President Mary Parr opened the meeting by leading in the Pledge of Allegiance. Program Host, Dave Renninger followed with a Rotary Invocation.
PROGRAM: Carrying out the Program Host responsibility, Dave told us that the best thing that happened in the last week was that he ran into someone he hadn't seen for 35 years. He then moved into introducing Fran Recchia, the Head Coach of Kent State University's Women's Basketball Program. He shared that she received both her Masters and Bachelors degrees from Virginia Tech but has been at Kent State since 2016, formerly as Recruitment Coordinator for the women's basketball program.
Coach Recchia added to her story by saying that she and her wife have been Stow residents for the past four years and are totally impressed by the people here and how they check on each other. She used an illustration about what happened after a nasty storm to describe this as a “awesome community”. Originally she started out in Michigan and then moved to Texas where she became very involved in both basketball and soccer as a middle school student. When she was 13 her coach overheard her helping one of her teammates and told her she would be a wonderful coach someday. That stayed with her and she headed toward being a teacher and a coach. After she graduated, she started coaching at Virginia Tech and then spent 3 additional years in Virginia as a high school health and physical education teacher and also began coaching there. She then went to Bradford University, a small college in Virginia and spent 6 years there. In 2016 she moved to Kent State and while here, the players won 179 games and many championships.
That whole time the teams also did very well in academics including a 100% graduation rate and a cumulative 3.6 GPA for her team last year. They have the lowest transfer rate in the league and for the past two years have had 100% retention of their team. Her goal is to help the students be the best version of themselves that they can be. If that goal happens, they can play their best and compete for championships.
Coach Fran discussed the four core values of her program. The first is family. She works with the young women to trust, respect and celebrate their families. Second, she believes in working on toughness both physically and emotionally. Then in the process to learn to be your best. Resiliency is the third value. She works on ways to bend and not break. Basketball is the longest season of sports and presents challenges to keep going when they are tired. The fourth core value is connection. She stresses the importance of building genuine relationships, managing conflict and the importance of things like making eye contact. She believes in trying to make every day a step forward, but at the same time allowing steps back to happen as long as we try to move forward again the next day.
Aside from basketball, her students have other areas in which they are educated. The value of community engagement is stressed through community service. They might even be able to help us with a project or two if asked. The students participate in a series about life after basketball in which they learn about things like financial literacy, car maintenance, how to write a thank you note and how to write a check.
A difference in college sports programs now is that most of the male participants and some of the women have agents. The women are about five years behind the men as far as earning power when they make a team but the potential is a reality. Universities supply some of that income but donors, and enhancement funds and excellence funds are also involved.
The season begins on November 2 and we sure wish Coach Recchia and her teams the very best!
BUSINESS MEETING:
Mary began by thanking Steve Dunton and Jeff Frye for getting us checked in this morning.
Announcements:
District Membership Event: Bob Oborn stressed information from the District Membership Committee of a September 17th event. He told us that in the first three years of membership we lose 70% of new members. So, in the hope of building connections, an event is being held on at Lions Park in Cuyahoga Falls at 6:00 p.m. Then at 7:00 the group will move to the Hi Ho Brewery for fellowship. Newer members are encouraged to attend but members who have been around longer also need to be there. Sponsors…can you invite those whom you brought in? Contact Bob Oborn for further information at 330-801-0159.
Emergency Response for Seniors: Bob also told us that our club and the City of Stow will be working on a pilot program along with Geauga County to work toward being part of an emergency response team for senior citizens in our community. This is all in cooperation with the City of Stow and with the help of Mayor Pribonic, and Mike Dunton. Please see the attachment for further information. Next week Bob will have a sign-up sheet for our participation at the Friday, September 25 event.
Football Books: Dick Hall says that the books are all sold and paid for. Thanks to everyone!
Reverse Raffle Tickets: Dick says that there are only about 40 tickets left for the October 14 event, so contact him for yours right away. Also, he is looking for the owner of ticket #74. If you have it, please contact him at 330-328-2776.
Foodbank: Steve Dunton reminded us to plan now to volunteer at the Foodbank on Wednesday, September 9 from 4:30-6:30. As many hands as possible are needed. Sign up next week!
Summer Sunset Blast: Steve told us we will be selling 50/50 tickets at the event on Labor Day weekend. Saturday the shifts will be in 2 ½ hour blocks and on Sunday, just 2 hour blocks. The Silver Springs Park event goes from 5:00-10:00 each day but we end when the fireworks begin on Sunday and our winner is announced. Sign up as you sign in.
Volunteers to Help for Teacher Supply Cupboard: John Pribonic needs 2-3 volunteers to help transport shelving that has been donated for the Teacher Supply Cupboard on Saturday from 8:30-noon. Contact him if you can help at 330-842-9687. Also, next Wednesday, August 26, help is needed sorting snacks for the Teacher Supply Cupboard. If you can help, please meet in the library at the high school at 4:00.
Stuff the Bus: Carrie Malotte reported via Annie Hanson-Hilaire that the project was a huge success and thanked everyone involved. They will look forward to giving a full report in the near future.
Drawing: The pot will continue to grow because the 2 of diamonds was drawn today.
Board Meeting Minutes: The August minutes are attached to these minutes. There is important information for everyone there. All members should have received revised by-laws last week, so please get rid of any by-laws earlier than August, 2026. Also, we are working to update everything that does not reflect that our dues are now $225, so please look before you distribute anything with the dues amount on it to make sure you have the current document.
Chamber Events: Julie McLain told us about two events. You can find out more complete information on both at the Chamber's website smfcc.com. The first is part of their Leadership Class and is the “Role of the Board With Non-Profit Leadership”. It is tomorrow from 1:00-4:00 at Stratford Place, 4301Darrow Rd. The event is free but registration is requested.
Then, their Golf Outing is Friday, August 28 at 8:30a.m. at Fox Den. Register by Friday, August 21 to guarantee your T-Shirt size. Registration is on their website smfcc.com.
Mary ended the meeting by leading us in the Rotary Four-Way Test.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Wednesday, August 26, 7:30 regular morning meeting at The Center when Bob Snyder will present the History of Rotary.
Wednesday, August 26, 4:00 at the high school library sort snacks for the Teacher Supply Cupboard.
Saturday and Sunday, September 5 and 6 from 5:00-10:00. We will sell 50/50 tickets.
Wednesday, September 9, 4:30-6:30 Foodbank Volunteer time.
Thursday, September 17, 6:00 p.m. District Membership Event at Lions Park in Cuyahoga Falls
Friday, September 11, 7:15 a.m. Board Meeting at City Hall
Friday, September 25 from 9:00 to noon "Emergency Response for Seniors at the Stow Community and Senior Center
Wednesday, September 29, Fifth Wednesday. No morning meeting
Wednesday, October 14, Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction at the Center in the evening.
Respectfully submitted,
Andy Denton