Happy October!
I can't believe how fast the first three months of the Rotary year have gone. What I can believe is all the fun I am having visiting the clubs and socializing with our members at the Pints/Pours to End Polio events. Thank you all for your warm welcome and for supporting our events during the first three months of the Unite for Good Rotary year. I am looking forward to what the rest of the year will bring.
Community Economic Development Month
October is Community Economic Development Month. During October, we should focus on Rotary’s goal of supporting sustainable, measurable economic growth and community well-being worldwide. Supporting local economies is a mainstay for the month to help small businesses and entrepreneurs thrive, creating jobs and employment opportunities. Community infrastructure improvement, poverty reduction, vocational training, and sustainable development are all areas for Rotarians to work on in October and the rest of the year.
Club Experience Summit: Part Deux
Don't forget to register for our Club Experience Summit Part Deux on October 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Marriott East in Warrensville Heights. We will build off the success of last year’s program. This will be an interactive program where successful clubs will share their stories with other clubs. It is about attracting new members and retaining current members. Come join an informative session with fellow Rotarians on how we can grow Rotary using a myriad of club types and memberships available. Afterward, please join other Rotarians for fun and fellowship at the Saucy Brewworks in the Pinecrest shopping area.
Rotary Peace Building Club Initiatives
We recently had a meeting with Club Presidents and Tom Carlisi from the Ohio Chapter of the Rotary Action Group for Peace. It was an informational meeting on what clubs in our District would need to do to qualify for being a Peacebuilder Club. Did you know we are one of the 37 Peacebuilding Districts in all of Rotary? We donate $25K from our District Dedicated Funds each year to fund Peace Centers at universities worldwide. These Centers train peace fellows in conflict resolution, leadership, and human rights. If you are interested in more information on becoming a peacebuilding club, please contact rotaryactiongroupforpeace@gmail.org or call Tom Carlisi at 614-332-5974.
World Polio Day
World Polio Day is Friday, October 24th. We observe World Polio Day each year to raise awareness of the importance of polio vaccination to protect every child from this devastating disease. We also celebrate the many parents, professionals, and volunteers whose contributions make polio eradication achievable.
Once again, PDG Julie Brandle has been able to secure 18 franchises that will offer the Purple donuts. Details are just coming out as of this writing. Please support this very special event by purchasing donuts (click here) and telling the Polio story when handling them out. Remember your First Responders as well by dropping donuts off for them. Several clubs set up in their library and hand out donuts and tell the Polio story. Use your imagination to find unique ways to spread the word, help end Polio and possibly attract new members.
Celebrating Our 100-Year Clubs
We begin our celebration of our 100-year clubs this month:
Wadsworth is celebrating 100 Years of Service Above Self on Tuesday, October 14th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Birdseye Barn at Western Star (4229 Greenwich Rd, Norton). Their goal is to give back $100,000 to the Wadsworth Community, with the money going to Safety Town, the Salvation Army building, and benches for local parks. Their keynote speaker is Lt. Governor Jim Tressel. We are down to the wire, so registration is on the District Website, indexed at the top of the page.
Our second event will be Cuyahoga Falls celebrating their Century of Service on Sunday, November 16th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at The Center in Stow. Doors open at 4:00 p.m., cocktails at 5:00 p.m., and dinner at 6:00 p.m. Their legacy project to celebrate 100 years will be Communication Boards that assist non-speaking individuals in expressing their needs, thoughts, and emotions in a non-verbal way. These boards will be placed strategically at parks in Cuyahoga Falls. Please register at https://givebutter.com/cfalls100 and join us for a great event celebrating a great club!
Future 100th Anniversary Events. Save The Dates!
Please plan on celebrating with our Rotary family. We will post more information as it comes in.
- The Rotary Club of Jefferson - Saturday, January 17th
- The Rotary Club of Lakewood & Rocky River – Friday, January 30th 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- The Rotary Club of Painesville – Saturday, April 25th
- The Rotary Club of Bedford – Will celebrate at their rib burn-off July 17th–19th
- The Rotary Club of Ravenna celebrated at their reverse raffle last year
- The Rotary Club of Garrettsville-Hiram is still in the planning stages
Foundation Awards & Celebration
"Celebrate the Magic of Uniting for Good" is the theme this year for our 2024-2025 Foundation Awards & Celebration. The event will be held at the Lavera Party Center on Thursday, November 13th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. You are invited to a special evening recognizing the generosity and impact of our Rotary community. Enjoy a delightful spread of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, participate in our dessert dash, and relax with drinks at the cash bar.
Our service project this year for the event is a Winter Clothing Drive. Please bring donations of new winter items such as hats, gloves, socks, and scarves to help those in need. Register Today on the District Website at the indexing items at the top of the page.
Pints/Pours to End Polio
Thank you for all that have joined us at the first six events, as we have raised close to $1,500. We still have three more events, so please come out for fun and fellowship with your fellow Rotarians!
- 10/16 Collision Bend in Euclid from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sponsored by The Hillcrest Sunrise Club
- 10/23 Brewdog in Cleveland 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cleveland
- 10/30 Missing Mountain Brewing in Cuyahoga Falls 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Akron
That is all for October. Please remember to find a special way to celebrate World Polio Day on Friday, October 24th. Buy and donate donuts, a food bank donation, a donation to a charitable organization, or a special prayer to end this horrible disease soon.
Thank you for all you do, and I will see you at events all over the district 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