Rotary International asks us to Imagine Rotary through our Focus Areas
This month Rotary International asks us to Imagine Rotary by developing new members. Explore the possibilities with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at Wick Park or virtually via Zoom.
The second installment in a ClubRunner tutorial will be offered Wednesday when the club meets at noon at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, 305 Wick Ave. Bring a device – phone, laptop or tablet – so you can work while learning how to use ClubRunner’s event, committee and email tools. Deb Esbenshade will discuss how members can achieve perfect attendance and what counts as attendance besides our weekly lunch meetings.
The next Fireside Chat, a mandatory orientation for new members, will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23 at the downtown home of Gregg and Deanna Rossi. Veteran members are invited as well. A registration link is available on WhatsApp.
The next Rotary Happy Hour with Downtown Youngstown Partnership will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at Prima Cucina Italiana, 103 W. Federal St. These summer gatherings are for business owners, residents and supporters of downtown Youngstown. Great networking opportunity! A cash bar and light appetizers will be provided.
Last Week's Meeting
President Deanna Rossi and Scott Schulick walked members through ClubRunner, the online communication platform that Rotarians use in various ways. You can download the ClubRunner app from the App Store. To get a username and password for ClubRunner, go to www.youngstownrotary.com, click member login, and then click new user. Once you have logged in, you can review and update your membership data as needed, access contact info of other club members, and search for upcoming events.
Special guest Joey Constantine of Lakeview Schools in Cortland gave an enjoyable presentation about his participation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. Joey, 14, is entering eighth grade. He won the annual 21 WFMJ Regional Spelling Bee in March and was sponsored by the TV station to advance to the national Bee in National Harbor, MD. He finished in a tie for 23rd place.
Members Elayne Bozick and Josh Prest represented RCY at a luncheon by the Rotary Club of Cleveland on Aug. 17 and met speaker Stephanie Urchick, Rotary International President 2024-25. Urchick also planned to attend the Cleveland Guardians baseball game that evening – it was an End Polio Now fundraiser for Districts 6650, 6630 and 6600 – but it was postponed because of weather. Luke Politsky said the RCY members who gathered for the game enjoyed themselves nonetheless.
Also, globetrotter Jessica Romeo attended a meeting of the Rotary Club of Dublin, Ireland, last week.
RCY ANNUAL CLUB STEAK FRY
For longtime members, the Steak Fry is one of the most beloved annual events. For newer members, it is a great way to become part of one of the club's longest standing traditions and meet fellow members. It is a wonderful night of food, fellowship and friendship. Spouses and guests are welcome. The Steak Fry will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Pioneer Pavilion on Horseshoe Bend in Mill Creek MetroParks, 870 Old Furnace Road, Youngstown OH 44511.
During its meeting on Aug. 10, the Rotary Club of Youngstown Board of Directors voted to approve the following amendment to the club bylaws:
“A majority vote of the board shall control on all decisions of the management of the board. Only the president and the president-elect shall be authorized to enter into a contract between the club and any other entity only upon prior board authorization. No member shall be authorized to enter into a contract on behalf of the Rotary Club of Youngstown.”
Club members will vote on the amendment during the weekly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Please make every effort to attend.
WANTED - YOUR FEEDBACK
The RCY Board is seeking members’ input as it relates to our Wednesday meetings. Your answers to these questions and additional comments will be valuable to club leaders as to whether changes or potential enhancements will improve the weekly meeting experience.
Every active RCY member should have received the link in their email accounts last week. This survey will be open until Sept. 11, 2023.
SAVE THE DATE
Traveling Groundhog Craft Beer Review (First Edition), 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, Paladin Brewing, 6520 Mahoning Ave., Suite 300, Austintown, including Jack Kravitz vs. Trina Willians in a Roll Throwdown (samples of Jack’s phyllo dough mini savory strudel and Trina’s gourmet rolls).
Operation Pollination Planting Day, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, YWCA Mahoning Valley, 25 W. Rayen Ave. Wear OP T-shirts!
Montana Young People, Ages 5-22, Win Landmark Climate Case
A group of young people in Montana, ranging in age from 5 to 22, decided to fight for their future in court — and they won!
They were plaintiffs in Held v. Montana, and went up against a provision in the Montana Environmental Policy Act that prevented the state from considering the climate when approving fossil fuel projects. They argued that the provision went against the Montana state constitution, which guarantees them the right to a “clean and healthful environment.”
Last week, the judge presiding over the case ruled in their favor. “This is a huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate,” Julia Olson, the executive director of Our Children’s Trust, which brought the case, told The Washington Post. “More rulings like this will certainly come.”
The case was the nation’s first constitutional and first youth-led climate lawsuit to go to trial, and the victory could have major implications for the environment beyond the Big Sky State. Ultimately, though, the plaintiffs were primarily looking to protect the places and the people they love.
“This is a case out of love,” 19-year-old Grace Gibson-Snyder previously told The Post. “And a certain amount of fear, for sure. But the fear of loss comes from our love for these places.”
Editor's note:In June 2020, The Rotary Foundation Trustees and the Rotary International Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the Environment as the seventh Area of Focus.
THIS WEEK IN ROTARY HISTORY
August 22, 1989: The Rotary Club of Youngstown committed $3,000 to fund downtown Youngstown's “Party on the Plaza” events.
CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION
Birthdays:
Suzanne Fleming 8/28
Anniversaries:
Ra'Cole Taltoan 8/23
Stacia Erdos Littleton 8/24
Proposed New Member:
Julius Oliver
Business Owner and First Ward City Councilman
Sponsor: Deanna Rossi
As a teenager Oliver volunteered with his church and, upon graduation, joined the United States Army, serving for six years as a member of the Army’s Engineer Corps. In 2008, Oliver started Kingly Hand Wash and Wax, a full-service car wash. He has been the First Ward Councilman since January 2016.
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