Monday, March 27, 2023

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 preserving access to fresh water and quality sanitation in our communityExplore 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

This Week's Meeting

Wick Park Pavilion was damaged during the weekend wind storm and will not be available to us Wednesday. The meeting is being relocated to the Main Branch of the Public Library of Youngstown, 305 Wick Ave. Access parking from Rayen Avenue or Walnut Street. 
 
Please, spread the word! Call or text your Rotarian friends now to share the news. 
 
As for the program, March is National Reading Month and a great occasion to recognize dozens of community members who serve as stewards of our LIttle Free Library boxes throughout greater Youngstown. We will meet these volunteers and thank them for their dedication. We’ll send each of them home with a bag of books to keep those boxes full. We are expecting as many as 30 guests, so arrive early and give them a warm welcome!
 

Last Week's Meeting

"We have unsung heroes all over Youngstown”, commented Deborah Cunningham, program manager for AmeriCorps VISTA, or Volunteers in Service to America. Much like Rotary, AmeriCorps volunteers work in communities to improve the lives of others and foster civic engagement through service to others.
 
The VISTA program is a component of the overall AmeriCorps program, which focuses on six key areas to make an impact:
  • Education
  • Economic opportunity
  • Disaster services
  • Environmental stewardship
  • Healthy futures
  • Veterans and military families
AmeriCorps is a federal agency that manages funds for a variety of programs, and operates in areas where poverty rates are higher than average. Programs differ in length and service terms. Some positions are full-time and some are part-time. 
 
Several other programs are components of AmeriCorps besides VISTA, including National Civilian Conservation Corps (NCCC); Retired Senior Volunteer Services (RSVP) and several senior grandparent, foster, and companionship programs. 
 
VISTAs are system builders, working behind the scenes with non-profit organizations to help with fundraising, marketing, volunteer management, assessment, and partnership building. 
 
Laura, who works with Deborah as a site manager in the Notre Dame Mission Volunteer program, focuses on supporting community service and changing lives through education. She provides support in a variety of learning environments, seeks to improve access to education in order to help them reach their full potential. Laura works in local sites such as ACTION, Oak Hill Collaborative, Rich Center, thrive Mahoning Valley, and Ursuline Ministries. 

Rayen Ave Cleanup Photos

Boys and Girls Club Cleanup

The home base of the Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown – founded by RCY decades ago – is being renovated on Oak Hill Avenue. The work will stretch into summer and necessitate the relocation of BGCY’s summer activities to the McGuffey Center, 1649 Jacobs Road.
 
The McGuffey Center needs some “muscle and love,” according to RCY President Sharon Letson. So, put on your work clothes and join us on Saturday, April 15, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the East Side.
 

Spring Arts Festival

The second annual Spring Arts Festival at Youngstown City School District brings the Rotary Club of Youngstown, Students Motivated By the Arts and the city schools under the Operation Pollination umbrella, all endeavoring to expand public support to create and support pollinator habitats. 
 
SMARTS provided lesson plans by grade level for English Language Arts teachers, who are encouraging their students to create original art that educates the public on the risks associated with a decline in pollinators and how to reverse the trend. Students’ art projects emerge from all five arts disciplines: visual art, music, dance, theater, and creative writing. 
 
Students will take field trips to SMARTS from April 18 to 20. The festival will be open to the public on Saturday, April 22, at SMARTS, where students’ art works will be on display. 
 
Rotarians may support the festival in many ways, as follows: 
  • Volunteers are needed to pick up students’ art works at schools between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. April 3 and April 6; 
  • Volunteers can set up displays at SMARTS, time and date to be determined; 
  • Volunteers may assist on field trip days between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. April 18-20;
  • Volunteers will help during the community open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 22;
  • Sponsorships of $250, $500 and $1,000 bring the project to life and nurture its continued growth in Youngstown city schools; 
  • Volunteers will transport art works from SMARTS back to schools April 25-27.
Sponsors may call Becky Keck at 330-574-2787 or email her at bkeck@smartsartschool.org. Contact Sarah Gabrick, SMARTS assistant director, at sgabrick@smartsartschool.org or call 330-574-2787 for volunteer information.

Ukraine Trip and Assistance

Some RCY members are planning to travel to Krakow, Poland and potentially into Ukraine for humanitarian purposes between June 9 and June 17. Contact Josh Prest if you would like to make the trip.
 
Our club will hold a fundraiser in the coming few months to raise money to purchase Individual First Aid Kits, or IFAKs, for use by Ukrainian troops serving on the front lines and civilians being targeted by Russian forces. Approximate cost per kit is $125. An IFAK will be displayed at an upcoming meeting. Club travelers will either take those kits with them to Poland to pack with our partner, Operation White Stork, or donate the funds directly to White Stork to purchase the kits at cost, with travelers assisting with assembly.
 
Donors will be encouraged to write notes that will accompany the kits. White Stork will likely share videos from the soldiers thanking the club and members for the kits. To learn more about Operation White Stork’s work in Ukraine, go to https://operationwhitestork.org/.

 

Manu on the Move

Manu, RCY’s Exchange Student, finished her basketball season at Cardinal Mooney High School and has pivoted to a spring sport: Lacrosse!
You may not understand the game, but we know what it means to Manu to have supporters in the stands. The season has just begun. See the team schedule and attend a match when possible.
 

Ernst Conservation Seed, Meadville, PA

Ernst Conservation Seeds will service eastern North America with key native and naturalized species of plants for restoration, reclamation, conservation, wildlife and pollinator habitat enhancement, renewable biomass energy and the beautification of our nation.
 
 
They identify, collect, and propagate new species and ecotypes that meet these needs from eastern Canada to Southeastern United States.
 
Their native seeds are produced from keystone species most effective in helping to restore a sustainable habitat.
 
All of their seeds are harvested, conditioned, and tested under the highest quality standards.
 
In addition to 10,000 acres of native seed production at Ernst, they also supply seed from some of North America’s top producers and collectors.
 
Ernst Conservation Seeds and its suppliers collect, grow and process all of our products in an ecologically sustainable and renewable manner.
 
For a catalog and more resources from this neighboring business, please visit https://www.ernstseed.com/resources/
 

Travel to Australia in ‘24!

“Highlights of Australia and New Zealand with an extension to Fiji” will be the next international travel opportunity sponsored by the Rotary Club of Youngstown through EF Go Ahead Tours.
 
The 2024 adventure will be an active itinerary with 4 internal flights that allows you to see the best of Australia and New Zealand in 15 days (18 days including Fiji). This itinerary includes a just-right mix of guided tours and group meals, plus free time so you can explore your own interests at your own pace. 
 
The full details of this fabulous tour including day-by-day itinerary, optional excursions, and price are here.
 
 

East Palestine Disaster Relief

The ramifications of the train derailment in East Palestine will be felt indefinitely. While District 6650 finalizes its plans to provide relief, persons who want to act now may consider providing help through The Way Station, a nonprofit organization in Columbiana. Learn more at www.thewaystationinc.org .

THIS WEEK IN ROTARY HISTORY

March 26, 1985: Youngstown Rotarians approved a motion to resume sponsorship of the Youngstown Charity Horse Show at the Canfield Fairgrounds.
 
CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION
 
 
Birthdays:
  • Roxanne Bohach- March 28
  • Liz Shobel - March 28
  • Scott Schulick - March 30
Anniversaries: 
  • Melissa Bateman - 1 Year
  • Charles McCrudden - 63 years
 
The Four-Way Test
 
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
 
Save the Date:
 
  • Save the date! On Thursday, April 20, at the Downtown YMCA, Bob DiBiasio, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Cleveland Guardians, will make his annual visit to update us on the upcoming baseball season. This is a joint event of Rotary Club of Youngstown, Youngstown Lions Club, and Youngstown Kiwanis. 
    Cost is $10 per person. See President Sharon to reserve your seat. 
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Club Information

Welcome to Youngstown Rotary

Service Above Self

Wednesdays at 12:00 PM
Wick Park Pavilion
260 Park Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44504
United States of America
Phone:
(330) 743-8630
Connect through Zoom: http://www.youngstownrotaryevent.com/
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