ATTENDANCE: Rich Bedell, Bill Choler, Dave Christman, Roger Cline, Don Coughlin, Andy Denton, Mary Dula, Steve Dunton, Elizabeth Eaken, Ray Evans, Mark Ferguson, Jeff Film, Christina Gary, Dick Hall, Annie Hanson Hilaire, Brad Jagger, Carrie Leising, Tom Loepp, Karen Monbeck, Gail Moseley, Bob Oborn, John Pribonic, Dave Renninger, Olivia Saltzmann, Amanda Steinheiser, J.T. Stimler, Steven Stimmel, Bob Sweitzer, Ron Taggart, Marty Tass, Kelly Toppin, Linda Trevorrow, Marissa Williams and guests Sue Figler, Pat Hanson and our speaker Bob Heydorn.
President, Linda Trevorrow led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to open the meeting. Roger Cline followed with a meaningful invocation.
CELEBRATIONS:
Happy Bucks:
Bob Heydorn expressed appreciation for being with us this morning,
Bob Oborn is glad that their dog, C.J. goes for obedience training in two weeks, especially since he ran from Annette and was nearly hit by a car.
Birthdays: We sang to Tom Loepp, Ray Evans and Gail Moseley this morning. Our intentions were good but our voices....not so much.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Adopt-A-Spot: Linda and Marty weeded, but there is still work for others to do. Let Marty know if you spend time there so that you will get credit for a make up.
Clean up Stow Day will take place on August 29. Watch for further details but it could be a time we could serve our community with appropriate social distancing.
Teacher Supply Closet: Lisa put an article in the Chamber's newsletter looking for potential drop-off spots for supplies. Contact Lisa Toppin, Carrie Leising, Marissa Williams or Olivia Saltzmann if you know of a sheltered spot where people can go to drop off donations. Two suggestions that will be researched are the library and the scout headquarters building. Linda offered the lobby of her building. We will post a list when we know where the drop-off places will be.
Breakfast Money: So far in July $1231 has been collected for this fund. In line with members' suggestions, the money will be divided between the Akron Canton Foodbank, Ronald McDonald House and Bulldog Bags. If you wish to donate for this month or next, your check can be sent to Annette Oborn, 381 Silver Valley Blvd.,Munroe Falls OH 44262.
Shoebox Project: As we have in other years, we will be filling boxes for "Children of the Dump" in Nicaragua. This time it will be 25 boxes for six year old boys. If you would like to shop, send Bob Oborn an e-mail at boborn@lkentelastomer.com and he will send you the list of what to purchase. If you would rather donate money and have someone else shop, you may donate $30 per box. Your check should be made out to The Stow-Munroe Falls Rotary Foundation and sent to P.O. Box 1352, Stow, OH 44224. The boxes will be due back to the club by August 15.
PROGRAM:
Roger Cline, who has volunteered in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program for many years, began his introduction of the speaker with his "Happiness Moment" for this week. It will be to greet everyone he meets with a smile and to be particularly appreciative to store clerks.
He then introduced our speaker, Bob Haydorn. who received the district's "Service Above Self Award" this year for his work with the Youth Exchange Program. His daughter was an exchange student and described her time abroad as being the bes year of her life.
There are both long-term and short-term programs offered by Rotary. In the long-term program, the high school student from here goes to another country, usually for 10 months, They live with a thoroughly veted Rotarian host family who provides their room and board. The outbound student's family is responsible for their travel expense, spending money, Rotary medical insurance and an emergency fund of $300. They are approved to be a part of the program by the local Rotary district.
If a student comes to this county from another country, they can expect a variety of experiences, from school to learning about the culture of the local area and of America. Part of the hope of having students here is to dispel some of their American impressions they have learned from television. They discover there are more similarities than differences among people of different cultures.
The short-term program involves a student from the U.S. spending 4 weeks in another county and then bringing a student from that family here for 4 weeks. Carrie's daughter, Sienna, participated a year ago.
The goal of all of these programs is to build peace, one student at a time. Of course the programs are all on hold during the time of this pandemic,but hopefully the program will continue beginning in January of 2021. It is not too early for the application process to begin.
MEETING ENDING
Karen Monbeck sent us out with a great joke about ice fishing. If you didn't attend today, give her a call and she can tell you the whole joke.
Elizabeth Eaken will be responsible for the joke next week.
Linda closed the meeting by sending us out to serve.
Submitted by Andy Denton