Photo: Tracey Lohman with her father DG Larry Lohman
Hello fellow Rotarians, and welcome to another sunny day in the Rotary world! Let’s talk Youth Services. By a show of hands who here is a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle and/or cousin to someone under the age of 18? WOW, I see that everyone has their hands up, and I see several that have both hands up. Now with the same sign, but only one hand this time, how many of you bring these youth to your club meeting, service project and fund raisers? I am not seeing as many hands. One more question, no need to raise your hands just think about this one, how many of you have discussed what Rotary is with the youth around you?
My introduction to Rotary happened at a very young age. From the time I could walk my father had me at Rotary service projects and fund raisers. When I entered high school my father started to bring me to the club meetings, my senior year of high school I attended at least a club meeting a month. Rotary was a common topic at our dinner table, so much that my brother and I would try to start conversations that had nothing to do with Rotary. To say the least, Rotary in our home was a way of life.
Now in raising my two daughters I have tried to instill in them the same values of service that my parents did in me. Like the dinner conversations that dominated the table when I was growing up, our dinner conversations today are very similar. My daughters have attended many events with me through the years. I am extremely proud that they have found their own path of service through our church and their schools. My oldest daughter helped to form the Interact club at her high school during her freshman year and served as an officer for 3 out of the 4 years, as a freshman in college she is joining the Rotaract Club.
So where am I going with this? It has been said that our youth are the future of Rotary, and I tend to agree with this. Yes, our youth are our future, but they are also our present. If we want to build passion in our members, we need to do this at a young age. Instill a sense of “Service above Self” from day one. Introduce them to Interact. You do know that Interact is not just for high school, but also for middle school. Then, during their Interact years, as they are preparing for the next stage of their lives, helps guide them to Rotaract.
In a conversation with our District Interact Chair Chelsea Talty, I asked for her recommendation as to a focus for Youth Services for this Rotary year. I was not disappointed as Chelsea had already put a great deal of thought into the answer she gave me. She suggested the formation of an Alumni style committee for our youth. The idea being that we need to keep in contact with all our youth as they graduate from high school and move onto their next pursuit in life. Not only does she want us to just keep in touch with our youth but wants this committee to help guide those youth as they are preparing for their lives after high school and introduce them to Rotaract. We can help find Rotaract clubs in the community where they are going to live or go to college. Imagine what could happen to Rotary if we retain all of these youth.
If you our any of your club members are interested in our youth programs, please contact me or Chelsea to get involved and help to sculpt the future of our youth.
As you read in last month's newsletter, my major focus this year is having Rotarians and Clubs tell their stories. Let’s start by telling our stories to our youth.
By the way if your hand is still raised you can put it down.
If your Club subscribes to ClubRunner create an event within ClubRunner and mark the event to be shown on the District website. Your events will then appear within the Club Calendar on both, the District Bulletin and District home page.
The below content was sent to all Club Officers from Rotary International.
Because of its importance we are re-publishing it here.
RISK MANAGEMENT
The U.S. Rotary Club and District Liability Insurance Program ("Program") provides all U.S. Rotary clubs and districts and Rotaract clubs with general liability (GL) and directors and officers/employment practices liability (D&O/EPL) insurance.
Dear Club Officers:
The U.S. Club and District Liability Insurance Program (“Program”) insurance policies have been renewed for the policy term 1 July 2021-22. The General Liability policy effective 1 July 2021 includes sexual misconduct liability coverage on a claims-made basis to protect clubs and districts from claims arising out of alleged sexual misconduct and molestation. More information about the Program, including insurance summaries, loss prevention strategies, and the certificate of insurance, is available on the Gallagher insurance website for Rotarians. See below for credentials.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT LIABILITY (SML) COVERAGE: The Program previously provided silent coverage for sex abuse claims on an occurrence-basis - meaning the policy did not contain an abuse or molestation exclusion. An occurrence-based policy covers losses that happen during the policy year regardless of when the claim is reported to the insurer.
As of July 1, the Program provides claims-made sexual misconduct liability coverage that is limited to claims that are first made against an insured during the policy period and timely reported to the insurer. This means that any sexual misconduct incidents must be immediately reported to RI Risk Management even if you do not anticipate a claim arising out of the incident. Additionally, if an incident does arise, follow RI’s Youth Protection Guidelines, report the incident to local law enforcement, and contact RI staff (youthprotection@rotary.org) within 72 hours of the incident.
As mentioned in the June 2021 mailing, because of recent sex abuse claims and large settlements in the U.S., insurers are cautious about insuring programs that involve any potential interaction with youth. To address these concerns, Risk Management provided to insurers as much information as possible about Rotary youth protection efforts, including the following resources:
We encourage you to review these resources and to request that any individuals who interact with youth (1) take the online course: Protecting Youth Participants (available on My Rotary) and (2) review the Youth Protection Guide.
Going forward, to maintain sexual misconduct liability coverage, insurers may impose restrictions on club and district youth programs, such as requiring background checks of all Rotarians and volunteers who significantly interact with youth. We may also need to provide additional information to insurers about club and district youth programs such as the number of volunteers and Rotarians who interact with youth. We will keep you apprised of any significant developments.
HIRED NON-OWNED AUTO COVERAGE: As traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels, insurers are evaluating the potential for auto claims and serious auto accidents. The Program currently provides hired and non-owned auto (excess) coverage to protect clubs and districts (not individual drivers) from claims arising out of vehicles used by Rotarians for club or district business. When driving on club or district business, such as transporting a group of students to or from a RYLA, please consider renting a vehicle and purchasing insurance through the rental agency. Personal auto policies often have low liability policy limits that may be insufficient to cover serious claims. Higher policy limits are likely available through the rental agency to offer additional protection for the driver and your club or district.
SAFE EVENT PLANNING: It is encouraging to hear about the many exciting fundraising events that clubs and districts are holding this year. As you plan upcoming events, please continue to make safety a priority and core value. Recently, several new claims have been submitted arising out of tent canopies that were uplifted by strong winds causing damage to parked vehicles. Canopies are frequently used to shield participants and volunteers from sun and rain, but unpredictable winds can arise at any time creating a safety hazard if not properly secured. If tents or canopies will be used during your event, please ensure that the tent or canopy is secured to the ground or tied down with weights that do not create a tripping hazard. Also consider renting a tent from a reputable vendor that will safely install and remove the tent.
To obtain more information about the Program, including Loss Prevention Strategies, please visit the Gallagher insurance website.
The 2021-22 Certificate of Insurance is now available on the Gallagher website.
To download it and to learn more about the Program, please visit the Gallagher insurance website:
Rotarians can also contact Gallagher by email (rotary@ajg.com) or by phone: 1.833.3ROTARY (833.376.8279)
This website is for U.S. Rotary club/district use only and is the exclusive source for the Program documents, forms, loss prevention strategies, and the certificate of insurance.
Please share this link/login to the Gallagher website with Rotarians in your club/district but do not post this on your club website.
Haiti has been struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. The poorest country the western hemisphere is in real trouble. COVID infections and deaths are increasing, the government is struggling after the assassination of the president and gangs have increased civil unrest. Now an earthquake and unstable weather makes life unbearable. The fear is palpable.
Gift of Life Northeast Ohio has supported improved health care for children now for almost 10 years. Working with local Haitian Rotarians we have made great stride improving care at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital. Now is not the time to give up.
We are working with Akron Children’s Hospital to urgently prepare a 40 foot container with much needed medical supply to enable the hospital to care for children. We are asking for your help as this will take money to equip and send the supplies.
Donations for St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in Haiti should be made through Akron Children’s Office of Pediatric Global Health. This is lead by Dr. John Pope who many of you may have seen on channel 8 TV news this week with pictures of our last heart surgery mission into Haiti.
It allows you to see what our last 10 years in Haiti has been like doing heart surgery missions and training that put us in a better position to help this time.
By pre-ordering you will help us find more audience by improving the film's placement on its release day.
Please share the Gift of Life story with as many people as we can. Here's the link: https://apple.co/3kbgdS2
AN UPDATE FROM FATHER FRECHETTE
To all;
I wanted to share Father Frechette’s update (see below) one week after the earthquake. Recognize St. Luc Hospital mentioned in his text is the adult counterpart to St. Damien’s Children’s Hospital, all part of the same organization under Father Frechette. John Pope is still working on getting a container on its way to help replenish the systems supplies being targeted to the most affected areas of the countryside.
Thanks to all who donated to Akron Children’s Global Health as we continue to raise funds to help the Haitian team on the ground help their fellow countrymen.
Ken
Dear friends,
Our strategy is well underway, in collaboration with local authorities (State or Church or both), and is fourfold:
1. Our medical team is working daily with the people at the various tragic sites, with their base at Port Salut, 2. St Luc Hospital (among other hospitals) is receiving medically evaluated patients, 3. We are sending loads of supplies daily to our emergency medical team, to other St Luc clinics in the affected areas as they restart their function, and to hospitals and clinics in Jeremie and Les Cayes as we receive requests, 4. We are starting to put a solid roof over people's heads.
This is all in progress.
We have some roofing activity starting in Rendel, Morne Blanche (Nippes) and Aquin, but on a larger scale the St Luke leaders have practical plans for roofing for all affected St Luke staff, and families of school children, in the hard hit areas along the fault line. This may call for as many as 600 roofs. We are trying to avoid tarps and tents, and provide roof shelter that might be a first step to a new "house".
My own team and I just returned from our third trip to the south, delivering these loads of requested goods, and then going by motorcycle and by foot through muddy rivers, to visit communities and see where our teams are working and what more is needed.
On this trip we went to Jeremie, Maniche, Ranbo, Port Salut and Aquin.
We had a surprise on arriving to Jeremie late last night with a loaded truck: the suspension bridge into Jeremie, with 16 cables on each side that suspend it, had 3 broken cables on the west side.
Also, since there are many places to buy scrap metal by the pound for export and recycling, someone with a huge wrench removed several the huge iron bolts where the cables originate.
Talk about being "penny wise and pound foolish." Weakening a feeble lifeline to the city for a few dollars.
Traffic had been crossing the bridge for all these days since the earthquake, but a heavy truck passing on the side of the three broken cables yesterday buckled the bridge, and put it in danger of collapse. So the only crossing allowed, as we got there at 10pm, was by motorcycle and foot.
In any other country the bridge would be condemned. But to condemn that bridge totally right now would be to condemn Jeremie city and beyond. It's the only practical way in.
A new temporary dirt road will soon be cut further to the east, where traffic can drive through the river shallows, until a bridge can be built
The scene at the bridge was phenomenal.
Food roasting on open fires, glowing on the dark street, rum flowing everywhere, overloaded motorcycles bobbing and weaving, bringing goods to the other side, clobbering foot passengers with their enormous cargo (including enough carbonated beverages to fill a lake , and tons of the ever present "cheese twists" or Cheetos.)
There were men rolling 50 gallon drums of fuel over the bridge by hand, and thieves were not taking. They are so good at their craft that they could steal the eyes out of your head.
I felt like I was in a scene from a movie about old time pirates at a Caribbean port town.
If, in your mind, you peel the thieves out of the scene, the human ingenuity and persistance is astounding and well worth imitating.
Instead of cheetos, we were crossing with high level intravenous antibiotics and ER/ICU medicines, syringes, IV fluids, oral medicines of all stripes, bandages and casting material, lidocaine and sutures.
Not sure how we would get our 400 boxes across the bridge, where Nebez already had a truck waiting for us on the other side, we settled on using three wheelbarrows and two motocycles, instead of a "combit" by hand.
I had to surrender any hope of the boxes arriving to St Antoine Hospital right side up, uncrushed and unopened, as we had meticulously packed them.
We succeeded after 10 crossings, largely because in order to pack as many boxes as possible on a motocycle, and not having large bags or sacks on hand for this unforeseen complication, we used body bags as sacks.
It is amazing how people ceded the way to us, owing to their doubt about the contents.
We got everything to St Antoine Hospital, Jeremie Ville, late last night.
It is more and more evident the earthquake is an off road/off radar emergency. It is not, like the last time, primarily a collapse of populated mega-centers. It means, as is evident if you visit, that there was more damage done by landslides and rolling boulders, to people who live and farm on high mountainsides, than to the cities.
Many of these landslides left scars on the sides of mountains, and became the burial ground for those taken under by the avalanche.
On the mountain pass at a place called "Fam pa dra" (a strange name meaning "women are not sheets"), we stopped to see what we once knew to be a high peak, look now like a crater.
The farmers of the area came to us as we looked on, and we had a quiet prayer. They told us us how many in the community were dead under the rubble, and about the 6 they were able to save.
These very poor people are community heroes. It only a minute they were horrified, stunned, and yet began a vigorous search and rescue for their neighbors.
Because the damage is not central in a city, help is characterized by long distance search and rescue, or in biblical language, by the work of the Good Shepherd seeking the lost sheep.
For believers, prayers for the dead recognize the passage of the soul from a life of flesh and blood to a life of light and grace, as the souls are made holy, by God's Holy Spirit.
We should all, each in our customary way, add to the prayers for the rite of passage of the souls of these people who died so tragically.
Sometimes there are messages from those who have crossed, to us on this side of the grave.
We just received a donation with many levels of meaning.
The father of Molly, a young vibrant women who died when our former hospital collapsed in the 2010 earthquake, just sent what was left in Molly's personal account with this message: "Molly would want this to be of help to the Haitian people." When I read this, I was totally speechless.
For us and for countless others, this earthquake has reopened many painful memories of sadness and loss.
And yet, in such a tremendously motivating way, from across a decade and across the Great Divide, the will of Molly is made known and becomes of practical and inspiring help, compassion from victim to victim.
Only the great Heart of God makes this possible.
Please pray for those who are struggling and suffering, as well as for those who have died.
We so appreciate the strength of your prayer, and your sacrifices to help at this urgent moment.
A ShelterBox Response Team is currently in the Dominican Republic in response to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Saturday.
Buildings have been flattened and hospitals already under strain from COVID-19 are overwhelmed.
Recent reports have confirmed that more than 138,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged leaving nearly 1 million people displaced after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on August 14, 2021. .
A ShelterBox team is on the ground working with fellow humanitarians to assess damage reports, understand from communities what they need, and working on the challenging logistics of delivering aid to areas where buildings have been reduced to rubble during a pandemic.
Communities who have lost their homes to disasters like these urgently need your support. Please donate and bring hope to a family today.
WHAT HAPPENED IN HAITI?
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the west of Haiti on the morning of August 14.
The epicenter was 90 miles from the densely populated capital of Port-au-Prince and was felt across the Caribbean.
Search and rescue is the priority right now, so damage reports will soar in the coming days and weeks.
Haiti is still recovering from the devastating earthquake in 2010 which caused extensive damage to infrastructure and the economy.
SHELTERBOX IN HAITI
ShelterBox has significant experience working in Haiti. We have worked there five times, including in 2010 after the magnitude 7 earthquake. 200,000 people lost their lives and 5 million people lost their homes.
With over 20 years of experience, we are experts in emergency shelter after disaster. We often work in places that others don’t, making sure that we reach families who need support to take the next step in resuming their livelihoods.
From Cameroon to Syria, all the way to the Philippines and the Caribbean, we have provided shelter to over 2 million people so far. And in these uncertain times, your support is more valuable than ever.
A family sits outside their ShelterBox tent in Haiti, after the devastating earthquake killed thousands in 2010.
The story begins back in 2009-2010, when a Medina Rotary Club member, Bill Cohen, approached Club President Dr. Kelly Low about a special project. Outgoing Medina Mayor Jane Leaver asked Bill about the possibility of an “entrance to the city” welcome sign. Shortly afterward, Bill saw an ad in the New York Times stating that non-profit organizations could apply to the Port Authority of NY and NJ for a remnant of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers. The Medina Rotary Club applied and was awarded a large section of steel 9’3”x31”x24”, weighing approximately 1 ½ ton. It is an I-beam from the North Tower, the first building struck. Thanks to the generosity of Medina’s Krakowski Trucking, it was delivered to the Coleman Family of Standard Welding and Steel Products in Medina for storage and safekeeping in late summer 2011.
Local architect and friend of Bill Cohen’s, Bob Arnold, felt that the beam could not just be laid on the ground, but that “we need to do something amazing with it”.
Two questions needed answers. First, what was Medina’s direct connection to 9/11? After being hijacked, United Flight 93 flew over Medina County on its new route that was assumed would take it on to the U.S. Capitol. While we were all safe going about our daily business, a fight for life was taking place above our heads. Anywhere that day could have ended up as Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Very good reason to pause and reflect. The second question, where could a large display be placed in the city? While many locations were considered, including some of those “entrance to the city” sites, the search took several years. Finally, it was determined that an area adjacent to Medina Fire Station #1 would be an ideal location acknowledging all first responders and the nearby Medina County Veterans Services offices. Many people joined first responder organizations and the military because of what happened that day. This memorial permanently recognizes the sacrifices of all involved.
Dr. Low and Mayor Hanwell saw the project through to completion and the memorial was dedicated July 28, 2018. The Medina Sunrise Rotary Club is honored to continue the solemn remembrance of this day in our history.
The Medina 9/11 Memorial Park is adjacent to Medina Fire Station #1, 300 W. Reagan Parkway at the corner of N. Huntington St. The ceremony will begin promptly at 10 AM. Limited parking will be available at the fire station and ample parking is available at Regal Cinemas across the street.
Hudson Rotary wrapped up its fiscal year with an awards dinner and induction of a new President. I think our readers will agree that awardee Marty Hills was quite a remarkable citizen of Hudson.
Best, Jay
Rotary Celebrates a Successful Year, Recognizes Awardees
The Rotary Club of Hudson staged a Club dinner at the Blue Canyon restaurant to conclude the 2021 fiscal year, install a new President and celebrate two Rotary award winners. The past year was difficult for the Club with the loss of members and spouses, but President Marilyn Orr skillfully led the club to a higher level of planning, programming and membership, all without face to face meetings. Incoming President Patrick Scherer will return the Club to in person meetings at the new Hudson Meadows Retirement Community and re-institute the 36 year Annual Gala tradition with a dinner and auction at the Manatoc Scout Camp in the CVNP on September 10.
In 2015, the Rotary Club of Hudson established the Jimmy Sutphin Award to recognize a deserving Hudson community leader who closely reflects the Rotary “Service Above Self” standard. The initial recipient was Jimmy “Inky” Sutphin, a friend and colleague of both the Rotary Club and the Hudson community. Jimmy was universally loved by local citizens who benefited by his communication skills and empathy for all he encountered.
The 2021 Sutphin Award once again recognizes a Hudson leader who has made a difference in so many lives in our community. Marty Hills, wife of Rotary Past President Bob Hills, is a long time volunteer in Hudson and the originator of the community’s Random Act of Kindness. The Hudson League for Service and the Hudson Service Learning class at HHS both continue her legacy annually and she is well known for her extensive volunteerism as a member of the Hudson Congregational Church. Marty also served as President of the Hudson School Board and along with husband Bob was instrumental in having the Lavelli Stadium funded and built. She also served several terms on the Hudson City Council. In addition to the Sutphin Award, Marty received Rotary International’s Paul Harris award for lifetime contributions.
The Rotarian of the Year award for 2021 was bestowed upon James Field, HHS Board member, who deftly handled the Club’s adoption of Zoom meetings for the weekly sessions and Rotary committee meetings. James kept all weekly speakers informed of meeting procedures and then transmitted the videoed sessions to Hudson’s HCTV for broadcast during the following week. Based on James’s skilled work, many excellent speakers were introduced to the Hudson community during the past year. The Club will continue its weekly Zoom coverage while meeting in person on Wednesdays at 7:00 a.m. Check the Rotary website www.rotaryhudson.org for the upcoming speakers and to review news about the Club’s growing membership.
Photos L-R
President Marilyn Orr presenting the Sutphin Award to Marty Hills
James Field holding the Rotarian of the Year Award
New President Patrick Scherer being inducted by Rotarian Joseph Zapytowski
Westlake Bay Village Rotary Club hosted our first annual Art Festival on Saturday July 31st. Part community event and part club fundraiser, the event was successful on every level. We had a beautiful day, large turnout, and very happy artists. The festival was in partnership with Westlake Porter Public Library and Westlake School district on whose campuses the festival was held. The day consisted of over forty artists, food trucks, a Kiwanis Pancake breakfast, kettle corn, and a beer & wine garden hosted by the library’s Foundation.
Planning for the event stretches back to 2019 as we had hoped to launch last year. With another year to plan, we were able do an even better job of attending to details, promoting the event, and creating something that surpassed all expectations. The effort was led by Rotarian Joe Kraft, a past club president, whose vision for this event was limitless. Joe successfully engaged our entire club, and it was, as much as anything, an opportunity to pull together for a hands-on project with a tremendous community impact.
As a fundraiser, the money that was raised will help to support the many causes championed by our club such as Connecting for Kids, Ames House (Hospice), Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, high school scholarships, and many others.
We are already planning for next year’s event to be even better!
Jen Toohey from Star 102.1 FM opens the Festival with a ribbon cutting. Also pictured (L-R), festival organizer Joe Kraft, Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough, festival Featured Artist Eileen Dorsey (with her mayoral proclamation for Eileen Dorsey Day in Westlake, Christine Dorsey, Rotarian and Westlake City Councilperson Michael O’Donnell.
What a great night for baseball, Rotary and” End Polio Now”
July 22 was a night for Rotary to shine in Northeast Ohio. Over 275 people (Rotarians ,families, and friends) from District # 6630, 6600, and 6650) attended the Indians game.
Many ate in the Terrace Club and participated in door prizes, special raffle and the First Pitch Paul Harris Raffle.
The winner of the First Pitch Raffle is Dean Thayer, of The Rotary Club of Northampton. He will receive his Paul Harris Fellow along with a chance to throw out the First pitch at a baseball game 2022.
Second place is Larry Bowen who received an Autographed Shane Bieber baseball and third place is Sherry Joy who received Indians tickets to a future game.
Thank you to all who participated in this annual event. Over $5,000 will be sent to Rotary International to help "END POLIO NOW!”
The Rotary Club Of Lakewood-Rocky River Sunrise Sets Goals For The 2021-2022 Rotary Year
by Larry Faulhaber
Assistant District Governor Adam Sonnhalter administers the oath of office to Sunrise Rotary Club President Jason Pickering.
Newly installed Club President, Jason Pickering, has accepted the challenge of Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta, of the Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar, to add members to Rotary. The R.I. Theme for his presidency is “Serve to Change Lives.” New members will join existing members to practice the motto of Rotary, “Service above Self.”
The Sunrise Rotary Club members work through committees such as Community, New Generations, Vocational and International Service. Service projects implemented by these committees can truly “Change Lives” in Lakewood and Rocky River.
At his installation on July 28, President Pickering challenged the Club members to reach out to friends and business associates, particularly younger men and women, and give them an opportunity to help “Change Lives” by joining Rotary!
R.I. President Shekhar Mehta has been a Rotarian since 1985. He trained as an accountant and founded a real estate development company, Skyline Group, which he also chairs. Jason Pickering, Sunrise Rotary President, lives in Lakewood and is active in his family’s farm and retail market in Avon, Ohio. The Sunrise Club has a Co-President, Marty Harris, a past president of the Club, who will assist Jason during peak farm work seasons and share work with the various committees.
Rotary is a vibrant organization with a 116 year history, with 1.2 million members in 220 countries and geographic areas. It is the oldest and largest service organization in the world. It has a rich legacy of work in polio eradication and other humanitarian programs. President Mehta’s goal is to add 100,000 members by June 30, 2022.
To find out how you can be a part of the dynamic organization of Rotary, visit the Rotary Club of Lakewood-Rocky River Sunrise website, www.lrrsunriserotary.org.
You will learn more about how you can join with men and women in your area to give back through service in your community, and internationally. Then contact Kathy Berkshire at sloopyohio19@gmail.com.
Larry Faulhaber is Public Image Committee Chair for Lakewood Rocky River Sunrise Rotary Club.
Larry Faulhaber
Larry Faulhaber is Public Image Committee Chair for Lakewood Rocky River Sunrise Rotary Club
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLUB FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
by Jason Pickering
Sep. 18 - Trials for Hope Saturday bag packing from 10 am - Noon. If you are interested in joining or need more information, please sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/4n5hu477.
Oct. 13 - Noon Club Clambake social. More details to come. NO MORNING MEETING THIS WEEK
Oct. 14 - Rocky River Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. Our club will have a table. Please talk to Jason if you would like to help out as we will need volunteers to run the table from 1pm-6pm. This is a great way to get our name out in the community and to recruit new members. Details at the following link: https://www.rockyriverchamber.com/events/details/18th-annual-business-expo-382?calendarMonth=2021-10-01
Oct. 16 - Trials for Hope Saturday bag packing from 10 am - Noon. If you are interested in joining or need more information, please sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/4n5hu477.
Our Club was pleased to welcome Olivia (Liv) Pilon on August 10, 2021.
Due to a job relocation, she transferred to the Akron Club from the Kent Club where she had been actively serving since October 1, 2019.
She ran the Four-Way Test Speech contest for the Kent Club and volunteered on all their service projects.
Liv is the District Executive at Summit County Boy Scouts of America (BSA). She has been with BSA since July, 2019 and was previously based in Portage County.
In addition, she volunteers with Hudson Alzheimer's Association and the Young Professional Group - Benjamin Rose for young Alzheimer's volunteers.
Liv is also a member of Kent Jaycees.
She graduated from KSU in 2019. with her Bachelors in Sociology.
Liv has a tremendous dedication to community service and we look forward to serving beside her to make a difference in the lives of others.
The following quote from Margaret Mead is shared on Liv's LinkedIn profile:
All social change comes from the passion of individuals.
Our Club inducted the following three new members on August 24th:
Laura Duda was previously a member of the Akron and Tampa Downtown Daybreak Rotary clubs. Julie Brandle serves as her current club sponsor and her original sponsor was Steve Shechter.
She said she is happy to reconnect with old Rotary friends and make some new friends.
Rotary has been deep in her heart for many years - she participated in a group study exchange program and lived in India for several months during the cultural exchange. Laura said, “it changed my life”. She participated in polio immunizations and visited rural areas of the country, where the only reason there is a hospital, ambulance and a school, is because of Rotary.
Along with other scholars she formed a club in Tampa where she served as President.
Duda is Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. As the chief communications officer, Duda leads all internal and external communications for the company, including public and media relations, employee communications, corporate reputation management, philanthropy and community relations, as well as Goodyear’s fleet of world-famous airships.
Raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Duda attended Western Carolina University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing & Editing. She later received her Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication from University of Florida and her Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Tampa. She is accredited in Public Relations and is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society and a graduate of Leadership Tampa, Leadership Greater Chicago and Leadership Akron.
In 2020 and 2021, Duda was named to the National Diversity Council’s Power 50, honoring women in the C-suite from top corporations who endeavor to improve not just departments and companies, but communities as well. She was also named to PR Week’s 2021 Hall of Femme, recognizing inspiring women who set the bar higher within their organizations, nominated by their peers and colleagues, and as one of the 2021 Women of Note by Crain’s Cleveland Business. Duda was Goodyear’s 2020 Employee Resource Group executive sponsor of the year for her work with the company’s Asia India Middle East (AIM) ERG. Duda is a board member of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition and a trustee of the Institute for Public Relations and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Duda and her husband, Michael, both avid hikers, live in Northeast Ohio with their four-legged children.
Candace Harmon may be new to Rotary but not to community service! She has over 20 years serving with Girl Scouts where she is a lifetime member.
Harmon enjoys being actively involved and is a member of the Akron Chamber, Medina Women's Endowment Fund Board, AFP NEO, and Leadership Akron women's program.
She refers to herself a “camp nerd” and served as a camp director so she is excited about helping with projects at our Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children.
Tamara Mora is her sponsor and shared “Candace has been involved in Northeast Ohio for years. She will make a great Rotarian because she has a passion for the general betterment of the Akron community. She has been in fundraising/development/non-profit work for 7 years. Candace has a fun and caring spirit.”
Harmon currently works as the Strategic Partnership Manager for Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates and is a graduate of The University of Akron.
She is married to Travis and they live in Copley with their 3.5 year old daughter. Harmon and her family enjoy spending time outdoors.
Michelle Wilson is the Executive Director of Global Ties Akron (GTA). At GTA, Wilson is responsible for international exchanges for professional developments through the U.S. Department of State and has written grants to bring professionals
from a myriad of countries to Akron, Ohio, usually up to 8-10 delegations per year. She has met many of our members through her initiatives and has spoken at numerous Rotary Clubs.
GTA, under Wilson's leadership, provides outreach to the Akron community linking our local children to the international scene.
On her Linkedin profile she states "Through my work both with Global Ties Akron and in the community my focus is on building mutual understanding and respect, helping others to realize the value of diversity especially through global education and citizen diplomacy, and connecting the Akron area and Northeast Ohio to world leaders and changemakers to build a global network of community builders."
Her sponsor, Susan Colville-Hall said, “Michelle Wilson is a miracle worker. These groups experience a schedule of interaction with community services and industries suited to their professional needs. They may be medical teams, educators, civic engineers, government servants, etc. Friendships and international connections are formed and Akron benefits because the rest of the world knows Washington, D.C., New York City and Akron, Ohio!”
She and her husband John reside in New Franklin, Ohio.
AKRON CLUB PARTICIPATES IN
KENMORE CLEANUP DAY
Michael Irby, President of 100 Black Men with Akron Club President Steve Buie
(they are also high school buddies)
On Saturday, August 28th, club members co-labored with Akron's 100 Black Men and members from Goss Memorial Church in Kenmore to pick up trash, cans, bottles, etc., working with Kenmore Community Development Corporation and Tina Boyes of Keep Akron Beautiful. Thank you to all who participated!
Yours in Rotary Service,
Steve Buie 2021-2022 Rotary Club of Akron President Tel: 330-701-2970 Email: sbuie@learningrx.net
Members of 100 Black Men
Keep Akron Beautiful
L-R: Andrew Buie, Michael Irby, President 100 Black Men and Sharon Buie
Akron Rotaract Members: Tony Millman and Christian Morton
L-R: Sean from Kenmore CDC, Tina Boyes and Steve Buie
RI sends out various newsletters throughout the month.
You can sign up/manage your subscriptions for publications at rotary.org- simply sign in, then go to news & media then select newsletters. If you need assistance, please EMAIL ME.
Since many of you already receive these email newsletters, in lieu of reproducing them in the body of the District newsletter, moving forward you can now use the links below to download them all or individually.
I have included the story headings to help you see what is in each issue.
2. Remember to include your name, the club name, and send pictures and flyers as attachments. Include the names of those in the photos too!
3. Be certain that you have permission to use the photos, and for anyone who is under the age of 18, please confirm that you have a parent/guardian release on file.
Due to the electronic nature of the e-news, we cannot guarantee content will remain formatted as sent, but will do our best.
The zoom link will be sent immediately following your registration.
Save the email with the link - you will need it to be able to join the meeting
and the link is unique to each registrant.
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