This month, Rotary International has asked us to focus on the impact we can make on clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education as these are basic necessities for a healthy environment and a productive life.Explore this topic with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at MVR or virtually via Zoom.
Last week we heard from a very enthusiastic Dr. Mary Toepfer fromThe English Center of Youngstown. In addition to being the Center’s Outreach Specialist, she is one of their instructors and prides herself on working not just on language, but also on life skills. She has helped students by connecting them with everyday needs such as connecting them with legal advice or making medical appointments.
The Center evolved from the former International Institute, founded in the early 1900s, whose core mission was to help immigrants adjust to life in the Mahoning Valley. Fun fact: the Institute used to collaborate with the YWCA to offer Saturday bath night since so many apartments didn't have such facilities. In addition to sanitation, it was a great opportunity for fellowship! View the slideshow hereand see pics from last week's meeting here
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This week: Join us as we celebrate RI Water & Sanitation month by welcoming Jennifer Johnson, Area Manager at Aqua Ohio, and a Struthers Rotarian!
MEMBER IMPACT
Operation Warm remains a
District 6650 Favorite!
2020 was the ninth year that Rotarians in our District worked to provide coats to children and adults. In spite of the pandemic challenge, the Rotary Clubs of Youngstown, Cortland, Columbiana, Canfield, Brookfield, Orrville, Dover, Austintown, Poland, Girard/Liberty, Plain Twp, and Victory Christian Center’s Boardman, Columbiana, Liberty, New Castle, and Warren campuses partnered to raised $44,205 to purchase 2,503 coats!
Youngstown Rotarian PDG Debbie Esbenshade (2013-14) introduced this project to Division 1(a) clubs in 2012. Since its inception, our district campaigns have raised roughly $445,000 and provided 22,500 coats, and have been supported by each District Governor. In addition to the direct recipient benefit, the program is appealing because all coats stay in our community and directly affect our neighbors.
YOUNGSTOWN ROTARY CAMPAIGN NOTES:
Funds raised $21,550 and Operation Warm grant $2,500 (no match required!) accounted for over 50% of the funds raised.
Provided 1,065 coats – Millcreek Children’s Center, Casa Madre, St. Joesph’s school, Potential Development, Harding Elementary, and Williamson School.
Start-up funds for 2021 Campaign – roughly $3,000
Ending inventory – 440 coats
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Little Free Libraries on Every Continent
ROTARY MAGAZINE
By: Dr. Barbara Brothers
Let's keep it clean
The lead story in Rotary is an interview with Catherine Coleman Flowers, MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient for her environmental justice work, some of which she chronicles in Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret. The interview is instructive of a problem Rotarians need to address at home as well as abroad and the importance of working across partisan divides. Learn more about the ROtary's work with the environment here.
This story, like all issues of Rotary, expands our knowledge of the places in which Rotarians are at work and of the variety of professions and work that others do that are essential to our well-being. We encourage you to make time to read it.
YOUR FELLOW ROTARIAN
Steve Poullas
Compiled by Debora Flora
Dad! Daredevil! Disc golf fan! And so much more! Rotarian Steve Poullas is married, with three kids and three pets at home, but he still enjoys spending lots of time outdoors, working for the greater good, and casual gatherings with Rotarians. Read on to learn about one daring ski trip and how he developed his singing voice.
March 13, 1941: Youngstown Rotarian the Rev. Dr. Roland Luhman was installed as the new District Governor at the District 21 Conference in Akron. Luhman was such a standout that District 6650 named the Community Service Award in his honor! It was first awarded in 1962.
As we continue to be necessarily separated by the pandemic, members of the Board are each paired with a group of Rotarians to touch base and get updates. This only works if you pick up, call back or text a response. Please make your Board feel good and respond.
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MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
By Mike Latessa
Show us your smile!!!
We are not able to see each other as often as we'd like so lets get to know each other another way. Please update your ClubRunner profile picture, so we can all see each other now! Just follow these easy steps:
Log into ClubRunner
Click on Member Area at the top of the homepage
Then click the Edit My Profile box
If you see a silhouette photo under your name (or one you want to change!), click update under the photo
Follow the prompts to add/replace a photo from your device and click save
Anyone who has a photo in their ClubRunner profile by March 15 will be entered into a Penguin City prize raffle!
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DG Shares Pride & Save the Date
District Governor Linda Henderson wrote to say that despite the difficulty of gathering this year, she is proud of all the things we've accomplished by contributing to food pantries, working in food pantries, and seeing that families have warm coats.
"Clubs have kept up their programs even though fund raising events have been lost or changed," she writes. "This year Rotary has been the tree that bends in the winds and survives the storm."
Henderson encourages us to SAVE THE DATE of June 26, 2021 for an in-person District Conference in Boardman where we will "remember our losses, celebrate our successes... and engage in the fellowship that is Rotary."
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Call for Local
Foundation Grant Apps
New Local Foundation Grant requests must be made by May 15, 2021. Available funds are based on donations to Rotary Share three years ago and are split between the World Fund and our District providing Global and Local Grants. Download an application here.
This current year, 30 Rotary Clubs in our District shared $51,750.00 providing funds for their communities. Our Club received a grant to provide food and hospitality for the underserved in Youngstown.
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Becky Mottram, Exec Secretary has sent out 2nd half dues notices and mailed past due notices to members in arrears. Please pay promptly.
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After nearly 5 years, Rotary Club of Youngstown is still getting mail to its old address -- and from our members, too! Please update your databases and accounts payable departments that the correct mailing and payment address is for our Club is as follows:
Rotary Club of Youngstown
201 E. Commerce St, Suite 450
Youngstown, OH 44503
Club Information
Welcome to Youngstown Rotary
Service Above Self
Wednesdays at 12:00 PM
Cassese's MVR Restuarant
410 N. Walnut St., Youngstown, OH 44505
Youngstown, OH 44503 United States of America
Last Week's Review: 
YOUR FELLOW ROTARIAN
