Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives through its Focus Areas
This month Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives by promoting peace in our community. Explore the possibilities with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at Wick Park or virtually via Zoom.
The Rotary Club of Youngstown’s President’s Party honoring George Nelson is drawing close, and the early bird deadline is even closer! Register by Wednesday and you’ll pay $25 per member, $75 per guest. Prices will increase after Wednesday, so act now! See below for the registration link and more information.
URGENT: House Committee members Jack Kravitz, John Fahnert and Pete Herman will be away on June 18. Someone needs to train with them this week to fill in next week. The House Committee starts at about 11 a.m. Wednesdays by setting up the greeting table and stage; collects lunch payments and sells 50-50 drawing tickets ahead of the meeting; and oversees the drawing at meeting’s end. Please help!
This week’s program: Wide Open Wednesday
This week’s menu: Chicken parmesan; pasta with traditional red sauce; caesar salad; vegetarian option available.
Rotary Last Week
If you didn’t attend the June 4 meeting, then you missed a very informative presentation about the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station by Capt. Donnie Hatheway III and Senior Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr. Here are some highlights:
More than 2,200 military personnel, civil servants, and contractors work there, making the base a top three employer in the Mahoning Valley
The 910th is the only unit with the U.S. Department of Defense’s to do large area aerial spraying for insect control, vegetation control on bombing ranges, and oil spill neutralization
The ongoing transition from C-130 Hercules to C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft at YARS represents an investment of nearly $1 billion by the federal government.
In other news, District Governor Elayne Bozick shared that members Justin Froelich and Frank Kishel installed the club’s 52nd Little Free Library that morning. Also, Ra’Cole Taltoan talked about the launch of the new Youth Entrepreneurship & Civic Engagement Program for students ages 14 to 18, beginning June 16 at the Public Library Main Branch, 305 Wick Ave. Sessions about learning how to launch a business and become community leaders will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays through July 15.
SUPPORT OUR SYMPHONY
The Youngstown Symphony will perform a concert, “Symphonic Superheroes,” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 2, at Stambaugh Auditorium. The program will feature classics such as Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” and Rossini’s “William Tell Overture” in addition to recent themes from more superhero films.
Dani Dier at Stambaugh is offering our club an opportunity to purchase 10 tickets or more at a rate of $20.50 per ticket (for 10 tickets or more) plus only charge a $20 flat service fee for the bulk order rather than $7 per ticket. Also, tickets for children/students will be free as part of Rotary’s package. President-Elect Gerri Jenkins is the club’s point of contact. Reach out to her by Friday to order tickets and arrange payment.
Rotary also has the opportunity to set up a display table in the lobby before the concert. Please let Gerri know if you can help at the table. Stambaugh is assembling gift bags for kids, to which RCY can contribute. The deadline to deliver items to Stambaugh is Wednesday.
ATHENA AWARD NOMINEE
Congratulations to Dionne Dowdy Lacey, executive director of United Returning Citizens, for being nominated for the 34th Annual ATHENA Award. This recognition is for women “who excel in their chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community in a meaningful way and also open doors so that others may follow in their path,” the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber states in its announcement. All nominees will be recognized, and the 2025 recipient will be announced, at an award dinner on May 15 at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield.
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.
IN MEMORIAM
Services were Feb. 22 in St. Edward Church for Jeanne Foley, who died at age 95. She was the mother of longtime Rotarian Don Foley, to whom we extend condolences. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald E. Foley. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Edward Parish and the Don & Jeanne Foley Scholarship Fund at Ursuline High School.
SAVE THE DATE
Year in Review by President George Nelson, June 18, Wick Park Pavilion
Valley Christian School Athletic Director Dolph Carroll on South High Field House Project, June 25, Wick Park Pavilion
President’s Party, 6 p.m. July 2, Youngstown Country Club (no noon meeting)
Promoting the Pollinators
By Equitable Food Initiative
Pollinator Week 2025 will be observed June 16 to 22.
Pollinator Week is a vital opportunity to raise awareness about the essential role pollinators play in our ecosystems and food systems. In a country where chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides are used daily, it’s more important than ever to cultivate conscious growers and informed consumers who can help protect these small but mighty creatures that make a big difference in the world.
Between 75% and 95% of all flowering plants on the earth need help with pollination – they need pollinators. Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180,000 different plant species and 1,200 crops. That means one in three bites of food you eat is there because of pollinators.
Pollinators are essential for many fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Crops like almonds, apples, blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and melons². Without pollinators, these crops would have lower yields, poorer quality, or might not grow at all.
Amplify the message and incorporate the hashtags #BeeTheChange #PollinatorsFeedAmerica and #AgNeedsPollinators.
The Equitable Food Initiative created a toolkit to raise awareness about the many different types of pollinators beyond the beloved honey bees and butterflies, and how they contribute to our food system, farmers’ livelihoods, and the U.S. economy. Use these resources to engage your community, spark conversations, and promote pollinator-friendly actions! Check out the graphics, guides, quiz and shareable resources at Pollinator Week - Equitable Food Initiative.
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