After President Annette Oborn led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance, Program Host, Carrie Leising shared a thought-provoking invocation.
Annette then thanked Gail Moseley and Dave Renninger for getting us checked in this morning and welcomed our visitors, Kari Suhadolnik, County Executive Ilene Shapiro and Ethan Lower.
CELEBRATIONS:
Rotary Anniversaries: Celebrating this week are John Long (43years), Tom Loepp (27 years), Bob Oborn (14 years) and Mary Dula (5 years).
Wedding Anniversaries: Jeff and Jennifer Film are celebrating 31 years of marriage this week.
Drawing: The Jack of Spades was drawn....close to the joker, but no cigar!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Foodbank: The Akron Rotary also volunteered at the same time we did last week, so a lot really was accomplished. Mary Dula reminded us that this month our date will be Wednesday, September 27, so we should make plans to volunteer then from 4:30-6:30.
Football Books: Pat Messmore reminded us that he still has some Ohio State Football books for only $20. The first game of the season is Saturday, so don't miss your chance to win!
Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction: Gail Moseley has $125.00 tickets available for the Oct. 11 Reverse Raffle, They include two dinners. She is also looking for Silent Auction items, wine and gift cards. They will also accept cash to make baskets.
Teachers' Supply Closet: Carrie Malotte reminded us that September 13 is the date we need a few Rotarians to deliver requested items to the teachers in the various schools right after our morning meeting.
Youth Protection: Carrie and Chief Film told us that there are only a very few Rotarians who have not yet completed the Youth Protection training. Please do it now and contact Jeff if you need assistance.
Dues: Annette reminded us that dues are due now. John Long will be back next week, but in the meantime either send them to Rich Bedell or to P.O. Box 1352, Stow, OH 44224.
Bulldog Bags: Please share the following items before September 13 by bringing them to a meeting or dropping them off in the lobby of City Hall or at the library: toothpaste and toothbrushes, fruit cups, microwave pasta cups, 24 or 32 oz. jars of pasta sauce, 1 lb. boxes of pasta and 18 oz. jars of strawberry or grape jelly.
PROGRAM: Carrie used her "Rotary Moment" time to thank Mayor Probonic for the wonderful job he has done leading the city through the recovery from the storms last week. The residents are very thankful.
Carrie then introduced County Executive, Ilene Shapiro who is the first woman in Ohio to serve as County Executive. She is the Chief Fudiciary Officer of Summit County and is also very involved with Women in Philanthropy.
Executive Shapiro oversees more than 500,000 residents and a budget of over half a billion dollars. Summit is the fourth largest county in Ohio according to the last census, so she says to please fill out the next census form that comes around. She feels that her job is to "not get in front of communities but to stand behind them." She gave credit to the mayors of both Stow and Munroe Falls for their excellent cooperation!
Several major accomplishments have occurred or are occurring within her administration. Oct. 6 is the ribbon-cutting for the new Dispatch Center which will be providing dispatch services for over 300,000 people in our county. The Broadband Initiative recognizes the importance of keeping people connected in this technological environment. There will be a broadband ring around all of our communities. These projects are examples of the use of funds we received during COVID through the Rescue Act dollars.
Executive Shapiro is also working to address the opiate crisis. Her past efforts resulted in a suit being filed against drug companies and their opiate dispensing practices. This resulted in over a million net dollars coming into our county. With that she is working on a universal platform behavior health center with the hope that people won't become lost in transfers from one provider to another, but that they can be tracked and also can express their specific needs and begin working on them within 24 hours.
Lead abatement, business development, and workforce development are three areas that have her attention. There is also a Pet Food Pantry operated in conjunction with Peanuts Pet Pantry and Chewy pet products to help those in our communities who are having trouble affording pet care. So far they have purchased 269,000 pounds of food that has been distributed.
On the question of Property Tax Evaluations, Ms. Shapiro explained that the evaluations are determined by the state legislature and that there is very little local control of this process. So, vote, and think who you are voting for. The actual bills will go out from our Fiscal Office in December and opportunities to contest them will go until March 1.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Wednesday, September 6, 7:30 a.m. at Bellacinos for our regular weekly meeting when the program will be by Terese McGroarty of FranNet "Explore Business Ownership Opportunities"
Friday, September 8, 7:15 a.m. Board Meeting at City Hall.
Wednesday, September 13 after our regular meeting deliver teachers' requests to the schools
Wednesday, September 27, 4:30-6:30, volunteer time at the Akron-Canton Foodbank
Wednesday,October 11 Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction. No morning meeting
Friday, June 14, 2024 Golf Outing at Fox Den
Submitted by Andy Denton