Name: Stephen DiPaolo
Years in Rotary: 1
Resident of: Boardman
Hometown: Boardman
How long have you lived here? 27 Years
What brought you here, or kept you here? I really haven't had the urge to move elsewhere. I love the township, and do someday plan on moving around Mahoning County, and I've always thought about moving elsewhere. The County as a whole is incredible in my opinion, and each city, township and village is unique in its own way.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications, Youngstown State University.
Occupation: District executive with the Boy Scouts of America.
Who is in your family circle? My Mom, Teresa, a nurse at Mercy Health St. Elizabeth's Boardman; Dad Louis, a certified public accountant at Packer Thomas; older brother Andrew, WFMJ-TV meteorologist; and younger brother, Michael, a nursing school student.
Do you have any pets? If so, what are their names and what are they like? The family dog is a Bichon-Poodle mix named Porkchop. He is a pain but charming enough to make up for it.
When you are not working, how do you like to spend your time? When I find time for my passion, which is music/entertainment, I work on that. Besides playing music, watching classic movies and other comics, I am big on carpentry/woodworking. The occasional video game tends to work its way in here and there as well.
Why did you join Rotary? I've always been interested as to what it means to be part of a Rotary club. I was in Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity in college and we did so much to help the surrounding area of Youngstown State University through Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and other organizations. As a youth I was a Boy Scout, eventually leading to earning my Eagle Scout, so doing service projects and figuring out ways to better serve the community has always been something in which I wanted to have a hand. Once I became a graduate of YSU, I knew that I wanted to be more involved in the community, especially in an organization that focuses directly on [community].
Why do you remain a Rotarian? Mainly for reasons listed in the previous question. Also, similar to being in a fraternity, you meet a lot of people that become lifelong friends. I've been fortunate to know some Youngstown Rotarians prior to joining Rotary, but would like to keep networking with other people and make connections that last.
Which Rotary Project resonates with you and your understanding of our community's needs? Unfortunately due to COVID-19, I was only able to attend the Groundhog Beerfest. However I was ultimately impressed by the amount of work and organization that went into the event to raise funds to better help our community.
What does Rotary's motto "Service Above Self" mean to you? To me, it means what it says. You service others, as well as the overall area of your community, above yourself and before thinking of yourself. Instead of putting our needs first we put the community and needs of others at the front of the line.
What would you be doing on Wednesdays if you didn't attend the weekly luncheon meeting? Working, other meetings, or simply eating lunch.
Which type of Rotary socials do you prefer - black tie affairs or casual attire? Either or! Doesn't matter to me. I enjoy getting suited up!
A Rotary tradition is to have sing-alongs during meetings. Would you ever lead us in a song? Probably - just don’t put me on the spot!
What do you think of Scott Schulick's Rotary pants, and would you wear a pair? Challenge accepted.
What's a story of yours that you don't get to tell often enough? During one YSU Homecoming, all Greek life organizations put together a float for the Homecoming Parade. The theme that year was rock and roll, so we put together a mobile band and played live on the float in front of 2,000+ YSU fans. It was incredible. That was a very cool day.