving every other month or so, crowning a Queen or King or Both for their efforts to benefit our club! Katy secured a Kings crown to have in addition to the Tiara.
 
The member(s) who receives the crown(s) must wear them for a month to our weekly meetings – either virtually or when we go live.
 
We will do it every other month to allow time in between to transition the “Akron Rotary Crown”
 
The member(s) who last received the crown(s) then helps Cheryl and Katy identify the next worthy member(s) then he/she drops off the committee and the next recipient joins us – so it rotates.
Now, Terry and Wanda will be part of the committee to help pick the next recipient(s) and will then drop off and the new recipients come on...so it rotates.  
 
It's important to point out that this is not a popularity contest - some month's there may be no one and other month's there may be more than one person.  We are looking for members who are often doing things quietly behind the scene or big things too.
 
We encourage the committee chairs and all members to submit ideas to Katy and Cheryl - just email us.  We want to continue recognizing members for all their good deeds!
Akron Public Schools Virtual Library: Calling all Storytellers
Thank you Akron Rotarian Lorrayne Gervase (photo below) for volunteering to read a story for the APS Virtual Storytelling initiative.
 
 
If you are interested, contact Julie Brandle at jbrandle@metisconstruction.com for more information and guidelines.
 
Julie Brandle, DGND, Assistant Governor - S Summit and Medina Cluster
Past President, Rotary Club of Akron, Ohio 
Cell 330.858.6672 | jbrandle@metisconstruction.com
Sharing Happy Dollar Photos!!
 
Let's all help fellow member
Lorrayne Gervase with
a great fundraiser she is chairing
in cooperation with
Texas Roadhouse
and also her
Awareness Campaign for
Child Abuse Prevention Month!

Mark your calendars
to participate in both!! 
 
Click on the images to enlarge
 
Tiffany Roper: Eat, Speak, Love
The speaker for our Tuesday, April 6th Club meeting was Tiffany Roper, CEO of Eat, Speak, Love LLC.  Tiffany was born in Akron, and is a two-time graduate of Kent State University with a B.A. in Psychology and a M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health. Her passion has always been to help others help themselves by providing guidance, resources, and inspiration for success. View the presentation (click here).
 
After working many years providing mental health counseling, Ms. Roper ventured out on her new business just prior to the pandemic hitting the community.  Despite the pandemic, she has been very successful in growing her business.
 
According to Ms. Roper, “In a rapidly changing and unpredictable world, entrepreneurship and business ownership seems riskier than ever. Big business and major corporations tend to have financial security, larger platforms, and a more stable customer base than do their smaller homegrown counterparts.
 
When it comes to women and minorities in business, the disparities in access to capital, mentorship, lack of exposure make successful business ownership appear to be beyond our reach. Despite these disparities, the spirit of entrepreneurship remains alive!”
 
Eat Speak Love (ESL) serves to turn small businesses into an experience. They invite local entrepreneurs, business owners, artists, chefs, and speakers in to showcase their talents and ultimately, enhance Akron’s economic, culinary, and cultural scenes.  ESL serves as a launchpad for women and minority entrepreneurs to market their unique brands, vision, and passion projects.
 
 
SMALLBIG BOX
 
A unique aspect of Tiffany’s business is her SMALLBIG Box. Eat Speak Love, is committed to the local economy, their partners, and their patrons. ESL strives to amplify the voices of small business owners, entrepreneurs, and local creatives who discover, innovate, and craft. The boxes contain product samples and previews of mainly women and minority business owners, whose products are sure to be your next obsession.
 
A SMALLBIG BOX can be purchased for $30 and a SMALLBIG BOX  - 3 Box Subscription normally selling for $90 can now be purchased for $75.00
 
Speaking  Opportunities
 
Ms. Roper is also available to speak to organizations.  She can spark the motivation and inspiration your workers/team needs to increase productivity, team cohesion, and overall gratitude.  She offers interactive presentations virtually or in person (within COVID guidelines).  Several of her topics include: Gratitude, Personal Elevation, Living in Purpose, Sisterhood and Women Empowerment.
 
ESL Partners
 
Our partners are local business owners, entrepreneurs, artists, and visionaries who own, seek to open, or are starting businesses in the Greater Akron Area. ESL’s priority is to highlight and support women and minorities who are embarking on their own journey of equitable business ownership. Through their collaboration they will showcase the talent, quality, and passion that goes into the products of any small business. At ESL, our patrons are invested in the revitalization of Akron’s economy, cultural diversity, and overall small business expansion.
 
Individuals wishing to learn more about ESL are encouraged to visit their website at eatspeaklove.com, or visit them on Facebook at eatspeaklove.akron.
 
 
Yours in Rotary Service,
 
Terry Dalton
Rotary Club of Akron Secretary
 
________________
 

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Akrotarian Supporters

CHERYL WARREN

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Speakers
Apr 13, 2021 12:00 PM
TASCforce, LLC
Apr 20, 2021 12:00 PM
Students of the Year - Part II
Apr 27, 2021 12:00 PM
Students of the Year - Part III
May 04, 2021 12:00 PM
Chief Experience Officer Akron Art Museum: New and Exciting at the Akron Art Museum
May 11, 2021 12:00 PM
CHC Addiction Services
May 18, 2021 12:00 PM
Akron Civic Theatre
May 25, 2021 12:00 PM
Civic Education Presentation focused on the Supreme Court
View entire list
Upcoming Events
2021 Greeter/Moderator & Invocation Speaker signup
Portgage Country Club
Jan 05, 2021 – Dec 28, 2021
 
Club Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Sandy Naragon
April 3
 
Rima Muakkassa
April 5
 
Colleen Iacianci
April 7
 
Jack Harig
April 8
 
Jon Morschl
April 12
 
Megan Olesen
April 15
 
Jeffrey Kempf
April 19
 
Cyndi Kane
April 22
 
Sam Lupica
April 25
 
Joe Swiatkowski
April 27
 
Blake Gerney
April 29
 
Jeff Sheeks
April 29
 
Lorrayne Gervase
May 11
 
Tom Knauer
May 11
 
Mark Seward
May 12
 
Hugh Alpeter
May 14
 
Kevin Smith
May 18
 
Richard Brandenburg
May 20
 
Marilyn Buckey
May 29
 
Elizabeth Campbell
May 31
 
Join Date
Stew Buchanan
April 1, 1983
38 years
 
Philip Williams
April 14, 2020
1 year
 
Ben Heckerman
April 22, 2014
7 years
 
Brian Chima
April 22, 2014
7 years
 
Chaz Billington
April 22, 2014
7 years
 
Paul Jarrett
April 24, 2018
3 years
 
Lyn Goodwin-Shawver
April 25, 2017
4 years
 
John Reyes
April 26, 1994
27 years
 
Ken Babby
April 26, 2016
5 years
 
Tom Fox
May 1, 1990
31 years
 
Susan Colville-Hall
May 2, 2006
15 years
 
Karen Hrdlicka
May 3, 2016
5 years
 
Kimmie Hoch
May 3, 2016
5 years
 
Mario Micale
May 8, 2018
3 years
 
Rennick Andreoli
May 10, 2011
10 years
 
Nicholas George
May 11, 1999
22 years
 
David Smith
May 12, 1987
34 years
 
Terrence Dalton
May 16, 2006
15 years
 
Dan O'Connell
May 22, 1979
42 years
 
Jill Flagg Lanzinger
May 22, 2018
3 years
 
Luke O'Neill
May 26, 2020
1 year
 
Nichole Major
May 26, 2015
6 years
 
Blake Babcock
May 27, 2014
7 years
 
Julie Brandle
May 27, 2014
7 years
 
 
SEND YOUR HAPPY DOLLAR PHOTOS!
 
Plan to participate in Happy Dollars during the Tuesday meetings? 
 
We want to bring even more joy to our meetings and include a photo associated with what you are happy about!! 
 
Simply email it to Cheryl Warren (click here to email her) and put HAPPY DOLLAR PHOTO in the subject line.  Photos must be received by 5pm on the Monday prior to the meeting. Those sending photos will be called on first during the meeting to share your happiness as we show the photo! 
 
Even if you don't have a photo, plan to share your joy during our meetings - you will all have a chance to do so as usual after the photos run!!
 
If you also wish for the information/photo to be included in our newsletter that will go out after our meeting, please indicate this in your email and provide me with a brief description of the reason you are submitting it (such as "So happy that my son Joe has received his Master's Degree from The University of Akron in the field of ABC!).  This text will only be used for the newsletter - you will share it at the meeting!! 
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
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