Librarian Aimee Fifarek brings a wealth of experience to Rotary Club of Youngstown, and has a few good stories about her brushes with fame. Don’t wait for the book – read this now!

Name: Aimee Fifarek                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Years in Rotary: 2.5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 
Resident of: Canfield                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
 
Hometown: Marinette, WI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
 
How long have you lived here? 3 years in December.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 
What brought you here? Being Executive Director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Education: Master's Degrees in English and Library and Information Science. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Occupation: Librarian       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Who is in your family circle? My husband, Jason Boland              
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
Do you have any pets? No. We had two cats - Simon and Mew -  but have not been emotionally prepared for pets since they left us.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
When you are not working, how do you like to spend your time? Yoga, step aerobics, cooking (which is why we need the yoga and step aerobics), gardening, and nerding out on all things sci-fi.  And yes, reading.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Why did you join Rotary? It is expected that the Library Director will join Youngstown Rotary.            
                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Why do you remain a Rotarian? The above, but more so that Rotary really helped me to get to know people when moving to a brand new City.  I've done this before - having moved to Milwaukee, Baton Rouge, and Scottsdale - and it really accelerated the process of getting to know the Community.                      
                                                                                                                                                                                
Which Rotary Project resonates with you and your understanding of our community's needs? It is the multiplicity of ways that Rotary impacts the community - whether that is the historical impact, helping to form the local Easter Seals and Boys and Girls chapters, or local projects like the Wick Park Pavilion, Operation Warm, the Foundation Grants.  Taking collective action to support the community around us is what makes Rotary so important.        
                                                   
What does Rotary's motto "Service Above Self" mean to you? It is the way we should all live our lives and relate to our communities - the ideal that I believe in and aspire to (even if I fall short at times).  I am distressed by the "Me first!" nature that is so prevalent in our society today, and we are all suffering because of it.