Hello District 6630 Family!

Happy November! As autumn colors peak across Northeast Ohio, we step into Rotary Foundation Month with so much to celebrate and look forward to across District 6630.

Here is a look at what’s happening in our district:

Celebrating World Polio Day Successes

Thank you to every club that organized awareness and fundraising campaigns as we wrapped up Polio Month on October 24! We saw fantastic local creative initiatives across the district:

• Purple Dunkin’ Donuts at select locations across Northeast Ohio.
• Specialty Coffee: A custom drink at Wall Street Coffee with the Jefferson Rotary Club.
• Fellowship & Fundraisers: Pints for Polio at New Purpose Brew Works in Chesterland.
• Craft Beer Partnership: A custom awareness label release from Hoppin’ Frog brewery in partnership with the Rotary Club of Akron.

Thank you for your tireless efforts to help fulfill our promise of a polio-free world!

Rotary Foundation Month: Transforming Generosity into Impact

During November, we celebrate how our Foundation donations transform lives. When you give to The Rotary Foundation, you directly fund sustainable projects aligned with Rotary’s 7 Areas of Focus:

1. Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention
2. Disease Prevention and Treatment
3. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
4. Maternal and Child Health
5. Basic Education and Literacy
6. Community Economic Development
7. Protecting the Environment

You can discover more about how global and district grants are creating lasting impact in our district at our District Foundation Event, November 19.  Register Here

Youth Leadership in Action: Interaction Weekend

This weekend, I am heading to Interaction, our district conference for high school Interact clubs. Engaging youth and fostering a lifelong Rotary connection is one of my core passions. These inspiring students will listen to a keynote speaker, engage in leadership activities, complete a service project, and select a district-wide service project for all Interact clubs to tackle together—with support from our Rotary clubs! Stay tuned to find out which initiative they choose as I work to help them discover a lifelong home in Rotary.

Connecting Across District 6630

I am thoroughly enjoying my visits to clubs throughout Northeast Ohio, especially exploring places I’ve never been before! From supporting local students and running blood drives to hosting community Halloween events and planting trees, our impact is felt everywhere.

Please keep sharing your inspiring stories, and don’t hesitate to invite me to your service projects—I would love to join you in action!

By taking action in our local communities and across the globe, District 6630 Rotarians embody what it means to be People of Action. This year, we are evolving our annual District Foundation event to match that same hands-on energy and purpose.

On Thursday, November 19, 2026, join us at Honey Hill at The Hive in Chagrin Falls for The Power of Giving—a reimagined evening centered on community, connection, and real-world impact. Registration Link

What We Are Accomplishing Together

Rather than a traditional long presentation night, this year’s gathering is designed as an interactive impact showcase and a short award presentation. Attendees will walk through hands-on displays highlighting how our Rotary Foundation contributions directly fund vital work across Rotary's Areas of Focus within our district, including these and a few more:

• Environment: Discover how local district grants are planting trees, restoring habitats, and creating healthier environments in our backyards.
• Community & Economic Development: Explore neighborhood initiatives driving long-term sustainability and supporting local families.
• Youth & Global Outreach: Experience international grant success stories and participate in our popular Dessert Dash, featuring authentic homemade treats representing the home countries of our Youth Exchange students!

Special Guest Keynote: RI Director-Elect Mike Kelly

We are thrilled to announce that Rotary International Director-Elect Mike Kelly will be joining us for the entire evening.Attendees will have the opportunity to hear his keynote address, connect with him during fellowship hours, and gain a firsthand look at how our district's local generosity fits into Rotary International’s global mission.

Mike Kelly is a purpose-driven leader, financial expert, and coach with a deep commitment to service and empowerment. Born in Cheraw, South Carolina, USA, he holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mars Hill University in North Carolina, USA, where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees and is both a past chairman and trustee emeritus. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Mike is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®), Registered Life Planner® (RLP®), and Certified Executive Coach, bringing a rare blend of financial insight, leadership development, and life planning expertise. After holding senior leadership roles with renowned companies including Michelin, Inc. and Macy’s, Inc., Mike co-founded Right Path Enterprises, a leadership coaching and consulting firm, with his wife, Melinda. He later founded Kelly Financial Planning, an hourly, fee-only financial advisory firm committed to accessible and values-based financial guidance.

He is the author of Leaderfluence: Secrets of Leadership Essential to Effectively Leading Yourself and Positively Influencing Others, a guide to mastering self-leadership to lead others with clarity, purpose, and impact.

A dedicated Rotarian since 1998, Mike is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Mason-Deerfield in District 6670, Southwest Ohio, USA. He served as District Governor in 2016–2017, chaired the All-Ohio PETS Committee in 2018, and has taken on learning related leadership assignments within Rotary Zones 30 & 31. He also served as a Learning Facilitator at the Rotary International Assembly in 2024 and 2025, as a Seminar Leader in 2026, and was selected as the 2027-2029 Rotary International Director for Zone 30-31.

Mike has been honored nationally and locally for his unwavering commitment to service and for making a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

He and Melinda reside in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and have been married since 1986.

Click here to view the photos from the clubs.

Congratulations to Rotary District 6630 and all the Rotarians and community volunteers who helped plant 454 trees this calendar year!  

We had 22 clubs participate in this great project that lasted over two Rotary years.

The top five clubs were:

Burton Middlefield – 200 trees

Kent – 68 trees

Medina Sunrise - 35 trees

Port Summit – 34 trees

Aurora – 16 trees

These trees represent more than a number. As they grow, they'll help absorb carbon dioxide, improve air quality, manage stormwater, provide wildlife habitat, and make our Northeast Ohio communities greener and healthier.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this wonderful initiative possible!  A special thanks to our four arborists that worked with the clubs to source trees and give planting and protection recommendations.  Their expertise assured that the trees will grow and thrive in our district.  They are:

Tina Graver – Rotary Club of Akron

Tom Mugridge – Rotary Club of Hillcrest Sunrise

Mickael Emrich – Rotary Club of Mentor

Ben Askren – Rotary Club of Aurora

Each tree is an investment in the environment and in future generations. 454 trees. Countless benefits. A legacy that grows every year.

Click here to view the photos from the clubs.

Success on the course, impact in our community! 🏌️‍♂️✨

Rotary Club of Westlake-Bay Village

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the incredible sponsors of our 2026 Rotary Golf Outing. Your support enables us to make a lasting difference right here at home and around the globe.

We also want to give a massive thank you to Valley of the Eagles Golf Club for being such a phenomenal venue partner. The course conditions and team made for an unforgettable day.

To our Title Sponsor, Bentley | Hein Wealth Partners, thank you for your tremendous support. To our Partner Sponsors, Vantage Financial Group, Inc., Moran Real Estate Group, MaxStrength Fitness, NACDA, Cleveland Marble Mosaic Co, Joe Hudak and Rose Jenne, and Krantz & Company, thank you for standing with us!

To all the tee hole sponsors, players, dinner attendees, and friends who joined us during the day, your support means so much. 

And to Katie Y., Jim Strunk, and Justin Hein, our dedicated and intrepid Rotarians, your leadership let us share our mission with everyone. 

View Event Photos Here

As Rotary International celebrates Economic & Community Development Month this October, we’re reminded that successful businesses thrive in strong communities. Partnering with Rotary offers business leaders a direct platform to practice Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), empower local enterprise, and mentor the next generation of leaders.

If you’re a local professional, business owner, or leader interested in driving regional development alongside like-minded peers, we’d love to welcome you. Contact us today or drop in on an upcoming meeting to see how corporate engagement meets community impact.

When/where we meet:  Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m.
Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake, OH

The Rotary Club of Aurora is proud to have sponsored The Hands of Gratitude Project, an inspiring initiative that provides 3D-printed prosthetic hands and assistive devices to individuals in developing countries who otherwise could not afford them. Thanks to a matching grant from Rotary District 6630, we helped fund more than 25 prosthetic hands that will be personally delivered to individuals in need in Guatemala. These life-changing devices were assembled by the talented STEAM students at Harmon Middle School. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Aurora Schools Foundation, teachers Karen Sunderhaft, Joanne Prasnick, and Corinne Mack, and, most importantly, the dedicated students whose hard work and compassion made this project possible. Together, we are changing lives, one hand at a time.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first of our three-park tree-planting events at Ray Mellert Park on October 28!

Our first planting was a great success. We planted 11 trees, enjoyed a wonderful morning of community service, and, most importantly, had fun working together as Rotarians. (see attached photos)

We were honored to have Medina Mayor Jim Shields and Immediate Past District Governor Bob Oborn join us, along with our fellow Rotarians and Medina City Parks staff.

A special thank-you to all our club participants:

Don Spickler, Natalie Peacock, Toby Butt, Frank Festi, Dennis Powers, Shail Jain, Edward Jakubick, Delmar Jones, and Leon Skowronski.

We also appreciate Kellyn Flohr of the Medina Gazette and Lorraine Sipo of the Medina Weekly for covering our event.

On Saturday, October 17, 2026, eight Rotarians, one Rotarian spouse, and two township volunteers gathered at Oberland Township Park in Newbury Township for another major step toward completing our America250 tree planting project.

This was truly a multi-day effort! The work began on Wednesday, October 14, with the delivery of 125 additional Sugar Maple trees from a nursery in Missouri. On Friday, October 16, a tractor-mounted auger was used to drill the holes for the trees, and the trees were distributed throughout the designated planting area in preparation for Saturday's work.

Saturday morning brought the volunteers together to begin planting. Each tree was carefully placed in its pre-drilled hole, covered with soil, and surrounded with mulch. A mesh ground cover was added around each tree to help control weeds. Additional protection was installed to give the young trees the best possible chance of survival. Plastic trunk protectors were placed around the trunks to guard against rabbits, while three-foot-diameter wire mesh enclosures, anchored to stakes, were installed to protect the trees from deer.

Although several groups who had committed to helping were unable to attend, the volunteers who showed up worked exceptionally hard throughout the day. Their dedication paid off, with 104 trees successfully planted on October 17^th and the remaining 21 trees were planted during an afternoon work session on October 21^st..

With this latest planting, a total of 200 Sugar Maple trees will be growing at Oberland Township Park! The Board of Directors overseeing the park has agreed to help care for the trees by watering them as needed until they become established and maintaining the grass in the meadow where they are planted.

We are not quite finished yet! Our plan is to plant the remaining 50 trees next fall during the appropriate planting season. That will bring us to our goal of 250 trees and complete our America250 project.

The crowning achievement of this project will be the installation of a stone monument recognizing the project and its significance. The monument will serve as a lasting reminder of what Rotary and its community partners accomplished in celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Most of our current Burton-Middlefield Rotary members may not be around to see these Sugar Maples mature to the point where their sap can be tapped, but generations of park visitors will enjoy the beauty and benefits of these trees. They will also see firsthand the lasting impact of a Rotary community service project.

A very special thank-you goes to Rotarian Dave Terrill and his assistant, PDG Dale Smith, who have worked tirelessly and contributed countless volunteer hours to move this project forward. Their leadership, along with the commitment and support of the Burton-Middlefield Rotary Club and our community volunteers, has made this effort possible.

Two hundred trees planted, 50 more to go, and a legacy that will continue to grow for generations! That is Rotary in action!

On October 23rd, the West Shore Rotary Club participated in the District-wide initiative to plant trees across our communities in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary! 

West Shore purchased 5 trees to be planted in the community of Fairview Park. Trees were planted at Bain Cabin, Bain Pavilion, Morton Park and Russ Nelson Park. 

Club President Mike Aerni and project coordinators Tom Eble and Dan Fronczak helped plant the trees. The selection of the trees was made by Robin Schaefer, fellow Rotarian and landscaper.

Look at Rotary District 6630 Interact in the news, on WKYC Channel 3 - Cleveland! Did you catch this interview with David Greenberg on Friday Football Fever at Aurora High School? Thank you for sharing the positive impact our students are making in our community.  We are so proud of all the students and teacher advisors. You were all fantastic on TV and in overall showing Northeast Ohio exactly what it means for young people to be People Of Action. Thank you for all you do! Rotary Club of Aurora OH. 

WATCH HERE 

Halloween comes once a year but it never stops bringing joy to the young ones.  Last Saturday, October 31, Halloween was here again and brought the usual rush of joy, but not just for the kids, also the adults.  Burton-Middlefield Rotary (BMR) participated in the Burton Village “Trick or Treat” event put on at the Geauga Historical Society’s Century Village Bond Community Building. 

The event was a joint effort between Burton Chamber of Commerce and the Geauga Historical Society.  The idea for the event was to provide a safe, warm, lighted environment and avoid the early daylight savings darkness outside.   Tables were supplied to any non-profit that wanted to participate and hand out candy and other kid friendly goodies.  Decorations galore covered the inside of the building and gave everything that Halloween touch.  

Skeletons, an historical hearse, and animated ghosts were everywhere.  Hot dogs, cider, pop corn and other fall food was supplied by the Chamber.  A disc jockey with an unlimited supply of creepy Halloween music kept the atmosphere correct.   

Approximately 250 kids in all manner of costume ran about collecting that precious candy in their bags.   

For the adults it was more fun just watching the wild activity go on for hours and intermingling with their Burton neighbors.  

A costume parade and prizes were awarded afterward for the best in various age categories.  This was the culmination of the event.  

Even though at the beginning BMR thought we had way too much candy, we managed to get rid of all of it by night’s end.   

It was truly a joy watching the kids but just as much fun watching the parents watching their kids!  BMR was happy to continue to support youth in another very entertaining way as we do throughout the year.

PDG Bob Johnson – Secretary - BMR

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.—the first African American collegiate fraternity—and Y Not Chess continued their partnership and mission of promoting youth leadership, as they held simultaneously scholastic chess tournaments in multiple cities for the second consecutive year celebrating National Chess Day, October 10, 2026. They returned to Louisville, Kentucky; GE Appliance Park; and Cleveland, Ohio, John Carroll University.

This initiative was rooted in community uplift. Designed to deliver scholastic chess curriculum and competitive experiences to underserved neighborhoods within the fraternity’s geographic footprint, the program brought families, educators, mentors, and youth together around a simple yet powerful tool—the game of chess. Each move on the board reinforced lessons in patience, discipline, problem-solving, and accountability, values that extend far beyond the game and into everyday life.

What made this effort especially impactful was its intentional focus on access, opportunity, engagement, and support of other community partners: GE Appliances, John Carroll University, Nordonia Hills Rotary Club, and volunteers from Devine Nine organizations. Participants were welcomed into an environment where their talents were celebrated and their futures were taken seriously. Door prizes, college scholarships, and job internships awarded to section winners reflected a deep investment in long-term success, signaling to young people that their communities are willing to invest in their growth.

Multiple partners, one mission, and brighter futures were on display as youth from kindergarten through college age were visibly energized as they competed, learned, and supported one another. Parents and volunteers filled the rooms with encouragement, while snacks and lunch were provided to ensure every participant felt cared for and valued. Early registrants received commemorative “National Chess Day” T-shirts, a symbol of belonging to something larger than themselves.

Beyond a single day of competition, this initiative represents a growing movement. Building on the success of its Midwestern launch, Alpha Phi Alpha and Y Not Chess are committed to expanding this community-centered program to additional cities, including Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; and Indianapolis, Indiana, next year. Each new location will further extend the reach of mentorship, education, and opportunity into communities where such investments matter most.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Y Not Chess are demonstrating what is possible when they partner with various organizations, such as the Rotary and other community-focused groups, to listen to community needs and respond with purpose. On National Chess Day, these tournaments not only crowned winners but also strengthened neighborhoods, inspired families, and affirmed that when communities unite to nurture young minds, everyone benefits.

The National Chess Day scholastic tournaments demonstrated the effectiveness of a community-centered, educational enrichment model that combines mentorship, competition, and opportunity. Through strategic partnerships and intentional program design, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Y Not Chess are creating sustainable pathways for youth development and academic success. Continued investment in this initiative will allow for deeper community reach, expanded geographic impact, and measurable long-term outcomes for the students and families served.

It’s Your Move!

On Saturday, November 7th, almost 200 students from 14 different schools came together to “Interact” at Twinsburg High School for this year’s annual Interaction Conference! Students had the opportunity to learn about the youth opportunities available in our Rotary district, including Rotary Youth Exchange, RYLA, and the 4-Way Test Speech Contest. The morning featured breakout sessions where students participated in idea sharing, leadership games, and a service project think-tank.

As part of the breakout sessions, each student made a birthday party kit for children in need. We made 175 kits that will be distributed throughout our Rotary district to Children Services agencies and local food banks.

At the end of the day, students shared ideas for a district-wide service project that all Interact clubs throughout Northeast Ohio will work on until we come together again in April for the culmination of this project. Students came prepared with many ideas and organizations worthy of our support, and after presentations and some debate, students voted to support Humble Design out of Solon Ohio. Humble Design is a non profit organization who “transform lives by furnishing homes for families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and into stable housing.” We will continue to update Rotarians on how to support this project throughout the rest of the Rotary year!

Thank you to everyone who supported this conference, and a special thank you was earned by the Twinsburg Interact club, their advisors, and the Twinsburg Rotarians who came together to help make this event a resounding success for our Interact students. Happy World Interact week!

CLICK ON EACH IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD THE RESPECTIVE FLIER

THE GATES ARE OPEN!
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ROTARY ZONE INSTITUTE 2027

August 19-21, 2027 • Lexington, Kentucky

Be Bluegrass Bold!

Registration is officially open for the 2027 Rotary Zone Institute! Join fellow Rotarians August 19-21 at the Marriott Lexington Griffin Gate Golf Resort & Spa in Lexington, Kentucky - the Horse Capital of the World.

This three-day gathering will bring Rotary leaders and members together for inspiring leadership development, meaningful fellowship, fresh ideas, and opportunities to strengthen our clubs and communities.

Growing Leaders. Growing Rotary.

Connect with Rotarians from across our Zones, exchange successful strategies, celebrate service, and return home energized to make an even greater impact. Lexington’s beautiful Bluegrass setting and Kentucky hospitality make this an Institute worth the trip!

Don’t Get Left at the Post!

Mark your calendar and make plans to attend. Registration is open now!

REGISTER:  https://www.rizones30-31.org/institute/2027-lexington/

BE BOLD!  BE INSPIRED!  BE PART OF ROTARY’S FUTURE!