ATTENDANCE: Members of our club who joined us this morning were: Tom Bahr, Bill Choler, Roger Cline, Jenny Coleman, Andy Denton, Mary Dula, Steve Dunton, Ray Evans, Christine Faranda, Jeff Film, Christina Gary, Dick Hall, Annie Hanson Hilaire, Mike Kostyack, Jim Laber, Carrie Leising, John Long, Milli Morrison, Gail Moseley, Annette Oborn, John Pribonic, Dave Renninger, Brad Ruth, Olivia Saltzmann Smedi, Steve Stimmel, Bob Sweitzer, Ron Taggart, Marty Tass, Linda Trevorrow, Eric Weber, and Marissa Williams.
Guests with us were: Dinah Henderson, Scott Miller, Laura Trevorrow, Jon Leissler and our speaker, Greg Ervin.
Logging on from New Hampshire this morning, President Linda Trevorrow opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Her daughter, Laura Trevorrow, presented our invocation.
CELEBRATIONS:
Birthdays: Kelly Toppin, Rick Archer and Dave Renninger all have birthdays this week. We gave Dave a Rotary birthday wave.
Wedding Anniversary: Bonnie and Michael Housley are celebrating their anniversary today.
Rotary Anniversaries: Forty one years ago tomorrow, our club was founded. Congratulations and thank you to Mark Lucco, Marv Mills, Dave Renninger, J.T. Stimler and Ron Taggart who are still members of the club today.
INTERACT APPRECIATION: Joe Doty of the Interact Club showed us the thousands of drink tabs they have collected for Ronald McDonald House. The tabs get turned into money to benefit the House. Joe also thanked the club for their scholarship he received last night. And, we thanked Interact for their help with the Heroes' Day flowers.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Tina Gary reported that she completed a 25K with her step-father this past weekend. This coming weekend she will do a 24-hour run. So, if anyone happens to be up around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday morning she asks that we send good vibes her way.
Dinah Henderson, Interact Advisor, said how much she enjoyed meeting Rotarians face-to-face as they did the prep work on Friday and then the delivery on Saturday for Heroes' Day.
Jeff Film reported that all went well on Heroes' Day and expressed appreciation to Mary Dula, the club and the Interact youth for their help. The club is appreciative to Jeff for his great leadership in the event.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Golf Outing: Dick Hall reported that all is going well. He will get the banners and signs today. He appreciates the $10 and $25 gift cards that have been sent and still needs things for the goodie bags. The bags will be packed on June 4 so they are ready for the Monday event. Contact Dick at 330-686-9855 or at dickhall2@gmail.com to offer your help.
Adopt-A-Spot: Marty Tass reminded us that this Saturday we will gather at the Doughboy statue at 10:00a,m, to plant flowers. It should go quickly. Then remember that it is our job to keep the plot weeded during the rest of the growing season. Be sure you look for weeds that grow up inside of the plants.
Blood Drive: Olivia Saltzmann Smedi told us that there will be a Red Cross sponsored blood drive at Wichert Insurance which is across from Silver Lake. It will take place on June 16 from 9:00-3:00. Since so many drives across the country were cancelled, blood is needed. Donors will be tested for COVID antibodies and will receive a $5.00 Amazon gift card.
Membership: Linda asked guest, Scott Miller, to introduce himself. Brad Ruth introduced him to the club and suggested he join. He is a Stow resident who is married and has one son at The Ohio State University and another at Hiram College. Now that the sons are in college, he finds he has more time to donate to community activities. He will submit his application for consideration by the Board.
PROGRAM; For her happiness moment, Linda told how happy she is to be in New Hampshire and that she actually attended church in person last Sunday.
She then introduced Greg Ervin who now lives in Jackson, Ohio and is the Outgoing Assistant District Governor in his district. He is an avid runner and a motorcycle enthusiast. He was the Deputy Director of the Akron Health Department from 1988 to 2002.
Because of his background, he is very interested the pandemic. So, he said he could either title his talk "Is the COID19 Pandemic Over?" or "Is This The Light at the End of the Tunnel or an Oncoming Train?"
The death rates in all states are down. At its peak in February, 4100 people were dying per day. We lost over 601,000 to Covid in this country so far.
In Ohio, the state mask's policy says that based on CDC Guidelines, individuals no longer need to be masked unless they are in a healthcare setting or if a particular business requires masks. People are still welcome to wear masks as they offer protection against any variants that may develop. For those who have been vaccinated, there have been no deaths from COVID and only some very mild cases.
Greg said that there are 10 reasons to be vaccinated.
10. The vaccines are free.
9. You don't need to wear a mask anymore.
8. You don't have to be quarantined after an exposure.
7. It keeps your family safe.
6. It moves the country toward herd immunity.
5. Spectator events can resume.
4. Children can return to school.
3. It is effective with variants.
2. You no longer have to get a COVID Test.
1. Ohio Vaxamillion starts on the 26th resulting in 5 $100,000,000 drawings and college scholarships.
JOKE: Marty Tass gave today's joke about a new father of a "typical Irish baby." He will have to tell you the joke.
Next week's joke will be by John Long
Enjoy this beautiful weather!
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