Gail Moseley, President, opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Dick Hall followed with the invocation.
Gail thanked Steve Dunton and Dave Renninger for getting us checked in and then welcomed our visitors, Gale Stawiery, Steve Newton, Steve McIntosh, and Leila O'Neill.
CELEBRATIONS:
Birthdays: John Long is celebrating his birthday on Sunday.
Drawing: Mary Dula had the winning ticket this morning and pulled THE JOKER. Congratulations to her and we will begin again with a new pot next week.
Paul Harris Fellow: Dave Renninger presented Linda Trevorrow with her pin signifying that she has become a Paul Harris Fellow + 6. Congratulations, Linda and thank you.
HAPPY BUCK:
Carrie Malotte said that the Library Foundation will hold a Basket Raffle from April 23-29 during National Library Week. She asked for the club's support in providing baskets or in providing gift cards to be used for a gift card wreath. Let her know what you will provide or get the gift cards to her by April 1.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Board Members Needed: We will need three new board members beginning July 1. If you are interested, talk to Gail or any other board member. It is a great way to contribute to the club's mission. If more than three people volunteer, we will hold an election to decide the outcome. The minutes of last week's board meeting are attached to these minutes.
Four-Way Speech Contest: Brad Ruth announced that the Four-Way Speech contest will be held at the high school on March 13, beginning at 3:30. Carrie Malotte, De-de Mulligan,Mary Dula, Brad Ruth and Andy Denton will be the judges.
Bulldog Bags: Items needed for this month are mac and cheese cups, Capri sun, bandaids, hand sanitizer, 32 oz. boxes of pancake mix and 24 oz. containers of pancake syrup. Donations can be brought to club meetings or dropped off in the lobby of City Hall or at the library by March 8.
PROGRAM:
Dick Hall introduced the third in our series of Career Tech Month speakers from the Six District Compact made up of Cuyahoga Falls, Kent-Roosevelt, Hudson, Stow-Munroe Falls, Tallmadge and Woodridge High Schools. This time we heard from Steve Newlon, Steve McIntosh and Leila O'Neill from the Community Urban Agriculture for Local Impact Program. It is housed at Cuyahoga Falls High School.
The two Steves are the instructors for the program and explained that this is the second year of the program but next year it will become an official part of the Compact and will be open to 30 students of all six communities. The impetus for the program was recognizing that there were students in the school who did not eat except when they were fed through school programs and also that there were hungry people in the community. The unused greenhouse provided the space for the program to begin and many students and faculty provided the interest and assistance. They received a grant for a garden program and donate much of their produce to Good Neighbors and thus far have given over 10,000 pounds of produce to people in need. This has a value of about $20,000. In addition other businesses use their produce to bring local produce to their menus.
In the class, the students will learn real world skills. They will receive real world training in hydroponics and aquaponics as we have a shortage of top soil developing and need alternatives. The students will become skilled in animal and plant sciences, agriculture business and greenhouse management. It is truly a program of the future, happening in the present.
Leila, who is a student in the program will be going into premed but is glad to have the hands-on experience in raising food, learning to harvest the crops and the taking the donations to Good Neighbors. She is excited about techniques she has learn for growing produce and caring for the chickens they have. Next year, the program also plans to add goats to the experience. Leila says that the students often experience new foods and begin a journey toward more healthy eating because of these classes. They do not use pesticides or herbicides in their program, again placing a priority on health.
President Gail ended the meeting with the club reciting the Four-Way Test.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Wednesday, February 22, 7:30 a.m. Morning meeting at Bellacinos, for the final Career Tech Month program.
Wednesday, February 22, 4:30-6:30, volunteer at the Akron-Canton Foodbank
Friday, March 10, 7:15 a.m. Board Meeting at City Hall
Monday, March 13, 3:30 Four-Way Speech Contest at the high school
Wednesday, March 29, No morning meeting but there will be CPR training at the Safety Building in the evening. Watch for further details.
Saturday, April 1, Easter Egg Hunt
Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29, District Conference will take place in Orange Village.
Saturday, May 13, Heroes' Day
Friday, June 16, Golf Outing at Fox Den
Wednesday, October 11, Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction at Guy's Party Center in the evening. No morning meeting
Submitted by Andy Denton