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June is Rotary Fellowships Month

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To view the District Administration Contact Information, click on this link.
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The aftermath of Saturday’s magnitude 7.8 earthquake has left the people of Nepal mourning, hurting, and in dire need of support. You have likely seen pictures and read stories of the devastation. As I compose this note, the official death toll in Nepal has eclipsed 5,200. This sad accounting is expected to go much higher as emergency workers begin reaching remote communities. Of survivors, the United Nations reports early estimates of 1.4 million Nepalese in need of emergency food assistance.
 
Rotary District 6650, under the leadership of District Governor Phil Mariola, is determined to lend a hand to Nepal. 
 
I ask you to consider a financial contribution to support emergency relief efforts in Nepal. Rotary District 6650 is immediately partnering with the effective and commendable agency Shelter Box (www.shelterbox.org; Article on ShelterBox relationship with Rotary) to get needed supplies and shelter where it is most needed. As the need in Nepal is fluid, representatives of Rotary District 6650 continue to seek additional agencies with which to partner for other serious needs such as clean water, food, blankets, and more. So long as Rotarian support of Nepal relief continues, Rotary District 6650 will wire funds to the agencies we trust will perform the greatest good.
 
The Salem Rotary Foundation in Rotary District 6650 has offered to act as the central collection and transfer point for Nepal relief contributions. Please…
 
Make your check out to:               The Salem Rotary Foundation
Note on your check:                       Nepal Relief
 
Mail contributions direct to:        The Salem Rotary Foundation, PO Box 1244, Salem, OH 44460
 
The Salem Rotary Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization; therefore, your contribution will be tax-deductible.
 
Thank you for your consideration in making this meaningful impact at this time. Your quick response of assistance will enable Rotary District 6650 to help those in need right away. To find out what goes into a ShelterBox click on this link
 
 
 

Mark your calendars for the Rotary District 6650 Golf Challenge! 

 
This event will take place at The Clearview Golf Course, 8410 Lincoln St. SE, East Canton, Ohio, on June 20, 2015 at 10:00 am.
 
Proceeds benefit Clearview HOPE Supporting Women Veterans.  For more information on this event, click on this link.
 
 
 

To view information about the following 2014-15 District 6650 projects, click on the project and you will be directed to their website.

-SERVING WOMEN IN GHANA; "How Clubs can Help"

-CENTRAL AMERICAN MEDICAL OUTREACH; "How Clubs can Help"

-ROTARY DAYS - The idea being proposed by RI President, Gary Huang;

-OPERATION FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN. 

 

 

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       On July 1, 2014 there were 67 members in the Warren Rotary Club. Now there are nearly 100. How did this happen? It starts with the determination of Club President Rob Berk. He made membership growth his primary goal and put into place a plan to achieve it, and he kept this goal in front of the club consistently. Rob has personally sponsored 20 new members this year. He meets for breakfast monthly with new members to discuss “Rotary 101” and to find out what the new members’ interests are, so as to best utilize their talents for the club. Also, Warren Rotary holds an annual Chocolate and Dessert Festival, a very visible fund raiser which gives the club wonderful exposure in the Trumbull and Mahoning County area. Another key strategy of Rob’s was to offer interesting and creative programs. Some of the speakers at Warren Rotary this year include Wang Jing who gave a Tai Chi demonstration, Paul Howard, son of Moe from the Three Stooges, Sam Covelli, owner of over 200 Panera restaurants, former mobster Michael Franzese, and Shelly Katz, Time/Life photographer who has covered 5 different US Presidents. Congratulations to Rob and to Warren Rotary. That is quite an accomplishment.
 
By DG Phil Mariola
 
 
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STRUTHERS ROTARY ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
 
The Struthers Rotary has announced the recipients of their $500 scholarships from Struthers High School for 2015. The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the idea of service for the purpose of improving and bettering our community and world. The motto of the Rotary is “Service Above Self.” The purpose of the Rotary scholarship is to award those students that have shown a willingness to serve their community through participation in activities and organizations that help others.  This year's winners are Kelsey Agnone, Brianna Breznai, Wendy Ford, Araceli Perez, and Dana Wilkos. Tiffany Shirilla is this year's recipients of the  William Comstock Scholarship and Rachael Leonard received the Rotary Community Corp's scholarship.
 
William Comstock was a Struthers High School teacher, Board of Education member, Rotarian and businessman. Over the years, Bill had given money to local students to help them with college, hoping they would in turn help others the same way. Before he passed away Bill made a donation to the Rotary, reflecting a college loan he made to a student who had returned the money.  The Rotary and the Comstock family have combined to fund the $500 scholarship.
 
This is the first year for the Rotary Community Corp scholarship. This scholarship is funded with proceeds from thire annual Taste of Struthers event. Since 1984, the Struthers Rotary has awarded over $90,000 in scholarships. The scholarships are funded by the Rotary’s annual Pancake Breakfast in the fall. The Rotary congratulates all of our scholarship winners and wishes them good luck in the future. If you would like more information on any of the Rotary’s community services, contact a member of our Club or write to us at 110 Poland Ave., Struthers, Oh 4471.
 
Pic: l-r Community Corp members Pat Bundy, Cathy Miller, Rotarian Tom Baringer, Rachael Leonard, Brianna Breznai, Araceli Perez, Dana Wilkos, Wendy Ford, Kelsey Agnone, Tiffany Shirilla.
 
 
 
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Poland Rotary sponsors students to International Institute and RYLA
 
Students from the Poland High school shared with us today about their experiences at two conference sponsored by the Poland Rotary. 
 
It was a joy to hear from students from the Poland High School who attended two special events sponsored by the Poland Rotary.  Anthony Lattanzio and Rachel Mowad went to Pittsburg to be a part of the Rotary International Institute.  They learned about Russia and the surrounding countries and how they are dealing with the difficulties in this area.   Brendan Gage and Kyla Hoffmaster attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) at the Avalon Inn.  We are very thankful for the work of the Carmella Smallhoover, and for the wonderful youth who represented us so well at these events.  Pictured left to right:  Daral Brett (President), Anthony Lattanzio, Rachel Mowad, Carmella Smallhoover, Brendon Gage, and not pictured Kyla Hoffmaster.  
 
 
 
 At one of our meetings on May 6th,  we distributed our Chili Open funds to many of the Youngstown charities.  It was a great day as we gave away $20,000 to local charities.  Below is a list of the charities that received funds and the names of those in the photo.  

Germaine McAlpine of Boys & Girls Club
Debbie Williams & Michele Jones of Down Syndrome Assoc.
Jodi Harmon of Easter Seals
Coni Mitchell of Golden String Inc
John Russell of Greater Western Reserve Boy Scouts
Liz McGarry of Hospice
Tim Frost of Inspiring Minds
Dawn Daughtery of Mahoning Valley CASA/GAL
(not pictured) Mahoning County Special Olympics
Shelly Marlow of Making Kids Count
Bob Price of Mission of Love
David Scott of Poland Interfaith Pantry
Casey Annico of Potential Development
Miriam Klein of Second Harvest Food Bank
Sister Jerome of Sister Sister Jerome's Poor Poor
Audry Walker & Joe Caruse of Sojourner House
Donna Detwiler of Yellow Brick Place
 
 New members are introduced into the Rotary Club of Poland

   On April 23rd, Andrew Williams became the newest member of the Poland Rotary Family.  Andrew came to Poland as the Manager of Fitness together in 2012.  He is a graduate of Bowling Green State University.  He spent his high school years in Canfield and is a graduate of Canfield High School.  He is pictured with Todd Bury, Daral Brett (Club President) and Larry Warren.
 
 
 
 Poland Rotary had a second new member in two weeks.  Our newest member is Bill Cruciger.  Bill is a part of Roof Rite Inc. They specialize in commercial/residential roofing, architectural sheet metal and heat tracing.  He was sponsored by his son Chris Cruciger who will be our President in 2015-2016, starting his term in July.  Pictured left to right:  Daral Brett(President), Larry Warren, Bill Cruciger, and Chris Cruciger.  
 
 
 
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PDG Debbie Esbenshade had the honor and privilege of presenting Girard-Liberty Rotary Club with the Roland Luhman for the best Community Service Project at the District Conference for their Special Olympics Event.
 
A small by mighty Rotary club in action!!
 
 
 
 
 
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    The Rotary Club of Bolivar-Zoar, Tuscarawas Valley Local School District, and the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Recycling District invited residents to join them on Saturday, April 18 for “community day” from 6am-Noon at Tuscarawas Valley Middle School in Zoarville.  
 
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Bolivar-Zoar held its bi-annual health and wellness event from 6-10am.  Community members were also invited to take advantage of secure and confidential shredding services provided by Go Shred, Inc.  The middle school served as a collection and drop-off site for pharmaceutical and electrical devices (e-waste).  There was no cost for these services; however donations were accepted to benefit Rotary’s many community-based projects.  
 
Collections included:
  • 18 pounds of pharmaceutical waste
  • 5,934 pounds of e-waste (electronics)
  • 4,838 pounds of televisions
  • 2,300 pounds of paper/documents which saved...
    • 20 trees
    • 437 gallons of oil
    • 8,050 gallons of water
    • 5,520 kilowatt hours of energy
    • 115 cubic yards of landfill space
 
 
 
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Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
Sage
       
 
RI President Gary C.K. Huang's Light Up Rotary Message
 
Learn more about Women in Rotary