Youngstown Rotary Clatter - Tuesday April 1, 2025 (Mar. 30, 2025)

Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives through its Focus Areas

January is Vocational Service Month

This month Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives by helping to improve the lives of mothers and their children. Explore the possibilities with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at Wick Park or virtually via Zoom.

http://www.youngstownrotaryevent.com

The Zoom ID is: 3567145262

Rotary International Foundation | Rotary International

ROTARY THIS WEEK

Joan Stebelton is a middle grade fantasy author and attorney whose stories blend adventure, folklore, and heart. A graduate of Saint Charles School and Cardinal Mooney High School, she earned her history degree from The Ohio State University and her law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. She works as a corporate, real estate, and intellectual property attorney at Roetzel & Andress. In 2024, she was recognized as a Mahoning Valley 25 Under 35 honoree for her professional achievements and community impact. She lives with her husband in Canfield.

When she’s not practicing law, she writes magical, fast-paced novels filled with humor, friendship, and family under her maiden name, Joan Reardon. Her debut novel, The Grimsbane Family Witch Hunters, follows a girl’s dangerous mission to break a deadly family curse deep in a monster-infested forest. Her second novel, Dad Rock Dragon Quest, is a heartfelt fantasy adventure about a girl, her dad, and her mom’s new boyfriend teaming up to rescue a dragon from poachers.

This week’s menu: Cavatelli; meatballs; Italian greens; garlic bread; salad.

Rotary Last Week

New President Gerri Jenkins says her goals include increasing membership engagement through informative meetings, meaningful service projects, and enjoyable events.

Presiding at her first meeting on July 16, Gerri introduced the Board of Directors, who are: President-Elect Ellie Platt; Vice President Don Foley; Secretary Troy Rhoades; Treasurer Dominick Brown; Past President George Nelson; Sharon Letson, the club’s Rotary International Foundation chair; Stacia Erdos; Dionne Dowdy; Kevin Chiu; and Jessica Romeo.

Gerri also introduced the chairs and co-chairs of various committees. Among committee news, Elsa Higby said the Environmental Impact Committee is establishing goals; Stacia Erdos said Operation Warm will have its kickoff next month; and RaCole Taltoan will meet with the Youngstown City Schools superintendent about starting a Rotaract club.

Gerri said a pilot program will soon be launched to have one evening meeting per month in place of a Wednesday lunch meeting. This is in response to the Club Health Check a few months ago, in which membership engagement and increased transparency on club and district activities emerged as areas of concern. Livestreaming of meetings will move from the Zoom platform to Facebook Live, she noted.

A Fireside Chat, or new member orientation, will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the YSU Pollack House, 603 Wick Ave., AKA the President’s House. All members are encouraged to attend. Pizza, chicken, and salad will be served for dinner. Gerri said she will make cheesecake and encouraged attendees to provide more desserts.

Rotary Next Week

YSU English Festival Committee Co-Chairs Jeff Buchanan and Angela Messenger will be our guests on May 14 at Wick Park. After 47 years, the festival is such a strong draw that it takes three days to complete. Thousands of junior high and high school students from northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania hear from well-known authors; write essays; attend artistic performances and book discussions; and play language games. It’s all to promote reading and writing among our future authors and artists.

PARTY WITH PRESIDENT GEORGE

TAKE THE CLUB SURVEY

Attention Youngstown Rotarians!

Please complete the Rotary Club Health Check by May 15th. This will provide valuable insights to President-elect Gerri and her leadership team as they begin working on goals aimed at fostering greater club engagement and driving growth.

To participate, scan the QR code with your phone camera or click the link below to access the survey. The Health Check will only take about 15 minutes, so please set aside time to reflect on your responses thoughtfully. We encourage you to be as honest as possible, as all responses will remain anonymous.

Your time and feedback are incredibly important, and we truly appreciate your participation in shaping the future of our club!

Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTBoigd8YkpDIW_8JpQGvWBLs20m2pnNAfx-LT1UlMMZ7y1A/viewform?usp=sharing

SAVE THE DATE

Ireland and Scotland Rotary Trip Review by Ana Torres and Scott Schulick, July 30, Wick Park Pavilion.

Fireside Chat Orientation for New Members, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6, YSU President’s House, 603 Wick Ave. All members welcome; dinner provided; desserts requested.

Annual Steak Fry, Aug. 27; more details to follow.

A Sweet Outcome

RCY’s support of the Operation Pollination campaign is now in its third year.

To be clear, we didn’t start a conversation about the importance of pollination. We joined a global movement to call attention to the stresses on pollinating insects, birds, and mammals. We resolved to amplify the message about the threat to our fresh food supply. We use this column to share knowledge, best practices, and scientific reporting on the pollinator population.

The pressures persist. Just last month, Auburn University reported on a national survey of beekeepers that showed a 55.6 percent decline in honey bee colonies in the U.S. between April 2025 and last April.

What is the sum of the collective efforts of Rotary clubs, environmentalists, farmers, and news media outlets? Do people care?

Yes, definitely. Here is an example from our own backyard, courtesy of employees of the Mahoning County Land Bank.

Employees of Steel Valley Contractors were preparing to demolish an empty house on Columbiana Canfield Road recently when they discovered bee hives inside a wall. The hives appeared to be well established – raw honey was rolling down the wall’s surface!

Brian Cappelli of Steel Valley Contractors quickly decided to have the beehives relocated. Dianna Perrico of Columbiana Mahoning County Beekeepers Association rescued the bees from the demo site. Afterward, Cappelli told a Land Bank employee that he was aware of honeybee population challenges.

Take note, and take heart. We can make a difference.

TUESday, april 1, 2025