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My wife Georgeann and I enjoyed Thanksgiving with friends and family this year and I’ve been taking some time to reflect on what I am THANKFUL for this Rotary Year. 2022 has certainly continued to provide its challenges to all of us, personally and professionally. I am thankful for the way we, as Rotarians and individuals, approach our everyday activities as well as each other. We’ve had to reshape our lives, reconnect with our friends, our loved ones and community partners while we try to continue to work, raise and provide for our families and put service above self.
As we close out November and The Rotary Foundation Month, I want to thank our Rotarians who joined us for the District Foundation Gala – Peace, Love and Rotary.
We had a great time honoring our clubs and individuals who made gifts to The Rotary Foundation in the 2021-2022 Rotary year.
We held our Desert Dash and raised over $2,000 for Polio. Our Spread the LOVE Project brought in 52 Scarves, 172 Hats, 394 Gloves, 435 Socks, 11 Ear Muffs and 30 Hat and Glove sets. These will be distributed to agencies around our district to help those in need.
I am THANKFUL for your generosity and to all of our clubs for their service projects to support individuals in need. Working at the local food bank, or donating Thanksgiving meal baskets to families in need, gives families PEACE of mind, shows our LOVE for our communities and brings the ROTARY family together in a time that we should give THANKS for all that we have.
The month of November brought our Interact students together at
Stow-Munroe Fall HS for INTERACTION.
Interact Chair Chelsea Talty and the Interaction Committee planned an outstanding Interaction. There were 13 different Interact clubs and our Youth Exchange student represented. A total of 150 students had a busy Saturday learning about rotary projects, leadership, about other cultures from our Youth Exchange students, worked on service projects to support community partners, and chose their District Service Project for the year. The students voted to support the Akron Children's Hospital. These students will represent us and themselves well in the future.
December, it is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the Rotary Year. As your District Governor, I am grateful for the opportunities and personal growth that Rotary and my Rotary family provide. I am thankful for YOU, our Rotarians, this year. You are people of action and make things happen, even during the most challenging of times we have seen. You continue to make an impact, grow your clubs and develop new community partners. Be thankful for what you have done. Be thankful for each other and the ability to serve those in need.
As the holiday season is upon us, this is the time of the year for Kindness, Thanks and Giving. As Rotarians, we embrace these attributes all the time. We spread cheer all year round with the service work we do in our communities and the projects we participate in around the world. Let us continue to spread our cheer into the New Year and embrace the new opportunities ahead of us. Be kind, be merry and let's have FUN.
David E Jones
Rotary District 6630 District Governor 2022-2023
Northampton-Cuyahoga Valley Rotary Club -- Past President 2017
FUNDS RAISED BENEFIT LOCAL AND GLOBAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING END POLIO NOW FUND
It was a “happy hippie holiday” for tie-dye wearing Rotarians in District 6630 as they came together for the annual District 6630 Foundation Awards Gala, November 17th at Windows on the River in Cleveland’s Flats. This event recognizes local Rotary clubs and individual Rotarians for their generous giving to The Rotary Foundation. A total of $312,484 was raised over the course of a year, the largest amount over the last five years. Of that total, $211,185 was directed to the Annual Fund, half of which comes back to district clubs for local and global grants. Another $96,535 was donated to the PolioPlus campaign, Rotary’s signature effort to eradicate polio across the globe.
District Governor David Jones congratulated Rotarians for exceeding the fundraising goals and following the legacy set by Arch C. Klumph, a member of District 6630 and Rotary Club of Cleveland. Arch is known as the “Father of The Rotary Foundation”, as it was he who proposed the creation of an endowment during the Rotary Convention in 1917. Arch Klumph’s grandson, Frederick T “Rory” McGuire, was on hand to congratulate honored clubs. He was joined by 2021-22 District Governor Larry Lohman, as well as Kevin Kelly and Tyler Stokesbary, who serve The Rotary Foundation as Regional Major Gifts Officer and Annual Giving Officer, respectively.
Funds from 470 District grants went to projects that made a profound difference, such as partnering with Good Knights to build and deliver beds to local children in need, equipment to start an after school program in Medina Schools, and a vehicle to help students in Hudson learn about the importance of pollinators in our environment. Also, 1,190 Global Grants were also funded in one year alone.
Rotarians from 30 local clubs in District 6630 were recognized and include:
Akron, Aurora, Berea, Burton-Middlefield, Chagrin Highlands, Chardon, Cleveland, Cuyahoga Falls, E-ClubNEO, Fairlawn, Geauga County West, Hillcrest Sunrise, Hudson Clocktower, Hudson, Lakewood-Rocky River, Lakewood-Rocky River Sunrise, Mantua, Medina Sunrise, Mentor, Nordonia Hills, Northhampton Cuyahoga Valley, Painesville, Port-Summit, Ravenna, Stow-Munroe Falls, Strongsville, Tallmadge, Wadsworth, Westlake-Bay Village and Willoughby.
The evening’s highlight was the “Dessert Dash”, during which tables making the largest donation to the End Polio Now campaign were able to “dash” over and be first to choose from a table full of delicious and unique desserts.
Rotary District 6630 has over 50 clubs serving Northeast Ohio. With more than 1.4 million members, Rotary brings together a global network of community leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. For more information, visit rotarydistrict6630.org and Rotary.org.
Pictured left to right:
Larry Lohman, 2021-22 District Governor, Major Gifts Officer Kevin Kelley, Annual Giving Officer Tyler Stokesbary, Frederick T. “Rory” McGuire and 2022-23 District Governor Dave Jones at Rotary District 6630’s “Peace Love & Rotary” Awards Celebration. (Photo: Tina Ingraham)
If you know students between the ages of 15-18 ½ who would be excellent candidates to represent America’s youth in a study abroad program – our Rotary Youth Exchange Foreign Study District Scholarship or STEP Programs, information is on the website below. Please tell them to text or email Susan Colville-Hall (330 714-3765/ colvillehall2@gmail.com) stating *Interested Rotary Exchange* and a time they are available to talk. I will call them at the time they indicate they are free.
Interviews will take place December 9 & 10, 2022.
Students may begin the application as soon as possible. The Scholarship is valued at $25,000-$30,000.
"Team Daily" is a group of Akron Rotarians dedicated to helping long-time Rotarian John Daily maintain his perfect attendance record by helping him Zoom into meetings or come in person with them.
John has been an Akron Rotarian since January 1, 1966 and he has maintained perfect attendance since his induction day!
They recently delivered a snow globe to John Daily in honor of his 95th birthday on Saturday, December 3rd.
Members of Rotary E-ClubNEO (with supervision and help from experienced users Amora and Myra) recently erected the first of three planned Little Libraries – this one located at the “Kids At Play Learning Academy” in Berea.
Photos: Christina Tracy, Linda Boardman, Steve Warren, Elana Koh-Bonnell and her children Amora and Myra.
More than 35 families-in-need and 136 individuals in Geauga County received Thanksgiving meals including a whole frozen turkey or turkey breast and all the fixings topped with a pumpkin and apple pie by the Rotary Club of Burton Middlefield (BMR) on Saturday, Nov. 19.
Some recipients offered to pick up their food baskets while others had them delivered by Rotarians. Club President Mike Valentino and his wife Linda ran the entire event along with all the purchasing. Mike using his connections at Dave’s Super Markets acquired very generous pricing from various suppliers. Recipients expressed overwhelming gratitude upon receiving the baskets.
BMR worked in conjunction with the Geauga County Dept. of Job and Family Services to acquire a list of names that met the requirements for this effort. Mike and Linda contacted all recipients and scheduled a pick-up or delivery. It’s amazing there is this need in our relatively affluent county, but it’s probably shouldn’t surprise any of us as we continue to work our way out of Covid and fight ongoing inflation, rising food and gasoline prices.
BMR through the success of our Maple Splash Raffle is proud to be able to financially support this project and many others in our community. This past year’s raffle allowed for generous donations to more than 20 local non-profits. This year’s raffle ticket sales will begin shortly after the first of December and run through the grand prize drawing on July 8, 2023, along with our monthly $1,000 cash winners beginning the last Wednesday of January 2023 and continuing through the last Wednesday in May 2023. Our raffle tickets make great stocking stuffers, hand over and mailable gifts for Christmas. Go to maplesplashraffle.com after Dec. 5, 2022.
It was a beautiful morning when members from the Lakewood Rocky River Rotary Clubs gathered at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood for the annual yard clean up. The Beck Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization that is "dedicated to enriching the quality of life for Northeastern Ohioans" through the performing arts and art education. The history of the Beck Center can be traced back to 1931.
For over 10 years, Rotary members have done leaf raking, shrub trimming, courtyard refreshing, and overall sprucing up of the grounds in the fall and spring. The Center’s Executive Director, Cindy Einhouse, is grateful for all that the Rotary Club’s members do. Everyone who attends the Center’s programs and theatre performances are greeted with great productions in a beautiful setting.
Eagle Scout candidate Zachary Workinger recently led Boy Scout Troop 459 in the construction of an observation platform at Black River Nature Preserve—Bluebell Valley as part of his Eagle Scout service project. Funding for the construction materials was provided by the final donation from the now-dissolved Lodi Rotary as part of its nearly 100 years of community service. The observation platform, located near the mid-point of the nature trail, provides a spectacular view of the river valley and the Virginia bluebells that bloom here each spring.
Black River Nature Preserve—Bluebell Valley is located at 8500 Richman Road in Lodi/Harrisville Township. Bluebell Valley is a quiet, remote area in which to enjoy nature. Visitors can expect to experience beautiful views of grasslands and woodlands, interesting walking trails, and lush habitat for butterflies and migrating birds. This area was part of a wetland mitigation and stream restoration project in 2002 that restored 8,000 linear feet of the Black River.
Posted by The Burton Middlefield Club PI Committee
Coming off his recent recognition of one of Lake/Geauga's "Top 50 new Small Businesses", Burton-Middlefield member Stuart Miller and his company Geauga Financial Advisors, was just announced in the prestigious "40 Under Forty" by Crain's Cleveland Business, the number one publication in Cleveland and northeast Ohio. Crain's states that this group of under 40 entrepreneurs come from a diverse array of fields including non-profits, educators, scientists and many others and represent an active group that is getting things done and will lead Cleveland area businesses for decades to come.
After talking to Stuart about his award, PDG Bob Johnson, a 35-year member of Burton-Middlefield said, "I was most impressed when talking to Stuart how adamant he was about the role Rotary has played in his success. Not just in business contacts but in getting involved in the community on many different levels and applying the Four Way Test to his everyday business activities and the dividends it pays. The two go hand-in-hand in many ways."
Stuart is a six year member of the RC of Burton-Middlefield and is currently serving as Club Treasurer. He has attended several District level Rotary activities including a former District Foundation Event and Conference. He has already expressed a desire to get involved in Rotary at the District level when he and his wife Julie's two infant sons get a few years older.
We are now accepting donations to the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Trust for island locals who are in need due to the storm. Donations may be given online at https://bit.ly/3VeJywJ, which is linked to our club’s paypal account. All contributions will be directed to the Trust’s Hurricane Ian fund.
A Go Fund Me page has also been created. The webpage can be found at https://bit.ly/3rOYDaB. This too is linked to the club’s paypal account with 100% of donations designated to individuals, businesses and organizations on island who need our help.
In addition, checks can be written to the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Trust with “Ian” on the memo line and mailed to: Edison Bank, San-Cap Rotary Trust, c/o David Lowden, 13000 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33907. All checks to the fund will be deposited into the account and money will be distributed to locals at the discretion of the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Trust Board.
Information about the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund will be shared on the club website and social media outlets. Please feel free to share widely about the fund, which is specific to locals on Sanibel and Captiva. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (231) 313-1589 or annie@heightsfoundation.org.
Also, Fellow Rotarian Taylor Osborne Clary has designed hip, high quality “Sanibel Strong” apparel to raise money for our Rotary Hurricane Ian Relief efforts. 100% of profit is being donated to the Rotary Trust fund. Here is the link to her fundraiser: https://bit.ly/3rmtXNW.
RotaryFL.org
The outpouring of concern and support from our Fellow Rotarians around the world is tremendous. Please know that Rotary is here for you, now and always.
If you need anything (water, shelter, food, supplies, etc.), or would like to help by volunteering or donating, please go to: Rotaryfl.org. This website will help us stay organized and enable us to be more effective. Please share this link widely with family and friends.
We WILL get through this together because WE are Rotarians and WE are people of action.
Hurricane Ian Disaster Fundraiser
Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief Fundraiser
Rotarian Taylor Osborne has created a collaborative fundraiser between the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club and the Sanibel and Captiva Business Women's Association to provide direct relief to the victims of Hurricane Ian.
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December, it is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the Rotary Year. As your District Governor, I am grateful for the opportunities and personal growth that Rotary and my Rotary family provide. I am thankful for YOU, our Rotarians, this year. You are people of action and make things happen, even during the most challenging of times we have seen. You continue to make an impact, grow your clubs and develop new community partners. Be thankful for what you have done. Be thankful for each other and the ability to serve those in need.
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and northeast Ohio. Crain's states that this group of under 40 entrepreneurs come from a diverse array of fields including non-profits, educators, scientists and many others and represent an active group that is getting things done and will lead Cleveland area businesses for decades to come.
