With a beautiful sunrise as we looked out over the country club this morning, Co-President Brad Ruth led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to open the meeting. Program Host, Christine Faranda then gave a meaningful invocation.
Brad welcomed Scott Mullaney, our speaker.
CELEBRATIONS:
Wedding Anniversary: Congratulations to Bruce and LouAnn Redmon who will be celebrating 60 years of marriage on Friday.
Rotary Anniversary: Congratulations to John Pribonic who is observing 23 years as a Rotarian this week.
50/50: Steve Stimmel's table had the winning ticket but drew the queen of clubs. There is around $550 in the pot now.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Cluster Planting Project: On Saturday, November 20 the clubs in our cluster will plant 150 saplings at Wood Hollow Metro Park in Hudson. There are two shifts, from 10:00 until 12:30 and 12:30 to 3:00. If you can help, please contact Brad at bruth@glbainc.com. We already have 10 Interact students who are volunteering, so want to have plenty of Rotarians there to support them.
Foodbank: For our volunteer time tonight, we have 13 students from Interact who are volunteering along with the Rotarians who have signed up. As the Foodbank gears up to having more people who are filling the volunteer shifts, we look forward to have more and more Rotarians as volunteers along with the students. Next month, our volunteer time is Wednesday, December 1 from 4:30 to 6:30. Put it on your calendar now!
Interact: Mary Dula reported that she attended last week's Interact meeting and was surprised that they had a birthday cake for her. She also said they are doing a beautiful job restoring the Memorial Garden at the high school.
Donations for Janiel Terry: Annette Oborn is still accepting donations for Janiel and her son who lost everything in a fire a couple of weeks ago. She was our morning server at Silver Lake for many years. Make a check out to Janiel and Annette will get the checks to Silver Lake who is assisting Janiel in becoming reestablished. Annette's address is 381 Silver Valley Blvd, Munroe Falls, OH 44262. The club donated $1000 to them.
Salvation Army It was decided that we will not do the Salvation Army Bell ringing this year, but we will have a Stuff the Bucket Day at a meeting.
Board Meeting: The next meeting will be on Friday, November 12 at 7:15 at City Hall. Note that this is a change to an in-person meeting.
Rotary Foundation Month: Dave Renninger told us that November is Foundation Month. He distributed envelopes to each member this morning letting people know how close they are to the next level of recognition or becoming a Paul Harris fellow. The importance of our donation is even greater as the Gates Foundation doubles our gifts for Polio Plus. If you are interested in seeing how many points you have that can be contributed to someone else, contact Dave at drenninger1@neo.rr.com and he can fill you in. Dave hopes that everyone in the club will donate something but our real hope is for each member to give $100.00.
District Grant Project: We will not be doing the mentoring project through the club this year. However, the Rock Project from last year is on its way to being completed. Remember that when we give to the Rotary Foundation our club becomes eligible to apply for district grants for special projects.
Thank you: We received a thank you note from Stow Schools for our $200 donation toward the expences for the Interact homecoming float.
Football Pool : Winners for the last two weeks were: Charles Smith (3 quarters), Bill Choler, Richard McMasters, David Christman, Jean Christopher, Tom Clark, Matthew Gray, Andy Dodd, Joe Vajtko, Lidia Stephens, John Long and Andrea Denton
Bulldog Bag Items: The collection items for November are cups or boxes of soup, protein bars, tissues and lip balm. There is a box in the lobby of City Hall where you can leave your donations.
PROGRAM; Christine Faranda introduced Scott Mullaney of Amer Cunningham. He has been with the firm for 16 years, specializing in Probate and Estate Planning. He lives in Jackson Township now but is a graduate of Stow-Munroe Falls High School
The specific area of probate that Mr. Mullaney touched on this morning was the Last Will and Testament. This is the vehicle by which you tell the world what to do with your assets at the time of your death and designates who will administer those wishes. In Ohio the document must be signed in the presence of 2 independent witnesses who do not stand to benefit from the will. Scott discussed 5 specific issues related to wills.
1. Lost wills. The court requires you to submit the original will. Without that document an extensive process, including another hearing is required. This can become expensive with attorney time and witnesses being called. Therefore it is important to maintain that document in a safe place...often with the attorney who filed the form.
2. Non-conforming wills. This is sometimes the will that is created with an internet form. If a person thinks that having the will notarized makes it official, realize that it does not because of the Ohio regulation that the will must be signed in the presence of 2 independent witnesses. If an attempt is made to use what is in that will, a motion would have to be filed and a judge or magistrate would determine the acceptance of the form.
3. Will misunderstanding. A will distributes probate assets so it must be written very clearly in light of other regulations. If, for instance only the deceased person's name is on a checking account, the funds are distributed according to the beneficiary statement with the account. If the account is a joint checking account, the money goes to the second name on the account and passes outside of Probate Court. If something is designated to be POD (payable on death) the money goes to the designated individual, regardless of how the holder of the will has asked that things be divided by percentages. Also a Survivorship Deed does not pass through probate.
4. No will. If there is no will, the State of Ohio has specific chain of where your assets go after you die. According to statute, the estate passes to spouse, then children, then parents, then siblings etc. etc. In other words, without a will, your assets may not be distributed in the way you would have written in a will.
5. Young children: The will is also where you can designate who will care for your young children in the event of your death. This of course should not come as a surprise to the designee.
JOKE: Bill Choler told us quite a joke about a woman on a plane. He will have to fill you in on the details.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Wednesday, November 10 Morning meeting on Zoom. Dr. Barbara Kelly will speak on "The Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback"
Friday, November 12, 7:15 a.m. Board Meeting in person at City Hall.
Wednesday, November 17, Morning Meeting in person at Silver Lake.
Saturday, November 20, 10:00-3:00 Cluster Sapling Planting Project at Wood Hollow Metro Park in Hudson.
Wednesday, November 24, Morning meeting on Zoom
Wednesday, December 1, Morning meeting in person at Silver Lake with Fire Chief Mark Stone as our speaker
Wednesday, December 1, 4:30-6:30 volunteer time at the Akron Canton Foodbank.
Wednesday, December 8, Morning meeting on Zoom with Jon Perkowski, co-owner of Jonny Burrito's Food Truck speaking on how COVID made his dreams come true.
Wednesday, December 15, Morning meeting at Silver Lake for our Holiday Party.
Wednesday, December 15, 5:30-7:30 Holiday Helping Hands Wrapping Party at City Hall.
Wednesday, December 22, No Meeting. Merry Christmas
Wednesday, December 29. No Meeting. Happy New Year.
Wednesday, January 5 Morning meeting on Zoom
Wednesday, January 12, Morning meeting on Zoom.
______________________________
Submitted by Andy Denton
Andrea Denton
330-474-7265
330-414-1934