Welcome to March!
After months of bitter cold, snow, and even more bitter cold, I think we are finally emerging on the other side of winter. We just had our first 70‑degree day since October 17th. Enjoy the warmth now—there is snow in the forecast later this week—but the worst is hopefully behind us. We only have four more months in our Rotary year, and they will be a busy four months. Let’s get to it!


Two Themes for March
Rotary has two themes this month. March is Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Month. We also celebrate World Rotaract Week (March 11–17). Both themes are very important and close to our hearts. Clean water, basic sanitation, and proper hygiene are fundamental human rights, yet a staggering 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. This is a major issue that Rotary and Rotary clubs continue working to address. In the past decade, The Rotary Foundation has invested more than $180 million in over 2,500 water and sanitation projects worldwide. Rotary, with your support, continues to make a profound impact.

Let us celebrate World Rotaract Week. World Rotaract Week is observed each March to commemorate the founding of the first Rotaract club. That first club was chartered on March 13, 1968, at the University of South Carolina at Charlotte. Rotaract began as a Rotary International Youth Program and has grown to more than 10,000 clubs with over 120,000 members in 189 countries. The mission of Rotaract mirrors Rotary’s and serves as a pathway for young adults to embrace “service above self.” We are fortunate to have three vibrant Rotaract clubs in our district. Congratulations and Happy Birthday to Baldwin Wallace University Rotaract, Northeast Ohio PLUS Rotaract Community, and the Passport Club of NEO Rotaract Community. We are grateful to have you in our District.

 

All Ohio Presidents-Elect Training Seminar (PETS)
After a year of hard work by DGE Terri Speck and the other four Ohio DGEs, the conference will be held in Columbus this weekend (March 13 & 14 at the Renaissance Hotel). Terri and the DGEs began preparing for this year’s event the Sunday after last year’s AOP concluded. This year’s seminar will include learning sessions for Presidents‑Elect and Assistant Governors. The House of Friendship will be full of companies and organizations that can support your club in many ways. Rotary’s seven areas of focus will be well represented. Vendors will also be on hand with Rotary items we all want and need.

The DGE committee did a wonderful job selecting speakers. Rotary Zone 30 & 31 Director Brian Hall will speak Friday evening. Michael Angelo Caruso will energize the morning crowd at breakfast with “How to Run Amazing Meetings.” Past RI Director and TRF Trustee Brenda Cressey will speak on “The Heart of Rotary.” The conference will conclude with Rotary International President‑Nominee Larry Lunsford speaking on “Create Lasting Impact,” followed by the Presidents‑Elect Commissioning Ceremony. We will also have a surprise guest and his wife discussing the virtues of this year's service project, Rotary for Reading. This impactful project supports Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and will bring books to children across our state. More information about the project can be found below. Anyone attending will remember this event for a lifetime.

 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio Service Project
The Ohio Imagination Library, part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, provides one free, high‑quality book each month to children from birth to age five, mailed directly to their home. Thanks to the leadership of Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine, children in Ohio are now automatically enrolled when their birth certificate is issued. This ensures access to books for every child but also increases the financial responsibility of the partners who fund and manage the program. That is where Rotary steps in. Rotary clubs across Ohio are working together to ease this burden by engaging community partners and securing local sponsorships, ensuring no child loses access to books due to lack of funding.

Ohio’s District Governors‑Elect accepted this challenge on behalf of the Presidents‑Elect. To date, they have raised over $104,000 for this project. Ohio districts have even turned it into a friendly competition, awarding a trophy to the district that raises the most per‑capita dollars. Rotarians and friends can still support this worthy cause by visiting ohioimaginationlibrary.org and donating. Please include “Rotary District 6630” in the memo portion of your check.

 

The Rotary Club of Garrettsville‑Hiram 100th Anniversary Story Walk Project
To celebrate their 100th anniversary, the Rotary Club of Garrettsville‑Hiram is installing a Story Walk along the Tom Collins Memorial Trail within Bill Phelps Park in Garrettsville. A Story Walk is a creative and enjoyable way for families to experience reading and nature at the same time. Laminated pages from children’s books are placed in aluminum frames along the path. There will be 21 displays spaced evenly along the trail. Portage County Library will change the featured book regularly and promote the project on social media. The club is donating the entire project—$6,735 and 80 hours of labor. Congratulations on turning this significant milestone into a gift for the community.

 

The Rotary Club of Painesville 100th Anniversary – A Century of Service Above Self, 1926–2026
The Rotary Club of Painesville will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Saturday, April 25th, at The Banquet Center at St. Noel. Doors open at 6:00 pm. The celebration will include a family‑style dinner, open bar, basket and experience auctions, sideboards, a dessert run, and more. Semi‑formal attire is suggested. Tickets are $100 per person. Please contact Sue Fratino at 440‑759‑4961 for tickets or additional information. Join the fun with the Painesville Rotary members and their families. Great clubs do great things. Exceptional clubs do great things for over 100 years!

 

United States of Kindness – A Free Service Project for Rotary Clubs
The United States of Kindness is a national campaign encouraging Americans to complete 250 acts of kindness in 2026 to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary and promote unity and service. Individuals, schools, companies, and service organizations are challenged to complete 250 acts—one for each year of U.S. history. These acts can be simple gestures, like thanking a teacher or helping a neighbor, or larger community projects. The campaign launches April 24, 2026, with 250 days remaining in the year, giving participants the opportunity to complete one act of kindness per day. Participants are encouraged to share their stories on social media using designated links, hashtags, apps, or the official website: www.usofkindness.org.

The initiative costs nothing, and the benefits are clear. Terri Speck and I will be inviting the other Ohio districts to join our effort to spread kindness across the country. A detailed letter will be sent to each of you via ClubRunner by 4/22/2026.

 

2026 District 6630 Conference of Clubs
We have a dynamic and exciting District Conference planned this year. The theme is “Fifty for One – Fifty Clubs, One Purpose – Unite for Good.” We listened to your feedback and tailored this year’s conference accordingly. To better accommodate working Rotarians, registration will open at 2:00 pm on Friday instead of the morning. We will begin at 3:00 pm with the business meeting, followed by the Celebration of Life.

Friday’s dinner will be a mix of celebration and fun. Wisdom Addo, our Ambassadorial Scholar from Ghana, will be the keynote speaker, sharing how he brought peace to his region by organizing a Peace Jam. He is an electrifying speaker, and this will be a highlight. Afterward, we will enjoy Rotary Jeopardy. Teams from the eight district clusters will compete for bragging rights, complete with buzzers, great Rotary questions, and our outstanding host, Steve Warren, President of the Rotary E‑ClubNEO.

Saturday begins with a kick‑off breakfast followed by DLA sessions. Our Youth Luncheon, hosted once again by District Interact Chair Chelsea Talty, will include the commissioning of our outbound Youth Exchange students, the District Interact service project, the Four‑Way Speech Contest, recognition of our 50‑ and 60‑year Rotarians, and the presentation of the Dick Pitcher Award.

After lunch, we will host our first‑ever live service project: Pack Away Hunger. In one hour, Rotarians, Interactors, Youth Exchange students, families, and friends will pack 20,000 meals for local food banks and kitchens in our District. The feeling of unity and service will be unforgettable. If you would like to sponsor this event or the conference, please contact Kim Polatas at mailto:Kpolatas@gmail.com or Scott Mills at mailto:SAMRotary6630@gmail.com.

We saved the best for last. Katie Spotz will be our keynote speaker. Katie is an extraordinary individual with a passion for clean water. She has rowed across the Atlantic, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, and will soon take on her biggest challenge yet: rowing across the Pacific Ocean to raise funds for clean water for 100,000 people in Fiji. Cleveland’s own Lee Jordan and Cleveland Rotarian Tina Ingraham will join Katie to discuss her efforts and their meaning. Be sure to reserve your seat—you won’t want to miss Katie’s inspirational story of bravery, perseverance, and impact.


ClubRunner Problems? Webpage Issues? We Have Answers!
Our District Webmaster, PDG Cheryl Warren, has spent countless hours helping clubs transition to the Nova Software upgrade, with excellent results. She will offer the same help at the District Conference by hosting a “Help Desk” in the House of Friendship. Cheryl can assist with both small and large issues to get your ClubRunner site running smoothly.

She is available for appointments from 2:00–4:30 pm on Friday and 9:00 am–noon on Saturday, with additional time possibly available Saturday afternoon from 2:30–4:30 pm. To reserve a time, email her at mailto:cheryl.a.warren@icloud.com or text 330‑495‑9814. Walk‑ins will be served after scheduled appointments. Make an appointment and resolve those pesky issues—many can be fixed quickly.


Youth Exchange Commissioning Ceremony
Our three outbound Youth Exchange students are nearing the end of their training. Please join us at the Youth Luncheon at noon on Saturday, April 25th, for their commissioning ceremony. This marks the culmination of over a year of preparation for their time abroad. If you are interested in this wonderful program, visit the Youth Exchange Page and explore the long‑ and short‑term exchange opportunities. Fill out the pre‑application form and a counselor will contact you. If you’re interested in being a host family, please review the Host Family section and contact Keven Wermer at mailto:awermer57@gmail.com. It may be the best decision you make for your child or grandchild.


Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Retreat
RYLA is one of the jewels of our district. Hundreds of rising high‑school seniors have attended over the years, and their praise of the program makes it a favorite among Interact Clubs and high‑school and homeschooled students alike. It has been described as “life‑changing” and “I made friends I’ll have for a lifetime.” 

Camp RYLA is a five‑day leadership training camp held this year from June 21–25, 2026, at Hiram College. RYLA focuses on the personal and professional development of high‑school students. Rotary clubs worldwide are committed to helping shape tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, speak with your Rotary club or contact Program Chair Marc West at mailto:bwmarcwest@gmail.com.  All applications must be completed online by Wednesday, May 6, 2026. The deadline may be extended if space remains. Rotary clubs, please work with your high schools and Interact clubs to offer this exceptional opportunity.


Membership News
PDG Dale Smith and his membership committee delivered another home run with the “Build the Perfect Rotary Club” session on February 21st at the Twinsburg Community Center. Participants started with a blank slate and designed their model Rotary Club. The conversations and interaction made the session both valuable and enjoyable. A similar session will be offered at the District Conference.

PDG Dale has also offered to bring this exercise to individual clubs. If your club is interested, contact him at mailto:D6630DGDale@gmail.com. Membership efforts are clearly paying off—the latest report shows our district membership is up by 39 (including Rotaract Clubs). Great work, District 6630! 


8 for 8 Membership Challenge
Zone 30 & 31 have launched the 8 for 8 Membership Challenge. The goal is for clubs to induct eight new members in eight weeks ending April 30th. This may seem ambitious, but many clubs are already bringing in multiple members each month. Clubs that meet the goal will be entered into a drawing for $1,000 toward a membership event. PDG Dale is matching that amount, giving the winning club $2,000 total. Work with your club membership committee and our district team to meet this challenge.


Rotarians Not Receiving ClubRunner Emails
More than 130 Rotarians in the district are not receiving email from ClubRunner due to settings being turned off in their accounts. Many are unaware this is the case. I have worked with PDG Cheryl Warren and now have a list of affected Rotarians. This month, I will send each club president a list of their members who are not receiving email. Presidents, please reach out to them and ask if they would like to opt in. If so, contact Cheryl or me and we will correct the settings. These Rotarians are missing my newsletter, and that must be disappointing!


Well, that wraps up another month! Only three more newsletters—and three more months—remain after March. I want to thank all our clubs and members for everything you do. Thank you for choosing to be a Rotarian and for living “service above self.”  We unite for good every day, and together we create lasting impact—two excellent presidential messages for us all. I hope to see you in my travels this month!

Yours in Rotary,

Bob Oborn
District Governor Rotary International District 6630
Stow-Munroe Falls Rotary Club
Tel: 330-801-0159
Email: rorotary20252026@gmail.com

Jamie Nixon is a resident of Strongsville, an active member and Past President of the Rotary Club.  

A devoted family man, he is the proud father of two—a son and a daughter—and the grandfather of two, also a boy, Theo, and a girl, Lydia. 

He is a member of Brunswick Reformed Church, where he serves as a Greater Deacon and currently sits on the Board of MICAH (Medina Interfaith Coalition for Affordable Housing) as Vice President. 

Professionally, Jamie is a CORE Market Manager for The Smart Circle International, bringing leadership and dedication to his role as Primary Resource for our Big Box partners in the Great Lakes region and parts of Canada.

Jackie Minotas: After my retirement 4 years ago, my daughter sometimes asks “mom, what do you do all day”? It takes me but a minute to answer her. Rotary is a big part of my life starting with my Club where I am a 2-time club president and currently the membership chair, RYLA chair and the 4 Way Test Speech Contest Chair, and I participate on most (all) committees. I love Rotary and I love my club! The past few years I have had the pleasure to work with so many wonderful Rotarians on the District Conference and have made lifelong friends. I am also on the Rotary Board of Directors. My days include Rotary in one shape or form!

Outside of Rotary I manage to keep busy. I volunteer weekly with the Hillcrest Meals on Wheels program and I serve on its board. I occasionally help my daughter with family parties at the Ronald McDonald House.

My husband and I belong to LEWTA, a wine group that meets once a month at various wineries, again, we have met so many wonderful people, not to mention some great wine!

I am fortunate to have a wonderful network of friends, 20+ years monthly book club, monthly lunches with high school friends and still connect with my 2 coworkers.

Family is very important, I host many holidays, plan family game night, but the most important and most precious to me, is our once-a-week family pasta dinners at our house.

Retirement has allowed us the time to travel. We have traveled to Slovenia, Croatia, Mexico, Hawaii and my favorite, a family Mediterranean Cruise.

When I’m not walking my grand dog, you can find me reading or bingeing on a favorite show.

Beverly Ghent-Skrzynski was honored to serve as District 6630 Governor in 2018-2019.  She is currently the district’s 2026-2028 Representative to the RI Council on Legislation and Resolutions, Rotary International’s governing body that shapes policy and amends the organization's constitutional documents. Recent Councils have focused on increasing membership flexibility, empowering clubs, and modernizing governance.

A Rotarian for over 30 years, she is Past President and Executive Director Emeritus of the Rotary Club of Cleveland and currently serves on its Foundation’s board.

Beverly has served on numerous district committees including Board, Finance, Membership, Youth Protection, LEAD, and Grants and previously chaired the Advisory Council of Past District Governors.  She continues as a member of the Bylaws and Manual of Procedures and District Conference Steering Committees. She has held the role of Vice Governor and for several years was on the All Ohio PETS Steering Committee. 

A career association executive, Beverly held a number of managerial positions within the not-for-profit world with special expertise in working with boards, and foundations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. She also worked on international meetings and conventions with Rotary International. 

Beverly and her husband David Skrzynski, 1998-1999 District 6630 Governor, are committed to The Rotary Foundation and are both Multiple Paul Harris Fellows and Major Donors. She has served as an RI President’s Representative, Aide to Rotary Senior Leaders and participated on 11 planning committees for the former RI Zones 27 & 28 and 28 & 29 Institutes having also served as Institute General Co-Chair with her husband.

Beverly is the Secretary-Treasurer of Gift of Life Northeast Ohio, serves on Peace Fellow Wisdom Addo’s advisory board for the West Africa Centre for Peace Foundation, is also on an advisory board to Adult Guidance Services of LMM, and is a graduate of the Cleveland FBI Citizen’s Academy.

She has an admitted passion for “all things Rotary” and believes in the strength of the Family of Rotary and the power of the individual Rotarian and their club. She has always maintained that everyone has a special gift to share and that every member should be valued for their service.

FINAL 2026 Grant Management Seminar!!   

Each club will need at least two participants to complete one of the three seminars in order to qualify for grant submission.

You can click on the date below to register.  The Zoom link will be sent a couple days prior to the event to those who register. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 9:30AM-11:30AM

We’re excited to announce that 

sponsorship opportunities are now available

for the upcoming 2026 District Conference!

This highly anticipated event brings together leaders, professionals, and decision-makers from across the district—making it an outstanding platform to showcase your business, products, and services.

As a sponsor, you’ll gain:

• Strong brand visibility before, during, and after the conference

• Direct access to a targeted and engaged audience

• Recognition in event materials and promotions

• The opportunity to align your brand with a respected and impactful event

If you’re looking to increase exposure and connect with key community and business leaders, this is a fantastic opportunity to do so.

We encourage you to review the sponsorship packages and secure your spot early—availability is limited!

Please feel free to share this information with colleagues, partners, or businesses that could benefit from this excellent opportunity.

We look forward to partnering with you for a successful 2026 District Conference!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SPONSORSHIP FORM (PDF)

Here's a memory our Rotary Youth Exchange students will never forget...experiencing the NBA. But not just catching a game... giving high fives to our own Cleveland Cavaliers players coming back to the court after halftime. Imagine telling your friends and family that it also happened to be James Harden's first game as a Cavalier, lifting the Wine and Gold to victory over the Washington Wizards on February 11th.  Thanks to Stew Buchanan for helping to coordinate this Rotary tradition! 

View all of the photos by clicking here

Do you know a student who may be interested in a cultural  exchange adventure? DM our account and we will connect you with our RYE committee!

DGN RICH COLE PRESENTED WITH “JEWEL” FROM OYSTER LODGE

DGN Rich Cole, along with all his Rotary, civic and the myriad of other duties filling his busy schedule, is also a very active Freemason.  On Monday, March 9, Rich visited William H. Hoover Masonic Lodge in North Canton for their annual "Oyster Lodge."

The Oyster Lodge is a fun night that starts with a dinner of oyster stew, fish, cornbread, slaw and North Canton's famous rice pudding.  Following the meal, everyone adjourns to the Lodge room for the "Oyster Lodge Degree" which spoofs Masonic ceremonies.  

Each year, the organizers of the Oyster Lodge secretly select a random attendee to be the evening's candidate.  The candidate is "blindfolded" and led into the lodge room where he goes through the ceremony and, if he is successful, is admitted to the Order of the Oyster and sworn in by the Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, who traditionally presides over the Oyster Lodge.  

This year's candidate was DGN Rich.  After successfully completing the Degree, Rich was presented with the official "jewel" of the order - a hand-painted sand dollar commemorating his accomplishment.

Rich claims he really enjoyed himself and everyone in attendance had a great time!

Photo L-R:  Past Master of Hoover Lodge and Rotary E-ClubNEO President, Steve Warren with DGN Rich Cole proudly wearing his “Jewel”.

Photo below of Rich being led into lodge “blindfolded”.

Wednesday evening, Mar. 4th, the Rotary club of Burton-Middlefield held its annual “4-WAY TEST” speech contest at Welshfield Inn in Troy Twp.  

Two contestants, both from Berkshire High School, competed for first place honors.  

Photo L-R:  Whitney Davis and Francesca Mandalfino

Francesca Mandalfino, a senior at Berkshire spoke first.  She was supported by the attendance of her family father Tony and mother Betsy along with her boy friend Caleb.  Her topic was “The silent conquering: How artificial intelligence is re-shaping humanity” was well thought out and put together and professionally delivered.  

The second speaker, Whitney Davis, a junior at Berkshire and supported by her family, father Matt, mother Elizabeth and sister Allison.  Her speech topic was “Early specialization in youth sports”.  Since Whitney is already a very active and involved athlete and a member of a high level travelling softball team her talk supported her early decisions to work hard and achieve all she could through sports.  

Both speakers were supported by Lynn Hunter, an English teacher and speech advisor at Berkshire.  She had much to be proud of with the performances of two of her students.  

Francesca took first place and a $500 check from the club with Whitney taking home the second place prize of $300 and encouragement to come back and compete next year when she is a senior.  

The club had nothing but praise for the two future leaders.  The 4-WAY-TEST Speech contest is just one area that Burton-Middlefield  participates in to support youth.  

Scholarships at three local high schools, RYLA at Hiram College, The World Community Service Counsel in Wisconsin, the club’s new endowed scholarship for nursing at Kent State Geauga, scouting, our recently re-activated Interact program at Berkshire and others show our strong support of youth and hopefully, the future humanitarian work that is the backbone of Rotary.

Yours in Service -
Bob Johnson, PDG
Secretary, Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield

Congratulations on the success of The Rotary Club of Heights of Greater Cleveland Breakfast with the Birds event!

Thanks Maureen Garnett for these photos. 

DOWNLOAD THE FLYER

You can use this QR code to donate now!

MARCH 30 - EAT AT CANE'S TO SUPPORT CAMP RYLA RAISING CANE'S FUNDRAISER 

Tuesday March 31, 2026 
5:30-9:00 pm

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Join us for fun and fellowship at our annual fundraiser!

The Maple Splash Raffle is off and running again.  

Raffle tickets are again $20. each with several packages of tickets available online.  You can purchase a 5-5-5 package that gives you 5- MSR tickets, 5- Outdoor Adventure (OA) tickets and 5- 50/50 raffle tickets for $150; a $225 dollar value and the best deal going.  Individual OA tickets($20) and individual 50/50 tickets can be purchased on line.  Also 6 OA tickets can be purchased for $100.  As in past years, we have continued to upgrade and add to our prize list.  A new $60,000 Chevy Silverado pick up leads the list provided by The Chevy Network and Preston Chevrolet. Enter to win a brand‑new 2025 Chevy Silverado and other prizes!

A $6300 necklace from Stephen DiFranco Jewelers, a portable generator, a $200 package of high quality meats from Bonner Farms, a portable generator, a vacation package of your own design, a Samsung Apple watch, a $2500 live edge table from Unique Live Edge Tables, four prizes of cold hard cash ranging from $500 to $2500 and 9 other valuable prizes.  Something for everyone.  

The Grand Drawing and Maple Splash Festival will take place on Saturday, July 11.  

Rules and a complete list of prizes is available on maplesplashraffle.com.

BUY A TICKET

Help support the Rotary Club of Burton Middlefield. Every ticket sold helps us continue to help our community through programs such as scholarships, school lunch programs, food pantries, Veteran’s programs and more. (see the “about BMR” tab).

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE TICKET

Prizes for the Outdoor Adventure package have been upgraded too.  These include a Polaris 450 ATV from Concord motorsports, a $300 meat package from Bonner meats, night vision binoculars, Outdoor chairs and a smokeless fire pit, a Deer Hunter equipment package, a Hiboy big wheel electric scooter, a patio fire pit and a $2500 vacation package from Beaches and Dreams travel. Along with this drawing Burton-Middlefield and the MSR also hold a monthly drawing on 1/28, 2/25, 3/25, 4/29 and 5/27.  Four tickets will be drawn on each of these dates with the first two being $500 winners and the second two will be winners of 5 free MSR tickets.  All of these winners are placed back in the main drawing drum and are eligible to be drawn again.

2025 50/50 WAS OVER $16,000.00 LETS SEE IF WE CAN DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR!
After purchasing your ticket you will be emailed with a ticket number and the pdf file of your ticket. The proceeds from this raffle will help to expand the work and mission of the Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield. The Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield is committed to taking action locally and globally through service projects, grants and partnership with organizations that are living out service in the greatest areas of need.

SAVE THE DATE

END POLIO NOW GUARDIANS GAME 

AUGUST 19, 2026

VERSUS SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Once again we are planning an End Polio Now Guardians game on August 19, 2026 against the GIANTS. We will be in the Pennant district for fun, food, and auctions along with drawing the winner of the Paul Harris/First Pitch.

As you are planning your Rotary club’s summer activities, please keep this in mind. It is a great opportunity for fellowship and FUN.

Rotary International has long held the fight to eradicate polio as it’s signature fundraising effort. Over $7,000 was raised during the August 15, 2025 End Polio Night at the Cleveland Guardians baseball game versus the Atlanta Braves.

Last year more than 300 Rotarians in District 6630, along with those in attendance from Districts 6600 and 6650.

As 2022-2023 Rotary International President Jennifer Jones reminds us, “ as long as polio exists somewhere, it’s a threat everywhere.” With that in mind and with our commitment to “Service Above Self” Rotary will continue this important mission throughout the coming year.

Watch the District 6630 website for the flyer and when and how to sign up for August 19, 2026.

Yours in Service - Stew Buchanan, PDG