The Archway - Rotary District 6630 Newsletter

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Thank you, Rotarians for a wonderful, productive and successful year. Every club has achieved dreams and goals through your continued outstanding efforts.

Home and world-wide communities have benefited from your generosity and thoughtful humanitarian work. The children of the world are better off today through your support of Little Bobby and the dreams of Past Rotary International President Arch C. Klumph. You have indeed Made Dreams Real.

As your governor, I applaud you.

Along with all of your clubs' local and international activities, we have been most fortunate to have had the support of district and Rotary International leaders, beginning with PETS 1 and the assembly.

Coordinating the training for the presidents-elect and the district leadership, Tim Wright, past district governor and district trainer, along with zone representatives Stephanie Urchick and Jim Ives, challenged and prepared Rotarians for the year 2008-2009. The inbound students numbered 15 and spent the school year in homes and high schools throughout the district. The 11 outbound students traveled to the countries of their choice for their year of study.

As a district we joined the Rotary Leadership Institute and became the North Shore Region. We have been joined with other neighboring districts, and the training will begin during 2009.

In November, we held the Rotary Foundation Program. Jonathan Majiyagbe, past Rotary International president and chair of the trustees, was to be with us, but due to illness he was unable to travel to Cleveland. Ron Burton, vice chair of the trustees, filled in for Jonathan with motivating presentations.

During April 2-5 we were honored to have Dong Kern Lee, Rotary International president, and first lady Young Lee with us for meetings on the causes and possible cures of child mortality cosponsored with Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital/University Hospital.

The GSE team arrived from Lagos, Nigeria and had a most successful month traveling within our district. The friendships will continue as projects have been planned for water and school activities throughout Lagos.

The District Conference was held on May 1-2. We were so honored to have Cliff Dochterman, past Rotary International president and his wife, Mary Elena, with us representing D.K. Lee. Cliff shared with us five excellent presentations on topics including membership, leadership, the Rotary Foundation, Polio Plus and the importance of being a Rotarian.

Our goals have been reached and surpassed; the year has been successful in all manners of Rotary. I am proud and honored to have served as your district governor 2008-2009.Thank you so much for all of your hard work, understanding and friendship that you have so generously given throughout this Rotary year.

Together we have succeeded in our charge from D. K. Lee to Make Dreams Real.

"Man strives for glory, honor and fame That all the world might know his/her name He/She amasses wealth by mind and hand And when he/she reaches the end of life And looks back over the years of strife He/She finds that happiness depends On none of these, but love of friends"

-Thoughts shared by PDG Joe Skoda, when he served as district governor. Author unknown.

Best wishes as you continue in your Rotary life and thank you for such a successful and productive Rotary year.

Our Very Best,
Fran, Tom and Little Bobby

If you received "The Archway" for June 2009 today, below is the article that I wrote about the Parma Rotary's 2008-2009 year that somehow was left out of the publication. The pictures in "The Archway" for Parma were to accompany this article below.

PARMA ROTARY 2008-2009

Parma Rotary inducted 9 members to date into the club after a successful membership drive in November 2008 reaching the club goal and exceeding the Rotary International of +6.

Parma Rotary participated in many school youth and charitable programs such as the 4-Way Speech Contest with five high schools participating, distributed three "Service Above Self Scholarships" of $1,200 each and one "Walter and Mildred Kanieski Memorial Scholarship" of $1,200; honored the top vocational students in each vocational category and gave four of them a $400 scholarships; rewarded the Senior Class Officer's of four of our area high schools; rewarded our "Service Above Self" Club members of Pleasant Valley Elementary School who assist the physically challenged children of the Parma Schools; spent a morning with approximately 84 physically challenged students of the Parma Schools with a fishing outing and a picnic lunch; invited and had a Holiday lunch with the visually and hearing impaired students of the Parma Schools. Other Club Charitable programs completed during the year were Ringing the Bell for the Salvation Army in Seven Hills, conducting a canned food drive for the Parma Heights Food Pantry, making Rotary blankets for patients at Pleasant Lake nursing facility, serving ice cream, and handing out awards to children at Parma Park Elementary, our Community Business Schools Partnership (CBS) partner. Many other monetary contributions were made such as NEO Challenger Baseball, City Baseball Sponsorships, Parma Fire & Safety House, Rose Bowl Parade Float, Parma Elder Center, Parma Food Pantry, Parma Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society, Parma Historical Birthplace Landmark Sign, and the Parma Health Ministries to name a few. This year our club sponsored a newly chartered physically challenged Cub Scout Group.

Parma Rotary raised funds for our projects and charities through our Annual Reverse Raffle and Center Table Auction, our annual Golf Outing, placemat ads to be used at all of our luncheon meetings, and a Club 2000 drawing.

Club members also had fun with many social activities highlighted by a fabulous wine tasting, Nautica II Cruise, Halloween Party, Christmas Luncheon Party, Monster Hockey Game and a pending Night with the Cleveland Indian's.

Luncheon speakers this year ranged from "Hot Picks for Hot Days" by the Cleveland Library to the Cleveland Metro park Zoo, Cuyahoga Fair, Beautification of Cleveland, State of the City Addresses by two of our area Mayors and the Superintendent of the Parma Schools, Veteran Reservist from the 3d BN 25th Marine Regiment, NASA, and many, many more.

The club voted on a Memorial Paul Harris honoring member David W. Straight who passed away in July 2008. Monies were sent by club members to Every Rotarian, Every Year as well as donations in the name of Arch C. Klump benefiting the foundation and polio plus. We had a major donar reaching $10,000 by member Donald Voigt.

One of our members, Rev. Robert Bates reached a significant birthday of 90 years old after having open heart surgery several months earlier.

To help our members through these tough economic times club dues were reduced from $81 per quarter to $55.

We received a $1,000 donation to our Rotary Charities from the Graydon Insurance which was bestowed to them by Cincinnati Insurance Company.

As the year comes to an end, our club is working on a service project for Stearn's Farm, a historical farm in Parma. We are participating in the Parma Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society, July 31 and August 1. To participate in this charitable event for cancer, we are raising funds, organizing our booth, and signing up Rotary walkers. For a club social event, tickets are being sold for a July Indian's baseball game.