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 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.
Don’t miss this Wide Open Wednesday! Enter your sweet treat in the Great Rotary Bake Off, a fundraiser for our club’s Rotary Peace Poles project. Rotarians can sample the desserts for a suggested donation of $5, and then vote on the best entry.
To top it off, the Beerfest committee will announce the final financial figures from this year’s event. Be prepared to be impressed.
This week’s menu: Taco bar with ground beef, chicken and vegetables; nachos and cheese; and salsa. See you Wednesday at Wick Park!
Reminders: For those who pre-registered, the annual Tri-Service Club Luncheon with speaker Bob DiBiasio of the Cleveland Guardians will be Thursday at the downtown YMCA. Friday will be the last day to submit a project for points toward winning the district-wide Operation Pollination Challenge.
Have you signed up for the District 6650 Conference? The deadline has been extended to May 19. We will celebrate the leadership of our District Governor and fellow Rotarian, Elayne Bozick, on May 24 at the Tyler History Center. Scan the QR code in this newsletter to complete your registration.
Rotary Last Week
Jim Kinnick, executive director of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, grew up on Youngstown’s West Side. His local roots and prior experience as an engineer with the Ohio Department of Transportation inform his ongoing work.
Eastgate received a $979,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to study the Madison Avenue Expressway, which at 12,000 cars per day is underutilized, he said. The study is a first step in a long process of identifying alternatives to the expressway. When the study is completed in about two years, Kinnick said he expects three to five concepts that will improve transportation, especially in the way that the original infrastructure negatively impacted cut-off neighborhoods.
Eastgate has been a partner in closing the digital gap locally. Kinnick said broadband connection problems in Mahoning and Trumbull counties are being solved. Eastgate also supports affordable housing development locally. “We can’t continue to track new jobs without housing options in place,” he said.
In other news, two members were recognized as multiple Paul Harris Fellows. Bonnie Burdman was congratulated for reaching PHF +4 status, and Barbara Brothers was applauded for her PHF +7 level. The PHF is awarded to Rotarians who personally contribute $1,000 or more each year to the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, PolioPlus Partners or the Humanitarian Grants program. Congratulations, Bonnie and Barbara!
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.
INTERACT UPDATE
Rotary International sponsors Interact, a youth service club program. In Youngstown, 21 students at Potential Development High School are demonstrating Service Above Self.
These Interact members have been working in groups of 4 at Our Community Kitchen on Wednesday mornings. Students help by rolling silverware, cleaning tables, packing lunches, and more.
Earlier this month, Interact students also spent several mornings filling more than 2,100 plastic eggs in preparation for an Easter egg hunt at the PD Preschool and Elementary schools.
Recently, they organized a Baby Shower for the benefit of Sojourner House, a domestic violence shelter. Students asked PD staff and board members to donate baby supplies, clothing, toys, and books for 14 children and their families in residence there. Two Sojourner House staff members visited with the Interact Club, explained what they do at the shelter, and described how the donations collected would help support the families. “We had an overwhelming response to the students’ donation request, and all of the items barely fit in the [Sojourner] van,” said Shellie Ducheck of the PD staff, who also submitted a photo of the donated goods. “We are so proud of each student who participates in the PD Interact Club. They take their volunteer work very seriously all while learning life skills and helping the community.”
Interact Club members will continue weekly visits to Our Community Kitchen as well as volunteering at Angels for Animals and the Youngstown Community Food Center through the end of the current school year.
Congratulations to the Potential Development Interact Club!
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!
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), with its spikes of trumpet-like red flowers, is named for the vivid hue of a Roman Catholic cardinal’s robe. Cardinal flowers will bloom during summer and sometimes into fall. The bright color and sweet nectar attract many species of hummingbirds, as well as butterflies.This native perennial grows in morning sun and afternoon shade. It can reach heights of 3 to 4 feet, requires average soil moisture, and is moderately deer resistant.
Bumble Feast Natives, owned by Rotarian Elsa Higby, is cultivating Cardinal Flowers for sale at the first Pollinator Palooza Festival from 9 a.m. to noon May 10 at Mahoning Soil & Water Conservation District, 850 Industrial Road, Youngstown, 44509. Co-sponsors are Operation Pollination, Mahoning County Land Bank, and OSU Extension Mahoning County. Admission is free. Join vendors and community partners as they celebrate planting for pollinators.
April 29, 1946: Rotary Club of Youngstown Past President Atty. Robert A. Manchester was installed as the first Governor of the newly-designated Rotary District 158.
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