Steven McGarrity is the Executive Director of Community Legal Aid Services in northeast Ohio. McGarrity started with Legal Aid as an attorney in 1997, focusing his practice on family law and consumer debt. In his time with Legal Aid, he has held various management positions, including as Associate Director, overseeing client services, outreach, and technology
McGarrity currently serves on the advisory committee of OhioLegalHelp.org, an online legal resource tool for Ohioans. He also serves on the Boards of the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation, the Ohio Poverty Law Center, and Akron Summit Community Action.
McGarrity graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a degree in political science. He earned his law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. In 2015, he was named a Where Health Meets Justice fellow through the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership.
This month Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives by giving to the many projects supported by the Rotary International Foundation
This month Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives by supporting efforts to treat and prevent disease in our community. Explore the possibilities with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at Wick Park or virtually via Zoom.
NO NOON MEETING - Club Assembly on Jan. 5; Happy New Year!
Last Week's Meeting
The reindeer games continued as President Josh, resplendent in a Scary Santa mask, reviewed the Rotary holiday party that took place on December 16. He gave a shout-out to Stephanie from Crystal’s Catering for her attentiveness and great service since we’ve been at Wick Park. She was also presented with a gift on behalf of our club. Luke Politsky then led everyone through the singing of several Christmas carols, ending with a rousing rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Who’s a Good Boy?
In other holiday news, Scott Schulick informed us that he reached out to the District Governor at the North Pole because he wanted to get in touch with Santa. Santa belongs to the North Pole Rotary, in case you didn’t know, and Scott wanted to ask Santa if President Josh has been a good boy this year. You’ll all be happy to know that Santa said yes, Josh has been most excellent, so Scott presented him with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Congratulations, Josh, and keep up the good work!
Due to the closure of the Youngstown City schools the Operation Warm Coat Distribution has been cancelled. Since the school schedule for the new year is undetermined, we don’t know if there will be an actual distribution by Rotarians, or if the school will distribute the coats to the students. The city school district will keep us informed.
Because of the same circumstances, Put Kids First volunteers will not be doing any of the January activities that were planned. The school will let us know when we can resume programming at Harding Elementary.
Rotary District 6710 encompasses 18 counties in Kentucky that were devastated by deadly tornadoes on Dec. 10. Lives and livelihoods have been lost. Survivors are struggling with limited electricity, food, gasoline and essential supplies.
Rotary District Governor Gail Story and the leadership of District 6710 are assembling a committee to identify needs and coordinate response across affected areas. District 6170 can now accept tax-deductible donations for hurricane relief. Checks can be made payable to: The 6710 Foundation/Disaster Relief.
Send donations to:
Rotary District 6710 Relief Fund c/o Sheila Stoke 7906 Westover Drive Prospect, KY 40059
Donations will be used to help affected communities in District 6710 Kentucky. If you have a network of suppliers who are willing to donate supplies, or are considering sending a team of recovery volunteers, please contact Kaytlin Edwards at kedwards.rotary@gmail.com.
Paul Harris Fellow Challenge
When Rotarians contribute $1,000 or more to the Annual Program Fund, the Polio Plus Fund or Rotary Foundation’s Humanitarian Grants Program, they are recognized for their generosity by being named a Paul Harris Fellow, which is named for Rotary’s founder. By participating in the Paul Harris Fellow Challenge, you may receive the honor sooner.
Every $20 contribution to the Rotary Foundation from now through Jan. 1, 2022, enters the donor in a drawing for a PHF award. If desired, it can be assigned by the winning Rotarian to a spouse or friend. In return for donations of $100 or more, donors receive double points that can be shared with another Rotarian. All contributions enable Rotary International to address global concerns, including access to safe water, improved sanitation, better health outcomes and promoting peaceful problem-solving.
RCY members received donation forms in the mail recently. Contact District Rotary Foundation Chair Linda Fergason at LFergason@hotmail.com or District Rotary Foundation Grants Chair Dr. Peter Apicella at Peter@salemrad.com for more information.
Beerfest News
Beerfest Update
The beer is near! RCY’s Groundhog Beerfest will be Saturday, Jan. 29, in Stambaugh Auditorium. Sessions will be from noon to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 9 p.m., with the first hour of each session reserved for VIP ticket holders. This is our club’s major fundraiser, and proceeds are returned to the community as grants in support of the amazing work of local nonprofit organizations.
An often-repeated question is what attendees get for their admission. The general admission ticket ($50, which includes service fees) gives them three hours to sample beverages from 20 local breweries, enjoy live entertainment and chat with beer makers and beer lovers. VIPs ($70) get all of that over four hours!
The list of sponsors this year is “impressive,” Beerfest co-chair Kevin Chiu says. Ticket sales are building, co-chair Samatha Turner adds.
To volunteer at Beerfest, please contact Mike Latessa. Afternoon volunteers are especially needed. Volunteering is not limited to Rotarians.
Reminder to those who already have signed up to work: Enter Stambaugh through the service door, which is to the left of the main entrance.
All Rotarians can ensure the success of the event by liking and sharing Facebook posts. Also, encourage friends, family, and co-workers to attend! Sell those tickets! Thanks to all who made pretzel necklaces to sell during Beerfest.
Rotary Magazine
By Dr. Barbara Brothers
Three good reasons why you need to take an hour to peruse the December Rotary:
Excellent book recommendations to add to those recommended by Operation Pollination in a recent Clatter (from which I selected one for a grandchild). There are 20 listed in “Look to a Book,” one of which I have read and recommend: The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee. I have selected others from the topics that range from history to the environment and butterflies.
A feature story on “Earth’s Allies” is a must for our environmentalists.
The “distinguished history of the Rotary Conversation, conducted over the past dozen years with notable figures such as Nobel laureates, MacArthur geniuses, renowned scientists, and influential world leaders” led me to lay open the magazine on my coffee table and read and reread words that provoke thought and inspiration and hope (“Our biggest enemy is our own sense of helplessness and hopelessness.”) If we are to create a world of justice and peace, then we must listen to one another.
Sneak Peek, Rotary International Annual Report
The RI Annual Report will be out to the public soon, but you can take a look before then by clicking on the link below. Please take the time to read it, there is a lot of great information in here that will make all of us proud to say we are Rotarians.
LinkedIn has become a powerful social media tool for growing your personal professional network, enhancing your brand, and building meaningful business relationships. Did you know that the platform also provides an excellent opportunity for attracting new Rotarians?
December 28, 2010: Youngstown Rotarians enjoyed their weekly lunch meeting, followed by a tour, at the former Harry Burt/Ross Radio building, 325 West Federal St., which was recently purchased by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society to develop a new history center; the Club also presented Wick Neighbors with a project pledge payment of $43,000.
CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION
Birthdays:
Becky Davis - Dec 31
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Anniversaries:
Hunter Morrison - 10 Years
Shannon Tirone - 23 Years
Snowbirds and Shade-Grown Coffee
So many of us fly south for the winter to escape the cold - as do our migratory birds and butterflies. Imagine … returning to your southern home to find it bulldozed.
That’s essentially what happened in Central and South America when hundreds of thousands of acres – right in the heart of wintering habitat – were stripped of forest. The monoculture crop that requires this space is coffee.
This practice along with the use of pesticides caused insects and birds that had used the area for millennia to disappear (“clean farming” has contributed to the decline of almost a third of the 654 bird species in the continental US).
Here’s what you can do to help: Because so many of us drink coffee, making the switch to organic shade-grown coffee will benefit bird habitat immensely.
Shade-grown coffee farms look very much like the natural surroundings. They retain a diverse, layering of trees, shrubs, and other understory plants. These farms are havens for American migrants as well as tropical residents.
When you buy coffee look for organic a seal from a reputable conservation group such as Rainforest Alliance, or the “Bird Friendly” seal of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.
AND! Because it’s the Holidays, here’s a recipe for a simple but special treat for our winter birds:
2 cups peanut butter (crunchy is best)
1 ½ cups cornmeal
Mix thoroughly. Spread directly on tree bark or bark feeders to serve chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and many other “clinging” birds.
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