Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives through its Focus Areas
This month Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives through Rotary Fellowship. Explore the possibilities with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at Wick Park or virtually via Zoom.
This weeks speaker is Dan Madden , better known as “Dan the Funeral Man!” Dan is the owner of Stark Memorial Funeral Home in Salem, Ohio, and has recently become an internet sensation thanks to his unique and entertaining funeral-themed online show. Bringing humor, personality, and a fresh perspective to an industry most people don’t talk about, Dan has gained attention far beyond the Mahoning Valley. He even recently took his talents to the runway at New York Fashion Week!
Dan has two kids and is married to Claudia Kovach of City Machine Technologies in Downtown Youngstown.
Menu Shredded Chicken Burrito, Spanish Rice, Coleslaw, Vegetarian Burrito
Does your Committee have a message they need to get out, an event they want to promote or something for the Clatter? Please email our Communication Commit at communication@YoungstownRotary.com
Rotary Last Week
Rotary International observes Community and Economic Development Month in October, and so RCY invited a strong partner to be its presenter on Oct. 7.
Valley Economic Development Partners is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that focuses on small businesses and underserved communities. It offers free technical assistance and a Business Resource Center to help entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses. It partners with local and state governments, along with other financial institutions, to offer an array of flexible lending programs.
Teresa Miller, executive director, brought her entire team and capped off the visit with a special presentation. The Valley Partners annual golf outing this year included a 50-50 drawing to benefit RCY's Operation Warm campaign. Miller gave RCY President Ellie Platt and Operation Warm Co-Chairs Dave Stillwagon and Stacia Erdos a check for $3,000. Thank you, Valley Partners, for all that you do!
In other news, President Ellie dusted off the Rotary song books and led the first of many sing-alongs -- a RI tradition. Honorary member Tess Trucksis was celebrated for 37 years of membership. Samantha Turner, Put Kids First chairwoman, is seeking mentors for city students starting in January. Also, YSU President Bill Johnson earned his round membership badge. Congratulations!
Looking ahead, Little Free Library stewards will join us for lunch on Oct. 21 at Wick Park. Stop by Penguin City at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 22 for Pints for Polio, where buying one glass of beer will be leveraged into a $6 contribution to RI's End Polio Now initiative. The Beerfest logistics committee will meet at 4 p.m. Nov. 2 at West Side Bowl on Mahoning Avenue; all are welcome. Finally, save the evening of Dec. 9 for RCY's annual Holiday Party, which will take us to Miracle on Federal downtown.
America 250: Ignite the Night Update
We're just days away from Ignite the Night on Sunday, July 5, and excitement is building!
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our club, the Youngstown Rotary Club has committed $40,000 as the event's Presenting Sponsor. Even more impressive, Ignite the Night has now secured more than $107,000 in cash and in-kind support from sponsors and community partners, making this community celebration possible.
Rotary will have a strong presence throughout the evening. Be sure to stop by our booth for free America 250 giveaways, including fireworks viewing glasses, DIY kites, tote bags, and coloring books. You'll also spot our inflatable Rotary wheel and Rotary-branded LED foam sticks helping light up the festivities.
Volunteer Information
Thank you to everyone who has signed up to volunteer! A detailed volunteer email, including schedules and assignments, will be sent on Thursday.
Volunteer check-in will take place at the Wean Park entrance near the food trucks. All volunteers will receive an official event T-shirt and enjoy access to the VIP hospitality area, featuring refreshments, snacks, and a private cocktail bar while taking in the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra performance and the evening's spectacular fireworks display.
If you'd still like to volunteer, please contact Ellie Platt at eplatt79@gmail.com by Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Because VIP hospitality space is limited, we won't be able to accommodate additional volunteers after that deadline.
Thank you for helping Youngstown Rotary make Ignite the Night an unforgettable celebration for our community!
Event Schedule
6:00 PM – Doors Open
6:45 PM – Walk of Fame Inductee Presentation (Billy Beck & Rick Ward)
Freeman Court Parking Lot (Directly North of Wean Park)
ADA Parking – Amphitheatre Parking Lot (adjacent to the venue)
Free Shuttle Service
Continuous shuttle service will operate from 6:00PM – 11:00 PM and after the event from:
M70 Parking Lot (YSU Campus)
Stambaugh Auditorium Parking Lots
SAVE THE DATE
Little Free Library Appreciation Luncheon, October 21 2026 at Wick Pavilion, 12pm - 1pm
Pints Vs Polio, October 22nd, 5:30pm - 7:30pm, Penguin City Brewing, 460 E. Federal St, Youngstown, OH
Veterans Day Celebration: District 6650, November 11th, 05:00pm - 09:00pm, MAPS Museum, 2260 International Pkwy, North Canton, OH, 44720, Register
Elisha is traveling this week so please enjoy a rerun of her favorite Operation Pollination story so far this year.
Elayne Bozic provided pictures of a Monarch going through metamorphosis on her front porch.
The Tansformation Process
It takes 10-14 days for an adult monarch butterfly to form in the chrysalis, warmer whether speeds up the process, while cooler weather slows it down.
The "J" Shape is the first stage, where the fully grown caterpillar stops eating and hangs upside down from a secure surface looking like the letter J.
On around Day 2 the caterpillar’s skin drops off revealing a soft bright green chrysalis.
The Hardening phase takes a few hours to transform the soft casing into a hardened waxy shell.
The Clear stage seems like a misnomer, because the colour of the shell looks black and orange, however the shell becomes clear a day or two before the change is complete and what you’re seeing is the black and orange patterns of the butterfly’s wings through the casing.
Once hatched the Monarch Butterflies will migrate south to warmer climates. In Ohio, the friends of the National Wildlife Refuge are hosting Monarch hikes around Port Clinton and Oak harbor, so visitors can have a chance to view the butterflies as they start on this journey. During the day the butterflies fly individually, but keep your eyes peeled for roosting monarchs at night as they gather in trees together in the hundreds and even thousands.
What can we do to help our Monarch Butterfly friends as they prepare for their long journey? Leave your late-blooming flowers in place until after the first frist, that way migrating Butterflies will have plenty of nectar to fuel themselves for their trip.
June 30, 2010: A “special” Rotary meeting was held at Henry Bertolini’s bedside with RCY Presidents Steve Kristan, Elayne Bozick, and Mary Womble to ensure Henry’s 63rd consecutive year of perfect attendance.
