Rotary Recounts a Strong Year of Activities
Chief Varnes Recognized with Rotary’s Jimmy Sutphin Award
The Rotary Club of Hudson has completed its fiscal year ending June 30 and is pleased to report accomplishments in multiple areas of importance to the Hudson community.
Going forward, President Fr. Joseph Boyle will turn the reins over to President-elect Terri Bortnik of Howard Hannah Real Estate. Terri has been chairing Rotary’s Community Services Committee raising donations for various charities and area projects.
The 37th Annual Rotary Gala was a success, including high quality silent and live auction items, an enjoyable social hour and dinner, exciting raffles and a chance to hear about the featured beneficiaries. We met our financial goals to be able to continue scholarships for HHS seniors, purchase medical equipment needed by Hudson EMS and to support Akron Children’s Hospital/NEO Gift of Life, in their efforts to provide life-saving cardiac surgery to underprivileged children from the third world.
One Vocational and Six College Scholarships were awarded in May to deserving HHS seniors in honor of Professor Dan Williams who guided this Rotary program for many years, participating in the extensive interview and selection process. At the awards ceremony each recipient introduced a teacher who had influenced their development and then gave a synopsis of their high school experiences. The awardees for 2023 were Kirra Janecek, Gabrielle Hantzlicek, Kati Babitsky, Maxwell Gyurky, Zane Zarges, Anthony Yohos and Alyssa Zumbo.
Another piece of Hudson history has been restored through the fund-raising efforts of the Rotary Club of Hudson and will be dedicated on August 19. The historic wormy chestnut log cabin along Main Street was built by Rotary in 1931 for the Boy Scouts and has been used for weekly Scouting meetings since then. Over $250,000 was pledged for the cabin restoration by various Foundations, individual contributors to the 1913. 1931 and 1953 Cabin Societies, Scouting families, The State of Ohio and many community individuals who bought engraved pavers. The cabin has been the germinating site for over 130 Eagle Scouts, many of whom have become recognized Hudson citizens.
Even though the Rotary Club lost a few members over the past couple of years due to illness and relocation, it has added six new members who are already contributing their skills to meaningful Club projects. The current membership stands at 55, meeting each Wednesday morning from 7:00 to 8:30 at Hudson Meadows on Barlow Road for a networking continental breakfast and a speaker in the theater. Various committees meet monthly after the speaker presentations and would be happy to have new members with ideas for community projects.
Monthly speaker themes have been chosen for the remainder of 2023 to include:
July—Social Justice
August—Service Opportunities with Local Organizations and Efforts
September—Government
October—Rotary Month, Member Interviews
November—Veterans
December—HHS Vocal Impact, Guardians Review, Scholarship winners visit
Anyone interested attending a meeting as a guest of Rotary may register on our website www.rotaryhudson.org.
In 2015 the Rotary Club of Hudson established the Jimmy Sutphin Award to recognize a deserving Hudson Community leader who most closely reflects dedication to the “Service Above Self” Rotary standard. The initial recipient was Jimmy “Inky” Sutphin, a friend and colleague of both Rotary and the Hudson community. Sutphin was universally loved by local citizens who benefited from his communication skills and empathy for all he encountered. This year, on the night of the Gala, the award honored Fire/EMS Chief Jerry Varnes on his 10th anniversary as Chief. Jerry has made a difference in many lives in Hudson and was a courageous leader during the Covid pandemic that changed so many lives in our community.
Rotary is a worldwide network of 1.4 million people of action who tackle the most persistent problems in our communities while building professional and leadership skills through meaningful connections.
 Scout cabin restoration |  New member induction-President Fr. Joe Boyle, new member Madeline Lepidi-Carino, Board Member Mike Swain |  Gala attendees-Joe and Joan Seldin |
 Gala attendees-State Representative Casey Weinstein and Amanda |  Sutphin Award winner-Chief Varnes and daughter Jesse |  Gala attendees- Co-chairperson Kris Barker, Chris Worcester, Chris Foster, Lisa Foster |
 Dan Williams scholarship winners Names listed in article text | ||