During the meeting on Friday, January 4, 2019, President Michelle Mullaly welcomed the 52 members and 6 guests to the meeting. The President asked everyone with a January birthday to stand and be recognized.Rotarian Tom Roepke (Ashland Rotary) graciously stepped in to provide the invocation.
Secretary Suzette Matthews welcomed the following guests to the meeting: Ryan Nicholson (speaker); Tom Roepke (Ashland Rotary); PDG Mike Raulin (Canfield Rotary); Richard Regula (Massillon Rotary); Wilbur Allen (guest of Steve Fettman); Taylor Molnar (daughter/guest of Jim Molnar).
Suzette then announced that January 4th was WORLD BRAILLE DAY, as noted on the Rotary January calendar! Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809 in Coupvray, France. The son of a harness maker, Braille was blinded by an accident when he was three. Educated at the National Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, Braille developed a raised-dot code that enabled blind people to read and write. Braille is now used in 147 Countries worldwide. The Rotarian magazine recommends Rotarians mark this day as a good day to purchase Braille books for a worthy cause...such as our local Philomatheon Society for the Blind.
Congratulations went to Past District Governor Mike Raulin (Canfield) for having the winning 50/50 ticket, worth $65.00. Inspired by Secretary Suzette's suggestion during the Rotary Moment, PDG Mike generously donated his winnings to the Philomatheon Society for the Blind. *Rotarian Steve Fettman will deliver this contribution to the Philomatheon Society on behalf of PDG Mike.
The "Happy News" was then provided by the following:
- Jim Molnar - in honor of his daughter, Taylor, for attending the Rotary meeting and kudos for her graduation from college;
- Taylor Molnar - to celebrate family and graduating from college;
- Mark Clendenin - in honor of the #3 ranked OSU football team and the success of their great coach, Urban Meyer;
- Gary Sirak - in celebration of the Cleveland Browns and his birthday - a good time to be alive!
- Lynn Hamilton - in recognition of his daughter-in-law naming her cat Helen (and her maiden name being Keller)....Helen Keller the cat!
Past District Governor Mike Raulin then took to the podium to present Past President Amanda Tietze with the Presidential Citation for the 2017-2018 Rotary year. Only those Rotary clubs and their Presidents that satisfy certain criteria are given this prestigious award. *See story above for more details.
President Michelle reminded the members that she had sent an email to every Canton Rotarian asking for each member to consider attending the Rotary Foundation Art Auction on February 1, 2019 at the SOAP Gallery in Youngstown. She is the Chairwoman for this event and would like to see it be a big success. She would truly appreciate the support of her fellow Canton Rotarians.
For information on purchasing tickets, as well as sponsorship opportunities for the auction, please see the story above.
January speaker chair Jim Molnar welcomed speaker, Ryan Nicholson, from Destiny Rescue. Destiny Rescue is an internationally-recognized Christian non-profit
organization dedicated to rescuing children trapped in the sex trades. Their vision is to rescue the sexually exploited and enslaved, restore the abused, protect the vulnerable, empower the poor and be a voice for those who can’t speak up for themselves.The president concluded the meeting with the following announcement:
- next week's speaker will be Tom Thompson, Executive Director for JRC (fka JR Coleman);
The following received a makeup for volunteering during the Rotary Scout Christmas parties: PP Amanda Tietze, PP Scott Sandrock, Jim Molnar and PP Denny Fulmer.