Apr 3, 2024 Newsletter

After President Annette Oborn opened the meeting this morning, Program Host, Maria Ferrara, followed with an invocation about kindness.

 

After Annette thanked Steve Dunton and Dave Renninger for getting us all checked in this morning, she welcomed our many visitors; Matt Keller, Denise Green, Eric Green, Pilar Parsons, Julie McClain, Aurora Cooper, Kristen Prough and Patrick Gociano.

 

HAPPY BUCKS: 

Bob Sweitzer reported that he is now fully retired.

Mary Parr is happy that Iowa will be in town for the final four.

It was great to see Mary Dula back after her surgery.

 

Rotary Anniversary:  Elizabeth Eaken has her 10th anniversary as a Rotarian this week.

 

Drawing:  This week the 2 of spades was drawn, so the pot goes on for another week,

 

Scholarship Committee:  John Pribonic said that the committee met last week and that we will give eight $1000 scholarships this year. Three will be to career tech students, one will be academic and three will be Bucky Burger scholarships.

 

Foodbank:  Our next date to volunteer at the Foodbank will be Wednesday, April 10 from 4:30-6:30 at the Foodbank.  Contact Steve Dunton at 330-618-0368 to sign up or if you have questions.  

 

Golf Committee:  Scott Miller announced that the next meeting will be Monday, April 15th at 6:00 p.m. at the FOP Lodge.  In the meantime, Todd Hearty is collecting gift cards, golf balls and business swag to be given away at the outing.    The form for sponsors, as well as golfers is attached to these minutes.  It is never too soon to do what you can to help with this large fundraiser.

 

District Conference: Bob Oborn reminded us to sign up to attend all or part of the District Conference which will be at the Sheraton Suites on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27.  The club will pay for registration for any members who wish to attend.  Bob is chairperson of the whole conference so would appreciate our support.  You can register by going to www.rotarydistrict6630.org.

 

Heroes Day:  Chairperson, Jeff Film, informed us that we plan to honor 230 people this year on Heroes' Day, Saturday, May 11.  At that time, veterans and retired police and fire personnel will be honored with a plant and a flag, whether they are in their own homes or a residential facility.    Mark your calendars now to help with the project, either by putting the gifts together early in the evening of May 10 at the FOP Hall behind The Church in Silver Lake or to deliver the gifts on Saturday morning, May 11, starting at about 9:00.  More details will follow but please contact Jeff at 330-352-4895 to let him know you will help.

 

Bulldog Bags:  In addition to the supplies that we are asked to contribute to Bulldog Bags each month, we can participate another way.  There is a duck race on April 20 at the dedication of Meadowbrook Lake Park.  Ducks are available for only $2.  The first duck to cross the finish line that day will gain 25% of the total pot.  Interact students are selling ducks or you can go online to Bulldogbags.org, to purchase them there.

 

Bulldog Bag Items:  By next Wednesday, April 10, we are asked to contribute any of the following items:  Microwave pasta cups, fruit cups, shampoo, boxes of 3-5 packs of microwave popcorn, boxes of CapriSun drink pouches and boxes of macaroni and cheese.  Bring them to a meeting or drop them off at City Hall.

 

Board Meeting:   The next meeting of the Board will be Friday morning, April 12 at 7:15 at City Hall.  Elections were held for new board members who whose three-year term will begin on July 1.  Those elected were Dave Christman, Todd Hearty, Mary Parr and Bob Sweitzer.  

 

Speech and Debate Showcase: Remember that this Friday at 7:00 at the high school, we can enjoy the works of the speech and debate team.  Let's support them!

 

INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS:  This morning the club was pleased to welcome four new members.  Annette led in the ceremony which welcomed Denise and Eric Green, owners of the Stow-Nut Diner and sponsored by Brad Ruth; Julie McClain, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by Gail Moseley and Pilar Parsons, a retired corrections officer who now is with Howard Hanna whose sponsor is Maria Ferrara.  Welcome to everyone!  

 

Maria Ferrara, Program Host, welcomed Kristen Prough and Patrick Gaciano of the Stow Munroe Falls Schools as our speakers this morning.  Kristen is the Interim Superintendent and Patrick is the Interim Treasurer.  They were here to give us updates about the school system.

 

Kristen began by talking about the new Fieldhouse that is under construction and shared that it is a complex for both the teams and the community.  It will contain a weight room, a walking track for the community and 6 pickle ball courts.  It will also include a Family Resource Center where mental health care will be provided by Child Guidance and a rotation of other community agencies bringing services to the community.  Phase Two of the project will include an indoor soccer field and Phase Three will involve a partnership with  ROTC and Kent State.

 

Patrick shared with us his work with the project determining what the actual physical needs of the system are and how they match with the financial resources.  He said that in our current levy cycle, we will need a renewal in 2026 of one type of levy and 2031 for the other.  We do have the lowest levy rate in the county right now among the school systems.   After a good deal of community input about the buildings, it has been decided that moving forward we will have 4 elementary school (K-5), one middle school, (6-8) and one high school (9-12).  The exact location of everything has not been firmly decided as of yet but community input has been a strong part of the decision making.  There will be some new buildings as part of this process primarily because some of the schools are outdated and not up to the needs of schools today.  Kristen mentioned that in some cases classrooms built for around 15 students are now housing as many as 25.  Technology demands some changes as well. 

 

With 86% of school funding going to salaries and benefits, the system is continually looking for ways to create the support that is needed other than property tax and hope that the community will continue to support them in their efforts.

 

Annette closed the meeting by leading the club in the Four-Way Test and telling everyone to go out and create hope.