The 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 be sure to email me(click here) with any news you would like placed here. Note that information is posted only with permission of the individual(s).
CONGRATULATIONS VIRGINA WOJNO-FORNEY
Summit County Historical Society
Imagination Award Recipient
Ginny has been named one of the Summit County Historical Society's Women of the year.
Virginia Wojno-Forney, preservation activist, Imagination award There are few limits to Virginia Wojno-Forney’s activism or imagination. For decades Virginia has been a force behind some key institutions in the city, including Summit County Historical Society, Progress Through Preservation, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Akron Art Museum. But it is at the Cascade Locks Park that Virginia’s imagination is most apparent. Back in the 1980s, she saw the potential of a canal-era provisions store, the ruins of a series of step locks and the overgrown trashy urban jungle and saw a park where Akron could rediscover its canal history. Today, Cascade Locks Park, “a heritage park for Akron’s future,” is a testament to Virginia’s vision of what could be.
Women’s History Project announces 2022 Woman of the Year recipients
The Women’s History Project of the Akron Area, a program of the Summit County Historical Society, will honor nine local activists with its Woman of the Year awards for 2022 at a special presentation at the John Brown House in June. View recipients/click here.
They will all be honored at a special presentation on June 15 at the John Brown House, 514 Diagonal Road, Akron. Heather Pollock of the University of Akron will be the emcee.
Society President and CEO Leianne Neff Heppner explained, “The Women’s History Project is honored to recognize these women, who through their selfless work, paid and volunteer, supply an essential need…hope.” In the words of Mother Theresa, “Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.” Leianne added.
In addition to Ginny's involvement, many of our members have had a long-standing relationship with the Historical Society - Katy Miller, received the award in 2017 for Courage (way to go Katy!!), Cheryl Warren was a long-time board member and led the rebranding efforts of the organization and GinaKaye Maddox is currently a board director.
When we hear more details on the event for the honorees, we will be sure to share it with you.
The final tally is in and were extremely happy to announce that Akron Rotary’s 32nd annual Chili Open Golf Classic presented by Wayne Homes has raised a total of $376,744! We are incredible grateful to everyone that supported the event and helped make it a monumental success for both the Rotary Club and the Rotary Camp.
Click here to watch the short video that captured some great moments at the Chili Open!
75% of the dollars raised came from Sponsorships and Camperships. We are thankful to everyone who helped us in securing Sponsors, or where a sponsor. Representatives were in attendance from the following Community, Corporate and Premier Sponsors:
Wayne Homes – Maurie Jones, Todd Brown, Jen Collinsworth, Maurie Jones & Steve Wessel
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
Congratulations to Dan Riemenschneider, recipient of the 2022 Jim Redmond Ambassador of Service Award. This award was established in 1991 in recognition of community leaders who have gone above and beyond in support of the Rotary Club of Akron, Akron Rotary Camp and the Akron Community. Thank you, Dan for sharing your time and talents with us and the Akron community. We are very happy that Carol could join and celebrate with you.
We also want to acknowledge our key in-kind Sponsors.
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.
Special thanks to all our Rotarians, sponsors and friends of Rotary who sold, purchased and promoted raffle tickets. Everyone rallied in helping us raise a total of $57,700 in raffle ticket sales.
Thanks again to The VanDevere Bunch for donating the 2022 Kia Forte LXS through their Thrive and Drive Program. This was our 10th year participating with them for the Car Raffle.
Congratulations to the lucky raffle ticket winners:
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
Make sure to redeem your $10 off Oil Change voucher at any of the VanDevere Chevy, Buick or Kia locations, and your $15 coupon off the purchase of two entrees at Lala’s in the Lakes, located at 4315 Manchester Road, Akron.
We had the privilege of hearing from a Rotary Camp Parent, Jonathan Mitchell. Their son, Jesse, is currently a camper at Rotary Camp. Jonathan shared what camp means to his family, and especially to Jesse, as he is accepted for who he is. They are very grateful for Rotary Camp as it provides the respite that they need.
The Chili Open is ourRotary Club’s primary fundraiser in supporting the operational needs of Akron Rotary Camp. The success of this event is due in large part to the commitment of our Rotary Club and the Corporate Community. Each one of you should be very proud of helping us breaking records year after year and taking the Chili Open to the next level!
Mark your calendars for the 33rd Akron Rotary Chili Open Golf Classic on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Hale Farm.
I wanted to take a moment and thank you all for your help and support in our Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank (ACRF) service project.
It was a beautiful day and I know we all could have been enjoying a rare warm sunny March evening with our family and friends so your efforts are truly appreciated!
As you can see in the photo our efforts helped provide 1,960 meals for those in need through the 600 food pantries the ACRF serves in the Akron Canton area. Additionally, our friends from Karpinski Engineering spent two hours filling bottles of hand sanitizer with product provided by GOJO.
It is my goal to make an effort to volunteer once a month at ACRF so I hope that you will consider joining us again in the future service projects.
I will be putting out another call for sign up in April. I hope to make it every 3rd Wednesday of the month but need to confirm with ACRF first. More to come on this.
Each March, the Club Presidents-Elect (PEs) from all of the Ohio Rotary Clubs gather in Columbus for training, education and to exchange ideas in preparation for their year as President. It is called All Ohio PETS.
This was the first in-person session in two years due to the pandemic.
Akron Club President Elect, Lynda Farkas, enjoyed a weekend of sessions and networking with her classmates.
Each year, the sessions are developed by the five incoming Ohio District Governors.
Our District (District 6630) had many PEs and volunteers who attended the event (photo below/click to enlarge).
This year the 2022-2023 Class was honored to have in attendance, Rotary International President-Elect Jennifer Jones who will be the first female in Rotary history to serve as the RI President.
RI President Elect Jennifer Jones imagines a Rotary where members act to make their dreams become reality and they make the most of their club experiences. She urges members to engage more with each other and use these connections to build partnerships that change the world.
As a reminder, our regular weekly meeting for Tuesday April 19 will NOT be held.
In lieu of this meeting, we ask that you sign up to attend the District Conference luncheon on Friday, April 22 at Noon at Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls.
Every Rotarian is welcome and encouraged to attend any of the sessions and dinners that are being hosted. Stay over and enjoy the hospitality suites at the end of each evening too!