Co-President Steve Dunton opened the meeting by leading in the Pledge of Allegiance. Carrie Malotte, followed with the invocation.
Steve then thanked Gail Moseley for checking us in this morning and welcoming our visitors, Mike Dunton and Susan Corville-Hall.
PROGRAM:
Carrie Malotte is our District Youth Protection Officer and presented this morning's program for us. Jeff Film is our club's Youth Protection Officer, and are both resources for not only assuring that our club members complete the annual survey each July but also are the people to contact if there is a situation involving youth that just doesn't feel right. The training is mandated from Rotary International. Both complimented our club on the excellent job we are doing in taking the training and also taking this program seriously.
Any club that has a relationship with youth needs to have the training, both as protection for the youth and protection for the adults, should a situation arise. There are two levels of training, One level is for casual contact with youth when several adults are together with youth all in one room. That training involves the session today along with the yearly on-line test. The other level is for situations where the adults may be alone with youth. In that case, there is a full vetting that takes place and includes an application, a background check, references and an interview. If any member of the club expects to be alone with a young person, such as at an event that includes Interact, the full vetting is necessary. Jeff Film could guide a member through that, so he should be contacted if you expect you could be in a situation requiring that level of training.
The main reason that there is a need for this is that we do not want to do anything to make our youth feel uncomfortable. Youth today are much more likely to speak up if they feel offended by innocent joking or playful touching. The last thing we should want to do is to make someone feel uncomfortable. Statistically, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 youth are abused in some fashion and we do not want to be that offender. One example that Carrie gave was a situation where a Rotarian was dressed as an elf for a holiday party that included youth in the group. He was playfully touching noses of the youth. They did not like it and reported him to the Youth Protection Officer, launching an investigation. The club was unhappy and wanted to protect the member but the young ladies said that they felt he was "creepy", and those feelings had to be honored. Although incidents like this may appear to be innocent, the point is that they may be offensive to others and need to be curbed for that reason.
We also need to be aware that predators will seek opportunities to interact with youth. In one example, a person was investigated in another state for inappropriate conduct with youth and was dismissed from that club. He joined a club in Ohio with a large Interact involvement and had to be dismissed from the new club. Basically, if we see something or just have a strange feeling about something, we need to speak up. What may have been tolerable in the past, is no longer acceptable today. Basically, touching is not appropriate without permission and neither are jokes that may have a double meaning. If an Interact member needs to be contacted, only do that through the club's adult advisor. In this case it would be Dinah Henderson.
Steve Dunton complimented both Carrie and Jeff for the work they are doing in Youth Protection.
CELEBRATIONS:
RotaryAnniversaries: Tony Malorni (16 years), Leslee Salhaney (8 years), Maria Ferrara, Mary Parr and Todd Hearty (3 years) and Jen Ramsey, Aimee Budnick, Matt Aguiar and Keith Redmon (one year) Thanks for being Rotarians!
Anniversaries: Eric and Elizabath Kargbo (33 years), Amy Budnick and Rodney Thomaas ( 26 years) and Dick Hall and Gale Stawiery (7years)
Birthdays: Pat Messmore and Scott Miller have birthdays this week. Annette Oborn and Carrie Malotte led us in singing really well to Scott.
Drawing: The pot started all over again this week. Dick Hall's table had the winning ticket but drew the 3 of diamonds.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Board Meeting: Steve reminded everyone that the board will meet this Friday at 7:15 at City Hall. The April Board Meeting Minutes are attached to these minutes.
Heroes Day: Jeff Film could still use delivery drivers this Saturday, May 10 to take gifts to our retired first responders and military people. Call Jeff at 330-352-4895 to let him know you can help. If you deliver and can take pictures, that would be great!
Golf Committee Meeting and Needs: Scott Miller said that the next committee meeting will be Monday, May 12 from 6:00-7:00 at the FOP Lodge. About 20 foursomes of golfers have registered but we have room for about 10 more. Also needed are sponsors and items for prizes, such as golf balls, company swag and $10 and
$25 gift cards. Information about sponsors and golfing are attached to these minutes.
Foodbank: Wednesday, May 14 is our next date to volunteer at the Foodbank from 4:30-6:30. You are needed!
Ducks for Bulldog Bags: Dick Hall has ducks to benefit Bulldog Bags for the Duck Race coming up soon. Tickets are $2 each.
Adopt A Spot: Marty Tass explained that the planting for our spot by the Doughboy will be the morning of May 24. He will have more information and a sign-up sheet next week.
Bob Oborn's Installation: He will be installed as District President as part of the Banner Exchange on Wednesday, July 2 at 6:00 at The Center. There will be heavy hor dourves for the celebration price of $25.
Rubber Ducks Game: For our July 5th Wednesday event, we will be able to attend a game on the evening of July 30 for the cost of $13.00. Jeff Film will have a sign-up sheet available soon. And, District President, Bob Oborn will throw the first pitch! You won't want to miss it!
Student Host Family Needed: Susan Corville-Hall of the Akron Club was with us to explain that a host family is needed for next fall for Luciana from Peru. She will be attending school in Stow. There was a family ready to house her but they are just over the border from Stow and since the state has said that students must attend school in their district, they need to find a new family or families to share their home with her. Susan can be reached at rye6630susan@gmail.com or on her cell phone at 330-714-3765 if you would like more information.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Friday, May 9 at 7:15 a.m. Board meeting at City Hall
Saturday, May 10, 9:00 a.m. Delivery for Heroes Day
Saturday, May 10, 7:00 p.m. Interact Talent Show at the High School
Monday, May 12, 6:00. Golf Committee Meeting at the FOP Lodge
Wednesday, May 14, 7:30, regular morning meeting at The Center when we will hear from Club Interact
Saturday, May 24, 10:00 a.m. plant our Adopt-A- Spot
Friday, June 13, Golf Outing at Fox Den
Wednesday, July 2 in the evening, Bob Oborn's Installation as District Governor as part of the Banner Exchange
Wednesday, July 30, No morning meeting but Rubber Ducks Game in the evening.
Wednesday, October 9, Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction in the evening.
Respectfully Submitted,
Andrea Denton
330-474-7265
330-414-1934