After President Annette Oborn opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, Andy Denton gave the invocation about change.
Annette thanked Steve Dunton and Dave Renninger for getting us checked in this morning and for welcoming our many visitors. They were: Denise Green, Pilar Parsons, Pamela Yeager, Matthew Aguiar, Aurora Cooper, Reggie Ricks, Michael Kadair and Amanda Novelli, our speaker.
CELEBRATIONS:
Birthday: Marty Tass is celebrating his birthday this week.
Drawing: The President's table had the winning ticket but Andy Denton drew the 2 of clubs, so the pot will continue to give others a chance to win.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Scholarship Committee: They will meet tonight at 5:00 at City Hall
Board Members Needed: If you are interested in serving on our board, contact Annette Oborn if you have questions or agree to be nominated. Text her at: 330-813-2059.
New Member Installation: When it is confirmed that the new members who have been approved by the board and their sponsors will be available next week, the installation can be held.
New Member Applications: We have several applications that will be taken to the board for their approval. After that meeting, the process is that the applications then go out to the whole membership who can respond with any questions or concerns during the next two weeks. After that the installation is scheduled. People who are waiting to join should not be concerned, it is a matter of following our by-laws. And, while you wait, you are certainly welcome to attend meetings and participate in anything you would like to.
District Conference: Registration for the District Conference is now available. The club will pay for any member to attend either April 26 or 27 or both. The Saturday event would probably be the most interesting to club members. To register and for complete information, google Rotary Club District 6630. You may either register and then give John Long a copy of your registration form and he will mail one check for all of the participants. Or register and pay and John will reimburse you. Because the event is so close, at Sheraton Suites, the club will not pay for any overnight accommodations.
Bunny Trail Hop: Steve reported that the Bunny Trail Hop was cold and windy on Saturday but still well-attended. He thanked Dave Renninger, Dick Hall and Gale Stawiery, Dinah Henderson, Gail Moseley, Lisa Radecley, Monica Mihal, Toni Malorni, Denise Green and her daughter Evelyn along with the Interact students for helping. Thank too to Steve Dunton for his leadership of the event.
Foodbank Volunteer Time: Our next volunteer time will be Wednesday, April 10 from 4:40-6:30 at the Foodbank. Rotarians are needed to work with the 16 Interact students who will be there.
Golf Outing: The committee has begun to prepare for the June 14 Golf Outing at Fox Den. Chairperson Scott Miller says there is still room for people to be on the committee. The next meeting will be April 15 at 6:00 in the FOP Hall behind The Church in Silver Lake. Scott says that it is time to start thinking of donations of golf balls, company swag or gift cards. Todd Hearty is taking the donations. We have our first foursomes and first sponsorship, so get yours in today! A comprehensive form including both sponsorships and golf sign-ups is available on Clubrunner or attached to these minutes.
Interact Items Needed: In order to support Club Interact, they are asking for our help in collecting items that will be part of the District 6630 Collection of items for Refugee House in Cuyahoga Falls. The list of items is attached to these minutes and can be brought to meetings. A simple way to donate is to use either of the links below. The items will be delivered right to the high school.
House Items:
Baby Proofing Items:
Interact Senior Banquet: To honor the students who will be graduating from Club Interact this year, a banquet will be held on Tuesday evening, May 14 at 6:00 in Leona Ferris Lodge. Maria Ferrara will be highlighting some of the features of Rotary to expose the students and their parents to what the club does in the community. Rotarians will be needed to help set-up and to serve. A sign-up sheet will be available closer to the event, but mark the date now.
Duck Race to Benefit Bulldog Bags: On April 20 there will be a race of the rubber ducks that people purchase for $2 each. Many high school students are selling ducks, or you may go online to Bulldogbags.org to purchase your ducks that way. The owner of the first duck to cross the winner's line at Meadowbrook Lake Park will win 25% of the total pot.
Bulldog Bag Items Needed: By April 10, the following items are needed from our members: microwave pasta cups, fruit cups, shampoo, boxes of 3-5 packs of microwave popcorn., 8 oz. boxes of CapriSun drink pouches and boxes of macaroni and cheese. Bring your donations to a meeting or drop them off in the lobby of City Hall anytime.
Memorial Benches: The benches are finished and will be placed as the weather improves. Bill Choler's will be at the library and Marv Mill's at Fox Den.
PROGRAM: Program Host Andy Denton described her Rotary moment as how becoming a part of Rotary made her feel part of the community. She then introduced Amanda Novelli of Grace House as our speaker for the morning.
Amanda is the Director of Development and communications at Grace House which is a 6 bedroom home in North Hill for people who are at the end of their lives and have nowhere else to go. Amanda has a varied background. Her latest degree is a JD from The University of Akron and her undergraduate degree is from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was in Bali, Indonesia for a while until Covid brought her back home to Hudson.
In a video that accompanied her presentation, she said that Holly Klein and Cindy Browning, two Hospice nurses who founded the program realized that there were too many people facing the end of their lives who had no place to go. They were living in cars, motels or under bridges because of this. They believed that no one should die alone and that they should have dignity and respect during the process. Because of those beliefs and by raising $4 million in 20 months, Grace House opened in September of 2022. In their 6 bedroom home, they have served 67 residents and their pets so far. To be there, they must be enrolled in Hospice.
They are a 501(c)(3) organization and there is nothing else like them in Ohio. In their non-judgmental setting, they work with people where 70% have been homeless. For their last days or months their basic needs are met in a family type setting. People have their own rooms and receive meals, medical treatment and the company of others. They are not billed for any services. Their million dollar a year budget comes from private donations, and some grants, but no governmental funds. Over 200 volunteers are involved with the program offering a savings of about $150,000 per year for the program.
For more information, go to www.gracehouseakron.org or contact Amanda directly at amanda.novelli@
President Annette closed the meeting by leading us in the Four-Way Test.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Wednesday, April 3, 7:30 Bellacinos for our weekly meeting when the Treasurer and Interim Superintendent of our schools will speak with us.
Friday, April 5, 7:00 Speech and Debate Showcase at the high school.
Wednesday, April 10, Bulldog Bag items due
Wednesday, April 10, 4:30-6:30 Foodbank Volunteer Time
Saturday, April 20, Duck Race at Meadowbrook Lake Park
Friday, April 12, 7:15 a.m. at City Hall Board Meeting
Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27, District Conference at Sheraton Suites.
Saturday, May 11, Heroes Day
Friday, June 14, Golf Outing at Fox Den
Friday, June 21, Board Retreat
Wednesday, October 9, Reverse Raffle Silent Auction at Guys Party Center
Submitted by Andy Denton
Andrea Denton
330-474-7265
330-414-1934