Dear Fellow Rotarian,
After Co-President Brad Ruth opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, Program Host, Jim Laber led us in an invocation about giving the world the best that you have.
CELEBRATIONS:
Birthdays: Marissa Williams celebrated her birthday yesterday.
Rotary Anniversaries:Congratulations to Jim Laber who celebrates 12 years as a Rotarian this week and to Olivia Saltzmann who celebrates 2 years.
Guests: Brad welcomed our speaker, Paul Henry, of Victim Assistance Program and Matthew Baker, who has submitted his membership application.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Foodbank: Mary Dula reminded everyone that next Wed., February 2 will be our volunteer time at the Akron Canton Foodbank. At 4:30 the club's picture will be taken to recogninze the club for its efforts working with the Foodbank. As many Rotarians as possible need to be there for the picture, wearing work shirts. If you can stay to help at the Foodbank that is great. Our volunteer shift goes to 6:30. Contact Mary for more information or to let her know you can help at 330-715-6358.
Interact: Mary also shared with us the needs from Interact. , If you have clean gallon milk jugs, Mary will get them to Interact. They are using them to collect tabs for Ronald McDonald House and wish to have a jug for every classroom in the high school. The students are also collecting clean, plastic colored lids. They should not have metal or paper attached. If they can collect 127 pounds of the lids, they can be recycled into a bench for the Memorial Garden at the high school.
Coffee Collection: Bob Oborn reminded us that the club is collecting coffee for the Haven of Rest through the end of next week. Last year we collected 115 containers and since we already have 92 containers, hopes are high that we can break our record.
Four Way Speech Contest: Brad Ruth is looking for people to help with the contest. When a date is set, we will need judges to go to the high school for the contest at our school, and then on Saturday, April 9, the winner from our school will be taken to the district contest. Text Brad at 330-524-8205 to let him know you can help. John Pribonic, Sue Figler and Andy Denton said that they are interested in judging, depending on the date.
Mentoring Program at the High School: Brad stated that this program is about to get started at the high school. If you are interested in helping students down their career path, also text Brad at the above number.
Bulldog Bags: February's items for Bulldog Bags are: microwave pasta cups, small bags of goldfish crackers, and cash donations for shampoo. Items are needed by February 9 and can be dropped off in the reception area of City Hall.
PROGRAM:
Jim Laber, Program Host described the impact of COVID on both his business and personal life. His staff worked remotely and in addition to offering IT support to 100 businesses, they supported 1000 home networks. Personally he became a first-time grandfather during the epidemic and now is expecting a second grandchild before long.
Jim then introduced Paul Henry, Assistant Director of Engagement at Victim Assistance Program. With an interesting background, he has non-profit experience at the Rape Crisis Center, spent time working in the wine industry and then circled back to the non-profit world at Victim Assistance where he could again enter the world of service. He feels that every day should start with the thought, "Who can I serve today?" (Sounds like Paul would be an excellent Rotarian.)
This year Victim Assistance is observing its 50th anniversary. When it was begun in 1972 by Rev. Dr. Robert Denton, they were the only such program in Ohio and served as a model for similar programs around the country. They carry out their crisis intervention assistance by serving victims of violent crime and other trauma as they offer help in creating a plan of action after their horrible experience is likely to paralyze their thinking.
The staff is also involved in advocacy. They meet their clients where they are and empower them to make decisions when they are ready. Referrals commonly come through the courts or law enforcement and then Victim Assistance provides a bridge to other agencies when they see what relationships are needed.
The agency is also involved in education. The Victim Assistance Academy is offered to law enforcement, fire and EMS for training in trauma. They try to help individuals understand the effects of trauma on the victims, both in the short and long term. They also offer educational understanding in crisis intervention to businesses so that companies can have tools to help an employee who has experienced a crisis in their lives.
All of the agency services are free to the victim and are supported through government and local grants and their biggest fund raiser, their Mardi Gras, which Jim Laber says is an amazing experience. For more information, go to victimassistanceprogram.org. To reach Paul directly, go to
phenry@victimassistanceprogram.org. The phone number is 330-780-9626.
JOKE: Steve Dunton had multiple riddles for us this morning. My favorite was: Why did the football coach go to the bank? The answer is: to get his quarterback. Steve can share the rest of the jokes if you ask him.
Next week, Jeff Film will have our joke.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Wednesday, February 2, 7:30 a.m. Morning meeting on Zoom. Mary Jane Stanchina, Executive Director of the Six District Compact will kick off our month of Career Tech programs.
Wednesday, February 2, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Volunteer time at Akron Canton Foodbank. We will have our pictures taken at 4:30 so please come for that, even if you cannot stay to volunteer. This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for next week.
Saturday, February 5, Chili Open at Hale Farm in Bath to raise money for the rotary camp. Go to chiliopen.net for details.
Wednesday, February 9, 7:30, morning meeting on zoom
Friday, February 11, 7:15 a.m. Our Board meeting on zoom
Wednesday, February 16, 7:30, morning meeting on zoom
Wednesday, February 23, 7:30 morning meeting on zoom
Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23, District Conference
Monday, June 6, Our club's golf outing
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