Past President Gail Moseley opened the meeting by leading in the Pledge of Allegiance. Program Host Paul Lake followed with the invocation.
PROGRAM: Paul began by telling some real groaners for jokes. For instance…What is a three-letter word that starts with gas? Answer: car. You can ask him to tell you his other jokes. He then introduced Gary Aleman who has been with the Stow-Munroe Falls Community Foundation for 10 years. Gary is retired now but spent a good part of his life in the local radio industry primarily in the sales, marketing, public relations and advertising arm of that industry. We have previously heard him tell us about the local Farmer's Market, which will be starting up again on May 30.
Gary then explained that the foundation has existed for 26 years and now has 15 people on its board. Julie McLain and Marty Tass are two of those 15. The goal of that foundation is to build community locally through allocating money to enhance the quality of life in the two communities. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The new Skip Playground received $50,000 from the organization. They have supported Sparkle in the Park in Munroe Falls and give grants to teachers for $300-$5000 per year. They also contribute to organizations such as the Stryker Bike program, the banner program, Say My Child's Name, and are in support of the new amphitheater, as well as the Stow Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
There are three main fund-raising events for the foundation. Foodie Palooza, the most recent event had over 1500 participants with 22 restaurants showing off their food. 25 high school students worked with the foundation to make the event a success. There is also the Craft Beer Festival in the fall which draws about 200 people for a good time through food, music and tasting craft beers. The third event is their Pick-up Scramble. In addition they gain partners who are willing to make donations through their Required Minimum Distributions or Qualified Charitable Distributions. To apply for funds or to find out more information, go to their website at www.smfcommunity.org.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Gail thanked Todd Hearty and Chris Shulby for welcoming everyone and checking us in this morning.
Happy Buck: Denise Green said she will be starting at Kimpton as a lunch lady after spring break.
Congratulations:
Rotary Anniversary: Dinah Henderson is celebrating 4 years as a Rotarian this week.
Birthday: Brad Ruth is celebrating his birthday on Friday. Annette Oborn led us in singing really well to him.
Club Business:
Nominating Committee: Two members are needed to be on nominating committee to find three new board members to fill expiring terms. De-de Mulligan and Annette Oborn volunteered.
Foodbank: If you can help, we really need you. Our foodbank volunteer time is tonight from 4:30-6:30 and only two people have volunteered so far. Just show up if you can do this.
Bunny Trail Hop: This event will be on Saturday, March 28th from 10:00 until 1:00 p.m. Sign in to help if you can because we will not have Interact's help this year.
Adopt-A-Spot: Marty Tass has let us know that we will plant our Adopt-A-Spot by the Doughboy on Saturday, May 23rd mid-morning.
District Conference of Clubs: Bob Oborn told us that Friday's events will begin later with registration at 2:00. The evening event will be a competitive Rotary Jeopardy. On Saturday, the Youth Luncheon is always a highlight of the conference. In the afternoon in one hour attendees will pack 20,000 meals to be used in our are district. For all of the other exciting events go to the district website at rotarydistrict63.org. The event will be on Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 at the Marriott in Warrensville Heights, just west of the 271 Exit at Harvard Rd.
Also see the attached e-mail about Interact's plans for the conference.
Golf Outing: Scott Miller, Chairperson, told us that the committee has met for the first time and now is recruiting other committee members as well as volunteers for the Friday, June 12 event. We need 100 golfers, so get busy contacting everyone that you know. A Save the Date Flier is attached to these minutes. The next committee meeting will be Monday, March 30 at 6:00 at Stow-Nut Diner. A save the date flier is attached to these minutes.
Board Meeting: Our board will meet this Friday at 7:15a.m. at City Hall. Board members are expected to attend but all are welcome.
Fifth Wednesday: We will not meet the morning of April 29 because it is a fifth Wednesdy. Let a board member know if you can think of a social event we might do instead.
Gail led us in reciting the Rotary Four-Way Test to close the meeting.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Tonight: Foodbank vounteer time is 4:30-6:30 tonight. Be there if you at all can!
Friday, March 13, 7:15 a.m. Board meeting at City Hall.
Wednesday, March 18, 7:30 a.m. regular morning meeting at The Center when Dr. Felicia Gould will be in charge of our program
Wednesday, March 18 at 3:00, Judging of the Four-Way Speech Contest at the High school.
Saturday March 28, 9:30 to 1:30 Bunny Trail Hop at Silver Springs Park
Monday March 30, 6:00 p.m. Golf Committee Meeting at Stow-Nut Donut
Friday April 24 and Saturday April 25, District Conference of Clubs at the Marriott in Warrensville Heights
Wednesday, April 29, no morning meeting but there will be a social activity because it is a fifth Wednesday
Saturday, May, 9 Heroes Day
Friday, June 12 Golf Outing
Wednesday, October 14, Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction
Respectfully Submitted
Andrea Denton