In the absence of our president, Annette Oborn, President-Elect, opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. That was followed by a meaningful invocation by Bruce Redmon, our program host.
Annette welcomed our guests, Lou-Ann Redmon and Becky Costello Bulgren and thanked Steve Dunton for getting us checked in this morning.
CELEBRATIONS:
Birthday: Marv Mills will celebrate his birthday tomorrow so Carrie Leising led us in singing really well to him.
50/50 Raffle: Don Coughlin's table had the winning ticket but the 7 of hearts was drawn, so the pot will continue to grow.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Bill Choler told us that our Stow-Munroe Falls Library will turn into a miniature golf course on October 21st and 22nd as the library holds a fund-raiser. They are looking for tee sponsors and hole sponsors. Contact Bill if you can help at bill.choler@brunercox.com.
Don Coughlin is very proud of his granddaugher, Fiona Coughlin, who won first prize at the Shining Stars competition at Playhouse Square. She won $10,000 and also $2500 for her school, Firestone Community Learning Center's Music and Drama Department. Fiona will sing with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at Severance Hall on New Year's Eve.
Mike Kostyack explained that a school levy will be on the ballot in November. If you can donate to the campaign, contact him at st_mkostyack@smfcsd.org to let him know you can help.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction: By the end of the meeting, 125 tickets to the event had been sold. Thanks to everyone. We still have 25 more tickets available that will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. Contact Bob Oborn at boborn@kentelastomer.com to request your tickets. The date of the event is October 12 from 6:00 to 10:00 in the evening at Guys Party Center. Grand Prize is $3000.
To be assured of seating with a particular group, please let Andy know at dentontaz@aol.com or with a list of names at the meeting. Once your tickets are paid for, you can request the seating.
Silent Auction: Carrie Leising thanked Brad Ruth for donating a week at his B&B in Huron, Ohio. Brad and Todd Hearty are working on a bourbon basket to be part of the evening. Wine baskets and Margarita baskets are also planned. You may decide to take charge of a particular basket or make contributions of lottery tickets, gift cards or money for the various prizes that will be offered. Contact Carrie at cleising23@gmail.com or Annette Oborn at aoborn@att.net to let them know how you can help. Or, if you are donating lottery tickets, gift cards or money, just bring them to a meeting.
Football Book Winners: The winners for Week 2 are: Christine Sheives, Nick Ferrara, Tom Loepp (2 quarters), Ron Matis, Andrew Reis and Don Coughlin (2 quarters).
Bulldog Bag Donations: In the current collection for Bulldog Bags, these are our requested items: juice boxes, macaroni and cheese cups, bars of soap, a 32 ounce box of pancake mix and 24 oz. bottle of pancake syrup. Take these items to the lobby of City Hall or to the library by October 12.
Board Meeting: The minutes of last Friday's Board Meeting are attached to these notes.
PROGRAM: Bruce Redmon, Program Host explained that one of his most meaningful moments has been the Holiday Helping Hands Program. Having wrapped, boxed and delivered the gifts, Bruce said this has made a real difference for him. He knows that without the help of the club Christmas would have been very different for many families over the years.
He then introduced his wife, Lou-Ann Redmon and founder of GriefCare Place and Rebecca Costello Bulgrin, Executive Director of this center that provides hope and healing to grievers. crossBruce also thanked the club for their support over the years and showed photos of the Memorial Gardens donated by the club.
Lou-Ann began by giving us some of the history of their service. As Redmon Funeral Home opened in 1968, they served families in their immediate grief situation. As time went on, Lou-Ann began wondering how the families were doing and so on the first anniversary of the death, she called the families. The funeral home also put books about grief in the library. As specific needs were discovered, people were put together with other people who might understand their loss. Eventually, the grievers and support staff moved into the little house by the funeral home and when they outgrew that, they moved down Darrow Rd. to their present location. As the grievers offered help to other grievers at different steps in their situations, the programming continued to grow with the needs.
Becky Costello Bulgin, the current Executive Director, went to the center after the sudden loss of her husband and found the support she received so meaningful that she stayed on as a volunteer. She found people who understood her emotions, and did it without judgment and with hope. She said she is blessed to be able to be helpful to others now in her role as Executive Director. Groups are led by trained volunteers who are or have been grievers themselves. Eight different groups meet once or twice a month. See the attached brochure for more specific information or go to griefcareplace@att.net.
Support is always needed since no one is ever charged for their services. Becky thanked the club for the support they have given in the past and the support that people may consider or the future in creating and continuing an atmosphere where people can learn to live with grief in a framework of hope.
The meeting ended with Annette leading us in the Rotary Four-Way Test.
DATES TO REMEMBER AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
Wednesday, September 21, 7:30 Morning meeting at Bellacinos, when Ken Fanger presents: RELAX: A Guide to True Cyber Security
Wednesday, September 28, 7:30, Morning meeting at Bellacinos when Anita Albert-Watson will speak about the Salvation Army
Wednesday, October 5, 7:30 Morning Meeting at Bellacinos when Wendy Polman will speak with us about Executive Counseling
Wednesday, October 5, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Foodbank Volunteer time at the Foodbank.
Wednesday, October 12, 6:00-10:00 p.m. Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction at Guys Party Center. No morning meeting
Friday, October 14, 7:15 a.m. at City Hall, Board Meeting
Saturday, November 12. 10:00-2:00 "Interactions at the High School" There could potentially be a change in schedule of this event. Please watch for changes, but Rotarians will be needed to help.
Wednesday, November 30, Fifth Wednesday Evening Event: "Tootsie" at E.J. Thomas Hall. Cost is only $15.00. Guests are welcome.
Wednesday, December 14: 7:30 a.m. Note that this is a change since last week's board meeting. For the morning meeting we will have our Holiday Party at Bellacinos.
Wednesday, December 14, This is a change in date. We will have our Holiday Helping Hands at City Hall in the evening.
Wednesday, December 21. No morning meeting
Wednesday, December 28, No morning meeting
Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29, District Conference in Orange Village.
Submitted by Andy Denton
Andrea Denton
330-474-7265
330-414-1934