TUESday, august 25, 2026

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. 

How can we memorialize a "legacy member" of the Rotary Club of Youngstown? That is the challenge ahead of us concerning the late Atty. Robert Manchester, 50 years after he served as president of Rotary International. Scott Schulick and Bill Lawson presented a summary of Manchester's life as a husband, father, practicing attorney, and community member. Manchester was extremely active and served many organizations at local and national levels — the U.S. Chamber, boards of education, the March of Dimes, and board of health among them. He also was a double Eagle Scout and a 33rd degree Mason. Manchester's leadership of RI from 1976 to 1977 is "the highest honor of this club," Schulick said. Should we install a marker in a prominent place? Rename a local landmark after him? This is an open conversation. Schulick and Lawson will make a second presentation on Manchester later.

In other news, the Membership Committee needs more people power as we prepare to welcome new members in the pipeline. See Jack Kravitz, Elayne Bozick, or Gerri Jenkins for information.

Troy Rhoades and Jessica Romeo also need committee members to work on sponsorships for Beerfest '27. It will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at Stambaugh Auditorium. The first hour will be for VIPs only. Expect to hear more about volunteer opportunities during this, our biggest annual fundraiser.

Our Operation Warm Kick Off was a huge success with a wonderful turn out; great music by Hoss & the Juggernauts, and food from local food trucks. Thank you to our sponsor JC's Landscaping & The Tree Dudes, and to everyone who gave a donation to our cause. This year our goal is $32,000 in order to ensure that we are able to help more schools in the Youngstown District. 

Ohio is known for its fair share of crazy storms (especially this summer), but have you ever wondered how they impact pollinators? Severe storms, high winds, and heavy rainfall negatively impact pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds by causing physical injury or displacement, destroying critical floral resources, diluting flower nectar, and degrading pollen viability.

For centuries honey bees have been the original meteorologist, able to detect shifts in the air pressure before a storm, the bees will scramble to return to their hives before a storm hits. 

When storms hit, strong winds and heavy rain can injure or displace bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators. Many seek shelter close to the ground, beneath leaves, in grasses, shrubs, or on the protected sides of trees. Storms can also disrupt pollination itself. Heavy rain may physically damage flowers and increase the risk of disease. Rain can dilute the nectar that flowers provide as a food reward, making them less attractive to pollinators. Strong winds may also carry insects far from their normal feeding areas, leaving gardens quieter even after the storm has passed.

Planting native plants and pollinators in your garden is an important step towards helping our pollinators during inclement weather seasons. A storm may pass in hours, but its effects on pollinators and pollination can last much longer. Supporting healthy pollinator gardens is one way we can help these essential creatures recover and return to our landscapes.

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