Rotary International asks us to Imagine Rotary through our Focus Areas
This month Rotary International asks us to Imagine Rotary by developing and supporting new leaders. Explore the possibilities with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at Wick Park or virtually via Zoom.
Four RCY members – President Sharon Letson and past Presidents Josh Prest, Samantha Turner and Scott Schulick – traveled to Houston last month to attend the Rotary International convention. They will provide an overview of the convention and their experiences.
Last Week's Meeting
RCY picked a hot July Wednesday to launch its Operation Warm campaign.
Committee chair Dave Stillwagon gave a thorough presentation on Operation Warm, which in its third decade continues to provide new winter coats to school-age children. Nationally, more than 4 million kids in 2,100 communities have received coats through Operation Warm. On its own, RCY has raised money to purchase coats for 12,000 local students.
As Dave explained, Operation Warm was his “true immersion in Rotary.” He was paired with Bill Russell in 2015 to assist with the campaign, and it was the distribution day – at which Rotarians help students to choose well-fitting coats – that warmed his heart.
This year, RCY’s goal is to raise $20,000. The cost to sponsor a coat is $20. Each Rotarian is asked to contribute $100, whether it’s your own money or pledges you collect from family, friends, co-workers or businesses. Fundraising already is underway, and some generous contributors are offering a dollar-for-dollar match of members’ efforts. The campaign will end Oct. 1 to allow enough time to order coats and take them to schools as winter arrives.
While this is a club project, contributions are tax deductible when checks are made payable to The Youngstown Rotary Foundation. Write “Operation Warm” on the memo line, please. Also, coats may be purchased in honor or memory of loved ones, and tribute cards to inform recipients of these purchases may be requested.
Congratulations to Frank Kishel, who won the weekly 50-50 jackpot AND pulled the black marble in the second drawing, which was worth another $583!
Early arrival at the Aug. 3 meeting is recommended, as RCY will be welcoming young participants in the Summer Day Camp program at Wick Park. A book distribution to campers will be part of the program. Samantha Turner requests help to organize the book giveaway.
Also last week, RCY had a great turnout at Beers, Cheers & Gears at the new Penguin City brewery and tap room on East Federal Street. Owners/Rotarians Richie and Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki have crafted a cool atmosphere in addition to their ales. Rotarians played Jenga and corn hole, sampled various beverages, and ordered from the Roxbury Pizza food truck. You should have seen Mike Latessa cruise in with an enormous stuffed toy bear slung over his back, a humorous nod to a typo in an email that promoted Bears, Cheers and Gears.
Migratory Monarch Butterfly Now Endangered - IUCN Red List
Gland, Switzerland, 21 July 2022 (IUCN) – The migratory monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus plexippus), known for its spectacular annual journey of up to 4,000 kilometers across the Americas, has entered the International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN) Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM as Endangered, threatened by habitat destruction and climate change The IUCN Red List now includes 147,517 species, of which 41,459 are threatened with extinction pushing the world’s most Critically Endangered group of animals yet closer to the brink.
It’s hard to accept that something so beautiful—a fluttering highlight of North American gardens and backyards—could be gone soon. Forever.
Join us for a Youngstown Rotary Night Out Picnic Thursday, August 18th Picnic: 5:30pm First pitch: 7:05pm
Cost: $24 per person (includes upper box seat, picnic - hot dogs, burgers, baked beans, potato salad, cookies, chips, water, soft drinks)
Please see the attached form for more details. RSVP deadline is August 11th (made directly to the Scrappers via the form or by calling 330.505.0000).
Save The Date
A NIGHT FOR UKRAINE
November 5, 2022
I am honored to serve as Event Chair for District 6650's effort to support The Rotary Foundation through RI's Ukraine Relief Fund! This event is one of the largest the District and clubs together have undertaken in some time and I commend DG Michelle for her vision to make this event a reality. As Rotarians, we are committed to humanitarian relief through our Avenues of Service and the need is great as we watch the war unfold and the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
So, we need your help (big time)! Each club in the district is being asked to raise at least $2500 for the event. If we can do that, we will raise over $100,000. However, we know you can do much better than that. We're asking clubs to donate, raise funds through events, or commit funds from an existing event to help us reach our goal. Additionally, you can reach your goal by inviting individual Rotarians and their businesses to be sponsors and for businesses and organizations in your communities to become an event sponsor. It all adds up and will help you reach your goal quickly. We are exactly 3 months away from this event and that gives you time to get organized and raise funds. Think Jerry Lewis telethon style: your clubs will raise funds and on the night of the event, you will come up on stage and tell us your total!
We have a very special guest in Past Rotary President Barry Rassin attending the event. Barry was RI President in 2018-19 when I served as District Governor and his theme was "Be the Inspiration." I have no doubt that District 6650 can "be the inspiration" to reach a lofty goal to help the people of Ukraine victimized by the war with Russia.
How will this work?
For every dollar your club raises the club will receive Rotary Foundation Recognition points that you can use to award Paul Harris Fellows. If your club raises at least $2500 through donations, sponsorships from Rotarians and/or businesses, you will be awarded a bonus Paul Harris Fellow to distribute as your club sees fit. A generous donor is providing this bonus award. All checks and payments for the event must be made payable to District 6650 and after the event, foundation recognition points will be transferred to your clubs. As an example, if your club raises $5,000, you will receive 6,000 foundation points to be used at the club's discretion. Be sure to attend the event. Event tickets are $60 each and will not be included toward the fundraising goal as tickets will cover event overhead costs. However, all sponsorship levels include some complimentary tickets. Attached to this email are PDF and PNG files that you can use to print, electronically deliver to your members and event sponsor prospects. Please consider posting to your club's social media page and ask your members to share the event!
The planning committee has a lot in store to bring you authentic Ukrainian cuisine, decor, authentic music including choir, dancers and a band An auction featuring special experiences and items (this isn't a basket raffle kind of auction!) Fellowship with Rotarians, special guests and community members---the event is open to ALL! Get your communities involved! If you have a Ukrainian population or churches/organizations in your area...spread the word. This is an effort that will bring our district together collaboratively and provide us an opportunity to fulfill RI President Jennifer Jones' charge to "Imagine Rotary!"
Please email me or call me with any questions. I will continue to regularly send you follow-up emails as the weeks progress.
Good Luck in your efforts! We can do this!
PDG Scott Schulick, Event Chair
THIS WEEK IN ROTARY HISTORY
July 26, 1944: The speaker at the Rotary Club of Youngstown's weekly meeting was Dr. Gerhart H. Segar, a former member of the German Reichstag, one-time inmate of a concentration camp for his anti-Nazi activities, and a current publisher of a German language newspaper that is distributed to prisoners of war in Allied camps, who presented on current activities in these camps and what is being done to combat the Gestapo.
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