September is Rotary’s Basic Education and Literacy Month, a time dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities and promoting literacy worldwide. Education and literacy are foundational elements of a thriving community. They empower individuals, open doors to opportunities, and contribute to personal and collective growth. During this month, Rotary clubs around the world actively engage in projects that support educational initiatives, from improving school facilities and providing learning materials to offering scholarships and mentoring programs. September’s focus on basic education and literacy is not just about recognizing the importance of these issues but also about inspiring action and involvement. By raising awareness and taking concrete steps to support education, Rotarians help build a brighter future for individuals and communities around the globe.
Reversing recent trends and growing membership must remain a high priority for our clubs and members. Over the last couple of years, I have heard many express concerns over reduced meeting attendance and membership in decline. We will be having a Club Experience Summit to share how District 6630 Rotarians and clubs have improved the meeting experience, how some clubs have grown by 25-50% in retained membership, and what new Rotarians need from their Rotary experience. This will be at Paradigm at Mentor High School from 10 AM to 1 PM on October 19. Doors open at 9:30 AM. The event will be followed by a Pints to End Polio at Collision Bend Brewing in Euclid. We can practically apply the learnings from this interactive event to grow our membership. I hope to see all of you there and hope you can join us at Collision Bend to continue the conversations.
We can reverse the trends if we learn from each other to enhance participant engagement, increase our impact, expand our reach and increase our adaptability to adapt. Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves - and we need more people with hearts and hands for service and our high ethics to make that lasting change.
Dale Smith District Governor 2024/2025 Rotary International District 6630 Past-President Rotary Club of Mentor The Magic of Rotary
The Rotary Club of Cleveland had District 6630 Governor Dale Smith present at their Club meeting on September 12, 2024.
Annually, the Club also invites all of the Past District Governors to hear the Governor's presentation at this luncheon.
DG Smith focused on our need to grow membership but also to be more aware of the need to engage new members. Pulling on his history of being a new member in a few clubs, he shared experiences that can help clubs.
On Wednesday, August 28th. I had the honor of travelling to Ronald McDonald House in Akron with Gift of Life – Northeast Ohio president Ken Fogle and his wife Janet.
Six year old Nash from Haiti had just received open heart surgery. Prior to last Friday when the surgery took place Nash was unable to walk but a few steps before he had to sit and catch his breath. His damaged heart was getting weaker by the day and his mother and brothers were forced to watch him face a short and painful life with no medical relief available in Haiti.
Thanks to Gift of Life International and GoL-NEO Nash was able to travel with his mother, at no cost to his family, to Akron Children’s Hospital for his life saving surgery. Five days after the procedure when we visited Nash he was riding a big wheel bike (which he had never seen before) and playing like a normal six year old boy on the Ronald McDonald house playground.
Since Haiti is a Creole French speaking country, through an interpreter, we were able to hear the overwhelming gratitude of his mother for the gift of her son’s life and Nash’s first English words; “Thank you very much”.
This experience brought back my fond memories of my trip to Haiti in 2019 with Ken when we visited the GoL surgical team in the new pediatric intensive care unit at St. Damien’s Hospital in Port-au-Prince where the first Haiti pediatric surgeries were being done. Since that time hundreds of life saving surgeries have been performed at St. Damien’s.
Unfortunately with the current instability of the Haitian government surgeries at St. Damien’s have been restricted which is why Nash had to come to Akron Children’s for his procedure. In 2017, Rotary and the Burton-Middlefield Club with the help of 19 partners established a $110,000 grant for the purchase of equipment to set up the GoL pediatric intensive care unit at St. Damien’s. My trip to Haiti continues to be one of the most impactful moments of my life as I viewed young preschool children who months prior to our visit had basically no future being treated and released as normal kids. Their parents who spoke no English showed how they felt through smiles, hugs and tears of joy, a universal language. Haiti was just one of the places in the world where GoL has set up clinics and sent teams of specialist doctors to do surgeries. They are currently very active in Egypt with a larger surgical unit.
Future plans are underway to establish an intensive care facility in Ghana. This effort will coordinate with the work The Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield has been doing at the Bill Barnes Pharmacy at a hospital in rural Ghana. Our club has supported this facility since the 1970’s and allowed it to grow and serve its rural community.
We look forward to working with Gift of Life and Gift of Life-Northeast Ohio on this project. Rotary continues to be a worldwide leader in humanitarian work around the globe and collaborates often with like-minded groups like Gift of Life. Rotary is also in the final phases of their efforts to eradicate Polio in the world in conjunction with UNICEF and the World Health Organization. How great it feels to be even a small part of these efforts.
Yours in Service,
Robert Johnson – Secretary – RC of Burton-Middlefield
PDG Bob Johnson, Nash, Dr. Jeff Kempf, Akron Children's Hospital
Nash gets a Rotary pin from PDG Bob Johnson shown with his mother and Dr. Kempf
Cheering on Nash are Janet Fogle - wife of Ken Fogle from Gol-NEO and
Ellen Kempf (back to camera) - wife of Dr. Jeff Kempf
Hello Rotarians! It’s Tina Ingraham, your friendly neighborhood District Public Image Chair, just back from Zone 30-31 Institute in Huntsville, Alabama. I participated in two Public Image training sessions that gave me some great ideas to share with our clubs. It was a fabulous few days of inspiring speakers and breakout sessions, plus that overall exciting Rotary exchange of ideas while enjoying fellowship with friends new and old. And of course we had some fun too. I can tell the District Governor line also picked up impactful information and training to help our clubs flourish in the coming years. Stay tuned for a lot of great things to come!
The Aurora has embraced using the ClubRunner platform for its website, events and much more! Thanks to member, Charlie Fink, the Club is already embracing the new ClubRunner Nova roll out. by signing up for early access (click here if your club is interested).
here are many new innovations being rolled out this year called ClubRunner Nova, it will be a brand new version built on modern architecture. Learn more here.
Recently District webmaster, PDG Cheryl Warren presented at the Aurora Club about the current and future capabilities of ClubRunner and what's coming.
Thank you to the Aurora Club for being part of this journey with ClubRunner!
GREATER CLEVELAND SPORTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES BID TO HOST SPECIAL OLYMPICS USA GAMES 2030 Ohioans are encouraged to pledge their support to back the bid for Cleveland
Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Special Olympics Ohio, Destination Cleveland and key partners from around the state announced a bid to host the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games. Held every 4 years, these Games would welcome 5,500+ athletes and coaches, 100,000+ fans, and require 10,000+ volunteers for 8 days of 16+ sports, opening and closing ceremonies, and more. The economic impact is estimated $70M+, and we know the legacy of hosting this event will leave behind much more.
We are thrilled to be a finalist through this highly competitive bid process. We need your help to leave no doubt that Cleveland has the community involvement, support, and desire to host these athletes and welcome their families and fans.
We are requesting you sign & share the pledge page below with your networks. Our goal is to get tens of thousands of pledges to not only blow the selection committee (and our competition) away – but show Special Olympics Athletes, their families, coaches, supporters and more that Cleveland is a premiere destination, inclusive, and ready to host the best USA Games yet.
A few things that could help you spread the word are below. OR you can repost from the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission &/or Destination Cleveland social media pages.
Rotary Club of Cleveland and non profit Cleveland Photo Fest presents a unique photo documentary exhibit running through the end of September:. "Mayors, Managers and Trustees", at Bostwick Design Initiative in Cleveland. This unique photo event took seven months to complete and captured all 62 mayors and managers of Cuyahoga County in portraiture, photographed by local Cleveland photographers.
Led by renown Cleveland photographer Herb Ascherman Jr, a long time friend of Rotary Club of Cleveland.
The opening night reception saw more than 200 people and 35 of the 62 mayors who participated, including Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. After the exhibit closes, a copy will be given to the Cleveland History Center.
Rotarians in other District 6630 clubs attended to view the complete exhibit and support their local representatives.
The exhibit is open to the public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2731 Prospect Avenue, now through September 30.
Thanks to our Baldwin Wallace Rotaract Member for their enthusiasm and help the night of the event!
For details and hours, visit Cleveland Photo Fest on Facebook.
Rotary Club of Fairlawn’s 13th Speakeasy Fundraiser
Is October 5th, 2024
FAIRLAWN, OHIO – The Rotary Club of Fairlawn will host its 13th annual Speakeasy Fundraiser on October 5, 2024, from 5:30 -10:30, at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. The Rotary Club of Fairlawn joins forces with Akron Children’s Hospital, The Blick Center, Crown Point Ecology Center, and The Fairlawn Rotary Foundation to make this a very special event. This year’s Community Service Award will be presented to Dr. Jeffrey Kempf, for his service and dedication to our community. Dr. Kempf was an attending physician in Akron Children’s Hospital emergency room for over 30 years along with his work in the Office of Pediatric Global Health. At this event Dr. Kempf will also be presented with Rotary’s distinguished Paul Harris Award.
The Rotary Club of Fairlawn has raised over $1.5 million for children in this community and around the world since 1964. The Speakeasy event is the club’s major fundraiser. Its purpose is to help fund special projects for local charities. Through the Fairlawn Rotary Foundation, this year’s proceeds will help local organizations that support children’s education, health, and welfare. As this year’s recipients, Akron Children’s Hospital, The Blick Center, Crown Point Ecology Center, and the Fairlawn Rotary Foundation will receive proceeds from this event. At our last event, the Rotary Club of Fairlawn raised over $50,000 for local organizations.
The Speakeasy fundraiser will be a fun-filled evening of dining and dancing in a nostalgic speakeasy atmosphere. Michelle Charles from The Summit FM 91.3 will be emceeing the event. The ticket price of $150 per person includes a sit-down dinner, an oral and silent auction, an open bar, and a “best-dressed” costume contest. Raffle tickets for many wonderful gifts are also available for purchase. Of course, the real winners will be the children of our community.
The Rotary Club’s efforts to support local charities and build goodwill throughout the community stem from Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self.” Rotary’s compassion stretches well beyond Akron as it works to combat polio, poverty, and illiteracy on national and international levels. Rotary was started in Chicago in 1905 by Paul Harris bringing together professionals with diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and to form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Now it is an international organization spanning the globe. Rotary focuses on service projects encompassing peace and conflict prevention and resolution, disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, and economic and community development.
For additional information, please contact Mark Whitlam at 330-321-8141 or at mark@jcwhitlam.com.
Corporate sponsorships start at $395, and program advertising starts at $75. If you are unable to attend, but would like to help, please send your check to the Fairlawn Rotary Foundation, Inc, at P.O. Box 13063, Fairlawn, Ohio 44334. The Fairlawn Rotary Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3).
We will have a live band "RISK FACTOR” playing. Lamalfa Centre Hotel is part of the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel chain, The owner is a past president of the Mentor Rotary Club. There will be approximately 7 themed raffle prizes from Outdoor: Backpack Leaf Blower, rakes, outdoor gear, Auto Truck Accessories, Holiday, Gift cards valued at more than $500, and a few others. We will have a 50/50 raffle and many side boards.
Come out and support Rotary and our police while having a great time with friends.
Have you updated your Club web and social media sites with the new theme?
Need help building a logo for your Club to include the theme? For assistance, Email or call Cheryl Warren 330-495-9814.
2024-25: The Magic of Rotary
RI President-elect Stephanie Urchick celebrates the magic of Rotary. She says members create that magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member of Rotary.
Clubs have been adding speakers but we want more!! Has your Club had a speaker that they would recommend to speak at other Clubs? If so, follow the directions here and we will add them!
Only Rotary Clubs and their members may submit speaker names. We ask that the speaker has been vetted/heard prior to being recommended.
This page is designed to help clubs find and share speaker information.
This is only effective with your input. The page will include speaker names and contact information submitted from Clubs.
To submit a speaker name: On the page is a short form you can complete with the speaker name and information.
After you submit that form we will post the information.
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