ATTENDANCE: With us this morning were members: Rick Archer, Rich Bedell, Bill Choler. Dave Christman, Roger Cline, Andy Denton, Mary Dula, Steve Dunton, Ray Evans, Sue Figler, Christina Gary, Dick Hall, Annie Hanson Hilaire and Lizzie, Carrie Leising, John Long, John Pribonic, Dave Renninger, Brad Ruth, Olivia Saltzmann Smedi, Amanda Steinheiser, Steve Stimmel, Bob Sweitzer, Marty Tass, Linda Trevorrow, Eric Weber and Marissa Williams. Also with us were Milli Morrison and our speaker, Brad Ely.
President, Linda Trevorrow opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and Program Host, Dick Hall followed with an invocation based on the Four Way Test.
CELEBATIONS:
Birthdays: Bonnie Housley's birthday is tomorrow and Lisa Toppin's birthday is Sunday.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Annie Hanson Hilaire said that she and her daughter, Lizzie, met Andy Denton from 6 feet apart in a store yesterday buying craft supplies. When asked about the success of the craft, Annie reported that washable paint really is washable.
Members exchanged opinions about the Super Bowl.
Tina Gary said that everyone should be sure to look up the zoom video of a cat's involvement in a 394 Judicial Court session. It is especially funny.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Board Meeting will be this Friday, February 12 at 7:15 a.m. Board members are expected to attend and others are welcome. Let Linda know if you plan to attend as a guest. The minutes of the January board meeting are attached to these minutes. Remember that we are still offering the opportunity for club members to become board members. Let Linda know if you are interested.
Adopt A Spot: Our club will again be responsible for the flowers at the Doughboy site at the corner of Graham Rd. and Darrow Rd. The planting will take place the first week in June. Marty Tass will again be in charge of the project.
Restaurant Delivery: John Pribonic and Brad Ruth told us how successful the meal delivery from Bellacinos and Tavern in Stow was last Monday. Stow Youth Football and Cheerleading earned about $2000 in tips and the restaurants were loaded with calls. Our club will do the deliveries on Saturday, February 27 for Corner Cup and Stow Nut Donuts from 9:00-12:00 and then on Monday, March 22 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. for Stow Nut Donuts, who will prepare an evening meal,and Beef O' Bradys. On Feb. 27 our club will split the profits with the high school orchestra and on March 22, it will be with the Lions Club. Let John know if you are willing to drive on either of those dates. Brad Ruth and Dick Hall have already volunteered to help.
Video Help: Brad Ruth is working on a video project where viewers on social media can get to know the various restaurants in town. Later the plan will focus on other businesses in the Stow-Munroe Falls area. He needs someone to assist in editing the video. Linda suggested that this could be an Interact Club project and will give Brad the contact information for them. If anyone else has the skills to help, please let Brad know.
PROGRAM:
Happiness Moment: Dick Hall described how he created happiness this past week by helping a close friend whose wife had died. Her furniture needed to be removed from the facility where she had been or he would have been charged for an additional month. Dick was able to help the friend unload the furniture from his truck.
This morning's speaker was Brad Ely, a teacher in the Six District Compact and who is based at Cuyahoga Falls High School. He runs the Sysco IT program and helps his students with education in hardware, software and networking. A major emphasis is on cybersecurity. Mr. Ely talked specifically about his background which led to this area of teaching. He had not planned to teach but was open to new possibilities. That had been a pattern in his life when opportunities that he had not previously considered, led him to his next satisfaction in life.
The Compact itself is open to students from Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Kent, Stow-Munroe Falls, Tallmadge and Woodridge High Schools. Students from those districts can participate in multiple topics offered in the various schools as an alternative to college prep classes. In addition to the IT classes, other topics include cosmetology, criminal justice, auto repair, aeronautics, aeronautics. medical, culinary arts, theater arts, early childhood education and a wide variety of other topics.The goal of the compact is to not only meet the needs of individual students but to help to fill positions that are needed after graduation. Some students go on to higher education and others find employment right out of high school. The students in the programs still have general education and then are in class for their specific fields about 2 hours per day.
He shared with us the importance of technology related education for students in our high schools. The need for positions in technology is growing in Ohio by about 10%. In our area it is 5-7%. The need for experts in cybersecurity will double within 10 years because it is such a growing problem. The average cost of a security breach is $3.86 million including the hack damage, repair and ransom. Jobs related to that field are seeing the highest growth of technology positions. The knowledge from high school programs in cybersecurity can definitely open doors to jobs but there are also 2-year and 4-year educations available at area universities.
JOKE: Mary Dula told a joke about the Super Bowl. Now we know the real meaning of the quarterback. Ask Mary to tell you the rest of the joke.
Carrie Leising will be our jokester for next week.
Linda wished everyone a good week and a Happy Valentines' Day
Submitted by Andy Denton