Rotary International asks us to Imagine Rotary through our Focus Areas
This month Rotary International asks us to Imagine Rotary by becoming involved in Disease Prevention and Treatment. Explore the possibilities with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at Wick Park or virtually via Zoom.
There will be no meeting this Wednesday, Dec. 28. Meetings will resume on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.
Last Week's Meeting
The holiday feeling was definitely in the air last week as members and their guests enjoyed fun, food, and fellowship at our last meeting of 2022.
After an exciting round of Christmas Carol Bingo, led by the musical talents of Luke Politsky on the piano, we ended the meeting by singing a rousing rendition of “Jingle Bells”.
Thank you to Deb Flora for providing the outstanding rum cake! Cupcakes and eggnog were served also, along with the usual delicious lunch from Chrystal’s Catering.
RYLA Participants Needed
Do you know a high school junior with the potential to be a leader in their community? Our club is looking for someone to attend the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) conference that will be held on February 24 – 26, 2023. Contact president Sharon for more information or to let her know you have a candidate.
Paul Harris Fellow Challenge
When Rotarians contribute $1,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation, 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, 2023, enters the donor in a drawing for a PHF award for themselves, a spouse, or a friend. Donate $100 or more and you will 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. Return forms to District 6650 Rotary Foundation Chair Linda Fergason, 12938 Bayton St. N.E., Alliance, OH 44601. Email Fergason at LFergason@hotmail.com or District Rotary Foundation Grants Chair Dr. Peter Apicella at Peter@salemrad.com for more information.
The Rotary Club of Youngstown Beerfest Volunteer Signup
There are still 5 spots remaining to join the 2023 Rotary Club of Youngstown International Tour "Jewels of Alpine Europe" with an extension to Prague, Czech Republic. It's a private and customized EF Go Ahead guided tour designed with you in mind. We are offering you the opportunity to enroll first until August 17 before we announce it to others!
Spend 14 days with us, May 9 to May 22, sightseeing in one of Europe's most fascinating regions. Experience rich culture against a backdrop of soaring Alpine peaks. Journey from Switzerland's mountain-lined Lake Lucerne to France's inspiring Lake Annecy. Take in the picturesque Chamonix Valley and stroll along Italy's Lake Como. Then, cross Liechtenstein and hit the winter wonderland of Innsbruck. Our adventure continues in Austria, where you'll take in the sights and sounds of Salzburg before being entranced by Vienna's beauty. Fly home or continue with us on to Prague for 4 days, May 22 to May 25, to learn why it's the City of One Hundred Spires and uncover some amazing history as we explore the Czech capital. The full details of this fabulous tour including day-by-day itinerary, optional excursions, and price are here. Booking Information: The best way to enroll is online through the customized website for our group: https://www.grouptoursite.com/tours/jewels-of-alpine-europe. Please do not use the GA public website since you may end up registering with a different tour. If you prefer to speak with a GA representative, please call 800-438-7672. Please make sure you provide Group Reference number 65035422 to enroll in our tour. Club Go rewards discounts available, GA's travel loyalty program, for repeat travelers.
Important Details: Main Tour Travel Dates: May 9-22, 2023 Extension Dates (Prague): May 22-25, 2023 Deposit: Only $99 with the automatic payment plan OR $450 at the time of reservation, if you prefer to pay in full or on your own schedule. Payments: Every traveler’s budget is different and GA offers several ways to pay. AutoPay. An easy way to make smaller, interest-free, monthly payments before the tour through a debit card or checking account. Pay in full. If you’d rather get payments out of the way all at once, you can! GA EF Tours accepts MasterCard, Visa, direct debit, personal checks, and cashier’s checks. Pay manually on your own schedule. You can choose to make payments on your own via your GA online account or by calling the Customer Experience Team—they accept debit or credit cards (Mastercard/Visa), or payments through a checking account. Risk-Free Period: Travelers will be risk-free for 60 days of the time of booking. All money paid is 100% refundable. Insurance Protection: We highly encourage you to take travel protection to prepare for the unexpected and secure your investment. Options: Basic Plan $349 (does not include pre-existing) Any Reason Protection (ARP) Plan $75 Premium Protection Plan $449 (includes pre-existing & ARP plan) Prices: GA reevaluates prices each month. To lock in the lowest price, enroll by the end of August. Final Payment Date: February 8, 2023. Next year's grand tour of the European Alps and Lakes will be another exciting journey with memorable and exclusive experiences. We've made sure our itinerary includes a just-right mix of guided tours and group meals, plus free time so you can explore your own interests at your own pace. You can also customize your experience and add excursions, if you prefer to explore alongside a local insider. From touchdown to takeoff, we'll be accompanied by a 24/7 Tour Director who will oversee our trip’s logistics and is an expert at showing you everything the destinations have to offer. Please be assured that EF Go Ahead Tours will continue to take extra steps to guide us on enjoyable journeys that are as safe as possible. Currently, Covid vaccination is required for this trip. Read about their Travel Ready Approach. Our group tours are also about making true connections and this will be a limited-capacity and private tour so you can do just that. Don’t delay… enroll soon to secure your spot and the lowest price! Please email me at GroupTravelYRC@gmail.com with any questions or call me on my cell at 330-207-9127. Hope to be traveling with you in 2023! 😊
Ana M. Torres Group Tour Coordinator
Scott R. Schulick
An unprecedented consensus among the nations of the world was achieved at the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal (Community of Partners / COP-15).
The agreement sets into motion the protection of 30% of all land and 30% of all oceans by the end of this decade. This would nearly double the amount of land protection and almost quadruple that of the oceans. Along with the geographic expansion are a suite of 23 conservation targets. Among these is the requirement that big businesses disclose the environmental consequences of their operations. 190 countries seeing eye-to-eye inspires great hope that we can solve the problems that global industrialization and trade have created.
The flip side of this is the irrefutable recognition that we are in trouble. We are the problem, not just the solution. The biggest culprits are industrial agriculture on land and over-fishing at sea. Other chart toppers include hunting, mining, logging, pollution, and invasive species. All this is amplified by the pandemonium of climate change. Current estimates show that nearly one million species are at risk of survival.
Among the agreement’s targets are 50% reduction in pesticides and highly toxic chemicals including fertilizers that are key factors related to endangered wildlife populations and extinctions. Many of the victims of biodiversity decline are invertebrates, as E.O. Wilson describes them, the ‘little things that run the world’. Invertebrates are insects but also include clams, starfish, spiders, crayfish, and lobsters. Insects alone make up 72% of animal diversity worldwide. They are essential for keeping pests in check, decomposing waste and detritus, and feeding the birds and other vertebrates. Invertebrates, though often overlooked, are critical to the living systems that make our own existence possible.
If we fail to reflect on the changes that are occurring due to human activity and if we fail to take immediate action toward sustainability, we will face a profound existential threat of our own making. While it takes global organizations like the United Nations and individual countries to pull on the large levers of change, we can also act as individuals. In fact, our collective choices and behavior can be the most profound influence on our future trajectory.
Here are 7 things the average homeowner can do to make a difference: plant native trees, plant keystone and native plant species, shrink your lawn, avoid pesticides, leave the leaves in your flowerbeds, don’t “deadhead” until later in the spring, and mow less often.
RCY Loves Plastic Film!
December was an incredible month for RCY’s participation in the Trex company’s plastic film recycling challenge. We collected 128 lbs, bringing our cumulative total to 443 lbs. We are just 57 lbs. away from our 500-lb. goal, which will earn the club a park bench made of Trex recycled materials.
In addition to the shopping bags, sandwich bags, case overwrap and newspaper sleeves that you have gathered, think about the plastic film that surfaces during the holiday season. Did you buy a roll of wrapping paper? The clear plastic cover can be recycled. Those air pillows inside Amazon boxes? Recyclable. Bubble mailers? Ditto.
Bring your recyclable plastic film to the next weekly meeting on Jan. 4.
THIS WEEK IN ROTARY HISTORY
December 29, 2005: incoming Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams spoke to the Club and listed his four major goals--Quality of Life,
Safety, Improve Economy and Regional Cooperation.
CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION
Birthdays:
Becky Davis - Dec 31
Anniversaries:
Hunter Morrison - Dec 28
Shannon Tirone - Dec 31
The Four-Way Test
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
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