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’s speaker will be Youngstown Rotarian Mike Latessa, who will be discussing his Doctoral Dissertation: Exploring Performance Anxiety within Student-Athletes. This should be an engaging session and club members are encouraged to attend and support Mike.
This week’s menu: Meatloaf, Mashed Potato, Vegetables, Salad, Vegetarian option.
Rotary Last Week
District 6650 Governor Ryan Boyce returned July 8 for his official club visit and to challenge each of us to “share your why” behind our membership.
Rotary International’s new annual theme is Create Lasting Impact, and DG Boyce wants to focus on youth. It’s time to offer short-term Rotary Youth Exchanges, he said. The college-level Rotaract program has “so much opportunity” in our district but lost its momentum, which is why Rotarians need to share their passion for service, he emphasized. We must stay in touch with high school Interact clubs and encourage their involvement in programs like the annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive.
Look for a new district podcast by DG Boyce and Past DG Kim Weiss; a Veterans’ Day districtwide event on Nov. 11 in Canton; and a district fundraiser at our Stambaugh Auditorium on March 26, featuring an acclaimed organist providing accompaniment to a silent film.
In other news, congratulations to Gavin Switzer and his fiancee, who are expecting a baby girl!
Jodi Glass was President Ellie’s first candidate for Rotary Rapid Fire, in which we get to know a member through a series of fun, quick questions. Jodi, executive director of the Autism Society of the Mahoning Valley, grew up in Campbell and attended YSU. She and her husband have a son, who was diagnosed with autism while they lived in Philadelphia. After returning here, she joined the ASMV board in 2018. She likes Avalon Downtown and Tra’s Gourmet Sandwiches. You can invite her to coffee or tea; she enjoys both. Her favorite TV program is one from the past: “ER”. Rapid Fire concludes with the participant choosing the next interviewee. Jodi chose Becky Keck.
Samantha Turner shared more details about the Put Kids First swim party and picnic on Aug. 5 at the North Side Pool. The hours will be from 11:30 to 1:30. Rotarians are asked to help cook and serve food and/or assist with a book giveaway.
SPOTLIGHT ON BIKE BELMONT
The 4th Annual Bike Belmont is set to roll through Youngstown on Sunday, May 17, 2026, bringing energy, activity, and community pride to the Belmont Avenue corridor. Hosted by the Building a Better Belmont, the event continues to grow as a signature celebration of neighborhood connection and healthy living.
According to the event chair Jack Kravitz, the idea for Bike Belmont began as a simple but powerful exercise. Members of the organization wanted to better understand Belmont Avenue, not just as a roadway but as a place to live, shop, dine, and enjoy. “Many of us had never really taken the time to experience it fully,” Kravitz explained. The solution; a bike ride through the corridor, combining exploration with the group’s shared enthusiasm for cycling.
This year’s event introduces several exciting additions, including a new 5-mile family-friendly ride, a vendor fair, food trucks, and a post-ride “Jazz in the Park” celebration at Wick Park. Cyclists can still choose from the popular 12-mile community ride or the 32-mile airport route, which offers the unique experience of riding on the runway at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
E-bikes are also expanding access to the event. Kravitz notes their growing popularity, emphasizing that they still require pedaling while helping riders go farther and tackle hills more comfortably. E-bikes will be available for the 5- and 12-mile routes.
With a goal of 500 riders this year, Bike Belmont continues to showcase the Belmont corridor as a vibrant destination- one ride at a time. This is a wonderful opportunity for our Youngstown Rotarians to continue supporting this event by signing up to volunteer and join in the ride. For more information check out the Registration Link at Build a Better Belmont.
SAVE THE DATE
Service Award for a Polio-Free World, July 15 - October 1st. Submit nominations online
District Car-Cruise Social, 5pm-8, July 22nd, Gervasi Vinyard, 1700 55th Street, NE Canton, OH 44721 more info
Ignite the Night, 5pm, August 8th, The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheater, 201 S Phelps St, Youngstown, OH 44503
Cookout for kids, 12pm, August 5th, North Side Pool, 2160 Belmont Ave, Youngstown
Steak Fry, August 26, details to come.
National Moth Week Shines a Light on Our Nighttime Pollinators
When people think about pollinators, bees and butterflies usually steal the spotlight. But after the sun sets, another hardworking group takes over—the moths.
National Moth Week is July 18th - 26th, a worldwide celebration of these often-overlooked insects and the important role they play in healthy ecosystems. What began in 2012 as a local event in New Jersey has grown into an international citizen science initiative, with participants in all 50 states and more than 90 countries documenting moth species and contributing valuable observations to scientific research.
Moths are vital nocturnal pollinators, visiting flowers while most of us are asleep. Many native plants rely on nighttime pollinators to reproduce, making moths an essential part of the food web that supports birds, bats, and other wildlife. Scientists are also discovering that moths contribute more to pollination than previously understood, helping maintain biodiversity and resilient ecosystems.
Rotarians can celebrate National Moth Week by spending an evening outdoors with family or friends. Simply leave a porch light on or hang a white sheet near an outdoor light and observe the fascinating variety of moths that appear. Take photos, identify your discoveries using a citizen science app, and share your observations to help researchers better understand these remarkable nighttime pollinators.
Sometimes the greatest conservation heroes are the ones working quietly in the dark.
February 27, 1990: Ruth Crawford appointed to be Club Executive Secretary and pianist; she replaced longtime Executive Secretary Mary Morsbach, who had resigned.
