June 2015 District Bulletin (Jun 25, 2015)

Stories

District Administration Contact Information

Posted by Lauri Coy

To view the District Administration Contact Information, click on this link.

As I look back on the 2014-15 Rotary year my overwhelming feeling is one of gratitude for all the experiences I have had. I have been so graciously received by Rotarians from all 47 clubs in our District. I have been inspired by the community service projects I have witnessed, as well as the creative fund raisers that make them possible. Many clubs participated in the two most visible Foundation projects, the Global Grant for Solid Rock Therapeutic Riding Center near Uniontown, as well as the Global Grant for the water project in the Apac region of Uganda. Thank you to all who generously donated funds to these grants and also to the Nepal Relief effort. Our work to help military veterans and their families was very impactful, culminating in the First Annual District 6650 Clearview Hope Golf Outing which was held on June 20 to raise money for women veterans who are in need. I have witnessed Service Above Self on many, many occasions in my travels around the district, and I would like to say simply Thank You Rotarians. It has been a great ride. I look forward to seeing many of again.

Soon many of you will get to know our incoming District Governor Joe Belinsky.

Joe is a dedicated Rotarian with the Bolivar-Zoar Club with a very interesting message to give. The District is in very good hands with Joe.

The Rotary International theme for the 2015-16 Rotary year is "Be A Gift To The World".

Help Us Get the Word Out

Over the past couple of years, District 6650’s Youth Exchange Committee has been working on establishing the YEAH database which replaces much of the paperwork once associated with Youth Exchange. As you can imagine, this has made our jobs much more efficient. We are excited to announce that students in our District, interested in applying to be an Outbound Exchange Student, may now apply online at http://yehub.net/OH1-obapp.

We need your help in getting the word out to all students who may be interested in applying. Students may also access this link on District 6650’s Rotary Youth Exchange website. Students should click on the link “Long Term Exchange Application.” Anyone interested in becoming an Outbound Exchange Student for 2016-2017 must complete this application and have it submitted by October 15^th. Interviews for the selection of our Outbound Exchange Students will be conducted in December.

On Saturday June 20 eight teams from 8 clubs in our district played in the First Annual District 6650 Golf Outing at Clearview Golf Club near East Canton. The clubs who were represented were Canfield, East Canton, Jackson, Minerva, North Canton, Perry, Plain Twp, and Salem. The proceeds from the outing went to Clearview Hope, Renee Powell’s ongoing effort to help women military veterans. Several of the veterans were present to both play and assist with registration. It was a very rainy day, but that didn’t stop the Rotarians from having a good time and helping out a very worthy cause. After the final foursome came in everyone sat down to a catered meal and the awarding of prizes. We hope to make this an annual event. For more information about Clearview Hope contact Renee Powell at the golf club, 330-488-0404

Solid Rock Global Grant

Global Grant for Solid Rock

Grand Opening of the project at Solid Rock Therapeutic Riding Center:

September 26^th at 11 am

Project: Providing Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Equine Therapy (related to horses) at Solid Rock TRC through the global grant of $ 112,940

This is one of the several ways District 6650 has planned to serve our veterans and their families. Our District Community Service Committee members have been working tirelessly for the past 3 years in designing ways to serve our Armed Forces Families. A few of these programs are:

Gold Star Family dinners/breakfasts/picnics: The Goal is to give them an opportunity to meet and draw comfort and support from each other.
District Golf Challenge: To support women veterans who have not only gone through what men did, but who often deal with the added challenge of being women in a men’s leadership/power world.
Sponsor and Promote a picnic spot in Rogers Ohio, dedicated to the memory of her son by Gold Star mother Sherry O’Hara.

The Solid Rock Global Grant is quite unique. It is the first time in the history of our district that monies from the Rotary International World Fund have been received by our district to be used in our communities.

Another unique feature is that 64 % of our clubs and two clubs from two neighboring districts in India have contributed a significant amount of dollars towards this grant. In a true sense the ownership of this project goes to all the Rotarians in our district. This Rotary partnership with other governmental and non-governmental organizations is the beginning of a new chapter in our service to humanity.

We owe this to our service men and women, to their families, and to first responders like police, firefighters and EMTs as well.

Our district can be very proud of its effort, thanks to the tremendous support of the committee.

Community Service Chair Meena Patel and District Rotary Foundation Chair George Hays

Members: Phil Mariola, Debbie Esbenshade, Jack Polen, Dan Morgan, Janet Keene, Mike Pierce, Elizabeth Jergenson, Paul Garchar, Mike Raulin, and Joe Belinsky

Rotary Club of Struthers

The Struthers Rotary presented Struthers Police Dept Captain and Rotary Community Corp member Pat Bundy a Paul Harris Fellow for his service to the Rotary and community.

As their only fundraiser, the Struthers Rotary Community Corp held their second annual Taste of Struthers. Last year it was a sell out with over three hundred people paying $10 a ticket. This year, it was another sellout with over 400 tickets sold at $20 with more vendors and prizes. The Struthers Community Corp assists the Struthers Rotary with their projects and does some of their own. Some of the funds raised have gone for scholarships and assisting families in need over the holidies

Rotary Club of Poland

A group of Poland Rotarians worked at the Rotary Park to clean up the area, planted flowers, and added mulch to prepare the Park for the Memorial Day Parade. A group of Poland Rotarians gathered around the flagpole where a new flag had just been put up. The Pure Gold Stables in Salem. The Poland Rotarians went to The Pure Gold Stables in Salem to have a social event and had a great time learning about the farm and to ride the horses. Poland Rotarians serving at the St. Vincent DePaul ministry in downtown Youngstown. We worked there three different days during the week of May 10th.

The Poland Rotary took part in the Poland Memorial Day Parade on May 25th, 2015. We had carried a large American flag in the parade and it was a great experience to celebrate in our community and remember those who gave so much for our freedom.

Rotary Club of Dennison

On June 17th the six Rotary Clubs in Tuscarawas County came together at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia and held a Rotary Day. There was lots of food fun and fellowship as you can see by the pictures.