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.
This week the noon meeting will be held at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Social Hall, 343 Via Mt Carmel, Youngstown, OH 44505. We will be honoring YSU Quarterback and Walter Payton Award Winner, Beau Brungard. Beau will be our speaker along with Head YSU Football Coach, Doug Phillips. Beau Brungard is the first YSU and Youngstown area native to receive this prestigious honor.
This week’s menu: Chicken Marsala, Pasta with a creamy tomato and basil sauce, Sausage Peppers and Onions, Salad, Dinner Rolls, Cake, Vegetarian options.
Registrations to attend the 111th Anniversary Party & Paul Harris Induction Ceremony close today, February 24th. Members are encouraged to buy their tickets today and celebrate our newest Paul Harris Fellows on March 5th.
Rotary Last Week
In honor of Black History Month, Stacey Adger discussed her family history and genealogy research, focusing on her ancestors who were enslaved and their descendants. She shared details about her great-great-grandfather, born into slavery in Virginia, and her efforts to trace her family lineage through various records and DNA testing. Youngstown emphasized the challenges faced by minority families in genealogy research due to limited historical records and discussed her involvement with the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, where she serves as a co-chair. Stacy shared her experience with genealogy and family history, discussing how she creates and shares family trees with her relatives. She emphasized the importance of using reputable websites like FamilySearch and Ancestry for genealogical research. Stacy also mentioned finding a handwritten recipe from her late mother while cleaning out a drawer. The group discussed the challenges of gathering family information, including privacy concerns and resistance from some relatives.
Congratulations to Mahoning Historic Society who hosted their 13th Annual Cookies and Cocktails event. This is a wonderful event that embraces the local heritage of Cookie Tables with a fun competition and a chance to eat baked goods.
Film plastic collection will be moved back to the 2nd meeting of each month. For those who do not want to wait for collection they can weigh the plastic themselves, take a photo of the bags, drop off at Giant Eagle Belmont, and send the details to Elsa.
Best wishes to Fred Owens as he recovers from his illness, we wish him a speedy recovery.
There are a plethora of upcoming events with opportunities for service and fellowship this Spring, including; First Fridays gathering at Smarts on March 6th, Citywide highway cleanup on April 25th, tree planting, and a Rotary kayak event during River Fest on June 4th starting at 10am with multiple floats throughout the day. Please look out for more information about upcoming activities.
SPOTLIGHT ON PAUL HARRIS FELLOWSHIP
Since 1957, the Paul Harris Fellow recognition has stood as a meaningful way for Rotary International to honor generosity and support for The Rotary Foundation. Named after Rotary’s founder, Paul P. Harris, the recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute—or have contributions made in their name—of $1,000 to the Foundation, supporting Rotary’s humanitarian, educational, and cultural programs.
The program was established to encourage and show appreciation for significant contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only initiative: the Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to today’s global scholarship programs. Early recipients received certificates; the first medallion was unveiled in 1969 at the Rotary Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Among the first honorees were Rotary leaders whose contributions dated to the mid-20th century, including the first woman recipient in 1953. Over the years, the honor has been extended by clubs to recognize not just donors but also individuals whose service reflects Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self.
By 2006, more than one million Paul Harris Fellows had been recognized worldwide, illustrating the global impact of Rotary’s mission through sustained generosity and community leadership.
On March 5th we will honor Youngstown community members and Rotarians with this honor. The Community Honorees:
Delores Crawford, Retired Community Affairs Director, WKBN
Matt Pagac, Executive Director, Stambaugh Auditorium
Ian Beniston, Executive Director, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp
SAVE THE DATE
111th Anniversary Party & Paul Harris Fellow Induction, 6 p.m. Mar. 5, Youngstown Country Club; make reservations by Feb. 24; see invitation in email.
State of the City address by Mayor Derrick McDowell, noon March 4, Wick Park Pavilion.
First Friday: SMARTS, 5pm - 8pm, Mar. 6, 25 East Boardman Street, First Floor, Youngstown, OH 44503
Boardman Rotary Pancake Breakfast, 8am - 1pm, March 14 & 15, 21 & 22, Lariccia Community Center Boardman Park
Sunny Days Spark Monarch Movement as Winter Ends in California
Late winter warmth has prompted a noticeable shift in monarch butterfly behavior at California’s overwintering sites. After a period of unusually warm temperatures, monarchs are becoming more active and beginning to disperse from their coastal groves, signaling the early stages of spring migration.
Observers along the California coast, including at Monarch Grove Sanctuary in Pacific Grove, have reported fewer butterflies clustered in traditional overwintering spots, with individuals moving more freely on warmer days. Counts at several sites show monarch numbers declining as butterflies take advantage of mild conditions to expand their range.
Sightings of flying monarchs have been recorded beyond overwintering groves, including inland areas such as Fullerton, Death Valley, Sunnyvale, Berkeley, and San Clemente, as well as in Nevada and Arizona, indicating that movement away from winter habitats is underway.
Field monitors emphasize the importance of weather in monarch activity: sunny, warm conditions trigger flight and dispersal, while cooler or drizzly periods see butterflies remaining clustered in trees.
Journey North encourages community members to submit sightings of monarch adults, eggs, and larvae; especially as these early departures mark the beginning of the species’ journey northward in 2026.
